I know it took a while, but please enjoy and remember to review!

I Could Never Be A Quidditch Wife

The night before Oliver was supposed to leave to patrol the Forbidden Forest, he and Hermione strolled the grounds, hand in hand. Thankfully, it was a Friday, and Hermione had the next two days for homework.

"Oliver, are you sure you'll be all right? I would die if… if something happened, you know. And you still haven't given me your surprise! And, and if we ever finish this stupid war…"

"If we ever finish the stupid war? My, Hermione, you're as verbose as ever!"

Hermione, blushing in the pale moonlight, finished in a whisper, "If we ever finish this awful, dreadful, evil, horrid, stupid war, I want to marry you."

"Hermione Wood… It has promise. But tell me, love, would you really want to be a Quidditch wife? Goggled at by the media, constantly being asked questions of your husband? Knowing that beautiful girls throw themselves at him almost daily?" he asked, hugging her close and beginning to kiss her neck.

"Have you ever thought about another girl since you've been with me? No? Then why should I worry? I've been told I'm beautiful, but I love you. I'm willing to risk, but I need you so badly… I want to have your children, to see you first thing in the morning, even to brush my teeth with you. And I could never be a Quidditch wife; I will be my own person, and who knows? Maybe they'll trail you asking questions about me! But I love you all too much to lose you!" she replied, kissing him gently on the lips.

"I'll be all right; I promise!" he replied, smiling.

°

Dear Hermione, read the note that she found under her pillow the next morning,

I've gone to the Forbidden Forest, but don't worry; I'll be back on Monday night. I'll even sneak into your dorm and kiss you good night, all right? I warned you earlier that I was to have missions, and one is coming in October. I would have told you about it earlier, but couldn't bear to make you so upset. You will find a ring in this envelope with a blue stone. As long as I am safe, it will remain blue. However, if it turns red, I am in danger, and if it turns green, I am dead. But don't worry, I will soon see your smiling face, and lean contentedly in your arms. I love you.

Oliver

°

Harry and Ron noticed a change in Hermione that weekend; she had grown quiet, and her face grew steadily paler. They barely had a chance to talk to her, for she buried herself into her homework.

"Hermione," Harry suggested on Saturday afternoon, "Ron and I are going for a walk on the grounds. Will you come with us?"

"I don't know; I have this star-chart due Tuesday…" she replied wearily, not looking up from her parchment.

"Don't worry; you can always do it Monday night, Hermione!" Ron added, quickly taking her quill away. "You haven't seen the sun all day; you've got horrid bags under your eyes!"

"I do? Fine, I'll go with you, but only a short walk, okay?" Hermione replied, trying to snatch her quill back.

"Anywhere you'd like to walk?" Harry asked, chuckling quietly at his friends.

"Near the Forbidden Forest," she replied, looking at the ring on her hand, its stone a glowing blue.

"Oh, Hermione's in love," Ron said suggestively, leading her to the portrait hole.

"Ron… just shut up, all right?" she said rather angrily, hurrying through the portrait hole before anyone saw her red face.

"Seriously, Ron," she added after all three were safely out of earshot of all Gryffindors, "I could be ridiculed all over Hogwarts if certain people got word of Oliver and me! Professor Dumbledore is all right with this, but what if Snape finds out? He can convince the Slytherins at least that I'm in the wrong, and do you remember all the Rita Skeeter business? Do you know how horrid it would be for Oliver, especially? So, please, I beg you, say nothing when anyone can hear us!"

And with that rather solemn thought in mind, the three discussed Quidditch for the rest of their walk, the cool September air adding color to their cheeks.

°

On Monday night, Hermione decided to stay awake and wait for Oliver. Having decided to keep her relationship more secret than before, she had not told Lavender or Parvati this, and at midnight both were snoring softly. She, meanwhile, was furiously studying for her Arithmancy test, trying to ignore the nervous feeling in her stomach that told her Oliver might never get to kiss her goodnight.

But then, just before she decided that she knew everything she'd need to know for the test, she felt lips pressing softly onto her forehead. "Oliver! You're back!" she whispered, throwing her arms around him and pressing her mouth to his.

After kissing her for a good while, he pulled away and replied, "Yes, Hermione-love, I am."

°

Did ya like it? Mush, but explaining mush. I'm thinking the next chapter will be out in a week, so read some good fics until then! May I suggest Ophiuchus Ascending, one of my own fics? It's one of my best, and it's only gotten two reviews, which is odd… Anyway, to thank the reviewers:

G*Ness- Thanks for reviewing again! Well, that goes for everyone, but still… And I have some sort of thing for writing about Professor Sinistra. I like my portrayal of her in Ophiuchus Ascending much better than here, but eh… H/O snogging is tres fun to write, ne?

anastacy- It was? I feel all snazzy and stuff; thanks!

LonelyTurtle- I'm sorry to make you wait; I hope you think this chapter is also great! Wow, that rhymed… And don't worry, all of my friends and I get really hyper, so I'm not scared! ;)

mandy weasley- Thank you! I hope you continue to read!

Moony- Yes, Oliver's kawaiiness comes from his obsessive tendencies, don't you agree? Is this update soon enough? You're my most faithful reviewer; thank you so much!!!

jen20069- Did you see my reviews? I hope you liked them as much as I liked yours! I also hope you got my email!

IcyAngel12- Please don't commit suicide! I love your story too much! It is gonna get popular? Shocked, I am… Hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Cinder- You do? I might write a counterpart with Oliver on his missions; I'm not sure yet, though, way too busy…

JediPrincess- Having lots of ships is cool! Myself, I support *every* Hermione/someone ship, and some that I've created myself… ;) Thank you; I really liked Remember Me, as Tom/Ginny is another one of my favorite ships!

plastic knife- Thank you! I have to read the second and third chapters of your story; I've been way too busy lately!

Thank you everyone! Please review; the next chapter should be up in about a week, or maybe less!

Rosie Sinistra