Disclaimer: I own nothing, nothing I tell you! All the characters, places etc. belong to JKR.
A/N: Yay! Chapter Ten is here! This is the chapter most of you have been waiting for. This chapter is dedicated to Maki Tatsu who correctly guessed that the H/Hr scene from the last chapter was taken from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the episode Graduation Day, Part I, and also to Kori Bischoff, who was my 100th reviewer!

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SO WHAT NOW?
Chapter Ten

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"Is it me or are they even more lovey-dovey than usual?" Lavender asked Ron quietly at the Gryffindor table the day after their final exam. Ron glanced at Harry and Hermione and nodded. They were talking quietly and Hermione was practically sat on Harry's lap.

"Yeah, it's like they have some little secret that no-one else knows," he said.

"That's what a secret is, Ron," Lavender reminded him, "something that nobody else knows."

"Well I know that!" Ron said.

"You could have fooled me!" Lavender muttered under her breath.

"What was that, Miss Brown?" Ron asked.

"What was what, Mr Weasley?" asked Lavender innocently.

But Ron was no longer paying any attention to his girlfriend - he was too preoccupied with his sister who currently had her tongue down the throat of Seamus Finnigan. It was enough to make someone lose their breakfast.

It had taken a while for Ron to adjust to Ginny's relationship with Seamus. He was especially mad when he discovered half of Gryffindor (not to mention the rest of the school) had known before him. Lavender, on the other hand, had been delighted at the development.

"But it's so sweet," she would tell Ron every time they found the two of the kissing. Now that Ron and Lavender knew about them, they were even more public. The entire student body soon discovered that they were very into the whole public display of affection thing. They had ended up with several detentions and a severe warning from Professor McGonagall, who had told them that Ginny was in the running for Head Girl next year and that she shouldn't throw away the possibility of the title for hormones.

"I think finishing the N.E.W.T's has unleashed the students hormones, Albus," said Professor McGonagall shaking her head while watching the Gryffindor table from her seat next to the Headmaster in the Great Hall.

"Oh, leave them be," said Professor Dumbledore smiling knowingly. "Can't you remember what it was like to be their age and in love?"

A rare smile crept onto Professor McGonagall's lips. "Just about," she replied. "Though I don't think I was quite as public as they are."

"Who are you putting your money on, Albus?" inquired the tiny Professor Flitwick. "Personally I think Mr Malfoy and Miss Patil will last."

"What about Mr Weasley and Miss Brown?" asked Madam Hooch, casting aside a copy of Quidditch Weekly to join the conversation. "I think they have a strong chance."

"Is it really fair to include Weasley in our wager? Don't they mate for life?"

"Now, now, Severus! You could have phrased that a lot more tastefully," said Professor McGonagall looking slightly shocked at Professor Snape's comment.

"I could have," Professor Snape agreed, "I just didn't want to."

Professor Dumbledore chuckled at this remark. "You haven't changed at all since you were a pupil, Severus," he commented.

"Is that good or bad?" Snape asked snidely.

"Depends how you look at it. Anyway, my money is most definitely on Mr Potter and Miss Granger."

"Ah, yes. The Head Boy and Girl. How could we forget?" asked Professor Sprout. "I can imagine them having a great white wedding a few years from now."

"A white wedding?" asked Snape in amazement. "No, they're more likely to elope!"

"Hermione elope?" Professor McGonagall was most amazed at this statement. "Never! She's not that kind of person."

"People can surprise you, Minerva," said Professor Dumbledore. "Never underestimate them."

***

The final Quidditch match of the year was Gryffindor verus Ravenclaw. It was held just a few days after the final N.E.W.T exam. For Harry and the other seventh years who were on the team it was a welcome relief.

"Okay, I want a nice clean game," Madam Sprout told the teams.

"Wouldn't dream of anything else," Padma told her with a grin. Harry and Padma shook hands before mounting their brooms. The teams rose into the air and on Madam Hooch's whistle, the Quaffle was thrown into the air. It was soon seized by a Gryffindor Chaser called Marjorie Grahame. She was in her fourth year and Harry highly suspected she would be named Captain of the team after his departure.

Harry scanned the length and breadth of the pitch, hoping for a glimpse of the elusive Golden Snitch. He ducked a Bludger that had been aimed at him and circled higher and higher, half-listening to the commentary being given by Serena Newberry, a sixth year Gryffindor. Although her style was slightly different from Lee Jordan who had been the previous commentator, she was still was still given several warnings by Professor McGonagall. Her clear voice with just a slight hint of an Irish accent floated across the Quidditch Pitch.

"All righty, folks - the game has well and truly begun. It's the last game of the season and will decide who wins the cup - Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. Unfortunately it's also the last match for several of today's players including Harry Potter, Gryffindor Captain and probably the best looking boy in Gryffindor."

"Serena, how many time do I have to remind you?"

"I'm not sure, Professor. I did start keeping count but I ran out of parchment." A ripple of laughter ran around the stands. "Back to the match - Gryffindor in possession, Chaser Schwartz has the Quaffle. He shoots - and scores! The first goal of the match. Gryffindor leads ten to none."

Harry spotted a glimmer of gold near Ron's ankle - it was the Snitch. He put on a spurt of speed, but just before he could reach the Golden Snitch, Ron sneezed, making his broom jerk and sending the Snitch flying away. Harry groaned in exasperation - he had been so close.

"Padma Patil has the Quaffle," announced Serena to the crowds. "After months of speculation she had finally confirmed that she will be playing for the England Squad next year. She had also revealed that she will be playing for the Appleby Arrows. Personally, I think that that the Cannons are the best team in the league. Okay, maybe they've been on a losing streak for the last couple of... centuries, but they have potential."

"Miss Newberry, would you kindly tell us what is happening in the match?" inquired Professor McGonagall.

"Oh, sorry. I got a bit carried away there. Anyway, a foul has been awarded to Gryffindor. Watson takes the Quaffle. She shoots... and scores. Gryffindor lead twenty to none."

While all the action had been going on below him, Harry had been searching for the Snitch. He had though he had seen it a few times, but it had just been a trick of the light. Then, just as he was about to make another circuit of the pitch, he spotted it. Yet again it was by Ron, though this time it was hovering around his shoulder. Ron hadn't noticed it as he was concentrating hard on the Quaffle which was now in the hands on one of the Ravenclaw Chasers. He was the Keeper and had an excellent track record.

Harry speeded towards it, hoping feverently that Ron wouldn't sneeze again. Luckily he didn't and his hand clasped securely around the ball.

Cheering broke out around the stands as Serena announced the score. The win over Ravenclaw meant the Gryffindor had won the House Quidditch Cup.

***

Three days before they were to leave Hogwarts permanently, the seventh years had became rather frenzied. Almost all of the house rivalries had disappeared and some of the students (male as well as female) had a tendency to burst into tears at any moment.

Rather than become loud and emotional about their impending departure from Hogwarts, Hermione had become very quiet and closed in. That evening Harry found her sat down beside the lake by herself. She was wearing robes of a dark purple over a faded pair of jeans and wispy white blouse. In the evening sun Harry thought she looked amazing. He could hardly believe that she was the same girl he had met on the Hogwarts Express at age eleven with bushy brown hair and large front teeth.

She had conjured a globe of the world and it hung in the air in front of her, misty and transparent. She was gazing at it with a longing expression on her face.

"What are you doing, gorgeous?" Harry asked her, sitting next to her and slipping an arm around her waist. She rested her head on his shoulder and said;

"Thinking."

"What about?" Harry asked, looking at the globe which was slowly spinning.

"The world. I want to travel," Hermione told him. She pointed at several countries with a delicate finger. "France, India, Japan, Canada." She smiled. "And Australia. I've always wanted to go there."

"We could go on our honeymoon," Harry suggested.

Hermione lifted her head and looked him in the eyes. "Harry?" she asked worriedly.

Harry took a deep breath. "We could go on our honeymoon. Kind of a strange way to propose, I know. Trust me, I've been thinking of a way to ask you for weeks." He had been rummaging in his pockets while he spoke. From the left pocket of his dark blue robes he drew a small box covered in black velvet. "I've been carrying this around in my bag for a few weeks, just waiting for the right time." He flipped open the lid to the box and looked at the contents of it before presenting it to Hermione. Nestled in a layer of red silk lay a simple gold ring. On the simple gold band was a single diamond. "You've been my best friend for so long and I know we've only been dating for six months or so, but I don't think I could love you any more."

He looked her straight in the eyes, his own eyes shining with tears. "Marry me?"

***

A/N: What will Hermione's answer be? What's going to happen after Hogwarts? Am I ever going to stop asking stupid questions? Will I get lots of reviews? Find out in the next chapter which should be out in the next couple of days - it'll be a closing to this story.

Here's a thanks section for Chapter Nine:
Kori Bischoff - Thank you! You're my 100th reviewer... I feel so great now!
ms. potter - There's just one more chapter. Are you happy now you've found out what's in Harry's bag?
Satans Little Princess - Bogey is cool. I'm sorta tempted to write a lil' spin-off fic bout the death of Bogey.
Ryoko Blue - Thanx!
ShockoLatt - lol. Oh, and don't worry, I had thought about the H/Hr thing, but I'm keeping that under wraps...
hudsonlv426 - Thanx!
angel eyes - Is this soon enough?! I honestly can't believe how quickly I wrote this chapter!
AznGolDragonGod - Thanx!
amy potter - Thanx!
Amara - Thanks, every review helps!
Maki Tatsu - Yay! You got it right! That's my favourite Willow/Oz scene as well. I imagined Hermione panicking over exams and for some reason that just popped into my head.
hermioneharry4ever - Thanx!
E. C. R. Potter - I don't know where I got the idea about Ginny giving Ron's puffskein to Fred, nut I'm glad you like it!
Oliverwoodschic - Thanx!
Heaven - No problem!

Review, Flame, Whatever.

silverphoenix