Angelic Demon16: Oh, you shall see.Sorry I can't say more, but I might give it away.
Charlie: Thanks! Once again, congrats on the cool words!
Athenakitty:Winces: Okay, so I didn't get to that part.but I swear you'll find out at the very beginning of the next chapter. I think it ended the chapter better with not letting you know. But, yes, you will see some more of all three of those characters later in the story, but no, they're not the ones I was referring to. And, yeah, he does. Isn't that sweet? I love Remus!
Hedowl5: Thanks! I really appreciate it!
BookCrazy77: Yeah, and we get to know her better in a bit.
Damson Rhee: I know. Sorry. This one's longer though! That's good, right?
Issa2: Thanks! Here it is!
Istalksiriusonweekends: First off, Trelawney's premonition will come to life during a Quidditch game. That's a much as I can tell you on that. Secondly.:Grins evilly: What'd he get her. Nothing, I'm certain, that you've EVER read in another fanfic.
Ears91: Nice guess. I'll keep it in mind, and when I finally tell everyone who it is, you'll either get a cookie or a bonk on the head. Lol, thanks for the review!
Lenne Angel Sakura: Yeah, I know. Can't you just imagine it in the movie? Lol, we get to meet her on the big screen in June! Yay!
Fan: Well.it would have been romantic.if it wasn't for.well, you'll see.
Shdurrani: Oh, but I will!
Lady Reaper of the Shadows: Not happy? It wasn't really a cliffhanger. but don't worry. I promised myself to update this story at LEAST once every week. Is that okay?
Case of the Axe:Grins: Glad you think so. Yeah, I haven't read any 7th year stories with Harry as headmaster.and, trust me, Harry's proposal will be anything but typical.
Wanted: A Happy Ending
Ch9: Dinner and a Movie
As the broom darted off into the sky, those in the stand groaned. Harry stood up, shaking his head, as the many professors on the Quidditch field hurried to make sure Flitwick hadn't broken anything at the end of his fall. Hadn't he told everyone it wasn't a good idea to have the tiny teacher try out?
He took a moment to scan the crowd of professors until a shaky Flitwick gave him a thumbs-up. Satisfied that he didn't have to send another one of his staff to the infirmary, Harry took his seat again. He was certain to receive an earful from Madame Pomfrey later.
Closing his eyes, he let out another groan. He was lucky tomorrow was Saturday; otherwise he might have had to end up canceling half of the classes. Trelawney, Sprout, Filch, and Pince had already been sent to the Hospital Wing. While he didn't know the condition of most of them, he knew Filch had broken his leg and cracked a rib.
"Isn't there anyone who can play?" he asked desperately, "All we need is another bloody Chaser."
"Too bad Sinistra's a Beater," Sirius said, referring to the only other decent player they had tried out so far, "I could've handled those kids by myself."
Remus looked up from his notepad where he had been repeatedly crossing off the names of the professors, "There is someone who hasn't tried out yet."
"Really, who?" asked Tali.
Remus glanced down at the pad again before turning them with remorse, "Snape."
"Snape?" Sirius exploded before breaking off into sarcastic laughter, "You've got to be kidding, Moony. That git?"
Remus looked at him pointedly, "Unless you have forgotten, Padfoot, that 'git' was captain of the Slytherin Quid—"
"I don't care!" Sirius cut him off angrily, "There's no way I'm playing on the same team as that biased piece of shit!"
"I don't like the idea any more than you do, Sirius, but we don't have a choice," Remus said forcefully, "Either he plays or the game is cancelled. ...And Megan'll rub it in your face from now until she graduates."
Sirius muttered something under his breath before leaning back huffily. Remus turned to Tali and Harry, "Well…I'd love to go ask Snape to join the team, but I've got some papers to grade. I'll see you later."
"Right, and I have to report into Madame Pomfrey for a checkup," Tali said, quickly hurrying away.
Harry watched them until they disappeared and turned to Sirius who stood up, "You know I'd do it, Harry, but I'd probably end up sending him to the Hospital Wing for a couple of weeks."
Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes at how true it was, "Fine, I'll do it. I'm not guaranteeing that I won't do anything, either, though."
Sirius grinned, "Well, if it makes you feel any better, you have my full support to blast that bloody prick from here to next Tuesday."
"Glad for that one," Harry laughed, "Well, I might as well and get this over with."
Harry briefly saw Sirius open his mouth to say something, but he quickly vanished out of sight as Harry apparated into the dungeons of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
With a small pop, Harry reappeared just on the inside of the Potions classroom. Snape, who had apparently been grading papers ('A very popular idea today,' Harry thought), jumped.
"Potter!" he asked, startled, "What are you doing here?"
Harry barely managed to stop himself from reminding his old professor of his title as Headmaster, and that "Potter" wasn't appropriate anymore, "We, that's Sirius, Remus, Tali, and I, noticed that you weren't at the tryouts."
Snape's lip curled, "Why would I want to parade myself around on a broom in front of the entire school? Besides, what makes you think I'm any good?"
"I hear you were captain in your day," Harry bit back a smile at the look on his face.
"Lupin's gone running off at the mouth again, I see," he said curtly, sitting down and shuffling through his papers, "Forget it."
"Ah, come on, Severus-" Snape looked up sharply at that and Harry couldn't help but let a chuckle escape past his lips, "It'll—er—be fun."
Harry knew he was stretching it, using the word 'fun,' but all the same he expected that there had to be a certain level of enjoyment in it for him.
Snape snorted, "Fun. Have you gone off your rocker, Po…Headmaster? What do you think I am? Stupid?"
Harry chose not to answer that particular question, "You can't tell me that you don't like playing Quidditch. You don't become captain by hating the sport."
"Don't go poking your nose into places where it doesn't belong, Potter," Snape said, suddenly dangerous, "My life is more complicated than anyone in this damn school gives credit for."
Harry looked at him curiously, "I'm guessing that you don't want to go into detail about that."
Snape glared at him, "Get out of my classroom, Potter."
"In case you've forgotten, Snape, I'm no longer a student I can be anywhere in this school that I please," Harry said, beginning, for not the first time, to resent the Potions Master's attitude.
The greasy-haired man scowled and looked down to his papers, "All you damn Potters are exactly the same."
Harry glared at him, "Well if you're any representation, your family isn't anything to brag about."
"I could've told you that," Snape muttered under his breath.
"What?" Harry asked, not having heard him.
"Mind your own business," Snape snapped.
Harry uncrossed his arms and walked forward, "So will you join the team or not?"
"No," Snape said curtly.
"Come on, Snape," Harry drawled out before saying something he never thought he'd say, "We need you."
Snape's quill stopped dead in the process of marking an answer incorrect. Slowly, ever so slowly, his eyes rose until they met Harry's face at which point his thin lips grew a nasty grin, "Pardon?"
Harry had to ignore the bitter taste that formed in his mouth at the mere thought of repeating his last line, "We need you."
Snape's grin grew wider and he leaned back in his chair, "Never expected to hear that you. …I'll tell you what. You give one good reason why I should join your silly team, and I'll bail you out this one time."
Harry thought for a moment. What would make Snape want to help out? Harry noticed that Snape's grin widened considerably as the second ticked by.
"Er…because…" Harry's face suddenly brightened up and he grinned, "Because you can grind the Gryffindor team into the ground."
Harry knew that he had him from the moment that the words left his mouth. Snape's grin slowly fell and opportunity twinkled in his eyes like a lion that just spotted its dinner.
"…You win, Potter. When is this game anyhow?"
"Next Saturday," Harry smiled, "See you at practice Tuesday."
"Tuesday?" Snape asked, "Why not tomorrow?"
"Because," Harry turned and started walking out of the classroom, "tomorrow is Hermione's birthday."
The room wasn't even dimly lit, and it was only by peering through the pitch darkness that one was able to make out the faintest shadow of the object hidden within the confines of the room. Suddenly, the door opened light streamed in, outlining the six figures which hurriedly dashed into the room.
"Damn that was close!" Ron panted as the lights in Harry's office sparked to life.
"Who's job was it to keep Hermione away from the third floor corridor?" Harry asked.
Lavender chuckled nervously, "Er…sorry. Parvati said she thought she saw a pimple coming in. I had to go wash my face a couple of times."
"You're kidding, right?" Sirius asked, "We had to move that stupid thing here in five minutes flat because of a stupid pimple?"
"I wouldn't be talking, Sirius. Remember when we had to move the statue that used to guard the Slytherin entrance from Trelawney's tower to the Forest in ten minutes because of your pimple?" Remus asked, straightening up.
Sirius grinned slightly, "Ah, you're just upset that we dropped it on your foot."
"Twice," Remus said, raising his eyebrow.
"Er…right," Sirius turned to the others, "So, we still have four hours to burn—"
"Nyo and I better go keep Hermione busy so she doesn't suspect something," Lavender said, pulling on Nyo's hand.
"As if she hasn't already," Nyo said under her breath and Harry smacked his hand to his forehead in agreement.
"Hold on a minute," Harry said, closing the door magically, "It might be four hours for you all, but I have other plans with her."
"You mean there's more?" Ron asked, exasperated.
Harry grinned, "A bit. …We'll meet you there…but do you think you can manage installing this?"
"You kidding?" Tali asked, tapping the huge metal cylinder in the middle of the room with her foot, "We'll have this oversized doorstop installed and ready in fifteen minutes."
"Excellent. See you at seven, then," Harry said with a smile as he disappeared through the door.
He could feel the curious eyes of his friends following all the way down the staircase, and grinned wider because of it. They knew all they needed to know for the evening, and they weren't about to get another dribble of information from him.
When he reached the hall outside his office, he was prepared to go to Gryffindor Tower and look for her when a thin pair of arms found their way around his neck from behind, "Harry!"
Harry turned around and smiled at his girlfriend who beamed at him, "I've been looking all over the place for you. Do you know where anyone else is? It's like they're trying to avoid me."
"Avoid you?" Harry asked, hoping his eyes weren't giving it away.
"I don't know, but I've hardly seen anyone and when I do, they're either a Slytherin or they hurry away. Harry, did I do something?" Harry felt his heart sink as he noticed a trace of tears appear in her eyes, "I don't think anyone even remembers what today is."
Harry made a bouquet of red roses appear in his hand, "What, you mean your birthday?"
Hermione's eyes widened as the flowers found their way into her arms, "Eighteen beautiful roses for eighteen years of beauty."
He was certain that his words were among the corniest he had yet to come across, but they accomplished what he had hoped. Hermione grinned and threw her arms around his neck. Harry felt his heart skip a beat and couldn't help but smile into her cinnamon scented hair.
"Come on," he said, pulling back and tugging on her hand, "If we don't hurry, we'll be late."
"Late?" Hermione asked, "For what?"
Harry didn't trust himself to turn around, knowing that her eyes could get him to do almost anything, including ruin the surprise, "You'll see."
He pulled her around a corner into an abandoned hall, smiling down at her, "Hermione, you trust me, right?"
"Of course," Hermione said, knowing she was getting herself in for something she ought not to.
Harry's grin broadened, "Great! Touch this."
He held out a torn, bloody handkerchief and Hermione looked up at him, "You kept this silly thing?"
Harry shrugged, "What can I say? I'm sentimental."
Hermione carefully reached out and touched the handkerchief. Instantly, she felt herself being pulled forward from her navel.
'A Portkey,' she realized with an ever-growing curiosity.
Opening her eyes, she had no clue as to where she was. One thing she did notice, however, was how out of place she and Harry seemed to be in a building that was packed with Elizabethan dressed people.
"Harry? ...Are we…You didn't…take us into the past, did you?" she asked as a couple walked by, eyeing her disapprovingly.
She felt a warmth flow all over, starting from her back and working outward. When it was gone, she turned looked down at herself to see that she her old Hogwarts robes had been replaced with a common Elizabethan styled dress. Turning around, she expected to see Harry there, but found herself surprised when he was no where in sight.
"Looking for someone, my lady?"
Hermione turned around and smiled, "How'd you do that?"
Harry grinned at her, "Do what?"
Hermione laughed and shoved him. He knew perfectly well what she met. Then again, she knew perfectly well that he had apparated.
"Shall we?"
Harry extended his arm, and Hermione was partially tempted to ask him 'shall we what?' However, by the times the words were half way to her mouth, she realized that Harry wouldn't tell her. So, instead, she linked her arm with his and allowed him to lead her through a huge door where many of the couples appeared to be heading.
"Harry!" Hermione gasped excitedly as they came through the other side of the door.
It turned out that they really weren't in a building at all. Instead, they had been in an entrance hall. Entrance to what?
"Welcome to Shakespeare's first performance of Romeo and Juliet," Harry could barely contain himself as Hermione's eyes popped out her head.
"The first?" she breathed.
"Come on," Harry pulled lightly on her hand, "Our seats are up here."
The closer and closer they got to the stage, Hermione couldn't help but notice the contemptuous looks they, two people dressed in common people's clothing, were receiving from all the upper class nobles. She, herself, was beginning to get more nervous with every step forward they took.
"Harry," she whispered in his ear, "Where exactly are our seats?"
They had, by now, reached the front row and, as far as Hermione could see, there weren't any empty seats. Harry opened his mouth to speak but found himself interrupted by a troubled looking man raced up to them.
"Ah, my Lord. At last thou hast arrived." the man looked them over and frowned in confusion, "I do not understand, why thou and thine Lady dressed in such...common clothing."
He said the word "common" with utmost contempt, and Hermione felt her eyes narrow, but Harry put his hand up, "Prithee, Kotting, my Mistress and I simply desire to give the commoners hope. Should they see us in commoner's clothing; it might give them hope that one day they, too, might be one of the elite."
The man, Kotting, said nothing for a moment before nodding, "Alas, I might have known. Forgive me, my Lord. Thine father was much of the same heart."
Hermione looked at Harry, very confused, but Harry pretended not to notice and nodded grimly, "Aye. May his soul rest in eternal peace within the arms of our God."
Kotting made a cross over his heart and bowed his head, eyes closed. Harry nodded, "Kotting, pray tell, unless I'm mistaken, thou were to tell me something when we first arrived."
Kotting opened his eyes and nodded urgently, "I fear to say that Master Shakespeare has requested thine companionship for the duration of the play."
Harry nodded, pretending to be annoyed, "Lead the way, Kotting."
Kotting hurried off, and Harry and Hermione followed after him slowly. Once they were out of earshot, Hermione leaned into Harry, "Do you mind explaining what in heaven's name is going on here?"
Harry laughed, "Simple, really, 'Mione. I came here a couple weeks ago to find out when the play would be, and somehow found myself mistaken to be this guy—George Gutterbe I think they called him—his son."
"And you let them go on believing?" Hermione asked, shocked.
Harry shrugged, "I don't see why not? I researched the guy. They find him dead in another four months."
Hermione gasped indignantly and Harry laughed, "I'm just kidding, Hermione. Some of the Queen's knights find him wandering around the royal forest during the next couple of days. We'll be long gone by then."
Hermione still didn't look too impressed, but, after a minute, laughed at the cleverness of it all. However, before she could say anything, they came to a stop outside a set of curtains the blocked off the rest of a balcony.
"Just inside," Kotting said, waving them through the curtains.
Harry went in first, quickly followed by Hermione, "Where is he?"
"Yonder," Kotting pointed to a throne-like chair where the legendary sat, fanning himself with a folded piece of paper.
"Kotting," Shakespeare said without moving, "Mayhap I am mistaken. But I do believe I told thee to keep the nobles away tonight."
"But, Sire—" Kotting started.
"Wherefore does thee insist on being so difficult?" Shakespeare brought his hand to his head.
"Good 'Morrow, William," Harry said, interrupting.
Shakespeare turned around quickly and grinned when he saw Harry, "Wilfred! Oh, n'er has thine timing been better! I nearly had to endure the companionship of that roughian."
He nodded at Kotting. Who lowered his head and quietly stepped out through the curtains.
"Wilfred?" Hermione whispered under her breath and Harry smiled, though he didn't say anything.
Harry took Hermione's hand and helped her over to Shakespeare where two empty seats were placed, "Come now. Thou can't expect me to have turned down an invitation by the William Shakespeare himself, nod can thee?"
"And who might this maiden be?" Shakespeare asked, eyeing Hermione.
"Ah, allow me to introduce thee to my Mistress, Lady Hermione of Begelle," Harry smiled at her.
"It is an honor to meet thee, Master Shakespeare," Hermione said earnestly.
"The honor," Shakespeare kissed her hand, "Is surely all mine."
Shakespeare broke his gaze from Hermione when Harry sat down, and the playwright shifted his attention, "Tell me, Wilfred, eight years have past since thou had disappeared during the war. Where, pray tell, hast thou been up to…other then the snatching of this fine wench."
Harry grinned, that question alone opened a whole possibility of answers. However, a subtle poke in the side quickly proved that Hermione knew the track of his thoughts. A small smile played upon her lips, and Harry carefully thought about how to answer the question.
Hermione was on the edge of her seat, her hands bunched tightly at her chest. Harry watched her as she slid even farther off the chair until she was on her feet. He had no doubt in his mind that this was her favorite part of the play.
"Romeo. What's here? Poison. Drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after. I will kiss thy lips. Happily some poison yet doth hang on them."
Harry turned his attention back to the play where the actor who portrayed Juliet lowered himself over the dying Romeo and kissed him.
"Thy lips are warm."
Harry thought back onto the many times he had seen the play on television. Obviously, this version was quite different than that which he had seen.
"Romeo" moved slightly in "Juliet's" arms, "Thus... with a kiss... I die."
Romeo quickly fell, limp, to the stage, Juliet quickly following him. The remainder of the play passed by in blur. But the very second it was over, a very teary Hermione was curtseying to Shakespeare.
"Sir, that was, by far, the best interpretation of—" Hermione realized what she was saying and shook herself back into a stable state of mind, "of love I've yet to see."
"Grammercy, Lady Hermione. I must say twas a privilege meeting thee," Shakespeare said, standing up, "But I fear I must return home. A splendid idea for a play has reached me."
"Of course, may thee have my blessings," Hermione said, stepping back.
"Aye, I shall hope to see thy both at the showing of it?" Shakespeare said, stopping just outside the curtain.
"As you will have it," Harry nodded.
"Anon."
"Anon," Harry asserted.
Shakespeare smiled, "Deliver my best wishes to thy mother."
"It shalt be done," Harry promised, and, with that, he was gone.
As soon as she was certain they were alone, Hermione threw herself at Harry, "Harry Potter! Thank you so much!"
Harry hugged her back fiercely, "Nothing of it, Hermione, nothing of it."
"This is the nicest, most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me!" Hermione beamed, pulling back.
"Anything for you, Hermione," he said, hugging her again briefly, "Come on, we better get going or we'll be late."
"Late?" Hermione asked, "For what?"
"Oh, you know. Typical teen date. Dinner movie, movie dinner. It's all written in the stars the way it's meant to be done," Harry said, pulling out the handkerchief again.
"Harry, with you, nothing's 'typical,'" Hermione laughed, touching the handkerchief.
A second later, she opened her eyes to find herself in a Muggle parking lot. Instantly, she felt a change in the way the fabric of her clothes fit her, and she looked down to notice that her Elizabethan dress had been replaced with her favorite periwinkle dress robe. Looking to her side, she noticed Harry was in an emerald green dress robe that illuminated his eyes marvelously.
"Hungry?" he asked her.
Hermione, who only at that moment realized that she had skipped lunch, nodded, "Where are we going?"
Harry smiled and turned her around.
"Big Al's Burger Barn?" Hermione asked in shock, though she quickly did her best not to sound disappointed.
She knew Harry had only the best intentions at heart, but after the whole play, she had expected more, "What are we doing here?"
Harry smiled knowingly. He knew Hermione had been hoping for a romantic dinner, but he had other plans.
"Come on. Aren't you hungry?" he asked, tugging on her hand. Putting on a smile, Hermione nodded and allowed him to pull her into the restaurant.
"This is..." Hermione looked around the restaurant that reeked of fast food. "...Nice."
"'Mione, is something wrong?" Harry asked with a little concern.
Hermione smiled and shook her head, "No. Everything is fine, Harry."
He shrugged and led her to a table in the middle of the building, having to push his way through a large group of teenagers that was filling the restaurant. When they reached the table, Harry pulled Hermione's chair out for her which she accepted mutely.
Harry sat across from her and faked a look of curiosity, "'Mione…if something's bothering you-"
"No!" Hermione said a little too quickly, "No. Everything's fine."
Harry looked at her a moment more before picking up his menu and deftly looking over it. He saw a waitress, apparently doing nothing, at the register. After a moment, they had made eye contact and Harry waved her over with his head.
The blonde lazily walked over to the two and pulled out a pen and paper, "Hello. My name is Cara and I'll be your server today."
Hermione looked up, wide-eyed at the familiarity of the voice, and was surprised, to say the least, to see Cara smiling at her in a waitress outfit, "What're you doing, Cara?"
Cara smiled, "Why, haven't you noticed? This is your party."
Still a little confused, Hermione looked around and brought her hands to her mouth when for the first time she noticed that all the "customers" in the restaurant were actually all her friends.
"Surprise!" they all shouted.
Eyes practically bulging out of her head, she turned to Harry who was grinning madly at her, "Happy birthday, Hermione."
Hermione let out a laugh and jumped from her seat into Harry's arms. He stood up and hugged her. From somewhere in the back of the crowd of witches and wizards a call of "kiss her, kiss her" grew steadily louder. Not wanting to disappoint, Harry quickly obliged.
"Psst! Harry!"
Harry broke away from the kiss at the hiss in his ear. Turning irritably, he saw Ron smiling at him, "I'm not sure that, as Headmaster of the school to which all of these fine young students attend, your behavior is entirely appropriate."
Harry rolled his eyes and pushed Ron away before pulling Hermione into another kiss. He could feel Hermione laughing into his lips and he was pleased that she was having a good time. Heaven knew the time it took to rent out the restaurant for the night without the Daily Prophet finding out.
"Enough of that already!" Ron said, jumping up, startling the two out of the kiss, "Let's party!"
Lavender quickly grabbed Hermione and pulled her away. Demanding that it was time for a little 'girl talk' which Harry had no doubt would include all the who, what, when, where, why, and how's of earlier.
"Hey, Harry. Now that Herms is gone, we need to talk," Ron said, pulling him towards a quieter part of the building.
"About what?" Harry asked, still smiling dreamily at Hermione's retreating back.
"Nyo," Ron said simply, and Harry turned to him.
"What about her?"
"Something up, Harry. She's been acting really weird lately."
Harry looked at him, "Weird?"
Ron nodded, "Yeah, like, whenever we somebody mentions you and Hermione in the same sentence, she shuts up and…I don't know. ….I guess what I'm trying to say is that, well, it's kind of like how Ginny used to be around you back before she and Colin started going out."
Harry caught on to what Ron was getting at and laughed, "Don't be crazy, Ron. Nyo and I are friends—"
"That's what I thought, too!" Ron cut him off, "You can't tell me you haven't noticed the way she looks at you. Everyone at school except you and Hermione know it. Why do you think she's treading such a fine line with them?"
Harry looked at him blankly and Ron continued, "Because they think she might try to break you two up."
Harry could hardly believe his ears, "But…Hermione—"
Ron poked his finger in Harry's chest, "Exactly! You know I'm not one to judge people—"
Harry was tempted to remind him of Viktor Krum, but decided that this wasn't the time and he let Ron continue, "—And you know I wouldn't say anything if I didn't see this as a problem, but that's just it. It is a problem."
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked. This was definitely not what he had been expecting to happen at the party.
"Nyo's gone," Ron said flat out.
"Gone?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, gone," Ron said, "You know today's Hermione's birthday. And, let's face it, everyone except Hermione knows you're gonna propose tonight."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Harry asked, not making the connection.
"While you were gone, we were setting up that portable—and I still don't see how it's considered portable. I mean, it took all of us to move the damn thing. It must have been at least five hund—" Harry coughed and Ron scratched his head sheepishly, "Right. Anyway, we were setting up that portable Shakespearean library and Nyo left to the bathroom. And she's gone. We haven't seen her since."
"What?"
"We went looking for her, and Parvati found us. Turns out someone trashed the Gryffindor seventh year girls' room. Especially Hermione's area," Ron said seriously, "We cleaned it up, but, still. I didn't think she'd do that."
Harry couldn't believe it. Nyo wouldn't do that.
"Ron, it couldn't have been her." he led off.
"Really?" Ron asked, raising an eyebrow, "Then where's she now? She was supposed to help us tonight, remember. But, of course, that would mean that she might lose you to Hermione forever. Face it, Harry. She's not really our friend. She's jealous of Hermione. Hell, a lot of girls are, but at least they don't trash her stuff!"
Harry tried to shut it out of his head. He didn't want to believe it, but…Ron was right. Not only did he know that Ron wouldn't lie about something like that, but he had noticed the way Nyo looked at him. He had fooled himself into believing it to be friendship, admiration, but not love.
"I…can we talk about this later, Ron? It's almost time," Harry said, pushing past his friend without waiting for an answer.
He didn't stop until he was outside. The September night air nipped at his nose and he could see his breath on the air. He started pacing. Nyo? No, she couldn't love him. He had Hermione. That was the way it meant to be. He hadn't planed for something like that. Nyo was probably just confused. Judging by her parents, she probably hadn't had many friends. She was probably just confusing her emotions. Yes, that was it.
Harry felt a hand on his should and turned around to see Hermione smiling at him, "Hey, you. What're you out here all by yourself?"
Harry put his hand on her cheek, "Hermione, you know I love you, right?"
"Of course, Harry," she laughed at the obvious question.
Harry took his hand away and started pacing again for a moment before stopping, "Hermione, what do you think about Ny—"
He broke off, he wasn't about to ruin her birthday about something that probably wasn't even a problem, "What do you say we go on back inside. I hear Tali scheduled some live entertainment."
"Is that what that big stage is for?" Hermione said, dawning realization.
Harry laughed and put his arm around her shoulder as they walked back into the restaurant.
"Hey, Harry, Sirius needs to talk to you about covering his classes on Thursday," Remus said, walking up to them.
"What for?" Hermione asked.
"Padfoot and Tali have their first baby-prep class. I'm covering for Tali, but Sirius still needs someone," Remus explained.
"Alright," Harry kissed Hermione on the cheek, "Meet you at our table in ten minutes."
Hermione nodded and Harry walked off into the crowd with Remus, "I thought I already agreed to cover for Sirius."
Remus shrugged, "Needed to tell her something didn't I? Now, get going. Ron and Lavender are ready and waiting."
"Right. Just make sure she's up close. Makes it easier, don't you know?" Harry asked with a corky smile.
"Of course," Remus laughed and Harry ran off.
"And now, as promised, we have a special live performance. This one is dedicated to you, Hermione." said Tali before reading off a card in her hand, "To the one who's always been there for me, no matter how big of an ass I might have been. If it weren't for you I don't know how I would have made it this far. Happy birthday."
As she finished this, she hurried off the stage and the lights dimmed. Hermione had no idea what was going on but had little time to think on it as bright spot lights turned on and slowly the curtain lifted up. Red smoke with golden specks of light floating everywhere was covering the stage and was so thick that it was impossible to see clearly. A figure stood in the center of the stage, tapping its foot impatiently.
Two more figures ran up behind the first one from opposite sides of the stage. Clapping a hand on the first one's shoulders, they mocked a fake, silent, conversation. The first figure took a few steps away from its friends and nodded sideways towards the audience. Then, all of a sudden, music started. The first one started singing and was quickly joined by the other two. The voices sounded deadly familiar, but Hermione couldn't quite place them.
"I'm layin' it
On the line to show you
I'll never let you go
On the line for your love
There's nothing I want more"
On the word 'more', the three figures dropped quickly and hit the floor with their hands before jumping back to their feet, causing the smoke and golden specs flew out towards the audience where it settled close to the ground, revealing none other than Harry, Ron, and Lavender on the stage smiling broadly at the audience.
They looked at those in the room for only an instant before they began dancing as everyone, other than Hermione who was still in shock, started jumping up and down and cheering them on. After a moment, Harry stopped moved forward as Ron and Lavender continued dancing in the background. He appeared to be looking at no one in particular, but Hermione couldn't help but feel that he was talking to her as he sang:
"Another dead-end street
Another love gone wrong
Another shattered dream
Always the same old song
I started thinking that
You'd never come along"
Lavender and Harry suddenly switched places and Lavender started singing as the boys did back up:
"I got all this love inside"
Harry and Ron threw their hands into the air:
"(All this love inside)"
Lavender smiled as Harry and Ron joined her on either side and she continued singing:
"That will show no words tonight I--"
Harry and Ron quickly joined in:
"Wish you knew"
Lavender continued as the boys stopped all movement:
"What--"
Harry and Ron suddenly came back to life sang with Lavender:
"I've been through"
Lavender tilted her body to the side and pointed directly to Hermione:
"To get to you"
Harry jumped forward:
"I'm layin' it"
Ron and Lavender started dancing again:
"On the line to show you"
Harry was grinning broadly as he briefly caught eyesight with Hermione:
"I'll never let you go"
Ron and Lavender looked at each other and smiled:
"On the line for your love"
Harry pretended to ignore the looks of lust Ron and Lavender were giving each other as he continued:
"There's nothing I want more"
The two seemed to have read Harry's mind and snapped their attention back to the audience:
"When you smile"
All three snapped their legs together and motioned identically with their hands:
"I feel my heart open
And I know there's nothing
That I wouldn't do"
Harry snapped his head to the audience:
"I'm layin' it"
Ron and Lavender turned their heads to the audience as well and sang with Harry:
"On the line this time"
Harry raised his hand and pointed directly to Hermione:
"Just to be with you"
They all started dancing again, as Harry sang by himself, and every person there knew the deeper meaning behind the words:
"After everything
My heart's been through
I treasure every moment
I spend with you"
Harry's mind was spinning with resurfaced memories, and he could barely contain his happy laughter as he sang:
"For me to feel this way
Is something new!"
Ron had, casually, danced forward, and now was the center of attention as he sang and Harry shrunk back to join Lavender:
"Now it's got a hold of me
It's making me believe
The love we've got is something
Unlike any other!"
Harry fell from the air above Ron, right in front of him, easily on his feet:
"I'm layin' it"
Harry and Lavender danced with each other:
"On the line to show you"
Ron was to the side, but was still dancing as he sang:
"I'll never let you go"
Harry and Lavender were still dancing:
"On the line"
Ron joined them:
"For your love"
As Harry and Lavender drew out the word 'love,' Ron continued singing:
"There's nothing I want more"
Harry and Lavender were dancing independently now as they sang:
"When you smile, yeah
I feel my heart open
And I know there's nothing
That I wouldn't do"
Ron shook his head:
"(That I wouldn't do)"
Harry had, by that point, blocked out all the noise and commotion that was coming from the audience as he concentrated solely on the dance and song which were growing ever more intense:
"I'm layin' it"
Ron and Lavender were glistening with sweat just as much as Harry was as they joined him:
"On the line this time
Just to be with you"
Harry stopped dancing momentarily:
"No more, yeah, yeah"
Ron was up front again, singing, as Harry and Lavender danced back up:
"If you're thinking what he's thinking
All you gotta do is say the word
If you tell him what you're needing
He can give you what you're asking for"
Harry danced with his upper body, not moving his feet once, as he sang:
"When I didn't have a prayer
I thought nobody cared
I turned around
And you were there"
Bright white lights blazed up in all directions, causing everyone to have to shield their eyes for less then a second. However, when they looked back up, the first thing they noticed was that there had been a costume change.
Harry and Ron were dressed in loose black pant and burgundy shirts. Lavender was in a mid-thigh length gold colored sleeveless dress.
The second thing most noticed was the renewed energy of the three on stage. They danced with more fervor than ever as Ron and Lavender sang:
"I've been waiting for you"
Harry bounced slightly as he sang:
"(Waiting for you baby)"
Ron and Lavender started up again:
"And I want you to know"
The volume and enthusiasm with which Harry sang completely dwarfed the efforts put off by Ron and Lavender, though no one was really surprised. Harry was, after all, not only the one who wrote it, but the same person whose feelings went into the song:
"(I want you to know!)"
Ron and Lavender were, by now, quite out of breath, no matter the many times they had rehearsed the routine. However, neither wanted to let Harry down anymore than he had already been let down with Nyo, and it was with that persistence that they continued:
"On the line to show you"
Harry's mind was concentrated too fully on Hermione to think about anything other than the routine, so he had no trouble going on:
"You bet I'll never let you go"
Ron and Lavender constant in the perfectly coordinated movements and it wasn't long until the aches in their sides were but a memory:
"On the line for your love"
Harry sang the next part with so much zeal that he couldn't help but bend at the stomach:
"There's nothing I want more"
Ron and Lavender relaxed into a more simplistic dance routine:
"When you smile, yeah
I feel my heart open"
Harry and Ron inconspicuously made their way behind Lavender as they sang:
"And I know there's nothing
That I wouldn't do"
Lavender smiled at finally having the spot light and sang her piece:
"(Doesn't matter what I'm doing)"
Harry raised his arms:
"I'm layin' it"
Ron spun forward and Lavender spun backward in one swift, synchronized movement so they were, roughly, the same distance from the audience:
"On the line to show you"
Harry grinned out toward the crowd of people in the building, in particular a speechless brunette in the front row:
"I'm never gonna let you
Never gonna let you go"
Ron and Lavender joined Harry on either side and the two sang:
"On the line"
All three started a new part of the dance routine at the exact same moment:
"For your love"
Harry spun out of the routine:
"There's nothing I want more"
Ron and Lavender continued as if Harry was still with them:
"When you smile
I feel my heart open
Yeah"
Harry was, once again, in front of the other two as he sang with such intensity, that he couldn't dance at the same time:
"I know there's nothing
That I would not do
I'm layin' it"
They were all, at that moment, in a line, and all dancing ceased as they chorused each other:
"On the line this time"
Ron and Lavender were frozen in their final position as Harry slowly brought his hand down to point to Hermione as he finished out the song:
"Just to be with you"
They finished to an earsplitting applause. Breathing heavily and smiles threatening to rip their faces in two, the three relaxed from their closing pose to the song. Harry glanced at Ron and Lavender who grinned even wider, if that was possible, and nodded him on. Confidence assured by this and by the tear stained face of happiness of Hermione, Harry nodded back to them and walked to the front of the stage. He bent down and offered Hermione his hand.
All of a sudden aware of reality, Hermione blushed and smiled shyly as she took his hand. He pulled her onto the stage and the two faced each other. She couldn't care less that he was still more than a little sweaty from his performance as he lifted his hand and gently stroked her cheek. Hermione closed her eyes and felt the rest of the world drift away. All that existed in that moment was she and Harry.
She opened her eyes and smiled, "Thank you."
Harry smiled in reply and she melted. His hand slipped to the base of her neck and drew her into a kiss. Harry, who was still in the real world, heard the cheers and applause of the crowd double at the kiss and smiled to himself as he deepened it. He didn't ever remember kissing her like this before but reminded himself to try it again. When they pulled apart Hermione laughed, bit her lip, and looked down.
"What is it?" he asked her.
"I've just realized that everyone is staring at us." she said, cheeks blushing again.
Harry laughed, "Mind if I embarrass you one more time, then?"
She smirked and looked up at him sideways, "I don't know how you could."
"Hermione, can I ask you a question?" he asked.
She smiled, "Of course."
Harry began to reach towards his pocket when a loud click drew everyone's attention to the back of the room just in time to see a gaggle of paparazzi dash out of the building. Harry sighed and shook his head. How many times was he going to be interrupted before he could propose?
"Sorry," he muttered.
"It's not problem. I wondered what took them so long to get here," Hermione said with a hint of amusement.
"Huh?" Harry asked before he realized that she thought he had been apologizing for the paparazzi, "Oh, right."
"So," she asked, taking his hand, "What were you going to ask me?"
'Better now then never,' he thought to himself and he, once again, reached for his pocket…only to find a loud screech interrupt them.
"For Merlin's sake!" Sirius, Ron, and Harry exploded in frustration at the same time.
A barn owl, obviously one from the school, quickly found its way to Harry's shoulder. He sighed and untied the letter from the owl's leg. Maybe he would be able to propose before he died…yeah, as long as he got to do it before his eightieth birthday he'd be happy. Shaking his head, he unfolded the letter and felt his eyes narrow.
"What is it?" Lavender asked, walking up to him.
Harry stuffed the letter in his pocket and turned to them, "Nothing. You guys just have a fun time. I'll meet you back at Hogwarts later."
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
Harry turned to her and kissed her cheek, "Don't worry about it. I'll see tomorrow. Happy Birthday, Herms."
And, before another question could be asked, he was gone in a pop.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Lots of stuff to think about, huh? Well, let me apologize first off. For those of you who haven't read Wanted: Love, I'm certain that the whole song didn't make much sense, but for the rest of you, what do you think? Nice way of linking the two stories, right? Anywho, don't ask about the whole Shakespeare thing. Honestly, I don't know. I started writing and it just came out.
NEXT CHAPTER: Harry has something.unexpected to deal with at Hogwarts. We find out where Nyo went for all that time. Ron vows to keep an eye out for all his friends. And, possibly, the Faculty v. Gryffindor Quidditch game. The last one isn't a guarantee. It's a possibility!