Chapter 23

Engaging Conversation

"You remember?" he asked.

"Yes, why didn't you do that earlier?" she asked, "I've missed it so much…"

"So have I, my wonderful loving Herm," Harry whispered in her ear, "So have I."

Hermione smiled slyly, "Was that my engagement ring?" she asked.

"Yes, my conscience," he answered kissing her neck, she responded by moving closer.

"When?" she asked. "When it is time to surprise you," replied Harry.

Hermione's clock read 12:00 p.m., neither one wanted to get up. "Harry," said Hermione quietly, "Time to get up."

Harry groaned, "Come on Herm, we haven't slept in two weeks," he replied.

"I know Harry, but I'm hungry," she said.

"Okay, then can we go back to bed?" asked Harry.

"Sure," said Hermione, "I'm tired still too." They got up and went downstairs.

"Good afternoon, Harry, Hermione," smiled Mr. and Mrs. Granger.

"Morning mum, dad," said Hermione smiling brightly, but still looking tired.

"Lunch is almost ready," Mrs. Granger said quickly, "Then both of you get back to bed, both of you were up for over 336 hours!"

"How do you figure that?" asked Harry.

"7 times 24 equals 168 times 2 equals 336, so you've both been up for 336 hours or two weeks. I don't know how well the body takes that…"

Hermione smiled somewhat, "Well, I feel much better than I have in weeks," she said sitting down. Harry sat beside her, she leaned on him.

Mr. Granger smiled, "This is much better," he said, "How much do you remember Hermione?"

Hermione sighed, "The later stuff is a little fuzzy, I remember everything up until I felt someone stun me," she replied.

Harry stroked her hair, "Good, I don't want you to remember much after that," he said quietly.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because of a secret I will never reveal," he replied.

Hermione glanced at him, "Oh, don't worry Harry, you'll tell me," she said in a dangerous tone.

"How do you figure that?" he asked.

"Because," she replied smiling at him, "You know what will await you later…"

Harry laughed, "I still can't tell you, it would be very… nasty… memory," he said quietly.

"Why?" she asked.

"I know that if you remembered, you wouldn't want me to remind you," Harry responded. Harry turned his chair slightly; Hermione rested her head on his chest. Mrs. Granger smiled quietly at them. Hermione blushed slightly at her mother's face, but didn't move.

After lunch Harry and Hermione went back to bed, "It's been a long summer," said Hermione quietly. "Not anymore," replied Harry hugging her.

"Yeah," Hermione whispered. They both curled up and fell asleep.

They both woke up feeling very refreshed and raced each other downstairs. Hermione won, Harry embraced her from behind, "Good job Herm," he said quietly kissing her.

"Quit it Harry," she giggled, "You let me win."

"So?" asked Harry as he continued to hold her.

"Well, it's almost good night guys," smiled Mr. Granger, he noticed Hermione and Harry were both so happy, happier than he had seen them in weeks. They were both smiling. Both Mr. and Mrs. Granger loved Harry like a son. They wondered why he hadn't proposed already, but they knew he probably had something very special in mind. Harry smiled, it wouldn't be like he hoped… or maybe it would.

Harry hugged Hermione, "Well, imagine that," he said in a teasing voice to Hermione.

She giggled, "Maybe because we slept all day?" she responded in the same teasing voice. 

"You guys look a lot better," commented Mrs. Granger with a smile.

Hermione smiled at her mother, "We do feel a lot better mum," she said happily no longer shy about her and Harry's affections, pulling him tighter around her.

"Well, dinner's ready," said Mrs. Granger still smiling. Hermione and Harry almost seemed to have a glow between them. As they ate Harry thought about how he was going to propose, he had to get her to Hogwarts. Not to mention it would be very difficult to hide this much from the Ministry. But Hermione was worth it to him. After dinner, Harry and Hermione went to bed.

As she fell asleep Harry shook her, "Herm, I'd love to show you something," he said.

"What?" asked Hermione with tired but glowing smile.

"Come on," Harry said. Hermione got up, Harry grabbed her around her waist and disappeared into flames.

They appeared at Hogwarts, "Why'd we come here?" she asked.

Without answering It had hit Harry, he had absorbed it. But Harry had been knocked out, an arrow flew, it hit Voldemort in the shoulder, more came, Death Eaters started to fall, too many, Voldemort ran, the giants came to his aid. The Centaurs and teachers joined together, they proved formidable but were losing. The giants swung their clubs hard and fast, Hermione sobbed. She kissed his lips, their necklaces once again touched. Light erupted, Hermione found herself looking at Harry who was sitting at the edge, just like she had. "Harry, please," she sobbed. Harry stood up and walked towards her, they both had a light shimmering beneath their skin, he touched her face and wiped away her tears. "Herm, I'm not going anywhere yet," said Harry, "I still have something left, something that must be done. But I was waiting for you." He smiled at her. They kissed, rain started to fall, "Herm, I love you more than life itself," Harry said as their foreheads touched. Hermione gave a sobbing laugh, "I love you too Harry," she replied just before she fainted from exhaustion. Harry picked her up, "ENOUGH!" he yelled, "TOO LONG HAVE WE BEEN FIGHTING." The giants stopped and watched the small one that dared to try to stop them. They rushed towards him, Harry looked up, the clouds gathered dark and threatening, lighting flashed, thunder roared. Lighting reached towards the group of giants, many fell. The giants rebounded, after a few seconds. Harry held up a finger, the rest fell as if they had run into a brick wall. Harry whispered, the ground shook and trembled, the giants roared as the earth opened to receive them, swallowing the last of the giants; the end of a race, Harry felt a tear escape. He turned, Voldemort was almost outside of Hogwarts grounds, Harry watched as he reached the end of the gate. Harry sighed, Voldemort vanished. That was one battle still to be fought. He held up his palm, Voldemort tripped and fell, Harry smiled as he dragged him back, not caring to pick him up off the ground beforehand. Harry whispered to himself again, the ground opened wide, Voldemort was nearing the edge, Harry stopped him. "Tom, I wish things could have turned out differently, we may have in time become friends," Harry said sadly. Harry pulled with his finger, Voldemort, Tom Riddle, the last heir of Slytherin, fell screaming. Harry turned away sadly, the ground rumbled and closed. Many of the teachers and Centaurs were hurt, Harry lifted them off the ground and allowed them to float behind him up to the hospital wing.

After Harry handed a limp Hermione to Madam Pomfery, he fell to his knees, exhausted. "On to the bed," she said pointing to the one next to Hermione. Harry couldn't get up. He lay on the floor, out of breath and strength. The clouds dispersed and the sun shone. Madam Pomfery levitated him onto a bed. Harry fell asleep.

When he awoke it was night, Hermione was by his bedside. "Harry!" she whispered, "You okay?" "Yes," replied Harry, "Come on, I'm not letting Voldemort ruin this night." "Where we going?" asked Hermione. Harry dragged her up to the West tower, "Herm, you remember when you found me here?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied with a smile at the memory. Harry smiled as she sat down, "Herm, you know the best moment in my life?" he asked. "No," she answered in a questioning tone. "When a bossy little girl asked me if I had seen a toad named Trevor." He paused, Hermione giggled, "I remember that," she said. "Now I look back and I see that you are my life, without you, I couldn't live; there would be nothing left to fight for. You are my reason for continuing both my external and internal battles," Harry said. Hermione looked suspicious, but her pulse doubled, her breathing fast and shallow.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Harry got down on one knee, "Hermione Granger, the Centaurs say the future is written in the stars. So that leaves one question for us, is that our destiny written in the stars?" he asked looking towards the horizon behind him. Hermione sighed in disappointment; Harry was asking her a question about homework!

She looked, there was nothing, but then the stars from across the sky streaked as they moved together to form the words brightly in the heavens 'Hermione Granger, will you marry me?''. Hermione started crying, Harry pulled out a glass box, "Harry, I will," she said crying. Harry put the ring on her left hand. She hugged and kissed him passionately, still sobbing. She saw that within the ring's diamond form the words, 'Hermione Granger, the most beautiful loving fiancé a man could ever hope for.' "Harry," she said tears in her eyes, "This is what I have been wanting for a long time." "Herm, my loving fiancé, my secret is I forged an alliance with the Centaurs, later we will have to fight beside them again," Harry admitted. "I love you Harry, so much, it hurt me that you hadn't proposed to me already, I thought you had to get permission from my dad," Hermione sobbed. "No, I got it before I left after Christmas, but I had to ask someone else, someone who could help me ask you correctly," said Harry. "Who?" she asked. "My dad," said Harry in a whisper. "When can we get married?" asked Hermione. "I thought that sometime summer after next would be good for us," smiled Harry, "I won't rush this, it is too important." Hermione and Harry lay down and watched the stars for a while after Harry had released them, Hermione constantly holding his hand. "Harry, what is in our future?" she asked. Harry looked into the distance, "Herm, it is two fold, what we make it and what others will make of theirs," he replied, "That means; there will be trials and tribulations, joys and pleasures. But I do say, our joys will out number the trials; our pleasures will outweigh our tribulations, as long as we stick together." They kissed and wished for this moment to last forever.