Memories That Remain 2
By Gypsy Esmerelda
Rating PG
It was their final day at Hogwarts. Hermione, Ron and Harry stood on Platform 9 ¾, their school trunks by their feet. Harry and Ron were making arrangements to meet in Diagon Alley in a couple of days so they could be fitted for their wedding robes.
"Can you believe I'm getting married in two weeks?" Ron said.
Harry laughed
"I can't believe you finally asked her. You've been planning it since the moment you saw her. What took you so long?"
Ron punched his arm playfully.
"The question is, Harry my friend, what's taking you so long? When are you going to settle down?"
Harry chuckled and grinned at Ron.
"I don't want to spoil things the way they are now."
Hermione turned away from them, leaving them to their boy talk and watched as the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station. It was the last time she'd see the train and a tear trickled down her cheek as she watched her childhood vanish into the mist. She was seventeen years old and a Hogwarts graduate. She was suddenly aware of Harry's hand in hers and looked up at him gratefully. Ron had disappeared over to the other side of the platform to talk to Lisa and it was just the two of them. Harry squeezed her hand gently and smiled.
"All right, Mione?"
She nodded. "I'm okay, Harry. It just seems strange to think I won't be going back again."
"But you'll be going back one day, Hermione."
She looked at him confused.
"What do you mean?"
Harry chuckled. "You'll be going back to teach, silly."
Hermione grinned.
"I'd forgotten about that, of course I will," she giggled. She was going to train as a teacher for the next few years. Harry hugged her close to him.
"Hermione, I've got something to ask you."
She looked up at him, her arms around his waist.
"Yes Harry?"
Harry shifted nervously.
"Well, you see I didn't really know what to get you for your birthday and I remember you mentioning how much you like travelling and especially Paris. So I got these tickets and I..umm…well…would you come to Paris with me this summer as my birthday gift to you?"
Hermione looked up at him, speechless. He looked back down at her, biting his lip nervously and suddenly Hermione had this overwhelming desire to kiss it. She leaned upwards and brushed her lips across his gently and then whispered in his ear.
"I'd love to, Harry."
He gazed at her in surprise and then suddenly he was kissing her again, not just a soft brush of the lips but a passionate embrace as all their built up feelings came flooding out and overtook them. As they broke apart, she was aware of Ron and Lisa standing beside them, grinning from ear to ear.
"Well, its about time too," said Ron with a grin. "You've both been fighting that all year, I thought it was never going to happen."
Hermione blushed softly and to his credit, so did Harry.
"It wasn't that easy, Ron. I didn't want to lose her."
Ron shook his head and smiled.
"You never will."
Three weeks later, while Ron and Lisa were in the Dominican Republic on their honeymoon, Harry and Hermione walked hand in hand down the Champs Elysee in Paris. They passed a small café and Harry pulled her inside and sat at a table. They ordered drinks and he reached over and took her hand gently in his.
"Hermione, thank you."
She wrinkled her nose in confusion.
"For what, Harry?"
He smiled and kissed her fingertips gently.
"For being here with me, for making this holiday one to remember, for being my friend and my girlfriend, for being born."
Hermione smiled.
"Oh Harry, I love you, you know that." She stopped and looked up at him, realizing what she'd said. "I do love you, Harry."
Harry nodded.
"I love you too, Hermione. And I always will. Nothing will ever change how I feel about you."
Hermione leant across the table and kissed him softly. The waiter arrived with their drinks and they sat together, holding hands and kissing and drinking until the sun started to set. Harry took her hand and they walked back towards their hotel. Harry collected their room keys and they headed upstairs. They reached Hermione's room and she opened the door. She turned back to Harry and he smiled, kissing her lips gently.
"Sleep well, Hermione," he said softly and turned to enter his room which was just opposite hers. Hermione reached out and laid her hand upon his arm.
"Don't go," she said, her heart banging against her chest nervously. Harry's eyes met hers and the promise he'd secretly made to himself before the holiday, the promise that he'd take things slowly with her was forgotten and he let her pull him inside her room, the door closing behind him and he took her into his arms.