Disclaimer: Simply borrowing these characters and not making a profit.
-- Chapter Sixteen --
- Without permission, Midnight Mistress, Suzaku West, SiriusChick88, Shui- Wing0, bloodbunny, Munku-JGSPTV, Shania Maxwell - thank you for reviewing!
A/N – I'm not big on m.preg, so you won't be seeing it in here. This is just a notification for those of you who were looking for it. Also, this chapter is mostly going to concentrate on Hermione and Ron, for obvious reasons, but then I'm going back to Draco and Harry. On other notes, as in most sports, I'm sure that the team that someone plays for doesn't necessarily have to be from that country. I actually did mean to do that (Harry saying 'sure' twice in the same way). That's why he smiles, but now that I read that part again, I know what you're saying. Sorry it wasn't clear. Hermione didn't really suddenly walk in. There was a fairly long break (about half an hour to an hour) after her and Ron's conversation and then when she walked in. Sorry 'bout the confusion there. One final thing, the proposal, well, all I can say is, a girl can dream, right? Anyway, prepare for a long chapter!
--
Harry awoke to find Draco gone. He got up and walked out without looking back. He checked his watch. He was just in time for breakfast. He walked up to his room and took a quick shower, following his usual morning routine, with one exception. After he finished packing his book bag with everything that he'd need, he walked over to the trunk at the foot of his bed. He opened it and performed a disengagement spell. The contents of the chest immediately disappeared and were replaced by the real contents. At the very bottom lay his father's invisibility cloak.
He pulled it out gently and placed it into his book bag. Satisfied with his appearance (he never had been able to get his hair to lay flat, but now, with the change in his exterior, it seemed to suit him, flatter him, even), he walked out.
Hermione and Ron were already seated, enjoying their breakfast to at least some extent. Hermione's eyes were still a little bit red and puffy, and Ron constantly kept falling into an uncanny stupor.
"Good morning," Harry said, rather cheerily, at least in comparison to the rest of this term.
A series of hello's erupted from the table as Harry took his seat.
"Lunch?" Harry confirmed with Ron.
"Yeah, mate. Can't wait for lunch either," Ron attempted to cover up Harry's blunder when Hermione raised her disheveled eyebrows. The sham didn't satisfy Hermione's natural curiosity, but she didn't pressure it. She perceptibly had other things on her mind.
Harry watched as she swallowed her scrambled omelet, then turned green and ran out of the Great Hall.
"Erm... you think I have to... go with her?" Ron asked, with a look of evident aversion.
Harry shrugged, and then slowly nodded. Ron hesitantly rose and walked vigorously after her.
Harry had, by then, lost his appetite. He swallowed a glass of pumpkin juice and eventually retraced both Hermione's and Ron's footsteps.
His first class would normally have been Herbology, but due to the restriction, it was moved to once a week in the Great Hall. Today wasn't that day. Instead, Harry made his way to History of Magic.
Hermione was already there. Harry took his seat to her right, saving the seat on her left for Ron.
"Feeling better?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said, her blush surged.
"So, what are your plans for later?" he asked, vigilantly.
"We have the Astronomy exam coming up after tomorrow, so I'm probably going to go to the Library. You should come."
"Actually, I have lessons with Windsler. I want Ron to come," he said.
She looked at Harry in surprise.
"Yeah, I guess that would be a good idea," she said, after a moment.
Harry was also a bit surprised at the lack of conviction that required, but made a mental note to suggest it to Ron in reality.
The rest of his classes went by monotonously.
Harry and Ron imparted their goodbyes to Hermione and walked out five minutes before their last class ended, on the pretense that Harry's scar was burning.
They headed in the direction of Dumbledore's office. Midway, Harry stopped and pulled out the Marauder's Map. He studied it and then reached into his book bag to retrieve the Cloak.
They walked silently outside to the Whomping Willow. Harry recalled his meeting with Draco.
As soon as they reached the Shrieking Shack, they quietly talked.
"Hermione thought it was a good idea if you went to my lessons," he suggested.
"Really?" he asked, just as surprised as Harry was. Both of them knew just how apprehensive she was around him. "I guess I should," he said, somewhat tentatively himself.
"All right. It's tomorrow instead of Trelawney,"
"Yeah, I remember. You left me alone in that fucking class with that idiot of a bat," he joked.
"It's not my fault that Dumbledore made that class a requirement," Harry said, justifying his 'infidelity". He was referring to the list of classes Dumbledore required all students to take, regardless of year, in anticipation for Voldemort. Divination was among them because the Order had hoped to find some seers among the students. After all, Harry's prophecy has caused a lot of respite, although not many knew about it.
"Yeah. I was just joking mate, in any case," Ron said.
"I've been meaning to ask you, where'd you get the money for the ring?" Harry asked.
"Oh, that," Ron said. "Remember how I worked at Fred and George's store?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, I didn't spend any of that money," he said bluntly.
"But didn't you buy your new broom?"
"No. Well, yeah, but no."
"Right..."
"Okay, but you can't tell anyone, or Ginny will kill me" Ron said, a sudden air of mystery about him.
"Sure," Harry said, eager to hear his friend's secret.
"Colin bought it for Ginny, but Ginny didn't want it, so she gave it to me," he mumbled.
"So Colin likes Ginny, everyone knows that. What's the big deal about that?"
A sudden rush of crimson rose to Ron's cheeks and Harry realized why Ron had kept the gift a secret. Ron had always gotten hand-me-downs from all his older siblings, but now, at least to him, he felt that he was getting charity from even his youngest sibling.
"Ron, we're here. Where were you planning on going?" Harry quickly changed the subject.
"Cadliver's," he said.
"All right. I think we have to go left," Harry said.
"Can you do me a favor?" Ron asked, as they neared their dorms. "I need you to get Hermione into the Room of Requirement."
"How am I supposed to do that?"
"I dunno. Come up with something. Thanks. You're a great friend," Ron said, before Harry could protest.
A while later, Harry found Hermione and himself walking "aimlessly" through the castle, or at least, that's what Hermione thought.
While Hermione was distracted, Harry called Hedwig. Hedwig perched herself on Harry's shoulder and Harry whispered something. Hedwig instantly flew up and started flying back and forth.
"Hermione, help me catch her. I don't know what's up," Harry yelled.
"You really ought to work on your acting," Hermione said. "I'm not blind you know!"
Just as Hermione finished talking, the trio (including Hedwig) was allowed entrance into the Room of Requirement. Harry pushed Hermione in and with a smile, turned and walked to his and Draco's room.
Meanwhile, Hermione entered a room with a dim red light about it. It seemed that Ron had borrowed Trelawney's light sources. Among those were the same floating candles as in the Great Hall. But what caught Hermione's attention the most were the numerous, enchanted stargazer lilies, lavender delphiniums, heather, and so many more. All were in shades of purple, her favorite color.
"Ron?" she whispered.
She was caught by surprise when a sheepishly grinning Ron stepped in front of her.
"You did this?"
"The Room of Requirement did this," he laughed.
Out of his pocket, he pulled out a little purple box.
"'Mione, both of us know perfectly well that this is the last thing we were expecting. But I happened, and," he took a pause when he got onto one knee. Hermione couldn't help but laugh. "I was a fool. I wasted so many years when you knew perfectly well just how much I love you. Please, give me your hand and heart in marriage."
"Ron, did you memorize this?" Hermione asked slowly, trying to fight back tears of laughter.
He got up. Even through the muted lighting, Hermione could see the color of his cheeks slowly match that of his hair.
"Oh, fuck this," he said quietly.
He took a deep breath and looked at Hermione.
"Damn it, 'Mione. God knows I'm not ready for this, but I love you and I wanna do what's right. So marry me," he said sincerely.
He opened the box and displayed a ring. It was an amethyst surrounded by a series of tiny diamonds on a silver band.
"Ron, you really are a fool," she said, smiling gently as she took the ring. "Of course I will."
"Just out of curiosity, how did you manage to afford this?" she asked, as they walked out of the room.
Ron refused to answer and instead kissed her against the wall.
-- End of Chapter Sixteen --
-- Chapter Sixteen --
- Without permission, Midnight Mistress, Suzaku West, SiriusChick88, Shui- Wing0, bloodbunny, Munku-JGSPTV, Shania Maxwell - thank you for reviewing!
A/N – I'm not big on m.preg, so you won't be seeing it in here. This is just a notification for those of you who were looking for it. Also, this chapter is mostly going to concentrate on Hermione and Ron, for obvious reasons, but then I'm going back to Draco and Harry. On other notes, as in most sports, I'm sure that the team that someone plays for doesn't necessarily have to be from that country. I actually did mean to do that (Harry saying 'sure' twice in the same way). That's why he smiles, but now that I read that part again, I know what you're saying. Sorry it wasn't clear. Hermione didn't really suddenly walk in. There was a fairly long break (about half an hour to an hour) after her and Ron's conversation and then when she walked in. Sorry 'bout the confusion there. One final thing, the proposal, well, all I can say is, a girl can dream, right? Anyway, prepare for a long chapter!
--
Harry awoke to find Draco gone. He got up and walked out without looking back. He checked his watch. He was just in time for breakfast. He walked up to his room and took a quick shower, following his usual morning routine, with one exception. After he finished packing his book bag with everything that he'd need, he walked over to the trunk at the foot of his bed. He opened it and performed a disengagement spell. The contents of the chest immediately disappeared and were replaced by the real contents. At the very bottom lay his father's invisibility cloak.
He pulled it out gently and placed it into his book bag. Satisfied with his appearance (he never had been able to get his hair to lay flat, but now, with the change in his exterior, it seemed to suit him, flatter him, even), he walked out.
Hermione and Ron were already seated, enjoying their breakfast to at least some extent. Hermione's eyes were still a little bit red and puffy, and Ron constantly kept falling into an uncanny stupor.
"Good morning," Harry said, rather cheerily, at least in comparison to the rest of this term.
A series of hello's erupted from the table as Harry took his seat.
"Lunch?" Harry confirmed with Ron.
"Yeah, mate. Can't wait for lunch either," Ron attempted to cover up Harry's blunder when Hermione raised her disheveled eyebrows. The sham didn't satisfy Hermione's natural curiosity, but she didn't pressure it. She perceptibly had other things on her mind.
Harry watched as she swallowed her scrambled omelet, then turned green and ran out of the Great Hall.
"Erm... you think I have to... go with her?" Ron asked, with a look of evident aversion.
Harry shrugged, and then slowly nodded. Ron hesitantly rose and walked vigorously after her.
Harry had, by then, lost his appetite. He swallowed a glass of pumpkin juice and eventually retraced both Hermione's and Ron's footsteps.
His first class would normally have been Herbology, but due to the restriction, it was moved to once a week in the Great Hall. Today wasn't that day. Instead, Harry made his way to History of Magic.
Hermione was already there. Harry took his seat to her right, saving the seat on her left for Ron.
"Feeling better?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said, her blush surged.
"So, what are your plans for later?" he asked, vigilantly.
"We have the Astronomy exam coming up after tomorrow, so I'm probably going to go to the Library. You should come."
"Actually, I have lessons with Windsler. I want Ron to come," he said.
She looked at Harry in surprise.
"Yeah, I guess that would be a good idea," she said, after a moment.
Harry was also a bit surprised at the lack of conviction that required, but made a mental note to suggest it to Ron in reality.
The rest of his classes went by monotonously.
Harry and Ron imparted their goodbyes to Hermione and walked out five minutes before their last class ended, on the pretense that Harry's scar was burning.
They headed in the direction of Dumbledore's office. Midway, Harry stopped and pulled out the Marauder's Map. He studied it and then reached into his book bag to retrieve the Cloak.
They walked silently outside to the Whomping Willow. Harry recalled his meeting with Draco.
As soon as they reached the Shrieking Shack, they quietly talked.
"Hermione thought it was a good idea if you went to my lessons," he suggested.
"Really?" he asked, just as surprised as Harry was. Both of them knew just how apprehensive she was around him. "I guess I should," he said, somewhat tentatively himself.
"All right. It's tomorrow instead of Trelawney,"
"Yeah, I remember. You left me alone in that fucking class with that idiot of a bat," he joked.
"It's not my fault that Dumbledore made that class a requirement," Harry said, justifying his 'infidelity". He was referring to the list of classes Dumbledore required all students to take, regardless of year, in anticipation for Voldemort. Divination was among them because the Order had hoped to find some seers among the students. After all, Harry's prophecy has caused a lot of respite, although not many knew about it.
"Yeah. I was just joking mate, in any case," Ron said.
"I've been meaning to ask you, where'd you get the money for the ring?" Harry asked.
"Oh, that," Ron said. "Remember how I worked at Fred and George's store?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, I didn't spend any of that money," he said bluntly.
"But didn't you buy your new broom?"
"No. Well, yeah, but no."
"Right..."
"Okay, but you can't tell anyone, or Ginny will kill me" Ron said, a sudden air of mystery about him.
"Sure," Harry said, eager to hear his friend's secret.
"Colin bought it for Ginny, but Ginny didn't want it, so she gave it to me," he mumbled.
"So Colin likes Ginny, everyone knows that. What's the big deal about that?"
A sudden rush of crimson rose to Ron's cheeks and Harry realized why Ron had kept the gift a secret. Ron had always gotten hand-me-downs from all his older siblings, but now, at least to him, he felt that he was getting charity from even his youngest sibling.
"Ron, we're here. Where were you planning on going?" Harry quickly changed the subject.
"Cadliver's," he said.
"All right. I think we have to go left," Harry said.
"Can you do me a favor?" Ron asked, as they neared their dorms. "I need you to get Hermione into the Room of Requirement."
"How am I supposed to do that?"
"I dunno. Come up with something. Thanks. You're a great friend," Ron said, before Harry could protest.
A while later, Harry found Hermione and himself walking "aimlessly" through the castle, or at least, that's what Hermione thought.
While Hermione was distracted, Harry called Hedwig. Hedwig perched herself on Harry's shoulder and Harry whispered something. Hedwig instantly flew up and started flying back and forth.
"Hermione, help me catch her. I don't know what's up," Harry yelled.
"You really ought to work on your acting," Hermione said. "I'm not blind you know!"
Just as Hermione finished talking, the trio (including Hedwig) was allowed entrance into the Room of Requirement. Harry pushed Hermione in and with a smile, turned and walked to his and Draco's room.
Meanwhile, Hermione entered a room with a dim red light about it. It seemed that Ron had borrowed Trelawney's light sources. Among those were the same floating candles as in the Great Hall. But what caught Hermione's attention the most were the numerous, enchanted stargazer lilies, lavender delphiniums, heather, and so many more. All were in shades of purple, her favorite color.
"Ron?" she whispered.
She was caught by surprise when a sheepishly grinning Ron stepped in front of her.
"You did this?"
"The Room of Requirement did this," he laughed.
Out of his pocket, he pulled out a little purple box.
"'Mione, both of us know perfectly well that this is the last thing we were expecting. But I happened, and," he took a pause when he got onto one knee. Hermione couldn't help but laugh. "I was a fool. I wasted so many years when you knew perfectly well just how much I love you. Please, give me your hand and heart in marriage."
"Ron, did you memorize this?" Hermione asked slowly, trying to fight back tears of laughter.
He got up. Even through the muted lighting, Hermione could see the color of his cheeks slowly match that of his hair.
"Oh, fuck this," he said quietly.
He took a deep breath and looked at Hermione.
"Damn it, 'Mione. God knows I'm not ready for this, but I love you and I wanna do what's right. So marry me," he said sincerely.
He opened the box and displayed a ring. It was an amethyst surrounded by a series of tiny diamonds on a silver band.
"Ron, you really are a fool," she said, smiling gently as she took the ring. "Of course I will."
"Just out of curiosity, how did you manage to afford this?" she asked, as they walked out of the room.
Ron refused to answer and instead kissed her against the wall.
-- End of Chapter Sixteen --