Return To Hogwarts
A/N: I just wanted to say thanks for all the reviews and to let you know there's only about another 4 chapters left till this story comes to an end.
Visions of Hermione limp body kept flashing through Harry's mind as he slept; Thoughts and beliefs that she was no longer in the world of the living. Harry's dreams were tormenting him but he was unable to make them stop he could not seem to break free from his dreams. A month had past since he defeated Lord Voldemort and Harry was starting to wonder if he was dead he couldn't get back to his world. Until he began to slowly hear voices of friends; Those of Ron, Lavender, Dean, Fred, George, And Lupin. One was missing and that worried him he couldn't take it anymore was she alive and safe. Had he failed her and let her get hurt perhaps killed; these thoughts alone shock him to the core. And he was finally able to force his eyes to open as he looked around the room he spotted Lupin sleeping in the corner.
"Lupin where am I." Harry said slowly causing Lupin to jump from the chair
"Oh my Harry your finally up; Your in St. Mungo's. Let me go get a medi witch." Lupin said heading for the door
"Wait where's Hermione? Is she ok? What happened with the dark lord?" He asked quickly
"Oh Harry Hermione's fine she's been awake for about 2 days now. As for the dark lord he's gone you did it he'll never return not this time; now let me go get a medi witch." Lupin said as he left the room
Across the hall
Hermione, Ron, And Lavender where sitting discussing the things going on in the wizarding world now that the dark lord was no longer in power.
"Well I hear Fudge is going to be kicked out of office as soon as things calm back down." Ron said
"Really who do you think will take his place?" Lavender asked as she pushed her chair closer to Hermione's bedside
"No clue probably someone who already works for the ministry." Hermione added
"Well as long as there not like fudge then they can only be better." Ron said
"So Hermione since you don't have to worry about your NEWT'S till the end of the summer what'll you do to stay busy while the rest of us are struggling with are studies?" Lavender asked with a grin
"I'll be studying with you since now me and Harry have to catch up."
"Oh Hermione come on even with you missing over a month of class your still ahead of all of us your such a book worm you know that." Ron said laughing
As she began to tell Ron off for his comment Hermione got an anxious feeling like she just needed to get up and move. Like if sitting in her bed a moment longer would cause her insides to explode!
"Ron let's take a walk I can't stay in this room a minute longer." She said quickly Ron gave her a weird look but agreed to go along with her.
"Ok Hermione if you need to walk then well walk let me grab your robe for you." He said grabbing her robe out of the closet and passing it to her.
As they headed out the room Ron bumped into Lupin who had a big smile on his face.
"Professor is everything going ok what's the smile for?" Ron asks
"You'll all be glad to hear Harry just woke up." He said but before he could finish Hermione was already in Harry's room
"Guess maybe we should leave them two to talk I'm going to get the medi witch you two can wait here if you like." He said as he headed down the hall way
"Harry your awake!" Hermione said as she pulled him into a huge hug
"Yeah but if you keep choking me I wont be for long." Harry said Hermione quickly pulled away with a shy grin
"Sorry."
"Not a problem I'm so happy to see you; you're the only one who's allowed to choke me." He said
"I better be. So did you just wake up cause if you've been up for long and didn't tell me you'll be in big trouble." Hermione said
"Of course I wanted to go and see you but Lupin said I had to see a medi witch first." Harry said
"Yeah they did the same thing to me when I woke up." Hermione said
Harry and Hermione talked for hours she told him how they didn't have to worry about there newts, How the order and aurors had captured most of the remaining deatheaters, How fudge was going to be replaced, and she sadly told about Ginny's death before the medi witches forced her to return to her own room.
It was another 2 weeks before they were allowed to return to Hogwarts and another week before they where allowed to rejoin there classmates for classes and meals; which was definitely to long for them. As they entered the great hall for there first day back to there normal schedules the hall erupted in applause even including most Slytherins.
"Silence!" Dumbledore said the crowd quickly returned to there seats allowing Harry and Hermione too took there's.
"I would like too first announce as you all can see the return of the two people responsible for the downfall of Voldemort, secondly I'd like to announce that in celebration of the dark lords downfall there will be a ball in a months time all years are allowed to attend. Now chow down on this great breakfast and then off to classes with all of you." Dumbledore said with a huge twinkle in his eyes
"Well I have a feeling it's going to be pretty hard to make it down the halls people are going to be stopping us left and right." Harry said looking at all the people starring at him as he ate his breakfast
"Don't worry I've already set up a couple of people to clear a path for us. I knew it would be like this!" Ron said feeling quiet proud of himself
"Oh good job Ron I do want to get to class on time it being are first day back." Hermione said
"Oh Hermione really!" They all said laughing
They returned to classes and Hermione was relived to see that she wasn't as far behind as she feared; Harry on the other hand wasn't so relived. But he knew Hermione would make sure he caught up he was just worried about what she would put him through. They sat in their private common room studying with Ron and Lavender.
"We'll be right back Lavender can you come with me I need your advice on the dress I'm gonna wear for the ball." Hermione said heading up the stairs
"OK." Harry said watching them go upstairs
"Thank goodness I needed to talk to you about something Ron."
"Why what's going on?" Ron asked
"Well when we go to Hogsmeade in 2 weeks I want to buy Hermione a ring." Harry said
"A ring? YOU MEAN AN ENGAGEMENT RING!" Ron said
"SHHHH!!! Man she'll hear you it's a surprise; I need you and Lavender to help me distract her when we go to Hogsmeade. Mainly you cause I was hoping to get Lavender to help me pick the ring for Mione her being a girl and all." Harry said
"You got it we'll help I'll tell Lavender tonight when we're alone and we'll come up with a plan." Ron said patting Harry on the back
"Oh do you know when you're going to pop the question?" Ron asked
"Yeah I do but I ain't going to tell you that I want to shock everyone with that one." Harry said slyly
He quickly got quiet when he heard the girls coming back down from upstairs he looked at Ron and winked and went back to reading his book.
After 2 weeks full of classes and studying Harry finally had a break as they headed toward Hogsmeade with Ron and Lavender. Ron gave a wink to Harry and Harry just gave him a sly grin the plan was set and Harry was relived he knew Hermione would go for the bait. As they arrived at Hogsmead they went into Fred and Georges new joke shop that had recently opened there and was quickly putting Zonko's out of business.
"Wow guys you are really doing good." Hermione said happily
"Yeah we're so busy we can't handle it actually with this store and the one in Diagon alley we're really torn. We're going to have to hire a manager for one of the store's within a couple of months we just cant do it alone anymore." Fred said looking rather stressed
"We'll it's good your doing well to bad your so stressed out though cant enjoy it as much as you should be." Harry said smiling
"Yeah but once we get help we'll be back to are old selves this responsibility thing isn't for us." George said laughing
"Well let's not keep you any longer we're off to get some butter beers talk to you again before we head back to Hogwart's. It was great to see you!" Harry said as they headed out
"Hermione hold on a sec" Ron said taking hold of Hermione's arm
"Huh what's wrong Ron?" She asked concerned
"Well I needed some girl advice you know about Lavender." He said shyly "What I do for friends" He thought to himself
"Oh sure Ron no problem." She replied she waved for Harry and Lavender to go ahead without them
"Bingo she took the bait; come on I'm sure Ron wont be able to keep her for to long though he's not a good liar. Plus I'm sure he's highly uncomfortable talking about girls." Harry said as they quickly headed toward the jewelers.
"Yeah I know! So what kind of ring did you have in mind?" Lavender asked looking in the cases at all the different styles of rings.
"No idea really I think when I see it I'll just know." He said as he began scanning through all the rings when he spotted it and quickly pointed it out to Lavender
"Harry yeah that's it Hermione will love it." Lavender said as she waved the sales clerk over to pull it out so they could get a better look at it
"This is a beautiful piece Mr. Potter it actually just came into the store a couple of days ago" the salesman said as he placed the ring for Harry to take a better look.
The ring had a 1-karat diamond with 2 green emeralds one on both sides of the diamond as Harry looked at it he knew that this was defiantly the one and Lavender agreed. Harry gave the salesman Hermione ring to size and with a flick of a wand the salesman sized it and placed it into a box for Harry.
Harry and Lavender left the shop in perfect timing cause Ron had run out of questions for Hermione about girls, and they had started heading towards the three broomsticks to find Harry and Lav.
"Harry I'm so happy for you and Mione I cant wait to see her wearing that ring." Lavender said as they spotted there other halves walking towards them
"OK shhhh remember we can't let her know that we're up to something or shell never stop trying to figure it out." Harry said trying to cover the smile on his face
"Hi took you two long enough come on lets go get are drinks and head back to Hogwarts." Lavender said grabbing Ron's hand and walking into the 3 broomsticks
"Why she in such a rush?" Hermione asked
"I think she just wants to be alone with Ron haha." Harry said with a funny grin
"Oh" Hermione said smirking as they followed their friends
The weeks went by quickly and the day of the ball had finally arrived Harry was a nervous wreck he still hadn't told anyone his plan about proposing during the dance so he was alone with his nerves. As Hermione came down the stairs in her strapless black gown Harry couldn't help but forget about his nerves and smile at his hopefully soon to be wife.
"Oh Hermione I you're your beautiful man do we really have to go to the ball can't we just stay here alone." He said with a sly grin
"Haha now Harry it took me and hour to look this good and I'm not gonna let you mess it all up in 5min not until I get to dance with my handsome boyfriend at least once." She said smiling He smiled back and they headed to the great hall
As they walked into the great hall they were shocked by the loud applause they noticed that all the Wesley's where they're along with the new minister of magic Arthur Wesley.
"What's going on Harry?" Hermione asked with a confused look
"I have no idea." He replied
"Well I'm sure you two are wondering what we're all doing here so let's not keep you in suspense. I'm here along with all your friends to give you something that you deserve. Harry Potter Hermione Granger the whole magical community is in great debt to you and we would like to award you two with the order of Merlin 1st class." Arthur said
"Wow I don't know what to say this is a great honor thank you all." Harry said
The room once again filled with applause Dumbledore waved for the dance to continue and Harry and Hermione smiled at him and made there way for the dance floor. They danced for hours and the dance was nearing it's end Harry knew he would have to swallow his fear if he was going to do what he wanted to on this night.
"Hermione this has been a great night" Harry said
"Yes it is I don't think it could possibly get any better then this." Hermione said
"Actually I was hoping it could." Harry said bending down on one knee Ron and Lavender saw them and smiled. Hermione looked on in complete shock and smiled back at him.
"Hermione I love you more then I've ever loved anything in my life and I would be worthless without you. Will you marry me?" Harry asked
"Oh Harry only you could make this night better of course yes yes." She said with a tear in her eye Harry slid the ring on her finger and picked her up and spun around he was so happy he felt like he could do anything. To make the night more special for them Ron conjured up a c.d. player and started up the song that Harry and Hermione had first kissed too (I swear by all 4 one). Harry gave Ron a smile and Him and his future wife danced the night away. They stood in the great hall with Ron, Lavender, Lupin, Dumbledore and the Wesley's till everyone else had left.
"Well congratulations when I saw Harry get on one knee I was in shock." Lupin said smiling
"Yeah we are all so happy for you your parents would be so proud." Mrs. Wesley said
"I know they would they've told me so." Harry added
Everyone looked on like they missed something and Hermione filled them in on all that happened with Harry's family. They stood there for a while longer before heading back up to their common room.
"Harry I am so happy right now I cant even describe it in words." Hermione said as they headed up to their room
"You don't have to say it in words it's written in your smile." He said as he ran his finger across her lips Hermione leaned in and kissed him and the kiss continued to intensify she slowly pulled Harry into her room and closed the door. They made there way to the bed (And you can all fill in the rest cuz I want to keep this story clean… Sorry!)
A/N: Just wanted to make sure you all understood the timeline in this chapter when they head back to Hogwarts it's already mid-march and the dance takes place at the end of April… Hope you all are enjoying the story I'll update again soon.