A/N – just like to thank everyone for the encouraging reviews (:
Chapter 3 – research and promises
I just got changed and ran down to the common room to wait for Hermione to come down to so we could go to breakfast. I motioned Colin Creevy to come over to me. "Hey Colin, can I ask you a favor?"
"Yea sure Harry," replied Colin.
"Can you go to Hogesmade for me today, and buy a ring for Hermione?" I asked.
"You're asking her to marry you?" asked a stunned Colin.
"Well no, not exactly. Someday just not yet, it's more of a promise ring," I said. Though I did plan on marrying Hermione one day and starting a family.
"Yea I'll do it for you, but how am I going to get there?"
"Talk to McGonagall, tell her you're doing a favor for me. She can't say no to one of her favorite students," I replied laughing.
"Ok, what kind of ring you want?" Colin asked.
"Just a nice gold ring with a green emerald on top of it. And tell them to withdraw the money from my account and price doesn't matter," I replied.
"Sure thing Harry, I'll go now. So I can stop at the camera store I need to get some film for you're graduation coming up. Ill be back this afternoon and give it to you," replied Colin.
"Thanks Colin I owe you one," I replied.
"You don't owe me anything Harry; after all you saved the world. Anyway I will see you later," replied Colin as he walked off.
"What were you talking to Colin about," asked Hermione coming up from behind me and giving me a kiss.
"Oh, he was just asking me for signed autographs," I replied smirking. "So you all set?" She just nodded and I grabbed her hand as we silently walked off to the great hall. It was a comfortable silence; we need no words to show how much we enjoyed each others company. We finally reached the great hall and walked in when everyone stood up and started clapping. I should have suspected this after all I did just defeat Voldemort. We silently took are seats, when Dumbledore stood up.
"I'm sure you would all like to welcome back Mr. Potter and Mrs. Granger, and thank Harry for saving the wizarding world once again," replied a sparkling eyed Dumbledore. And once again everyone clapped and I just waved to them all. "And I'm sure you would like to congratulate him and Mrs. Granger on their new relationship," chuckled Dumbledore. Me and Hermione just blushed as everyone congratulated us. I could have sworn I heard Hagrid tell the other professors to pay up.
"Oy Harry," said Ron in between bights. "I spoke to the scout and he has agreed to meet you on our second weekend off this summer."
"Kay thanks Ron," I replied while sipping down my orange juice.
"Did Ronald tell you the big news?" asked Ron's girlfriend Luna. Me and Hermione just shook our heads no. "Well my father is taking me and Ronald to Italy this summer with him on one of his reports."
"That's great," replied Hermione. "We should be off the library and start working on our speeches for graduation."
"Yea that's funny Hermione," said Ron. "Like yous our actually going to write, more like lip locking."
Hermione just scowled at him, while I replied, "I wish." Ron just started cracking up as Hermione drug me off to the library. I reached down for her hand and squeezed it and she gave me a sweet smile.
"Why don't you start writing you're speech while I search for Psychomanteum and whatever it means," said Hermione. I just nodded and pretended to start writing while I was actually watching her read this book on ancient Greeks. When Hermione gave a shriek I was taken out of my dream state.
"What's wrong?" She didn't answer she just handed me the book, and I took it and started to read the page she had open.
Psychomanteum is what the ancient Greeks believed to be the gift of seeing the dead. Some Greeks were supposed to have this ability. They were often refereed to as Psychomanters. There jobs as they believed were to help the dead rest in peace. But some of the dead didn't want that and turned on the psychomanters. There hasn't been a reported case of pshchomanteum in nearly five hundred years. Some believe this is just a giant hoax while others believe it is a real gift or curse as some say.
"I think we should talk to Dumbledore about this?" I asked. "I mean he might have some knowledge on this subject."
"Ok, but can we wait till after graduation?" she asked. I only nodded, it's not like I could ever deny her anything anyway. "So how much of you're speech did you get done?"
"Well..um...you see...I have had some writers cramp," I said trying to be serious. She just rolled her eyes at me. I looked up at the clock to see we have spent the whole afternoon in here. "We spent the whole afternoon in here and only found out that little bit about this gift. No matter it's time for you to get changed."
"Changed for what?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, I suppose I forgot to mention that I have arranged dinner for us in the room of requirement," I replied.
"Yea must of slipped you mind," she replied smirking.
"Well if you rather I invite Cho....," I just saw her give me a glare the rivaled Mrs. Weaslys. I gulped, "It was a joke...see...hah...hah."
"Well it wasn't a very funny one," said a stern Hermione. "But since you went through all the trouble I better go change."
Fifth teen minutes later while I was waiting for Hermione in the common room Colin walked in. "Perfect timing Colin, did you get it?"
"You bet ya," he replied handing me the little box with the ring in it. It was a beautiful gold ring with an emerald on the top.
"She will love it, thanks Colin," I said. Just as Colin was walking away a beautiful Hermione walked up to me wearing a long emerald green dress. My mouth dropped, "You look adorable Mione."
"You don't look to bad yourself," she replied. "Well you ready to go then?" I just nodded and took her hand and led the way to the room of requirement. When we reached it I blind folded her eyes. And led her in when she opened her eyes she screamed, "Its beautiful Harry."
The room was all dark except in the middle was a small circular table with candles in the middle of the table. And soft music playing in the background. So we ate and made quite talk for a little. "So Hermione what do you plan on doing after school? I mean you know that I plan to play quiditch, but you never really mentioned what you wanted to do?"
"Well I haven't decided yet, I am still thinking about being a healer, working for the ministry, continuing house elf liberation, or just writing novels," she replied.
"Well whatever you do you will do great in," I said giving her one of my charming smiles. "And do you still want to live with me and Ron after school? I mean Luna will probably live with us once she graduates and stuff, but do you still want to I mean stay with me?"
"A course I do Harry, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else," she replied. And I just gave her a beaming smile.
"Would like to dance?" I asked holding out my arm.
"Ok, but I didn't know you could dance?" she asked.
"Well I never said I was good." We danced for what seemed like hours just contempt in each others harms. Her head rested on my chest as we swayed to the music.
"We should really get back and get some sleep," said a sighing Hermione.
"Ok, but one last gift," I said as I handed her the small box with the ring in it and a card. I gave her an encouraging nod. She opened the box and gasped.
"Harry you didn't have to..."
"I know but I wanted to," I said cutting her off.
"It's beautiful," she said putting on the ring.
"Open the card." So she opened the card.
Hermione the ring I gave you tonight is a promise ring that one day we will be married. I would have asked you tonight but we are still too young ourselves and unsure of what our futures holds for us. But as long as we have each other we will meet anything thrown are way. I also promise that we will one day start a family together; there is no one I would rather be with Mione. I love you. - Harry your knight in gold armor
She just started to cry and threw her arms around me and captured my lips. "I really do love you Harry Potter."
"Good," I just mumbled as we kept kissing, getting lost in the music. We ended up just conjuring a bed and slept there tonight. It was hard being so close to her after kissing for a couple of hours, and not be able to take the next step. But I loved her to much to take that step when she isn't ready. With that I slowly drifted off to sleep my arms securely around the women I loved.