Chapter 2.
Hermione woke the next morning in Harry's arms, and smiled. That was the best feeling in the world. She could lie there forever. Snuggling further into his chest, she closed her eyes again and fell promptly back asleep.
About fifteen minutes later, Harry's eyes flickered open. He looked down at the top of Hermione's head. He smiled to himself, loving that he was allowed to have her half dressed in his bed in the morning. Ever since he had started getting feelings for her in second year he had longed for her, and he sighed at the memory of the first time he held her in his arms...as his girlfriend...and when they shared their first kiss...and his memory whizzed through their relationship...from the look on Ron's face when he told him...to the first time he woke with her in his arms. He knew he wanted to be with Hermione forever, he couldn't imagine being with anyone else. As this thought ran through his head, another word came up..."Marriage." Sure, he'd love to have Hermione as a wife one day, heck, he'd marry her tomorrow...but he didn't want to seem as to rushing into things. He could never love anyone else, and he hoped she felt the same. But does the fact that he's not going to propose today show doubt? No, it can't. They had talked about marriage one day, but both wanted to concentrate on settling in their jobs and establishing themselves first, before anything else. Just as all these thoughts were confusing themselves in his head, He noticed Hermione stirring. She stretched her legs out and he could see her toes dancing through the duvet. She stretched an arm out and flopped it over Harry's stomach.
"Morning!" He said, kissing her head.
"Hey!" She smiled, kissing his bare chest "Morning to you too!"
He smiled and brought his arms around her, hugging her tightly. "I love you."
"I love you too." She smiled. "Mmm."
"Well, as much as I'd like to stay here, we'd better get up. You've got a move to do!" He said, sitting up.
"Oh! Do I have to?" She said mockingly.
"Well, don't you want to wake up to gorgeous old me every morning?"
Hermione grinned eagerly and nodded. "That's the motivation I needed!"
They quickly got dressed and went through to the kitchen and had some toast and tea. After the small breakfast, Harry led her to the fireplace.
"Ready?" He smiled, offering her the floo powder dish. "You go first! I'll be along in a minute!"
She smiled and took a handful of floo powder, gave him a quick kiss and she was gone.
Harry went to grab his floo powder...but stopped. In the Wizarding world, moving house is no problem, and doesn't take much time at all, but they'd still need help. Stepping into the fireplace, he said "The Burrow."
A few minutes later, he stumbled into the Weasleys' kitchen, where Molly was sitting at the table with a cup of tea.
"Oh, Harry dear! Lovely to see you!" She said, getting up and hugging him.
"Hello Molly! Ron about?"
"Yep, he's upstairs. Go on up!" She smiled.
He smiled back at her and made his way up to Ron's room. The door was open, so he walked in. Ron was sitting on his bed reading a Quidditch magazine.
"Hey!" Harry grinned. Ron looked up from his magazine.
"Oh, Hey Harry! What's up?" Ron asked, a curious look on his face.
"Well...I asked Hermione to move in with me." He said, beaming.
"Oh, mate, that's fantastic! Congratulations!" He grinned, getting up and giving Harry a quick man-hug, patting his back twice for good measure.
"Yep, anyway, are you busy today? We could kind of use some help. There's a free dinner in it!"
"Free food? Definitely!" Ron said. "Will I ask Ginny too?"
"Yeah, that'd be great!" Harry smiled, as Ron bounded out of the room to ask Ginny, who also still lived at home. He heard her door open and could faintly hear Ron saying "Harry's asked Hermione to move in with him!....Yeah, I know! Anyway, want to come and help her move?"
A few minutes later, Ron came back, Ginny in tow. Ginny still startled Harry slightly when he saw her. At 20 years old she had blossomed beautifully. Harry could hardly believe it was the same little Ginny he had grown to know in Hogwarts. If it was anyone else, he may have found her more attractive, but she was still Ron's little sister, and there was something weird about that, especially when they were friends too.
"Hey Gin! You look great!" Harry said, giving her a hug.
"Thanks! Oh, and congratulations about Hermione!" She smiled at him.
"Well, we off then? I said to Hermione I'd follow her to her place, but she doesn't know I was coming here, so..."
"Aaah, can't keep the lady waiting then! Right there with you!" Ron said, as the three of them walked downstairs.
"Hey mum, guess what? Hermione's moving in with Harry!"
"Oh Harry dear, that's wonderful! Congratulations!" Molly beamed.
"Well, me and Ginny are going to help her move." Ron grinned again.
"Okay. See you all later!" She said, giving them all a hug and offering the floo powder bowl, which they each took in turn and vanished, of to Hermione's.
Minutes later, the three of them appeared in the living room, to a very startled Hermione.
"I brought some helpers!" Harry said, walking over to Hermione and kissing her, putting his arm around her waist.
"Look at you two." Ron shook his head. "Moving in together. I mean, look at me, I'm 21 years old...I'm getting married to Lavender in just over a month's time and I'm still living at home! It's been impossible to find a place suitable!" He grumbled, flopping down on Hermione's couch.
"Hey..." Hermione said, with her 'thinking-face' on. "I've an idea...you don't have to...but how about you move in here? I'd only have to find someone else anyway, and who better than two of my friends!"
"Seriously?" Ron blinked, relief of not having to house-hunt anymore flooding over him.
"Yeah! Well, I'm not going to be here, am I!" She said, smiling up at Harry.
"Wow, Hermione! Thanks! I'll need to speak to Lavender, of course..."
"No problem!" Hermione smiled.
"Well, now that's all sorted, how about we get all this into boxes?" Harry glanced around at Hermione's trinkets and stuff.
Thankfully, Hermione didn't own too many possessions, little keepsakes and memories, her clothes, and all of her books, so it didn't take the four of them long to pack up the small flat. A few hours later, they were standing in the newly bare-looking living room, which was filled with brown boxes. Someone would use Mobilarbus to move as many boxes as possible (usually only one or two) into the fireplace, then squeezed in beside them and used the floo powder to transport it to Harry's, unload the boxes then go back. Thankfully, Hermione had decided to let Ron and Lavender have her furniture and appliances, which saved a lot of time and effort.
At about 6pm, they all made their way to Harry's, all the boxes having been moved, and their jobs done.
"How about just phoning for a take-away?" Harry said, dropping onto the couch. Although it hadn't been too stressful a move, they were all still tired. "Pizza sound good?"
Everyone nodded in agreement as Harry found the menu for the local muggle pizza place. After some deliberating over the menu, he phoned for their orders, and 20 minutes later, they had pizza and Pepsi.
Harry done the honours of pouring the Pepsi into everyone's wine glass. Grinning, he sat down beside Hermione and put his arm around her waist.
"To Harry and Hermione!" Ron said, and they all clinked glasses.
"You're all so lucky!" Ginny said, munching on her first slice of Pizza. "I mean, here's our own Harry and Hermione, finally getting their act together and settling down." Harry grinned at this and pulled Hermione closer to him. "And Ron. Even Ron's found someone."
"Oi!" Ron laughed, playfully hitting her arm.
"Oi back! You know I'm happy for you and Lavender! It's just...I want one! I want to find my someone!"
"Oh Ginny!" Hermione smiled. "You know he's out there somewhere, and soon, destiny will have it's way and you'll meet him!"
"You really think so?"
"Yeah!" Hermione said, taking another slice of Pizza.
"It's just always been my dream, ever since I was a little girl, to be married one day, and have kids and everything. I guess it comes from being in such a big family myself!" She smiled shyly at Ron.
"You'll find someone, Gin. He's probably under your nose and you didn't realise it...look at me and Hermione...and Ron and Lavender!" Harry said.
"Yeah, but things with Neville didn't really work out, did they? And that was back in 4th year!" Ginny sighed.
"But...Ginny my friend..." Hermione started, a twinkle in her eye. "You know what you need right now, more than a man, more than friends, more than anything?"
"What?" Ginny looked at her confused, as she watched Hermione walk into the kitchen. She emerged a few minutes later with a bottle of wine and a big bar of chocolate, which she presented with a grin on her face.
"Oooh, now there's happy!" Ginny grinned, grabbing the chocolate and taking a piece while Hermione poured the wine. She took a sip of hers and put it on the table, before lying back on the couch in Harry's arms again. "I'm going to love living here." She smiled, reaching to sip her wine.