With You—By Jessica Simpson

You speak and it's like a song
And just like that all my walls come down
It's like a private joke just meant for us to know
I relate to you naturally
Everybody else just fades away
Sometimes it's hard to breathe
Just knowing you found me

Cuz I start thinking about it,
I almost forgot what it was like
To know what love feels right
Cause with you
I can let my hair down
I can say anything crazy
I know you'll catch me right before I hit the ground
With nothing but a T-shirt on
I never felt so beautiful
Baby as I do now
Now that I'm with you
With you

Secrets

Chapter Six:

With You

He sat in a chair in front of the platform on the Quidditch Field, waiting patiently for Dumbledore to finish his speech so Ron would stand and make his as head boy, and then stand in line to receive his diploma. He found it hard to believe, knowing that soon he would leave Hogwarts and England behind, to move to America and the girl he loves.

He looked up into the crowd and saw her, sitting near the top. She didn't look herself, but it didn't matter—she was there. He smiled up at her, and she smiled down, the sun shining off of the straight blonde hair that was currently atop her head. Sunglasses covered her auburn eyes, but he could see them in his mind's eye.

He did nothing but stare up at her as Ron's voice washed over him, not a single word registering in his mind. He heard someone call out for all graduating students to stand, and he felt his legs move him towards the podium. He finally snapped to his senses as Lavender Brown, who stood in front of him, received her diploma, shook hands with Dumbledore, and then hopped off the stage.

Harry stepped forward to collect his diploma, and Dumbledore embraced him as a camera click went off somewhere with a puff of purple smoke.

"You'll do wonderfully in America, Harry," Dumbledore whispered to him, slipping a sheet of parchment into his hand by the diploma. "The paper has the address of an Auror agency in Philadelphia, where you and Hermione are staying…good luck."

Harry smiled and walked away from the old man, waving as he returned to his seat. He waited patiently again as the rest of the students collected their diplomas, and then all those waiting in the stands came down to the field to embrace family and friends in a last goodbye.

Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom ran up to Harry for an exchange of pictures and hugs. As they laughed about the last few days, Harry felt a tap on his shoulder, and then lips upon his.

He smiled as he kissed her back, already knowing who it is, and Seamus and Neville cat-called.

"And who is this lovely woman, Harry?" Seamus asked as Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione.

"Ashley Lohan," she answered as Harry opened her mouth.

She shook Seamus and Neville's hands. "You two must be Seamus and Neville! Harry's told me so much about you two!"

Seamus grinned, while Neville eyed Harry and "Ashley" up, and then walked away.

"My mate's right," Seamus said apologetically. "We'll leave you two to it, then. Nice to meet you, Ms. Lohan."

"Please, Ashley. Ms. Lohan makes me feel old…good to meet you, Seamus."

Harry waved after Seamus, and then turned to Hermione.

"I missed you…I'm glad you could come," he whispered before kissing her.

"Mm…me too…it feels strange to be back."

Harry smiled at her, and then patted her lower abdomen.

"How's the little one doing?"

"Kicking and such…Merlin's beard, I can't see my feet anymore…tottering around with an eight-month belly."

"Well, you can see them now, can't you?" Harry teased.

"I prefer to act like a normal pregnant woman and bitch about it anyway," Hermione said, kissing him again.

Harry smiled at her when they broke apart, and asked,

"Would you rather head for the portkey now, or later?"

"Now," she said, smiling at him devilishly.

He sent her off to the portkey, and doubled back to where Dumbledore was conversing with McGonagall.

"Professors," he greeted, giving each a nod.

"Harry, are you leaving so soon?" Dumbledore asked.

"Yes, sir…Hermione's eager to get back…I don't think she's feeling too well."

Dumbledore gave him another hug, and so did McGonagall, with a few tears.

"Hagrid would've been so proud of you," Dumbledore said quietly.

Harry nodded on the touchy subject.

"I suppose…give my best to everyone else, won't you? Especially the Weasleys."

Dumbledore nodded and watched as Harry ran off to catch the portkey in the Room of Requirement.

He dropped to his knees on the carpet in Hermione's apartment and immediately jumped up to steady Hermione, while the rotted newspaper they just used fell to the ground harmlessly. He led her over to a chair, and she smiled gratefully.

"The little one is getting fussy…doesn't like being shrunk to a flat belly too much."

Harry laughed, and watched as Hermione waved her wand, and a moment later her straight blonde hair turned to her normal curly brown mess, and her stomach grew to its full size, stretching her shirt until it ripped.

He grinned, and walked over, kneeling down until he was level with her stomach. He put his ear against it and rubbed his hand across.

"What do you think, 'Mione? Girl or boy?"

Hermione laughed, and ran her hand absentmindedly through his messy hair.

"How am I supposed to know, Harry? I haven't any experience of this sort."

"I thought you women were supposed to have something called 'intuition?' So take a guess!"

Hermione smiled, unable to refuse Harry, and finally said,

"Girl…a beautiful girl."

Harry kissed her stomach.

"Like her mum."

A few moments passed a comfortable silence, Hermione toying with Harry's hair while he slowly rubbed his hand back and forth against her stomach.

"Hermione?"

"Hmm?"

"What do you feel like…around me?"

Hermione fell silent for a few moments, pondering.

"That bad, huh?" Harry asked quietly.

"No, of course not! It's just…difficult to put into words…"

"Try your best, please?"

Hermione was silent for another minute or so, and then said,

"Like no one else is around us…just you and me, and nothing else matters. That I can say anything crazy or stupid, yet you'd understand exactly what I was saying. And most of all," she said, locking eyes with him, "I feel beautiful when I'm with you."

Harry smiled, and took her hand, kissing it.

"Do you love me?"

Hermione gasped.

"Harry…"

"Because I love you, Hermione…more than anything or anyone in the world. I want to be with you forever…and every day when I wake up, before I open my eyes, I'm afraid that it's all a perfect dream, and that I'll wake up. And every night that I go to sleep I'm afraid you won't be there when I wake up. Please, Hermione…" Harry said, reaching up to stroke her cheek, "say you love me…only if you truly mean it…say you love me."

Hermione was shocked and touched at his words, and her eyes filled with tears. "I love you, Harry."

"Say you'll marry me," he pressed, grabbing a box from inside his robes and showing her a gorgeous ring, with diamonds lining the band and three for show.

Hermione's chest contracted, and she found it difficult to breathe.

"Hermione…I'll never love anyone as much as you…will you marry me?"

His green orbs were pleading, and so full of love.

There was only one option.

"Harry," she said, breaking down, "I can't."

Author's Note: Surprises, surprises! I bet most of you were thinking she would say yes! Thoughts for the next chapter: Why didn't Hermione say yes to Harry? What is she keeping from him? Please review!