Shadow
A/N: :D I love reviews, and I love you all who have reviewed. :D So thanks to
buckeyenut - (chapter 2) Did chapter 3 answer your question? I hope it did.
Amanda - (chapter 2) shakes fist at your school damn school...
Eilidh - I'm not trying to be cruel to Harry! I love him so much! LoL.
hermioneandharryshouldbet - I don't like Wes either...LoL...he's the evil little man who lives in my head, along with my bestest friends Steve and Melantha. Don't ask...
and
Jackie - Stupid Hermione...and people think she's smart...haha. I don't know if they're going to be getting married yet...but knowing me, they most likely won't because I can't stand Harry and Hermione not being together. :D
for reviewing! Please read and review this chapter!
--Chapter 3--Why Harry, Why?
"What?" sputtered Hermione.
"You heard me. Do you think it would be a good idea for me to propose to Alana?" replied Harry calmly.
"Jeez Harry, one minute you're telling me you were about to propose to me, now you're telling me you're thinking of proposing to Alana...who's like four years younger than us...this is too much for me to take in at once," Hermione said.
"It's three years," Harry corrected. "And come on Hermione, you're the only one who used to actually listen in History of Magic, how could this be too much for you to take in?"
"Nevermind that. Why did you have to tell me all this now though? On the day that you'll be meeting Wes?"
Harry looked at Hermione, it was now or never. He needed to tell her now. If he didn't, he would never tell her.
"Well...?" she asked impatiently, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Fine, Hermione, I'm..." Harry started, but was interupted as Ron entered the restaurant and made his way over to the two.
"Hey Harry and Hermione, you two having lunch?" asked Ron, pulling a seat over and sitting on the side of the table.
"Hello Ron," Harry said, feeling glad and sad at the same time about Ron's barge in.
"How are you Ron?" asked Hermione, glancing at Harry.
"Oh just fine, I'm actually here because I'm on a break. What about you two?" he asked.
"Same old, same old," Harry replied.
"Harry might be asking Alana to marry him," Hermione blurted out.
"Congratulations mate, I hope she says yes, because then all of us will be married!" exclaimed Ron, grinning from ear to ear.
Harry sighed as Ron continued to talk to Hermione. He wasn't going to get the chance to tell Hermione how he felt before later that night, unless he blurted it out with Ron sitting there as well. Why Harry, why didn't you just tell her when you had the chance? he asked himself, groaning. The world as Harry knew it, was about to come crashing down on him, and he had no way of stopping it.
"Well I should be off, I just came to pick up an order," Ron said, standing. "See you both tonight, and Harry, you'll love Wes. He's one of the nicest blokes around."
Harry gritted his teeth, if Ron thought the guy was nice, he most likely was. "Bye Ron."
"Good bye Ron, I can't wait for Alex to meet Wes," Hermione said.
"Me either, bye," Ron said, before leaving Harry and Hermione alone.
Hermione looked at Harry. "What were you saying Harry?"
"Oh, nevermind, it doesn't matter to anyone anymore," Harry replied, getting up as well. He put some money on the table. "That should be enough for the food. I'll see you tonight, I should go."
Hermione stood as well. She thought Harry really needed something to tell her, but she guessed she was wrong. "Oh, alright, yes, I'll see you and Alana tonight, good bye."
Harry smiled sadly as he looked back at Hermione once more before leaving the restaurant. It was time to go and propose to Alana. Of course he loved Alana, but to marry her? That was moving a bit too fast, but hell, like she said, he was going to need to move on, and why not with her? One thing that made Harry ashamed of himself though was that he still carried the ring he was going to propose to Hermione with, but it wasn't going to be going on her finger anytime soon, so why not onto Alana's?
"God damn it Potter, why couldn't you be bravier on telling women how you feel?" he muttered to himself as he walked through the rain.
Harry walked a few more steps before Disapparating. He appeared right outside of Hermione's bookstore that she owned called The Book Worm. Sighing, Harry entered the shop.
"Hey Harry!" called Alana from the till.
"Hi 'Lana," Harry said, walking over to her. Ignoring the two customers that were staring at them, Harry kissed Alana briefly. Alana smiled at him when they pulled apart. "Can we go to the back for a second?"
"Harry! I have customers to tend too..." she started, but stopped when the old couple took their cue and left the shop. "Nevermind, let me just put the Closed sign up."
Harry watched Alana lock the door and flip the sign before heading through the Employees Only door. When they were both in the room, Harry kissed Alana with greater lust then before.
"Wow...what was that for?" asked Alana after they pulled apart for breath.
Harry didn't answer, instead, he got down on one knee. Alana's face turned to that of pure shock. Opening the box, Harry revealed a diamond ring with hearts entwining it. He took her hand in his.
"Alana, I love you, I truly do. I don't want you to doubt that even under the circumstances. I really don't have a big romantic speech made up, so please, answer me this. Will you marry me Alana Jones?" he asked.
A tear of joy ran out of Alana's eye as she nodded. "Yes Harry, I will."
Harry grinned and put the ring on Alana's finger, stood up and kissed her again.
"So I take it Hermione didn't share your feelings?" she asked, admiring the way the diamond sparkled.
"Actually..." started Harry.
"Harry, you didn't tell her, did you?" she asked, sighing.
"No, but I couldn't do it Alana. You should have heard her talking about Wes. She's in love with him, not with me."
"How do you know Harry? She could've just been acting!"
"So are you saying you don't want to marry me?"
"Oh Merlin no, I love you Harry, I'm just frustrated with you."
"Aw, I love you too," Harry said, kissing Alana once more.
Part of him wanted her to turn him down, but he knew she wouldn't have turned him down. She was young and in love and Harry couldn't take that away from her. I never thought this would be how I would feel if I ever did get engaged, Harry thought to himself as he pulled away from Alana to catch his breath, a small smile on his face. But he wouldn't tell Alana the real reason behind his proposing...the fact that both Hermione and Ron knew was a major part of it. They both expected it, and he had to ask her because of them. Well...he did not have to, but he didn't want to make them question him. If it was only Hermione, it would have been alright because he could have told her his true feelings. Damn Ron.
!#$&
Harry gulped down another bottle of Fire Whiskey, it was his third one. He was about to meet Wes Sanders, Hermione's fiancée, who was running half an hour late and Hermione was freaking out.
"He should be here soon," she kept on saying.
Harry rolled his eyes. He doubted it. But of course, since Harry doubted it, Wes just happened to walk in through Hermione's flats' door.
"Wes! There you are, I thought you weren't going to show," Hermione said, rushing over to him.
"Sorry honey, I got stuck in traffic. It was a long drive," he said, shaking his blonde hair free of the water droplets that hung to it.
Hermione took his jacket from him and handed it to Harry who was standing near them. Harry grunted as he watched her look deeply into Wes' eyes. He felt like punching the guy, but Alana came over to him and touched his arm to calm him.
"Don't...give me his coat, I'll go put in the room," Alana said calmly, taking the brown coat from Harry.
Harry nodded. "OK."
Alana walked away as Hermione dragged Wes over to him.
"Harry, this is Wes, my fiancé. Wes, this is Harry, one of my best friends," Hermione said, introducing the two.
Wes smiled, showing off his pearly whites, and extended his hand. Harry looked at it, then at Hermione who glared at him. Sighing, Harry took Wes' hand. When Wes tried to pull away though, Harry squeezed his hand tight.
"So Harry, what is it that you do?" he asked, wrenching is hand from Harry's grip.
"I'm a police man," Harry replied under Hermione's glare.
Wes smirked. "Well I'm a wealthy bank manager."
Harry felt like jumping the guy, Harry was probably wealthier than Wes could ever be. "Sounds like you have a great job, Wes. Hermione, I need to go find Alana," he said, before turning away before Hermione could stop him.
He wasn't really going to find Alana. No, he needed a drink. And something stronger than Fire Whiskey at that.
!#$&
Hermione tapped her glass, causing everyone to look at her. She spoke, "Hello everyone. Now that everyone is acquainted with Wes, I'd like you all to enjoy the drinks that...Harry?"
Everyone looked over to a very drunken Harry. He was barely standing as he held onto the door frame to the bathroom.
Alana rushed over to him and grabbed a hold of his arm to help him be stable. Harry looked past her to Hermione though. He just wanted to see her gorgeous face. I'm going to tell her now…no wait, I won't…I'm too drunk…I won't remember ever telling her,Harry thought to himself.
"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione asked from her spot beside Wes; she hadn't moved closer to him in the process when many others had. Like Ron and his wife Alex.
"Hermione...I love you," Harry blurted out.
A.N: Ooh..a bit of a cliffy...I hope you all don't mind...it took me forever to write, so bully for you if you don't like it. LoL...please review...I'm desperate. --'