Shadow
A/N: Thanks to
priestess-of-suzaku– I hope I wasn't too cruel with that last cliffie. And I hope you'll enjoy this next installment.
FairyWings101 – Thanks, and I hate cliffies too, but it needed to be done!
phosphorescent-light– Thank you for that amazing review! I'm glad in knowing that you've enjoyed this story thus far.
Kaean– You'll see soon.
Amanda – I finally got around to finishing this! Next up for being typed, A New Beginning! Lol
and
hpfantic– Well I'm glad you found your way back to fanfiction!
For reviewing Chapter Eight. Every review means so much to me. It makes me sad sorta that I lost some readers during the time that this has been up, but what can you do? Anyways.
Well people, this is the end. It is finished after this chapter, and I doubt I will be doing a sequel. The chances are very slim. So please read and review! Thank you!
-Chapter 9- The Decision
"Harry, I…" she started.
"Wait Hermione, before you answer that, I have to know if what you told Alana about loving me is true or not," interrupted Harry, remembering that he wanted to know the truth behind what Alana had told him earlier.
"She told you that?" exclaimed Hermione. Harry nodded, causing Hermione to bang her head against the wheel multiple times.
Harry put his hand on her shoulder to try and calm her. "'Mione, don't do that, you'll loose brain cells. And we don't want that, now do we?" he lifted her chin up and towards him to see her smile. "And it wasn't Alana that told me. It was Ron. Alex had told him because Alana told her. He thought he should tell me."
"Ugh! Stupid gossip! I loathe it! Always have, always will."
"Hermione, you're avoiding the question."
"Alright, alright, alright! Merlin, it's true! But I don't want it to be, I really don't," she cried, looking away from Harry to stare out the driver's window.
"Why Hermione, why don't you want to love me?" he asked, trying to get Hermione to look at him again.
"Because I don't want my heart broken again," she replied as she tried to get out of the car.
Harry reached over the bride and pulled the door shut. "You think I'll break your heart?"
"Again, yes," Hermione sniffed as she nodded.
"Oh 'Mione, I didn't even know I broke it before. I knew you were hurt when we broke up, but you were the one who dumped me because you didn't like me going out and doing Auror business."
"That's why you broke my heart! It was because you were always gone!" Hermione had now started to cry once more.
Harry gently wiped the tears from her eyes with his thumbs and looked her in the eyes. "Let's hope this dress is waterproof."
Hermione smiled a bit.
"OK 'Mione, I know you think I might break your heart again, but I want you to know that I'm only going to be doing office work for the Ministry now. No more on the field experience. And if we did get back together, I would do everything to make you happy because I don't want to loose you again. I also realize that you don't want to put your heart on the line so soon, but it's OK, I'll wait for you, just like I have been these past years," with that said, Harry squeezed her hand gently and exited the car.
Barely even thinking, Hermione jumped out of the car as well. She ran around the side of the car, but with the dress, it was hard. "Harry!"
Harry turned around. "Yes Hermione?"
"I never told you who I was going to choose."
"And?" he questioned.
Hermione ran over to him. Before Harry could ask again, Hermione kissed him like she had just welcomed him home after an eleven month absence. Slowly, she pulled away. "I choose you."
Harry smirked and leant his head down to reach hers fro another spine-tingling kiss. The two continued to kiss in the middle of the parking lot, being watched unknowingly by three others, that they did not even notice that it had started to rain down on them. They pulled away slightly to catch their breaths. This caused Harry to look up when he felt water on his head.
"It's raining Hermione," he whispered in her ear.
Hermione looked up to the sky. She smiled. "The rain must like us when we kiss."
"What about your dress? It's going to get soaked."
"Oh well, it's not like I need it anymore. Besides, Wes paid for it, not me."
"Are you telling me you're a gold-digger? Is that why you chose me? Because I'm loaded?" asked Harry, trying to hide a grin.
"Yes, that is why I chose you Harry!" she said, pecking his lips. She looked at him and smiled. "No, that's not why and you know it. I love that you know what I'm thinking when no one else does. I've always loved you and we both know it. I only went out with Wes because I had given up on you. I don't think I ever even really loved him. I mean, I wasn't even going to tell him about my being a witch."
"You weren't going to tell him?"
She laughed. "No, he'd freak. He did anyways when I fixed a cup that had been smashed to pieces. He didn't actually see me fix it, but he didn't understand how it had been fixed. And I mean this cup had been smashed beyond repair."
Harry put an arm around Hermione's shoulder and led her to under the church's protective roof. "So whose car was that?"
"My parents, they left with my aunt though when they saw me in their car."
Harry grinned. "What are you going to do about Wes?"
Hermione sighed, blowing a piece of wet hair out of her face. "I guess tell him the truth. He deserves to know that. Then he can move on with his life." She looked around. "He's still here." Hermione pointed to a black figure sitting on the steps.
Harry took her hand in his. "Come on, no time like the present to tell the guy."
Hermione just nodded in response and walked with Harry over to Wes. He turned his head up to the couple when they reached him.
"Wes, love, I'm so sorry about today," Hermione started.
"You chose him," Wes stated simply.
"Um, well, yes I did. I'm sorry. It's just, I love Harry. I had loved you, but once Harry came back into my life, all my forgotten feelings came back as well."
"It's no surprise," Wes said, standing. "And it's OK, really. I just talked to Cathy and she said she'd be willing to give us another try, as long as I don't go for anymore intelligent brunettes."
Hermione kissed Wes' cheek. "I'm glad that you're OK with this."
"Yes, well, you know how I am. But look, I got to go, you know, to get out of these clothes." He briefly hugged Hermione. Wes started to walk away and when he got to the end of the stairs, he looked over his shoulder to see Hermione hugging Harry with her face lying on his chest and Harry looking at him, he gave Harry the dirtiest look that he had given anyone, wishing that his look could kill.
(Laterrr)
"I hope I never have to wear that dress again," Hermione said, coming out of her bathroom and drying her hair with a towel.
"Aw, but what if I wanted you to wear that to our wedding?" asked Harry, playfully whining, who was sitting on her bed.
Hermione went over to Harry and sat on his lap. She snaked her arms around his neck. "Who said we were going to get married?"
"Oh? You don't want to marry me?" He managed to get her to lie down on her back, his face inches from hers.
"I'm debating it. I don't know if I want to go through the hassle of planning another wedding," she said, pretending to be thinking.
"Leave it to your parents," he said before kissing her neck.
"Oh Merlin, I still have to tell them that I broke up with Wes!" exclaimed Hermione, squirming out from under Harry. She ran to the phone and dialed a number.
Harry sighed and fell back onto the bed. "Can't that wait until tomorrow or something?"
"Shh, it's ringing and I don't want to be talking to you while speaking with either of my parents," Hermione replied, putting a finger to her lips. "Hi Mum!"
Harry groaned and got off the bed. He quickly mouthed to Hermione that he was going to go out for a bit, to which he got an arm wave in response. Silently slipping out of Hermione's flat, Harry walked down the street. Debating on whether he should go home or go tell Ron that Hermione had finally chose him, he chose the latter. Making sure that no Muggles were lurking in the alley he had just stepped into, Harry Disapparated.
"Harry!" exclaimed Alex, clutching her chest as Harry had just Apparated in front of her in her backyard. "You cannot just do that."
"I thought I just did," he replied cheekily, grinning.
Alex rolled her eyes. "If you're looking for Ron, he's in our room changing."
"You mean you were able to get out of your dress sooner than Ron? Or is he having problems changing after a little afternoon party?"
This caused Alex to smack his arm. He pretended to be hurt from the blow. "None of that Harry. He actually just had a shower if you must know."
"You know I'm just kidding Alex," he kissed her cheek. "I'm just going to wait for our dear Ronniekins in the kitchen, if you don't mind, that is."
"Yeah, go ahead. And help yourself to some Butterbeer while you're in there."
Harry nodded and headed into the youngest male Weasley's flat, going straight to the kitchen. Opening one of the cabinets, Harry found himself the Butterbeer and grabbed out two bottles. He sat down on one of the chairs at the tiny table and played with the cap of the bottle. Approximately five minutes after Harry had taken post of the chair, Ron came into the room.
"Alex said you were waiting in here," Ron said, taking one of the Butterbeers. He was about to take a sip when he decided not to. "So, how'd it go with Ms. Granger?"
Harry grinned. "She chose me! Told Wes that she didn't want to marry him anymore, boy was he ever pissed. I could tell that he wanted to rip me limb from limb."
"Ha, I'd like to see him try. An angry Muggle who seems as though he never evolved from the first humans dumbly trying to rip an more than experienced wizard. Sounds like a great match. I'd put everything I own on the wizard winning."
"Thanks Ron," Harry said jokingly.
"Anyways, cheers to you mate for finally getting the girl," Ron said, tipping his Butterbeer towards Harry, Harry returning it, before they both drank from the bottles. "So why aren't you two madly shagging right now?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "She had to call her parents to tell her she had broken up with Wes."
"That's Hermione for you. Has to get everything done before anything else is done."
"Yeah, and that's one of the reasons I love her so."
"Of course it is. Now, before you start fantasizing about our dear Hermione, why don't you back to her. I reckon she should be off that ruddy pellytone by now," Ron said, standing up, bringing Harry up by the sleeve, though Harry did not really need Ron to do that.
"Telephone Ron, telephone," Harry said, grinning. "I'll see you tomorrow or something. Bye Ron."
"See you," Ron said.
Nodding to his best mate, Harry left Ron's kitchen (and home) and Disapparated to an alley right beside Hermione's flat. Scratching his chin, Harry walked the rest of the way to Hermione's and entered her place to find her lying on her couch, talking on the phone and giggling.
"You're giggling Hermione?" asked Harry, shocked, as he sat on the arm of the couch.
"Oh, he's back now Gin, I've got to go," Hermione said into the phone. "Ginny! You hush. Yes. Bye." She quickly hung up the cordless phone and threw it onto the chair beside the couch. "Yes, I was giggling."
"About what?"
"Oh I don't know. Nothing in particular." She sat up and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck. "But if you really want to know…"
"Never mind, I don't want to know anymore. It can stay between you and Ginny," he said, kissing Hermione's neck.
"Mmm. So my parents and Ginny both know that we're together."
"So does Ron, and I figure Alex knows too."
"I figured that's where you were heading when you left here," Hermione replied pointedly. "Though I bet he didn't seem all that surprised. My parents and Ginny sure weren't. Figured we'd always end up back together."
"I guess he knew all along, he didn't really say much on it. Just said how much he wanted to watch me and Wes go at one on one. But enough talk, there's other things we could be doing with our mouths - and time."
"Harry!" exclaimed Hermione, pushing Harry in the chest playfully.
Harry just gave her a lop-sided grin and proceeded to kiss her. Sighing, Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck once more and fell back onto the couch, taking Harry with her.
(Laterrr)
Thirteen months had passed since Hermione's failed wedding to Wes, and her relationship with Harry had been going as smoothly as it could. They had had only one major fight since they had rekindled their burning desire for each other. The fight had been caused by the subject of Harry leaving the Ministry for good.
Alex and Ron finally had their baby, which was a boy, and made Harry and Hermione the godparents. The two had so far been constantly spoiling their godchild, even if he was only five months old.
"You two need to quit this," Ron said one afternoon when they had brought Will, the baby, a fair sized stuffed Hippogriff.
"Oh let us have our fun Ron. Besides, wait until he's older, that's when you should be worried," Harry replied.
"I can't wait for it. But why don't you two just wait on the spoiling until you have a kid of your own?"
"We're not planning on having kids anytime soon. Besides, we're not even married yet Ronald," Hermione said. "We're not even engaged."
"Have you two even talked about marriage yet?"
"Because someone hasn't proposed to me."
"Hey! I suggested the whole thing when you chose me," Harry said, coming to his defenses. "Besides, you haven't brought up that subject either."
"Well I'm sorry that I haven't brought up anything about marriage since my last engagement! I just assumed that you would ask me when you wanted to get married. And I thought you were joking on that day for Merlin's sake!"
Will had started to cry just then, causing Ron to hurry over to the baby and picking him up, glaring at his two best mates for disturbing his child. "Quiet down you two, you're upsetting him. But I'm going to take him to Alex now, so I want you to be calmed down by then."
Turning on his heel with his child in his arms, Ron took leave of his friends, causing the two to stare at each other.
"Oh 'Mione, I've been waiting for the past few months to ask you," Harry said, grabbing Hermione's hand.
"Then why didn't you?" asked Hermione, her eyes cast down on the ground.
"I don't know. I just could never find a good time to ask you. But don't worry 'Mione, I'll be proposing sometime real soon," Harry said, grinning and sticking his hands into his pockets.
"Don't say things like that because now I'm just going to be waiting and waiting for that time." Hermione pushed him slightly. "I can't believe though that after all that time you put into stopping my wedding and getting me to confess my love to you that you still haven't proposed."
"I don't know why it's taken me this long, other than what I've already said."
"Because if you're just testing me to make sure I'll stick around, well, it's been working so far, but it's time is starting to run out."
"'Mione, calm down please. Look, why don't I make you dinner tonight and we'll talk about it then, OK? I just don't want to get into this too much at Ron and Alex's."
"So you just want to drop the whole subject?"
"Merlin no Hermione! I'd rather just discuss this at our flat, not here."
"Yeah, you have a point, I really don't want to start yelling at you when they have to put up with enough of that with little Will," Hermione smiled a bit. "I'm going to go see how Alex is holding up. I'll send Ron back." After that, Hermione left Harry and went into the other room.
Ron soon entered where Hermione had just exited. "Sorry about that mate, I didn't mean for you guys to get into a row about marriage. I just thought that after all that you did to be with her, you would already be married."
"Yeah, well, I just figured we shouldn't rush into anything too soon, you know? Cause I didn't want to be away from her again," Harry said, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Though I guess you gave me a push backwards."
"What do you mean?"
"I was going to ask her tonight, but I don't think I should now, because she'll just think it was because of our row."
"Oh jeez, Harry, I'm sorry that I screwed up your plans. You should have said something earlier before I went ahead and blabbed about it to Hermione."
"It's not your fault, believe me, everyone's been asking me when I'm going to ask her. Except for her, who should be the curious one. I guess I just wanted it to be a surprise for everyone."
"I understand, I do, from the whole Alex fiasco," Ron grinned, making Harry grin back.
"Well I guess we should get out of your hairs for today Ron. I'm just going to go collect Hermione," Harry said before leaving to the other room, Ron following.
(Laterrr)
"So Harry, you promised a talk about marriage," Hermione said at dinner that same day.
"Yes I did, and that is what we're going to talk about," Harry replied, collecting the dishes and taking them into the kitchen before making them clean themselves.
"OK, well talk."
"Hermione, you have to know that I love you deeply and I can't imagine myself with anyone but you," Harry said, grabbing Hermione's hand from across the table. "And I want you to know, I have been thinking a lot about asking you the big question, but there was never a time to ask. Plus, you never seemed interested in the idea."
"Harry, you could have just asked me before we went to bed for Merlin's sake and I would have accepted," Hermione said, shaking her head. "And I've been wanted to marry you since we were younger."
"Really?" Hermione nodded. "About the before bed thing, it just wasn't romantic enough for my liking."
"Oh, so you're into romance, Mr. Potter?"
"Yes, yes I am. In fact, I had been planning for a big dinner tonight then asking you. But Ron went and screwed that up because I didn't want you to think I was just asking because of our row."
"Harry…" Hermione got up and walked over to Harry, sitting in his lap, and kissed him. "Hmm…I think I'm going to have to ask you instead if you don't get around to it soon."
Harry grinned. "Just don't ask me sometime this week, I've got other plans."
Hermione smiled at Harry and kissed him again.
(Laterrr)
"Hey Alana," Harry said once he entered Hermione's bookstore.
"Hiya Harry," Alana said from behind the counter.
"So how are things with you and Josh now that he divorced that chick?" he asked, leaning against the counter.
"Oh great. Did you know that he had been quite surprised when I showed up on his doorstop two months ago?"
"No, I don't think you told me."
"Yes, well he was. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you about that, it's just…"
"We haven't spoken a lot in the last few months," Harry finished for her.
"Right. But let's fix that, OK?" asked Alana.
"OK," Harry said, grinning. "And to let you know…I've missed talking to you. You were always easy to talk to."
"I was always easy to talk to?" asked Alana, raising an eyebrow at Harry, not noticing the customer that was trying to get her attention.
"You know what I mean. But it looks like you've got some business to attend to," Harry said, looking at the elderly lady.
"Oh jeez, sorry ma'am, how can I help you today?" asked Alana, moving over to stand in front of the woman.
Harry sighed as he turned around to lean his elbows on the counter, his back resting against it as well.
"So Alana, when does Hermione get in?" Harry asked her when she was finished helping her costumer who just left the store, looking agitated at Alana's slow service.
"In about an hour, why? Won't you just see her later tonight?"
"I will, but I have to ask her something important."
Alana's jaw dropped in shock. "Are you asking her to marry you?"
Harry nodded. "So I was wondering if I could set up the back room to ask her."
"Yeah, go ahead, be my guest."
"Thanks Alana," Harry said, hugging Alana and kissing her cheek before entering the back room.
(Laterrr)
"Hi Alana, how busy has it been today?" asked Hermione when she entered her store, taking off her jacket.
"Not very, I had about a total of ten people in here since I started at eight," Alana replied, joining Hermione on her side of the counter.
"Stupid Wednesdays, it's never very busy then."
Alana grinned. "I shall continue to hold down the fort for you while you put your stuff in the back, chief."
Hermione rolled her eyes and headed to the back room. When she opened the door, she could not contain the gasp that wanted to escape through her lips. The lights were out, but there was candles floating in the air, reminding Hermione much of dinners in the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Kneeling in the middle of the floor on one knee was Harry.
"Harry! Did you do all this?" she asked, putting her jacket recklessly onto a storage box and walking over to Harry.
"Yes," he replied, hand gripped onto a ring box.
"But why?" she asked, clearly not catching onto what Harry was doing.
He grabbed onto her hand. "Hermione Jane Granger, I love you so much."
"I love you too Harry James Potter."
"Hold on, let me finish," he said sternly, grinning like a madman. "So yes, I love you, and I am so glad that you finally decided to take me back. I know I was a prat before, always being gone and all, but now you know that I'm not like that anymore, and that makes me one of the happiest men on earth. I would do anything for you, as you very well know. Now Hermione Granger, would you do me the honour of making me the happiest man alive and marry me?"
Hermione smiled, a tear of joy leaking out of her one eye, nodding her head fiercely. "Yes Harry, I will marry you." She leaned in and kissed him.
"Wait a minute, you haven't even seen the ring yet," Harry said, removing his hands from his back as he opened up the ring box.
Inside was a white gold ring, a heart shaped diamond in the middle with one pink sapphire on either side with one diamond on each side of those. Harry slipped the ring onto Hermione's finger as she gasped once more.
"You sure like the hearts, don't you?" laughed Hermione, admiring her new ring.
"I think it symbolizes that you hold my heart," Harry replied.
Hermione smiled and kissed Harry gently. When they broke apart, Hermione looked deep into his eyes. "Where do you keep getting these gorgeous rings?"
"I have a friend who's in the business. He's going to be disappointed that I found someone who's actually going to wear the ring," Harry laughed.
Both grinning, Harry and Hermione kissed again, thinking about their future marriage.
The End
A/N: And it's done! Oh my goodness. That was fun. Lol. And I changed Hermione's middle name from Anne to Jane, the proper middle name. But yes. That might not be the ending most wanted, but it's my ending. I hope you all enjoyed that. Please Review and tell me what you thought! Thank you!