A/N: Okay… here comes the awaited party. Hope it doesn't disappoint too much… ;) I know it does. Because nowadays I'm really in bad mood… thanks to a stupid event last week! Argh! Sigh! On with the story…
Revised: 28 August 2004
The Future Awaits
Chapter 14: The Birthday Party
Bouquets and bouquets of flowers filled the living room. Torn envelopes scattered here and there on the dining table.
"Wow, Mione! Not to sound rude or anything, but I was really unaware of how popular you have become with the Ministry folks, until today," said an amused Harry Potter, who was looking through some of the piled-up birthday cards.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Harry. And eat your toast!"
"Really, Mione. How can you even think of settling down, when the only food you can come up with are toast?!"
Hermione frowned, suddenly feeling insulted. "Is that how you treat a birthday girl, early in the morning?"
"Girl? I don't see any girl, here?" Harry asked in mocked innocence, bending down under the table, as if searching for a hidden little creature.
Hermione sighed, obviously finding it as a lame joke.
"Mornin', Harry. Morning, love," greeted Ron Weasley, who was still drying his red hair with a towel. He bent down a bit, giving his lover a peck on the lips before saying, "Happy 20th birthday, sweetheart."
Hermione beamed. "Thank you."
She melted at the sight of her boyfriend, what with his cutely deranged hair and all. She sighed. He looked so… ruffled.
A sudden weight on her lap brought her out from her reverie. "Ooo… Crookshanks! Here, let me get some milk for you," Hermione said, grabbing the cat onto the table.
"Oof! That cat's breathe stinks!" Harry said disgustingly, waving a hand in front of his nose.
"And yours don't?" retorted Hermione, who was pouring milk onto her cat's dish. Ron, who was sipping his coffee, spluttered some of the liquid at his girlfriend's remark. She went back to her seat, putting the dish onto the table to a waiting Crookshanks.
"I still can't believe he's still alive. Are you sure he's not an animagus or something?" Harry asked, looking at the cat suspiciously.
"He's part Kneazle, Harry. I can't believe you want him dead!"
"Kneazle?"
"Honestly! Sometimes I even wonder why you were put to school."
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Back at the Burrow, everyone was striding here and there, making last minute adjustments. Some of the guests were chatting and sitting around the house, waiting to be transported to the Grangers'.
"Okay, people! The portkey is taking off in 10 minutes. Everything's checked?" asked Arthur Weasley, whose eagerness exhibited clearly at being to a muggle house.
Ginny and Harry were already at the Grangers' manor when the Weasleys and the guests arrived. Wylona Granger who was having her aftershocks at the sudden appearance of her guests smiled politely and welcomed them into the house.
Not long after that, two crack sounds were heard. It was Remus and Sirius. The house was full of people, since Hermione's parents invited some of her daughter's close muggle friends, who knew of Hermione's real 'identity'.
They were told that Ron would be bringing Hermione, with the help of a certain portkey Arthur Weasley had provided his son with. Once they finished preparing, Harry announced to the whole lot of them that the couple should be arriving in five minutes time.
Lights were put out, and everybody scurried for their own hiding places.
Gasp! "Ron! That was a portkey?! And where in the Merlin's name are we?!"
"Hermione, welcome to the chamber of –"
"SURPRISE!!!!!!!!"
To say she was stunned was an underestimation. She just stared at her guests, unblinkingly. With mouth wide opened, she looked astoundingly around the highly decorated place. "My house?" she muttered softly.
She looked back at Ron. "You did all these?" she asked with awe.
"Umm… actually-"
"It's great! Hihi! Chamber of surprises… I like it! Thank you, Ron. And thank you so much, guys for coming!"
Birthday wishes and presents were exchanged. After the cutting cake took place, Karl Granger announced to his guests to move to the backyard of his mansion, where they will have a pool party.
The place was really enormous. Some of the guests were still looking around the house with their mouth hanging opened.
"Pool party?" asked Arthur Weasley, who looked so much like a kid in a toy store.
"Oh, it's just a normal party, where it's being held around a swimming pool," explained Harry.
Shimmering lights gave a gorgeous glimmering view of the surroundings. It was really a beautiful evening. The swimming pool really looked inviting, though Harry knew he was not the only one who shared the sentiment. Fred and George too looked longingly at the magnificent water compartment. Walking around the yard, Harry spotted a decorative element losing its charm. He quickly took out his wand and charmed it again. Its glow finally brightened back.
Looking back, he saw the twins muttering some spells onto the pool. Moments later, water dolphins jumped out, swimming in schools. Harry chuckled. Leave the special effects to the experts, to create the wonderful view. The Grangers looked impressed, though Harry noticed Mrs Weasley looked warily at them.
He finally walked to Sirius who was sitting on a chair, sipping his drink, watching blankly at the water display.
"What did you give Hermione?"
"Hmm? Oh. I gave her a necklace. You?"
"Me? I gave her a watch," replied Harry. Sirius nodded, now looking at Remus, who was talking to Professor McGonagall.
"Sirius, how much did you know about Hermione?"
His godfather gave a snorted smile. "I would say, 'a lot'. We shared a lot of secrets back then. But after being to this magnificent house, I can only say, not much. She seemed to be mysterious in many ways."
Harry smiled back. "I know. She never even told us about being wealthy. I think if Dumbledore didn't suggest that timeturner in our third year, Ron and I wouldn't even know of its existence."
"Harry, Ron wants to talk to you," called George.
"Okay. See you, mate," Harry clapped his godfather's back. He went over to Ron, who looked like he was in his hysterical point.
"Harry, oh god! I don't know how to do this? What am I supposed to do?"
"Ron, must I remind you how many times you have sickeningly practised proposing to me?"
Ron whined. "But there're so many people. Hermione's Dad wants me to do it in front of everybody. I might as well pee than doing that!"
"Alright, Ron, take a deep, deep breathe. Now, come here," Harry ordered, dragging his shaking friend to a secluded place.
"Alright, now give yourself a last rehearsal."
"Okay…"
Once Harry thought his friend's confidence soared a bit, he walked back to the party. Taking a spoon and a glass in hand, he tapped it to get attention. "Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, my friend here, Ron Weasley, would like to say something. On with you, Ron…"
Ron gulped visibly, before taking a deep breathe. He walked over towards Hermione, who had just stopped chatting with her muggle friends and took her hands. He led her to a spot where everybody could see them. Wylona Granger was watching the scene with interest, while her husband smiled at the couple.
"Umm… hi. Good evening, people," Ron greeted shakily. Knowing he sounded pathetic, he looked at his sister's direction, who gave him two thumbs ups. Hermione saw the exchange, and instantly widened her eyes, realising what was going to happen.
Ron cleared his throat before continuing in a still shaky voice, "Nine years ago, a girl with wild bushy hair barged into mine and my best friend's train compartment, apparently looking for a friend's toad."
Neville blushed at that point.
"Little that I know that that very girl would be the holder of my soul." He turned to face his lover and continued, "Hermione, you have been my light. I wouldn't be where I am today, without you by my side. I am lost without you. I have been thankful to God to have you as a friend. I was even more thankful to him, when you agreed to become my girlfriend. Now, I'm asking you to be with me, be mine forever… for all times."
Pulling out a velvet box, he moved to kneel on a bended knee, "Hermione Jane Granger, will you marry me?"
The whole place went silent, all eyes being focussed on the Granger girl. The only sound that came was from the splashings of the jumping water dolphins.
A hand was placed on Sirius' arm. He turned, to be only faced by his friend, Remus. He could hear his own heart thudding loudly. It suddenly became hard to breathe.
A dazzling smile appeared on Hermione's petite face. "YES! Yes, I'll marry you, Ronald Bilius Weasley!" She was practically jumping up and down, hugging her newly-found fiancé. Ron on his part was grinning goofily, the ring well forgotten. But that was not until Hermione held out her hand. Beaming, he slid the ring onto the slender finger of his fiancée.
Applause and catcalls filled the atmosphere. Ginny squealed in delight, while her mother and Wylona hugged each other. The newly engaged couple were soon bombarded with people, wishing them congratulations.
Harry was smiling happily at his two best friends. He turned back to the splashing sound the water dolphins were making in the swimming pool. Through the jumping figures, he realised Sirius was not there.
"Where's Sirius?" he asked Remus. The werewolf only pointed his finger at the bar in response. Harry sighed at the sight of his godfather. He strode towards the place, where the bartender was currently attending to Sirius.
Glasses and glasses of alcohol drained down his throat. Harry could see tears struggling to descend those heartbroken eyes. He could find no words, but lend a hand, thinking it would be some sort of comfort.
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"So, we're engaged?"
"Yeah," giggled Hermione. "I can't believe you did it in front of everybody."
Ron blushed. "I'm not sorted into Gryffindor for nothing, you know."
The couple walked around the lonely garden, where Hermione had led her lover to. She let out a contented sigh. "I'm so happy, Ron," hugging the man who held her love.
Ron just smiled into her hair. With Hermione's head on his shoulder, they swayed, humming a soft romantic tune. Through the moonlight, the happy couple swirled and twirled graciously.
"I love you, Hermione…"
Not far by the window, a pair of grey glistening eyes watched them. The same words were uttered at the same time.
A/N: shields herself NOOooo!! Don't kill me! I'm too young to die! I'm not Isnani, I'm her evil twin! Yeah… that's it! Evil twin! Anyway, I know my party is boring, I hate parties. So, you can understand from there… And YES, JKR said Sirius real eyes are grey!
Satin Valkyrie: Aww… I really feel bad disappointing you guys… But fear not! For I AM a SB/Hr shipper!
Arwen-Georgie-Skye: Aaah!!! You reviewed! It's really flattering coming from you, since this story started because I got inspired from your very own version of SB/Hr.
Padfootz-luvr: Oh! Happy belated birthday, sweetheart! And yeah! I agree. Cliff-hangers can make people go mad! But I can't help including some of my own. ;)
Captain Oblivious: LOL!! It does send me on a roll, especially talking about Aishwarya Rai, my fav actress.
fuzzfurry: Yeah… my poor Sirius. sobs Don't worry much, I still have a future for him. Heheh!
Rane2920072: Oh man! Another disappointed shipper! So sorry sniff I'm so cruel, ain't I? NO! Don't listen to her! She's my evil twin! As for how Mione killed her sister, I don't think I'm gonna elaborate on that in the future chapters. But just for the record, Hermione was a young innocent witch then. So, perhaps she accidentally killed Megha when they were playing hide and seek? Megha's sudden attack might have lead to Hermione's innocent self defence?? I'd left the accident for the readers' imagination…
PsYcHoJo: Aww… I know… poor Sirius!
Angul-gurl: Hahah! Glad you liked the chapter. Though I must say I was really unsatisfied by it.
DSMelody: Thank you for your flattering sentiments.