You know, I almost hate to see this end, but I guess it must. This is my favorite chapter, and I really hope you like it.

Chapter 10: Will you?

For the next week, Harry and Hermione only left their room in the Leaky Cauldron to buy their school supplies for their last year at Hogwarts. Hermione said she didn't want to be around a lot of people yet. Harry understood. He didn't want to force her to talk if she didn't want to.

With a week to go before term started, they were just sitting around their room reading (Harry was reading Quidditch Through The Ages and Hermione was reading a Muggle book called Chicken Soup for the Depressed Teenager's Soul) when there was a knock on the door. Harry got up to answer it, but before he got to the door, it opened.

"How you're guys doing?" Ron Weasley said, standing in the doorway, his trademark red hair standing out like a beacon.

"We're good," Harry said, "How're you doing?"

"I'm good. How are you, Hermione? I heard about your mum. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Hermione said.

"Then what's with the book?" Ron said, smiling at the fact that he was right (for once).

Hermione blushed and tried to hide the book from her friend's view, causing Harry to laugh.

"She's fine," he said, shooting a playful grin her way, "or at least she will be."
"I'm fine, guys, really," Hermione said, standing up to join her friend and her boyfriend, "and what do you mean "or at least she will be"?"

Harry just shrugged.

"Don't give me that! You still haven't told me what you made so sure to save from my house!"

"Do you really want to know?" Harry asked, his eyes flashing playfully.

"Yes!"

"Fine," he said and he walked over to his trunk, dug through it for a minute, extracted something, which he put in his pocket, and walked back over to a confused Ron and an exasperated Hermione.

"Well?" she said,

Harry looked at Ron, before pulling Hermione into a deep, passionate kiss.

"What was that for?" Hermione asked, happy that Harry had kissed her, but now just as confused as Ron.

"I just wanted to see if it had that same spark it did three weeks ago. Don't worry. It does," Harry's voice was getting constricted, and Hermione had the feeling he had wanted to tell her this for a long time, which made her even more curious.

Everything was cleared up in a minute. Hermione's breath caught in her throat when Harry dropped to one knee. Could he be doing what I think he's doing? He could. Out of his pocket he pulled a small, velvet-covered, box, and when he opened it, inside was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. It was 24 karat gold, and had a ruby set into it, making it the colors of Gryffindor. Harry cleared his throat.

"You know I love you, Hermione. I have loved you since fifth year, and that thing with Cho, just forget that. It was nothing. I didn't feel the spark then that I feel now when I kiss you. So, Hermione Jane Granger, will you do me the honor of becoming Hermione Jane Potter?"

Hermione let out the breath she had been holding in a scream. A very loud, happy scream. She dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around Harry in a constricting hug.

"You know I will, Harry," she said through her tears, "Of course I will. Thank you."

Harry hugged Hermione back and, once again, pulled her into a very deep, very passionate kiss. Hermione pushed on Harry's shoulders so he ended up laying on his back with Hermione on top of him, but they didn't break their kiss once.

A few seconds later, people appeared in the doorway. Lots of people. Ron's whole family (minus Bill and Charlie) had come up to see what Hermione had screamed about. The two finally broke their kiss and Harry opened his eyes to see the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. Hermione's big, brown eyes were sparkling with happiness and she looked like her smile was permanently plastered to her face.

However, the perfect picture was ruined when Ron's face appeared behind Hermione's, and they both realized what this must look like. Hermione got up off of Harry and helped him up, but he dropped down to one knee once again. This time, he reached up and grabbed her left hand.

"The perfect ring for the Queen of Gryffindor," he whispered as he placed it on her finger.

She didn't care that they had an audience. She dropped down and kissed him like she had never kissed before.

That kiss, on that day, seemed to seal their futures. They didn't care what horrors lurked in their pasts. As long as they were together in the future.

Eventually (as in about five minutes later) they broke the kiss, each of them gasping for breath. Everyone applauded. Mrs. Weasley was even crying, but not as bad Hermione. Harry reached up and dried the tears off her face as they stood up.

"Okay, show's over, people!" Ron said, herding his family out of the room. Harry and Hermione looked up at him, plainly telling him to leave, too.

He didn't really want to, but he did, just to make them happy.

As soon as the door closed, Hermione was on top of Harry again (she had pushed him down onto the bed), but she didn't kiss him, yet.

"Thank you," she whispered, "for everything."

Then she kissed him.

(Again)

The End

Once again, Happy Holidays from me to you. I do have an idea for a sequel, but it will probably be a while before I post anything. TTFN