A/N: Keep the reviews coming. Good or bad, it's nice to know someone is reading this. I know the dialogue is a bit old-fashioned. It was from the 40s you know, what can you expect?
Chapter Five: The Inn
After switching trains a few times, they decided to make their way into Devon, a small-secluded village in the countryside. The mist lifted as they strolled down the small stone path and they could see the beautiful landscape ahead. The trees, although bare moved gently with the breeze.
"It's the end of the world, out here, lonely and lovely. We'll be safe here. Even if ---" Hermione cuts herself off, before saying, "We'll phone first, then we'll see."
They made their way inside a quaint little inn. A small-furnished lobby with a lighted fireplace greeted them.
Hermione heard footsteps coming down the stairs. An elderly man and an old woman came into view.
"Alright Mrs. Devanter, you can come down a couple of hours tomorrow, and I'll look in on Friday." The old man told her as he walked out the door, "Goodbye"
"Thank you doctor, goodbye" she called back. She directed her attention to her newly arrived guests. "Morning madam"
"Morning," Hermione said.
"Sorry I wasn't down, were you wanting rooms?" Mrs. Devanter asked as she took her place behind the front desk.
"Well that depends," she answered, "May I use your telephone?"
"Certainly, it's in there." She gestured her head toward the phone booth behind them, "You just turn the handle."
"Thank you," Hermione hesitated when she took notice of Mrs. Devanter staring at the man beside her. "Smithy, come and sit down you look worn out." She took him by the arm and led him to the couch by the fire.
"Eh, he does look poorly, the poor dear!" Mrs. Devanter observed, staring after him.
Hermione stepped into the telephone booth, picked up the receiver and turned the crank. "Operator? I like to make a trunk call please. Melbridge 4-2- 9-9. Thank you."
Tom was sweeping the floor when the phone started to ring. He ran over and picked it up. "Hello? Hello? Hello Mione! No no, he's alright, come to it in a jiffy, buying a bump on his head. Big as apple it was. That fella of yours must've give him what I gave the gunner!"
"What?" Hermione sighed in relief, as if a heavy burden has been lifted, "A bump? Oh, Tom don't make me laugh, I'll go into hysterics." She grinned, "Oh, I see, oh he is an angel, and so are you! Do you mind if I rush off now and tell Smithy? A thousand thanks darling, good bye!" She dashed out of the phone booth as fast as she could. "Smithy! Smithy it's alright! Isn't it wonderful? Lee's alright! Now you have nothing to worry about, nothing! Lee's being awfully decent about it, he says it was just an accident and-"
"An accident?" Mrs. Devanter asked, overhearing their conversation.
Hermione turned to her. "Oh, it's a friend of ours who's had a bad fall, we were terribly worried about him, but he's alright," she lied quickly, "And we would like to stay, that is, if you would have us."
"Well I've got a nice double front, sun comes in all day," she suggested, "Just a thing for your husband after the flu."
"Well, ummm" Hermione blushed and looked to Harry, "He's not my husband," she replied, "Not yet, I mean, we're just sort of engaged."
"Oh" Mrs. Devanter said, "Well, I've got two nice rooms adjoining. With hot and cold and a view of the lake," she told them, "If you'd like to come up."
"Oh Smithy, isn't it wonderful?" She sat down next to him, "I'm so thankful, I was so terribly worried. And all you have to do is to get well," Hermione flashed him a comforting smile, "And you will get well won't you? In this lovely place. Well, say it. Let me hear you say it."
Smith smiled back at her, "I will...I will"
"I had to tell her we were engaged. You don't mind don't you?" she asked him, slightly embarrassed.
"I thought you was behind me!" Mrs. Devanter called out from the stairs, "Don't you want to see the rooms?"
"Oh I'm sorry, yes of course, we're just coming!" Harry and Hermione got up and followed her up the stairs.
A few months went by quickly. The peaceful ambiance of their surroundings allowed Harry to recover, gaining his confidence and completely eliminating his stutter. They would spend their days hiking around the hills, biking, picnicking and fishing around the lake.
Today, Harry was taking a nap beside the lake with his fishing pole still in the water. Hermione rode up to him on her bike. She picked up her lunch basket and an envelope and sat down next to him. She held out the envelope before realizing he was still asleep. She hesitated for a minute before deciding not to wake him. Curiously, she tried holding up the letter to the sun to catch a glimpse of the contents inside. Frustrated, she got up and started shaking the envelope.
"If I were you I'd open it" Harry grinned as he looked up at her.
"Oh Smithy, you are a fraud," She turned around and punched him playfully on the shoulder, "I was dying of curiosity. It's from the Daily Prophet." She handed him the letter.
"I say, so it is, Daily Prophet, Managing editor, Samuel C. Henson. Liverpool," he read aloud.
"Must be about that article you sent."
"Yes, I suppose it could be."
"Well what did he say? Open it Smithy!" said Hermione impatiently.
He laughed, amused by her eagerness as he tore open the letter. He exclaimsed "It's a cheque! It's a small cheque, but it's a cheque!"
"I don't believe it, let me look!" she snatched the piece of paper from his hand. "Oh! Aren't you just terribly happy?"
"Yes I am, it means a lot," said Harry.
"I'm proud of you Smithy!"
"Didn't know you had an author in your hands did you?" Harry teased.
"Oh yes I did, I knew you were good, I'm really not a bit surprised!" she turned away, trying to look uninterested. She opened the basket and started setting up their picnic lunch.
"You think I can send another?" he asked.
"Another and another and another, lots of them!" She unfolded the tablecloth on the ground. She paused before saying; "Smithy, I wonder if you were a writer before you-" she stopped herself, "before the war I mean."
"Yes I wondered that too," he told her.
"Aren't you terribly curious? About the past I mean?" she asked.
"Well I'd like to know, but the presents looking up." He grinned, his eyes never leaving her as he helped her set the plates.
"Suppose it all came back to you suddenly, and awfully grand, with all sorts of wonderful people," Hermione continued.
"Oh, I wouldn't mind a bit," said Harry nonchalantly.
"You might even be married Smithy, who knows?"
"Ah, nonsense!" he dismissed a little too quickly.
She glanced at him before reaching into the basket again. "Well how can you be so sure?"
"Well, because-," he stopped awkwardly, "Hermione, I wonder if I can make a living at writing," he said, changing the subject.
"Of course you could," she replied without hesitation.
"Make a regular income. Be independent," he continued.
"Why not?" she asked as she took out two bottles of butterbeer. "And I'm getting quite good at typewriting." she added, her tone a little higher than usual.
He shifted himself a little closer to her. "Hermione," he said nervously, suddenly very interested in her hands, "I've fallen in love with you."
Hermione was wiping her hands with a cloth. He flinched slightly, anticipating her reaction. After a moment of silence, he looked up at her.
"No you haven't," she replied, convincing herself it was too good to be true, " You're just being a gentleman." Her face remained still but he could detect a certain spark in her eyes.
"Oh no I'm nothing of the sort," he answered, smiling. "I'm asking you to marry me. On a cheque for 10 sickle," he held out the slip of paper and chuckled.
"Smithy, don't ask me please," Hermione couldn't help but crack a smile, "I might take you up on it, I'm just that shameless."
"Mione," he gazed deeply into her eyes.
"I've run after you from the very beginning, you know I have," she confessed, "I've never let you out of my sight since the first time I saw you in that little shoppe."
"Never do it, Mione," Harry grabbed her hand.
"What?" she asked.
"Never leave me out of your sight. Never again"
"Oh Smithy!" She wiped away a tear, "You do mean it? You do want it? Really?"
"More than anything else in the world," he assured her, "My life began with you. I can't imagine the future without you."
"Oh, I better say yes quickly before you change your mind." she cried happily, "Its yes, darling."
"Ohhhh. Now I can relax" Smith sighed in relief, leaning back against the tree, 'Mmmmm..I'm hungry."
Hermione pouted at him, "Smithy!"
"Yes my dear?" He started caressing her arm, "What is it?"
She blushed slightly, looking away, "But darling, you proposed to me...and I've accepted you…"
Harry straightened up rapidly, "What is it? What's wrong?"
"Smithy, do I always have to take the initiative? You were supposed to kiss me!"
"Ohhh" he laughed and with a quick swoop, scooped her into his lap. For a moment, they gazed intensely into one another. To them, they were the only ones in the world. She closed her eyes as he brought his lips to meet her's. Their first kiss to celebrate the beginning of a blissful union.