Disclaimer: You know already, all HP characters don't belong to me.

Author's Note: This is an alternate universe where there's no Voldemort, Hermione is a pureblood and Harry's parents are still alive.

Author's Note: Those words in italics represent French.

Chapter 4: Engagement

Harry led Hermione out to the garden, where there was a huge, beautiful fountain. The fountain had a mermaid statue and water flowed out from her urn. The light from the inside of the statue made her glow softly.

Holding hands, Harry and Hermione strolled in the garden, admiring the beauty of the fountain.

It was a while before Hermione decided to ask, "So what is it you want to give me?"

Harry licked his lips nervously before he turned and faced Hermione directly. He held her hands together gently.

"Hermione?"

"Hm?"

"Do you love me?"

Hermione raised her eyebrows at his question. But then she smiled. "Of course I do."

"Very?"

"Very."

"So… hm," Harry suddenly blushed. "Do you ever… well…."

"What?"

"Considertomarryme?" asked Harry suddenly.

Hermione blinked. "What? Sorry, I can't catch that."

"I, I mean," said Harry quickly. "I know I'm being too rash. I mean, we are still students, but we are graduating soon and we will be adults after graduation… since we love each other… what am I trying to say is, um, oh what the hell…."

Harry clicked his tongue impatiently and looked away. "Get a grip, Harry!"

He turned back to Hermione, his expression became serious. He took a deep breath. "Hermione?"

"Yes?"

"What I'm trying to say is, I love you and I can't imagine my future without you." said Harry. He was still talking in a fast speed but at least Hermione could understand what he was saying now.

"I know it is a bit rush but… will you marry me?"

Hermione's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. "Are you serious?"

Harry nodded and stared at her. "Of course, we won't get married now. We will just be engaged. I have thought of everything. I will go for my entrance exams and after I got into the Auror school, we will get married. Of course we won't have children until I officially become an Auror."

Harry held Hermione's hands. "Hermione, there's no one else I want to marry except you. I will go and be a monk if you don't want to marry me. So will you marry me?"

Hermione finally got over her state of surprise and thought for a while. Then she smiled and said, "You don't have to be a monk."

"So the answer is…" asked Harry slowly.

Hermione nodded.

No words could describe Harry's feelings at that time. He hugged Hermione tightly and kissed her. Then he released her and searched his pockets. He took out a long box and opened it.

"You know, men buy diamond rings for their fiancées for their official wedding engagements. I'm too poor to buy those, so…"

Harry showed Hermione the contents of the box. There were two rings, but they looked like those ordinary cheap rings that you often saw in gift shops.

"I know they are cheap, but I promise that I will buy a diamond ring for you when I make enough money…" said Harry and was slightly embarrassed at his sentence.

Hermione giggled. She had enough diamond rings to fill her pencil case and she didn't want another one. "These two are good enough. Put mine on for me, Harry."

Harry took the ring with a mini purple crystal-shaped butterfly on it and put the box down.

He took Hermione's hand and when he was about to slip the ring through her finger, Hermione said, "Wait a minute, are we suppose to say something?"

"Only on the wedding day itself." said Harry.

"Let's make something up and say it." said Hermione and smiled. "For practice."

Harry thought for a while and grinned. "Wait here."

He ran off, back into the house. Then he came back, with Neville and Ginny behind him. "I brought a priest and a witness."

"That's one beautiful fiancée-to-be you got there, Harry." said Neville.

Hermione giggled.

Ginny took the box and Harry placed the ring back.

Neville said, "Hm, all right, let's start. We are here to witness the engagement ceremony of Mr Harry James Potter and Miss Hermione Jane Granger. Miss Hermione Jane Granger, will you be Mr Harry James Potter's fiancée and named him as your husband-to-be?"

Hermione giggled. "Sounds odd."

Everyone looked at her in expectation.

Hermione stared back. "What? O-oh! Yes, I'm willing to be Mr Potter's fiancée."

Harry smiled.

"Mr Harry James Potter, will you be Miss Hermione Jane Granger's fiancé and named her as your wife-to-be?"

"Yes, I'm willing to be Miss Granger's fiancé."

"Take your vows."

"How? I have never heard of engagement vows before." pointed Harry.

"Me too." said Hermione.

"Make them up then," said Ginny. "I think they are as similar as wedding vows."

"Ok, err…." said Harry. "I, Harry James Potter, am taking Hermione Jane Granger as my fiancée and I will treasure and love her…" he paused. "…as long as I live. Of course I will do that more after we are officially married." he added quickly.

"That's one good engagement vow." said Ginny sarcastically as the rest laughed.

"Oh come on," said Harry, blushing slightly. "I'm trying as hard as I can, so be serious."

Hermione cleared her throat and kept a straight face. "Okay, sorry."

"Say your vow, Hermione." said Neville.

"I, Hermione Jane Granger, am taking Harry James Potter as my fiancé and I will treasure and love him as long as I live."

"What's next?" asked Neville to Ginny.

"Exchanging rings." said Ginny.

"You may exchange rings." said Neville.

Ginny presented the box to Harry and Hermione. They took the rings. Harry was about to slip the ring through Hermione's ring finger when Ginny said, "W-wait! You two haven't married yet, so the ring should go to the middle finger."

"Oops." said Harry and placed the ring through Hermione's middle finger.

Hermione did the exchanging correctly and pushed Harry's ring through his left middle finger. Harry took Hermione's hand and kissed it tenderly. Then he pulled Hermione to him and kissed her on the lips.

"I haven't said 'kiss the bride' yet." said Neville, bewildered.

"In Harry's mind, you already did." said Ginny, giggling.

"Oh well then, I officially announced you two as fiancé and fiancée." said Neville.

Harry and Hermione didn't seem to be listening, they were too busy with their kissing.

"Come on, leave them alone. Our job is done." said Ginny and she pulled Neville into the house.

When Harry and Hermione finally released each other, they realized that Neville and Ginny were gone.

"Where did they go?" asked Hermione.

Harry shrugged.

After the party was over, Hermione changed into her nightgown and after she went to bed, she reached to turn off the light on her bedside table. That was when she saw her so-called engagement ring.

Hermione smiled sweetly at it. She couldn't imagine that she was engaged (well, sort of) to Harry. Everything was so romantic…

Suddenly Hermione wondered what her parents would say if she told them that she and Harry were getting married. What if they objected?

"Nah," thought Hermione. "Mum and Dad have seen Harry before. They think he's a nice boy. They will let Harry marry me..."

Smiling, Hermione began to imagine hers and Harry's wedding. Even though it was still years away, but she could dream, right?

She imagined herself in a white wedding dress, walking on the soft grass (it's an outdoor wedding), with a bouquet of red roses in her hands and a tiara with a veil on her head. Harry was standing near the platform where the priest was, wearing a white suit.

When she reached Harry, he would take her hand and they stood in front of the priest. They said their wedding vows, exchanged their wedding rings. Finally, Harry would lift Hermione's veil and kissed her.

Hermione giggled. Oh that would be wonderful…