Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Harry Potter or anything from the magical world. However, I own the plot of this story!

Chapter Nine

"So, let me get this straight," Harry said, putting some more bacon on his plate. "You're going to Hogsmeade with Luna Lovegood?"

"Yes," Ron replied, turning slightly red.

"And you didn't believe me," Hermione added, smiling as she held her fork up to her mouth, ready to eat the bacon on it. Red turned even redder.

"Well, I was just checking. I mean, the three of us always go to Hogsmeade together. We have since third year. It'll be the first time we haven't."

"Well, I could hang around with you guys and Luna could tag along-"

"Don't be silly. Harry's just be melodramatic. You and Luna have a good time."

"Thanks, Hermione. H-have you two seen Luna at all today? I was going to meet up with her before Hogsmeade later, but I haven't seen her."

"I think she was outside by the lake," Hermione replied. She had in fact seen Luna outside that morning before breakfast and guessed that she had gone down to the lake.

"Thanks, Hermione," Ron said, taking one last bite out of his toast before jumping up and running out of the Great Hall.

"So, it's just the two of us at Hogsmeade today then," Harry said, smiling.

"Yep."

"Our first date," Harry whispered. Hermione stopped eating and looked at him.

"Two months and we haven't even had a date yet. This will be our first one," Harry added, cheerfully, cutting up his bacon. Hermione was still staring at him.

"What?" he asked.

"I-I never thought of it as that…"

"What, don't you want it to be our first date?"

"Of course I do you prat, it just…surprised me when you said it. That's all."

"Oh, good. Well," Harry said, standing up. "I'm off to get ready."

"What's wrong with what you're wearing?" Harry leaned forward so that no one else could hear.

"It's our first date. I have to look at least half decent," and with that he walked off.

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Hermione went up ten minutes later to find Harry in front of the mirror in the bathroom with a comb. She laid her chin on his shoulder.

"What's up?"

"My hair never lays flat. It's so bloody annoying."

"But I like your hair like that," Hermione protested.

"Do you, now?" Harry asked turning round to face her.

"I do." Harry gave her a quick peck on the lips then turned back to the mirror, setting the comb down on the side. Hermione stood beside him and he put his hands in his wet hair and ruffled it up before turning to Hermione.

"Better?" he asked.

"Much," she replied, kissing his cheek.

"Harry, Hermione. Are you guys in here?" Ron's voice called. The two of them stepped out the bathroom.

"Hi, Ron," Harry said, grabbing his jacket. Ron looked at them suspiciously.

"What were you two doing in the bathroom?"

"Harry was trying and failing to flatten his hair," Hermione replied, picking up her own jacket.

"Nice shirt," Ron admired, looking at Harry's black shirt. Harry smiled.

"Thanks. It's one of the only new pieces of clothing I have. And the jeans for that matter too."

"You look nice too, Ron," Hermione said, looking down at his blue jeans and white shirt.

"Thanks, Hermione," Ron replied, turning a brighter shade of red than Hermione thought possible.

"We should go. Everyone will be waiting." The three of them, hurried to the Entrance Hall to find everyone already there. Ginny not included. She hadn't spoken to any of them since the first day back at school. Dean and Seamus stood talking to Luna, looking slightly confused and Neville started waving to them as soon as they got nearer. They set off as soon as the trio came up and split into their separate groups. Harry and Hermione headed off to a new café that Hermione had read about in the Daily Prophet. As they approached the door, Harry covered Hermione's eyes.

"What are you doing?" she asked, reaching up to grab his hands.

"Uh, uh. No peaking. I have a surprise for you," he replied, guiding her through the door. "Keep your eyes closed." Harry took his hands away and Hermione shut her eyes. She heard Harry talking to someone and suddenly a voice, Harry's, in her ear told her that she could open her eyes. When she did, she drew in a deep breath of amazement. A banner above them spelled out 'I love you' and the room was decorated with pictures. Countless pictures of her and Harry. She turned round to him.

"How did you do this?" she asked.

"Well, when you said you wanted to come here, I called up and asked them if they could do this for me, and don't worry, no one else can see the banner or the pictures except you and me. I enchanted them myself, with a little…or maybe a lot…of help from Dumbledore. Do you like it?"

"Are you joking? I love it. Harry you're so sweet," Hermione whispered, pulling him into a hug.

"I know I am," he replied, laughing. "Right, you go and get us a table. I just need to talk to the manager and tell him that he can open the shop again."

"You got him to close the shop for us?"

"Just until you saw everything."

"Thank you, Harry."

"You're welcome." Harry rushed off and Hermione sat down at a table in the corner of the café. The pictures were wonderful and Hermione looked around the café in awe and wonder. She didn't even know that Harry had taken pictures of the two of them from their first year up to…well…now.

"Back." Harry sat in the chair in front of her, grinning. He handed her a menu.

"Have anything you want."

"Where did you get all these pictures?" Hermione asked.

"Well, some of them were taken by Ron, because I asked him to and then some of them were taken by Hagrid. Dumbledore took loads of them apparently, as he knew that we were going to 'fall in love' and then the other ones are a few pictures that Mrs. Weasley took of us. Brilliant isn't it?"

"It's wonderful!"

"And now, we get to keep all the pictures." Hermione smiled and picked up her menu, to choose what she was having and let Harry order it for her. A waiter came over and took their order a few minutes later.

"So, what shall we do after this?" Harry asked, putting his hand on Hermione's, which was resting on the table.

"I don't know. I think this will be the highlight of the day no matter where we go next," Hermione replied, still looking round at the pictures and getting a funny look from another girl who, obviously, couldn't see them.

"How about we go down the bookstore and I'll treat you to a book? Or, we could go to Honeydukes and I could buy you some sweets…" Harry mused. Before Hermione could answer, their food had arrived and was being placed in front of them, forcing Harry to let Hermione's hand go. Both of them had ordered Spaghetti and Meatballs and Harry watched as Hermione cut each meatball in half and poked it with the fork before wrapping a small amount of spaghetti round the fork and eating it.

"I can't believe you did all this," Hermione said, thanking him for the hundredth time.

"Anything for the girl I love," he replied, taking into account that it was actually the first time he'd admitted he loved her.

"I love you too," Hermione said, leaning across the table to kiss him. Harry shovelled his last meatball onto her plate, noticing that she didn't have any left and then finished the last of his spaghetti.

"You're too sweet, Harry Potter," Hermione laughed.

"Why thank you, Mrs. Granger," Harry replied, before standing up and reaching into his pocket. He laid his money on the table and then pulled Hermione's chair out for her, holding up her coat to let her slip it on.

Unfortunately, he couldn't hold her hand in case anyone saw them, but she knew he loved her and that was all that mattered. In Honeydukes, Harry brought Hermione an assortment of sweets and a few for himself. They eventually ended up in front of the shrieking shack, the only place where they were sure they could hold hands, without being seen.

"You're so beautiful," Harry said, staring at Hermione. She blushed and rocked on her feet staring at the building in front of them. "And I love you so much." At this she turned to look at him and smiled. "More than anything in the world, in fact," he continued. "And I promise I'll kill Voldemort and come back to you, for you." Hermione's face fell and she looked away.

"Why did you have to bring that up?" she whispered.

"Because I want you to know that no matter where I am or what I do, I'll always love you and when I go to fight Voldemort, I'll win because I have you to live for and there's no way I'm giving you up."

"What do you mean, 'when you come back' I'm coming with you to finish of V-Voldemort and you aren't stopping me."

"I don't think you should. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Just because I'm your girlfriend, doesn't mean you can order me around. I'm coming to the final battle with you if it's the last thing I do," Hermione protested. Harry leaned down and kissed her, running his hand down her back to hold her waist.

"That's why I love you so much," Harry whispered against her mouth.

"So I suppose," Hermione added, pulling away and resting her forehead against his. "That I have to love you for being such a prat?"

"You've grown to love that word, haven't you?"

"Yes, I have."

"Fine then. You can love me because I'm a prat," Harry said, grinning, before leaning in for another kiss. Hermione pulled her coat closer to her as they pulled away and Harry put an arm round her shoulders.

"We should head back," Hermione said after a while. "Everyone will be leaving in five minutes."

"Let's go then," Harry replied, holding her hand. Together, they walked back up the path to Hogsmeade.