Chapter Five

Harry had woken. He inhaled the sweet smell that was carried from the ocean. He had fallen asleep on a couch that sat in the corner of his balcony. He was in no pain at all, not a bit, and was comfortably snuggled underneath Hermione.

Hermione had fallen asleep as well. She had lain on top of him for quite sometime, crying, and Harry could smell the salty ness of her tears. He shifted most gently, hoping not to wake her and covered her with a blanket. Her skin was starting to form small bumps throughout her arms. Harry could feel her shiver.

He was cold too, but he found her to be more important. He tucked her in under the blanket, that was too short to cover both of them, and snuggled to her gently. She looked like an angel, and the locks of her hair moved so smoothly.

He brushed his thumb against her cheek so, lovingly as he tried to remove himself from underneath her. He could feel the zipper of her coat pressing hardly into his stomach, and he tried not to show any sign of pain.

He had succeeded. He stood up, looking at his stomach, and no mark appeared to be there. He looked to her, knelt down and removed her shoes so she would be more comfortable. He gave her a slight kiss on the forehead as he adjusted her clothing a little so she was completely covered.

Harry had his shirt off only. He was shivering a bit as he walked inside. He walked up and into his room as he grabbed a sweatshirt and slipped it on. He adjusted the covers on his bed as he picked the ends up and folded them against the end of the bed. It made half the bed covered and half not covered.

He fixed the freshly washed sheets and walked back downstairs. Hermione was still asleep. He walked onto the chilly balcony and flipped her onto her back. He gently hoisted her into his arms and tried to find his balance.

When he had found it, he walked back inside. The blanket was dragging on the floor and he was being meticulous to not trip on it. Hermione had told him that she was up till six in the morning caring for him. She barely got any sleep, and she was exhausted.

He walked into his room, laying her on the non covered part of his bed, and situated her gently. He walked to the end of the bed, picked up the black velvet comforter, and tugged it over her. He silently left the room after giving her one last kiss and shut the door. He walked softly down the stairs with a relieved sigh.

He turned the corner, into the chrome kitchen, and stood at the counter. He was slowly making eggs for breakfast, because he had not eaten, and sighed lightly. He was rerunning everything that happened last night through his head.

He wanted to stay where he was when he woke, but he was hungry. He cracked the eggs over a bowl and began whipping it with a fork. He poured the contents onto a flay pan and turned his stove on high. He was lost in a deep thought by then.

Why did Hermione care so much to stay the night with him? Why had she asked him for love? Though, the thing that was on his mind the most is why did she love him? He, at times, hated himself.

He was thinking that life would be the best with her. Life would be better off with her, and life was going – Harry. Life was good, but it was – Harry! Life was the best now, and it would get even...

"HARRY!" Hermione yelled as Harry was snatched from his daydream.

"Ah!" Harry said as he turned his stove off under the thick layer of black smoke. Hermione looked horrified. She quickly grabbed the top of a pan and set it on top of his burning eggs. She sighed relieving like as she watched the flames disappear.

"Are you alright?" She asked a little worried.

"Yeah... fine." He said bewildered. "Daydream," he sighed.

"Oh, you looked like you fell asleep." She said with a light giggle.

"No, I'm alright." He laughed. "Are you hungry?" He asked, looking down at the burnt food, and then back to her. "I can make more, and not burn it." He laughed.

"Alright, that sounds great." She laughed. "As long, as it's not burnt." She smiled. She twirled around and stared at Harry, kissing his lips lightly.

"Sleep well?" he asked as he kissed her back and then moved back to the counter where a carton of eggs stayed. He took two out, cracked them into a bowl, and whipped them. "You seemed to be sleeping pretty soundlessly." He laughed.

"I'm a deep sleeper, but yes, I slept well, thank you." She smiled homey like and heaved herself upon the edge of the counter to sit on it.

Her legs dangled against the wooden doors. Harry turned around with two plates, with cooked eggs on them, in his hands. He set them on the counter for a minute and stood in front of Hermione. His crystal green eyes were melting into hers. He moved closer to her and stared directly at her.

He hadn't even noticed that he was standing between her legs as they dangled off of the counter. He just stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her deeply. He pulled her close to him as he felt the slight touch of Hermione's arms encircle his neck.

He pulled her closer as he felt her lips part slightly. Sucking her bottom lip lightly, she kissed him once more, and broke away. She was panting slightly. She gave him a look of longing and desperation before she grabbed a plate and slowly slid a piece of egg into her mouth.

Harry laughed slightly as he grabbed his plate and did the same. He helped her off the counter top and led her into the dining room. She sat at the large, rectangular table on the very end. He sat in the chair across from her, eyeing her strongly.

"Hermione, I must ask you something." Harry said in a serious tone.

Hermione looked up from her plate with a perplexed smile on her face. She had no idea what this was about. She was looking back upon all that happened and she instantly got the hint that he was dumping her. Obviously he wasn't, but something drove Hermione to think that.

"What?" She asked sweetly. Harry smiled.

"Well, I was wondering if you'd like to stay here for now on. St. Mungo's isn't that far away and I have an extra room upstairs." He said, while blushing a bit. Was it too soon to be asking?

"Oh Harry, I'd love to." She said in a hushed tone. "But, I really don't think you want me to stay for very long." She said and guaranteed.

"Why not Hermione?" he wondered as he picked up his empty plate and took it into the kitchen.

"Well," she started, looking down to her empty plate in sadness. "I'm not the same as I use to be Harry. I just want you to know that." She said.

"Of course you aren't." He said. "In my opinion you are much better now, no more books." He laughed and she laughed with him.

"That's true." She smiled sweetly.

Harry had walked back in the dining room. He walked over to her and kneeled down in front of her. Hermione just gazed into his crystal green eyes and waited for him to speak to her. She moved a lock of hair behind her ear and sighed gently.

"Hermione, I don't want you to be anything but what you are. I love you, I will always love you. No matter what happens to you, or I, I still will." He said in a sweetened tone.

"I love you too, Harry." Hermione said as she wiped a tear from her eye. Harry soothingly put a thumb to her cheek and caressed it for a minute.

"Baby, why are you crying?" He asked as she pushed her cheek lovingly against his hand.

"I'm scared." She said silently. Harry just looked at her, amazed at how she could be scared.

"What scares you?" He asked softly.

"The fact that you are an Auror scares me. You are constantly chasing after Voldemort, and what am I there for? Bait." She spoke breathlessly. "He's going to get me, to get to you." She said sadly.

"Hermione, I won't let him touch you, never. If he did, he would wish that he were never born Hermione. Nothing will happen to you, I will protect you, and I swear on my life." He said softly. Hermione hiccupped a bit.

"Oh my." She said amazed.

"What's wrong?" He asked, shifting towards her a little.

"You and me," she laughed "We reunited our friendship only about three days ago, almost killed you, had a fight, made up, promised things to each other, and acting like we are soul mates." She laughed "It's strange how fast things can happen." She smiled.

"Hermione, I haven't known you just three days." Harry laughed. "I just haven't seen you in over several years. We are still the same two people we always were, just a little closer now." He smiled. "Love makes you do crazy things." He said as he stood and she stood with him.

"It does." She agreed and Harry had immediately wrapped his arms around her. "I love you, more than life itself." She said silently.

"I love you more then words could explain." He laughed.

They were standing there, kissing, for probably ten minutes long. It felt like an hour to Hermione though. She had broken away from his kiss, put two hands on his cheeks, and gazed at him. She gazed and gazed until she couldn't take it anymore. She pushed her mouth into his and parted her lips widely.

Harry's tongue had entered her mouth. Hers was rolling with his and not even bothering to breathe. Hermione just flung her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, if it were possible. She broke apart with a slight 'smack' sound and the two stood there, panting.

"What do-" Harry took a breath "You want-" another breath "To do?" He asked, panting.

"It doesn't matter." She said sweetly. Harry looked at her with a slight smile.

"Movie sound good?" He wondered. Hermione though, had another idea.

"How about, music." She suggested, giving him the pouting lip.

"Sure, but where do you want to play it?" He asked.

Hermione smiled a devilish grin as she pulled him up the stairs. She pushed open the doors to Harry's room and stood in the wide, spacey room. She turned back to him and smiled a sweetened smile.

"Here." She said as she fluttered her eyes.

"Alright then." Harry gulped. He knew where this was going. He stood his ground though, something seemed so wrong, but he couldn't tell exactly what it was.

Hermione took out her wand, which was now a blackened color, and held it parallel to herself. She said a small chant and music started playing. It was wordless music and it was gorgeous. Hermione smiled as she twirled her wand around. She found herself in a dress and Harry stood in a tux, across from her.

"Woah." Harry said as he looked down at himself. "Were you planning this?" He wondered, and feeling rather embarrassed.

"Sort of, but only in my dreams." She smiled.

She stepped forward. Her long ball gown was made of the colors gold and tan. The skirt was very wide and swished like a bell when she moved. It was long and her hair was now stringy and elegantly had her bangs pulled back by a clip. Her dress was covered in small little pieces of work that were made from a simple thread. It must have weighed quite a lot.

Harry wore just a simple tuxedo. It was pleasing, and his shoes were accurately polished. Harry looked at her, his eyes wide, and smiled... she was gorgeous. She always had been, but now it showed even more. He pulled out his wand and his room turned into the most magnificent ball room.

It was wide and very fancy like. The ceiling had paintings of sprites, fairies, sitting on clouds, and they had small wings sprouting from their backs. A chandelier hung from the ceiling and it shined brightly. The room was wonderful, and the music was sensational.

"What do you think?" Harry asked as he stepped forward, grabbed her hand slowly and twirled her around under his arm. She had twirled in against him and now had her other hand on Harry's shoulder and Harry's was on her waist.

"It's beautiful." She said breathlessly. "Everything about this house is." She said and he laughed.

"It's nothing but a mere spell. The house itself is muggle but my magic has fixed it up to make it better. This house is like Hogwarts." He said. Hermione blinked.

"What do you mean?" She wondered.

"Well, Hogwarts is protected by a charm. If a common muggle had walked by it, all they would see is a dead end road or something. You understand?" He wondered.

"Yes." She said as he twirled her around again. He sad dipped her slightly as she pushed herself towards him more.

"Well this house, a muggle would see something like a grubby shack or something." He said with a devilish smile.

"Tricky... you are so tricky." She giggled.

Harry just laughed, twirling her around once more and stopping where he was. Harry looked at Hermione and Hermione looked back at him. He had every intention to just embrace her up, patiently kiss her, and take their relationship a little "further." Harry, though, had to stay where he was. He was not going to do that, too soon he believed it was.

"Oh my." Hermione said as she broke the silence.

"What, is something wrong?" He wondered, holding her close.

"No, nothing at all is wrong. I just noticed something." She said amazed.

"What baby?" He asked, in a sweetened tone.

"We met each other again three days ago, which was the first time in over eight years I've seen you, and we are here now. Three days and we are this close." She said.

"I know." He said was a laugh. "But-" he started and she smiled.

"But what?" She asked sweetly.

"I want it to last forever." He said as he bent down and gave her a deepened kiss.

"I do to." She said in a breathless tone.

"Then can I ask something of you?" He wondered.

Hermione felt her heart begin to race. She felt like she was being choked to death and she could barely breath. The tension she was in was so thick; you wouldn't be able to cut through it. She bit her lip slightly and put on a nervous smile.

"Does it have anything to do with us staying together?" She wondered, biting her lip, and her voice had a hint of hopeful ness.

"Yes, somewhat." He said and Hermione smile. She knew what was going to happen, and she felt like she wanted to cry.

She gave him a small smile, a nod, and then waited. She watched as Harry began to kneel down on one knee. She wanted to pounce on him, snuggle with him, and embrace him for eternity. She smiled widely as she felt the tears of joy form in her eyes.

"Hermione, I know we have been having a rough couple of days together. Meeting with you again was the happiest moment of my life though. I wish to stay with you, for ever and for always. So we can be together all of the days we live. Till death happens, I want to be with you. Till the end of time, I want to wake to your sweet smell. When I come home every morning or night, I want to see you there, smiling. I love you with all my heart." Harry said as he pulled a black, velvet box from inside his robes.

Hermione hiccupped slightly as she began to cry harder with joy and happiness. The black box opened and Hermione's heart jumped into her throat. She analyzed the contents within. It was a silver banned ring. It had a princess cut diamond in the middle with small sapphires around the outside of it. On the band it said: "I will love you till the end of time – Harry" Hermione gasped at its beauty.

"Hermione, will you marry me?" He asked softly. Hermione was speechless when she had held out her hand.

"I do." She said as the tears rolled down her cheeks. Hermione's golden hair was draping in front of her face and she cried. She cried harder and harder, it was so amazing. Harry had slipped the ring on her finger and he stood. She practically pounced on him, right there and then.

She hugged him close as she felt the deepness of his kiss. It was not like usual. His kisses before were filled with warmth and happiness, but now they were different. His kiss was filled with so much love and so much passion.

"I love you so much." Hermione said between sobs and kisses.

"I love you so much that is scares the hell out of me." Harry said with a slight joke. Hermione smiled and took out her wand. Everything changed back to normal. It was the normal Harry's room, they were in their normal clothes and they were in the normal world.

She looked down to her ring, admiring it on her thin, boney finger and sighed heavily. She was standing with her new fiancé and was happy. She was getting married to the man of her dreams and she couldn't help be devour the meaning and feeling behind it all.

She loved him so much that she couldn't explain. She wasn't even sure what would happen in the future. She wanted a child, more than anything. She stood there, in Harry's arms, and the next thing she remembered is they were lying on Harry's bed kissing.

They didn't go any further then that. Hermione just lay there, with Harry's muscular form on top of her, and she enjoyed it. She could feel his body on hers. It was like they weren't wearing any clothing, but they were obviously. The touch of skin on skin was what Hermione yearned for, but she knew she shouldn't be wanting this now.

She would have the whole rest of her life with him, and she would be happy. She wanted to savor the moment when the time came. She was still in surprise that she, Hermione Jane Granger, was almost wife to the famous Harry James Potter. She couldn't stop saying to words in her head: Hermione Potter.

She moved her head to the side as she lay on the pillow. She felt the sweet sensation of Harry's lips upon her neck. She smiled lightly, and turned her head back when she came in eye contact with him.

"Are you sure this isn't too fast of a change for you?' Harry wondered, a little uneasily. "We don't have to get married soon, we could always wait." He reassured her, but Hermione shook her head.

"Harry I was hoping you did it the day we came into contact with each other again. A school girl crush I had on you once, yes. But I wanted more! I wanted you forever and I wanted to say that you could be mine, and have..." she stopped "The most I ever wanted was:" She stopped again.

"What baby?" he asked in a sweetened tone as he brushed his thumb gently against her softened cheek.

"Nothing, it's childish." She said as she shook her head.

"No baby, nothing is childish. Please tell me?" He begged.

Hermione could feel the pleading in his voice. She wanted to laugh, she wanted to cry, and she wanted to die of embarrassment, but most of all... she wanted to tell him. So many years she held it in secrete and now she had the chance.

"Please?" Harry's voice was going throughout her mind.

She could hear the rain outside and she got the strangest thoughts in her head as she lay beneath him. She was bursting with excitement and wanted to just run out in the rain with happiness and not even care about getting wet, but then it struck her... and struck her deep.

It rained the night Harry tried to commit suicide, it rained the night after they had a fight, it rained the night of Harry's car accident, but most of all... it rained the last night they saw each other before three days ago.

Rain... she hated it. It always brought bad luck, but how come it was raining and she was the happiest person in the world right now? Could this have been a sign, could this be a trick, or just an odd coincidence?

"Hermione..."

She ignored the voice that was talking in the back of her head. She tried to ignore it so hard that it hurt.

"HERMIONE..." It got louder and she struck out of her daydream.

"What?" she asked soundlessly. She only mouthed the words, for some reason, no words had come out.

"Are you alright?" Harry asked, concerned as she panted silently.

"Yes, fine." She spoke, which was oddly weird.

"Are you sure?" Harry asked concerned.

"Yes, what were we talking about?" Hermione asked. "Sorry... I just got lost there for a moment." She laughed.

"It's alright." Harry smiled. "But you said that the thing you wanted most was..." he stopped. "You ended it right there, I want to know what you wanted to most." He said pleading again.

"That's right... I told you it was childish." Hermione laughed.

"I doubt it will be... Please tell me?" He begged.

"I don't-" She was cut off.

"I will beg on the floor if I have to... now please baby, tell me?" He asked acting like this answer was his entire life.

"Fine." She said as she propped herself up on her arms and stared into his eyes. "What I wanted most was to be called-" She blushed slightly.

"You wanted to be called what?" Harry asked, excited. She blushed deeper.

"Hermione Potter."

Author's Note:

I know I was supposed to post this Tuesday, but I have been REALLY busy. I hope you like this chapter... and I wish you all luck in the future! Love ya all!

Airalynn

UPDATED: WEDNESDAY MAY 4, 2005