PREVIOUSLY ON TKR….

Hemione looked puzzled as she saw her dad exit the drawing room with Harry, she looked at the two other ladies with her, they just gave her an enigmatic smile. She looked to the younger man beside her father, his eyes clicked with hers and he smiled at her and then spoke.

His voice was low but strong, "Miss Granger, may I take you for a stroll along the manor gardens?"

"I would love to Mr. Potter." She replied taking his offered arm as they walked out of the house…


HARRY HERMIONE


My Heart's Desire

12th September 1994 - Saturday - 18:30

They walked along the green paths silently, neither one wanting to break the tranquility of the moment. Though Hermione was curious about what Harry and her father had spoken about she kept it in well, she would wait until he was ready to tell her. Said young man kept glancing at her, thinking of a way to discreetly open the topic of the conversation. After a moment more, Harry finally thought of the perfect start.

"Are you sure you are alright?" Harry asked her with a worried glance.

She smiled softly, "Physically I am alright, but mentally and emotionally it has been one roller-coaster ride. But I'll be fine, thank you again for what you did. If you had not gotten there in time…" She shuddered at the possibilities of what could have happened to her.

He growled as the thought entered his mind, Malfoy will pay for what he has almost done another time. He pulled the frightened young lady toward him, taking her into his arms protectively. He would die before anything untoward happened to her, he would do anything to keep her from harm.

"No need to thank me 'Mione. I am just glad that whatever he was going to do did not happen." Harry said with conviction.

She shook her head then asked, "What did you and my father talk about?"

"We talked about the incident, he asked me for details and I told him what happened. Then he asked me about my intentions towards you." He says looking her right in the eyes.

She gasped at the intense emotions she saw in his eyes, "And what did you tell him?"

"I told him that I would cherish and protect you. I also said that I would die first before anything horrible happened to you. I would never dream of hurting you in any way." He tells her.

Her breath caught in his throat, 'Harry…"

"Hermione Granger, would you do me the honor of becoming my intended?" He asked taking her hand in his.

She glanced at their joint hands then looked into his eyes, "Yes. Oh, Harry, I would like nothing more."

He smiled bringing her hand to his lips and kissing the back of her palm, his eyes still trained on hers. She turned her hand to cup his cheek, bringing his face closer. Their breaths melding together as they shared their first kiss, it was sweet and tender, they both sighed in content as they pulled apart.

"How romantic of you Mr. Potter, a novel sight as well. First kiss in the sunset, a man after my heart." She teased eyes full of mirth.

He chuckled softly, "Well, it is a testament to the young woman who had stolen my heart."

"It is getting darker, should we be going inside?" She said with a smile.

He nodded, "I think we shall. And we have an early day tomorrow, we'll be going to England to have your family name reinstated into the Wizengamot."

"Alright, it would be nice to see the Ministry of Magic there. Who is the current Minister?" She said as they walked back to the villa.

He answered, "Well, the previous one got booted out because of his corrupt governance. The new Minister for Magic is Madman Amelia Bones, she used to head the Magical Law Enforcement Office. The Ministry is still purging itself of corrupt officials until today, but new heads were elected."

"That is good to hear ." She said

They entered the villa in time for dinner, the table was filled with lively conversation. Until it came to the family seats in Magical society, Sirius and Jean were talking about international politics.

Emma fired the first shot, "So Harry, what are your plans tomorrow?"

"We are taking a trip to Britain tomorrow, Hermione will have to reinstate your family's position in the magical world," Harry said.

The caught Dan's attention, "I thought non-magical people were not allowed into Magical institutions…"

"Ever since Harry exposed your family's status in the last Wizangamot meeting they'll allow you inside the Ministry. Besides they would not dare piss off the Queen's representatives, Duke Gryffindor of Richmond and I the Earl of Dover. But the irony of it all is that we both don't like the attention that comes with our title." Said Sirius.

Marie laughed, "Well, most men would eat up the power and attention you and Harry possess. But you both have upstanding morals and are too noble for your own good. Not to mention you both have places in the ICW, and in the French courts."

"And they both have representatives in the courts here, while they're running the British one. It is amazing the turn around England has made after Harry and Sirius had taken their seats. Some of the old laws were changed, the more radical purists put in their place. Magical Britain may have a lot of changes to go through still, but the bigger changes are slowly coming through." Said Jean.

Sirius chuckled taking a sip of his bourbon, "We have not touched the Daily Profit yet, but its days a definitely numbered. Harry is planning to buy out the publication this year, and flush out those rabid purists and those self-acclaimed 'Journalists' in the business and replaced them with professionals who tell real news not gossip."

"It is about time someone did something about that trash. But what about Witch Weekly?" Asked Jean scowling.

Sirius shrugged, "Well the ladies of Harland Glen have a handle on that, since they have returned to the Wizangamot then we could only hope for the best. That rag should be slashed off the market."

"You've just given me an idea Sirius." Said the Young Lord Potter looking to his girlfriend, "I have no doubt that young Lady Granger has this sad excuse of a magazine."

Hermione nodded with a scowl, "I had a subscription for the last two years and let me tell you it isn't what I was hoping for. Gossip with no valid information and interesting content. So far all I have read is the top twenty reasons why people should date the esteemed Lord of Richmond."

"You could expect to no less of the English press. When word gets out that you've taken up with Harry the press is going to hound you at every corner. Don't worry Miss Granger since Lord Balck and Potter have standing ownership of the Daily Profit it will not print anything untoward about you" Informed Jean with a smile.

Emma chuckled, "We could expect no less of course, you are dating a celebrity after all dearest one," The mother teased.

"Well to me he is just Harry! All this hero nonsense can be left out of the door, though I would consider him my own personal savior…" Hermione blushed at the last part.

Harry laughed placing his arms around her securely, "Of course, I am and will be for the rest of your life. It seems that the legend of the Potters lives on in me. It was said that the Potter family found their true love early in life, they were bound to be attracted to beautiful, brilliant, and brave women."

"I can see that. Your father knew Lily was the one even when she couldn't stand the sight of him in our first few years in school. I believe it gets better in every generation, you are a lot smoother then your father was trying to impress your mother." Said Sirius barking out a laugh.

Marie nodded, "Well he has more of Lilian in him then James, I say that's part of why he is a lot smoother than James ever was when trying to attract the love of his life. And also Harry does not have James' impulse to bully others from other houses just because they are around his intended."

"I admit he has more brawn in his then brains but he was no slouch in class either, and on the battlefield, he was every bit a Gryffindor through and through. His hatred for the Slytherins was unmatched by anyone even me. I disliked the house of snakes, but I also understood that not everyone from there would turn evil. Andi and Cissa can a test to that, but I am unsure about Bella." Said Sirius thinking about the three Black sisters.

Jean looked thoughtful, "I did notice something strange about your cousin Bellatrix's sudden change in personality Sirius, I've had a few theories about that. I rather remembered her in her younger years before she was sixteen and engaged to that bastard Lestrange."

"It could be that she was forced to marry him, then trouped both mentally and physically until she turned mad. Young Bella was as rebellious as her sister Andromeda was when it came to certain issues, such as marriage, Narcissa, on the other hand, was a quiet one, but also disagreed with her engagement to Lucius Malfoy." Marie said.

Harry spoke up, "All three sisters were friends with my mother, Alice Longbottom nee Prewet and Merlene McKinnon. We're trying to figure out what happened to Auntie Bella, she was not like the madwoman like she is now. We got Madam Bones to investigate the situation, and we got some disturbing news."

"My dear uncle - the sisters' father - was a lot darker then my father thought he was. Though my father - Orion Jacques Black - dabbled in dark magic unlike my mother he had control over it, he didn't let it take him over. He never took me off the inheritance despite kicking me out of the house. I was told by him later on that he may have disowned me by word but the family magic would not allow my name to be taken out of the linage." Sirius told them with a smile.

Jean laughed, "Dear old Olga did not like that fact, she wanted Regulus to take the headship from Sirius, of course, young Reg was put under a regulatory regimen of loyalty potions and a darker variation of the imperious curse. Poor Bellatrix!"

"Wow, that is some dark history there. I've read of books on Salazar Slytherin, most paint him as a dark lord of evil. " Noted Hermione looking at Harry inquisitively.

Harry smiled at her, "Those are just fictitious depictions. He was one of Merlin's sons, the younger of two brothers. While Helga and Rowena were daughters of a Nobel man in King Arthur's court in Avalon - the land where Magical and Mundane individuals alike live in Harmony after death - and a sorceress."

"I am ztill amazed zat 'Arry has found out a lot about ze History of Magic. But et does make for interesting conversation." Says Gabrielle with admiration.

Fleur laughed, "Mr. Potter is a scholar for sure. I have no doubt that he'll graduate with High Honors."

"Well I wouldn't know about high honors, but Hermione would be a formidable opponent in the academic field for sure. I bet you would get on great with Daphne, Susan, and Padma." Harry said with a grin.

Gabby giggled, "I 'ave no doubt zat she will get along well wiz them 'Arry."

Sirius chuckled, "Right smart ladies they are, that is to be said of their parents and guardian. You would fit right in with them Miss Granger."

"Are you fluent in any language Harry? Aside from French." Inquired Emma with a smile.

Harry smiled, "Si Seniorita! I can speak Spanish, Italian, and Bulgarian. I am still learning German." He says.

"He is a very good student. His foreign language professor is rather happy about his success in all of his lessons. While Remus and I are happy with the speed at learning advance DADA and Transfiguration." Says Sirius with a smile then he added, "Speaking of the wolf-man, he is flooing in tomorrow morning. He'd like you Hermione he values people with intelligent minds, and loves a good challenge."

Harry laughed at this, "Well Daphne and the girl challenged him well enough, but he wants something new."

"I'll try. But it is hard to challenge a werewolf's mind, I'll think of something." Said Hermione rising up to the challenge.

"Ay! She'll make it in Gryffindor for sure!" Exclaimed Jean.

The festive mood died down when it was time for bed, Harry and Hermione elected to say in the living room of the Delacour villa that night on an enlarged couch. Both her parents and Sirius trusted them. Hermione snuggled to Harry under the silver fleece blanket as said young mon pulled her closer.

"I know this may seem odd, but with you, by my side, I feel like something inside of me is finally complete." Hermione said nuzzling his neck.

Harry smiled, "With magic, nothing is ever considered odd. But you are right Hermione, from the moment I met you I felt sparks light up my heart. I may have known you for a better part of a month, but I feel like I can be with you forever."

"Really?" She asked in a whisper.

She rolled on top of him and sat on his abdomen, he lifted himself using one of his elbows. Their eyes met both glowing with the love and affection they felt for the other, he cupped her cheek a brought their foreheads together.

Then he whispered, "Really."

Their lips met in a tender kiss. One that spoke volumes of their feelings for each other. Those kisses soon turned to chased packs as they brew back for breath. She returned to her original position her head perched on his shoulder, as he inhaled the scent of her hair.

Off to the land of dreams they want.


HARRY HERMIONE


Chapter seven is up! Wow, I've gotten this far already. Thank you all for your positive and insightful comments. If you guys have any suggestions please do comment them or send them via private message, I'd be happy to read them all. Harmony has been made and there will be a little drama in the future chapters so watch out.

"For one's love burns like eternal flames and thy heart's desire that of which would never wane."

Signing off,

WL_17