Throughout the Years
HarryxHermione
Rated T
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or its characters from the franchise. That honor belongs to JK Rowling
Throughout the Years
Harry Potter's life had always been unpredictable ever since he found out he was a wizard at the age of eleven. Things seemed to change for him every year, more times than not they'd be perilous situations he would have to fight his way out of. Even so, there was one constant in his life throughout the years, no matter how tough things got, and that constant was his best friend Hermione Granger.
Hermione had always been there for Harry, sticking by him through thick and thin. No matter how tough things got, she was always there for him, always constant in his life. He hadn't been sure he liked her as First Years, but after saving her from that Mountain Troll, she had turned into one of his best friends. And since then, their friendship had grown closer and closer. They were so close, they had practically become siblings, him viewing her as an older sister and him as her younger brother. It was easy as they didn't have any siblings of their own, and coming from Muggle backgrounds, it made them closer and easier to understand things that Ron and other children raised completely in the Wizarding World didn't understand. And as they got older, their friendship/brother-sister relationship grew even closer, and were able to lean on one another, no matter the issues they faced alone or together.
One instance of Harry realizing how strong Hermione's loyalty was had been during the Tri-Wizard Tournament during their Fourth Year. His name had been placed in the Goblet of Fire, making him a Tri-Wizard Champion when he shouldn't have been one in the first place. Everyone believed he had done it on purpose and turned against him, including Ron. The only one that believed him and stood by him had been Hermione. Neville Longbottom had too, but it was different with Hermione. In fact, she had also been the one to try and help him figure out his tasks and get through them without dying, even though they would hit brick walls left and right. But that year proved to Harry just how loyal Hermione was to him and how important of a best friend she was to him.
But the one incident that not only showed her loyalty and care towards him, but also began to change how Harry felt about her, was when they were on the run during the height of the war, living on the lamb and evading capture from Lord Voldemort's forces. It hadn't been that in particular, as he already knew she was going to stick with him and see through to the end of the war, but rather the result of the fight he had with Ron. Ron had steadily been getting frustrated with their lack of progress of finding another Horcrux, as well as not destroying the one they had, Slytherin's Locket. It had all come to a head when Hermione had excitedly revealed a revelation with him concerning the book Dumbledore had given her, as well as what it had to do with their mission, and he had in turn told her she was brilliant, Hermione blushing under his compliment. Ron had taken that time to jump in to remind them that he was still there and how they seemed to exclude him as he added nothing to their mission before blowing up about not knowing if his family was alive or not—all the while throwing in Harry's face he had none—and shouting his frustrations about their lack of progress, and then claiming that Harry and Hermione were carrying on romantically behind his back. Hermione had immediately denied that, while Harry remained upset with Ron about his earlier accusations. Ron had then decided to leave and gave Hermione the ultimatum of staying with Harry or leaving with him. It hadn't been fair of Ron to do so, but it always came to that, Hermione having to choose between her best friends. And every time, Hermione chose Harry. Despite the tension in the air and the upset feelings, Harry realized in that moment just how loyal the brunette was to him and how much she cared about him, and enough to go with him on a suicide mission. He also realized just how important Hermione was and meant to him as well, trying to make her happy in the weeks following Ron's leaving. One night he decided to cheer her up by dancing with her, just to get her mind off things for a bit. It had worked and they had had fun together, laughing and dancing together before ending in a bit of a slow dance that turned into a long, comforting, much needed hug. And during that time, Harry had felt his heart pound and stomach flutter in the way it did when he realized he had a crush on a girl. Of course, he had felt it with Cho Chang, as well as Ginny (who he thought he still had feelings for), but to feel them with Hermione, only stronger, it had to mean he'd always had these underlying feelings for her and they were finally coming to the surface.
Yes, in that moment, he realized that throughout the years he had always had feelings for Hermione, romantic feelings, that had been hidden behind what he thought was friendship and a sibling-like relationship. They were so close, but apparently too close to see what had always been there. Of course, Harry realized that just because he realized his true feelings for his best friend didn't mean she returned them, especially considering she liked their hot-headed redhaired friend. But it would also explain why so many people seemed to think he and Hermione were a couple, even Dumbledore. And though it had pained him, he did nothing to interfere with Ron and Hermione's budding romance. He wanted her to be happy, and if being with Ron made her happy, he'd step back.
Following the war, Harry had taken some time to himself after giving plenty of victory statements, as well as explaining to Ginny and Mrs. Weasley that while he liked Ginny, he no longer saw her as a romantic option and just wanted to remain her friend. It was also during this time that Ron and Hermione's relationship had ended about as quickly as it began. After they had mutually broken up, Hermione had visited him at Grimmauld Place where she told him that while her and Ron were great as friends, they just didn't quite work as a couple and thus mutually had agreed to be just friends. She had also stated that she wanted out of the spotlight for a while and asked if he'd let her stay at Grimmauld Place with him for a while. Harry had agreed as he didn't want to kick his friend out, though he also knew that it would probably turn awkward for him because of his strong feelings for her. However, everything turned out fine and their friendship had grown stronger than ever, all the while Harry's feelings for Hermione were growing more and more. One night he had decided to just let Hermione know how he felt, all the while letting her know that he didn't expect anything from her in concerns to returning his feelings, especially if she didn't feel anything more for him than friendship. But imagine his surprise when she had bashfully admitted that she liked him too, even having a few crushes on him back at Hogwarts before Ron.
That night had been the start of their romantic relationship, and every day following proved that them taking that step from friendship had been worth it. The feelings had always been there, it had just taken a while for them to surface. And as it turned out, their change in relationship wasn't a surprise to anyone when they went public; even Ron took it well saying he always knew it would get to that point and was genuinely happy for them.
Harry had been falling in love with Hermione more and more every day for the one year that they were a couple, Hermione falling more and more in love with Harry every day as well, and it had led him to this moment now, the moment he would get down on one knee. He was nervous to ask her, but also knew he had no reason to be. Hermione was special to him, meant more to him than anything. She had remained his constant throughout the years of his life she was present, and he always wanted her to be there by his side for the years to come. And as he sank down onto one knee with a diamond ring in hand, and seeing the way Hermione's eyes widened in surprise yet shone with love and happiness, he knew then that she would never leave him for the rest of their lives.