WOW! This is my most popular first ever chapter! Thanks to everyone who reviewed and alerted and faved it!
I'll take your Hand: Hermione has to marry to get her inheritance from her maternal grandmother and she has to stay married for at least two years. When she approaches her best friends about the situation one makes an offer she can't refuse but will being married to Harry put a strain on their friendship or will it lead to something more?
OMG you guys so much has happened since the last time I posted. I broke up with my boyfriend of 11 months and I feel great. Christmas and New Years came and went; I've been having fun with my friends and writing. I'll get into chapter 2 now and I hope you enjoy it as much as you did the first.
Last time:
Harry stood in the hall listening to Ron and Hermione's conversation, a cup of hot tea hovering in front of him. He walked into the room and looked at Hermione. She was asking Ron what they could do now that magic couldn't help them. He cleared his throat to get their attention.
"I'll marry you Hermione." He said.
Chapter 2
"What?" asked Hermione, looking at Harry like he had gone completely crazy.
Ron couldn't form any words and his face was a mask of shock, disbelief, and incredulity.
Harry placed the tea on the table and knelt in front of Hermione. He took her hands in his and looked straight into her eyes.
"Hermione, I know we don't love each other and I know that you want to fall in love for forever and marry that one person because I want that to. But I also know that you want that money if only to keep it away from Jackie, and I want to help you do that. If this is how I can help you, by marrying you, then I'll do it. There'll be no strings attached. Once you have the money we'll divorce and you can find your one true love. It won't be so bad we are best friends and we know all about each other." He said.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?"screamed Ron, who had finally found his voice, "YOU TWO CAN'T MARRY! IT'LL BE A REHASH OF FOURTH YEAR WHEN EVERYONE THOUGHT THAT YOU TWO WERE TOGETHER! HARRY, WHAT ABOUT MY SISTER? SHE STILL LOVES YOU!-"
"RON!" shouted Harry, "Calm down! First, Ginny and I are over! We tried it and it didn't work for us and we've both moved on. Secondly, Hermione is an adult and can make her own decisions."-he turned to face her- "Hermione?"
"I need to think about this Harry. It would be a big change to go from best friends living together to husband and wife. I'll give you an answer tomorrow night, all right?"
"That's fine Hermione. I have training tomorrow so I won't be home till about three."
"I'll talk to you then. I'll see you both at dinner?" she asked.
"Yeah," said Ron, "Luna's coming to dinner also. And my parents asked us to join them for dinner sometime next week."
"Why don't we go there on Tuesday? If I should choose to accept Harry's proposal we can announce it there first." Said Hermione.
Hermione headed upstairs to her room and changed from her funeral clothes into a comfy pair of blue jeans and a green polo shirt. She curled up in the recliner that Harry had bought her for her birthday a few years before and started thinking.
Would it be so bad being married to Harry for a couple years? she asked herself. We are best friends and we know a lot about each other. Then again, what would everyone think? We've been denying accusations of being romantically involved for years. Everyone will think we've been lying to them since fourth year! I can only imagine what everyone's reaction will be: outrage, shock, anger, and who knows what else? All of Harry's ex-girlfriendswill think we've been lying about our relationship all these years. They've always thought that Harry and I were closer than friends and if we get married then everyone will think that all the relationships that both Harry and I have had have been complete shams and fake to keep suspicion off us having a relationship. Perhaps I should write out a pro and con list.
Hermione summoned a notebook and a pen to her for her desk downstairs. She split the paper in half and started writing. She didn't stop writing until there was a knock on her door. She put the notebook down and opened the door. Harry was standing there.
"Dinnertime." He said.
"Luna here then?" she asked
"Yeah, she was telling me that I may have an infestation of. . . . . . Wiggling wig squams."
"Do I even want to know?" asked Hermione
"No." Harry replied matter of factly. "Whatever they are apparently it explains why I proposed. That's what Luna said at least."
"Ron told her then?"
"Yes but as I said she blames it on the wiggling wig squams."
The duo met Ron and Luna in the basement kitchen of Number 12. The quartet stayed away from anything that could be related to marriage or proposals so they were pretty silent during dinner. After dinner Harry headed to the bathroom to shower while Ron, Hermione, and Luna went into the living room to watch a movie. Since Harry and Hermione had both grown up muggle they had wanted some muggle comforts of home. So after a few days of research (on Hermione's part) she had come up with a ward to stop magic from interfering with the electronics.
After his shower Harry went to bed because his training started at 6 AM. Harry was training to be a Healer. Everyone was shocked when Harry suddenly decided to get a job after the war. He tried being an Auror for about four years but that reminded him too much of the war so he quit. After that he worked in Georges shop for a while before decided that he still wanted to help people. After thinking it over and talking to Hermione he decided to become a Healer at St. Mungo's. Training took 3 years and he was in his final months of it.
Hermione woke up at 9 AM on Sunday morning. She owned a bookstore on Diagon Alley that specialized in rare books and was soon to be the one bookstore selling the only authorized biography of Harry Potter. Her assistant, Maria Boccelli, always took charge of the store on Sunday's so Hermione had all day to think on Harry's proposal. After a light breakfast of tea and toast and a quick shower Hermione looked over her pro and con list. To her surprise the pros of being married to Harry were beating out the cons. She spent another hour doing the list before going back over it again. Now the pros and cons were tied. She spent another couple hours going over everything in her head before making a decision. Now all she had to do was wait for Harry to get home.
Harry walked back into Grimmauld Place just after 3:30 that afternoon. He headed to his room to change out of the grass green robes that all trainees wore. After changing into muggle jeans and a T-shirt Harry headed to the parlor where he found Hermione waiting for him.
"Hello Hermione."
"Hey Harry. You're later than usual."
"Nev needed some help in the greenhouses. I was the only person who could help out. I have a lot of experience with Devil's Snare."
Hermione laughed at the mention of their first year's escapade to save the Philosophers Stone. Of course they were trying to save it from the wrong person but that's another story (entitled Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone).
"I've made my decision, Harry."
"And…?"
"I'll marry you. I know we can do it."
End of chapter! Its an okay chapter. Next chapter we see the Weasleys, Wizarding Worlds, and Jackies reaction to the announcement.