I've received several request for my marriage proposals story that I don't feel comfortable writing without a bit of a backstory. So some of these will serve as the backstory for future marriage proposals, others are just relationships I want to write about. You're welcome to submit suggestions, if my muse allows, I will include them.

There was a clatter as the basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione's arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and (Deathly Hallows, Ch. 31) wrapped his arms around Hermione, kissing her full on the mouth. Harry could see she was trying to turn away, and was just about to intervene when she managed to speak.

"No! Ronald!" With a particularly hard shove, Hermione managed to work herself free. "That was just supposed to be a hug! Why did you kiss me?"

"It seemed like a now or never kind of thing. You must know I fancy you."

Hermione suddenly looked very uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, Ron, but while I care for you, it's as a brother. I…I have feelings for someone else."

Ron's ears steadily turned more and more red. Harry was half expecting Ron to explode when he seemed to just crumple. "Right, of course. Dunno what I was thinking. Com one, we've got work to do." He turned to walk out of the Room of Requirement.

Hermione stared after him for a moment, then gave Harry a glance he couldn't decipher before following Ron.

The fierce new sun dazzled the windows as they thundered toward him, and the first to reach him were Ron and Hermione, and it was their arms that were wrapped around him, their incomprehensible shouts that deafened him. But Hermione's voice stood out to him.

"Harry, you did it! I knew you would, love." The words, whispered in his ear, made him freeze. Love?

Then Ginny, Neville, and Luna were there, and then all the Weasleys and Hagrid, and Kingsley and McGonagall and Flitwick and Sprout, and Harry could not hear a word that anyone was shouting, nor tell whose hands were seizing him, pulling him, trying to hug some part of him, hundreds of them pressing in, all of them determined to touch the Boy Who Lived, the reason it was over at last —(Deathly Hallows, Ch. 36)

"That wand's more trouble than it's worth," said Harry. "And quite honestly, I've had enough trouble for a lifetime." (Deathly Hallows Ch. 36) He considered just going to bed, but he really needed to sort this out with Hermione first.

"Ron, d'you mind if I talk to Hermione alone for a moment?" Ron looked suspiciously between the two of them for a moment, but, with a sigh, nodded and left.

"Hermione, what you said earlier, you called me love. Did you…did you mean that?"

Hermione was redder than he'd ever seen her. It was fascinating, really, and Harry couldn't help but think how cute she looked.

Hermione took a deep breath to steel herself. "I did, but you have to understand, emotions were running high, you'd just killed Voldemort, l I wasn't thinking clearly." Harry could tell she was nervous, and more than a little embarrassed. He was about to reassure here, but she continued.

"I didn't mean to make things awkward. I know you and Ginny have an understanding—"

"Hermione."

"—and I know you don't feel the same—"

"Hermione!"

"—of course you don't, why would you? Look at me—mgph!"

Tired of being ignored, Harry had pulled her to him for a kiss, effectively silencing her. She struggled for a moment before melting into him.

After a few minutes of bliss, Harry reluctantly pulled away. "Hermione, you are absolutely brilliant, but you have a lot wrong. Ginny and I don't have an understanding. I broke up with her, but I never promised we'd pick things back up after the war. And she certainly can't expect that a few months of dating in 6th year would mean that we'd get married.

"As to feeling the same, I definitely love you. I'm not certain if I'm in love with you, because I haven't thought about it. My mind has been elsewhere."

They both managed an awkward giggle. "Harry, I don't want you to feel obligated to be with me."

"I don't, Hermione, but I'd like to give this a try. I love spending time with you. I know you're brilliant, funny, caring, and you've saved me more times than I can count. We've been best friends for years."

While it wasn't exactly what she wanted to hear, it was far more than she'd ever expected. "Harry, what are you trying to say?"

"Hermione, will you go out with me? Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes! Harry, yes! Of course! But how will we break this to Ron?"