THE EIGHTH YEAR
CHAPTER 9
Love is in the Air
By: hermioneeeeeee
"Nervous, Potter?" Draco asked.
"Ha! Of course. But she couldn't possibly say no." Harry replied confidently.
"Don't get cocky." Draco warned. Tonight was a Hogsmeade trip. A very special trip. It was early evening and all of the eighth years were gathered around the carriages.
"Four to a carriage! Everybody in!" Professor McGonagall shouted. Draco, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny piled into a carriage. The sky was white and it was snowing lightly. It felt like Christmas all over again.
"So, we're going to The Three Broomsticks for dinner?" Ginny asked.
"Yup. And don't worry about the bill. We'll take care of that." Draco added, pointing to Harry and himself. The ride came to a smooth end.
"After you!" Harry said, opening the door for Ginny and Hermione.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked suspiciously.
"Do you mean that we can't be nice without you questioning us?" Draco asked, pretending to be offended. Ginny and Hermione shared a look, shrugged and began to walk around the snowy town.
"Smooth save, Malfoy." Harry said.
"Potter, you're talking to the king of smoothness. Expect nothing less." Draco said haughtily.
"I thought Hermione made you promise to be nice to me."
"Where'd you hear that?"
"From the ears of an angel."
"Ha! Come on, let's go catch up to the girls."
After about an hour of shopping, it was finally dinner. Ginny and Hermione sent their purchases back to Hogwarts via owl and set off for The Three Broomsticks.
"Have you made a reservation?" a man at the front asked.
"Yes. Under the name 'Malfoy'." Draco answered. The man pulled up a scroll of parchment paper.
"Sorry, sir, repeat your name to the scroll, please." he said.
"Malfoy." The scroll shook a little bit and then rolled down to Draco's name.
"Perfect! Right this way." the man said, leading the four to a table by the window. He handed them some menus and left them.
"Everything looks so good!" Ginny exclaimed, eyeing a steak and ale pie.
"Ooh! They have Bouillabaisse!" Hermione said, smiling.
"What's that? It sounds like a sneeze." Ginny asked.
"It's a French fish stew." Hermione answered.
"Oh. I think that I'll stick to my steak and ale pie!" Ginny said.
"You can have whatever you want. I'm going to have the fish and chips." Harry said.
"Are you ready to order?" a waiter asked.
"Yes. I'll start. I'll have your fish and chips." Harry replied.
"I'll have the steak and ale pie with Yorkshire pudding and peas." Ginny said.
"I'll have the bangers and mash." Draco ordered.
"And I will have the Bouillabaisse." Hermione answered.
"Thank you. I will be back shortly."
The food had come and the group were tucking in.
"This is amazing!"
"Perfectly cooked!"
"Delicious!"
"Absolutely brilliant!
About an hour later, the group had finished eating and were outside in the snow. Draco nodded at Harry.
"We'll meet you back here at the end of the trip!" Harry called.
"Oh, alright then!" Hermione said back. The couples linked arms and walked their separate ways.
"Where are we going?" Ginny asked with Harry's hands over her eyes.
"You'll see." Harry said mischievously. They walked on for a few more paces and then stopped. Harry took his hands away.
"Wow! It's beautiful!" Ginny exclaimed happily. They were standing on a snow-covered hill which overlooked a grand view of a snowy Hogwarts. They kissed as snow gently flittered down.
"I knew that you and Draco were up to something!" Ginny smiled.
"That's not all, Gin." Harry said, bending down. Ginny gasped and covered her mouth.
"Will you, Ginny Molly Weasley, be my wife?" Harry asked. He gulped as he waited for her answer.
"YES!" Ginny screamed. Harry swept his fiancée into a long kiss and placed the ring upon her finger.
"Are we there yet?" Hermione asked impatiently.
"No! Almost, though." Draco answered. He tugged on her hand and guided her through the quiet streets. Then the journey came to a stop. Hermione opened her eyes.
"A hedge?" Hermione asked with an eyebrow raised. Draco didn't reply. He muttered a spell and the hedge opened. Inside of the hedge was a secret magic garden. There was a pond with crystalline waters; a tree with silver leaves; a frozen fountain, the water was sprayed out into an elegant ice pattern; and even more.
"It's wonderful!" she cried.
"Ginny and I knew that you two had something besides dinner planned!" Hermione continued. Draco smiled and let her look around some more.
"Should we go back now?" Hermione asked after having her fill.
"Soon, but not yet." Draco answered.
"Well, what else do we have to do?" Hermione asked curiously.
"This." Draco said, getting on to one knee. Hermione shook her head in disbelief. Draco pulled out a box and held it up into the moon light.
"Hermione Jean Granger, will you marry me?"
"Yes! Yes! I will!" Hermione yelled, jumping up and down. She flung her arms around her fiancé, knocking him to the ground and on top of the snow. She kissed him lovingly and Draco placed the emerald ring on Hermione's finger.
Hermione, Draco, Ginny, and Harry were sitting in a carriage together. Hermione and Ginny were talking very quickly so that it was hard to understand them.
"Successful?" Draco asked sarcastically.
"Yeah. I think so." Harry said happily.
Hermione had invited Harry to come to the Heads and Prefects Commons so that everyone would be able to see the engaged couples. Ginny burst through and announced loudly:
"I'M GETTING MARRIED!"
Luna, Astoria, Blaise, Justin, Ernie, Neville, and Anthony turned their heads. Then they clapped, cheered, and whooped. Blaise walked over to Draco.
"And you didn't propose? I get it, you guys have only been dating for a few months." he said. Hermione showed him her finger.
"Aha! Knew it. I just wonder how long this relationship will last..." Blaise said. Draco smacked him on the arm.
"Ow! Okay! It'll last forever!"
"That's better." Hermione smiled.