Be Mine
This takes place one year before chapter 1. It is 6th year, February 1st, the St Valentines Day Ball has just been announced and Harry has to act at last.
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Quidditch practice was about to start. Ron was hovering around the goal hoops while Harry hovered beside him. To anyone observing them they were discussing the impending practice. In fact their topic was watching them. Hermione sat in the stands as usual during Gryffindor practice. She had some book but also her Omnioculars were always present at Quidditch events. Harry was hovering with his back to Hermione so she would not read his lips; this was almost the only time she was not within hearing distance.
"Ron, I'm going to do it tonight, I will ask her to the Ball!"
The intensity in Harry's voice surprised Ron, but he understood Harry's reason for secrecy now. He nodded in response to Harry's statement. Then found a harmless answer in case she was trying to read his lips. "Yea mate that sounds like the right thing to do. I mean it's not totally unexpected but will catch a lot off guard."
Harry seemed to look relieved at Ron's reply. "Thanks a lot Ron; I was hoping you would understand. This is very hard for me to do but I believe with all my heart it's the right thing to do. If she says yes then just before the Ball I am going to ask her to be my girl."
Ron went into a coughing fit at that statement; Harry flew closer to help Ron keep from falling off his broom. "Merlin's beard! You're really serious about her aren't you mate?"
Fortunately Harry was blocking Hermione from seeing Ron at this point. "More than anything Ron, She means more to me than anything, I would throw away my Firebolt or give up flying, if she asked it." Ron appeared a bit more stable so Harry released his shoulder and backed off a foot.
Ron swallowed hard. "Alright Mate; I can understand your point. Good luck Harry and I really mean that." Ron reached over and squeezed Harry's wrist.
Harry returned the gesture then smiling he swung around to get the team's attention. "Sonorus, Gryffindor Quidditch team, first and second string, we are going to have an actual match today. First string against second, since we are all on the same brooms it will come down to skill in the air alone. We have all afternoon on the pitch today. But just like a real match we will end when Ginny or I catch the snitch. Positions please team. Madame Hooch, we are ready. Quietus." He put his wand away and met Ginny's nervous gaze. "You will be fine Gin, just relax."
All Ginny could do was nod, Madame Hooch blew her whistle and released the balls. Today she was also mounted on a Gryffindor Firebolt. Harry had bought fifteen of them at the beginning of the year, twelve of which were engraved Gryffindor, the other three were engraved with Ron, Hermione, and Ginny's names.
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That night….
"Hermione?"
"Yes Harry?"
"Walk with me."
"Alright, just one minute." She went up to her room quickly and got her cloak, it was still quite chilly out at night.
Their walks had become even more common this year. Not even Mr. Filch questioned them anymore. Everyone knew that Harry had accepted a great burden, defeating Voldemort. They also knew that he only took solace in Hermione's presence; she more than ever was his constant companion. Sometimes they walked around the lake, sometimes they meandered thru the castle. Their heads were always bent close, talking quietly about whatever concerned them currently. If not for the fact that they were never seen touching during any of these walks everyone would have assumed they were dating. Tonight Harry intended to cross that line, his heart told him it was time, he was ready. He prayed she was.
He stood waiting at the base of the stairs, Hermione came down from the girl's dorm, cloak already on, as though she sensed they were going outside. He had put his on while she was upstairs. He smiled to himself she knew him so well but did she know his secret hope?
"Ready Harry."
"Yes I am" not another word was spoken as they headed out past the fat lady.
"Lovely night for a stroll dears." She waved at them as they went down the corridor.
He led her to the front doors then out into the chilly night. As they approached the path they usually took around the lake she finally asked.
"What's on your mind Harry?"
"An awful lot but for once it doesn't concern Voldemort, his current plot, or my parents." They continued walking around the lake, he took a deep breath then quietly took her hand in his, quickly entwining his fingers with hers. He heard her take in a sharp breath and almost skip a step but she continued walking with him. She did close her hand with his, silently acknowledging his crossing of that line.
When they were halfway around the lake, they were as far from Hogwarts as they could be without leaving the grounds, she tentatively asked "Harry?"
Again taking another deep breath he finally spoke up. "I want to talk about the future tonight Hermione, I need to know there can be a future. After Voldemort is gone, what is there left in this life? I must know."
She stopped walking and faced him, her concern for him unmasked. He put his hand over her lips for a moment, and then took her other hand in his.
"Hermione I love you more than life itself. You are the first thing I think of each morning and the last as I go to bed."
She bit her lower lip to keep from interrupting him. He could feel she was trembling as well.
"You have taught me just what love is, you have always accepted me for who I am, pushed me to be better and been there when I have fallen to help me face the next day. Forever isn't long enough for how I feel about you but it is the only thing that comes close. My heart beats for you, my soul is yours Hermione, it always has been, it just took me six years to realize it."
"Oh Harry!" she pulled him into a bone crushing hug, which he returned just as fiercely. Then she leaned back, meeting his gaze. "This is hard to believe, after all this time. Yes Harry, more than anything I love you." She took a deep breath then forged on. "I have often dreamed of the future Harry, a future after we have defeated Voldemort at last. Eternal is the word I use to think about us, but like you said it is not enough. I am so relieved we can finally talk about this Harry. I just couldn't add to your burdens by bringing it up myself so I have waited." They hugged once again, time seemed to stop. Some time later they continued their walk around the lake.
"You know all I intended to do tonight was ask you to the Ball? I guess I just couldn't fight it any longer."
"Well my answer to that is Yes Harry; I would be delighted to attend the Ball with you. I am glad you did cross that line at last that was the last topic we had avoided discussing. Feel free to unload any more burdens onto me; we will get through all of this Harry."
"Together Hermione, as always."
"Forever Harry."
Arm-in-arm they walked back to face the rest of the world again, together. Tomorrow the school would be in an uproar. Through it all they would simply smile and nod.
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A/N Another installment. I will be writing about several events before I get to the events in chapter 1. Then I do intend to cover what happens at that ball. Meanwhile I continue to work diligently on Summer. Again these chapters will be sporadic. I am currently between chapters in Summer, still waiting for my second beta to finish the latest chapter. So I dedicated one night to creating this. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.
Gol