7th year, start of term.
"Here is your speech for the train, you should memorize it."
Harry looked up from the head boy book that Hermione had given him to read. "What?"
He took the parchment from her and started reading through the foot long speech. "You know it's traditional for the Head students to give a speech to the Prefects on the train. I wrote yours out for you so you won't have to figure out what to say. Let me know if there is something that I should change, I will have my speech done shortly then we can compare them." He nodded his attention clearly on the parchment before him.
She went back to writing her own speech.
He finished reading then looked up at her, when she met his gaze he chuckled. "Guess you won't let me get away with just saying 'Behave, follow the rules, or you will face me.' Will you?"
Grinning at him she replied, "Nope, not a chance."
He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Ok, ok, you got it. I'll memorize it word for word."
"Thanks Harry, I appreciate it." It was wonderful to have Harry working seriously on being Head Boy; it was so much different than having Ron as a Prefect.
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They arrived over an hour early and went straight to the lead car of the Express. Quickly they donned their school robes then talked with the engineer of the train. As the Prefects arrived they gave them each duties, there would be no bullying allowed on Harry and Hermione's watch. Once the train was underway Harry then Hermione gave their speeches to the Prefects and sent them on their way. When everything was settled down they went to speak with Draco. They walked into the compartment that Crabbe, Goyle, and Draco were in. Crabbe and Goyle immediately stood between them and Draco.
Draco stood and sneered at them, "What do you want?"
Harry ignored Crabbe and Goyle; Hermione would deal with them if they tried anything. "We came to talk to you about something private."
Draco sneered his reply. "What? Need some advice on bedding your wench?"
Harry's temper flashed and he reached for his wand, Hermione stopped him with a touch on his arm. When she spoke, her voice was a cold as ice. "You had better listen to what we have to say, if you don't you'll regret it until your dying day."
Something in the way Hermione said that seemed to change Dracos' mind. "Go find the snack cart, bring me some snacks, and don't eat them all!"
Crabbe and Goyle looked at him, comprehension slowly dawning that they were being sent to eat. They eagerly left the compartment. When they were gone Hermione cast a silencing charm around them. Draco leaned up against the windows and crossed his arms, waiting. Harry took a deep breath calming himself before trying to talk to Draco civilly again.
"I want to make a truce with you; I need your help against Voldemort. I think the sorting hat was right; we must unite to face him. Only Slytherin is against me now, you control Slytherin."
He certainly had Draco's attention now. He stepped away from the window and closer to them. "What do you have that I would want?"
"You have been looking at Ginny the same as I have been looking at Hermione for the last two years. The only way she would ever trust you is if I trust you. I am willing to give you that chance, help me face Voldemort and you have a real chance with her."
Mixed emotions crossed Draco's face before he spoke. "You're not giving me anything!"
Hermione stepped up next to Harry, "He's giving you a choice, who has ever given you that? Certainly not your father."
Draco stepped back, he looked defeated. "I don't have anything to offer you."
Harry stepped forward, speaking earnestly, "Draco, I want two things. Find out where Voldemort is so I can face him and stop the infighting among the houses. I know you can stop the infighting and I believe you can find out where he is. If the three of us start acting more like friends, I guarantee you will at least get to talk to Ginny instead of arguing with her."
"How can I trust you?"
Harry held his hand out to Draco. "Because I trust you to find where Hermione and I can go face Voldemort. Trust your heart, help me and I will help you."
Their eyes met and slowly Draco took Harry's hand and with a firm grip they shook. "Deal." He pulled his hand away and stepped towards Hermione, holding his hand out. She tentatively took it and returned his handshake; Draco stepped back to the window. "You two better get out of here before the walking eating machines get back, give me two weeks to stop the infighting, then we can start working on the other issues. I don't control Professor Snape though; I can't do anything about him."
"That's ok, I plan on speaking to him as well, he hates me because of my father. I think I can make peace with him to."
Hermione motioned to cancel the silencing charm, Draco held his hand up to her and she stopped in mid-cast. "Good luck, both of you, I think you'll need it."
"Thanks," they both answered together. Hermione canceled the silencing charm and they walked out as Crabbe and Goyle were coming back down the hall, their mouths and arms stuffed with food.
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September the first was a very busy day for the Head boy and girl. It was midnight before they climbed the stairs to the very top of the Gryffindor tower. As they had requested Sir Cadogan had been moved there to guard their suite. With a flourished bow he addressed them. "Greetings good sir and lady, speak thy password please?"
Harry answered him with "Godric."
"A most noble man, what dost thou wish thy new password to be?"
With a quick glance at Hermione Harry again addressed Sir Cadogan. "Together"
"Very well, welcome home." With another flourished bow the portrait at last slid open.
They walked in and the portrait closed behind them. They got their first glimpse of where they would spend their final year at Hogwarts. It was a miniature version of the Gryffindor common room, a couch; three chairs, two study desks, two large bookshelves both stuffed with Hermione's books, and a roaring fire in the large fireplace. Two doors led off to either side of the room. They walked to the one on the right first. Hermione opened the door; this was obviously her room as Crookshanks greeted them with a soft meow as he came to rub against Harry's leg. Harry picked him up and petted him as they walked into her room. Besides the bed and dresser there was a small desk, and another door to her bathroom.
"Harry you didn't set off an alarm coming into my room."
"Oh, yes I didn't even think of that."
Hermione put her hand possessively on Harry's shoulder before she whispered seductively. "Either the ward has been removed or whoever designed this suite decided that a head boy could be trusted with his girl."
"I think I can be trusted with my girl, don't you Crookshanks?" Harry held a purring Crookshanks up into Hermione's face; Crookshanks looked at her as she scratched him behind the ear. Crookshanks looked quite contented; they exchanged a quick kiss before heading to look at Harry's room.
His room was a mirror image of hers, Hedwig was in the owlery but her perch was by the window. His Firebolt had its own stand in the corner by the door. They walked back into their common room and sat in the couch before the fire. Two hours later Dobby appeared to clean the room. He found them sleeping, cuddled on the couch, and covered them with a thick blanket before departing.
The next day passed in a blur and before he knew it the day had arrived, September third, the day he had decided to ask her. He had the common room all fixed up, Dobby would bring them their dinner here tonight, one Harry had prepared himself. Several candles floated around the room, there were five bouquets of flowers around the room. Overall Harry thought he had done a good job, he resolved to have a special dinner with Hermione every Friday night. He had another hour before she arrived so he started moving her things into his room. They had slept on the couch the last two nights and that was going to stop tonight.
When she arrived, precisely at the time he had asked her to, he was there to take her bag and cloak. "Wow, if I didn't know better I would think you were trying to seduce me Mister Potter."
Putting her things down by the door he grinned at her then kissed her cheek. "What makes you think I'm not?" He led her to the table as Dobby appeared with dinner. "Thank you Dobby, did you have any trouble keeping it all in order?"
"No Harry Potter sir, everything is just as you left it." Dobby bowed quickly and then scooped up his stack of hats that fell onto the floor. He grinned up at them as he disappeared.
"Dinner my sweet, prepared by myself, no other hands have touched this food during its preparation." He held out her chair for her as she sat.
"I will have to do the same for you sometime, though you are much better than I am in the kitchen."
As expected the meal was perfect, when they were done Harry stood and helped her up. Once she was standing he dropped to his knee before her, pulling out the ring from his pocket he looked up at her. The age old words seemed to ring out with special clarity; he spoke with confidence and pride. "Will you marry me Hermione?"
She looked between the ring and his eyes several times, tears bursting from her eyes she took his hand and made his world complete. "Yes"
He stood quickly and they kissed. He stepped back and slipped the ring onto her finger, it fit as though made for her. "There is something about this ring I want you to know, it was my mums."
She held her hand over her mouth as she trembled her questions spilled out. "Oh Harry, wherever did you get it? You haven't had it all these years have you?"
"Professor Dumbledore gave it to me last year, coincidentally about the time I asked you to be my girl, he seems to know everything. Actually I have their wedding bands to, so we can use those as well if you like."
"Of course Harry, it would be an honor."
Grinning broadly he scooped her up into his arms and walked into their bedroom. She giggled and wrapping her arms around his neck she snuggled into him. He gently laid her down on their bed. Throwing off his shoes he lay himself down against her and braced himself up on his arm and started toying with her hair. "Mione, I want to keep our engagement a secret, if word gets out then Voldemort will surely target your family. I couldn't live with that, its bad enough that they know we're dating."
"If you think it is necessary, I will go along with it. They are already in a lot of danger because I am muggle born and shall we say rather prominent in the fight against him. I agree this would only add to their danger, I want to tell everyone though as soon as possible." They were both whispering, already the secret had taken hold.
"I know dear, so do I. I think we should tell Professor Dumbledore and Ron tomorrow, I asked your father two weeks ago, so your parents knew I was planning on doing this."
She raised her eyebrow at him, "Going behind my back already I see."
Acting insulted he answered, "I was just being proper and asking permission, he seemed very happy with it."
"Oh come here and kiss me, Mister Potter."
He grinned broadly before replying "As you wish Misses Potter."
"Ohh I like the sound of that."
He kissed her tenderly and she responded with more intensity than the many times before. She realized he was ready at last, to take the final step, tonight she would loose her virginity to the man she loved. Further communication was done through touch, neither had any need for words, an hour later a very contented Hermione slipped out of bed and went to the toilet. She quietly did a birth control spell and then noticed a sparkle in the mirror, when she investigated she realized it was coming from her engagement ring. Actually this was Lily's ring, the symbol of his parents love for one another. Now the very ring that Lily was wearing the night she died was on her hand. "I swear Lily I love him with everything I am, if that's what it takes to defeat Voldemort for good then so be it. I will pay the same price you did for Harry." She held the ring up to her lips and kissed the diamond, symbolically sealing her promise. She then quietly slipped back into bed with her husband to be. He immediately wrapped his arms around her and she fell asleep.
Precisely one hour later Sir Cadogan silently opened to a tabby cat, she glanced around cautiously but only Crookshanks greeted her. The tabby and Crookshanks seemed to speak briefly, and then Minerva McGonagall suddenly stood where the tabby cat had been. Crookshanks looked up at her and decided to meander back to the couch. A mischievous grin broke across her aged visage as she stepped quietly into the Head Girl room and placed a note upon the desk. A moment later the same tabby cat bounded out of the head suite, tail swishing triumphantly.
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A/N: Whew I actually finished a chapter. The next chapter of Summer will be done, well when its done I'm afraid. I am just now able to dedicate typing time to my stories again since the move. I am about halfway done with the actual writing of chapter 22 for Summer. I hope to finish typing it within a week, then it's off to my beta's for their input. I want you all to know I am dedicated to finishing my stories and nothing irks me more than an author that takes forever to get a new chapter out. I feel your pain. :P Please Read and Review, as always thank you very much!
Gol