Chapter 15 - Conclusion
Harry stopped dead in his tracks and turned around to look at Cho. "What?"
"I do."
The first thought that crossed Harry's mind was that Hermione had been right about that. He was suddenly reminded of that time before Cho left school when she asked him to be together again. He had said no - he was in love with Hermione by then. And he still was.
"Cho, I . . ."
"I know what you'll say," she interrupted. "But if you only give me one chance, I'm sure you'd see that I'm the right woman for you. Not Hermione."
Harry shook his head and walked to her. "Hermione is the right woman for me, Cho." Cho sighed and sat down on a bench. Harry sat down beside her. "I'm sorry."
"I don't understand. Why would you want to be with someone like her?" she whispered, her eyes watery.
"Because . . ." Harry struggled to look for the right words to describe how he felt. "She is the only person that can make me truly happy. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel empty if I'm not with her."
"She doesn't deserve you," Cho said, wiping a tear. "She ignored you for nine years and now she is still making you suffer."
"None of this is Hermione's fault," Harry said. "I don't think you'll be able to understand . . . You don't know her. But she is the woman I chose and you should be able to respect that."
Cho bit her lip and looked at Harry in the eye. "If you just let me-" she started, leaning forward.
"No," Harry said, pushing her back. "Cho, please don't do this."
"What are you scared of? That maybe if you kiss me you will feel something?"
Harry looked at her, surprised. "Of course not," he said sincerely.
"Prove it."
"I don't have time for childish games," Harry said, starting to get up, but Cho held his hand.
"You are so noble, Harry," she said, smiling. "You reject me . . . But do you think Hermione had this same resolution to stop Alan's advances?"
Harry didn't notice he had sat down again. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh Harry," Cho said, looking sadly at him. "I heard him talking to Blair in the locker room. He said that Hermione had came earlier to tell him you and her were separated. He was going to meet her in some café . . . Haven't you noticed that Alan fancies Hermione?"
"There is nothing between Alan and Hermione," Harry said,
"Maybe there wasn't, until now . . . But Hermione might be very sad for what happened between the two of you . . . " Cho said. "Don't you think Alan will take the chance when he sees she is vulnerable?"
Cho's word had some effect on Harry. He was surprised and seemed to be pondering what she was saying, and before he realized what was happening, she leaned quickly to kiss him.
Her lips have barely touched his when he jerked away. "Hermione!" he exclaimed standing up and looking at the woman who had just apparated in front of them. Cho turned around to catch a glimpse of Hermione. She was looking at both of them with a horrifed expression. Cho smiled triumphantly.
"It's not what you think . . ." Harry started, cursing himself for using such a cliché, which would obviously get him in more trouble.
Hermione took two steps back. "I'm glad to know that you are not so devastated about our separation," she said, evidently trying to control the quivering in her voice.
"No, Hermione, you have it all wrong!"
"In that you are right, Harry," Hermione said, looking at him with a hurt expression. "You have no idea how stupid I feel right now," she added, before giving him one last look and disapparating.
Harry turned to Cho. "Why did you do that!?" he demanded, angrily.
"I couldn't help it, Harry," she said, "besides, I bet Alan--"
"Alan has nothing to do with Hermione!" Harry said, and disapparated too.
Cho sighed, but then a smile crept to her face. She had heard Hermione apparating there and she had taken her chance. Now it would be only a matter of time until Harry was hers.
* * *
Harry tried apparating inside Hermione's apartment, but she had blocked him out. He tried knocking until he could barely feel his hands, but she didn't open. Nor answered his calls. He even tried to floo in, but she had blocked her fireplace as well.
He stayed all night awake, trying to think of ways to fix this. He hadn't done anything wrong, but why would Hermione believe him at this point? They had been involved in so many misunderstandings already that he didn't know if there was something left about their relationship. It was as if they had turned into different people, two strangers that have just met and not the couple of friends that had been together for so long.
Hermione, on her side, hadn't been able to sleep either. She had the horrible sensation that Harry and her were over for good. She knew what he would say if they talked. He didn't want to kiss Cho, she had leaned and he had been too surprised to do anything, blah, blah, blah. But the fact that he had been there with her in the first place was bad enough.
Was this what Liz had felt when Hermione kissed Ron on his wedding day?
She felt terrible. She had been complaining and hating Cho all this time when she had done the same a year ago. She and Cho were the same. And the mere thought made her want to drown herself.
But back to Harry. Why did he let her separate them? After all, if he had bought a ring so many days ago, why hadn't he proposed yet? Maybe he was having second thoughts after all.
What Hermione needed, she realized, was time to think. But for that, she needed to stay away from Harry. Or else she would never be able to figure out how she felt about this whole ordeal or to analyze if Harry and her actually had a chance or they were to stay as friends only.
First thing in the morning she flooed Arthur Weasley.
* * *
"Hermione, this is madness," Ron said, looking at her in the eye.
"No, it's not Ron. I need some time for myself. And I need to do this investigation too. The only place where I can find the information I need is in this library."
They were sitting in a corner in Hogwarts' library. Hermione had asked Arthur to send her there so she could use their book collection to finish an investigation she had started long ago. Dumbledore had seemed delighted to have Hermione for a couple of days. And she was happy to be back at the school.
"You are hiding," Ron stated. "And it's not fair to Harry. He is desperate, wondering where you are. As you requested, Dad only told him that he had sent you to complete some research. He's driving me crazy with questions."
"I'm sorry, Ron, it will only be for a couple of days. I think you should tell Harry to use this time too. Figure out what he really wants."
"He knows what he wants," Ron said, closing the book that Hermione was reading at the time.
"I'm not so sure about that," Hermione retorted, glaring at him and opening the book again.
"Why are you being so complicated?"
"Why do you always take his side?"
"It's not about sides. It's about me, knowing him and knowing you and realizing how stupid you both are. At least he wants to solve this."
"He has a funny idea about solving things," she commented, ignoring Ron's gaze on her. "Look, Ron, in the end this will be for the best. We'll get to know if our relationship is really meant to be or if we should take different ways."
"Who are you trying to fool? You think I will believe that you actually consider to take a different way from Harry?"
"I need to get back to work," Hermione said, biting her lip. "But thanks for coming by. Say hi to Liz and Brendon for me, okay?"
Ron sighed and shook his head. He had never been able to win an argument with Hermione, why would now be different?
"By the way," he said, standing up, "really nice of you to set my sister up with that airhead Alan Wagner."
She grinned. "I'm glad at least that worked out."
Ron scowled and kissed her on the cheek. "Bye. Think about what I said."
"I will . . . And Ron, thanks for coming. Remember, you can't tell Harry where I am or I will have to hex you."
He rolled his eyes and left her alone.
* * *
"I'm not sure if this is allowed . . ."
"Who cares? Everyone left. Wood won't come yelling at you know."
Alan smiled at her remark and kissed Ginny again, pushing her into the Cannons' locker room. She giggled and put her arms around his neck, kissing him back.
They had been snogging for some time when they heard a voice approaching. Ginny grabbed Alan by the collar and pushed him against the wall so they wouldn't be seen by whoever had just walked in.
"I told you, I have him almost eating out of my hand," a female voice said.
"Bull shit," a male voice answered. One that Ginny recognized immediately. She froze and tried to hear better. "You know very well that he doesn't care about you in the slightlest."
"What do you know?" the female voice said. "I managed to break them apart, didn't I? I just have to give him some time to forget Granger and we are set."
Ginny exchanged a look with Alan. He seemed surprised. She managed to sneak her head out enough to catch a glimpse of Draco Malfoy, talking to Cho Chang.
"I don't really care what you do with Potter," Malfoy drawled. "I must admit that you did a fair job sending Granger away. But I grew tired of this game, so I'm out."
Cho shrugged. "Fine by me. Not that you help much."
He scowled and walked towards the exit.
"Hey, Malfoy," Cho called him. He turned around. "I was wondering if you'd want this as a souvenir."
She threw something shiny to him and Malfoy caught it in the air. Ginny narrowed her eyes . . . It looked like a ring.
"You still keep it, Chang?" Malfoy asked, amused. "Why would I want this ring? Potter bought it. For Granger to make it worse," he said, with a disgusted expression.
"It's better if Harry doesn't find out I took it," Cho said. "He never knew what happened to it."
"Potter is an idiot. Anyone with more brains would have realized what you've been doing."
"Well, don't let me entertain you, Malfoy. Go now. It wouldn't be easy to explain if someone finds you here."
Ginny watched Malfoy leave and then looked at Cho again. Alan had to grab her by the arm to prevent her from jumping on her throat.
When Cho had left, Ginny turned to Alan with a very angry expression. "Did you hear that?" Alan nodded, slightly confused. "I knew she was onto something, that-Urgh! She is the one responsible for all that has been happening between Harry and Hermione. Come, we have to talk to Harry."
* * *
The day was lovely, Cho couldn't help thinking. Hermione had been away for three days, and she had been patiently waiting for Harry to stop sulking so she could approach him. His mood wasn't better and he remained distracted during training. Strangely, Oliver had refrained from scolding him and just looked at his Seeker with a helpless expression.
Cho had played nice, asking Harry how was he doing every time she saw him. Harry wasn't exactly talkative with her, but at least he hadn't yelled her to sod off and Cho took that as a good sign.
She grabbed her broom and walked towards the pitch. Harry hadn't arrived yet, but all the rest of the team was there, gathered in the middle of the field, while Oliver talked to them. They were playing against the Tornados in two days and he wanted to keep winning.
They had been discussing tactics for half an hour when they heard Harry's voice. He was walking towards them with a calm pace, and Cho noticed he was being followed by Ron Weasley and his annoying little sister. Beside her, was Alan Wagner, and maybe it was her imagination, but she could have sworn he smirked at her.
"Harry, you finally ar--"
"Later, Oliver," Harry cut him off, his gaze on Cho.
"Hi Harry," she greeted sweetly.
"Hi, Cho," he said, smiling. "How are you today?"
It was a strange approach, considering all the team was around them, but Cho was happy that Harry was smiling at her. "Very well, and you?"
"Pretty good. I have a present for you."
"Harry, what the hell are you--"
"Shut up, Oliver," Alan said. Wood looked at his Beater angrily, but remained quiet.
"Really?" Cho said, feeling everyone's gaze on her.
Harry took something out of his pocket and offered it to her. Cho took it. It was a ring. Her smile only lasted a second when she realized what ring was.
"A ring?" she asked, avoiding his eyes.
"Yes. Isn't it lovely? I thought you might want to keep it, since you took such an effort to get it in the first place."
"I-I'm afraid I don't know what you mean . . ."
Harry folded his arms. His smile disappeared and now only a frown was left. "I think you know very well what I mean. It was you the one who took the ring."
Cho looked at him with widened eyes. "What?"
"Don't play innocent, we got you, bitch," Ginny spoke up, glaring at her. "I heard you last night talking to Malfoy about your little plan. I took the ring when he threw it away after he left you here."
"And that's not all," Ron said, moving forward and glaring at her too. "We also found out that it was you the one who invented those articles that appeared in that tabloid. You were the one who informed that sorry excuse of a journalist about where you'd be so she could take pictures of you with Harry."
"And also with Hermione and me," Alan chirped in.
Cho looked around. She was speechless.
"You don't need to say anything," Harry said. "You've already lied enough. Did you really think I would ever be interested in you if you managed to destroy my relationship with Hermione?" He shook his head. "You know, I was planning to say a lot of things to you today, but I think it's not worth it. I guess the embarrassment that everyone knows what a pitiful person you are when a certain article that your friend Cassandra wrote appears in the papers tomorrow, will be more than enough." He turned to Oliver. "I'm taking the day off," he informed him.
Oliver could only nod, confused.
"Harry!" Cho called after him when he had turned around. "You could at least take in account all the efforts I took for you! You should be flattered that a woman like me would do all this for you."
Harry turned around and walked up to her. "Don't think so high of yourself, Cho," he said. "Your beauty is not enough to cover how empty you are inside. Flattered? Ha! I'm disgusted. Goodbye."
Cho shot him a furious look and he disapparated. Ron approached to her. "If you ever try to do something to Hermione again, I will make sure you regret it for the rest of your life."
Ginny waited until his brother had left to finally smile at her. "Hi Cho. Remember me?" she asked sweetly. "Harry was nice enough not to hex you, like you deserve. I would have gladly done it for him, but I guess it's just a waste of time . . ."
She turned around and had walked three steps, when she stopped. "On second thought . . ."
* * *
Hogwarts had barely changed since she had been a student there, Hermione thought, as she walked on the green grounds near the lake. She had almost forgotten how happy she had been there - even with all that had happened with Voldemort - and she was really glad to be back again. She realized that that castle, that school, was the place she loved the most and just being there gave her a peaceful sensation.
She wondered if she should go back to London. She had finished the investigation Mr. Weasley had asked her for, and there was nothing left to do. But she wasn't sure if she wanted to face Harry. She'd been thinking a lot, but hadn't reached a conclusion. Her reasoning was too clouded by her feelings and for the first time in many years she had absolutely no idea what to do.
She reached a tree that had always been her favorite place in the grounds. She had read, studied, and shared meaningful talks with her best friends. She stared at it, a feeling of nostalgia coming to her and for a moment she missed Harry so much that she could barely breathe.
"March 6, 1997."
Startled at the sound of that voice, Hermione swirled around and she gasped in surprise. Harry was standing a few feet from her. He had his hands in his pockets and was looking at her with a small smile. Hermione opened her mouth to ask him - what he was doing there, who had told him she was there, why was he there . . . She wanted to tell him to go away, that she needed this time to think . . . She wanted to wipe that smile from his face and also tell him that she loved him more than anything . . . But the only thing that came from her lips was a shaky "What?"
"You once asked me since when I've loved you," Harry said, walking past her to the tree. "And I said somewhere between our sixth and seventh year."
Hermione merely nodded, remembering that conversation. It seemed so long ago, when she was begging him to forgive her for what she had done to Ron . . .
"I lied a little," Harry said, moving his hand to touch the old tree. "I will never forget the exact date. And it was March 6th, 1997."
Hermione stared at him. Harry sat on the lower bench and crossed his legs in an Indian style, leaning against it.
"You were sitting right here," he continued, nonchalant, "with a book on your lap. I think it was Sense and Sensibility. And you were humming . . . How does that song go?" it was a rhetorical question, because he didn't wait for her to answer. "Why do birds suddenly appear... every time you are near. Just like me, they long to be close to you..." he sang slowly.
Sure. It was one of her favorite songs. But she was still frozen in that spot, not able to articulate a word.
"I'm not saying that I fell in love with you right then and there," Harry said, standing up. "I don't know when that happened. I just know that it was that moment when I realized I was." He walked up to her until they were inches close. "And it was in that moment that I knew something else."
"And what is that?" she managed to whisper.
"That I wouldn't be able to spend my life with anyone but you, as cliche as it sounds."
Hermione let him grab her hand and held it tightly against his chest.
"Do you believe me when I say I love you more than anything?"
She nodded. Not because she had wanted to, but her body was responding more to the commands of her heart that the ones her brain was making.
"I know we've been silly. We let other people get in the way because we were too insecure . . . Too scared of losing each other." He shook his head, remembering all the stupid things that had happened in the last days. "But I won't let that interfere anymore. That's why Hermione Granger," he said, getting on his knee and taking out a ring from his pocket, "I'd like you to be my wife."
Although she now knew that he'd been meaning to ask the question, she was shocked, nevertheless. Looking at him on his knees, smiling up at her and holding a ring in front of her eyes, she wondered if she wasn't dreaming. After all, she had wished this for so long, that she could be very well mixing reality and dreams.
But no, Harry was there . . . In the very same place where they had shared so many things, the place that had brought them together and now seemed to reunite them again. Hermione's eyes filled with tears. She remembered she had once said that when this time came she wouldn't be like those women in movies who got all sappy when a man proposed to them. But who cared about that now?
"All this time I've been thinking how to do this," Harry said, looking at her in the eye. "I planned a million things. I wanted it to be original and romantic, to surprise you and make it a memorable proposal, so one day you would tell our grandchildren this story with pride. But I forgot the most important thing . . . And that is all I need is for you to say yes to make it perfect."
Are you sure about this? What about Cho? What about everything that has happened? What about the fact that you didn't trust me? And I didn't trust you either. We lied to each other. We hid things-
It had been a long time since Hermione had ordered her mind to shut up. She didn't want to think anymore, because this time she was sure.
She smiled at Harry and took his hand until he was on his feet again. She threw her arms around him. "Yes," she said, with the feeling of complete joy she always felt when it came to him and that she had missed these last few days.
Harry embraced her tightly, laughing. Then, he pulled away and placed the ring on her finger. "Let's get married then," he said, kissing her hand. Hermione nodded. "I mean now," he said.
"Now?" Hermione asked, laughing. "Don't you think it's too soon? We have to let our friends know. My mum would kill me if I don't inform her . . . And Mrs. Weasley-"
Harry shut her up with a kiss. "They already know. And they are waiting."
Hermione eyed him, confused. "What do you mean?"
"I mean I want you to marry me now, here, at Hogwarts."
"Have you gone crazy?" she asked, her eyes wide.
"No. If you go to the Quidditch field you'll find everyone . . . Everything is set, Hermione. They are only waiting for us."
Hermione stared at him, as if waiting for him to finish the joke. When she realized he was serious, she covered her mouth with her hands.
"But . . . I don't even have a dress . . ."
Harry chuckled. "Ginny and Liz took care of that. They should be waiting for you in the castle."
She was too amazed to say anything else.
* * *
It was the most beautiful ceremony most of the guests had ever attended. Everyone that cared about them was there, plus the Hogwarts staff (even Snape had decided to sneak his nose out of the dungeons) and every single student of the school.
Hermione was so happy, she thought she'd pass out walking down the aisle with her dad. She hadn't even had the heart to ask how her parents could be there, being Muggles and all, but later Dumbledore had revealed her secretly that he had done some "arrangements."
She didn't know how or when Harry had prepared all this, and how he had managed to gather such a crowd.
"You were pretty sure that I would say yes," she said to him when they were dancing in the party that had been organized in the Great Hall.
Harry swirled her around. "Not really. But I had to take a chance. I wanted you to see I was completely serious and sure about this."
"But how--?"
"Ron helped," Harry said, knowing she was asking how he'd done it. "Everyone did, actually. Arthur told me where you were after I explained the situation and Dumbledore offered Hogwarts . . . The rest was easy. It's one of the few times I've been glad I'm the famous Harry Potter. People are so willing to help when they know who I am."
She put her head on his shoulder. "This is the happiest day of my life, you know?"
"Mine too."
"Hey, you, lovebirds!"
They turned to see Ginny dancing nearby with Alan. They were grinning happily at them. "Great party, Harry," Alan said. "I'm sot sure if Oliver is too keen on letting you get married the day before a big game, but at least he's not complaining."
Harry laughed. "I'll get something to drink. What would you like, Mrs. Potter?"
Hermione beamed at the sound of that name. "Anything you want, Mr. Granger," she said, winking.
When Harry had left, Ginny took the chance. "Hermione, you haven't by any chance taken a look at Whiz on the Spot today, have you?"
Hermione frowned. "I don't want to know," she said, scowling.
"Oh, but I'm sure you'll like this edition," Ginny said, smiling. "I saved you a copy for you to look later."
"What is this about?" Hermione asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh nothing," Ginny said. "But you'll be happy to know that a certain sneaky tarty chaser from the Chudley Cannons should be taking a Portkey now to China." She grinned evilly. "You don't have to thank me, it was my pleasure."
Hermione, who hadn't wanted to know anything about Cho, looked at Ginny with surprise.
"What did you do to her?"
Ginny winked. "It's better if I don't tell you. Let's say that she won't want to show her face in a long time."
~*The End*~
Final A/N: A cliffhanger as the ending, quite me, don't you think? Well, it's just that I know that people wouldn't be satisfied with Cho not getting what she deserved. But let's be realistic, I couldn't kill her, like many of you suggested... So I'll leave it to your imagination what was the punishment Ginny chose for her.
Well, I can only say that I'm happy I finally finished this so I can start with one of my many plot bunnies. I can only say, the story coming up is nothing like this, although it will be H/Hr as ever :)
Thanks for all the reviews and comments, I really appreciate them.