Hermione stood in front of her bureau combing her hair. She wondered if Harry was going to spend the night with her again. They'd spent many nights in the same bed, but not every night led to heated passion. She remembered several nights of lying next to him with her head on his shoulder. One arm would be wrapped around her, and his other hand would be entrenched in her hair.
Knock…knock…knock…
'That's odd, I thought my parents were already asleep.'
When Hermione opened the door, she came face to face with Harry's green eyes.
"Harry?"
"Hi sweetheart, may I come in?" The question was so absurd she nearly laughed.
"Of course, you can."
Harry walked inside and shut the door behind him. She was stilling wearing those flannel pajamas, and they looked wonderful on her.
"Something wrong?" she asked, noticing how set his jaw was.
"Nothing at all…come here."
Hermione accepted his open invitation and stepped into his arms. He wrapped her securely in his embrace and gazed down into her beautiful, brown eyes.
"Do you trust me?" he asked out of the blue.
"Excuse me?"
"Do you trust me?" he repeated. Hermione could clearly see that something was bothering him.
"Sure I trust you, Harry; I trust you with my life!" She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I trust you with my heart and soul."
That brought a full smile onto his face.
"Good, then hang on!"
"What in bloody…" Hermione gasped they suddenly appeared outside.
She looked down and gulped, seeing that they were now floating several hundred feet above her house.
"Harry, are you crazy?"
"No, I just wanted to do something special for you. Look…" and he nudged his head upwards.
Hermione looked up, and the site nearly took her breath away. Stars lit up the heavens, and their celestial light ran down past the horizon itself. The moon was full, and it cast a pale shadow over the young lovers.
"This is so beautiful; thank you!" she nearly cried.
Harry released her slightly and moved back about half a step. He dug into his pocket for what he wanted and took a deep breath.
"Hermione, I brought you up here to ask you something very important - about us."
"What is it?" she asked, seeing the slight nervousness in his eyes.
"No matter what, Herm, you've always been there for me; you're my angel; and I love you. I don't ever want you to leave my side; I don't want to know what it's like to not have you in my life. I want to be with you forever."
"Harry…I…" Her eyes began to water at his heartfelt words.
Doing the best he could in midair, Harry bent down on one knee and looked up at the girl of his dreams. Even in pajamas, she looked perfect. He took hold of her left hand and held up his right palm.
"I want to ask you, Hermione Granger…will you…will you make me the happiest man in the world and marry me?"
It felt like a ten-ton dragon had just been lifted off his shoulders, while his girlfriend stood there in shock.
"Harry…I…I don't know what to say…except…" Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and a string of fear latched onto his heart.
"…Yes…yes, I will marry you, Harry Potter."
Pure joy erupted in the young wizard's eyes, and his thumb cracked open the small box. Hermione's eyes widened when she saw the beautiful ring inside. Taking it out, he slid the gold band onto her ring finger; it was perfect fit. The diamonds that made up the firebird's eyes twinkled in the moonlight and reflected in Hermione's shimmering pools.
"It's so lovely." Harry stood back up to his feet.
"Not nearly as lovely as its owner." Taking her face in his hands, he kissed her long and hard, and she settled into his strong arms.
"I love you," he whispered against her lips.
"And I love you," she answered.
Hermione laid her head on his chest and clutched the front of his shirt. She just couldn't believe it; Harry had proposed to her; it was her dream come true. She was going to marry Harry…her Harry…her protector and her lover.
After floating up the heavens for almost an hour, Harry suggested that they return to the Granger house. His fiancé agreed wholeheartedly.
The couple reappeared in Hermione's bedroom, and she stepped back to admire the ring once again. It had to be solid gold, and she loved the engraving of the firebird on the band. Now, she had a ring for both her hands - Harry's precious ring and his engagement ring.
'Hmm, that must be a phoenix - just like Harry has. What would her parents say when she told them about this?'
Reality suddenly slammed into her like a jackhammer.
"Oh my gosh, I didn't even think. What are my parents going to say?" Harry almost snickered.
"What's so funny?" He grinned at her.
"Sweetheart, they already know."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, I spoke with them about it earlier this evening while you were in the bath. I asked them for your hand, and they gave me both their permission and their blessing."
"Really, that's so wonderful!" and she hugged him tightly, "Mom's gonna go nuts."
Harry suddenly became a bit more solemn.
"Herm, I was thinking this through, and I thought it might be best if we take our time with this. One of the arguments your parents made is that we're both still very young. I'd considered that and said that I'm not just running into this. First off, I want us both to finish at Hogwarts, and second, I want us to plan our future together."
"That's sound quite logical; I must be rubbing off on you."
"Sweetheart, I just want to say that I will do everything I can to make you happy. I know that our life isn't going to be perfect; nothing's ever normal when I'm around. I don't know what could happen in the future, or if I'll have to fight again some day. I just don't know, Hermione." She could tell that this really troubled him.
"Harry, nothing in life is perfect. As far as being normal, I wouldn't have you any other way; you're just you. Whatever life has ahead for you, I want to be there to help you through it. It doesn't matter what evil tries to destroy us; I won't ever leave you, my darling." He actually chuckled.
"By Merlin, how did I find such an amazing woman to be my wife?" Hermione blushed as he referred to her as his wife.
"If memory serves, I believe you met her about seven years on the Hogwarts Express."
"And my life has never been the same since."
She giggled softly and wrapped her arms around him. Harry bent down and captured her lips in a hungry kiss. His hands roamed over her sensitive flesh, and Hermione came alive under his tender caresses.
"Harry…" she sighed as his kisses moved down her neck, "…I need you tonight."
"Of course, sweetheart, I would like nothing more than to make love to my fiancé."
"Your fiancé? I like the sound of that," she cooed.
"Good," and he shut her up with kiss.
Harry's knowing fingers began unbuttoning her pajama shirt, and Hermione smiled softly. Undoing the last one, he parted the material, and it fell to the floor. Harry's eyes glazed over at seeing her soft, bare skin. Hermione decided to return the favor and pulled off his green t-shirt. Her small hands danced down his torso and centered on his pants.
"Allow me," she cooed and unbuckled his jeans. The heavy material hit the floor a second later.
"My turn, angel."
Harry pulled the flannel pants off her hips and down her long legs. Sliding his hands up their smooth silkiness, he approached her final article of clothing. He could feel her tense as his hand rubbed against her center, and her heat boiled just under the surface.
"I think you're hot for me, sweetheart," he teased.
"More like burning up, love."
"Then let me help."
Harry picked her up and laid her down on the mattress. Hermione reached out for him, and he joined her a moment later. He rubbed her once again, and a soft moan escaped her lips.
"Harry…please…don't tease me…"
Obeying her wishes, he pulled off her underwear and grinned when her own hands tugged impatiently at his shorts. They joined her panties a moment later.
Hermione pulled him down into her arms, and their mouths fused together. She felt a hand cup her breast and squeeze ever so gently. Harry knew exactly how to touch her. His hips pushed up against hers, and she could feel the tip of his hardness against her entrance. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she arched towards him.
"Now…my darling…inside me now…"
"Hermione…" he groaned and sank into her.
Her legs impulsively jerked and scissored around his waist. He drove into her deeply but tenderly, drawing out every thrust to its fullest potential. His mouth continued to assault hers while his hands worshipped her perfect breasts.
Hermione felt her body beginning to tremble, and a moment later, she was engulfed in a powerful orgasm. She cried out Harry's name and clutched him to her chest. Her lover answered her in tandem, and he spent himself inside her.
The lovers held each other for a long time, letting their hearts speak without words. Harry regretfully slipped out of her and moved to lie next to her. Hermione turned on her side and gazed into his emerald pools.
"Harry, are we dreaming?"
"If we are, then life is a dream."
He drew her against his chest, and she burrowed into his embrace. With the greatest of ease, Harry levitated them off the bed and moved the blankets up around them; then he gently set them back down and tucked Hermione into his side.
"You know, I think I'm gonna like being married to you," she giggled.
"And I'm sure that I'll love being married to the world's smartest witch!"
"Flatterer!"
"Yup, and you love me for it."
"True…very true."
"Are you tired, Herm?"
"Yes, but don't be surprised if I wake you up in a few hours," she said suggestively.
"I always did like surprises - especially from you."
"I love you," and she settled into his arms.
"I love you too," and he tightened his hold on her body.
Neither of them got much sleep during the night.