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Endings and Beginnings by Eternal Fire
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Endings and Beginnings

Eternal Fire

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Harry Potter. They are the property of J. K. Rowling.

The winter brought snowfall to Hogwarts, and before long, everything in site was covered in white.

"INCOMING!" Harry ducked as the snowball flew over his head. His eyes looked around for the culprit, and he found Hermione smiling slyly at him. They had the day off from classes so the students decided to hold the world's biggest snowball fight.

"Darn, I missed!" she laughed.

Harry grinned and stalked towards her. Hermione turned and ran, but Harry's legs were longer, and he easily caught to her.

"Harry!" Hermione gasped as he tackled her onto the snow. They rolled around like a couple of little kids, laughing their heads off. Hermione pinned his hands down to the ground and held the rest of him down with her body weight.

"Jeez Herm, if you wanted to on top, all you had to do was ask?" Harry said with an amused smirk. His girlfriend blushed, and she flung snow into his face.

"That's it!" Harry rolled her over and trapped her against the ground. His arms wrapped around her and pinned her arms to her sides. Hermione giggled softly, and Harry gazed down at her with a loving expression.

He leaned down towards her, and Hermione closed her eyes as their lips met. Harry released her arms to cup her face in his hands, and she clutched his robes tightly.

"Hey, you two, cut it out before you melt the snow!" a familiar voice laughed. Harry turned his head to see Ron standing behind them. He flushed slightly and scrambled to his feet.

"Thanks Harry," Hermione said as he helped her to her feet. She brushed off the back of her robes and shook the snow out of her hair.

"Haven't you ever heard of privacy, Ron?" she asked with a stern look.

"Well Herm, I figured that you'd rather have it be me who finds you two making out than someone else, especially Malfoy."

"He does have a point," Harry conceded.

"Nah, he's just jealous cause he doesn't have a date for the Winter Ball on Friday!" Hermione fired back. This time, it was Ron whose face flushed.

"That…that's not true! I'm just…deciding on who to ask that's all!" Harry decided to save his best friend from further embarrassment and took Hermione's hand.

"C'mon, let's go dry off. Besides, we're supposed to go to Hogsmeade this afternoon."

"You're right, Harry, let's go," Ron said enthusiastically. Harry waited a few minutes before turning towards Hermione.

"What's wrong?" she asked, noting his serious expression.

"Try not to bug Ron too much about his 'girl' situation okay; it really embarrasses him."

"Oh, come on, Harry, he's just the same as you are around girls…" He looked at her with an expression that said, 'Then what are you?'

"…Well, I'm the exception; we've been friends for seven years."

"Yeah, but I just wish that Ron could find someone who's as wonderful as you are to me," Harry said with a tender smile.

"Why, Mr. Potter, was that flattery I just heard?"

"Absolutely, Miss Granger." She reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand.

"Hmm, thought so, now come here and kiss me." Harry pulled her close and kissed her softly. It was sweet and gentle, not nearly as passionate as some of their others had been, but they weren't trying to make it like that anyway.

"I almost forgot!" he gasped.

"What is it?" Harry picked up her hands and clutched them tightly.

"Hermione, will you go with me to the Winter Ball on Friday night?" She chewed her lip softly and pursed her lips.

"Would it be like a date?" she asked with teasing smile.

"Absolutely," Harry countered.

"Oh, well in that case, the answer is definitely yes." She smiled at her boyfriend and brushed some loose snow out of his untamed hair.

"Well…shall we go?" Harry released her reluctantly, but Hermione nodded and followed back towards the castle.

They both tried to keep their relationship secret from the other students, and it had worked very well for the several months that they'd been together. Still, Harry would've liked to keep his arm around her as they walked. Instead, he reached down and grasped her small hand in his. Hermione smiled at his intimate gesture, and they walked hand-in-hand back inside Hogwarts.

Upon returning from Hogsmeade, Harry noticed Hermione carrying a zipped clothing bag over her right arm.

"Herm, what is that?" She gave him a teasing grin.

"You'll just have to wait and see!"

"Don't I at least get a hint?"

"No, it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you."

Harry smiled inwardly as he wondered just what kind of surprise Hermione could have for him. He knew how smart she was, and he didn't want to think about what type of devious thoughts could be churning inside her head.

"At least tell me when I'll know," he pleaded with her.

"Okay, next Friday night."

"Hmm, let me guess, did you buy a special dress for the Winter Ball?" Harry asked with a wide grin.

"That's for me to know, and you to find out!"

Harry chuckled and untied his packages from the back of his Firebolt. He'd also gotten something for Hermione, but he was keeping his mouth shut. She'd nag him endlessly until he told her anyway.

The two separated at the Gryffindor common room and headed up to their separate dormitories.

The following Friday, Harry was in the library trying to finish his homework. Snape had given them this massive assignment on werewolves, and each student was supposed to come up with a potion that was supposed to counteract the bite of one. Naturally, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had put their heads together to try and figure out an answer, but Malfoy had turned them in at every opportunity, and Snape had threatened to give them a failing grade if they helped one another in any way.

Harry yawned and closed a thick manuscript entitled 'Ancient Remedies for Any Occasion'. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. A soft beeping sound drew his attention, and he checked his watch.

"I'm late!" he gasped. The Winter Ball was supposed to begin at seven, and it was already five-thirty.

Harry hadn't realized that he'd been here so long. He quickly piled up his stack of books and heaved them out the door along with his bag.

Harry was just about to Fat Lady's portrait when Peeves shot of the wall.

"Harry Potter!" he said with an evil smile.

"Move it, Peeves, I haven't got time for you today!"

"Such bad manners. You must be taught a lesson." Peeves materialized a bucket of water out of thin air and held it over Harry's head.

"Don't you dare!" Harry hissed. The poltergeist just laughed sadistically.

Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared out of the wall and pushed the bucket right onto Peeves head.

"Myrtle!" Harry said with a grateful smile. The young girl smiled in triumph, and Peeves flew off in the opposite direction, cursing under his breath.

"Thanks, Myrtle, I did not want to have to deal with that annoying ghost today."

"Your welcome, Harry Potter, we are even now. You helped to clean up my bathroom so now I help you in return."

Harry gave her a soft smile. He remembered that in every detail. Malfoy had gotten Ron and him detention again, and Harry had pleaded with Filch not to make them see Moaning Myrtle.

Naturally, Filch wanted to torture them as much as possible so he'd ordered them to scrub her bathroom from toilet to mirror. It hadn't really been that bad of job because Harry and Ron had gotten to see their old friend, and Myrtle was glad that she had someone to talk to again. The only drawback was that she was very picky; she ordered them around the whole night, telling them to do a job over and over again until it was done right.

The next day Hermione had joked that the two of them could have passed for plumbers because their skin was still wrinkled from all the water, and they both smelled like Lysol.

"I need to go now, Myrtle, but I'll try to see again soon 'kay?"

"Okay, but just remember this time. Last time, you said the same thing, and you didn't come see me for months." The shadowy little girl pursed her lips and pouted.

"I'll remember, and I'll bring Ron and Hermione with me." This time, Myrtle's eyes lit up, and a small smile crossed her face.

"Okay, goodbye." She floated back down the hallway and headed back for her bathroom.

Harry burst into his room to see Ron using his wand to tie his tie for him.

"Harry, where have you been?"

"Sorry, I was in the library trying to finish Snape's assignment."

"I just gave up on the stupid thing; it kept giving me a headache."

"So, who are you going with?" Harry asked as he opened his dresser to find his clothes.

"I asked Lavender to go with me."

"Oh really, and you did ask Hermione what she's like?" Harry laughed.

"Harry, stop it, we're going as friends that's it."

"Sure Ron, I used to say the same thing about Hermione and I."

Harry went a pair of khaki pants and a black turtleneck. He had on v-neck green sweater over his turtleneck and pulled on his dress robes to finish his outfit.

Ron had picked out a pair of black dress slacks, and a maroon, silk shirt. He also bought a new set of dress robes for this year, instead of having to use the lace-cut ones that his mother had given in so long ago.

"Come on, Ron, I think that Lavender would love to see you in those lacy robes."

"Shut-up! I refuse to wear those ever again."

Harry took off his glasses and took out a small container from a box on his nightstand. He opened to plastic compartments and drew out two, small, round, transparent contacts. Tilting his head back, Harry popped them into his eyes and shifted them around until they were in place. Opening his eyes, he made sure that he could see properly and straightened his hair out so that it looked at least somewhat normal.

A soft noise at the window drew Harry's attention.

"Hedwig!" Harry greeted his owl warmly, and she nipped at his fingers playfully. He untied the note attached to her leg.

Harry,

Wait for me in the common room until after everybody leaves, I want to show you my surprise alone.

Hermione

Harry grinned wryly and stroked Hedwig's soft feathers.

"Thanks girl, you can go back to owlery now." The snowy white owl bobbed her head and flew back out into the night towards one of the other towers on the far side of Hogwarts.

"What's the note say?" Ron asked.

"Oh nothing, just a little private joke," Harry answered.

Harry and Ron waited patiently in the common room. The first to come down was Lavender. She had on a knee-length lavender dress to match her name, a slight amount of dark eye shadow, and a touch of pink lipstick.

"Hi guys!" she greeted happily. Harry had to nudge Ron slightly to get his brain working again, and the nervous, young man approached his date.

"Hi Lavender, you look very nice." Unexpectedly, the young woman blushed slightly.

"Thanks Ron, you look nice as well." Ron turned as red as his hair.

"Well…um…shall we go?" he asked.

"Sure." Lavender went first, and Ron followed her out the portrait hole.

Harry watched several other Gryffindors file through the common room - each meeting with their escorts for the evening. Several minutes passed by, and he wondered if something was keeping Hermione.

The door to the girls' dormitory opened, and Harry turned around. His jaw hit the floor, and he could nothing but stare.

Hermione was grinning from ear to ear; she'd shocked him speechless.

"Like it?" She'd left her dress robes off on purpose; they were slung over her arm; but that wasn't what made Harry gasp. No, it was the tight-fitting black dress that she was wearing.

Now Harry knew that he didn't love Hermione for her looks, but he never thought she could look this beautiful. Her dress only went down to mid-thigh and showed off her long, smooth legs. It was quite low-cut and made Harry's blood pressure rise several levels. Hermione had straightened her hair so it now hung down to just above her waist. Although she never wore make-up, Pavarati and Lavender had convinced her to wear at least some for tonight. A slight hint of blush brought out the soft contours of her cheeks; a touch of mascara brought out her eyes; and a bit of ruby-red lipstick made her lips look quite enticing.

"Hermione…I…I…gosh, you're beautiful!" Harry didn't what else to say! His girlfriend giggled softly and walked up to him.

"Told you, I'd surprise you. Now help me on with these?" She held out her dress robes, and Harry helped her slip them on. His arms slid around her, and he pressed himself up against her back.

"Hermione…" His voice was much deeper than normal, and it sent a pleasant shutter down Hermione's spine. "…I mean it; you're absolutely gorgeous!" She turned her head and smiled at him.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter; you look quite handsome yourself."

Harry reached into his pocket and took out a small box.

"I have a surprise for you too, sweetheart."

'Sweetheart!' Hermione had never heard Harry call her that before, but it made her feel all warm inside.

Harry picked up her hand and slid a small round band onto her ring finger. Hermione looked down at the ring Harry had given her. It was gold and had a small diamond in the center.

"Harry, I…I don't know what to say." He turned her around and smiled warmly at her.

"That's no ordinary ring, Herm, look." She looked down, but the diamond had been replaced with a ruby.

"What happened?"

"It's called a precious ring, Hermione. The stone it holds changes from one precious gem to another after a certain period of time." The ruby changed into a sapphire. "Since it holds precious gemstones, you're supposed to give it to the person who's most precious to you." Hermione finally understood why he'd given her this.

"Harry!" she gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you, that's so sweet." He wrapped his arms around her and pressed her close.

"I love you, Hermione."

"I love you too, Harry." He cupped her face in his hands again.

"May I kiss the most beautiful girl at Hogwarts?"

"Enough you!" she laughed as he kissed her deeply.

The two of them stood there wrapped up in each other's arms and practically suffocating one another. Harry had a sudden thought if whether he and Hermione should even go tonight! He wouldn't mind spending a night alone with her in the common room; they were the only ones left.

"Know something?" Harry gasped as he pulled away.

"What?" Hermione asked breathlessly.

"I'd say we have a choice. We could go down to the ball like everyone else, or we could spend the evening here…all alone." Fire danced in his eyes, and Hermione felt her face heating up.

"That's a tough one, but…I guess I wouldn't mind staying in tonight. However, I don't think I'd keep my current attire on."

"Five minutes?" Harry asked.

"Done."

Five minutes later, the two teenagers were lying on the couch in the Gryffindor common room. They were staring at one another from opposite ends; Hermione had her feet propped up in Harry's lap; and he was giving her a very relaxing massage.

"Hmm, can I ask you something?"

"Sure Herm, what is it?" Hermione opened her eyes from the lulled state she was in and smiled at him.

"Back during the TriWizard Tournament, what was your reaction when you saw that Rita had pegged me as your girlfriend. I mean, I know we weren't together then, but I just want to know…did it offend you that everyone thought I was your girlfriend?" Harry looked at her completely shocked.

"Hermione, I would never have been offended, but we were both still young back then. I was actually quite flattered when Rita had printed that article. I knew that it wasn't true, but it got me thinking about what if you really were my girlfriend. I kind of grew out of it though. I figured you just liked being one of my best friends and wanted to concentrate on school before anything else."

"I will admit though that Victor Krum made me rather mad when he showed up with you at the tournament ball."

"Oh really, were you planning to ask me?" Hermione was beginning to enjoy this, and Harry scratched the back of his neck.

"To be honest, my first choice was to ask Cho Chang cause she seemed interested in me, but that idea bombed completely. I thought about you, but I didn't want you to think that I was just using you so I had a date."

"Victor had asked me pretty quickly so I probably would've said no anyway," Hermione replied.

"Herm, can I ask you something? You don't have to answer though if you don't want?"

"That's all right, what is it?" Harry felt really nervous, but he asked before he lost his nerve.

"I wanted to ask…when or why did you start loving me? I mean…did I do something or say something that made you realize it?"

Hermione gazed at him with loving eyes; she understood his question. Harry had never had anyone love him before. His parents had been killed to early for him to remember them, and his aunt and uncle hated him with a vengeance. Harry didn't know how to accept someone loving him; he felt that he had to keep earning it or it would vanish.

"Harry…" Hermione shifted around until she was sitting right next to him and put a hand on his thigh.

"Listen to me carefully, you don't have to do anything to make me love you. I love you because you're you - no other reason. I love you because you're sweet, kind, compassionate, and tender. You don't judge others by who they are; you accept everyone no matter who they are." She ruffled his hair and kissed his cheek.

"Thanks, I needed to hear that."

Harry drew her into his arms, and Hermione laid her head on his chest. They both stretched out so that Harry was lying on his back with Hermione on top of him. He didn't mind; she wasn't that heavy anyway.

"Harry?"

"Yes?" His fingers were stroking her hair, and it was making Hermione very sleepy.

"Tell me, when did you know that you loved me?" He didn't look down at her but merely pulled her head down on his chest. Harry stared up at the ceiling trying to think of an answer.

"To be honest, I don't remember the exact moment, but I remember my feelings. Back during our fourth year, when you said that Victor had invited you to stay with him for the summer, I felt happy for you, but I also felt jealous. I knew that I shouldn't have because I'd never curse you with staying with my aunt and uncle for the summer."

"I guess what happened is that I kept thinking of the worst scenario. If you went to go see him, then you might find out that you liked him, and then you might decide to go to his school instead of Hogwarts. And if you left, I wouldn't be able to see you anymore. I wouldn't be able to see you smile or have you nag me about not doing my homework on time. I wouldn't have you there to say that everything will be all right when things were tough, and I wouldn't be able to tell you to relax and have a little fun every now and then."

Harry knew that he was babbling, but Hermione didn't seem to be objecting. In fact, he was sure that he could hear her purring in response to his story.

"I can't really say that I thought it was love that made me feel like that, but I knew that I didn't want you to leave. I'd miss you too much!"

"I would've missed you too, Harry." Hermione said softly and nuzzled her head against his chest.

Ron and Lavender walked through the portrait chatting softly. It was well after midnight, but the dance was still going on.

"I had fun tonight, Ron," Lavender said softly.

"Thanks, so did I," he replied and blushed slightly. His eyes widened when he looked passed Lavender towards the fireplace.

"Well, I'll be a two-headed unicorn!"

"What is it?" Lavender asked and turned around. At first, she was surprised, but then a warm smile spread across her face. She glanced at Ron and saw the same expression on his face.

"They look so cute!" she giggled.

There, lying on the couch, sleeping as peacefully as doves in their nest were Harry and Hermione. Harry's back was up against one end of the couch, and Hermione was lying on top of him. His right arm was wrapped tightly around her, while his left hand was entangled with her right hand. Hermione's head was on his chest, and she had a look of complete contentment on her face.

"We'd better wake them now before everyone sees them like that," Ron suggested. He knew the rumors that would spread if Harry and Hermione were caught sleeping together like this.

Harry woke up as he felt someone poking him in the shoulder. His eyes opened groggily, and he yawned.

"Wake up, will you!" It was Ron.

"Ron, what is it? Is it morning already?"

"No Harry, it's not."

"Then let me sleep!" Ron poked him again.

"You need to get up. If McGonagall catches you two like this, you're dead."

"What are you talking about?" Harry finally woke up completely to see a brown head of hair resting on his chest.

"That's what I'm talking about," Ron chuckled. "You two better separate before everyone else gets back."

"Thanks, just give us a minute, and I'll get Herm up," Harry replied. Ron nodded, and Harry silently thanked him from saving both he and Hermione from some very embarrassing questions if they'd been caught.

Ron and Lavender headed up to the dormitories, and Harry nudged the sleeping form on his chest.

"Hermione," he said softly and brushed her hair. She nuzzled her cheek against his chest and sighed.

"Hmm, let me sleep Harry." He smiled and kissed her forehead.

"Come on, sweetheart, wake up, everyone's coming back from the dance." It took a moment, but the young woman opened her eyes.

Harry sat up and shifted her into his lap. Hermione rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and yawned. She reluctantly left his arms and stood up.

Harry followed her to the dormitories but stopped when she approached the girls' doorway. He raised his hand out in front of him, and Hermione did the same. They pressed the palms of their hands together and entwined their fingers. Harry tugged her towards him, and Hermione stepped back into his embrace.

"Goodnight Harry." He bent down and gave her a soft, gentle kiss.

"Goodnight Hermione."

Their fingers slowly separated, as did they. She gave him one last smile and disappeared down the corridor. Harry watched her leave then headed up the stairwell to his own room.