Chapter 5: Decisions, Decisions…
"I swear that was the biggest meal I've EVER had."
Ron was supported between Lavender and Harry as they carried him up to the Gryffindor dorm room.
"You hurl and I'll kill you," Lavender chuckled.
The night had been funny. Dean and Justin had bet Ron ten galleons that he couldn't eat ten helpings of roast turkey and roast potatoes. Being the thick twat that he is, Ron accepted.
He won of course.
"At least I'm not drunk," Ron slurred burping as he did so.
"Ron that is vile!" Lavender punched him on the arm.
"Yeah well," Ron smirked. "I'm ten galleons richer!"
Harry stumbled under Ron's weight. His legs had practically given out by the eighth helping.
"Never do that again Ron," Harry laughed. "Ten galleons isn't worth me having to put up with your weight."
"Hey! I'm not fat!" He stated as Harry stumbled again.
Harry and Lavender eventually managed to get Ron into bed successfully. Lavender decided that it was better if she slept in her own bed that night because of Ron's roommates. It would be funny in the morning though…to find a girl with Ron.
"Think he'll be alright?" Harry smiled closing the door behind them as they walked out.
"He'll be fine," Lavender grinned back. "Don't you have to be somewhere with Hermione now?"
Harry quickly glanced at his watch. "Meeting her in the common room at nine…a good few minutes yet."
Lavender sighed loudly and pushed him forward down the stairs. "Go and be early…girls love that."
"You think so?" Harry laughed. "Alright."
Several minutes later, Harry was standing in the prefect's common room. The fire was burning brightly, flickering and dancing in the evening glow.
'Romantic,' Harry thought smiling. He sat down on the sofa and proceeded to watch the dancing embers in the fireplace. Slowly, his brain slipped into auto-mode and he began to sing softly.
Hermione had just donned her sweatshirt (Harry's technically) and was walking down the stairs.
She played with her hair dangling from her ears curling it around her fingers. She reached the bottom of the stairs to be met with a soft singing male voice.
She poked her head around the corner to find Harry singing quietly to himself.
"It's her hair and her eyes today, that just simply take me away, and the feeling that I'm falling further in love makes me shiver, but in a good way," He had his eyes closed. The sound flowed through him as music did.
Hermione managed to sneak quietly into the room still listening to her boyfriend unknowingly serenading her.
"All the times that I've sat and stared as she thoughtfully thumbs through her hair, and she purses her lips bats her eyes and she plays with me sitting there slack jawed with nothing to say," Hermione had managed to sit quietly on the chair to Harry's right. He had his eyes closed and didn't even notice anyone was in the room.
"Cause I love her, with all that I am, and my voice shakes along with my hands, cause she's all that I see and she's all that I need and I'm out of my league once again."
He stopped and opened his eyes. He noticed Hermione sat with a grin plastered on her face.
"What are you laughing at?" He slung an arm over the back of the sofa and turned to face her.
"Nothing, nothing," She smiled.
She stood and walked over sitting next to him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her body close to his.
"This is the most comfortable I've been in ages," Harry sighed snuggling closer to his girlfriend.
"Me too," Hermione closed her eyes lightly. "At the end of this year it will all be over…no more dark
halls and secret passages…"
"Unless you're smart like me and living in the Marauder Manor with Sirius."
Hermione chuckled. "You gonna come and see me after we finish school?"
Harry looked down into her now open eyes. Swirling mystical pools of radiance shimmering before his own.
"I'll never be away from you," He smiled. Hermione grinned back in response and leant against his chest.
"Are you going to University?" She asked.
"Definitely. I want to further my education in History or DADA."
"You want to be a DADA teacher? With the track running we've had I don't think you'd last
long."
Harry laughed. "Maybe not. What about you?"
"I want to do Charms or something. Maybe History I'm not sure. I do want to come back here though…working for Dumbledore."
"Or whoever the next headmaster will be."
"You don't think it'll be Dumbledore for much longer?"
"Yeah, a good few year but not too long."
"He could do with retirement. Although, I think he'll get bored."
"No way. He'll charm his trashcans or something. He was always saying during my training that if he did retire he'd live in the Muggle world."
"Why?"
"He reckons Muggles are interesting and they have Sherbet Lemons."
Hermione chuckled. "I suppose retirement wouldn't suit him much. He's more of the get-up-and-go type
like you."
"Am I?"
"You've always got something going on or up your sleeve. You're not unlike Dumbledore you know."
"Good…" Harry smirked evilly. "I want a big white beard, some half-moon spectacles and a school all to myself."
Hermione stifled a laugh and looked up at her adorable boyfriend. "Is Dumbledore married?"
"No, why?"
Hermione sighed and slumped back down against his chest. "You can't be like Dumbledore then."
"Why?" Harry began chewing his bottom lip for no reason at all.
"Because after I get my qualification in Charms and you get yours in DADA, we're getting married so you can't be like Dumbledore unless Dumbledore gets married. Get it?"
"You wanna marry me?" Harry smirked still biting his lip.
Hermione sat up and looked into his adorable emerald eyes.
"Of course I do…do you really think my mum and dad are going to let me spend the rest of my life with you if we're not married? And what'll the kids think?"
Harry smiled and rested his lips against hers pulling her closer to him. He found no resistance whatsoever. He was welcomed into her mouth.
She fell against him on the sofa pushing him down into the soft cushions beneath his body. His arms slid around her waist, softly running his hands up and down his spine causing her to arch involuntarily into him.
He groaned.
"Do you like that, Potter?" She gasped coming away from his lips only for a second before smashing down against his once more.
Harry pressed his lips harder against hers sliding his already accepted tongue over her bottom lips asking politely for entrance.
Their tongues slid together. Hermione pressed her hand against the soft sofa cushions behind his head and stroked his nape gently.
Their kisses slowed and eased to gentle roaming kisses instead of bruising kisses witnessed only moments before.
When they parted, Harry leant up and kissed the tip of her nose.
"I'm glad we're waiting until after Hogwarts," He smiled genuinely.
When they had first started dating, Harry had promised her that he wouldn't make love to her until the time was right. Until that one perfect moment.
He had slept with other people. Cho Chang being one; Holly Dandles from Hufflepuff and Eloise Croft from Cho's year.
Each one had been great but a total disaster. Unique experiences in themselves but all he'd ever really wanted…he had right then in his arms. Hermione Jayne Granger.
She'd settled down in his arms and was lying on him, resting her head on his chest. He found that he was stroking her hair sweetly as if urging her to sleep.
She felt her eyes closing slowly and she yawned.
"I think you need to get to bed," Harry stated. "Beauty sleep and all that…"
She smacked his chest playfully. It wasn't much of a hit. She was exhausted.
"Carry me."
"Do I have to?"
Hermione scoffed and stood up trying not to waver as she did so.
"No…I'll walk to bed then."
She crossed her arms over her chest and turned away from him.
Harry chuckled lightly and got up. He whisked her up in his arms honeymoon style.
"See? That wasn't so hard was it." She giggled and rested against his chest.
He carried her up to her bedroom and placed her down onto her bed.
He let go but found himself pulled back down by Hermione's hand on the back of his neck.
His lips met hers softly and sweetly. Not intense or sexual, but loving and sensual.
When they parted, Hermione looked up into Harry's eyes.
"Night Harry," She smiled.
He grinned and kissed her forehead before retreating to the door; the entrance to her safe Haven.
"Night, Herm," He smiled before he closed the door behind him.
~)*(~
The next morning, Hermione had rushed over to Harry's bedroom to wake him up. It was just like him to lie in on their first day. They'd already missed five minutes of breakfast.
"I am not touching that, Harry James Potter!" She shrieked throwing her arms above her head furiously. "Not a bleeding chance in the world."
Harry just laughed. "Please? We'll be even more later if you don't."
"NO! For the last time no!"
"It won't bite, I promise."
"Don't do that! Don't promise me something that you know isn't true!"
"But it won't!"
"How do you know, brainiac?"
"Because you wonderful woman," He brought her into his arms and kissed her forehead softly. "You know how to handle it."
"Yeah but so do you."
"But it's not the same when I do it. It gets wild."
"You're making this sound dirty."
"No I'm not! Just stroke it."
She stroked it gently making Harry smile.
"That wasn't so hard was it!"
"No…I guess not. You did get the worst one of the bunch though."
"I don't doubt it."
Harry grinned satisfied and walked into his bathroom to brush his teeth.
"Put it away when you've finished!" He called from the bathroom.
Hermione stroked the monster book again and opened it to find Harry's homework. She scanned over the work. His handwriting was improving but it was still scrawl.
"Your handwritings getting better!" She shouted closing the book and putting it into Harry's bag.
"'Fanks!" He called from the bathroom with a mouthful of toothpaste.
She sat on the end of his bed and studied his desk. He had several pictures of his friends and family on it.
One was Sirius and himself on holiday. Harry was looking as handsome as always standing on top of the Eiffel Tower looking down into the camera. He was waving a gold and scarlet Gryffindor scarf. Trust him to take it everywhere with him.
Another was Harry, Lavender, herself and Ron waving to the camera in Ron's house. It was taken in their sixth year. It moved about. At present Harry and Hermione were linked arms around each other's waists leaning their heads together. Ron was fighting with Lavender.
The next had the Weasley family including Hermione, Ron and Lavender. They were all standing and sitting in the Weasley's backyard looking very happy.
The last was her favourite. It was one Colin Creevy had taken yesterday. Harry had politely requested it from his Instant Develop camera. Colin obliged of course.
It was Harry and Hermione kissing softly in each other's arms in front of a large tapestry of the Gryffindor Lion.
It really was lovely. They weren't all over each other but more cuddly and loving than passionate. The passion was there of course.
Harry walked out of the bathroom fully dressed and ready to go. He slung his bag over his shoulder and swung his arm over Hermione's shoulder holding her close to him.
"Whatcha looking at?" He grinned.
She pointed to the picture. "Just by chance as well."
"We're destined to look great wherever we are."
She smiled wildly as they walked down to the Great Hall and what was left of breakfast.