(A/N I'm going on holiday for two weeks tomorrow, so this is the last chapter I'll be able to post for a while. Enjoy, and I'll try and post as soon as I get home)
Chapter Twenty-One
Hermione was subdued at work on Wednesday, and by the time she got home; she was more determined than ever to make Harry suffer until he admitted his feelings for her. She shouldn't always have to be the one making the logical and sensible decisions. As usual, her anger melted a little as soon as he smiled at her from the sofa. She sank into her usual seat next to him as he asked her about the paper she'd been working on over the last week.
When Ron and Laurie entered the flat, for a moment she didn't notice anything different, but as they stood expectantly in front of herself and Harry she took in their excited grins, and as her gaze scanned down a glimmer of light caught her eye and she squealed and leapt off the sofa, grabbing Laurie's left hand.
"Ronald Weasley! It's gorgeous! Congratulations!" She said hugging Laurie tight, the two girls smiling at each other as Harry congratulated Ron, the two men sharing a private joke.
Hermione looked at her two best friends, her eyes suddenly filled with happy tears.
"What's wrong Hermione? Happy tears?" Ron asked her with a laugh as he hugged her tight.
"Well, I have to find a new back up now! We said we'd marry each other if we never found anyone…" She laughed teasingly.
"Good times." Ron laughed.
"I'm so happy for you two." Hermione told him. "And I'm so glad Laurie's going to be family now."
Laurie quickly updated her on the details of the proposal and Hermione shot Ron a smile, proud of how mature he had become, and how much effort he had gone to fulfil all of Laurie's fantasies.
Ron and Laurie had apparated to The Burrow soon after to tell Molly, as they'd stopped at Laurie's parents already. Hermione sat smiling after they left.
"You knew he was going to ask her last night?" She asked.
Harry nodded and she smiled at him, hugging him lightly before heading into the kitchen.
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The Chudley Canon's stood in their Team Robes, huddled together in the changing rooms as they listened to the pep talk before the game. Hermione stood back watching them with a smile as they prepared for the game, going over the game plan for a final time before heading out to the pitch. She took her place by the door as the huddle broke apart and kissed the team members on the cheek with a grin, hugging Laurie tight, before trying to avoid being tickled by Ron. She laughed and kissed him on the cheek before he filed out of the room leaving just Harry standing before her.
"Do I get my good luck kiss then?" Harry asked her with his usual smile. Hermione looked up at him and took a step closer, and leaned forward, not to kiss him on the cheek as usual, but to brush her lips gently against his own. She pulled back to find Harry looking at her in surprise, though she could see emotions flitting back and forth in his green eyes. Hermione knew this was the moment she was going to have to be bold, and make the first move.
She looked up at him again with a grin and kissed him again, there was a tiny moment of hesitation before Harry's arm snaked around her waist, dropping his broomstick to the floor as his other hand ran through her hair as they kissed passionately. Hermione was wondering why on earth she'd never tried kissing Harry before. She'd definitely been missing out all these years, and she could now see yet another reason why Cho had been so reluctant to let him go.
They parted breathlessly and Hermione's lips curled into a smile. Harry grinned down at her and pulled her into a tight hug, lightly kissing the top of her head.
"You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that." He said softly.
Hermione giggled.
"Yet I still had to make the first move? So much for Gryffindor bravery Mr. Potter." She teased as he planted a soft kiss on the end of her nose.
"Nice Hermione! We finally kiss and you call me by my surname. You don't think that after over ten years of friendship we're on a first name basis?" He grinned. She stuck her tongue out at him, and Harry moved his head forward catching her tongue with his lips. She laughed against his lips and kissed him.
"Nice move Harry. Guess I know why you're the Seeker." Harry rolled his eyes at her, and then they both froze.
"The game! The others are waiting for you!" She said quickly, laughing and rescuing Harry's broom from the floor as he pulled on his gloves. Taking his broom from Hermione he took a step towards the door again before turning back and cupping her face with his spare hand.
"I love you." He said softly.
"I love you too."
The following kiss was interrupted by catcalls and laughter from the team, who had filed back into the room to find out what was delaying Harry. The pair looked up sheepishly and Hermione blushed to see everyone cheering them on.
"This was your perfect moment? In a locker room?" Ron asked them incredulously. Hermione nodded still blushing as Harry hugged her to his side, kissing her forehead before following the team on their second attempt to get to the field.
"Looks like Hermione's been holding out on us with those good luck kisses." Laurie teased, with a wink in Hermione's direction over her shoulder.
Hermione laughed and left the room through another door, heading to her usual seat.
"What's with the delay?" Ginny asked anxiously as Hermione sat down next to her.
"Are the team all ok? They started announcing them and then stopped." Ginny asked worriedly. Hermione's blush returned.
"I kissed Harry." She whispered to her friend.
"YOU KISSED HARRY?" Ginny yelled, causing everyone else in the VIP section to turn and stare at the two of them in fascination. Ginny looked around and shot an apologetic look at Hermione.
"Sorry." She said sheepishly.
"I was just a little surprised."
"So was he." Hermione laughed.
"So…you two are?" Ginny pondered.
"Right now I'm not entirely sure, it only just happened, and the rest of the team interrupted, but I'm pretty sure we're together I hope we are anyway." Hermione said, with a smile as she stood to clap and cheer as the Canon's were announced for the second time. She beamed as Harry flew out onto the pitch, and her eyes followed him as they always did to his starting position high above the rest of the team. And then she was lost in the game.