As the party progressed and the ale continued to flow the proceedings became considerably louder. It seemed as if every sixth-year and above wasn't shy about toasting Harry's victory, again and again. Every sixth-year and above that is, except two. Harry and Hermione had purposely reigned in their drinking the entire evening. Neither wanted to dull the senses too severely for anything that may happen after the party. As it was both their first times, the two ales they had each finished were having a slight affect however. At least they thought they were having an affect. It was difficult to tell if the lightheadedness and sense of abandon they both had been experiencing was due to the alcohol or the tremendous evening they both were enjoying. After their unbelievable "discussion" upstairs they had spent the last hour being greeted with a constant chorus of "I knew it all along" and "you two are so cute together" and various other congratulatory phrases. These comments were made by the female Gryffindors of course. The males tended to make their comments quietly to only Harry. "What the hell happened up there Harry?" and "it's good to see that at least one body part still works" were the general comments he was hearing from the male Gryffindors.
Finally they had spoken to everyone who had been interested in their new status as a couple and Harry and Hermione were left to themselves at the party. Harry pointed to an empty couch at the other end of the room. "Mind if we sit down? My leg is starting to act up a bit."
A nervous expression immediately appeared on Hermione's face as she responded. "Oh Harry why didn't you say something sooner? I can't believe I let you stand here for that long without giving a thought to your leg. I am so sorry."
Harry smiled again as he pulled Hermione toward the couch. "It's okay Mione…I said it just hurt a bit. You don't have to look out for me you know. I'm a big boy."
She laughed at his joke and silently reveled in thinking of what a "big boy" he had become, and he was all hers. "Well maybe I like looking out for you Harry. I've become quite good at it over the last few years if I do say so myself."
As they sat on the couch, Harry placed his arm around Hermione as she dug in as close as possible, nestling her head under his chin. Hermione thought about the nickname he had just used for the second time that night. She hadn't been called Mione by anyone other than her parents and she had always hated it when they said it. She had thought it sounded childish and preferred her more mature full name. "Harry you've called me Mione twice tonight. You've never called me that before, why now?"
Harry began lightly rubbing her palm as he answered. "Well you have to promise not to get mad until you hear me out…okay?"
His answer had surprised her. "Why would I get mad Harry I was just wondering-"
Harry quietly interrupted. "Just promise, okay."
Even though she couldn't see his face she knew he was smiling at her…with that smile. The smile that made her melt in his presence. The smile she saw too rarely in the past few years as Harry wrestled with everything that had occurred in his life and what was to happen in the future. The smile that she feared she would never see again if he had not defeated Voldemort. She blushed at the picture of it in her mind as she gently replied. "I promise."
Harry took a breath and explained. "Well, I've always thought your full name was a bit formal…a bit cold."
She was surprised and initially hurt by his answer. Sensing her thoughts, Harry turned her head so she was looking into his eyes.
"Now before you say anything, you promised to let me finish. All right?"
One glance at his smile was all it took for the hurt to be washed away and that blush to return. "All right Harry…go on."
"Well as I said I've always thought your name was a bit formal. But that's not how I see you. It may fit everyone else's picture of what you are…Prefect and top student and future Head Girl of Hogwarts…but not me. To me you've always been much…softer…gentler…than that. I can't really explain it but it just doesn't fit with what I know about you. Despite the appearance you try to give off I know the truth. That person they see is not the person I've known for the last five years. I suppose Mione just seems to be closer to my perspective of who you really are."
He waited to hear her response but he was met with silence. He saw her hand move to her face as she wiped the tears that he had apparently caused and his heart sank "Hermione I'm so sorry, I'll never call you that again. I meant it as a compliment…I really did."
As she continued to wipe away the tears she chuckled and responded. "Harry, after what you just said to me my heart is going to skip every time you call me that from now on. My parents used to call me that when I was younger and I hated it. Now I think it may be the most beautiful word I've ever heard."
She could feel his chest exhale in relief at her words. "So your not mad then?"
She lifted her head, drew him into a deep kiss and slowly pulled away. "Say it Harry, I want you to say it."
"I love you, Mione."
She let his words and what they meant wash over her as she rested her head on his chest. His words had made her feel alive once again. She smiled and spoke. "Tell me something else Harry."
"What do you want to know?"
"Umm…When did you fall in love with me?"
Harry softly laughed at her question before he spoke. "We may be getting into that 'saying the perfect thing at the perfect time' problem again."
Hermione laughed in response. "I think I'll risk it."
Harry gently played with her hair as he continued. "Fair enough but don't say I didn't warn you."
"I'm not sure when I fell in love with you. Like I said earlier I have a feeling it was long before I was smart enough to realize it. How about I tell you when it finally did sink in?
He saw the back of her head nod and continued. "Well it was right after you and Ron had broken up last year. It was a Saturday that we were allowed to go to Hogsmeade but you had decided to stay at school to study. I was planning on going with Sally Fairmont. Do you know her?"
Hermione's thoughts drifted to the sixth-year Hufflepuff that Harry was referring to. She was blond, tall and beautiful, everything Hermione thought she was not. She nodded her head again and Harry continued.
"I had gone with you to the library early in the morning to work on an essay for Potions class. You knew I was planning on going to Hogsmeade and reminded me when it was time to leave and get ready. As I was putting my things in my bag I realized that I was disappointed thatI was leaving. I wanted to stay in that dusty library and do wretched Potions work instead of going to Hogsmeade because you were there. Well once it hit me there was no way I was going to Hogsmeade with Sally. I made up some stupid excuse about being hit by a Bludger during Quidditch practice and told her I couldn't go. I stayed in the library with you for the rest of the day. One of the best days of my life actually."
Hermione smiled as she recalled that day in her head. "I remember that day Harry. I was so happy when you came back."
Harry continued to stroke her hair and spoke. "So how about you? When did you know?"
Hermione smiled as she remembered that wonderful and confusing day. "I realized it a bit before you. I was still seeing Ron and we had just had another row. I came into the Common Room furious and saw you sitting by the fire reading. I sat down next to you and we started talking. By the time we stopped talking several hours had passed and everyone else had gone to bed. When we finally went to bed I realized how easy it had been with you that night. The whole time I was going out with Ron it seemed like it took so much work and effort. But with you it was different…I didn't even have to try. And then I realized that I never had to try with you. I don't think I slept for a minute that night."
Harry smiled at her words. "Yes I seem to have that affect on a lot of women."
Hermione chuckled and responded. "It's a pity I don't have the same affect on you. You apparently sleep like a baby while screaming out my name."
Harry turned her head to face him once again. "Now, now Hermione you shouldn't exaggerate. Ron said I moaned your name, not screamed it."
She nuzzled closer and playfully punched him in the stomach. "My mistake Sleeping Beauty."
Hermione had never felt more comfortable in her life than at that very moment. Being wrapped in his embrace was where she belonged. "Harry…I could stay like this all night."
But they only remained there for a few more seconds. The sound of uproarious laughter caused Hermione to bolt up and look over the couch to where the commotion was coming from.
Harry had turned around as well and was shocked at what he saw. A confused smile grew on his face as he spoke. "What happened to him?"
Hermione could barely get the words out between her laughter. "Well it looks like I performed the spell correctly."