Harry had to admit it; he was having a great start to his final year. Not only was he actually doing well in all of his classes, but he also got to see how well Hermione's training had improved her magical skills. Aside from Apparition, his fiancé was kicking the bloody hell out of her classes. Even in Defense Against the Dark Arts, she was becoming quite adept at handling the weapons that Sirius gave the students to use.
As far as his engagement to Hermione, Ron had kept his promise and told no one but Ginny. In the month since then, no one had seemed to find out because Harry knew that it would've been all over school. He also came up with a plan to hide her engagement ring. Since Hermione was right-handed, she just kept her left hand under her desk while she took notes in class, and when they were walking down the hallway, he stayed on her left side and held her hand to conceal the jewel. Everything seemed to be in order, but Harry knew that the other shoe would drop sooner or later.
The sunlight brought the young wizard of his sleep. He yawned softly and cracked his eyes open. Gazing down beside him, he saw Hermione still sleeping like an angel. Harry unwound his arms from around her and kissed her forehead. She purred softly and nuzzled her cheek against his shoulder.
"Sweetheart, time to get up," he whispered.
"Do I have to? I like it here," she cooed and opened her eyes. Harry grinned and kissed her good morning.
"Go ahead and sleep some more; I'm just gonna grab a shower."
He slipped out of bed, and Hermione buried her head back in the pillows.
As the couple exited their portrait hole, a crowd of reporters swarmed them.
"Mr. Potter…is it true?"
"What about you, Miss Granger?"
There had to be at least thirty of them, and they were all shouting the same thing at the both of them.
"Hold it!" Harry shouted, "What is the meaning of this?"
"Mr. Potter…is it true?" one of them asked again.
"What are you talking about?"
"We have it on good authority that you and Miss Granger are engaged. Is that true?" Both he and every other reporter stood with pad and pen in hand nearly drooling in anticipation of Harry's answer.
The young wizard's eyes darkened, and he glared at the swarm of rumor-hounds.
"First of all, who told you that, and secondly, what business is that of yours?"
"We cannot reveal our sources," a female reporter stated. She had a sickening smile, and Harry and Hermione recognized her immediately - Rita Skeeter.
"Harry's right, you have no right to ask either of us that question!" Hermione said defiantly.
"Why is that? Don't you want everyone to know that you're engaged to the great Harry Potter?" Rita snickered.
Hermione glared daggers at the woman. She'd met the gossip columnist back during fourth year at the TriWizard Tournament, and the woman had made her life a living hell.
"My personal life is exactly that - personal! I'm not about to blab anything to a nosy bitch like you!"
Harry's eyes widened slightly; he rarely heard Hermione curse - if ever. She only did when she was extremely angry. He stepped in front of his fiancé, and his expression tightened.
"We have nothing to say to any of you. I may be Harry Potter, but I'm not about to let Hermione or myself be used for a cheap, publicity stunt. I don't know who's been yanking your chain, but this 'interview' is over right now!"
He reached back and deliberately grabbed Hermione's left hand.
"If you would please move, we have classes to attend this morning."
The reporters refused to move.
"I'll ask you one more time…" he growled and drew out his wand. Several of the reporters gulped and backed away at the fire in his eyes. Hermione reached up and touched his right arm.
"Harry…don't…calm down…" and she whispered in his ear. He grinned widely and put his wand away.
"I ask that none of you show up here again."
With that, Harry disapparated right in front of them, taking Hermione with him.
The pair had to separate for their morning classes but met up once again in front of the Great Hall at lunchtime.
"Hey Herm, how was your morning?"
"I barely even know most of the students in my expert classes, but they were all in my face today. They kept asking me about us and if we were really engaged. The girls kept asking me how it felt to be with 'Harry Potter'." Her voice changed at his name as if she were speaking his title in the world.
"That's what happened to me too. They were saying things like: 'You're gonna marry her?' or 'She's such a bookworm' or even worse 'She must be really good in the sack'. I swear, I wanted to hex them all into next week!"
"You didn't…did you?" Hermione asked worriedly.
"No, Ron actually decked one of them when the professor wasn't looking, and they all shut up after that. He beat me by about half a second."
"Harry…maybe you should tell them. I'd hate to think what they'd write about us off of just rumors. I mean, Rita will have a field day with this; I just know it! Who knows? Maybe she's been spying on us since we came back to school?"
"No, I don't want to turn this into some kind of scandalous affair."
Harry grasped her hands and stared deep into her brown eyes.
"Sweetheart, I don't want you to become pressured or hounded by reporters just because we're romantically involved. I want to protect you - especially from my own fame. I can't fight against idiots who make up stories, but I can stop their source of information."
"Harry…" her arms wound around his neck, "…I'm not ashamed to say how close we are," she sighed. His hands grasped her hips.
"Hermione, believe me, I'd gladly tell the whole world that I'm in love with angel, but the minute I lose control, the truth becomes slander."
"Hey…I can take care of myself just fine; you taught me well…remember?"
Harry grinned at her comment.
"I know, Herm, but…can I help it if I worry about you?"
His fiancé stood up on her toes and kissed him thoroughly.
"Harry…you don't have to shoulder all the pressure by yourself; this is about both of us okay. Don't try to take everything onto yourself."
"You're amazing."
Harry swept her up in his arms and kissed her long and hard. Hermione buried her hands in his hair, and his hands slid inside her robes. His skillful fingers brushed her sensitive spots, and Hermione arched into his touch.
Eventually, they managed to pull apart, flushing deeply and walked hand-in-hand into the Great Hall.
As the pair entered, they were met by a flashbulb going off in their faces. Harry shook his head and stared at the culprit; it was Colin Creevy. He snapped another picture of them and smiled brightly.
"Congratulations Harry!"
"Hold it, Colin, what's going on?"
"Everyone heard about it; you two are getting married!"
Harry looked around the Great Hall and nearly every student had his face buried in a newspaper. However, it wasn't the Daily Prophet but rather Wizard Snitch - the magical world's version of the National Enquirer.
"Here, take a look!" Colin stated and shoved one into Harry's hands.
On the front page was a picture of Harry and Hermione. The headline read:
'Romance Blossoms at Hogwarts: Harry Potter getting married'.
"Damn them!" Harry growled and crushed the paper in his hand.
Hermione was also worried. She could see every girl in the school looking at her with every feeling from jealously and hatred to happiness and appreciation.
"I didn't want this to happen this way," he groaned and lowered his head.
Hermione again tried to comfort him and placed her hand on his arm.
"Well…well…well…"
Great, like they both needed to hear Malfoy right now, but the blonde knew just when to strike.
"So Potter…you finally picked which of your lackeys to get hitched with, eh? I should've known it would be the Mudblood; she must be really good to you!" he laughed sadistically.
Hermione immediately reached for her wand; she would not be insulted like that.
"Silencio!"
Malfoy's mouth was sealed shut, and it was would remain that way for the next twelve hours.
Harry was shaking with anger by now. His fists were clenched tightly, and he ground his teeth together.
"Harry?" Hermione whispered soothingly.
"INCENDIO!" he shouted.
All around the Great Hall, every newspaper was incinerated in a split second. They exploded right in their reader's hands. No one was harmed, but they all stared at Harry.
"Harry!" a deep voice bellowed; it was Professor Dumbledore.
"Come with me." He motioned for the young wizard to follow him into a side room.
Harry trudged to the front of the Great Hall and followed Dumbledore. Hermione sat down next to Ron and Lavender and waited anxiously for him to return.
Dumbledore shut the door behind Harry and stared intently at the young man.
"Harry…that was a bit extreme out there. I'm not going to punish you, but I would like to know…is it true?"
"Sir?"
"About you and Hermione. Is it true?"
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore, it is. We've been engaged since we came back to Hogwarts, but we didn't want to tell anyone yet. We both wanted to take things slowly so we were keeping to ourselves. When we left our dormitory this morning, there was this hoard of reporters waiting for the two of us. I didn't tell them anything and asked that they not bother Hermione or I again."
"Well, it seems that they went ahead with their story anyway," Dumbledore said sadly.
"This never would've happened if I wasn't Harry Potter," the young wizard groaned.
"Harry, I won't discard the fact that your reputation is a huge factor in this happening, but perhaps, this can be changed. What I suggest is that you given the media what they want."
"What do mean, sir?"
"I have an old friend who works at the Daily Prophet; his name is Tom Hutchinson. I suggest you contact him and say that you and Hermione wish to have an interview, but that you want it done with discretion. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to accommodate you. He writes an editorial in the paper, and he'd be very interested in telling your story. Plus, he doesn't write for a tabloid; his work is pure fact."
"I appreciate it, professor. I'll talk to Hermione about this and see what she says; I think she'll agree with you."
"Very well, you may go now…and congratulations to both of you," he smiled.
"Thank you, sir."
Harry exited the room feeling a lot better, but he didn't see the small grin that crossed Dumbledore's face.
'Those two are exactly like James and Lily.'
Author's Notes: Sorry that I took so long getting this out, but I've gotten some new games for my PS2 in the last week or so and having been playing them for awhile. Stay tuned for the interview in the next chapter.