Authors Notes: I am SO sorry it's been so long since I updated- I've had an absolutely hectic few weeks and it still is hectic, so I do apologise for this update, I don't think it's terribly good or imaginative or anything- but it's an update and it's kinda sweet :p
She sighed happily as she placed the bag of rose petals to one side, the sun catching slightly on her engagement ring. She never took the ring off if she could avoid it- Harry had once joked that the ring was part of her body.
Underneath where she had grabbed the roses from was a serviette from the Leaky Cauldron that caused her to laugh- scrawled across the serviette underneath the logo of the Leaky Cauldron were the words 'I love you'.
The night they had told everyone about their engagement.
There had been no reason for the group to gather in the pub at the end of the day- it had been casually arranged over the course of a few days and it wasn't until after she had arrived that Hermione realised she had been looking forward to it. She was last to arrive, as the others had all come together- she was the only one who hadn't been in Diagon Alley or the ministry that day, having spent all day cooped up, trying to write.
She hugged Ginny and Luna in greeting, kissed the cheeks of Ron and Dean and gave Harry a special private greeting, earning cat calls and whistles from the group.
'My shout!' Ron said, pulling out his money bag. 'What'll everyone have?'
'Firewhiskey,' Dean said and Harry nodded.
'Same.'
'I'll grab a glass of Frinkleberry wine,' Ginny said.
'Same for me,' chipped in Luna.
'Butterbeer,' Hermione said and Ron rolled his eyes.
'You never drink!' He said and she rolled her eyes back at him.
'Unlike some people, I don't enjoy waking up with a headache and a piece of sand paper for a tongue,' she snapped.
'Down girl,' Ron said, hurrying away from the table before Hermione could reply. She just sighed.
'You're not mad at me?' Harry whispered to her and she leant into him and smiled.
'No- I know you're sensible,' she said, kissing him quickly. 'So, Luna, how's The Quibbler coming along?'
'Daddy's just got back from Tanzania- he's found a new breed of Dementor that the ministry is trying to buy.'
'Oh, that's, um, nice,' Hermione managed. Harry suddenly became very interested in the menu that had been left on the table and Ginny and Dean became very interested in finding out what the other had for lunch.
Ron returned with the drinks and Hermione sat back and watched her friends, slowly sipping on her Butterbeer. It was amazing how much they had changed, yet hadn't changed at the same time.
Ron was telling a story that required lots of large hand movements and was making everyone laugh. Every now and then he would shoot a slight smile at Luna, who would smile dreamily back at him.
Of the people she was most surprised in, Luna had to be top of the list. She was still 'Looney Luna' at times, yet at others she surprised them all. She was the best thing to happen to Ron, and Hermione was happy for them both.
Ginny was occasionally joining in enthusiastically into Ron's story and was laughing incredibly hard. Ever since she had met Ginny, Hermione had been flawed by how naturally beautiful she was, and she still thought so even now. She had cut her hair recently, into a shorter 'grown up' style and it had made her look so much older. And watching Dean, she found that whilst he appeared to be watching and listening to Ron, the more she looked at him the more she realised that every inch of his being was watching Ginny, every move she made. He seemed to hang on her every word and was almost looking as if he was in shock, disbelieving that she would be with him.
And then there was Harry. Her Harry. For so long she had never been able to remove her first impression of Harry- the clueless eleven year old she met on the train. Even in the early days of their relationship, she couldn't see past the person he had been. But then he had bought down that wall, bit by bit, and each time he replaced a brick, she fell even more in love with him. He was always full of surprises.
They ordered dinner to their table and were still chatting away when most wizards started to leave the bar. Hermione pulled her chair over closer to Harry and curled her fingers in with his, leaning her head on his shoulder.
'Tired?' he whispered.
'A little,' she said, stifling a yawn. 'If you want to stay…'
'We'll leave soon,' he told her. His fingers stroked the ring which she had proudly been wearing for two weeks. 'It's a nice ring, isn't it?'
'Ring?' Ginny said sharply, causing both of them to jump. 'Who's wearing a ring?'
'Um, I am,' Hermione said, almost shyly, pulling her hand away from Harry's and placing it on the table.
'Harry, you old dog!' Ron cheered, banging the table. 'Why didn't you tell us?'
'Um, well, Hermione wanted to tell her parents, and-'
'Can we get a bottle of your finest over here!' Ron bellowed to the bartender, cutting over Harry. 'We've got a celebration!'
Harry tried to plead with Ron to stop, but his words were drowned out by Ginny's shrieks of delight as the realisation fully set in.
'Oh my, you're getting married!' she exclaimed, taking hold of Hermione's hand and looking closely at her ring. 'Oh wow- this is huge- the news and the rock!'
'Nothing but the best for my girl,' Harry said, wrapping his arms around Hermione's neck and kissing the top of her head. 'Now, I hate to bust up the party, but we're going to head off.'
'But- but-' Ron spluttered.
'You celebrate for us- only don't tell anyone yet. Just let us tell Hermione's parents first,' Harry said and Ron folded his arms.
'Fine. Hey- this means I get to plan a bucks night!'
'And we're going,' Hermione said, standing up and pulling her jacket on. They made it out onto the muggle street outside the pub and started to laugh.
'Wasn't expecting that,' Harry said, kissing her. 'Ready to go?'
'Sure thing.'
They caught a muggle taxi home and Hermione was in the bathroom before she found it. Harry had tucked it into the pocket of the jeans she had worn and she had no idea when he had done it. A single serviette with 'I love you' written on it.
Always full of surprises.