A few hours later (Parvati dragged me into an empty classroom for an impromptu dance lesson after my chat with Ron), I find myself in the library. Ron was right, not that it was hard to guess where I'd find Hermione. I walk straight to the back of the library, to a secluded little niche that barely anyone knows about and that no one dares use for fear of Hermione's wrath (she can be quite scary when she wants to be, she's frightened one or two (dozen) times). And there she is, bent over a book, writing like mad, trying desperately to absorb every bit of information in the tome. She's so adorable, I really don't want to disturb her. But I find it quite impossible to turn around and walk away. So, instead, I walk over to the table, sit down beside her, but far enough away to not disturb her (something I've learned about Hermione is that she has a 'safe distance' when she's studying which means that no one is allowed to sit within three feet of her), grab one of the Quidditch magazines that she keeps on her table for me (and she doesn't see how in love with me she is) and Ron, but he's hardly ever here, and settle in to enjoy and afternoon with her.
I'm well into an article about Viktor Krum (I can't stand him personally, and not only because he dated Hermione, but he's a fantastic Quidditch player none the less), when I feel someone watching me. I glance around before realizing that it's Hermione who's looking at me and meet her gaze. She's looking at me oddly and I find it rather discomforting and start to shift in my seat.
She doesn't seem to plan on saying anything and I'm getting rather uncomfortable with her looking at me in this particular way, so I decide to risk it and say something. "Uh, hi." Okay, good, nothing embarrassing there. However, she's still looking at me in that way and still doesn't seem to plan on saying anything. So, here I go again. "Um, what? Why are you looking at me like that?"
She shakes her head and comes back to reality (hi, welcome back, love). "Why are you sitting all the way over there? I don't bite, you know." (Not even if I say please? "Please!")
"Uh, what?" Hey, I'm doing pretty good here, this isn't so hard.
"I'm just saying that you don't have to sit so far away. I feel like I have to shout to speak to you."
Okay, this is strange for two reasons, 1. Hermione never talks when she's studying, actually I've heard her threaten people with curses just for breathing too loudly; and 2. I've just been invited into her 'personal study space.' This has never happened before, ever, to anyone. I do believe I'm making progress.
Not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I quickly slide over a few inches. She's still looking at me oddly, so I budge over a little further. The look isn't going away. Well, then, I'll just keep sliding over until she tells me to stop, I'm sitting in her lap, or the look goes away. All right, so we're almost touching now and Hermione has gone back to study so I stop moving over. We're sitting closer than we've ever sat while she's studying. I can feel the heat from her body I'm so close. I rather like this, it's nice being this close in the library; it feels almost naughty. I take a deep breath to savour the moment and oh-my-God I can smell her hair! This is heaven! I'm in heaven! All right, no need to over-react, just act cool and try not to hyperventilate. Merlin, I love her shampoo.
I open my magazine and continue where I left off and out of the corner of my eye I see Hermione reach for another book. My attention immediately focuses on her, magazine forgotten, and I watch as she pulls the heavy book towards her and opens it and I see my note laying there waiting for her to read it. My eyes jump to her face and I study her for any reaction at all and if I didn't know her as well as I do I would've missed it. But I do know her, so I see the flash of delight in her eyes and the tug at the corner of her mouth and I really want to kiss her right now, but I won't. She carefully unfolds the note and I watch her read it, and I notice that her cheeks take on a red tint and I feel like a million galleons because she likes the letters and I'm wooing her… effectively.
I turn back to my magazine and pretend to be ready it and not paying attention to her, but every fibre in my body is focused solely on her. I hear the paper rustle as she folds the note again and I hear her carefully put it in her bag and mutter a protection charm (yeah! I was right!) and I smile to myself. She goes back to studying and acts like nothing happened at all. Yeah, like I'm going to let her get away with that.
I clear my throat and focus my eyes on a picture of Krum chasing the snitch. "Any clue who they're from?" I ask casually.
I feel her jump beside me and turn her head to look at me. "No, not really. I think someone's probably just playing joke."
"Why would you think that?" I keep my eyes trained on the picture because I know if I look at her I'll start stammering and rambling.
"Well, because the notes are really very sweet and, unless it is a joke, I can't imagine who'd want to leave me notes like that."
I turn to meet her gaze. "Why would that be so hard to believe?" I wonder if that sounded as breathless to her as it did to me.
I think I've embarrassed her a little because she's blushing now and can't seem to look me in the eye. Oh well, it's about time she got a clue.
"Well, I mean, who would be interested in me? I'm not very interesting or attractive or anything like that."
I almost laugh out loud, but stop myself at the last moment. I don't think that would help matters much. "Good God, Hermione. You're everything like that." Okay, apparently I'm going for the bold approach. I can live with that. "A bloke would have to blind to not see that."
I think maybe I've succeeded in giving her a heart attack because she's looking at me with wide eyes and her mouth is hanging open. But before she can say anything, the dinner bell goes (since when is there a bell anywhere in this castle, let alone the library). Hermione doesn't seem surprised by the bell at all, but just starts to put her books away, so I decide that she's probably responsible for the bell. It makes sense, since she used to miss meals often (even lost a few pounds, which didn't please me at all) and now she rarely misses any. Once she's got her books packed in her bag, I reach down and grab it from the floor and sling it over my shoulder and almost lose my balance because the bloody thing weighs a tonne. Before she can protest, I take her hand (I do realize that I'm stepping on Plan B, but I'm feeling impulsive) and lead her out of the library. I hold her hand all the way to the Great Hall and she doesn't say a thing about it (to my pleasure), but I release it before we enter the Great Hall because I really don't know how she would feel about the entire school seeing us holding hands. I can't not touch her though, so I satisfy myself by putting my hand on the small of her back to guide her into the hall and to our spots at the table. And I sit right beside her, so close that our legs are touching and I let my fingers trail down her back as I remove my hand. I can feel her looking at me (in shock, I'm sure), but I ignore her gaze and pile my plate high because I'm still starving (Ron really didn't bring me that much, I've a feeling that he ate most of what he snitched). And I know I've blown my plan to sit at the opposite end of the table, but it was a dumb idea to begin with. Really, why would I want to be that far away from her. Besides, I'm feeling rather confident at the moment.
Ron's noticed what I've done, I can tell by the smile he's giving me. I fear that he's going to say something stupid and embarrass me, so I engage him in conversation about the next Quidditch match which is between Ravenclaw and Slytherin and isn't for another month, but since it involves Slytherin, we've a great deal of interest in it. While Ron and I are talking, I reach under the table to wipe my hand on my leg and 'accidentally' run it down (and back up) Hermione's slim, jean clad thigh. She jumps and looks at me in what I'm positive is shock this time (how's that for a clue, Hermione), although I don't look at her. Ron's cottoned on and he raises a single eyebrow at me in question (probably wondering when the hell I got so bold, if only I knew) and I grin at him and keep on with the conversation. It's not the last surprise she'll get tonight.
We've finished eating and, as is our custom, we're sitting at the table talking, catching each other up on the happenings of the day and what, if anything, one of us has done to Malfoy today (Ron slipped him one of the twin's toffees and he was walking around with an enlarged tongue for an hour). During this down time, I reached under the table and took Hermione's hand in mine, slipping my fingers between hers. She didn't seem to mind and by that I mean that she didn't hex me and other than a little jolt she didn't react much at all. I chose to take this as a good sign. Ron and I have made it around to the upcoming Quidditch game again and Hermione has started a conversation about the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor (when Hermione casually mentions that he's rather handsome, I give her hand a quick squeeze in warning and catch her quick grin).
After my conversation with Ron earlier, I gave him another note to slip under Hermione's plate. This one is sign and, after my name, reads P.S. This is definitely not a joke. I'm watching this note out of the corner of my eye, waiting anxiously for her to spot it. I think maybe she already has and is ignoring it, maybe because she's cottoned on that I'm the one behind the notes and she's a little freaked out, though if that were the case I don't think she be stroking the back of my hand with her thumb right now. I decide to let the note be for now, I'll point it out to her with there are fewer people in the Great Hall.
I realize that I've been distracted for quite a while when I feel Hermione tug my hand and notice Ron grinning at me. I look around, completely lost as to what's just been said, waiting for one of them to fill me in. I notice that most people have left the Great Hall and think that now would be a good time to point the note out to Hermione. But she starts talking before I get the chance.
"Ron just asked you if you wanted to go to Hagrid's tonight. How about it?"
"Yeah, sure." I answer, but I'm distracted as I watch her reach for her cup and (finally!) her fingers brush the note and she seems to notice it for the first time, but I'm pretty sure she knew it was there all along.
Ron's noticed this too and he starts grinning. "Looks like you've got another note, Hermione."
She pulls it out from under her plate and looks at me from the corner of her eye as she opens it (so she does have a clue as to who's writing them). Ron and I watch (Ron excitedly and me nervously) while she reads it. I know when she gets to my name because she brushes my leg with her foot and I can see that she thinks it's just a bit of friendly fun, until she reads the post script. That's right, it isn't a bit of friendly fun. She looks at me now and I can see that she's totally shocked and doesn't really know how to deal with this twist in our relationship. I smile as reassuringly as I can and try not to laugh at the way that Ron keeps looking back and forth between us like he's watching a tennis match.
"Well," Hermione says a little too loudly and I notice that her voice is a little shaky and hope that I haven't completely terrified her. "Shall we go to Hagrid's, then?"
Ron looks at her with surprise, but I know that she needs time to process all of this (I did lay it on rather thick this evening), so I nod and grab my bag and hers before she has the chance. She smiles at me and we leave for Gryffindor Tower, leaving Ron staring after us in bewilderment (honestly, did he really think that she'd just fall into my arms? I still have my work cut out for me). We don't hold hands on the way to the common room, I'd really like to, but I know she needs a little space at the moment and I gladly give it to her.
* * *
Ron catches up to us just as we're leaving the tower again, I almost curse him because I think Hermione was about to take my hand and now I'll never know. He's still looking at Hermione like she's completely nutters (I think he's more of a romantic than he lets on) and I know he's wondering why I'm not pushing the issue with her because he doesn't know her like I do and therefore doesn't realize that she needs time. But neither us say anything to him (Hermione because I don't think she realizes that he knows, and myself because I find it much more fun to let him stew).
The trip to Hagrid's is quiet. Hermione walks between Ron and I and, although our hands brush once in a while, we don't hold hands, or even look at each other. She watches the ground as she walks, counting on us to lead her to the cottage, and I look around the grounds and admire the stars, which are bright in the sky tonight and if it was just Hermione and me I would find tonight to be a rather romantic night. However, since Ron is still watching us (he thinks he's being subtle. Ha, whatever) it's really not all that romantic.
Hagrid welcomes us in as usual and offers us stone soup ("No, thanks." "Just ate." "Really not that hungry at the moment, Hagrid.") and tea. We sit at the table (Hermione between us again, closer to me than to Ron, in case you were wondering) while Hagrid pours the tea.
"So, Hagrid, what do you have planned for us in Care of Magical Creatures this week?" Ah, that's my Hermione, always wanting to learn.
"Something really interesting, I'm sure." Ron puts in.
I try to pay attention and participate in the conversation, but I'm a little worried about Hermione's behaviour. I realize that she needs time, but she hasn't spoken a word to me since she read the note, she hasn't even looked at me.
I catch the last bit of Hagrid's question to me and realize that I've been staring at Hermione. Apparently she's picked up on this as well because she gives me a little smile, which makes feels loads better, and surprises me by taking my hand from my leg and holding it in hers, resting both our hands on her thigh.
"I'm sorry, Hagrid, what was that?"
"Just wonderin' how ye've bin, Harry. It's been a bit since ye've been to visit."
I feel mildly guilty about that, but I've been busy with school (it is our last year after all) and haven't really had the time to visit.
"Oh, well, things are really good lately. I just have a lot going on right now, but I promise to come down more often."
Hagrid's satisfied with that and he turns back to Ron and Hermione, apparently having decided to let me be for now, which suits me just fine because I'm more than a little distracted by the way Hermione is playing with my hand. I tune them all out for a while and focus on Hermione, they've apparently started discussing something fascinating to her because she released my hand and is gesturing madly and talking rapidly. I choose to watch her rather than listen and I lay my hand on her thigh, I figure if she minded it being there she wouldn't have put it there in the first place.
I'm starting to feel a little drowsing (which isn't surprising considering how early I got up this morning to plant those notes. I suddenly realize that I've been chasing Hermione openly for only one day and it seems so much longer than that. And I wonder at the progress we've made in one day, we're already holding hands) and I wonder what time it is. It must be late because I notice that Ron and Hermione are yawning and looking a little tired (Hermione's pretty well left the conversation to Ron and Hagrid and has taken my hand again). Hagrid still looks pretty wide awake and chipper, but he always looks that way to me so it doesn't really mean anything. I see Ron yawn massively (how does his mouth open that wide) and stretch in a not so subtle hint to Hagrid about the hour. Hagrid may not be the quickest man around, but Ron really needs to practice being subtle, and Hagrid quickly gets the hint.
"Righ', it's getting' pretty late. You three had betta get back to the castle."
We all agree full heartedly and I reluctantly let Hermione's hand go so we can pull our cloaks on. Hagrid walks us to the door and wishes us a goodnight as we leave. We slowly make our way back to the castle, Hermione and I don't hold hands again. Ron's oddly quiet so I think that he either didn't notice the interaction between Hermione and me at the cottage or he's just too tired to comment on it. Knowing Ron like I do, I'm willing to bet on the former.
* * *
As tired as I was feeling at Hagrid's, as soon as I lay in my bed I find that I'm wide-awake. Ron and I said goodnight to Hermione at the head of the stairs and I watched her go to her room, wishing that she had chosen to stay up and study tonight so that I could join her. But I figure she's probably trying to work out what's going on between us. I find tonight to have been very encouraging. I never thought that Hermione and I would be holding hands by the end of the night. It doesn't seem like a big step, but it feels like a giant leap. I just hope that she knows that I was holding her hand because I want to be with her and not just because I was feeling 'flirty' or something (she once told me that she has a guy friend back home who likes to hold hands when he's feeling 'flirty'). I don't even know what flirty means.
At any rate, I decide that since things are going so well, I'll step it up a notch. We're moving faster than I'd expected, but I still feel that I have to kick things up a notch or we'll just hold hands forever and never progress further. So tomorrow morning Plan B goes into effect. That's right, the first time I get Hermione alone tomorrow, I'm going to ask her on a date. Yep, a night of dinner and dancing. But not tomorrow night as tomorrow is Sunday and only old people go out on dates on Sunday. Besides, everything closes early on Sundays and Hermione would be distracted by thoughts of Monday's classes, which would not be good at all.
I drift off to sleep thinking of dancing with Hermione and holding her close and I just know that I'll have wonderful dreams tonight.
* * *
Last night I dreamed that Hermione and I were married. It's a bit of a recurring dream and one of my favourites (trumps the ones that include Voldemort), but the ending is always different. In some, she's taken from me, killed by a faceless enemy (he usually sounds quite a bit like Malfoy, but sometimes I could swear that it's Ron. I never go down that path), in others it's me that's killed, in my favourites we have two children (one boy, one girl) and they look just like their mother and it's like a dream come true. Last night it was different, it felt so real, like it wasn't a dream at all, but a premonition of sorts. I hope it was. In my dream, we were happily married, living in a beautiful house that we had both fallen in love with at first sight. We had a four-year-old son, Donovan James, and Hermione was pregnant and she looked so beautiful. She was glowing with happiness and pride. Donovan had most of Hermione's features, but his messy hair and his eyes were replicas of mine and he always managed to find trouble of some sort, but was never a bother. I was happier than I think it's possible to be, looking at my little family.
In my dream, Hermione and I were snuggling on the couch, watching the fire burning in the grate. Her head was resting on my shoulder, one of my arms was around her shoulders and my other hand was in hers, resting on her swelled stomach. Donovan was asleep on the loveseat. We never said a word to each other, we were content to just be together and enjoy the rare moment of peace and quiet.
I was sad to wake, I didn't want to leave the dream, but once I realized that I could live that moment someday, I was wide-awake. After all, to live that moment, I have to make Donovan's mother realize that she wants to spend her life with me as my wife (I love that word, but even more I love the idea of being her husband). And to do that, I have to ask her on a date. Which brings me to my plans for today.
It's Sunday and, once again, I've woken up earlier than usual (not on purpose this time) and I'm feeling rather bolstered by the events of last night (i.e. Hermione holding my hand of her own will), so I've decided to move onto Plan B. I'm excited and scared by the progress that we've made in just one day. I never (even in dreams) thought that I'd be moving onto Plan B the day after I started Plan A and I'm wondering if maybe Hermione thinks that I'm feeling a little lonely or down and am looking for reassurance or that I'm feeling 'flirty.' This worries me as I don't want her thinking that I'm pursuing her for any reason other than my love for her. She's a clever witch and I know she'll figure it out sooner or later, but I really want it to be sooner.
Anyway, Plan B. Now, the beautiful thing about my plans is that they run into each other. For instance, when we move into Plan B, we can still hold hands (which I most definitely intend to do), I'll still leave her notes (one every so often ought to be a sweet reminder of our beginning), I'll carry her bag for her, and I will still remind her of how heart-breaking beautiful she is (which I realize I haven't done yet and mentally add it to my plans for today). And, when we eventually get to Plan C (my favourite of the three) we will still go out on dates, still hold hands, and I'll still tell her how gorgeous she is.
I was talking to Parvati yesterday (actually we were dancing and I was talking and she was cursing because, apparently, when I talk while dancing I step on her toes… a lot) about where I could take Hermione for a date. As I've never had any reason to until now, I've never really paid much attention to the acceptable date-restaurants in Hogsmeade. Yes, I have dated girls (and by 'dated' I mean eaten one meal with them where it was just the two of us), but those girls were never really love interests for me as I was (and still very much am) madly in love with Hermione. So, it was more like just a nice dinner between schoolmates and nothing special. Those meals where usually at the Leaky Cauldron or a picnic by the lake prepared by Dobby. Now I'm in need of a truly romantic restaurant with the perfect atmosphere for a date with the woman I intend to spend my life adoring. Who better to ask than Parvati, who has a new boyfriend every month or two (it's a wonder she hasn't dated the entire male student body yet) and, therefore, would probably know every restaurant in Hogsmeade. She suggested Le Chanson d'Amour, which I thought sounded a little cheesy, but she assured me that it's the most romantic restaurant in town. So, tonight, Parvati and I are going to give it a test run (I heard Parvati telling Lavender that it's a date, but I'm not bothered because everyone at school knows of my devotion to our resident know-it-all) to make sure it's Hermione-worthy.
I've always enjoyed the art of dancing (though I'm bloody terrible at it myself) and, for as long as I can remember, have enjoyed watching people dance. So, I've noticed several places in Hogsmeade that are perfect for a night of dancing and I think I'll probably take Hermione to Sway, which, just as it sounds, is a club where couples can slow dance and hold each other close (exactly what I want).
Now that I've got the night planned out, I just have to ask my lady friend if she'd like to accompany me (I think I would look rather odd dancing by myself). I've decided to ask her for Friday night since it will give her plenty of time to think of an excuse to get out of it should she decide that the idea of dating me is absolutely revolting, or it will give her plenty of time to buy something that will look so good on her that it will fry my brain (I'm hoping desperately for the latter).
Time to find Hermione.
* * *
As usual, I find Hermione in her spot in the library (I love how predictable she is sometimes). When I sit beside her (closer than three feet because I'm feeling daring today), she smiles at me and I notice that, contrary to habit, she's not study. In fact, when I look at the parchment in front of her, I see that it's a letter to me and I feel my heart drop. If she's writing me something that means that she feels she can't talk to me about it, and that can't be good at all. She surreptitiously slides a book over the parchment before I can read what she's writing about and I don't like that one bit.
"Hi, Harry. What are you doing in here on a Sunday?"
I smile at her and reach over to take her hand, I feel her hesitate, but when she sees that I've no intention of letting go, she allows me to slide my fingers between hers and rest our hands on my thigh. This confirms for that she's having doubts as to where all this is leading and I feel that I should clears those doubts up as soon as possible.
"I was looking for you, of course." I tell her and she looks a little surprised at this. I mentioned before that Hermione is a little slow when it comes to personal matters (if you can call taking two years to realize that she loves me and I love her slow), but I'm rather astounded that she hasn't clued in yet, especially after all the notes and hand holding.
"Oh? Did you need help with something?" (There are a few things you could help me with… but we'll save those for a later date. And a different local.)
"Sure, you could say that. You see, I want to take you out on Friday, for dinner and maybe a bit of dancing, if you like, and it would be a big help if you would say yes." She looks a little overwhelmed and I realize that she really wasn't expecting this (so she did think I was just being 'flirty'). I also realize that I haven't actually asked her to go out with me and, thus, she has nothing to reply to, really. "So, how about it? Will you go out with me this Friday?"
I wait patiently (kind of) for her to answer, but she doesn't seem to planning to respond to my question and I think that maybe she's trying to think of a way to let me down easy.
"Keep in mind that I've no intention of taking 'no' for an answer. I'll just have to keep hounding you all week and if you still refuse, well I hate to do this, but I'll just have to bind and gag you and drag you from the castle."
She smiles at that and my heart stops for a few long seconds. She looks down at our hands and I notice that she's blushing (how sweet). "Alright, Harry. If you're sure." (If I'm sure. Sweet, oblivious Hermione. Let the denial go, sweetheart, you adore me.)
"I'm sure, Hermione." I squeeze her hand before letting it go and standing up. "Are you coming to lunch?"
She's already gone back to her books and whatever letter she's writing me. She nods quickly. "Yes, I'll be there in a little while. There's just something I want to finish first."
"Alright, I'll see you there." Impulsively, I drop a kiss on her hair and feel her jump a little, but she doesn't look at me.
I've reached the end of the table and am about to turn the corner when she's calls my name. I turn to look at her again and she looks confused and, I think, a little scared, maybe. Maybe I'm moving things along too fast. I've been laying it on awful thick in the last day.
"Yes, Hermione?"
"Why are you doing all this?"
I smile at her. "You'll figure it out, Hermione. When you're ready."
I know I've probably just confused her even more, but I leave her with that and go to lunch.
* * *
Ron's already digging into his lunch enthusiastically (go figure) when I get to the Great Hall. He's so focused on his plate that it takes him several minute to notice me, but as soon as he does the questions start.
"What was that last night?"
I decide to have a spot of fun with him and play dumb. "What was what, Ron? And would you swallow before you speak?"
He swallows his mouthful and I grimace, wondering how he didn't choke on all that food.
"All that with Hermione, holding her hand and flirting with her and all that."
I take my time before answering, taking great care to cover everything centimetre of my dinner roll with margarine before responding to him. "Hermione and I were not flirting, we hardly even said a word to each other all night."
"Come off it, Harry. I saw the way you two were looking at each other. Are you together, then?"
Merlin, I wish. "No, Ron, we're not together. I think Hermione thinks I'm just toying with her or something. Really, I don't know how to be anymore clear."
"You could just tell her. That would be pretty damn clear."
I roll my eyes at him. He can really be so… dumb sometimes. "Yeah, and have her run off. You know Hermione; she likes things that are logical and well planned. Besides, if I tried to force her to see it, she never would. She'll see it when she's ready and when that happens I'll be waiting."
Ron gulps down another great mouthful. Really, it's a wonder he isn't disgustingly obese the way he eats.
"You're not going to force it? What exactly are you doing, then? What with all those notes and holding her hand and all that. I don't call that 'waiting', mate. You should just snog her and get it over with. At least then you'll really know how she feels"
Sometimes it's no wonder that he hasn't found himself a girlfriend yet, he's just so sensitive and thoughtful.
"Ron, if I were to 'just snog her' as you put it, I'd be spending the rest of my says and some rodent or bug." I take a moment to glance around the Great Hall and wonder what's taking Hermione so long. The longer she spends on that later, the less I'm going to like it, I'm sure of it. "I'm just giving her a little push in the right direction. I've spent two years waiting and we haven't much more time here. Which means I'm running out of time before we're off to lives where we don't see each other everyday."
Ron blanches at that and I wonder if he's just realized that we won't still be living at Hogwarts after we finish the year.
"Blimey, I forgot about that." So he has just realized it. "Bloody hell, Harry, this is it, isn't it? Real life is next."
"Yeah, you could say that. So, from your reaction, I'm assuming that you haven't really put much thought into what you're going to do after Hogwarts."
He shrugs and takes a massive bite of his dinner roll. "Fred and George have offered me a job working in their shop. And I've gotten an offer from The Quibbler to write for them."
Well, that was unexpected. I can't believe he's actually put some thought into it.
He looks at me. "What about you, Harry? Any plans? I mean, besides marrying Hermione."
I smile at that thought (yes, life will be good when that finally happens). "I don't really know, Ron. I've been accepted into Auror training if I decide to go that route."
"Auror training." I hear someone gasp behind me and then Hermione plops down beside me, one hand over her mouth and the other grabbing my arm. Her eyes are wide and she looks truly terrified at the idea. "But, Harry, that's so dangerous."
Well, guess that's out.
"Yeah, and facing Voldemort wasn't." We hear Ron mumble, but we both choose to ignore him.
"Surely you're not serious, Harry. Do you really want to spend your life, however short it would be, risking your neck everyday? I mean, what about a family and kids and normal?"
She does have a way with words. Hermione knows how deeply I crave normalcy. And I would love a family and kids someday, so long as that family involves her.
"Well, I haven't really decided yet, Hermione. I mean, I've had a few other offers."
"From who?" Ron pipes in, once again talking around a mouthful of food.
I'm feeling a little on the spot. I've never really like talking about myself much. "Well, from Wizarding Weekly, but they just want me to write about myself, so I've ruled them out. And from the Ministry of Magic, something to do with locating dark wizards. A few Quidditch teams have been trying to recruit me for next season. And Dumbledore has asked me to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts." They both stare at me after that little revelation. "I don't really know what I'll decide to do. I've time yet to choose. And it's not like I need to find anything right away." I'm mumbling now, but they're both just staring at me and I really can't help it. "I mean, I don't really need the money or anything. I think I might just like to take it easy for a little while."
All right, enough of this, I'm going to turn the tables on Hermione. Let her take the spotlight for a while. Besides, I'd much rather hear about her. "What about you, Hermione? I know you've probably got it all planned out by now."
Ron snorts. "She's probably had it planned for ages."
Again, we ignore him.
Hermione shrugs slightly and starts dishing out her lunch. "I'd like to go to university. They've some fabulous wizarding universities in France and England, but I think I'd like to go to Lion's Heart University. It's been named the best university for mediwitches for last three hundred years. And, it's in the magic district of London, so it's close to home."
"You want to be a mediwitch? I always figured you'd want to teach."
She looks at me like I'm daft. "Honestly, Harry, you'll need some around to fix you up all the time, won't you?" So, she plans on me being part of her future, that's definitely a good thing since I plan to be a very important part of her life. She starts to blush a little and I think she's just realized what she's said. "It will also come in handy when I have children. And who knows who'll I'll marry, could be some clumsy bloke who's always hurting himself."
Well, that stings a little, but I'll let it pass because deep down she knows that clumsy bloke will be me.
"You want kids? I feel sorry for them already. I can just see you forcing them to study and not allowing them any sort of social life." Good, God, Ron, why must you always pick at her like that.
"I think she'd be a great mother, Ron." I reach over and squeeze Hermione's leg under the table.
"Of course you do, Harry. Why would you think otherwise?"
I choose not to rise to his bait because I just know that it'll turn out bad and probably damage the shaky relationship that (I hope) is developing between Hermione and me. Instead I turn to Hermione again.
"How many kids do you want?"
She smiles happily and I know that I've started her off now and I like that. "Two, one boy and one girl. Donovan James" (that's highly interesting and encouraging) "and Loralei Greer." (That one's a little different, but I think I could live with it.) She continues on, but I've divided my attention between listening to her and watching her. I only catch parts of what she's saying, but I like everything I hear.
"Harry," I hear Hermione say from a distance and I come back to reality and notice that the Great Hall is almost empty and I wonder how long we've been sitting here. I see that Ron is gone and I hope that I haven't missed anything important that Hermione has said.
"Yes?"
She looks a little shy and blushes when I catch her eye. "I was just wondering, what should I wear on Friday?"
I can't resist this perfect set-up and I shrug. "Anything you like, you'll be beautiful no matter what you wear." And the cheesy-movie line works and she's blushing even more.
"I'm serious, Harry."
"So am I."
"What kind of restaurant are we going to? The Leaky Cauldron? The Wizard's Getaway? Where?"
I swing one leg over the bench so that I'm straddling it and can look at her more easily. I take both her hands in mine and look her in the eye. "Those are places that friends go, Hermione, and I'm not taking you out as a friend, okay?" She nods slowly and her eyes widen slightly (apparently she did think that this was a friend date). "I don't think you totally understand what I'm planning, so I'm going to make things painfully clear, alright? I'm going to take you to Le Chanson d'Amour this Friday." Her hands tighten on mine, so she has heard of it and knows what sort of restaurant it is. "We will not be going as friends, it will be a date between two people who may have something more than friendship between them. After dinner, if you want, we'll go dancing. I know this nice little place called Sway, it's a great little place for slow dancing." I pause to let her take all this in. "Just so you know, I do plan to hold your hand on Friday, and every day from now until and after Friday, I also intend to flirt with you and tell you that you're beautiful and be so unbelievably sweet that you'll wonder what happened to your friend Harry. But remember, on Friday I won't be you friend Harry, I'll be Harry who really wants to be your boyfriend."
She looks a little overwhelmed, so I decide to leave it at that. I think that's enough honesty for one day. After all, I do have the rest of the year to wake her up to the reality of being loved by me and loving me.
"Now, I know you probably want time to process all this and figure out what it all means, so I'm going to go play Quidditch with the lads and let you disappear into the library and I'll see you at dinner. But don't go thinking so much that you freak yourself out, okay? Because this isn't scary and I'm not going to pressure you for anything, other than this date on Friday, you're not getting out of it."
"I don't want to." She says and I don't think she knows she's said it.
"Good." I squeeze her hands one more time before I let them go and stand up from the bench. "So, I'll see you at dinner tonight." I look around and see that we're alone in the Great Hall, so I kiss the top of her head before leaving.
I look back once, briefly, and I almost feel sorry for her because she's just sitting there in a daze and she looks like her world had been turned on its side. Which, I suppose, it has in a way.