A/N: Here it is…don't be too hard on me! This was a hard one to write!!!
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Happily-Ever-After
Harry wasn't sure he ever wanted to let go. His own mother had hugged him only the day before but even that hadn't felt like this; he hadn't felt the weight of her arms or the warmth that weight brought with it. Molly Weasley had hugged him before and although she was like a mother to him, it just couldn't compare to this…this was about acceptance and family and love and he felt a fierce determination to hold on to it.
Hermione couldn't stop herself from crying at the sight of her mother and the man she loved embracing like that; she knew how much it meant to Harry and it meant nearly as much to her. She could sense his reluctance to let go and as best she could, she tried to understand what he was feeling. After a few moments she reached out and touched him gently on his back, she leaned forward and whispered softly in his ear, "It's all right Harry, she's not going anywhere. You can let go when you're ready."
Harry raised his head and looked at her through tear-filled eyes and nodded at her ever so slightly. "Thank you," he whispered hoarsely when he returned his gaze back to her mum. "You have no idea…" he stopped speaking, unable now to get past the lump in his throat and the swell of his heart so his words were left to hang in the air.
Mrs. Granger placed her hand on his cheek, "It's we who should be thanking you Harry, without you our baby girl wouldn't be here," she said in a firm, yet quiet voice as she fought through her own tears, "without you, she wouldn't be nearly so happy." She turned her to look at her daughter and she knew without words and without a doubt that what she said was true and she couldn't have been more pleased. She returned her gaze to Harry and said, "You can always call this place home, we are your family and you will always be welcome here with open arms."
Harry hugged her once more then stepped back to stand next to Hermione, who had been watching them closely. She could see in her mother's eyes that Harry had unquestionably been accepted and as the last, final little piece of doubt lifted from her mind she couldn't help but to giggle as the relief that replaced it filtered through her, causing her to shiver as it passed through her heart. Harry looked at her questioningly and the only answer she could give him was a reassuring smile.
Her dad had been content for the moment to stand back and watch as her mother welcomed them home. He'd known since the day they'd found out about Hermione's condition that she would need a little time with their baby girl when she finally came home to them. He'd witnessed how hard the last month had been on her and as much as he wanted to rush forward and sweep his little girl into his arms, he patiently stood back until it was his time.
Hermione looked up and saw him standing in the same spot he'd been in when she'd first seen him; the only difference was the silent tears that were now sliding down his face as he watched the scene taking place before him. Her eyes were as focused on him as she could make them through her tears and for a brief moment they simply stared at each other until she finally spoke, "Daddy." she said quietly; her voice hoarse.
His shoulders dropped as he lost the last of his resolve and he rushed forward to scoop her up into his arms, "Oh baby girl, I missed you so much," he cried holding on tightly to her.
"I missed you too, daddy," she cried into his shoulder.
Harry didn't know how much more he could take. Her parents had felt so much pain and a part of him began to feel the weight of it, making him feel guilty for having put them through it. Granted, he wasn't the one responsible for casting the spell but he was damn sure the reason she was there in the first place…in the middle of a war…his war.
He'd lost his focus on what was happening around him and he didn't hear her father release her or feel her come to stand beside him…he felt like he was drowning in the waves of guilt that were flooding his mind and the voices and the scene before him appeared as though he was hearing and seeing them through water. He suddenly felt lightheaded and he raised his hands to his ears and pressed hard, trying to regain some of the focus he'd lost. He didn't feel Hermione's hands on his wrists as she tried to pull them down so he could hear her, nor did he feel anyone guide him to the sofa so he could sit before he fell to the floor.
Hermione was feeling desperate and despite the fact that her parents were in the room with them she straddled his legs and looked as best she could into his unfocused eyes as she kissed him. It was a scene reminiscent of the one on the battlefield, when Harry had fought to bring her back; she was determined to do the same for him. She continued to try to pull his hands away from his ears as she practically shouted "I love you and listen to me" alternately between kisses. Although it was hardly a couple of minutes, it had felt like forever to her before he finally looked at her and slowly dropped his hands. "I'm sorry, Hermione," he mumbled over and over, "I'm so sorry…this is all my fault…you shouldn't have been there…I'm sorry." He looked at where her parents stood silently watching them, "I'm so sorry," he said heartbreakingly.
He said it with so much pain and so much guilt that her mother snapped out of her daze and moved quickly to sit beside him. "Harry," she said urgently, "Harry, listen to me, look at me," she demanded. Hermione was still sitting on his lap and when he didn't turn to look at her mother she grabbed his chin and forced him to. "Harry, you have to listen to me," she said again, "I've told you before that none of this is your fault. I've always sensed by your letters that you've been feeling guilty for what happened but let me tell you something," she grabbed his chin from Hermione and moved her head until her eyes found his and she forced him to look directly at her, "we are her parents and if anyone has the right to dole out blame on someone it's us, and we know…we believe wholeheartedly…that you are not to blame for what happened to our daughter. If we hold you blameless and Hermione holds you blameless, than it's futile for you to feel guilty. Harry, you have to know you've done nothing wrong."
She looked desperately at Hermione wondering if anything she'd said had gotten through to him. Hermione shrugged and looked at her father; he took a step toward them and she slid off Harry's lap so he could speak to him. He sat on the table in front of the couch and studied Harry for a minute…man to man. "Come on son," he said gruffly, "let's talk." He stood up and offered his hand to help Harry up who looked at him questioningly before he allowed him to help him stand. When Harry got to his feet her father led the way out the back door of the house and into the garden where they spent the next hour talking and getting acquainted. He never told Harry that he didn't blame him, or that he shouldn't feel guilty, or any of those other things that women always say to try and make a man feel better. He didn't have to when he could show him through acceptance…he didn't need to because he knew that actions speak louder than words.
They didn't have a lot in common yet, but their talk had been just what Harry needed. They laughed and joked and talked and walked and Harry could never remember a time away from Hogwarts that he'd felt so content. It was the first time since he'd discovered his love for Hermione that he allowed himself to think, without an ounce of doubt, that things might really work out for them.
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Harry walked back into the house to find Hermione and her mum talking and laughing in the kitchen while her mum prepared dinner. He walked up to where Hermione was sitting on the counter and kissed her before he whispered "your parents are amazing," into her ear. Her eyes lit up and she smiled, first at him and then at the back of her mother's head where she was standing at the stove, "yeah, they really are," she agreed.
"So," Harry said in a much louder voice, "it smells wonderful in here Mrs. Granger, does this mean no boiled water for dinner tonight?" Hermione was barely able to contain the laugh that threatened to erupt from within her as Harry continued to look at her mother questioningly.
"I'm sorry," her mum asked in surprise, "did you say `boiled water' for dinner? Why on earth would we have that?"
Harry looked at Hermione and winked before he turned back to her mum and said seriously, "Well, Hermione says she's very good at boiling water and I'd kind of resigned myself to a lifetime of it I guess."
Hermione was fit to burst as she tried desperately to control her laughter. Her eyes were watering and her face had long since turned red as she tried to contain it. Harry had barely cracked a smile and she had to admit she was impressed by his performance.
Her mum looked at her questioningly and she couldn't help but to laugh a little at her daughter's predicament. Obviously there was something more going on here and she was ready to find out what it was. "What's going on here you two?" she asked trying hard to laugh with them. She turned her questioning gaze to Harry, "Are you trying to tell me that you'd prefer to have boiling water," she cast a glance at Hermione, "lovingly prepared by my beautiful daughter of course," she turned her questioning look back on him, "over what I'm cooking?"
A look of desperation passed quickly across Harry's face as he tried to find a way out of the hole he'd suddenly found himself in. He turned to look at Hermione who was still smiling widely although now she had a questioning eyebrow raised in his direction. He looked back at her mother and he could have sworn he saw a glimpse of humor flash through her eyes before she quickly quelled it to look at him more seriously.
"Of course he doesn't want boiled water for dinner," her father interrupted much to Harry's relief. "If these two get married he'll have a lifetime of boiled water to look forward to, so for now he'll just have to do with your fine cooking." He winked at Harry, who had turned red the moment he'd said the word `married', before he walked up to give his beautiful wife a wink of her own followed by a loving kiss.
Hermione's cheeks were burning a little too when Harry turned around to look at her. He rolled his eyes and burst out laughing to release the tension that had built up inside him. Hermione couldn't resist laughing with him and before long they were all laughing, talking, and joking around as her mum continued to cook what turned out to be a meal to rival any that Harry had ever eaten at Hogwarts.
"That was delicious," he said with a satisfied sigh. He looked at Hermione, his eyes silently pleading with her, "Please tell me you can cook like that," he said only half-joking with her.
Hermione rolled her eyes and looked at her mother, "Mum, will you please tell him that I can cook?"
Her mother looked at her with a serious, almost regretful expression and said, "Now Honey, you know how I feel about lying. It just wouldn't be right to…"
"WHAT!" Hermione nearly shouted at her. "How can you…why…oh!"
Both of her parents started laughing nearly uncontrollably and Hermione looked momentarily shocked before she realized that her mum had been playing with her; she couldn't help but to wonder when she'd gotten so good at lying.
"Truth is, Harry," her mum said after finally getting her laughter under control, "our Hermione here has taken cooking lessons every summer for the past four years. She's really quite good. In fact, I would've had her cook tonight if you hadn't just gotten here. She's quite a bit better than I am actually."
Harry looked at her in surprise only to find her watching him with a smug, I-told-you-so kind of look on her face. Harry shook his head, "boil water…" he muttered now smiling at her…he couldn't help but wonder when she'd gotten so good at lying!
"Come on, let's watch a movie," Hermione said getting up from the table to take her dishes to the sink.
Harry got up after her and followed her to the sink. "What're we watching," he asked yawning, suddenly feeling sleepy.
She looked at him with a big Cheshire grin, "Cinderella, of course."
Harry couldn't help but laugh again, "Sounds great," he replied, "lead the way." He made a sweeping gesture toward the kitchen door and she curtsied to him before she led the way through it and they both laughed some more.
Her parents still sat at the table silently watching them, knowing they'd been temporarily forgotten as Harry and Hermione continued to play and tease; totally oblivious to anything or anyone outside of each other.
Hermione got the movie ready and they sat down on the couch and snuggled up close to watch it before Hermione realized that her parents weren't there to watch it with them. "I'll be right back, Harry."
Harry nodded, "All right, I'll be sleeping…I mean sitting…right here waiting for you."
Hermione smiled and gave him a kiss before she stood up to look for her parents. She found them talking quietly in her father's study and she couldn't help but to listen to part of their conversation.
"…so happy. I'm amazed she looks as good as she does already. It can't have been easy on her," her mum said.
"I don't suppose it was but what with magical blood and that young man by her side, I don't suppose she could look anything but great, do you?" her father replied.
"No, I suppose you're right," her mum said, "he really is a wonderful young man, isn't he?"
"Yeah," her father said thoughtfully, "yeah he is. We had a good talk this afternoon and it's obvious he loves her very much. I think they'll do well together when they take the next step."
Hermione's eyes lit up and although she felt tears threatening to fall once more she refused to allow them the opportunity; no matter what the reason for them, she was tired of crying. Her heart swelled again at her parents' words and their acceptance of Harry. If she was going to hear anything bad about him it would likely be at a time like this…when they thought no one was listening.
She returned to Harry's side with a bounce in her step, feeling as though she could fly. She flopped down on the
couch next to him and he started. "Come on sleepyhead," she said as she grabbed his arm to put it around her
shoulders so she could snuggle against him, "we have a movie to watch."
"Where're your parents?" he muttered sleepily.
"They're talking and I didn't want to disturb them. Let's just watch together, okay?"
"Okay," he agreed with a yawn. He opened his eyes and sat a little straighter, determined to stick with her throughout the length of the movie.
The longer he watched, the more into it he got and the more awake he became; he was now sitting up with his elbows on his knees, staring at the TV screen in front of him. He was enjoying watching the mice and the birds and the way that Cinderella reacted to the world around her. Hermione absentmindedly rubbed his back while she watched him watch the movie. One would think he was watching some great action/adventure movie the way he was getting into it and she couldn't help but to laugh inwardly, knowing it was only a cartoon.
She could feel his tension when Cinderella returned to her room and looked at her mother's old dress. In seconds her wicked step-mother and step-sisters were yelling for and she was forced to leave her dress behind so she could help them get ready for the ball. He felt awful for her because he understood what she felt…well, minus the whole ball gown thing. He'd been yelled at and forced to do things his entire life and though he knew that Cinderella wasn't real, he could feel what he was sure she would be feeling if she were.
"All right," Harry said quietly, "the mice."
Hermione chuckled as she looked up at the TV. The mice were getting ready to fix up Cinderella's dress and they were singing the Cin-der-elly song…Cin-der-elly, Cin-der-elly day and night it's Cin-der-elly! Suddenly Hermione burst out laughing and Harry jumped and looked at her in surprise. It's not THAT funny, he thought looking at her questioningly.
Hermione paused the movie and looked at him with an abundance of humor in her eyes. "Can't you hear it Harry?" she said still laughing.
"Um…" Harry stopped to listen, "no?" he said weakly, still trying to decipher what she meant. "You stopped the movie, remember?"
"No, the song, think about the song," she replied. "Why couldn't my Cinderella story be like that? With mice singing about me that way…can't you hear it?"
Harry looked at her as though trying to judge whether or not she had truly lost it. He shook his head trying to sort out what she was trying to say.
"The song, listen…" she hit the play button and rewound the movie just to where the song began and she sang along with it, "Her-my-oh-nee, Her-my-oh-nee, day and night it's Her-my-oh-nee…"
Harry looked at her in disbelief and started to laugh…yep, it was confirmed…she truly had lost it!
"I want the singing mice," she said whining and pretending to pout. "I didn't have any mice friends in my dream but it certainly would have made it more enjoyable, don't you think?"
"What do I think?" Harry asked trying to clarify whether or not that was a rhetorical question. When she nodded he sat back and pulled her into his arms, "What do I really think?" he asked again hoping he'd mistaken the intent of her nod. This time when she nodded she couldn't help but wonder if it was still a game, she'd been teasing but suddenly Harry sounded serious. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "What I really think is that you're a nutter; my lovely, wonderful, marvelous little nutcase." She looked at him with saddest puppy dog eyes she could muster and said, "Does this mean you don't like my song?"
He chuckled and replied, "No, Love, I have to say that it was by far the best rendition of the Her-my-oh-nee song I've ever heard."
"Harry, it's the only rendition of the song you've ever heard," she said rolling her eyes in mock exasperation.
"Exactly," he said affectionately, "and I highly doubt that it can be improved upon…even by the mice."
"Really?" she said in surprise. "But you love the mice."
"I know," he agreed, "I do love the mice. In fact, as much as I'd love to continue this rather bizarre conversation with you, I'd really like to get back to the mice," he said looking longingly at the TV before he turned to see her suddenly sour expression, "if it's all right with you, of course," he added quickly.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh at the power she held just by having the remote control in her hand, "Yeah," she conceded reluctantly, "it's all right with me."
Harry kissed her cheek, "Love you," he said quickly before he released her and sat up to place his elbows back on his knees. After a couple of minutes he realized that her hand wasn't rubbing his back anymore and when he turned around to say something he found her fast asleep with a soft smile playing on her lips. He leaned back against the corner of the couch and made himself comfortable so he could pull her into his arms. When they were both settled he watched the movie just to the point where the fairy godmother was helping Cinderella. His last thoughts were of Draco wearing the fairy godmother's dress as he helped Hermione get ready for the ball, then he too fell asleep with a smile on his face.
"Think we should wake them?" Harry heard a woman ask quietly.
"Nah, they'll wake soon enough when they discover how stiff they are," came the manly reply, "besides, they've been there this long, may as well leave them be."
"Maybe I should get the camera, they look so sweet there together," she said still speaking quietly.
"If you want to take a picture you'd better hurry up because I'm getting up as soon as I can move my body," Hermione grumbled.
"Oh! Sorry dear," her mother said in surprise, "we didn't mean to wake you."
"It's all right," Harry mumbled in reply. "Are we taking a picture or what? Hermione you need to get off me pretty soon," he said trying hard not to move until her mum gave the word.
"Do you want one?" her mum questioned as though they had all day to decide.
"MUM!" Hermione cried, "Just make up your mind quick. We can't stay like this forever. I need to stretch and go to the bathroom and stretch…"
"You said that already," Harry told her, he couldn't help but smile at her petulant tone.
"Maybe I plan to stretch twice," she snapped back at him.
She was starting to turn around to glower at him when his next words stopped her, "Yes, Mrs. Granger, we'd love to have a picture."
She could feel his stomach move beneath her when he laughed and she tried once more to glower at him. "Not now, Love, you're supposed to be sleeping, remember? Now close your eyes like a good little girl and snuggle up close to the man you love."
"Oh! You just wait Mr. Pott…"
"Quietly, Love," he interrupted genially, "no one will believe you're asleep if you keep moving that lovely little mouth of yours."
Hermione could hear her father quietly laughing above their heads and she scowled. "Dad, where's mum?"
"Getting the camera, baby girl," he said tightly, trying for all his worth to not laugh out loud at them. Harry wouldn't let her turn around so there was no way she could look up to see whether or not her dad was telling the truth, so she took a guess and said, "Mum, would you just take the picture already?"
Her mum started laughing, knowing she'd been caught. Truth be told she'd gotten the camera and taken a couple of pictures of them already…when they really were sleeping.
"Oh, Honey, I'm sorry," she said regretfully, "I can't find the camera. You can either lie there a little longer while I continue to look for it or…"
Hermione was up in a flash, glowering at all of them. Waking up in Harry's arms had been wonderful but not being able to see him and not being able to stretch had made her crankier then she might normally be in the mornings. She looked at them in turn; Harry, her father, then her mother…each of them was smiling at her as though they shared a secret. Hermione eyed her mum carefully. "Mum, what's that?" she asked pointing at her mum's pocket.
"Oh, it's nothing dear," she answered a little too quickly. She looked around the room and asked, "So, does anyone want some breakfast?"
Undeterred Hermione asked, "That's the camera isn't it?"
"I thought you had to stretch twice and go to the bathroom," Harry interrupted, "or was it go to the bathroom and stretch twice?" he mumbled thoughtfully to himself before he looked up at her and grinned, "Whatever it is, I thought you needed to do it."
Hermione shook her head and laughed at him, "I don't believe you," she said in mock frustration before she turned and stalked off to the bathroom.
"Thanks Harry," her mum said quietly, "that was close."
Harry looked at her through narrow eyes, "So she was right?" he asked in surprise, "You really do have the camera?"
Her mum swallowed hard. "Now, about breakfast," she mumbled as she turned to walk to the kitchen.
Her father looked at Harry, rolled his eyes, and said aloud the very thought that was going through his own mind,
"Women!"
Harry nodded and chuckled before he got up and made his way to his room to get some clean clothes so he could take a shower. He stopped by the bathroom first and by the time he got to his room Hermione was sitting on his bed. "You're a real piece of work aren't you?" she chided teasingly. "I'll have you know that I had hoped to kiss you the moment I woke up, I hadn't planned on there being an audience interested in taking pictures." She started walking slowly toward him. He shut the door quickly and stood waiting for her; he could feel the foolish, boyish grin on his face but he didn't care because she was getting closer. When she was close enough she snaked her arms around him and immediately began to nuzzle his neck and jaw line, sending sparks throughout his body…he felt tempted to shake his leg like a wet dog. She could feel the muscles in his neck tighten when he groaned and the combined sound and feel of it sent currents of electric shock throughout her own body. She wanted to hear it…to feel it…again and again so picked up the pace alternately kissing and licking and nibbling his ear…in a word she was driving him absolutely, positively: CRAZY!
Harry's breathing had become erratic and he hadn't even tasted her lips yet. "Hermione," he moaned breathlessly, "Hermione, come here," he begged. He could feel her smile against his neck and he knew that she knew she was driving him crazy…he also knew how much she was enjoying. He tried to pull her arms off him but it felt as though his energy had been drained by the overwhelming desire he was feeling for her, and he found he didn't have the strength to pull her off. "Kiss me, Hermione," he tried again, still as breathless as before. He felt her smile against him just as she had a moment ago and the very second he felt her pull away from his neck he grabbed her head and brought his lips crashing into hers in an almost violent kiss. She stayed with him, kissing him just as violently as he kissed her. Flick for flick, taste for taste, her tongue met his and she found herself rapidly losing control. A comfortable bed was only a few steps away and a part of her wanted nothing more than to lead him to it. Her longing for him had reached a fever pitch and just as she made up her mind to take him to bed they heard a sound that jolted them both back to reality in less then a fraction of a second…
KNOCK KNOCK
Hermione's heart jumped straight into her throat and she looked desperately at Harry. He was having trouble catching his breath and couldn't seem to find his voice either.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Harry, are you in there?" her mum called out.
Harry cleared his throat, "Yes Mrs. Granger, I'm just getting dressed," he called back looking at Hermione with a bemused look and a shrug.
"Okay, well Hermione's not in her room and I wanted to let you both know that breakfast is ready. Come on into the kitchen when you're ready," she said.
"All right, thank you," Harry replied.
"Did you hear that Hermione?" her mum asked through the door.
Without even realizing what she was doing Hermione answered, "Yes mum."
Harry looked at her in shock and Hermione quickly threw her hands up to cover her mouth; her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Okay, dear," her mother said with a chuckle, "don't be too long, breakfast will get cold."
"Yes mother," Hermione said in a tightly controlled, yet loud voice. Harry was laughing silently yet uncontrollably, at her and when she finished answering her mum she looked at him and smacked his arm. "How could you do that to me again?"
"What are you talking about?" he answered looking around the room. "This is my room, remember? You came in here on your own and it's your fault you forgot where you were. Not mine."
Hermione lowered her head and looked rightfully embarrassed and he chuckled as he pulled her into his arms.
"We better not take too long getting out there or they might really get suspicious," he said.
Hermione nodded her agreement and said, "I don't know if I even want to face them right now. That was embarrassing. You don't suppose she heard us, do you?"
"What would she have heard, we weren't really do anything but kissing," he replied.
"Yeah, but you were doing an awful lot of moaning before we finally kissed and if I recall correctly you were begging me to kiss you," she said teasingly.
It was Harry's turn to look embarrassed and he took it gracefully. "All right, so we both have reasons to be embarrassed but I think it'll get worse if we don't get out of here soon. I already don't want to let you leave before we take a turn on that bed over there," he said raising his eyebrows and grinning devilishly at her.
"I was thinking the same thing before she knocked on the door," Hermione sighed looking longingly at the bed before she returned her gaze to him. She laughed at the shocked expression he wore.
"You mean…" he looked at her questioningly, "you were thinking…" he stammered pointing to the bed.
"Yep," she replied flippantly. "Too late now though, I'm going to go change, I'll meet you in the kitchen in a few minutes." With that she opened the door and left him standing there in shock, too dumbfounded to move. "Change your clothes Harry," she called out from around the corner, "and don't forget to close your mouth."
Harry's mouth snapped shut quickly and he shut the door and got dressed…forgetting all about the shower he wanted to take.
As promised he met Hermione in the kitchen a few minutes later and the occasional smirks he got from her mum and dad only made him feel slightly uncomfortable; it was nowhere near as bad as he thought it would be. He looked at Hermione and he could tell that she felt very much like he did and he couldn't help but to smile in relief…it's always good to know you're not alone…even in times of embarrassment!
"If you'll excuse us," her father said after a few minutes silence, "we have some work to do in the study." He stood up and gave Hermione a kiss on top of her head and moved to help pull out her mother's chair before placing his dishes in the sink. Earlier that morning they'd both called their offices to let them know that their baby girl was finally home and that they wouldn't be in for a couple of days so their appointments could be rescheduled.
Not long after they got into the study they heard…
KNOCK KNOCK
Her father opened the door and smiled, "Come in," he said, "we've been expecting you."
"You know why I'm here?"
Her parents looked at each other and exchanged hopeful glances. "We think so."
"I'm sure you probably do. I want to ask…with your permission…can I…"
"You want to get married?"
"Yes! That's it! I want to get married…I want nothing more than to get married! Can I ask…I mean…is it all right? Do I have your permission?"
Her parents looked at each other with tears in their eyes and nodded, "Of course, we were hoping, praying really, that you would ask."
"Thank you."
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Harry was sitting nervously in his room. Hermione had gone to the market with her mum and he was impatiently waiting for her to get back…he missed her. This was the longest they'd been apart since the end of school and it was driving him crazy; even when she'd been in a coma they'd been together, and he didn't like the separation now at all.
"Why don't we look into getting a ring?" her father's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Excuse me?" Harry said in confusion. "A ring?"
"Yeah, a ring, you know for when you're ready to ask my baby girl to marry you," he replied smiling at him; he remembered being just as nervous when he'd ask her mother so many years ago, "You need a ring, don't you?"
Harry hadn't even thought about a ring. "How could I be so stupid?" he said smacking himself in the head. "Yeah, I do need a ring."
"Well, come on then," he said, "let's go."
"But I haven't got any money right now," Harry said suddenly panicking, "I have to go to Diagon Alley and get some money from Gringott's first."
"Don't worry about it," he said, "it might seem a little awkward but this is for my baby girl. I'll just loan you the money and as soon as you go to Diagon Alley you can pay me back, how does that sound?"
Harry looked at him in shock, "You'd do that?" he asked sounding grateful and relieved.
"Sure I would," he replied, "but we need to go, the girls will be home soon."
Harry nodded eagerly and together they made their way out of the house and to the nearest jewelers where he found the perfect ring for her. It was a princess cut diamond ring on a platinum band with two smaller diamonds on either side of it. The price was high but Harry knew that he easily had enough in the bank to cover it.
"It's beautiful," her father said, "is that the one you want?"
Harry looked nervously at the price tag. Since her father was paying for it in the interim he wasn't sure if he should get one so expensive.
"Don't worry about son," he said understanding the reason for Harry's hesitation, "if that's the one you want, then that's the one you should get. You'll only do this once." He looked pointedly at Harry and added, "At least you better only do this once."
"Oh, yes sir," Harry replied quickly, "only once…unless she'll marry me over and over again," he added with a grin.
"Good answer son," he replied, "now let's get this ring and get home, if we're lucky we'll beat the girls."
They bought the ring and made it back to the house with only a couple of minutes to spare. Harry was sitting nervously in his room waiting for her to find him; he didn't think he could move so he sat quietly when he heard her and her mum return.
Less than a minute later Hermione was standing in the doorway smiling broadly at him. "What're you doing sitting in here?" she asked, seemingly oblivious to his discomfort.
"Nothing," he replied nervously, "just waiting for you."
"Okay, well, here I am," she said hoping he'd make an effort to rise. When he didn't move she walked over and knelt down in front of him. "Going to make me talk to you here, huh?" she asked trying to meet his gaze.
"I don't know," he said unthinkingly. He looked at her when her actual words finally registered, "What do you mean?"
"Well," she replied, "I had hoped to talk to you outside in the garden but this'll work, I suppose."
He eyed her curiously, "What'll work? What're you talking about?"
Hermione reached for his hands and held them firmly in hers. She looked at him with a look he hadn't seen before and he wasn't completely sure he was comfortable with it. "I've been talking with mum and dad and…" she paused to stare at his ashen face, "Harry, what's wrong?"
"This is it, huh? This is where you tell me that my being here is a mistake and that I have to find somewhere else to go isn't it?" he said in a sudden panic. The look she was giving him combined with the nervousness he was already feeling confused his thoughts; jumbling them all together and causing him to overreact.
Hermione looked at him nervously for a second before she realized what might be wrong, "Harry, we're not leaving and no one's kicking you out. You know you're welcome here…always. This isn't the Dursley's! Here you're loved and we will not toss you out into the streets. We have a lot of work to do, don't we?"
Harry nodded, understanding perfectly well the meaning behind her question. "Yeah, I just can't help but think that's something's going to go wrong. This all seems to perfect, you know? Nothing's ever been this perfect in my life."
"I know Harry, but we're going to change that…starting right now," she replied.
"How? What're you saying?"
"Well, what I was trying to say is that I talked with mum and dad and…" she looked at him with tears in her eyes and smiled at him tenderly. She held onto his hand as she reached into her pocket. "What I'm trying to say, Harry, is will you marry me?" She held the ring up toward him but he could barely see it through his tears.
His heart was pounding loudly in his chest and a huge lump had taken over his throat as he looked at her, desperately needing to know if he'd heard her right. "You…you're…marry…" he stammered, looking into her eyes.
Hermione nodded and tried desperately to swallow past the lump in her own throat. "Yes Harry," she managed to say, "I want you to marry me." They were both crying heavily now and Harry smiled and nodded his head. She gently slid the ring on his finger and kissed it.
Harry pulled the ring box from his pocket and opened it. "This is for you," he whispered hoarsely and nearly incoherently through the emotions that overwhelmed him.
Hermione eyes widened as she looked at the ring in pleasant surprise. "Harry it's beautiful. How did you…when did you…"
"Will you wear it?"
"YES! Oh Yes!" she cried. He placed the ring on her finger and she jumped up off the floor and tackled him on the bed. "I love you…I love you…I love you…" she said over and over between kisses. Harry was laughing and neither of them paid heed to the two people standing in the doorway, tears in their eyes and a camera in hand, "I guess that's our cue."
"Yeah, let's go." They started to walk away, quietly closing the door behind them.
After a few minutes of kisses and `I love you's' they stopped to talk.
"So when did you talk to your parents?" Harry asked curiously. They were lying side by side on the bed; she was wrapped up in his arms with her head on his chest and he was playing with her hair as they talked.
"Just before mum and I went to the store. You were in the shower."
"You really asked their permission?" he asked, still finding it hard to believe.
"Yeah, I did," she answered. She rose up and looked at him curiously, "It's weird though, my dad said they were expecting me."
"Hmm…" Harry said wonderingly, "that does seem weird."
"So when did you talk to them?"
"I didn't talk to `them" he said with emphasis on the `them', "I talked to your father yesterday when we were outside."
She looked at him incredulously, "You mean you talked to him yesterday and you've been keeping it a secret ever since?"
He smiled self-satisfyingly at her, "Yep," he answered obviously proud of himself.
"How many more secrets do you have?" she asked eyeing him curiously.
"None, Love," he said smiling reassuringly, "that's the only one."
"All right," she said smiling, "but I still can't believe you kept that to yourself all this time."
"That would make two of us," he said laughing, "I wanted to ask you last night when we were watching the movie but those damn mice were just too funny." He looked at her pointedly and added, "And then you had to go and fall asleep on me."
She eyed him back, still smiling, and said, "I didn't actually fall asleep on you…I think you pulled me on you before you fell asleep."
"Details, details," he said waving his hand to brush them aside.
She laid her head back down on his chest and sighed, "So when do you want to do it?" she asked. She felt him jump in surprise and she looked up to find a very shocked Harry looking back at her and she laughed. "Get married, Harry," she said rolling her eyes, "when do you want to do it?"
"Oh," he said laughing embarrassedly, "um…yeah…I knew what you meant."
She rolled her eyes at him again and shook her head, men! "I was thinking 1st September, what do you think?"
He looked at her questioningly, "Why 1st September?"
She looked at him as though he was off his rocker. "1st September," she said emphatically, "think about it."
"It's the day we met?" he asked hesitantly, afraid of what she'd do if he was wrong.
She nodded, "Well, that's part of it," she said beginning to feel as though it was it a dumb idea.
"Tell me what else," he said trying to encourage her.
"Well," she said thoughtfully, "it's not only the day we first met. It's also…"
"The day we got on the train every year," he finished for her hopefully.
She smiled wide and nodded at him, "It's the day of the year when all our new adventures began," she said sentimentally.
"It's perfect Hermione," he said, his eyes lighting up at the thought of marrying her in just over a month.
"Next year?" she asked lying her head back down on his chest.
"What!?!" he nearly yelled. She was forced to roll off him as he sat up with a look of horror on his face. "Another year? I can't wait another year Hermione; I want to marry you today."
"Well, I don't know if this September is enough time," she said trying to sound logical while at the same time trying to get enough balance to sit up.
"I don't care. If 1st September isn't enough time then we'll have to do it 2nd September but I'm not waiting until next year," he said emphatically, "I'm not…I can't…I won't."
"You sound like a little kid," she chided.
Harry crossed his arms and stuck out his lips in as childlike a pout as he could muster, "I don't care," he said petulantly, "I'm not gonna wait!"
Hermione couldn't help but laugh. His green eyes were shining brightly and she could see the humor in them even though he was still pouting. She leaned forward and kissed him until he stopped pouting and pulled her into his arms. She smiled against his lips, "is that better baby," she cooed.
"Almost," he said sticking his lips out to pout again. She straightened out her legs and laid down, bringing him with her, her lips pressed tightly against his. When he was halfway on top of her she said, "how about now baby?"
He kissed her more passionately and when they thought their lack of oxygen had far exceeded its limit they broke free. "Now we're getting there," he sighed, breathing heavily.
"We can work on it all day, you know," she said, pulling him back for more.
After a couple of minutes he pulled away from her and sat up. He watched her face go from desire to disappointment in an instant and he felt awful about it. "I'm sorry, Hermione," he said softly, "but we can't do this." He looked at her closely, judging her answer before he even asked the question, "When do you really want to get married? Do you really want to wait another year?"
Hermione didn't need to think about it for long. It felt as though they'd been through so many lifetimes together already that she was just as anxious as he was to start one together as husband and wife. "No, I don't want to wait that long," she said honestly. "I'd marry you right this minute if it could be done."
"Then let's talk to your parents and find out what we have to do to get married this 1st September. All I need is you. If it's a matter of bringing in family and friends I don't even care about that right now. If they want to share a wedding with us then we can get married again on our first anniversary." He grabbed her hands in his and brought them to his lips, "All I need is you," he reaffirmed in a voice just above a whisper.
"And all I need is you," she replied. "I'm sure we can do it. Even if it's just mum and dad and the Weasley's…we'll do it."
"Good," he sighed heavily with relief.
She eyed him curiously, "What else is there Harry?" The look he gave her made her think that he might be embarrassed about what he was thinking. "Well?" she said encouraging him to talk about it.
"It's just…" he took a deep breath and looked straight into her eyes, "it's just that I don't think I could wait another year to make love to you."
His words had taken her so much by surprise that she was nearly speechless. It took a few moments for her to recover and finally ask, "You mean…" she looked at him closely, "you mean you want to wait until we're married?"
"Sort of," he answered honestly, "I mean, isn't that what you want? Isn't that what every girl wants? What I'm saying is that I'm willing to wait if that's what you want…I just don't think I could wait a whole year."
Hermione was shocked, dumbfounded, and totally and completely speechless. She did want to wait, it was true, but she loved him so much that waiting hadn't really mattered to her as much as it should have. But now it was only a month and it would make their wedding night so much more special. She nodded her head and sat up next to him. "I love you, Harry James Potter," she said putting emphasis on every word.
"I love you too, Hermione Jane Granger."
"Come here," she said softly pulling him to her. He turned his body to face hers and she held her arms up inviting him in. He put is arms around her and pulled her onto his lap. Straddling his legs she put her arms around his neck and hugged him as tightly as she could without choking him. They sat that way for a long time, neither speaking as they both got lost in their own thoughts.
Hermione tried to picture them sitting together that way and when the picture became as clear as she could make it, she snapped it and placed it in her `fairy tale' file. This was one she would look back on fondly for years to come because not only was it the first mental picture she'd taken after their engagement...it was the first time that together they'd shown a maturity that would stay with them always. This moment was the foundation for all the choices they would ever have to make together and it gave her great hope for their future.
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The morning of Harry's birthday dawned brightly and Hermione was excited about going to the Weasley's to celebrate. It felt like forever since they'd last seen Ron and they hadn't heard anything yet about Luna's letter from Dumbledore and she and Harry were both anxious to find out what was in it.
They'd been engaged for three days now and already things seemed to be going smoothly. She was planning to wear her mother's dress and the fittings had gone really well. With just a few minor adjustments it would be perfect; she was expecting it to be ready any day now. They had one month to get blood tests and all of the paperwork done but they were determined to make it all happen.
They'd talked to her parents for a long time the night they'd gotten engaged and they told them everything…including their decision to wait until they were married to have sex. It hadn't been an easy thing to talk about but they'd managed, and her parents were, naturally, quite thrilled with their decision. Harry and Hermione however, had an ulterior motive for telling them…
Flashback
"Mum, dad," Hermione said hesitantly, "there's something we want to talk to you about."
"What is it baby girl?" her father asked setting down his paper and giving them his full attention.
"It's about Harry and me," she said not really knowing where to begin.
"Okay," her mother replied, "what is it honey, you know you can tell us anything."
"Well, we've been talking and we've decided that we want to get married 1st September," she said quietly.
"Oh, that's wonderful," her mother said excitedly, "that'll give us plenty of time to make all of the arrangements."
"This year mum," she said even more quietly.
Her mum looked up in surprise, "This year," she asked, stunned, "as in one more month?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes," she said, "we don't want to wait."
Her mum looked at Harry as though expecting him to say he had no trouble at all waiting another year. He sighed and decided to tell her the truth so she wouldn't be too disappointed in Hermione. "Hermione suggested 1st September next year but I told her I didn't want to wait that long; I said I wanted to marry her today. Finally I was able to convince her that 1st September this year was a good idea."
"Why did you change your mind?" her father asked looking at her curiously.
Hermione blushed. "Well, first of all, we just don't want to wait. We love each other and we want to get a place of our own and start our life together as soon as possible. We also…well…we decided to…you know…to wait…" she said getting more and more flustered. "We're going to wait until our honeymoon to…"
Her parents both sighed in relief, "Oh, honey, you have no idea how worried we were that you might be pregnant or something," her mum said sounding relieved, "this is wonderful news."
Hermione's father looked at his wife lovingly then looked at Harry and said, "I can understand now why you don't want to wait another year anyway."
"Oh honey," her mum said looking slightly embarrassed but obviously flattered.
"There's more," Hermione said quickly, she took a deep breath and said, "we-do-want-to-wait-but-we-want-to-share-a-bed-now."
"What was that dear," her mother said shaking her head as though the words might somehow re-form to make a new sentence, "I'm sorry but I thought you said, `we do want to wait but we want to share a bed now'."
"That's what she said Mrs. Granger," Harry confirmed for her. "There's been a lot going on since Hermione woke up and we've been sleeping side-by-side ever since. I love your daughter and I've made a promise to her, and to you, to wait until we're married and I intend to keep that promise. We don't want to show you any disrespect by sneaking around to share a bed. Instead, we'd prefer to get your permission."
Her mum looked at her husband and quickly decided it was a father's decision. He was, after all, the one that talked of locking her in her bedroom until she was 35 and threatening any boys that came calling with bodily harm if they ever hurt her…yep…this was definitely a father's decision and his answer surprised each and every one of them and Hermione couldn't help but to wonder if surprised him too…
"I don't see why not," he said nodding his head. "You've both shown a great deal of maturity in this and it's obvious that you're in love with our daughter," he said looking at Harry. "But I expect you to keep your word, you got that?"
Harry and Hermione nodded their heads and looked at each other excitedly. "We understand, sir," Harry said trying hard to keep the excitement out of his voice…all he wanted was to have the opportunity to wake up next to her; he was sure that would be enough for him until they were married.
End flashback
And so it was that Hermione found herself waking up next to him the morning of his birthday with a huge smile on her face. She carefully crawled out of bed and slowly opened the top left drawer of her desk to remove his birthday present. Silently she crept out of the room to enter the guest bedroom. With quill and ink in hand she set out to write to him…
When she finished she wrapped the gift in tissue paper and placed it carefully in the top drawer of the dresser where he would be sure to find it when he got up. Then she quietly went back to their room and crawled back into bed to curl up next to him.
"Where've you been?" he asked sleepily, putting his arm around her and pulling her close. "You're cold."
"I just walked around for a few minutes, just feeling a little restless," she replied. Her back was to him and his body was curled comfortably around hers; she decided she needed more so she turned around to face him. His eyes were closed but there was a contented smile on his face and she couldn't help but smile back. His lips looked so desirable that she couldn't resist stretching up to give him a kiss. "Happy birthday, Harry," she said softly.
He opened his eyes and smiled wider, "This is the best birthday ever," he mumbled sleepily.
"How do you know? The day hasn't even started yet," she said smiling at his tousled hair and half-closed eyes. Damn he looks good in the morning…how am I supposed to wait until we're married? She wondered.
"What more do I need when I've got you to wake up to?"
"What you need is to take it easy, have a bath, a nice breakfast, a nap if you want, a day of golf with dad, whatever it is you want to do before we have to go to Ron's."
"What if all I want is to lay here and hold you all day? Can I do that?"
"Sure you can, but I think at some point you'll want to get up to use the bathroom and eat won't you? Maybe you should just go ahead and shower too, while you're up and about. Then, when you come back to bed you'll feel good and refreshed, how does that sound?"
"Sounds like more than I want to do today," he said kissing the tip of her nose.
"Why don't you go ahead and shower and I promise I'll wait right here for you," she replied.
"What about you? When're you going to shower?" he asked looking for any excuse not to get up.
"I showered last night, right before bed, remember? I'll just shower again right before we leave for Ron's."
"All right, I can take a hint," he muttered, "I'll go shower."
"I'll be right here waiting for you."
He kissed her again and reluctantly climbed over her to get out of bed. She watched him walk out of the room and she waited in anticipation for him to find the surprise she'd left for him. She could hear him walk down the hall toward the bathroom first and she couldn't help but to get a little impatient as she waited for him to walk to the guest room where his clothes still remained. They were sleeping in the same bed at night but there were some boundaries that hadn't been crossed yet and getting dressed in the same room was one of them.
She listened closely for the sounds of his footsteps down the carpeted hallway. He stopped when he passed by their room, "Do I still have to do this?" he mumbled, clearly ready to return to bed.
"Just make it quick, Harry" she said laughing at him.
He scratched his and said, "Only for you, Love." He left the room and she heard him open the door to the guest room and she waited anxiously for him to return…
It took a couple of minutes but finally she heard him heading back to their room. "Hermione, what's this?" he asked pulling the tissue paper off his gift.
She sat up and smiled at him. "That's your birthday gift," she said barely able to contain her excitement.
He looked at it curiously, "Another journal?" he asked cringing inwardly.
She smiled and beckoned to him, "Come here," she said patting the bed. Harry walked over and sat down next to her. "It's not another journal Harry, it's a diary."
"You mean there's a difference?" he asked in obvious confusion.
"Yes, Harry, there's a difference," she replied, "open it."
Harry opened the book and read the inscription on the front cover…
For My Harry,
This is my diary. It's a history of you and me since long before there was ever a `you and me'. I hope these memories bring you the same laughter, tears, and happiness they've always brought to me.
I love you with all of my heart.
Hermione
"Hermione, what is this?"
"It's what it says, Harry, just read it," she replied.
Harry opened the diary to the first entry…
1st September 1991
Love at first sight…isn't that what they call it sometimes? Okay, maybe not for me. I think I'm a bit too practical for that. Maybe I'll just call it, `extreme like at first sight' or something…I don't know. All I can say is that I met a boy today and there's just something about him. Something special. I don't know what it is but from the very second I saw him I just knew that we'd be great friends. I only talked to him for a few minutes on the train but still, I can't seem to get him out of my mind.
I never knew anything like this could happen to an 11-year-old…maybe it's because I'm almost 12. I'm sure that makes me a little more mature then most of the other kids here at Hogwarts. I wonder if he's almost 12. I already know some stuff about him because he's mentioned in some of the books I've read…I just never paid attention to how old he was before. He's known all over the wizarding world already so I'm sure that being friends with him won't be easy … but I'm up for a good challenge.
Hmm…I wonder if I really could love him some day.
For now I'll be happy just being his friend. One way or another I'll make him see that he can't live without me! I'm sure that some day we'll be the best of friends.
So, from this point forward I'm going to dedicate this book to him…no matter what happens to me, I just know that he'll always be a part of it…
Here's to you Harry Potter…and what will soon become a friendship to last for the ages.
Harry looked up at her in surprise when he finished reading the entry. "Do you really think…"
"I don't know Harry," she said in reply to his unasked question, "I've wondered many times over the last few weeks if I did love you then. The way I feel now, it wouldn't surprise me at all if I did."
"Amazing," he said looking once again at the diary. He was skimming through the entries and he stopped on the one for the night they fought the troll…
31st October 1991
Tonight had to be the scariest, yet most wonderful night of my life. I got upset today when I overheard Ron Weasley say some terrible things about me; he was talking about how I've got no friends and such…
When I heard him I started to cry because it looked so much like Harry was agreeing with him and that's the part that hurt the most. It's been nearly two months and I haven't been able to get through to him yet. I suppose it's very much my fault since I get this sort of know-it-all attitude when I'm around him. Why can't he see that it's just an act? Maybe if I had more confidence…. I always try to tell myself that I shouldn't act that way around him but I can't seem to help it…it just comes out and I end up sounding stupid. Oh! I wish I didn't care so much.
After I heard Ron Weasley I ran to the bathroom and I stayed there all day…I even missed a class. I just couldn't face Harry after that. Then, I guess it was around supper time, a troll somehow managed to get into the school and since I was still in the bathroom, I didn't know about it. I was standing by the sink when it came in and it started walking right toward me. I tried to stay calm but I ran into one of the stalls and it hit the walls of it with its club and stuff just started flying everywhere. I tried to hide but it kept following me.
I thought for sure I was going to die. Then I heard a voice…it was Harry. He was shouting at me but I couldn't move; I was so relieved to see him and yet so frightened for him too. I was scared that he might get killed and from everything I've read about him I know he has so much to live for…he's said to be the hero of the wizarding world...
…he's certainly a hero of my world after tonight…he saved my life. I lied to Professor McGonagall. I told her that I'd gone looking for the troll and that if Harry and Ron hadn't found me I'd probably be dead; it was a necessary lie, it kept him out of trouble. I think things will be different between us now…or at least I hope so.
"Hermione, I'm sorry," Harry said when he finished reading the entry. "I'm so sorry for the way we treated you in the beginning."
"It's all right," she said honestly, "none of it matters anymore. Read the last one."
"We were really awful to you though," he said apologetically.
"You were never awful to me, Harry," she said seriously, "Ron might have been a time or two, but you were never awful."
"What about third year when you had my broom confiscated?" he asked trying to make his point.
"Ron," she said simply. "If you recall, Ron was the one who was most upset about that. I still think you only got mad because he did." She looked at him curiously and asked, "Are you trying to find a reason for me to be upset with you?"
"Okay, I'm dropping it," he said quickly. "Read the last, huh?"
"Yeah, read the last one."
31st July 1998
Happy Birthday Harry. We are now on the verge of embarking on a new life together. Who would have thought we'd be here like this?
Words cannot describe how much I truly love you…or at least I have no words in my vocabulary. All I can say is that you're the love of my life and I'm counting the seconds until I become Mrs. Harry Potter.
I'm giving you this diary because it is the story of us; from the beginning until now. There's so much of our history in these pages. As you might have noticed, I wrote in it nearly every day (which is why the writing is so small and the book is so thick). It is a part of who we are and I'm excited to share it with you at last…I hope you like it.
We've heard a lot of people say recently that we're meant for greater things…that we have a destiny to fulfill. Many lives have been sacrificed because of that and I am truly saddened by that fact. All around us there are daily reminders of what we've lost, but every morning I wake up and the first thing I see is what I've gained; the most valuable, precious, and irreplaceable thing in my life…YOU!
If it hadn't been for all that we've been through, we might never have come to this juncture in our lives. While so much of it is sad, perhaps even heartbreaking, I want to focus on us…on our future. So many have died just to ensure we have a future and I, for one, am ready to face it. Together, I know, we could conquer the world if that is our destiny.
I love you Harry James Potter, with all that I was, all that I am, and all that I ever will or ever hope to be. You are my life…my here and now and my forever…and I'm looking forward to the many great adventures still to come…
Without even trying you have made all of my dreams come true and you've given me my fairy tale ending…here's to our Happily-Ever-After!
Love always,
Your Her-my-oh-nee
(I won't ever let you forget that song, you know)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes
A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
the dream that you wish will come true
(from Disney's Cinderella)
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A/N: This is the final actual chapter of the story! I will be doing an epilogue because there was no place in this chapter for the Luna stuff. The epilogue will be short and I hope to have it posted within the next couple of days.
I think that with this all of the major questions have been answered…I truly hope that you enjoyed it. I warned you that the Her-my-oh-nee thing was cheesy. I think it was when I was writing `It's Hard Business Keeping Secrets' that the Cinderelly song popped into my head and I started singing `Her-my-oh-nee' instead. I thought it was cute so I set out to write a cute, fluffy little fairy tale story about it! LOL Needless to say, that didn't happen. Well, I couldn't find any other way to use Her-my-oh-nee and so many of you wanted to know the significance, so I decided to write it in there in the least cheesy way I could think of and this is what you got…
You must forgive me for leaving a few things open…I've left myself an opening for a sequel should I feel the desire to do one sometime down the line. The letters to the four of them will (if I decide to do it) play out more in future story but it was necessary to bring them to light here in order to give myself that opening. Luna's letter is still coming.
I want to thank each and every one of you for the time you've spent with my story…I can see in my stats that many people have at least logged onto it and I thank you for that. I especially thank those of you who have consistently left reviews. It was because of each and every one of you that I kept this story going. I've had a lot of fun with it and it's hard to believe it's over (well, basically anyway).
On a personal note I want to say thanks to Laura and Sara for reviewing a few of the chapters for me and ensuring me that I'm not a total cheeseball! Kudos to both of you…I can't thank you enough.
ALSO…I want to say thanks to Mycha_kk! Oftentimes I've said that reviews make a difference and one of Mycha's certainly did. When Hermione first got angry with Harry about the diary and asked him why the hell Dumbledore had given it to him, I had a completely different story in mind. In Mycha's review she asked me if Hermione was possessed by Cho and it got the wheels in my brain to spinning and you see where the story ended up. I'll not say where I was planning to go with it (I think I've pretty much forgotten most of it now anyway) because suffice it to say it wouldn't have been anywhere near as interesting. So thanks Mycha!!!
Lastly, I want to say a quick thanks to Sheryl for willingly sharing her idea with me off-line. Sorry Sheryl, it didn't quite happen the way you thought but I hope you like it just the same!
SeanWH, I'm still waiting for my alert!
I'd go on but I'm afraid I'd forget someone…these are people that I've spoken to off-line as well as in reviews and I want them to know that I appreciate that time as well! There are about 20 people who have consistently left me reviews and I will give you much praise in my feedback! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
MUCH THANKS TO ALL OF YOU…. (I hope to see all of you review some of my other stories. I plan to start tweaking the first chapter of `Parallel Universe' and then delving into that story a little…it won't be anywhere near as long as this one (I don't think)!
Take care,
H_HrFan
PS I know this sounds like I'm accepting some kind of award or something, but I really just need for you all to know that I appreciate your time. Writing like this is a first for me and the fact that you've taken the time read and review really means a lot to me. So…forgive my speech, but I can't/won't take it back!!!! *smile*
***Josh…don't leave me speechless***
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