If there were no words no way to speak
I would still love you if there were no tears
No way to feel inside
Id still feel for you and
Even if the sun refused to shine
Even if romance ran out of rhyme
You would still have my heart until the end of time.
You're all I need my love my valentine.
-Valentine, Martina McBride.
A/N: So sorry it's been taking me a while to update, life continues to come at me fast and it's been hard for me to deal with a lot that's come my way. This chapter is going to be light and fluffy and hopefully fun. You'll meet some new faces and get to know them. The focus is still on Harry and Hermoine, but in order to enjoy this story you really have to meet their friends. Please, Read and Review…a review a day keeps the doctor away…flames will only be used to light a bon fire. Enjoy!
The whole night Hermione couldn't stop glancing at the gorgeous ring on her finger. She and Harry had discussed marriage, both didn't have a doubt in their mind that they wouldn't wed each other, but she had never expected him to propose to her-and certainly not in such an extravagant fashion. All her friends and family (save her mother) and those she cared for were there, smiling and dancing while enjoying each others company. Hermione watched them as she took a break from the dancing for a moment to get a cocktail. She watched her friends from her past; Ginny, Neville, the twins, Ron, Luna and Harry mingle with her friends she had made recently; Brie, Casey, Jacob, and Kelsey. They were all special to her. Each made her life rich and entertaining.
Brie was on the Quidditch Team with Ron. Hermione met Brie through Ron one day when the team threw a banquet for Ron who had been named the MVP. The girls hit it off quickly, finding many similarities about each other. Brie was one of the Chasers for the Cannons; she worked with Jacob and Kelsey seamlessly. That trio had been together since they were still in diapers. She was tall, athletic and lean. Brie was 5'9'', much taller than Hermoines humble 5'6'', and she had thick, wavy, long brown hair that, coupled with her tan complexion gave her an exotic look. Despite being well endowed and having one of the figures women all over the country the thing that seemed to leave the biggest impression was the eyes. She had `ocean eyes' as Jacob called them. They were filled with every shade of blue and green you could imagine. Hermoine loved Brie to death for several reasons, including her fierce loyalty to those she befriended, she was always happy and optimistic, and her almost obsessive single-mindedness and competitive spirit. She was outgoing and was the girl who could be found in the middle of a group of boys, cool as a cucumber. Brie was far from perfect though, she had a short, fierce temper and single-minded to a fault. She would never back down from a challenge, she was too stubborn. She also put walls around her heart, she never let anyone get to close to her…she did have the occasional fling but her last steady relationship ended on an extremely bad note-he had cheated on her with her biggest rival from the Harpies team. Brie hadn't shared much of her past with Hermione, Hermione supposed it wasn't something she liked to revisit often, but she had shared it with Jacob and Kelsey who had been with her through most of their youth. She also confided in Harry because he was a fellow spirit in that sense, they both had a dark past but you wouldn't have guessed by the person they had become today.
Casey was from Ireland. He had moved to England after he had graduated from his Wizarding School when he was 18. He had met Jacob in an alley behind a bar-they had both heard a gang of punks harassing another person. They had teamed up and scared the boys off. After that they had become close friends. Jacob introduced Casey to Brie and Kelsey. They also got him the spot of Beater on the Cannons. His slight Irish accent attracted many girls and the fame from being one of the best players on the number one team in the country only made his fan group bigger than ever. He was quite tall, about 6'2'', with short brown hair and bright blue eyes. He was lean, strong and quick. Hermione and Casey got on quite well; he was quite polite and caring. She did notice that he was quite the sweet-talker and had a way with the ladies but he was always respectful and understanding. Watching him now, she suspected that he had stolen a certain `ocean eyed' girl's heart…
Casey tended to be a bit of a partier and he had done more than any of Hermione's friends by far. He came from a rougher part of town than Hermione had grown up in and had seen a lot more. He enjoyed fighting and didn't mind starting one. His temper wasn't something to play with; she had seen what he could do to those who pushed his buttons. Casey wasn't a headstrong boy who had the idea that he was invincible; he fought in defense of those who couldn't fight back or to stick up for his friends (he had been thrown out of clubs for fighting when guys would hit on Brie, Kelsey or Hermione.) The girls loved him, the guys hated him.
Jacob was very similar to Casey that was probably why they had hit it off so well. Jacob was as tall as Casey with short brown hair, brown eyes, and quite tan from spending so much time on the Quidditch pitch. He had the best manners out of all the boys, the perfect gentleman. He was always respectful and charming. He didn't party as much as Casey or Brie, but he did go out clubbing with the team often. He was quieter than some of his fellow team-mates but he still had his fair share of fans. Jacob was probably the most artistic out of them all; he enjoyed writing (like Brie) and drawing. You wouldn't have guessed that he had such a sensitive side if you had met him-he didn't like anyone except his closest friends to know of his hobbies. He loved the air, thanks to his dad who had been a pilot before he had passed away. Jacob was in the air more than he was on the ground. He was extremely intense, however. There was no reasoning with him if he had his mind set on something there was hardly any hope of changing his mind. He tended to have the mindset of being invincible and that he was going to live forever.
Kelsey was gorgeous. She had long blonde hair and pretty green eyes. She was as tan as Brie, with straight white teeth and a lean, athletic body. She was a wonderful friend, Hermione found, to take shopping with or ask advice about on men. Kelsey was no stranger to the opposite sex, she always had a boyfriend even though the relationships hardly ever lasted (she got bored, Kelsey claimed after each). She had the reputation of a heartbreaker, something she denied but everyone knew was true. Hermione didn't really have much in common with her but the girls still got along famously-Brie, Kelsey and Hermione could be found lounging by the pool of the Cannons team house where Ron, Jacob, Casey, Brie, Kelsey and the other beater, Ryan, lived. Kelsey had plenty of good features but she tended to be a bit vain and cocky. Her friends put up with it though, they loved her too much.
Hermione mused about her life and how much it had changed since they had left school when they were sixteen. Their sixth year seemed to put things in a more realistic perspective and opened her eyes to what was really happening beyond those ancient castle walls. She had been a bookworm back then, still was, but back then she had never really realized that they were in the middle of something much bigger than she had wanted. It never really hit home that the war revolved around Harry-when she finally realize it took her a while to accept. It wasn't until they had found Slytherins locket in Grimmauld Place that she finally began to understand the amount of danger she and her best friends were in. When Harry finally faced Voldemort for the final time, she hated to admit that she was expecting the worst. She didn't want to have her hopes shot down. When the smoke had cleared and Hermione could see properly again, it's an understatement to say that she was astonished to see Harry standing over the motionless body of the evilest wizard of their time.
Now, here in this hall Hermione looked at her future. She was going to marry the man of her dreams, her job couldn't be more fulfilling, Harry was going to finally have that job he always wanted and a family they both dreamed of. They were only 23 but they still wanted to start a family. Most adults their age were still looking to have fun and party. Hermione had wanted a family since the day she fell in love with Harry-she knew it was what he desired deep down and that she wanted to be the one who gave him just that. The only thing that bothered her was the note she had received a week ago. She had read it so often that she knew it by heart.
`The-Boy-Who-Lived'
You disgust me. All you do is flash that hideous scar on your forehead and you're famous instantly. People like you smother people like me-the people who deserve to be noticed. I hate you; you don't deserve anything of what you have. What do you have that I don't?
I've been watching you. I've seen you with that pretty mudblood Granger…you two disgust me. I've seen you walking out of your apartment on Main Street, visiting that quaint café, flirting shamelessly with the waitresses there. I've seen you at that club and how close you two dance, its sickening. I know the look you give her; it was the same look I gave my wife before you murdered her in cold blood. Your in love with her…You took away everything I loved - my wife, my family, and my home-its time you get something you care about taken away from you. Watch your back, I'll be watching you.
At first Hermione thought it was a silly note, written sloppily and at first glance wasn't that threatening. Upon further thought however, it became quite scary. How would this person know where they lived? What club they went to almost every Friday? How he looked at her? What café they went for lunch for every week? The thought of someone watching her scared her, it made her feel violated. If this psycho path was watching their every move, who knows what they've seen…what they could do. It was as if Hermione was trying to fight something that wasn't their. The damage this person could do to Hermione and her friends was terrifying-pictures taken in the wrong context could be sold to magazines for quite a high price and completely trash the trio's reputation. The person, man or woman, who was stalking them, could get into their apartment…who knows what they would do. Hermione wouldn't tell Harry her fears; she knew he had thought of them already. She confided in Brie and Kelsey though, they agreed that they didn't want her home alone. Hermione was always conveniently accompanied by one of her friends when they could. She wasn't scared, no it took a lot more than a silly note with some stupid pus in it to frighten the girl who had been face-to-face with evil quite a bit but that didn't mean that she couldn't take precautions.
"Hello, anyone home?" a voice said from her right. Hermione jumped, she had forgotten where she was. Ron smiled next to her, shaking his hair out of his eyes.
"Oh Ron, I'm sorry, I was spaced out." Hermione apologized smiling at him.
"It's alright. I tried to get you alone to congratulate you but you never seemed to leave Harry's side."
"Thanks Ron," Hermione smiled, "It means a lot."
"Congratulations. You guys were made for each other.'
"I know." Hermoine said, watching Harry spin Professor McGonagall around on the dance floor, her bun starting to lose its tight hold. "He's great."
Ron watched her as she looked at her fiancé.
"He loves you a lot you know."
"I know." Hermoine said quietly turning back to her best friend. "You know, it's been too long since you and I sat and chatted. You have always been busy with Quidditch or Luna. How about you come with me to lunch tomorrow? Take an hour off from training; I'm sure Joe wouldn't mind. Just you and me, no Harry or Luna or any of the team…What do you say?" Hermione offered, sipping her martini. Ron smiled.
"I'd like that very much. How about Café Bistro, it's near the pitch and you can Apparate to the stadium and we'll walk there together? How's that sound?"
"It sounds fantastic. I'm excited already. Can you believe that this is Harry's restaurant? I didn't even know he had found a place. He told me he was going in to the Ministry but I guess he's been coming here and decorating." Hermione stated looking around the ballroom.
"Yeah, I've been helping a bit. Brie and Ginny have been helping him pick out some of the paint and decorations-Harry's not really into that sort of stuff. There are a lot of Jacobs's paintings up on the wall, like that one over there." Ron pointed to a large painting of a bridge over a bubbling stream in the middle of autumn. It was very well done. "He had those stored up in the attic and I guess Harry found them one day and asked if he could use them. He made us keep it a secret from you though; we knew he wanted it to be a surprise. None of us knew he was going to pop the question though…he only told me after he visited your father."
"He went to my dad?"
"Yeah, he said he wanted to get his permission or something." Ron told her, ordering a Bloody-Mary from the bartender behind them. Hermione beamed as she watched Harry wink at her over his new dancing partner, Professor Sprout, as they did a clumsy waltz around the floor.
"What did I do to deserve him?" she whispered to herself. She laughed as he bumped into Hagrid, nearly falling over.
Ron turned back to her after receiving his drink and smiled.
"She's something isn't she?" he asked, referring to his new wife Luna who was talking animatedly to Tonks who looked a bit green.
"That she is. You know, I would never have guessed that you two would end up together. I remember that you were intimidated by her in Hogwarts."
"Intimidated? Me?" Ron's eyes widened as he tapped his hands on his chest. "She didn't scare me, Hermione. I was just a little unprepared for her. She was unusual."
"She still is but I've come to enjoy it. Before we used to be at each others throats, now we enjoy each others different view on things. I think we sort of helped each other out. She made me think outside of the box a little."
"Yeah. I know a lot of what she says is farfetched but I find it sort of cute."
Hermione laughed. "You're so whipped Ron. It's adorable." Ron turned red and drained the rest of his drink in one gulp. He finished with a loud smack and gave Hermione a wet kiss on her cheek before running off to get Luna for a dance. Left alone again Hermione went back to observing but only shortly. Soon her dad joined her.
"Hey there sweet heart." He said, sliding slowly into a stool next to her.
"Hey dad. Are you enjoying yourself?" she asked turning towards him.
"I am, very much." He nodded." That Headmistress of yours is quite entertaining. I had a nice conversation with her during dinner. I would never know she was a witch if I had just met her."
"Can you see why she was my favorite teacher while I was in school?"
"Yes. She's quite pleasant." He agreed. He paused and looked at her. Hermoine saw that his eyes were glassy with tears and she immediately felt the tingling in her nose that told her tears were coming "Congratulations baby. Harry is a good man; he'll take care of you. I'm glad you found each other."
"I love you daddy. I head Harry came to ask you permission-I'm so glad you agreed. I really love him dad."
"I know you do, Bun." He smiled at her, stroking her hair. "You two will be together for a long time, I can tell. You remind me so much of your mother; she always had a passion for people."
Hermione's eyes were blurring with unshed tears now.
"Daddy, I wish she could have been here. I really miss her. It's hard when I think `Oh I have to go tell mom!' yet I can't."
"I know it is. I miss her too. Mom wouldn't have wanted us to be miserable though. She loved you very much and don't think for one second that she would miss your wedding day. You may not be able to see her but she'll be there."
"I know." Hermoine said, dabbing away tears that were threatening to fall. She took in a deep breath, closing her eyes to calm herself. "Dad, I want you to pick a song to dance to with me."
"Honey, I've had just the song in mind since you started dating." He smiled rubbing her cheek with the pad of his thumb.
"What is it?" she asked, leaning into his warm, strong hand.
"Do you remember that song I would always listen to when you were little?"
"Vaguely."
"It's called Butterfly Kisses."
"But dad, that song makes you get all weepy."
"I know, but now I understand where he's coming from. I don't think any other song would actually fit." He said.
"Alright, Dad."
"Would you like to dance?" he said. Hermoine nodded and finished her drink, standing up. Her dad got to his feet slowly and pulled her into a big hug. Hermoine hugged back, her eyes tearing up again. She closed her eyes again, breathing in her dads scent, calming down. When he pulled back he kissed her gently on her forehead then led her to the dance floor where their friends and family danced.
"You know, Dad that you're always going to be the number one man in my life, right?" Hermione said in the middle of their dance. Her dad looked down at her, slightly surprised. He smiled after a moment.
"I know baby. I love you."
"I love you too, Dad."
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