Chapter 9 - Secret Surprise
Harry took Hermione out to the front of Hogwarts. He told Hermione to cover her eyes and led her to the surprise. Hermione felt like they were walking for hours - she had never been this far away from the castle. They stop and he whispered an inaudible spell.
"Okay Hermione, open your eyes," Harry said softly. As Hermione looked around, she realized she didn't know where the hell they where.
"Harry, where are we?" she asked looking around at the beautiful place.
"This is my secret place, well our secret place now. I come here when I'm down or stressed out. When I found this place, I didn't want anybody to ever find it, so I cast a cover-up spell. When people look, they just see the lake. It can't be found in any magical or Muggle map."
It was a beautiful place. Trees were all over and there was small pond. The moonlight reflected off the water and bounced out into the nearby trees. There was a picnic blanket laid out on the plush, green grass. Harry conjured up candles and lit them. There were two goblets and utensils already set.
Harry sat down on the grass and pulled Hermione down with him. She sat herself down on Harry's lap and they watched the stars. They snogged for a little bit until Harry heard Hermione stomach growl. Harry took her to the picnic blanket and snapped his fingers. Two plates appeared; their goblets had already been filled up. They ate and talk about all sorts of things: school, friends, what happened with Ron. Hermione was shocked but happy Harry had defended her once again.
"Harry, I love that you defend me, but I don't want to see you get hurt. Leave it to me. I will make sure that they don't mess with you or a Malfoy," Hermione said as she grabbed his hand.
He looked at Hermione and sighed. "I should be defending you, not the other way around."
"I know it won't be easy, but you can try," she said jokingly. She saw the look on his face and bit her lip. "Harry, what's the matter?"
"Um… Hermione I want to give you something," Harry said very shyly.
"Oh you do, do you?" she said with a seductive smile.
"No, not that," Harry said rather quickly.
Hermione raised her eyebrow at his comment.
"No, I mean I want to give you that too but I was kind of thinking more along the lines of an actual gift," Harry said very nervously.
"I was just kidding. I knew what you meant Harry."
"Oh… Okay. Umm… I'll be right back," Harry said as he got to his feet.
Harry went to the tree behind them. Hermione heard him say some words to the tree. He came back with another blue velvet box. He sat back down and turned himself so he could be sitting right in front of her.
"Um… Um…" Harry stammered, "Hermione, I wanted to give you something. Dumbledore told me that when the first Potter went to Hogwarts, he fell in love with a woman and bought her this gift to declare his love to her. It has been in my father's family ever since. It's been passed down to my father who gave it to my mother. She passed down to me, and now I am giving it to you."
Harry opened the velvet box and inside was a necklace full of diamonds. The chain was a pattern of red and white. In the middle was the biggest diamond Hermione had ever seen. It was shaped in a red heart. A pattern of red and white diamonds surrounded the heart. (A/N: It's kind of like the Heart of the Ocean in Titanic.)
Hermione was in complete tears. She had never seen a more beautiful necklace. She knew now that Harry and she were going to be together forever.
"I love you Hermione Malfoy. I will always love you," Harry said with a tear coming down his cheek.
"I love you too Harry Potter," she said and flung herself into his arms. She gave him a kiss but it was not a normal kiss. It was a kiss full of the love that Hermione and Harry felt for one another.
"I guess that means you'll take it," Harry said chuckling.
"Of course I will!" Hermione said as she leaned forward for another sweet kiss.
Harry put the necklace around her neck. A bright light appeared and suddenly, the red diamonds were no longer red but green. The heart was also green. Hermione looked down at the necklace and then back at Harry. He had a big smile on his face.
"What just happened? Harry what's going on?"
"I just forgot to tell you. Since my mum was in Gryffindor, the heart and the diamonds were scarlet. You're in Slytherin so the diamonds and heart turned green. There's an enchantment spell on it. Whatever your love's house colors are, the diamonds will turn that color."
"Oh! Oh, Harry it's beautiful. Thank you so much. I love it," Hermione said excitedly.
The two finished their dinner and laid on their backs they were so full. Hermione couldn't stop looking at the necklace Harry gave her. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever given her. Harry giving her his mother's necklace meant that it was more than just puppy love but real love for one another, something that takes most people a lifetime to find. She saw that Harry was not the Boy Who Lived but the boy under all that fame - the shy, caring, funny, untidy jet-black hair, emerald eyes, and loving, handsome boy that she fell in love with.
Hermione turned and cuddled up with Harry. "Harry can I ask you a question?"
"Sure," Harry said while rubbing her back.
"Well it's just that… well…" Hermione started nervously.
"What? You could ask me."
"When did you and Draco get our gift?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, is that all? We got the gift about a month ago at Hogsmeade," Harry said confidently.
"A month ago! You went to Hogsmeade? How did you get there?" Hermione asked curiously.
"Hermione calm down! We went to Hogsmeade a month ago to make reservation because you couldn't do it by owling and to buy you your gift. We used the invisibility cloak I inherited from my dad to get there without getting caught."
"Wow Harry, how did you mange to keep it secret without me or Blaise knowing?" Hermione asked.
"Well, when you and Blaise went to patrol, Draco and I used the secret passage to Hogsmeade and came back by the time you were done," Harry said as he started playing with her hair.
"There's a secret passage to Hogsmeade? Where?" she asked as ran her finger down his chest.
"Oh, I'll show you later, and some of the other secret passages," Harry as seductively
"I can't wait," she said as she leaned to him and gave him a soft peck on his lips. She lay on his chest, feeling very tired. It was a very long day.
"Sweet dreams Hermione."
"I already am. "
Hermione rolled on top of Harry and closed her eyes. They fell asleep in their secret place.
Before Harry fell asleep he told himself, "Always forever Harry and Hermione."