A/N: Hello everybody! After my little rebelliously evil spurt in last chapter, I started chapter nine right
away! It may be a little short, but I promised ten chapters, and by golly, we're gonna have ten chapters! So, now
that they are separated but still very much in love, how will they get back together? Read on!
P.S. Chapter ten will just be a kinda epilogue sorta deal, so this is the final chapter of the main part of this story.
But please, read the epilogue when it's posted!
LittleKatieBug
Chapter 9:
Time passed slowly; a week felt like a lifetime to Harry. He had never been more miserable in his life. After all, he had experienced life and love to the fullest and he had lost it right after he had made the biggest sacrifice of his life. He spent hours pacing his house while he tortured himself with the what ifs.
What if I had told her more gently?
What if I hadn't failed to take her to school for a few days?
What if I had listened more attentively in the car?
Hermione felt horrible, too. She was back in her routine life at the Bison Witch, but she no longer sang as she worked and the light was gone from her eyes. Melba noticed Hermione's changed attitude but never said anything about it. She had seen the empty spot on Hermione's hand from the missing promise ring, and she refrained from asking any questions until Hermione was ready to talk.
A week after the breakup, Hermione finished her work and burst into tears. Melba held her close and rocked her back and forth until she stopped crying.
"Do you need to talk, dearie?" Hermione nodded miserably and plopped down on a seat at the counter.
"Melba, he was perfect. He was everything that I've ever wanted, everything I've ever hoped for. The whole time I was with him, my life was exactly like the fairy tale I hoped it would be. A week ago, he told me something in the hope that I would believe him. He was really nice and explained everything, but I lost my cool and said some things I shouldn't have and then I gave him the promise ring back and told him I never wanted to see him again."
"Oh, dear."
"Later, I realized what he said was completely true, but I can't go back and ask him to take me back, because I just know he never would, and I'd just be broken again."
Melba leaned over and hugged Hermione, sniffing in an attempt to clear the tears from her eyes. Hermione had always dreamed of living in a fairy tale, and ever since Harry had come into her life, her dream was a reality. But now…
"I wish I could help you, dearie."
"Maybe I'm just destined to be alone."
Melba squeezed her harder, not knowing what to reply.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Ron looked across the table to Harry in amazement.
"Well, I, uh, well."
"You don't have to say anything, mate. I blew it."
"Uh, she's the one who walked away."
"Oh, but I should have followed her, taken her into my arms and never let her go! I never even got the chance to do what I intended in the first place." He pulled the little package out of his pocket and placed it on the table in front of Ron.
"Wow. That's ironic."
"Yeah, but what's really ironic is this." He told Ron all about the sacrifice he had made. When he finished, Ron was staring at him stupidly.
"You did that for her?"
"Yes, I did."
"Why?"
"Ron, I love her. Even though she hates me right now, I still love her! That's why I will never stop carrying this package around! That's why I sacrificed what I did! Because I love her, and I'll never love anyone else! She was my first kiss, and I hope she's my last."
The silence that followed hung in the air, as neither of the friends knew what to say.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
One month after their last horrible meeting in the park, Harry walked through the park and sat down on the same bench where it had all started-and ended. Spring had begun, and Harry slowly eased his coat off and draped it over the back of the bench. He looked off to the right and watched some little birds flit about, his mind lost in thoughts of her.
As he watched the birds, he felt someone sit on the bench next to him. He realized that he probably should turn and say hello to be polite, but he just couldn't bring himself to polite on this wretched day. He wanted to hex the whole world into oblivion, but he knew it would drain too much energy from him. He sighed and watched the birds fly away and perch on the fountain edge. As his head turned to watch them, he caught a small glimpse of brown, bushy hair from the corner of his eye.
Hermione.
His head jerked to the other side of the bench and saw Hermione sitting quietly watching him. He gasped in surprise and saw the look of fear on her face.
"Hermione,"
"Harry,"
They looked at each other for a moment before speaking simultaneously.
"I can explain-I'm so sorry-Please forgive me!"
Harry scooted closer to Hermione. "You go first."
"O-okay. Harry." She reached her hand out softly and touched his cheek. "I'm so, so sorry. I know now all that you said was completely true."
"I should have told you more gently, it's my fault."
"I never should have been so cruel to you, because the truth is, I love you, Harry. You're all that I've been able to think about this past month. You're everywhere to me, and I realize that no matter how long I live, I'm never going to love anyone more than I love you. Please forgive me."
Harry looked at her and took her two hands in his. "Hermione, I forgive you, I always forgave you. Truth be told, this past month has been the worst time of my life, even worse than my worst most terrifying moments at Hogwarts. `Mione, I love you, and this month has proved to me that I can't live another day without you in my life, as long as I shall live. Hermione, I know that you may have doubts about my world, but I love you, and I hope that's enough."
Harry stood up off of the bench and Hermione gasped and extended her arm. "Harry, I do believe in magic, and I'm willing to do anything to belong with you in your world!"
Harry looked her in the eye with a heart-melting look. "Well then, Hermione, will you do one thing?"
"Anything."
He knelt down on one knee, still holding her hands. "Will you marry me?"
Hermione gasped again and began to cry. He reached into his pocket and grabbed the package he had carried around as she let go of one hand and covered her mouth in surprise.
"Yes."
He opened the little box and pulled out a single diamond ring. He slipped the cool metal ring on her finger and she shivered in happiness. Harry stood up and put his hand in her thick brown hair.
"Positive?"
"More so than anything else in the world." He pulled her lips to his and kissed her firmly. As their lips touched, warmth spread throughout her body, making her tingle. They continued to kiss until she felt herself being lifted slowly into the air.
"HARRY! What's happening to me?!"
She felt heat coming off of her body as she levitated inches off of the ground. The tingling sensation spread throughout her body, and she fell back to the ground, caught in Harry's arms.
"Oh, my gosh! What just happened to me?"
"You're a witch now."
"What? H-how is that possible?"
"You already possessed some magic, and well, I'm one of the most powerful wizards in the world."
"So…?"
"I knew that marriage between a muggle and a wizard would be difficult, because even though we would be united, we could never be truly one. You would never see what I saw and therefore would never really feel what I felt. So I gave half of my magic to you."
She looked at him, dumbfounded. "You did that for me?" He nodded. "But…why?"
"I love you, `Mione. I promised you I'd make all your dreams come true somehow."
She looked at him again, this time with tears shining in her brown eyes. She pulled his mouth to hers and kissed him again, passionately. This time, both felt the magic, and Hermione knew for certain that magic really did exist.
A/N: Sigh, wow that was sweet (I thought it was, anyways). I know the cynical people will review and say that it would never be possible, but that's been my plan the whole story, and you're just gonna have to live with it. Chapter 10 will be up soon, it's gonna be an epilogue of sorts. Sorry this one was shorter than the rest, but I like this story and I loved writing it and I loved the way it turned out. Please review!
Little_Katie_Bug09
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