To Be With You...

Harry could feel the perspiration trickling down the bridge of his nose as he paced the living room of his flat. `What could be keeping her?' he thought nervously. As he turned and faced the dining room for what felt like the millionth time, he checked to make sure that everything was in place. Their dinner was on the sideboard with a simple warming charm on it to keep it hot, the bottle of wine was in a bucket of ice on the table with a cooling charm to keep it cold, and the candles were lit. Everything was perfect.

Harry glanced down at his watch for the tenth time in the last five minutes and saw that it was already quarter past six. `She should have been here by now,' he thought as his stomach turned in nervous knots. Hermione had gone to the doctor that day after complaining of not feeling well. Harry had hoped it was nothing serious and decided to surprise her with a nice romantic dinner. He figured that whatever was bothering her the doctor could fix in a heartbeat and she'd be her old self again in no time.

As he thought about her Harry couldn't help but let a smile spread across his face. He still couldn't believe that it had been just over a month since Hermione had come into his bedroom one night in nothing but a t-shirt. She had explained at the time that she wanted to talk to him. But Harry knew better. Something had been off about her that night and he'd had a lot of trouble figuring out what it was. It wasn't until he realized that Hermione was wearing JUST a t-shirt that her purpose of being in his room became clear.

After much internal battling he and Hermione had made very passionate love and hadn't looked back since. In fact the only thing that had changed since that night one month ago was that he and Hermione were now the only ones living in the flat together. Ron had moved out only a week after Harry and Hermione had gotten together when Ron had decided that he couldn't stand being apart from Luna anymore and they had moved in together.

Harry and Hermione had been saddened to see Ron go but after he promised that they could get together maybe once a week they were all happy. Now Harry was patiently (or rather impatiently) waiting for Hermione to arrive home from the doctors. Just as he was about to go over and check to see if the heating charms were still working Harry heard a small `pop' behind him that signaled that Hermione had finally arrived home.

“Hey luv, how did your appointment go?” Harry asked, going to her and placing his hands on her waist, leaning forward to kiss her. However Hermione placed her hands on his and proceeded to remove them from her waist and then take a step back.

Puzzled, Harry looked up at her intending to ask what was wrong when he noticed her appearance. Hermione's face was pale and drawn, and it looked like she had been crying because her eyes were red and puffy and he could clearly see tear stains on her cheeks.

“Hermione? What's wrong?” Harry asked immediately concerned that something was terribly wrong with his Hermione. “Hermione? Luv? What is it? Did the doctor tell you why you've been feeling ill?” Harry asked her again when she didn't answer him. Hermione didn't look him in the eyes when she finally spoke but rather stared down at her hands, which she had tightly clasped together.

“Yes, he did,” she told him in a quiet whisper. “Well that's good isn't it? You're all better aren't you?” Harry said starting to feel anxious now. `Please let her be okay,' Harry prayed silently. “Y-y-yes, I suppose it is,” Hermione said still looking down at her hands.

“Hermione what's wrong? What did he tell you?” Harry asked reaching out to stroke her cheek with his finger. Hermione seemed to freeze at his touch and Harry withdrew his hand feeling both hurt and very scared now. “What is it Hermione? You can tell me.”

Harry watched as Hermione closed her eyes and took a few deep, calming breaths, letting each one out slowly. She seemed to be steeling herself for something and Harry could feel his anxiety level increasing with each passing second.

Finally after what seemed like hours Hermione looked up at him and Harry was startled to see tears glistening in her warm brown eyes. “Hermione, please whatever it is, I promise, we'll get through it together. I won't ever leave you. I love you so much.” As if to seal his promise to her, Harry stepped closer to her and when she didn't push him away he closed the distance between them and then bent his head and captured her lips a soft, gentle kiss.

When the kiss was over, Hermione smiled at Harry and said “Thank you, Harry. I love you, so much.” Laying her head on his shoulder, Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist, feeling calm and content for the first time since she had left the doctors office.

As Harry encircled her with his arms, she felt herself drifting away as if on a cloud, and smiled wider. It was then that she knew everything would okay. `Now I just have to work up my courage and tell him,' she thought to herself. Sighing she lifted her head, looking into Harry's worried face. “How about we eat that delicious dinner I can smell and then we can talk?”

Harry seemed to consider this for a moment and debated on whether or not to push the subject of her doctor's appointment further before conceding that they eat first. `She will tell me when she's ready,' he thought. “Okay, but as soon as we finish we talk okay?”

“Okay, I promise,” Hermione said, leaning up and placing a soft kiss on his lips before unwrapping herself from his embrace. Taking her hand in his, Harry intertwined their fingers together and led her over to the table. After pulling out her chair and helping her sit, Harry brought over their plates and set Hermione's down in front of her.

After setting down his own plate, Harry turned back to Hermione and asked “Would you like some wine?” Hermione looked up from her plate, which she had been staring at since Harry had placed it in front of her, and said, “No thanks, I don't think my stomach would like it very much if I drank any wine. It's still a little queasy.”

Harry nodded while pouring himself a glass before replacing the cork and putting the bottle back in the bucket on the table. “You sure you're okay?” he asked her again as he sat down. Hermione nodded her head as she started to eat her dinner. Harry had made baked salmon with green beans, garlic mashed potatoes, and a salad.

After a few bites, Hermione smiled at Harry and said, “My compliments to the chef.” Harry couldn't help but grin at her and said “Anything for you. I knew you'd had a long day after having gone to the doctors so I thought I'd make your favorite.”

Hermione felt herself melt, `God he's so good to me!' she thought to herself with relish. It was true that she had had a long day. The wait at the doctor's office that afternoon turned out to be longer than expected and when she'd finally gotten in to see her doctor it had been well after 4pm.

Apparently there had been an outbreak recently of dragon pox and everyone was in the office to get their shots so they wouldn't catch it. Smiling at Harry she said, “Thank you Harry, it HAS been a long day. I guess there's been an outbreak of dragon pox and everyone was in the doctor's office today, getting their shots and everything. I wasn't seen until nearly four, that's why I was so late.”

Harry nodded his head in understanding, since he worked at Hogwarts as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor; he had been given the shot by Madame Pomphery a few weeks earlier as a precaution. “I'm sure it will make its way through here eventually.” She had said. “It always does when there's an outbreak, so it never hurts to prepare the staff ahead of time.”

Seeing Harry's look Hermione raised her eyebrow and asked, “What's so funny?” Pulling himself out of his thoughts Harry turned his attention back to Hermione and said, “Just thinking about Madame Pomphery. I had to get a vaccine against dragon pox a couple of weeks ago. You know, as a precaution. She insisted on vaccinating the entire staff.”

Hermione chuckled softly as she took a last bite of her dinner. “Ever the worrier she is.” After clearing away the dishes and putting away any extra food, Harry and Hermione sat in the living room on the sofa.

At first neither of said anything, content in sitting in the comfortable silence that surrounded them. After a few a minutes however, Harry's curiosity got the better of him and turned to look at Hermione. “So you going to tell me what the doctor told you?”

At his question Hermione seemed to withdraw into herself again, and began to fidget with her fingernails, a habit she had started doing recently when she was nervous. After a few minutes she finally spoke.

“Well he did an exam and found that I didn't have a virus or anything. So he decided to do a couple of more tests. And well one of the tests came back showing something. So he did another test to confirm what the other test found. Both tests were positive.” Hermione let out her breath and closed her eyes again. “The tests, they said…Harry…we're going to have a baby.”

For a few minutes Harry couldn't say anything. `A baby! She's going to have a baby!' he thought. `She's going to have MY baby!' This thought brought a smile to Harry's face. `My baby. I wonder what it's going to be like. Will he/she look like me or Mione? Or a combination? I hope he/she doesn't have my hair.' As his internal ramblings went on he suddenly realized that he hadn't said anything to Hermione.

When he looked over at her Harry saw the worry written on her face. `God she's so beautiful, even when she's worried.' Reaching for her hand Harry took it and rubbed the back of it with his thumb. “Hermione, that is the most wonderful news I've ever heard in my life. Wow, a baby! OUR baby, just…wow,” Harry said in awe. “I'm going to be…a daddy.”

Hermione stared up into Harry's face now both smiling and crying. “Oh Harry, you are going to be such a wonderful father. Our child is going to love his/her daddy. I just know it,” she said laughing a little.

Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist and pulled her to him. Not saying a word he just nuzzled her neck, enjoying the scent of her hair as it reached his nostrils. “Wow, a baby. That is the greatest gift anyone has ever given me. Oh Mione, I can't wait to meet him/her. I bet he/she will look just like you. I just hope he/she doesn't have my hair.”

Hermione laughed at his last comment and said, “Either way it's cursed. It won't exactly be a picnic of he/she ends up with MY hair.” Harry laughed lightly at that but then grew serious again. “Hermione I want you to know right now that I love you more than anything else in the world. And I want nothing more than for you to be happy and loved. I can't wait until our child comes into this world. I just know it will be spoiled with the amount of love we have for it. And no matter what it may look like, hair or otherwise, it will be perfect because it's ours. And because it's a product of our love for each other. I love you Hermione. Always.”

Hermione felt tears well up in her eyes again, but this time they were tears of happiness. “Oh Harry. I love you too. And you're right; our child is going to be very spoiled with our love.”

“Yup, but not as spoiled as you are with my love for you,” Harry said before capturing her lips in a soft kiss. Rubbing his hands up and down her back Harry deepened the kiss by running his tongue along Hermione's bottom lip, seeking access to her warm mouth.

He was rewarded when he felt her slip her tongue into his own mouth. Moaning into her mouth Harry lost himself in the kiss. After a few minutes he pulled away and looked at her. “I love you, Moine,” He whispered softly.

“I love you too, Harry,” Hermione replied running her finger along his jaw line. Bringing one of his hands forewords Harry slipped it under Hermione's shirt and ran his fingertips over the skin of her still flat stomach. “I can't believe, there's actually a little life growing inside there,” Harry said almost disbelievingly. “Our child,” He said again, in awe. Lifting her shirt a little more Harry bent his head and placed a soft kiss just about Hermione's bellybutton. “Hey in there, this is your daddy. I can't wait to meet you. I'll teach you all kinds of things, like how to fly on a broom and play quidditch,” Harry said smiling.

Hermione laughed at his antics and said “You really will be a great daddy, Harry.” Harry lifted his head and looked at her blushing slightly. “Thanks, Moine. And you'll be a great mommy.”

“You think so?” she asked him now running her fingers through his hair absently. “I know so. You're great at everything you do Moine. I love you so much. I couldn't imagine anyone else being the mother of my children.” Sitting up fully now Harry took one of her hands in his, staring her in the eyes. “Hermione, you've been there through everything, the Philosopher's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, Sirius in the third year, The Triwizard Tournament, the Department of Mysteries and Umbridge, and the Final Battle with Voldemort. You've been with me through everything. And well, I guess what I'm trying to say is, I want you to always be there with me, through everything in my life. Will you marry me?” As he finished speaking Harry let go of Hermione's hands and reached into his trouser's pocket and brought out a velvet box.

Hermione's eyes were now the size of saucer's and Harry could feel her shaking beside him. As he looked into her face he could see unshed tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. And when she spoke her voice cracked with emotion. “Oh Harry! Of course I'll marry you! I love you so much!” And then she threw her arms around him crushing him in a fierce hug.

“Okay Mione, I need to breathe.” Harry laughed lightly. “Oh sorry!” Hermione laughed letting him go. Once Hermione untangled herself from him Harry opened the ring box to reveal a small ring with a silver band. The setting had three diamonds on either side of a purple sapphire and the band itself was slightly curved so that it seemed to wrap around the sapphire. “Oh my god Harry, it's beautiful!” Hermione said breathlessly.

“Just like you,” Harry said smiling more widely than ever as he slipped the ring on Hermione's shaking finger. “I love you Mione. I can't wait to marry you. Though if truth be told I already consider you my wife.”

Blushing Hermione smiled shyly and said, “Oh Harry, that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. I can't believe you think of me as your wife. I can't believe you want to be with me at all. I mean, I'm just plain old Hermione, bookworm and plain.”

Harry laughed a little at her words before becoming serious again. “First off, might I remind you of who seduced WHO a month ago? And second, you are NOT just a bookworm and you are anything BUT plain. You're the most amazingly beautiful woman I've ever meant, both inside and out. There's nothing about you that I don't love. And there's so many things that I DO love that it would take me a fortnight to name them all. Moine, to be with you is like a dream come true. Being with you makes me feel alive. Being with you is the best thing that's ever happened to me. The fact that you see me as me and not `The Boy Who Lived' or `The Boy Who Defeated Voldemort' means more to me than you'll ever know. I love you so much. And there's nothing else in this world that I want than to be your husband. And actually I was going to do this during dinner but I was too worried about you and decided to put it off. But after you told me about the baby, I knew the time was right.”

Hermione didn't say anything for a few long moments, but seemed to let Harry's words sink in. When she spoke next her voice was again cracking with emotion. “You planned all this? For me?” She asked. When Harry shook his head yes, some of Hermione's unshed tears finally started to spill down her face. “Oh Harry, there's nothing else I want than to be your wife. I love you.” As she spoke Hermione laid her head on Harry's shoulder and stared into the fire that she hadn't noticed he'd started until now and was soon drifting to sleep with dreams of what her child would like and what it was going to be to be Mrs. Harry Potter.

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