Unofficial Portkey Archive

Latin Proposal

Harry quietly closed his copy of Gaudy Night and laid it down on the coffee table. He breathed a sigh of contentment. How he liked happy endings! They were things he hadn't had much of as a child. Though finding Hermione hadn't been a bad happy ending... not that that wasn't over yet.

She entered the room, carrying two mugs of steaming cocoa. She smiled when she saw the finished book. "You've read it at last?" She handed him the mug. "Finally! I've been waiting to discuss it with you for weeks." She sat on the sagging sofa and sipped her chocolate. A lump rose in Harry's throat. He was so lucky.

"So, what did you think?" continued Hermione eagerly. "I have to say, I don't particularly like the mystery plot- it's not half as good as Have his Carcass. But the romance is perfect, don't you agree? I do-"

"Placetne, magistra?" said Harry very quietly.

"I beg your pardon?" replied Hermione.

"Placetne, magistra?" repeated Harry, louder.

Hermione looked confused, "I never knew you spoke Latin, Harry! Well one learns new things every day."

"It's from the book. Placetne, magistra?"

Hermione's face cleared, "Oh! Yes, that is a rather clever touch, isn't it. Their being in Oxford and all making it so much better for him to propose in Latin-"

Harry interrupted a third time as he took her hand. "No, Hermione. Placetne, magistra?"

He was looking at her so intently that she could not have doubted his meaning if she tried. "Oh," she said softly and looked down at his hand. There was a long pause then she raised her eyes back to Harry's. "Placet," she replied and smiled.

A/N: Well, here it is by popular demand! Placetne, magistra means 'Does it please you, Professor?' and the reply Placet means 'It pleases me'.

Hope you enjoyed it!

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Harry and Hermione. Dorothy Sayers wrote Gaudy Night and Have his Carcass.

~Silvestria~