Chapter Four
Announcements
Author's Note: Thank you all for reading (and thank you even more if you reviewed!) I'm sorry it took so long to update the last chapter, hope this finds everyone sooner! Everything starts to get crazy soon, so be prepared everyone! Strap on those seat belts, the drama is about to hit the fan and fly across the room!
Harry turns the car down my old street and I squeeze the side of my seat. My mood is bordering on excited and nervous. I can hardly wait to tell my parents that Harry and I are getting married, but I'm worried that they'll take it badly. I already know my whole family loves Harry, and he can survive their craziness, but what if they change their mind, or what if they've secretly hated him forever.
I snap myself out of my negative thoughts and smile as we pass my old neighbor, Mrs. Manher's house. She's outside watering her plants in a bathrobe.
Yesterday, after I said I would definitely marry Harry, he pulled out a black, gold-trimmed box and opened it to reveal my engagement ring. It was silver, with a shining, smooth band, and large (but not too large) emerald cut diamond. I had gasped upon seeing it, because it was better than I thought I deserved. I accepted it though, of course.
All the Weasleys gave us our congratulations. Mrs. Weasley even started crying a little. Ron nearly crushed me in a bear-hug, whispering into my ear, "Look how far you two have come."
I smiled brightly at him and kissed him on the cheek.
After leaving Markie's we strolled quietly down the street. Holding hands and basking in our own happiness. And then we brought up when we were going to tell everyone and who we were going to tell first. I called Robbie, partly because I just couldn't wait to tell him, after all, he had helped in Harry and I going out, and also because I hadn't spoken to him in quite awhile.
He seemed so happy on the phone, so excited for me. I asked him how he was doing concerning David and he said, and I quote, "The piece of shit hasn't called back, but I'm scouting boy toys as we speak."
Something about his voice seemed almost false and I knew I still had to look out for him.
Harry and I then decided that we would tell my family at Sunday dinner, coincidentally the next day. Everyone went to Sunday dinner at my parents' house, my aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins, everyone. Even if it meant driving quite awhile, Harry and I almost always went. We also decided we'd tell everyone else that day as well, if they hadn't already heard from the Weasleys.
We finally slow down in front of the house and Harry parks along the grass. The areas in the street around our house and our drive is filled with the cars of our family members.
There's an anxious excitement filtering through my veins and I can't keep still. A goofy smile is plastered to my face as Harry takes the key out of the ignition he looks over to me and laughs, "If you keep this appearance up your family will definitely know something is up."
I laugh too, "I'm sorry, I'm just so excited."
He cups my lower cheek in his hand and strokes the spot right below my ear and leans in, the leather seat groans under the motion, but I nearly sigh as his lips meet mine.
After a minute or so we pull apart and smile again at each other, "Ready?" he asks me.
I nod.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
"That boyfriend of yours is quite the catch," Aunt Olivia says to me.
I look at Harry across the living room and into the kitchen where he's talking animatedly with my Dad and cousin. I smile to myself, feeling my heart lift just looking at him.
"He is, isn't he?"
Aunt Olivia's oldest daughter, Judy, smiles too, "It's hard to believe someone can be so gorgeous, sweet, funny, and manage to get along with our whole family."
They all laugh and I continue to watch him from afar, realizing how lucky I am. After having run away from him and losing his love, to having to win him back, I'm lucky we're now engaged. I pat my pocket where my ring sits, nestled against my thigh.
"We're glad she found him," Mum says.
After managing to get away from all of my relatives, I sneak upstairs and into my old bedroom. I close the door behind me and sigh as the loud voices of my family and the music from the downstairs and outside area are muffled considerably.
I then sit down on my small, iron sleigh bed and enjoy the familiar feel of the soft, pink quilt underneath me. I take a deep breath, loving the smell of old, weathered and plenty of new books that come from my old book shelf at the wall to the left of my bed.
I stare across the room, toward my own reflection in the mirror that rests on top of my dark wooden dresser.
How many nights have I spent in this room? Before Hogwarts, dreaming of a magical prince that would one day take me away. I had always kept to myself, hiding myself in books and facts that no one even cared about. I didn't want anyone to see my true self, although I dreamed myself silly alone in my room.
And then, once I started attending Hogwarts, how many nights had I stayed awake at school, wanting so badly to be in my own bed at home? How many summers had I stayed awake wanting to be in my bed at school? How often had I fallen asleep recalling the adventures I had had with my best friends? How many tears had I shed when I realized how scared I knew I was for Harry and his once intense battle with Voldemort?
I marvel at how I had once been afraid of the future. I had once been scared of leaving Hogwarts, of getting a job, and of getting married one day. But now it's all before me, and I feel more than ready. I feel like if I didn't have this right now, I would feel hollow, empty without my life and without Harry.
I hear a soft knock at the door and it opens, revealing Harry himself.
I smile at him.
"I thought I saw you come in here," he says, coming inside and closing the door behind him. "What's up?"
I shrug, "Nothing, just sitting and thinking."
"You want me to go?" he offers.
"No," I reply. "Come sit with me."
He does so, sitting beside me on the creaky bed, "What're you thinking about?"
"Hogwarts," I say slowly. "Life in general."
"All the good stuff," he nods.
I laugh, "Exactly."
We fall silent for a few minutes, listening only to the sound of my family downstairs. I'm looking at my walls, admiring some of the pictures hanging on them, but I can feel Harry's eyes on me.
"Hermione," he says softly. I look at him as he continues, "You're not having second thoughts about this, none at all?" he asks.
I shake my head, "Why would you think that?"
He shrugs now, "I don't know, it's just- I've wanted to do this- God- forever.... But I don't want to- I won't do it if you're not one hundred percent sure you want to."
"Harry, you don't have to worry," I twirl of piece of his hair around my finger and smile. "I've never wanted to do something more in my life."
He smiles, taking my wrist and holding my hand in his, "Really?"
"Really."
He takes a deep breath, as if he's extremely relieved.
I put my free hand on his neck, it's extremely smooth and I'm sure it smells delicious, I rub it a little and lick my lips, "You know I love you."
"I know," he tells me. "But- You're sure you want to marry me, right?"
I laugh, "Don't ask me again or I might change my mind."
He's about to say something but I cut him off, kissing him fiercely. At first he's kind of taken off guard, but then, when I snake my hands around his neck he circles his arms around my waist. I push him backward and he falls against my pillows. He laughs against my lips and I find myself playing with his hair, enjoying the soft, sweet feel of the strands between my fingers.
He breaks away for a second, "Mrs. Potter...."
I smile brightly, "Not just yet, Mr. Potter," and I kiss him again.
After what seems like only seconds I hear my mother call from the kitchen, "Dinner!"
Harry and I break apart and look at each other, both thinking the same thing. We get up and go to the door, holding hands as we go.
Just before he opens the door, with his hand on the knob, Harry takes a deep breath along with me, saying, "Show time."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Throughout dinner I find myself hardly eating. It's not that I feel sick from nervousness or anything, which is what I would have expected. No, I just can't even focus on eating when I'm so excited to tell everyone the news. I manage to eat a little bit though, not wanting anyone to think I'm acting too odd.
After dessert, when all the plates are cleared and everyone is left sitting around the table, drinking their coffee and talking happily I take my ring out of my pocket and put it on under the table. Harry looks at me meaningfully, as if asking 'Now?' I nod.
Once the current conversation ends I speak up before another one can start, "Everyone," I begin, feeling the heat creep up my face as everyone turns to look at me. "Harry and I have an announcement."
Everyone looks at us expectedly, as if they can almost guess what I'm about to say.
I grab Harry's hand on top of the table and squeeze it, "We're getting married."
At first everyone's quiet, and for a moment I'm scared.
Then, all once it seems, everyone begins to congratulate us. There are hugs and kisses and handshakes and pats on the back.
I can see Mum tearing, smiling brightly all the same. All of my female cousins keep asking me questions about my dress and when the planning is going to start. I notice Dad has a sort of sad, but proud smile on his face and he keeps patting Harry on the back at least twelve times.
The same words are passed around for the remainder of the night.
"Welcome to the family Harry!"
"When's it going to be?"
"Can I see the ring?"
"Mr. and Mrs. Harry Potter!"
"You kids are gonna have to kick the neighbors out and buy the house next door!"
The same words that we just can't get over hearing.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
After everyone has left I finish helping Mum clean.
"All right Mum, if you're think we're finished I think we better head home-"
"Actually I was hoping I could take Harry to the pub for a quick drink," Dad says.
Mom smiles, "That sounds wonderful, Hermione and I will have a nice cup of tea."
I nod, "All right," and give Harry a quick kiss before he heads for the door.
Author's Note: There you go, hope you all liked it!