Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of HP but I do own this little plot.
Authors note: I'm having exams now so I might not be able to update as frequently as usual. But rest assured, I'll do my best. Thanks for all your reviews because they really encourage me. Keep them coming!
We're certainly moving fast now, seeing as how we're already on the tenth chapter, which means the tenth tip. Two more down to go and then you, my friend, will have charmed her heart to have only you. But let's not get too hasty now; let's keep focused on our goal here. So here's the tenth tip:
10. Never, ever forget the important dates.
This is an extremely important point that so many wizards seem to ALWAYS neglect. Witches are always hoping deep in their hearts that wizards will remember important dates in their lives and most wizards just go about happily doing the opposite. The witches then have to grudgingly remind the wizards about the important date and the wizards then rush out to get her a present which takes out the pleasure out of that witch's special day. So you, my friend, will be the one to change all that and let her enjoy her special day, for once.
Bookmark that day in your calendar, write in down in bright red on your hand if you must (and don't wash it off) but just by any means remember it and don't forget! If she has to remind you, then you have failed in completing this step. If you somehow get any hints from someone around her that today is a special day to her, rush out immediately to get her something before she catches on that you have forgotten.
Witches love wizards to remember their special day and it could be ranging from the really obvious ones that you should know by now, like her birthday Valentine's Day or even your one year anniversary. If you manage to go one up by surprising her with gifts on a special day she didn't even know about, like the first day you both met, etc, then you, my friend have outdone yourself and you can trust me on this that she will be beaming with joy throughout the entire day.
So mind you, don't forget now!
-12 Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches, Chapter 10, Not Forgetting
Hermione looked at the leaf of parchments that had just arrived from St. Mungos' this morning and sighed, fingering the first piece as she stared at its words absently. Her mind was far from work today, she knew, and it would take her nothing short of a miracle to focus on researching how to find a cure for this new disease that had surfaced.
She leaned back in her chair, still holding the parchment but she was now staring at the opposite wall, thinking. Merlin, why was she making such a big fuss out of this? It was no big deal really. It didn't matter if he had forgotten, she really didn't mind, she told herself. She attempted once more to focus on the subject at hand, but instead put down the parchment with yet another sigh.
She knew how important this day really was to her and she couldn't help but feel slightly- alright- more than slightly disappointed that Harry had actually forgotten.
Today was their one-year anniversary, so to speak. And Harry had seemed to completely forget about it.
Hermione Granger, although being a self-professed workaholic and usually not giving two hoots about such things, still cared very much about this date for some reason and she was rather surprised and upset that he had forgotten. Harry had been a wonderful boyfriend to her thus far, always seeming to read what was on her mind and what she needed, he would do for her and so she had been a little disappointed that he had forgotten.
But yet, no one, she reasoned with herself, not even Harry could be perfect when it came to this sort of thing. She was already lucky enough to have such a wonderful boyfriend like him and she knew it too. It really didn't matter that he had forgotten. After, most wizards she knew too always forgot such important dates as well.
She tried for a smile, hoping to make herself feel better and straightened up in her seat, pushing her hair back from her face. Yes, it really didn't matter. Maybe she would just hint to Harry that it was their anniversary to him later tonight and she knew that he would definitely pick up the hint. Maybe he would send her flowers or something at work.
And with that, she began to get to work on the sheaf of parchments in front of her, trying her utmost to erase that little nagging doubt still left her mind that he had actually, really forgotten.
****************
But as the day went on, her hopes sagged even more.
Hermione, although trying to have convinced herself that it was mp big deal that he had forgotten, knew that no person who claimed not to care anymore would have gotten out of her seat practically every five minutes to walk out to the reception area just to make sure that there had been no presents or cards or owls had come for her lately.
But still, her receptionist remained stubbornly silent throughout early part of the day and she was forced to return to her seat empty-handed every time.
When he had come by her office for lunch later, grinning, her hopes had been momentarily raised, but it was only when he told her that Ron had gotten the two of them tickets to the Quidditch World Cup for this year seeing as how his team would be playing in the finals. Hermione had then agreed, rather half-heartedly on her part to go and put an obligatory smile on her face to show how glad she was that they could after all go to support Ron.
All throughout lunch, Harry had cheerfully chatted about the new assignment they had just received at work today and the foreign transfer from Transylvania that had just arrived this morning and spoke with such an odd accent (rather like Viktor's, although Viktor was Bulgarian and his accent was thicker) and asked her about the new assignment she too had received from St. Mungos' this morning and asked if he could be of any assistance to her in helping her figure out the cure. And all throughout lunch, Hermione had simply agreed with everything Harry had said without consciously knowing that she was agreeing.
Inside, however she felt like she was shriveling up and dying.
She had even tried hinting to Harry during the lunch, asking him what was today's date, to which he had replied that it was May the 16th, and that was it. Nothing more. Nothing less. After that she'd just given up, feeling that there was no point in trying to give him hints because obviously he couldn't take it.
She had been so quiet throughout lunch after that that even Harry had noticed it at last and had asked her concerned, if she was feeling alright and she had simply forced yet another smile on her face and just say that she was completely well, she was just thinking about something. But Harry's expression had still held a flicker of concern even when he dropped her off at her office, making her feel slightly better for the first time today at his concern for her.
But after that, she had still found herself unable to fully concentrate on her work that afternoon, hoping that he would owl her with dinner plans or something of that sort at a nice restaurant, and her heart had jumped when her receptionist had poked her head in with an owl from Harry….
Only to sink when she saw his brief message:
Mione,
Ron has a date with Luna tonight (Interesting development isn't it? We're going to have to ask Ron about that tomorrow) so it's going to be just the two of us. I'll get something back for dinner tonight, so you don't have to buy anything on the way home or cook dinner. See you back home.
Love,
Harry
She had sighed upon reading his familiar script and replied back with a short 'alright'. By the looks of how things were going, it didn't seem as though Harry was actually going to remember at all. And it disturbed her slightly that he didn't remember at all. But yet again, she reasoned for what must have been the millionth time today that it was perfectly normal for wizards or guys to just forget the important dates.
After all, guys usually looked at the big picture, rather than the details and she couldn't fault Harry for that.
But she couldn't help feeling slightly sadder when she went home and as she stood outside the door to their apartment, fumbling at the lock with her keys, and silently thought: Oh well. There's always next year.
And pasting a smile on her face, she entered the apartment…
Merlin.
The main lights had been turned down; giving the room a dimmer look and Hermione could see candlelight gleaming from the direction of the kitchen. Slipping off her shoes silently and taking in this curious sight on wonderment, she noticed a bouquet of roses and nosegay wrapped in a gaily bundle of white and pink gauze lying on the table which stood by the side of the hallway and picked it up quietly, inhaling their sweet, musky smell, and closing her eyes at their scent.
"Hi, Mione."
She whirled around to see Harry leaning on the doorjamb of the kitchen, his arms crossed and smiling at her reaction to the flowers. She could feel her lips curve in a small smile, as she cradled the bouquet in her arms carefully, feeling the welcome surge of pleasure and happiness flush throughout her body.
"Harry… what…?" She could only manage, her smile growing wider. He did remember after all. He hadn't forgotten it was their anniversary after all.
"You thought I would forget our anniversary, didn't you?" Harry smirked good-naturedly as he walked towards her, removing the bouquet from her arms gently and pulling her into a hug. "How could you think that of me?" He teased her, pulling away slightly, to tap her on the nose playfully.
"I….I…" Hermione shook her head. "You didn't say anything all day. You didn't send me flowers at work. You didn't give me any sign that you knew at lunch!" She mock-accused him, her gaze half-teasing and half-baleful as she looked up into his emerald eyes. "How was I supposed to know?"
"Yeah, it was kind of hard." Harry admitted, tightening his grasp around her waist. "I saw the way you seemed to look quite miserable at lunch today," Hermione's eyes widened at this. "And I didn't say anything, because I wanted to make it more of a surprise." He gently kissed her, once, twice. "I wanted this day to be special."
Hermione could only smile up at him to kiss him once more. "Thank you." She paused for a minute to reach up a hand to caress his cheek. "You really know everything about me, everything I'm thinking." Her eyes shone with tenderness. "Thank you."
Harry grinned down at her, brushing a light kiss across her forehead. "Hey, no problem. How could I forget anyway?" He released her reluctantly but instead reached for her hand. "Ready for dinner?" At the unspoken question in her eyes, he added, "Its steak and mushrooms, your favorite."
Hermione laughed, squeezing his hand. "Lead the way, Mr. Potter."
Ahahaha. Tell me if you liked it. Please review!