Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of HP but I do own this little plot.
Author's note: This is the eleventh chapter and I've really had so much fun just writing this fic! Thanks again for all your reviews which always make me feel more encouraged to write more!
We're currently on one of the last tips to win her heart and I must admit it has been a very fun journey indeed. When we come to the final of these twelve tips I hope that you, my friend, will have been able to know everything about charming a witch and remembering how to do so, because you must remember that it's not just the winning over her that matters, but also nurturing the relationship that the both of you probably share by now.
Alright. So let's move on to the eleventh tip here:
11. Do sweet (not to mention romantic) things for her.
Most wizards are more romantic than witches give them credit for and it's up to you to prove her right on that one. So like most of the steps in this book, the key to doing sweet and romantic things for the witch of your dreams must come to the right juncture, the right moment. Don't just go around doing sweet things for her when she's in a bad mood, if not the gesture will go unappreciated. You must watch for the right time and act on it.
Now, what kind of sweet and romantic gestures will make them melt at your feet?
Simple things can even be the most romantic gestures; you just need to make sure it's at the right time that you perform such acts. For an example, if you're walking home together after a date and its cold out, offer her your jacket if you notice her shivering. During a romantic scene in a movie, hold her hand, and when she turns to look at you, smile at her. Simple things that don't require much thinking are the sweetest gestures that can sweep any witch off their feet.
Like most of the tips in this book, this step is also based on good timing, so make sure that it's the right moment to do that, before doing it.
So what are you waiting for? Go and sweep her off her feet….and into your arms!
-12 Fail-Safe Ways To Charm Witches, Chapter 11, Sweet Things
The late afternoon sunshine was warm on her face and she lifted her face to its welcoming rays, feeling its warmth seep into her skin. Hermione Granger then angled her face slightly, such that she was now looking at Harry, who was also looking at her, a warm, affectionate grin on his face, brightening his emerald eyes as he reached out to tuck a loose curl behind her ear.
She knew she probably looked a mess right now, at least her hair anyway which she was completely certain, was loose and slightly frizzy, drying in the sun now after their playing in the water just now. Her damp bathing suit was now covered up by a colorful sarong which she had knotted around her body hastily as they strolled along the tideline, hand in hand, taking in the final sunset. Her feet were bare, as were his, their slippers being left with all the rest of their items further down the beach.
This had been one of the best days of her life to say the least.
Harry had suggested, a few days back that she take a day off from work, just as he did and they could go out to this "little island" that one of his colleagues who was Muggle-born had taken him to for fishing. Hermione had agreed and now, she was glad that she had taken Harry up on that. They'd spent the entire day just on the island, which although was mostly desolate was a beautiful place, and they'd just goofed the morning off, going into the waves when they felt like it, sitting on the beach, soaking up the sun when they were tired or even just like now, taking a walk on the tideline.
"What are you thinking?" Harry nudged her slightly, such that she looked up from where she had lowered her head to watch the waves lap slightly around her ankles before retreating, leaving its foamy white surf.
She looked up into his face and smiled, squeezing his hand and standing still for a moment, as a sudden gentle sea breeze came about and ruffled the edges of her fringed sarong, and his slacks. "Don't move."
Harry did as she commanded, an expression of bewilderment crossing his face as she turned slightly on the spot to take in the sights around her and to look at him, her smile growing wider, with pure pleasure. "Hermione, what are you doing?" He asked, cupping her cheek, a playful smile now curving his lips.
Hermione continued to walk on, her eyes never leaving his. "Just remembering that scene in my head." She leaned up against him slightly, "Thanks Harry. This has been one of the best days I've had in a long while."
"No problem," Harry entwined his fingers between hers, grinning. "It's been a good day, hasn't it?" His eyes met hers and she could see the light laughter sparkling in them, "I've had a lot of fun too." He gently brushed a kiss against her forehead as they continued to walk on, their feet sinking into the damp sand.
They walked on for a while, the warm sunlight making Hermione feel slightly tired. It had been a really fun and long day, she admitted, the playing in the waves had probably tired her out there. She blinked once or twice sleepily, hiding a small yawn her hand as she looked out towards the blue-green sea, momentary tears blurring her eyes.
"Tired?" She blinked a few more times, snapping out of her dreamy reverie and turned back to look at Harry, a slight smile on her face and nodded. "It's been a long day," She offered, but was quick to add with another grin, "But a good long day."
Harry paused then and let go of her hand, before walking slightly ahead of her to crouch down slightly while she looked on curiously. "Climb on, I'll carry you for a while." When she hesitated slightly, he turned around, a playful edge to his voice, "Come on, you don't want me to stand here looking like an idiot all day do you?"
Hermione could only smile as she looped her arms around his neck and allowed him to hoist her up onto his back and leaned her head against his frame as he continued walking on easily. She closed her eyes and felt the cool rush of the sea breeze wash over the both of them, welcoming and quiet and she instinctively snuggled into him, wrapping her arms around his neck tighter for a minute.
Just then, Harry's voice carried over his shoulder to reach her ears. "Hermione?"
"Hmmm?" She responded sleepily, still leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Do you ever think about what's going to happen in the future?"
Hermione looked up at that question, her sleepiness fading momentarily at the question. She leaned her chin then on his shoulder, her eyes staring thoughtfully out at the desolate stretch of beach that was now in front of them. "Why the sudden question?"
Harry did not look at her as he answered but she could hear an odd note in his voice as he replied, "I was just curious, you know, you bringing up memories and all that… it just makes me wonder if… we'll remember all this in the future."
Hermione frowned slightly at the answer, "Of course I will remember this!" She protested, slightly affronted at his insinuation that she would forget. "Didn't I just say that I was making this scene into a memory? How could I forget?"
Harry angled his face towards hers with a small smile on his face, "I know." Just then he changed his direction towards the shelter of some palm trees whose leaves were now still, the breeze having passed. "Come on, let's go sit down." He paused before adding teasingly, "My legs can't take much more of carrying you, you know."
Hermione smacked him lightly on the shoulder, as he winced audibly, playing along. "You take that back, Harry James Potter! That was not nice!"
He set her down on a small sand dune in the cool shadow of the small grove of trees, laughing as he did so. "Alright, alright. I take that back. You're not heavy. It's my legs that need more bulking up."
"And don't you forget it." Hermione schooled her features into an expression of mock-sternness as she shook her finger in his face playfully. And with that, the both of them burst into laughter, the high, joyful sound carrying on the air.
After Hermione had managed to get her laughter under control, she pulled her legs in to her chest quietly, watching the golden ball of the sun sink silently below the bluish-green waves that were now lapping away from them, its end unknown. The surroundings were bathed in the rosy glow of the sun's final rays before it would dip under the waves, leaving the earth in darkness.
Hermione smiled in pleasure. It was such a beautiful sight. One of these days maybe she and Harry and Ron could come here and spend a night, she mused, it would certainly be wonderful. She would have to bring Luna and Ginny here too, she knew they would enjoy such a wonderful sight. Or maybe she would just hint to Ron and Draco about it and let nature take its natural course…
"Hermione?"
She adjusted her position to see Harry stand from where he had been seated next to her on the sand dune, his face a mask of uneasiness and apprehension, a stark contrast from the happiness that had been glowing on his face a few minutes ago. That expression startled her slightly and she could not help but frown in concern. "Harry?"
Whatever he did next was so completely unexpected that it left her shocked, stunned, feeling all the adjectives of those emotions…as well as an inane happiness that she knew she would remember for the rest of her life.
He dropped to one knee in the sand, his expression no longer worried, but serious as he looked up at her, his eyes shining quietly with deep caring and love for her.
"Hermione," He began, his voice slightly soft. "You know how just now I was talking about future plans?"
This struck her as an odd way to begin a proposal later but at that point she was too stunned to actually even acknowledge the fact in her mind that Harry was proposing to her. She could only nod in response, knowing that her eyes had probably widened right now and she was unable of saying anything.
"Hermione," his voice was stronger now. "I asked you that because I wanted you to be part of my future. I want to be part of your future." He paused for a while and Hermione could see the intensity of his feelings reflected in his eyes which were darkening with every word that he spoke. "I want to carry you throughout your life, no matter what comes along."
"Hermione," He carefully withdrew a small, silver diamond band from the pocket of his slacks, his eyes never leaving hers and she could sense his anticipation, his nervousness as to what her answer would be. "Will you marry me?"
There was a silence after his question and she could almost sense him slightly wilting, in the deafening silence of her not answering immediately. But inside her she could feel wave after wave of extreme happiness sweeping over her entire being, overwhelming and paralyzing her to some extent as she stared at the diamond which was now glinting in the
There was never really any other answer that she wanted to give to him anyway.
"Yes," She whispered, finding sudden tears of happiness blurring her eyes and she blinked hastily, hoping for them to quickly subside. "Yes, I'll marry you." She inhaled sharply and shakily, letting a full smile stretch across her face which she knew was aglow by now. "I want to be part of your future too."
And with those words, a grin that mirrored the pure happiness she was feeling appeared on his face, and he gently slid the circlet onto her finger, the ring that would bind her to his future and him forever.
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