Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of HP but I do own this little plot.
Author's note: Thanks so much for all the reviews you guys have given me. I'll try my best to update whenever I can but because my exams are approaching, I may not be able to update as frequently but I promise I will update whenever I am free.
So you want to win the witch of your dreams over? Well, look no further because 12 Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches is here to help! WE will be able to help you win the witch of your dreams over in 12 easy steps! So waste no more time simply pining for the lucky lady, let's go into the first basic step of how to charm a witch!
If the witch of your dreams is not yet a friend of yours, I strongly suggest this:
1. Compliment her.
Compliments are always the best way to break the ice. And if the witch is a friend of yours, compliments will also help to strengthen that friendship and make it into something more. But do remember you must be subtle in giving these compliments and do not compliment her too generously or too often, this would make her suspicious of your intentions and that is the last thing you need.
Compliments as such could range from what she is wearing (which is probably the most popular compliment a wizard can give to a witch) or something wonderful about her. You are in love with her, are you not? So it shouldn't be too hard to think of something nice about her and tell her that. Every compliment should be given with the intention of making that witch happy and therefore you should know at least what the witch takes pride in (e.g. her Quidditich skills, her marvelous talent for essay writing.) Compliment her on that, and the desired effect will materialize.
Witches often need to be told how pretty they are, or how smart they are, and if you tell her all that, you, my friend, are well on your way to winning her over and making her yours!
-- 12 Ways to Charm Witches, Chapter 1, Getting Started
Harry stood by the door, waiting for her to appear in the living room. Shaking back the sleeve of his coat, he glanced at his watch. It was already 8.45 and he had to be at work by 9.30, just as she did.
The three of them had gotten an apartment together after the war and resumed their lives as if nothing had changed. Ron had decided to try out for a spot on the Puddlemore United Quidditch Team and had gotten in as a reserve for now. But still, he often spoke of his job with a lot of excitement and Harry couldn't help but feel thrilled for his best friend who had been a rather good Keeper on the Gryffindor Quidditch team when they were in Hogwarts.
He had been thinking about playing Quidditich professionally as well, but had decided not to, eventually, knowing that if he should get into any Quidditch team, there would probably some sort of fame involved and that was the last thing he wanted right now. He was content with a simple life, one that did not require him appearing on any form of newspaper and thus had decided to undergo Auror training to become an Auror.
Hermione had decided to become a Healer, and had undergone training just like Harry was doing now, and passed the examination, becoming a full-fledged Healer within a few months. Quickly she had risen in the ranks to become a senior Healer, one that specialized in the healing of rare and unknown diseases where she tried to figure out cures for them. She often returned home, almost exhausted as he was after a day of grueling training but he could see how happy she was in this job.
The Auror training facility was located next to St. Mungo's, in case any trainee got injured and had to be brought to the hospital immediately which meant that both Harry and Hermione went to work together while Ron usually left the apartment earlier than the both of them and came home later than the both of them as he had to travel to the Puddlemore home field which was a distance from their apartment.
Although they could have simply Apparated to work every morning, they somehow preferred to walk, as the hospital and the training grounds were not very far from where they lived and they often walked home together from work and walked to work together, just talking about work and other things that were going on in their life.
Glancing at his watch again, he couldn't help but wonder why she was taking so long. It wasn't like Hermione to be late, in fact, most mornings, it had always been him who was late, and she would always give him an exasperated look when he emerged from his bedroom, despite the fact that he was only late by a few minutes.
Just as he was about to go to her room and check on her, she appeared in the living room, some of her chestnut curls falling over her shoulders and the rest pulled up in what would have seemed like a messy bun and wearing the prerequisite Healer's uniform, with her navy jacket over it, a scarf in the different shade of blue tucked into its collar. Her expression was harried and frustrated, a look that he had often seen when their NEWTS had been approaching.
"Sorry, I'm late." She apologized, as she walked towards him quickly and pulled her shoes from the cupboard he was standing next to. "I overslept."
"It's okay." He shrugged, allowing her to place a hand on his shoulder to steady herself as she struggled to slip on her heels with one hand. "Merlin knows I do that all the time."
When she had straightened up and adjusted her scarf once more, he opened the door and they stepped out, one after the other, down the stairs and out into the streets where the icy cold wind cut through them like a knife. They were quiet for awhile, the wind drowning out their thoughts as it pushed against the both of them.
"You okay?" He addressed her almost hesitantly, still seeing the worry etched onto her face, wondering what had caused her to oversleep. Lately, she had always come home from work with a frustrated expression, one of desperate worry and after dinner, she would always shut herself in her room where he could distinctly hear the furious scratching of quills and the sound of pages being turned.
He knew it had probably something at work, but hadn't wanted to probe; hoping that whatever it was would soon be over. But now he was getting more and more worried about her, the way the shadows if insufficient sleep had materialized overnight and how her face would always appear to pale, drawn and deep in thought.
"It's nothing." She exhaled sharply, her breath making a little puff of condensation, the frustration on her face intensifying.
"It's not nothing." He retorted, worry clouding his features as he took hold of her arm, pulling her to a sudden stop in the middle of the street. "Tell me what's wrong."
Hermione sighed deeply, but kept her eyes trained to the street as she began to talk. "It's…complicated. There's been this outbreak at St.Mungo's. I can't seem find the antidote for it and people keep dying no matter what potion we give them." She looked up into his face, painful helplessness evident in her expressive brown eyes.
He was seized with a sudden urge to hold her close in his arms, to brush a light kiss across her forehead to tell her it would all work out fine, but settled instead for gripping her shoulders such that she was forced to look up at him.
"Listen to me," He said firmly, his emerald gaze not leaving her light brown ones. "You were, no, are the smartest witch I know. If anybody can save these people and find a cure for that outbreak, only you can." He spoke slowly, emphasizing every word.
She could almost hear the sincerity in his voice, the firm belief he had in her abilities and that warmed her inside instantly, despite the frigid wind that was swooping around them. It somehow meant so much to hear that he believed in her, that he knew that she could find a way out.
"Do you really think I'm smart?"
He released her shoulders, breaking out into a slight smile. "Do I look like I would lie?"
She too, felt her lips curve into a small smile, the first smile that he had seen for the first time in many days, a welcome sight that made his heart soar. "No."
And with that, they resumed their walking, the snowflakes beginning to lightly fall on the icy pavements, with the promise of a new day.
And so ends the first chapter. What did you guys think? Let me know!