A/N: And just for the fun of it... :)
The Choice
"Harry, where are we going?"
"You'll see."
"It's freezing out here! Why couldn't we have just stayed by the fireplace in the café?"
"And miss this? Not a chance!"
"And...you're sure you know your way around here?"
"Hermione..."
"Okay! I believe you...what?"
"Here..."
"..."
"Is that better?"
"...A little, yes. Your hand is certainly much warmer now than it was earlier."
"..."
"Are you laughing at me?"
"No, of course not! I was just thinking about that expression you had on your face...can't get it out of my head."
"What did you expect? You surprised me. I just wasn't expecting what you said."
"..."
"...But I am...glad."
"...So am I."
"..."
"If your face wasn't so pale from the moonlight, Hermione Granger, I would say you were blushing."
"...Can't help it."
"I know...I like that about you."
"..."
"Okay...I don't think it's very far now."
"I thought you knew the way."
"I've only seen it once...ah...here it is, look!"
"Oh my...it's beautiful."
"..."
"..."
"See the reflection in the water? It's like one sky on top of the other...you can't tell where one ends and the other begins."
"..."
"Nice out here isn't it?"
"...Yes...very. How did you find this place?"
"Many days wandering these woods and hills...thinking."
"About that girl you 'met', per chance?"
"...Yes...something like that."
"..."
"And until tonight, that poor bloke didn't think he'd ever get the chance to 'meet' the famous Hermione Granger."
"...Well, you were right. I'm glad I met him...I'm...glad we found each other."
"..."
"But you're still going to get it for teasing me like that, Harry Potter."
"Hey, you weren't exactly forthcoming yourself, you know. I had to be sure."
"..."
"I had to know absolutely that you were as much in love with me as I was with you."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Harry?"
"Yes?"
"Do you mind if I ask you...when exactly you knew you had...feelings for me?"
"...Well, like I said, it happened sort of gradually...I'm not sure exactly."
"..."
"I must confess though..."
"What?"
"...I never really liked the idea of you and Ron together. It made me feel...lonely and left out, somehow."
"..."
"...I mean, I thought it was just because the three of us had been friends so long and it seemed like you two were going off on your own and leaving me behind. But after the war I began to realize that wasn't why I didn't like it."
"Why was it?"
"Because...I felt like Ron was taking you out of my life...away from me, forever. I can't tell you how much it bothered me."
"..."
"You must have noticed my awkward behavior at the Burrow...at all those Weasley 'family' dinners."
"...Yes. Now that you mention it."
"..."
"But you told him you thought of me as your sister, Harry."
"...I know. I was trying to find some way to console him for what happened. I didn't want him to run off again, Hermione. I was a coward..."
"Harry...I understand. So...you didn't mean what you told him then?"
"...At the moment I thought I did. Then afterwards I regretted saying it...horribly. But by that time it was too late...I couldn't take it back and I hadn't yet realized how I really felt about you."
"..."
"..."
"Harry, what's wrong?"
"I was just thinking..."
"...What?"
"You realize of course...if we do this, our history with the Weasley clan will come to a rather...swift end. The good part of it, at least.
"..."
"..."
"Maybe it isn't that bad, Harry. I mean...who knows what will happen?"
"Hermione, you know as well as I do, even better than me in fact...Ron will never let this go. Not this time."
"..."
"I mean...it's bad enough that you broke it off with him. But when he finds out that you and I are...well, together...that would be the ultimate betrayal for him. He'll never forgive us."
"..."
"You know I'm right."
"...Yes...unfortunately."
"..."
"...And Ginny too."
"...I know...I mean, despite what I said in the café, I feel terrible now thinking about her."
"..."
"And Ron has been my best mate all these years. I've always felt secure in believing that would never change, Hermione. And yet, here I am now...not only taking his 'girl' away from him, but dumping his little sister in the process. If Mrs. Weasley doesn't crucio me into the next life, he probably will."
"Harry...I'm sorry."
"...For what? You're not to blame for anything."
"..."
"If anything, it's my fault. It's just that I realize that I got so caught up in everything between us tonight and didn't really think about the consequences of it...until now."
"Consequences? Harry...do you regret what you said back there at the café?"
"...No...Hermione...no. Absolutely not!"
"..."
"...Look at me..."
"..."
"You are the best thing that's ever happened in my sad, little story of a life. I know I've never said these things to you before, but I'm saying them now. I've been such an idiot, Hermione. I see now that...well, like you said, I should have recognized what I had in front of me. I should have realized who was standing beside me...who stood up for me...who really cared about me...who...truly loved me."
"..."
"...And yes, it pains me to think that I would hurt Ron or Ginny. I don't want to lose them, I really don't. They are part of our lives after all. But if having you with me, if holding you like this, and sharing what we have together means I lose Ron, Ginny, and everyone else we know in this world...then I choose you, Hermione Granger...I choose you."
"...Harry..."
"..."
"..."
"So, is that settled then?"
"...Yes."
"Good. Here...let's wipe those tears before they freeze on your face and you end up with a permanent smile."
"..."
"And you're blushing again."
"...I just can't believe this is happening, that's all."
"...Neither can I...neither can I."
"..."
"...Come on. Let's get you back where it's warm."
"..."
"..."
"Harry."
"...Yes?"
"We'll get through this somehow...like we always have...together."
"...I know, Hermione...I know..."
THE END