A/N - ahh, the last chapter not as popular, which is a shame as I liked the Ron/Harry conversation (though so did many of you!). I hope this last chapter doesn't disappoint as there were quite a few comments on things that won't be answered here. Still, it's full of fluffy goodness. Thanks for taking time to leave a note, I love reading them.
Until next time…enjoy.
Chapter 5
For one of the rear times in her life, Hermione was enjoying being a girl. Wedding preparation was in full swing with the event now only a couple of weeks away, and the constant owls from Tonks were a blessed distraction from the confusion that was herself and Harry Potter.
Not that Tonks was being entirely helpful with the whole 'ignoring Harry' thing - as soon as the Auror had heard of Harry and Ginny breaking up, she began badgering Hermione to make her move.
Instead, Hermione had tried to keep her distance.
After 'The Kiss', she had been so angry at him - and angry at herself for responding like she did.
But 'The Kiss' had been amazing.
Incrediable.
It had made her compartmentalised mind a swirl of emotions and it took all her self-control not to disintegrate into a pile of emotional goo every time she saw him, so she tried not to put herself into situations where she would see him.
It had been very, very difficult.
Knowing that Harry was no longer with Ginny had made things worse. She watched him withdraw into himself as Ginny displayed her hurt for the world to see. If it hadn't been for the calming influence of Luna, the hostility between Harry and Ginny would've been unbearable.
As it was, Hermione found herself needing to make Harry feel better, or at least get a smile out of him. Which meant putting her own messed up feelings to the side and once more being his friend.
It had been very, very difficult.
But now, with the make-up and hair trial in full swing (as she continued fussing over her hair while a blissfully happy Tonks watched the progress with glee) Harry was the furthest thing from her mind. She was just Hermione Granger, bridesmaid.
By the time the wedding arrived, Hermione was in a very contented place. It had a lot to do with Tonks and more than once Hermione hoped that she would be so happy and relaxed when she ever married.
It wasn't until she was standing at the doors that led into the inner sanctum of the small church where the ceremony was due to take place that Hermione began feeling nervous. She was to lead the procession down the aisle and suddenly the idea that everyone would be watching her as she did so, scared her.
But there was no turning back, so when the doors opened, she smiled and started making her way to the alter at the other end of the aisle. Everyone was standing, and though she knew they were looking at Tonks, she couldn't help but feel every eye on her.
It wasn't until she glanced at the two men waiting for them that she felt her smile falter. Harry looked so handsome in his dress robes, his eyes watching her with such intensity that she could feel it in her very soul. Hermione was only partially aware of Remus as all she could see was Harry.
When she reached the alter and took her place to the side of Tonks, she shyly glanced once more at Harry only to find him still watching her. He gave her a small smile, a blush tainting his cheeks - she smiled back with a blush of her own. She tried to concentrate on the ceremony, but she couldn't. Harry was consuming her thoughts - the way he looked, the way he was watching her, this unknown look in his eyes.
She was definitely unnerved, her senses only returning when Remus and Tonks were pronounced husband and wife.
Hermione was then walking beside him down the aisle, making sure she didn't touch him in any way though the feel of him next to her was making her heart beat much too fast. Before she knew it, they were at the small hall where the reception was taking place; speeches were being made, toasts being taken, dinner eaten and the first dance was ready to be danced.
She had purposely not made contact with Harry as every time she even looked at him, she couldn't think properly. All through dinner, she made small talk with Tonks, making sure she didn't even glance in Harry's direction.
But now it was the first dance, and she was supposed to dance with Harry. Nervously, she stood when it was their turn to join Remus and Tonks on the dance floor. Hermione took Harry's hand, shyly looking at him as they made their way to the others, neither saying a word. He put a hand on her waist and tentatively led her into the dance, she stumbling slightly as her concentration wavered at the feel of him. Furiously telling herself to stop being so stupid, she paid more attention to where her feet were going so not to trip over him and embarrass them both.
"You look amazing," he said to her after a few moments, and she looked up at him to see if he meant what he said. As soon as she did it, she knew it was a mistake. The eyes that she loved so much were filled with the same emotion that she didn't recognise.
"Th…thank you," she stammered, quickly looking back down at her feet.
"It was a brilliant ceremony," he continued, almost cautiously, "both Remus and Tonks look so happy."
"She's been glowing all week," Hermione conceded, looking up at him briefly before glancing away, "they're really suited."
"Yeah," he agreed.
Neither said anything for a while, Hermione's mind so full of internal debate that speaking for her was not possible. She wanted so badly to get closer to him, feel his whole body next to hers - already he was close enough for her to be able to smell his distinctive 'Harry' smell, even feel his heartbeat - but she wanted to get closer.
Yet she knew she shouldn't - she couldn't! It would only lead to tears, her tears, and she had to stay strong. She had to remain a respectful distance. She couldn't look at him. She couldn't talk to him.
Which was very difficult when he was holding her as they danced.
She glanced over the top of his shoulder and noticed more people were now on the dance floor. She frowned slightly, wondering why no-one had separated her and Harry.
"I'm sorry," he suddenly blurted out, startling Hermione as her eyes moved from a smirking Ron to a blushing Harry.
"What?" she asked, confused.
"I'm sorry for kissing you," he clarified, his blush deepening, "you know, in the common room. It was wrong…stupid…and I shouldn't have done it. But I'd been thinking of you so much and enjoying the time we were spending together and you looked so pretty there, with the firelight in your hair and I just wanted to know what it felt like. But…but I was…it was…I'm so sorry for hurting you, I wasn't thinking."
Hermione watched him with amusement as his words came out in an embarrassed rush and ended with a deflated sigh. He looked so cute that she forgave him immediately - but she wasn't going to tell him that. Instead, she thought about what he had bumbled out.
"You thought I was pretty?" she asked finally, only vaguely aware that they weren't actually dancing but more moving around slowly in a circle.
"I think you're beautiful," he answered her with such conviction that she looked up at him once more.
"No you don't," she frowned.
"Actually, I do."
"What's going on, Harry?" she fired at him, uncertain where his thoughts were going, "how can you go from not noticing me to thinking I'm beautiful? It doesn't make sense. Is this…is this because of what's happened?"
"Knowing how you feel about me," he started, thinking hard as he spoke, "it made me look at myself and what I have. And how blind I've been. You've been there since the beginning and I've just taken you for granted, never really appreciating you and all you've done for me…"
"But that doesn't…" Hermione interrupted, still confused.
"Let me finish," Harry overrode her, a look of determination on his face, "please, Hermione, let me explain."
She nodded her acceptance as they continued their shuffle of circles around the dance floor, her mind whirling.
"I've been thinking so much these past months," he continued softly, "about everything - what I've been through, what I want to do with my life, you know, stuff like that. And I've realised that the only thing I'm sure of, the only thing that makes sense is that whatever I do, I need you there with me. I want you there with me.
"When I realised this, it scared me 'cause what you and I have already is special and…and I don't want to mess it up. But I started watching you and listening to you and thinking about you and, well, I stopped seeing you as just my friend and started seeing you as a girl…a woman…a beautiful, intelligent, independent strong woman who is everything to me. I…I don't know how I feel because the whole concept of l…love is alien to me. The idea that someone actually feels about me like you do, well, I don't understand it…"
"Harry…"
"…but I know that the only time I feel whole, complete, is when I'm with you. And…and I want to learn how to love with you."
By the time Harry had finished, they weren't even pretending to dance as Hermione stood and stared at him in shock. It was the most she could remember him ever saying and the fact that it was about his feelings was even more unusual.
And he had been talking about his feelings for her.
"What…what are you saying?" she managed to stammer out as she tried desperately to sort out everything in her head.
"I'm saying," he began, no longer embarrassed as if he had found a new sense of courage, "that I hoping that you'll agree to go out with me. On a date. As my girlfriend. Would you?"
"Go…go out with you?"
"Yeah," he smiled shyly down at her making her smile back at him, "it's the Christmas holidays, we have some free time, so…?"
"Yes."
"Yes?"
"Yes," she repeated, her smile growing into a grin, "I'd love to go out with you, on a date, as your girlfriend."
"Brilliant," he beamed, pulling her in closer as they started their shuffle once more, "brilliant."
"But," she began, making him stop immediately and look down at her, concerned, "there are conditions."
"Conditions?" he repeated nervously.
"Yes," she smiled with what she hoped was a reassuring smile, "conditions."
"Like what?" he asked hesitantly, though a smile was twitching the edges of his mouth.
"Well," she continued as she started to dance once again, unaware that the slow dance music had ended quite a few songs ago and that they were the only ones still together, shuffling around in their circle, amongst the more vibrant guests, "although we've been friends for ages, things are changing and I think we should take it slow…"
"Take it slow?" Harry quirked an eyebrow, "Hermione, we've been friends for nearly eight years - how more slower can things get?"
"Dating and being friends are two different things," she explained patiently, "and though our friendship is a fantastic basis for a relationship, it's going to be strange getting used to knowing I can do things to you that I couldn't do as only your friend…"
"I like the sound of that," he quipped.
"Honestly, Harry," she admonished with a blush, "get your mind out of the gutter! I meant holding your hand and such like…"
"Oh," he grinned, "I was thinking of stuff much more less friend like than that. I mean, we hold hands now."
"True," she admitted, "but holding hands as a couple means a whole lot more…"
"You're thinking about this way too much," he told her with a smile.
"Of course I am," she smiled back, "I am Hermione Granger after all. Which is why we need to take this slow. I've been dreaming about you returning my feelings for a very long time, Harry. I need to get used to the concept that that dream is now a reality…"
"Which means taking things slow," he nodded, "I understand. So how slow is slow?"
"Well," Hermione furrowed her brow, "I don't really know. Courting is…"
"Courting?" Harry let out a laugh, "Hermione, we're teenagers. We don't court!"
"We can do," she fired back at him, slightly hurt.
"Hey, I'm sorry," he apologised quickly, "I'm not making fun of you. It's just, I don't want to mess this up."
"Neither do I," she sighed, "perhaps we're putting way too much pressure on us."
"Perhaps," he shrugged, then pulled her in closer so her head rested on his chest and his cheek on the top of her head. She was sure she was melting.
She closed her eyes and just revelled in what was taking place. She and Harry were now a couple, they were together and it felt wonderful.
"Hermione?" he murmured after a few moments.
"Hmm?" she replied lazily.
"Everyone's looking at us," he said and she opened her eyes. Sure enough, they were the only ones on the dance floor with everyone watching with various amused expressions on their faces.
"Let them," she told him as she closed her eyes once more and just hugged him closer, "I don't care."
"Me neither," he agreed, paused, then, "Hermione?"
"Yes Harry?"
"I…I know you want to take things slowly, and I understand that, I really do," he rambled out, "but I've wanted to kiss you for so long now, and feeling you this close to me is making me…I want to kiss you more than ever. Can…can we perhaps go somewhere a bit more private?"
Hermione pulled back slightly so she could look at him and saw the same look in his eyes that she didn't understand when he was standing with Remus at the alter. Her brain was frantically trying to tell her that going off to some secluded nook with him was just asking for trouble and all her talk about taking thing slowly would be for nothing.
But her heart was saying she wanted to kiss him so badly it hurt and that the look she didn't understand was now very clear - it was desire. She realised that now because she felt the same.
With a small smile, she decided that it was time to take caution to the wind and follow her heart.
"Okay," she answered and she could tell he was expecting her to say no. But he didn't dwell on her surprise response for long as it was only seconds before they were off the dance floor, out the door, into the shadows where his mouth found hers and they were kissing madly.
"Wow," he panted when they finally came up for air.
"Wow," she echoed with equal breathlessness, "that was…"
"Yeah," he finished for her, pulling away from her and leaning against the wall at her side. They both stayed like that for a moment, catching their breaths when Hermione made a decision.
"Oh, to hell with taking things slow," she exclaimed as she turned to Harry, grabbed his face in her hands and kissed him once more.
As time went on, Hermione couldn't remember when she had last been as happy as she was now. Her relationship with Harry just seemed to grow from strength to strength to the point where she knew with every inch of her heart that he would be the only man for her. Becoming lovers after being friends for so long just seemed like a natural progression, in fact everything seemed so natural and right that any new challenge that they faced didn't seem scary or strange.
Just like the idea of living together once they left Hogwarts seemed like the thing to do, and making that home at Godric's Hollow felt right. When Hermione accepted the job at the Ministry within the legal department, it was as if the perfect job came up at the perfect time and she accepted the offer without a second thought.
Harry had spent a year building their home, enjoying the time just being him but jumped at the chance to teach at the school that had been like a second home for him - and they both agreed Professor Potter had a nice ring to it.
By the time they got engaged, Remus and Tonks were parents to a lovely little boy and Ron and Luna had finally married.
Their own wedding happened in the September, two years after the much laughed about slow dance that took place at the Lupin reception, the birth of their first child, Andrew James Ronald, coming a quick thirteen months later.
As she looked back, Hermione couldn't help but feel contented. She had a family she loved with a husband who was, most of the time, perfect. They had their disagreements, that was for sure, and at times his recklessness and need to put himself in danger to help others made her snap at him a bit too harshly - but the moments of happiness outweighed any tensions tenfold.
Sitting back in her chair, her hand resting gently on the swell of her pregnant belly, she watched Harry and their two year and a half year old son running around the back garden. It wouldn't be long before their guests would be arriving to celebrate Harry's birthday and the house would be full of the various Weasley's and other assorted family and friends. She smiled a contented smile, trying to find a more comfortable position as the little girl inside of her made her presence known with a kick or two.
"Everything okay, sweetie?" Harry asked as he held the squealing Andrew in a gentle headlock.
"Everything's perfect," she told him and knew, deep within her heart, that everything was.