Who: Hermione and Harry
When: After the freeing Draco from the Dungeons, Backdated
Where: Emmeline's Mansion
Statis: Complete
Rating: PG



So much for not coming in late. Harry entered the mansion in quiet a state. He was dressed so nicely and covered in his own blood from the fight. His shoulder was killing him and he only hoped there was something he could clean it out with upstairs in Hermione's bathroom. He'd told her where he was going and he knew the school well enough that he was able to get Draco out, only having to stun a few people. They'd never remember what happened or who it was.

Making his way up the stairs, he pushed the door open with his good shoulder, his hand pulling away from his bad one to see if he was still bleeding.

Hermione sat up with a start when she heard the door open and sleepily blinked her eyes. "Harry! What in Merlin's name happened to you? You're covered in..."

She slipped out of the bed and pointed to the bathroom. "In there... now."

"Hey," he said a weak smile on his face and nodded, not wanting to argue with her about this one. His hands undid the buttons to his vest as he made his way into the bathroom, dropping it to the floor and started on the buttons to the dress shirt. "Stray hex clipped my shoulder, but I got him out and no ones going to even remember I was there."

He cringed as he pulled the fabric off the wound, not sure if he wanted to see the damage or not.

"Sit down so I can take a look at that," she said, helping him to remove his shirt. Hermione accioed her wand to her hand and carefully examined the wound. She cast a spell to clean and disinfect it, then added a healing charm before she applied a bandage.

"You know, just once I'd like you to come home to me in one piece. Is that too much to ask, love?"

"Oh come on, what fun would that be?" he smiled, watching her clean up his arm. He looked back at her and how intent she was on working on him and how shambled she'd looked from being taken out of bed. "Hey," he whispered, his hand moving up to stroke her cheek.

Slowly it slinked behind his neck and he pulled her down carefully to kiss him. "Thank you."

Hermione smiled as she pulled back and just nodded. "You don't have to thank me. I've had years of practice keeping you out of trouble and taking care of you."

"Just being polite," he smiled back, getting up off the jon. "So, he's out and going to his mother's and hopefully he'll manage to stay out of trouble for a while. No on should remember me being there so Bellatrix can blame one of them for him getting out. But more importantly..everyone is free from the Muggles and you and I have some more time on our hands." Harry gave her hand a squueze and kissed her cheek, making his way back out into the bedroom.

"Mmm... now that's a plan that I like. And I'm hoping you're going to actually be staying around without running off this time?" she asked. "Because I don't much like wondering where my boyfriend is all the time."

"I'm not going anywhere. No more running away because everything I need is right here. Not going anywhere unless you know about it, I promise." Making it over to the bed, he sat down on the edge.

"Good." Hermione followed Harry back into the other room and slid back into bed. "So besides the hex to your shoulder, how did it go?"

"Good. Jinxed a few people and wipped their memories, went in and let him out. He actually listened to me which was a miracle in itself. We snuck through the hidden passage ways and the only bump we hit was the guard on the way into the woods." Harry pulled the sheets back beside her and crawled in, groaning as he made himself comfortable against the pillows.

"Draco actually listened for once? Will wonders never cease..." Hermione rolled her eyes and waited until Harry had gotten himself settled. She rested her head on his shoulder and draped an arm over his waist.

"Right?" he sighed finally giving up and sank into the pillows. His hand ran up and down her arm. He kissed the top of her head, laying there for a while in the silence with her.

"Missed you," he said after several silent moments, placing another kiss on her head.

"I missed you too," she whispered. "I was so worried about you while you were gone..."

"Sure Ginny had something to say about that didn't she," he sighed. "I don't want our relationships to be compared to one another all the time and all I seem to be doing lately is running off and doing stupid things like when I was younger and I don't want to be that person anymore. I want..I want to fight beside someone. Have that real relationship, I'm always talking about. I promise. No more running. Just you and me now Hermione." His hand swept under her chin to tilt it enough so he could kiss her on the lips this time.

Hermione pressed her body tighter against his and ran her fingers up into his hair. "Actually, Ginny hasn't said anything bad to me about you," she murmured. "She's been nothing but supportive to me."

Harry blinked several times. Supportive? Could that really be the case? He smiled a little, happy that Ginny didn't seem to dislike him to much anymore and it showed hope that they're friendship was salvaged still.

His head leaned into her touch and he rolled her onto her back, his body hovering over her. He smiled down at Hermione, lowering himself to kiss her passionately. "Love you.."

"I love you too." Hermione smiled and looked up at him, caressing his cheek. "So the next time you even think about something stupid like what you did? I swear I will hex you myself."

"I'll be expecting it." Harry smiled at her and laid down, his head resting on her chest as he exhaled all his stress. The bed was huge they'd been given and as tall as Harry was, even laying the way he was, his feet didn't dangle off the sides. He closed his eyes, lulled by the sound of her heart beating against her chest.

Hermione smiled warmly and stroked her fingers through her boyfriend's hair. She watched him silently, just glad that he was finally back with her again. "I'm so glad you're safe," she whispered.

"I promised you I would be. I will always come back to you Hermione. No matter how bad things get and if we're torn apart in some awful battle. I'll always come back." Harry whispered, his tone tired, but alert.

"I know... but it didn't make me worry any less," she replied, smiling and still playing with his hair. "And you'd better come back to me. I've gotten very fond of the title 'girlfriend'," she teased.

"I have other titles I want to give you," he smiled, tilting his head up to look at her. "In due time that is. So I don't plan on going very far at all."

"Okay love, it's a promise." She grinned shyly and craned her neck to brush her lips against his. "I never got a chance to say thank you for the present you owled me."

"You don't have to thank me for those. They were part of your birthday present. I'm just sorry I wasn't around for your birthday. I'll make it up to you. Anything you want. Name it." Harry sat up a little more, letting his hand push some of her hair from her face.

"I wouldn't mind another vacation," she joked. "Maybe a weekend away for just the two of us?"

"Do you want to go see your parents? I haven't seen them since graduation. And I haven't been to Austraila in years. And we need a break from the UK for a while. Unless there is someplace else you'd like to go?"

"Actually, that wouldn't be a half bad idea. Mum and Dad were always asking about you, so I know they'd love to see you again." Hermione grinned and ran her fingers through his hair again. "Unless maybe you've been someplace else that you're dying to take me?"

"I'd walk across the street with you and be content Hermione. As long as I'm with you I don't care where we go." He smiled and leaned into her touch, resting himself on her once more. He winced softly from the pressure on his shoulder and sighed. Damn Malfoy was more trouble then he was worth sometimes.

"Then Australia it is. I'll ring my parents in the morning and find out when's a good time for us to visit." The moment Hermione saw him wince, she frowned in concern. "Do you want a pain potion, love?"

"No I'm fine. I just moved wrong." He smiled at her and took her hand, kissing her knuckles. He looked at her hand, his fingers twirling around her ring finger lazily.

Hermione just smiled as she watched him, a quizzical expression on her face. "Sickle for your thoughts?"

"Hmm? No, just weird not seeing a ring on your finger," he said quietly. Even weirder that he had not spoken to Ron about it yet. That or his friend was ignoring his owls on purpose.

"Why would I have a ring on m finger?" she asked. Hermione raised an eyebrow as she continued to watch him.

"Ron gave you one didn't he?" Harry frowned a looked up at her. "I mean I know you guys aren't together anymore, but I dunno..tired I guess."

"A ring? No... he never gave me one." She shook her head and caressed Harry's cheek. "There was a bracelet once and some earrings, but never a ring."

"Oh.." He could have sworn Ron talked about it. Could it be he never grew the nerve to give it to her? He looked up at her when she rubbed his cheek and he smiled. "Do you want a ring?" Harry chuckled a little, his smile a little brighter.

"I don't know... what kind of a ring do you have in mind, Mister Potter?" Hermione asked, a playful twinkle in her eyes. "I've nver been one of those girls who wears a lot of jewelry, but I can make an exception if it's something that holds a lot of meaning."

"I was thinking about going into town and putting a nickle in the machine and trying my luck. Maybe one of those candy pop ones," he laughed, sitting up in the bed completely taking her hand.

"Get me a cherry one," she replied with a laugh. "Or maybe a blue raspberry one." Hermione laced her fingers with his and gave Harry's hand a squeeze.

"W.." Harry laughed again, suddenly getting very nervous and his stomach flipped a few times. Was she seriously just playing along or was she really interested. "What if it did mean something..a great deal?"

"If it did mean a great deal, then I would seriously consider whatever it was that it meant." Hermione tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and swallowed nervously. Is he actually talking about what I think he's talking about??

Harry stared at her for a long time, thinking carefully. How much they'd been through, how much he cared about her. Everything felt right with Hermione, effortless. Offically they'd only been together a few months, but they'd been close to years. Hermione had just opened the door to him and he'd have been a fool not to walk through it.

Getting up out of the bed, he moved to the closet where his things hung going through the pocket of one of his jackets. Been a while since he'd been in this jacket. Last time he'd gone to see Sirius. Finding what he was looking for he walked back over to the bed, sitting down on it. He held up in his fingers a tiny silver band with a diamond in it. "It was my mum's. Sirius gave to to me before he passed away and told me that when I found her, I'd know."

"It's beautiful," she whispered. Hermione sat up and leaned over to look at it more closely. "When you found who?"

It almost felt like Harry forgot how to breathe. His hand was shaking a little now and he stared at her looking at the ring. Carefully he took her hand in his. "Person I know, I want to spend the rest of my life with.."

"Harry..." She swallowed nervously and looked into his green eyes. "Are... are you asking me what I think you are?" she whispered softly.

"Hermione..we've been there with each other through it all and I've always cared about you greatly, loved you. But now I love you in a completely different way. We're best friends and I can't see myself without you in my life." Harry shifted himself to sit up a little more in the bed. "Hermione..will you...will you marry me?"
Hermione flung her arms around Harry's neck, hugging his tightly as she exclaimed, "YES!" She burst into tears and buried her face against his shoulder. "Yes, yes, oh Gods... yes."

Harry caught her as she threw himself at him, surpressing the wince as they fell back on the bed. He held her close, kissing her cheek. "Hermione, please don't cry.." he chuckled, pulling back. He brushed her tears away with his thumb, finding her hand to slip the ring on her finger. "I love you."
"No, no... it's okay... it's happy tears," she whispered. Hermione sniffled and grinned happily at him. "And I love you too."

She sniffled again and looked down at the ring, watching as the diamond sparkled. "It's gorgeous, love... are you sure you want me to have your Mum's ring though? You're positive?"

"Well it doesn't go with a thing I own and its not my size.." He took a good look at it on her finger, smiling. How long had he had that ring and he finally built up the nerve to ask her. He'd lost hope he was going to find someone, thinking at one time it would go to Ginny, but no. Hermione was the one it belonged to and he she was the one. He needed her. "I've never been so sure of anything."

Hermione laughed softly at the joke and wiped away the tears. "I'll treasure it, love. And it's never coming off my finger. I have to ask though... what are we going to tell Ginny?"

"I think..for now it might be best not to tell anyone." He took the ring off her index finger and called his wand over, tapping it on one of his shoe laces to turn it into a chain. Threading the ring onto it, he placed it around Hermione's neck. "If she's asks, I gave it to you, nothing more. I don't like lying to her..but you and I both know how upset she'd get.."

"Harry..." She paused as he placed the chain around her neck. "That's not fair. Ginny's my best friend and I'm tired of lying to her... the two of us just started patching things back up. And I want her to be my Maid of Honor."

Harry stared at the ring around her finger. He shook his head but he knew she was right. They had to tell Ginny. "Just have to get used to her hating me I guess.."

"She'll be mad, but she won't hate you. And if you lie to her again, then she really would hate you." Hermione stubbornly removed the ring from the chain, placed it back on her finger, and handed the chain to Harry. "We're either engaged or we're not. This isn't something to hide or be ashamed of. It's something we should be celebrating with our friends and family."

"We are. Of course we are." Harry brought her hand to his lips, kissing it. "But I already know what everyone is going to say. We've barely started going out, this is awful soon.." He shook his head angrily. "God I am so sick of being judged by people and they haven't even found out yet. I love you and we're getting married and the only person's opinion I care about is yours. Tell her. I have to ask.." Who was he going to ask to be his best man..

"Exactly. No matter what anyone else thinks, what ultimately matters is if we think we're ready for this step." She leaned in to kiss him and smiled. "Stop worrying so much about being judged. We have better and more important things to concentrate on."

"I think that's a good idea. Any idea who you're going to ask to be your best man?" Hermione asked curiously. "Oh Gods! My Mum is going to be absolutely ecstatic when we see them and tell her the news!"

Harry looked up at her and then back to his lap. He'd always intended it to be Ron, but it may not have been the best idea this time. He would have asked Sirius, but that option was gone. "I guess I'd ask Remus. He'd do it right?"

"I'm sure he would. Remus loves you like a son, Harry... there's very little that he wouldn't do for you." She stifled a yawn and lied down, gently pulling Harry down with her.

He smiled because he knew she was right. There was a lot to think about like location and guests and people to ask to be in the wedding. He laid beside her, pulling her into his arms. "We're engaged.." he whispered, a smiling hinting on his lips. It felt weird, but at the same time, right. Like it should have been this way long ago. He felt a little behind the times.
"We're engaged," she repeated, smiling happily as she snuggled in close to him. "Merlin... I can't believe I'm going to be Mrs. Hermione Potter!"
"Yeah..Hermione Potter.." He smiled more, kissing the top of her head. "I love you. And I can't even tell you how happy I am right now."
"I love you too, handsome." Hermione closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. "By the way... I'm making breakfast in bed for you tomorrow. So don't even think about doing anything but relaxing tomorrow."

"A whole day in bed? Think I might go mad," he grinned, relaxing into the pillows. He didn't realize how exhausted he was till he finally calmed down.

"You won't go mad. I promise." She smiled and pulled the blanket up over them.

"Mmm.." he hummed, his head resting on top of hers. "Good night Hermione.."
"Night, Harry... I love you."