He Returned

His emerald green eyes sparkled as he looked into her brown ones. The candlelight flickered, making his eyes look even more seductive.

'I have an important question to ask you,' he said to her.

'Yes?' She smiled and looked even deeper into his eyes.

'Would you marry me?'

***

'What?' She sat up in her bed. It was all a dream. She remembered the eyes, eyes she hadn't seen in three years, the smile she hadn't seen, but thought about.

'Snap out of it!' she said fiercely to herself.

'Who shot the cannon?' her roommate woke up and mumbled groggily.

'Rachelle, keep up!' she giggled, 'I was talking to myself! You need to get a grip, or a sleeping tablet!'

'Well, maybe if I didn't live with a mental, deranged, dysfunctional and annoying person, I would get some sleep, you are too much Hermione!' Rachelle muttered, searching the floor for her slippers.

'Accio Slippers!' Hermione mumbled to herself quietly. She had been able to do wandless magic since she had left Hogwarts. It was essential any way. When Hermione had decided to live like a Muggle and be normal, she had made a pact only to do magic every so often.

Hermione pushed the slippers under her bed and left the room.

'Hermione, have you seen my slippers?' Rachelle asked her.

'No,' Hermione said as she ran out of the room, shaking with laughter.

She walked to the kitchen, Hermione was trying to remember every detail of her dream. She remembered the eyes of the one she loved, remembered the pain of when he disappeared.

'Forget it!' Hermione said as she walked to the fridge and got some eggs out.

'Fried egg ok?' she called to Rachelle.

'Yes! Have you seen my slippers?' she asked. Hermione laughed gently to herself.

'Don't forget,' Rachelle said as she walked into the kitchen, 'I'm going to my parents for a week, so don't wait up tonight.'

'What ever,' Hermione muttered.

***

Hermione set the music sheet on the piano stand and sat on the stool. Canon by Pachelbel. If possible her favourite piece. She started to let to the music take over her mind. Hermione was half way through when she heard a loud knock on her front door.

Hermione let out a sigh and stood up closing the key lid as she went.

'Knowing my luck,' Hermione thought, 'it will be Rachelle's sister, Alexis, who could talk for Europe. Even if Rachelle isn't home she still barges in and talks to me.'

She shuffled into the doorway. Another loud knock sounded.

'Alright, keep your knickers on!' She cried through the door as she played with all the chains and locks. Hermione finished with the last chain and threw the door open.

She looked into eyes she hadn't seen in three years and remembered the last time she had seen them.

'Harry...'

'I wish all of you good luck through the rest of your lives and for the last time of your scholar career here at Hogwarts, farewell!' Prof. Dumbledore looked at all the seventh years and smiled proudly. 'But I need a word with the following students: Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy, please wait where you are.'

'What would he want me and a Weasel for?' Draco asked as soon as Dumbledore was out of earshot, he was only teasing. 'I just don't understand...'

'I don't know Draco, but maybe you should remember who saved you from Wormtail,' Harry said as he laughed.

Gryffindor and Slytherins were good friends after Harry and Draco had fought side by side against the Dark Lord.

'I just wanted to thank you for all you have done,' Dumbledore said as he came back to the four of them. 'You four were the ones who helped the most, I have been asked to give you these.'

He handed each of them a ring. It had the emblem of a phoenix engraved on it.

'Is this...?' Hermione thought she knew what it was and had started to stammer.

'Yes, you are all now members of the Order of the Phoenix,' Dumbledore beamed at the four of them. 'Now, go and catch your train, I shall see you all at the next meeting, you shall receive an owl exactly one week before it.'

They walked to the entrance hall together, where Ginny was standing.

'Ready to get out of here?' She smiled. 'It's so unfair! I'm the only one left now, I think I'll go in a big sulk and huff.'

'Whatever...' Hermione said she linked arms with Harry. 'Any way, you probably will be Head Girl next year so I don't know what you're complaining about.'

'She is right, you know,' Harry said, 'you have been totally brilliant and most of the Prefects think you look stunning, and I'm not just talking about the males.'

'Harry James Potter!' Ginny cried, 'You disgusting human, look there's a carriage.'

'Well, I've heard that rumour too,' Draco drawled.

'Draco, I will never forget this day, you just backed Harry up,' Ron pretended to faint as he sat down in the carriage. 'We need to revise 'Hogwarts: A History'. Page one million, three hundred and fifty-six thousand and two: Draco Malfoy of Slytherin admits Harry Potter, a Gryffindor, is right.'

***

Hermione didn't remember the ride on the train, but she remembered on platform nine and three-quarters.

***

'I may not have been very kind to you all at first but, I hope you can forgive me and not let it get in the way of our new found friendship,' Draco said to the four of them.

'We forgive you Draco,' Hermione said. She walked forward and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. 'Take care.'

Ginny followed her actions and murmured, 'Be good.'

'Don't do anything I wouldn't do,' Ron said. He walked forward and shook Draco's hand and clapped him on the back.

'I, of all people never thought this would happen but,' Harry said as he walked forward. 'I'm glad you're my friend.'

Harry followed Ron's pursuits and shook Draco's hand.

'Good bye, Potty, Weasel, Baby Weasel and Egg Head,' Draco said as he walked through the barrier.

'Harry,' Ron said as they realised it was their time to say good-bye, if only for a while, 'you have been an excellent person, friend, dorm mate, Quidditch player and Head Boy. I just want to say good bye.'

He stepped forward and gave Harry a hug.

'Hey, don't worry, I'm staying with Sirius and I'll invite all of you over, he won't mind,' Harry said as he let go of Ron.

'Hermione, you have been brilliant,' She felt tears prickling the back of her eyes as Ron turned his attention to her. 'I will really miss you.'

Ron hugged Hermione, she gave him a kiss and told him she would miss him.

'Hey, is it my turn yet?' Ginny asked slyly. 'Harry and Hermione. I just have to say one thing: I will really miss you guys. Promise to write?'

'We'll miss you too, Ginny,' Harry said and he gave her a hug. Hermione stepped forward and hugged her.

'Good-bye, Ginny,' she said.

Ginny and Ron walked through the barrier together.

Hermione looked at Harry and started to cry.

'What's wrong 'Mione?' Harry asked as he wrapped his arms around her.

'I...will...really...miss...all...this...' she sobbed.

'Hey, I'll write to you as soon as I get to Sirius', I promise,' Harry leanded forward and they shared a passionate kiss. 'I have to go, I promise I'll write.'

Harry turned and walked through the barrier.

***

That was the last time Hermione saw or heard of him.

'Can I come in?'