What's the Worst That Could Happen?

Harry wiped a sweaty hand against his robes, feeling it shake as he once again fidgeted with the small present he had in his pocket. He stared across the room towards where Hermione sat by the fire, calmly reading a book while munching on an apple. It was a cozy scene, the snow lightly falling in the window above her, the firelight dancing off her face and her hair.... It would have been perfect....

If only he wasn't so bloody nervous!

He heard someone come up behind him but before he could turn to see who it was a sharp pain rapped on the back of his skull and he stopped trying to guess.

"Oh, lay off it, Ron," he mumbled, rubbing the back of his head with one hand. Ron Weasley's lopsided grin came into view. "I'm going, I'm going..."

Ron chuckled. "You've been standing there since she started that book."

Harry glanced over to Hermione again and saw that she had about two more pages till she was done and, like any other book, it was massive.

"Bloody! How does she read so fast?" Harry ran one hand through his hair and backed off a bit to collapse in the nearest chair.

Ron smiled and sat down next to him. "Come on, Harry! What's the worst that could happen?"

Harry saw the million terrible scenarios run through his head but only voiced a few to Ron.

"Instant death, disembowelment, not to mention she could slap me or just say no which would be worse than anything else..."

Ron nudged him in the side, motioning up to Hermione. "You better act quick, mate. She's leaving..."

Harry's eyes shot up just in time to see Hermione close her book. She started packing up her things and Harry felt his mouth go dry, the small present bumping along his leg, reminding him what he was supposed to be doing.

"Go on, Harry!" Ron hissed in his ear. He gave Harry a small shove forward before disappearing up the stairs. Harry took in his surroundings quickly, trying to figure out exactly what he was dealing with. Only about 10 or 15 students were still in the common room. The leftover wrapping paper scattered the ground as they shared their gifts with one another. He spotted Ginny Weasley sitting at a table with her friends. She caught his eye and gave him a wink, mouthing 'go on'...

Taking a deep breath and deciding this was the last chance he would get, Harry walked over to Hermione who was now gathering up the last of her schoolbooks.

"Uh, Hermione?" He stuttered on his words, hoping she wouldn't notice.

She turned her head up to him and gave him a smile. "Oh hi, Harry! Nice holiday?"

"Ah, yeah, it was great...." Harry cleared his throat once and searched for the right words.

"Look, Hermione, I need to ask you something..."

"Muhum?" She said nonchalantly as she searched for something in her bag.

"Well, err.... I was just wondering..."

He trailed off and she finally noticed how nervous he was.

"You okay, Harry? Do you need me to take you to the hospital wing?" She laid a hand on his shoulder, looking very concerned. Harry stumbled even more as he felt her touch. He didn't mean to, but he stumbled back a bit, out of her touch.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "What is it, Harry?"

"Well, I haven't given you your Christmas present yet!" It was a dumb excuse, but he was making this up as he went. He thrust a shaky hand into his pocket and brought out the small box that he had so delicately wrapped.

Her face lit up as she saw it and he silently prayed that she would like what was on the inside as much as she liked his wrapping job.

"Wow! Thanks Harry!" She took it out of his hand and began to carefully unwrap it. He was careful to study every muscle on her face as she saw what was inside.

It had taken every ounce of creativity and skill for Harry to come up with the right gift for Hermione. He had confessed to Ron last summer of his desire to ask Hermione out, and they had been working on the right present ever since. Ginny had even helped, and Harry was almost positive she would like it.

She gasped before reaching in and pulling out the ring and studying it intently in the firelight.

"Oh gosh, Harry! This is too much! What on earth did you pay for this?"

It was quite breathtaking...Harry had to agree. It was a white gold band, smooth and glittery. It was crowned with three small and carefully cut white jewels that were imbedded in the band. Harry figured diamonds would be too much, and he didn't want to accidentally make it a color she didn't like, so he had settled for a white wizard stone that the salesman called "Larasi".

Harry tried to act casual and shrugged. "It was nothing. I thought that you deserve it. I think it would look good on you."

Hermione smiled and slipped it carefully onto her right hand. "Oh Harry this is beautiful..."

Before he knew it she had thrown herself on him in a large hug. "Thank you so much!" she whispered in his ear. Pulling back, he saw the blush on her face and could tell his own face looked similar.

"Hermione, I wanted to ask you something..."

"Sure, Harry."

Now or never buddy...

"Do you want to go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow?" He blurted it out very fast and he wasn't sure if she had caught it. But the one this he didn't prepare for was her laugh to follow that question, which it did.

"Harry! Are you sure you're feeling all right?" She asked him between giggles. "Maybe I should take you to see Madam Pom-"

"Hermione, please," Harry figured it was time to get serious. "I want you. To go with me. To Hogsmeade tomorrow." He said it slower this time, hoping she would be able to tell that he wasn't joking.

She frowned at his question and furrowed her eyebrows, as she seemed to be thinking it over. Harry could have sworn his heart stopped beating until she spoke again.

"Oh that was good, Harry," she said, rolling her eyes and turning away. "You almost had me there..."

She started looking through her bag again. Harry's eyes narrowed and he grabbed her arm.

"What are you talking about?"

She rolled her eyes again. "You can go tell Ron I said for him to keep me out of your stupid dares." She tutted as she turned away. "Honestly!"

"Wait just a second Hermione!" Harry was getting mad that she didn't understand. "You don't seem to get what I'm trying to say so I'll say it again. Will you go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow?"

She smiled sweetly at him and grabbed her bag. "Nice try, Harry, but it's not working..."

She pushed past him and he noticed that the ring he had given her was now sitting on the empty side table. Grabbing it he rushed towards her.

"Wait Hermione! Come on! At least tell me what you're talking about!"

He stopped short as she turned to face him, a half smile on her face as if she really wasn't sure whether or not she should be happy. "Listen, Harry. Nobody asks me out. Tell Ron that next time you guys should try for a more popular girl."

She turned to leave again but Harry quickly grabbed her arm.

"Come on, Harry, enough is enough."

He lowered his voice, aware that they were attracting attention in the common room. "Okay so maybe nobody has asked you out before, but there's a first time for everything, right?" Harry was amazed that he was able to be so bold, but he felt is courage growing. "I'm asking you now."

Hermione didn't meet his eyes. She looked towards the ground and seemed to be holding back tears. When she finally looked at him, she had a penetrating glare.

"Why, Harry?"

He was startled at the question. Why? He thought to himself. You're beautiful and friendly and smart and fun and cheerful and I can't believe that you've never had a boyfriend before and you would be amazed at how jealous I was when you went to the ball with Krum...

He was snapped out of his reverie by her sigh and he snapped his head up to look in her eyes.

"See? You can't even tell me why you want to ask me out...."

She turned to go, but Harry tightened his grip on her arm. "Wait! Hermione, please..."

She dropped her head. "Please just stop, Harry. Please..."

He pulled her closer to him so that he could look in her eyes. A few tears had gathered in her eyes and it pained Harry that he had mad her so sad.

"Give me a chance, Hermione..."

"Why?"

Because...

Harry once again thought to himself, trying with all his might to say the words that he so deeply felt. But before he knew it, she had turned away again and was already marching up the stairs.

This is it...

he thought. I've lost her already...she doesn't believe.

What could he say? What could he do?

"Because I love you, Hermione..." He said it softly and sweetly, he wasn't even sure she heard him. But as she stopped walking up the stairs quite suddenly, he knew she had.

She slowly turned and walked to him, stopping about a foot away from him.

"It's a strong word Harry. Don't use it if you don't mean it..."

Harry was flabbergasted. Women! Why can't they just believe you when you tell them something?

She turned away again, but this time, he wasn't letting her go. His hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

"Hermione! Why don't you believe me! Please...please believe me..."

She hung her head and he noticed that it was agonizingly quiet in the common room. He could just imagine how many heads were turned to them right now and how many eyes were boring into the back of his head. But it didn't matter right now. Nothing mattered but letting Hermione know the truth...

"You're serious..."

Harry grinned as she turned to him, a scared look on her face.

"You really are.... You're asking me, Hermione Granger, on a date?"

Harry grinned wider. "Is that so hard to believe?"

Hermione grinned mischievously. "Well it never has happened before. And I definitely didn't expect it to be you..."

Harry quickly reached down and grabbed Hermione's other hand, making sure to look straight in her eyes.

"Does that mean yes?" he asked.

Her face broke out in a smile and she began to giggle.

"Yes."