Life Goes On

Chapter 4

Harry laughed, partly with relief, but he laughed mainly because of pure joy and happiness. He eventually quieted and slipped the ring on her finger in silence. He bent down to kiss her hand. Hermione felt a wet drop on her hand and gently reached out and tilted his chin upwards. Harry pulled back and held his head down.

"Harry?"

Hermione then saw Harry’s shoulders start to shake. If there was one thing in the world Hermione loved about Harry, was that he wasn’t afraid to open up and let his emotions free in front of her. He would never try to be macho around her. It wasn’t because he was a sissy or weak, but because he was strong. It took great strength to cry in front of a woman.

Harry got up off the floor and walked towards to window that faced the garden. He crossed his arms across his chest. Hermione sat and waited patiently for Harry to finish crying. When she saw him wipe his cheeks, she got up and stood beside him.

"The way you’re crying, it would seem to me that you thought you made the biggest mistake in your life asking me to be your wife," she said. "I love you, you know Harry, I love you more than anything. You showed me how to be a true Gryffindor when we were at Hogwarts. You taught me how to take the train of life full speed ahead. Harry, you taught me how to live. I will always love you for that. But then I started to love you because you saw me as a person and not as you sidekick as everyone expected you to. You grew to like me and then love me. I remember when Draco said at dinner in seventh year, ‘What do you see in that mudblood, Potter?’ Then you said, ‘This mudblood as you refer her to is not my girlfriend, but my soulmate and if you don’t watch your mouth, my foot will be the soulmate to your jaw, Malfoy.’ Harry, you didn’t know, but I went to my dorm and cried, what the hell did I get myself into, my head kept screaming. But I knew you were my soulmate too, so I said to myself if you and I remain together, I will be the happiest woman in the world."

Harry turned to face her and Hermione saw his eyes were looking bloodshot.

‘Hermione, life has been unfair to me in more ways than one. I lost my parents before I was two, a warrant has been out for my death since I was one. I grew up in an abusive household. I made enemies on the first day of school. I brought back the worst evil ever at fourteen. Ron’s parents, the people who I loved as parents died, killed by the evil I brought back. Charlie and Bill killed when I was in my last year at Hogwarts. Hogwarts blew up killing all my professors two years ago, Dumbledore missing since last year. Sirius has abandoned me. Remus dead…"

"You pathetic whimp!" She yelled, cutting him off. Harry took a step back from her in shock. "Stop feeling sorry for yourself! That is not like you Harry James Potter! You are standing right here in front of me bashing your skull against your defeats! We all get curses Harry, but I always thought you were the last person to kill yourself over them! Count your blessings, even though your blood parents died, you gained five parents, The Weasleys, Dumbledore, Sirius and Remus. You are not dead despite that warrant! You made enemies but you made more friends than those crappy enemies. You had two best friends, Ron and me. You disposed of the evil that was brought back against your will! And you are about to be happily married to the woman you love, then we will have a truckload of children all with green eyes, shaggy black hair and that damned scar that just knowing your bad luck is genetic!" Hermione smiled as she said this. "Harry don’t get upset by our engagement." Harry smiled at her when he heard this. "Now please tell me why you were crying, you big baby."

Harry sighed and pulled her over to the bed where they sat together.

"Hermione, my life is hell! I am not upset by the fact that I have suffered, but by the fact that all of that is now over."

Hermione looked at him in astonishment. "Well, Harry we can always study ways to bring your beloved Voldie back from the dead, but are you sure this is what you want?"

"I am impressed, you now have a nickname for him," he said cheekily.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Harry, let me guess where this is going. You feel life has nothing to offer you in that aspect anymore?"

Harry nodded.

Hermione snorted. "Harry, why do you want to die before you have made me pregnant once a year for the rest of my fruitful life? Don’t you think life has other adventures for you?"

"Hermione, you are a funny, bossy, brazen chick, you know." He laughed at her as she glowered at him.

"Glad to see you are laughing at my expense, but are you happy now?"

He laughed, "Yes, Hermione, I was always happy, life just has a way of changing your moods, you uplifted mine for me and … I promise I will make you pregnant so you can have my children." He patted her stomach lovingly.

"Good. Now can we celebrate our engagement properly?"

Harry picked up Hermione’s left hand and studied her ring for a moment. "You know," he said, "You deserve more than this and me."

Hermione turned Harry’s face towards her and cupped his face in her hand. She used her thumb to trace down his cheek while she gazed lovingly into his eyes.

"You put me up higher than I belong. We are right for each other Harry, and you obviously thought so." She said tilting her head to the ring.

Harry looked back into her big brown eyes and saw all the love pouring out and he knew she was right. He squeezed her hand then reached out and gathered her into his arms. His hands ran up and down her back and up into her hair where they got tangled.

"Uhh, Hermione?"

"Mhmm?"

"Do you have a scissors?"

*************************************

"Climb every mountain, search high and low, follow every rainbow, every path you know….."

"What is that?" Ron asked.

"Muggle song."

"Oh," Ron said in a tone of resignation. "Why don’t you teach me?"

"Ok, I will." Eve then put the kettle on the stove to boil some water. "Ron, I passed out again this morning, while you were washing the car."

"What? Are you serious? Do you know why?" Ron asked worriedly.

"I have my suspicions," she answered while soaking her toast in a bowl of orange juice then eating it.

"What are they then?" Ron asked while moving to her side.

Eve then took the bowl and drank all the orange juice in one gulp.

"Ron, you may need to sit down." Eve told him while staring intently into his eyes. Ron felt his knees give way as he became trapped by the brilliant blue of her eyes. The brilliance of them reminded him of somebody else’s eyes he knew back at Hogwarts…

"Ron! Sit down!" Eve practically shouted at him.

Ron sat heavily in the chair wondering why his wife was having these drastic mood swings of recently. Eve sat beside him and held his hands.

"Ron," she began, "I have been getting these dizzy spells lately and I have passed out twice already. My diet is erratic all of a sudden, I have skipped my period twice and I am a doctor, so I know these signs…"

"You’re pregnant aren’t you?" Ron asked grinning.

Eve laughed, "How did you know?"

"You don’t think I have been married to my wife for three years and not know her menstrual cycle?"

Eve was speechless. "You know my cycle?" She finally managed.

"Of course I do honey, I want to know everything about you," he smiled at her.

She stared into his eyes and said, "I am happy. I think we will make great parents."

Ron then leaned forward and kissed her. He looked into her eyes then tentatively placed a hand on her stomach where he felt a small almost indistinguishable bump.

"Hello little one, this is daddy."

*************************************

"DRACO!"

"What?? Hmm?? Snitches…The Lion Witch and Wardrobe! Where is my Goddamned brief?! Yes…..that one……the one with slytherin printed on the backside! No…..that’s my nylon thong…Can’t you tell the bloody difference between briefs and thongs…..why I don’t wear boxers…..they allow too much room for erections….can’t wear when Ginny is around..." he then grinned, "She makes me wild!"

Ginny guffawed and a dreaming Draco snapped out off his sleep.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He asked in amazement.

While sputtering, Ginny managed to answer him, "Draco, just a while ago I thought you reading muggle books was bad, but then, nylon thongs, erections because of me…"

"Wait!" He cried. "I get the picture. Do me a favour Ginny, when I am asleep put the silencing charm on me please." He then blushed furiously.

"Of course, Draco. But nothing is wrong with you having a healthy reaction," she said innocently.

Draco then scowled. "Come here," his voice now hoarse.

Ginny climbed back into bed with him and he rolled on top of her and began to kiss her. Probing her lips open while he thrust his tongue down her throat. She moaned in delight. He allowed his hands to roam over her already naked body while he kissed her all over her face and down her neck and down…

"Draco?" Ginny started.

Draco looked up and scowled at her. "Ginny, I was just about to start on you tit, what is wrong with you?"

"Is this a one night stand?" She asked quietly.

Draco sighed and sat up in bed. He stared up at the ceiling thoughtfully. After a while he looked down at her and studied her face for a moment then look into her eyes.

"No, it isn’t."

***********************************

About 8:00 that evening…

"Herm!" Harry called while as he paced the hallway downstairs waiting for Hermione to come down. He was waiting patiently for her for over an hour, and if he didn’t leave now, he would go back upstairs and keep her all to himself for the rest of the night. He then heard footsteps coming down the stairs. ‘Damn!’ He thought, ‘Can’t go upstairs now!’

He stopped pacing and waited for her to come through the door. His breath got caught in his throat as he stared at the gem standing in front of him.

Hermione was wearing a long, slinky, sliver dress that shimmered according to how the light from the crackling fire hit it. It accented her curves and the way it was like liquid on her made her more magical than a veela. Her hair was swept up into an elegant bun. Her face shone with natural beauty even though she had on a little make up. She was wearing the sapphire necklace he had given her for her birthday last month and the engagement ring was noticeable on her hand.

Harry could not move from his spot by the doorway and Hermione chuckled.

"Not even Stupefy could stun you the way you are now," she smiled mischievously.

Harry finally snapped out of his semi conscious state and eyed her with appreciation and hunger.

"You are…are…Oh damn it, my vocabulary has failed me!" He muttered nervously.

"It’s Ok Harry, I get the picture." Hermione excused him while she eyed him with great interest as well. He was wearing a along sleeved green silk shirt tucked into his black dress pants. His hair was all in spikes as he had washed it earlier on. His green eyes shone majestically through his glasses and the fire danced in his eyes.

"You do realize we are wearing Slytherin’s colours, don’t you?" Hermione said with a grin.

"Hmm," Harry mumbled thoughtfully, "you’re right, but I say we look better in these colours than Malfoy could ever dream of and sliver is gorgeous on you."

Hermione flushed.

Harry noticing her embarrassment, made his way to the cloak rack and removed their black cloaks. He put Hermione’s around her shoulders then did his.

"Come on," he said, "I forgot to make reservations."

He and Hermione stepped out the front door into the cool and windy night with their cloaks flapping and walked down the street by the light of the full moon making everything around them look either dark or blue. Hermione’s heart melted. She noticed the way the moonlight bounced off Harry’s face making it glow with a blue tint mixed with silver. His strands of hair moved with the wind making him look relaxed, powerful and magical. His black cloak moving with his step and to the beat of the wind making him look sinister and mysterious. The occasional sight of his green shirt enhanced the green of his eyes making him look beautiful. His sure and proud footsteps down the street made the only sound to be heard on this quiet London night.

Harry noticed Hermione looking at him intently. He stopped then turned to face her, their faces only inches apart. He noticed a steady blush rising in her cheeks thanks to the moonlight. He smiled.

"What’s so fascinating about my appearance that you can’t take your eyes off me?"

Hermione blushed even more. "H…H…Harry…I…uh." She gulped.

He smiled then took her hand in his once more and laced his fingers through hers. He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed them gently. A heavy wind blew and Harry’s hair flew at all angles, his cloak flapping wildly about him while his eyes sparkled. Hermione felt her cloak shift in the wind making her shiver.

"Are you cold?" Harry asked concerned.

"A little," she said, even though that was not the main reason.

Harry stepped towards her and kissed her. As he parted from her, Hermione melted and her knees gave way. She fell forwards into Harry. As her face hit his chest, she smelled the slight scent of his cologne mixed with cinnamon spice and pine soap. She snuggled closer to him and she felt his arms snake their way around her waist. He held her close to him feeling the silky material of his shirt and the soft fabric of his cloak. The wind blew once more and she looked up at him into the pools of green where he stared intently back at her. All of this seemed new and exciting to Hermione. This was a new Harry she had never seen and it thrilled her to the core of her bones. She had seen romantic Harry, vulnerable Harry, Strong Harry, Playful Harry, Peaceful Harry, Angry Harry, Wild Harry, Sad Harry, Happy Harry, but yet, this Harry was new and she couldn’t put her finger on it. She suddenly became aware of her surroundings as this non smiling Harry pulled back and placed his right arm around her waist and began walking again. She stared straight ahead of her daring not to look at him again in case she was intimidated or even frightened by this new person. But she looked anyway and saw Harry staring back at her, then after a few moments he smiled and she saw his perfect teeth, the familiar wrinkles around his mouth, the smile lines at the edges of his eyes, the warmth and happiness from his smile stretched all the way into his eyes and she knew he was still the same Harry, he was still her Harry.