A Love That Will Last Forever

~~~~~~~~~~~~CHAPTER 3~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione was standing in front of the door to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. A bathroom she had gone into so many times before, but now, she was doing everything she could to muster up the courage to open the door.

'Great ghost of Merlin! Hermione Granger, pull yourself together! You are a grown woman, and this is just Harry.'

She extended her shaking arm, and opened the door slowly. Myrtle greeted her, weeping.

"Follow me," Myrtle slowly floated around the room, leading Hermione directly to the toilets. Hermione turned the corner and saw Harry standing in front of a beautiful little table, with two lighted candles (obviously enchanted, because they were hovering), and a dinner that appeared to be some kind of pasta. Harry reached for her hand, and pulled out her chair. She took her seat, and Harry walked around the table and took his as well. He looked at Hermione and smiled.

"Well, how is it?"

"Oh Harry, it's beautiful! But, I really can't believe were having dinner in here."

"Why not?"

She gave Harry a stern look, "After everything that has happened between us..."

"Of course I still remember. How could I forget? It was the greatest and worst night of my life."

"Harry, I'm so sorry. I know that made things a little odd for you. Well, for both of us."

Harry sighed, "Mione, why did you do that? I was in complete shock that something so wonderful was happening to me. But, of all places, in this bathroom, the night before I was certain to die."

"I suppose I felt it was a mistake. I was scared, Harry. The man I was in love with was about to go away, possibly forever, and I had just given him my most precious possession."

Harry grabbed her hand, "Mione, do you think it was a mistake?"

"No! Certainly not! I loved you Harry. It was perfect. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way."

"Ron knows. I told him the night of graduation."

Hermione gasped, "What did he say?"

Harry laughed and replied, "Well, he just asked me why it had to be Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and if we were going to become a couple."

"Hermione, it didn't happen just because you were afraid I'd die...did it?"

Hermione swallowed hard. "Goodness no! It just happened. But, afterwards I was quite worried. I was afraid you would never come back, and I'd be stuck with Ron!"

They both laughed, and then Harry noted, "We had better eat, the food is getting cold."

When Hermione had finished her dinner, she looked up and Harry and smiled.

"So, how is life as a famous Quidditch player?"

"I seem to be writing my name a lot more often these days," Harry chuckled.

"Now you have three reasons to be famous. The Boy Who Lived, The Man Who Defeated Voldemort, and a star Seeker."

They both laughed, and Harry gave her a light slap on the arm.

"You make me out to be some god or something, Herm. I'm just Harry."

Hermione flashed him a smile, and then realized her heart skipped a beat every time he smiled at her. 'You're right, you are just Harry. But being just Harry is what makes you so god-like.'

"Harry, do you remember the last day of school?"

Harry flinched, "Yes."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"No Harry, it will never be okay. I hurt you. And that's something I never wanted to do."

"It's okay. I understand now. Back then, I was seventeen year old boy with no idea what to do with his life. I didn't want to take no for an answer. I was being juvenile and selfish. I'm sorry I tried to push you into a relationship."

"Harry, this is great."

Why is she changing the subject?

"What's great Mione?"

"Being here with you, after all these years."

Harry smiled. She hasn't changed a bit. She's still just as gorgeous. His thoughts were interrupted by Hermione.

"Harry, did you miss me?"

"Did I ever?!?!" He reached across the table and grabbed her hand. It's a perfect fit...

"I missed you as well. Can I ask you something?"

"Ask away." Now Harry's heart skipped a beat.

"Do you still feel the same? I mean, do you....do you still love me?"

Harry's jaw dropped, "Is it not obvious?"

Hermione blushed a little and shook her head slightly.

"Hermione, I have spent the past six years of my life hoping you would contact me, even if it was just to say that you hated me. I just wanted to hear your beautiful voice. I've blown off every girl I've met, because all I wanted was to be with you. I've cried myself to sleep at night, just wishing we could be together. And every time I look out into the stands at a Quidditch match, my heart breaks when I don't see your smiling face. Life isn't the same without you. Hermione Granger, I told you I would always love you, and I hold true to my word. I love you more today than I did six years ago, as a seventeen year old boy who was scared to face the world without you by his side."

Hermione's cinnamon orbs were now filled with tears, and she looked at Harry and smiled. "That was so sweet, Harry."

"It was the truth. I love you Hermione."

"Harry, would you like to try....a relationship?"

"Only if you're sure. This is entirely your decision, love."

She tightened her grip on his hand. "I've never been more sure of anything in my life."

They both smiled, and Harry was completely overwhelmed with excitement.

"I suppose you can come to my place when I have a Quidditch match, and I can stay here when I don't. How does that sound?"

"Sounds great."

Harry gave her a puppy dog face. "What's that for?"

"Where am I going to sleep?"

"Oh," Hermione hesitated, "I presume you can sleep in my bed."

Harry's eyes widened, "Are you sure?"

Hermione stood up and walked towards the door. She turned around and said, in a seductive whisper, "Let's get out of this bathroom before we get ourselves in trouble.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione woke up the next morning in the comfort of Harry's arms. I feel so safe in his arms. She looked up at his face, and kissed his chin lightly. He looks so peaceful. And his hair is even messier than usual, if that's possible.

Harry shuffled and yawned. He looked down at Hermione and smiled. "Morning love."

"Good morning."

He kissed her on the nose, and then turned to look at the clock. "Hermione, you have a class in twenty minutes!"

"Great ghost of Merlin! I'm going to be late!" And with that, she jumped up and ran to the bathroom. When she emerged, she kissed Harry on the cheek and left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione was sitting in her second class of the day, waiting for her students to finish their tests. She always gave students a test on the first day, to see where they were in their studies. She was fumbling with her robes when she realized that she had tucked the Marauder's map in them before she rushed out the door that morning. She pulled it out, tapped it lightly, and whispered, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

She looked at the map and found Harry's name in the kitchen. He's gone to see Dobby.

Sure enough, that's exactly where Harry was. As soon as he entered the kitchen, Winky ran up to him, and tugged on his robes.

"Is you looking for Dobby, sir?"

Harry smiled and nodded his head.

"He's in the bathroom, sir. Would you like some food?"

"No, just a glass of pumpkin juice, please."

The other house elves heard him and he was surrounded with pitchers of pumpkin juice immediately. He took one of the pitchers and a glass, and thanked all the house elves. He had just taken a sip of his pumpkin juice when Dobby walked in. Harry took one look at him and spit out his pumpkin juice.

Dobby was wearing a curly, blonde wig and bright red lipstick. He was wearing a pair of neon green trousers, and a pink shirt with little hearts on it. His shoes did not match; one was an orange sandal, and the other was purple with yellow laces. When he saw Harry, he ran up to him, in a rather odd fashion, more like limping. But he had a huge smile on his face.

"Harry Potter! Dobby is happy to see you! You have done well in Quidditch, sir!"

Harry snickered, "It's good to see you too. Dobby, what are you wearing?"

Dobby smiled, with his big ears sticking out from under the wig, and replied, "I is wearing my new dinner outfit sir. Dobby has a date."

Harry tried to hide his shock, "Really? Who?"

"Well..." Dobby lowered his voice to a whisper, "Winky, sir."

Harry laughed, "Really?"

"Yes sir, Dobby is excited!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Harry assumed that Hermione's last class of the day would be over by now, so he walked up to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. When he entered the room, she had just dismissed the class. But there were three students still standing in the back, talking.

"John, Emily, Robert, class is over."

"Yes, Professor Granger," Emily replied, and the children exited the room.

Harry smiled at Hermione, and asked, "First years?"

"Yeah, do they remind you of anyone?"

"Indeed. But, she's not as beautiful as you were at that age."

He grabbed her by the waist and kissed her. A man walked up behind them and cleared his throat. Hermione's eyes widened and Harry quickly turned around to face none other than Severus Snape.

"Miss Granger, don't you think it's just a tad unprincipled to be snogging Mr. Potter in your classroom?"

"Oh bugger off Severus. Like you and Alexandra don't do the same."

Harry looked at Snape in shock. "You've got a girlfriend?"

"I don't see where it is any of your business Potter, but yes, I do."

"Well, Severus, what do you need?"

"Professor Dumbledore requests your presence in his office Miss Granger."

"Thanks Severus, see you at dinner."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hermione was standing in Dumbledore's office, waiting for him to arrive. She looked over at Fawkes, who was looking quite rough, and smiled at him. She remembered what Dumbledore had said to her last year. 'When I am no longer Headmaster, Miss Granger, I want you to have Fawkes. I feel that he would be the happiest with you, and I know you would give him a good home.'

Dumbledore walked in and cleared his throat to catch Hermione's attention.

"You requested my presence, sir?"

"Indeed. I understand you and Mr. Potter are somewhat of an item now?"

"Yes sir."

"Well, his staying in your quarters will not be a problem, as long as he does not disturb any of your classes. And, no students are to be aware of his sleeping arrangements."

"Yes sir. I have a question."

"Yes?"

Hermione took a deep breath and then asked, "Would it be okay if I took the weekends off when Harry has a Quidditch match?"

Dumbledore smiled sweetly and replied, "Of course. I hate to run you off, but I have some things to take care of before dinner."

"Thank you sir. I'll be going now. I'll see you at dinner."

She stepped out into the hallway and something hit her. She looked down, and to her surprise, it was Dobby. But, he was dressed quite odd.

"Dobby is sorry Professor Granger. I did not mean to run into you."

"It's okay Dobby. Where are you going in such a hurry, and why are you dressed like that?"

Dobby smiled shyly, "I have a date."

Hermione looked shocked. "With who?"

"Winky."

"Oh, that's so sweet! Well, you'd better hurry! You don't want to be late!"

"You have a good night Miss Granger. Bye!"

Dobby scurried off around the corner and Hermione continued her walk down to the Great Hall. Dinner would be starting soon, and she wanted to talk to Harry.

When she entered the Great Hall, she saw Harry sitting next to the most unlikely person.

Draco Malfoy

She stopped dead in her tracks when she realized that the two men were laughing. What the hell is Draco doing here? I hope he's not a bloody teacher!

She slowly continued her walk to the teachers' table, and took her seat next to Harry. He turned to her, smiling. "Good evening love. Draco has just been telling me that he's joined the staff."