The Final Countdown

The Final Countdown

by Silvestria

The Evaluation

Hermione sighed and climbed the last step up to the large oak door of the Astronomy Tower. She wore a pretty, scarlet red dress that she had got for her eighteenth birthday earlier the year. She had never worn it before, but Lavender had said it looked lovely. She had straightened her hair again and was wearing new shoes. Of course, she had not put so much effort into her clothes for the dinner with Harry. Of course not! She would never think of doing such a thing! She had dressed nicely for Dumbledore's surprise party at midnight.

She pushed open the door and was immediately surrouned by the sounds of soaring violins playing a Strauss waltz. The Astronomy Tower had never looked better, or more romantic. Candles floated through the air and there was slight smell of incense. Dennis Creevey, dressed as a muggle waiter, led her to the table in the middle of the room where Harry was sitting. He was looking at the floor, in a depressed way.

To Harry the whole dinner date was very annoying, especially after the Ron incident in the morning. Ron had pretended he had not minded and had even encouraged them to go, but he had looked livid as he said it.

Harry looked up when she entered the room. His voice that was going to say, "Oh hello, Hermione, isn't this dreadful?" very glumly, stuck in his throat.

Instead, what came out in a strangled gasp was, "What a lovely dress! How beautiful you look!"

Hermione blushed and sat down. Harry's emerald green eyes were mesmerizing her and she felt unable to speak. In fact, Harry's eyes mesmerized her all the time now. She felt so much in love with him. And now he said she looked beautiful! Hermione had never felt so happy, not even when she had got her first piece of homework back.

She drank a wine glass of water and coughed delicately. "How are you, Harry? Do you feel better now? It's just a dinner, after all. Soon over and we can go and join Ron." It hurt her to say the words, but she was aware that Harry probably did not feel the same way about her.

Harry shrugged and looked even more down in the mouth than before, if that was possible. At that moment Colin entered bringing in two plates of tomato and mozzarella salades. He deposited them on the table with a flourish and retired into another room, bowing all the way.

"Damn sproglet!" muttered Harry as he picked up his fork.

"He's not a first year anymore, Harry," Hermione chastised him. "He's in sixth year. Sproglets are first years."

"Well, he feels like a first year!" Harry moodily replied. "I say Hermione, did I tell you about the first years that made me late for Potions on Thursday?"

"No. I was wondering why you were so late."

Harry launched into a long story which so entertained Hermione that all awkwardness had soon disappeared.

By the time Winky had brought the zabaglione in fluted champagne glasses in on a tea tray, Hermione was feeling full and comfortable. She was feeling very happy that she was spending such a lovely evening with Harry.

At last the dinner was over and Harry and Hermione went to sit down on the settee in the other room of the Tower. They sat down and did not speak for some time. The sofa was very narrow indeed and by necessity they were sitting very close to each other. All Hermione's shyness returned.

Eventually Harry remarked, "You said earlier you wanted to go back to Ron after dinner. We don't have to stay here if you don't want to. Shall we back to the common room?"

Hermione replied cautiously, "I wouldn't mind staying here a little longer, if that's all right with you."

Harry laughed and blushed, "That's fine by me, but you better move closer. You're practically falling off the chair!"

Hermione tried to slow the beating of her heart and slided a few inches nearer to Harry. Their bodies were very close together and there was not enough space for their arms. So, obviously, Harry put his arm round Hermione's shoulders. She tried to relax, but was finding it difficult. So she sat there, rigid as a poker, staring straight in front of her.

Harry said, in an effort to make conversation, "So, who do you think entered us for this dinner draw?"

"Um," replied Hermione, turning to face him, and abruptly stopped. She had never been so close to anyone except her mother before, and certainly not a good looking young man!

Contrary to general opinion, Hermione had never been going out with Viktor Krum. She had initially fancied him a little, but when it became clear that, though Viktor liked her a great deal, he was not interested in her romantically and thought her much too young for him, her enthusiasm for him had waned. Nevertheless, everyone else had thought they were going out. Hermione had not even tried to crush the rumours. She was a little ashamed of being eighteen years old and never been kissed.

Harry's emerald green eyes seemed unusually bright and Hermione found herself unuable to tear herself away. Suddenly she felt Harry's hand on her cheek. A spark of electricity shot through her, and her eyes widened.

"Harry," she started, finding it a great effort to speak, "I don't know who entered our names." Must keep talking, she repeated to herself again and again.

He did not move his hand. "Nor do I," he whispered, "and I don't care."

He slowly moved forward and gently pressed his lips to hers. Hermione let out a gasp of surprise, but did not pull back. After a few seconds he drew back and they stared at each other. Hermione could not think of anything to say and neither, apparantly could Harry. She did not know what to do; she had just been kissed by the boy she loved, and felt that if she spoke she would spoil the mood.

At last, Harry spoke. His voice was quite hoarse and seemed deeper than usual. Hermione shivered. "I'm sorry, Hermione," he said.

"Uh, no!" replied Hermione immediately, afraid that he might get the wrong impression. "Why be sorry? I didn't know what to say. That's all! I liked it!" She stopped gabbling. She had just said that she enjoyed kissing her best friend! She blushed.

"You liked it?" asked Harry, sounding as if he had just been told that Santa Claus really did exist.

She nodded shyly.

Harry let out something like a while whoop and, throwing his arms round Hermione, kissed her again.

~~*~~

In the Great Hall, it was nearly midnight and the atmosphere was electric. The whole school had congregated there to wait for Dumbledore's New Year's surprise. The student tables were packed full and every single member of staff was present.

Ron was squashed between Neville and Parvati. "Where're Harry and Hermione?" asked the former, suddenly.

Ron shrugged, "They won the Creevey brother's dinner draw. I don't know where they are now."

Neville looked incredulous. "But, when did the dinner start?"

"Half seven."

"But it's nearly midnight, Ron! I mean, how long does it take you to eat supper?"

"They might have loads of different courses," suggested Ron miserably.

"Look how close Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall are sitting!" hissed Parvati in Ron's ear. "What do you make of that?"

Ron did not know what to make of it. He found the idea of Snape and McGonagall being 'close' in any way, rather disgusting.

At that very moment, the doors to the Great Hall opened and Professor Dumbledore appeared. He strode up the front of the teacher's table and bowed. Ron cast a confused glance at Neville. What was going on?

Dumbledore clapped his hands for silence. He beamed round the expectant hall. "Welcome to he first Final Countdown to New Year's Day! At midnight, we will hear twelve chimes of bells and on the twelfth strike, there will be a surprise!"

There was a little rustle of whispers. Dumbledore continued, "In between the chimes, you can make your New Year's resolutions, or stand up and make a public announcement."

Dumbledore waved his wand, and a massive, golden clock appeared, suspended above the teacher's table. It was ticking very loudly and the second hand was inching towards twelve o'clock.

BONG!

Immediately everyone called, of one accord, "ONE!"

Ron closed his eyes and thought of a resolution. Someone from the Hufflepuff table stood up, and amidst much giggling, announced that they had decided to become a teetotaler.

BONG!

~~*~~

When Harry heard the first bong reverberate round the Astronomy Tower, he thought he was imagining things. When he heard the second he almost fell off Hermione in surprise. He quickly zipped up his jeans and cried, "What is it? Is the school falling to pieces?"

Hermione quickly sat up and looked at her watch, "No, it's midnight." She attempted to rearrange her hair, her heart beating ridiculously fast.

Harry's face was a picture. "But there's the celebration in the Great Hall! Come on, Hermione, we can't miss it!"

BONG!

They stared at each other in consternation, then Harry grabbed her hand and they fled down the stairs.

~~*~~

I will not hanker after Hermione resolved Ron for the third time. He thought that perhaps if he made the same resolution twelve times over then he might have more chance of actually doing it.

BONG!

"FOUR!" yelled the school, in glee.

I will not hanker after Hermione... anyway, where are they? thought Ron.

Draco caught Ginny's eye over the heads of their respective housemates. She blushed and lowered her eyes, after giving a little nod.

~~*~

BONG!

Harry and Hermione clung onto each other as the staircase abruptly changed. "We'll never make it, Harry!" cried Hermione, in anguish. "That's the fifth bell."

They ran hastily down the next corridor.

~~*~

BONG!

The Great Hall screamed in unison, "SIX!"

Hagrid squeezed his eyes shut and promised never to let Buckbeak out of his sight again. He also made a few resolutions about Madame Maxime, but that is another story...

~~*~

BONG!

Draco Malfoy lazily stood up and slowely announced to the school, "This evening, Ginny Weasley and I had hot sex in the Head Boy's room. I thought you should know that." Then he sat down.

Ginny had gone scarlet. She covered her face with her hands and tried to hide under the table. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws started cat-calling. The Slytherins and Gryffindors were, however, too shocked to speak.

I really, really didn't want to know that, thought Ron making a face. Now where was I? I must not hanker after Hermione. I will not hanker after Hermione...

~~*~

BONG!

"EIGHT!" called everyone.

Sirius smiled over the teacher's table at Remus, who grinned back. He was home at last. Girls, money, nothing mattered in comparison to having the love of good friends.

~~*~

BONG!

Harry and Hermione paused, out of breath in front of the doors to the Great Hall. "We made it!" cried Hermione, exstatically throwing her arms round Harry's neck. He kissed her then released her. Gradually they pushed the door open.

Everyone was looking at Snape, who had just risen and said, "Thirty points-" everyone held their breath, "to Gryffindor!" He sat down and everyboduy cheered loudly. Dumbledore fixed his twinkling, blue eyes on Snape's face and then passed them onto Minerva's. He smiled to himself.

"Now I understand," breathed Harry. "You make an announcement after each chime."

BONG!

"TEN!" was the cry.

Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and stared at her. He was incredibly nervous and spoke in a great rush.

"Hermione, you know I love you and have done for ages, so, er, willyoumarryme?"

"What?" She blushed though, as if she had actually heard.

"Hermione, I don't have a ring, I'm not on my knees but, will you marry me anyway?"

As her mouth opened to answer, a reverberating sound was heard throughout the castle.

BONG!

"ELEVEN!" chanted the pupils of Hogwarts.

Harry grabbed her hand and pushed the Great Hall door fully open. It creaked and all faces turned towards them.

Harry did not need to shout to be heard. He said, "Hermione and I have an announcement. We are in love!" He did not know quite what to say after that.

Hermione squeezed his hand and said clearly, "And we are also engaged to be married!" She smiled her wonderful, quiet smile at him. Harry did not care what people thought but hugged her till she was almost squeezed to death and kissed her passionately. They were under that same spring of mistletoe that Minerva had tricked Severus under earlier.

The cheers were deafening. People were stamping their feet and climbing on the tables to see better. In the midst of the confusion Ginny had crawled under the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables and emerged right next to Draco who kissed her as well.

BONG!

Everyone except the two pairs of lovers raised their goblets of one accord and yelled, "TWELVE!"

Then Dumbledore rose and placing his hands on the table, leaned forward and spoke, quietly but distinctly, "Happy New Year to all!"

This seemed to be the words for a spell, but immediately there was a blinding flash of light and everyone gasped and stared at the ceiling. The enchanted sky was swirling colours of the rainbow. Across it flashed the most brilliant fireworks of every shape and size that had ever been seen in the history of magic.

Harry wrapped his arms round Hermione as they stared up at the magnificent display. He had hardly ever felt so happy in his life.

One particularly beautiful firework caught Harry's attention. it was a massive, brilliant silver stag that seemed to dive out of the sky right at him. He reached up a hand to it and a single tear trickled down Harry's cheek. "Oh, Dad," he whispered, "if you could see me now!" And yet, as he tightened his arms round his fiancée, he felt stronger. His father did know, somewhere, somehow.

Sirius and Remus also saw and were overcome as well. "Prongs rides again on New Year's Eve," said Remus in a hushed tone.

"New Year's Day," corrected Sirius.

Ron saw it and peace entered his heart. Perhaps saying the words twelve times over had done the trick, or some other magic had been present at Dumbledore's fire work display, but Ron no longer hankered over Hermione. He felt more serene than he had done for years.

The display lasted over half an hour and at the end of it all were clensed in some way.

Again Dumbledore rose and spoke, "Let this year be more peaceful than the one we have just concluded. This is the time for new beginnings and let toast two wonderful people, who are just starting out in life together. To Harry Potter and Hermione Granger!"

Everyone raised their goblets and gravely repeated, "To Harry Potter and Hermione Granger!" Then they drank.

Dumbledore coughed for attention. "I have only one more thing to say to you all." He paused then, with a beaming smile cried, "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

THE END