Paris

Paris

Despite his anxiety, Remus can't help but smile at Hermione's enthusiasm. He grins as Hermione leads him by the hand around the platform. Her face lights up as she spots the Sacre-Coeur in the distance.

Remus comes and stands behind her as she leans on the ledge, wrapping his arms around her and resting his head on her shoulder. Hermione snuggles into his embrace, turning and kissing his stubbled cheek before gazing back at the city and continuing to ramble all the things she loves about Paris.

The city is indeed beautiful. Remus is glad he brought her here. He has never been to Paris before and he could ask for no greater guide than Hermione, someone who not only loves this city, but who loves him.

Hermione smiles at the expression on Remus' face. "What are you thinking about?" she asks.

He looks down at her, a grin on his face. He kisses her hair line, his lips lingering on her skin as he whispers, "You."

Hermione melts. She turns in his arms and hugs him tightly. She closes her eyes, feeling warm and safe, despite the fact she is standing on the Eiffel Tower in winter, 115 metres in the cool winter air.

"I love you," she whispers in his ear.

Remus grins, burying his head into her neck. This is it, he thinks. Now or never.

Remus releases Hermione, taking both her hands in his. She is smiling at him and he leans forwards and kisses her lips, slowly.

With a smile, Remus steps back and, while still holding her hands, he locks his eyes with hers and gets down on one knee.

Hermione inhales a sharp intake of breath. They are staring at each other, intense eyes locking on the only thing that matters. Each other. Hermione's lip is quivering and Remus gives her a shaky smile.

"Hermione," he says, his voice already hoarse with emotion. "There are no words to describe how much I love you. You have made me happier than I ever thought I could be. I am so grateful just to know you, and the fact that you love me is more than I deserve. I love you so much." Remus reaches into his pocket and pulls out a diamond ring, holding it up to her. "Will you marry me?"

There are tears falling down Hermione's cheek but she could care less as she nods her head. "Yes," she whispers, the only word in her head. "Yes," she repeats.

Remus breaks out in a grin, laughing shakily with relief and joy. He takes her left hand and slides the ring onto it, before standing up in time to have her throw herself into his arms. He holds her tight as a tear falls down his cheek. Hermione keeps repeating "Yes" into his ear, and he grins stupidly.

The sound of applause brings them back to reality. They release each other and turn to see a group of people smiling and applauding them. Hermione buries her head in Remus' chest while Remus smiles embarrassingly. Remus kisses her head and when the people stop clapping and walk away, Hermione re-emerges.

They stand there for a moment, grinning stupidly at each other, Remus lightly caressing Hermione's cheek with his thumb.

"You know," Hermione says eventually, "if I had ever thought about how you might propose, I never would have imagined you would have done something so ... cliché."

Remus laughs. "Well, that's the point, isn't it? There is nothing about our relationship that is 'normal', so to speak. So I thought, what better way to ask you to marry me than by doing something at the other end of the spectrum. Anything to give you some semblance of normalcy."

"Remus," Hermione whispers, her smile faltering slightly. "I don't care about what's normal or not. I love you. Everything else is incidental. It wouldn't matter if you asked me here or at home, wherever you asked me, I would say yes."

Remus could read between the lines. He knew what she was telling him. That none of that mattered, his age and werewolf status. He didn't have to try and shield her from that. She didn't care that he wasn't like everyone else.

Her eyes were locked on his, willing him to see the truth. He nodded slightly. "Okay."

"Good," she says with a grin. "But as cliché was your proposal was, I wouldn't change it for the world."

Remus smiles, his face lighting up. He leans forward and kisses his fiancée, knowing he is the luckiest man alive.