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Author Notes:

Warning — Another romance chapter.   But this chapter is the one that may push the limits of the T rating.   It contains references to some sexual activity. Since it is only indirectly referred to, not explicitly described, I feel that this rating should still be appropriate.

 

-xox-XOX-XOX-xox-

Chapter 7, A Year in Mexico, Part 2

From the Journal of Hermione Granger – Week 20, Day 3

Yesterday it finally happened.  I’m going to circle this date in large glowing rings! He told me …

It had been four weeks since Harry and Hermione had acknowledged their attraction for each other, and Hermione thought that life couldn’t get much better.  Harry was doing all the affectionate things that new boyfriends do, and they were teasing and flirting with each other constantly.  And his kisses made her knees weak and her toes curl.  Hermione’s mood was so high that it took a while for her to notice that Harry was still giving her odd looks on occasion.

Since they had become so comfortable around each other, and so openly affectionate, she was surprised one evening when Harry nervously approached her.

“Hermione, what do you say we dress up for dinner tonight.  I’ll wear my best shirt and trousers and maybe you can wear your white dress?”

“Sure, okay,” she replied in puzzlement.  After a moment’s thought she decided to just go with it.  “Would you like me to wear my jade necklace too?”  Harry agreed readily that the necklace would be a great addition.

His nervousness continued through dinner until finally she couldn’t hold back any longer.  “Harry, you’ve been giving me strange looks like something’s on your mind.  What is it?”

Harry swallowed, then sat up straighter, his posture suggesting that he had concluded whatever internal struggle had been waging in his head and decided on a course of action.  “How do you think we’re doing on the list?”

It took her a few seconds to figure out what he meant by ‘the list’.  “Well, we haven’t really done much on finding the Horcruxes, but I think we have some good ideas on how to destroy them,” she responded.  “We have been training a lot to build up our skills, and learning more magic, and you’re getting more powerful.”  She had no idea why he was bringing this up now, and hoped he would soon get around to explaining himself.

“What about the last item on the list?” he persisted.

Hermione reviewed the list in her mind, and realized that the last item had involved taking time to have fun.  With a disappointed look about why he would ask that she replied, “I thought we were doing a pretty good job on the having fun and enjoying ourselves part.  Don’t you think so?”

“I mean the real last item on your list.”

Hermione’s eyes widened in dismay as she realized now what he was saying.

“I’ve been able to see through your secrecy charms for a while now.”

Hermione caught her breath and her heart started beating rapidly as she fought down the panic that was threatening to overtake her.  How was she going to explain that!

But instead of showing any sign of being upset Harry leaned forward across the table, took her hands in his and looked into her eyes.  Startled, she became so lost in those deep green eyes that she almost didn’t hear what he said next.  “I just thought I’d let you know that you’ve successfully completed the last item.”

Hermione could only stammer.   “I … I have?”

“I’ve fallen in love with you.”

She wasn’t sure how he had managed to cross the table to her, but Hermione suddenly found herself in a passionate kiss with the man who had just said the words she had been yearning to hear from him.

When he was finished she was gasping for breath, and her only thought was what she wanted to do with him next. “Harry,” she almost growled.  “We need to get back to the room. Now!”

-oooOOOooo-

Hermione had been severely editing most of the tale thus far, omitting all references to her being topless for example, but her description of this scene had been relatively complete.  Ron grinned at Harry.

“Congratulations, Mate.  Good to hear you finally figured it out.  I guess you aren’t as daft as you look.”  Harry put on an affronted expression, but it was ruined when he broke into a grin of his own.  Ron then leaned over conspiratorially and murmured, evidently thinking Hermione couldn’t hear him, “So, have you two er … you know … yet?”

Hermione’s hands shot to her hips and she fixed him with one of the glares that always made her boys cringe.  “For your information, Ronald, we’ve decided to wait until we’re married for that.”  Ron looked properly abashed, and wisely held his tongue, but his embarrassed look soon turned to a quizzical expression directed towards Harry that clearly asked ‘Why?’

Hermione couldn’t maintain the glare against the amusement that forced its way into her mind, and her naughty side came up with a way to end this line of questioning.  “But don’t worry, Ron, we’ve managed to come up with some other entertaining activities.”

Ron’s questioning look dissolved into one of horror at the thought that he was going to get a description of his two best friends’ sex lives.  “No, no!  That’s okay.  I don’t need to hear any more!”

Hermione just gave him a knowing smile as her thoughts took her back to that night.  She had no intention of telling him about the next part.

-oooOOOooo-

Early on the morning following Harry’s confession of love, Hermione found herself gradually coming awake.  She kept her eyes closed, not yet ready for the day to intrude on her blissful state, and allowed her other senses to begin to engage.  Overall she was experiencing the best feeling she had ever had in her life.  She was in bed with Harry, and he was holding her closely.  It was heaven.  She had the overwhelming feeling that this was right, this was the way it was supposed to be, lying here in Harry’s arms.  She wanted to wake up like this every morning for the rest of their lives.  They were both naked, and the sensation of warm skin to skin contact was incredible.  A part of her mind amended the previous thought.  She was not completely naked, but wearing only a pair of knickers.  Harry though, was totally unclothed, the firm evidence of this currently pressing into her backside.  The same part of her mind made a note that the knickers were a good idea, as they couldn’t afford any accidents right now.  Both of them had agreed last night that they weren’t ready to have sex yet.  But as far as she was concerned, this was the optimal attire if – hopefully when – they slept together in the future.

Returning to the business of engaging her senses, Hermione noted that they were both lying on their sides, with Harry spooned up behind her, one arm holding her around the waist.  His other hand was tangled up in her hair.  Both of these hand positions were delightful.  Hermione wiggled slightly in order to increase the skin to skin sensation, which had the wonderful side effect of causing Harry to pull her more snugly to himself.  She also found that she was still tingling from their activities of the night before.  Harry had … she searched among all of the terms she knew of that were used to describe the activity they had engaged in … touched her.  That was a good description, in all its possible meanings.  ‘Pleasured her’ was pretty good too, but she decided she liked ‘touched her’ better.  It had been so much better than the times when she had touched herself that it was beyond compare.  Now she couldn’t keep herself from wondering when she could get him to ‘touch her’ again.  Allowing her naughty side to emerge, Hermione carefully (without waking him up) moved Harry’s hand from her waist to her breast, which caused the tingling feelings to erupt again, racing from there down to her core and back again.  She shuddered slightly as she allowed those sensations to flood over her and fill her mind before she drifted off back to sleep.

When Hermione awoke again she found herself in a different position.  This time Harry was lying on his back, and she was on her side snuggled up next to him, with her head on his right shoulder and her chest pressed against his side.  Her top leg was wrapped around his right leg, her top arm was on his chest, and his right arm was holding her close.  She promptly decided that this was also a very good way to wake up in the morning.  At that point she realized that what had awakened her was Harry planting little kisses on her forehead.  She shivered as an electric thrill shot through her body, which resulted in him tightening his hold on her.

“Mmmm.”  The feeling of contentment just exuded from every part of her as she started tracing little designs on his chest with her finger.

“I was just thinking how great it would be to wake up like this every morning,” Harry revealed softly, now aware that she was awake.

Hermione gasped at the implication of what he had just said aloud, and marveled that it had matched exactly her earlier thought.  Trying to keep the flutter of her heart under control she managed a one-word response.  “Really?”

“Oh!  I mean … um … I didn’t want it to sound like I was presuming …”

She smiled and gave him a squeeze.  He was so adorable when he was trying to avoid offending her.  “Don’t worry.  I was thinking exactly the same thing.”

Now it was his turn for the one-word response.  “Really?”  Hermione nodded her head happily, and Harry resumed the little kisses.  While Hermione thought they were delightful, after a few blissful moments of reveling in the sensation she decided to step it up a notch and tilted her head back until her lips caught his, and she proceeded to let him know exactly how pleased she was with the situation.

After that demonstration she returned her head to its comfortable spot on his shoulder and they lay there quietly for a while, until Hermione decided to raise the other topic that had been dominating her thoughts.

“Harry?”

“Hmm?”

“Um … you know what we did last night?”

“Yeaaaah?” he responded nervously.

“I just wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed it.  In case you were wondering, I mean.  You did it really well.  I just thought maybe, you know, that you would want to know.”  What she really wanted to know, but didn’t dare ask, was if that was the first time he had touched a girl that way.  More specifically, Ginny.

“Oh.  I … um … that’s good.  You’re right, I was wondering because, you know, I’ve never done anything like that before.”  Hermione squeezed him hard, and thought her face might break if her smile got any bigger.

“Well, I guess you’re just a natural then,” she teased.  She could feel the warmth as his face went red, but didn’t look up from her position on his shoulder.  After a brief pause she continued.  “What about … I mean … well, I was just wondering … how did I do?  Did I do it right?”

“Oh Merlin, Hermione, of course you did.  You were brilliant.”

“As good as when you do it yourself?”

“Better!  Er … um …. I mean …”

Hermione laughed and gave him another squeeze.  “Don’t fret about it Harry.  I’ve read about this, you know.”  As she knew he would, Harry chuckled upon hearing that and she dutifully smacked him lightly on the side.  “Did you know that ninety percent of all teenage boys admit engaging in that activity?”  She paused to let him process this statistic.  “The other ten percent lie about it.”

This got a full laugh out of Harry, and she turned her head and lifted it enough to grin at him, then settled it back down to where she had come to regard as its proper place under his arm.  She was now finally at the question she had been leading towards.

“I understand that guys think about certain girls while they do that.  Have you ever thought about me?  Before this trip?”

She could feel his body tense up at that question, and feared that she had pushed him too far.  Her finger resumed its wanderings on his chest, and she found herself holding her breath.

Fortunately, his voice when he responded was hesitant rather than upset.  “Hermione, you aren’t going to make me tell you stuff like that, are you?” he moaned.  “How can you be such an evil witch?”

Hermione moved her hand slowly down Harry’s chest, toward his waist, and then beyond, and answered in a low voice, “If you’d rather, I can be a very naughty witch.”

Harry’s body went tense again, this time for a different reason.  Then Hermione couldn’t maintain the seductive persona any longer and burst out into giggles.  She sobered up quickly when Harry turned toward her and pulled her face to face with him, pressing against her all up and down their bodies.  “Actually, I’m becoming quite fond of a certain naughty witch.”  He punctuated that statement with a searing kiss.

When he had her gasping for breath he released her and rolled back to his original position, and she snuggled into him once more, feeling as though her heart was pounding through her chest against his side.  After a moment, he haltingly began his response.

“Well, at first I’d just think about any girl I knew.  You, Parvati, Lavender.  Probably Angelina, Alicia, and Katie more often, since they were a little older and, well, more developed.  Plus I spent time with them in the quidditch locker room, and it was easy to imagine them undressing.  Of course, while I had the crush on Cho it was mostly her, and then the same with Ginny.”

“Oh.”

“But during the last part of fourth year, when we were spending all that time together, and the summer after, I often thought of you.  Especially how beautiful you were in your dress robes at the Yule Ball, and what it would be like watching you remove them.  I was actually thinking then that maybe we might get together, especially after you kissed me at the train station.”

“Really!”

“But then when I found out you and Ron were together at Grimmauld Place I got all jealous, and then with the Dementor attack and the trial everything was so crazy.  Then you and Ron were named prefects and all I could think about was how you two would be spending time together without me and got all jealous again.  Then shortly after we got back to Hogwarts Cho started acting like she was interested in me and …”

Hermione let out a sound that was a cross between a squeal and a moan.

She pushed herself up with her hands to raise herself above him, so she could look into his face.  She didn’t notice Harry’s struggle to keep his attention focused on her face instead of the attractive display a bit further down.

“Harry!  I can’t believe you were thinking that!  I mean, that was the exact same time I was trying to get you thinking that way.  One of the reasons I kissed you at the train station was to try to give you a clue, and I so much wanted to see you that summer but we were kept away from you and weren’t even allowed to write much to you and then everything got so messed up and then Cho and ….”  She was finally silenced by his lips on hers, and it occurred to her that they had much better things to do right now than talk.

As the kiss developed, he touched her again, in all the right places.  It was even better than the first time.

That week was the last time that they requested two beds when they checked into a resort.

-oooOOOooo-

“Hermione?”  Hermione’s attention was snapped back to the present, where Ron was looking at her strangely.  She could feel the blissful dreamy expression that was still on her face, and was chagrined about how it must have looked to Ron. 

She cleared her throat.  “Sorry, I was distracted there for a bit.”  She smiled at Harry, knowing he would realize exactly what reminiscence had generated that look on her face.  Out of the corner of her eye she caught Ron rolling his eyes at them.  Too bad, she was particularly fond of that memory.  She turned the pages, looking for something else to tell him about.  Perhaps the reaction of her parents …

-oooOOOooo-

From the Journal of Hermione Granger – Week 25, Day 7

This is the last day of the first half of our training. We’ll meet up with my parents tomorrow, and we’re going to take the week off to spend time with them.  It will be so strange.  It’s been half a year since we’ve seen them, but for them it will only have been a few hours.  Their explanation at the hotel for why we’re checking in separately will be that they went straight to the resort from the airport while we stopped in Playa del Carmen to shop for a bit.  They will have checked into the rooms already and will probably be waiting for us in the pool area.  I have so much to tell them!  I’m sure that they’ll be thrilled that Harry and I are together now, but I’m still nervous about it just the same.  Harry, of course is in a right state.  Someday I’ll have him convinced that he’s a wonderful person and that people like to have him around, but right now he still has some of that feeling that he’s worthless and no one will like him that those awful relatives of his beat into him for all those years.  I’m doing my best to make him feel otherwise, though.

When Harry and Hermione checked into the Robinson Club, there was a message from her parents waiting for them at the front desk.  They had adjacent rooms, and had already filled out the paperwork for Harry and Hermione.  They just had to show their identification and pick up the keys.  Dan and Emma would be waiting for them at the pool, just as Hermione had guessed they would.

They dropped their things off and changed into their swimsuits, then went off to find Dan and Emma.  The resort had three sets of rooms each grouped around a circular courtyard, and their rooms were conveniently close to both the beach and the pool.  The pool was a large, free-form pool with lots of nooks and crannies, so it took them a while to locate the Grangers.  Finally they saw Dan waving at them, and they headed in that direction.  As Hermione had expected, her mum was topless; during their walking around they had noticed many other women similarly attired.  The Robinson Club was a resort that catered to Germans, with some guests from other European countries but with relatively few North Americans, which explained the swimsuit habits.

Hermione was quite proud that Harry took her mum’s attire in stride, and after she gave each of her parents a big hug she set her things down on the lounge chair next to Emma and removed her own top.  This got a questioning look from her mum and Hermione nodded happily.  As soon as Hermione sat down Harry moved up behind her and started putting sunscreen on her back, which got another raised eyebrow and a nod of approval from Emma.

Dan had not said anything beyond the normal greetings during the hugs Hermione had given them when she first walked up, but he, as well as Emma, had been watching the teens closely.  It was quite obvious from their interactions, the little smiles, the touches, the way they looked at each other, that the pair was definitely a couple now.  Possibly even more.  Of course, the tender little kiss Harry planted on the back of Hermione’s neck while he was rubbing in the sunscreen was a dead giveaway.

“You’ve got him well trained, I see,” Emma finally commented, in reference to the sunscreen application.

“Oh yes, he really spoils me,” Hermione replied, with the brightest smile Emma had seen on her daughter in a long time.  At this, Harry wrapped his arms around her waist for a quick hug, and gave Emma an embarrassed grin over Hermione’s shoulder.  Dan, who knew his wife was dying to get all the details from their daughter, suggested that he and Harry go off to the bar to get everyone some drinks.

“So, are you …” Emma began.

“Yes!” Hermione squealed before her mother could even finish the question.  “Oh Mum, it’s so wonderful!  I’ve been in heaven for the last five weeks, ever since he told me he loved me.  I’m so unbelievably happy!”

“Are you … taking precautions?” Emma asked delicately, her practical side coming out.

“Oh, don’t worry Mum, we haven’t gone that far,” Hermione reassured her nervous mother.  “And we aren’t planning to until we’re married.  No, he hasn’t asked me yet,” she hastened to add in response to the startled look on her mother’s face.  “But I don’t see this ending any other way.”

“The way this relationship seems to be going, perhaps you should be the one to ask him,” Emma teased.”

“Oh mum!”

“I’m so happy for you,” Emma declared, moving over to give her daughter a big hug.  “The two of you certainly deserve this happiness after all you’ve been through together.”  Soon Harry and Dan reappeared with the drinks.  Apparently the two of them had engaged in a similar conversation, because Harry had a relieved look on his face and he was much more relaxed.  The four settled down and the adults listened for the next few hours as the teens (mostly Hermione) told about their adventures of the last six months.

-ooOoo-

This was a well-deserved week off for the teens, so for the first time they took advantage of all the opportunities the resort had to offer.  In addition to spending all day out on the beach or at the pool, they played some beach volleyball, Hermione taught Harry how to snorkel, and they both attempted windsurfing.  Harry’s natural balance made him better at it, but Hermione eventually managed to get the sail up and move the board forward at least a little ways before falling off.  She was amazed at how much she had increased her upper body strength during the weeks of training.

While they rarely saw her parents during the day, they got together every evening and had wonderful dinner conversations with them.  Dan and Emma were fascinated by the stories they had to tell about what they had seen and done out in the jungles of the Yucatan.  The reason that the teens spent the daytime apart from the adults was the special feature of the Robinson Club that had been the reason Dan and Emma had booked there in the first place.  There was a small fenced in clothing-optional area in the resort, which included a small pool and a sauna.  It wasn’t until the last full day of their stay there that Harry got up the nerve to try it out.

-ooOoo-

From the Journal of Hermione Granger – Week 26, Day 7

  Mum and Dad have been raving about the secluded little spot they found for sunbathing.  It also has a sauna, and I’ve been hoping Harry would go there with me.  I visited it with them one afternoon while Harry was playing volleyball and it’s absolutely lovely.  Today he agreed to check it out.  He’s perfectly comfortable being nude around me now, but he’s still self-conscious about other people seeing him.  Inside he still sees himself as the skinny little kid with knobby knees.

It’s an interesting little setup they have.  You enter through male and female changing rooms, which each end in a shower.  But the showers are open to everyone’s view, so why bother with the segregated changing rooms?  Anyway, we each stripped off our suits, showered, then wrapped towels around ourselves and met up by the door to the sauna.  Right next to it is a small plunge pool, with about twenty lounge chairs along one side.  There were only a few people in the chairs when we arrived in the late afternoon, and we paid them no mind.

The two of us were the only ones when we entered the sauna, so we sat down on one of the wooden benches and opened our towels.  We were sitting on them, but the ends were lying loose so we could cover our midsections if we needed to.  It was a very hot, dry sauna, and we were sweating in no time.  After a few minutes an older couple came in and followed our example.  Harry tensed up a bit, but when I took hold of his hand he gave me a sheepish smile and relaxed again.  I could tell he wanted to move his towel back onto his lap, but he resisted.  Then a group of five entered, and they were much younger, in their 20’s.  I noticed the three girls take a good look at Harry, but they saw me holding his hand and didn’t say anything.  One of the girls, who was evidently the unattached one, took off her towel, spread it all the way out on a bench, and lay down on it on her back.   Harry definitely looked (heck, so did I) but then he quickly turned back and focused his attention on me.  When he was able to do that without reacting I knew he would be all right.  I gave his arm a big squeeze to show him how impressed I was at how well he was handling it.

Fifteen minutes is the maximum time recommended for first-timers at that temperature, so we left soon after that.  This was the final challenge.  Outside, by the pool there were hoses that are used to cool down and rinse off the sweat, then we stepped into the plunge pool.  It felt heavenly.  Harry stayed right next to me the whole time and I could feel he was still a bit nervous, but he did fine.  Mum and Dad were on two of the lounge chairs when we finally got out, and he was even willing to go over and sit down by them.  To my amazement he even sat down on the one right next to Mum and started talking to her, telling her how great it all felt.  I am SO proud of him!  Now I know he’ll be completely comfortable being nude at my house when we get home.

-oooOOOooo-

“So, you did twenty-five weeks, then took a week off to spend with your parents,” Ron said, confirming the details out loud.  “Then you went back and did the whole thing over again.  And then sometime during the second time around he asked you to marry him?”  Hermione beamed at him and nodded happily.  He shook his head, still having trouble grasping that his two best friends, who hadn’t even been dating two weeks ago, were now engaged.  “So how did he manage it?  I can’t believe Mr. Clueless About Women here could get those words out without some heavy prompting.”  Then he cocked his head and raised his eyebrows.  “Or maybe you asked him?”

Hermione punched him in the arm in partially feigned indignation.  “Ronald Weasley!  I’ll have you know that Harry made a very romantic proposal.  And he even caught me by surprise.”

Ron shook his head in disbelief.  “Okay, let’s hear it.”

Hermione began paging through her journal again, although it was completely unnecessary.  If she lived to be two hundred years old, she would never forget that day.

-oooOOOooo-

From the Journal of Hermione Granger Week 46, Day 3

Mine.  He is going to be mine and I am going to be his forever.  It’s like a dream.  I would never have believed this would happen, that we could possibly come this far during our year abroad.  It all started with a seemingly innocuous question while we were dressing yesterday morning …

Hermione was getting dressed when Harry looked up at her with a raised eyebrow and a grin on his face.  “Have you worn a bra at all since we’ve been here?”

Hermione grinned back.  Although she still wore her knickers to bed every night, they had become completely open around each other, and made no attempt to cover up as they dressed.  Not to mention the fact that they were doing their part to conserve water by showering together.  Although, Hermione had to admit, their combined showers were probably not any shorter than two separate showers would have been.  She figured that she must have the cleanest breasts in Mexico, after all the time Harry spent ‘helping’ her wash them.

“Nope.  I only brought one along, and I’ve never taken it out of the trunk.”  She motioned him forward.  “See these tank tops, how they’re made from a stretchy fabric?  Between that and the built in support I don’t need a bra with them.”  Harry came closer to inspect the evidence, probably more than absolutely necessary.

“What about your dresses?”  He was clearly fascinated with this topic.

“Most of them are the same way,” she replied.  “The only one that isn’t is the red one.  I’m sure you’ve noticed how I jiggle when I wear that one.”

“Actually, I have,” he smirked.  “And it’s a very attractive jiggle.”  Hermione giggled.  She knew very well that he had noticed the extra bounce she had when she wore the red dress.  The reaction she got from him was her favorite feature of the dress.

“But I think my favorite is the white one,” he concluded.

“Really?” Hermione asked in surprise.  “Not the blue one or the green one?”  One of the results with repeating the same two weeks twenty-five times was that they were very familiar with each other’s clothing.  Hermione figured she had worn each dress at least 30 – 40 times.  (She had replaced two of the tank tops when they wore out and the spaghetti straps frayed, and Harry had bought some new tee shirts and tank tops as his torso had filled out significantly over the year.)  The blue and green dresses had spaghetti strap tops with low scooped necklines, and showed a lot of skin and a fair amount of cleavage.

“Nope,” he said with the grin that made her insides melt.  “The white one has some pretty good memories associated with it.”  Hermione smiled as she recalled buying that dress and his first reaction to it, as well as that magical night six months ago.  “In fact, do you think you might wear it again tonight?  I think this is kind of a special night.”

“You remember?”  Hermione had been counting the days, but she hadn’t realized that Harry was so observant.

“Yep,” he announced, rather proud of himself.  “If I figure it correctly this is the night the first time around that I told you I loved you.  I reckon we should celebrate.”

“Of course I’ll wear it,” she agreed happily.

“And the necklace?” he asked hopefully.  Hermione smiled.  He had turned into such a romantic.

“And the necklace,” she confirmed.

Hermione noticed that Harry seemed unusually nervous at dinner that night, but she put it down to the special occasion.  Then, over her favorite dessert, a sinfully rich chocolate mousse, he asked her something seemingly out of the blue.

“Hermione, have you ever had any nicknames?  With such an unusual name it seems like someone would shorten it, but I’ve never heard anyone do it, not even your parents.”

Hermione frowned.  This was something of a sore point with her.  She was rather proud of her unusual name and had resisted all attempts to shorten it.  She hoped this wouldn’t turn into a point of contention with them if he had his heart set on a diminutive for her.  “Some of the kids called me Hermy in primary school.  I hated it – partly because they got it from mispronouncing my name – you know, Her-me-own?”  Harry nodded sympathetically, then his mouth twitched.  Hermione’s eyes narrowed and he fought to control it, but couldn’t.

“I’m sorry, but I just remembered when someone at Hogwarts called you that,” he said sympathetically, but with his eyes sparkling with mirth.  “You might remember him.  Big guy?  Name of Grawp?”  Hermione put her head in her hands and groaned.  Harry reached over and patted her on the back in mock consolation.  She lifted her head back up and glared.

“Okay, illiterate twenty foot giants aside, no one else has dared call me that since I learned to do magic.”

“Hmm,” mused Harry, appearing to give it some thought.  “Herms?”  Hermione made a gagging sound.  “No, you’re right, too masculine,” he agreed.  “And Mione mostly just sounds like someone accidentally dropped the first syllable, and besides, reducing it from four to three doesn’t seem worth the effort.”

Hermione was completely baffled about where Harry was gong with this, and the expression on her face clearly showed her bewilderment.

“What about Mine?” he suggested.  Hermione cocked her head at him, still confused.  “Like in would you be mine?” 

“That sounds like a Valentine,” she pointed out.

“I was hoping it would be more permanent … like forever?”  Harry’s teasing tone of voice was abruptly gone and he leaned forward earnestly, his green eyes boring into hers. 

“Harry?” she half spoke, half whispered.  Hermione’s heart seemed to stop beating as it suddenly dawned on her what was going on.

“Hermione, when we started this trip I was pretty nervous about how it would work out, living with you for such a long period.  Now I can’t imagine living any other way, and I don’t want to try.  I want to go to sleep with you every night and wake up with you every morning.  I never want to spend a day without you.  I love you.  Will you marry me and be mine forever?”

Several diners at nearby tables were startled by the squeal that erupted from Hermione, but they all smiled as they recognized what was happening.

“Oh Harry!  I want to be with you more than anything in the world!  You better believe I’ll marry you!”

The delicious dessert was completely forgotten as the pair of them embraced in a crushing hug.  Hermione finally broke away and looked up into Harry’s face, overcome by desire.  In a low voice that made Harry squirm she breathed, “Harry, I want you.  Room.  Now.”

Once back at the room, they had quickly rid themselves of all unnecessary clothing. (Which in Hermione’s case meant the dress and her sandals, leaving her clad only in her knickers.  And the necklace.)  Later, they were lying on the bed embracing, catching their breaths after some strenuous exertions, when Harry asked.  “So, what about the nickname?”

“Mine?  I suppose.  But shouldn’t I get to call you Mine, too?” Hermione pointed out.

“Don’t you think that might get confusing?”
 

“I think I can handle it.  After all, I am the smartest witch you know,” she teased.

“I’m pretty smart too, I think,” he protested.

“Oh, really?”

“I was smart enough to fall in love with you.”

“Oh Harry!  I love you so much!”

“I love you too, Hermione.  I love you.”

-xox-XOX-XOX-xox-

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Author Notes:

The nickname ‘Mine’ for Hermione used by Harry, although uncommon in fanfiction, is not original with me.   However, I had forgotten where I saw it until I reread the story More Important Than Any Broomstick by witowsmp.   You can find it on my Favorites page.

Next chapter you’ll learn about their training.

Author's Daughter's Note: (Yes Dad, I'm going to keep putting these up in return for posting your story for you. Bwah hah hah.) Oi. I don't remember this story being so cheesy the last time I read it.   Maybe it's just these chapters, it's been a while and I trend more towards adventure-oriented than romance-oriented.