I do not own Harry Potter

"Aaarrrghh! What is it about paperwork that reduces everyone to the pace of a sloth?" Hermione's sensible bowl of oatmeal rattled as she dropped her journal onto the table.

"I take it that MACUSA did not approve Draco's travel documents, then." Ginny was not having sensible oatmeal for breakfast. She was inhaling her third cup of coffee as she tied up the laces on her Quidditch uniform.

"I was so sure they were going to get it pushed through today." Hermione pouted. "I know in the grand scheme of things, another week or so isn't such a big deal, but I'm tired of waiting. The entirety of our relationship has been spent watching the clock, waiting for the blessed hour of our reunion. I'm so ready to never wait again."

The soft hissing sound of water flowing from the kitchen sink, splashing over Ginny's scarlet coffee mug reminded Hermione that she'd better finish eating if she wanted to make it to school on time.

"Are you coming to the match tonight?" Ginny asked. "Going to be a big one—we're playing the Savannah Swamp Creatures. Chad and Joey will be there."

Hermione shot her a loaded glance. "As long as it's just them. I don't want to deal with any exes today."

Hey Draco. Keep me company. Ginny convinced me to watch her match and the wonder-twins keep going on about the airspeed velocity of an unladen broomstick.

Hermione stared out over the sunny (for once) pitch. Flashes of turquoise and kelly green quidditch robes cut through the late September air. She tapped her pen on the journal impatiently. Why was it taking so long for him to reply?

Sorry, love. It's my cousin's birthday today and I'm a bit distracted.

Your cousin from France?

"YEEEEAAAAAHHHH! Seattle Sirens, Sodo Mojo, knock that bludger into HIS PIE HOLE!" Chad accidentally knocked Hermione's ballpoint pen onto the floor of the stands as he jumped to his feet and waved a giant turquoise foam finger in the air.

"Joey! Can you kindly control your brother—nevermind."

Twin sets of hands were presently engaged in an elaborate dance of high-fives and fist bumps. Hermione sighed. "Americans."

It took her a few minutes of crawling around on a concrete floor littered with peanut shells before she finally spied the silver handle poking out from under Joey's sports backpack. When she finally settled back in her seat and popped open the journal, there was still no response.

Her foot tapped out an inaudible yet impatient rhythm against the ground. Finally, words appeared.

Yes, they've come to the Manor to celebrate, seeing as my international travel pass is still under review.

Any word on that? I'm not sure I can stand much more waiting. I just need you to be here.

Not too much longer. I promise.

A sharp elbow in Hermione's ribs made her jump out of her stadium seat and glare at whichever twin was on her right. Joey had his finger extend in front of him towards the enchanted projection screen used to display team scores and ridiculous traditional American songs.

She squinted at the screen. That looked like-oh, no.

Her own bushy hair and annoyed expression was blown up a hundred times the normal size and glaring out over the cheering crowd.

"It's the kiss cam." Joey waggled his eyebrows at her.

"It won't move on until you give in," Chad added.

Twin beach-combed hairdos started closing in on either side of her face as she threatened to permanently silence the stadium with her scowl.

"Ouch!"

"Hey!"

Accidental magic fizzled on the surface of her cheeks where she had shocked the intruder's lips for their audacity.

"Serves you right," she said, smirking to herself as she glanced back down to the open journal.

You're missing out on all the fun. Chad and Joey just kissed me in front of thousands of people. It'll be in the papers tomorrow.

But there was no reply. Not for five minutes. Not for twenty minutes. Not even an hour later when the crowd erupted in ear-splitting jubilance when the Sonic's seeker caught the snitch and won the match.

Hermione had never seen anything like it. Strangers were hugging each other and chanting team cheers in unison as they gathered in small circles on the grass of the Quidditch pitch. Evidently, this had been an important match.

A curtain of red hair was floating towards her, riding on a wave of vertical arms. "Ginny? What in Merlin's name?"

When the crowd had transported Ginny, in all her sweaty post-game glory, over to where Hermione stood bewildered next to the exuberant twins, Ginny's feet finally hit the grass and she stood upright with an enormous grin.

"Crowd surfing, Hermione. Can you believe we've made the playoffs? It's the first time Seattle's going to have a run at The Colossal Cauldron!"

"The what?"

Ginny rolled her eyes. "The biggest game of the year! The championship!"

"Right. Well, it's been fun, Ginny, but—"

Ginny glanced over at Hermione, grinning like she knew something. "It's ok. You can leave now. I'll just be at the after-party. Trust me on this one: you don't want to be there. It's going to be a lot more of this." She waved her hand at a group of wizards covered in silver and teal face paint and clinking together half-empty bottles of Firewhisky.

Hermione did not need telling twice. The apparition point was conveniently located just outside the massive stadium doors. She twisted on her heel, and then let her shoulders slump in relief as her ears rang from the sudden lack of raucous ambiance. This was one of her favorite things about the cottage-the peaceful quiet of the forest that was always ready to greet her.

After breathing in the musty night air for a moment or two, her eyelids fluttered open only to close again in several rapid blinks at the small square of paper pressed against her front door. She lifted her fingers to pluck the sticky note from the wood grain and bring it to her nose. She squinted at it through the darkness.

Put on your coat. You're going for a walk.

A ball of molten emotion swirled under her ribs as she rushed through the front door to deposit her bag onto the living room couch before heading back out into the star-studded night. She was already wearing her coat.

She held her wand out for a moment, ready to cast a Lumos, before thinking better of it and tucking it into her holster instead. It was a clear night, and the moon and stars were casting just enough light over the canopy of pine boughs to light her way. Besides, the light from her wand was sure to dim the trail of dimly shimmering wood pixies, spaced every five feet like a trail of breadcrumbs through the blanket of moss and ferns.

As the house grew smaller behind her, she noticed one of the pixies illuminating her favorite path was holding a neon pink note. Tiny sparking wings fluttered forward towards Hermione's nose as she squinted at the creature's daisy petal skirt. She gently pulled the note from the pixie's outstretched hands.

Hermione, ever since that blasted, blessed night at The Three Broomsticks, my heart has known that it belonged to you.

Hermione swallowed hard and carefully tucked the note into the pocket of her raincoat next to the first one. She stepped heavily down the trail again, scanning the line of fairy lights for another message.

I can still feel you in my arms, the way you fit between them on that Halloween night outside the Shrieking Shack. It was the first time I really got to hold you, and the memory of it is seared into my flesh.

She smiled. That same night, he had confided in her about the task Voldemort had given him. What a monumental act of faith it had been.

Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had just ignored what your mouth was saying and listened to your eyes instead-If I had kissed you like my heart demanded.

She did laugh at that. She could hardly remember what her reasons were at the time. Oh, right- the war. She shook her head at herself. It seemed so silly now.

Of course, any tiny change in the timeline would have risked the happy ending that I have somehow managed to con out of the fates. Those meddling old biddies sure did do their best to prevent it, didn't they?

She was almost there. The little pond that the bench overlooked was just around the next twist in the dirt path.

When those guards tore you away from me after the final battle, I was afraid you would be lost to me forever. Now that I finally have you back, I intend to make sure we never have to be apart again.

Her feet could no longer hold to a walking pace. She could feel who was waiting for her around that last blackberry bush, and her heart was begging her to hurry. She didn't even take pause to notice the way the light from the wood pixies sparkled off of the rippling of the pond, or the music playing softly in the background; she ran straight into his open arms and clung to him like he was the last lifejacket on a sinking ship.

"Yes! I will." She peppered kisses over his cheeks, lips, and on his temples next to his wide eyes.

"You will? I haven't even asked you the question yet."

Hermione rolled her eyes and paused her affectionate assault to take a step back. "Well?"

"Merlin, woman. Patience is a virtue." He scowled. "This is not working out at all how I planned it. I'm afraid you've thrown off my groove."

Air whistled through his lungs as he attempted to regain some semblance of grace. "Right, then. Hermione, I can't imagine spending another day without seeing your beautiful face, without those outrageous curls. It's time to give your essence what it wants." He pulled a blue velvet box from the pocket of his tailored suit jacket and dropped to his knee. "Will you marry me?"

The box popped open to reveal a beautiful heart-shaped blue diamond set on a simple silver band. "Just like my enchanted necklace."

Draco stood and slid the ring onto her finger. He lifted her hand up to his chin and kissed her knuckles, just below the symbol that would tie them together for the rest of time.

Well, that concludes this story. I hope all of you enjoyed reading it, and I appreciate all of your support on this crazy journey. If you loved it, leave me a note-they make my day. :)

Also, currently working on a new Dramione story, so be on the look-out for that in the future.