Harmony Advent Prompt Drabble - Ice Skating
Beyond Compare
Harry was utterly mesmerized. He was supposed to be learning, Hermione was trying to teach him how to skate since he was a blundering novice.
She was trying to the best of her impossibly brilliant ability, but he could not help but to just stop and watch her instead.
It was beyond poetry in motion, beyond spectacle. If he hadn’t already known she was a witch, he would known she was magical just by watching her here, on the ice.
But it was all her, all Hermione. Brilliant in more ways than one, so many that he feels like he discovers a new one every other day.
She’d told him she’d had a legit chance, when she was younger.
There were scouts, recruiters. She’d had offers.
Pushed for big things.
Medal worthy things.
But then, she made a deal.
First, she picked magic, then she picked him.
Said it was the easiest choice she’d ever made.
Said she’d never regretted it.
Not once.
And then said he was the best part of the deal
In that moment, he definitely knew.
She was her.
So now, when he supposed to be learning, he was content to be watching and waiting.
Waiting for the moment. But this wasn’t quite it, he felt.
So he gave in, stopped and just watched her.
Looking so at home gliding across the ice, like a winter princess blessed by the Fae Queen herself.
Her smile was brighter than the sun.
And so was his, he knew, because he was looking at her.
In that moment, Harry was truly happy this was his life now.
He smiled to himself. He was so done for.
But he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Of course, Hermione noticed his absence.
She always did.
He let her slide up to him easily, with so much concern on her sweet face that it touched him. He must have been staring for an overly long time, because her face went from just concern to that plus a mix of perplexity added in.
She placed a hand on his. “Harry?”
He reached back, handed her the cocoa he had ordered for her. Her pleased grin was a treasure, as usual. Then he cleared his throat. “Two things.”
Hermione sipped her cocoa demurely. “Yes?” There was a hint of marshmallow on her lip. He had to close his eyes, trying to resist temptation, before finally surrendering. He put his cup down, cupped her face in his hands and kissed her slowly, deeply, tasting her, which she returned, surprised but then pleased, very pleased.
Very passionate too.
He pulled back, still holding her in his arms, still tasting her. He found himself drowning in her eyes, just wanting to fall into her again.
Hermione looked at him, with an amorous intensity she typically reserved for newly rediscovered knowledge mixed with an ardently sensual hunger that was resonantly palpable, and only, solely for him.
The last, he definitely reciprocated.
He only barely remembered place and time, as did she.
They stepped back a touch; both shivered for a moment in a way that had little to do with cold.
“Two things,” his voice was soft.
“Two?” Her eyes were wide, curious
“Yes.” He looked evenly at her.
She cocked her head. “They are?”
He caressed her cheek. “Firstly, a Muggle Christmas in New York was an absolutely inspired choice, so thank you, so very much.”
She leaned into his touch. “You are so very welcome, Harry. Very much welcome, indeed. The second?”
He blinked for a moment. “Oh. Yes. I wanted to know…”
Her face furrowed. “Yes?”
He reddened. “Well, you are so beautiful out there, so graceful, artful, natural even, just so amazing, really.”
She flushed, nibbling her lip. “Oh. Oh, aww… thank you, Harry; that’s so sweet, nice of you to say.”
He shrugged. “It’s the truth, meant every word.”
She smiled coyly, absently twirled a loose hair that had snuck out of her woolen hat.
And he knew, this was it.
Harry’s heart skipped a beat, but he took a deep breath and resettled. He looked at her, and spoke from his heart. “What I really want to know is, what I was wondering, do I look, well, anywhere nearly as, well, at home in the sky as you do on the ice?”
She looked at him evenly, face light pink. “Well, given that I would say that everything you said about my skating applies to you on a broom at least a hundred times over, then, yes.”
He caressed her cheek once more. “Then I want to learn to skate with you and...”
She looked into his eyes. “Harry?”
He looked back intently. “Then, sometime, Would you let me teach you how to fly and..?”
She touched his hand gently. “Harry?”
He swallowed. “It’s what I’ve wanted, it’s my fondest wish…”
Her eyes unfocused for a moment, before clearing in realization. “…Harry”
He gulped. “Will you say yes? That we can be Home, you and me, together, forever?
He reached into his pocket as he kneeled down, almost fumbling the box due to a nervous trembling but he got there in the end.
Harry looked up at Hermione, heart on his sleeve. Open ring box in hand, eyes already asking the question before his mouth made it official.
“Will you marry me?”
All around them, everyone stilled and watched.
All Hermione could do was nod over and over, tears streaming down her face. As he put the ring on her finger and heard the bystanders break out in joyous applause, all he could do was grin.
Hermione grabbed him up into an embrace beyond all she had ever given him before. Her voice was a sweet song near his ear.
“No matter when, what or where, we- you and I, we are always Home, okay?” At his emphatically resolute nod, she exhaled. “I love you, Harry James, always.”
He just held her closer, relieved, content. “Love you too, Hermione Jean. Always.”
He felt her smile, knew she felt his grin, which widened with a thought. “So, about those flying lessons…”