The Proposal

Since January last, she has been my one and only. I cannot say our relationship has been easy, but it has definitely been worth it. There are times when I wake shortly before she does and I watch the morning sun grace her features. When it does, I can't help but to think that the beauty of the sunrise doesn’t even hold a candle to my love.

I watch her snuggle into my pillow, and the tiniest smile rests upon her full, pink lips. Her long eyelashes flutter as I move slightly. Her body shifts in recognition of mine coming closer to hers. In these small hours just before the hustle of the day makes us world-weary, it's just us and the silence.

Nearly every moment of this holiday season has made me think of how much I love her and how happy I am that she has chosen me. I feel her start to wake and so I take one last glance at her before I pad across the cold floor to retrieve a small Christmas gift. I am able to slide between our warm sheets before her beautiful eyes open.
I open the lid of the onyx-coloured velvet box and ponder her reaction to its contents. Deciding this is something I really want to do, I take the sapphire and platinum ring and place it on her finger, which flexes at the sudden touch of cold. Her eyes open and she murmurs in a muzzy voice:

“Good morning, my love.”

She looks down at the ring bedecked hand that is curled against my chest and she smiles, not saying a word. I suppose she is waiting for me to say something and so I gather my courage, trying to find the right words to say.

“You take my breath away every moment you stay by my side. Every time I look in your eyes, I know I have found all I will ever need. All I need is to hold you forever; all I need is you more everyday. All I really need is for you to say you will marry me, Hermione.”

“I will be yours forever, Severus.