A/N:  And here’s the brief sequel I wrote to “Card Company Holiday.”  I liked this ending better.  And I know it’s really short, but I gotta do something to get me out of my writing funk.

***

The music had stopped, but Harry and Hermione continued to dance. To say that they were lost in each other would be an understatement. They didn’t even know how many songs had played since they started dancing.

Finally, Ron and Luna approached them.

“Um, mate. The music has stopped. Did you notice that?” Ron said, trying desperately not to laugh.

“Go away, Ron,” Harry muttered.

Ron lifted his hands in defeat. “Fair enough.” And with that, Ron and Luna walked away, laughing with joy. Harry could have sworn he heard Ron say, “Finally!”

Hermione lifted her head. “I guess we were the only ones who didn’t see this coming.”

“I suppose that’s true. What does that say about us?”

She looked away, in thought. “That we were blind, I guess. But it doesn’t matter anymore. What matters now is us and that we’re together.” She stopped and her eyes shot to Harry’s. “Are we together? I didn’t mean to presume anything, and I mean –”

Harry put a finger on her lips to quiet her again. “Mione, of course we’re together. Do you think I’d kiss and run?”

“Well, you are Hogwarts’ most eligible bachelor,” she said with a grin.

“Was Hogwarts’ most eligible bachelor. I renounce my title with pleasure.”

Hermione gave him the smile that he knew would always be his weakness. So warm and loving.

A fast song started and Hermione beamed.

“Mione, I promise, I will dance a fast song with you tonight. Just not yet, ok?”

“Fair enough.”

As they walked back to the table, Harry noticed the strange looks they were getting.  (And a few mean ones.)  But before he could say anything, he and Hermione were quickly accosted by Lavender with Parvati hot on her heels.

“Hermione!” she shrieked.

“Bloody hell,” Hermione mumbled.

“Um, why didn’t you tell us?” Lavender asked suspiciously.

“Tell you what?” Hermione said as innocently as she could.

“Hello! That you’re dating Harry!” Parvati said.

“Why didn’t you tell us that you were a couple?” Lavender asked.

“I thought we were friends!”

“You could have mentioned that you were secretly dating Hogwarts’ apparently not so eligible bachelor!”

“Um, hi. I’m standing right here,” Harry said, trying to save Hermione.

“Yes, Harry, we see you. Now, Hermione –” Parvati began.

Harry couldn’t take it anymore. He had noticed the strange glances they were getting as they danced, but he had more or less ignored them. Now it all made sense. It wasn’t that Harry Potter was dancing; it was that Harry Potter was dancing with a girl … closely. And that girl was Hermione Granger.

Oh boy. Might as well pull the bandage off quickly, he thought. And without really giving it a lot of consideration, he began to walk towards the stage.

Hermione noticed Harry walking away, fearful that he was angry. But then she saw where he was heading. The stage?

He climbed the stairs and said a quick word to Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore and then grabbed a microphone.

“Um, hello?” he said, and suddenly a spotlight was shining on him, hurting his eyes. “Well, I suppose you all know me. And from the looks I’ve been getting tonight, I think you all know something else about me. I’m up here because it’s a little difficult to climb to the top of a mountain and shout this, so here I go.” He paused and from nowhere came that Gryffindor courage again. “I love Hermione Granger!”

A collective gasp came from the crowd.

“And I’ve seen the looks most of you have been giving her. I’m up here to ask you to stop. She’s a wonderful woman and doesn’t deserve it. I love her and will protect her with my life. And you don’t want to cross me.”

The speech had gone a different direction than he had expected so he wrapped it up. “Anyway, Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone. Thank you.”

He ran back to Hermione, who was now joined by Ron and Luna.

“Wow, mate. I didn’t think you were so good at speeches,” Ron teased.

“Shut up,” Harry said with a smirk.

“I thought it was wonderful, Harry. Way to stand up for your woman!” Luna said.

“I would have done that for you!” Ron said, defensively.

“Don’t lie, Ronald. It’s not becoming,” Luna sweetly said, pulling him away.

“I would have! Do you want me to go up there right now?” Ron’s voice faded away as they joined the crowd.

“Well, Harry. You never fail to make holidays interesting,” Lavender joked.

“Yeah, this is one Valentine’s Day that Hogwarts won’t soon forget,” Parvati added.

“Congratulations, Hermione. Come on, Parvati. Let’s get back to the boys,” Lavender said as the girls walked away.

“Wow, Harry. I don’t think anyone has threatened a school for me before,” Hermione said, giggling.

“Oh hush, Granger. I’d threaten the world if I had to. No one wants to cross the Chosen One!”

“I suppose I have to take all the packages now, don’t I?”

Harry gave her a confused glance.

“Well, I get famous no-longer bachelor Harry, Chosen One Harry and my personal favorite, just Harry.”

Harry pulled his new girlfriend close and kissed her forehead. “Trust me, Mione, just Harry has always been yours. Always.”