AN: Just a short like fic I wrote in about half an hour, inspired by the snow that is currently falling outside my window. Please read and review! All reviews are appreciated.

Snowy Night

Snow fell in gentle waves, coating the ground in a pearl white blanket. Cars were forced to drive slower than normal to avoid the slick powder. It was the first snowfall of the year. And he was determined to enjoy it.

Dressing warmly in gloves, warm winter coat, hat, and scarf, he felt ready. Turning to the woman beside him, he smiled. She was so beautiful bundled up in her purple parka with matching hat and gloves.

Taking her hand, he opened the door to the small house they were staying in and stepped out into the snowy night. Snowflakes swirled around him, tickling the exposed skin of his face, making him smile even broader.

His companion laughed a light, tinkling laugh that seemed to dance with the falling snowflakes, sounding clearer and crisper in the cold night air.

Letting go of his hand, she ran out to the middle of yard, spreading her arms wide and spun around in a circle, laughing with childish delight.

"Oh, Harry this is so beautiful!" she cried, sticking her tongue out to catch a snowflake.

Harry laughed at her childlike behavior. "Not as beautiful as you," he said quietly, coming to stand next her. With white flecks of snow in her long, curly brown hair, and her cheeks pink with the cold, Harry thought she had never looked more beautiful.

She frowned at him slightly, swatting him on the arm. "Don't say such things unless you mean it," she admonished him.

"I do mean it," he whispered, stepping closer to her. His breath tickled the skin of her face as he spoke, sending little shivers throughout her body.

"What?" she asked, trying desperately to keep her head clear and her voice steady, even as millions of butterflies started fluttering like mad in her stomach.

"I said, I meant it. You are beautiful. And I've been a fool to hide from this for so long," he said, his voice still low.

She was quiet for several breaths and seemed unable to speak. Harry started to get worried that he shouldn't have said anything.

Swallowing, he asked tentatively, "Hermione?"

The simple sound of her name in that single question seemed to snap Hermione out of her stupor. And when she looked back up at Harry, he was startled to see tears swimming in her chocolate eyes.

"Oh Harry...I...oh...I can't believe this is happening," she said, words utterly failing her.

"Hermione, I-"

But she had silenced him by pressing her lips to his, their lips meeting in a warm, gentle first kiss. Slipping his arms around her slim waist, Harry pulled her closer, immediately enjoying the press of her warm body against his.

The kiss lasted only minutes, but it was the best minutes of Harry's life. When they parted, he smiled affectionately down at the girl in his arms.

"You don't know how long I've waited to do that," she whispered, laying her head on his shoulder.

Harry smiled, holding her closer still. "Oh I think I do, if it's anywhere near as long as I've waited," he said, running his fingers through her soft hair.

They stood in silence for a while as the snow fell around them, drawing warmth from each other. Until finally Hermione whispered quietly into Harry's shoulder.

"What was that? I didn't hear you," Harry said, looking down at her.

Hermione raised her head and repeated quietly, "I love you Harry."

Harry stilled for a moment, not daring to believe what he had heard. But when she started to look anxious, Harry knew he had to say something.

"Gods, I love you too, Hermione. So much," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. "So very much."

And it was there, during that snowy night, that two hearts found each other and beat as one, lasting through many lifetimes.

~Fin