One Last Try [HP Jamione fanfic]

37. How You Get the Girl

A/N: OMG OMG everyone stay calm it's happening!

23rd July 1977

Hermione blinked in surprise, turning to look at James. He looked flushed and embarrassed, but resolute. "What?" She asked hoarsely, unsure if she'd heard him properly.

"Go out with me."

"On a date?"

"Yes." James shifted closer, reaching out to take her hand, "Hermione I've liked you for years, and I've been patient ever since you and Frank split. You've known how I feel, and I think- I know you feel the same. No one could kiss someone like we've kissed without feeling something." He leaned forward earnestly, and Hermione found it hard to meet his intense eyes. She focused instead on a small, barely visible, silvery scar he had above his left eyebrow from a full moon years ago. "I have to know, Hermione. Please."

"James-"

"Either say yes, or say never. I can't deal with you saying you can't and running away again, Hermione." James squeezed her hands in his, large and rough with callouses from Quidditch against hers. Hope shone in his hazel eyes, his glasses sliding down his nose unheeded as he stared at her earnestly.

Hermione's heart raced in her chest, her body and heart screaming at her to say yes. Her head hesitated still though. She'd been telling herself for the last six years to focus on anyone except James because she was convinced that he and Lily were destined to be together. But that hadn't happened. As in denial as she had been she wasn't stupid or blind.

They'd never even looked at each other in a romantic way, not once.

James had fancied her for a while (she didn't like to consider how much time she'd wasted for them) and Lily had Sirius now. They were so happy together, how could she want them to break up just so that Harry could be born? She was changing everything else, it wasn't feasible to expect that anything would be the same.

James reached out and carefully pushed a stray curl back behind her ear, looking hopeful and so afraid at the same time. He'd just put his whole heart on the line, and here she was contemplating whether destiny would allow them to be together. Well, fuck destiny. She was ignoring it for everything else - for everyone else's lives just so she could defeat Voldemort. Why couldn't she say fuck destiny for her own life and heart? If destiny even existed. Maybe it was all just choices after all, and with her there changing everything James' heart had made a different choice and chosen her instead. "Hermione?" He asked tentatively, his hazel eyes wide, as he watched her contemplate in silence.

"Yes."

"Yes? You mean that? You'll go on a date with me?"

She grinned at the look on James' face, nearly rapturous, "Yes. I'll go on a date with you. I'd love to."

"Finally!" He whooped and pulled her into a tight hug. She relaxed into him, letting all the doubts about him and Lily wash away in the comfort of his touch and hold. Lily didn't want him, she had Sirius, and James didn't want her. He wanted Hermione.

25th July 1977

"Where are you taking me?" Hermione asked with a laugh, following James' gentle tugs on her hand. He'd Apparated them to a spot near Hyde Park and then strode in, basket in one hand, hers in the other.

"Just a little further." He answered noncommittally.

She sighed, "James."

He just laughed, "Have some patience. We'll be there soon." He grinned unrepentantly when he looked back at her and saw her glaring at him.