Him - A Harry Potter Love Story

Chapter Sixty-Nine

Four years later

"MUMMY! Albus took my phoenix!"

I smiled at Harry, quickly pecking him on the cheek as he put his jacket on and leaving to go help Ingrid.

"Albus, give your sister her toy back," I said, crossing my arms as I entered their room. Albus was standing on his bed, holding the stuffed animal up as high as possible so she couldn't reach. They had an agreement not to get on each others' beds after Ingrid accidentally broke one of the bars on the frame of Albus's bed.

"Mummy," he whined. "She was being annoying!"

"And what was she doing?" I asked, picking him up and holding him without taking away the toy.

Ingrid pouted, her green eyes wide as she looked up at me. "I wasn't doing anything, Mummy!"

"She...um..." Albus scrunched his nose up, thinking of something to say. "She took my toy first!"

"You all okay in there?" Harry called from our room.

"Albus, give Ingrid her phoenix back and say you're sorry," I told him, setting him down in front of her.

"Here. I'm sorry." He handed her the stuffed animal back and she smiled up at me.

"Thank you Mummy!"

I walked back to Harry and I's room, grinning at him. "Everything is okay."

"Good," he chuckled.

"Do you feel like telling me where we're going yet?" I asked him, going into the bathroom and leaving the door open to continue doing my hair. I had on a deep blue dress that Hermione had gotten me for my birthday last year, and earrings that she got to match. I was simply straightening my hair, not wanting to try and do any fancy braids or curls. Hermione was the one who helped me with that.

"Nope," he chuckled, walking in and wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. I set down my wand, looking at his face in the mirror and putting my hands over his arms.

"I better be having a reason to dress up like this."

"Oh, you are," he told me, kissing the top of my head. I turned around in his arms and kissed his lips, wrapping my arms around his neck.

It was nearly a minute later when we pulled away, and I smiled up at him before pulling myself out of his arms and continuing on my hair. I saw his pout in the mirror and laughed, sticking my tongue out at him for a second. He simply grabbed me by my waist again and began to tickle me, and I dropped my wand, letting out a gasp.

"Harry! Stop!" I giggled, and he did, twisting me around again.

"Will you kiss me again?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, you were mean to me, so-"

He began to poke my sides, and I let out another laugh, swatting his hands away.

"Stop! I will!" I chuckled, and he smiled with satisfaction, leaning forward and pressing his lips into mine.

About half an hour later when the babysitter came, Harry took my hand, and we apparated.

We were in a small clearing in a forest. It took me a moment as I looked around to realize where we were...and I let out a gasp.

"This...this is the Forbidden Forest, isn't it?" I asked him, looking up at the stars. His hand tightened around mine, and my eyes went back to him.

"Yes. And the first place we kissed," he told me. I let out a surprised laugh.

"Harry, what is this for?"

He let go of my hand and got down on one knee.

My breath caught in my throat as he pulled a small box out of his coat pocket.

"Cassandra...from the moment I met you, that day at King's Cross...I knew that you would change my life. And I knew you would change it for the better," he told me. "I spent almost four years wanting nothing more than to get over you. I never thought that you could feel what I felt for you...but you did. I don't know where the courage came from, the courage I used to kiss you seven years ago tonight...but I'm thankful that I had it. Because what came from that is more than I ever could have asked for. I remember, that morning, messing with Ron and Hermione. I remember the looks on their faces when they realized we finally were together. I remember when we said we loved each other for the first time. I remember that we had fought before that, but just like every time we do, we became closer afterwards. I remember that we ignored each other for months, and I remember how scared I was when I saw the vision of you being hurt. I remember us after that, stronger than ever. I remember seeing you at the beginning of sixth year, and you were scared that I wouldn't want what we have now. I remember hearing that you would have to help me defeat Voldemort. I remember telling you that you couldn't come with me to find the horcruxes. I remember finding out that you were pregnant, just to go down those stairs and see you standing there. Finding out we were having twins. Naming them. Going back to Hogwarts together, trying to fight while you gave birth...thinking I had to die when I was able to come back and stay with you. I was so thankful for that, Cassie. I didn't want to leave you or the twins. And...now, as I think back on all of this, I know that there is no one I'd rather spend the rest of my life with. You've made my life better than I ever imagined it could be. I know that we agreed on holding this off for a while, but I can't wait any longer...Cassie, will you marry me?"

I was a mess by the time he said the last words. I nodded, choking back a sob and smiling through the tears.

"Yes. Yes, I will!"

He got up and pulled me into his arms, our lips smashing into each other's. After a few long moments, we pulled away from each other, and he took the ring out of the box. I let him slip the ring onto my finger, looking up at him with a huge smile on my face.

"Took you long enough, Potter," I teased. He simply smirked a little, pulling me closer to him.

"Say it while it lasts. It'll be your last name too before you know it."