To Truly Live
By Misha

Disclaimer- Everything belongs to J.K. Rowling and is not mine, however much I might wish differently. However, I am not making any money off of this, so please do not sue me!

Author's Notes- This is just a short fairly fluffy Harry piece, with a lot of Harry/Hermione thrown in for good measure. I was just thinking about the prophecy and this came to me. Well, that's all for now, enjoy!

Pairing- Harry/Hermione.

Summery- For the first time, he knew what it was to be truly happy and without fear.

Rating- PG

Spoilers- Big ones for OotP, but all five books just to be safe.

Harry slept easily for the first time in many years.

His dreams were pleasant and worry free. When he woke, he did not remember them, but neither was he filled with fear as he had been so many times before.

Instead, he just felt content. That feeling intensified when he glanced over at the woman asleep beside him, still fast asleep.

His adored Hermione.

He held her close to him and just marvelled at the feel of her against him. This wasn't the first morning he had awaken with her in his arms, but it was the first time he was able to feel pure pleasure without any worry or fear.

Before he had always been afraid for her. Afraid of the danger that loving him placed her in. But now, now he no longer had to worry.

Hermione opened her eyes and saw him smiling at him. "Hey." She whispered with a smile.

"Hey." Harry whispered back, holding her tight. "I love you."

"I love you too." Hermione whispered, her eyes glued to his. "Is this real?"

"As real as it gets." He assured her. "This is what comes next. This is happily ever after."

"It is." She whispered, smiling up at him.

He captured her lips in a gentle kiss. Harry revelled in the kiss and the sweetness.

For the first time there was no fear that this would be the last kiss they ever shared, no, now he knew it was just one of many. They had a lifetime ahead of them.

"I should get up." Hermione said when the kiss ended.

"Do you have to?" He asked.

Hermione giggled. "I guess I can stay in bed for a few more minutes."

Harry grinned. "Perfect." He kissed her again.

Afterwards he just looked at her. She was beautiful, just like always.

"Marry me." He whispered suddenly, gazing at her intently.

She gasped. "What?" She asked in disbelief.

"Marry me." He repeated. "'Mione, I love you, have always loved you and I want you to be my wife. We talked about it before, we always said that we'd wait until things with Voldemort were settled, but that's all ever now, so why wait any longer? Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" Hermione shouted, tears falling down her cheeks. "I love you, Harry James Potter and I'd be honoured to be your wife!"

He kissed her again, feeling happier than he ever had before. For as long as he could remember, the joy had always been tempered by the fear, but now there was nothing to fear.

They had their entire life ahead of them, now. As he held Hermione close to him and revelled in the feel of her, the words of the prophecy that had governed his entire life flashed through his mind.

And either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives...

Those words were truer than he could have ever understood at fifteen.

As long as Voldemort lived, the fear for the people he loved and the weight of his own destiny ate away at him.

He had never been to be completely relaxed or entirely happy. Not until now.

Now it was finally over, and as he looked at the woman in his arms, Harry knew that at last he was going to be able to truly live.

The End