Chapter 354: Engagement 2

The entire hall fell silent; everyone was stunned by Hermione's utterance of the word "engagement".

They all wondered if they had misheard.

Only after Hermione reacted did she realize she had let the slip.

She hurriedly buried her face again in John's neck crook, her ear tips reddened to the point of almost dripping blood.

"No, don't play ostrich—explain what's going on; how would I not know there's an engagement?"

John lowered his head to look at the shy girl in his arms who dared not show her face, then glanced at the crowd's probing and teasing looks, and hurriedly asked.

He had never heard anyone at home mention this.

For a moment he didn't know whether to say it was a pleasant surprise or a fright.

Because it was too sudden.

After prolonged questioning, Hermione finally spoke hesitantly.

"... Mom and Dad, plus Uncle and Aunt, actually already saw we were together; they just didn't expose it......"

"That's nonsense; we just didn't say it, which doesn't mean they're blind."

"Every time we go back we're all over each other; anything that should have been exposed already has been."

"They just tacitly understood each other."

"... Then, when I went home for the last Christmas holiday, Mom and Dad told me they had discussed it with Uncle and Aunt..."

"... saying that if we really wanted to be together, we could wait until you turn sixteen, the legal marriage age, and then we'd get married......"

"... but since we're still young, we could first get engaged......"

"Finally, she weakly added: '... as long as you don't object...'"

"I certainly don't object." John replied instinctively.

But realizing there was still a crowd watching, he immediately affected a restrained cough.

He finally understood Hermione's recent odd behavior.

Why, after going home for Christmas, she had become unusually clingy, daring to openly cling to him, and paying special attention to when she would turn sixteen.

Her feelings were a declaration of possession, or rather, she had completely regarded John as her 'property'.

The rest of the crowd were also astonished.

"No, we're still school-aged; how could you suddenly talk about getting engaged?"

Afterwards came an even more heated round of teasing.

"Whoa, you're going to become fiancés!?"

"You're going to start a family before even graduating?"

The crowd's teasing left them somewhat unable to cope.

"Don't tease; I'll go talk to Hermione alone for a bit."

John simply took Hermione's hand and hurriedly fled the Three Broomsticks.

The others also realized it wasn't appropriate to keep teasing this young couple, so they didn't pursue.

They just urged them to go quickly and return quickly, then launched into a heated discussion about the two.

The early summer breeze carried a wave of dry heat; as it brushed over Hermione and John's already flushed cheeks, the air instantly turned sticky.

The two arrived at a secluded corner where no one bothered them.

Hermione's breathing was still erratic, the intoxication not yet faded, her cheeks scorching hot.

John didn't know where to put himself; he only felt his fingertips numb and his heartbeat loud enough to seem like it would shatter his ribs.

He lowered his gaze to Hermione's slightly trembling lashes, and after a long while spoke hoarsely.

"You... agree to the parents' arrangement?"

"Hmm......" Hermione lowered her head, not daring to meet John's eyes, her voice soft as a feather.

This was the first time in his two lives encountering such a situation, and he truly didn't know how to handle it.

After being at a loss for a while, seeing Hermione's scorching cheeks, John finally raised his arms and pulled her into his embrace.

Hermione obediently buried her face in John's chest.

Now John was a head taller than Hermione, able to easily envelop her completely.

"I was still thinking that after graduation I'd consider how to propose to you..."

"I never expected Mom and Dad to beat me to it..."

While holding Hermione, John also rather embarrassedly confessed his thoughts.

After hearing that, Hermione lifted her head again, eyes bright as she asked.

"Really?"

"Of course." John nodded seriously.

Upon hearing that, Hermione buried her face in John's embrace once more, letting out a few meaningless silly laughs.

Seeing this, John couldn't help but laugh along.

Over the years from meeting Hermione to becoming lovers, every step had truly been unexpected, yet it all unfolded naturally.

He hadn't even really noticed; upon hearing Hermione's engagement announcement and coming to his senses, he realized.

Without realizing it, the two had already arrived at this point today.

Hermione, who used to like putting on an older-sister airs, and who was half a head taller than him,

has now become the little girl in his arms.

His heart pounded like a drum, his fingertips tightening slightly at her waist.

Hermione let out a soft murmur and slowly lifted her head.

Gazing into her eyes, brimming with watery hues, John's heart stirred.

He slowly bent down and kissed Hermione's lips.

Hermione trembled slightly, but immediately responded to John's kiss.

As the kiss deepened, John held Hermione's waist and slowly straightened his body.

Hermione, to avoid falling in this intense kiss, had to actively wrap her arms around John's neck and strain to tiptoe, matching his movements.

Only after teasing her enough did John finally let Hermione go.

Hermione's lips still tinged with faint red, her breathing shallow and erratic.

She really wanted to put on a stern face and scold John.

But she truly had no strength, so she could only glare at him resentfully.

"Behave yourself, idiot~"

"I'm already your fiancé—what's there to behave about?"

Hearing the term "fiancé," Hermione's face flushed again like a ripe cherry; she bit her lip and weakly objected.

"I'm not yet your fiancée..."

John chuckled and said, "No worries, it'll be the case in a year."

After cuddling affectionately for a while, they thought it was time to head back.

Just thinking about everyone's teasing glances made her hesitate a bit.

Hermione took John's hand and spoke, somewhat shyly.

"John, how about we go to the Screaming Shack...?"

Hearing that, John blinked, smiled, and said, "You sure?"

Hermione, who had originally been thinking of going to the Screaming Shack to hide, immediately realized something upon seeing John's teasing expression.

They had only just confessed their feelings and taken their relationship a step further.

Running off to a secluded spot right now would be... too easy to invite improper thoughts.

"You, you're not allowed to bully me," Hermione warned weakly, but in John's eyes it sounded like she was whining.

"Who said I'm going to bully you? You're just expecting it yourself," John teased with a smile.

With her thoughts exposed, Hermione's ears reddened almost to the point of bleeding; she angrily kicked John and then briskly walked toward the Screaming Shack.

John laughed as he caught up and took her hand.

Hermione struggled twice, couldn't break free, and let him hold her hand.

But before leaving, John casually conjured a paper fly that flew into the Three Broomsticks, informing Titus and the others of their destination.

So he wouldn't have to wait half a day for no one to show up.

Whether they would misunderstand was not John's concern.