Chapter 436: Writing Our Story Together

The next day.

The two of them woke up together from the warm blankets.

The holiday and the lover's company made this morning feel especially lazy and beautiful.

Hermione rolled over, burying her face in John's shoulder, and mumbled indistinctly, "What time is it..."

"If I'm not mistaken, it should be daylight."

A soft hum with a hint of laughter came from Hermione in his arms.

"Nonsense."

John chuckled lightly, tightened his arms a bit, and pulled her closer.

"Want to sleep a bit more? Anyway, we have nothing planned today." Hermione rubbed against him in his arms, like a lazy cat.

"Mmm... but I'm hungry..."

Hearing Hermione's words, John said softly, "Then I'll go make breakfast; you can linger a bit longer."

Hermione shook her head, arms wrapped around his waist to keep him from getting up: "No, just lie five more minutes... just five minutes."

John smiled helplessly and let her cling to him like a koala.

After dawdling for nearly twenty minutes, they finally got out of bed.

In the end, they still didn't make breakfast themselves, but decided to go to the nearby town to try the local specialties.

After breakfast, Hermione regained her energy and pulled John toward the nearby ski resort.

The ski resort wasn't overly crowded, but not empty either; most were families or couples taking advantage of the Christmas holiday to vacation there.

After putting on her ski gear, Hermione seemed especially excited.

John had never skied before, but fortunately Hermione was there as a "little teacher," and they had a great time on the beginner slope.

Of course, if we don't count John rolling all the way down the hill at the end, with Hermione laughing so hard she couldn't straighten up.

In the afternoon they returned to the cabin to rest.

When the sun set early at three in the afternoon, they bundled up in thick coats and went back to town together to browse the Christmas market.

In the evening they lit the fireplace in the cabin, snuggled on the sofa drinking hot cocoa, watching the snowflakes drift past the window, and chatted about trivial matters.

The next day they went again to the nearby frozen lake.

The lake surface was frozen solid; Hermione stepped onto it cautiously, confirming safety before skating boldly.

John, taking advantage of the solitude, secretly chopped a hole in the ice and then began fishing from it.

Hermione skied a lap and returned, seeing John crouched by the ice hole, clutching a makeshift fishing rod he'd hastily put together, and couldn't help laughing.

"Can't you get a slightly decent rod instead of using a random stick you picked up off the ground as a fishing pole?"

"You don't understand; this is called a primal experience."

In the end, John actually caught a fish.

Hermione's eyes lit up, and she promptly lit a fire right there to grill the fish.

The poor little fish became an after-meal snack for the two of them.

By the afternoon of the third day, they went hiking together again.

The mountain wasn't particularly high, but after the snow covered it, each step crunched underfoot.

Along the way they could see rabbit footprints; Hermione excitedly pulled John along the trail, and finally they discovered a nest of baby rabbits beneath a pine tree.

The winter baby rabbits curled up into a ball, their fluffy fur looking like several snowballs.

Hermione: "They're so cute."

John: "Yeah, looking at them gives a different flavor..."

Hermione: "???"

By the time they reached the summit, it was already night.

It was precisely when the night sky was at its clearest, without a single cloud, and stars like shattered diamonds spread across the entire heavens.

Gazing into the distance, the town's lights twinkled in the snow like another inverted starry sky.

The cold wind howled past their ears; Hermione couldn't help spreading her arms on the mountaintop and shouting loudly.

"Ah——!" Her voice echoed through the valley.

John also let out a shout, equally exhilarated.

The two stood side by side on the summit, gazing at the snow‑covered world below, and suddenly felt that all their worries had become insignificant.

Afterward they returned to the cabin.

These days they spent the most leisurely time in the town—skiing, fishing, hiking—each simple yet unforgettable.

Of course, most of the time they simply snuggled before the fireplace, wrapped in thick wool blankets, sipping hot cocoa and chatting, or saying nothing at all, just quietly listening to the crackling fire while leaning on each other.

Finally.

After staying here for a week.

It was the season when the aurora usually appears, as in previous years.

That night, John and Hermione, bundled in thick down jackets, sat on the wooden porch outside the cabin, looking up at the sky gradually darkening.

Below the porch stood a row of snowmen they had built, albeit a bit lopsided.

But at that moment they seemed like a loyal guard, watching over this night that belonged to them.

"Look over there!" Hermione suddenly grabbed John's arm excitedly, pointing toward the horizon.

A pale green ribbon of light quietly appeared in that deep night sky, like a fairy scattering sheer gauze, slowly swaying and shifting.

Soon after, more light bands surged forth.

For a moment, even the brilliant Milky Way paled in comparison.

Hermione bolted toward the snow beneath the aurora like a child, head thrown back to gaze at that magnificent light curtain.

"So beautiful..." she murmured, her voice filled with genuine awe.

John followed behind her at a leisurely pace, watching her spin circles in the snow like a child, head tilted back to gaze at the sky awash with Light Stream.

He couldn't hide the smile at the corners of his mouth.

He realized that this might be the perfect opportunity.

Afterwards, John slowly pulled out a small box he had prepared earlier from his pocket.

He slowly stepped behind Hermione.

"Hermione."

He softly called her name.

Hermione turned around, her eyes still reflecting the gorgeous Light Stream.

She wanted to ask John what was wrong, but when she saw his serious expression, the words died on her lips.

As if sensing what was about to happen, her heart began to race uncontrollably.

All that could be seen was John slowly lowering himself, kneeling on one knee in the snow.

Hermione's eyes slowly widened, bursting with a light more brilliant than the aurora.

John lifted the exquisite small box in his hand and gently opened it.

A silver ring lay quietly on the velvet, its face set with a tiny diamond that sparkled with a gentle light under the aurora's glow.

"I have never wanted the courage of Gryffindor more than I do now to propose to you..."

John's voice trembled slightly, but his gaze was unusually firm.

"Hermione, our story began at Hogwarts, and we have since lived through countless sunrises and sunsets."

"You are the smartest, bravest, and kindest witch I have ever met, and the person I most want to protect in my life."

"I also want to spend the rest of my life continuing to write our story together."

"So—" John took a deep breath, his gaze burning as he looked into Hermione's eyes, brimming with tears.

"Dear Miss Hermione Gelanjie, will you marry me?"

"Let's finish the rest of our story together."

Hermione's tears finally spilled over, tracing down her cheeks, sparkling with crystal light under the aurora.

"I do." Hermione's voice choked with emotion, yet perfectly clear.

Beneath the aurora, she extended her left hand, trembling slightly.

John gently slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

He had just risen when Hermione flung herself into his arms.

John also held her tightly, and neither spoke.

Under this magnificent aurora, they clung to each other for a long, long time.