"You alright, 'Mione?" asked Ron, his arm slung over her shoulder.

"I'm okay. I just don't know what you're going to do without me. Who will remind you to feed the cat, or remind you that your mother's birthday is the 20th?" She smiled.

"Oh, I'm sure you and Ginny will write me millions of Remember This letters. I'm just hoping that you remember to be a good girl and not get any detentions for making too much trouble." They both laughed, knowing that Hermione getting a detention was completely unlikely, if not impossible.

"Ron, are you sure you aren't coming to Hogwarts this year?" asked Hermione, suddenly nervous.

"'Mione, you know there's no reason for me to go back— Harry and I just need to finish training, and we'll be fully fledged Aurors. Besides, you don't need me to be good in school, you never did."

"I know, but I just don't know what I'm going to do without you and Harry. I'm not sure I'll have any friends." She hugged him very tightly as he kissed the top of her head.

"You'll be amazing, I know you will. Just be Hermione, people will come. And if they don't, there'll always be Ginny and Luna, and I heard Neville's going back as the Herbology Professor. You're coming home for Christmas and Easter, so we can see each other then. And I can Apparate to Hogsmeade when you go for the weekend, if you'd like. And I promise to write you every day, if you'd like."

Hermione smiled softly. "I'd love that." Then she kissed him, a slow, soft kiss. It was the best kiss he'd ever had, and he wouldn't trade it in for anything. Not a million gold galleons, not a brand new broomstick. No, not if he could have Hermione even for just this minute, her soft lips on his, his hands in her long, beautiful hair. He wouldn't trade this in for anything.

When they slowly broke apart, Hermione whispered, "Lavender was smart in the 6th year. I just wish I had figured it out first." She smiled.

"I love you, Hermione."

Hermione laughed. "I love you, too, Ronald."

When it was time for her to board the train, she said her goodbyes to him and Harry, then boarded the train with Ginny and Luna.

As the express rode off, Ron waved until he couldn't see the train anymore. Then he turned to Harry, suddenly scared.

"Mate, we just sent off our girlfriends. How the hell are we going to survive?"