Hermione stepped off of the Hogwarts Express for the last time. Never again
would she set foot in Hogwarts. It was time for her to move on, grow up.
She was excited, yet, frightened of the new responsibilities. Hermione
looked straight ahead and saw her parents standing with Mr. and Mrs.
Weasley. Hermione smiled brightly as her mother looked her way. Ron
appeared behind her and put his strong hand on her shoulder.
"Well, Hermione, we made it. All seven years, and we're still alive."
Hermione forced a smile. She remembered all to well the last month of term
when Voldemort had turned up and the castle. He managed to kill a few first
and second years, but thankfully Harry showed up before more people lost
their lives.
It had been a terrible battle. Try as he might, Voldemort could not kill
Harry with 'Avada Kedavra.' In the end, Voldemort lost all hope and gave
up. Weak from all the years he tried to stay alive, he died, no longer
having a will to live. Harry had been in a coma for 3 weeks, missing his
exams and classes. Poor Harry had been forced to do all his exams right
before they left school. Luckily, Dumbledore had assured them that he had
passed.
"What's the hold up?" Harry joked from behind them. Ginny was on his arm,
proud to show off the engagement ring Harry had given her at his
graduation. Mrs. Weasley wasn't so happy that she was going to rush to get
married, but she was happy it was Harry. She was quick to remark how much
they looked like James and Lily.
Hermione started forward to hug her mother. Ron walked past her to his own
family, and Hermione couldn't help but smile. He had changed so much in the
past seven years. He had went from and a slim, lanky, first year, to a
tall, well-built, handsome young man. He moved with such strength and you
could see his arm muscles through his shirt.
Before parting ways, (Hermione with her parents, Harry with Ron and Ginny)
the four friends sat down at a picnic table outside of King's Cross
Station. Here they sat and talked for a number of minutes and then made
promises to keep in touch. Then Hermione reached into her bag.
From it, she produced four albums. Each album was black, leather-bound,
with each person's name engraved across the front. Inside were hundreds of
pictures of the friends over the years (most taken by Colin Creevey). Ginny
squealed with delight and hugged Hermione.
"Thank-you, Hermione. This was very thoughtful of you."
Hermione's parents came by and told Hermione it was time to leave. Again,
the friends hugged and kissed and promised to keep in touch and make
frequent visits.
But, boy, how hard promises were to keep. Each person went their separate
way. Hermione, going the farthest.
