Hogwarts - June 29th 1999

Hermione felt amazingly light as she trekked across the raised platform to where Professor McGonagall was waiting. In all honesty she couldn't remember the last time she felt so happy. When they had won the war she had been too relieved that the fighting and killing where over. She had been too saddened by the many deaths that had occurred. No, the end of the war had not been a time to be happy. As the year went on and she threw herself into her last year at Hogwarts, kindly taking Professor McGonagall's offer to return for her seventh hear. Hermione had allowed herself to heal.

Now as she accepted her graduation ring. The graduation ring held the mascot of the graduates Hogwarts House. The Gryffindor ring was made of yellow gold and inlaid with one of the gems from the point's hourglass from the Great Hall. In the middle of the gem was a delicate Hogwarts crest etched into the surface. On the inside of the ring the graduate's name and the year they graduated was engraved.

It was different from a muggle certificate handed out at their graduation ceremonies, but Hermione found the ring much more sentimental. It was a reminder of both Hogwarts and your school house. It was a way to be tied to the castle as you grew and no longer returned every year. Everyone kept and cherished their Graduation Ring.

Hermione took her ring from her favorite professor, with a bright smile and tears in her eyes.

"I will miss having you in my classes, Miss Granger."

Hermione felt a surge of warmth for Professor McGonagall and she wrapped herself around the old witch in a tight hug. Hermione could feel McGonagall's laughter and a tear escaped her.

When she released McGonagall Hermione noticed she wasn't the only one with tears in her eyes. With one last smile Hermione continued on her way off of the platform. Waiting for her near the stairs was Harry, her parents, the Weasley's, and most important her boyfriend Ron. She all but flung herself off of the stair to the platform and into Ron's arms. She had made it! Despite trolls, basilisks, Dementors, werewolves, Death Eater's, pink toads, a megalomaniac, and so much more she had finally graduated Hogwarts.

"Congrats Hermione," Ron whispered into her hair as he swung her around. She giggled madly into his shoulder as she felt as if she were about to burst like one of George's fireworks.

Ron set her down and Hermione was engulfed by her friends and family. Each one pulled her into a bone crushing hug and offered her congratulations. Yes, today for the first time in over a year Hermione felt truly happy, especially when her parents gushed over how proud of her they were. When she had returned their memories to them after the war, there had been a few tense months but right now it was as if nothing had changed between them.

Today was perfect absolutely nothing could ruin it, Hermione thought happily. Of course that was the one thing she should not have thought for karma is a bitch and enjoys ruining people's happiness.

When Hermione turned back towards Ron she found her boyfriend down on one knee, a small box held in his hands and a love sick puppy dog look on his face. Hermione felt her breath leave her and her happy feeling vanished in the blink of an eye.

"Hermione, we've been dating for over a year but I have been in love with you for far longer than that. I may have been a prat and an idiot in the past that never treated you the way you deserve but I do love you, I have always loved you. I can't promise to be perfect but I do promise to continue to love you from this day on and forever. Will you do me the honor of being my wife? Will you build a life together with me, sharing the good times and the bad? So we can share our dreams and accomplishments. And create a family and a future together?"

Hermione could barely hear the squealing of Mrs. Weasley and Ginny behind her. She had barely been able to listen to Ron's proposal. All the blood had rushed to her head and she felt like she was about to pass out. As he spoke Hermione strained to hear his words. As she listened her over active brain pictured her future together with Ron. She could see family dinners in a small comfortable house after working all day. With sweet gentle love and children with bushy red hair running about her feet. She could see herself growing to be much like Molly Weasley but with a job outside the home.

It was a wonderful future and one she may have longed for once, being able to share her life with Ron. Working at the Ministry, and raising her own children. She was one who always had to have a plan and since she had begun dating Ron it was a future she knew could be real. Everything would have been perfect; there was only a single flaw: the crushing feeling of responsibility that came along with her vision of a future together with Ron.

Maybe things would have been different if Ron had picked any other day to propose, a day where she hadn't been feeling so happy and free. Where she hadn't been contemplating what it would have been like to be any other teenager on the planet. A teenager who hadn't had to deal with trolls, Basilisks, Dementors, werewolves, Death Eaters, pink toads, a megalomaniac and more. Without worrying about her best friends dying, or psychopaths trying to kill her.

She would never regret her friendship with Harry or sticking by his side through all the craziness. She would never regret being focused on her schooling or being a high achiever, but that didn't mean she couldn't wonder. Wonder what it would be like to be free of all the responsibilities placed on her by others and herself. To be able to be reckless (in a different way than she had been throughout her friendship with Harry) and enjoy being nineteen.

She was glad she had returned for her finally year, not only for her N.W. but for the chance to return to being a teenager. She had realized that she had missed out on a lot growing up because she had always been focused on school work and keeping her boys alive. This last year she had the chance to relax a bit and enjoy the after Quidditch game parties, or a relaxing drink at the Three Broomsticks.

She loved Ron, she did, but she wanted a chance to be young and irresponsible for a bit. So much of her youth had been wasted over the bloody war. She was not ready or willing to jump into another whole bundle of responsibilities.

"Ron. . .Ron I'm sorry but no," Hermione managed to choke out in a voice just above a whisper.

She hadn't even noticed she had cut Mrs. Weasley off in the middle of her frantic wedding plans. Everyone seemed to freeze around her, not just her friends and family but the others in attendance to the graduation ceremony who had been watching the scene with fascination.

In front of her Ron seemed to be doing his impression of a fish. The smile on his face had fallen away and his mouth just kept opening and closing. His face began to turn a dark bright red and Hermione knew he was about to explode.

"No? NO! WHY THE BLOODY HELL NOT! I THOUGHT WE WERE HAPPY TOGETHER? I THOUGHT YOU LOVED ME?"

Hermione couldn't help but wince at his accusation. It hurt to think Ron doubted her feelings for him. She did love him, she was just not ready to be engaged, or married. Maybe it could have been a long engagement, but there would still have been too many expectations, responsibilities foisted onto her shoulders. She had sacrificed enough of herself over the years she was not about to sacrifice a chance at her happiness to make Ron happy. She needed a chance to live her own life before she even thought about something as meaningful as marriage.

"Ronald Bilius Weasley, don't you ever doubt the fact I love you. I will always love you and you know it," Hermione said her voice sharp and commanding. Ron didn't seem to hear or believe her words as his face remained a dark red. "What do you want from the future Ron?"

He did not answer right away but eventually he managed to speak, the anger in his voice still prevalent.

"I want to continue as an Auror, marry you, get a house together, and have a few kids. Share my life with the woman I love and grow old together. I thought you wanted that to? A job, a house, a husband, kids."

"I did. For the longest time that is what I wanted Ron. A future with you."

The red in Ron's face began to fade but the happy smile did not return. He looked almost as somber as he had during the months in the tent during the Horcrux hunt. It broke her heart to see him like that again, but she knew it was for the best, for the both of them. He would be miserable as well if she had agreed, with her never being truly happy, it would have taken its toll.

"Wanted. Past tense, what do you want now?"

"I want a chance to be a teenager. I want to have fun and enjoy life, do all the things I missed out on. I want to see the world and try new things. I don't want a job at the Ministry or responsibilities, or a husband or children. I want the chance to be a child myself. I'm not ready to settle down and I don't know when I will be."

Hermione could tell Ron understood. He didn't like it and was probably still hurt but he had matured enough since his sixth year to be an adult about this situation. For him to understand that this wasn't what she wanted and to be willing to accept that, in time.

It would be hard she knew, she had crushed his heart and his plans but she knew he understood. Still it surprised her when Ron wrapped her in a hug, pulling her close.

"I don't like it and I wish I could change your mind but I understand. I won't try and make you change your mind. If anyone deserves a chance to enjoy being young it is you. It's just,

Mione, I don't know if I can wait until you're ready to be married. I want to settle down, I want a wife and kids and a home."

Tears pricked at her eyes and she buried herself deeper in Ron's embrace, pulling as much comfort as she could. Being in his arms had always been able to relax her, calm her, strengthen her. It wasn't a matter of love that kept them apart, she loved Ron with all her heart, and he loved her. As sad as it was, sometimes love wasn't enough. Dumbledore may have believed that love was the strongest magic there was but sometimes, there had to be more than just love. This was one of those times, she and Ron wanted, no needed different things from life.

"I love you Ron, but I can't expect you to wait for me. You deserve someone who wants the same things from life. Who can share the life you want with you and in all honesty I don't know if I will ever be ready to settle down and have kids."

Ron and Hermione parted, with a single chaste kiss. Their friends seemed shocked and unsure, only Mrs. Weasley seemed truly upset over the course of events. Hermione knew that the older witch would get over it eventually, but it would take a few days. With a hesitant smile Hermione left her friends and headed towards the Black Lake where the boats were waiting for the graduates, where they would take them back across the lake, reminiscent to their first journey to Hogwarts.

Hermione did not know what the future would bring and instead of being scared or nervous about that thought, she felt nothing but freedom. Hermione pushed the encounter with Ron to the back of her mind until later and let her happiness return by focusing on the good thoughts and memories.

One part of her life was over; it was now time to move on. To begin a new chapter filled with no responsibilities, and fun.

With that thought firmly in her mind the boats set off from the shore and began their trip across the lake.