A/N: I'm really starting to like this story. Lol. Well, here's the long-awaited chapter in which we finally find out who Hermione's true love is! Hope y'all enjoy. Also, I need recommendations on Ron's true love. Well, Enjoy! Adios!

-CatJetRat

'A group of Slytherins came up the steps from their dungeon common room. Malfoy was in front; he was wearing dress robes of black velvet with a high collar...—Harry Potter an the Goblet of Fire Page 413, paragraph 3.

'"I can't bear the idea that we might never come back," sheHermione said softly. "How can it close?..."

"I'm not coming back even if it does reopen," said Harry.

Ron gaped at him, but Hermione said sadly, "I knew you were going to say that...—Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince Page 650, paragraphs 8,10, and 11.

Chapter 11

Death of an Era

Normal POV

Harry, Draco, Ron, Hermione, and Snape all landed outside of Hogwarts' gates with a thunk. Harry's leg buckled slightly and threatened to give way, but Draco grasped his arm carefully and held him firm. Harry smiled at Draco, and the five of them made their way through Hogwarts' gates. Harry looked up at the castle, love blooming in his heart at the sight of the school. Pain wracked his mind at the thought of the school closing.

To look at it, one couldn't tell that there had been a battle at the school. There was no blood on the ground, due to the fact that most Dark spells weren't about leaving visible marks. Just about pain and death, without leaving physical marks. However, there was the slight buzz of angry magic in the air, and the grass had been trampled in a way that it usually wasn't. They reached the school silently a few minutes later, and Snape opened the doors for them.

They walked inside the unnaturally quiet school. Harry looked around. No one but the five of them seemed to be in the entrance hallway. Harry looked to Snape.

"Has everyone left already?" he asked. His voice sounded too loud to his ears, as if the place he was in was sacred, and he shouldn't talk too loudly. It had the feeling of a graveyard.

Snape shook his head. He seemed to sense the atmosphere too, for he spoke rather quietly. "No, not yet. Parents have elected to come to the school and fetch their children, rather than trusting a train, tomorrow. What most do not know is that many students will be staying here because they have no place better to go. The Headmistress is providing Hogwarts as a Sanctuary for a few people. It will, however, need to look closed and be closed so that the Dark Lord does not attack it again. Many teachers are staying here. Voldemort will think that the children of Death Eaters are under the protection of the Ministry. Me as well. The school is having the Fidelius Charm placed on it, and the Headmistress will be its Secret Keeper. You four are always welcome, of course," Snape added. "Professor Flitwick is working on the charm right now."

He fell silent, and they all trudged up to the hospital wing. Harry looked around at the dark, silent halls, and felt sorrow erupt in him. These hallways may never have children roaming them in good spirits again. Hogwarts itself seemed to sense that it was being closed, and had become darker and colder. Or perhaps what had made Hogwarts so bright and warm in the first place were the magical children walking its halls. Take that away, it was just an old castle.

They reached the hospital wing, and Ron barged ahead of them. Hermione kept close at his side, but Harry held back. He wasn't sure how thrilled Ginny would be to see him after their last encounter. However, he couldn't put off the inevitable, and entered the hospital wing. It only took one glance to locate Ginny, on a bed in the middle of the hospital wing, sitting up. Zacharias Smith was sitting beside her bed on her right side, gazing at her in an odd, almost adoring way. Ron was on her left side, wringing her hand and frantically asking her how she was. She laughed and assured him that she was fine. Her blue eyes moved past him to the door, and they saw Harry.

She froze. Her stare traveled from him to Draco, standing right beside him. Her gaze slowly moved down to fix on their clasped hands, for Draco was indeed holding Harry's hand. Her eyes widened in understanding, and many different emotions crossed her face. Jealously, anger, disgust, sadness, and finally, resignation. She looked away for a moment, and Harry thought he saw tears in her eyes. But she blinked them away rapidly. She looked up, and her eyes were burning with a bright, new emotion. Acceptance. She motioned for him to come over. Harry walked over tentatively, Draco matching his steps all the way.

"I need to speak to Harry alone," she told Ron, Hermione, and Zacharias. They nodded, and Zacharias glanced at him oddly, before leaving with Ron and Hermione.

"Will you be okay?" Draco asked, looking at Harry.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, I think so." Draco smiled slightly and hugged Harry. "I'll go see Madam Pomfrey about your wounds," he whispered into Harry's ear. Harry nodded, and Draco kissed the top of his head and left.

Ginny had watched the display with thin lips. However, when Harry looked at her, she managed a small smile. She motioned to the chair Zacharias had vacated, and Harry limped over to it. Her eyes went to his leg with slight concern.

"What happened to your leg?" she asked in concern.

"It's a long story," Harry said.

"I've got time," she said stiffly, leaning back.

Harry sighed and reiterated the story in short form for her. "That was stupid," she said flatly, when he was done. "You should have had someone go with you."

Harry nodded. "Yes, I know. Draco was livid. But I won't do something that stupid again."

She nodded slowly, and then said, "I thought Malfoy was a Death Eater."

"He was," Harry said. "But he came to our side."

"Why?" Ginny said.

"That's personal to him," Harry said. "If you want to know, ask him. But he's on our side now, he's never killed anyone, and Headmistress McGonagall accepts him."

"Then I will too," Ginny said simply. She paused, then said, "I'm sorry for the way I acted the last time we saw each other. It was childish and cruel. I was just…."

"Hurt?" Harry suggested. She nodded.

"Yes, and I shouldn't have been so mean. But…Harry, you said that there wasn't someone else." Her voice had taken on a slightly accusing tone.

"There wasn't," Harry assured her.

"Then what's going on between you and Malfoy?"

"Oh," Harry said, and a smile came to his lips at the mere thought of Draco. "Well, we didn't get together until after I broke up with you."

"So are you gay?" Ginny asked.

Harry shook his head. "I don't really know. And I don't think it matters. I loved you because of who you are, and I fell in love with Draco because of who he is. It isn't about being gay or straight. I just love Draco. And I think that that's the important part. That I love him, not that I'm gay or bi."

Ginny nodded. "I can accept that," she said. "I want you to be happy, Harry, even if that means not with me."

Harry smiled, and true joy echoed throughout his heart. This was the girl he had loved. The accepting, fierce, wonderful girl who was becoming a wonderful woman. "I think that you'll always be a part of my life," he said sincerely, reaching out to grasp her hand. "But you'll play the role of friend and sister, not lover."

Ginny smiled. "I think I'd like that. And I agree with what you said when we broke up. I don't think I'd ever truly be able to relate to you. I hope Malfoy can."

Harry's smile became a grin. "He can."

At that point, Madam Pomfrey bustled over, demanding to see his leg. Draco trailed behind her, and smiled at Harry, a mysterious, loving smile that Harry knew was reserved for him and only him. Harry's smile softened into one of love, and he felt happiness fill his chest in a way that being with Ginny never had.

Madam Pomfrey healed his leg in an instance, and demanded that he go take a shower and rest. He nodded, and turned to go. But then his eye caught Zacharias Smith, standing and talking to Ginny. He looked back at Draco.

"Hang on a minute," he said.

"Okay," Draco said. "I need to tell Weasley and Hermione about the cup, anyway."

Harry agreed, realizing with a start that he hadn't yet told Ron and Hermione about destroying the Horcrux. He turned and went over to Zacharias. He tapped him on the shoulder. Smith looked up and saw him.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" Harry said quietly.

"Sure," Smith said, looking surprised. He murmured to Ginny that he would be back in a minute and walked with Harry over to the windows.

"So," Harry said. "Er…." Harry paused, unable to think how exactly he wanted to phrase the question. "What happened to you?" he said finally.

"What do you mean?" Smith asked, frowning.

"I mean…well, your father took you away from Hogwarts, and you saved Ginny, and, I mean…." Harry faltered, and Smith smiled.

"You're trying to figure out how I changed so much," Zacharias said, scratching the back of his neck. He sighed. "Well, long story short, I had a bunch of epiphanies over the summer, and then, Voldemort killed one of my cousins, and I just….I realized that I've been childish, and that since I'm talented, and I learned a lot from the DA, there was no reason to waste it all."

Harry nodded. This seemed reasonable. "Go on," he said.

"And so, when I got my letter from Hogwarts, urging me to come back, I convinced my father to let me. It was my mother who made sure I could go though. I mean, there was a lot about family loyalty, and all that," he said. "And living up to my name."

"What do you mean?" Harry said.

"Well, I'm a descendant of Helga Hufflepuff, and—"

"What!" Harry exclaimed. "Wait…." He stared hard at Zacharias' face, and said, "Are you related to Hepzibah Smith?" he asked incredulously.

"Why, yes," Zacharias replied. "She was my great-aunt. How do you know?"

But Harry was busy remembering Hokey the House-Elf's memory of her mistress showing Voldemort two very unique treasures. One he didn't have, but the other….

Harry carefully withdrew the shrunken, magically protected cup from his pocket, and enlarged it, lowering the protection spells on it. Zacharias' eyes widened at the sight of the cup. "Merlin," he whispered breathlessly. "Is that what I think it is?"

Harry nodded, and Zacharias inhaled sharply. "My family thought that was lost decades ago. It belonged to my great-aunt, but no one could find it after she died. She left plenty of other treasures, but this and a locket that belonged to Slytherin were her greatest. My relatives were so disappointed when they couldn't find them." His gaze tore away from the cup to look into Harry's eyes. His gaze was accusing. "How did you get it?"

"Voldemort stole the cup from your great-aunt years ago, as well as the locket, to use for Dark purposes." Zacharias recoiled slightly from the cup, but Harry laughed. "Don't worry; I've broken the spells." Zacharias looked slightly relieved. "I've been searching for this cup for reasons I cannot reveal to you, but since you are Helga's descendant, I thought it only fitting that the cup be returned to its proper owners."

Zacharias nodded, apparently too overwhelmed to speak. "When my family finds out…." he whispered. With great respect, he took the cup from Harry and admired it for a few moments before placing powerful protection spells on it and placing it in his own pocket. He glanced towards Ginny. "I should go back to her," he said wistfully.

Harry smiled. "I hope you two are happy together," he said.

Zacharias looked slightly startled and blushed. "Well, we aren't even together yet, but…thanks." He smiled at Harry and left. Harry walked back over to Draco, who was frowning.

"Why did you do that?" he asked.

"Because the cup rightfully belongs to Zacharias." Harry smiled at Draco's annoyed look. "I'll explain on the way to our room, come on."

"Okay," Draco said reluctantly. "Severus gave me directions. Let's go."

Harry waved to Ron and Hermione, and then left with Draco.

Hermione managed to shake Ron off at their room by saying she wanted to explore the castle alone for a little while. Ron insisted on coming with her, but this made Hermione lose her temper, and asked him what part of alone didn't he understand? This made him angry, and he stayed in their room in Gryffindor Tower, fuming.

Hermione, on the other hand, felt angry, confused, and hurt. She knew what Agatha had told her, and did indeed wear the ring Agatha had given her on her finger, but she still felt angry about it. Agatha was wrong, she had to be! Ron had always been her true love, she thought, always. And Agatha dared to claim that he wasn't? Who on earth could it be?

She was in such a rage that, as she was sweeping down the corridors, she didn't even notice Professor Snape rounding the corner. As a result, she crashed into him.

"Ms. Granger!" Snape said angrily. "What is wrong with you?"

"Nothing!" she said fiercely. She made to go, but he stopped her, looking slightly unsettled.

"Hermione," he said, dropping into the mode they had adopted around each other when faced with the prospect of Professor Dumbledore's death. As companions, and friends, united against something. Not that of student and teacher. "What's wrong?"

She shook her head, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. She blinked them away angrily. She looked at Snape—they were almost the same height now—and said, "There's nothing wrong, Severus. I just…." and then Hermione couldn't finish, for tears were welling in her eyes again.

"Come with me," Severus said, wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulder. She followed him to his rooms, where he prepared her a cup of tea.

"Thank you," she whispered, taking the steaming cup from him and holding it between her cold hands. She sipped at it absently, and felt instantly warm. Snape, being good at mixtures, had always made the best tea. He was also a really good baker and cook, something he kept hidden from most people but which she knew from spending time with him researching for Dumbledore.

"Now," he said gently, sitting beside her on the couch. "What's going on?"

"I…I can't tell you," she whispered.

"And why not?"

"Because…I just…." she faltered.

"Do you not trust me?" His voice may have sounded calm and collected to most other people, but she knew him well enough to distinguish the slight hurt in his tone.

"No!" she exclaimed. "I do. It's just, well…."

Severus blinked, and took her cup from her, setting it on a table in front of them. He tenderly took her left hand in his right.

"Does it have anything to do with this?" he asked, touching the ring on her finger.

She nodded. He gazed into her eyes, odd emotions flickering there. He slipped the ring off of her finger and took something out of his pocket. It was the other ring Agatha had shown her. The cauldron one. He snapped the rings together, and Hermione looked up at him. There was no amazement in her eyes. Just realization of what she should have known a long time ago. He slipped the ring on her, and it shrank to fit her smaller finger.

She gazed into his fathomless black eyes, eyes she had once thought so cold, and now there was a flickering of warmth in them. For her. He touched her cheek, and her heart rate sped up.

"You were always so brilliant," Severus whispered, and his breath was cool across her face. "Every one in my class was so foolish, but you were brilliant, and I hated you for it." She frowned, remembering his cruel treatment of her in class. He tilted her chin up, for she had looked down, so that she was gazing into his eyes. "Now, I love you for it."

Hermione's cheeks reddened, but it was with pleasure. He wrapped one long-fingered hand around the back of her neck and pulled her forward. She went, and his lips met hers. Explosions danced behind her eyes, in ways kissing Ron had never done. She leaned forward into his embrace until he pulled her into his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Severus repositioned her so that he was carrying her, bridal style, and took her to his bed. He ran fingers down her body, and undid the buttons on her shirt and pushed it off. He also carefully removed her bra, and stroked her breasts with his cool hands, which were steadily growing warmer. He fastened his lips on her nipples and began to kiss and suck at it. She groaned, the feeling of his mouth thrilling. She ran her fingers through his hair, which was not greasy, no matter what Harry or Ron might say, and kept her hands on the back of his head while he attended each nipple. At just the right time, right before it started to hurt, he stopped, and leaned up, kissing her again. He slid off his robes and shirt, and wrapped his arms around Hermione.

"Sleep," he whispered, resting his cheek on top of her head. They slid under the covers, and she buried her face in his chest.

"I love you," she whispered. Severus closed his eyes, and a smile curved his normally frowning lips upwards.

"I love you too, Hermione," he whispered back.

Harry awoke a few hours later, after showering and curling up in bed, the warmth of it paling in comparison to Draco's arms. Harry woke in the same position he had fallen asleep in, and expected his muscles to feel stiff, but they didn't. Harry smiled. Perhaps he truly was safest in Draco's arms. Harry carefully untangled himself from Draco and put on a cloak over his pajamas. He left a note for Draco and then vanished outside the door.

Harry walked along the dark corridors, echoes of his past lingering in the still hallways. Harry reached the entrance hallway. The first time he had come to Hogwarts he had stood in this hallway in amazement and fear, terrified of how they were going to be Sorted into houses, but thrilled to be here rather than with the Dursleys. He had also stood in this hallway in his fourth year, when Peeves had hung in the air with water balloons, throwing them at the already wet students. Harry looked around, wondering where Peeves was, where all the ghosts were, in fact. Harry decided that he would be sure to ask Professor McGonagall before he left.

Harry wandered into the Great Hall, where much had happened. He had sat on a stool in front of the whole school in his first year, and begged the Sorting Hat not to put him in Slytherin. Harry glanced out one of the windows at the Whomping Willow, which he and Ron had crashed into in a flying car of Mr. Weasley's in his second year. He had lain in this hall in sleeping bags with Ron and Hermione in third year, while the school was in an uproar, searching for Sirius Black. Harry blinked away tears as he thought of Sirius, and sat down in the middle of the Hall. The benches and House tables had been stacked off to the side and were gathering dust. Harry wondered why for a moment, then remembered that most of the kids still here ate in their dormitories while waiting for their parents to come and get them.

Harry stared up at the starry night sky, so realistic that he almost shivered. Harry was reminded of his fourth year, when he had danced with Parvati Patil in the Yule Ball, and then proceeded to ignore her for the rest of the night out of jealousy for Cho and Cedric. Harry strove to remember what Draco had been wearing. Oh! It had been black dress robes which made him look like a priest. Harry stifled his laughter as he remembered this. He also remembered Pansy Parkinson on Draco's arm, and felt a burn of jealousy that he hadn't felt then.

"Oy, Potter!" A voice reverberated around the hallway, a drawling, sneering voice that Harry had learned to hate for so long. A voice he had come to dread, and despise. Now, it was a voice he longed to hear. Harry turned towards Draco, who was leaning against the door to the Great Hall, looking for all the world like the smug bastard Harry had met so many years ago. But he wasn't. This wasn't snotty prick Malfoy. This was grown, beautiful Draco, and Harry felt his heart melt at the sight of him.

Draco strolled casually over to Harry. He was wearing soft, green and silver pajamas with a black cloak around his body. He looked almost majestic, standing there beside Harry, looking down at him as if they were the only two people on the planet.

Draco flopped down next to Harry on the floor of the Great Hall. "So what's up?" he asked.

Harry smiled. "I was just remembering the Yule Ball, when you came with Pansy and I with Parvati."

Draco made a face. "Merlin. I love Pansy as a friend now, but it was that night when I realized I'm gay. Kissing her felt like kissing a dog."

Harry laughed, but stared at Draco in slight surprise. "You've known that you're gay for three years?"

Draco nodded. "Yeah. I kissed another guy the same night I kissed her, and I enjoyed it immensely. I had always thought that I was just bi before then, but the night I found out who I truly am." Draco let out a slight sigh of contentment, staring up at the ceiling.

Harry said nothing, just looked down at his hands, and saw one of Draco's hands close over his. Harry looked up.

"What's on your mind?" Draco asked gently.

"Are—" Harry paused, working up the courage to ask this, and then said, "Are you a virgin?"

Draco glanced at him, brow furrowed. "Is that what you're worried about? Yes, Harry, of course I am. I've never been in love before, and I always promised myself I would wait for sex until I found someone I truly love." Draco hesitated, and then plowed on. "I love you."

Harry felt his cheeks redden at the implication of his statement, and swallowed. Draco said hastily, "Not right away, of course, but, eventually…."

Harry nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I want to eventually have sex with you too. Harry looked up nervously. "Just…not right now. Not yet. I'm still….Not quite ready."

Draco smiled soothingly. "That's okay, Harry. We can wait."

Harry smiled back, and Draco stood up, holding out a hand to him. "May I have this dance?"

Harry frowned at him. "What?" he said.

"Well, we never got to dance at the Yule Ball," Draco reasoned. Harry looked down at the hand that was offered, and smiled. True, they had never danced at the Yule Ball, but they had hated each other then. Harry took Draco's hand, and Draco lifted him up, wrapping an arm around the small of Harry's back, and held his other hand.

"There's no music," Harry pointed out. Draco grinned.

"You don't hear it?" he questioned. "The soft, sweet melody echoing around the hall?"

Harry listened, then shook his head. "No, there's nothing."

"Well," Draco said, beginning to dance. "You just aren't listening hard enough." He twirled Harry around and then brought him back to his arms. Harry stepped in time to Draco's movements, feeling unsure of himself.

"What dance is this?" he asked finally.

"What dance do you think it is?" Draco asked, quirking an eyebrow. He spun Harry away from him, and they were linked by their hands. Draco took a step forward, bringing Harry along with him. He then spun Harry back into his arms.

"I'm not sure," Harry answered. Draco smiled and they continued to dance. As they whirled around the dark, silent hall, Harry thought he could hear the faint strains of a melody, but he wasn't sure.

With their dance, echoes of the past began to swirl around them. An ancient, beautiful past, never forgotten. Things recorded and things secret.

Time at once and time again

Time will heal, and time will mend

Time can shatter, and time can hurt

Time can drag its feet in dirt

Harry looked back up into Draco's face. Draco smiled. "Can you hear it yet?" he asked.

Harry shook his head. "I'm not sure. Maybe." He bit his lip nervously, and looked down at their feet worriedly.

The beautiful castle around them watched the dancing boys, as it had watched many before them. The magic that had built up in the castle from generations of magical occupants welled up and swirled down to surround the two lovers. It danced around them in lovely strains of music and pain, and a past soon to be forgotten.

Some things grow greater in time.

Others rot, and are turned in lime.

Eras come and eras go.

Eras are what we are, and show

Harry swallowed, remembering his own past in the castle, the foolish things he had done, and the good. He smiled, remembering how Draco had made his life hell, trying his hardest, it seemed, to be a little prat. Draco spun Harry again and caught him. His silver eyes were intent upon Harry's face, and Harry found himself lost in silver pools. Silver and green combined, swirling around in a beautiful pattern. Draco leaned down and kissed Harry, his heart hammering wildly. He wrapped one arm around the back of Harry's neck, and kept the other on the small of Harry's back. Harry felt tears start in his eyes as he kissed Draco back and ran his fingers through Draco's impossibly soft hair.

The greatness and weakness of humanity

Our courage, pride, and humility

The Death of an Era is no small thing.

The utmost thing it shows is change.

Harry pulled away from Draco and smiled. "You've changed a lot, haven't you?" he marveled softly. Draco grinned mischievously.

"So have you. You used to be a runty little kid with glasses." Draco smirked.

Harry mock punched him. "Hey! You didn't let me finish. Now you're a gorgeous, grown man, who I am in love with."

Harry's eyes softened, and he kissed Draco again. The magic rose up around them, more powerful than ever before.

The Death of an Era can be a fresh start.

But it's also an old world falling apart.

"Do you hear the music now?" Draco whispered.

"Yes," Harry responded. "I can hear the music now." Around them, the magic of Hogwarts settled into itself, falling asleep, leaving the world finally.

A/N: One of my more favorite chapters. What did y'all think? Well, Read & Review! Adios!

-CatJetRat