Author's Note: Well, this is the final chapter for this story. I want to thank everyone who has stuck with this story through the many twists and turns that occurred. I hope you enjoyed this story.

I do not own anything.

September 1st, 1998

Harry and Hermione stirred as their alarm went off around eight in the morning. Hermione sighed as she reached over and turned it off, knowing exactly what they had to wake up early for.

It was the day they both had been dreading for quite some time.

"Good morning," Harry said, reaching over to give her a quick kiss.

"Good morning, Harry. This is the last time I get to wake up next to you for quite a while."

"I know," he said, running his fingers down her bare back before she stood up from the bed. "With you gone, who's going to give me amazing massages when I come home from training in pain?"

"Oh, you mean the massages that lead to sex?" she said, walking over to his side of the bed.

"That's why they're amazing," he grinned up at her.

She smiled at him and leaned down to his ear, whispering seductively, "I'm going to take a shower. I sure hope someone decides to join me."

He smiled as she walked away to the bathroom. He then got up and followed her, trying to keep his mind off of the events that will occur later.

"We need to get going, Harry," Hermione said, glancing at the clock that sat on the wall. She was wondering what was taking him so long.

"Just a sec," he replied, walking out of his bedroom. Hermione noticed right away that he was holding something in his hands.

"What is that?" she asked, referring to the object in his hand. He smiled at her.

"I wanted to get you something for your birthday, since we don't get to celebrate it together."

"My birthday's not for a couple of weeks."

"But I won't get to be there," he said. "So, I wanted to give you your present now."

"You didn't have to get me anything."

"Yes I did. You're my girlfriend, are you not?"

She smiled at him as he held the box out to her. She took it from his hands and opened it, nearly dropping the box as she saw the content.

"It's a time-turner?" she asked, pulling the gold chain out from the box. She put the box on the table and used both hands to take a better look at it. It was quite smaller than the time-turner she used in their third year. It was pure gold, and Hermione could swear that, if it were a little bigger, it would be the actual one.

"Not an actual one," he said, walking up to her. "It's a replica of a time-turner."

"It's gorgeous," she said, giving him the necklace. She lifted her hair up and turned around, feeling the necklace slip around her neck.

"When I saw this, I knew I had to get it."

"Why?" she asked, putting her hair down and turning around when he patted her shoulder.

"The day that you and I used that time-turner to save Sirius and Buckbeak was the very first time you and I had done something alone together."

She stared at him for a moment while she thought back to their adventures.

And he was absolutely right.

In first year, it was she, Ron and Harry who had gone to retrieve the stone. Second year, it was just him and Ron, as she had been petrified. The night they had gone to save Sirius and Buckbeak was the first adventure where it was just she and Harry, as Ron had been injured that night and was unable to go.

"It was," she said, staring up at him with amazement. Her hands came up and touched the necklace.

"It was one of the best nights of my life," he said, smiling at her as he did so. She smiled back at him.

"Mine, too. Thank you, Harry. It's beautiful."

"Happy birthday," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist. She wrapped hers around his neck and gave him a quick kiss. "Do you have everything you need, Hermione?"

"Yes, I do," she replied, thinking in her mind. "I checked three times last night. You have my trunk, right?"

He reached in his pocket and pulled it out, showing her the miniature version of her trunk. "Right here."

"Then I think I'm ready to go," she sighed, looking around the apartment she has shared with him for four months now.

"I'm going to miss you," he said, kissing her forehead before he grabbed the floo powder off of the mantle.

"I'll miss you, too. What am I going to do without you and Ron there to get me into trouble?"

He chuckled. "Actually not get in trouble for the first time. You're head girl-you better not be getting in trouble or else you'll be in even bigger trouble."

She smiled at him and looked at the clock, sighing again. "We need to go, Harry."

"Hello, dears," Molly said after Harry and Hermione stepped through the fireplace. "Breakfast is in the kitchen. Don't take too long, though. We have to leave very soon."

"Thank you, Molly," Harry said.

"Ginevra! Let's go!" she screamed up the stairwell. She turned back to Hermione, and said, "Hermione, will you see what she is doing? I can't seem to get her down here."

"Of course," she said, walking up the stairwell. Harry turned to the kitchen and found the person he was expecting to see, already chowing down his breakfast.

"Hey, mate."

"About time you two showed up," Ron said, bringing his eyes up from the paper as he talked to Harry.

"Yeah, yeah," Harry replied, fixing himself a plate. "Anything interesting?"

"It's the Prophet. Of course not."

Harry shook his head and started to eat, smiling at Hermione as she entered the kitchen.

"Ginny's on her way down. Hello, Ronald."

"Hey," he said, closing the paper to look at his two friends. "Ready to go back to school, Hermione?"

"No," she said, fixing her own plate. "It's not going to be the same with you two there. I'm really going to miss you guys."

"We'll miss you, too, Hermione. It's just for one year. After that, you're done."

"I know," she said, taking a bite of her food after she did. "Plus, I'll be back home at break. I'm really looking forward to that."

She then took another bite of her food before asking, "So, how are things going between you and Clarissa?"

"Great!" Ron said, smiling from ear to ear. "I love being with her."

"Do you love her?" Hermione asked.

"Ok, just because you two jumped into that, doesn't mean everyone does."

"C'mon, Ron," Hermione said, nearly rolling her eyes at her friend. "You've been dating her for a little over three months. I know for a fact that she has been to your apartment, so don't even go there. Just admit that you are in love with her."

"Do you have to tell her everything?" Ron said, glaring at Harry while a blush spread to his cheeks. Harry finished the bite that he had taken of his food and shrugged, his eyes drifting from Hermione to Ron.

"She's my girlfriend. I'm obligated."

"That's the last time I tell you something," Ron grumbled, taking a heaping portion of his food into his mouth. Ginny finally descended into the kitchen, grabbing a muffin as she did so.

"I'm not very hungry," she said, watching as the trio all gave her a look.

"You sure?"

"Yes, Harry. I'm positive."

"You two will have a fun year," Ron said, looking between Hermione and Ginny.

"Doubt it," Hermione said. Harry gently grasped her hand.

"Try not to think about it," he said, staring straight at her. "Ron and I will be there when you leave, and we'll be there when you get back."

"And when I get back?" she said, smiling at Harry as she did so.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Ron said, covering his ears as he did so. "Ginny and I are you exes, in case you've forgotten. We don't want to hear about that."

"Fine," Hermione said, leaning back in her seat and giving Harry a look. He grinned back at her.

"Everyone ready?" Arthur said, walking into the kitchen with Molly right behind him. "We need to get going."

Everyone helped to clean up the kitchen before they loaded the cars. Ron, Harry and Hermione climbed into the first car while Molly, Arthur and Ginny climbed into the second one. It seemed like the ride to Kings Cross didn't seem to take as long as it normally did, in Hermione's opinion.

They were all silent, seeming to want to stare out the window instead of talk. The only thing that made Hermione a little less nervous was Harry slipping his hand into hers.

The arrived at the station, and Ron and Harry helped Hermione pull her and Ginny's trunks out of the cars. They walked up to the barrier, in which Ginny went first, followed by Hermione, Molly, Arthur, Ron and Harry. After both of their trunks were secured on the train, they returned to the four waiting for them.

"I can't believe my youngest is finishing Hogwarts," Molly said, tucking some of Ginny's hair behind her ear. "And Hermione, I'm sure I can speak for everyone here when I say that we're very proud for your decision to finish your education. I know that it must not have been an easy decision, especially since Ron and Harry decided not to return, but I think it's the best thing for you."

"Thank you," Hermione said, giving Molly a hug.

Arthur gave her a hug as well, saying, "You have nothing to worry about this year. Focus on your studies, and get through. Both of you."

He hugged Ginny and joined his wife.

"Don't cause too much trouble, sis," Ron said, hugging Ginny for a second before letting her go.

"Oh, I won't," Ginny said, gesturing to her parents who were standing nearby. Ron nodded.

"I know you won't," he said, winking at her as he did. She walked over to Harry, who was still stationed next to Hermione.

"Goodbye, Harry."

"Bye, Ginny," he said, giving her a quick hug. "Have a good term, OK?"

She nodded, turning to Hermione before saying, "I'm going to go ahead and board. Come find me when you're ready."

"Will do," Hermione said.

"Bye, everyone!"

With that, Ginny got on the train, and disappeared out of sight. Ron turned to Hermione.

"You're not going to study too hard, are you?"

"It's me. What do you think?"

"Don't overdo it, OK? It's your final term. Don't stress out.-you won't have Harry and I to go bonkers on."

"Thank you, Ronald," Hermione said sarcastically, rolling her eyes at him. He grinned.

"Seriously, though."

"I know."

He gave her a hug before pulling back and saying, "I'm going to find Clarissa before she boards the train. See you soon, Hermione."

She nodded, and he disappeared in the crowd. She finally turned around to Harry, who had remained silent for the most part.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to me?"

"I don't know, am I?"

"I wish you would," she said, walking closer to him. He smiled at her.

"You need to board soon," he said, looking down at the ground.

"I know."

"I'll see you soon," he said, wrapping his arms around her. She hugged him back and pulled back slightly, putting her hands on his face.

"Good luck with your training, Harry. Get through it, and you'll be in an Auror in no time."

"The same with Hogwarts," he said, smiling at her. She smiled back.

The whistle sounded, and Hermione sighed. She really didn't want to go.

Harry pulled her in for a kiss, not caring who was watching or the rumors that were sure to circulate. She kissed him back and poured everything she could into it, hoping to tell Harry how much she truly meant to him.

He broke away as the whistle sounded again, and said, "Go, Hermione. I'll see you soon. I love you."

"I love you, too. Goodbye, Harry."

With that, she turned away and boarded the train, finding Ginny and Clarissa very quickly. The whistle sounded again, and Hermione knew the train would be moving any minute now.

"Don't worry, Hermione," Clarissa said, smiling at her friend as she did so. "We'll see them again soon."

"I know we will," Hermione said, glancing out the window at Ron and Harry, who were also watching her through it. She raised her hand and waved to them, watching as they waved back.

The train began to slowly take off, and Ron and Harry watched as Hermione, Ginny and Clarissa disappeared out of sight. They both looked at each other

"Bloody hell, four months without Clarissa and Hermione, mate," Ron said, turning to Harry.

"I know. Let's try not to think about it, Ron. You want to do anything tonight?"

"You know it, mate," Ron said, grinning at Harry as he did so.

October 31st, 1998

Harry sighed as he walked into his apartment, dropping his bag to the floor as he did so. His muscles were aching more than they ever have before, and he wished more than anything that Hermione was here to make him feel better.

"Pain potion it is," Harry said, rubbing the back of his neck as he did so. He went over to their potion cabinet and pulled it out, knocking it down in a second. He sighed as he felt the effects almost instantly.

An owl tapped at the window, and Harry quickly walked over to it, allowing the owl to come inside and sit on the pedestal. Harry quickly fetched an owl treat and removed the letter from the owl, giving the owl a treat as he did.

He walked into the office-which had previously been Hermione's bedroom before they had gotten together-and sat down at the desk. He immediately recognized Hermione's handwriting and smiled, opening the letter as he did so.

Hi Harry,

I can't believe it's Halloween already! Time is just flying by! That's a god thing, though-the sooner it goes, the faster I get to see you again.

Classes are extremely hard this term. I've been in the library nonstop studying and preparing for my N.E.W.T.s. I have to admit that maybe it is harder without you and Ron here. As much as you two slacked off, you still helped me as much as I helped the two of you. I knew it would be hard without the two of you here, but it's much harder than I originally thought.

I hope your training is going well, Harry. Even though I was upset that you weren't coming back, I am extremely proud of you. You're starting what you've been dreaming for, and I know you will succeed. Keep working at it, Harry. And, if you're still in pain when I return home, I will do whatever it takes to make you feel better.

I will see you soon, Harry. I miss you so much.

Hermione

Harry grinned, knowing exactly what she meant. He put the letter down and grabbed a small, velvet box that was sitting on the desk. He opened the box.

"I love you, Hermione," he said, looking at the content. It was a silver band with a large, emerald stone on it.

And that was all Harry knew about the ring, because it belonged to his mother.

His parents had left it for him in his vault, with a few notes included in case they didn't make it. He had gone there a few weeks ago to see what all was in his vault by now, since he hasn't been able to see it in quite some time, and found the ring hidden with some of his parents other personal belongings that they had left in there.

He put the ring back down onto the desk, and opened a drawer to the desk. He pulled out the Marauders Map, put it on the desk, grabbed his wand and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

He watched as the map came to life, and the first place he wanted to look at was the library. And he was glad that he did.

Because he immediately saw Hermione Granger there.

He started at her dot for a while, much like he had done in the tent when he was with Ginny. At least this time around, he didn't have to worry about their safety, worry about what may be happening while they're at Hogwarts. Because this time, they were safe, and he knew they would be safe.

"I'll see you soon, too, Hermione."

He grabbed his wand and pointed it back at the map, saying, "Mischief Managed." He then got up and walked out of the office, leaving the ring, map and letter on the desk as he did so.