A/N: Thank you so much for reading! I hope you've enjoyed this H/Hr version of DH. Reviews are always appreciated.

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Autumn seemed to arrive early that year. The morning of the the last day of August was crisp as an apple, and Harry felt a cool breeze across his face wake him from a deep sleep in the small, sagging bed in the room he shared with Ron at the Burrow, perhaps for the last time.

He stretched, and suddenly acutely aware of the absence of Ron's usual snores, Harry turned to see his friend wide awake, brow furrowed, sitting as still as a stone, his elbows atop his lanky knees, chin in his hands, simply staring at Harry.

"What is it?" Harry said, running a hand through his hair nervously.

"So… you're sure?"

"Ron…" Harry couldn't help but roll his eyes after the all the conversations he'd had this week, all the firm assurances he'd given. Yes, this was what he wanted, what they wanted. They were sure. They'd never been more sure of anything, really.

"I know it's Hermione and everything- you and Hermione, but-"

"But what, Ron? You think we're being a bit reckless?" Harry said sarcastically, but not unkind, a smirk on his lips, his eyebrow raised.

"Er-"

"This might be the least reckless thing I've ever done. Can't say the same for Hermione though, agreeing to be stuck with me and everything-"

"You're mad. The two of you, but I guess that's why we're friends."

Harry laughed, unable to argue. He swung his legs out of bed and glanced out the window. The sun was shining gold over the Burrow's garden, and Harry smiled as he imagined how the light would shine in Hermione's hair in only a few hours' time.

"Getting cold feet?" Harry asked his best friend. "About being best man?"

"No," Ron said hastily, "just- just promise you won't split up."

Harry threw a pillow at Ron, who dodged it with ease.

"I mean, what's the rush? Hermione's not- y'know-" Ron indicated to his stomach.

"You're sounding more and more like your mum every day. Time to get your own place."

"Don't tell Ginny, but I think mum and dad might have a point- you guys-"

"I know, I know. We have our whole lives… but we don't want to wait to start living," he said resolutely, as he and Hermione had explained to Mr. and Mrs. Granger, to the rest of the Weasleys.

This seemed to sober Ron, and he stood to clap Harry on the back.

"If you hurt her, I'll-"

"You'll what? Hand me over to some dark lord? Been there, done that," they both laughed this time. Harry could think of little that could possibly be worse than what they'd already suffered; only the thought of his life without Hermione by his side seemed a worse punishment.

There was a gentle knock on the door before it swung open; it was Hermione, brown eyes bright, a turquoise-haired baby bundled in her arms.

"Morning!" She greeted them merrily and kissed Harry on the cheek.

"He's been fussy for hours," Hermione said, "I think he wants his godfather."

Harry took Teddy into his arms, and the baby babbled merrily, his hair turning from blue to a shade of black that undeniably mirrored Harry's own hair.

Hermione nodded knowingly, "See, just like I-"

"Aren't you two not supposed to see each other before the ceremony or something?" Ron interrupted.

"Oh, yeah," Harry frowned, hoping he wasn't ruining some age-old tradition for Hermione.

"Harry and I have seen each other pretty much every morning for the last seven years, today is no different."

"No different, eh, hear that Harry? Bored of you already."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but smiled. "You know what I mean."

"Hermione?" Ginny appeared in the doorway, lazily rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"Mum's looking for you already, I told her you were still sleeping," Ginny joined them, tickling Teddy.

Hermione looked to Ginny with relief, "Thank you. You know, I wasn't sure she'd come around, but now that she has-"

"-she's come all the way 'round," Ginny said, "can't keep our mother away from a wedding."

"Doesn't have much of a choice though, does she?" Ron said, chuckling.

"Well, I'm pleased," Ginny said, looking from Harry to Hermione. "Plus, this takes her wrath off of me."

They all laughed together.

"Yeah, brilliant time to mention you're not going back to school, wish I'd taken the opportunity to move out," Ron mused.

"Did you get your uniform yet?" Harry asked Ginny, looking forward to seeing her wear the hues of the Holyhead Harpies; she was beginning training for second string seeker.

"Not yet, should be any day now though."

"When are your parents coming?" Ron asked Hermione.

"Any time now, I think-"

"Ginny! Hermione!" Mrs. Weasley called from the floor below as if on cue. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione rolled their eyes.

"You'd better go, before she makes her way up here… please," Ron said, wearily eyeing the doorway.

"Do I have to?" Hermione asked, wrapping her arms around Harry.

"Save it for the ceremony," Ron said in mock disgust as Ginny and Hermione disappeared down the stairs. He turned to Harry.

"Mate, don't look so down. If she were going to run I think she would've done it by now."

Teddy squealed loudly, as if in agreement. Grinning, Harry mussed his godson's hair.

/

The ceremony was everything he could have hoped for- short, simple, and surrounded by the people he loved; the Weasleys, including Bill and Fleur, who sported a growing bump beneath her flowing blue dress; Mr. and Mrs. Granger, tearful but joyful in the front row; Hagrid, sobbing loudly and uncontrollably into his tablecloth-sized handkerchief; Andromeda bouncing Teddy, his blue hair returned; the Lovegoods, Luna adorned with radish earrings and all; Neville, looking thrilled; even McGonagall, dabbing at the corners of her eyes; Slughorn too, as rotund as ever, who had somehow managed an invitation, nodding approvingly.

Harry, rather acutely, continued to feel the absence of Tonks, Remus, and Fred, but, somehow, he knew they were there too. He didn't need the Resurrection Stone to know that they, along with his parents, Sirius, Dumbledore, and, as he liked to think, Severus, would never really leave him.

Hermione wore a simple, form-fitting white dress, and Harry thought she'd never looked more beautiful as she neared him, her gaze unfaltering.

He would board the Hogwarts' Express tomorrow, and he felt quite as though he would be doing it for the first time. Admittedly, in some ways, it would be for the first time- as a married man, as Hogwarts' newest professor.

He would split his time teaching first year Defense while completing Auror basic training. He'd fought, despite Minister Shacklebolt's outcry, to avoid any preferential standing among the Auror Office, and Harry was granted his wish.

Hermione would also board the train with him tomorrow. Despite McGonagall's assurances that it was absolutely unnecessary, Hermione insisted upon finishing her N.E.W.T. levels. She would also begin a part-time apprenticeship in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

He and Hermione would share small quarters at Hogwarts while term was in session. The rest of the year, as her parents had decided to remain in Australia, they would live at Hermione's house, with the protection from their Secret Keeper, Ron.

When Harry had asked Hermione to marry him, late one rainy evening before she traveled to restore her parents' memories, Harry's greatest fear had been, beyond Hermione saying 'no,' a life without Ron by their side, without their continued friendship. To Harry's great relief, Ron had supported them in every way, and more than that, had found purpose after the war as well as they had, running Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes with George and Lee. Soon, happily, Ron would join Harry for Auror training.

The orchard around the Burrow was flooded with golden light, the breeze rustling gently through the leaves in the trees as Harry and Hermione said their vows. They kissed to the sounds of applause and the roaring whoops of Ron, Ginny, and George. Harry felt his heart would surely burst.

"I love you," Hermione whispered before they joined the others.

"I love you," Harry replied, knowing their whole life was ahead of them, a life he was so thankful to live.