Pairing: H/Hr (Please don't bash. If you don't like the Harmony pairing, don't read it.)
Rated M for future chapters.
Story type: Some romance, some angst, some comedy, lots of innuendo and etc here and there. It's a bit of everything.

Disclaimer: All characters and former ideas, etc belong to the brilliant and now very rich, JK Rowling, and I always have the images of the kids in the movies when I'm writing them. Film stuff belongs to Warner Brothers.

Author's Note: I like Ron. I really do. He's funny. But sometimes in my fanfiction I find it hard to include him in a H/Hr plot. Being a forever H/Hr shipper...well, sometimes it's hard. So forgive me if I forget about Ron at times.

Chapter 1: End of Summer Bash

"To Ron!" Harry raised his glass in the air, some of the Firewhiskey spilt droplets on the heads of the two people next to him.

"TO RON!" Everyone shouted in unison.

The trio was hosting a final end of the summer bash at the Burrow-minus Mom and Dad Weasley-to celebrate the end to a good summer, and, to hopefully a good next year. Although they had graduated already, it seemed like the start of everything came fresh in September. Ron was going away on an internship with his brother Charlie in Romania, then another internship with the Chudley Cannons. Harry had to hand it to him; Ron had done it. This was definitely a job something Ron would have dreamt of doing years ago. He was happy for him.

As for him and Hermione, well, he wished he could say they found jobs-and they had, just not outside Hogwarts. A few days before graduation last year, Dumbledore had called them into his office and told them, that they, being the two most vulnerable victims in Lord Voldemort's eyes, that he had wanted them to return to Hogwarts for another year under his watchful eye; that they would be provided with shelter, and jobs at Hogwarts or at Hogsmeade themselves.

They would have food and everything they needed right there. Hermione would be the head librarian and also taught Rune studies to 3rd year students. Harry would be the Flying coach and also the Quidditch coach, for Gryffindor of course. At first, Harry was mad, but now, he understood why. Hogwarts had protective charms on it which would guard them, and, it was not himself that he worried about, but Hermione. Almost losing her in 5th year was too much to bear, and he wouldn't stand to see it again. It had nearly blew out his mind and made him dizzy and breathless when he held her in his arms, limp and with closed eyes. He needed her to be safe.

Frankly, Harry felt guilty; he almost hated himself at times. His friends had to suffer because of him. They all split up for such reasons. Dumbledore also said the plans for Ron were for the best. For there, Ron would also be guarded under secret protection; however, he was less of a target than Hermione. But why? He was his best friend.

Perhaps because Hermione was the closest woman he had in his life, that Voldemort saw Hermione as Harry's love interest, despite the fact that this wasn't true.

He looked over at Hermione now, to his right a few feet over, raising her glass of Firewhiskey in the air to Ron like the crowd; yes, she had grown into a wonderful young woman. It was like yesterday that he could blink and see the bushy haired brunnette girl bursting into their cabinand stating things matter-of-factly (which she still did). It seemed like yesterday that for a brief while, she was just the know-it-all smarty-pants Ms. Granger, who seemed to intrude upon him and Ron. But soon after he met her, even at 11, Harry could see right through to her nobility and her real intentions, and appreciated her friendship. He counted her in way before Ron had, and they were a trio. Then, Hermione kept growing alongside with them, becoming more of a companion, and sticking by Harry's side through thick and thin, even when no one else would believe him.

Hermione was Harry's wonderful friend. He didn't know if he would be here today without all her help all these years. Truly, Hermione was special and he did love her. He would do all in his power to make sure she was unharmed.

Then, she turned to him and smiled her genuine smile; Harry looked at her and saw beauty; he had always seen Hermione as pretty, but it was at this moment that Harry had seen something that had had never seen before. He didn't know what it was, but Hermione was suddenly beautiful to him; not a best friend's beauty, but a womanly beauty. She was breathtaking even now; her hair became curly and long, her nose was perfect, what one would call a button nose; her lips were full and pink and had the right curve at them, as if they held a hidden kiss. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of hazel. He looked down at her body when she looked away; the curve of her round breasts showed in her tight pink tank top, her rear and her hips looked phenomenal in those low ride jeans she wore, and her skin looked like silk to the touch; Hermione Granger was perfect; Harry wouldn't change one single thing about her. The only thing was, did she know it herself? Perhaps Harry was alreadyslightly buzzed, and that is why his best friend was suddenly another woman, as opposed to the girl he had known all these years.

"To Harry and Hermione!"

WHAT?? We're not together! Ron's shouting broke his thoughts.

"TO HARRY AND HERMIONE-THE PROFESSORS AT HOGWARTS!!" Everyone shouted.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief; What made him think they meant that?

After everyone had settled down again, He took a seat on the couch. Most of their friends were up dancing or drinking, or perhaps shagging each other elsewhere.

"Whatever they're doing, kudos to them," Harry thought. Hermione then took a seat next to him.

"Hey you." she said, putting down a new bottle of Firewhiskey in front of her. "Having fun?"

"Yeah," he grinned, looking at her. He was surprised she was still audible to him, yet she was wasn't shouting, considering the music was turned up loud.. "And it looks like you are too. 'Mione, isn't that your 2nd bottle of Firewhiskey tonight? You might wanna take it easy. From what you tell me, you're not much of a drinker."

"Oh relax, Potter. Just having a little fun before we go back to Hogwarts next week. A-gain." she sighed and took a swig. "Not that I mind. Mind you, I'm still the same studious, Miss Know-it-all Granger, only now, it's Professor Granger." She smirked.

"Well..." he slightly flirted. "You'll be the hottest Professor there, if that's the case."

She laughed. "Well I suppose the same goes for you then, doesn't it Potter? You in those Quidditch uniforms, getting all dirty." She played along.

He laughed. He needed the laugh. "Yeah. I just can't believe we're going back again. I don't want to think about Him now, but I'm just saying, I can't wait until this ordeal is over. Until all of this is done with. No more battling."

"You think you're the only one? We all can't wait. For all of our safety." She got a little closer to him and put her hand on his shoulder, then stroked his neck a little. "And I know you don't like being called the hero, and you feel guilty, but it's not your fault, Harry. You're just Harry to me. My best friend. The boy I met on the train 7 years ago. The only thing that's changed is that you're a man now." She put her head on his chest.

"Thank you, 'Mione." He kissed the top of her head; the scent of lavender and vanilla filled up his nostrils for a moment. If there was one person that understood more than anything, it was her. And for that, he appreciated it. He stroked her back and she sat up.

Ron came over with an akward look on his face for a moment, then his expression changed and he said, "Wanna dance?"

Hermione got up and took his extended hand and smiled. Harry looked at her as she walked away. He couldn't help feeling like he wanted to be the one to dance with Hermione up there. After all, he missed his chance back at the Yule Ball.

But why? All this time, Hermione and Ron were noted to have a thing for each other. He never asked Hermione about it; perhaps it was because he really would rather not know, or perhaps...because he had just never bothered. Ron, however, had mentioned a few times that he fancied Hermione, and on more than a few occasions, had shown it in a rather jealous and rude manner. In Harry's honest opinion, it seemed like Ron would never mature. What Ron wanted, he expressed in immature ways. Ron would never really grow up.

As much as he loved Ron's friendship, he accepted that was the way it was. It seemed Ron would never change and grow out of his jealous ways.

It was now that everything Dumbledore said in his office that came flowing back to him...