Note: Hey thereee! I was thinking about something... how do you guys imagine Harry and Hermione? and everyone else? I first read the books so the characters I imaginein my head have nothing in common with the actors from the movies... not relevant, I'm just curious about it.

Hope you enjoy this chapter!

New York, June, 2011

It's still dark outside and no one is up except for him. Harry sits at his kitchen, a retrospective of the past days going through his mind.

The days went by fast and calmly. Harry and Lily showed New York to them, Ginny, Draco and Dominic never leaving their side. Ron was having a blast, surprisingly enjoying musicals, a thing Harry could never imagine, so he laughed a lot when Hermione explained to him that she dragged Ron to every muggle experience she got the chance and he enjoyed every one of them. After their conversation, Hermione was friendly towards him, they talked and laughed together, but their interactions were always superficial, not even close to what they used to have. She kept him at arm's length and it bothered him more than he was prepared to admit. The few times she was more open were when they were with Lily and Laura. The amazing mother she'd become was at the same time not surprising at all and incredible to him. He caught himself more times he could count watching her with the girls. Hermione had always been mesmerizing.

In two days they were going back to London and the prospect of it was driving him crazy. He got used to her presence. Got used to having Lily and Laura together, laughing and playing. Got used to Ron and his inconvenience and friendship. Harry had to admit to himself that it's been a long time since he felt so happy, so complete.

But he knew life was more complicated than that. They've all taken weeks off work to manage this time together, it was not real life the way they were used to. His life as an Auror was demanding and very stressful. So was Draco's. So was Ginny's as a reporter and Ron's as the manager of the joke shop. As for Hermione's… He knew she worked at the Ministry, but her role there was a little secretive. No one knew exactly what she did and it intrigued Harry. However, it was none of his business.

Yes, none of my business. He drinks from the cup of cold tea he conjured with magic and tries not to think about the reason why he can't sleep.

Which proves itself impossible since the reason herself enters the kitchen.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know you were here, I-"

"No, there's no problem. Sit."

He pulls a stool by his side for her.

"Couldn't sleep?" He asks, watching her circle the kitchen isle and settle by his side. His eyes quickly scanning her nightgown. He swallows his tea in an attempt to repress his grunt. He's sure she's provoking him. I mean, come on. I know it's hot but this… He scans her again. It's translucent. He takes a deep breath.

"Are you okay, Harry?" She asks and he sees a little smile playing on her face. She knows! Witch.

"Yes, yes. I'm fine." He stares at her, she's conjuring a mug. The idea strikes him and he smiles. "But it is hot, isn't it?"

She nods, her smile widening. He then pulls his shirt up, leaving him only in his boxers. Her smile vanishes and her eyes widen. Who's the one laughing now? He feels satisfaction from the way she stares at his bare chest, her eyes going back to his, her cheeks a little red. She clears her throat.

"So, what's keeping you up?" She asks.

You. He watches her and realizes it's the first time they're totally alone since their truce. "I don't know… I mean, aside from the obvious."

"And what would the obvious be?"

"I'm worried." It's all he says. By the look in her eyes she knows what he's talking about.

"Me too." She answers. Hermione rests her hands on the surface of the isle. "Harry, we can't separate them, you know that."

He closes his eyes. "I know."

"I guess we can have that conversation right now, can't we?"

He shakes his head. "Yes." He takes a deep breath. "Move to New York." He blurts it out. She has a shocked expression on her face. Total and utter surprise.

"What?" her voice is low, a whisper.

"Look, I can't go back to London, Hermione. I just can't. I'm sure we are safer here and-"

"Harry, stop. Just stop." She raises her hand. "Do you even understand what you are asking me? You're asking me to leave my life behind, to abandon everything, my job, my parents, my boyfriend." He scoffs at her last word. "I won't do that."

"And I can't go back and that's what you want, isn't it? You don't want to talk, you want to convince me to fly back to London, to let Lily attend Hogwarts, to resume a life I don't recognize as my own anymore."

He's angry. She is too. He knows by the way she crosses her arms.

"You don't have to move back to London if you don't want to."

He blinks, confusion takes over him. "What? You just said you're not-"

"You don't have to, but nothing stops Lily from going to Hogwarts, Harry" he denies with his head. "I'm her mother and I'll be there, in England. Harry, if she goes to the AWS she'll be there all the time, you won't see her the same way you won't see her if she goes to Hogwarts and-"

"But I would be far away, what if something happens-"

"I just said I'm going to be there."

"No."

"Harry, we can't keep doing this!"

"What?!"

"This game of walking in circles, of taking a step forward and two steps back! She wants to go, are you not considering that?"

"She's eleven, Hermione, she doesn't know what she wants."

"Stop being so selfish for a minute-"

"I'm the selfish one? Me? Are you sure?" He gets up. His temper a little out of control. "You were the one that didn't listen to me, you were the one that said that things were fine, that no one could harm us, that-"

"What are you talking about?"

"I-"

"What, Harry? As far as I know no one harmed us! You were just paranoid and thought best to leave! You left Laura behind. You left me!"

He closes his eyes again and walks around the kitchen, his mind racing trying to find a way out of this mess. She doesn't know. He opens his mouth and closes it again, hesitating. It's a mistake. She catches his indecision immediately.

"What is it? What are you not telling me?" She takes two steps towards him. "Tell me." It's an order.

He's afraid to tell her. He's afraid of the repercussions of her knowing. And if she doesn't know she's safe. Laura is safe.

"Nothing. There's nothing to tell." She takes another step.

"That night… something happened that night, I know it did, you can't deny it." She takes his hand. They're very close and he can feel the heat of her body near his. "Please, why can't you tell me?"

He leans forward, his forehead touching hers. She closes her eyes. "I just can't."

To be this close is intoxicating. The moment is charged, Harry knows she feels the same way, knows she wants the same thing he wants, but none of them dare to move.

Harry can't tell how long they stay that way, but after a long while he can't take it anymore. He gently presses his lips against hers. She doesn't correspond but she doesn't push him away either. He pulls back, his eyes searching hers. In a low voice she says:

"I'm sure you can tell me… but you don't want to, Harry. And that's the problem, isn't it? It broke us apart ten years ago and it's doing it again. You try to protect me from something, but you're only showing me that you don't trust me."

She takes a step away from him and goes back to her room without looking back.

June, 1998

Hermione is the only one that never asks him how he's feeling or how he's holding up. Every time they are together she sits by his side and takes his hand. She doesn't talk, doesn't try to force him to eat or anything.

She's there. As she always had been.

The Burrow, July, 1998

It's his birthday. To imagine a celebration in a time like this is absurd, but he knows everyone else is not letting it pass without acknowledging it somehow.

Ginny asked him yesterday why he's acting so strange, why he doesn't talk to her, why he doesn't express his feelings. Harry isn't sure of what she wants from him. If he could comprehend how he's feeling he would tell her. Or maybe not. Could she truly understand him?

He keeps having nightmares. It's always the same. It begins with him facing Voldemort, dying, coming back and failing to kill him. Then he's forced to watch as he kills everyone he loves. One by one. He always wakes up sweating and screaming. All his muscles tense. One day he woke up like this by Ginny's side and even with all her worries he couldn't bring himself to tell her what he'd dreamed of.

There is a barrier between them. After everything Harry went through on the hunt, on his final battle… he died. He experienced things a teenager shouldn't and it changed him, of course it did. He felt different. Certain things didn't matter the same anymore… and he was coming to the conclusion that his relationship with Ginny was one of them. Of course he liked her, they were friends and cared for each other, but… that thrill wasn't there anymore. He couldn't connect to her in a deeper way, emotionally.

And he suspects she is feeling the same way. They are friends, just that. And it's okay.

He exits the room he shares with Ron and is greeted with shouts and yells of 'Happy Birthday' downstairs. He just smiles, his eyes searching for Hermione without his consent. He spots her near Ron, his eyes falling to his friend's hand on her hips. He tries hard not to frown. The celebration, the moment, annoying him. Ginny is the first one to hug him. He does his best to return the warm embrace, but he knows he fails, the sad look on her face tells him, but Molly interrupts their moment by crushing him into her arms and motioning everyone else.

Hermione is the last person he hugs.

"Happy Birthday, Harry." She smiles brightly at him and for the first time that evening, as he holds her, he feels safe and happy. Happy to be alive and celebrating another year of his life. He closes his eyes and takes in her scent. She smells heavenly. And it's the first time in his life he envies Ron. Immediately Harry releases her and feels ashamed of himself. He should be happy for his best friends… he is. He clears his throat.

"Thanks, Hermione."

Ron pats him on the shoulder. "You deserve it, mate!" Harry's shame grows inside him like a poisonous ivy.

He avoids them the rest of the party. Ginny is trying to be cheerful and happy while they talk to their friends, Harry tries too, but he can feel Hermione's eyes on him almost the entire time.

Only later, when they're alone in the kitchen Ginny says out loud what they've both been feeling. "It isn't working, is it?"

He shakes his head and looks at her with apologetic eyes. "I'm sorry, Gin."

She nods and hugs him. "It's fine, Harry. This war changed all of us. I guess we tend to cling to what we're used to… because, you know, changing is hard." She shrugs.

"I love you." He says. She smiles.

"Yeah, me too."

He feels relief washing over him and tries to shut down his mind that immediately goes to Hermione.

New York, June, 2011

It's their last night in New York and the idea of a cozy dinner seemed perfect. Hermione comes to the conclusion that it really was… sort of. She looks around the table and her heart swells a little. To see Ron with his nephew, to see Ginny and Draco totally comfortable around him, all the past anger and resentment behind them is something that gives her some kind of hope. Hope that even if it takes long, she and Harry can find a way to forgive and understand each other. Maybe really move on.

Well…

She plays with her food while watching Laura and Lily. They're sad. It breaks Hermione's heart. The happiness she's been feeling the past days struggling with the future sadness she knows will hit her the moment they are apart again. She glances at Harry. He's watching his food with intensity, as if it held the secret of humanity. He's been avoiding her since their conversation the other night. Hermione also acted as if nothing had happened but when she's alone her mind inadvertently goes to the kiss he gave her. Then she thinks about what he said. He asked me to move to New York. What it actually meant to him? What was he thinking when he asked me this? And of course she can't forget how it frustated her when he talked about their safety and why he left. If he doesn't want to tell me what happened, I'm going to find out even if it is the last thing I do.

She is determined to understand everything that happened between them all those years ago. She can use her connections in the Ministry to find out. And I will, he can't keep hiding things from me, not anymore. She's been asking herself why she never did this, and the only conclusion she came up with is that it hurt too much. But now she doesn't care about hurt, she cares about answers.

Ginny clears her throat and everyone's attention goes to her. "I have some news!"

Draco raises his eyebrows and Harry looks at her quizzically.

Ginny takes a deep breath and blurts out. "I'm pregnant!"

Exclamations of happiness and congratulations are heard from everyone around the table. Draco looks baffled and Hermione laughs at Ginny's audacity of letting him know along with everyone else. They all take turns hugging her.

"I'm so happy for you." Hermione says as she holds her friend.

"I'm so glad you're here being part of this." Is Ginny's answer. Hermione wants to cry and at the same time slap Ginny. She squints at her friend. "What?" Ginny asks, smirking. Hermione knows what she's doing. "Fine, I'm really happy. Have I told this right now for effect, in an attempt to make you feel guilty for leaving? Maybe. Maybe not, who knows." She blinks at Hermione as she returns to her place at the table.

Hermione is invaded with a sudden despair. She doesn't want to leave, not really. She swallows hard. I need a drink. Without second thought she heads to the far end of the room where she knows Harry keeps the good stuff. Strong stuff. She doesn't notice Ron getting closer to her.

"What are you doing?"

"Do you want some?" She asks offering a glass.

"Are you really drinking this?" It's whiskey. Muggle whiskey.

"Yes." She answers between teeth.

"Hermione. We don't need to leave so soon if you don't want to-"

"Yes, we do. We need to go back to our lives, Ron. Go back to reality."

She doesn't wait for a reply. She grabs her glass and goes back to her place at the table, her face sharp and menacing. Harry widens his eyes at her and she stares back at him, daring him to say something. He doesn't. She takes a sip.

"Ginny, maybe now you can visit us in London before the baby is born… I'm sure everyone will be excited to see you."

Ginny is not shaken by Hermione's words. "Sure, I think it's the best idea, I miss everyone." She smiles at Hermione.

She takes another sip. A big one. She feels a little dizzy already. Wow, I really should eat something. She settles the glass on the table, her eyes on the food in front of her. Then a loud buzz inside her head makes her grunt. Am I this drunk already? She realizes she isn't when she sees Lily coming from the living room with a woman by her side. Right, the doorbell.

"Daisy!" Harry gets up. "What are you doing here?" The woman gives him an incredulous look and Hermione tries to muffle a laugh. The woman shoots daggers at her. "I mean," Harry clears his throat. "I'm so glad you're here, I just wasn't expecting it."

Hermione averts her eyes when he approaches his girlfriend and greets her with a kiss.

"I thought I'd make a surprise! How's everyone?" She asks politely, smiling. What a fake smile.

"Daisy, it's always a pleasure!" Ginny says getting up. "Come, you can sit between me and Hermione. This way we can have some girl talk."

Hermione wants to hex Ginny. Why am I still friends with a Weasley? She's doing it on purpose. Forgetting the food in front of her she grabs her glass and ends its content with one large gulp. Ginny widens her eyes. Hermione smirks.

"So Daisy, we didn't have the chance to talk the other day. I want to know everything about you, I mean, you could be mine and Harry's daughters' stepmother one day, who knows?" Take that.

"Yes, Hermione, right?" How dare she? "I totally agree! It would be lovely to be their stepmother." She smiles at Harry and he smiles back at her. Hermione looks at Laura and Lily. They're still lost inside their own little world. Everyone else watches Hermione and Daisy, waiting for the bomb to explode. She takes out her wand and flicks it. The bottle of whiskey comes flying to her hand.

"Tell me everything, then." She pours another glass.

"What the hell are you doing?" Harry's voice invades her mind. She doesn't move, afraid the others might notice something.

"Get out, Harry. We promised never to do this again." She sends back to his mind.

He doesn't answer and she concentrates on the woman by her side.

Memories take over her.

12 Grimmauld Place, September, 1998

"Ow, ow, there… take it easy."

She laughs at his words as they fumble inside the place. Harry settles her on his big sofa.

She feels fine. Her mind is a buzz, a nice buzz. Her body feels light and her eyelids close at their own accord. She can't stop laughing apparently, even if she doesn't know what's so funny. She snuggles on the sofa, her mind recognizing Harry's familiar scent. Is she at Harry's? Why? She doesn't care. She exhales in delight. Far away she hears him.

"What is the name of that spell?" Is he asking her? What spell? "I did it last week, come on, what is it?" She hears him turning pages, but she can't open her eyes. The numbness and dizziness feel too good. "Ah, got it."

She can tell he's closer now, his breathing a rhythm near her. "Hermione." She feels his hands on her shoulders and forces herself to open her eyes. He's very close. Ow, his eyes are really stunning. "Well, thank you." He laughs. Had she said that out loud? "Look, you had too much to drink, okay? I need to sober you up." She protests with her head and grabs him by his arms. When he got so strong? "You have an important internship interview tomorrow, if I don't do this you're going to kill me…" She denies again, her hands moving up on his arms, reaching his shoulders and pulling him against her. He resists a little and then hugs her back.

"You smell so good." She says as she buries her nose into his neck. Far back in her conscious mind she's aware she shouldn't do that, but at the moment she really doesn't care. Harry clears his throat and she hears him mumbling something. And then in a blink she's very sober. She gasps and gets up, putting some distance between them. "Harry!" She blurts out. "I'm- I'm sorry. Thank you, for sobering me up."

He watches her from the sofa. A strange look on his face. "It's okay. I guess getting older was a little too much to handle right now, right?"

"Right, right!" She agrees fast. Her birthday, of course. They were at her party. "Where's Ron?" She looks around.

"Oh, he's at the party still. Do you wanna go back?"

Her head is heavy. "No, no. I guess I should get some sleep. I really do have an important interview tomorrow." She feels very tired. "Can I crash here?"

"Sure, sure. Your room upstairs is always there." He smiles. "I'm going to bed, I'm knackered. Happy birthday, again." She smiles in return and he goes to his room.

It's 4am when she wakes up startled. Someone's screaming. She takes a moment to center herself. Right, she's at Grimmauld. Harry. Harry is the one screaming. She rushes to his room. He's agitated, sweat running down his face and neck. She sits by his side and holds his shoulders.

"Harry! Harry, wake up, Harry!"

She shakes him violently and he jerks awake. She can feel under her palms his erratic heart rate.

"Hermione." His voice is hoarse from the screaming. "You're here." His hand caress the side of her face.

"Yes, Harry, everything is fine, you were having a nightmare. That's all."

He closes his eyes. "There are nights I barely sleep. I keep having the same nightmare." She says nothing, waiting for him to continue. "He kills everyone I love. He makes me watch." He's crying now. "When he gets to you, we're at Godric's Hollow, by my parents' tombstone, and it happens so fast… I try to save you but I can't, I just can't. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Hermione is crying too. "Harry, look at me." He does. "You have nothing to apologize for, you saved me, you saved us all. And I thank you for that." They intertwine their hands. "He's gone, Harry, he can't hurt us anymore. Okay?"

He nods. "Yes, I know…"

They just stare at each other. Hermione feels like he's memorizing every trace of her, as if afraid this is the dream. She feels overwhelmed by how much she cares about him, by how his well-being is connected to her, by how she wished she could take away all his worries and hurt. She just wants him to be happy. After a while she begins to rise from the bed but his hand holds her in place.

"Could you stay here with me?"

He looks so unsure of his request, almost afraid. She's unable to say no, so she just nods. He moves to the other side of the bed, clearing some space for her. The bed is big so there's a lot of room between them, but they never let go of each other's hand.

Harry sleeps peacefully. Hermione misses her interview the next day, but she doesn't care.

New York, June, 2011

She knows the woman is still talking, but her mind is a puddle of thoughts. She doesn't try to be civil anymore, she knows she should, but the only thing she can think is that Daisy is so very wrong for Harry. Really. She can't understand what Harry saw in her. Fine, she's an Auror too, she's beautiful, she seems smart, and as far as Hermione's seen Lily likes her. However, something is off with the woman, she's sure. Her drunk mind agrees. And why is she even here? Coming like this to his place, like she owns it?

"Hermione!"

"Huh?"

Ginny is staring at her. "Can you help me with something?" Ginny's eyes are trying to say something to her, but she can't understand. She wants to ask out loud what's wrong, but Ginny seems murderous. She agrees and soon finds out that rising from her chair was a mistake. Everything spins around her. She closes her eyes and tries holding on to the table, but a pair of strong arms hold her in place. She knows it's him. Her body knows it's him. "I got it, Ginny." It's his voice. And her rational mind is muffled by the amount of alcohol she indulged herself in, so she just hugs him and allows herself to be carried away.

She hears Lily saying "Is mum okay?" and Draco answering "She's fine, don't worry." And Daisy "It's a shame she can't control herself, really."

Her brain registers it and she feels anger bubbling up inside her. But in the next moment, she's being seated on her bed, Harry still holding her and sobering her up with a charm she knows well.

She hates herself the moment sobriety takes over. Harry releases her and stands in the middle of the room. His face is a mask of anger.

"Can you tell me why you're making a fool of yourself? What kind of example is this for the girls?" She feels slapped. She doesn't have a good answer. She's not sure either why she drank that much. "And the way you were treating Daisy…" Wait, what?

"What?" She gets up. "I agree I shouldn't drink and I apologize for that, I don't know what got into me. Seriously." His jaw is tense. "And I'm sorry if I'm ruining your perfect relationship and life by being a little rude. But, hey, tomorrow I won't be here anymore so you don't have to worry about that!"

"Merlin, Hermione!" He stops in front of her. "Do you think I want you to leave? Really? You know I don't, you know it."

"I have to apologize to Daisy," she takes a step towards the door. "After all she can be my daughters' stepmother, right?" She knows it's a bitter question, a stupid one also. But she wants to hear it from him. How serious is he about her?

"She's very far from that."

"Is she?" She wants to smile.

"Yes."

"Anyway…" She begins opening the room's door but Harry stops her.

He grabs her face and pulls her mouth towards his. The sudden surprise doesn't stop her from corresponding the kiss. She's been wanting to do this since the first time she saw him. They struggle for dominance, both eager and desperate. It's a messy kiss, a kiss that carries years of longing and regret. The dam inside them breaking loose.

Harry pushes her against the wall and she moans in response, her hands pulling at his hair. She nibbles at his bottom lip, drawing a deep sound from his throat. She can feel his hands all over her, his scent, him. Harry. He presses his hips against hers and she feels hot from the way he's already so aroused. His mouth leaves hers and he kisses her jaw, a familiar move that she knows will end at her throat. She keeps her eyes closed as he makes her shiver from sucking and nibbing at a sensitive spot he apparently remembers very well.

Her body is on fire. Her desire in control of her actions. She pulls his hips against hers again and again. She wants to feel him, all of him. The wantonness of the moment blinding her.

But then, just like a bucket of cold water, Daisy's voice in the corridor calling for Harry separates them. She doesn't wait for him to react, she just heads to the bathroom and closes the door.

She looks at the mirror, she's a mess. A sexy mess, Harry would say. She smiles and immediately regrets. What am I doing? I'm behaving like a teenager! Drinking and making out with a man that has someone and- Oh my, Jack! Since she arrived she totally forgot about her boyfriend.

Guilty starts taking over her. You have to stop this. Act like the adult you are.

When she goes back to the dining room, she apologizes to Daisy and engages in a long conversation with her. She totally ignores Harry and avoids Ginny and Ron. She excuses herself early and joins Lily and Laura at their room, sharing a story with them till they fall asleep.

"Well, last night was eventful, don't you think?" Ron asks him as they eat breakfast. Hermione and the girls woke up earlier and went out for a walk.

"I guess." Harry mumbles.

Laura is leaving soon. Hermione is leaving. He feels hollow. He couldn't even sleep properly after what happened between them in her room. His mind kept going back to her. He got up twice in the middle of the night, his feet leading him to her room. But he just stood at her door. They couldn't. And she might reject him, the moment gone.

"Look, mate, you know her, she doesn't say but I know she feels terrible about this situation-"

"I know, Ron, I know. I feel like shit too."

"But you couldn't come to an understanding?"

Harry exhales loudly. "There are some things that are better off the way they are."

"That's an awful excuse to ignore your problems." Ron stares at him. "The girls won't be happy about it, you know."

"Of course I do. But I don't see the situation changing anytime soon."

"It's a little ridiculous of both of you to say that since the decision to change the situation is in your hands." Ron shrugs. "I'm just saying. And I agree with Malfoy on this one, you guys are idiots." Harry opens his mouth to protest but Ron stops him. "I love these girls, they are family to me, Harry. I've never seen Laura so happy… I just think it's a waste of time and happiness what you and Hermione are doing."

The front door opens and Hermione enters the kitchen with the girls.

"Are you ready to go, Ron?"

Hermione keeps ignoring Harry.

"Yes, yes."

"Good, I'm finishing up a few things and then we can go, the portkey opens in two hours."

Laura comes to his side as Hermione disappears inside the apartment.

"Dad," she hugs him. "I'll miss you. Do you promise you and Lily will visit soon?" She's crying.

"Of course, I promise." He kisses her head. "I love you, you know that, don't you?"

She nods and says. "Why did you leave, then?"

His eyes widen. Lily is behind them, watching intently the conversation. Harry isn't sure of what to say. He was feeling relieved that no one had asked this. Until now.

"I would never leave you, Laura. It's just complicate, but I promise I'll explain everything to you some day, okay?"

"Why can't Lily come to Hogwarts too?"

"Yeah, Harry, why?" Ron asks.

Harry swallows hard. "Because we live here and she's already going to an excellent school here."

"But I'll miss her."

"You'll talk all the time through the fireplace."

"You don't have a fireplace here, dad!"

Harry laughs. "Of course I do, it's just hidden. Don't worry, okay?" She nods and he hugs her again.

"Are they gone already?" A voice calls from the front door. It's Ginny. "Oh good!" She enters the kitchen and hugs Lily and Laura, then kneeling and turning to Laura she says. "Remember what we've talked about, okay?" The girl nods. "Here, for you." She gives a small box to Laura. Harry can't see what it is and she tugs it away fast, hugging Ginny.

"I'll miss you, aunt Ginny."

Every goodbye feels like a hex, like something terrible hitting him over and over again. His daughters are sad, crying, why am I doing this to them? No, no. Hermione is doing it too. He watches Ron and Ginny exchange hugs and promises of seeing each other soon. Ginny apologizes for Draco that couldn't be there at the moment.

Hermione comes from the corridor, wand in hand, a large suitcase behind her. She looks beautiful and the prospect of not seeing her everyday takes his breath away. He presses his hand against his chest and gets up, ready to let her go. It's how it's supposed to be.

Ginny, as always is the first one to move. She hugs Hermione tightly, both tearing up. Ron comes to Harry and hugs him, words of seeing each other soon flying around the kitchen. His eyes never leave Hermione, but she just glances at him. She kneels and takes Lily's hands.

"I love you, with all my heart and I promise that we'll see each other soon, okay?" She brushes away a few tears from the girl's face. "You can visit whenever you want. There's a room for you at our house, always." Hermione is also crying. She hugs Lily.

Her eyes drill Harry, she's angry with him, but he's angry with her too. This is our mess, Hermione. He hugs Laura again, lifting her from the floor. His vision blurry from unshed tears. "I love you." It's all he can say.

"So," Hermione says. "I guess that's it." Harry looks at her, disappointed. He knows he shouldn't be, he knew she wasn't going to hug him or anything, but a small part of him wished he was wrong. The bigger part just wished she stayed there forever. "Goodbye, Harry." It's the last thing she says to him before she leaves with Laura and Ron.

Note: I swear Hermione isn't an alcoholic hahah, she just can't deal properly with things right now.