Chapter 18: Going Home * Disclaimer- Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers. * Hermione had hardly slept and when she did eventually drift off she woke up confused unable to decide is she'd dreamed the previous day or if Harry really was alive.

Hermione had booked them an early portkey, 6:00am in fact. Harry had gone back to the muggle hotel that she had been staying in.

Doubting her own sanity Hermione got up and got ready. She'd told the girls not to bother getting up to say goodbye, she'd be seeing them soon enough. Rose however had made Hermione breakfast.

"Rosie!" Hermione exclaimed. "It's only five o'clock; I thought I told you not to get up."

Rose grinned, "So? I'll miss you, even if you're only away for a week or two."

After convincing Rose that there was no need for her to accompany her to the portkey centre Hermione apparated there. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw the hooded figure that was Harry. He was alive, she hadn't dreamt it.

"You are alive then," She said bluntly.

"Apparently." He chuckled.

"Sorry, I just felt as if I'd dreamt the whole thing. I can't believe I'm going home. I haven't seen England for almost as long as you!" *

An hour and thirty minutes later they found themselves in London's portkey centre. It was starting to get busy and Harry looked rather suspicious in his black hooded cloak. When they stepped out into Diagon Alley the two friends each let out a gasp. Nothing had changed, not really but neither of them had been there for so many years.

It was raining. A dull mundane morning, a vicious wind attacked the early morning shoppers and the icy rain lashed down hard.

"Strange, now that I'm back in English weather I realize how much I missed it." Hermione remarked.

Harry grinned from underneath his hood. Though older, she was still the Hermione that he'd gone to school with, still the witty intelligent but eager girl that he'd known so well. *

Ron stared round at his squad. They were the youngest squad in Sirius' league but they were already becoming famous for their talent. Today though they were stuck with paper work.

They were all talkative, keen and promising, yet like any auror hated paperwork.

Ron decided to lighten the mood in the large office they were using. "I hated potions when I was in Hogwarts!" He said. Potions was significant because they were working out the new potions stock as they were running low on healing and truth potions.

There were a few murmurs of descent, they'd all gone to Hogwarts, and all suffered Professor Snape.

"I remember once."

*

Hermione and Harry apparated to just outside the familiar building where they'd both worked during the war.

Hermione felt her stomach churn at the sight. After all, Ron was inside, and he was about to get the biggest surprise of his life.

They made their way to the reception. Hermione recognized Parvati Patil as the receptionist.

"Third floor, largest office," She said not looking up from polishing her nails when Hermione asked where they might find Ron Weasley.

"Thank you." Hermione said. As they retreated they heard Parvati squeak.

"Oh my god that was Granger!"

*

"The look on Neville's face was priceless, like horror mixed with pride, after all not everyone managed to get the better of Draco Malfoy."

The room erupted with laughter. Ron was telling them of the antics of himself and his school friends in potions. They were enjoying it, adding their own stories.

*

Hermione and Harry entered the office at first unnoticed.

"We had to test this hair changing potion on each other," Ron was saying "And you see it was supposed to be a deep purple colour and ours was bright red. So when Harry and e drank each others potion out hair started growing really fast."

"Luckily for you two I knew a spell to put a stop to it." Hermione interrupted, "You needed a haircut though!"

Ron froze staring at her intently.

*

Ron was dumbfounded. There she stood, curly hair damp, brown eyes shining her deep red cloak dripping wet.

As he made his way towards her, Tim, his second in command stopped him. "Your girlfriend sir?" He asked.

"Of a fashion," He replied.

Too overtaken by emotion and didn't notice the dark cloaked figure that followed them when he took her outside the office.

*

Harry's head was in a swirl. His two best friends, he watched them greet each other, they were so obviously in love!

"What are you doing here," Ron said after kissing her and wrapping her in his arms.

"Oh Ron! It's too wonderful! You won't believe it, but it's true!" She said.

"What, what is?"

Hermione just shook her head, a tear of happiness leaking down her tanned skin.

"Hello Ron," Harry said stepping forward taking down his hood.

*

Ron's grasp on Hermione tightened and he paled.

"Harry?" He asked in a hoarse whisper.

"He's not dead Ron, it was Malfoy Ron!" Hermione said staring up at him.

Ron couldn't describe his feelings as Hermione and Harry told him what had happened. Harry was alive! Harry who he thought he'd seen die. Happiness went beyond what Ron felt, everything seemed so perfect. He had a best friend back and the woman he loved was standing in his arms!

*

Sirius did a double take when he came across the reunion that was taking place in the corridor.

For a moment he saw the three young school kids that had helped him when he was on the run. Then he realized that they were older and one of them should not have been there.

"What's going on?" He asked, "Is that.are you?"

"Sirius! It is me! I'm not dead!" And he launched into the story once again. Sirius hugged his god-son, "So the Potter line hasn't ended?" He asked.

"No not quite yet," Harry replied.