Author's Note: And so the end is here and I must face my final curtain…Yes the last chapter is here, and not to delay your viewing pleasure anymore I shall leave all other comments to the end. Enjoy!

Chapter 11

The window was hung on the wall like a picture frame, the picture constantly changing. One day there are sunbeams and laughter, children dancing and playing within the secure world of dreams. On other days, rain falls from the sky and the picture is bleak, no one enters the frame. Every single one of those days, someone smiles, someone cries, a heart is given away and a heart is broken…

Night time was falling over Hogwarts like a heavy deep blue blanket, consuming the world in its folds. The sun light that had previously danced across the earth was gone and now the only light to guide the blind man by were the stars. Each pinprick represented an individual light which seemed to have a complete mind of its own. Magic flew through the air, but not the kind that was taught at the school. The kind of magic that makes you feel alive and dead at the same time. It numbs and blinds your senses.  It makes everything in the world alright because its there. Magic that only the poetic and broken hearted can truly experience. Mother Nature weaving her spell through the fabric of the world.

Hermione Granger sat on her bed and wistfully stared out the window. It had been a long year and many things had happened. Now it was all over, and not just the year but Hogwarts. Never again would Hermione sleep in the bed she had become so fond of, eat in the enchanted halls or partake in lessons in magic. It was the end of a great era and one she swore never to forget. Everything around her seemed to be cloaked in memories and a sad smile trailed across her face. Would it ever be the same? She doubted it somehow. From now on it would be harder and more challenging. Fate would pluck her from the masses and send her on a new journey. What worried her most is that she didn't know what was to come and had no map for the road ahead.

Gracefully standing up she paced closer to the window and looked down into the grounds. A large party of people seemed to be gathering at the main doors, making a lot of fuss as large trunks were heaved out into the cold. Parents busied themselves fixing their sons or daughters attire, much to their disgust, and the mood seemed jolly. The students leaving were both happy and sad to be leaving. They were happy that things like a surprise Potions test with Snape would never happen again. They were happy that they could now officially sleep until noon and not have a care in the world. They were happy that the years at Hogwarts were now over and they had a new life to start. Their reasons to be sad about the departure seemed to be almost unanimous. No longer would they have the companionship that so many of them now had. Friends, though saying they would owl every day, would probably lose touch. Overall it would be something they would never again be able to experience.

As the soft light from a candle flickered across her face she smiled slightly. For her the last year had seen a lot of things. One thing she had learnt was that appearances could be deceiving. A boy she had hated for 90% of her time at Hogwarts was now the boy she loved. He had shown her that life may not be simple but it didn't always have to be so complicated. Also that excepting the unexpected didn't have to be difficult and that she should just let things be. Other things had happened too. She had discovered much to her delight that Ron understood. Explaining to him that she had fallen in love with someone else had been difficult and he didn't speak to her for the best bit of a week, but their friendship meant more then that and they were soon friends again. Obviously she had left out the part about the boy being Draco Malfoy, it didn't matter now anyway. Their contact was over permanently. It didn't mean the relationship was over though. Every night when she went to sleep she could still visualise that night with him. A mischievous grin teased her lips.

Relationships had changed a lot in the past year, she reflected deeply. Harry and Ginny had been a surprising couple, but once she had seen them together it all clicked. Ron had found solace in Lavender and they were now having a passionate affair whenever they found the time. In fact the only two people that seemed alone was herself and Draco. They had each other though on many more levels then the other relationships. Looking down at her hand, she eased her fingers to reveal the neatly folded parchment. It had been with her for almost an hour now and still she had not found the courage to open it. She knew exactly who it was from.

Letting her weight drop down onto the window sill ungracefully, she curled her legs up under herself. Then she neatly laid the parchment on her knee and watched it. She didn't expect it to do anything, but she was nervous about its contents. Biting her lip slightly she let her fingers flip open all the smooth folds.

My dearest Hermione,

The year has gone and I felt I should say my final goodbyes. When I thought about how to present this I could only think of a letter. Potty and Weasel would no doubt get uppity if I came to the Gryffindor Common room with what I want to say. Not that I would let them stop me though. Anyway, back to the point of this message.

Do you remember what I once asked you? How do you fall in love? Well I think I finally have an answer for you. Love has eyes like hazelnuts that seem to pierce through the mask of fantasy. Love has a nose that turns up ever so slightly at the end. Love has hair that falls around its face like a tumbling waterfall. Love smells like all the flowers of the world bound together. Love has fingers that heal the wounds of the heart and bring life to the flesh of the dead. Love is always unexpected yet strangely familiar. Love has the graces of an angel and the body to match. Love has a name. That name is Hermione Granger. It may seem silly to you, but to me it is true. You are like an epiphany and I have finally come to realise that the world is something more then a place to be. It's a place to live.

Father always told me that sentiments were weaknesses and he was completely right. For now though I shall allow myself the sweet surrender. My only hope is that once I'm gone you will forgive me for everything I will become. This has bothered me for some time now and I now know the answers. Please, my beautiful Hermione, will you not think of me as alive but dead. The man you love is dead with the last word of this letter. Do that one thing for me, my love. Do not think of me and don't let me hurt you. I love you and always will.

Goodbye.

Always yours,

Draco

Carefully Hermione folded the parchment back up and stared back out the window. He was right and she knew it. The man she loved was gone and all that was left were the memories. A smile lit her face as she sighed softly. The end of an era indeed, she thought.

A soft knocking came from her door and she turned her head to find Ginny's happy eyes meeting hers. Hermione stood silently and faced the door. 'Is it time to go?'

'Afraid so,' Ginny whispered with a hint of a tear ebbing at her eye.

'Already? Are you sure?' Hermione said with a look of deep sadness smothering her face.

Ginny nodded silently and smiled a small smile. A smile that reassured Hermione about the world. Whatever happened she would always have her friends and family. Hogwarts would never be forgotten. Rising slowly she crossed the bare room to where a candle burnt. Muttering a silent prayer for Draco she closed her eyes and blew it out. The room was plunged into darkness and the era was over. Only ghostly memories played round the rooms, re-enacting all the things that had happened in a continuous loop.

Hermione walked out into the light of the corridor, only glancing back to see her true home for the last time. 'Goodbye.'

…The window was hung on the wall like a picture frame, the picture constantly changing. The night had prevailed and the world lay asleep. Hearts had been given away and love ruled supreme. Broken shards of love lost lay discarded on the floor as a new life begun. Memories danced like forget-me-nots in a field of many.

Yesterday was gone.

Author's Note 2: There we go then. It's all over! If you still think I should write a sequel after this ending, leave it in your review and I'll make up my mind in the next week and post my decision up in here. Apart from that review! I'd love to know how you found my story.

I would like to say some special thank you to Clara Lou and Queen C who have supported me throughout. I would also like to say thank you to MoonTrail who has reviewed throughout and apparently enjoyed. Also everyone who reviewed and e-mailed me.

Anyhow, review!