Part 10 - End of an Era

"I can't believe it's already been another year!" Harry said as they sat in the Great Hall.

"I know. Now we only have one more year until we're done school at Hogwarts." Hermione said as she held Ron's hand under the table who sat across from her.

It was official that they were together since that moment in the hospital wing. Everyone knew it was bound to happen. Even Lavender knew it - no matter how jealous she was.

"I'm going to miss this old place." Ron sighed, "A lot of things wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for this old stink bucket."

"Like meeting fluffy." Hermione giggled,

"Oh yeah, that was fun," Ron said sarcastically, "How about getting acquainted with the Whomping Willow? Now THAT was fun."

"No, the best thing was when Draco was a ferret!" Harry smirked.

Instantly they burst out laughing, after drawing some attention they ceased.

The Great Hall came to silence when Dumbledore stood up.

"I'd like to call attention the points of each house. 4th place goes to Hufflepuff with 494 points. 3rd place goes to Slytherin with 673 points. 2nd place goes to Gryffindor with 887 points and 1st place to RAVENCLAW with 895 points!"

The entire Great Hall went into cheers, that is, except the Slytherins as usual.

After the end of the feast it was time to leave Hogwarts.

Harry, Ron and Hermione all once again sat at in the same compartment. Harry hogged the seat all to himself as Hermione leaned next to Ron as she held his hand.

"I can't believe another year has already passed." Harry commented as he leaned back comfortably, lacing his fingers behind his head.

"And to think there's only one more year after this summer." Hermione added, "Strange how you always imagine how it would be like later on, but when it is later on, you think it came too fast. Sort of scary."

"This year has certainly been a roller coaster, that's for sure." Ron sighed heavily as he gently squeezed Hermione's hand, "But we did get together sooner than later, so that certainly ended this year happily."

"Do you know what is wrong on how you two got together sooner than later??" Harry asked,

"What? We barely had time for exams?" Hermione smiled,

"No, that you two basically wasted a year. Shame really." Harry shook his head, "Who knows though, could've ended that you two never got together."

"Well, I'm glad we did get together." Hermione replied.

Ron quickly kissed Hermione on the cheek.

"Goodness, Ron, what happened between us?" Harry questioned.

"Okay, Harry, you're scaring me. You don't seriously fancy me, do you?" Ron questioned cautiously.

"No, I have my eye on another Weasley." Harry smiled.

"Harry, Percy has a girlfriend you know." Hermione replied.

Harry's mouth dropped in astonishment and Ron just grinned in delight.

"What?" Hermione questioned.

"I'm just surprised you even said that." Ron laughed.

"We have such a bad influence on you, young lady!" Harry scolded, "You've become such a naughty child!"

"Yeah Hermione, you're a bad girl!" Ron replied.

Hermione inched away from Ron and crossed her arms, "You do not have a bad influence on me. People change you know."

"Usually not for the worst Mione." Harry replied.

"Be that way." Hermione pouted.

"Aw Harry, don't be so cruel. She may be a bit on the dark side now, but she's my bad girl!" Ron said as he put his arm around her shoulders.

Hermione couldn't hold it in any longer and began to laugh.

After a few minutes Harry had fallen asleep on his personal seat.

"Hermione, have you ever wanted to redo history to change the future?" Ron asked.

"No, not really. Why?" she replied as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

"Because I was wondering about what Harry said. About us wasting a year. If we had just admitted our feelings in the beginning of the year we wouldn't have wasted a year." Ron explained.

"I don't think we truly wasted a year." Hermione replied, "Because if it wasn't for this year in the first place, we wouldn't have gotten together. I mean, face it. We would never have admitted to one another in the beginning of this year. I mean, if it wasn't for your stubbornness you would've admitted. Instead you decided it was better to date someone who wasn't your best friend."

"My stubbornness? You didn't admit anything either!" Ron defended.

"Whatever. But I disagree on what Harry and you say. The fact is that if it wasn't for you going out with Lavender, I wouldn't have seen you two together. If that didn't happen I wouldn't have gotten so upset and sulked in the common room. If that didn't happen I wouldn't have gone into the coma. If that hadn't happened we wouldn't have met up in the common room after I woke up. If that didn't happen then we would never have admitted our feelings. If that didn't happen then we never would've -"

Ron cut her off by kissing her passionately. She didn't want it to end, but he ended it when he pulled away.

"I get the idea." He smiled. "I guess I don't want for this year to start over again."

They sat there in silence until Ron broke it.

"How was it in a coma? What happened when you were in it?" Ron asked.

"It was strange. I was sort of fighting with myself. My conscience or what ever it was I was fighting against kept telling me to believe in myself. I fought back saying I didn't know how to. Then I wondered what it would be like if I hadn't become friends with you or Harry. It was so - bizarre." Hermione explained. "And I saw how it would be. But in different eyes."

"How? Were you seeing the point of view of Professor Dumbledore or Crookshanks or something?" Ron asked curiously.

"No, no. Not like that. I mean, it was my point of view, but I saw everything differently. I mean, we weren't friends and neither was Harry. I didn't even know the two of you. I thought differently and I acted differently. Sort of like I acted our first year at Hogwarts, before we ran into the troll on Halloween." Hermione explained uneasily, trying to piece things together in words.

She knew exactly what she wanted to say, but saying it was much harder than she thought it would be.

She remembered everything crystal clear, but explaining it was proving to be much difficult.

"I know now that I'd rather get a million detentions than have never met the two of you." Hermione sighed heavily.

"I disagree with you." Ron replied.

Hermione gave him a shocked expression, telling him to explain himself.

"Not in a bad way. But what I mean is that I disagree with where this came from. I mean, I could never have imagined life without you two. Heck, I barely remember life before Hogwarts. Basically it was just Ginny and myself home all the time. Being around all Weasleys isn't a good thing." Ron chuckled, "But ever since that first day on the train I haven't been able to imagine life without you or Harry."

Hermione leaned against Ron.

"Hermione, I love you, you do know that, right?" Ron asked suddenly.

"I know that, and I have loved you for so long too Ron." Hermione replied. "So what are your plans this Summer?"

"I was planning on going to visit Bill in Egypt, or Charlie." Ron said.

"Oh." Hermione replied glumly as she looked away from him. "I see."

"Why? What's the matter?" Ron questioned,

"I just thought maybe we could spend some time together." Hermione explained in a sad tone, "That's all. But you have plans so it doesn't matter."

Ron turned to face Hermione and cupped her face to look at him, "I can see Bill or Charlie any other time. I can cancel my plans with them. If you want, we can spend our Summer together."

"No, it's okay Ron. Spend some time with your brothers. You haven't seen them for a long time. After all, you'll see me in September." Hermione smiled,

"Don't be so stubborn Mione." Ron said, "Just say the word and we'll spend our Summer together. What is it that you want?"

"I don't know what I want." Hermione replied in a frustrated tone. "What do you want?"

"Me?" Ron repeated, "Well, what I want most right now is to make you happy. So what ever makes you happy, we'll do it. Just say it."

"The truth is I do want to spend the summer with you Ron. This will be our first summer together." Hermione explained, "I know we've spent summer after summer together, but this'll be our first summer as a couple and I want it to be special. Not that ever second I'm with you is special, but -"

Ron interrupted her again with another kiss. After a few seconds he pulled back, "Okay. We'll spend our summer together." He smiled.

"Are you going to kiss me to shut me up every time I keep on trailing on?" Hermione asked.

"Maybe." Ron replied.

"I wonder what it'll be like after Hogwarts." Hermione replied.

"Ron, what are we going to do after we leave Hogwarts? Will we -"

"Shh!" Ron put a finger to her mouth to silence her, "Let's just cherish the time we have together right now. When the time comes we'll handle it. Just live each day as it comes."

She nodded. He leaned against the wall by the window so he faced the door of the compartment. She sat before him, leaning back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the back of her head.

One Year Later .

"I can't believe we're finally done school here at Hogwarts!" Hermione exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Ron who twirled her around.

He placed her on the ground as he kissed her.

"Neither am I! Dam n. Time goes by so fast. You wish for things to hurry up, but when they do you wish they could slow down again." Ron smiled.

"I know what you mean. Goodness, it has truly been fun here." Harry replied as he came down the castle stairs.

"This was probably one of the best years." Ron replied.

"It's so good to see the 3 of you together." McGonagall exclaimed as she came from the Herbology green houses.

"Yes, well we have been stuck together for about 7 years." Harry replied, "Nothing truly different."

"Well, you 3 are now going off on your own separate paths away from Hogwarts, but it has truly been a pleasure teaching you 3. I know you 3 learned something, even when you weren't paying attention." McGonagall replied,

"That wasn't too often." Ron replied sarcastically as he grinned.

"Hermione, I expect you to watch over Harry and Ronald. Without you them might be sent to Azkaban." McGonagall replied as she seemed to smile, "I have never known 3 pupils so inseparable as yourself. I also have never known 3 pupils that get in so much trouble as yourselves."

They all smiled proudly and let out muffled laughs.

"Until we meet again, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter." McGonagall then climbed up the castle stairs and disappeared behind the wooden doors of the castle.

Later on the train.

Harry once again hogged the seat all to himself and Hermione and Ron sat together.

"It's strange to think that we're going to get off this train and not get on it in September." Harry said.

"I know. It's going to be strange living at home full time." Hermione added, "Being at home alone with in my house is going to be strange."

"You two have it easy. I have to live with my brothers every single day. Then after next year I'll be with my sister too!" Ron sighed heavily.

"It's okay, you can come visit me in my empty house? I'd be bored all alone and it would be more fun if you came." Hermione suggested, "You know fun ."

"I swear, we have a bad influence on this lady." Harry insisted, "The goody- goody from back in the day would've never suggested fun ."

"Yes, we all know that already Harry. I have a dark side and I'm a bad girl." Hermione said between laughs, "besides would you have good Hermione or the Hermione with a dark side?"

"Dark. Because now you let us copy your homework." Harry grinned.

"I never let you -" Hermione's jaw dropped,

"He's just joking Hermione! But he's right, you are better with a dark side, that's why I'm going to marry you!" Ron grinned from ear to ear.

Hermione turned to face Ron in astonishment. "What did you say?"

"I said I'm going to marry you." Ron repeated, "Will you marry me Hermione?"

Hermione was in complete shock and finally managed a few words, "Yes. I will!"

She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Hmm." Harry let out as he made motions which made it look like he was counting on his fingers.

"What?" Ron asked,

"That's 10 Weasleys all together. Wait, maybe 11. Are you two planning on having kids? Because if so we have to inform Hogwarts to get ready for more Weasleys!" Harry explained seriously.

"I resent that!" Ron said as he jumped to his feet, pulling out his wand.

Hermione stood up as well, but decided otherwise on pulling out her wand. Instead she gave Harry a dark look.

"Ron. Right now I'm scared more of Hermione's stare than your wand." Harry laughed, "Relax. I'm joking!"

Ron replaced his wand.

"Yeah, so am I."

Hermione put her hands on her hips, "You're going to let him off the hook?"

"Well, how can you stay mad at a face like that?" Ron asked.

Harry grinned innocently as possible.

"Very well." Hermione giggled as she sat back down beside Ron.

"You know. I regret saying what I did last summer." Harry blurted.

Both Hermione and Ron gave him a quizzical look and it told him to explain.

"Last summer I said that you two wasted a year together. But I regret it because now you two gain so many more years together." Harry explained.

"Oh. I see." Hermione replied as she leaned against Ron's shoulder.

"You just remembered that now?" Ron said as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Well. Us in this compartment thinking about our futures after Hogwarts and everything gave me a de ja vu. I mean we had a similar conversation last summer and I sort of remembered." Harry explained. "I'll even miss bothering Malfoy. He's a jerk, but it was fun bothering him. Ron, how do you feel about having a new roommate?"

"Why?" Ron questioned cautiously.

"Well, I'm not exactly spending another summer with the Dursleys." Harry explained.

"True. But they would probably be scared to death considering you can use magic as you please now." Hermione added.

"Yes. If I used, "Godfather", "magic", "use magic as I please" all in one sentence they'd probably go running for the hills." Harry laughed.

"Running for the hills? I thought you lived in the city?" Ron said rather confused.

"I do live in the city. 'Running for the Hills' is a muggle term." Harry explained.

Ron nodded in a silent response.

"Besides, we have to keep in touch. No matter what, I'm not losing touch with the two of you. You guys are my best friends. I'll even move beside 10 Weasleys if I have to keep in touch." Harry smiled.

"What a comedian." Ron replied sarcastically, "We'll keep in touch, no doubt."

"Ron, what are we going to do after we get married? Will we have children or will we-"

"Shh!" Ron put a finger to her mouth to silence her, "Let's just cherish the time we have together right now. When the time comes we'll handle it. Just live each day as it comes."

"That oddly sounds familiar." Hermione smiled up at him.

"Just another de ja vu for myself." Harry added.

Ron leaned against the wall by the window so he faced the door of the compartment. She sat before him, leaning back against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the back of her head.

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The End