Author's Note: Well okay, I'm at 96, I guess I can be nice and give you guys another chapter. (smiles) I look forward to the last chapter's reviews. I worked real hard on that one, and its about Hermione/Ron, and Harry/Ginny. *winks* With a kiss between the latter pair, just like I promised. I love you all! Thank you for helping me reach my goal.
Friends
'I owe you a thank you.' Harry smiled, embracing Hermione.
'You owe me nothing.' she replied, accepting the hug with a smile. 'You would have done the same for any of us.'
'Still, it is all I can do for you right now.'
Hermione smiled, tears in her eyes. Ron pulled Harry into an embrace before he could react.
'Not quite the way I'd pictured our reunion, but at least we got one!'
Harry smiled. 'True, true.'
Fred and George than came up behind him, each of them grabbing hold of his arms and planting a friendly kiss on his face.
'Auck! God!' Harry yelled, wriggling from their grasp and making the most vile face any of them had ever seen. Everyone else was rolling around laughing, Ron's eyes brimming with tears as the twins kicked violently at the air. 'That wasn't funny!'
'No, you're right! It was hilarious!' Fred bellowed. Harry rolled his eyes, wiping at his cheeks violently with the sleeves of his robes.
'I'll never get rid of that feeling!'
'Awww!' George chuckled. 'Harry didn't like his kissy-wissy?'
'Call it what you want, it was disgusting!'
Everyone was laughing, even Harry at that point.
'I can tell I was missed.'
'Do you need another for reassurance?' George smiled widely. Harry quickly put up his hands in defense.
'NO! No, no I believe!'
Everyone laughed.
'Good. No offense Harry but you don't taste too good!' Fred stated while acting as though he had just swallowed a bogie flavored Bertie Bott's Bean. 'We're going to go up and brush our teeth now, thanks!' The twins left the three in silence.
'Well, its good to be back.' Harry sighed, resting his back against a chair.
'Good to have you back, mate.' Ron admitted with a smile.
'Indeed.'
Harry smiled, his eyes cast down at the ground.
'So, when do we start work?' Harry turned to Ron. 'From what I've heard you've not been doing much for the Ministry!' Ron nodded.
'We're working on that.' Hermione stated.
'I see.' Harry looked away. He could feel the tension between the two of them. He half wondered if Ron had purposed to Hermione yet. Not likely. Harry thought to himself. 'Well, did I miss anything?' he looked to Ron, signaling his thoughts exactly to his friend. Ron shook his head quickly before Hermione responded.
'No, what on earth could happen while you're gone?'
All three of them laughed.
'Well, what do you suppose we're off to now?' Ron asked. 'Voldemort's gone! We don't have any bad guys to chase after anymore!'
'We'll we've still got some death eaters to round up!' Hermione added with a hopeful thought.
'True,' Ron answered. 'But its hardly the same.'
Harry smiled. 'I rather like the simplicity of it all now.'
Hermione and Ron both looked shocked.
'Really?' they questioned simultaneously.
'Well, think about it. None of you really had to suffer through guards or Order members stalking you through the summer, or a worrisome godfather...' he added in a quieter tone.
They all laughed.
'True. Yes I suppose you're relieved now that you'll hardly be getting so much special treatment as before.' Ron grinned.
'Yeah, I wonder...what's it like to be a normal child?'
Hermione shook her head. Ron smiled.
'In all honesty, I forgot you after our first year at Hogwarts together mate.'
Harry laughed.
'I'm sorry.'
'No, don't be!' Hermione said urgently. 'We're grateful!'
'What?'
'Really, you've taught us a lot Harry. You're a great friend.'
Harry laughed once more. 'Wow, you have an awkward definition of friendship. I can't count how many times I've nearly gotten the both of you killed!'
'But not without endangering yourself as well.' Hermione pointed out. 'No matter what, you were always there to help us. We can't repay you for that Harry.' she smiled. 'You're a true friend.'
Harry smiled. Warmth filled him.
'You two are the best friends anyone could ask for.'
They all embraced, bumped heads, and fell down laughing.
* * *
In the study of Grimmauld Place, Sirius sat and watched the flames in the fireplace flicker. Their dance was exotic, but he didn't notice. He listened as light footsteps came in and settled down in the chair beside him.
'I'm sorry.'
He looked up at his last remaining friend in the whole world and smiled.
'For what?'
'For not being there.' Remus sighed.
Sirius shrugged. 'You couldn't help it.'
'I'm sorry. I should have been there.'
'There's nothing to be sorry for. Stop saying you're sorry. I won't forgive you. There' s nothing to forgive.'
'Someone could have been hurt. Someone could have died.'
'Well no one was hurt, no one died. You needn't worry. Harry is in the other room with Hermione and Ron, Fred and George are upstairs, Tonks is at work, Dumbeldore has been released from Mungo's and Moody is soon to follow him. You see me sitting before you, alive and whole, and you sit here and apologize for falling to an ailment that isn't your fault?'
'I'm sorry.'
Sirius sighed.
'I never thought constant apologizing to be a terrible habit until now. Stop, Remus.'
Remus nodded his head. He stood to leave, but Sirius caught his robes as he passed the chair.
'Sit.' he commanded.
'I have to go.'
'Very well.' Sirius stood, placing himself between his friend and the door. 'There is nothing to forgive. Don't bother running to Harry because he will tell you the same thing. If you insist on this behavior I will drag you to a vet while in wolf form under the influence of Wolf's Bane and have you neutered.'
Remus, tears in his eyes, laughed at the old joke they had shared since childhood. They embraced warmly as the fire died into embers.
