A/N: I almost didn't want to put up this chapter today...It's the last chapter and I feel very sad that it is. But hey that's what sequels are for! I just wanted to remind you that this is the last chapter but it not the last installment. I have another istallment of a long Author's Notes coming soon and you HAVE to read it! It's going to have some important questions about my sequel so I know what YOU want! And I will be of course thanking everyone in detail! I love you all! Ok thanx to:
Ms. Hermione's Laughter: Thanx! I forgot the poll! I was sick and my brain was moving like molasses, so I forgot. I'll think of one today!
Natalie Potter731: You liar you told me on the phone you didn't even like it! Mua-hahahahaha! :)
Weasley: LOL! Thanx a ton!
wowsergirl: Thanx for reviewing! pleasepleaseplease review again!
RussellGrl15: Whee I like touching speeches!
Duckymander: Thanx so much! I am glad you liked my stuff!
Kagome 19: Sure they're real! Well at least I like to believe Ron is real at any rate! I love him!
Lily106: Thanx! You rock!
Cheese Diva: You really liked the speech? Wow I am surprised I thought it kinda sucked...Oh well thank you!
morgan: Yeah I know it was sad that I made Uncle Vernon divorce Aunt Petunia but I knew he wouldn't have been sympathetic so what's a writer to do? Thanx!
rebel love: Hey love it live! Thanx so much! Your rock!
Jessica Flores: Thank you so much! It touched me that you took the time to read mine when it was so long! Thanx so much!
mayelbridwen-singer: Yes this is the last chapter...but I am writing a sequel! So stay tuned!
Nervous Turkey: Last chapter this is! Well thanx so much and I had turkey for thanksgiving I am terribly sorry. :( But thank you for reading!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but turkey, mashed potatoes, and the rolls I ate yesterday!
Chapter 18: Going Home Again
The next two days flew by at an alarmingly quick pace. The trio had been packing their trunks and saying goodbye to all their old friends. On the day before term ended Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were sitting in the common room. Ron and Harry were playing a game of chess, being watched carefully by Ginny, and Hermione was reading Hogwarts a History for what seemed like the 100th time.
"Queen to C4," Ron said, after a moments thought. "And checkmate."
Harry sighed and shrugged. "Why am I not surprised?"
Ron laughed. "Maybe because I always win?"
Harry grinned and helped Ron put the chess pieces back in the box.
"Hey," Ron said when they had finished. "I've got an idea. Why don't we all go visit, Hagrid? You know to say goodbye?"
Harry nodded. "That'd be fun. You game Ginny?"
Ginny shook her head. "Sorry I'm afraid I'm going to have to sit this one out. I still have to finish packing my trunk. You guys go ahead." She stood up and hurried up the staircase to the Girls' Dormitories.
Ron turned to Hermione. "You coming Hermione?"
"Sure," she said closing her book. "I'll come."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried out of the common room and through the halls of Hogwarts. The trio walked down the path towards Hagrid's hut. The blinds were open and it seemed to look rather cheerful inside.
Hermione knocked. Then the door opened to reveal a very large Hagrid. He beamed down at them.
"Hello, Harry, Ron, Hermione! Come in, come in!" He stepped aside to admit them into his house.
"Hiya Hagrid," Ron said grinning broadly.
"What brings you three here?" Hagrid said as he bustled around making a pot of tea.
"We just thought we'd visit before we had to leave tomorrow," Hermione explained taking a seat in between Harry and Ron.
"Well that sure is nice of ya," Hagrid said sitting down in his own massive armchair. He took a swig of tea from his personal teacup. When he had finished he smiled at them and sighed. "I can't believe you three are all done with your seventh year. I mean it seems like only yesterday when I picked ya up from those horrible Dursleys, Harry." He took a handkerchief from his huge coat pocket and blew his noise. "An' purty soon you three will be all grown up with families of your own."
Hermione patted his arm consolingly. (A/N: Yeah I know this line is in the book 5 but it was a good line so I used it. So I am disclaiming this line!) "Oh don't worry about that Hagrid. We'll see you plenty."
Hagrid dabbed at his eyes with the handkerchief and sighed.
"I'm sorry you three. I'm being pretty unreasonable. I mean no one can stop time from passing, not even a wizard." He smiled a watery smile.
"Yeah," Harry said. He took a deep breath. "So how've you been Hagrid?"
"Aw, I've been alright. How's you three been? I heard that you three have had yourselves a bit of an adventure."
The trio smiled.
"Yeah, besides that we've been alright," Hermione said glancing sideways at Ron.
Hagrid looked at Ron and Hermione curiously, then he looked at Harry in silent plea of an explanation.
Harry eyes smiled as he smirked at Hagrid.
Hagrid's eyes widened in shock and he looked back at Ron and Hermione, who were both blushing furiously.
"Well," Hagrid said. 'It's about time."
Harry started to laugh and Hagrid grinned. Ron and Hermione were the color of tomatoes.
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On the last day of term, Harry and Ron were in the boys' dormitory packing up the last of their belongings. Harry was throwing a pair of socks into his trunk and Ron was currently wadding his last pair of faded robes into a ball.
"I'm going to miss this place," Harry said as he watched Ron sit on his trunk trying desperately to get it to close properly.
"Yeah," Ron said finally closing his trunk. "It was kind of like a second home, wasn't it?"
Harry nodded glumly and stared at himself in a full length mirror that was sitting on the floor. "It was the only home I had."
Ron clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Don't worry mate. I'm sure things will go a lot better for you now. I mean heck you could move in at The Burrow! Now that Voldemort's gone, there aren't any worries."
Harry nodded and grinned. He would like staying with his friends. He was already going home with them, but it would be fun. He shrugged. "I reckon so."
The boys walked down the stairs hauling their trunks behind them. They spotted the girls sitting on the couch and headed over for them.
"Hey," they said simultaneously.
"Hi," the girls answered picking up their stuff. The four of them made their way towards the portrait hole.
They walked down the hall, out the great oak doors, and out onto the grounds of Hogwarts. Before they knew it the four of them were seated in a compartment of the Hogwarts Express. Harry and Ginny seated on one side and Ron and Hermione facing them.
As the train rolled out of the station Harry took one last look outside at the last glimpses of Hogsmeade. (A/N: That's where the train station is right?) He sighed and felt Ginny wrap her hand in his own. He grinned at her.
The train ride went on uneventfully. The lady with the cart came and went, and after they had eaten all their candy Ron challenged Harry to a game of Exploding Snap.
"I have never understood the meaning of this game," Hermione said, although she continued to watch then intently.
"Maybe the point that there is no point is the point, 'Mione," Ron said.
Hermione rolled her eyes, but had to try very hard to suppress her grin.
Just then the card deck exploded in Harry's face and his eyebrows were reduced to two singed scraps.
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny stared at him as he felt to see how much damage had been caused. (A/N: Yeah I know this happened to Ron in book 4 but I happened to think it was funny, so I used it here, ok? So I do not own it!) Suddenly Harry burst into laughter. He continued to feel his eyebrows as the compartment rang with mirth.
Just then the compartment door slid open and in walked Sarah Adams. Her blond hair was up in a high ponytail and she had a huge grin on her face.
"Hey," she said shyly. "I just wanted to say bye, since I won't see you guys next year."
"Hey Sarah," Hermione said sweetly. "You want to sit in here with us for a little while? We're not doing anything."
"Well Harry tried to blow off his face, but other than that…" Ginny said. The compartment exploded with laughter again as Sarah took a seat across from Ron and Hermione.
"So what are you three planning to do after Hogwarts?" Sarah said grasping a chocolate frog from the pile.
"Well I'm planning on going to the Auror Academy," Harry explained, his eyebrows had now stopped smoking.
Sarah grinned. "My granddad was an Auror," she said nodding. "What about you Hermione?"
Hermione shrugged. "I was thinking something in teaching, but…"
Ron snorted. "Only you."
Hermione glared at him. "What's wrong with wanting to be a teacher?"
Nothing," Ron said, shrugging. "I was just saying it sounded a lot like you."
Hermione eyed him apprehensively. In the end she decided to ignore him.
Ron shrugged. "I like Quidditch."
Sarah grinned. "You were a brilliant Keeper this year."
Ron's ears turned red and he smiled. "Thanks."
The conversation went on like this for a while. Each of them expressed their own thoughts on different careers and such. Sarah seemed really interested.
"I have no idea what I want to do after Hogwarts," she said in admiration.
Harry shrugged. "You've got a few years to think about it."
Sarah grinned. "Just a few. Anyway I should probably be getting back to my compartment. My friends will be wondering what is taking me so long."
Hermione stood to give Sarah a hug before letting her leave the compartment.
"She really is adorable," Hermione said as she sat back down next to Ron.
"Yeah," Ginny said nodding. "Very sweet girl."
There was an awkward silence that followed in which Harry saw Ginny nudge her head at Hermione in what looked like a secret sign of some kind. Just then Hermione cleared her throat.
"I er…well I have something to say to you two," she said nodding at the boys. "Since it's our last year and we probably won't be seeing each other all that much anymore. I wanted to, well, to say that it's been great being friends with you guys."
Harry grinned. "You too, Hermione."
Hermione smiled a watery smile. Her eyes were beginning to fill with tears, but she quickly brushed them away. (A/N: Oh no not again! Lol!) She began fishing in the pocket of her jeans, until she pulled out a handkerchief. She slowly unwrapped it to reveal the three broken pieces of her locket.
"I wanted to give you each a piece," she said blushing. "It's beyond repair. The magic in it makes it impossible to charm, and well I sort of though that these pieces represented our friendship. Broken we are nothing, but together…" She placed the pieces of the locket together and it became whole again. It began to emit the sweet song of the Phoenix before it slipped back into three pieces again. "We are strong."
Harry couldn't help but grin at what Hermione had said. The locket had been her prized possession ever since Ron had given it to her. He knew how much it meant to her to give it away now.
"Wow 'Mione," Ron said looking at her in awe.
Hermione blushed and handed a piece of the locket to him. She then turned to Harry and gave it to him.
"Thanks Hermione," he said. "I know how much this meant to you."
Hermione blushed an even deeper color and glanced at Ron.
"Ginny said that it would be perfect if I just gave them to you. We were the original trio, after all." (A/N: No offense to Ginny! She still rocks!)
Ron wrapped an arm around Hermione in a hug. "It's great 'Mione."
Hermione grinned. "I know."
The four of them burst into laughter again.
****************************************************************************************************************
The train stopped at Platform 9 and ¾ a few hours later. The foursome hauled their trunks off the train and hurried down onto the Platform. They happened to see not only Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, but also the twins, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Tonks, Mad-Eye Moody, and Lupin.
"Oh," Mrs. Weasley said giving Harry a huge hug. "It's so good to see you!"
"Mum, get a grip you saw us two days ago!" Ron said grinning.
Mrs. Weasley responded in giving him a huge, wet, and very embarrassing kiss on the cheek.
"Hey Harry," Lupin said clapping Harry on the back. "It's great to see you. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your graduation, but Molly tells me your speech was wonderful."
"Thanks, Professor Lupin," Harry said smiling.
"Oh please Harry, you're an adult now, call me Remus," he said grinning.
Harry laughed and gave Lupin an one-armed hug.
"You know Sirius always did say he was into breaking rules and anyone in authority was a goody good, but I know that he would've been proud of you."
Harry smiled. "Thanks…Remus. That means a lot to me."
Lupin grinned and turned to greet Hermione and Ginny.
"Oh Fred," George said putting on a proud face. "Our ikle baby brother had finally graduated from Hogwarts." He pretended to wipe a tear from his eye.
"Oh yes George," Fred said pulling out a handkerchief and dabbing his very dry eyes with it. "This is a very momentous occasion."
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Come on Hermione," Mrs. Granger called out. Her husband was still talking to Mr. Weasley. "It's time to go."
Hermione turned to Ron and Harry with a smile. "I'll expect I'll being seeing you soon. I'll miss you," she said to Harry.
Harry grinned and pulled her into a hug. Hermione sniffed slightly as he let go.
"I'll see you tons, Hermione," he said grinning, although tears of his own were threatening to fall. "Remember," He lowered his voice. "I'm going to Ron's for the summer."
Hermione punched him playfully in the shoulder and turned to Ron. There was an awkward silence.
"Well," she said shifting anxiously from one foot to another.
"Yeah," Ron said rubbing the nape of his neck.
"I guess this is goodbye," she said, one tear running down her face.
"Nah," he said smiling sweetly. "I'll see you."
Hermione gave him a watery smile. "Well goodbye then." She turned to leave, but Ron caught her by the wrist.
He pulled her back to him and enveloped her in a hug as well. She began to sob into his shoulder. Then Ron tilted her face to look at him.
"I love you," he whispered. He then captured her lips in a kiss.
Harry stood there watching his best friends kiss and smiled. It wasn't as weird as he thought it would be. Sure it was kind of weird to see someone he thought of as like a brother and sister snogging the living daylights out of each other, but it seemed almost normal.
"Ronald Weasley!"
Harry turned to see everyone, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred and George, Ginny, Tonks, Lupin, Mad-Eye Moody, and Mr. and Mrs. Granger staring at Ron and Hermione in shock. He turned back to see Ron and Hermione had broken apart and were both very ashen faced.
"Hermione Granger," Mrs. Granger said, her mouth was open in shock.
There was a silence that followed in which everyone just continued to stare at Ron and Hermione. Then it was broken very loudly by the twins who said simultaneously, "Well it's about bloody time!"
The crowd continued to stare, but now they were staring at Harry who had started laughing loudly. He was clutching his stomach and laughing so noisily that passers-by were turning to look at him.
While Harry was about to die of laughter, Ron and Hermione looked at each other and began to laugh too. Pretty soon the entire crowd of Weasleys, Grangers, and Order members were laughing uproariously.
When the laughter has died down Mrs. Weasley wiped tears of mirth from her eyes and said, "How long has this been going on?"
"Since that day in the hospital wing," Ginny said still trying to catch her breath.
"Well you kept to your end of the deal," Fred said clapping Harry on the back.
"Yeah, I guess you don't have to pay us for those Tickling Tizzies," George interjected.
Harry grinned. "Actually, none of this was my doing. They got together all by themselves."
Fred and George stared at Ron and Hermione who were smiling, but still rather red.
"You mean our little brother asked Hermione out all by himself?" George asked in awe.
Harry nodded.
"Wow Ron!" Fred said bowing theatrically. "We are unworthy."
The whole group began to laugh again and Mrs. Weasley smiled with tears running down her face.
"I always knew you two would get together!" she said giving Ron and Hermione another hug that looked like it was going to crush them.
"You can let go now, Mum," Ron said gasping for air.
Hermione laughed.
"Well," Mrs. Granger said smiling. "This certainly is a surprise."
Mr. Granger looked at Ron apprehensively, but in the end shook his hand with a grin on his face.
"Well," Mr. Granger said. "We hate to break up this little get together, but we should be going, sweetheart."
Hermione nodded at her father and turned back to Ron. She gave him another hug and kissed him swiftly on the cheek before turning to leave with her family.
Harry walked over to Ron who was still staring off in the direction Hermione had gone with a silly grin on his face. He clapped him on the back.
"Well, mate," Harry said grinning. "You certainly picked good."
Ron laughed and punched Harry in the shoulder. "Of course I did."
Harry and Ginny laughed and followed Mr. Weasley to the Ministry car he had rented for the occasion. As he looked at the barrier between Platforms nine and ten from the backseat of the car, he was filled with a feeling of accomplishment. His schooling had definitely been full of the most bizarre things imaginable, but it had been fun. He would never forget Hogwarts or all the things he had left behind with it.
Harry smiled to himself as the car pulled away and felt Ginny's hand enclose around his. He grinned at her and leaned back to enjoy the ride to the Burrow and the next segment of his life.
A/N: *sigh* It's over! Oh my gosh I can't believe it's over! I am so sad! I loved writing this fic, but I can't get all mushy now because that is for the HUGE Author's Notes I am writing that you HAVE to read because it is very important! Now a whole bunch of you were mad because I forgot the poll. It was because I was sick and my brain was moving at a snail's pace. Anyway here's a question for you to think about! DO YOU THINK RON AND HERMIONE WILL GET TOGETHER ALL BY THEMSELVES OR DO YOU THINK SOMEONE (LIKE HARRY) WILL SET THEM UP? Just a thought, and don't forget to read my next IMPORTANT chapter! Well until next time I'm off to drink some orange juice!
Love,
'Mione Weasley
Ms. Hermione's Laughter: Thanx! I forgot the poll! I was sick and my brain was moving like molasses, so I forgot. I'll think of one today!
Natalie Potter731: You liar you told me on the phone you didn't even like it! Mua-hahahahaha! :)
Weasley: LOL! Thanx a ton!
wowsergirl: Thanx for reviewing! pleasepleaseplease review again!
RussellGrl15: Whee I like touching speeches!
Duckymander: Thanx so much! I am glad you liked my stuff!
Kagome 19: Sure they're real! Well at least I like to believe Ron is real at any rate! I love him!
Lily106: Thanx! You rock!
Cheese Diva: You really liked the speech? Wow I am surprised I thought it kinda sucked...Oh well thank you!
morgan: Yeah I know it was sad that I made Uncle Vernon divorce Aunt Petunia but I knew he wouldn't have been sympathetic so what's a writer to do? Thanx!
rebel love: Hey love it live! Thanx so much! Your rock!
Jessica Flores: Thank you so much! It touched me that you took the time to read mine when it was so long! Thanx so much!
mayelbridwen-singer: Yes this is the last chapter...but I am writing a sequel! So stay tuned!
Nervous Turkey: Last chapter this is! Well thanx so much and I had turkey for thanksgiving I am terribly sorry. :( But thank you for reading!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but turkey, mashed potatoes, and the rolls I ate yesterday!
Chapter 18: Going Home Again
The next two days flew by at an alarmingly quick pace. The trio had been packing their trunks and saying goodbye to all their old friends. On the day before term ended Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were sitting in the common room. Ron and Harry were playing a game of chess, being watched carefully by Ginny, and Hermione was reading Hogwarts a History for what seemed like the 100th time.
"Queen to C4," Ron said, after a moments thought. "And checkmate."
Harry sighed and shrugged. "Why am I not surprised?"
Ron laughed. "Maybe because I always win?"
Harry grinned and helped Ron put the chess pieces back in the box.
"Hey," Ron said when they had finished. "I've got an idea. Why don't we all go visit, Hagrid? You know to say goodbye?"
Harry nodded. "That'd be fun. You game Ginny?"
Ginny shook her head. "Sorry I'm afraid I'm going to have to sit this one out. I still have to finish packing my trunk. You guys go ahead." She stood up and hurried up the staircase to the Girls' Dormitories.
Ron turned to Hermione. "You coming Hermione?"
"Sure," she said closing her book. "I'll come."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried out of the common room and through the halls of Hogwarts. The trio walked down the path towards Hagrid's hut. The blinds were open and it seemed to look rather cheerful inside.
Hermione knocked. Then the door opened to reveal a very large Hagrid. He beamed down at them.
"Hello, Harry, Ron, Hermione! Come in, come in!" He stepped aside to admit them into his house.
"Hiya Hagrid," Ron said grinning broadly.
"What brings you three here?" Hagrid said as he bustled around making a pot of tea.
"We just thought we'd visit before we had to leave tomorrow," Hermione explained taking a seat in between Harry and Ron.
"Well that sure is nice of ya," Hagrid said sitting down in his own massive armchair. He took a swig of tea from his personal teacup. When he had finished he smiled at them and sighed. "I can't believe you three are all done with your seventh year. I mean it seems like only yesterday when I picked ya up from those horrible Dursleys, Harry." He took a handkerchief from his huge coat pocket and blew his noise. "An' purty soon you three will be all grown up with families of your own."
Hermione patted his arm consolingly. (A/N: Yeah I know this line is in the book 5 but it was a good line so I used it. So I am disclaiming this line!) "Oh don't worry about that Hagrid. We'll see you plenty."
Hagrid dabbed at his eyes with the handkerchief and sighed.
"I'm sorry you three. I'm being pretty unreasonable. I mean no one can stop time from passing, not even a wizard." He smiled a watery smile.
"Yeah," Harry said. He took a deep breath. "So how've you been Hagrid?"
"Aw, I've been alright. How's you three been? I heard that you three have had yourselves a bit of an adventure."
The trio smiled.
"Yeah, besides that we've been alright," Hermione said glancing sideways at Ron.
Hagrid looked at Ron and Hermione curiously, then he looked at Harry in silent plea of an explanation.
Harry eyes smiled as he smirked at Hagrid.
Hagrid's eyes widened in shock and he looked back at Ron and Hermione, who were both blushing furiously.
"Well," Hagrid said. 'It's about time."
Harry started to laugh and Hagrid grinned. Ron and Hermione were the color of tomatoes.
****************************************************************************************************************
On the last day of term, Harry and Ron were in the boys' dormitory packing up the last of their belongings. Harry was throwing a pair of socks into his trunk and Ron was currently wadding his last pair of faded robes into a ball.
"I'm going to miss this place," Harry said as he watched Ron sit on his trunk trying desperately to get it to close properly.
"Yeah," Ron said finally closing his trunk. "It was kind of like a second home, wasn't it?"
Harry nodded glumly and stared at himself in a full length mirror that was sitting on the floor. "It was the only home I had."
Ron clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Don't worry mate. I'm sure things will go a lot better for you now. I mean heck you could move in at The Burrow! Now that Voldemort's gone, there aren't any worries."
Harry nodded and grinned. He would like staying with his friends. He was already going home with them, but it would be fun. He shrugged. "I reckon so."
The boys walked down the stairs hauling their trunks behind them. They spotted the girls sitting on the couch and headed over for them.
"Hey," they said simultaneously.
"Hi," the girls answered picking up their stuff. The four of them made their way towards the portrait hole.
They walked down the hall, out the great oak doors, and out onto the grounds of Hogwarts. Before they knew it the four of them were seated in a compartment of the Hogwarts Express. Harry and Ginny seated on one side and Ron and Hermione facing them.
As the train rolled out of the station Harry took one last look outside at the last glimpses of Hogsmeade. (A/N: That's where the train station is right?) He sighed and felt Ginny wrap her hand in his own. He grinned at her.
The train ride went on uneventfully. The lady with the cart came and went, and after they had eaten all their candy Ron challenged Harry to a game of Exploding Snap.
"I have never understood the meaning of this game," Hermione said, although she continued to watch then intently.
"Maybe the point that there is no point is the point, 'Mione," Ron said.
Hermione rolled her eyes, but had to try very hard to suppress her grin.
Just then the card deck exploded in Harry's face and his eyebrows were reduced to two singed scraps.
Ron, Hermione, and Ginny stared at him as he felt to see how much damage had been caused. (A/N: Yeah I know this happened to Ron in book 4 but I happened to think it was funny, so I used it here, ok? So I do not own it!) Suddenly Harry burst into laughter. He continued to feel his eyebrows as the compartment rang with mirth.
Just then the compartment door slid open and in walked Sarah Adams. Her blond hair was up in a high ponytail and she had a huge grin on her face.
"Hey," she said shyly. "I just wanted to say bye, since I won't see you guys next year."
"Hey Sarah," Hermione said sweetly. "You want to sit in here with us for a little while? We're not doing anything."
"Well Harry tried to blow off his face, but other than that…" Ginny said. The compartment exploded with laughter again as Sarah took a seat across from Ron and Hermione.
"So what are you three planning to do after Hogwarts?" Sarah said grasping a chocolate frog from the pile.
"Well I'm planning on going to the Auror Academy," Harry explained, his eyebrows had now stopped smoking.
Sarah grinned. "My granddad was an Auror," she said nodding. "What about you Hermione?"
Hermione shrugged. "I was thinking something in teaching, but…"
Ron snorted. "Only you."
Hermione glared at him. "What's wrong with wanting to be a teacher?"
Nothing," Ron said, shrugging. "I was just saying it sounded a lot like you."
Hermione eyed him apprehensively. In the end she decided to ignore him.
Ron shrugged. "I like Quidditch."
Sarah grinned. "You were a brilliant Keeper this year."
Ron's ears turned red and he smiled. "Thanks."
The conversation went on like this for a while. Each of them expressed their own thoughts on different careers and such. Sarah seemed really interested.
"I have no idea what I want to do after Hogwarts," she said in admiration.
Harry shrugged. "You've got a few years to think about it."
Sarah grinned. "Just a few. Anyway I should probably be getting back to my compartment. My friends will be wondering what is taking me so long."
Hermione stood to give Sarah a hug before letting her leave the compartment.
"She really is adorable," Hermione said as she sat back down next to Ron.
"Yeah," Ginny said nodding. "Very sweet girl."
There was an awkward silence that followed in which Harry saw Ginny nudge her head at Hermione in what looked like a secret sign of some kind. Just then Hermione cleared her throat.
"I er…well I have something to say to you two," she said nodding at the boys. "Since it's our last year and we probably won't be seeing each other all that much anymore. I wanted to, well, to say that it's been great being friends with you guys."
Harry grinned. "You too, Hermione."
Hermione smiled a watery smile. Her eyes were beginning to fill with tears, but she quickly brushed them away. (A/N: Oh no not again! Lol!) She began fishing in the pocket of her jeans, until she pulled out a handkerchief. She slowly unwrapped it to reveal the three broken pieces of her locket.
"I wanted to give you each a piece," she said blushing. "It's beyond repair. The magic in it makes it impossible to charm, and well I sort of though that these pieces represented our friendship. Broken we are nothing, but together…" She placed the pieces of the locket together and it became whole again. It began to emit the sweet song of the Phoenix before it slipped back into three pieces again. "We are strong."
Harry couldn't help but grin at what Hermione had said. The locket had been her prized possession ever since Ron had given it to her. He knew how much it meant to her to give it away now.
"Wow 'Mione," Ron said looking at her in awe.
Hermione blushed and handed a piece of the locket to him. She then turned to Harry and gave it to him.
"Thanks Hermione," he said. "I know how much this meant to you."
Hermione blushed an even deeper color and glanced at Ron.
"Ginny said that it would be perfect if I just gave them to you. We were the original trio, after all." (A/N: No offense to Ginny! She still rocks!)
Ron wrapped an arm around Hermione in a hug. "It's great 'Mione."
Hermione grinned. "I know."
The four of them burst into laughter again.
****************************************************************************************************************
The train stopped at Platform 9 and ¾ a few hours later. The foursome hauled their trunks off the train and hurried down onto the Platform. They happened to see not only Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, but also the twins, Mr. and Mrs. Granger, Tonks, Mad-Eye Moody, and Lupin.
"Oh," Mrs. Weasley said giving Harry a huge hug. "It's so good to see you!"
"Mum, get a grip you saw us two days ago!" Ron said grinning.
Mrs. Weasley responded in giving him a huge, wet, and very embarrassing kiss on the cheek.
"Hey Harry," Lupin said clapping Harry on the back. "It's great to see you. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your graduation, but Molly tells me your speech was wonderful."
"Thanks, Professor Lupin," Harry said smiling.
"Oh please Harry, you're an adult now, call me Remus," he said grinning.
Harry laughed and gave Lupin an one-armed hug.
"You know Sirius always did say he was into breaking rules and anyone in authority was a goody good, but I know that he would've been proud of you."
Harry smiled. "Thanks…Remus. That means a lot to me."
Lupin grinned and turned to greet Hermione and Ginny.
"Oh Fred," George said putting on a proud face. "Our ikle baby brother had finally graduated from Hogwarts." He pretended to wipe a tear from his eye.
"Oh yes George," Fred said pulling out a handkerchief and dabbing his very dry eyes with it. "This is a very momentous occasion."
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Come on Hermione," Mrs. Granger called out. Her husband was still talking to Mr. Weasley. "It's time to go."
Hermione turned to Ron and Harry with a smile. "I'll expect I'll being seeing you soon. I'll miss you," she said to Harry.
Harry grinned and pulled her into a hug. Hermione sniffed slightly as he let go.
"I'll see you tons, Hermione," he said grinning, although tears of his own were threatening to fall. "Remember," He lowered his voice. "I'm going to Ron's for the summer."
Hermione punched him playfully in the shoulder and turned to Ron. There was an awkward silence.
"Well," she said shifting anxiously from one foot to another.
"Yeah," Ron said rubbing the nape of his neck.
"I guess this is goodbye," she said, one tear running down her face.
"Nah," he said smiling sweetly. "I'll see you."
Hermione gave him a watery smile. "Well goodbye then." She turned to leave, but Ron caught her by the wrist.
He pulled her back to him and enveloped her in a hug as well. She began to sob into his shoulder. Then Ron tilted her face to look at him.
"I love you," he whispered. He then captured her lips in a kiss.
Harry stood there watching his best friends kiss and smiled. It wasn't as weird as he thought it would be. Sure it was kind of weird to see someone he thought of as like a brother and sister snogging the living daylights out of each other, but it seemed almost normal.
"Ronald Weasley!"
Harry turned to see everyone, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Fred and George, Ginny, Tonks, Lupin, Mad-Eye Moody, and Mr. and Mrs. Granger staring at Ron and Hermione in shock. He turned back to see Ron and Hermione had broken apart and were both very ashen faced.
"Hermione Granger," Mrs. Granger said, her mouth was open in shock.
There was a silence that followed in which everyone just continued to stare at Ron and Hermione. Then it was broken very loudly by the twins who said simultaneously, "Well it's about bloody time!"
The crowd continued to stare, but now they were staring at Harry who had started laughing loudly. He was clutching his stomach and laughing so noisily that passers-by were turning to look at him.
While Harry was about to die of laughter, Ron and Hermione looked at each other and began to laugh too. Pretty soon the entire crowd of Weasleys, Grangers, and Order members were laughing uproariously.
When the laughter has died down Mrs. Weasley wiped tears of mirth from her eyes and said, "How long has this been going on?"
"Since that day in the hospital wing," Ginny said still trying to catch her breath.
"Well you kept to your end of the deal," Fred said clapping Harry on the back.
"Yeah, I guess you don't have to pay us for those Tickling Tizzies," George interjected.
Harry grinned. "Actually, none of this was my doing. They got together all by themselves."
Fred and George stared at Ron and Hermione who were smiling, but still rather red.
"You mean our little brother asked Hermione out all by himself?" George asked in awe.
Harry nodded.
"Wow Ron!" Fred said bowing theatrically. "We are unworthy."
The whole group began to laugh again and Mrs. Weasley smiled with tears running down her face.
"I always knew you two would get together!" she said giving Ron and Hermione another hug that looked like it was going to crush them.
"You can let go now, Mum," Ron said gasping for air.
Hermione laughed.
"Well," Mrs. Granger said smiling. "This certainly is a surprise."
Mr. Granger looked at Ron apprehensively, but in the end shook his hand with a grin on his face.
"Well," Mr. Granger said. "We hate to break up this little get together, but we should be going, sweetheart."
Hermione nodded at her father and turned back to Ron. She gave him another hug and kissed him swiftly on the cheek before turning to leave with her family.
Harry walked over to Ron who was still staring off in the direction Hermione had gone with a silly grin on his face. He clapped him on the back.
"Well, mate," Harry said grinning. "You certainly picked good."
Ron laughed and punched Harry in the shoulder. "Of course I did."
Harry and Ginny laughed and followed Mr. Weasley to the Ministry car he had rented for the occasion. As he looked at the barrier between Platforms nine and ten from the backseat of the car, he was filled with a feeling of accomplishment. His schooling had definitely been full of the most bizarre things imaginable, but it had been fun. He would never forget Hogwarts or all the things he had left behind with it.
Harry smiled to himself as the car pulled away and felt Ginny's hand enclose around his. He grinned at her and leaned back to enjoy the ride to the Burrow and the next segment of his life.
A/N: *sigh* It's over! Oh my gosh I can't believe it's over! I am so sad! I loved writing this fic, but I can't get all mushy now because that is for the HUGE Author's Notes I am writing that you HAVE to read because it is very important! Now a whole bunch of you were mad because I forgot the poll. It was because I was sick and my brain was moving at a snail's pace. Anyway here's a question for you to think about! DO YOU THINK RON AND HERMIONE WILL GET TOGETHER ALL BY THEMSELVES OR DO YOU THINK SOMEONE (LIKE HARRY) WILL SET THEM UP? Just a thought, and don't forget to read my next IMPORTANT chapter! Well until next time I'm off to drink some orange juice!
Love,
'Mione Weasley