Author's Note: Well, it's the epilogue. I hope you enjoyed the tale. FYI, the quotes are from my all-time favorite musical, RENT! The Alley Scene with Hermione sure there must be an end and her discovery of the second passage was inspired by the movie Labyrinth with David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly.

I also know that Dumbledore's speech is INCREDIBLY corny and long-winded. I suck at writing speeches. Also, I agree with Ron, it's too much, Dumbledore didn't need to say all that. But I was too lazy to write an alternative ending. So sorry.

Epilogue

There is no future, there is no past. I live each moment as my last. There's only us, only tonight. We must let go to know what's right. No other course, no other way, no day but today.

"Can you walk alright?"

"I can walk fine."

"You're sure?"

"Positive. I'm just not so used to walking anymore. Almost like I've forgotten how."

Harry warily watched as Ron limped down the corridor to the Great Hall. Ron turned to him.

"Harry, stop that," he ordered with a light smile. "Believe me, I can walk on my own. I have to get used to it anyway. It's not like I'm gonna trip and break my– oof!"

Something hard smashed into Ron and knocked the breath out of him. He felt a pair of arms wrap around his neck and tried to blow the extra red hair out of his face.

"Oh, gerroff me!" Ron stammered. "I still have bruises, you know!"

"I don't care!" came Ginny's sobbing voice. "It's you, it's you, it's really you. My big, stupid brother!"

"I could do without the stupid, if you don't mind," said Ron, trying to sound as indignant as possible and failing miserably as he hugged his sister in return. "Seriously, though, Gin, I do have some battle wounds... Ginny?"

The girl wasn't paying attention anymore. She was crying into Ron's shoulder. Ron looked past her at Harry, who was trying hard not to laugh.

"You were missed, Ron," was all Harry could tell him, with an added shrug.

"Ginny?" Ron tried again, prying himself free from his sister's grip. She quickly dried her eyes. "Ginny, let's just go eat and save the hugs for later."

Ginny smiled, her face as red as a tomato.

"The Gryffindor team will be glad to have you back, Ron," she said, very businesslike.

Ron threw his arm around Ginny's shoulders and ruffled her hair with a laugh.

"Come on, I'll walk you to the Hall." Ron beckoned Harry over and quickly threw his arm around his shoulders. "We'll enter as a family."

Ron paused and thought a moment.

"What is it?" Harry and Ginny asked together, collectively worried.

"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked. Ginny and Harry collectively grinned as they opened the door to the Great Hall.

Students staying over the holidays were scattered at smaller tables than usual, and all the teachers were wearing their Christmas crowns at the staff table, even Snape, although he looked rather disturbed by it.

Talking and laughing next to George at the small Gryffindor table, Hermione was clearly having one of the best Christmases she had ever had.

As they entered, Dumbledore rose from his seat. Hermione was the first to notice as she looked up at Dumbledore, then to the door. Her eyes lit up and she seemed to glow with pride and delight at the sight of Ron between Harry and Ginny. Slowly, everyone stopped talking, and one by one, they each stood up.

Hermione started to clap. She was joined by Fred and George, guests of Dumbledore for Christmas who had come with the rest of the Weasleys. Bill and Charlie were clapping too, with Mr and Mrs Weasley beaming with pride. Even Percy was there, clapping with the rest of them. Harry looked at his friend and noticed he was beat red. No matter how loud they clapped, Hermione seemed to be the loudest.

She ran up to him and threw her arms around him.

"I'm getting a lot of this today," Ron said with a small laugh.

"Oh Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, breathlessly. "We are so lucky to have you back."

"And I have you and Harry to thank for that," Ron said. "And I suppose the Order, and Aurors and–" Ron was interrupted by his own surprise as Hermione kissed him on the cheek.

She took him by the hand and, followed by Harry and Ginny, led him to the Gryffindor table with rapturous applause.

As soon as he got to the table, he was nearly squeezed to death by his mother. His father kept slapping him on the back and telling him how proud he was of him.

The twins trapped Ron in a headlock and roughhoused with him for a minute. They even gave him a gift. A coupon for their new joke shop.

Bill and Charlie patted their brother on the shoulder. Percy even went so far as to give him a hug. He followed it with a full, shameless apology for everything he'd done wrong to him. And Ron accepted it, unsure of what exactly he was forgiving.

It was a Weasley family reunion Harry hoped he never forgot.

"Students, teachers, and family members!" Dumbledore called out from the staff table. Everyone was quiet instantly. "There are many types of heros. And I am proud to say that we have many in this school, and many even in this very room. Some heroism is shown by courage in the face of danger..." Dumbledore looked pointedly at Harry. "...Loyalty in the face of one's own demise..." he looked directly at Hermione with a smile. "...Or even something as simple as a strong faith in their loved ones..." he aimed this comment at Ron's parents and siblings. "But the type of heroism I wish to recognize today was exemplified in Ron Weasley, a sixteen-year-old boy who withstood tremendous torment that Aurors twice his age have been destroyed by.

"Why did he resist so long? His strong will and morals, which bound him inextricably to his best friends. Ron Weasley is an example of everything heroism is. Courage, loyalty, cunning, determination, and most of all, faith. All these houses here stand for at least one of those traits, and faith is what holds us together. Ron has taught us all that the key element in heroism is faith. He believed in himself and in his friends. Without faith, we would all fall apart. Which is why I shall honor him with an award that shall hang not in our trophy room, but in our entrance hall for all to see reminding us all of the important things.

"Do not forget his valiant efforts. For he is an inspiration. If ever, God forbid, one of you in this room is ever in a situation such as one Ron was trapped in, remember him, and draw new strength. Thank you."

Dumbledore took his seat. Ron was almost under the table by the time he was finished.

"Come on," said Harry. "Let's get out of here and get to bed."

"Yeah," Ron happily agreed. "Honestly, Harry, this is too much."

"Nothing is ever too much," Hermione said grinning.

"This is," Ron replied.

"Let's go," Harry repeated and he, Ron and Hermione left the hall together, three best friends. As it should be.