A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the other characters!!! I can't believe that no one commented on the "All your base are belong to us" thing in one of the past chapters! Sorry it took so long for me to get this up. I hope the quality of the chapter makes up for it. You know how life is sometimes. And with this Epilogue, I bid you Adieu.
It was a sweltering day in July when a Vauxhall VXR220 (A/N: Google it) automobile rolled up in front of Number 12 Grimmald place. Auror-In-Training, Ronald Weasley, was watching the car through the window. The metallic flecks in the blue paint sparkled in the bright afternoon sun as a very familiar person climbed out of the driver's seat. The smile on Ron's face grew wide when he saw the future Hermione Weasley climb out of her car. Only, she didn't know she was the future Mrs. Weasley. At least not yet.
Harry and Ginny stood behind Ron in the hallway, giggling nervously. "You're going to do it tonight, right?" Ginny whispered as Hermione made her way up the steps to the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter's permanent residence. Having graduated from Hogwarts over three years ago, Harry and Ron were now sharing Number 12 Grimmauld place as they continued Auror training. Hermione had taken a job as a potions creator at the Diagon Alley location of Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals (A/N: Google it). Even Lilly had a magical division. Hermione had quickly climbed her way up to the position of Potions Master in the Anti-Dark Arts Laboratory. She spent her free time creating special potions for the Order and racing muggle cars at a track in London.
Ron and Hermione had managed to stay together for close to four years, as had Harry and Ginny. Ron couldn't believe that he was going to be 21 soon; it was a strange feeling to know that he could do magic outside of school and marry the girl of his dreams. Speaking of marrying Hermione Granger, in his pocket, Ron was carrying a very expensive diamond ring that he purchased in a muggle shop. Ginny informed him that Hermione wanted a muggle style engagement ring more than anything; how Ginny knew that, Ron wasn't sure. He planned to take Hermione to Hogsmeade, which neither of them had visited since leaving Hogwarts, and they would take a stroll out to the Shrieking Shack where he would somehow find the nerve to ask Hermione to marry him. If all went as planned, Ron would propose in the light of the half moon and millions of brilliant stars.
"Hello, love!" Hermione said, hugging Ron with her free arm and giving him a quick kiss on the lips. She had her overnight bag slung over her other arm and was wearing muggle Capri pants and a polo shirt. Ron returned her hug, lingering a little bit longer than usual, causing Hermione to look at him for a second before noticing Harry and Ginny standing in the foyer. "Hello, you lot! Are you going to Hogsmeade with us?" Hermione asked, setting her bag down on the floor. Ginny looked at Harry in a way which struck Hermione as strange, and then Ginny said, "Nah, we're just going to stay here and play chess." Ron quickly changed the subject by saying, "Come on, let's take your bag up to my room." He grabbed Hermione's hand and practically drug her up the stairs. "Ron, is something going on here?" she asked, stopping in the doorway of his room. A panic-stricken look in his eyes, Ron quickly said, "No, why would you think that?" His heart pounding, he thought, 'She's going to figure it out.' Hermione's stomach churned as she looked at Ron, who was avoiding her gaze. 'He's going to tell me that he doesn't want to move in with me,' she thought sadly, looking at Ron.
The pair pretended to act normal while changing clothes to head to Hogsmeade. They Apperated directly in front of The Three Broomsticks, where they had planned to have a drink before walking around the village. Ron couldn't stand the tension and anxiety for much longer, and he kept feeling his pocket, making sure that he hadn't lost the ring. "So," Hermione said softly, setting her butterbeer bottle down on the table, "Where would you like to go first?" Ron's heart pounded even more as he got up the nerve to say, "You fancy a walk to the Shrieking Shack?" Hermione swallowed, thinking, 'He's going to tell me no, I know it.' She nodded her head, agreeing to take a walk. Ron took the last drink of his butterbeer and stood up, Hermione following his lead.
They walked in silence as they left The Three Broomsticks and headed in the direction of the hill where the Shrieking Shack stood. The sun was putting on a last display of glory as it dropped below the horizon, bathing Hermione and Ron in red, gold, and yellow light. Ron looked over at Hermione, amazed at how just the sight of her could make butterflies appear in his stomach even after knowing her for ten years. The gold in her hair was highlighted by the waning sunlight and her eyes glittered as she glanced over at him curiously. "What?" she asked, forgetting her nervousness for a moment. Ron's eyes met hers as his clenched jaw relaxed into a small smile.
Just as the sun finally surrendered to the horizon, Hermione and Ron sat down on a rock near the spot where Harry had thrown mud at Malfoy all those years ago. To Ron, those days seemed so far away. Hermione was trying so hard to force her hands to stop shaking, but she just couldn't. Worried Ron would notice, she slid her hands under her thighs as she sat on the rock. The pair sat in excruciating silence for a few moments as Ron agonized over the right words to use. "Ron—" Hermione blurted out just as Ron said, "Hermione—" They both giggled nervously and Hermione began to speak again, but Ron interrupted her, "I'm sorry, but need to go first. I have to do this before I lose the nerve." "Um, okay," Hermione croaked, her throat seizing up.
He took a deep breath and blew it out slowly and shakily, wiping his sweaty hands on his pants. He could see Hogwarts castle off in the distance, surrounded by mist. "Hermione… the past four years have been the most amazing time in my life. You are such a special person to me, and I wouldn't have survived Auror training this long if it hadn't been for you," Ron began. Hermione listened, her body filling with horror. 'Not only does he not want to move in with me, he's going to break up with me,' she thought, almost choking. She heard Ron take another deep breath to continue, and she let her face fall into her hands, the first tears stinging her eyes. "Hermione," he said, the pitch of his voice climbing as his throat tightened. 'Don't cry, you git,' he told himself as he put his hand in his pocket to pull out the ring; he had put it in a chocolate frog box to add to the surprise. "…because you are so wonderful, and I love you so very much, I wanted to give you this." She peeked between her fingers and then removed her hands, looking at the chocolate frog box. Ron tried not to laugh out of nervousness as he regarded the bewildered look on her face.
She slowly took the box in her hand and pulled the cord slowly, fully expecting a frog to come jumping out on her. But as the flaps fell open, she saw the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. Emotions flooded her body, causing her to burst into tears out of relief and joy. Relieved himself, a true smile formed on Ron's lips as he watched Hermione hold the ring in her hand, clutched close to her heart, as she sobbed. "So, is that a yes?" Ron asked, leaning down to look in her watery eyes. "Of course!" she said, continuing to sob. "Well, here, let's put it on then," Ron said, gently pulling her hand away from her heart.
Hermione watched in disbelief as Ron slipped the ring on her finger. Hermione sighed happily, leaning against Ron and snuggling into his arms. They sat in silence for a moment until Ron said, "Now will you let me drive your car?" Hermione looked down at the ring, moving it with her thumb to make it sparkle in the moonlight. "Mmm…" she said, thinking, "no." Ron gasped, pulling her away to look at her face. Hermione laughed, tears still on her cheeks. "Okay, maybe," she said, seeing the look on Ron's face. Ron chuckled and pulled her back into his arms. "I love you, Ronald Weasley," she whispered. Leaning his cheek against her smooth hair, Ron smiled and said, "I love you, too."
THE END!!!!!
(Oh, I can't believe it's over. sobs)