I Miss You
Chapter 17
The rest of the school year had gone by as though somebody had hit the fast-forward button. After the battle, Hermione had been of immense help to Madame Pomfrey after the battle, helping clean up everyone who had been hurt and healing those who needed it.
The wizarding world had been immensely thrilled about the death of Voldemort, to say the least. Harry, Hermione, and Ron had all been bombarded with letters up the wazoo, pleading for autographs or, in the case of the newspapers and magazines, interviews. Obviously, there was only so much of this they could handle, and eventually, somebody was hired to take all their mail and bag it for them to read if they wished.
Presently, Harry was up in Professor Dumbledore's office, having just been summoned. Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Dumbledore spoke first. "I assume that you wish to know more about what happened with that spell."
Harry nodded. "As you may or may not know, that spell is a very strong spell based around the concept of love as a defense. The spell's wording- Aegis Demorior- literally means 'Love and Protect.' I have never before seen what happened that night, and probably never know, but it is my guess that there is some very, very strong love radiating from one, or both-" he winked "-of your companions. It was love that killed him, pure and simple. Nothing but the strongest love could do it."
"Professor," Harry stuttered. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
Professor Dumbledore grinned. "That depends on what you think I'm saying. If you think that I'm saying that Hermione truly loves you as more then just a friend and has for some time, and that you should go and get her, then yes." His eyes were twinkling. Who knew he could be such a great matchmaker?
«.:.:.:.»
Harry and Hermione were slumped into chairs in front of the fire, enjoying the silence that was so rare to them. Of course, both of their thoughts were racing at such lightning speed that the silence was only physical.
All right, Potter, Harry thought to himself. Dumbledore said it, so it must be true. Hermione loves you. How else could Voldemort have been killed by that spell? It was love that did it, Potter, love. Now just tell her that you feel the same way. Go on, do it! You know you want to. Of course I want to!
Harry took a deep breath. "Hermione, I…"
Hermione turned. "Yes, Harry?"
"I have something that I want to say to you, something that I've wanted to say for a very long time-"
At that point, a Priority Owl flew into the room and started pecking Hermione frantically on the shoulder.
"I think it wants you to take it, Hermione," Harry said, smiling.
"Ow, ow, ow, you stupid bird, just give me your paper and get on with it already," she muttered at it. She grabbed the letter and bashed the owl lightly on the head with it before taking a good look at the return address on the envelope.
"Oh, my God," she said softly. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and ran her finger under the closure of the envelope, tearing it open. She opened one eye, glanced at it, sighed, did a double take, and then shrieked. Loudly.
"OH, HARRY, I'M SO HAPPY, I GOT IN I GOT IN I GOT IN I GOT IN I GOT IN!!!"
"Er. Hermione? Care to enlighten a poor confused soul over here?" Harry said questioningly, wondering what in heck she was talking about.
"Oh…" Hermione was brought back to earth, if only for a moment. "I applied for a full scholarship to Smithson's MediWitches Preparatory Academy in the States… and I was accepted!" she said, trying to sound excited but failing. She had just realized… she would be gone for her seventh year at Hogwarts if she accepted.
Harry smiled broadly, if somewhat fakely. "That's great, Hermione! I'm really proud of you. You're a really good MediWitch… well, in training at least; I saw you working with Madame Pomfrey after the battle, and you were really brilliant! So… how long is the scholarship for?"
Hermione swallowed. "My entire seventh year, and then I'll graduate," she said, softly. She was having second thoughts now. Sure, it would be an excellent opportunity, but she would miss out on her seventh year at Hogwarts… with Harry, none the less! Well… Harry and Ron, but that's not important.
Harry's face visibly fell. So much for telling her. I can't tell her now; it would look like an effort to hold her back. She obviously wants to go, so let her! You want what makes her happy. And he did.
"Sounds brilliant, Hermione. Might have to throw you a party down in the common room!" Harry exclaimed, trying to make light of the situation.
Hermione shrugged. "I don't know if I'm going to go."
"Oh, come on, Hermione!" Harry said. "You have to go. This is a brilliant opportunity for you. You can't give it up just like that!"
"Well…" Hermione looked unsure. "I'm going to think it over. You're right, it would be brilliant, but if I went, I'd miss out on this next year!"
Harry didn't want her to go. He really didn't want her to go. He wanted her to go about as much as he wanted to face another dragon and try and grab one of her blasted golden eggs again. But he was going to go and be supportive, no matter what she decided to do. And that was final.
«.:.:.:.»
Classes had ended, the traditional end-of-year feast had come and gone, and the Golden Trio was standing on Platform 9 ¾, getting ready for another glorious summer. Harry had rented his own flat off of Diagon Alley, Ron was headed back home to The Burrow, and Hermione was getting ready to go back home as well, still not sure where she was going to be for school next year.
They were all standing there, waiting for Hermione's parents to arrive. Things were a bit awkward. Ron spotted his mother, and said, "Oi, I see my mum, and she's waving her arms at me rather stupidly… I'll see you later, right?" he asked them both. "Harry, you'd better stop by the Burrow sometime this summer, even though you've got your own flat… Or maybe I'll come visit you! Anyways, I'll see you guys later this summer." He went over and hugged Hermione and then, to Harry's surprise, embraced Harry in a manly sort of way. "See you guys later!" he said, and then dragged his trunk over to his mother, who shrieked in happiness.
"So… er…" Harry shifted from one foot to the other. "You'd better come over to the flat as much as you can, and let me know when you've decided what you're going to do next year, all right?"
Hermione nodded. "Are you going?"
"No, but you are. I've just spotted your parents." Harry grinned.
"Oh, right!" Hermione said, flustered. "Well, I'd best be going, then," she said, and flung her arms around Harry's neck, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"See you later," he said, watching her walk to her parents.
«.:.:.:.»
Author's Note: Tomorrow I'm going to upload THE FINAL CHAPTER! I'm so excited for me. Review!!!
Chibi-Suiko: I now completely understand why they don't write it out… it is hard. If I had known, I wouldn't have done it. As it is, I'm not too happy with the results… Oh, well. Ah! Maybe I should've had Hermione sacrifice herself; more crying sexy men! And thanks, I'm glad you like it.