Chapter Fifty-Five: Beginning

Ron didn't know where he was going. He just had to run somewhere. Out. Going out seemed like a good idea. Maybe if he went out, he could let his feelings out, too. Yes.

He burst outside and his feet carried him to the Forest, but once at its edge, he seemed to realize where he was.

Ron gritted his teeth and groaned. He wanted to keep running. He realized suddenly that he should have grabbed his broom. Then he could have kept going. He could have chased Harry down and knocked some sense into his stupid scarred head.

He's gone...Harry's gone...he left...he didn't even say good-bye...

A note. A bloody NOTE!

That was what Harry deigned to leave Ron with: a note, announcing his departure, imploring Ron to understand and to please not hate him for doing this, it wasn't Ron's fault, Harry had to get away, he needed help and there was some Empath lady--not Mrs. Tonks--who could help him.

That had been four hours ago. When Ron had returned from the feast, he went to seek out Harry, and was surprised to find that he wasn't in the dorm room where he'd said he'd be. But Hedwig and Fawkes were both there--looking a bit sad, maybe, but there--so Ron didn't think anything of it. It wasn't until Hermione burst in with her note--how courteous, Ron thought savagely, for him to write us each individual, separate notes!--that Ron realized what Harry had done.

In a panic, the two of them ran to McGonagall, who agreed to launch a search of the school and grounds. There were still Aurors and prefects around, and teachers, so everyone set off in different directions. Within an hour, Snape had returned from his trip to Hogsmeade to announce the Hopkirk--also in Hogsmeade for some reason--had seen Harry and that he was fine, he just had something to do 'on the Continent.' Ron might have gone into a rage right then and there, but Hermione put a restraining hand on his arm, and he quelled his temper and instead of bellowing at the teachers to bugger the Continent, Ron simply pleaded with them to write Minister Bones and ask her to authorize a search. Harry had run away; he had clearly cracked and needed to be found.

It was at that very moment that an owl swooped into McGonagall's office and dropped the letter in her hand. McGonagall called for silence as she read the note, and then looked up.

'We will be calling off the search for Potter,' she said. 'I have a letter from Mrs. Tonks's associate on the Continent. She has informed the Ministry that she expects Potter in five weeks' time. If he hasn't shown up by then, she'll let us and Minister Bones know.'

'Well, good,' said Snape dryly. 'Now that the great Potter is no longer in danger--'

'Excuse me!' Ron protested. 'That letter says he'll be meeting this 'associate' person in five weeks. We don't know where Harry's going now! What if he really has lost it? He could get hurt! We have to find him!'

'Mr. Weasley,' said McGonagall, 'admirable though your concern for Harry is, we have to assume he doesn't wish to be found, which is why he left you those letters to begin with! Given that he's only the most famous person in our world, if he were to waltz around looking like himself we'd know about it at once. We must assume that he's disguised himself and has no wish to be located!'

Ron opened his mouth to protest, but Hermione once again laid a hand on his arm, and he shut up, and instead chose to storm from McGonagall's office, after telling Hermione--in a tone that told her he meant to be left alone--that he'd see her later. He went back to the dormitory to find the other boys packing. None of them said a word as he very petulantly addressed Hedwig.

'I don't suppose you'll find him for me.'

Hedwig hooted and shook her feathered head, and Ron scowled. 'Fat lot of good you are,' he grumbled, and he opened her cage and shooed her out to go hunt. She gave him a haughty chirp and flew off. Fawkes sang softly to himself, and Ron whirled on Neville, Dean and Seamus.

'He didn't say anything about where he was going, did he?' Ron demanded.

'He didn't say anything at all,' said Seamus.

Ron let out a grunt. 'Fine,' he said, and stalked from the room.

It began to sink in, as he descended the boys' staircase in Gryffindor Tower, that Harry really had well and truly left. Without saying warning. Without saying goodbye. Having left behind only a note.

...he doesn't wish to be found.

Ron's initial panic quickly turned to anger, and it was then that he felt the urgent need to move, to run.

Running had led him here, to the edge of the Forest, and there was nothing to do now but pace. He couldn't very well wander into the Forest, not by himself. Not when Aragog and his million children were in there. Ron cursed himself again for not thinking of his broom, and suddenly the sheer fury and frustration of it all welled up in him, and he let out a yell.

'DAMN YOU, HARRY!'

His voice echoed on the night air, sending a flock of birds--or maybe it was bats--fluttering from the trees. He'd probably get in trouble now. With a start, he glanced over at Hagrid's hut, but there was no light in it. Maybe Hagrid was in the Forest hanging about with Grawp and Mawg.

Ron sank to his knees, feeling useless. If he really examined his heart, he knew exactly why Harry had left, but that didn't take away the anger or the hurt. Even worse was the knowledge that Ron might have seen this coming if he'd bothered to meditate at all over the past few weeks, but with the stress of exams, and the effort of recovering fully from his physical wounds, he hadn't bothered to meditate at all.

His bad eye stung behind the patch; he couldn't wait for them to take it out and put in the new magical one. His knees were beginning to get wet from the damp grass as it soaked through his jeans. There was nothing he could do. Harry was gone. Ron hadn't been able to help him after all.

He got up dejectedly and brushed grass from his knees, when a soft clopping sound made him look up.

'Ronald.'

It was Firenze. His pale coat gleamed in the moonlight. He looked a bit skinnier than Ron remembered, and he walked a bit gingerly, as if his leg gave him just a bit of trouble, but otherwise he looked fine.

'Professor,' he said, before remembering that Firenze was not in fact a professor anymore. 'I mean, Firenze.'

'You look troubled,' said Firenze.

That Firenze, a master of understatement.

'Yeah,' said Ron glumly.

'I hear a rumor that Harry Potter has gone,' said the centaur. 'Is that true?'

'It's true,' muttered Ron. 'He left. Didn't even say good-bye.'

'Really?' said Firenze. 'He left no word at all?'

'Left a note,' said Ron. 'Big deal.'

'Did he explain himself in this note?'

'Yeah,' said Ron. 'Said he had to go find some Empath to help him.'

'Ah.' Firenze looked at Ron with a contemplative expression. 'Well...Empaths are very good at helping to heal the mental and emotional hurts of their fellow humans. I suspect Harry Potter has many of these.'

'Mental and emotional hurts?' said Ron. 'Yeah, a few. A lot.'

'Then why are you angry?' Firenze asked. 'Surely you want Harry Potter to heal himself.'

'Of course I want that!' said Ron irritably. 'It's just...'

He waved his hand, not sure how to express what he was feeling.

'You are frustrated that you could not be the one to help him,' said Firenze sagely.

'Yeah,' Ron mumbled.

'I take it you didn't see this coming,' said Firenze.

'No,' said Ron. 'I...I got really messed up in the battle at the Ministry and...I haven't been meditating because of exams and because I'm already tired from getting over my injuries, and meditating wears me out--'

'You don't have to explain yourself to me, Ronald,' said Firenze. 'I have heard of your brave deeds and your sacrifices. It is right that you took a period of rest from your meditations. All Seers require periods of recuperation, particularly ones who've been as badly injured as you.'

Ron nodded and ran a hand through his hair.

'I'm his best friend,' he said at last. 'Why...why won't he let me help him? And don't say it's because I can't fix everything or that Seers can't see everything or--'

'You can't heal Harry Potter's hurts,' said Firenze, 'because you do not understand them.'

'I know I don't understand them!' Ron snapped. 'That doesn't mean...I'm useless to him, does it? He could have confided in me! Even if I didn't totally understand, I would have been there!'

'I imagine Harry knows that,' said Firenze. 'You have been a good and loyal friend to him, Ronald. But even the most loyal friend cannot always help the friend he loves best. Harry must seek help from one who can understand his hurts. He needs someone not only to listen to him, but to advise him, to guide him through his grief. You are not that person.'

'Great,' said Ron sarcastically. 'I feel so much better for that, thanks.'

'Do you think because you cannot help Harry Potter in this one instance that you are useless?' asked the centaur. 'I know what you did in the battle at the Ministry of Magic, Ronald. You were ready to sacrifice your very life to make sure Harry Potter succeeded and defeated the Dark One. That was what I meant when I said your part in the story was written. Your part was to help Harry in the most important way possible. I think you know that. That's why you made the sacrifice, is it not?'

Ron let out a breath. The scar from the wound across his belly stretched and tingled slightly. He put a hand over it. 'Yeah,' he said.

'Consider, Ronald, the sacrifice Harry is making now. Leaving the only home he's ever loved, and his friends, forcing himself to be alone, when he has always been alone in his way. Because he knows it is what he has to do, to survive his hurts, and come back from them. Do you not think he aches as you are now?'

Ron swallowed.

No, I hadn't thought of that. I was too hacked off.

But now...yes. Harry's hurting. Too much so for me or Hermione to help. And...Ginny...

'Harry...and my sister,' said Ron haltingly. 'They...they had a relationship...she was...she is an Empath...Harry can't be with her because of the bad stuff that happened to them both...'

'That explains much,' said Firenze. 'Your sister was Harry's mate, they shared an Empathic bond. Such a bond is the strongest any two human beings can share, but it comes with a flaw. The bond is like steel, it is inflexible, and if it breaks, it shatters, and the pieces scatter far and wide. One piece remains between them, but the bond itself is otherwise in shards. This is the burden of Harry and your sister: if they are to be together again, they must rebuild the bond from those shards.'

Ron sighed. 'Why, though? Hermione and I came through this okay. I mean...things were a bit iffy, but we got through it.'

'Your bond with your mate is different,' said Firenze. 'Its strength is in its flexibility. It is deep in its own right, but malleable. It allows for hardship and change.'

'Why would anyone want an Empathic bond?' Ron asked.

Because to me it sounds like hell. Maybe Ginny could find a way to stop this Empath thing, and just be a normal girl...

'If one falls in love with an Empath, one has no choice,' said Firenze.

'He didn't even say where he was going,' said Ron. 'Before he goes to this other Empath, I mean.'

'That is for Harry Potter to decide,' said Firenze. 'It seems as if he wishes to be in solitude for a time. There is grace and peace to be found in solitude.'

'And loneliness,' Ron pointed out.

'And loneliness,' said Firenze, 'but given that he is seeking help from the one who can best give it to him, can you not trust that Harry will, in the end, heal his pain?'

Ron's first instinct was to protest. Harry shouldn't be alone right now. Ron should be with him. They should go to Auror training and get their flat together and have fun and get through everything together.

He can't be an Auror now. He doesn't want to fight dark wizards anymore. He fought the darkest one there is. He needs space. He needs time. He needs...somebody else.

Ron finally nodded, the heaviness of knowing that he couldn't help Harry pressing on his chest. He cast about for a change of subject.

'How do you like being back in the herd?' he asked.

'It is good to be among my kind,' said Firenze. 'I have missed them.'

'You...forgave them? Just like that?'

'Yes, I forgave them,' said Firenze. 'We centaurs have our pride, but...we also have our roots. The Forest is my home.'

'I'm...I'm glad you could go back,' said Ron. 'To your home, I mean.'

'Yes,' said Firenze. 'And now you must go to your home.'

'The castle?' said Ron. 'That's not really my home. Come to think of it, I guess I don't have a home. The Burrow's been destroyed and...bloody hell, that's depressing. I'm homeless!'

'Sometimes, Ronald, home is not a place,' said Firenze. He nodded to something behind Ron, and Ron turned.

Hermione was standing there, with tears glistening in her eyes. She was smiling at him.

'Come inside, Ron,' she said.

Ron licked his lips.

Home. Of course.

He turned back to say good-bye to Firenze, but the centaur was gone.

Ron sighed again. 'Is everyone going to leave without saying good-bye?'

'I'm not going anywhere,' said Hermione, taking his hands in hers.

He looked down at her, and brushed a stray curl from her cheek. 'Good,' he said.

'It's going to be all right, Ron,' said Hermione. 'With Harry, I mean. And Ginny.'

Ron nodded. 'Yeah,' he said, and somehow, against all odds, he believed it. 'You're right.'

'Come inside,' she said again, tugging on his hands. It was then that Ron remembered something important.

'Hermione, I have to show you something.'

Once again, he found himself pacing. He told himself he was just nervous about whether his spellwork on extracting that memory was up to snuff, but that wasn't it. He was nervous for her reaction. Because he'd remembered every last detail of that dream, every word spoken, and he'd preserved it in the Pensieve she'd made for him. It was just a matter of whether she'd like what she saw, or panic.

'Ron?' Hermione called.

Ron rushed over to the bowl. Hermione was looking up at him, her hand stretched upward. Ron reached into the bowl, remembering to keep a grip on his dresser, and pulled.

With a whoosh, she was back in his room. He caught her as she stumbled, and then she pulled back and looked up at him. Her eyes had tears in them again.

Ron bit his lip. 'So...what do you think?'

'Why didn't you tell me before?' she asked.

'I wasn't sure if you'd freak out,' said Ron. 'I mean...we're really young, and we've got our careers and stuff. Maybe...maybe you don't even want...any of that stuff...'

'Children?' she said.

'Yeah,' said Ron.

'Marriage?' she said.

'That, too,' said Ron. 'Well, marriage first, of course.'

'Is that why, Ron?' said Hermione. 'Is that why you fought so hard to come back? From...from almost...dying?'

'Yeah,' said Ron. 'That's exactly why.' He paused, as she looked at him searchingly. His heart was racing. 'So...what do you think?'

'I think,' she whispered, 'that was the most beautiful dream I've ever seen, and I think I want that, too.'

Ron blinked. Surely he hadn't heard her correctly.

'Really?' he said. 'You want to get married? You'll marry me?'

'Yes,' she said, smiling through tears. 'I'll marry you. I want to marry you, Ron.'

'When?'

Hermione laughed. 'Well, not today!' she said.

'No, no,' said Ron, 'of course not. But...you want to...someday?'

'Someday,' said Hermione. 'Yes. I want all of it. A life with you, forever.'

Ron took a deep breath. 'Wow,' he said. 'I...that's brilliant. I mean...that's just brilliant.'

'Are you always this eloquent?' Hermione teased.

'Not really,' said Ron. 'Does this mean...can we be engaged?'

Hermione looked up as if thinking about it. 'No,' she said. 'You haven't really proposed to me properly.'

Ron rolled his eyes and he grinned. 'Fine, I'll do it right.' He went down on his knee and took her hands in his. 'This is how it's done, correct?'

Hermione bit her lip, and her eyes filled again. 'Something like that,' she said.

'I don't have a ring for you,' he said. 'I might not be able to get you one for a long time. I'm already in hock to you for my new eye.'

'I don't need a ring,' she said, a tear sliding down her cheek.

'Good,' said Ron thickly, his tongue suddenly dry. He looked up at her, hardly able to believe what he was about to do; he was giddy; he was crazy; they both were crazy; the world was bloody crazy. They were leaving Hogwarts in a week. He'd go to Auror training in a month, Hermione would join the Ministry as an Unspeakable, and Harry was somewhere out there, alone, seeking healing for himself, and for Ginny...everything was mad and upside down, but suddenly, in that moment, looking up at Hermione, everything made sense.

Everything would, in the end, be okay.

'Hermione Granger,' Ron said, working against a lump in his throat, 'will you marry me?'

She gave a small sob, and smiled.

'Yes.'

They went to the Leaving Feast, as was expected of them. McGonagall reported that Harry Potter had left the country to travel on his own for a while, and that Ginny Weasley was 'visiting relatives abroad.' She then asked everyone for a last moment of remembrance for the dead.

A loud sniff caught Ron's attention, and he turned to see Lizzie Towler hugging herself and crying.

'I should...' he said.

'Go ahead,' Hermione whispered.

McGonagall began to read names. First of the Aurors. Lizzie broke down as her brother's name was called, but Ron was there. He pulled her into a hug and stroked her hair as she sobbed on his shoulder. Other names were called, some that Ron knew, some that he didn't. These were the casualties of war, and yet all of them had someone in the Great Hall weeping for them. Ron caught Blaise Zabini's eye; the boy was dry-eyed, but looked haunted and lost. Everyone had lost someone in some way. Ron felt tears sting his eyes to think of Harry, wandering around somewhere in the world, struggling to find himself again, and of Ginny...especially Ginny, his little sister, so strong, and yet so tender at the same time. He knew in his heart she would be okay, but this was the second time he'd lost his sister to something he didn't fully understand, and it hurt. As he hugged Lizzie Towler he realized she was just about Ginny's size--Ginny had always been quite small--and a tear slid down his cheek.

For once, Ron had packed ahead of time, but in a way, he wished he hadn't. Now there was nothing to do but go on one last patrol, and go to bed. Tomorrow he would leave Hogwarts forever, for a future that was uncertain, and for the first time, he would not be with Harry. Ginny wouldn't be around. Ron would not be with Hermione, at least, not come August the first, when he would take the train to the Auror training camp. Ginny wouldn't be there. It was depressing to contemplate, really. The optimism Ron had felt a week ago had been steadily dwindling as the day to leave Hogwarts drew near. It felt as if things were breaking up. Scattering. Like Harry and Ginny's Empath bond.

The last week here had been hard. Without exams to distract him, Ron had thought of little else except Harry and his sister. Ginny was making very slow progress, according to Ron's parents, and Harry hadn't sent word at all. All week long Ron had been tempted to send Harry a letter, to use Hedwig to locate her master. Surely the snowy owl would know where he'd gone, she wouldn't stop looking until she found him. Ron had written the letter, it was perhaps the longest he'd ever written in his life. It was in an envelope and ready to go.

But every time Ron started to approach Hedwig, who'd been residing in his room with Pig since the night Harry had left, he stopped. Something stopped him. Harry—present and yet not—stopped him. Ron could almost hear his best mate's voice, telling Ron that he was all right, and that he needed space and time to figure himself out.

The letter was now packed with Ron's books, which he'd determine would come in handy for Auror training.

A knock on his door interrupted his heavy thoughts.

'Come in.'

Hermione entered. 'Ready for our last patrol?' She wore her Head Girl badge and robes, pressed and completely buttoned up as usual. She held a borrowed school wand in her hands. Leave it to Hermione to take her duties with the utmost seriousness until the end.

'Well, at least that sounds good,' said Ron. 'No more patrols.'

'You're depressed, aren't you?'

'Aren't you?'

'Yes,' said Hermione, 'but...I'm ready to go, too. I feel like...well, don't be surprised by my book metaphor, but I feel like one chapter of my life is over and there's this new chapter starting.'

'I'm shocked you would use a book metaphor to describe what you're feeling,' said Ron cheekily, finding it in himself to grin at her. He sobered, and said, 'I guess you have a point. I just...I miss him. And Ginny.'

'Me, too,' said Hermione. 'I miss them both a lot. And I miss...childhood.'

'It was simpler,' Ron agreed, but then determined to shed his blue mood, he said, 'Of course, one of the benefits of being an adult is getting to shag your brains out.'

'Pig,' said Hermione, and she swatted his arm, but smiled at him nonetheless. 'Come on, let's go.'

They took their time. The patrol was pretty much useless, but Ron found that it wasn't as depressing as he might have thought. If anything, he took the time to absorb his surroundings, to etch into his memory all the details of the castle, bit by bit. In nearly every place, there was a memory, and in most of those places, Harry or Hermione or both of them were a part of it. Sometimes Ginny was there, too. Ron could hardly believe he'd been here for seven years, could hardly believe that seven years had passed, that it wasn't just a week ago he was meeting Harry for the first time on the Hogwarts Express.

They were working the upper floors and towers, and by the time they went into Professor Sinistra's Astronomy classroom, it was nearly midnight.

Hermione wore a smile as they climbed up the ladder to the tower. Ron followed her and felt his face break into a small smile.

The massive telescopes had all been pushed to a corner, leaving much of the tower wide and open. Massive, squashy pillows and cushions and plush blankets were carefully arranged on a spotless parquet floor, and candles inside hurricane lanterns flickered gently.

Ron turned to Hermione to see that she had pulled off her robes and stood before him wearing the maroon jumper he'd given her on Valentine's Day, back in their sixth year. It was far too big for her. She'd kicked off her shoes, and her legs were bare, but she had her right leg crossed in front of her left. Her skin glowed from the candlelight, and the soft velvet gleam of the quarter moon, the flickering of the stars that painted the inky black sky.

'Wow,' Ron breathed. 'If I knew you looked that good in my jumpers, I would have given you all of them.'

Hermione giggled and blushed shyly. 'I thought...since it's our last night here...'

She walked towards him slowly, tugging the jumper down to cover her left thigh; when she reached him she went up on tip-toe and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Our last night here...sad, but amazing, too...

He kissed her, he kissed her with everything he had, pressing her close and tasting her mouth with his. He forced himself not to think of Harry and Ginny and their pain, and focused on Hermione.

'We won't get caught, will we?' he whispered, against her lips.

'No...' she said, and she kissed him again. They kissed for a few minutes and Ron realized he couldn't stand up anymore. He cupped his hands around Hermione's buttocks and lifted her, and her legs went around his waist as he carried her over to the cushions. As he lowered her down, the jumper rode up a bit, and Hermione gave a squeak and pulled it down again.

'Hermione,' Ron said, 'let me see...'

She bit her lip, and nodded. Ron propped himself up on one hand, sitting over her, and slowly slid the jumper upwards, revealing her thighs, the white cotton knickers she wore beneath.

She looked away, biting her lip, as he let his gaze take in her damaged thigh.

The flesh was pale and puckered; the scarring was quite bad, really, and Ron bit back a sympathetic wince. Theodore Nott had caused this wound, and Ron couldn't help but be a bit glad that Nott was dead.

Hermione gave a soft whimper. 'I know it's ugly...' she said.

'It's not,' said Ron at once. 'It's just a scar.' He let his fingertips glide over the marred flesh. She winced.

'Does it hurt?'

'No,' said Hermione. 'No. I just...'

'Shh...' Ron whispered, silencing her with a kiss, letting his fingers soothe the hurt skin of her leg. With his other hand, he tugged the jumper completely off, leaving her in bra and knickers. He took a moment to look at her.

'You're beautiful,' he said softly, 'every inch of you is beautiful.' He ran the palm of his hand over the soft plane of her tummy. He paused there and she placed a hand over his. Someday, their baby would be growing inside her.

His other hand continued to trace the scars on her leg, and then he kissed that skin, learning its texture and taste. Hermione let out another whimper and he saw that she was crying softly, but smiling. She sat up and pulled off his robes, his shirt; he kicked off his shoes and pulled off his socks and tugged down his trousers, and she returned the favor, tracing her fingertips over the scars on his arms, the wound across his belly, following the path of her fingers with her lips. She found the puckered flesh near his damaged eye that vanished beneath his eye patch, and smiled.

'You look like a pirate with that thing,' she said, grinning wider. 'A very sexy pirate.' She kissed him.

'I'll have to hang onto the eye patch, then,' he whispered, kissing her back, lowering her back onto the cushions. The last few articles of clothing seemed to melt away from them. Ron's hand found her belly again, and she smiled as she pointed her school-borrowed wand and uttered the Contraceptive Charm.

'Someday,' she murmured, before he claimed her mouth again. They made love as many times as they could manage, under the soft night sky with the stars blinking overhead. When they finally collapsed, sated, in a heap of limbs, Ron gathered Hermione in his arms and brushed a kiss across her forehead. They looked up at the stars; one of them streaked across the horizon.

'Make a wish,' Hermione whispered.

'Okay,' said Ron, and he did. It was really three wishes, but he hoped they counted, anyway.

'What'd you wish?' Ron asked.

'I can't tell you,' said Hermione, looking up at him. 'They won't come true.'

'You're right,' said Ron, remembering that old rule. They gazed at each other for a long moment, and Ron realized she didn't have to tell him, anyway.

'Me, too,' he said. They held each other in the dark and stared at the sky for a while, thinking the same thoughts, of a boy and girl who were far away and hurting, but fighting their way back.

Ron and Hermione fell asleep until morning.

Ron levitated his trunk into the Head Boy's car, and then did a patrol of the Hogwarts Express with Hermione, stopping to chat briefly with various classmates. The mood was heavy, given the tragedies of recent weeks, but most of the students seemed to be putting on a brave face, and everyone was relieved that school—and the ordeal with Voldemort—was finally over.

Of course, rumors continued to run rampant. By now, Harry was rumored to be somewhere in South America, living in a jungle amongst Pygmies and without magic; Ginny had joined a religious order of celibate witches; and Draco Malfoy had gone to Siberia to track down his father. Ron scoffed at the first and second rumors, but couldn't help but believe the third, at least as far as Draco chasing down Lucius. Ron and Hermione had an uneasy feeling about Lucius being on the loose, but given that his boss was gone, and the Death Eaters all but defunct, nobody else seemed to be too concerned.

Ron and Hermione exited the train to assist the younger students with boarding the train, and found Neville and a fully recovered Luna Lovegood. Luna was beaming.

'Hey, Ron, Hermione,' said Neville.

'Hey, guys,' said Ron. 'Ready for our last ride?'

'Yeah,' said Neville. 'Weird, isn't it, to think we're not coming back in September?'

'Weird,' Ron agreed, 'but in a good way. What are you two doing this summer?'

At this, Luna burst in.

'Oh! We're going back to Sweden!' she said excitedly. Indeed, it was the most energetic Ron had ever seen her. 'Dad found them! He found the Snorkacks! The Ministry's given him a research grant and he's going to set up a foundation for them!'

'Wh-what?' said Hermione. 'You're joking.'

'No,' said Luna proudly. 'Look!' She shoved a Daily Prophet under Hermione's nose; Hermione snatched it up and gaped at the front page, as Ron looked over her shoulder.

The photograph depicted four huge, silvery-green, bizarre looking creatures who resembled giant lizards, except they had the snouts of warthogs, and several holes on their bodies that reminded Ron of the spouts on whale's backs. Horns grew out of their foreheads, horns that were sharp and jagged and looked as if they'd been stepped on, or, well, crumpled. The creatures rolled about in the sea, looking almost as if they were playing.

The headline read 'POD OF LEGENDARY GIANT CRUMPLE-HORNED SNORKACKS FOUND IN SWEDEN', with the sub-headline 'British Wizard Journalist Makes Breakthrough Discovery'.

Ron's eyes scanned the first paragraph.

'Believed to be a creature of myth and legend, the Crumple-Horned Snorkack has been to Sweden what the Loch Ness Monster long was for Scotland: a creature many believed in, but few had actually seen or documented. Now, journalist and publisher Linus Lovegood, 40, has, after years of searching, found this unique and rare magical creature in the North Sea and managed to capture extensive photographic footage that has been scientifically verified by the Department of Rare and Unique Magical Creatures within the Swedish Agency of Magic.

'As a result of making this important biological and zoological find, Mr. Lovegood, of Ottery St. Catchpole, has earned a generous research grant from the Department of the Study for Rare Magical Beasts, a branch of the United Kingdom's Ministry of Magic. Mr. Lovegood's discovery will bring together the Swedish and British departments on a joint study of these previously unverified animals.'

'That's...I don't...it's...' Hermione spluttered. She looked up at Luna in shock. Ron didn't know whether to feel sorry for his girlfriend or chuckle.

'That's brilliant, Luna,' said Ron. 'Congratulations.'

'Oh...oh, yes,' said Hermione quickly. 'Congratulations, Luna.'

'Thank you!' said Luna, and she flung her arms around Hermione, and then Ron.

'So, Neville,' said Ron quickly, hoping to drag the subject away from Snorkacks, 'when do you start Healer training?'

'Next month,' said Neville. 'That's when you start Auror training, right?'

'Yeah,' said Ron. 'We're going to some boot camp thing in Italy for two months. It's supposed to be really rough, apparently it's to weed out the people who can't handle it. I just hope I don't screw up.'

'Sorry about...about Harry, and all,' said Neville.

Ron glanced at Hermione. 'Yeah, well,' he said, 'I think Harry's probably better off not chasing after dark wizards. After...you know.'

'Yeah,' said Neville. 'Listen, Ron...for what it's worth, I think Harry's fine. Wherever he is.'

Ron felt his heart clench just a bit; at that moment, the small part of him that wanted Harry back spoke.

Harry should be here. This is the last journey on the Hogwarts Express. We should be on this together...

But then Ron looked at Neville's optimistic smile, and Luna said, 'Harry is very strong. I'm sure he'll be just fine, eventually.'

'I think you're right,' said Ron, and he meant it. 'Hey, Neville...thanks, by the way. I should have told you before, but...you saved my life.'

Neville blushed. 'Oh...yeah...I didn't do too much...'

'All righ', everyone, time to get on board!'

Hagrid clomped his way through the crowd, ushering the younger students on board the train, but when he saw Ron and Hermione, his beetle-black eyes filled with tears, and he strode over to them.

''See you, Hagr--'

'I'll miss you two so much!' Hagrid bawled, crushing Ron and Hermione into a huge bear hug. 'It's not righ', Harry bein' gone, but I know he's okay, I jus' know it!'

'We know, Hagrid,' Hermione wheezed, gasping from the force of Hagrid's embrace.

'Hagrid...' Ron gasped. 'Air...'

'Oh, righ'!' Hagrid said, letting go of them. He stood back and looked down at them, smiling fondly.

'I can' believe you two...all grown up...seems like las' week you three were gettin' into mischief with Fluffy an'...an' meetin' Aragog...' Hagrid's chin began to tremble.

'Yeah,' said Ron, grinning, 'it was really fun, meeting Fluffy and Aragog.' He exchanged glances with Hermione, who giggled.

'And don't forget Grawp,' she said.

'Oh, Grawpy says hello!' said Hagrid excitedly. 'He and Mawg are doin' jus' fine and...do you know...Mawg's expecting!'

Hermione's face went white, and Ron stumbled.

'What?' he croaked.

'R-really?' Hermione said. 'Mawg's pregnant? How...how nice.'

At this, Hagrid burst out laughing. 'You two! I'm jus' kiddin'! You shoulda seen yer faces!'

Ron let out a sigh of relief, and Hermione laughed nervously.

'Yes,' she said, 'well, do tell Grawp we said...hello.'

'Will do,' said Hagrid. 'You two...take care of yourselves, and each other. An'...don' worry 'bout Harry or Ginny. I know things are rough righ' now, but I've never met two more stubborn people. They'll be all righ'.'

Ron and Hermione both nodded; Ron didn't really want to think about Harry anymore, not when leaving Hogwarts was sad all by itself. Hagrid hugged them again.

'I bes' get back to the school,' he said. 'Don' forget to write!'

'We won't,' said Ron. Hagrid went tearful again, and hurried off, blowing his nose on his tablecloth-sized handkerchief.

Suddenly, it was time to go. Ron and Hermione found themselves hugging their teachers goodbye—all except Snape, of course, and Hopkirk, who hadn't made an appearance today. Then they were on the train, and in their compartment. The train whistled and gave a lurch, and Ron and Hermione suddenly pressed their faces to the glass, unable to believe they were leaving Hogwarts behind them.

'Ron...' said Hermione, and she glanced at him and bit her lip.

'I know, love,' he said. There was something awful about doing this without Harry and Ginny. It simply wasn't right.

The train moved forward and slowly began to pull away from Hogsmeade Station. Ron and Hermione sat back for a moment, across from each other, looking at one another in silence. There seemed to be nothing to say.

A moment later there was a knock on their door. Ron looked up and saw Blaise Zabini just outside; Ron nodded and Blaise came in.

'Hey,' he said. 'Hi, Hermione.'

'Hello, Blaise,' said Hermione warmly.

'So, Weasley,' said Blaise, 'I heard you're doing the Auror program with the Ministry.'

'Yeah,' said Ron, 'I'm all set for that, unless I bombed on my N.E.W.Ts.'

Blaise paused, and then said, 'I'm in the program, too.'

'No kidding,' said Ron. 'I didn't know you were applying.'

'Nobody did,' said Blaise. 'Well, nobody except Daphne.'

Blaise's face took on a stricken expression and he licked his lips.

'We're really sorry about Daphne,' said Hermione. 'She was...we didn't know her well, but she seemed like a really lovely person.'

Blaise swallowed and looked at Hermione for a moment. 'Yeah, she was,' he said. He cleared his throat.

'Anyway, Weasley,' he said, 'I just figured you should know. We're the only two from Hogwarts who got in, apart from Potter, of course. But...since he's...somewhere else...anyway, I just want you to know I'll be in it with you.'

Ron nodded. 'It'll be good to see a familiar face,' he said. 'Boot camp's supposed to be pretty intense. Maybe we could, I dunno, give each other a hand, here and there.'

'Yeah,' said Blaise. 'Yeah, that'd be good. Well...I'll leave you guys alone. See you.'

'See you,' said Ron, and he watched the other boy leave the compartment.

'That was nice of you, Ron,' said Hermione.

Ron shrugged. 'He's not so bad.'

'For a Slytherin?'

'For a person,' said Ron. 'Must be tough...with Daphne. I think we're lucky, you know?'

'Yes, we are,' said Hermione, and she moved into Ron's arms. 'We are.'

They held each other and stared out the window as the train picked up speed. They thought of Harry and Ginny, who should be saying goodbye to the castle with them. They didn't stop looking out the window until Hogwarts became nothing more than a dot on the horizon, and vanished.

One month later

'You're sure you have everything, Ron?' Mrs. Weasley fretted.

'Yes, Mum, I'm sure,' said Ron, for the fifth time that morning. Ron, his parents, his brothers--including Bill, Fleur, and their newborn son Arthur George--and Hermione were all at the train station to see him off to boot camp. Ron blinked again, focusing his magical eye. It was quite odd, really, having it. It was powerful enough to penetrate nearly all spells and charms of concealment--something Kingsley said would be a plus for being an Auror. Mad-Eye Moody had already grumbled that Ron's eye was far better than his, and that he himself would have to buy the newest model.

Indeed, the eye really didn't feel any different when it was in. It stayed very clean and Ron could go days without removing it, although Healer Smethwyck advised weekly cleanings.

Fred and George were still teasing him about the first time Ron had popped out the eye and looked in the mirror to see his empty eye socket. He'd taken one look, screamed like a girl, and passed out. When he'd come to, Fred and George were merciless.

'Some Auror he'll make!' said Fred. 'Crikey, Ron, can't even look at your mangled face without passing out. How're you going to handle all that blood and guts?'

'M-maybe they should g-give him a few bags to p-puke in,' said George.

Ron gritted his teeth and bore the twins' teasing, given that George was almost fully recovered, but for a small stammer that would likely be permanent.

After the initial shock of realizing Ron didn't have his original eye, though, he began to like having the magical one.

The best thing about the eye was that Ron could charm it, simply by blinking twice and uttering 'Reveal', to see under people's clothes. Ostensibly this was to check for hidden weapons, but since Hermione had showed up a few days ago, to spend his last couple of days at the half-rebuilt Burrow, he'd been using it for other purposes.

'Pink today,' he had whispered to her, as they were leaving the house to take a Ministry car to King's Cross. 'And lacy. Very nice.'

'Ron, knock it off, that's not what the eye is for!' Hermione had hissed.

'You bought it for me,' said Ron, shrugging innocently. 'I'm just making sure it's in optimal operating condition.'

'Pervert,' she'd muttered, but she'd smiled.

Now they were at the station, and in several minutes Ron would be going on his journey to Italy, to the valley below the Dolomites, where the boot camp was located.

The journey itself was something of a test: as they were traveling with Muggles, and were not allowed to use magic, mention magic, or talk about where they were going, Ron and Blaise--as well as the two trainees from the Kilcannon Institute in Dublin, a small Irish magical school--had all been instructed to come up with a cover story. The four of them were university students from King's College in London on a summer paleontological internship and they would be living in the town of Pieve di Livinallongo (it had taken Ron a full week to pronounce that one correctly). The part about living in Pieve di Livinallongo was true, although their housing--and the camp itself--would be charmed with anti-Muggle protections. In any case, it was as Ron loaded his trunk onto the train that he truly wished Harry were there, and not simply because he missed Harry terribly. Harry would at least have some clue about how to act around Muggles.

Ron set his trunk down in a compartment, and then fetched the owl cage from Charlie. He'd taken on Hedwig--there was really no choice, and he decided that Hermione could better handle taking care of Fawkes--but Hedwig was supremely put out that she had to share a cage with the wholly undignified Pig, who hooted about her delightedly and flapped his small wings in excitement. Ron wondered, not for the first time, just how he was supposed to be insignificant to the Muggles when he was carrying an owl cage around with him, but the paleontology cover story, Kingsley Shacklebolt explained, would offer cover there as well.

'Just tell the Muggles, if they ask, that you brought the birds to compare their bone structure to the dinosaur bones,' he'd said. Ron had nodded as if he knew what Kingsley was talking about, which of course he didn't, until Hermione explained it to him.

Ron stored the owl cage and then went back out to the platform. It was time to say good-bye.

His mother hugged him and didn't seem to want to let go of him.

'You be careful,' she said, sobbing. 'Write us as much as you can and don't go getting into trouble, and be sure you eat enough but don't gorge on sweets, I know how you are--'

'Mum, I'll be fine,' said Ron, smiling and shaking his head as she let go of him.

'Take care, son,' said Mr. Weasley, hugging Ron quickly. 'We're damn proud of you.'

'Thanks, Dad,' said Ron.

'Good luck, little bro,' said Bill, hugging Ron tightly. 'You'll be great.'

'Au revoir, Ron,' said Fleur, beaming up at him, her and Bill's squirming, blond-haired son in her arms. She planted a kiss on his cheek, and Ron's face flamed. He caught Hermione's eye, and she shook her head and smirked.

''Bye, Artie,' said Ron, waving at the infant, who merely looked at him curiously for a moment, but then spread his mouth in the semblance of a grin.

'Is he smiling?' said Ron.

'Sort of, yeah,' said Bill, grinning. 'Cool.'

'He's just delighted you're going far away, Ronnie,' said Fred, clapping Ron on the back.

'Keep talking,' said Ron, rolling his eyes. 'I'm going to kick your arse after two months in that camp.'

'Assuming you don't still faint when you l-look at yourself,' said George, winking.

'Better make sure there are no spiders in Italy,' said Fred. Ron smirked and when his mother wasn't looking, flashed a rude hand gesture at Fred. Fred did it right back, and they both grinned.

''Bye, Ron,' said Charlie. 'Don't listen to them. You'll do fine.'

'Take care, Ron,' said Percy. 'Study hard, and be sure to read those books I got you.'

Ron let go of his fifth brother and realized with a pang that Ginny wasn't there to see him off.

He bit his lip and looked at his parents. There had been no contact with Ginny, or at least, no direct contact from her to Ron. Mrs. Tonks was sending daily reports to Ron's parents; apparently Ginny was talking more freely about her traumas, and she'd begun to write in a very mundane, entirely non-enchanted diary as part of her therapy. Ron thought Mrs. Tonks was barmy to make Ginny write in a diary, after her experience with Riddle's, but Hermione sagely intoned that by giving Ginny a diary that wasn't threatening, she could start to take back control of her fear of Riddle. Ron had to admit, Hermione had a point.

In any case, Ginny had not been allowed to write to Ron, or perhaps she had chosen not to.

She probably still feels guilty about...about what happened that night.

'We'll send Ginny your love,' said Mrs. Weasley, and Ron nodded. It would have to do for now.

And of course, there was no Harry to see him off, either. Ron hadn't heard a word at all about Harry. There were occasional 'Potter Sightings' in The Daily Prophet but the wizarding world had slowly come to accept that the Boy Who Saved Everyone had decided to go 'underground'. The nastier rumor was that he'd simply cracked and had committed suicide, and the Ministry was searching for his body but was covering up his death. Ron couldn't help but feel hurt that Harry hadn't even bothered to write once since he'd disappeared. Didn't Harry realize his friends were worried for him? Ron had struggled through the summer, dealing with the loss of his best mate and his sister; it was only the extensive physical labor involved in rebuilding the twins' store and the Burrow that had kept Ron from totally giving in to despair.

'I wish Harry were here,' he blurted, not really meaning to say that aloud.

Nobody said anything for a moment; nobody seemed to know what to say at first. It was George who spoke.

'H-Harry'll come around eventually,' he said. 'You'll s-see, Ron.'

Ron smiled half-heartedly at George, and nodded. It still didn't feel right, going off to Auror training by himself, but there was nothing to be done now. He'd committed himself to this, and he couldn't back out. He would have to find a way to accept Harry's choices, and just hope that someday soon, Harry would at least drop him a line to say hello.

The train suddenly whistled.

'Oh! Ron, you have to go!'

'Yeah,' said Ron, and he suddenly began to panic.

He turned to Hermione and felt his heart squeeze. He wouldn't see her for two months. Auror trainees got very little time off during the boot camp phase of their training, and Hermione was already very busy with her Unspeakable research.

She bit her lip and her eyes shone with tears, and he crushed her in his arms.

'I love you,' he whispered into her hair. 'I'll miss you.'

'I love you, too,' she sniffed, clutching him tightly.

'All aboard!'

They broke apart.

'Write to me,' said Hermione, still holding onto his hands.

'Every day,' Ron promised.

She smiled at him, and he kissed her fervently, not caring that he was doing it in front of his family. They hadn't told anyone that, technically, they were engaged. It seemed important to them, somehow, to keep it to themselves for now. But it was the simple fact that Hermione had promised to be his wife someday that made his heart soar in spite of the ache inside.

The train began to move, and Ron had to go. He kissed Hermione one last time and jumped onto the train, waving to his family and his future wife as the train slowly began to gather speed. He bit his lip against a lump in his throat that Ginny wasn't there, waving at him, too, as she had all those years ago when she was just ten years old and he was going to Hogwarts the first time.

As the train began to leave the station, Ron kept his eyes on his family, all of them still waving at him, when a sudden movement caught his attention. Another figure was there, on the platform, standing some distance away from the Weasleys. A figure wearing a hooded sweatshirt and jeans. A young man with, as far as Ron could tell, light brown hair and otherwise non-descript features, but for his eyes, which were brilliant green.

Ron gasped, and the green-eyed boy grinned at him. The grin, those eyes…they were unmistakable behind the glamours that otherwise distorted his familiar features.

No way…it can't be…

The boy raised his hand in a quick wave, and Ron felt the lump in his throat pressing against his windpipe, but he felt himself wave back at the boy. His family and Hermione didn't see the boy—they thought Ron was waving at them. Ron was half-tempted to cry out the boy's name, but then the boy grinned at him one last time, and vanished into the crowd.

Ron blinked, and Harry Potter was gone. In the next moment, Ron remembered himself, and waved to Hermione and his family one last time before the train rounded the corner and the people he loved were gone from his sight.

Ron could hardly breathe. Harry had been there at the station. In disguise, without his glasses, but Ron was sure it had been Harry. Nobody had eyes like that, nobody grinned in quite that way…

Harry had come to see him off. Words couldn't describe the rush of happiness Ron felt. He had no idea when he'd see Harry again, but just seeing him for those few seconds…

In a happy daze, Ron headed towards his cabin.

When he turned and came face to face with Blaise Zabini.

'Hey,' said Ron, blinking and bringing himself back to reality. 'You made it.'

'Yeah, my N.E.W.Ts were pretty good, actually,' said Blaise. 'Yours, too, I gather.'

'Yeah, I scraped by,' said Ron, shrugging. Actually, he'd done quite well, but he wasn't one to talk about exams once they were over with. Ron then noticed that Blaise was standing in front of two people, a boy and girl. The girl had dark brown hair, pale skin and blue eyes, and was quite small; the boy had strawberry blond hair and more freckles than Ron, and merry hazel-green eyes.

'Hey,' said Ron. 'Er...'

'Oh,' said Blaise. 'This is Liam Donovan and Maureen Flynn. They're from the Kilcannon Institute.'

'Right,' said Ron, and he shook hands with the boy and the girl. 'Ron Weasley. Good to meet you.'

'Just the four of us for this trip, I guess,' said Liam. 'We're meeting the rest of them once we get to Italy.'

'I'm ruddy nervous,' said Maureen. 'Half the people who go into boot camp don't finish it.'

'We'll survive,' said Ron, with more confidence than he'd expected to feel. Perhaps seeing Harry—Ron was positive it had been Harry—was the cause.

'Oh,' said Blaise, and he handed Ron an envelope. 'I saw you putting stuff away in that one cabin, so the rest of us went in, but I found this on one of the seats.'

Ron took the envelope, and he felt his stomach swoop a second time when he saw the familiar scrawl on it, that said only his name.

'Thanks,' he said.

'You okay, Weasley?' said Blaise. 'You look like you've seen a ghost.'

Ron laughed nervously. 'Something like that,' he said. 'Er…listen…why don't you guys get settled. I'll…I'll join you in a bit.'

Blaise eyed Ron for a moment, and then the letter, but he shrugged and nodded to his two companions, and the three of them moved down the train to their cabin.

Ron stood there, frozen in place. His fingers trembled as he opened the letter.

Ron,

I know you probably weren't expecting to hear from me. To be honest, I wasn't expecting to write. I hope you're reading this, but maybe you got too hacked off with me for doing that runner without saying goodbye.

I know it was a selfish thing to do, mate, but I couldn't stay. I really couldn't. Those last few weeks of school I knew I couldn't stick around. Everything was so messed up and I just needed to get away from everything that reminded me of…everything.

You're probably wondering where the hell I've been for the last month. I didn't know where I was going that night I left; I hadn't made any plans except to leave, and to go to this Empath's house on August the first. It wasn't until I was heading further and further south that I knew: I wanted to go to Egypt.

Weird, huh? I mean, Egypt definitely reminded me of you, and of your family, and of Ginny. I went to every single tomb you guys visited, and hung around the markets, and went on this cruise down the Nile, and just stayed anonymous (by the way I've read the stuff in the Prophet. Marietta Edgecombe apparently still hates my guts). Egypt was incredible. Hot as hell and dusty and crowded, and everything about it reminded me of you and Ginny and your family. But for some reason it didn't hurt, thinking about you guys there. Maybe because that was when we were younger and stupid and innocent, or something, but I feel like I—don't kill me for saying something so corny—found a bit of myself in Egypt. I almost felt happy. I almost didn't leave.

I came back because I knew I'd have to face up to all the messes in my life sooner or later, and by facing them sooner, maybe I can fix them sooner. Maybe I can find Ginny again. And I remembered that today I would have been going to Auror training with you. Part of me still wishes I was going. It's weird, not hanging around you all the time and getting into trouble with you. But I'm on this path now, and it's not the same as yours, and I hope you understand. I figured if I couldn't go with you, the least I could do is see you off, and let you know that I was okay.

I am okay, Ron. Well, all right, I'm not really okay yet, but I will be. I think we all will be. Things won't be the same now we're out of school; we can't get back the things we lost, or the things that are behind us, but maybe we can all build a good future. That's what I'm trying to do, and I hope you understand why I had to do it this way.

Wow, this is a long letter; I don't think I even wrote this much for one of Snape's essays. Anyway, I just wanted you to know I'm all right, I'm not dead, and I'm going to Geneva, Switzerland. I'll probably be there for a while, and I don't know when I can write again, but I'll try.

Take care of yourself, mate, and of Hermione. Tell her I said hello, will you? I saw your family—that's brilliant about George, and Bill and Fleur. Let them know you heard from me and that I'm doing all right.

I miss you, Ron. You'll be a great Auror.

Harry

P.S. I know I can't contact Ginny, but I think about her every day. If you could just let me know how she's doing, from time to time…it would really help. You don't have to tell her about me; I don't want her to get upset or anything. But I think it would make things a bit easier for me to handle.

Ron re-read the letter three times, and it was only when he folded it that he realized tears were in his eyes. He read the post-script again. Yes, Ron decided, he would write to Harry and let him know how Ginny was doing. How everyone was doing.

'Tickets, please.'

He blinked and looked up to see a fat ticket collector standing in front of him. Ron reached in his jeans pocket, pulled out his ticket and handed it over.

'Round trip to Gay Paree,' the collector said dryly as he punched the ticket and handed it back to Ron. 'Have a lovely stay.'

Ron nodded and thanked the collector, and then looked at the letter from Harry again. He pursed his lips and let out a deep breath.

It had been Harry at the train station. Harry had come to see him off, and at some point, he'd left behind this letter. Ron felt a grin spread over his face. One day, he realized, he and Harry would look back on this day and share a good laugh.

One day, he and Harry would share a lot of laughs together.

Feeling suddenly buoyant, Ron headed back to the compartment he shared with his fellow Auror trainees. He came in smiling.

Blaise Zabini looked up at him suspiciously.

'What's with you?' he said.

'Nothing,' said Ron, sitting down. 'Just looking forward to getting to boot camp.'

Blaise shook his head. 'You're looking forward to two months of hell? You're a weird one, Weasley.'

Ron shrugged. 'Comes from hanging out with Harry Potter, I guess.'

'You know Harry Potter?' said Liam eagerly. 'No kidding.'

'They were best mates in school,' said Blaise.

'Are best mates,' Ron corrected.

'Where is Harry Potter?' Maureen asked. 'He seems to have dropped off the face of the earth.'

'Oh, he's around,' said Ron, grinning. 'By the way, Blaise, since we'll all be going through hell together, maybe we should be on a first name basis.'

Blaise eyed Ron for a moment, and then smiled. 'Okay, Ron.' Then Blaise held out his hand, and Ron shook it.

Both boys sat back, and Ron couldn't help but look out the window as the train sped out of London. Ron wasn't certain of too much, but he was certain of one thing: that things had worked out as they were supposed to, in spite of all the struggles and losses and pain. Out of those dark moments sprung a future full of bright possibilities, not only for Ron and Hermione but for two other people, a red-haired girl and a green-eyed boy who were far away, but inside Ron's heart.

Hedwig gave a soft hoot, and Ron looked up. The owl was regarding him with a gentle look in her eye, and Ron realized she would have seen her former master when he dropped off his letter.

Hedwig hooted again; it wasn't a joyous sound, so much as a warm, bittersweet one, a sound of heartache and yearning and hopefulness and happiness all at once. She fluttered her wings softly as Pigwidgeon nuzzled in closer to her.

'I know how you feel, girl,' Ron whispered. 'I know exactly how you feel.'

A/N: This is the end of the story, but for the epilogue. I hope everyone has enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. I can't believe I actually finished it, and now that I have, I feel the same kind of ache that Ron must feel for Harry: a hopeful but sad kind of feeling knowing that I've reached the end of something difficult and must move on to the next thing.

I couldn't have done this without the consistent support of my readers. Not everyone agreed with my choices, but that's okay. No story is so great that it doesn't deserve honest criticism, and I'm grateful to everyone who took the time to read and comment.

Of course, no author's note would be complete without a huge and heartfelt thanks to my betas, lina and Buckbeaky. Lina has beta'ed the bulk of this story, and Buckbeaky was "her second" while lina was away for the summer. The two of them have been awesome and inspiring, and I owe them tremendously for their support and assistance.

Ultimately, though, the biggest thanks must go to Joanne Kathleen Rowling, who has crafted such an exquisite universe and who has generously allowed her fans to play with her creation.