"Hermione, wait," he said as he ran after her. She stopped and leaned against the sink. "Hermione, you can't deny it. We love each other. Nothing except true love could get through what we've gone through. Please come home with me."

"What the hell are you doing to me, Harry?! You couldn't have done this after graduation when I did love you? When I was willing to marry you? But now I've found someone. I'm happy. I can't just leave! What the hell?" she screamed. "What the hell?" she repeated under her breath, mostly to herself.

"But why can't you leave? What's keeping you here? Lionel? He doesn't love you. I love you. And you love me! I'm sorry I couldn't realize this sooner, but how was I supposed to know you were in love with me? You never told me. But I love you now. And I'll always love you. Unlike this joke of a man you call a boyfriend." He walked over to her and stared her down. "Please?" he whispered.

"Damn you, Harry Potter. You and those big green eyes," she said with a smile as she reached up for a kiss. After they were through cough "rekindling" their passion, they decided it would be best to leave while Lionel was still gone. Hermione hurried to get a pen and paper to start drafting Dear John letters while Harry started packing her things. They were both so absorbed in their tasks and in their excitement they didn't hear the door open.

A drunken Lionel swaggered into the kitchen where Hermione was working. She startled and jumped up. "Oh, Lionel. You're home early," she said nervously.

"Yeah, well, I have to keep an eye on my woman, especially since she has her boyfriend staying with us," he said with a slur.

"Yes, Lionel. Well, I have some bad news. I'm afraid it's over. I'm going home with Harry. I'm sorry, Lionel. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, my ass! You're not going anywhere! Get over here you little slut! I'll teach you to leave Lionel Richardson!" he shouted as he stumbled towards her.

"Lionel, don't you dare touch me! Harry!!" she screamed.

In the next room, Harry was yanked from his romantic reverie by his "damsel in distress". His heart began to race and he pulled his wand out of his pocket as he sprinted to the kitchen. He saw a cowering Hermione in the corner with Lionel's hand raised. His fury paired with his amazing wizarding abilities did the job without an incantation. Harry aimed and fired, taking Lionel out cold. He ran to Hermione, checking her all over to make sure she was okay.

"Did he touch you?" he asked quickly.

"No, no. He didn't hit me," she replied, shaken.

"We're leaving. Now," he said sternly, helping her up. "Get only what you absolutely need. I can buy anything else you leave behind. Quick. I don't know what I did to him, but if he wakes up when we're still here things could get a lot worse for him," he said darkly. He kissed her again and went to get his things.

They met moments later in the living room, Hermione laden with just a duffel bag and her coat.

"Okay, here's the plan," he said. "We go to the American Ministry and ask them for some International Apparition Passes. They're sure to give them to us. I've done it before in Germany and Spain. Then once we get to London, we forgot all about this. And we never speak of Lionel again, agreed?"

"Absolutely. Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry," she said as she hugged him and began to cry. "I can't believe I didn't listen to you. How can you ever—"

"Not now, Hermione. Trust me, I forgive you. It's fine. But we have to get out of here," he said as he glanced over his shoulder at the kitchen door. He gave her a confident smile and another quick kiss as they hurried out the door.

Harry held Hermione on the cab ride to the Ministry. With her head on his chest, she could hear his heart beating. It was a most irregular heartbeat. It would speed up and begin to race. And she would wonder what was wrong. But then she would hear it slow back down and he would give her a squeeze. She reached up to caress his cheek to calm him down. She didn't want him to worry about anything. It was okay now.

The Ministry was just as easy as Harry said it would be. With a flash of smile and a few subtle hints at the final battle, they had the Passes in no time. Harry knew he would pay for this in tabloids later, but he didn't care. Hermione was coming home. For good. They would get married and Ron would be his best man and Hermione would walk down the aisle in a beautiful white gown and they would buy a cottage and have little Harry's and Hermione's running around, learning to play wizard's chess, going to Hogwarts. He chuckled at himself when he realized how sappy he was becoming. All because of this little witch next to him. But then with a pop she was gone. He started at first, because it had caught him off guard, but once he came to his senses he quickly followed Hermione to his old apartment.

He apparated to see a wide-eyed Hermione walking slowly around the apartment, looking at all the pictures, tracing the edges of some with her index finger, and smiling to herself. He watched her for a few minutes, beaming on the inside. This is all he wanted the past years. He finally had her home. She was his.

She had stopped in front of a picture of Harry and herself just after their graduation. Harry had her cradled in his arms like honeymooners, she was waving her diploma about, and they were both grinning like idiots. And every few shouts and waves, Harry would give her a big wet smack on the cheek. He crept up behind her and slid his arms about her. They stood there staring at the picture for a long time.

"So you knew you loved me, clear back then?" he whispered.

"Of course. But then I gave up. It was too hard waiting. You know how impatient I am. I'm so sorry."

"No, 'Mione. I'm sorry. It took me so long to come to my senses. But all is forgiven now?"

"Absolutely," she smirked as the turned around and they (once again) began smooching it up.

They had made their way to the couch, but were too tired to keep going. The night had been a crazy one. They popped on the TV and fell asleep to the sounds of the BBC2.