It's Over… Isn't It?

"So let me get this straight. Hermione, of all people, knew a spell of the top of her head to conjure a condom?"

Ron blushed. "Look, just shut up, I shouldn't have told you anyway."

Harry grinned maliciously. "No. No you shouldn't have."

He sat there smiling like a maniac for a moment, then seemed to come to his senses. "Now then, what are you going to do when she leaves?"

Ron sighed sadly and flopped backward onto his pillow. "You just had to bring that one up, didn't you?"

"Hey come on Ron, you had to figure it out sooner or later. You can't avoid this forever."

"Yeah, I know, but surely you can understand that this is really painful for me?"
"Ron, it hurts for me too! Just because you're the one in love with her does not mean, under ANY circumstances, that you are the only person who cares about her. She's my best friend, remember?"

"Yeah I'm sorry, that just kinda came out wrong," Ron apologised. He sighed again. "I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do. I mean, I can't just move on and forget about her, but if I linger on it for ages, I'm just going to get myself depressed about it."

"And I'm not asking you to just move on either, because I won't be able to forget her either. But you're right. Don't linger on it, because yes, you will get down on yourself about it."

"So what CAN I do?" Ron asked despairingly.

Harry looked at him. "You'll just have to use the memories of her, of you together, to make you happy. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened."

Thursday came. Hermione took as long as she could to brush her hair, in the hope that it would all turn out to be a dream. Eventually she abandoned that hope, and dragged herself downstairs to the common room. Harry and Ron were there waiting for her, and as she slowly descended, she wished more than ever that this wasn't happening. Ron looked up at her with tears streaming down his cheeks. Harry looked completely emotionless, but she knew him well enough to know that it was when he put that wall up that he was feeling pain beyond belief. She couldn't stand that look, it made her heart bleed eternally inside when she saw it. She couldn't take it anymore. She dropped her bag and ran to them, threw herself at Harry, held onto him as tight as she could.

"I don't want to go," she whispered tearfully into his shoulder. "I don't want to…"

"We know. We don't want you to either, Hermione. We love you…" he replied shakily.

She felt him withdraw slightly. She looked at him, saw he was looking towards the door, and followed his gaze. Her parents were standing in the doorway, watching her. Beside them stood Albus Dumbledore.

Harry let go of her and headed over to them, nudging her towards Ron on the way past. She looked at Ron and wished she could die. Surely that would hurt him less than this. Instead she fell into his arms, trying to hold back the tears that to her felt like blood, flowing straight from her breaking heart.

"I'll never forget you…" whispered Ron as he held her for the last time.

She pulled her head back so that she could look at him. "I will never forget you either. I promise. And you know that I keep my promises."

"Hermione, nobody can trick a memory wipe. It's just not-"

She cut him off. "I ALWAYS keep my promises Ron. I'll find a way."

He looked deep into her eyes. "I wish this wasn't happening. I love you too much, I can't let you go."

"I know, Ron. And I'm sorry…"

He leaned in and kissed her for the last time. The last time that he would get to hold her in his arms and brush those sweet, red lips…

Hermione let him come. Only once more could she watch the adoration in his eyes as he leaned in to her. Only once more would she melt in his arms as his hands caressed her skin. Only once…

It was the most passionate kiss he'd ever given. He put every bit of his love into it, poured his all into the softness with which his lips touched hers. He couldn't believe it was happening. The first time he'd kissed her, she slapped him. Now here they were, kissing for the last time that they would ever see each other. A tear slipped down his cheek, and trickled down to where his lips met Hermione's. It sat there on her tongue, and as she felt it touch, she knew somehow… this was not the end.

They finally pulled apart, and hand in hand they made their way over to where Harry stood with their Headmaster and Hermione's parents.

"Are you ready?" asked her mother briskly.

Hermione turned and gave one last hug to Harry. He gave her a reassuring look as though to say that she would be ok, and she half-smiled back. She turned back to her parents, and her mother led her from the room.

Harry watched her go, and for once he let down his wall and showed his emotion. Tears brimmed in his eyes. As Mr. Granger turned to go, Harry caught his arm.

"You have an amazing daughter, sir. Take care of her…"

Mr. Granger nodded briefly, and walked from the room.

llllllllllllllllllll

Hermione stared out the window of the office, where a Ministry wizard stood ready to modify her memory. She barely knew what was happening as she sat in a chair by the window, and the Ministry wizard came up to her. She barely heard him saying what it would or wouldn't feel like. She just sat wishing she was back with Ron, watching him and Harry play Quidditch, or sneaking around under the Invisibility Cloak.

Finally, the wizard said, "It is time, Miss Granger."

She looked at him sadly, and as he began to speak the incantation, she could have sworn that she saw a tear in his eye. Then she didn't even know who he was.

It had been done.

As she left the building with her parents, she detected a taste in her mouth that she couldn't quite place. Then she saw a face in her mind, a red-headed boy of her own age. He looked familiar…

Then everything came back. The boy was Ron, and the taste was that of the single tear that had rolled down Ron's cheek as they had kissed. The passion of their final kiss had defeated the power of the Memory Charm. She was a witch, and just like she'd promised Ron, she would still remember him, and everything else about Hogwarts. She got into the car and sat in the back, looking out the window with a smile.

What did I tell you Ron? I told you I'd find a way to beat it. But really it was you who gave me strength. I'll come back some day, and then everything will be right again.

I can love you again…

A/N: Well everyone, that's the end of the story. Or is it? Watch out for my sequel that will come out at some stage. Thank you ALL SOOOOOOO much for sticking around and giving your support. If you get the chance PLEASE read my other stories. Thanks. See you all soon!

Special thanx go to:

SballLuvr5

Mz Hellfire

Missing Fairy

Riot Gal

Drowning-in-a-dream

HermioneRocks2003

And lastly (but not least)

JustKiddin111 (if ur still alive out there. Talk to me!)