Fireworks

A/N: Hello everybody! This is the last chapter of St. Valentine's Day. This chapter takes place after the Final Battle.

Disclaimer: Do I really need to say that I do not own anything but the plot at this point?

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Screams, anguished cries, death, death... Harry closed his eyes as he ducked a Stunning spell and threw one in return. The last Horcrux was nearly in his reach; he only had to get Ron and Hermione out of the way. He had struggled for a whole year to have Voldemort right where he wanted him... The Prophecy was about to be fulfilled. Either him or Voldemort... Or both. This was it.

"Harry, look out!" Ron's scream broke his train of thought. Before he could do anything Ron pushed him out of the way. "Protego!" Ron exclaimed. Harry quickly got to his feet and helped Ron get up too. Hermione limped to where her best friends were standing, clutching her side, which was bleeding. But Harry didn't have time to worry about that-

"Well, well, well... If it isn't the famous, golden trio." Voldemort's cold voice ran over the place. The three friends stood, transfixed, staring back at the 'man' who had hunted Harry for nearly eight years. Hermione gripped Harry's arm tightly.

"Leave them alone, Voldemort. This is between you and me." Harry suddenly spoke, taking a step forward, blocking his friends. His enemy laughed.

"It has always been that way, Potter. Only that people didn't seem to... eh... Understand the concept." He replied. Harry gritted his teeth at this, knowing that Voldemort was making fun of Sirius, and Dumbledore, and his parents... Before Harry turned around to them Ron frowned.

"We aren't leaving, Harry," He said in a low voice. Hermione, though terrified, nodded.

"Not now, not never," She agreed. Harry didn't even try to persuade them; he knew perfectly well they wouldn't bulge. It would only make him lose time that he didn't have.

"Oh, how sweet! Two unnecessary deaths there will be now, Harry Potter... I think I will start with the mudblood..." Voldemort said. "Crucio!" He exclaimed. Harry immediately shouted back the shielding incantation and blocked the curse, action which apparently amused Voldemort.

"Sectumsempra!" Harry shouted in return. Voldemort laughed once again as he repelled the incantation. Voldemort then opted for Ron...

"Avada Kedavra!"

"NO! RON, DUCK!" Hermione yelled as she tackled Ron to the ground... Voldemort laughed as Harry let out a scream of horror very much like the one when Snape killed Dumbledore...

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The night sky was full of stars, but chilly. Harry put his arms around himself and looked down from the Astronomy Tower. He rubbed his face with his hands sadly. It had been a week since he had finally killed Voldemort and the celebrations had yet to stop. But he didn't want to be in any celebration or party or whatever. He leaned against the cold wall and looked down at the ground, once again seeing Dumbledore's body on the ground, broken... Harry shook his head and closed his eyes at this. "Stop... Not again..." When he opened his eyes, there was nothing there.

A breeze made Hermione's hair fly backwards as she walked towards Harry, who was alone, leaning against the balcony, staring at the grounds with a lost look. Hermione smiled as Harry turned and smiled back at her. There was a strange sadness to his emerald eyes... Hermione walked over to him and pressed her body against his, resting her chin on her hand, not knowing what to say. Harry, also wordlessly, resumed his staring.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked in the end. Harry shrugged.

"What could be wrong?" He retorted in a low voice. Hermione raised her eyebrows sadly and touched his shoulder; Harry tensed up immediately.

"Harry..." Hermione trailed off. He stepped away from her, crossing his arms and looking down.

"No, Hermione. Don't even try." His harsh tone made Hermione frown.

"Yes, Harry. Don't give me that... I've known you for over seven years," She told him just as harshly. Harry looked up and narrowed his eyes at her, furious that she should know him so well.

"Well Hermione, what do you want me to do? Hug you or just congratulate you for that?" He asked sarcastically. Hermione was hurt at his words, but she knew that Harry was like that. She just had to be strong. She crossed her arms.

"Just tell me what's wrong with you," she calmly told him. Harry glared at her.

"Nothing's wrong with me! What could be? Voldemort's finally gone and the wizarding world is fine! I have fulfilled my life purpose!" Harry exclaimed, starting to grin almost madly. Hermione widened her eyes and frowned at the same time at his attitude.

"Harry—," She stepped closer. Harry stepped away from her again as he let out a scary and false laugh, almost hysterical.

"Aren't you happy too?!" Harry asked her in an overly cheerful manner. Hermione clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth, starting to get scared.

"Harry!" She exclaimed with fright at his manic laugh. "Harry... HARRY!" Hermione ended up shouting. Harry stopped laughing immediately and gave up all pretence, glancing at her with the saddest and most desperate look Hermione had ever seen in his eyes. They stared in silence at each other for a while. In the end Harry broke eye contact and looked up at the starry sky without moving.

"I'm tired, Hermione," he finally whispered to the air, as if he didn't know she was still standing there. "I'm tired in both body and soul," he added. Hermione bit her lower lip and tried not to cry... Harry looked at her again. "So much death. All of that poor people's innocence... Those deaths were my fault. Mine, because I wasn't smart or quick enough," Harry told her in a hollow voice. "How much... difference... did it make?" Not only his voice broke at this; this time Harry crumbled down completely. He slid down to the hard stone floor and hid his face with his knees, his hands on his hair. Hermione's lower lip trembled; she couldn't bear seeing her Harry in so much pain. She sat down next to him and put her arms around him.

"Listen to me, listen to me closely," Hermione started. Harry didn't look at her, but she knew he was listening. "Yes, we were naïve as you say- All of our innocence was thrown away, and we had to grow in order to defeat. That was bound to happen. But what did you want us to believe in, Harry? The Ministry of Magic? We didn't have anyone besides you, Dumbledore and all those kind of people. I know that you think that ours was a stupid innocence, I'm not denying that," Hermione said. Harry frowned, still staring at the floor.

"I don't mean 'stupid' in an insulting way—,"

"No, you mean it in a pitiful way. I know." Hermione cut him off. He allowed a small smile that quickly vanished from his face. Hermione's brow furrowed and she stood up; leaning against the wall like Harry had done earlier. Silence. "How much difference did it make, Harry? How can you say that?" Hermione suddenly spoke. "You saved all the world's innocence; you... You got rid of Voldemort, Harry! I don't know how to put down in words the magnitude of what you have done. I know that it's the last thing that you want to hear, but it's true," Hermione told him softly, sitting down next to him again. Harry shook his head and slowly glanced up at Hermione.

"Yes, I defeated him... But I killed my best friend," Harry whispered in a hoarse voice. Hermione stared at him, shocked. She had never seen Harry cry, not even in the battle when Ron was murdered. Hermione did the only thing that she could do at the moment: Hug him. What can you say in these situations? You can't say anything. Sometimes actions speak louder than words, don't they?

Harry hugged her back tightly, shaking from soundless sobs. Hermione felt a rush of anger at the Dursleys for Harry's silent crying –she supposed he had gotten used to not making a single sound since he was little... She closed her teary eyes and rested her head on Harry's trembling but warm shoulder, letting Harry release all the hurt and pain he had been bottling up for the last seven years. After a while Harry calmed down and, at last, the only sound that could be heard was his slowing breath. Harry broke the hug and cleaned away his tears, blushing.

"I'm sorry," he muttered, embarrassed. Why had he lost control like that? What would Hermione be thinking of him? He looked away quickly, avoiding Hermione's piercing gaze.

"No, Harry, there's nothing to be ashamed of," Hermione replied. Harry nodded, his face impassive. Hermione sighed and forced him to look at her, mustering courage. "Ron's... His... His death wasn't your fault, Harry," Hermione told him slowly, a knot forming in her throat. Harry's lips tensed and he went pale.

"Yes it was. It was because of me... You were there. You could've died too, Hermione, and it would've been my fault!" Harry exclaimed in anger. Hermione looked at him sadly.

"But I didn't die, because you helped me... We decided to stay with you," she told him gently, smiling lovingly at him, but then turning serious again. "Harry, you didn't kill them. You didn't point your wand at those people and cast the Kedavra curse or any of the sorts. You tried to help them, and you did. You helped them and honored their memories forever when you defeated Voldemort. Especially Ron's memory." Hermione told him, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. Harry smiled and looked at Hermione with something words would never be able to describe.

Hermione warmly smiled back at him and reached out to grab Harry's hand, squeezing it. Harry squeezed it in return and widened his eyes when he looked at their joined hands. "You still have the ring I gave you," he said, amazed. Hermione raised her eyebrows.

"Of course I have it, Harry!" Hermione replied. Harry grinned and looked up at her expectantly.

"Will you still marry me someday?" He asked her shyly. Hermione smile widened.

"Obviously, silly! Why wouldn't I?" She wanted to know. Harry shrugged.

"Well, you know- When I gave it to you... Er... Well, I didn't believe I would survive the battle and—," Harry explained uncomfortably. Hermione put her index fingers on his lips to silence him.

"Don't talk about that." Hermione cut him off. Harry smiled.

"'Ve 'u," Harry's voice was muffled. Hermione laughed and removed her finger off his mouth.

"Sorry?"

"That I love you," Harry stated. Hermione melted down as she giggled and hugged Harry again, kissing him passionately.

BOOM!

Harry and Hermione both jumped out of their skins and looked around wildly, startled. "What was that?!" Harry wanted to know. Hermione gasped and pointed at the night sky.

"Harry, look! Fireworks!" She exclaimed. Thousand of sparkling lights danced under the stars, illuminating the earth below them. Harry goggled at them.

"Wow," he got out. Hermione grinned at him.

"Had you never seen fireworks before?" She questioned. Harry shook his head no.

"Nope," he responded with a look that plainly said 'cupboard under the stairs'. Comprehension dawned Hermione's face.

"Oh. Sorry," She apologized. Harry waved his hand as if he was scaring a fly off.

"Ah, never mind them." He said. Harry stood up quickly and helped Hermione do so.

"Are we going somewhere?" She asked. Harry nodded.

"Yeah love, we are. I want to see those," he said, pointing at the fireworks, "up close. And, why not, we can announce the engagement, can we?" Harry suggested with glee.

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A/N: Well! It is finally done! I'm so happy! And I hope that you'll like it, too! After reading the infamous interview Rowling gave the guys of mugglenet I've decided now more than ever to continue with H/Hr forever... I love them together and nothing will change that. So guys... You know what to do know... R&R!!