I'm soooooo sorry for not getting this one up sooner. My boyfriend was in the hospital and has just been let out so I've been kind of busy. I know the beginning was better than the last chapters but please read and review anyway; it's always good to know what I can do better the next time. Anyhow, here it is; the final chapter. :)

/Linda

Chapter 8

Head Auror Tonks sat at her desk when she heard someone shriek and then yell for her to come. She got up and moved to see what had happened, her ears leading her to the apparating room.

"Oh God!" Tonks exclaimed when she saw the people lying on the floor.

"Harry! Hermione, are you alright? Oh, Mr. Goodwill! Quick, we need a healer in here!" Everything happened so fast neither Harry nor Hermione could register exactly what was going on. Tonks was running between Mr. Goodwill and Mr. Leroux, trying to find out what had happened. Harry got up, helped Hermione to her feet, and silently slipped out of the buzzing room. Leading Hermione to his own office, Harry took her hands and looked her in the eyes.

"Are you ok?" Hermione nodded slowly but Harry could see that she was holding things back. If it was because of him he wasn't sure. Either way he had some things he needed to make clear to her, and those things simply couldn't wait.

"Hermione, I want you to know that everything I've said and done during this operation was real. I couldn't have told anyone I love them without actually mean it. I really do love you; I'm IN LOVE with you. Please tell me you feel the same way." Hermione looked at him and couldn't hold her tears back any longer. Taking this as a sign of rejection, Harry felt his shoulders slump and he let his tears fall freely as he looked down at his feet, feeling like his heart had just been crushed. Suddenly he felt Hermione's hand on his shoulder and when he raised his eyes again he saw her smile. 'How can she smile in a moment like this?'

"I really do love you too Harry, please never doubt that. I would do anything for you. It's like we're made for each other." Harry's brains were having a hard time processing this information, but when they did he grinned like never before. Feeling mischievous he leaned forward towards her lips, but stopped when he was a few inches from her.

"Does that mean I get to do this every day?" He kissed her passionately and agonizingly slow, wanting to savour each sensation that the kiss offered. Leaning back, he looked at her before whispering huskily in her ear.

"And does it mean that I can make love to you every night?" Hermione moaned, her eyes closed and her body completely attuned to Harry's.

"I'm all yours Harry; mind, body and soul," Hermione whispered, her head spinning and thousands of emotions running through her body.

Harry stepped back and took Hermione's hand, only to remove the engagement ring on her finger. A shade of sadness passed over her eyes but she quickly hid it again, realizing that the ring was paid for by the ministry and they would want it back. When Harry motioned for her to sit down in his chair she became puzzled, wondering what he had up his sleeve this time.

"Hermione, I love you more than anything in the world. You are the light in my life and I don't know what I would do without you." He got down on one knee in front of her, causing Hermione's eyes fill with tears as she realized what he was up to.

"Will you marry me?" Hermione smiled at Harry, her tears once again running down her cheeks.

"It's for real this time, right?" Grinning, Harry nodded.

"Of course I will marry you Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, throwing her arms around Harry's neck. She had never felt this happy before and was absolutely sure that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with her one true love.

Back in the apparating room Tonks finally managed to get everything under control and went looking for her two aurors. Realizing that they were probably hiding in Harry's office she headed in that direction. She knocked at the door carefully, not wanting to disturb the couple in case they needed some privacy. Harry opened with an ear to ear grin plastered on his face.

"Do you have a moment Harry? Is Hermione in there with you?" Hermione popped her head up behind Harry's shoulder, sporting a grin matching his. Tonks was slightly intrigued to know what they were so happy about, but decided to leave it for the moment. They went to her office and she closed the door after them.

"I take it there will be a report with all that's happened on my desk in one week?" Tonks asked her aurors, who nodded politely but seemed more than a little distracted.

"You are allowed to go back to Rarotonga for a day to get your things and to sign out of the hotel." Tonks glanced at Hermione's hand, seeing the beautiful engagement ring still on her finger.

"The engagement ring is a loan from a jeweller in London and must be returned to him as soon as possible..."

"What if I want to buy it?" Harry cut her off while smiling at a beaming Hermione. Tonks lifted her eyebrow at his question and smiled at them, realizing what had happened between them.

"Is there anything you want to tell me Harry? Hermione?" The couple looked at each other and Hermione nodded, silently telling Harry to continue.

"Well, our feelings towards each other have changed slightly," he told his boss.

"I have no idea of what you speak, care to elaborate?" Harry knew Tonks were teasing him but didn't feel like this was the moment to play games. Swallowing the nervousness down he prepared himself to tell the first person ever about him and Hermione.

"I know what you must think with all that's happened and I can tell you your suspicions are true. We're engaged." Hermione smiled at Harry while blushing a little. Tonks sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.

"I'm sorry. I'm just so happy that you finally decided to tell each other how you felt. This is lovely! When is the big day?" Tonks couldn't hide her excitement anymore, wanting to know everything at once.

"We haven't decided yet but we promise to invite you and Remus when the time comes," Harry said, making Tonks sniff again.

"Anything I can do for you in the mean time?" she asked the obviously happy couple, hoping that the ever so modest Harry would finally require something.

"Actually yes, there is something you can help me with. Would it be possible to book our bungalow at the hotel for another week and for us to take a vacation? I'd really appreciate it."

"Of course Harry! We don't have anything special going on right now that requires your immediate attention. It's quite alright for you to take a break. Will a month do?" Both Harry and Hermione looked surprised at the length of the vacation they were offered but quickly nodded in approval, not letting this chance slip through their fingers.

Said and done, Harry and Hermione found themselves in the bungalow in the afternoon the same day, enjoying every minute of their vacation. Later in the week they went diving and had fun during other activities as well. In the nights they made sweet love to each other as a real couple.

Epilogue

Hermione moved her stuff into Harry's apartment soon after they had come back from their vacation, making both hers and Harry's life richer. At work they still were as professional as ever but at home their feelings couldn't be held at bay, love radiating from them every minute of their time together.

Two months later Hermione found out that she was pregnant and both she and Harry were as happy as ever about the news. The baby was a girl and they named her Sarah.

The wedding couldn't have been more beautiful, and it was set in white and light blue colours. Huge was a good word to describe the ceremony, everybody was there. Hermione looked beautiful in a plain muggle wedding dress, with small blue flowers at the bottom of it, and Harry wore a muggle suit, looking as handsome as ever. A small bulge was visible on Hermione's stomach, their second child growing inside. It was thoroughly a perfect day and the happy couple travelled to Rarotonga later that night for their honeymoon.

As the apartment was soon too small for their expanding family they decided to buy a house on the English countryside where they could live away from prying eyes and let the children grow up in a normal family, and that was where they continued to live happily ever after.

THE END