Final chapter

Harry and Bill's family arrived at the Burrow that evening just before dinner.

Mrs. Weasley like before pulled him into a rib-cracking hug. "Oh Harry, it's so lovely to finally get to see you. Arthur and I have been missing you a lot lately. We wonder when you'll come by our house and visit us," she said. She then held Harry at arm's length and began examining him critically. "You looked handsome."

Harry smiled widely at the woman he fond most of all. "I missed both of you too, Mrs. Weasley. My apology for not coming back for a very long time. I got caught with a lot of things."

Mrs. Weasley however waved off Harry's apology. "Oh dearie, we know you were having the best time of your life. What important is that you are all right. We are glad that you're able to make it here for Ron's wedding."

Harry could help but notice the resentment in Mrs. Weasley's voice when she uttered those last two words.

After several greetings later with Mr. Weasley, Percy, Charlie, George, Angelina Johnson who was George's fiancé, and Ginny, Mrs. Weasley ushered them all to the front lawn where the table had been set for the dinner.

"Where's Ron?" asked Harry to Mrs. Weasley.

"He's at the bride's house. Said he has things to do. He'll be back tonight," Mrs. Weasley replied.

Harry felt it was best not to mention Hermione's name, at least for the moment. Still, he kept on having that nagging feeling that something had gone missing. Something that people tended to overlook but were actually dear to them. In this case, it was Hermione.

Except during his second year, Hermione had always been there with him at the Burrow. Together, they both would try to enjoy their remaining summer holiday as much as possible at the Burrow before departing for Hogwarts. She had always been part of the components that make up the trio.

It felt strange not to see her there sitting at the table and enjoying her meal with him.

For the last few years, he had been eating foreign food. The Bahamas wasn't short of variety when it comes to cuisines. One could find literally everything there. None however could live up to Mrs. Weasley's cooking, at least in his opinion. The table groaned under dishes and dishes of Mrs. Weasley's excellent cooking. Together, the ten of them settled down to eat underneath a clear, deep-blue sky.

For someone who had to survive on self-cook meals and cafe food for the last five years, this was paradise. He just wanted to sit silently throughout dinner and enjoy the food. Of course, that wasn't possible. His host who was keen on hearing Harry's exploits during the last few years pulled him into conversations with them. He didn't mind at all, however. It had been a while since the last time they exchanged news and swapped stories. George just proposed to Angelina two months ago. They were now living together at George's flat above Weasleys' Wizard Wheeze at Diagon Alley. They had yet to decide on when to hold the wedding though. Percy meanwhile confessed to Harry that he was now single. He broke up with Penelope Clearwater about two years ago. George whispered to Harry that Percy was busy courting a girl named Audrey Astley.

"We'll see how it goes. Word has it she's not really warming up to him. She even called him a git once," he muttered, sniggering.

"What about you, Charlie? Found someone you want to spend the rest of your life with?" asked Harry.

Charlie was helping himself to a slice of chicken and ham pie. He shook his head and said, "Got no time for girls, Harry."

"Really? You can't spare even a minute to find one? I'm sure Romania has no shortage of pretty girls to choose from," said Harry. "You'll find one... if you want to find one that is."

Charlie shook his head and chuckled. "No one wants to date a dragon keeper, Harry."

"That's what you've been telling us," said Mrs. Weasley curtly. "You're thirty-one years old now, dearie. You should at least have someone to love by now. Look at your brothers."

"Mum, please, don't start."

"I just don't want to see you die alone."

Charlie rolled his eyes. "Dragon keepers' funerals are among the wildest ones, mum. Remember when I told you about Boian Damaschin's funeral? It was like a fiesta. Don't worry about it. I won't die alone."

Mrs. Weasley just shook her head.


Harry was having conversations with the Weasleys' males inside the living room when Ron returned. They both hugged for a really long time.

"So, Lavender Brown, eh?" said Harry.

He and Ron sat on the porch later that night. George and Angelina left for Diagon Alley an hour prior. Bill and Fleur left five minutes later. Of course, as always, Fleur would kiss Harry on both his cheek before she left. Harry felt somewhat embarrassed when she did that in front of Bill. Luckily, Bill was cool about it. Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley meanwhile had gone to bed.

"Yeah," said Ron as he took a sip out of his mug.

"What gives? I thought you hated Lavender," asked Harry. "I remember you complaining to me about how clingy she was and everything, and that you like Hermione more."

Ron sighed. He took another sip and said, "Circumstances changed somewhat, Harry."

"Regale me."

"Well, you know I always hang out at the Wizard Wheezes every day after work and weekends. That's where I met Lavender. She happens to work at a nearby shop at Diagon Alley. I didn't entertain her at first you know, but she was very persistent. Every time she sees me at the shop, she would invite me for a coffee or something. I refused you know but as I said, she was persistent. I caved in at one point and agreed to a cup of coffee. I mean, she's a friend after all. That's when it all started. That's when I saw a different side of her, Harry. She was like mum you know, very accommodating. I j-just... fell for her, you know. Once again," Ron confessed.

Ron didn't dare to look at Harry when he was speaking. Harry had a hunch that he felt somewhat guilty.

"How did Hermione find out that you're dating Lavender?" asked Harry.

"It was a few days before Christmas, Harry. She promised me that she would meet me at the Burrow. She wanted to celebrate Christmas with me before heading to Australia. But instead of going to the Burrow once she arrived in London from Hogwarts, she went straight to Diagon Alley. I think she wanted to surprise me. She saw me and Lavender at the coffee shop and she saw me kissing Lavender. She left without a word after that," said Ron.

"I see."

"It was one of the worst days in my entire life, you know. I opened up my eyes and there she was, standing right behind Lavender. I froze. You should have seen her face. Ginny was there too. She slapped me and left immediately after Hermione. She refused to talk to me until this day," said Ron.

Harry leaned back against his chair and sighed. He closed his eyes, pinched his nose bridge, and said, "That's kinda messed up, Ron." Opening up his eyes, he continued, "People break up all the time but Hermione is our dear friend. Are you sure that's the only thing that happened? I feel there's more to the story than what you told me."

Ron however went silent. Like before, he didn't dare to look at Harry.

"Did you know what she did after that?"

Ron solemnly nodded.

Harry shook his head. "I'm not mad. I'm just... disappointed. Ginny and I broke up and yet we still talk. We still hugged each other whenever we meet. Hermione left us and completely broke her ties with the magical world. That's a complete messed up."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to."

Ron once again went silent.

"I'm staying for the wedding. Then I'm heading out to look for her. Do you know where she is at the moment?" asked Harry.

Ron shook his head.

"Alright, fine. I'll ask someone else. She better be all right, Ron. I'm not going to forgive you if she ended up otherwise."


Ron and Lavender's wedding reminded him of Bill and Fleur's wedding except that It was held in the morning instead of the afternoon. Very few of their school friends came to attend. Ginny told him that all ex-Hogwarts females boycotted the wedding after hearing what happened to Hermione. The teachers were attending though and Harry greeted all of them.

"Ron invited them all but they told me they won't come," said Ginny. She sighed. "This is embarrassing."

"Not only the females. I see Angelina but that's probably because she's dating George," said Harry, looking around. He, Ginny, and Dean were sitting at the same table as they watched the wedding progresses. "The only boy from our year that I see is you, Dean. Even Neville is absent."

"Neville told me he wouldn't attend. Like everyone else, he was livid when he heard what happened. You know how Hermione never fail to help him whenever he's in a tight spot back then. You should have seen Seamus, Harry. He swore he will curse Ron's bit off him if he ever sees him," said Dean.

"Now I wish Seamus sees him," said Ginny. "Gosh, I sure wish my wedding won't end up like this."

"Don't worry, Ginny. It won't. All of our friends know what you're like. They'll come when it happens," Harry assured her. "Just don't forget to invite me."

Harry got the chance to dance with Gabrielle during the wedding. At eighteen years old, the youngest Delacour was just as gorgeous as her sister. As a matter of fact, she looked quite a bit like Fleur when she first came to Hogwarts for the Triwizard Tournament. There was no exchange of words between them, however. Unlike her sister, Gabrielle spoke very little English and Harry knew very little French, except maybe the word 'croissant' which he was told he pronounced wrongly. She had to use rudimentary sign language when she invited him for a dance. She gave him her address and her phone number (apparently the Delacours have a landline installed in their home) after the dance though. Harry wondered how useful that would be given none of them understood each other. Then again, she danced only with him throughout the wedding so perhaps he should at least make an effort to contact her after the wedding was over.

If he got the time that is.

The ceremony ended an hour before three. The Delacours took their leave later that day. They would be spending the night at Shell Cottage before going back to France.

Harry helped the Weasleys cleaning up. It was a small wedding though so they finished just before dusk settled. Harry spent the rest of the evening relaxing and chatting with the Weasleys. He stayed at the Burrow for the next three days.

Ron and Lavender left for their honeymoon the day after the wedding. Charlie went back to Romania two days later. And Harry took leave on the fourth day. His first destination was London.

He spent the next few days searching for Hermione. He contacted single people he knew of but none of them knew where Hermione is. He even went to the Ministry but the officers told him that they no longer keep a tab on her since she had given up her right to use magic.

"I haven't seen her for the last few years, Harry. I too am curious about her," said Neville. Harry was visiting him at his London flat one afternoon. Neville at that time had given up his position as an Auror at the Ministry. He would be joining Hogwarts ranks in a few days. Professor Sprout retired a few weeks before. He was contacted by Professor McGonagall to fill in the vacancy in which he accepted. "Send my regards to her when you found her, will you?" Neville added.

"Hermione went to Australia after that incident with Ron," said Ginny. She was contacting Harry to seek an update on his search. "From what I know, her parents still live there. Perhaps Australia is where you should go next," she suggested.

And that was what he did. He flew to Australia the next day, the muggle way of course.


Alice Springs was where Hermione's parents' home was. They didn't go back to the United Kingdom even after their memories were restored. They ended up liking Alice Springs, for real this time and decided to make the quaint Australian town their permanent home.

Hermione had indeed returned to Australia. She wasn't home when he paid them a visit, however. Her parents of course remembered him. He was there when Hermione restored their memories. They asked him about Ron. He simply told them that Ron wasn't able to make it there.

Mr. Granger told him that Hermione had taken up dentistry at James Cook University in Townsville.

"It wasn't easy. She had been studying magic for most of her life, you know. But she manages to pass every exam that allows her to study dentistry. A very bright girl she is. She was planning to take over our clinic once she graduated and finished her housemanship. We of course have no objection to that. We get to see her more which is good for us," he said.

"She misses her old friends and magic a lot," added Mrs. Granger. "She talked a lot about her time at Hogwarts and she talked a lot about you. I think she misses you the most."

Harry left Hermione's home later that day. He promised to them that he would return for a visit before he left. Mr. Granger offered to drive him to the town center. Harry however declined. He stayed at Hotel Crowne Plaza for the night and spent the rest of the evening pondering on what he needed to do next. Her parents were kind enough to provide him her address and her telephone number. He called that number several times but no one picked up.

Townsville was about 1100 miles away from Alice Springs. He could fly to the northeastern coastal city of Queensland but there would be no guarantee that he could find her. Unlike Britain, he knew no one in Australia. He could search for her at her campus. But given everything that happened, he wondered if Hermione was willing to meet him. Sure her mother told him that she misses him, but that could be a piece of old information.

In the end, he decided to leave Hermione alone. He was satisfied knowing that she is safe, and from the conversation he had with her parents, happy. He didn't want to be the garbage that brought past memories to her. Bad memories. Sad memories. She was probably seeing someone by now. He didn't want to destroy her happiness by reminding her of Ron. Instead, he spent the rest of his vacation days in Alice Springs, enjoying everything that town has to offer. He did not return to visit Hermione's parents though, having decided that he should leave them alone too.


Sunday came. His flight to Adelaide was scheduled for 1.00pm. From there, he will be catching another flight back to The Bahamas which was scheduled early next day.

He was walking away from the customer service counter within the lobby towards the hotel's entrance when he saw her.

Hermione.

She was standing right in the middle of the lobby, staring at him. Gone has her thick bushy hair, replaced by luscious, wavy brown locks that proudly crowned her head. Hints of freckles could still be seen under her bright, brown eyes. She was wearing a pair of white t-shirt coupled with a pair of black jeans.

She looked different from Hermione of old. She was exemplary. She was beautiful.

Hermione slowly walked up to him and stopped just in front of him. Not once her eyes left him.

"Hermione?" he croaked as he stared at her in disbelief.

Without a word, Hermione lunge at him and hugged him. Burying her face into his neck, she cried.

"It's okay, Hermione. I'm here now. It's alright," said Harry softly as he gently caressed her back.

Hermione raised her head from Harry's neck. Tears could be seen streaming down her beautiful face. "Harry, you found me," she said.

Harry smiled at her. He wiped the tears off her face with the back of his hand and whispered, "I think, we found each other."

And right in front of everyone within the lobby, they kissed.

He still had his wand with him but like Hermione, he too had left the magical world behind. There was no knowing what lies ahead for both of them but he knew, as before, he would always have her by his side.

And she would always have him by her side until death does them apart.

The end.

A/n: My first ever completed HP fic.

I wanted to keep this story as simple as I can hence the three, short chapters. It does have the 'Across the Time' undertone if you must know.

Speaking of 'Across the Time', I'm delaying the reposting of that fic. I need to be mentally prepared before any reposting can happen. The reactions from TDWFL chapter 18 scarred me quite a bit and it made me concern. Definitely don't want to have the same level of anxiety I once had when the old 'Across the Time' was up. Was disappointed with the behavior of some Harry/Fleur fans too which is ironic since I love that pairing.

Anyway, enjoy.