Epilogue: In Which It Happens

Harry watched as Hermione twiddled her fingers gracefully. It was weird how time how gotten away from them. Harry knew she'd been trying to move their friendship forward. She'd apologized to Ron and Harry but then they both had just had newborns. Pansy had been staying over so they could co-parent together. Harry had proved through the rough six months of James' life that he was serious. Pansy had taken him seriously after that- it had been rocky after the birth but they were in a good place.

"So, ah, what have you been up to?" Harry asked. Hermione smiled at him, one he remembered from school.

"I finished a book on the complexities of Transfiguration. I also did some research for my next book." Hermione shrugged. Now she was playing with her hair staring at the spilt ends.

"Oh, when is the book out? I thought you'd want to work on SPEW or something at the Ministry." Harry told her Hermione snorted then took a sip of her butterbeer. The Leakey Caldron wasn't that full. There were people at the bar, Tom had gotten an assistant to help him. There were a few people scattered around at the tables.

"I do, I just...I needed time to I guess get over the war. I...well I started seeing Draco and I ah self-sabotaged it." Hermione told him. She sighed looking a little lost.

"I'm sorry, that sucks," Harry told her. He understood, and some asshole part of him still wanted to be mad at her for the shit she'd stirred. But Hermione wasn't at fault and Harry and Pansy had worked through it. He glanced at his watch.

"Yeah, how'd you get Pansy to take you back?" Hermione asked suddenly. She looked determine. She moved her glass around looking at the table.

"I worked hard to regain her trust. I mean we're still not married. We technically don't live together either. I mean she and James are moving in soon but yeah..." Harry shrugged. He and Pansy fought over the pettiest things, sometimes she would through things back in his face. But they had learned to talk to each other. After they had finished yelling and huffing and puffing they sat down and talked. Sometimes Harry wasn't okay with the compromise but they both couldn't always get what they wanted.

"Yeah, I'm hoping we could...with everyone really," Hermione began, "I guess work on regaining friendships and trust. I know I was a bitch."

"Yeah, I get it. I'm for it. Pansy asked why we hadn't mended things sooner," Harry laughed. Hermione smiled but looked down at her glass. Harry was struck by how lonely she looked.

"I did write," Hermione told him. Harry nodded, he had just never gotten around to replying. He felt like an asshole because he did want to be friends with Hermione, he had missed her.

"I know I'm sorry...James was..." Harry shook his head. Hermione smiled knowingly.

"We should do this more often, with Ron too. Have a drink and talk," Hermione said. Harry smiled and grabbed Hermione's hand.

"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea." Harry agreed.

Pansy was in what was once the library. She was wearing a loose pale yellow dress, her breasts straining the material. Harry tried not to stare, he focused on the book around them. The room still had books but half of them had been donated to a used bookstore- they were mostly about purebloods. Pansy had move most of her books onto the shelves. Harry hadn't thought she'd be here when he got back. He thought he'd be having a drink alone while staring at the engagement ring from so long ago. He'd sold the ring two years ago and gotten a totally different one for when he asked Pansy to marry him.

"How'd it go?" Pansy asked.

"Good, she wants to be friends," Harry told her. He pulled Pansy to him, smelling her. She's cut her hair last year and though she hated it Harry thought Pansy looked cute.

"And you?" Pansy asked.

"I want to be friends too. I hadn't realized it's been five years since we really talked. I thought Ginny would have hated me longer." Harry told her. Pansy laughed.

"Ginny still thinks she has a chance," Pansy told him. Harry stiffened for a second before pulling Pansy flush against him. He loved the feel of her baby bump, it was still tiny but he knew about it.

"Yeah well when we announce this she'll be in for a surprise." Harry told her. Pansy rolled her eyes.

"I found this..." Pansy said pulling the ring box from her pocket.

"Yeah, I wanted one for when I ask you one day." Harry told her.

The first time Harry at asked Pansy to marry him James had been sick with the flu. They had been sleeping in his room. They had been covered in vomit and Pansy had never looked more beautiful to him. She'd laughed and said no. It had hurt but days later, once James was better, they'd talked about it. Pansy didn't feel ready and she wanted to focus on James- he'd only just turned one. Harry had understood but still gone out with Ron to get a drink. When he had got home Pansy was waiting for him and they'd have good sex. They talked even more after that.

"Not now?" Pansy asked. She handed him the box and Harry took it placing it in his pocket. He wasn't sure if Pansy was ready yet, or it she'd ever be ready, but he'd thought about talking about marriage soon.

"I wanted to ask you if you were feeling ready yet. I was going to take you out so we could talk or fight after a good meal. James and Hugo could play and have a sleep over." Harry grinned. Pansy smiled and rolled her eyes.

"I love you Harry and I know you love me. And that you want this life, that you want us. When you asked the first time..." Pansy sighed.

"I know, you were still hurt and needed time," Harry replied. He remembered everything about that week.

"I was scared too, but I think if you asked again I'd say yes, but you'd have to ask," Pansy smiled.

"Pansy will you marry me?" Harry asked. He couldn't say no to that invitation.

"Yes," Pansy replied.

Sorry it's taken me so long to get the final chapter to you. Life got in the way, lol. Thanks for the support and reading of this work, it means a lot.