AN: I own nothing you recognize. Honest. Wish I did. But, then again, you know what they say about wishing.

Thanks for the reviews, for following, or for adding to your favorites. I am so glad you all are enjoying this.

I wanted to get this up sooner, but I was having a hard time with the end scene, and I finally sat myself down and decided to get it right, and get this done. And, I did! So, here you go.

Enjoy!

Three-and-a-half hours later, the three friends threw themselves onto the well-worn crimson sofa in the Gryffindor common room. The past few hours had been filled with food, friends, family, and, thankfully - lots of laughter.

"Oh, I'm so tired," Hermione said, yawning as she leaned her head back.

"Tell me about it," Ron laughed, fighting to keep his eyes open.

"I'm so tired, and so full," Harry groaned, holding his stomach for emphasis, making the other two laugh. "I swear between Mrs. Weasley and McGonagall, I more than made up for this last year," he laughed.

"But it was worth it," Hermione smiled. "I didn't realize just how hungry I was until tonight. Especially when Kreacher brought out that lemon drizzle," she sighed, remembering the large lemon drizzle cake the old elf had made. "I think I ate most of it."

Ron snorted. "You're telling me," he said, turning his head to smile at her. "I don't think I've ever seen you eat like that before."

"I haven't," she laughed. "But, it was all so good, and I was so hungry. Especially considering this last year was spent mostly eating mushrooms, berries, and fish, or the rare rabbit."

"True," Ron laughed. "I don't think I ever wanna see another mushroom in my life," he said.

"Gods, everything was so good," Harry said through a yawn, his mind supplying images of the obscene amount of food in the Great Hall.

"Harry, why don't you go on up and get some sleep? You've got to be absolutely exhausted," Hermione suggested after Harry yawned once more.

Harry shook his head, covering another yawn. "Nah, I'm good. 'Sides, I was gonna head down and see how Remus is doing," he said.

"Harry, mate, you heard Mum," Ron said. "With all the potions being poured into him, he won't be awake until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest."

"Yeah," Hermione agreed, nodding sleepily. "Besides, even if Remus were to wake up tonight, I think he'd understand that you, of all people, deserve sleep."

Harry thought it over for a minute before sleepily nodding his head in agreement. It had been a long two days, and although he didn't really want to go to bed, he knew he should.

"You're right, the both of you," he said, not moving. "I think I will head on up. You coming, Ron?" he asked.

"In a bit, yeah" Ron answered.

"Mmmkay," Harry nodded. "You know, I haven't said it much before, but I love the two of you very much, and I'm glad you've been with me all these years," he said, looking at the two.

"I love you, too, mate," Ron smiled, meeting the sleepy green eyes of his best friend.

"You know I love you, Harry," Hermione said, her eyes watery. With a sudden burst of energy, she flung herself at her friend, squeezing him tightly. "But, if you ever scare me like that again, I'll kill you myself," she sniffled.

Harry grimaced, patting Hermione on the back. "Roger that. And, don't worry, I plan on taking it easy for a while," he said, pulling away. "I don't fancy dying again anytime soon."

"Good, because I'd have to bring you back to life and kill you," Hermione said. "I meant what I said."

"Yeah, and you know Mione, mate...she'd bloody well do it, too," Ron laughed, his eyes closed as he leaned his head back on the sofa.

"I have no doubt she would," Harry said, smiling at his friends. "Alright, I'm going up to bed. See you in a bit, Ron."

"Night, Harry." "Goodnight, Harry." Ron and Hermione said, respectively, watching him walk sleepily up the stairs.

Hermione and Ron sat in silence for a bit after Harry left, awkwardness descending between the two.

"So..." Hermione started, breaking off with a sigh. She knew what she wanted to say to him, but she didn't know how to start, or how to say it without hurting his feelings.

"So," Ron repeated, blowing out a breath. He, like Hermione, knew what needed to be said, but didn't have any idea how to go about saying it.

"Uh...ab...about e...earlier," she said, cursing herself for stammering.

"Yeah, earlier," he nodded. "Listen, Mione..."

"Listen, Ron..." Hermione said at the same time, making the both of them laugh.

"Can I say something, please?" Ron asked, moving to sit on the ottoman in front of the sofa, looking at her.

"Sure," she nodded.

"Look," Ron started, clearing his throat, "while the kiss was nice...great, even...I don't think we should take things any further," he said, watching her carefully for signs of incoming canaries.

"Oh, thank fuck," Hermione sighed, sinking into the sofa in relief.

"Wait...what?" he asked, confused. He had just told her he didn't want to date her, and she was relieved.

"That's what I wanted to tell you," she said, chuckling. "Ron, we'd be absolutely miserable together."

Ron let out a little chuckle of his own at her words. "Yeah, we really would," he nodded. "So, then, why did you kiss me, Mione?" he asked.

"To be honest, I was thrilled you had thought about the house-elves getting to safety," she shrugged. "I mean, all those years you made fun of my house-elf crusade, and then..."

"Yeah, but that was before Dobby died saving us," he said. "House-elves don't seem like just creatures, anymore, you know? They're beings, and they have feelings, and they bleed, just like us," he said, choking up a bit thinking about the little elf who died saving their lives.

Hermione smiled sadly, nodding. "Yeah, I do know, actually," she said.

"Well, at least you know I'll be a lifelong S.P.E.W member," he laughed.

"I'll expect your dues prompty every first Monday of the month," Hermione laughed, feeling lighter than she had in months.

"You deserve someone great, Mione, and I know you'll find him soon," Ron said one the two had sobered a bit.

Despite the relief of knowing she wasn't breaking her best friend's heart, Hermione felt tears prickling her eyes.

"So do you, Ron," she whispered, reaching for his hands. "You...you deserve someone who is going to make you their world."

"Ditto, love," Ron said, squeezing her hands. Moving to sit beside her once again, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "And, whoever this bloke is is going to have to deal with the fact that Harry and I aren't going anywhere."

"Good," Hermione smiled. "Same with you. We've worked too hard at this friendship of ours – you, Harry, and I, that is, - to let some strangers come between us."

"Merlin help our future spouses," Ron laughed, shaking his head.

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Til next time!

XOXO - Onyx Obsidian