Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Author's Note: I know this took so long but after reading Book 7 I was quite reluctant to continue with the story but after some thinking I realise that I should end it on a good note which is why I decided to end this story properly and not hang it there. Anyway this is the second last chapter, titled "Say You'll Walk The Distance" and it is a song by Robyn. I like the song so much!!!

So please give me some reviews...

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"Why isn't this going our way?" I asked. Charlie looked at me nervously. "You don't have to say anything." I added so that the situation would be easier for him to handle. "It seems like they are in the low, you know?" I whispered.

"Well surely they know something we don't. Break-ins have been quite high for the past week." Charlie said as he flipped through the Daily Prophet.

The sight of the 'Mystery Team' was not so common for the past week. It was like they never existed. Charlie and I had been reading the Daily Prophet religiously, trying to find any form of clues that they actually existed. There was nothing about them. A report on the sight of them would definitely have comforted me. It would have made me see that what had been happening to me for the past two weeks had been real, that Charlie and I had not been thrown into a swirl of dreams that seemed real. We both wanted an assurance that we were not going insane.

Charlie and I had acted like the rest. We pretended that we knew nothing about the 'Mystery Team'. We pretended to be engaged and happy about it. But I was getting tired of all the pretending.

"They are bound to be seen anytime soon. This is just too weird." Charlie said as he placed the Daily Prophet beside his uneaten sandwich.

Balderash walked into the room with rolls of paper in his small hands. He dumped it on the table in front of us. "This is the next project." He said and left, expecting us to understand what he had just said.

"This has to be the project that brings us to Rome." Charlie said excitedly as he carefully lay out the papers on the table. "Rome is fantastic Hermione. You'll love it."

I kept quiet and stared at him. "Can't a guy get excited?" He asked when he looked at my sullen expression.

"I can't stop thinking about them…I can't think about Rome at the moment. Sorry." I apologized.

Charlie sat on his chair and reached out for my hand. "You have to be positive about this Hermione. We're going to go for the Artifacts Fair and Convention. There will be hundreds of important people attending. Ministry of Magic from seventy countries are attending. Securities will be tight and it should be because we're talking about Goblin made artifacts here."

"So?"

"Don't you think that there is a slight chance that something might happen and then you know…the team will finally make their appearance?"

"Well, I did think of that but…the fact that they have not been in the Daily Prophet just made me so pessimistic."

"Hermione, I have known you as a person who's the opposite. Come on, get excited about it. In three days, you might just…see Harry again. That's what you want right?" Charlie asked softly.

I nodded my head. "Thanks."

My heart was suddenly fluttering excitedly. Charlie was right. This could be finally the moment I had been waiting for.

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The day arrived two days later. Everyone was talking about it. Fred and George were excitedly discussing their appearance and Charlie and I couldn't hide our excitement.

"Hermione have you read the Daily Prophet?" Charlie asked as he walked into the office that morning.

"Not yet. Why?" I asked curiously.

"I think this would make your day." Charlie said and passed me the Daily Prophet. I scanned through the front page and my lips curved into a smile.

They are at it again!

As the day to the Artifacts Fair and Convention nears, it seems like trouble had made its way all around Europe. Last night, two wizard guards who were patrolling the Ministry of Magic in Rome, was attacked by a couple of wizards who attempted to break in and steal precious artifacts. But the night was saved by none other than the 'Mystery Team', whom we have not seen for a long time.

"They were quick. Very fast and agile" Ms Inzaghi said as she translates the wizard guard's explanation.

With the help from the 'Mystery Team', the Ministry managed to capture the culprits and an investigation will resume today.

I placed the Daily Prophet on the table and looked up at Charlie who was smiling. "I can't wait for tomorrow." I said and he nodded in agreement.

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"You make me sick!" Pansy shouted at the top of her lungs.

"No I don't." Ron said as he cringed at Pansy's rage. "She was the one who talked to me first. I swear I didn't do anything." Ron said hoping that Pansy would calm down.

"Well, if you ignored her in the first place, then she won't be coming on to you!"

"She's a junior; she is not capable of that."

"Oh Ron, you're bloody clueless. Did you see how she purposely rubbed her boobs on your forearm?!"

"That's ridiculous!"

"Oh, so now you're defending her?" Pansy asked angrily.

"Oh how cute." A voice drawled. Ron and Pansy looked up and saw Draco leaning on to the door frame. "Your first fight as a couple."

"Shut up Draco!"

"You should take note of the date…record it all in your diary." Draco continued teasing, ignoring Pansy's deadly stare. Pansy walked away, stomping her feet as she does so.

"I think you just made it worse." Ron blamed Draco.

"Go and get her mate." Draco said, this time with a more serious tone. "But before you go, who is this girl she's so angry about?"

"Just some junior in my Transfiguration class. I'm the teacher for Merlin's sake! I would never flirt with my students."

"Let me guess…Natasha Wayan?"

"Yeah…how did you know?"

"Every boy in my Defense class is talking about her but it looks like they have no chance seeing that she has the hots for you." Draco said, laughing at his own comment.

"Drop it, eh?" Ron said and walked away from Draco in search for Pansy. He found her at her usual spot in the garden. She was closing her eyes and was breathing calmly.

"I'm sorry." Ron said softly. She opened her eyes and her features soften.

"No, I'm sorry. I was just being unreasonable."

"Pansy, you know I would never look at other girls the way I look at you. I would never smile at any other girl like I smile at you. You do know that right?" Ron asked with a little worry etched on his face.

Pansy nodded her head sheepishly. "I was just being jealous…sorry. But you have to agree that there is no denying that she has the hots for you. Even Ginny tells me that."

"You shouldn't believe anything Ginny said." Ron warned. He moved closer to Pansy and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. She relaxed into his embrace and closed her eyes. "All I want to do for the rest of my life is to hold you like this Pansy. No one will ever come between us. No one." Ron promised.

"I know…thank you." Pansy whispered and Ron kissed the top of her head.

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"Hi Harry."

Harry turned around and saw Ginny at the door. "Hi." He smiled and Ginny walked into his room and closed the door behind her.

"Are you all set for tomorrow?" She asked.

"I always am ready for anything." Harry said and looked at her. She looked nervous and she was fidgeting a little. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"I think you better sit down."

Harry looked at her suspiciously, his green eyes wandering around Ginny's freckled face. She didn't look at Harry and instead cast her eyes down on the floor. "I have been talking about this with Draco and…" She paused playing with her wedding ring on her finger. "..he said that I should tell you what I have done. He was definitely angry about it and I tried to reason with him but of course he won't listen and…"

Ginny paused and looked up at Harry when he places his hand on hers. "Just tell me what it is." Harry said softly. He squeezed her hand lightly to let her know that he was ready. Ginny took a deep breath and let it out. She started telling Harry about how she had purposely did not erase Hermione's memory and how she had let it remain as it was so that she could remember what had been happening for the past few weeks. She explained to him her reasons and all the time that she talked, Harry found himself listening intently, wanting her to finish before he says anything.

"And I know you probably hate me right now and the fact that Supernus is not sending us to any missions, I think he knows what I have done…I'm in trouble." Ginny rambled and buried her face in her hands.

"Ginny, firstly, no, I don't hate you and secondly, no, you're not in trouble."

"Oh thank you Harry." She said and gave him a brief hug. "But I am still sorry. I can't imagine how she is feeling right now. She must be in turmoil that she knows the events of the past weeks and no one knows. She must be thinking that she is going insane!"

"Hermione is too optimistic to even think that way…I'm sure she will be fine."

"I regret doing that Harry. It's so foolish of me." Ginny said.

"Now don't go degrading yourself…ignore whatever Draco says. He is just jealous that I am having a rollercoaster love life and he is settling in nicely with a beautiful wife…which is pretty boring if you ask me"

Ginny swatted his arm playfully. "But he's my husband." Ginny chuckled. But she looked at Harry and felt her heart constrict. She always thought that Harry did not deserved this life. He lost his parents and now he couldn't have Hermione too. "You know I will always be by your side…Draco too and Ron and Pansy. You will always have us."

"Thank you." Harry said. "I think that's all I need in my life."

Ginny bit her lip to stop herself from crying. She knew he wished that Hermione would be here too.

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High security was imposed all around the Ministry. Guests were given passes to recognize them and everything looked serious. But I breathed a huge sigh of relief when Charlie and I walked into the convention hall. Everyone looked relax, chatting with wizards from all around the world and drinking mead or Butterbeer. Charlie and I took a glass of Butterbeer and walked around the hall to look at artifacts made by Goblins from every corner of the Earth.

"This is magnificent." I said in awe.

"I know you will love it." Charlie said. "Come on, let's go to that corner."

I had forgotten my sole purpose of me being at the convention for a while as Charlie and I weaved through the hall. After about an hour, I started to feel a little tired and we sat down on one of the benches around the hall. It was when Charlie made a comment about things being quiet that I remembered why I was here.

"Do you think there will be something going on around here?"

"Well if it gets quiet in one more hour, I don't mind creating some chaos."

"Charlie don't be foolish. If you get caught then what am I suppose to do?" I asked but at the same time I laughed at the idea of him getting into trouble.

"Then I guess we'll wait."

So we waited and I was getting bored. Another hour passed and I started to panic. "Where are they?" I asked impatiently.

"Maybe we should really create some chaos."

"Charlie no! That's not why we're here."

"Then what do you suggest?" As soon as he said that, the wall on the west side of the hall blasted and people screamed. Charlie and I covered our heads from the falling debris. "Come Hermione, we have to see what that was all about."

I took his hand and we ran towards the west, coming into the crowd that was running the opposite direction. Then I saw it; three people with black cloaks and the mask that I have been dreaming about for days.

"It's them, Hermione it's them. Hurry!"

We saw the three wizards running towards the north exit apparently chasing someone. Charlie changed direction so that we would be able to reach them but the strong crowd made it quite impossible. Charlie pulled me in so that I could run in front of him. He holds on to my hand and I tried pushing through the throngs of people away. Then my hand slipped away from his and I turned around to see him jostling around the crowd that was pushing him towards the east exit.

"Charlie!" Mt heart was hammering against my chest. "Charlie!" I started to panic.

"Hermione! Go! Go and catch up with them. I'll catch up with you."

I nodded my head and ran through the thinning crowd easily. A swish of black cloak disappeared behind the exit and I sprinted towards it. My heart fluttered excitedly. This was my chance and I had to find out the truth. The three figures were nearly out of my reach but I did not give up. I saw the long red hair of Ginny's and was determined to run alongside them. Then I saw the messy black locks and I immediately cried out his name.

"Harry! Wait!"

He turned at the sound of his name but only for a quarter of a second because he continued running as if he did not see me.

"Harry!"

It felt like I was running for hours and my thighs started to burn. We were out in the courtyard and the bright sunlight blocked my view of them for a while. I slowed down and tears started to stream down my face. I wiped it with the back of my hand and walked slowly up a hill. I was giving up and I was disgusted with myself for that. When I was on top of the hill, I was greeted by a lone figure. The wind was blowing his cloak and he had his hand to his side. I looked at his face and cried harder. I ran up to him and jumped into his opened arms.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I'm so sorry you have to go through all these."

"Why?" I asked, my voice quavering. I couldn't let him go and I wouldn't let him go. My arms were around his neck and I buried my face on his shoulder. "Why Charlie and me?"

"Charlie?" He asked obviously surprised as he looked at my face, his question written in his eyes.

"Both of us remembered everything."

"Ginny told me it was only you."

"Ginny?"

"Let's not go into that…I don't want to waste my time."

"No, you're not running away from me anymore." I said determined that this time around I would not lose him. I was sure what he meant when he said he did not want to waste his time. It simply means that he had to leave.

"I can't do that."

I pushed him away when he said that. I couldn't look at him because tears rolled down my face uncontrollably.

"Hermione, please look at me."

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Harry looked at Hermione's back. Her shoulders were shaking violently. It broke his heart to see her in this state but this was his decision. He could not be with her but he wanted her to be happy. Hermione turned to look at him as tears continued to run down her cheeks. He only needed to look at her for a few seconds to know it was okay to hold her again. He took a few steps towards her and enveloped her in a warm hug. She cried in his arms. He felt tears on his own face and he knew that it was tears that just needed to get out. He had been compressing his emotions in his heart for too long.

"Please forgive me Hermione." He said. He was neither pleading nor demanding. He would love her same even if she said no.

"Maybe." She said to his chest, her voice small. He hugged her a little tighter. He released her from himself regretfully.

"We need to modify your memory. Supernus would want to."

"No! Harry please. I can't have you and now you want to take away my memory too? Please let me have mine…but I want you to modify Charlie's." Hermione pleaded and looked into Harry's eyes. "Don't ask me a reason why, just do it."

Harry pulled her towards him again and gave her a last hug but before he leaved he put his hands on either side of her face and kissed her, strong and full of longing. He felt her kiss him back.

"Someday Hermione…I promise. I love you."

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