Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. Just my own ideas!

I am so, so, so, sorry for such a long wait! I've been terribly busy and I hope you'll forgive me! Thanks to those who reviewed my last chapter! I hope this chapter sort of makes up for the non-existent updates!

"It's me," a low voice from behind us said. "Will you come with me?"

I looked at Ron, who nodded, and we both stood. Side-by-side, we left the Great Hall and walked out to the entrance hall.

The marble staircase had missing chunks and there was rubble and bloodstains every other stair or so. My heart pulled at the thought of all the dead that now lay in the Great Hall, their families gathered around them. One single tear leaked out of my eye at the thought of Fred. He was gone, never coming back, leaving a whole family behind who would miss him. They would miss his smile, his laugh, his pranks. And I knew they would miss the same with George. He wouldn't smile or laugh, pull as many pranks as he used to. He lost half of himself and that was something that would ever heal.

Taking Ron by surprise, I slid my hand into his and squeezed it gently. He gave me a small smile as we kept walking.

I could faintly hear a crude song being sung by Peeves and smiled a bit. Trust Peeves to sing something like that. I listened to the words and smiled:

We did it, we bashed them, wee Potter's the one,

And Voldy's gone moldy, so now let's have fun!

I looked at Ron, who was grinning with me.

"Gives you a feeling for the scope and tragedy of the whole thing, doesn't it?" he asked as he pushing open a door, letting Harry and I pass first.

I nodded as Ron's hand slid back into mine.

"It does," I said thoughtfully. "But happiness will come. I know it. It won't right away, mind. But eventually, we'll all be able to be happy again."

I looked at Ron when I said this and he smiled gratefully. "Thanks, 'Mi."

I rested my head on his shoulder as we made our way to the end of the hall, where a broken gargoyle lay across the floor.

Harry asked if we could pass and soon, we were walking up to the Headmaster's office.

As we climbed, I wondered what Harry had seen in Snape's memory. What was it that made Harry believe Snape was working for Dumbledore in the end? For sixteen years, Severus Tobias Snape was a double-double spy, risking his life for Dumbledore, for the good. I could barely wrap my head around it, but I suppose that now it made sense. Of course he was really the good guy. Of course. That's just how these things work.

Harry pushed open the Headmaster's door and we entered.

Ear-shattering applause reached our ears, making Harry cry out and Ron pull out his wand. My own head whipped around in surprise.

All the portrait occupants were standing, applauding us. Many were crying out and wiping tears as they clapped. I grinned widely as Phineas Nigellus cried out, "And let it be known that Slytherin House played its part! Let our contribution not be forgotten!"

I looked all around the wall, at the old headmasters and headmistress's as they clapped loudly and proudly. They all beamed, tears of the utmost joy in their eyes. And then I saw the old man directly behind the headmaster's chair. He was beaming at us, wiping is eyes as he applauded us.

After several minutes, Harry held up his hands and the portraits quieted down, still beaming and wiping their eyes. But it was to Dumbledore that Harry spoke to.

"The thing that was hidden in the Snitch," he began, "I dropped it in the Forest. I don't know where, exactly, and I don't plan to look for it. Do you agree?"

"My dear boy, I do," Dumbledore said. I looked at the other portraits and they looked as confused as I felt. What was in the Snitch? "A wise and courageous decision, I think, but no less than I would have expected from you. Does anyone else know where it fell?"

Harry shook his head. "No one."

Dumbledore nodded, satisfied, and I exchanged a confused look with Ron, who shrugged.

"But I am going to keep Ignotus's present," Harry continued, pulling out the Cloak.

Well, of course you should keep it! I thought as Dumbledore beamed at Harry. It is yours after all.

"Of course, Harry. It is yours forever until you pass it along," Dumbledore said.

"And then there's this."

All eyes fell on Harry as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a wand. He set it on Dumbledore's desk and stepped back. It was the Elder Wand.

My hand twitched, longing to reach out and take it, to see how it worked. Beside me, Ron shifted a bit, his eyes wide as he took in the Wand. Harry shifted uncomfortably and I blinked. Right. I have my own wand. A wand that works perfectly fine. Why should I want the most powerful wand out there?

"I don't want it," Harry said loudly.

"What?" Ron cried out. "Have you lost your marbles? I mean, have you gone completely mental?"

"I know it's powerful, I do," Harry said wearily. "But I was happier with mine, so…."

Harry reached back into his pocket and pulled out his broken wand. I looked at my feet, the old guilt resurfacing.

Laying the broken wand on Dumbledore's desk, Harry picked up the Elder Wand, tapped his wand and muttered, "Reparo."

I watched as his wand resealed itself, red and gold sparks emitting out of the repaired wand's tip.

Harry picked it up and he beamed.

Turning back to Dumbledore, he said, "I'm putting the Elder Wand back where it came from – with you. It can stay there. If I die a natural death like Ignotus, its power will be broken, won't it? The previous owner won't have been defeated and that will be the end of it."

Dumbledore nodded. I saw Harry smile and Dumbledore smiled in return.

It was as though there was some connection between them, something that neither Ron nor I could possibly fathom. Something must have happened in the Forest, I thought. Something that Harry doesn't want us to know. But I knew Harry well enough to know that if he wanted us to know, he'd tell us. It may take a few hours or may take a few years. But if he wanted to tell us…he would.

"Are you sure?" Ron asked beside me. There was a bit of longing in his voice as he stared at the Elder Wand.

I bit my lip and looked from Ron to Harry and back again. "I think Harry's right, Ron."

"That wand is more trouble than it's worth," Harry said. "And to be perfectly honest, I've had enough trouble to last me a lifetime."

He turned his back on the portraits and left.

Ron and I looked at one another and Ron put his arms around my waist. I did the same, resting my head on his chest. He put his chin on top of my head and then we pulled back, Ron keeping one arm on my waist. We followed Harry out of the room and down the spiral staircase.

We took the familiar route to the Gryffindor Common Room and I was suddenly very eager to get back to it, to feel normalcy. I was exhausted and I just wanted to sleep. Ron squeeze me once before we entered the Gryffindor Tower.

"It's over," Ron whispered, pulling me in a deep kiss.

We pulled back and I whispered back, "I love you."

Sorry if that end was lame. I wasn't sure how to end it and I thought that Hermione telling Ron she loved him was good. Oh! And the "'Mi". Yeah. I had too. There was simply no way to avoid it. But I hope you liked it. The very - last - chapter will be up soon...ish. Until I can choke out the words, enjoy this AND two others I have written. One's a one-shot of Harry going into the Forest to meet Voldy and the other is what I like to call a "guilty pleasure." Forgive me if you don't like it. Anywho...hope you liked this chapter! And, uh...review. Really. I love reviews. They make me utterly happy!

Thanks very much!

-LovelyAlice831-