Well ... I don't want to seem too sensitive, but I'm pretty sad. This is the last chapter! I wrote this between February and July, and despite now it's kind of I'm in another stage, with the "sequel" (if you can call it like that ... actually, I don't know if I'll ever post it or end it) and different fics, I can't help but remembering all those little whiles imagining what would be the next step to write. Ok, that was too much of sentimentality. Anyway, back to the point and wiping tears, this is when Harry, Ron and Hermione came back from Dumbledore's office, after Voldemort's defeat, of course. I had written something about what might had happened to the corpses, but ... honestly, I hadn't the strenght to leave it like that, so I didn't include that part. Everything else, it's up to your imagination. So... well, I thought it was a sweet way for a new beginning. Please, don't think that everybody was light-hearted (because in some parts, I had the feeling of that it seemed so): it's just that I believe people, amongst the horror of the battle and the dead, needed to have a reason to be a bit more relieved.
And ... I suppose this is the goodbye! Not for the fanfiction world, of course! But Shared Moments ... here we've come!
Enjoy it! And thanks forever to those who leave me reviews, they really encouraged me.
Dess

P.S.: By the way, this chapter isn't beta-ed either, because ... I didn't feel like. So, despite I checked it a lot of times, apologizes for my mistakes.

Lyrics: "Fall For You - Secondhand Serenade"

Shared Moments Eleven: A different awakening.

The best thing about tonight's that we're not fighting
It couldn't be that we have been this way before
I know you don't think that I am trying...
I know you're wearing thin down to the core...

They crossed the desert Common Room, slightly lightened now.

'Well, I think I'm gonna sleep. I couldn't have a bite right now. I just hope ─ just hope I won't have any dreams. Are you ─?' He was about to ask Ron whether he was going to have a nap too, but then he remember: maybe he wanted to talk with Hermione. They hadn't been alone since they kissed, or at least not that Harry knew.

Ron, guessing the question, said clearly, 'I'll join you later.'

He waited until Harry set out to the stairs leading to the boy's dormitories. Then he turned to Hermione.

'May we talk?'

She looked aside, like if torn between a 'yes' and an urge to run away.

'Y ─ yes, sure.'

He took her hand and lead her to one of the couches. They sat. Ron looked up, and met her eyes once more time that night. He sighed, and Hermione feared the worse. But he smiled.

'May ─ eh ─ may we forget that argument and resume what we left in the Requirement Room?'

With a great effort for not to tremble, she nodded. Still holding her hands, Ron leaned towards her. But Hermione raised one hand and stopped him by the chin.

'Are you sure?' she said. It was childish, but she needed to ask him.

'Only if you are.'

And then so, they kissed, as if that was the first kiss, because it was really the first they were aware of, and Hermione placed her arms around his neck, and Ron laid his around her back, and they felt their hearts melting together.

But hold your breath
Because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you
Over again
Don't make me change my mind

A chuckle pierced its way through the depths of dreams, but he refused to be awakened. Had it been a dream? It had to be. He will open his eyes at any moment, and they will be sleeping in the new tent. Nothing had happened. But then, why did he feel that taste in his lips, what was that soft and warm weight upon his chest and shoulders and why he felt a mixture of pain, happiness and physical discomfort?

The giggling was finally succeeding: now the sunlight crossed his shut eyes. It was time to jump into the real life.

The first thing he saw was Harry and Ginny standing in front of him, apparently finding something funny about himself. And then he turned his head aside and remembered everything.

'What's the fun about?' he asked, redder than a tomato.

'I waited for you, mate, but you never came! I was worried,' said Harry, pretending himself being upset. 'I suppose you were so busy that you couldn't even wash yourselves, could you?'

'That will do,' Ron mumbled.

'You should better wake her up,' said Ginny, now holding back a new giggle. She tilted her head. 'It's like if she'll never let you go.'

And it was true: Hermione's arms were wrapped tight around his neck, and that posture was what was causing him the discomfort.

'Nor I will,' he muttered under his breath. 'Hermione …'

'I'm awake.'

Ron ears turned still redder.

'I've been awake since you two arrived. And I've heard what you were saying … it didn't like me,' she added, stern.

'What did they ─?'

'That doesn't matter at all, you have to get changed,' avoided Harry.

'Yes, we have got to leave soon,' said Ginny, gulping.

'But what time is it?' inquired Ron.

'About four in the afternoon,' replied Harry.

Hermione gasped slightly.

'Why did not you wake us up?'

'Well, see, you two looked so peaceful that we couldn't interrupt you. Oh, by the way, many people commented the same,' said Ginny lovingly.

'M ─ many people? How many people has gone through here?'

'Eh … about the whole tower. See, in about six hours it's supposed that Gryffindors will want to do their stuff, isn't it? If you wanted a lonely place … well, this is not the right one,' said Harry.

Hermione looked worried at Ron. What if he felt it like too soon? Many people watching at them … that surely sounded simply terrifying to any boy. But instead of a reproaching, he looked her back and said, only for her to listen, 'I don't care how many people has seen us. We are together, aren't we?'

She smiled at him, after what Ginny rolled eyes in which meant 'Ron is ill'.

They stood up.

'So … how about you two?' asked Hermione, and Ron noted Harry and Ginny were holding hands, both washed and dressed. 'I suppose there's no need to be apart again.'

'We supposed the same,' asked Harry, squeezing Ginny's hand.

'Well, erm, I ─ congratulations, mate,' said Ron, and he stepped forwards and hugged him, clapping his back.

'I never thought you would say that, thanks,' said Harry. 'And, best wishes to you,' added in a whisper. 'About time, wasn't it?'

'Well, I'm going to wash … I'll see you later,' said Hermione heading to the girls' dormitories.

'Me too,' told them Ron, doing so.

Ginny sighed as she and Harry set off to the portrait hole.

I won't live to see another day
I swear its true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
You're impossible to find

The Great Hall was as crowded as it had been before when Ron and Hermione finally went down: everybody left in the castle was gathered there, current and old students, Hogsmeade inhabitants, wizards from all the country.

As Mrs Weasley caught sight of them walking towards the Gryffindor table, she put her hands together and raised them to her mouth, and when they approached they saw her eyes were covered in tears.

'Oh, Ron … Oh, Ron … I can't believe it … I just can't ─'

'What's happened Mum?' asked Ron, hurrying to her side. 'Is everything all right?'

She nodded and hugged him tight, still sobbing.

'It's just that … I can believe after all the suffering, there's still a beam of light in the world …'

'But what ─?'

'Don't worry, I know it.' She beckoned Hermione to approach too and took her hand. 'You know you have all my support in this, dear, I love you like a daughter.'

Now they were getting it. Hermione blushed and looked away, and Ron search the table for Harry, saw him smirking, and said, 'Harry!'

'Oh, no, no; it wasn't Harry. Nev— somebody told us the good news hours ago. My dear boy …'

'Mum, it's not … it's not that ─'

However, there wasn't any fact enough to forget what had happened. There wasn't a saddest person at Hogwarts; it was as though every soul had merged into a huge, mourning spirit.

While everybody got ready to leave, Professor McGonagall, with several injuries still etched on her face and her manner of walking, gathered all the teachers, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Kingsley, to the Headmaster's office.

'─ and due to the great services the four of you have paid to the wizarding world ─ of course, Neville, we knew everything you've done this year ─, I suggest, Minerva, to grant them their seventh year and NEWTs as approved, and with honours,' was saying Kingsley.

'I agree, absolutely,' said Professor McGonagall.

The rest of the teachers nodded, solemnly.

The three boys gapped and cried, 'Wow, great!', but Hermione didn't: her expression was concerned.

'Erm, Professor, I'd ─ I'd like to ─ to do it properly, the next term.'

Professor McGonagall smiled kindly, but Ron choked.

'I would have not expected anything less from you, Miss Granger. You're welcome, of course.' Then, addressing to the teachers and Kingsley, 'The Hogwarts Express is going to be here in about half an hour. Everybody should take a small recess to recover energy, and then come back to mend the castle for a new term. Hogwarts is back. The peace is back.'

This is not what I intended
I always swore to you that I would never fall apart
You always thought that I was stronger
I may have failed
But I have loved you from the start

Ron took Hermione outside, to the grounds, to enjoy the last moments at Hogwarts, at least for one of them. He had not said a word about her decision, but he wasn't going to hold it much longer.

'Erm, Hermione?'

'Yes?'

'Harry and I aren't going to be coming back next term, you know,' told her Ron, carefully.

'I assumed that. I think it's ok: we've learnt more than anything we could have done at school last year.'

'So … why are you going to come?'

'Because I won't feel complete, right with myself, unless I return to Hogwarts and finish the seventh year and take the NEWTs' said Hermione determined.

'But, erm, d' you know ─ d'you know what that means?' asked her Ron a bit confused. The thought was selfish, but had been wandering restless inside his head since she had declined McGonagall's proposal.

After all they had waited to be together, after she had shown him hours ago how she feel towards him, he could not understand what she was planning for them.

'That means that I'm not going to see you for a whole year. I thought you and I ─'

'We can be together, Ron. At least, it's what I'd like,' she added glancing at him and smiling. 'And it won't be the first time we will be apart, will it?'

'Not like … well, like this.'

'What? As more than friends, you mean?' She half snorted, smiling, as Ron nodded.

'Sorry. I have to get used to that.'

'Besides, Hogwarts has got owls; I'm going to write you. Will you write me?'

'Everyday, if you want.'

Hermione blushed. Everything had happened so fast that they had hardly had got time to realize that they were different, that they were boyfriend and girlfriend now, and they couldn't help but feeling awkward, along with happy.

'Really? Will you?'

'Of course.'

'But, it don't have to be everyday, if you don't feel like …'

'I will feel like, I and I promise you I'll do it,' said Ron seriously. 'And ─ well, if you want, you can go to the Burrow for Christmas. Harry will be there too, I reckon.'

'I'd like, Ron, but perhaps … I want to spent some time with my parents. I can go there, though.'

He nodded. They were by the lake, where the lowering sun was reflected on the water and the spring in the bright blue sky and the bird's singing.

So breathe in so deep
Breathe me in, I'm yours to keep
And remember me tonight
When you're asleep

'When are you going to seek out for your parents and lift the enchantment?' asked her Ron.

'As soon as I check how my house is. I'd bet the Death Eaters have done something with it, and I have to recondition it before taking back dad and mum.' Hermione sighed and bitted her lip. 'I don't know how I will explain them everything … what I did and why, and where I have been all this time … I doubt they could forgive me after listening to ─'

'Don't be ridiculous; how couldn't they forgive you for saving their lives, and plenty of lives too?' Ron knew he would feel his ears burning, but even so he reached Hermione's hand. 'I ─ erm, can go with you if you want. So you won't feel alone. And I can help you in explaining to your parents.'

Hermione squeezed his hand. A certain something was shouting her that Ron had changed in some way, that he was the same, yet different.

'I'm not sure that'd be very wise. Perhaps I should go alone and tell them the truth as carefully and calmly as I can, and once here, when they are fully recovered from the shock, you ─ you can come home and ─ well. You know …'

'Introduce me?' asked her Ron surprised.

'If you want; I mean, I know it could be a little too soon ─'

'That'd be great,' beamed Ron.

'What? Would you really like it?'

'Sure, why not? I reckon this is ─ kind of serious, isn't it?'

Hermione sighed, relieved, and gave him a hug, staying against his clean sweatshirt.

'Can I help you repairing your house when we are back, at least?'

Ron sensed her nodding, and felt something wet in his shoulder.

'Hey ─ why are you crying? Did I said ─ anything wrong or ─?'

But she hurried to shake her head and look up at Ron, and he saw she was smiling.

'It's nothing, just that – that our world has changed completely, right? Voldemort has gone ─ there won't be more war or murder ─ Harry is free ─ we are ─ together.'

'You're right. But that's not a reason for being sad,' replied Ron, a bit concerned.

'And who said it was tears of sadness?' retorted Hermione, and standing on her tiptoes, she reached his lips and kissed him, with the warm breeze stroking their skin as the distant murmur of the people coming out from the castle grew nearer.

The time to leave Hogwarts had come, and it was the moment to get back home. But Ron and Hermione learnt there was something that would never leave them: the fact of feeling beloved they now knew the shared.

Because tonight will be the night that I will fall for you
Over again, don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another dayI swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
You're impossible to find