A/N: Finally, it is here, the final chapter! It has taken a while to find the right words, to find the right scenarios, I've been back and forth and back again, but I got there. Not much has changed from my original ideas for this chapter, I think my biggest issue was bringing it to an end. It has been a wonderful journey, writing this piece, and that is thanks to you guys. I can not thank you enough for reading my fic, for reviewing, for enjoying, for marking as your favourite and sharing it with communities.
But before I get all emotional with a teary goodbye (I'll save it for the epilogue), I'll let you read what you've all waited patiently to read...
xBx
~ Chapter 20: Back on Track ~
Before she knew it, Hermione found herself on the road from Hogsmeade back to Hogwarts, hand-in-hand with Harry, with Neville walking along beside them. For a second it was as if she was back in school – but then she remembered the obvious missing piece: Ron.
She sighed; maybe returning to Hogwarts wasn't going to be as easy, or as fun, as she had thought it would be, mere moments ago. Harry, seeming to sense the apprehension she felt, gave her hand a gentle, reassuring squeeze. Hermione looked up at Harry and smiled,
"You ok?" Harry mouthed, Hermione smiled wider and nodded, returning Harry's gentle hand-squeeze.
Within fifteen minutes, Hermione, Harry and Neville came to a halt outside Hagrid's wooden hut, Hermione smiled despite her nerves: the place hadn't changed, it was exactly how she remembered it. Neville raised his hand and knocked on the door, which was answered by a resounding bark that could only have come from Fang, followed by Hagrid's heavy footsteps.
He swung the door inwards, and his eyes fell first on Neville, "Hello Neville, an' Harry!" he said noticing Harry, "What're you doin'..." He froze as his eyes settled on Hermione: he stood in shock for a few seconds, which felt to Hermione like they lasted a lifetime, "Galloping gargoyles!" He exclaimed at last, "'Ermione, is that really you?!"
Hermione smiled nervously, "Hi Hagrid. How are you?"
Hagrid leaned past Neville, and pulled Hermione into a tight one-armed hug, "It's good ter see yeh 'mione, really is. Well, come on in then" he said when he finally put her down, "Kettle's jut boiled, hows about I make us all a nice cup o' tea."
Within no time at all, Hermione was as comfortable in Hagrid's cabin as she had always been, and after reminiscing about her early years at Hogwarts – "aye, yeh were so little back then 'mione, all o' yeh were. But then again, I 'sepct ev'ryone seems little teh me, don' they?" Hagrid had chuckled - and touching upon the final years spent there, Hagrid finally asked, "So tell me, Hermione, what have yeh bin doin' with yerself all these years?"
Before Hermione could answer, Neville raised himself from his seat, "I'm sorry, but I have to go. I have a meeting with a student who needs a little help with their Herbology homework. Harry, Hermione, it was great to catch up, we'll have to do it again soon. Hagrid, see you at dinner."
Neville departed, and Hermione regaled her tale of the past ten years for what felt like the one-hundredth time, while Harry gave almost all his attention to Fang who had laid his head in Harry's lap, just like Hermione remembered he had often done in their school days.
When Hermione was nearing the end of her narrative, they were interrupted by a knock at the door.
Hagrid huffed himself out his seat to open the door, revealing Minerva McGonagall framed in the doorway, in all her stern glory.
"Good afternoon, Hagrid. I met Neville in the hallway and I heard a rumour that you are entertaining a couple of unauthorised visitors?" she challenged.
Hermione glanced at Harry in alarm, who shifted uncomfortably in his seat – even after all these years, McGonagall had the ability to make them quake. Hagrid shifted uncomfortably: "Well….er…I…." he mumbled.
Minerva leaned around him and spotted Hermione, a smile graced her lips, "So it's true, you're really are here." Stepping across the threshold and seating herself at the large table, Hagrid took a moment to recover from the sudden change of moods, but recovered swiftly and after shutting the door he set about getting another mug for tea.
Hermione smiled shyly, "Yes, Professor."
Minerva laughed, "My dear, you haven't been a student here for some time, you may call me Minerva. Harry has finally gotten used to doing so."
Hermione grinned shyly and looked over at Harry, who nodded in confirmation.
"How have you been?" Minerva asked, "I won't ask what you've been doing, I've been brought up to date by Betsy, as I'm sure you already know."
Hermione laughed, "Yes, she mentioned she had wrote to you. I assume she's wrote you often, keeping you updated?"
"Naturally. It was wonderful to hear you two are living together now, how is that going?"
Harry grinned, "Very well, Minerva, very well."
"Of course I was surprised to hear that you had left London, Harry, to settle in Yorkshire. I would have thought Grimmauld Place would suit you both much better?" Minerva queried.
"It will do, eventually," Hermione agreed, "but for know, I need to be in the Bay."
Minerva stayed with them another half an hour, and the four indulged in idle chit-chat.
Upon rising, she spoke to Hermione, "I'm sorry to have to rush off, but I will be expected to be present in the Dining Hall over dinner. It was lovely to see you again my dear, I wish we could have talked for longer. I hope you will stay in touch, now that you're back on our radars." Minerva told her, "In fact, drop by my office one day and we'll have tea. Drop me an owl to let me know when you're available. But don't leave it too long, sometime in the next couple of weeks will be welcome." Minerva delivered this in such a way as to make it an order rather than an invitation, and Hermione was left powerless to refuse, not that she really wanted to mind you, but the option would have been nice.
Hermione smiled, "I will." She promised as Minerva left. Harry and Hermione remained long enough to finish their own mugs of tea, before leaving Hagrid to go to the feast likewise, and retreating home themselves.
As promised, Hermione returned to Hogwarts a few days into November, less than two weeks after her return there, to join Minerva for tea in her office. As Minerva's owl had informed her, Hermione was greeted at the school by a Ravenclaw prefect who had a free period at the time Hermione had arranged to drop by.
"You're Hermione Granger." The Ravenclaw sixth year stated, trying to hide the excitement in her eyes, as Hermione walked up the stone steps leading up to the castle.
She smiled and nodded hesitatingly, "Yeah, that's me."
The Ravenclaw held out her hand, "I'm Rachel Rivers." She introduced herself.
Hermione shook the offered hand with a smile. "A pleasure to meet you Rachel."
Rachel turned, beaming, and led Hermione through the entrance hall toward the marble staircase. "I'll take you to the Headmistress' office, though you can probably still remember your way. It seems a bit silly really, you needing a guide. But I couldn't pass up this opportunity to meet you, I've read all about you of course, and heard all the stories about your time at Hogwarts, and how much you achieved," Rachel faltered in her admiration, halfway up the marble staircase, when he noticed Hermione was no longer with her. She turned and saw Hermione standing at the foot of the stairs looking around her, a look of sadness mingled with a look of apprehension.
"Are you alright, Miss Granger?" Rachel asked, bringing Hermione out of her reverie.
Hermione looked up and smiled at the concern etched on the teenager's face. Hermione squared her shoulders and began to climb the staircase, "Yes, thank you. I'm sorry, it's just been so long since I was here, remembering the last time-" she trailed off sadly then smiled again, "We made a real mess of the castle during that famous battle, the place has been restored extremely well. I saw the beginning of the restorations, but I left before they were completed. It's strange to see the place again."
Hermione walked side by side with the Ravenclaw who chatted happily about the stories she had heard, seeking the truths behind the legends. Hermione smiled and laughed at how some of the stories had become rather far-fetched – particularly the incidents surrounding the rescue of the philosopher's stone:
"I hate to burst the dream, Rachel, but it wasn't quite that exciting, the three of us never duelled Voldemort then – I couldn't pass through the final chamber, Harry went trough alone, and I went back to Ron who had been knocked out during a game of chess," she explained, halting at that part of her re-tell, she still found it difficult to talk about Ron. Silently, she automatically took a turn that would take her to the transfiguration corridor, where Professor McGonagall's office had been when Hermione had attended the school.
Rachel remained at the end of the corridor, "Where are you going? That's goes down to Transfiguration, the Headmistresses' office is this way," she signalled ahead of her, with a frown.
Hermione laughed at her mistake."Of course, McGonagall is headmistress now, I forget she will be in Dumbledore's study now." She said returning to the Ravenclaw's side, and proceeding up the corridor, "Though it's not Dumbledore's study any more, is it?" she corrected herself sadly, " it belongs to the current headmaster, or mistress, so it's her study now."
"What was Albus Dumbledore like?" The Ravenclaw asked interestedly, "I've read lots about him of course, and I've spoken to his portrait in the Headmistress' study a couple of times. He seems rather enigmatic. You're so lucky to have known him, when he was alive" she sighed wistfully, "especially the way you knew him, as part of the Golden trio, who knew him better than any other students had. But that biography that Rita Skeeter wrote, the year after his death, doesn't quite seem to fit with how he is remembered here."
Hermione frowned, "Let me give you some advice. When it comes to the writings of that Skeeter woman, take what she says with a pinch of salt. She likes to exaggerate. A lot. The interviews that she takes down, well, they're ten percent what is actually spoken and ninety percent fabricated by her quick-quotes quill. The only exception is an interview she wrote for the Quibbler about thirteen years ago."
The Ravenclaw became thoughtful as they approached the Gargoyles that still stood guard at the entrance to the Headmistress' Tower.
"Ginger Newts" Rachel gave the password, and Hermione followed her through to the moving spiral staircase. At the door, the Ravenclaw knocked and entered, "Miss Hermione Granger is here professor." She announced as Hermione entered the circular study.
"Thank you Rachel. You may return to your common room, your next class will be starting soon." Minerva said, rising from behind the large desk, and coming around to greet Hermione.
Hermione turned to the departing student, "Thank you Rachel, it was lovely to meet you."
The Ravenclaw smiled finally letting her excitement show, "It was a honour to meet you Miss Granger." She said before leaving and closing the door behind her.
Hermione chuckled and turned back to Minerva, "Hello Minerva," she started awkwardly, causing Minerva to laugh.
"Come in Hermione, have a seat, we'll sit up there" she indicated behind her desk, to a raised sitting area, "It's far more comfortable. And I appreciate you using my first name,by the way, despite how awkward you feel about it. but don't worry, it will come more naturally over time, I assure you. It took Harry a while to become accustomed to it." She said leading the way up three steps to a couple of comfy chairs seated around a coffee table. Hermione took a seat, as Minerva pointed her wand at the tea set, which consequently began pouring tea into the china cups.
Sitting opposite Hermione, Minerva began the conversation, "It seems you're quite as famous as Harry in this school." She commented, "I thought I would send a Ravenclaw to meet you as they are slightly more reserved in their admiration." She smiled, as Hermione raised her eyebrows in slight disbelief,
"Oh, believe me," Minerva continued, "If I had sent a Gryffindor or a Hufflepuff you would have been signing autographs at the door."
Hermione laughed, and shook her head, "That seems so strange. I was always in the background, and I liked that – I was quite happy for Harry to get all the limelight."
"Well, now you are equally as famous as he is. You probably won't be aware since you left the magical world not long after the war ended, but there have been a great many books written about you, and what you three accomplished. And a few books written about you solely, all ending with the many theories surrounding your disappearance and wondering of your return."
Hermione shifted uncomfortably, she really didn't want to go into the reasons she had left once again. Thankfully Minerva seemed to read Hermione's perturbation, and stated, "I will not ask what prompted you to leave, I think I got to know you well enough over your six years here to take a well educated guess. And I won't ask why it took you ten years to return, for the same reason. But I am very glad you have returned, Hermione, very glad indeed. I very rarely have favourites out of the students, and usually never show that favouritism when it occurs. But you, my dear, were my exception; I came to think very highly of you. Much like Albus regarded Harry, so I regarded you." She explained causing Hermione to blush. "I missed you terribly, and for quite selfish reasons, I will admit." Minerva said with a laugh. "I had once hoped that you would return to Hogwarts once you had finished your education, and take up a teaching position.".
"I did once consider teaching," Hermione admitted, "But then the war took over our lives, and I didn't think I would make it through. And when the war ended, when Voldemort was gone, it wasn't completely over, there was a lot of work to be done, a lot of international relationships to repair, and I had a fleeting thought of joining the Ministry, perhaps take my chance in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. But then I left, and I now have my own business, any other career seems impossible now."
"You're only Thirty," Minerva reminded her, "You have many, many years ahead of you yet. A career change is certainly possible should you wish to choose it." Minerva said slyly.
"Is it indeed?" Hermione asked with a sly smile, knowing at what Minerva was hinting, but saying nothing. Knowing Hermione well, Minerva let the suggestion hang before voicing in directly, allowing Hermione to digest the possibility, and instead directed the conversation toward Hermione's business. Minerva questioned about the location, about how she got started. She asked about changes she made over the years, and why, and laughed at her ill attempt at disguising her pride of now having the best Hot Chocolates in England, courtesy of her recent business dealings with Honeydukes.
"And how did you explain the sudden difference in your product? And how they can't find it anywhere else?"
Hermione shrugged, "Easy, the truth." She stated causing Minerva's eyebrows to skyrocket.
"You can't be serious?" Minerva asked astounded, causing Hermione to giggle.
"Or course: I tell them I switched my provider, that I found this obscure little place in a village in Scotland, practically hidden away in the mountains, and only a handful of places sold their products, and that I didn't know anywhere else that sold them."
Minerva laughed, "Not quite the truth."
Hermione shrugged again, looking rather smug, "Not the entire truth I admit, but not one word of lie."
"And are you happy?" Minerva asked, "Has this career choice fulfilled you?" genuinely interested in her favourite Protégé's well-being.
Hermione pondered the question thoughtfully, "Yes," she answered finally, "Yes, it has made me happy. And the simplicity of the life I've been leading did fill me with some fulfilment I believe. But I won't deny that Harry's reappearance, and my subsequent return to the wizarding world, have made me think about the other options I gave up."
Minerva smiled, "Do you think you would consider a change of career? Perhaps not now, but in the near future?" she asked.
"I think it would depend on what I was offered. And when." Hermione stated truthfully, "After all, my business is my life, it's like a child to me. And as with a child, as it grows, and matures, you have to learn to step back. And bearing that in mind I have started to take a step back, I've come to a financial position now to employ more hands, and give myself more time off. Eventually I would like to manage from behind the scenes completely I think. But at the moment I'm finding it hard enough only working in the store three or four days a week, I don't know what to do with myself the rest of the time." Hermione laughed.
Minerva placed her tea back on the table and looked at Hermione seriously, "When Betsy first wrote me to tell me you had been found, I was thrilled. Firstly, I was thrilled that you were alive, and that you were safe, and not long after I began to think of ways that I might entice you into becoming a teacher here. You were the brightest witch of your age, and in fact we are yet to find a student who has yet to match your capabilities. I fear we won't see another student with your abilities until your own children attend the school." Minerva said with a smile. "That being said, you would be an excellent asset to our staff."
"Minerva, thank you. But I don't know if I could, I certainly couldn't move back into the castle full time, not with a business to run-"
Minerva held up her hand with a smile, "My dear, I perfectly understand. And I wouldn't expect you to, however I do still want you as part of the teaching staff, and I think I have a proposal for you that you will find acceptable, if you would care to hear it."
"Alright," Hermione said slowly, leaning back, "I'll listen."
"Throughout your schooling you excelled in every class: you didn't have a particular strength, nor a particular weakness. You were gifted at every subject, and that is extremely rare, but brilliant. I wonder if you would consider joining the staff as a personal tutor? If you remember back in your prefect days, one of your duties was to assist the younger students in your house with studying subjects they were struggling with and bringing them up to speed. As I remember you were rather talented at that. Eleanor Smethly, who is our current senior tutor, will be leaving us at the end of term, and I would like you to take her place. You only need to be here three full days a week, your schedule will be entirely your own. Tutoring is usually done during lunch hour, and from four pm until six pm but you may change that as you see fit. Generally when it comes to exam time, sessions tend to be longer, but it is entirely at your discretion when you chose to call it a night. With the OWL and NEWT students, as you will remember, they have enough free periods for you to schedule sessions with them during the school day."
Hermione sat in silence digesting the offer: at the beginning of the visit, Hermione had had suspicions that Minerva would be wanting to recruit her to the teaching staff at some point in the future, but she didn't dream she would be presented with an offer directly.
"Minerva, I don't know what to say-" she stammered.
"You don't have to say anything yet, I haven't advertised the post. Indeed, Eleanor only told me she would be leaving on Monday. I thought I would give you first refusal. Take your time, think about it, but if you could give me your decision before the end of term, that would be helpful."
Hermione smiled, "Thank you, Minerva. I would like to discuss this with Harry, or course. But I think I will have a decision long before Christmas. Perhaps in a couple of weeks."
Minerva smiled, "Excellent. Well, it is nearly 1pm, I should take my place in the Great Hall." She commented, "Would you like to stay for lunch?"
Hermione bit her lip, "I don't know if I should," she started nervously.
"Nonsense, my dear. It's been years since you've seen the place, Neville mentioned how you expressed a wish to see the place once again. Join us for dinner, we'll have a place added at the teacher's table, and this afternoon I will gladly take you around. We still have plenty to talk about I'm sure. We never once had a lull in conversation, all those years you spent having afternoon tea with me on weekends."
Hermione smiled fondly at the memories, "Alright, I have no other plans for this afternoon, how can I refuse."
That evening Hermione and Harry were curled up on the couch, and while Harry was looking over a file he needed to be familiarised with before the morning, he asked, "Hey, how was your morning with Minerva? I forgot to ask when I came home, sorry." He apologised.
"It's ok, you've had a busy day, so I'll forgive your thoughtlessness this time," she joked, "It was good, actually. Not as awkward as I thought it was going to be, it was just like old times."
Harry smiled, "See, I told you, you would enjoy yourself once you got there."
"I had fun," she admitted, "I even stayed for lunch, it was quite nice sitting at the teachers table, I might do it again sometime."
Harry laughed, "Inviting yourself to lunch now. Didn't take you long to feel at home again did it?" Harry joked.
"Actually, Minerva offered me a job." She told Harry, watching his reaction carefully.
Harry looked up from his papers, a grin on his face, "Seriously?"
Hermione nodded and Harry threw back his head with a laugh, "I knew she had a ulterior motive for inviting you to tea. Which department?"
"You're not surprised at the suddenness?" she asked.
"Not at all." Harry told her, "I'm surprised she waited until now, to be honest. I half expected her to send you an owl long before now, inviting you to join the teaching staff. So, tell me, what position?"
"She wants me to be a senior tutor." She said, to which Harry frowned, "What?" Hermione asked.
"I would have thought she wanted you take a full time subject." Harry shrugged, "You're definitely cut out for that."
"But that would have meant me moving permanently to the castle," Hermione explained, "Are you trying to get rid of me Harry Potter?" she asked jokingly.
"God no!" Harry exclaimed loudly, putting his arms round her and crushing her to him, "I never thought of it that way."
Hermione laughed, and kissed him, "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. I haven't accepted the job yet, and I wouldn't be starting until January f I accepted."
"Why haven't you given an answer?" Harry asked, loosening his grip so he could face Hermione as she spoke. "This sounds right up your alley,"
"I wanted to discuss it with you. It does sound like a great job, and I know I would enjoy it. And the hours are pretty flexible. I only need to be there three full days a week, a couple of mornings, some evenings, maybe a few weekends around exam time? But the hours I keep are entirely at my discretion." Hermione explained.
"You don't have to convince me with it's positives, Hermione," Harry smiled, "This decision is entirely yours, you sound like you're gearing up to ask my permission."
Hermione laughed, "Well, if I do accept, I was thinking this afternoon it could mean altering our living arrangements. And that would involve you, so while I know I don't need your permission to accept, I do need your approbation."
Harry smiled, and kissed Hermione's forehead, "Love, when will you learn that you don't need that either. You know full well you can do what you want to do and I will just follow along. It's always been that way. But if it makes you feel better, go ahead and explain: how will your career change affect our living arrangements?"
Hermione laughed, "Well, I would first need to hire another pair of hands to run this place, which isn't much of an issue, and the expense will be countered by the wages I would get from Hogwarts. But I would be apparating to and from Hogwarts, most likely, and if I did that from here – well, people would get worried that I never showed my face anymore, I think." Hermione laughed.
Harry grinned, "Is this you trying to ask if we can finally move down to Grimmauld Place?"
Hermione nodded, "A little bit, yes." She admitted "I realise it might be a little bit short notice, we'd have to move before Christmas I think."
"Hermione it's plenty of notice, but what about this place?" Harry asked.
"Keep it as a holiday home? It's obviously not going anywhere; I could rent it out I suppose. I haven't honestly thought about it in great detail."
"And would you still work here, those days you weren't at the school?" Harry asked with a sly smile, conscious that this discussion was going as if Hermione had already accepted.
"Of course," Hermione said, "I've already cut the time I spend in the store down to a few days a week. Once we hit January, I can be there a full day, once a week, pop in every now and then depending on my schedule at the school. I can take care of the paperwork at home, like I usually do, going over the books once a week."
Harry grinned, "It sounds like you've already made your decision." He pointed out, and Hermione grinned sheepishly,
"I guess I have."
###
As winter set in, Harry made the necessary arrangements with Kreacher to prepare his house for the return of it's master and Hermione, while Hermione hired and trained two more members of staff. Hermione accepted the job, which Minerva had generously offered, and began to withdraw herself from the day to day running of the coffee shop. She promoted Katie to manager, giving her greater responsibilities and relieving Hermione of some of her burden.
Harry and Hermione moved into Grimmauld Place early in December, and Katie moved into the flat above the store – when Hermione voiced her plans of moving out of the bay to a bigger property, Katie had asked if she could rent the apartment, as it was perfect for her needs and she was currently looking for a new place as her rental agreement was about to expire (once again, fate seemed to be in Hermione's favour.)
Christmas was particularly joyful to Hermione, perhaps the happiest Christmas she had ever had. Harry and Hermione entertained the entire Weasley clan in their home, including the spouses and children of various Weasley children, and Andromeda and Teddy were also part of the gathering. Christmas turned into a week long affair, with the guests arriving Christmas Eve, and not leaving until New Years day – but with so many spare rooms, and plenty of space, Harry and Hermione didn't want it any other way.
Hermione continued to drop into her business a couple of times a week, though very rarely needing to pitch in as her workforce were an incredible team, well managed, and business was not particularly busy due to it being winter. Through claiming that she and Harry had moved to a house on the outskirts of Whitby, she was able to apparate to a safe spot on the outskirts of the village and could make her way down to her store without raising awkward questions at the suddenness of her arrival.
With January came Hermione's start date, and though she was looking forward to entering into a new chapter of her working life, that first week of January brought with it a swell of nerves. But Hermione's first day went better than she could have dreamed; before the month was out she had created a schedule of tutorial sessions dedicated to each subject, to which any student could attend, which took place at the same time every week. She set up personal tuition appointments, and revision sessions, and by the end of the month was fully settled into a working routine. From Monday to Friday she was at the school, arriving at 8am taking breakfast in the Great Hall with the other staff members; on Mondays and Wednesdays she was only there until the end of lunch, the rest of the week she remained until 6pm, with the exception of the odd Friday when she extended her hours to 9pm if the students required more help than usual.
Monday and Wednesday afternoons she would spend at her store, catching up with the locals, and keeping up to date with the books and the paperwork. Saturday remained her only day off, which she would spend with some member of the Weasley family and Harry, and Sundays she and Harry spent at the bay running the store single-handed.
When winter faded away, and spring began to warm into summer, Hermione's workload at the school increased. Exams were fast approaching the students, and more of them were looking for extra revision help from the most intelligent witch since Rowena Ravenclaw, as a result Hermione extended her office hours, working until 6pm from Monday to Wednesday, and staying late every Thursday and Friday; she even ended up working Saturdays, ensuring all her students would go into their exams confident and prepared. As a result, she only spent Sundays at the bay for the entirety of May and the beginning of June, but once summer hit and the exams and school were over, Hermione had her weekdays to herself again, and was able to go back to working at the café, helping to manage the summer tourism rush, without the need to hire extra hands.
Before she knew it, summer was nearly over again; during the final week in August, Katie had taken time off to go on holiday and Hermione had moved back into her flat above the store, to takeover Katie's duties while she was away. Harry had moved back in with her likewise, and on their final night before Katie's return, and they're subsequent removal back to London, they spent the evening down on the beach, sitting up on the rocks watching the tide creep closer and closer.
The night was warm, the sky so perfectly clear that all the stars, and the thin crescent moon, were visible, giving light to the beach. Harry had conjured a blanket to sit on, on the rocks, and the pair sat close together, leaning back against the rock behind them, sharing a bottle of elf-made wine and a giant slap of honeydukes' special chocolate, that Harry had also brought along with them when he suggested a walk along the beach.
Hermione sighed in contentment as she leaned her head on Harry's shoulder, "Harry, this was a wonderful idea, thank you."
Harry shrugged slightly, and put his arm around her pulling her closer, "It was nothing really. But I know how much you love this place: you moved here for this reason," he indicated toward the open ocean with the hand still holding his half-full wine glass. "We've only been here a week, and we couldn't leave until we'd spent one night sat on the beach under the stars."
Hermione smiled, "It is my favourite place, you're right. And it was right here, a little over a year ago, that you asked me to move in with you." She said, remembering fondly.
"I remember," Harry smiled; putting down his glass he put his hand in his jacket pocket, "Though at the time, I was actually going to ask you something else, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought your rational brain would tell you it was too soon, so I decided to escape the embarrassment and change the question."
Hermione frowned and twisted round to look at Harry, "What were you going to ask me?"
Harry smiled, "I was going to ask you to marry me," He said simply, with a smile, and Hermione's eyes widened. He pulled his hand out of his pocket, saying as his did "But then didn't seem the right time, so I decided to wait until now."
Removing his hand that was still wrapped around Hermione, he opened the small box that was now in his right palm, displaying a platinum ring, the centre stone was diamond – not too large, but of a decent size, surrounded by a number of tiny rubies. The ring was stunningly beautiful, and Hermione gasped at the sight of it, raising a hand to her mouth in shock, she looked at it for barely a minute returning her eyes back to Harry's as he spoke:
"Hermione, will you marry me?"
A/N: I'm pretty sure we all know Hermione's answer, but just in case you're in any doubt, I'll be posting the epilogue in about an hours time.
I hope you enjoyed the last, full length chapter, let me know what you thought, and thank you, once again, for taking the time to read
xBx