"When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen."

May 16

11:27 am

Hermione was on edge. She had sent her application days ago. She didn't want to be an auror with Ron and Harry. She wanted to fight for people's rights, making laws, not making curses, but she didn't want to tell them… not yet, not really. They knew she was interested in the rights of magical creatures, she just didn't know if they had figured out she was going to make a career out of it. But right now she almost wished she had told them, at least there would be someone to wait with her. She nodded her head and smiled as Ron and Harry sat down at the table. She started picking at her toast. Where were the damn birds. If the Ministry didn't want her then screw them. She'd be the best auror of her generation.

"Mione, are you okay?" Ginny asked, staring at her murder scene Hermione had created out of her eggs.

Hermione took a deep breath, shrugged, and then gently placed the fork down, righting it next to the plate, "I'm okay."

"She's about to feel a whole lot better." Ron whispered to Harry. Hermione narrowed her eyes at the two boys. Harry's face scrunched up in confusion, first looking at Ron then at something behind her. She turned around and saw Theo approaching.

"Good morning." He smiled at the group, receiving replies from the table. "Mione, McGonagall told me to give this to you. She said it was accidentally sent to her." Hermione took a sharp breath and gingerly took the package. "From the Department for Care and Regulation of Magical Creatures. To Hermione Granger." She read aloud.

"What could they want?" Ron asked, mouth full of food. She scooted closer to Ginny and patted the extra space next to her for Theo to sit down.

"Well… Hopefully… me as an employee." She answered, and ignored all the surprised looks. She reached for her butter knife and quickly cut the seal. She felt a hand on her knee and gave a small glance towards Theo, who nodded encouragingly. She pulled the letter out and quickly skimmed over it. Oh my god. She swiped at her tears. The hand left her knee and went around her shoulder, pulling her in, and Ginny cuddled up to her other side.

"Hermione," Harry started, but the look she gave stopped him.

"I got the job." She grinned. However the arm held tighter and Ginny just got closer and more excited. The red head snatched the letter away, passing it around the table so everyone could read it.

"Just wait till Hagrid hears about this." Ron grinned. Theo smiled; he knew how much the gamekeeper meant to the group and he knew how excited the giant would get.

"Oh he'll definitely help you prepare."

"Things are really changing aren't they?" Harry asked, a small sad smile on his face. Hermione gave one back, but then she had to laugh.

"Thank god." She replied, and the group agreed. The war was over, there were no more battles.

"How about we go out and celebrate tonight?" Theo offered. Hermione leaned her head against his shoulder. Right now all she could feel was the relief from getting the job.

"Perfect Hogsmeade day, and McGonagall is letting all years out because of graduation." Ginny announced, and then drained her coffee. "We'll meet you guys at the Three Broomsticks in an hour." She grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her along. Hermione shook her head at Ginny 20 minutes later when there were around 10 outfits strewn across her bed.

"Gin, it's just the Three Broomsticks with the guys." Hermione stared at the growing dump on her bed.

"You always have to dress your best Hermione, you always have to wow people. Besides, it's a celebration, and you deserve to feel confident." Ginny replied, her hands on her hips. "This'll do." The red head grinned, pulling a white button up and dark jeans from the pile of clothes. Hermione's eyebrows rose but she put it on without complaint; it was something she would have normally worn.

"You ready?" Ginny grinned and nodded her head.

"Ohh yeah." They walked down the hall, Ginny filling her in on gossip from the different Houses she had picken up, and about the new products Ron was helping George with. "It's great you know, Ron finding his place. He's done a really good job of managing the store, and sales have gone up with his help. He's even got an investor thinking about helping fund a new building."

"Wait he has? Why hasn't he told me?" Hermione frowned, grabbing onto Ginny's elbow. She was happy for him of course, but since when did they keep things from each other?

"Well, I don't think he's told anyone. I figured out because George knew. I think he wants to make sure it goes through before he tells anyone. So… don't tell." The red head smirked.

"I know he can do it." And Hermione did. Ron had always thought of himself as just the third wheel- the sidekick. But he was capable of so much.

"Well obviously- he's charming, smart, and has red hair- he's a Weasley." Ginny grinned, and the two entered the pub in laughter. Hermione sat down at their usual booth and scooted next to Theo. She smiled at the boys and took a sip of his butterbeer.

"What are you guys talking about?"

"Final planning." Ron answered, pushing a pile of papers into an envelope. Hermione's eyes narrowed at a familiar signed name.

"For what?"

"Something Ron showed me when I visited the shop a few nights ago. I'm just helping him speed along the process."

"You're helping Ron get Draco has his investor." She deadpanned, eyeing their reactions.

"Well… yes?" Theo answered, looking at Ron's and Harry's flinches. So Harry and Theo had known as well. Hermione took another sip of the butterbeer and counted to 10.

One. She was the only one in the group who didn't know about Ron's plan.

Two. They had kept this information from her after all they've been through.

Three. They pick the niece of her god damned torturer as their investor.

Four. This drink would be a whole lot better if it was covering one of them…

Five. Malfoy was Theo's friend and Theo didn't know that Bellatrix had tortured her.

Six. Malfoy had money. Ron and George needed it for expansion.

Seven. They didn't tell me because they didn't want me hurt.

Eight. I didn't tell them about my Ministry job…. It still hurts.

Nine. At least Ginny is somewhat shocked.

Ten. Fine.

She looked up from the glass, "Well I'm glad he signed it for you. Do you know where your next shop is going to be?" Ron opened his mouth, but paused. He shook his head and gave a small smile.

"Maybe America actually. Up in New York. There's a shopping area bigger than Diagon Alley."

"New York?" Ginny lit up, pushing Harry back so she could get a better view of her brother, "Hope you know you're going to have us over a lot. They have a Quidditch stadium that rivals ours. And that's not evening mentioning their shops!" Hermione smiled as the siblings bickered over who was allowed and when, and that No, he wouldn't take her shopping. Although Harry did tell her he would.

"Hermione?" Theo whispered, resting a hand on her knee. She raised her eyebrows and leaned in closer to him. "Why'd they flinch?" And she suddenly felt like she would tell him. That she would tell him the answer to any question he would ever ask, and that's what she wanted to do. But that answer was for a different time, not right now. Not on the night before their graduation.

"Later Theo, I promise." She answered and he gave a slight nod, going off in thought. He looked back at her, and she answered his gaze, looking into the different colored eyes. The eyes she had taken for granted.

"Hermione… after graduation… After Graduation I'm going to see my parents and talk to them about getting the money I invested through the years with my father's name. I'll be set for a while with it, and I'll be able to find out what I want to be and chase it. When I come back, maybe in a couple weeks," He licked his lips, "would you go to dinner with me?" She wanted to say yes, she did. He looked nervous, but sure of himself. She wanted to, but her throat closed up.

"Theo, I don't…" She started, and she saw his face close down. She slid out of the seat and grabbed his hand to pull him along with her. "Nothing," She told the remaining three as she dragged Theo away from the table and outside into the evening air. She turned away from him and stared at Honeydukes filled with students across the street, the window to it looking a lot more inviting than this conversation. "Theo, I don't know if I could…" She clenched her eyes. She was an adult wasn't she? "Satisfy? Your needs? I don't know if I'd ever be interested in it and I don't know if you fully understand that."

"It's okay." He answered after a moment. And she tried to get rid of the pain, if he wouldn't date her because she wouldn't' do anything sexual; then she didn't need him. "So is it a yes for dinner?" She slowly turned around to look at him, her eyes wide.

"Are you sure?" Theo laughed, and pulled her into his arms, his chin resting on her head.

"Hermione, you are one of the most kind, brilliant, and beautiful person I know. Yes I'm sure." She hugged him back and breathed in the familiar scent. He broke the hug. "I'm taking it as a yes." She grinned in reply, "Now let's go back inside and get the others, I heard a Hufflepuff if you'll believe it, is throwing a party tonight for graduation."

"Theo, did Ginny know about how you feel about me?" He held the door open for her and gave a slight grin.

"I may have mentioned it to Ron, why?" It explained the dump of clothes on her bed.

I open at the close.

A/N: EL FIN! It's done guys(: I chose a quote from Harry Potter to end it because I believe that it's the ultimate inspiration for the stories I write and the things I do. I love stories that leave you with somewhat of an open ending. I thought this quote represented that concept perfectly because when there's an ending, there's a beginning that no one knows the ending to until it happens. Then the cycle starts again. Thank you so much everyone who reviewed, followed, or favorited this story. It means so much to me and I love you all.