Disclaimer – The original Harry Potter characters and the world of Harry Potter are not of my own invention and I do not claim ownership of them. KC

It was only a matter of hours after the graduation ceremony that the Seventh Years' trunks were loaded onto the train and many, yet not all, participated in heartfelt goodbyes with their Professors who had accompanied them to the station. Then boarding the train they waved out the window until the station was out of sight.

Aubrey kept her eyes on her beloved Hogwarts right until it too went out of sight. She felt her chest become uncomfortably heavy. Hogwarts had been her home for seven years and she wasn't sure she could let go of it just yet. Never again would she have lessons in the old classrooms or chase her friends down the long and winding corridors. She would never have another meal in the Great Hall or have a competitive snow ball fight with the others in her year level on the expansive grounds. Almost about to cry, she said a silent goodbye to the castle as it went out of view and followed Nell and Henry into an available compartment.

Henry sat down next to the window and immediately started to read the newspaper he had collected at the station.

"I can't believe we are actually leaving," sighed Nell, who wore a faraway expression.

Aubrey nodded in agreement. "Seven years went by too quickly. Things have changed so much…"

Over just those seven years, her life had completely transformed. She could still remember greeting Mr Splint at her door as a plain and ordinary girl. Yet with the help of her friends that she had made along the way, she had joined the wizarding world and had blossomed into the young woman and witch she was today. She had lost and she had found, felt pain and felt happiness. But overall Hogwarts had given her the most memorable and altering years of her life so far and they would stay fondly in her memory forever.

Her thoughts drifted back to the present and found herself gazing at Henry. 'What will the future bring?' she thought.

Nell caught her eye, giving her a questioning look and gestured towards the door, asking silently whether she should leave. The two girls had of course told each other everything from the previous night's events and so Nell understood Aubrey's wishes. Aubrey gave her a small smile and curt nod, thankful that her friend could read her thoughts.

"Well, I'm off to find Roman!" Nell announced loudly, watching for a reaction from Henry. "You know, my new boyfriend," she beamed, "So I'll see you guys later," and she bounded out of the compartment.

Watching the door rattle shut after her friend, Aubrey noted the number of the compartment they were currently sitting in. Little did she realise when they had first sat down that this was the same compartment that she and Henry had rode in their first year. Smiling at the irony she looked over at her - friend? Boyfriend? What was he to her now? She pondered this question. True, best friends don't make out but they hadn't really discussed if they were now more than that now after their late night snog. Even now she couldn't ask him about it as he was concentrating intently on something he was reading in the paper. She decided to give him time to finish his article before she brought it up; at least she would have some time to think about how she was going to phrase such a question.

But Henry hardly lifted his head the entire way back to London and Aubrey could feel her chances of talking to him alone were slipping away. Leaning forward slightly to see what he was reading, she saw the title at the top of the page advertising job positions. Her heart became heavy. He had the perfect opportunity with Nell currently absent from the compartment to talk to her about anything and everything - hell, even kiss her senseless! Yet he decided that waiting another day to start searching for a job was not an option, that he had to use his last ride home from Hogwarts with her to do just this. Did he even remember their moment last night when he kissed her against the castle's walls? Or was it the firewhiskey that he had consumed that had made him act in such a way? Did he even care about her the way she cared about him?

Aubrey felt almost glad when Platform 9 and ¾ came into view as she didn't think she could contain her disappointment much longer, knowing that it would surely come out in the form of tears. Mumbling something about getting her trunk she leapt from her seat and onto the station when the train came to a stop. She was thankful when she reached the storage carriage that her owl and trunk were easy to retrieve and loaded a nearby trolley with her belongings. Not thinking as to whether she should say goodbye to her friends, no matter how much pain one of them was causing her, she started to walk briskly towards the barrier back to the Muggle platforms 9 and 10. She could feel her eyes becoming watery just as a hand grabbed her wrist.

"And just where do you think you're going?"

She wouldn't have needed to turn around to see who it was but she whirled around just the same.

Henry smirked at her, his eyes twinkling, waiting for an answer.

She choked back a wave a tears to curtly reply "Home."

"Home? If I'm not mistaken, I thought you no longer had one," he said

She snatched back her hand, feeling anger boil up inside her, and turned her back to him before she did something brash.

"Aubrey! No, wait, I'm sorry! That came out wrong. Please stop!"

She slowed and spun around again to punch him, a little too feebly, in the shoulder. He hardly reacted to the contact and grabbed her wrist again in desperation to keep her attention.

"I only meant that you can't go anywhere until we have found a home."

"We?" she squeaked, sniffing.

"Have you forgotten that I separated myself from my parents last summer? I had no intention of returning to their house once I graduated so I am without a home too. That's what I was doing, you see, on the train reading the paper; I was looking for a house."

Suddenly he frowned and disappointment showed blatantly on his face. "I just thought now that we are - um, that we would live - er… but if this is not what I think this is then -"

"No!" she jumped, suddenly catching on. "I want to! I mean I do, yes I want to live with you and be with you," she gushed and she saw relief flood his face. "You didn't talk to me at all on the train and I thought -"

His eyes widened in realisation. "You thought I was ignoring you! That I didn't care! Oh I see it now - I'm sorry. I just got so focused-"

"I know" she said, smiling, "You got that little crease on your forehead like you did when you were studying." She reached up to point out to him where on his forehead the crease was. She let her hand linger there and then brought it down the side of his face, gazing into his silver eyes.

"I'm sorry that I made you question us. I should have shared it with you," he said softly.

"As long as there is an 'us'," she replied.

"Yes," he smiled lovingly, "there is an 'us'. It's only ever been you Aubrey. It will only ever be you."

And then he kissed her and it was soft, tender and full of love. There was none of the overwhelming passion in it that engulfed them the night before but it made her feel just as warm; her heart was full.

After waiting for Henry to retrieve his trunk, Aubrey took his hand in hers. Then together they walked through the barrier and towards their future.

Thank-you to all of you who have read my story from start to finish and a huge shout out to all those who have followed my story as it was published chapter by chapter. And to those who have sent me feedback and reviews, thank-you so much for your comments of encouragement and support; you guys have inspired me to continue to improve my writing. I promise you all that more stories will be published soon (some are already available) so please check them out!

All the best and hopefully I will see you again soon!

KC