# The End of the Beginning

CA Crawford

Rating: PG13
Genres: Drama, Romance
Relationships: Harry & Hermione
Book: Harry & Hermione, Books 1 - 7
Published: 01/03/2015
Last Updated: 14/11/2015
Status: Completed

Sequel to "Lost Pieces". The trio returns for their final year at Hogwarts. New relationships and new challenges arise at our favorite castle. Harry/Hermione, Draco/Ginny, Ron/OC.

## 1. Chapter One

A/N: The final piece to my post-war trilogy. Will finally bring resolution to the Harry/Hermione relationship as well as the other relationships I want to put together. Fair warning, it will start off Harry/Ginny and Harry will not be Hermione’s first post-Ron relationship. But we WILL get there I promise.

In the end, this story has turned out more fun than I could have imagined. For all of you who have been with me since the first chapter of “Continental Holiday”, I’m supremely grateful. Hopefully this storyline is doing justice for the characters that you love as much as I do. As always, please read and review! I hope you enjoy this piece as much as I do! Cheers!

As always and forever more, I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to the brand. If only…

It had been by far the most enjoyable two weeks Harry had ever had at the Burrow.

He had obviously never had the chance to experience what life was like living in a wizard home with the largest cares on anybody’s mind being everyday chores, meal choices, and quidditch. Even the Daily Prophet stories about the reconstruction of the Ministry of Magic and the country at large couldn’t break the spell of normalcy that had fallen over the magical home in Ottery St. Catchpole.

Harry, Ginny, Ron, Luna, Hermione, and George were locked in a tight game of quidditch. Harry, Hermione and Ron versus Luna, Ginny and George. With no snitch, Harry found his chaser skills pushed to the limit by Ginny. Luna was only slightly better than Hermione and the two Weasley keepers both blocked a fair share of the shots at their goals.

Harry’s team was up by ten and needed only one more goal to reach the agreed upon score limit of one hundred and fifty.

Ron blocked a shot from Luna and passed to Hermione, who immediately tried to pass to Harry. Unfortunately, Harry had been across the pitch and Ginny easily intercepted the pass and pelted the quaffle passed the outstretched arms of Ron to tie the game.

Harry called a timeout to talk his team through a game plan.

“Okay, tie game, it’s our last match of the summer so let’s take the Burrow Cup home with us for good.”

They had been exchanging an old bicycle Harry had found that Hermione had transfigured into a dull aluminum replica of the Quidditch World Cup back and forth all summer and it was understood that today’s winner would have their names engraved upon the cup and keep it for the duration of the school term.

“Ron, I was thinking…maybe we should switch you and Hermione? Just go all out assault on their goal?”

Harry saw a look of terror come across Hermione’s face at being trusted with the goal, but Ron was already shaking his head.

“No go mate. My chaser skills aren’t that great. Besides, I think I have a better idea.” A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes and he looked at Hermione. “You’re going to score the winning goal.”

Hermione flushed. “M-me? But I’m rubbish! What are you talking about?”

Ron looked at Harry. “Yes, you’re going to do it Hermione, because Harry is going to be the hero.”

Harry was confused. How could he play the hero, but Hermione score the goal. Wouldn’t he be the one to score the goal if he was going to be the hero? Besides, it made sense for him to do it since he was the better chaser and no one in their right mind…..

“Wait, I get it. I’m going to be bait!” a smile etched across Ron’s face. Hermione looked more confused than ever.

“Exactly mate. You’re going to do the best flying of your life and convince them that you are going to score the goal or die trying. If I know Ginny and George well enough, they’ll pull Luna off Hermione to double you…”

“Leaving her wide open to take the shot!” Harry finished. Both boys looked, smiling at Hermione.

“No! What if I miss? You take the shot Harry!” Harry had only seen her look this scared once, before their O.W.L. exams in fifth year.

Ron simply laughed. “Hermione Granger! You have ridden dragons and faced the worst evils this world ever conjured and you’re afraid of shooting the winning goal in quidditch??”

Hermione’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not afraid to shoot the quaffle!” she huffed, “I…I’m just afraid…”

“That you’ll fail.” Harry finished. Hermione blushed slightly.

Harry gave her his most reassuring smile. “I trust you completely. You’ll be brilliant, just like always.”

“Oi! This is the longest time out in quidditch history! Let’s play!” George’s voice floated to them across the pitch.

Harry and Ron both grinned at Hermione who looked like she might be sick. When play started Harry took the quaffle and pushed his Firebolt as far as he could push it. He dived, rolled, climbed, dinked and dunked all over the pitch trying to get past Ginny and Luna.

Ron had been right, even George wasn’t sparing a glance Hermione’s direction, their entire team was convinced that Harry was going to take the shot.

If he could just buy a few more seconds, Hermione had inched her way within striking distance of the goal.

It was right then that it happened, He had streaked towards George and backtracked to run straight into Luna. In the brief moment he hesitated so as not to dismount her, Ginny punched the quaffle loose towards the middle of the pitch.

Both he and Ginny were streaking as fast as they could towards the quaffle. Harry knew with the size of the pitch that there was no way this was taking longer than seconds to unfold, but it seemed like whole minutes went by neck and neck with Ginny, leaning with all his might to force every ounce of speed out of his broomstick.

At last, thanking the heavens for his superior broom, Harry gained a knife edge on Ginny and grabbed the quaffle. He didn’t hesitate and instantly passed it behind his back in Hermione’s direction.

He pulled out of his dive and flew the opposite direction and, to his glee, saw that all three sets of eyes were still focused on him. It was Ginny who noticed first that Harry was empty handed, but the moment hesitation she took to look to see if Luna had it cost her.

Hermione had her arm wound up and was already in her throwing motion when Ginny screamed at George to block it.

George looked from Harry to Hermione for one dumbstruck fraction of a second before desperately diving towards his left hoop.

Time seemed to slow again for Harry as he watched Hermione’s shot and George converge at the hoop, the quaffle passing a hair’s breadth past his outstretched fingers and through the goal.

“Yes!” Harry and Ron shouted together and flew towards a frozen Hermione. Ginny and George had started arguing while Luna simply gazed into space and hummed to herself.

They both reached Hermione at the same time and threw their arms around her, slowly sinking to the ground.

“I…I did it!” she finally squeaked. When they reached the ground Hermione threw her arms around Harry who picked her up and twirled her around once, both of them laughing hysterically. While Ron clapped them both on the back, Harry noticed that Hermione’s eyes seemed very bright with pride and….

Before he had time to think about it, Ginny’s voice summoned him from his reverie and a very different set of brown eyes, ones set in a sour face and full of envy grabbed his attention.

“Here is the cup, you guys won fair and square.” She thrust it at Harry coldly. Worried that there was more to her demeanor than quidditch, Harry handed the cup to Ron who had Hermione help him hold it aloft.

“The first annual Burrow Cup Champions!” Ron proclaimed. Hermione flicked her wand and their names appeared in small, neat handwriting around the cup’s edge.

“Brilliant move Harry and Hermione.” George chimed in. “Would have lost every galleon in Gringotts betting you would take the shot Harry.”

“It was Ron’s idea.” Hermione beamed at him. Ron thrust his chest out and the airy confidence that had begun to find a home on his face came out in full force. It reminded Harry forcefully of Cedric Diggory.

“Are you kids done playing? I could use some help setting the table!” Mrs. Weasley’s voice called out from the kitchen.

While Hermione, Ron, Luna, and George retreated to the house to wash up and help Mrs. Weasley, Harry hung back with an extremely grumpy looking Ginny.

“You played a great game Ginny.” Harry spoke soothingly. He knew she hated losing, but had a very bad feeling that this had something to do with his bushy haired best friend.

Ginny had been surprisingly angry about Ron and Hermione’s break up. Ron had told him that she had spent twenty minutes prying every detail of their separation in a very exasperated tone before finally huffing away and sulking for a few hours. She had also been treating a hurt Hermione with cold indifference since she had joined them at the Burrow with Harry two weeks prior.

“What was all that about?” Ginny spat accusingly, pointing vaguely to the spot next to Harry.

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about Ginny. We were simply celebrating winning.” Harry knew good and well what she was talking about, but was determined to stand up for Hermione. He had grown tired of Ginny’s treatment of her.

“Oh, so can I plan on you dancing around with her and staring at her every time we win a game at Hogwarts too?” Ginny’s face had flushed to match her hair. Harry knew her temper was reaching dangerous levels.

“Ginny I don’t know what your problem is with Hermione, but this is getting old. She is your friend and my best friend. Why don’t you start acting like it? You never even congratulated her on getting her parents back.” Harry could feel his own temper rising.

“It’s not my fault she broke my brother’s heart! And sorry if I don’t want my boyfriend dancing around with another woman!” he swore that he saw flames fly from her nostrils. A dragon might actually be preferable to facing an enraged Ginny Weasley, but Harry was in no mood to back down.

“If you haven’t noticed, your brother is just fine, and what is with this new jealousy of Hermione? You never seemed to care before, but ever since we came back from the horcrux hunt you have been on my case about her!”

“Because you’re both different now!” Ginny was only inches away from his face now. “You two have always been close but something happened while you were gone and now you’re practically inseparable! At least before I knew my brother was in the picture, but she’s a free woman now!”

“Ginny, I told you, I looked at the Marauders Map thinking about you while I was gone. I’m with you now, not Hermione. Is that not good enough for you?”

He stared hard into her bright brown eyes. They were beautiful, even when they were shooting daggers at him like they were now. After a lengthy stare down, she finally huffed an enormous sigh.

“Yes Harry, it is.”

She planted a soft kiss on his lips. Harry returned it, but frowned.

“I want you to promise me you’ll make things right with her.”

Ginny looked ready to go another round, but at the fire in Harry’s emerald eyes, she relented again.

“Okay.” She mumbled. It would have to do. “I love you.”

Harry felt an electric shock go down his spine.

“Ginny….you…what?”

“I said: I love you Harry.” Her face fell and Harry saw hurt pooling in her eyes.

“I….Ginny…” he stammered.

“It’s okay Harry.” There were tears forming at the edges of her eyes, “I’ll just go back inside.”

She took a step towards the house, but he reached out and grabbed her arm.

“Ginny, wait.”

She turned around, tears now falling freely, but a small flicker of hope flashed across her face.

“I just, you took me by surprise.”

“I’m sorry Harry, I meant it though.”

“I know you do Ginny, but…” he took a deep breath, “That’s exactly why I can’t say it back.” The hope on Ginny’s face died. “I don’t want to say anything I don’t mean.”

It sounded much lamer out loud than it had sounded in his head, but he meant it. He had no desire to hurt her. She had been hurt enough lately without him adding to it.

“I…I understand Harry. I wouldn’t want you to say it to me unless you meant it.” Ginny sighed and turned to walk back to the house. Harry stood for a moment asking himself why he couldn’t tell his first and only real girlfriend he loved her.

## 2. Chapter Two

A/N: Okay, you guys are officially caught up with me. I had to finish this before posting. I hope I can maintain a steady pace with the updates, but I’ll probably fall off the blistering pace I had set before. Absolutely love the way this chapter ends. My favorite scene yet. Cheers!

Content had never been a word to describe Ron’s existence.

There had always been older brothers to live up to, a romantic interest that always did better at nearly everything, not to mention being friends with the guy who was the savior of the wizarding world. Twice.

But now? None of that bothered him anymore. He had been through too much and lost too much in the past year to let simple things bother him anymore.

Besides, he was just starting to realize just how good he really had it.

Poor Harry had been inundated with thank you cards and gifts the moment he had returned to England. He refused to go in public anymore unless it was necessary because he couldn’t go anywhere without a crowd forming around him. The boy had never been comfortable with fame of any kind and found his new status more cumbersome and embarrassing than anything. Even Ron, who had used to yearn for the sort of spotlight Harry always had, didn’t envy him.

Hermione’s parents, while they had been more than happy to have their memories and their daughter back, had decided for the time being to stay in Australia. They corresponded frequently, but he could tell by the look that crossed Hermione’s face when she read their letters that there were still some tensions in the Granger family.

“Ron? Could you help me slice the potatoes for supper?” his mother’s voice called from the kitchen.

“Coming.”

Ron made his way to the kitchen and successfully bewitched a knife to slice the freshly peeled potatoes. The slices weren’t exactly even, but he was still getting the hang of some of the more domestic charms.

There was also the small matter of the way the Harry and Hermione acted around each other. To the untrained eye, nothing had changed. Harry and Hermione were still Harry and Hermione, the best of friends. However, Ron noticed that there was something new about them.

It was little things: Harry taking Hermione’s dishes with his and Ginny’s at the end of meals, Hermione’s eyes lingering a bit longer on Harry when he left the room, Hermione ruffling Harry’s hair, or Harry actually paying attention when Hermione went on her long diatribes.

Finishing the potatoes and moving now to the sink to wash some vegetables, he had to try three times before he got the hang of the simple wand flick to make them move and wash themselves.

Unfortunately, he didn’t think he was the only one to notice this new level of friendship between Harry and Hermione. Ginny had been upset when he told her about his and Hermione’s relationship ending, but he thought it suspicious that she could still be upset about that now. He caught Ginny throwing Hermione dirty looks when she had her back turned and there definitely seemed to be a rift between the former friends.

No, Ron couldn’t be more grateful to avoid the problems his two closest friends were dealing with. He was more than happy to enjoy his friends and family now that the pallor of Fred’s death had finally seemed to lift from the house. It wasn’t that the pain was gone, but it no longer seemed to be sucking the life out of them.

His father and Percy had both returned to work and Ginny had returned from her stay at the Lovegood’s with Luna in tow. Even George smiled from time to time, though he still hadn’t returned to the joke shop. Angelina was managing things at the moment with occasional help from Ron, but she came over at least once a week to ask George to come back. Every time George maintained that he would return, but that it just wasn’t time yet. Nobody begrudged him taking his time.

Finishing his work in the kitchen, Ron decided t take a stroll through the woods. He followed the little river where he and Hermione had once chased each other before settling down in the shade a tree was providing over a large, flat rock at the river’s edge.

To top off his good fortune, he was even returning to Hogwarts. He had been ambivalent when Hermione had first brought it up, but the closer he came to the first of September, the happier he was to be returning for his real final year.

It seemed too good to be true that he would finally have a normal year, where he could enjoy the simple pleasures of school life without having to worry about nefarious plots and evil sorcerers. Sure the schoolwork was a pain, but he missed quidditch games, Hagrid, Hogsmeade weekends, and the easy companionship of life in Gryffindor tower. Besides, he was sure he and Harry were going to find plenty of ways to make their seventh year a memorable one. They still had the cloak after all….

“Hey mate, mind if I join you?”

He had never heard Harry coming. The guy had developed into quite the sneak.

“Of course.”

Harry plopped down beside him, skipping a stone that had caught underneath his leg across the slow moving water.

“Seems unreal to be heading back.”

“Unreal? Yes. Brilliant though.” He replied. “You and Ginny alright?”

“Yeah.” Harry frowned. It made him look older and much more like the careworn Harry of the past three years than the younger, happier Harry. Ron and Hermione had talked in private about how much they wished to see that Harry again.

“Hey, at least now you’ll get to have class with her too. It’ll be strange, being a year behind.”

“Yeah.” Suddenly, Harry’s face lit up in a genuine smile. “I nearly forgot to tell you, Neville’s coming back!”

Ron grinned back. “Really? He finished though right?”

“Not exactly, they didn’t really have any exams after the battle. Besides, he said he spent more time in detention or hiding from the Carrows than actually getting an education.”

Ron chuckled. So they wouldn’t be the only students making up a year. It would be nice to have a familiar face in class.

They sat in silence for a few minutes before a loud bell tolling came drifting through the trees.

“Time to eat!” Ron jumped up excitedly.

“Race you there.” Harry had already took off.

“No fair!” Ron shouted and chased after him. Luckily his long legs made up for the late start and they reached the back door to the Burrow at the same time, huffing for breath.

“Tie.” They said together.

Dinners at the Burrow had always been his favorite part of being a Weasley. They may not have had much, but Ron wouldn’t trade the bustling chatter and clatter of silverware that accompanied the wonderful food his mother made for anything.

The chatter was particularly noisy tonight, as there was only three days left before Hogwarts term began. Hermione was chatting away with Arthur and Percy about N.E.W.T.’s. Harry, Ginny, and George were talking rapid fire about the Gryffindor quidditch team. Molly was politely listening to Luna talk about her travel plans for after graduation.

It was then that he caught it. He had turned to ask his father what his test scores had been when he noticed Hermione was not looking at Arthur anymore, but was looking across the table concernedly at Harry.

Harry, he was just now noticing, wasn’t as invested in his conversation as he looked. His eyes had a faraway look to them and he was frowning. Sensing someone’s eyes on him, Harry looked first at Ron, giving him a faint smile before turning to Hermione. His face relaxed and he gave her a genuine smile.

Hermione met his smile with a concerned look. Harry’s smile faded and he nodded his head slightly. Hermione raised a single eyebrow to which Harry replied by shaking his head. He smiled again reassuringly and the smile widened when Hermione smiled back. Briefly, Ron saw a look of utter contentment flash across both his friends faces before both of them abruptly turned and rejoined their respective conversations.

I’ll never quite understand those two.

They had literally just had an entire conversation without saying a word to one another, and no one other than him was any the wiser. It baffled him to no end the connection they seemed to have. He wondered briefly what it was they had been “talking” about.

Ron laughed to himself. He was sure whatever it was, they would fill him in later. They always did. Besides, nowadays it was sure not to involve the kinds of things those conversations used to mean. He was content to wait and see.

He spent the rest of the night gazing fondly around the table at the family and friends he loved so much. Yes, Ron Weasley was content. Very content indeed.

~

Ron woke the next morning to his door banging open and a high pitched squeal of delight. Before he could fully get his bearings, something light landed on his sheets and his view was obscured by Hermione’s bushy hair.

“Our Hogwarts letter are here! Finally!” he heard her tear into hers and disappear behind the parchment. Opening his own, he was surprised to find two badges instead of one. The first was his prefect badge, and the second was in Gryffindor colors with a large “C” on it.

“What’s…?”

Hermione laughed, beaming at him. “You’re Quidditch Captain now Ron.”

“But Harry…”

“Harry turned it down. The Headmistress wrote him to ask him if he wanted it a week ago and he declined. He didn’t want it. He said you would make a better captain than him anyways.”

She was still smiling at him while Ron processed this new information. Him, Quidditch Captain. It made his chest swell.

“Brilliant. I’ll have to thank him.” He looked over to see Harry’s bed already empty. “Where’s Harry?”

“He went to see Teddy today. He wanted to spend some time with him before we left for Hogwarts. He left early this morning.”

He had nearly forgotten that Harry had a godson now. An orphan godson at that.

“Well remind me to check with you to book Harry for appointments.” He grinned at Hermione. She scowled back at him.

“I’m not his secretary.”

“No, you just happen to know what he’s up to at all times and what his plans are.”

“It’s not my fault he…”

“Hermione I’m kidding.” He patted her arm. She huffed out a breath before taking on a radiant smile. “What is it ‘Mione?”

“I’m head girl!” she squealed, shoving a shiny badge with the letters “HG” on it in his face.

“Haha, funny how those are your initials. Congrats. No one deserves it more than you.” She swooped down to give him a hug. “I wonder if that means…” he looked at the unopened letter in her hand. Hermione pulled it away from him.

“We’re not opening Harry’s letter. Your curiosity will have to wait.” But Ron could hear the trepidation in her voice.

“Come on….I know you want to know if he’s Head Boy.” He needled, seeing the torn expressions on her face. “But okay, if you say so….we’ll just wait all day until Harry comes back late tonight…”

He never finished because right then Hermione ripped open Harry’s letter and let out a shriek of delight when a badge just like hers with the letters “HB” fell into her hand. She swooped down and crushed Ron in another hug.

“I knew it! I knew it! Oh, Harry! I wish he was here!”

Genuinely amused at her antics, Ron gently removed her and got up to get dressed. “Why don’t you go grab Pig to write to your parents?”

“Oh, you’re right! They’ll be so excited! Thank you Ron!” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before rushing out the door and down the stairs.

“As if it could have been anyone else.” Ron chuckled to himself. He had a brief memory of seeing himself in the Mirror of Erised as Head Boy. Back then he had wanted so badly to one day wear the badge. Now he found he was quite happy to be content with his own badges.

He had found being a Prefect may have had its advantages, but he wasn’t the biggest fan of the responsibility that came with it. Being Head Boy would have simply added on to it, especially if he was going to be Quidditch Captain as well.

He was already going over in his mind how he wanted the team to play and who would still be on the team. Most of Harry’s team had been in lower years and so would be back, but they would be a year out of practice since quidditch had ceased during Snape’s year as Headmaster. Open tryouts would probably be a good idea.

His mind still preoccupied on quidditch, he was ambushed in the kitchen by his mother who was over the moon about their collective achievements. He pieced together through her hyper speed chatter that Luna had been made a prefect to replace Benjamin Driggers who had died during the Battle of Hogwarts.

Knowing that his mother would be in full swing preparation mode for a big party that night, he slipped out of the kitchen to find somewhere to hide out for the next couple of hours. The joke shop seemed like a good idea. Angelina could always use the extra hands and he enjoyed the time he spent there. It hardly ever felt like work. His mind made up he walked past the apparition barriers, turned on the spot and was greeted by the noisy crowd outside of Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes.

He pushed his way past the crowd to find a frazzled Angelina behind the counter.

“Ron! Thank God! The new guy never showed up! Stupid git. I could use some help!”

Ron chuckled to himself as he situated himself behind the other side of the counter. “No problem Angelina.”

He turned to help a group of young kids who could have been first years at Hogwarts. Before he knew it he was neck deep in helping customers. The joke shop had always done well, even during the height of the war, but ever since the war had ended it had positively exploded. It seemed as if people were still in the celebratory mood they had been in all summer and business was booming.

He got a sense of satisfaction in knowing that these people were getting laughs and good times out of the things he sold them. He knew firsthand how much laughing helped with the healing and he was more than happy to think that this was his small way to make this new world a better one.

He had always thought about being an Auror. Following Harry into the department had always seemed like the logical choice for a career path and it still held a lot of appeal, but Ron was beginning to think that it wasn’t the only career path he could see himself happy with after Hogwarts.

“Hello, Ron is it?” a soft voice pierced his daydreaming. It was a tall and willowy witch who he vaguely recognized.

“Yes, Mrs. Creevey right?” she shook her head solemnly. “What can I do for you?”

“Yes, well my little girl would like one of your Pygmy Puffs.” She gave him a small smile.

“Of course and what is your name?” he bent down to be at eye level with the little girl. She was very young, maybe six years old with her brown hair in a long ponytail and bright green eyes.

“Melissa.” She replied shyly. She was holding on to a pink Pygmy Puff. “Her name is Esmeralda.” A bright smile came across her face as she gestured with the small animal.

“That’s wonderful sweetie. Tell you what,” he pointed to Angelina, “that young lady right there would love to help you get Esmeralda safely into her carrying case while I speak to your mum for a second. That okay?”

Melissa smiled and blushed. “Mmhmm. Thank you.” And she bounced away to Angelina.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen her smile like that in two months.” Mrs. Creevey whispered.

“Mrs. Creevey, you take the Pygmy Puff home with your little girl on the house. Her smile is all the payment I needed.”

Mrs. Creevey’s eyes watered as she mouthed a silent “Thank you” Before walking over to retrieve little Melissa.

Ron felt warmth settle into his chest watching the smiling Melissa disappear into the crowd. If doing something so simple could put a smile on a sad little girl’s face, then he could get very used to working here.

## 3. Chapter Three

A/N: I’m going to be nervous about every chapter now. Before, they had been sitting for a little while on my hard drive and the time had a way of giving me some perspective when I did my edits before posting. Now I’m only getting my edits before posting since I don’t want to keep you guys waiting! If you notice a dip in quality please let me know! Anyways, now that I’ve aired out my insecurities enjoy the update! Cheers!

P.S. I reposted this today because I made some changes based on an excellent idea from Bexis. Just couldn’t resist!

~

Hermione loved reading in the woods.

There was something whimsical about sitting beneath a tree in the middle of the forest and getting lost in another world. It was like something out of the fairy tales that her mother had read to her when she was a little girl.

The problem was that today she wasn’t able to focus on the book sitting in her lap. She had read the same paragraph four times now and was getting nowhere. There were too many other things rattling around in her brain.

“Oh, am I interrupting?” a dreamy voice spoke from behind her.

“No Luna, I actually am having a hard time focusing. What brings you out here?”

“I like walking through the woods.” She replied, not looking at Hermione but letting her gaze wander the tree canopy. “There’s something freeing about it, just letting your feet take you somewhere.” Hermione noticed that she was barefoot.

Luna had always struck her as odd and she was a foil in many ways to Hermione’s hard logic, but the girl had really grown on her in the past several years. She was incredibly perceptive and Hermione found she was a useful sounding board when she couldn’t detangle her thoughts. Like right now for instance.

“Care to join me?” Hermione patted the ground next to her.

“I would love to. What is distracting your focus from your book?” Luna turned her large blue eyes to Hermione. It had always made her feel like Luna was seeing into her somehow.

“There’s….well…” Hermione took a deep breath, “I’m really excited about being Head Girl, but I’m also nervous about the responsibility. I’m also worried that I haven’t studied enough this summer to be caught up where I am supposed to be and I don’t want to start the year behind schedule because our N.E.W.T.’s are this year and they are really important for our futures and I don’t want to mess them up. I’m also a little hurt that Ginny doesn’t talk to me anymore and keep giving me the cold shoulder and I’malittlejealousthatsheandHarryarestilltogether.”

She blurted out the last little bit so fast it amazed her she was able to form intelligible words. She hadn’t meant to talk about that at all, but the inertia of getting everything off her chest had built up momentum to the point where she couldn’t stop herself.

Luna didn’t look surprised, at least, no more surprised than she normally looked. “I really don’t think you should be concerned about being Head Girl or your exams, I think you know that you’re going to work hard and excel like you always have and I’m not that surprised you would be jealous of Ginny and Harry.”

“You’re not?” Hermione’s curiosity got the best of her.

“No.” Luna replied serenely, “He’s your best friend. You’re used to having him around all the time and being able to talk to him or spend time whenever you want. Now there’s another girl that’s higher on his priority list than you, a girl who happens to be your friend too. It’s natural that you would feel some jealousy.”

Luna said this like it was the simplest thing in the world. It was that particular quality about her, being able to make some of life’s more complicated feelings sound like very simple truths, which endeared her to Hermione.

“I guess you’re right. It’s not that I’m not happy for him. He seems happy and more than anything I want for him to be happy.”

Luna was still looking at her, “Are you sure that’s all there is to it?”

Okay, she really needed to stop doing that.

Of course there was more to it. She kept doing this thing where whenever she would see Harry and Ginny together she would picture herself with Harry instead. Harry always looked happier in her version of events. It also gave her a strange sense of satisfaction whenever she ruffled his hair and saw that lopsided grin of his.

“Y-yeah, that’s it.” She finally replied, dragging herself out of her own head. “What do you mean? What else could it be?”

What was it about Luna that made her lose her ability to keep her big mouth shut?

“Well, I just wondered if maybe you were jealous because you wanted to be with Harry yourself.” Luna replied simply. “It wouldn’t be the strangest thing in the world. Haven’t people asked you about your relationship with him before?”

That was certainly true. The list of people she had had to correct about her relationship to Harry was extensive and at one time or another included just about everyone they had ever come in contact with.

“What has that got to do with anything?”

“Nothing really, but it proves the point that it wouldn’t be weird at all for you two to be together. Which means it wouldn’t be odd for you to think about it or be jealous that he’s with Ginny.”

“But it is odd Luna.” Hermione huffed, “He’s my best friend. He’s never been anything more than that and he’s certainly never looked at me any differently. I fell in love with his best friend, not him.” She was growing more frustrated the longer this conversation went.

“But it didn’t work out with him did it?” Luna was as calm and serene as ever. “And you’ve always loved Harry.”

“Yeah, but not like that.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I…well….”

“Did you ever picture what it would be like with Harry?”

“Once or twice….”

“Did you ever think about kissing him?”

“Once….”

“Did it gross you out?”

“No!”

“Then how did you love him any differently?”

“Harry was always…..always more like….a brother you could say. And he told Ron that that was how he thought of me.” Ron had told her just last week about what the Horcrux had shown him in the forest that night.

“But he’s not your brother.” Luna stated simply.

“Yeah, but he’s just like one.” She replied weakly.

“Except for the fact that you could be with him and it’s not weird or wrong.”

“It would be weird though! It’s….it’s Harry!”

“Okay, let me phrase it another way.” How Luna could stay so calm about this was beyond Hermione’s ability to understand. “If there was a guy who was just like Harry in every way, would you go out with him?”

Hermione thought for a moment. “Of course I would, Harry is a wonderful guy. If there was someone just like him, but not him then sure I would.”

“Okay, then why not him? What would stop you from going out with Harry if you could?”

She let that thought seep into her brain. Dating Harry?

Dating Harry?

She had let her mind go there with Harry only twice. During her fifth year she had thought about the possibility of them becoming Prefects together. It would have them spending a lot more time on their own without Ron around. One thing had led to another in her mind’s eye and she had pictured a scenario where their time spent on Prefect patrols finally opened his eyes to her and they started dating.

Of course, Harry had still been infatuated with Cho at the time and Ron ended up being Prefect instead, so the rest had been history. The only other time she had entertained the thought was at the beginning of sixth year when she had been explaining to a naïve Harry why he was suddenly so popular. She had been honest with him about how fanciable he had indeed become by then and had indulged herself with a little fantasy about how jealous all the girls would be of her if she had been with him.

“Have the Nargles gotten to you?”

Luna’s voice brought her tumbling back into the present. “Er…..no. I was just, thinking….”

“Well I did ask you a question after all.”

Right, Luna had asked a question. What was it about? Oh, right, what would stop her from dating Harry if she could?

If he wasn’t dating Ginny? If he was single and there was no other girl he liked? What was there to stop her?....

“Ron.” She answered herself out loud, turning to Luna. “Ron. I couldn’t do that to him. It would hurt his feelings.”

He had always been afraid she preferred Harry to him. How could she ever let herself prove him right by dating Harry?

“I don’t think it would hurt his feelings at all.” Luna stated it like it was a fundamental law of the universe. “I think Ronald would be happy to see his two best friends be happy with each other. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

With that, Luna stood up and skipped off deeper into the woods humming a tune that sounded like “Weasley Is Our King”, leaving in her wake a very perplexed and disconcerted Hermione.

~

Little Teddy Lupin felt so tender in Harry’s arms that he was afraid to squeeze in case he hurt him somehow. Harry had never had any experience with babies. Let alone a baby who’s hair changed color ever five minutes. At the moment it was a fiery red color that made him look very much like a miniature Weasley. Harry thought with a chuckle that this was what Ron may have looked like as a baby.

Andromeda had gone out for the evening after Harry had spent the morning and afternoon getting acquainted with what it took to watch after Teddy. Once he felt confident that he could handle it, he ushered her out the door to spend some time on herself.

“This is very sweet of you Harry, please floo Molly if you run into any problems.” Andromeda gave him a grateful look. There was a dull sheen to her eyes and she looked paler and thinner than when Harry had seen her last. The strain of losing Ted, Remus, and Tonks along with having to take care of Teddy had definitely taken its toll on the witch.

“It’s no problem Andromeda and here, take this with you.” He handed her a sealed letter. “I know you’re going to go see them, leave this there for me will you?” Andromeda’s eyes softened. “Of course Harry. I will see you tonight.”

When she was out the door the house seemed eerily quiet. The only noise was the soft clicking of the clock on the wall, that is, until Teddy let out a loud giggle. Harry laughed along with him.

“What’s so funny sport?” he tickled Teddy’s neck to induce another round of giggling from the little boy. His hair turned a bright pink color. Harry felt his heart turn into ice; it was exactly like Tonks had often worn her hair.

“Your mummy used to wear her hair like that, did you know that?” he asked Teddy, his voice barely above a hoarse whisper. Teddy gave him a wide smile and giggled some more. He was a very happy child, much like his mother had been in life. Only in his eyes did he resemble his Marauder father, at least until he gained the ability to change them.

Teddy began to shift and squirm in Harry’s arms. Considering it had been awhile since he had eaten he figured Teddy must be hungry. Warming one of the bottles from the refrigerator with a flick of his wand, he sat in a squashy arm chair by the fireplace while he fed his godson. Watching him wave his arms towards the bottle and hungrily drink the milk down, it came to Harry all at once that he had a responsibility to this little boy in his arms. He couldn’t take care of his everyday needs, he had to finish school, but a conviction came over Harry that he would be there as much as was humanly possible. He was determined that Teddy grow up surrounded by people that loved him, so he briefly filed away a thought to talk to Mrs. Weasley about Teddy going to the Burrow on occasion to lighten the load on Andromeda.

Then, he got an altogether better idea.

He wasn’t terribly sure how safe it was, but Andromeda had told him that he could do it if he needed to. He didn’t exactly need to, but it would serve a great purpose if all went according to the idea in his mind. Settled that it was the right thing to do, he walked with a still eating Teddy out the front door onto the second step where he turned on the spot and appeared just outside of the Burrow.

Walking up to the back door, the noise drifting through the door told him that the whole family was settled around the dinner table. A sudden nervousness washed over him as he thought about what he was about to do, but he gathered his courage, stepped through the kitchen and into the dining room.

“Hey guys, mind if we have a visitor?”

The conversations around the table died as everyone took in the sight of Harry holding the infant Teddy. Mrs. Weasley was tearing up while Hermione, Ginny, and Luna all simultaneously whispered “Awww!” Ron and George were beaming at him. Mr. Weasley had craned his neck around from his conversation with a haughty looking Percy, “Well! If it isn’t little Lupin! So nice of you to bring him Harry, please sit down.”

Harry took a seat next to Mrs. Weasley who instantly reached for Teddy. “Oh, Harry dear may I?”

“Of course Mrs. Weasley.” Her eyes lit up as she transferred Teddy fluidly into her arms and began cooing at Teddy who grinned back around the bottle still lodged in his mouth.

“Does Andromeda know you brought him over?” Hermione looked concerned.

“Well, not exactly. But she left him with me for the evening and I have a reason for bringing him here.” Everyone collectively shifted their gaze from Teddy to Harry. “I want…I want you guys to know Teddy.” He took a steadying breath, “I want him to know you and for you to be involved with him. Andromeda can’t do this alone and I want Teddy…I want him to grow up surrounded by people that love him. I hope that’s okay with you guys and I know I’ll have to talk to his grandmother but….”

“Of course we will Harry.” Mrs. Weasley wiped a tear from her eyes.

“Yeah mate, we wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Ron grinned.

“Of course Harry.” Mr. Weasley was smiling at him.

“Sure Harry.” Ginny reached across to grab his hand.

George and Luna were both smiling and nodding. Percy gave him a stiff nod, and then surprised Harry with a genuine smile.

Harry’s eyes finally found Hermione and his heart swelled to see the adoring look she was giving him. Pride for him was pouring out of her and she simply nodded.

“I’m so glad you guys are on board.” Harry again looked around the table at the family he loved, his family, so happy that Teddy would know their love too.

Teddy gave a large yawn on Mrs. Weasley’s shoulder. “You probably want to get him home Harry and get him to bed. I’ll lift the wards so you won’t have to go outside.” Giving her wand a wave.

Harry stood up and transferred Teddy to his own shoulder smiling as the little boy’s hair turned a cool shade of blue. Another round of “awww” went around the table. “I’ll be late getting in Mrs. Weasley.” He gave everyone one more smile before turning on the spot and reappearing in Andromeda’s living room. Teddy was already fast asleep on his shoulder so he walked into his room and put him into his crib, activating the mobile that featured snitches, broomsticks, and a single wolf that Andromeda had included as a reminder of Remus.

He stood there for awhile just watching Teddy sleep before he sensed a presence behind him. He had a brief temptation to reach for his wand…

“Old habits die hard don’t they?” Hermione’s voice was soft.

“Real hard.” He turned to face her as she walked over to stand next to him, gazing fondly down at the sleeping baby boy. “What brought you over here?”

“This.” She didn’t break her gaze, looking utterly content. “You’re going to make an excellent godfather Harry.”

“That means a lot Hermione.” He grinned at her and she smiled, still looking at Teddy.

Just then Teddy began fidgeting and woke up with a muffled cry. Hermione raised her eyebrow at him and he grinned and nodded his head. She reached down into the crib and picked Teddy up. He instantly calmed and giggled. His hair went from cool blue to a brown that matched Hermione’s hair. Hermione held him in front of her and Harry could practically watch her heart melt at the sight of Teddy grinning up at her. He slid up next to her so he could watch Teddy over her shoulder.

“He looks like he could be yours.” He grinned at her.

“Yeah.” Her voice sounded oddly distant. “Except the eyes,” she turned to look at him, “his father’s eyes.”

Something about the way she said it stirred something in him. “You know you’re going to be an excellent mum.”

“Thanks Harry.” Her voice was back to normal and she gave him that smile that never failed to warm his heart. He turned back to Teddy and something slid into place in his consciousness. A little baby with brown hair and green eyes….he looked a lot like one of Hermione’s kids if she married someone with green eyes.

Like me.

He looked at Hermione again. The thought of getting married and having children with her was entirely new territory. There was something distinctly foreboding about it, but it had nothing to do with her. In fact, standing here with her in a nursery while she hummed a lullaby to a sleepy eyed baby seemed almost natural. But something about that bothered him too. There were too many things going through his mind to effectively pin any one of them down.

“Harry?” her voice brought him back to reality.

“Er…”

“You were staring.” There was a hint of amusement in her voice.

“Yeah, sorry. Got a little lost there for a second.” He felt heat rising up in his cheeks.

“That’s alright.” She gave him an oddly satisfied smile. “He’s back to sleep now.” She gently placed Teddy back in the crib and covered him with his blanket. “I should probably be going.”

“Thanks for coming.”

“No offense, but I really just came for Teddy. I couldn’t let you get away with Mrs. Weasley being the only one to hold him.” She teased.

“What can I say? I like to hog my godson.” He teased back.

She laughed and smiled at him before turning out the door. He heard the front door open and close and knew that she was gone. He settled in to the rocking chair in the corner of the baby blue room to wait on Andromeda to return home. He had a lot to think about and he wanted to spend every second he could with his godson.

## 4. Chapter Four

Harry’s absence the previous day meant that Mrs. Weasley’s party for the new Head Boy, Head Girl, and Prefect (she insisted the Lovegoods come to celebrate with them) was now in full swing just two days before their Hogwarts return.

Harry had walked into breakfast that morning to find everyone’s eyes on him with expectant looks on their faces.

“Er…what?”

“Your Hogwarts letter came yesterday.” Ginny offered it to him. It seemed heavier than it should have been. Surely they didn’t make him quidditch captain when he specifically told McGonagall….

A shiny gold badge with the letters “HB” fell into his hand. The whole table erupted into cheers. Mrs. Weasley caught him in a tight embrace, sobbing out how proud she was between pecks on the cheek. He felt his cheeks glowing red hot from all the attention.

“Alright mum, give him some air.” George waved his wand and they were gently pushed apart. Mrs. Weasley glared at her son, but proceeded to pile Harry’s plate with two helpings of everything.

“So who’s Head Girl?” he asked as Ginny gave him a hug and kiss of her own. He had asked the entire table but was looking at Hermione. She broke into a bright smile. “Of course. It couldn’t have been anyone else. Congratulations Hermione.”

She left her seat and flew to him to crush him in a hug, unceremoniously dislodging Ginny. Ron snickered but Ginny looked murderous and cleared her throat rather loudly.

Hermione awkwardly cleared her own throat and returned to her seat, her cheeks a rosy pink.

Mrs. Weasley had pulled out all the stops to decorate the back yard and had even enlisted a shocked George to add his own touch. He of course responded with tiki torches that zapped people’s hair into standing on end if they got too close and half his stock of fireworks.

Despite Harry and Hermione’s pleas to keep it a simple affair, Mrs. Weasley simply wouldn’t have it and it seemed like everyone they had ever met was there. All of the remaining Order members were present including Minister Shacklebolt, most of their teachers had come, the entirety of their remaining Gryffindor class mates as well as most of Ginny’s year (now their current classmates) had shown up, Hermione’s parents had come via a special floo connection, and even Dudley Dursley had come.

“Dudley?” a shocked Harry had spluttered.

“Yeah, I wanted to come and….er….congratulate you.” Dudley looked somewhat frightened and nervous, but resolutely put his hand out to shake Harry’s. Harry had returned the gesture and a small smile escaped onto both their faces. Mrs. Weasley then showed a suddenly giddy Dudley over to the food table.

Once he had discovered that wizarding food didn’t have any repercussions to eating it, Dudley had looked much more at ease the rest of the evening. He even laughed when a tiki torch sent his hair standing on end, making him look like he had touched a light pole.

But the real surprise had come later.

“Potter.”

Harry and Ginny had been deep in conversation about what the Head dorms would look like when a drawling voice behind him made him stand and turn in one fluid motion. Standing in front of him was Draco Malfoy.

“What are you doing here?” Harry didn’t even try to hide the dislike in his voice. The party had gone quiet around them as everyone waited to see what was going to happen.

“Granger insisted I come. Sent an owl that wouldn’t quit following me around and knocking over everything in sight until I said I would be here.”

He looked quite uncomfortable and somehow seemed smaller without the hulking presence of his minions behind him. Hermione came rushing up behind Draco.

“Harry I did invite him.”

Ron and Ginny both looked flabbergasted, McGonagall was looking more hawkish by the second and most of the order had discreetly drawn their wands.

“Oh would everyone relax.” Hermione flustered. No one moved. “This is exactly why I invited him over. Like it or not, Draco is returning to Hogwarts too and the sooner we can get the animosity out of our systems the better we’ll be in the long run.”

“You can’t seriously expect us to be chummy with this slimy git.” Ron gestured at Malfoy who paled and clenched his fist but didn’t reach for his wand.

The tension in the air was thick and getting thicker before Hermione spoke again. “Look, Harry said it himself that Narcissa lied to keep him alive. Both he and his parents deserted Voldemort. I don’t expect anyone to be “chummy”, but we can at least co-exist without drawing wands and hexing each other.”

Harry looked into Malfoy’s face, the same face that had sneered at him and done everything to make his life miserable for six years. But it was also the same face that had refused to kill, even for his parents’ sake, and had shown no desire to see them all killed at Malfoy Manor. He remembered something Sirius had told him once: “the world is not split into good people and Death Eaters.” While Draco had never been a good person, he’d never been much of a Death Eater either.

Harry held out his hand to shake. A brief look of genuine surprise flashed across Draco’s face before he could stop it. Fixing his face into a more dignified mask, Draco reached out and they briefly shook hands.

Without another word Draco turned and walked away, not stopping until he hit the gate and disapparated.

The party slowly recommenced around the table of honor. Ron was still glaring at where Draco had been standing while Ginny and Hermione were both watching Harry. Harry finally sighed, turning to Ginny and giving her a small smile. The mood at the table instantly lightened and Harry braced himself to ask Ginny something he knew he would have to before the night was over.

“Ginny, care to dance?” he reached his hand out to her. She grinned at him and took his hand, wordlessly leading him onto the dance floor.

It wasn’t as bad as he would have thought. He tried to copy what he saw the other people on the dance floor doing and after a song or two he thought he had the hang of it.

“Harry, are you becoming a dancer?” Ginny teased as the music slowed.

“Where’s a dark lord distraction when you need it?” Harry mumbled, but couldn’t hide his grin. He actually was having a good time. He casually searched the crowd for Hermione and saw her dancing a short ways away with Ron. She was wearing a simple and conservative periwinkle blue dress with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. She had obviously used her Sleekeazy hair potion again. They seemed to be deep in conversation. He felt curiosity peak at what they might be discussing.

He felt a small jolt in his stomach thinking that maybe they were reconciling their differences. For some reason the thought disquieted him, but if they were happy then that was all Harry could really ask for.

“Harry, I’m over here.” Ginny gently turned his chin back towards her, inches away from his face.

“So I see.” He grinned and gently pressed his lips to hers.

~

“Care to dance ‘Mione?” Hermione briefly shook her head free from the reverie she had been in. Ron was standing in front of her, hand outstretched with a goofy grin on his face. It made her laugh to see it. He looked so at ease and so confidant, so unlike the Ron she had seen for so many years.

“Sure Ron.” She took his hand and let him lead her to an open spot on the dance floor. They spent a couple of songs enjoying the moment and just being the young and foolish teenagers they had rarely gotten the chance to be. It was so freeing to be able to cut loose without fear of letting your guard down.

“This is fun.” She said between heavy breaths.

“Yeah, much more fun than I had before on the dance floor.” Ron was breathing as heavy as she was. The music slowed down and they drew into a close embrace. Hermione was surprised that it didn’t bother her at all to dance with Ron like this.

“Easier to enjoy when it’s just between friends isn’t it?” Ron was smiling at her.

“Much easier.” She smiled back. She scanned the crowd and saw Harry dancing with Ginny, grinning from ear to ear and clearly enjoying himself. He was wearing black dress pants with a Gryffindor red button front shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a black tie. She breathed out a small sigh.

“What’s different between you two?” Ron broke her gaze by lightly dipping her and bringing her back up.

“Me and Harry? Nothing at all.”

Crap. This was not the person to have this conversation with.

“Come on Hermione cut the crap. I’ve seen the way you look at him, the way your eyes follow him out the room, and that weird thing you do where you ruffle his hair. Something is up.”

She felt the heat rising in her cheeks. There really wasn’t any way around it. She hadn’t been hiding it nearly as well as she would have liked.

“Hermione, you’re my friend. I just want to know so I can help. That’s all.” He said it with such gentleness and sincerity that Hermione couldn’t tell him no.

“We…” she wasn’t really sure where to begin, “we started becoming much closer, during the war and afterwards, and I guess somewhere along the line I realized…”

“That you love him.” He finished for her.

“Yes.” Hermione felt like a massive weight was taken off her to finally admit out loud what she had known for some time now.

“Well, if it’s any consolation, he just stopped dancing to look around for you.” Ron chuckled as he said it. Hermione turned around to where Harry was, but he had already turned back to Ginny and now they were kissing.

“Yeah, and now they’re doing that.” She couldn’t keep the bitterness out of her voice. She sighed, “I’m sorry, she’s my best girlfriend and your sister, and I know I’m supposed to be happy for her. I was at first, but…”

They swayed on the spot in silence for a moment. She could see the gears turning in Ron’s mind.

“I’m sorry Ron, I really shouldn’t be talking to you about this. I shouldn’t feel this way at all. I…”

Ron put a finger on her lips. “Hermione, just shush okay. I’m not mad, well…” he shrugged, “at least not as mad as I would have thought I’d be, about any of it.”

“She’s your sister Ron and he’s your best friend.”

“I know, and I don’t want you to do anything to mess it up for them. Not that I think you would.” He added hastily when she sent daggers at him with her eyes. “But I also understand that you can’t always control who you fall in love with.”

“How long have you known?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” Hermione gulped at his words. He may have been her friend and she knew he wanted to help, but their past could really make this awkward. “Look, forget about what happened between us. Just tell the truth, I promise I just want to help.”

Somewhere inside her she knew he was telling the truth. “I’m not really sure; it feels like I’ve loved him all along. Maybe I have. But I didn’t realize it until I brought him back from Godric’s Hollow.” She shuddered; nothing about the memory was pleasant. “When I was sitting over him for hours on end, praying that he would wake up from whatever nightmare he was having….praying that I had done enough to save him…..I was so scared, so scared that he wouldn’t wake up.”

Ron simply nodded grimly. “When did you know?” she asked again.

“Honestly? That moment on the staircase at Hogwarts.”

Hermione felt tears building behind her eyes. “Ron, you know if it had been different…..if it was you instead of him….”

“I know,” Ron sighed, “but it’s different with him and you know it. I’ve watched you two for years Hermione. You can’t sit here and tell me that you haven’t always had a special connection with him. Something that you never had with me.”

She didn’t bother denying it. It wouldn’t have done her any good. He was right and he knew it.

What a mess. She had fallen in love with her best friend who was already in a relationship with someone she thought of as a sister, who was the sister of her other best friend. There were way too many ways this could go wrong.

She let out a long breath. “What am I supposed to do?”

“Well, for starters we’re going to cut a rug until I can’t feel my legs anymore. We’ll worry about the rest later whaddya say to that?” he spun her around as the music shifted again to an up-tempo big band number.

She couldn’t help but laugh at that stupid grin on his face and how ridiculous he was being. This was her Ron, making her laugh when all she really wanted to do was cry.

They did indeed dance until the band played their final tune. Most of the party goers had already gone home. Some had come by to wish her congratulations or say goodbye, but most had left her and Ron to their dancing.

They finally collapsed onto either side of the couch in the living room. Both thoroughly exhausted but they had had the time of their lives. Hermione had never felt so young.

“Did you see Luna when that tiki torch got her?”

Ron laughed, “Yeah, she looked absolutely ridiculous.” They both dissolved into fits of laughter. Maybe it was because they were so tired or the lingering after effects of the dancing but they both laughed until they were literally rolling on the floor.

When they both recovered they sat on the floor and leaned against the couch next to each other. She looked to see a concerned look on his face and knew it was time to continue the discussion they had tabled during the party.

“There’s nothing for it Ron, I’m just going to have to get over it. There’s too many ways that too many people can get hurt. He’s with Ginny, I have to accept that.”

She wasn’t sure why she thought things had changed between them enough that he would simply agree with her. She swore he did it sometimes just for the fun of it.

“It’s not that simple Hermione. He’s your best friend and Head Boy, you really think as much as you see of him that you’re going to just drop the way you feel about him and pretend it never happened?”

Why couldn’t he ever just let her say her piece and leave it at that? It drove her crazy, especially because she knew he was right.

“If that’s what it takes, then I think I’m more than up to the challenge.” She huffed, standing up to walk to the room she shared with Ginny.

“You can’t do it Hermione.” Ron called after her.

“We’ll just see about that Ronald Weasley.” She snapped back.

“Yeah,” he actually had the nerve to chuckle at her, “I suppose we will.”

There was no way in hell she would ever admit to him how right he was going to be.

## 5. Chapter Five

A/N: I shamelessly named the new character after my best friend’s newest addition to his family who has utterly ran off with my heart. This is a long update by my standards, hope you enjoy!

~

It was altogether fitting to Harry that their last trip to King’s Cross was perhaps the most chaotic one ever.

It all started the night before when, instead of finishing their packing like they should have, Ron managed to persuade Harry and George into sneaking off to the local muggle pub. It was called the River Road Inn and they quickly took a liking to muggle beer. So much so in fact that they stayed out far later than they initially planned. It wasn’t until Ron was going overboard on the magic to impress a local girl and George started dancing to a drinking tune sung by every male in the house that Harry finally got the idea in his foggy mind to leave.

They had stumbled in around four in the morning and it seemed like he had barely closed his eyes when Mrs. Weasley’s shrill voice came drifting up the stairs to wake them up. They had naturally overslept and what was more, they still hadn’t finished packing.

Their heads pounding, Harry tried a spell he had seen Tonks use to pack his trunk years before, but instead of putting his things into his trunk, it simply sent them flying across the room towards Ron who was whacked unceremoniously on his head by Harry’s telescope.

“Sorry mate.” He groaned.

“Merlin, my head.” Ron moaned from his bed.

It was right at that moment that Mrs. Weasley had entered, screamed at them for going out the night before, and finally waved her own wand to send their things neatly into their trunks herself.

“How does she always know?” Ron was holding his head like it would fall off if he let go as they made their way downstairs. “Did she really have to shout so much?”

“Well she was right you know.” Hermione chimed in from the base of the stairs.

“Oh sod off.” Ron grumbled.

“Good morning to you too Ronald.” She replied rather loudly right into his ear, smiling smugly at his groan of complaint.

Breakfast hadn’t been much better. In her rush to prepare everything Mrs. Weasley gave them all plates piled high with one breakfast item instead of helpings of everything. So they all passed around their plates like a weird game of musical chairs so that everyone got their fill of the different courses.

Right when it seemed all would be settled George, rather hung over in his own right, aparrated straight onto the table, breaking it clean in two and sending food flying everywhere. By the time George had repaired the table, Mrs. Weasley had finished a fresh round of screaming, and they had all finished cleaning the food off of them it was time to get everything loaded into a ministry car that Kingsley had sent to pick them up. This would have gone smoothly had Ron not accidentally taken out Ginny’s legs when he tried to load it with magic and Harry had had to get involved to keep it from erupting into a duel.

Finally they were all in the car and headed to King’s Cross, everyone a little cross with each other but none the worse for wear. In the time spent in the car, everyone’s mood lightened to the point that they were all quite jovial and excited by the time they reached King’s Cross.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary at all, at least until they crossed the magical barrier and entered platform nine and three-quarters.

Pure mayhem erupted at the sight of Harry Potter on the platform. He was immediately swamped by witches and wizards, who wanted to shake his hand, have him sign their books, and one woman was insistent that he kiss her baby girl.

They made no progress at all towards the train until Ron, Hermione, Luna, and Ginny worked together to make their way towards a compartment, using a combination of trunk trollies and wands to gently (or not so gently) force people aside. By the time they finally reached the train they tumbled into the first empty compartment they could find and collapsed into their seats breathing very heavily and feeling like they had run a marathon.

“Blimey Harry, it’s all well and good that this is your last year.” Ron huffed.

“Harry, your hair is all...” Hermione reached across to attempt to flatten his hair, which was distinctly disheveled from all the people who had ruffled it. Ginny glared at her until Hermione gave it up for a bad job.

“Wait a moment; aren’t we supposed to be somewhere?” Harry inquired, bringing out his Head Boy badge and fingering it before pinning it to his shirt.

“Oh! Right, we’re supposed to be in the Prefect carriage.” Hermione answered as she stood up, pinning her Head Girl badge to her shirt. “You two had better come with us, Prefects are supposed to be there too.” She motioned to Ron and Luna. Ron grumbled under his breath while Luna exited the compartment ahead of them, humming to herself.

“I guess I’ll save the compartment for you guys. Don’t take too long.” Ginny called out from behind them as the compartment door shut.

All down the train people were poking their heads out of their compartments to get a look at Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Most didn’t bother to lower their voices as they spoke in awe of what the three of them had accomplished the previous year. Those who already knew them waved to them and greeted them jovially, particularly those who had been DA members.

“What exactly are we supposed to do when we get there?” Harry had no idea what exactly the Head Boy did. Percy had strolled around making himself sound and look important, but then he always did that.

“Well, I think for today we’re just supposed to meet the new Prefects and introduce ourselves. I think later we’re supposed to organize Prefect patrols and school functions, I know the Head Boy and Girl helped organize the Yule Ball for instance.” Hermione’s voice was positively quivering with anticipation.

“Well I don’t think you have to worry about introducing yourselves.” Ron pointed to yet another compartment where some very young looking students had all poked their heads out to see the famous trio. They all shared a laugh as they came upon the Prefect carriage and strolled in.

Harry had never been in this carriage before and he was briefly taken by surprise. Instead of the cordoned off compartments of the other carriages, the Prefect carriage was furnished much like a very large and luxurious sitting room. There were comfortable looking couches spread in a row down the middle and along the walls , the floor was a plush carpet and there was even a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

The chatter in the room rose in pitch and volume as they walked the length of the room to the only couch left at the front of the carriage.

“I think everyone is here, might as well get on with it and get it over with.” Ron had been scanning the room, his head bobbing as if he was counting.

“The food cart doesn’t start its rounds for a while yet Ronald.” Luna dreamily replied, prompting a round of laughter from Harry and Hermione. Ron simply smiled.

Hermione then cleared her throat and amazingly the entire carriage came to a dead silence. Everyone in the room was looking with rapt attention at Harry and Hermione. Harry felt heat creeping up his neck.

“So then, now that we’re all here let’s get down to business. I’m Hermione Granger, I’m the new Head Girl and this is Harry Potter our new Head Boy.” A smattering of applause greeted her words. “Now, for our new Prefects…”

Hermione launched into explaining the duties and responsibilities of a Prefect. Most of the old hands looked bored, while the newer Prefects were drinking in every word. Harry had to hand it to her, she was thorough.

“Any questions?” she finally finished.

“When will we meet again to schedule patrols?” Luna asked. Hermione seemed to have forgotten Luna was behind her and jumped slightly at the sound of her voice prompting a few snickers from the other Prefects.

“Oh, I was thinking we could meet a week from tomorrow. So next Monday before dinner. Harry and I will take the first week of patrols.”

With that question answered everyone started chatting idly amongst themselves again, a few people making their way back to the main compartments to find their friends. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Luna all left to rejoin Ginny in their own compartment. Before they had quite made it out the door Ron tripped on something and fell quite ungracefully onto the floor.

“Better watch where you put those clunkers Ron.” Harry chuckled. Ron came up cursing, that is until a very pretty girl with silky light brown hair and bright blue eyes that were round with embarrassment stood up.

“Oh! I’m so sorry! I didn’t do it on purpose!” She was sputtering.

“It’s…it’s alright.” Ron’s voice was oddly quiet and his eyes had gone wide too. Neither he nor the girl said anything for an awkward moment before Hermione came to the rescue.

“What’s your name?” Hermione asked sweetly, a broad grin on her face.

“Aubrey. Aubrey Anne Peacock.” Aubrey replied shyly. “I’m the new Hufflepuff Prefect.” She had a heart shaped face with prominent, but cute dimples to either side of her smile.

“Aubrey.” Ron repeated dumbly. Aubrey giggled.

“Well the man who has lost the ability to speak intelligibly is Ronald Weasley.” Harry supplied, stifling his own laughter.

“Hi.” Ron managed a weak wave.

“Well we’ll let you get back to your friend there.” Hermione grabbed Harry and Ron and pulled them into the next carriage followed by a laughing Luna. Ron strangled out a very weak “Bye” as the door shut.

They all took turns laughing at the vacant expression on Ron’s face until they rejoined a disgruntled looking Ginny.

“About time you guys came back. I nearly had to hex a group of Ravenclaw girls who wanted to take over.” She greeted Harry with a light kiss and her mood seemed to lighten now that he was sitting beside her. Harry felt a wave of pride wash over him knowing that being with him made her happy.

“Sorry we were late, Ron here tripped over a girl’s foot.” Harry chuckled. “Then his brain jammed up good and tight when he got one look at her.”

“Did not.” Ron mumbled, his face turning the same color as his hair.

“Could have been a Nargle.” Luna supplied helpfully to a fresh round of laughter.

“Just admit it; you were right done in by the sight of her.” Hermione teased.

“Just drop it alright?” Ron whined, blushing madly.

“Okay lover boy.” Ginny sighed.

They passed the rest of the train ride with games of Exploding Snap and trading Chocolate Frog cards until the train finally slowed and came to a halt in Hogsmeade station. Harry strained his ears as they stepped off and was greeted with the booming call of “Firs’ years! This way! Firs’ years to me!”

“Hagrid!” Harry waved to the man who had been his first contact with the wizarding world. Hagrid waved back cheerfully.

Content to catch up with him later, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, and Ginny all found their way to an open carriage. Harry noticed that Ron, Hermione, and Ginny’s gazes all lingered between the shafts at the front of the carriage. He knew that they were looking at the pair of Thestrals that they could now see harnessed and ready to pull them through the gates.

“Come on guys, let’s go.” He gently pushed Ron and Hermione in before wrapping his arms around Ginny and pulling her in with him. The door shut behind them and they made their bumpy way to the castle in subdued conversation. Seeing the Thestrals had briefly stifled the light mood they had been in all day.

Their moods were soon to be lifted though when they entered the Great Hall to a thunderous round of applause that had started at the staff table and swept through the student body that had all risen to their feet. Everyone except a very sullen looking Draco Malfoy, who was seated alone at the far end of the Slytherin table.

Once everyone had taken their seats again and the noise level began to rise, Luna made her way to the Ravenclaw table while the rest of them found seats among the Gryffindor’s.

They had just settled in when Professor Sprout lead in a line of scared looking first years. Harry watched as each was sorted, and clapped with his housemates as Gryffindor welcomed its newest additions. Eight first years rounded out the now full table.

Headmistress McGonagall then rose to her feet and the din of the Great Hall died almost instantly.

“Greetings students, welcome to another year at Hogwarts. The past year was not kind to the castle, but I think you will find that our renovations have made Hogwarts better than ever.” A round of applause broke out and quickly died down. “We welcome a new staff member, Professor McClellan, who will be taking the Defense Against the Dark Arts position.”

A dark skinned and stocky wizard stood up to the right of McGonagall to a smattering of applause.

“Now, I believe it is time for some nourishment. Tuck in!”

And just like that the glorious feast began. How he had ever lived without the wonderful food of the Hogwarts kitchens was simply beyond Harry. He split his time between enjoying the food and getting to know his fellow seventh years.

“Hey, where’s Neville?” Harry turned and asked Ginny.

“Oh, he’s over at the Hufflepuff table with Hannah Abbot. They started dating over the summer.”

Harry scanned the Hufflepuff table and found him indeed sitting next to Hannah with a huge grin on his face, she had obviously just said something rather amusing. Harry smiled, he was happy his friend had found someone who appreciated him.

McGonagall gave a rather short speech that gratefully didn’t include any mention of Harry before dismissing them all to bed.

“Harry, you should probably come with me and Ron, guide the first years.” Hermione grabbed him before he could make it out the door.

“Oh, right, I’ll see you Ginny.” He gave her a quick kiss, but didn’t miss the disgruntled look on her face.

Once all the first years were safely in their dormitories Ron turned with a very animated expression on his face. “Let’s go see the Head dorms!”

“Oh, I nearly forgot we weren’t in here.” Harry grinned in response. “Where are they?”

“Did you even read your letter?” Hermione may have sounded exasperated, but even she was smiling. “They’re on the fifth floor, near the Prefect bathroom.”

“At least we’re not across the whole castle from each other.” Ron gave Harry a light punch in the arm.

“Hey, you’re welcome anytime mate.” Harry replied with his own punch.

“Boys.” Hermione breathed.

They raced each other to the third door on the right on the fifth floor. Ron slightly beating Harry and Hermione.

“What’s…what’s the password?” Ron huffed between breaths.

Hermione gave Harry a grin. “Padfoot.”

The polished black wood door swung open to reveal a plush sitting room decorated entirely in Gryffindor House colors. “They always use colors from the Head’s Houses, since we’re both Gryffindor’s it was a simple matter.” Hermione stated matter-of-factly.

“This is nice; you get this all to yourselves.” Ron ran his hands over the silky couch that sat in front of the fire.

“Are those our rooms?” Harry pointed to the two black doors on either side. One had the letters “HB”, the other “HG”.

“Yes. Let’s see what we have.” Hermione strolled over to the Head Boy room and opened the door, letting out a small gasp.

The room was a square shaped room with a four poster bed much like from his old dorm, but along the walls were shelves that were lined with pictures and trophies. The pictures were all of the three of them, except for one picture of him and Ginny beneath their favorite beech tree on the grounds. The trophies were relics of his past adventures: the Tri-Wizard Cup and his Award for Special Services to the School the most notable ones, but even the Quidditch and House cups were here and there was a special mount on the wall where his Firebolt hung.

“They must have moved them from the trophy room. Oh, Harry look!” Hermione pointed to a cabinet in the back left corner of the room. In it were more trophies and plaques, but these bore the names of Harry’s parents. There were two more Special Services awards, one each for Lily and James, as well as a Potions Excellence award for Lily and a Transfiguration Excellence award for James. In front of all these and featured prominently was a copy of their wedding photo, the occupants waving happily to the three of them.

Harry took it all in. McGonagall had put a lot of thought into his room; he would have to thank her later. “Let’s go see yours Hermione.”

They bounded across the common room and Hermione flung open her door before clapping her hands over her mouth.

“Sooo predictable.” Ron laughed and then flinched when Hermione smacked him on the arm. The walls of her room were almost entirely covered with books and there was a desk in the corner that had a very comfortable looking chair paired with it.

Hermione was already running her hands along the bookshelves, whispering the titles that crossed her gaze.

“Well I’m going to make my way back to the Tower. I’ll see you guys at breakfast.” Ron took his leave and bounded out the door.

Hermione was still looking through all the books on her shelves. Harry sat on the end of her bed and started scratching Crookshanks who had sauntered in.

“McGonagall went all out for us didn’t she?”

“Yes, she did.” Hermione finally turned around and sat next to him on the bed. “We’ll have to do something special to thank her.”

“We’ll think of something.” Harry smiled at her. “Well my bed is calling my name. I’ll see you in the morning Hermione.”

When he stood up to go, Hermione stood up rather quickly next to him which caught his attention. He turned towards her to ask what was wrong but was met instead by her lips awkwardly crashing into his.

They stood rooted to the spot with their faces only inches apart, stunned at the turn of events. He could feel himself blushing furiously and Hermione’s cheeks were a deep pink color. He had never been this close to her before, he could smell her hair which had a very pleasant coconut scent and saw that there were tiny flecks of gold in her deep brown eyes. She had placed her hands on his chest for balance and beneath her touch he felt like he was on fire.

“H-Hermione?” his voice came out deeper and huskier than he remembered it being.

“Harry, I’m sorry I….I only meant to kiss you on the cheek but you turned….” She took her hands off his chest and took a step backwards. Harry felt slightly dizzy.

They stood there transfixed at one another, neither of them having a clue what to say.

“I…er….” Harry tried desperately to get his brain to work, but it had completely abandoned him.

“I’m sorry Harry. It was just a simple mistake.” Her voice was shaky.

“Yeah….right…a mistake.”

But if it’s a mistake, then why can’t I stop thinking about how soft her lips are?

Shutting down that part of his brain, Harry forced himself to smile at Hermione. She smiled back, but there was something off about it. It didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Those beautiful brown eyes.

He seriously considered trying his hardest to aparrate somewhere, anywhere where he could just think straight for two seconds.

His heart hammering against his chest, he finally managed to strangle out “Goodnight Hermione.” before turning and walking across to his room, leaving a very teary eyed Hermione in his wake.

## 6. Chapter Six

A/N: Okay, I have some explaining to do, which I’ll do at the end.

As for the update itself, you’ll notice some similarities to what had been posted before, but it’s definitely being used differently. It was easier to retain some of the thing I liked than to start completely over from scratch.

Stole a line from the end of The Sorcerer’s Stone. Not mine, that’s Rowling’s. As is everything else Harry Potter.

Hope you enjoy some of the changes!

P.S. I’d like to think that Harry has been around the Weasley’s long enough that, now that he has the chance to loosen up, his sense of humor will have lightened up a bit. Little nugget for those who notice the little things. J

~

It had been three days since Hermione had accidentally kissed him and Harry was just now getting his thoughts into some semblance of order.

Classes had started right away, so he had been forced to put his brain to work on something other than the giant elephant in the room between himself and his best friend. He spent most of his free time that he wasn’t doing homework trying to sort through why exactly a harmless accident had turned his mind into a circus.

It bothered him that he had been so affected by it. It had been hard to get the feeling of her soft lips against his out of his brain, no matter how hard he tried. It made being around Hermione awkward, which was a feeling he had never before associated with her. Hermione and Ron both had always been his comfort zone, the one place he always felt sure of himself. Now the sight of her bushy hair sent his stomach into his throat. The worst part was that he wasn’t even sure why.

“Well, have you ever thought about kissing her before?” Ron asked during a private chess match in Harry’s bedroom.

“You really want me to answer that?” he gave his friend a skeptical look. He didn’t want to tread on sensitive territory.

“Yeah, come on. Me and Hermione are ancient history now, you can tell me.” Ron’s knight began pummeling one of Harry’s pawns.

“There was once, it was when we were in the tent after you had gone. The radio was on and this song came on, I was being stupid and we started dancing. I just wanted to see her smile. When the music ended, we were standing there….and it was only for a moment….but it was just us, I thought about it.”

“Then what?”

“Well, nothing happened. We went back to business as usual, until we went to Godric’s Hollow.” For some reason the mention of his parents’ home made the corners of Ron’s lips twitch just enough for Harry to catch it. “What?” Harry gave his friend a questioning look.

“It’s nothing Harry. Why don’t you just talk to her about it? What’s the worst that could happen?”

“I know I need to talk to her about it.” Harry added lamely. “I just lose my nerve every time I try.”

“What exactly are you afraid of?”

“I guess I’m just afraid to make it worse.”

“Harry, don’t you know you can trust her by now?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then trust her. Trust that she wants to sort this out just like you. I think you’re blowing this a bit out of proportion. Both of you really. Then again, it wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Come on Ron, it was a kiss! With Hermione! While I’m with your sister at that!”

“An accident Harry. Unless there’s something about this you’re not telling me, then it’s a simple accident. No harm, no foul.”

“Alright, alright then.” Harry was getting frustrated by the conversation and the fact that Ron didn’t seem to understand that it wasn’t just a simple accident. He had crossed a line he had never thought he’d cross with Hermione, and even if it hadn’t been on purpose it still shook up the existing order of things. But Ron was right about one thing, he needed to talk to Hermione.

“Look, I’ve already talked to her and got her side of the story and I’m telling you: just go talk to her. I’m positive if you took five minutes you both could be passed this and stop being so bloody awkward.” Ron was grinning as his bishop cornered Harry’s king to end the game. Harry knocked his king over as he pulled out the Marauder’s Map to see where Hermione was. She wasn’t in her dorm or the library; she was in what appeared to be an empty classroom on the third floor. Except Harry knew better, he had been through a trap door in that particular room over seven years before.

“What’s she doing there?” he asked out loud.

“Where?” Ron asked, placing the chessboard in its case.

“Third floor, the room where the Sorcerer’s Stone was.”

“Weird, maybe you can go play hero one more time if Fluffy is renting again.” Ron laughed.

“Shut it.” But Harry was laughing too. “By the way, you talked to that girl from the train yet? What was her name? Ashley?”

“Aubrey.” Ron corrected, his ears turning red.

“And here I thought you hadn’t been paying attention.” Harry playfully shoved him. It made him feel wonderfully young to be taking the mickey from Ron over a girl.

“Yeah I have actually; she’ll be joining us at the Gryffindor table for dinner tonight.” Ron mumbled.

“Really? I’ll have to tell Gin, we can tell her all about that Pygmy Puff tattoo of yours.” Harry started laughing, Ron flushing the color of beets.

“That’s not funny! People actually believed that!”

“Consider it payback for being over-protective with Gin back in sixth year.” Harry clapped him on the back. “Well I’m going to go find Hermione, good luck mate.”

“Same to you.”

Harry suddenly felt a lot better about talking to Hermione. Talking with Ron had put him in a cheerful mood and the thought that he was only a few minutes away from straightening everything out made his heart soar. Everything would be back to normal.

Except those lips. Those aren’t going anywhere. And the smell of coconut. Why does she smell like coconut?

~

Hermione wasn’t sure what had brought her here. She had been on autopilot when she went looking for some solitude. She had expected her brain to take her to her favorite privacy haunts in the library or Prefect bathroom but surprisingly it took her to a door on the third floor corridor that she had passed through only twice in her Hogwarts career: Once to escape Filch and once to stop a corrupt teacher from stealing the Sorcerer’s Stone.

It was, after all, a place nobody ever ventured to. It had never been put to use after the Stone had been destroyed and so students never made any use of it, especially because of the legends that surrounded it based on the handed down stories of her, Harry, and Ron’s exploits.

Her feet had walked her here, but she had reason to believe there was some magic in the castle that prodded her because she had been surprised to find that it was not entirely empty.

There was a large mirror against the back wall with strange words written across the top. But it was when she looked in the mirror that she had received the real surprise. She had simply stared at it, her heart fit to burst with longing and sadness. She had settled onto the floor with her legs crossed and was content to simply look, completely losing track of time.

She knew what this was, the boys had both told her at different times about this mirror. It was the Mirror of Erised. Of course, she was the one who had pointed out that “Erised” was “Desire” spelled backwards, but that was academic. This was her first time seeing the mirror for herself and now she understood what could be so intoxicating about it.

“Hard to turn away isn’t it?” a quiet voice came from beside her. Harry was taking a seat next to her.

She wasn’t sure if she was pleased they were going to talk about this, or terrified by where that conversation might lead.

They sat in silence for a few moments, Hermione not breaking her gaze from the mirror and Harry not breaking his gaze on her.

“You know we can’t keep dodging this forever.” Harry broke the silence quietly.

He was right of course. She had been distancing herself during classes and at the table in the Great Hall for three days now. Head patrols had been the worst. At first she had tried to nervously fill the time with idle banter or by going on long diatribes about their homework, but they all eventually ended in incredibly awkward silences.

“I know.” She answered simply. She couldn’t bring herself to take the first step, so she waited for Harry to say something.

“Was….it was just an accident….right?” Harry asked, nervously running his hand through his hair.

“Yeah.” Her voice sounded like it was very far away from where she sat. “Yeah, I was just going to kiss you goodnight, on the cheek, like always.”

“Like always.” Harry repeated, a strange note to his voice.

“I’m sorry…”

“Don’t be. It was just an accident.” Harry cut her off. “I’m sorry that I rushed out. We could have talked about it then and avoided having the most awkward three days of our lives.”

They both laughed but it was quickly stifled.

“Can I ask you something?” Harry blurted out.

“Of course Harry.” Hermione felt herself tremble slightly, an unease that she never remembered feeling around Harry filling her chest.

“If….” He took a breath, “If it was just an accident and it doesn’t really mean anything….then why did you and I both freak out about it?”

Bless him. Harry could be so lovably naïve. Of course she knew why it freaked her out. Her best friend in the entire world, the one she had been slowly falling in love with for months now had kissed her. It may have been an accident, but the softness of his lips and the bolt of lightning that had shot down her spine had been impossible to forget.

Not only that, but the fact that it had freaked him out had sent a wave of hope crashing over her that had nearly swept her off her feet. Hope that maybe, incredibly, he was feeling the same way she was. Hope that it had affected him the same way it had affected her.

Hermione shoved those things forcibly to the back of her mind and set the more logical parts of her brain into motion.

“I’m sure that it was because it was something we’ve never experienced before, between the two of us, something we never would have thought would happen given our romantic interest, or lack thereof in each other.”

There was at least some truth to that. The part about not having experienced it was true at least, even if that was certainly not what made her blood hum at the very memory of that little kiss. She could see the wheels turning in Harry’s mind. She had never told him before how adorable he looked when he was thinking really hard about something.

“Maybe.” His voice was full of skepticism. “It does feel like we crossed some sort of line.” He was looking right into her eyes now and for the first time in her life she was using every ounce of her willpower not to let him really see her. Their innate understanding of each other had always been a source of comfort in the past, but now it made her feel like she was dangling over a ledge.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. As usual.” He laughed and flashed her that stupid grin of his, that grin that made him look so very much like his father. She felt a wave of relief wash over her that was strangled in the next instant by sadness. Only Harry could make her emotions veer so wildly back and forth.

“So what do you see?” He asked, looking towards the mirror.

Right. Forgot about that

“Er…” she scrambled to put her brain into overdrive. “I see us. You, me, and Ron. We’re happy, whole, and ready to make the world a better place.” She placed a smile on her face, “Just like we are now.”

“Well, we could always start by making you Minister of Magic in a few years.” Harry teased, playfully nudging her with his shoulder.

“How about we put you in charge of the Auror office first?” she teased back, pleased he accepted her half-truth. Sickened that she had lied to him. “Wouldn’t want my security to be too lax.”

“Oh for you? We’d make sure no one got within fifty feet.” Harry flashed her that dumb grin again sending a flutter to her heart.

“What about you?” she countered.

“Only works one at a time.” He replied simply. “Besides, I reckon it’s not likely to change is it?”

“Actually, I think it very well could change over time. Our desires themselves often change after all.” She was reminded forcefully of a time in the not too distant past where a very different image might have greeted her. “I think Dumbledore was wrong about the mirror.”

“What, that it’s not dangerous? He said people have sat and wasted away in front of it.”

“No, not that part. I think he was wrong to say that the mirror doesn’t give knowledge. I think, for someone who doesn’t fully understand themselves, the mirror could be very informative indeed.”

Easy for you to say isn’t it?

“Hmm, never thought of it that way. You’re brilliant you know that?” she felt a blush creep up her cheeks.

“It never hurts to hear it.” She gave him a genuine smile. He stood up to go and she stood up next to him, close enough that she could smell that clean, masculine smell that simply said Harry.

The few seconds they spent standing next to one another stretched themselves to impossible lengths until Hermione forgot completely where they were or what they had been talking about.

“Hermione?” Harry’s voice cut through the haze enveloping her mind.

“Oh..er…what?” she tripped over her own words, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks.

“I was just saying I’ll see you in a while for dinner.” He gave her a puzzled look, though she noticed a tinge of red in his cheeks too.

“Oh, yeah sure.” She nodded her head, watching him go and letting her gaze linger on the shut door.

She turned her head to look one more time at the real image in the mirror. It was her, Harry, and Ron all right. Harry was in the middle with Ron on his left, arms around each other’s shoulders and laughing. Harry had his other arm around Hermione’s waist and turned to her every so often to plant a kiss on her lips. She had one arm around his waist and the other hand on his chest and looked positively radiant. They all looked like they were having the time of their lives.

A knot formed in Hermione’s chest as she willed herself to look away. Dumbledore had been right about the dangers of the mirror, she could certainly understand the desire to simply stand here and waste the time away. But she wouldn’t live for a vision in a mirror. She did have a very happy and very real Ron and Harry that she had the distinct privilege of enjoying for the rest of her life Voldemort-free.

That was enough for her.

Knowledge? Maybe I was wrong after all. Real knowledge is knowing what you have and being grateful for it. The logical part of her brain triumphantly proclaimed, only to be countered by a deeper and quieter voice that sent a very real shiver down her spine.

Books and cleverness? There are more important things…..friendship, bravery, and…..

~

A/N: Okay, time for an explanation. As some of my faithful readers and reviewers had pointed out, the quality of the plot was really suffering over the last three updates I put out. Being someone who is always open to constructive criticism, I looked over my work and determined that they were right. For sundry reasons I won’t get into, the plot had gotten out of my hands and wasn’t turning out in a satisfactory way for me or anyone else.

SO, I pulled everything after chapter five and took it back to the drawing board. I’ll be keeping a few things that I actually liked, but for the most part it’s going to progress very differently than before. I’m also going to start taking more time with updates before I post them, for better quality control. In any case, your feedback is always cherished and helps me become a better writer. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

## 7. Chapter Seven

~

The next few weeks went by without incident. Harry and Hermione settled easily into their pre-term friendship and any awkwardness between them had seemed to vanish. Still, being around Hermione left Harry with an odd feeling in his stomach that he couldn’t explain away and he caught himself on a few occasions rather guiltily indulging in her company in the Head dorm instead of searching out Ginny.

A welcome addition to their trio had been Aubrey, the new Hufflepuff Prefect they had met on the Hogwarts Express. She had indeed joined them for dinner that night he found Hermione in front of the mirror and every night since then. Harry found she made quite enjoyable company: she made everyone laugh and had an easy grace about her that made everyone around her feel comfortable.

Granted, her entry into the group came with its fair share of hiccups. She had gotten into a pretty serious row with Hermione over the issue of Death Eater amnesty (“A dark wizard doesn’t change his spots.” Aubrey had rather smugly proclaimed. “And I suppose Severus Snape playing double agent for seventeen years isn’t proof enough?” Hermione had countered.) And Hermione was also rather taken aback that Aubrey was more successful than she at getting Ron to study (“The key is to make it fun!” she had chimed as she explained the rules to a magical board game where she had replaced all the trivia cards with study questions to a fuming Hermione). Ginny on the other hand was crestfallen that Aubrey was the final nail in the Hermione/Ron coffin (“You’d think she hung the moon.” She whispered into Harry’s ear one night at the sight of Ron’s eyes glued to Aubrey at dinner).

Harry had been forced to ignore her on several occasions due to her annoying habit of asking him to relive some of his early adventures that she had not been at school for (“Oh come on, can’t you at least tell me how you managed to sneak a dragon out of the school without getting caught?” she had whined as Harry sped into the loo to wait her out).

However, she had finally proven herself to Harry when she caught a Slytherin sixth year trying to hex a Gryffindor student and produced a perfect shield charm so that the Slytherin (a nasty piece of work named Simon Daugherty) spent the next two days in the hospital wing with a rather itchy rash in a sensitive area.

So three had become four (five counting Ginny) and now Aubrey accompanied them almost everywhere. Ron certainly seemed to enjoy her company, he looked more confident than Harry had ever seen him, which made Ginny change her mind about the girl. Even Hermione had come around when Aubrey had proven herself useful in studying for Arithmancy. Ron had given her the passwords for Gryffindor tower and the Head common room so that she often times joined them there during study hours or on weekends. Conversely, more than once she had disappeared with Ron and Harry had spotted them on the Marauder’s Map in the Hufflepuff common room close by the kitchens.

“It’s rather cozy.” Ron explained to Harry, “Rather like a large, earthen den of some sort.”

“That would make sense, since their mascot is the badger.” Hermione had chimed in.

“Right. It’s surprisingly bright though, they have these windows that make it look like you’re underneath a sunny meadow or something. Rather brilliant if you ask me.” Ron continued, a lazy grin stretching across his face as a rosy cheeked Aubrey joined them for lunch.

As September slid into October, Harry for the first time contemplated the anniversary of his parent’s deaths. He had never really thought about it before, but now that he had actually been to see them he wanted to do something meaningful. He became preoccupied with what exactly he wanted to do. As far as who he wanted to go, Harry was putting that part off for the moment.

He knew he should take Ginny. She was his girlfriend after all and he would eventually have to include her in these sorts of things, but there was something in Harry that fought that notion. He wasn’t much for including people in his past. Whatever sorrow and pain was there he didn’t want to burden anybody else with. Ron had always seemed to know the appropriate distance to keep and what subjects to avoid with Harry and for that he was grateful. Strange as it seemed, hindsight had told him he had even been a little grateful at the time that Ron wasn’t there when he went to see his parents the first time. He hated to admit it, but somewhere deep down it bothered Harry that Ron so often took for granted the one thing he always had that Harry didn’t: a family.

That left Hermione. She had been there with him before and had known exactly what to do without Harry even saying anything. It was that understanding that he wanted and needed. Hermione had it and Ginny didn’t. It wasn’t even Ginny’s fault. She couldn’t help it any more than Ron could that they came from such a large family. Still, he couldn’t quite bring himself to ask either of them, unable or unwilling to make up his mind.

At last came the day before Halloween and Harry knew he couldn’t put it off any longer. Unless he was going to go alone he had to ask the question that had been on his mind for weeks. It was while having chess match in the Gryffindor common room that he saw Hermione walking towards him with a concerned look that finally galvanized his decision in his mind.

“Hermione?” he asked, sharing an easy smile with her.

“Going to finally tell me what’s been on your mind for the past few weeks?” she replied.

“Yeah…I wanted to know if, after the Halloween feast, you would go with me to Godric’s Hollow?” uncertainty slipping into his voice on the last syllables.

Hermione’s smile slid off her face and she furrowed her brow. “What about Ginny?”

He had been afraid of that. “You were the one there with me before.” He answered simply.

She seemed to contemplate this for a moment. “I…of course I’ll go Harry.” Hermione’s voice was quiet and her expression visibly softened.

“Thanks, Hermione.” Harry gave her a soft smile that she didn’t return. He watched her look for a moment like she wanted say something before she turned and walked to the portrait hole, his eyes following her out of sight.

“Yoo-hoo. Earth to Harry?”

“Oh…” he turned back to the game he had forgotten about, “sorry Jay. My move?”

“Yep, all you Brits get your head in the clouds when a pretty girl walks by or is it just you?” Jay gave him a wicked grin. He was an American transfer student with a lame sense of humor, when he spoke at all, but had been a superbly gifted flyer at quidditch tryouts. Utterly fearless, his antics on a broomstick scared even Harry. That was also why Harry liked him.

“Just me Jay, I’m utterly hopeless with women if you haven’t heard.”

They continued the game in amiable silence, Harry’s mind drifting off to what Hermione had been about to say before she walked off.

~

Halloween started much earlier when you were Head Boy. Harry and Hermione had had to get up early to help place the decorations in the Great Hall with the teachers, long before the students rose from bed for breakfast. He was already tired by the time they finished and waited for Ron, Ginny and Aubrey to join them at the Gryffindor table.

“So, what exactly are we doing tonight?” Hermione asked, biting her lip nervously.

“I was thinking we would walk out passed the gates, apparate to the graveyard, spend a few moments with them, and then come back. Nothing extravagant, but I just wanted to do something.” He felt uneasiness settle in his gut at the thought of seeing his parents again.

“Okay, Harry.” Hermione’s voice was quiet. It was just then that a yawning Ron and cheery Aubrey walked up and sat opposite them.

“Can you believe this girl?” Ron mumbled, “How can you be so cheery so early in the morning?” he gave Aubrey a bleary eyed glare.

“It’s half eight Ron.” Aubrey sighed, “Besides, don’t you want to get up and actually do something? How is lying in bed any fun?”

Ron mumbled something discreetly to his toast that Aubrey didn’t seem to catch. Harry grinned, he knew that Ron would never admit that he was just fine starting his day early if it meant time with Aubrey. As Aubrey and Hermione entered a deep discussion on their Arithmancy class for that afternoon, Ron leaned over his breakfast.

“So, are you going tonight?” Ron whispered.

“Yeah, I’m going. Not for long, just for a few minutes.”

“I don’t blame you mate.” Ron moved his eyes discretely from Harry to Hermione and back to Harry.

“Yes.” Harry answered to unvoiced question as Ron nodded solemnly. “Mate don’t take it personal, I…”

“I didn’t say anything Harry. I get it, I really do. You told me about last time remember?”

“The last time what?” Aubrey chimed in, her conversation with Hermione apparently over.

“Nothing, luv.” Ron gave her a significant look and she instantly changed topics to quidditch, much to the annoyance of Hermione who had been looking at Harry like she wanted in on the conversation. Ginny arrived just in time to divert the conversation once again with her news of catching Neville and Hannah in one of the secret passageways on her way to breakfast.

The day seemed to fly by all too quickly for Harry. It seemed like one minute he was at breakfast, the next he was in potions learning to mix a dreamless sleep drought (easy when Hermione had learned to make it during the summer), and now he was sitting at the Feast and eating far less than he normally did.

“Are you okay?” Ginny asked next to him.

“Yeah, I’m just a little pre-occupied is all.” Ginny had a concerned look on her face. She had taken news of his plans better than he had thought she would, which he found out was because Ron had gotten to her first.

“Harry,” she had sighed, “I…I understand. I’ll admit I don’t like it, but I get it.” She had taken him by the hand. “Can you at least tell me that we can start working towards including me in these sorts of things? I know it will take some time, I just feel left out you know?”

He had told her that they would work on it and that he was grateful for her understanding. It had been a relief to not have an upset Ginny on his mind while he contemplated what he was about to do.

He looked up from his reverie to see Ron and Hermione both staring at him. “Do you want to go now Harry?” Hermione asked.

“Don’t feel like we’re keeping you here.” Ron added. “Why don’t you go on ahead? We’ll be fine here.”

Harry nodded and stood up, giving his friends a grateful farewell. Aubrey smiled and gave him a small wave, Ron nodded his head, and Ginny gave him a quick kiss.

Hermione and Harry walked together out the front door and across the grounds. Neither of them said anything, the sound of their feet on the ground the only noise apart from the breeze making its way through the trees. When they reached a spot just outside the front gate, Hermione took his arm and he aparrated them to a spot just outside the kissing gate they had passed through almost a year ago.

Her hand slid down into his and their fingers tangled as he felt his grip tighten. There was a small knot in his chest as they walked straight towards the tombstone, a cold breeze stirring the leaves around their feet.

They came to a stop in front of the stone, a tingling starting behind Harry’s eyes. He was prepared this time and conjured a single white lily, placing it gently on the ground at the foot of the gravestone. He felt Hermione kneel next to him and she placed a single white rose next to Harry’s lily.

He stayed kneeled there for a while, letting his hands trace the name “Potter”. If he was honest with himself, he had spent his whole life not knowing precisely what the name meant or who he really was. Circumstance had always seemed to dictate who he was: orphan, wizard, or hero.

“Harry, I brought something else.” Hermione’s voice was quiet and raspy. There were fresh tears running down her cheeks. She produced a small, framed photograph. “I thought they should have a reminder of you.”

She placed the photo behind the flowers and Harry felt his breath catch in his throat. It was a picture of the two of them with Ron, sitting by the fire of the common room. He recognized the scene, they had all been laughing at a story Ron had told about Aubrey.

He took her hand into his again, a gentle squeeze his thanks. He only needed to see Ron and Hermione’s faces to be reminded of who he really was, not who others wanted him to be.

They stood for a moment, Harry fighting the silly urge to talk to them. To tell them all about the two people in the photo. How Ron made him laugh, beat him at chess, and talked quidditch. How Hermione always had the answer, cheered him on at his games, and told him when he was wrong. Then he remembered his mother’s words in the forest

“We never left.”

He couldn’t tell them anything they didn’t already know. He actually smiled at the thought.

Gently tugging at Hermione’s hand, he led them out the kissing gate and into an empty side street. They walked in perfect unison, in no real hurry to get anywhere.

He disaparrates them back to the tall gates of Hogwarts. Their hands remained locked all the way through the abandoned grounds and corridors, keeping a leisurely pace until at last they reached their Head common room, the fire already low in the grate.

“Thanks.” He says, finally releasing her hand.

“You’re very welcome Harry. Are you okay?” her voice is tender and the embers of the fire reflect in the deep pools of her eyes.

“Yeah, I’m good.” She takes a step towards him and he opens his arms to take her in, feeling his chest and ribs compress with the pressure she’s applying. She takes a half step back, letting her hands take hold of the hem of his shirt while reaching up to plant a kiss on his cheek, letting her lips linger there longer than she always had before.

“Goodnight Harry.”

“Goodnight Hermione.” Her eyes linger on him until she’s completely turned around. His eyes follow her until her bedroom door closes behind her.

Harry pulls out a photo album from underneath his bed. It was a birthday gift from Hermione, it contained all sorts of pictures of Harry, Ron, and her as well as some that included the twins, Neville, Ginny, or even Luna. Most of the pictures came from Colin Creevey and Hermione had written a short dedication to him in the front cover.

He flipped through the various pictures, stopping every once and awhile to relive a particularly enjoyable memory. He stops at a photo of just him and Hermione. It was from Christmas of his fifth year and she had insisted that he pose for a photo of just the two of them.

“Come on Harry! Just one! We need at least some proof that we can be friends without Ron.” She laughed at Ron snorting butterbeer out of his nose.

“Alright, if you insist.” Harry faked resignation in his voice as Hermione took him in a tight embrace, their cheeks touching as he feels both his and her faces stretch into grins.

They both indeed have broad grins in the picture. They both lean their heads back every so often to look at one another and laugh. The Christmas tree in the background flickers with the lights of real fairies.

He puts the photo album away and turns out the lights to get to sleep, but it is long into the night before the image of the photo leaves his eyes.

## 8. Author's Note

So, I have some news as well as a little treat.

News first: I’m going to be gone for about a week or so. It’s Spring Break here as well as Easter Week and I’m a youth minister. Needless to say I will be busy! This is actually somewhat convenient as I’m still framing out the next few chapters of the story. Between the two it’s just a good time to take a short break. I don’t plan to be gone for longer than a week or maybe two. Either way I didn’t want my awesome readers wondering where I was.

BUT

I won’t leave without giving you something…..so, I can visualize the last scene of the story. Now in no way am I going to give anything away, but I’ll give you some fodder for your imaginations. Ok, brace for nerd impact: There’s a track from the Halo 3 soundtrack called “Tribute”. From 38 seconds to 1 minute 25 seconds the music is exactly what I would use as background music to the scene. Using both the title to the track, the music, and even the Halo 3 final scene…..you can use your imagination to what my brain might be cooking as an ending.

Anyways, hope that you enjoy the nugget and don’t judge me too harshly for being a nerd. Haha. As always, love you guys for reading and reviewing.

Cheers!

## 9. Chapter Nine

A/N: I’m back a little sooner than expected! Consider it my Easter present to my awesome readers. Hope some of you enjoyed using your imaginations to think about what ending I have in store!

This is mainly filler, but alas filler is necessary. Hope everyone has had a great Easter weekend! Cheers!

~

Hermione was studying in the library when a little memo, much like the ones from the Ministry of Magic, flew to her and unceremoniously landed in her ear.

Well, there goes my concentration, as well as hearing in my left ear.

The memo bore the Hogwarts crest instead of the Ministry seal and directed her to the Headmistress office.

Packing up her things, she made her way purposely to the stone gargoyle that guarded the passage to McGonagall’s office, only stopping to help a first year escape the vanishing step in the staircase. Her duties as Head Girl always made her feel good about herself, helping her to feel like she was making the school a better place. Besides, lately she found herself in need of a distraction.

It had been a couple of days since she went to Godric’s Hollow with Harry. While she had gone because she knew Harry wanted her there, she had had her reservations. She earnestly felt like he should have taken Ginny. That it wasn’t her place anymore to share those intimate moments with him. Yet, she had found it impossible to tell him no when he had asked.

Truthfully, she was doing her best to move on from her feelings for Harry. He was in a committed relationship and Hermione had no desire to pine after what she couldn’t have. Schoolwork and Head Girl duties could always push it to the further reaches of her mind, but it always came back.

She needed some other way to move on.

“You needed to see me Headmistress?”

“Please, take a seat. Potter should be along…ah there we are.”

Harry took a seat next to her, his hair more disheveled than usual. The sight made her sick.

“I presume you posted the notices for the first Hogsmeade weekend?” McGonagall looked from Harry to Hermione.

“Yes Professor.” Harry replied. “I mean, Headmistress.”

“Not to worry dear. Well, I have something else I would like to share with you. After much deliberation, I wish to resurrect the tradition of the Winter Ball.”

“’There hasn’t been a Winter Ball here in a hundred years.” Hermione exclaimed.

“It fell out of practice, but it has been the most commonly cited improvement listed in our exit interviews for the past few years. Particularly after the Yule Ball.”

“What do you need us to do?” Harry asked. Leave it to Harry to make a dance seem like a duty.

“I need you to post the notices and coordinate with the Prefects and Professor McClellan to ensure that only fourth year students and above are allowed into the Great Hall. I’ll also need you to help decorate when the time arises.”

“Sounds simple enough.” Harry said.

“Of course Headmistress.” Hermione replied.

“There is one other small matter.” McGonagall looked warily between them, “It was a Winter Ball tradition for the Head Boy and Girl to begin the dancing. I suggest you inform Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter; and whoever escorts you Miss Granger.”

Hermione didn’t look at Harry, but could feel his eyes on her. “Alright Headmistress. Anything else?”

“That’s all for now. Thank you dears.”

Hermione bolted from the room before Harry could speak a word. Any conversation about the Ball with Harry would tread on territory she didn’t particularly want to cover at the moment. It made her feel slightly hysterical to simply run, but then again her heart was slowly turning her into a nutter anyways….

She was so lost in her own mind that she wasn’t paying attention where she was walking, plowing headlong into Ginny.

“Oi! Hermione!” Ginny rubbed her forehead, “What in the name of Merlin where you doing?”

“Sorry Ginny, my head was in the clouds.” Hermione breathed between putting books back into her bag.

“Obviously. Are you okay? You’ve been acting strange the past few days.”

“I’m….I’m fine. Just been a little busy is all.”

“You need a break. Hey! Why don’t we treat ourselves to some girl time at Hogsmeade in two weeks? We can try out that new spa that opened up just passed Weasley’s Hogsmeade branch.”

“Er…sure. Sounds great.”

“Wicked, see you around Hermione.” Ginny walked around the corner, probably to seek the Head Boy.

She hated to admit it to herself, but spending time with Ginny wasn’t exactly the most appealing prospect. Ginny would probably want to talk about Harry….

That was when it hit her. She had given some advice to a girl who had a huge crush on Harry that was unrequited years before. Granted, the idea then had been to gain the confidence to catch Harry’s eye, but what if she took her own advice to simply get over Harry and leave it at that?

Therein was a problem: it wasn’t like she had been beating away boys with a beater’s bat. Besides Ron, Krum, and Neville no other guy had ever shown any interest in her and all of them were now unavailable.

“I’m doomed.” Not realizing she was speaking out loud.

“What’s all the moaning and groaning about?”

The voice caught her by surprise. She whipped around to see Luke Morgan come around the corner.

“Oh, hi Luke.” Luke was a seventh year Ravenclaw of average height and build with straw colored hair and grey eyes. “I was just…” there wasn’t any way to explain without embarrassing herself.

“Tell you what, how about whatever is bothering you; we just agree that you’re smart enough to handle it?”

He gave her a genuine smile. He was handsome in a boyish way, with perfect teeth and smile. She had seen him around, but hadn’t had any interactions with him before.

“Cleverness can only get you so far.” Hermione answered.

“I think that depends, I for one value cleverness quite highly.” He smiled again, not breaking eye contact with her.

“Well, I better get going. I have homework to do and Head Girl duties to see to.” Hermione turned to go, “I’ll see you around Luke.”

“See you around Granger.”

What was that?

Luke had appeared practically out of mid-air and if Hermione wasn’t mistaken was at least somewhat interested in her. She swore there had to have been some kind of magic in the building that had been targeting her recently, though it was definitely sending mixed signals.

Now I sound like Luna. Making far-fetched theories about unknown magic.

Whatever it was that had made Luke appear, it made Hermione’s insides twist uncomfortably. Everything inside of her rebelled against the idea of anyone besides Harry, but it looked increasingly like she was never going to have Harry. Why shouldn’t she be happy to have another boy’s attention?

She returned to her dorm and locked the door behind her. She pulled open her bedside drawer and took out a photograph of her and Harry. It was during their fifth year Christmas at Grimmauld Place. She had made Harry take the picture and had cherished it ever since, as it was the only one she had of just the two of them.

It seemed a cruel twist in fate that when she came to realize just how much she cared for the boy, he fell for another girl. Then again, at least fate had bypassed Harry for once.

A soft knock came at her door. “Come in.” she waved her wand to unlock it, placing the photo back in the drawer. Aubrey walked in through the open door.

“Hey you, I was looking for you.” Aubrey smiled, “Ginny said something about a girls outing next Hogsmeade weekend.”

“Yeah, her idea. Sounded like fun.” Hermione tried to sound cheerful.

“It also doesn’t really sound like Hermione.” Aubrey’s smile faded.

“Hey, I can enjoy girl things.”

“Not exactly what I meant, but a spa day?” Aubrey eyed her skeptically, “Why don’t you just fess up to what’s bugging you? You’ve been out of sorts for a few days now.”

Hermione opened her mouth to start, but hesitated. She had never really had these sort of conversations with any girl other than Ginny. Then again, she couldn’t exactly talk to Ginny about any of it.

“Well, there’s this guy and I think he might be interested in me.”

“I fail to see how that’s a problem.” Aubrey laughed.

“Well it wouldn’t be, except I want to be with someone else.”

“Okay, so why not go after this other guy?”

“He’s sortave….taken.”

“Well I’m not really game for sharing Ron…”

“Aubrey!”

“I’m kidding!” Aubrey laughed. “So who’s Mr. Unavailable?”

“It’s….sortave….Harry.”

“Oh….that’s complicated.”

“Tell me about it.”

They sat in silence, Aubrey biting her tongue in thought.

“So let me get this straight.” Aubrey broke the silence. “You like Harry.”

“Right.” Hermione hesitated.

“Oh….you love him don’t you?”

“Well….”

“Okay, so you’re in love with Harry who is unavailable, but you have this other guy who is interested in you and available?”

“Right.”

“Hmm. Well, what could it hurt to give this other bloke a go? Harry can’t be any less yours.”

Ouch

That stung more than Hermione cared to admit. Her face must have shown it.

“I’m not trying to hurt your feelings, but it’s the truth isn’t it?” Aubrey gave her a concerned look. “I know us girls hate to admit it, but sometimes what you need is the bare assed truth.”

For some reason that made Hermione laugh, completely obliterating the tense air in the room. “You have a way with words Aubrey.”

“One of many qualities dear Ron and I have in common.” She smiled. “Look, I’m not saying you and Harry could never happen. I’ve got no dog in this, so take my outsiders opinion: I think you and Harry would be great together.” Hermione smiled and blushed a little. “But, he’s with Ginny now. I don’t think you should sit around waiting on a break up that may never happen. You’re worth more than that.”

It was the sincerity with which she said it that did as much as the words themselves. Hermione had to brush a stray tear from her eye.

“Thanks.”

“What are friends for?” Aubrey smiled. “Now why don’t we do something that Hermione Granger likes to do and go to the library?”

Thinking to herself that Ron had found a real keeper, Hermione smiled back.

“Sounds great.”

## 10. Chapter Ten

~

“Where are the women?” Ron asked Harry.

“Ginny will be late, wanted to get some flying in. Can’t say where Hermione and Aubrey are.” Harry answered between bites of potatoes.

Ron scanned the Great Hall again, looking for a bushy or silky brown haired head. Finally, after five more minutes of pushing food around his plate, Hermione and Aubrey took seats on either side of him.

Something was immediately suspicious: both women looked very pleased with themselves.

“What’s got you two so cheery?” Ron asked.

“I’ve just been enjoying Hermione’s company, why don’t you ask her?” Aubrey gave him a mischievous grin. Ron’s own smile slid, that look usually meant Aubrey was up to something.

“Hermione?” this time it’s Harry asking.

“Hmm?” Hermione feigned interest while she took a sip of pumpkin juice.

“Why the huge smile?” Harry prodded.

“I can’t just be happy?” Hermione replied coolly.

“Of course you can.” Ron came to help, “We just know something is up, so why don’t you spill the beans?”

Aubrey laughed while Ron and Harry both stared Hermione down. Hermione finally gave Harry a rather smug look that didn’t suit her.

“I ran into Luke Morgan yesterday and today he found me in the library and asked me to go on a date with him next Hogsmeade weekend.”

Ron felt his jaw hit the floor. Harry simply frowned.

“But…” Ron’s mind hit a brick wall. He couldn’t exactly talk about how Hermione had admitted to loving Harry right here in front of him.

“But what Ronald? I see no reason at all why I shouldn’t have said yes.” Hermione gave him a stern look.

“You said yes?” Harry asked quietly, looking from Ron to Hermione.

“I did. He seems nice. Very smart too. Flitwick was raving about him in Charms today. Oh and did I mention he’s handsome.”

Hermione was saying all of it very nonchalantly, but Ron could tell she was paying very close attention to Harry. Harry was still frowning, taking it all in very quietly.

“Hey gang, what’s going on?” Ginny took a seat next to Harry. The scene must have looked very strange from her perspective. A smug Hermione, perplexed Ron, giggling Aubrey, and deathly quiet Harry.

“I have a date next weekend. With Luke Morgan.” Hermione replied, this time giving Ginny a genuine smile.

“Ooooh that cute Ravenclaw? Nice Hermione.” Ginny returned the smile. “Harry, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Harry answered quietly. “I…I’m not very hungry.” He stood up to go. “I’ll see you in the common room Ginny.”

Harry walked off, leaving a confused Ginny and satisfied Hermione.

Figuring it was his duty to see to his friend, Ron stood up as well. “I’ll go see what’s up with him.” He shot a significant look to Hermione who simply shrugged. “I’ll see you later.” He gave Aubrey a quick peck on the cheek.

“Common room later?” Aubrey gave him a wicked grin. Ron had to smile back, knowing exactly what she was really asking.

“Sure thing.”

Alright, if I was Harry I would go…

Fortunately he had known Harry long enough that there were really only two places he ever went when he was in one of his moods and only one of them was at Hogwarts. He made his way to the fifth floor and made his way into the Head dormitories, knocking gently on Harry’s door.

“Come in.” the door opened of its own accord.

“Hey mate, what’s on your mind?”

“Nothing.”

“Doesn’t seem like nothing. Come on, after everything we’ve gone through this can’t be that bad. Tell me what’s up.”

“Do you approve of this guy?” Harry blurted.

“Why does my opinion matter?”

“Don’t you care who she goes out with?”

“Of course I do, but I don’t really know this Luke character. I’ll reserve my judgement.”

“I don’t like him.”

“Do you even know him?”

“Forget it.”

Harry clamped up. Ron had seen this movie a hundred times. It always meant that there was something more Harry wasn’t saying.

“Harry, what’s this really about?”

“Nothing.”

“Doesn’t look like nothing from where I’m standing.”

“Just forget I said anything.”

“Really Harry?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“That Hermione going out with Luke bothers you.”

“Hermione going out with Luke bothers me.” Harry mechanically intoned.

“Oh ha ha. Now why does it bother you?”

“I don’t know okay?” Harry sighed exasperatedly.

“Well that clears things up.”

“I don’t know!”

“Okay, okay. I get it.”

“This doesn’t bother you?” Harry looked at Ron.

“Honestly? A little bit. But Hermione can make her own choices.”

Ron looked concernedly at his friend. He had a suspicion what this was really about, even if Harry were trying to make this about Ron. Harry was looking at him, reading him.

“I’m fine, really Harry.”

“Okay.”

“How are things with Ginny?”

“They’re okay.”

“Just okay?”

“It’s just like, there’s something missing. You know? Like we have great times together and everything, but….” Harry trailed off.

“Well here’s an idea: why don’t you talk Ginny into seeing if you could make Hermione’s date a double date with you and Ginny? You could keep an eye on this bloke and make sure there’s no funny business.”

“I don’t think she’d go for it…”

“Won’t know unless you try.”

“Alright, I’ll talk to Ginny.” Harry mumbled, rising and leaving the room. “I’ll see you around; I’m going to the Tower common room.”

“Alright mate, see you.”

Ron headed down towards the kitchens with more on his mind than just meeting up with his girlfriend. If Harry’s odd behavior was what Ron thought it was, then things were about to get a lot more complicated. He smiled,

This must be what Harry felt like all those years that Hermione and I danced around each other.

He was just getting to the portrait that hid the kitchens when a pair of soft hands covered his eyes.

“Guess who.”

“Oh I don’t know….Malfoy? Oi!” Aubrey had punched him in the ribs. “Are you mad?”

“What boy you know has hands as well moisturized as mine?” Aubrey pouted.

“You’re right, not slimy enough to be Malfoy.” Ron smiled.

“You’re in a better mood.” Aubrey smiled back. “I know you know about Hermione, do me a favor and let it go alright?”

“Alright, geez. So demanding.”

“How about I make you feel better by demanding you take me somewhere and snog me senseless?”

“I do like ‘em bossy.” Ron grinned. Things with his friends were complicated but this, this was simple.

He liked simple.

## 11. Chapter Eleven

A/N: We’re in the first week of November in the story, which means it’s time for a quidditch match!

~

Saturday morning dawned cold and windy, but surprisingly sunny for the first quidditch match of the season. Ron’s Gryffindor squad was perhaps the best that Harry had been on in years and both boys felt confident that Slytherin didn’t stand a chance.

The new Slytherin captain, Simon Daugherty, had had to accept nearly everyone who tried out, as Slytherin house was noticeably smaller in its number of upperclassmen and McGonagall had refused to allow any exceptions to the rule about first years. Gryffindor meanwhile, was almost entirely veterans from Harry’s team, plus Jay who had made the team and replaced Katie’s vacant spot.

“This will be the most lopsided Slytherin loss in their history.” Coote was proclaiming to raucous applause at breakfast.

“Will you keep it down? No sense in giving them reason to play harder.” Ron scolded him. He was looking a bit pale, but wasn’t the delicate shade of green he normally turned before a game.

“You look good mate. Confident?”

“I’m feeling pretty good yeah.” Ron managed between mouthfuls of porridge.

“Do keep your mouth closed when it’s full Ron.” Hermione elbowed him.

“Oi!”

Aubrey laughed as she joined them on Ron’s other side. “She’s right you know Ron.”

“Don’t you start on me too!”

“Relax. If we didn’t love you we wouldn’t bother trying to polish your Stone Age eating methods.”

“Alright. Geez.”

“Oh so she tells you and it’s all aboard!” Hermione spun in her seat.

“She’s just a bit more persuasive is all luv.” Ron gave her a wicked grin. Hermione feigned gagging onto her toast.

“Spare me the details.”

“Hey Hermione, ready to go?” Luke sauntered up behind her.

“Yes. Good luck Ron.” She bent down and gave Ron a kiss on the cheek, “Good luck Harry.” Hermione barely made eye contact and was already walking away when she said it. Ron gave Harry a look and shrugged his shoulders. Harry lost interest in his breakfast.

The pitch roared as Harry and Ron lead the team onto the pitch. Gryffindor were the clear favorites in the stands.

“Opponents shake hands.” Madame Hooch commanded. Malfoy put out his hand for Ron and Harry noticed he didn’t have his typical scowl. They shook hands briefly and Harry put out his own hand.

“Good luck Potter.”

Harry simply stared at Malfoy as he mounted his broom.

“Players....” Madame Hooch gave a shrill blast of her whistle and both teams streaked into the air.

Harry flew one lap close to the pitch grass before looping high above the action, searching for the snitch. Malfoy circled on the other side.

Ron’s team was proving its mettle. The chasers were flying in a perfect amalgamation of set formations and improvisation, passing from one to another with such speed that the Slytherin defense was getting shredded. Barely twenty minutes in and the score was one hundred and sixty to thirty. Harry kept his vigilance; the score wouldn’t matter if Malfoy caught the snitch.

Just when Ginny had scored another goal and Harry had dipped down to the level of the upper stands, he spotted Hermione sitting with Luke and idly chatting away, barely paying attention to the game.

It floored him. She had always been there to cheer him on, despite disliking the game itself. To see her so non-chalantly ignoring it sent a bitter taste into his mouth and stones in his gut.

“Oi! Harry!” Ron’s voice came bellowing from the goalpost. Harry turned to see a streak of green diving towards the far end of the pitch. He pushed his broom as fast as it could towards the tiny snitch that was hovering towards the bottom of the Slytherin goalpost.

Unfortunately, Malfoy had a huge head start, and before Harry had closed two-thirds of the distance a triumphant Malfoy hovered in front of a screaming knot of green clad Slytherins in victory: one hundred and eighty to one hundred and seventy.

“What the hell is the matter with you?” Ron flew up behind him. “What could possibly have been that interesting in the stands that you let Malfoy get the better of you like that?”

“Nothing.” Harry snapped back, reaching the ground and stomping his way towards the locker room. The pitch was quiet but for the raucous cheers from the Slytherins.

Ron gave a short speech to the effect of having only lost by ten points and still controlling their destiny in the cup race, but Harry was barely listening. He was berating himself for having let Hermione get to him and for letting the Slytherins escape. He trudged his way back to his dorm, ignoring the gloomy Gryffindors who tried to cheer him up.

He was freshly showered and was pouting in the common room when Hermione walked in, saying her goodbyes to Luke.

“Oh, hello Harry. You’ll do better next time I’m sure.”

“How would you know? Not like you’ll be paying much attention.” He grumbled back.

“Excuse me?” Hermione’s voice rose.

“You weren’t even watching today. Too wrapped up in Luke to know what was going on. Do you even know what the score was?” Harry’s temper was flaring.

“One hundred eighty to one hundred seventy.” She responded coldly. “Since when have I not supported you at a game?”

“Since you met Luke.”

“What’s your problem with Luke? You don’t even know him!”

“I don’t have a problem with him, it’s just…”

“It’s what Harry? Please tell me!” but Harry either couldn’t or wouldn’t tell her what it was. “When you decide to stop being a child and act like the adult you are, I will be in my room studying.”

Hermione huffed passed him and slammed her door shut. Harry’s wand emitted sparks as his temper flared again.

Who is she to call me a child? Maybe if she wasn’t so gooey eyed over Luke none of this happens!

He stomped back into his room, slamming the door. Why does Luke bother me so much? A much calmer voice in his head spoke up.

Hermione is my best friend; I just want what’s best for her. That’s all. He reasoned. If he was honest with himself, it didn’t help that she was paying attention to Luke and not him. That wasn’t necessarily Luke’s fault though.

Harry took a deep breath. This was crazy. He didn’t know a thing about this guy, for all he knew, Luke was going to be the best thing that ever happened to Hermione and here he was being a baby because she didn’t see every second of his game.

He walked across the common room and knocked softly at Hermione’s door.

“Hermione?”

There was silence for a few long seconds, before there was some scuffling on the other side of the door and it opened just enough for half of Hermione’s face to appear.

“Are you done being a prat?”

“Look, I’m sorry Hermione. I was just mad about the game.”

“Yeah, well that’s not my fault is it?”

“No, no its not.” Another short silence before Hermione sighed and opened the door completely.

“Harry, are you going to tell me what about Luke bothers you?”

“Hermione I….you’re my best friend. I just want what’s best for you.”

“You don’t even know him….”

“You’re exactly right, which is why I have a proposition for you.” Hermione’s eyebrows peaked. “Why don’t we make it a double date next weekend? You and Luke, me and Ginny?”

“Harry…”

“I’ll be on my best behavior, I swear.” He crossed his hand over his heart. “I just want to know the guy who’s gotten the attention of my Hermione.”

Hermione’s eyes went wide. “I….O-Okay.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes.” She ran her hands through her hair. “Yes, it sounds lovely. Besides, it’ll make things less awkward.”

“Brilliant, I’ll let Ginny know.” Harry smiled and Hermione returned it with a shaky smile of her own.

“See you at dinner.”

“See you around Harry.”

Harry walked back to his room, a mixed feeling settling into his gut. It was going to be weird being on a double date period, but to be on it with Hermione was going to make it even stranger. At least he would get a close up look at this guy and decide for himself if he was worthy of his best friends affections. She deserved the best and if Luke didn’t pass muster, then Harry was going to have something to say about it.

~

A/N: Sorry if you were expecting a blow-by-blow of the quidditch match. It was really just an opportunity to set up what the real kicker is going to be which is the double date. Also sorry that it’s a short one and that it took so long. On a brighter note, it’s actually really fun writing a jealous Harry and scheming(?) Hermione. We might be parked here longer than I thought….but we’ll see!

## 12. Chapter Twelve

A/N: I’m very sorry I’ve been MIA for so long. I’ve been trying to answer some reviews to let you know I was still alive. Haha. Since I know you guys and gals understand, I won’t go into details. Suffice it to say life has just gotten hectic here lately. But here is the next update that I know some of you have really been waiting for. Let me go ahead and say that we ARE going to get Hermione’s perspective on the date as well. Until then, I’ll let your imaginations do some guesswork as to what happens during the parts we don’t get to see.

~

Harry felt the knot in his stomach tighten while he waited on Hermione and Luke to come down the stairs. Ginny was non-chalantly checking her reflection in a mirror.

“Why so tense Harry?”

“I’m not tense.”

“Harry, I can very well see that you’re tense. Relax. Why are you so worked up over Hermione and Luke?”

Ginny was feigning an air of light curiosity, but Harry could hear the warning in her tone.

“I can’t worry about my best friend? I don’t even know this bloke.”

“He’s sweet. He’ll be good to Hermione. Don’t worry about it alright?”

Harry nodded and checked his watch again. Hermione and Luke were running late, which was uncharacteristic of Hermione. Finally, after ten more minutes of twiddling his thumbs and checking his watch, Hermione and Luke descended the stairs.

“Sorry we’re late. My hair just wasn’t cooperating today.” Hermione grumbled. Her hair had been straightened into loose curls and framed her face nicely.

“What’s wrong with how it normally looks?” Harry replied.

“Oh please Harry, that’s a nice sentiment but it’s normally a mess.” Hermione smiled.

“It looks great, where we off to?” Luke asked.

“Let’s get some Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. Then we can go browse around the new W.W.W. premises before heading to Tomes and Scrolls.” Hermione rattled off what was to her a clearly designed schedule.

“Oh come on, no Madame Puddifoot’s? It’d be fun!” Ginny winked devilishly at Hermione who blushed.

“Er….not today. Maybe some other time.” Hermione responded.

“Yeah I’d rather steer clear of that place.” Harry chimed in.

“Oh come on Harry….one bad date there and now it’s off limits?” Ginny whined.

“Pretty much.”

“It sounds great, let’s get going before we sit around and it gets dark.” Luke grabbed a freshly blushing Hermione’s hand and set off, Harry and Ginny on their heels.

Ginny was trying to talk to Harry about ideas for the next quidditch match, but he kept his answers short as he was trying to catch whatever it was that Hermione found so interesting in what Luke was saying.

“Uh huh.” Harry nodded.

“Harry, that wasn’t a question. Are you even listening to me?”

“Uh..” he could see the daggers forming in Ginny’s eyes, “Sorry Ginny, just got a little distracted is all.”

“Harry, for the last time, relax. How are we supposed to enjoy our date when all you care about is catching every little thing between those two? Leave them alone. Hermione is a grown woman, she can handle herself just fine.”

Harry sighed, “Alright Ginny. Now what is it you were saying?”

Harry indulged Ginny all the way to a corner booth at the Three Broomsticks that Hermione and Luke had found for them.

“Bad luck at that last match Harry, especially since our house is bound to give you guys a run for your money.” Luke didn’t look very threatening with a smile on his face and talking about quidditch.

“Yeah, we’re still in the thick of the Cup race, we just can’t afford another loss.” Harry replied.

“We’ll see just how close you Ravenclaws can stay when we’re on the pitch.” Ginny chimed in.

“Must we talk about quidditch?” Hermione moaned, “You know our lesson yesterday in Potions was very….” She stopped at the blank looks on Harry and Ginny’s faces. “Ugh, I’m surrounded.”

“You mean the one on Wolfsbane? Tricky thing isn’t it?” Luke grabbed Hermione’s attention, “hard to believe old Snape spent a whole year brewing it perfectly for Lupin.” Hermione and Luke both smiled at one another before quickly looking in opposite directions.

“What can I get you dears?” Madame Rosmerta appeared at the end of the table.

“Butterbeer all around please? Thank you Madame and put it on my tab please.” Hermione looked approvingly at Luke.

“Of course dear.” Madame Rosmerta smiled as she disappeared to fetch the drinks.

“So Hermione, what’s it like being Head Girl?” Ginny and Hermione launched into a discussion of Hermione’s Head Girl duties with Luke looking appropriately enthusiastic.

Harry followed the conversation, paying close attention to body language. It was clear that Hermione was nervous, but nervous in the way anyone would be on a first date. Ginny wasn’t doing a great job at hiding the fact that she was trying to play up Hermione’s good qualities to Luke. Luke….

Luke was being a perfect gentleman. It irritated Harry to watch him being perfectly polite and respectful to Hermione. Aside from holding hands he hadn’t touched her at all, was being perfectly deferent to her, and he was showing interest in everything she talked about without going over the top.

Maybe Harry had spent so much of the past few years dealing with humanity’s worst that it was just hard to accept that Luke really could be a good guy. That beneath his nice exterior there wasn’t a dark wizard lurking underneath. Maybe he just had trust issues with anyone he hadn’t personally fought beside for all those years. Maybe he was just worried about not having his best friend around as much. Or maybe….

“Yoo-hoo, Earth to Harry.” Ginny was waving her hand in front of his face. “Where have you been the past five minutes?”

“Er…here with you of course.”

“Please, you were a million miles away.” Ginny playfully smacked his arm. “We’ll talk about it later. Come on, we’re headed to the shop.”

Luke helped Hermione to her feet and held hands as the four made their way into the street. Hogwarts students were passing every which way making their way in and out of the shops, all of them stopping to politely wave and greet Harry and Ginny. Ginny stopped on several occasions for an extra word or two with someone, with Harry keeping an eye on Hermione and Luke who were immersed in conversation.

Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes was jam packed with people when they reached the violent purple building. It was slightly larger than the Diagon Alley premises and seemed to have a slightly different inventory more obviously geared towards the Hogwarts crowd. Luke and Hermione had already melded into the crowd, so for perhaps the first time that afternoon Harry let them slip out of his mind as he and Ginny perused the shelves. Ginny liked the line of trick makeup sets, while Harry could think of plenty of ways to use the brand new line of prank broomsticks.

“What’s this?” Harry reached out and picked up what looked to be a jack in the box.

“Careful, Harry.” Ginny giggled.

Harry would up the toy until the chime reached its end, he pointed it away from him but when the final note sounded nothing happened. Just when he let his guard down and pointed it upwards again, it exploded in a cloud of purple powder.

Harry was spluttering and attempting to get the powder off his glasses while Ginny was collapsing in fits of laughter. Even Harry gave into his laughter once the initial shock had worn off.

“Geez, you think I would know better than to satisfy my curiosity about a Weasley product.” Harry laughed. “I look ridiculous.”

Ginny laughed, “It could be worse. Purple isn’t really your color…” she gave him a light kiss on the lips, “but it will do.”

Harry looked into her brown eyes and they both smiled at each other. Right when he looked up over Ginny’s head, he caught site of Luke who was looking avidly over the joke broomsticks and Hermione who was looking right at Harry with a distinct frown on her face. Before Harry could adequately process it, she was back to talking with Luke.

“What was that all about?”

“What was what all about?” Ginny’s voice reminded him of her presence.

“Oh, er….some first years outside were yelling at one another. They’ve moved on up the street now.”

“Oh. Where are Hermione and Luke?”

“Over by the broomsticks.”

‘Thank you Harry.”

“For what?”

“For being so nice today. I know you don’t know or trust Luke and that you worry about Hermione, but Luke really is a nice guy and Hermione deserves to be able to have a nice day out with a handsome guy.”

Harry suddenly felt very selfish. “Of course she does and he seems alright.” He almost made it sound sincere.

“Ready to go you two?” Hermione suddenly appeared behind Ginny.

“Sure. Off to Tomes and Scrolls right?” Harry responded.

“Right. Say Ginny, could I have a word?” Hermione looked a Ginny who followed Hermione out the door giggling.

“They couldn’t possibly be talking about us now could they?” Luke grinned at Harry.

“Nah, probably talking about quidditch or dragons or something.” Harry couldn’t help but laugh as he made his way into the busy street with Luke tailing behind him.

“Listen, I know you and Hermione are close. She talks about you quite a bit. You don’t know me and I don’t really know you outside of the stories.”

“Okay..”

“I won’t ever purposefully hurt her and not just because she’s a powerful witch or you’re the most powerful wizard alive to hear the tales. I genuinely like her and want to get to know her better and spend more time with her. I just want to make sure that you and I understand one another.”

Luke had stopped walking and was looking Harry in the face. Harry looked into his eyes and saw that behind his calm demeanor, Luke was nervous but determined.

Harry looked up the street where Hermione was stopped with Ginny talking to Madame Rosmerta. “She’s my best friend. I can’t control who she spends time with or goes on dates with. You don’t need my blessing. Just treat her right and we won’t have any problems.”

“Count on it.” Luke grinned and happily changed the subject back to quidditch. That subject carried them all the way into Tomes and Scrolls.

“Luke, could you help me get these books to the counter?” Ginny appeared right as they walked in the doorway with a load of books that, judging by their titles, were clearly Hermione’s.

“Of course.” Luke took the load of books and followed Ginny to the front counter. Harry saw Hermione biting her lip and flipping disinterestedly through a book in the first row.

“I take it you wanted to speak with me?” Harry grinned at his clearly anxious friend.

“Ginny hasn’t really learned the art of subtlety.” Hermione smiled weakly, “What do you think?”

“Well a book on Goblin runes wouldn’t be my first choice, but….”

“Oh, come off it Harry, you know what I mean.”

“Luke?” Harry glanced at Luke as he helped Ginny get Hermione’s books paid and bagged, “He seems alright. Not good enough for you, but then that’s a given.”

Hermione blushed. “I had a hard time believing at first he was really interested in me and not just playing me or wanting to hear stories about you or something.”

“Come on Hermione, why wouldn’t he want to spend time with Hermione Granger? The Brightest Witch of the Age, the woman who helped take down Voldemort, Hogwarts Head Girl, future Minister of Magic?”

Hermione laughed and punched Harry in the arm. “Stop it! I’m being serious!”

“So am I Hermione. You’re great, any guy would be lucky to have you.”

Hermione crushed him in a hug. “You’re the best Harry. Please play nice alright?”

“I’ll do my best.” Harry forced a smile.

The four of them walked to the castle together, the two couples holding hands and chatting idly. Harry was quiet, speaking only when spoken to. It wasn’t that he hadn’t had a great afternoon with his girlfriend, best friend and her new boyfriend.

No, the problem was that there was something crawling around in Harry’s chest and twisting his insides into knots.

He had thought to himself many times in his life that Ron or some other guy was going to be really lucky to have Hermione one day. He had been entirely truthful when he had told that to her in the bookstore. That wasn’t what was bothering him.

The problem that was slithering around in his chest was that today was the first time he had included himself. The first time he had thought that he would be really lucky to have Hermione.

Something about that was very disquieting to Harry indeed.

~

Just to address this in case it becomes a problem again: if Portkey does go down again, you can find my stories on harrypotterfanfiction.com under the same author name (CA Crawford). I’m working hard to try and catch up my stories on that site (since they are behind where I am on Portkey) so that in the event Portkey is down again you can still find any new updates.

Also, I’m currently working on getting my stories uploaded to Wattpad (again, under the same author name). I’ll be behind on Wattpad since I won’t be publishing stories there until they are completed, but feel free to find me on there and check out the book covers that I’ll be doing for each story. I’ll also (hopefully) be publishing an original novel I’ve been working on for quite some time later this year on Wattpad. I know…….shameless self-promotion. Anyways, so glad you guys are enjoying the story and thank you all for your wonderful reviews!

## 13. Chapter Thirteen

A/N: We’ll get to Hermione’s side of the story. Luke may not be all he seems…..

As for right now, since I always believe in transparency, I’ll say that I really wasn’t sure how I wanted to transition into this. I don’t think there’s a long fuse on this fight, which is going to happen one way or another, it’s more a question of how we get there. This way is very direct, but I’m at a bit of a writer’s block with how else to get here. So I’m going to go ahead and post it as is. Too sudden? Straight to the point? I’d love to hear what you think and I might make changes as see fit.

P.S. I love that I can do this on Portkey. You guys and gals as the community are so great: always giving feedback and willing to engage in the kinds of conversations that make the pieces and the authors behind them better. How awesome is that? What a great day it was when I found Portkey.

~

Harry spent all the next day trying to ignore the pestering thoughts in his mind. He focused extra hard in his classes and tried all day to engage Ginny in conversation, but apparently he wasn’t the only one with a heavy mind. Ginny was conspicuously quiet the entire day. So he spent the whole morning awkwardly making one way conversation and scratching extra detailed notes in class.

“Gin? What’s wrong? You’ve been quiet all day.” Harry placed his hand on hers. They were sitting on the couch in the Head dorm working on a Charms essay. She sat staring at the floor before turning to Harry with that same hard, blazing look she had given him on two other occasions. One was when they had their first kiss and the other was right before he broke up with her to chase horcruxes.

But there was something different in that look this time.

“Harry, do you love me?” her voice was very soft.

“Of course I do Gin.” Harry felt his chest tighten.

“Do you love me. Do you want to be with me?”

“Why are you asking this Ginny?”

“Can you just answer the question?” Ginny’s voice rose in pitch.

“Of course I do Ginny. Why would you think otherwise?”

“I don’t know, why don’t you tell me why I have to work so hard to be noticed by you? Why did it take you so much longer to say you loved me when I’ve known for so long that I’ve loved you? Why is it that there are things you will talk to her about that you won’t mention to me?” Ginny’s voice was getting louder and shriller with every syllable and she rose to her feet.

“Ginny, we’ve been over this. You weren’t there. There are just some things that you can’t understand.” Harry was on his feet now.

“How would you know? You never even gave me the chance! But Hermione gets to know every little thing about my boyfriend!”

“She’s my best friend Ginny.”

“I’m your girlfriend! You know…the one you supposedly love and maybe want to marry and start a family with? Don’t you think we should be able to talk about those kinds of things?”

“We will Ginny….”

“When Harry? At what point do I finally start to catch up to Hermione?”

Harry narrowed his eyes. “You make it sound like a competition.”

“I’ve had to compete with her from square one! You’ve always spent time with her, confided in her and talked about her. Don’t you think there was a reason Cho was jealous of her? Why I’m jealous of her? She’s always been higher on your priority list than any other girl!”

“Ginny….”

“No! I’ve had enough!” Ginny cut him off, “I got sent home instead of going with you after Voldemort because you “cared too much”, but she gets to spend the whole year wandering the wilderness with you and fighting with you. Did you just not care about her that much? Is that why she got to go with you when I couldn’t? Everyone else kept the person they loved most close: Bill, Lupin, Ron….why was I the one who got sent home?”

Ginny was practically shouting now and Harry’s voice rose with it. “So is that what this boils down to? You’re seriously upset that she got to live in a tent and nearly give up her life and I cared too much to put you through that?”

“Don’t you get it? You allowed her that chance to risk her life for you and to be with you! I never got that chance! Don’t you think when people’s lives are on the line you would rather have them with you? Don’t you think I would have happily given up everything to be there beside you? It broke my heart to watch you leave. I would have gone after you right then and there if I hadn’t been so sure you would do everything to stop me. I spent the entire year not knowing whether you were alive out there somewhere or whether you had been dead for ages! An entire year with a bag packed and ready to go! If I had the slightest knowledge you were alive and where you were, I would have been there in an instant! I didn’t care if I died or what I would lose, or what you would do! I wanted to be with you! And the whole time I wondered why she was the one who got to give it all up to be with you and not me. If you really cared about me you would have let me make the same choice you allowed her.”

Ginny was openly crying now, “And when it was all over, I was convinced that maybe then things would change. With Ron and Hermione together and no Voldemort to keep you away, we could finally have the life I wanted so badly with you. But no! You had to go spend four weeks waltzing around Europe and Australia with her and I wasn’t even welcome to go along! I spent four weeks trying to get over Fred and needing you more than ever and where were you? Oh and when you came back? I’ve been fighting tooth and nail ever since to get you to look at me the way you look at her! Don’t you think I see it? Don’t you think I see the way she looks at you?”

“Ginny she’s got a boyfriend! I’m with you not her!”

“And is that what you want?” Ginny’s voice dropped and her words seemed to catch in her throat, “Am I the only one who really wants this? Harry I spent all day yesterday watching you stare at the other girl on our double date. All day watching you fret over her in a way you only did when you didn’t have me and seeing that look on your face you get with her that I can’t touch and the worst part was she was doing the same damn thing.”

Silence overtook the room in its vicelike grip. Harry simply stared with his mouth agape, unsure of what to say. Ginny wiped the tears off of her face and took a deep breath.

“Do you love me Harry?” Ginny’s voice was whisper soft.

Harry opened his mouth, but words failed him. He wanted so badly to say the right words, but the words seemed to have hundred pound bags attached to them. Instead of rising in his throat they simply sat in his chest, unable to move.

Ginny nodded her head and as a fresh tear escaped her eye, she turned towards the door where a completely stunned looking Ron stood in the open doorway.

“I didn’t mean to intrude…”

Ginny simply brushed by her brother and out the open door.

“Ginny….” Harry croaked out her name, but she didn’t pause or stop. Harry felt a lead weight settle into his navel area as Ron closed the door behind him. He couldn’t find anything to say to his best friend.

Ron took a seat on the couch and ran his hand through his hair. “Can I ask you something mate?”

Harry nodded. “When we came back from Australia, did you ever really want to be with my sister?”

Harry had pushed his doubts about Ginny far into the back of his mind ages ago, but like someone on the run who has been cornered, he felt like it was finally time to own up to the truth.

“I was never really sure.” Harry let out a long breath, “I thought I did, but I was never sure if that was what I really wanted or if it was just the easy thing to do.”

Ron frowned. “Don’t you think you should have been honest about that? What happened to the Harry who was being so honest with me in Rome? Harry, you’ve been a lot of things in your life but the way you’ve treated my sister the past few months is not the Harry I thought I knew.”

Harry stared at his shoes, guilt washing over him. “Ron, I don’t know what to say.”

“Didn’t I tell you about this? Didn’t I warn you about messing about with her?”

“Ron, I never meant for it to happen.”

“Of course you didn’t Harry, but that’s what they all say isn’t it? You’re my best friend Harry and now because of you I’ve got to go find my crying little sister and tell her how it’s all going to be alright. I trusted you Harry. I stood up for you. I told Mum that you were going to get your head back on straight, I told Ginny that you would open up to her and pay her more attention, I told Hermione and Aubrey not to get involved and this is the thanks I get?”

“You never trusted me with Ginny!” Harry felt the words come out before he could stop them.

“I did Harry and look what it got me.” Ron answered coldly.

For the second time in an hour Harry’s mouth hung open and words failed him. Ron gave Harry the same disgusted look he usually reserved for Malfoy.

“Ron…”

“Save it Harry.” Ron gave him one more distasteful look before storming out the door, leaving a stunned and ashamed Harry in his wake.

Harry had made a mess of quite a few things in his life, in fact it was almost his calling card, but nothing came close to the sick feeling of seeing that look on Ron’s face or watching Ginny walk out of the room with tears in her eyes.

He had managed to hurt the only real family he had left.

A soft knock at the door brought his attention back to the here and now. “Can I come in?” a soft voice asked from the other side of the door.

“Sure.” Harry managed to croak. Aubrey’s silky brown hair preceded her as she stuck her head through the door.

“I can come back later….”

“It’s fine.” Harry figured there wasn’t really any way it could get any worse. Aubrey gave him a sympathetic look before a determined grimace took over her features.

“I saw Ron storming away, he was rather curt and unhelpful to me but I think I know what the problem is.” She kept looking at Harry, but he couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze. Aubrey let out a long breath, “Harry, I think it’s time that I stop keeping my silence. There’s something I need to tell you.”

~

A/N: Am I terrible for leaving it there? Probably. Haha

## 14. Author's Note and Dedication

Because I like to keep my readers informed, I wanted to share something with you all.

Two weeks ago, a great friend of mine passed away in a motorcycle accident. He was 60 years old. His name was Timothy Andrew Burns.

We shared more than a middle name, Tim was someone who always had a smile on his face and who always wanted to make me laugh. He was someone who believed in me and was never shy about telling me that I had greatness within me. That I would do great things with my life before my time was up. He was someone who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it and was always looking to help. He was my friend and I cherished his friendship until the day he passed.

Naturally, I spent most of the past few weeks not feeling up to writing. I grieved in my own way. But I know that Tim would have never wanted me to spend time mourning his passing that I could spend being happy and doing what I love to do. Therefore, I started today on new chapters for both “The End of the Beginning” and “Shattered”. I hope to post them sometime later this week. It brings me a new joy to set about my work knowing that he’s watching and that he’s smiling knowing that I’m doing what I love to do.

I want to take this opportunity to dedicate this, my trilogy (Continental Holiday, Lost Pieces, The End of the Beginning) to my friend Tim Burns. Thank you for always believing in me and always making me smile. I know one day I will see you again and you can catch me up on all the jokes you learned while you were waiting on me.

Thanks again to all my readers for reading, being patient with me, and for helping make me a better writer with your feedback. Will be back very soon with some updates.

~Andrew

## 15. Chapter Fifteen

A/N: Finally finished this update. Again, glad to be back and thanks to all my readers for your patience. I’m really excited about some of things coming up in this story.

We’ll be getting back to Harry soon enough. Needless to say the lad is getting his long deserved wake up call, but as promised today is Hermione’s perspective from a chapter ago. Hope you guys and gals enjoy. Cheers!

~

Hermione was checking her hair in the mirror for the umpteenth time. She was sure in the back of her mind that it was fine, but fidgeting with it kept her mind a little less focused on what she was about to embark upon.

Her experience with a night out with a guy consisted of the Yule Ball, Slughorn’s party, and one night at the Opera with Ron. Each one had failed in some way to prepare her for what passed for a “normal” date.

Then again, it’s not like Hermione had lived the most “normal” life up until this point anyways.

She felt very nervous. She knew next to nothing about Luke. What would they talk about? What if they didn’t have anything in common? What if he thought she was boring?

She was used to dealing with men she knew a little more about. Krum at least had been a celebrity, so she at least had some inkling of what he would be like. Ron she knew all too well. This was new territory for her and while that came with a sense of adventure, it also took her out of her comfort zone.

A soft knock at the door. “Hermione?”

“Just a minute.” She spoke to the door, taking one last glance in the mirror and counting silently to ten. She opened the door to a smiling Luke.

“You look great.” He gave her a quick eye over which made her blush. He offered his hand which she politely took as they started down the stairs.

All the way to the Three Broomsticks, while she politely conversed with Luke, Harry and Ginny, Hermione was analyzing in the back of her mind. It was a habit she had had her whole life and it had always served her well in the more dangerous situations in life. While she had never quite been able to shut it off when it came to men, it hadn’t gotten her into any serious trouble yet.

Ginny seemed well at ease around Luke. Then again Ginny always seemed that way around a cute guy. Still, if something was off about Luke she would expect Ginny to pick up on it.

Harry was clearly uncomfortable. Everything from his stance down to the way he seemed to pause before everything he said told Hermione that Harry was not at ease. While that disquieted her to some degree, after all no one had a better nose for trouble than Harry, it could also be attributed to circumstance.

Harry was a private person and she had been very surprised when it was his idea for a double date. It seemed to run counter to what Harry would typically want, but he had seemed genuine when he had asked. It also had to be at least a little awkward since he was the only one out of the loop since Ginny, Hermione, and Luke were obviously already acquainted. On top of it he was probably being his usual protective self, which was par for the course when it came to Harry.

Luke was calm and at ease. He walked and talked with a confidant air about him. Not in the cocky way of a Malfoy or the unintentional snobbery of Fleur, but simply with the air of someone who was completely at home in their own skin. While Ron had always felt second best and Harry and even Krum had been uncomfortable with celebrity, here was someone at home with who they were. It was new and (if Hermione was honest with herself) somewhat freeing experience.

All in all she was very satisfied so far with how everything was going. As they took their seats at the Three Broomsticks, she immersed herself in conversation with Ginny about her Head Girl duties over butterbeer, to which Luke was appropriately attentive while Harry had that faraway look that told Hermione he was in deep thought.

“I’m not sure how you balance it with all of your schoolwork.” Ginny had a hint of awe in her voice.”

“It all comes down to time management. I have a schedule and I have to stick to it if I’m going to get everything done. Though, two particular people who shall not be named have done a pretty good job at helping me find ways to take a break now and then.”

Hermione had aimed her prodding remark Harry’s way, but the boy was so deep in thought that he had been completely oblivious to it.

“Yoo-hoo, Earth to Harry.” Ginny was waving her hand in front of his face. “Where have you been the past five minutes?”

Hermione briefly wondered where his mind had gotten off to, but was brought back to the present by Luke taking her hand and leading her out into the street.

“I love the Weasley’s shop.” They strolled hand in hand towards the violent purple shop, “They always have such neat products. Bloody shame about Fred, always liked him.” Luke’s face fell and it was then that Hermione caught it: he suddenly looked much older and careworn for the briefest of moments. It was such a brief yet total transformation that Hermione’s mouth simply hung open.

“What’s wrong?” Luke’s face was suddenly back to his confidant, boyish self. The gears in Hermione’s mind were whirring but she forced her face into a smile. “Nothing just got lost in my head for a second.”

“That’s not hard to believe.” Luke laughed. “So what’s it like being best friends with the most famous wizard in Britain?”

“It has had its moments,” Hermione briefly flashed through seven years’ worth of harrowing adventures, “but he’s never really been any sort of hero or celebrity to me. He’s just Harry.” She briefly looked over her shoulders to see Harry and Ginny absorbed in conversation.

“You two really care for one another don’t you?”

“Yes, but it’s nothing like that.” Hermione turned back to Luke, “We’ve just always looked out for one another. You go through things like we have and you form a bond you know?” Hermione wasn’t even convincing herself with her line of logic.

“Everyone always you were going to either wind up with Weasley or him. Weasley obviously didn’t work out, but how come you and Harry never happened?”

Hermione laughed. “I don’t know. We just never really moved in that direction I guess.”

“I see.” They pushed their way into the crowded joke shop. Hermione had long had to admit herself that despite her distaste for pranks, there was some truly brilliant magic behind the products.

“Think Harry would notice if I switched his broom?” Luke picked up a joke broom that the advertisement said would turn into a rubber chicken when given the “up” command.

“Unfortunately I think he would.” Hermione scanned the crowd and spotted a laughing Harry and Ginny holding what looked to be an exploded jack-in-the-box. Harry was coated in a purple powder and looked thoroughly ridiculous, yet Hermione’s face fell into a frown.

“Too bad, it might help our chances in the quidditch match.”

She turned back to Luke to break her gaze from Harry, but was taken by surprise that Luke too was looking across the room with a weary and faraway look in his eye, completely at odds with his normal boyish charm.

“Easy to get distracted in here isn’t it?” Hermione attempted a chuckle, but was again taken aback by the change in Luke. Again it was only a brief moment before his perfect smile came sliding back across his face, almost like a mask being put into place.

“Yeah, want to head to the book shop?”

“Sure, let’s grab the others.” They managed to shove their way through the crowd to where Harry and Ginny were standing. “Ready to go you two?”

“Sure. Off to Tomes and Scrolls right?” Harry responded.

“Right. Say Ginny, could I have a word?” Hermione looked at Ginny who promptly fell in step behind her as they made their way back into the crowded street.

“So, how is it going?” Ginny whispered excitedly.

“It’s….going.”

“What’s wrong? He seems like the perfect gentleman.” Ginny frowned.

“He is its just….” Hermione couldn’t get the image of a mask sliding over Luke’s face out of her mind. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just nervous.”

“Of course you are, but there’s nothing wrong with that.” Ginny smiled, “You’re doing fine. He hasn’t even realized yet what a dork you are.”

“Hey!” she prodded Ginny with her wand, giving her a small zap, “you take that back!”

“Not on your life Granger.” Ginny laughed as they stepped into the bookshop. Hermione’s mind slipped back to Luke and she worried her lip.

“Hey, what’s the matter?” Ginny prodded her.

“Honestly, I want to know what Harry thinks.”

Ginny rolled her eyes, “He’s clueless about these things, and you do know that right?” Ginny giggled but Hermione didn’t smile back. “Oh alright, you can have your little pow wow with the Chosen One.” Ginny proceeded to pick up a pile of books at random from the used section.

“What are you doing?” Hermione watched as Ginny piled her arms high, not even bothering to look at the titles. Ginny smiled, “You just go over there and get Harry’s attention. I’ll keep Luke busy.”

Hermione stood and picked up an interesting looking book about Goblin runes while Ginny continued to pile on books. When the boys caught up and walked through the door, Ginny instantly grabbed Luke to help her to the counter with the books leaving Harry to catch Hermione’s worried gaze.

“I take it you wanted to speak with me?” Harry grinned.

“Ginny hasn’t really learned the art of subtlety.” Hermione smiled weakly, “What do you think?”

“Well a book on Goblin runes wouldn’t be my first choice, but….”

“Oh, come off it Harry, you know what I mean.”

“Luke?” Harry glanced at Luke as he helped Ginny get Hermione’s books paid and bagged, “He seems alright. Not good enough for you, but then that’s a given.”

Hermione blushed. She wasn’t used to getting complemented in this department. “I had a hard time believing at first he was really interested in me and not just playing me or wanting to hear stories about you or something.”

Hermione struggled in her mid whether or not she wanted to bring up what was really troubling her about Luke. She didn’t want to make a fuss over nothing and Harry, with his usually brilliant instincts, didn’t sense anything amiss. Maybe she was just imagining it.

“Come on Hermione, why wouldn’t he want to spend time with Hermione Granger? The Brightest Witch of the Age, the woman who helped take down Voldemort, Hogwarts Head Girl, future Minister of Magic?”

Hermione laughed and punched Harry in the arm. “Stop it! I’m being serious!”

“So am I Hermione. You’re great, any guy would be lucky to have you.”

Just like that, her concerns seemingly vanished in the glow she felt in her chest. She valued Harry’s opinion over anyone else’s and he thought she was a treasure to have.

Hermione crushed him in a hug. “You’re the best Harry. Please play nice alright?”

“I’ll do my best.” Harry forced a smile.

Hermione couldn’t help but smile all the way back to the castle. The sun even seemed to shine a little bit brighter as it set over the lake. Her glowing mood carried her all the way back to the Head dorm when her brain came to a screeching halt.

“Well, I had a great time today.” Luke was smiling at her. Hermione’s brain went into overdrive. She had forgotten all about this moment. Was he going to kiss her? Was she going to kiss him? When was the last time she cleaned her teeth? She had the wild thought of doing a scourgify charm on her mouth.

“Y-Yeah me too.” She stuttered. Luke took a step closer to her and she could feel heat emanating off her body in waves. Her nerves were completely frayed as time seemed to come to a complete halt with Luke just inches away.

Come on Hermione, you faced the darkest wizard of all time.

She tried to gather her courage, but the best she could do was to close her eyes. Luke seemed to take it as a cue and she felt his body touch hers and his lips brush gently against hers.

It was a very gentle and chaste kiss, at least compared to the make out sessions she and Ron used to have. Before she could really react to it, it was over. She opened her eyes while Luke was still standing against her and from this close distance could was looking directly in his eyes. This time, while he had the same easy and boyish smile on his face, she could see the weariness hiding behind it. It seemed like a thin veneer painted over deep well of….something Hermione couldn’t quite grasp.

“Good night Hermione.” Luke squeezed her hand and slowly walked away towards Ravenclaw tower.

“Good night Luke.” She managed to force her mouth to make the words. She was too stunned to move, not because of the kiss she had just had, but because for the life of her she had to know what was hiding beneath that boyishly handsome face.

~

A lot of you were curious about Luke and how perfect he seemed to be. Hopefully there is plenty of food for thought. Perhaps some of the more intuitive in our number can piece together what is going on. Either way, we’ll be finding out soon enough!

## 16. Chapter Sixteen

A/N: Back to where we left off with Harry and Aubrey. I know I told you guys I based Aubrey on a real life little girl, well I totally picture myself being her godfather. So I sortave find my way in here via a quote. Totally something I would say too. So there’s that for what it’s worth. Hope you guys enjoy! Cheers!”

~

Aubrey’s bright blue eyes reflected the firelight with sympathy as she took a seat in front of Harry. Neither of them said anything for what seemed like an eternity, before she took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

“Harry, do you remember what your last night in Australia was like?”

The question took Harry by surprise. “Yeah, why?”

“Hermione was telling me about it one time. The two of you stood by the sea and told each other you loved each other and that the best thing for everyone was for you two to stay together right?”

“Yeah…” Harry slid down the wall and took a seat next to the fireplace.

Aubrey shook her head and smiled. “Harry, I’m going to give you the best advice my godfather ever told me.” She stood up and went to her knees in front of Harry to get on eye level. “He told me once that we all have to live our lives as the people we are, not the person others want us to be.”

Harry laughed. He had spent his whole life being defined by something or someone else. Voldemort gave him the scar, the Wizarding world labeled him either a hero or a nutcase, and Dumbledore eventually made him a sacrifice. The only times he had thought about who he wanted to be were the moments he simply wanted to be a normal teenaged wizard.

Aubrey had a sad smile on her face. “You’ve never even thought about that have you?”

“Never really had a chance.”

“No, you’ve always had one.” Aubrey placed her hand on his shoulder, “The choice of who you are always lies with you.”

“How is this relevant?” Harry blurted out.

“Harry, I think you have made at least two genuine choices about who you are. That night in Australia, you made the choice to be with Hermione no matter what. When you went to leave on the horcrux hunt, you made the choice to leave Ginny behind and break off your relationship to go with Ron and Hermione.”

“Yeah, but….”

“No Harry, stop and think for a moment.”

“No Aubrey.” Harry got to his feet, “I left Ginny behind because I cared about her, because I didn’t want her to get hurt.”

“Of course you didn’t, but was she really any safer there? Voldemort had already used her before, what would have stopped him from doing it again? Why completely cut romantic ties with her? Why break her heart when you supposedly had every intention of going back to her?”

“I did go back to her.”

“And did you do that because you wanted to or because it was expected of you?”

Aubrey was on her feet now, the sympathetic look in her eye replaced by a stern gleam. “Why don’t you open your eyes Harry? Ginny was not the only reason you made those decisions. In times like war we hold the ones we care about the most closest, we don’t push them away.”

“It wasn’t about Hermione! Why does everyone think there’s something between us?”

“Is it such a horrible thought?”

“I’m just tired of other people…”

“See and there is your problem. There you go again caring about what other people think.”

“So you never think about other people’s opinion?” Harry started pacing in front of the fireplace.

“Sure I do, with certain things, but I don’t give a damn what other people think when it comes to the people I really care about.”

“You’re not making sense!” Harry roared, “None of this makes any sense or has anything to do with my present dilemma!”

A brief yet total silence invaded the room. Aubrey took another deep breath, “Harry, you never wanted to be a hero right?”

“I’m not a hero.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Aubrey smiled, “And you never wanted to be the Chosen One or Boy Who Lived?”

“No.”

“Don’t you think there’s even the slightest possibility that the reason you never wanted anything between you and Hermione was because everyone else did?”

The wheels in Harry’s mind came to a dead halt. “But Ron…”

“Cho had Cedric and that didn’t stop you from desiring that relationship did it?”

Harry didn’t bother answering. He knew that he had still had a crush on Cho even when she was with Cedric.

It couldn’t be this simple though could it? Surely something else went into his decision not to pursue Hermione than what other people thought. Right?

“You’ve had people trying to define you since you were an infant Harry. No one can blame you for trying to avoid every label someone tried to hand you like the plague.” Aubrey sat down on the couch, “But at some point you need to live the life you want to live and forget about how someone else wants to label it.”

The only sound was the gears turning in Harry’s mind. Aubrey was smiling her sad smile and rarely blinking as she watched him. Was what this all came down to? Was he really just living his life to fulfil other people’s expectations?

If he was honest, really honest with himself, he knew in his heart that that had been why he had went back to Ginny. While it was true that he genuinely cared about her, loved her even, he didn’t desire the same sort of relationship with her that he had before. Part friend and part family sure, but not girlfriend and boyfriend. He had gone back to her because he felt like it was the expected thing to do.

But where did that leave him with Hermione?

“Putting it all together detective?” Aubrey brought him out of his thoughts.

“Maybe.”

“Well let me encourage you to deal with one thing at a time.” Aubrey stood up, “I don’t recommend tonight, but maybe over the holidays make things right with Ginny. Then you can worry about everything else.”

Aubrey surprised him by wrapping her arms around him and catching him in a tight embrace. Harry awkwardly put his arms around her and massaged her back. She pulled back and her bright blue eyes met his emerald ones.

“Start living your life for you, Harry Potter.” Aubrey smiled and as she turned Harry thought he caught a glimpse of a tear in her eye.

“Thanks.” He gave her a genuine smile as she turned and walked away, closing the door softly behind her.

Harry took a deep breath. It had seemed like the night had dragged on for a couple of days instead of a few hours and there was a burning behind his eyes that beckoned him to sleep that he knew his whirring mind wouldn’t let him get. He certainly had a lot to think about.

Thank Merlin for Ron’s clumsy feet.

~

The holidays (in the story) are coming fast and there’s going to be A LOT going on. I hope you are as excited as I am: what’s up with Luke? How will the Weasley’s treat/like Aubrey? How is George doing? What will Molly say to Harry? Will Ginny hex Harry?

Find out next week on Dragon Ball Z! Sorry, just couldn’t help myself. Until next time gentle folk!

## 17. Chapter Seventeen

A/N: So, a bit of news: I’ve started posting my stories on Wattpad with covers and everything! “Continental Holiday” and “Nothing Left Unsaid” are already there with more on the way. Those versions are also freshly edited to weed out some of the grammatical errors and awkward sentences. Something I’ll eventually do here as well (not quite as simple on here). Check it out and let me know what you think, especially of the covers. That’s the part I’ve fretted the most about.

Also, I am working on an original project that will eventually be published on Wattpad. So something to keep an eye out for, it’s entitled (for now) “Killian’s Fall” and is the first part of a trilogy.

Okay, enough with the shameless self-promotion. Hope you enjoy the update. Cheers!

~

Hermione woke up the last morning before the winter holidays to find Harry asleep on the couch in the common room.

“Harry, why didn’t you go to bed?”

“Had a lot to think about.” He grumbled, groping for his classes. Hermione couldn’t help but smile at his rumpled hair.

“I know it’s been rough since the breakup, I’ve kept trying to talk to you…”

“And I kept avoiding you, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay; sometimes you don’t want to talk. I get that.” She took a seat next to him on the couch. “Are you okay?”

Harry hesitated, “I don’t know.”

She frowned, “What do you mean?”

“Maybe I’ve just been getting my whole life wrong.” Harry ran his hand through his hair, “Maybe I’ve been so focused on what others thought of me, even when I thought I didn’t care, that I’ve completely missed being my own man. I had never thought about it until Aubrey said it to me, but I’ve spent my whole life letting other people define me in some way. I never once thought for myself who Harry Potter was.”

He said all of this with the same detached calm that he had used when he had told her about the horcruxes. A memory that felt like it was from a different life.

“So you talked to Aubrey?”

“Yeah, she came in the night it happened. She had some interesting things to say.”

“I can imagine.”

“Ron found himself a keeper.” Harry smiled.

Hermione smiled back, “That we can agree on.”

An amiable silence fell, only the sound of the clock ticking and the distant sounds of students in the corridor could be heard.

“Well, I think you better get ready. See you at breakfast?” Hermione stood up to leave.

“Yeah.” Harry ran his hand through his hair again and made his way to his room. Hermione made her way into the corridor and towards her usual meeting spot with Luke in the entrance hall. She was taking a shortcut and about to push a portrait back when a hushed voice made her stop.

“You have to tell her.”

“No I don’t.”

“It’s only fair.”

Hermione pressed her ear to the canvas, curiosity overtaking her. One of the voices certainly belonged to Luke, the other one she didn’t recognize.

“It’s not right and you know it Luke.” A female voice scolded.

“No, that’s not the real crime here.” Hermione cringed; she had ever heard Luke’s voice sound so harsh.

“I know it’s hard,” The female voice filled with sympathy, “but it’s not fair to involve her and she not even know it.”

“It’s not happening, at least not now, end of discussion.” Hermione heard both sets of footsteps make their way down the steps. She couldn’t bring herself to move and her brain was in overdrive. She had known there was something Luke was hiding, but hearing him admit to it and refuse to even acknowledge the possibility of telling her made Hermione’s mind whirl. What could it be that he had to be so secretive about? What did he mean by “that’s not the real crime”? Why was this girl so sympathetic to him?

“Oi!”

A small first year bumped into Hermione’s back in the dark passage. “What’s the holdup?” Hermione pushed the portrait open to illuminate a small Gryffindor boy by the name of Logan. When Logan caught sight of Hermione he let out a small yelp.

“Apologies Miss Granger.” His eyes went wide with fear and a smile stretched across Hermione’s face.

“No worries Logan, just because I’m Head Girl doesn’t mean I’m going to get you in trouble for bumping into me. Relax.” She patted him on the shoulder, Logan visibly relaxed and let out a long breath.

“Next time I’ll make sure of who it is before I run my mouth.” Logan ran off down the steps two at a time, Hermione smiling as he went. She had almost forgotten why she had been stopped in the passage before her feet brought her to the foot of the stairs.

“’Morning luv.” Luke gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Good morning Luke.” She faked a smile back, her mind back to racing. There hadn’t been anything unusual about him since their date. He was back to being a perfectly charming and handsome man, but now Hermione could see it for the mask it was. It was all too perfect. “Ready for the holiday?”

“I am.” He smiled lazily as they walked hand in hand into the Great Hall, “By the way, I talked to my mum and I’m able to spend some time with you if you’d like.”

“That’d be great.” She briefly thought to herself that it might be weird having her new boyfriend at the Burrow for the holiday, but now was as good a time as any. Besides, Ron was bringing Aubrey and Harry and Ginny were probably going to be the center of attention anyways.

“Good morning Hermione.” Ginny’s voice was lacking its usual enthusiasm. She hadn’t taken the breakup well.

“Good morning Ginny.” She put her arm around her friend and gave her a squeeze, getting a forced smile out of the redhead. “How are you?”

“I’ll manage.” Ginny lifted her eyes towards the front door. “I’ll see you around.” Right as she got up to leave Harry approached the table and sat across from Hermione, a distinct frown on his face.

“What did you expect? She’s still pretty hurt you know.” Hermione parsed her tone carefully, treading the line between sympathetic and stern.

“Well it’s pretty hard to talk to her when she leaves the room every time I come around.” Harry grumbled into his toast.

“Well, that’s what happens sometimes Yoko.” Hermione smiled but Harry and Luke both looked confused. “John Lennon’s wife? Broke up the Beatles?” when their confusion continued Hermione blew out an irritated breath. “You’d think the muggle world never existed!”

Harry laughed while Luke looked more confused than ever. Harry finally took pity on him. “She’s a little more muggle than most witches.” He explained, winking in her direction.

“What do you mean by that Mr. Potter?” she used her false sweet voice, teasing Harry that he was in dangerous waters.

“Just that you know more about muggles than most.”

Recognizing the hidden deeper compliment, Hermione smiled as Ron and Aubrey joined them and the boys soon struck up a conversation about how to split the teams for quidditch over the holidays.

One thing I’ll never understand. Hermione laughed to herself, boys and their quidditch.

She eyed Luke carefully. It was rare to get moments where she could observe without having to participate in the conversation, but again nothing seemed amiss. She could still see the mask, but nothing had let it slip.

While the boys made their plans for the holiday, Hermione was forming a plan all her own.

## 18. Chapter Eighteen

A/N: Ron’s been in the background a lot in this story. At least it feels that way. While there is a perfectly sound reason behind it (developing his own life outside the trio, the focus on the love triangle, etc), I miss writing him. I loved getting some screen time with just him and Ginny. They don’t interact a whole lot in the books, so it was fun writing it. Plus as an older brother, I can totally relate.

Anyways, hope you enjoy the update. Cheers!

~

The last time Ronald Weasley was this nervous walking up the steps to the Burrow was the time he and his two brothers had borrowed his father’s flying car, flown halfway across the country, broke into the Dursley home and came home with his best friend.

“Just relax. What’s there to worry about?” Aubrey grinned.

“Plenty.” Ron felt himself turn a different shade of green.

“Ginny tells me that your parents are wonderful.”

“Mum can be a bit…..pushy.”

“So, mums can be that way.”

“And my brothers…..”

“I loved Fred and George, for my part, and I’m sure your older brothers are simply smashing. Now relax.”

“They’ll take the mickey out of me!”

“So what? That’s what brothers do. You were just fine ganging up on me with my older brothers.”

Ron grumbled to himself as Aubrey opened the kitchen door, a satisfied smirk on her face. He did admit that the first few days at Aubrey’s home in Harwich had been more fun than he had expected.

“Ronniekins! Oh you’re home! And this must be Aubrey! Splendid to meet you dear.” A brighter even than usual Molly Weasley took Aubrey into a tight embrace and whispered quite loudly over her shoulder to Ron. “See? I always told you you’d find a right lovely young woman didn’t I?”

“Mum….” Ron went from green to scarlet.

“Oh hush now, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Why don’t you join the others in the orchard while I finish up in here?”

“We’d love to.” Aubrey summarily shoved Ron out of the door. “See? That wasn’t so bad now was it?......Ronniekins?” she laughed at the now maroon face on Ron.

“Don’t you start calling me that too!”

“I’ll call you what I like and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll let me.” Aubrey smiled and gave him a small zap on his leg with her wand.

“Oi!”

“Ronald is here.” Drifted a dreamy voice as Aubrey and Ron reached the orchard.

“Hi Luna.” Ron and Aubrey answered in unison. Luna, Hermione, Harry, and Ginny all came down from where they had been flying. “You’ve come a long way since your “hating flying” days Hermione.” Ron smiled.

“Well, you do get somewhat used to it after a while.”

“Where’s George?”

“He’s at the shop mate.” Harry answered, “Left first thing this morning without a word to anyone.”

Ron stood mouth agape. “You’re joking?”

“Ironically no.” Ginny added, “Mum was in tears.”

“Well now at least I know why she’s so cheery.” Ron chuckled. “I bet Angelina is glad to have him back.”

“If she has the time. She’s been swamped without you around. She came over last night.”

“We should drop by later today.” Aubrey took hold of Ron’s arm.

“Yeah, it’ll be fun.” Ron and Aubrey each grabbed brooms and Ron kept goal as the other five played a laid back free-for-all game, everyone trying to score passed Ron. He paid close attention to his sister. He saw that face that meant she was keeping it cool when really she wanted to hex someone. He had been the cause of that face one too many times not to recognize it and he had a good feeling he knew what it was about.

“Hey Harry, mind taking goal?”

“Sure Ron.” Harry pulled up next to him in midair, “Something up?”

“I’m just going to go swing by the shop and see George.” He looked over at his sister, “Hey Ginny, want to come with?”

“Sure.” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“We’ll catch up later.” Aubrey took the quaffle from Luna, “I’ve got a new game we can try while they’re gone.”

Ron and Ginny put their brooms in the broom shed before strolling out of the garden to their usual apparition spot. He took his sister by the arm and turned on the spot, the Burrow disappearing in favor of the crowded pavement of Diagon Alley. They strolled towards the violent purple Weasley premises at the end of the row.

“What’s wrong sis?” he kept his eye on her, occasionally bumping into rather grumpy shoppers.

“I’m fine Ron.”

“Now come on Gin, I know better than that.”

“What do you want me to say?”

“You wanted this right?”

“Of course I didn’t. You think I wanted to break up with Harry?”

“No, but you did. Mind you he was being a prat, but you broke up with him.”

“Harry obviously doesn’t feel the same way about me than I do about him. What else was I supposed to do?”

“I’m agreeing with you Gin, I’m just wondering why you’re sulking. You’ve never handled your other breakups like this.”

“Yeah, well they weren’t Harry.”

“I know you really liked him for a long time….”

“It’s not that Ron.” Ginny came to a stop in front of Madame Malkin’s.

“Then what is it?”

“It’s just…” Ginny took a deep breath, “You don’t know what it’s like to have people have these expectations of you that you’re just supposed to fill.”

“Really? Because I’m pretty sure we have the same mum.”

“Please Ronald, you have no idea.”

“No, I don’t suppose having Bill, Charlie, Percy and Fred and George to live up to couldn’t possibly compare to being precious little Ginny.” Ron felt his voice rising of its own accord.

“Oh grow up Ron!”

“Me grow up? Listen to yourself! Feeling all sorry for yourself and frustrated. Because life as the daughter that mum always wanted must be so hard.”

“It is.” Ginny’s eyes filled with tears, “You don’t get it Ron. I may have been a girl, but I had older brothers to live up to too. Not only Bill and Charlie, but I had another older brother who was the best friend of the most famous wizard in Britain and who got to go on all these wonderful adventures with him and be a hero. All the while mum is having dreams of having Harry as her own son and guess who the only person who can make that happen is? Yes I did like him and yes I did fall for him, but I was also never allowed to forget that mum’s fondest dreams of this perfect family were riding on my relationship.”

Ron was too stunned to answer and his silence was apparently not enough to stop the loud crack of Ginny disapparating back to the Burrow. Unsure of what to do next, he resolved to finish his trip to the shop.

The doors were bursting with traffic as he squeezed into the crowded joke shop. There seemed to be a buzz in the atmosphere and he distinctly heard several people in the crowd wondering where the returned Weasley twin was. Angelina was helping customers behind the counter next to a mousy haired wizard Ron didn’t recognize.

“Hi, Angelina.”

“Oh hi, Ron. Looking for George?” Ron chuckled to himself at how she was able to carry on conversation while waving her wand to bag items as the mousy haired wizard took payment.

“Yeah, seen him?”

“He’s in the back. When you planning on coming back yourself?” Angelina winked at him, “That is, if you have had your fill of chasing after dark wizards.”

Ron just laughed as he pushed open the door that led to the back room. There were cauldrons of bubbling fluid everywhere and there was the distinct smell of gunpowder. A loud pop came from the back of the room and alerted Ron to George’s presence. He was leaning over a cauldron of what looked like pine tar.

“Hey little bro.” George turned a huge smile on his face. “What brings you by?”

“Just wanted to see if the legends were true and you really had come back.” Ron clapped him on the back.

“Yeah, well it was time.” When George didn’t seem inclined to elaborate Ron let the subject drop, “Say where’s this girlfriend of yours? I’m dying to meet the woman who’s snagged our ickle…”

“She’s at home.” Ron cut across him, “I brought Ginny with me but we got into an argument.”

“You never have been the best with her mate.” George shook his head, “Better leave it to a real expert. I’ll talk to her when I get home.”

“I’ll leave it to the expert then.” Ron chuckled. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“Yeah, me too.”

Ron wove his way back out into the busy street, his mind wandering back to his fight with Ginny. He really had meant to help, but then again he could say that about most of his fights with her. He had spent so much of his time growing up focusing on his own problems that he had never long considered what it must have been like being in Ginny’s shoes. The least he could do was apologize.

After George talks to her. After all, he didn’t particularly relish having a face full of bat-bogeys.

~

A/N: Yes, I can relate to trying to help my sisters and it blowing up in my face for the record. Haha.

## 19. Chapter Nineteen

A/N: Short and kind of sweet. Harry and Ginny need to be honest about what happened to each other. Not much else to it. Cheers!

~

Harry was sweating hard even against the cold, Aubrey’s new game was fast paced and they had been playing for almost an hour.

Aubrey said it was based off of a muggle game called “twenty-one” where the object is for one person to be the first one to score twenty one points. The quidditch version consisted of a wild game where everyone was trying to get the quaffle and score while simultaneously keeping everyone else from scoring. Back and forth over the make shift pitch they soared, Harry and Aubrey in particular going blow for blow at one another. Luna too often surprised them with an impressive move and score, though she was also just as likely to come to a complete stop to gaze at something or another.

They decided to call it a tie as they were all exhausted. Aubrey and Luna plopped down in the grass while Harry made his way to the kitchen door, aiming to refresh himself in the loo. It was while climbing the staircase that a sniffle from Ginny’s room brought him to a halt outside of her door. It sounded as though Ginny were inside crying.

Harry wasn’t sure what to do. While the decent thing to do would be to see what was wrong, he had a strong inkling he was the last person she would want to talk to. Deciding the right thing would be to at least give her the option, he creaked open her door.

“Ginny?” he peered in to find her sitting cross legged on the end of her bed whipping her eyes with what looked to be an old tee shirt.

Ginny sniffed loudly, “Hi, Harry.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.” She took a deep breath and waved her wand, sending the tee shirt flying into a bin across the room.

“Ginny look, I know I didn’t do right by you and I’m sorry.” Harry felt his stomach churn.

“Harry, I know you didn’t do it on purpose.” Ginny actually reached out and grabbed his hand, “Can I be honest with you?”

“Of course Gin.” His use of her nickname drew a weak smile across her face.

“I knew there was something different about you when you came back. Both times actually. I think, somewhere deep in my heart, I knew that we wouldn’t make it as a couple. But you know us Weasley’s and how stubborn we are.” Ginny chuckled, “I still don’t think mum has given up hope, but I think we know better.”

“Ginny, if I’m really honest I felt the same way. I wasn’t entirely sure being with you was what I wanted or what would last. I felt like I owed it to you and to your brother to try.”

Ginny smiled sadly as some fresh tears escaped her eyes. “You know, I wanted so badly for everything to work out. Mum would get her perfect family, I would get my dream guy, hell I could even get Hermione as a sister. Merlin I sound like my mother, but it would have been so nice.” She let her hand slip from Harry’s, “But I think what I’m starting to discover is that maybe what’s expected of you isn’t always what’s best for you. I mean look at Ron. Everyone here thought he’d end up with Hermione and be an Auror with you. Now he’s with Aubrey and thinking about working with George and I have never seen him so happy.”

“Yeah, I think I’ve been learning the same thing.” Harry took a seat on her floor, not wishing to dirty anything with his sweaty clothing.

“Oh, Harry.” Ginny slid down next to him, “As much as I want to throw a pity party for myself, I can’t even begin to imagine your life. You’ve had things thrust upon you since before you could walk or talk.”

“Ginny I’ve never seen this side of you before.”

“Yeah, well in a house full of brothers you don’t get brownie points for being a softie.” Ginny laughed, “I’m glad you came to talk to me Harry.”

Harry simply placed his hand on hers and gave it a gentle squeezed it. He wasn’t exactly sure how long they sat like that before Ginny cleared her throat.

“Can I ask you something Harry?”

“Sure.”

Just then they were interrupted by Ginny’s door opening again.

“Oh….I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Hermione was standing in the doorway.

“No, we were through. We were just having a little chat is all.” Ginny and Harry both stood, Harry giving Ginny a questioning look that she ignored.

“Oh….”

“Glad you made it.” Harry turned and shared a smile with Hermione.

Ginny shook her head and laughed. “Go get a shower Potter, you stink.”

“Noted.” Harry laughed and made his way out into the hallway, sliding past another young man who was standing behind Hermione in the hallway. “Oh, hi Luke. I didn’t know you were coming this early.”

“My parents decided to go visit some relatives in Ireland and they allowed me to stay.” Luke smiled brightly.

Harry shook his hand before again making his way up the stairs toward Ron’s room. He felt better than he had in at least a week, his conversation with Ginny having done much to alleviate the knot he had felt in his chest. Maybe now that they had aired out a few things they could be friends again.

He wasn’t all that excited about Luke being here, but at least he’d be a good player for some holiday quidditch if the weather held up.

A delicious smell came wafting in even through the steam of his hot shower. As long as he lived, the strongest magic the Burrow would have to offer was the smell of Mrs. Weasley’s cooking.

~

A/N: I just wanted to say another thank you to all my readers. You guys have been so awesome. It’s crazy to think I might never have discovered how much fun writing could be if it wasn’t for a random night in February when I couldn’t sleep! I’ve been working on this trilogy ever since and it has been a wonderful journey. There have been bumps and hiccups but a lot of you have stuck with me through it. I just hope the story has lived up to the amazing characters and world that it is based in. Cheers!

## 20. Chapter Twenty

A/N: Thought of all you guys and girls when I was walking around Harry Potter World down here at Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure Orlando on Saturday. What a wonderful place to spend my birthday! Hogwarts really is my true home. Haha, hope you enjoy the update!

~

The next few days were hectic in the Burrow. There was already a crowd and it was getting bigger as Christmas day approached. Bill and Fleur had arrived the day after Hermione and Charlie came in two days after that. By the time Percy arrived with Penelope Clearwater in tow the day before Christmas the Weasley home was fit to burst with people.

Hermione felt oddly at home in the cramped conditions. It was far different than the small affairs she grew up on, but considering the current tenuous relationship with her own family she was grateful to have it. Besides, most of the people in the house felt like her extended family anyways.

While Harry, Charlie, Ron, Luke, Bill, George, Ginny and Aubrey all went out to brave the light afternoon snow to play quidditch, Hermione stayed on her pallet in Ginny’s room. She had to make some last minute preparations for her plan.

There were two items on the pallet in front of her: one was a book on arithmancy that Luke had been interested in and the other was a small gold chain with a small golden snitch on it.

The biggest difference in the gifts was that the book was simply a backup plan in case she lost the nerve to follow through with her real plan. The chain was enchanted with a powerful spell that would reveal any concealing magic on the person who put it on. She had done her research to ensure it wouldn’t harm Luke, simply pull him out from behind whatever spells he was using to hide something.

The problem was that wasn’t sure that she wanted to go through with it. While it was harmless, something about deceiving Luke told her that it made her little better than him. There was also something about the girl Luke had been talking to, something in her voice that bothered Hermione. If Luke really was hiding something sinister, if her life were somehow in danger, how could that girl have sounded so sympathetic?

None of it added up to her. She wrapped the two gifts, the necklace in green and the book in red, and placed them next to her pallet. These were not to be given during the early morning scrum, but needed to be handled by her personally.

Hermione spent the rest of the evening debating with herself in her mind. It was becoming harder and harder to justify the use of the necklace. Luke seemed perfectly at ease around the Weasley’s and no one seemed to think that anything was amiss. Not even Harry, who had the best instincts for sniffing out trouble that Hermione knew of.

“What’s on your mind?” Harry interrupted her train of thought. He took a seat next to her on the bench where she had been watching the snow fall through the drawing room window. “And don’t say “It’s nothing” because I know better. You’ve been avoiding everyone all day.”

“It’s…something.” Hermione looked down at her shoes, “I’m just not sure I want to talk about it right now.”

“Are you sure?” She looked into his face and saw the concern written in his drawn eyebrows and frown. It reminded her of how Harry had looked at her under a starry night sky almost four months ago and how she had known then she would never have to deal with her problems without him anymore.

“No.” Hermione felt her resistance ebb away, “Harry, there’s something wrong with Luke.”

Harry’s eyes widened in surprise, “With Luke? What makes you say that?”

She described to him in detail both what she had observed during their visit to Hogsmeade and the conversation she had overheard at Hogwarts. She could see the gears begin to turn in his mind.

“It seems pretty obvious he’s hiding something, but do you think you’re in any danger?”

“Honestly? No. Something about how that girl talked to him makes me think it’s something different; I just can’t put my finger on what.”

“Do you know who she is?” Harry stood up and began to pace.

“No, I heard her voice but I didn’t see her and it’d be pretty difficult to locate someone by voice at Hogwarts.”

“Is there someone you see him with a lot when he’s not with you? She has to be someone he trusts.”

“No, he’s always with his quidditch teammates when he’s not with me and no one really sticks out as a confidant or anything.”

Suddenly there was a soft knock at the drawing room door and Ron pocked his head in. “Mum is shooing everyone up to bed, just thought I’d give you a heads up.” Ron looked from Harry to Hermione, “Something up?”

Harry looked to Hermione and raised an eyebrow. Hermione shook her head to Ron, “No, Harry and I were just chatting. Thanks for the heads up.”

Ron looked at Harry expectantly at Harry, but when he kept his silence Ron relented. “Alright then, ‘night mates.”

“Night.” They both chorused back. Ron closed the door and they heard him make his way up the stairs.

“I don’t like leaving Ron out of this.” Harry said quietly.

Hermione sighed, “I don’t either, but I don’t want everyone worried about me.”

Harry simply nodded and continued pacing. They sat that way for a few minutes in silence, both of them analyzing the possibilities. Finally Harry stopped pacing and sat down next to Hermione again. “Honestly I can’t really whittle the possibilities down without any more information.”

“I know…”

“What is it?”

“I may have a way to get some more information, but I’m not sure if I should use it.” Hermione described the necklace to Harry.

Harry frowned, “I don’t like it.”

“I didn’t think you would.”

“Have you tried just talking to him?”

“No….”

“I think you should try it.” Harry took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, “For all we know this is a big misunderstanding. Besides, nothing seems out of place with him to me.”

“You’re right Harry.” She squeezed his hand back.

“Well it’s not too often I’ve heard that.” Harry smiled.

“Don’t let it go to your head.” Hermione laughed, “Thank you Harry.”

“What are friends for?” Harry stood up, “Besides it almost felt like old times again, us sitting here trying to fit the pieces together.”

“We’ve done quite enough of that for a lifetime.”

“I don’t know, it never loses its appeal to me.” Harry stated simply.

Hermione couldn’t help but blush, “Oh, Harry.”

“Come on, let’s head to bed. Tomorrow is Christmas.” Harry opened the door for Hermione and she led them up the stairs, coming to Ginny’s door first.

She turned and crushed him in a hug. “Merry Christmas Harry.”

“Merry Christmas Hermione.” Harry squeezed her back and gave her a contented smile before continuing up the stairs towards Ron’s room.

~

A/N: I’m starting to try and bring things full circle. Harry and Hermione are working on a mystery together and they’re both having moments where they think about their time together during “Continental Holiday” and “Lost Pieces”. We’re getting there folks!

## 21. Chapter Twenty One

A/N: There’s bound to be questions and comments galore after this chapter. Instead of trying to answer them ahead of time, I will simply answer them to you directly. You can either leave them in a review or email me.
I will say this: I planned this arc with Luke ever since I started The End of the Beginning. I don’t really have any explanation other than this just being who his character is.

I really hope you guys and gals enjoy.

~

“Merry Christmas mate.”

Harry woke up to Ron’s voice and a heavy package landing on his chest.

“This one’s from “Mione. A book by the feel of it, figures.” Ron had already busily begun unwrapping the pile of presents at the foot of his bed. Harry began with the one that was on his chest. It was indeed a book entitled Aurors Through the Ages by the same author of the quidditch book Hermione had given him his first year at Hogwarts. There was a small note on the inside cover:

Some reading material for your new line of work. Merry Christmas!

Love,

Hermione

Harry worked his way through the rest of his packages: quidditch posters from Ron, a new sweater from Molly, a pile of Weasley products from George, a box of Honeyduke’s hot fudge from Ginny, a dragon skin coat from Hagrid, and a hand knit pair of wool socks from Kreacher.

“Good haul mate?” Ron made his way over from his own bed.

“Yeah.” Harry nodded.

“Let’s get downstairs, I smell breakfast.” Both boys made their way down to the breakfast table where George, Aubrey, Percy, Penelope, Mr. Weasley, Ginny and Luke were already seated. The table had had to be extended until it nearly touched the walls on both ends in order to accommodate everyone.

“Where’s Hermione?” Harry asked Mrs. Weasley as she piled waffles onto his plate.

“She hasn’t made it down yet. Bill and Fleur went for a walk through the village and I’m not sure where Charlie is.” She chatted idly while scurrying back and forth putting food on plates. Harry sat quietly as the noise level grew, everyone chatting excitedly and swapping details about their gifts. It was enough of a gift to him to simply enjoy the company of everyone he loved most.

“Harry I’ll take that dear.” Mrs. Weasley waved her wand and Harry’s empty plate made its way through the open kitchen door.

“Let me help.” Harry stood up. There was still one thing he needed to take care of.

“Nonsense dear.”

“I insist.” Harry followed a flustered Mrs. Weasley into the kitchen and closed the door behind them. “Mrs. Weasley…”

“I’m planning on going to see Andromeda later if you would like to tag along.” Mrs. Weasley had her back turned as she watched the sink fill itself with water.

“That would be great, but I want to talk about Ginny.” Mrs. Weasley noticeably stiffened. “I wanted to say that I’m sorry.”

Mrs. Weasley didn’t say anything, the sink filled with water and with two flicks of her wand she mixed soap in and the dishes began to wash themselves. With nothing else to preoccupy her, she heaved a sigh and turned to Harry.

“It’s alright dear, it’s nothing that the two of you can’t find your way through. Arthur and I had our fights too.” Her voice had a false cheeriness to it that made Harry cringe.

“Mrs. Weasley, I’m not going to get back together with Ginny.”

“Nonsense dear, you just hit a snag is all.”

“Mrs. Weasley…”

“Harry dear,” her fake smile faltered and a tear appeared in her eyes, “would you kindly run upstairs and see if Charlie is in his room?”

“Mrs. Weasley, I’m sorry things didn’t work out with Ginny and I’m sorry if I hurt her in any way. I certainly didn’t mean for things to work out this way, but we really are through.” Harry watched as Mrs. Weasley’s veneer finally cracked and she surveyed him with watery eyes.

“Harry dear, you can’t really mean that can you?”

“’Fraid so.” Harry shrugged.

“But everything was going to be so perfect.” Mrs. Weasley blew her nose into a handkerchief, “You would marry Ginny and be my son and Hermione would marry Ron and be my daughter….and it’s not that I don’t like the new girl, but why couldn’t they have at least tried to work things out?” Mrs. Weasley was sobbing now and she took a seat on a stool. Harry took a step towards her, but froze as she looked over her handkerchief and grabbed his hand. “Are you happy Harry?”

“Yes.” Mrs. Weasley let out a fresh wave of sobs before she wiped her eyes and blew her nose again. She stood up and wrapped Harry into a hug.

“Well, I suppose that’s all a mother can really ask for.” She stepped back and placed her hands on his face, appraising him with pride shining on her face. “I know you hear this often, but you look so much like your father. He’s proud of you, you know. Even prouder than I am.”

Harry heard James’ voice in his mind, “We are….so proud of you.”

“I know.” He smiled as Mrs. Weasley let out one more sniff.

“Now, run along now I have everything handled here.” She shooed him out of the kitchen.

Harry returned to the dining room to find that everyone but Percy and Mr. Weasley had left the table.

“The boys are in the sitting room Harry if you’d like to join them.” Mr. Weasley said mid-flow of his conversation with Percy.

“Thanks Mr. Weasley.” Harry made his way to the sitting room to find George, Ron, Charlie and Bill all drinking eggnog and trying out a new board game that George had come up with.

“Care to join us Harry?” Charlie turned to face him, offering him an eggnog.

“Sure.” Harry took a seat between Charlie and Ron while George explained how the game worked. The game was quite fun, but Harry’s mind drifted to Hermione and what she may or may not have found out about Luke.

~

“Merry Christmas Hermione.” Luke offered Hermione a small golden wrapped package. She carefully untied the bow and neatly unwrapped the paper. “You know it’s okay to tear it right?” He grinned broadly at her.

“I know, but it just seems rude to tear to pieces what it took someone time to do.” Hermione answered, not bothered at all by the thought that Luke had probably wrapped it by magic. It was a small box that contained a charm in the shape of a book.

“I remember you mentioned one time that you’d like to buy a charm for that necklace of yours.”

“Thank you Luke.” Hermione smiled, the gift was thoughtful without being overboard. The sick feeling in her stomach had nothing to do with the gift and everything to do with the two shrunken packages she had in her hands. Would she really force out the truth by magic? Or would she trust that Luke would be honest when confronted?

Have you tried just talking to him?

Harry’s voice echoed in her mind. If she couldn’t bring herself to trust Luke, then she could at least trust Harry’s instincts.

She unshrunk the red package.

“Merry Christmas Luke.” Luke unabashedly tore off the paper as if to show her how presents were supposed to be unwrapped.

“Oh wow, this is that book from Hogsmeade you had to hear me drone on about. You remembered.” Luke’s grin went from ear to ear. He was seemingly always happy, but there was something to her remembering that detail that seemed to really make him glow. While she hated ruining the moment, Hermione thought she would perhaps never have a better chance than this.

“Luke, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“What….” She hesitated, perhaps instead of accusing him it would be best to come clean herself. “What were you talking about with that girl in that hallway at Hogwarts? She said something about not getting me involved and that you needed to tell me something. What was that about?”

The smile slid off Luke’s face like someone had thrown stinksap on it. “What are you talking about?”

“I was heading to breakfast and I took a shortcut. When I reached the exit I heard you talking to a girl. She said you “needed to tell me” and you refused. She said it wasn’t fair that you involved me without me knowing. What was she talking about?” Hermione’s voice grew stronger on every syllable. Now that she was confronting him, her indignation about being kept in the dark was building.

Luke frowned. “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”

“And that makes it somehow better? When were you planning on telling me?”

“When I had no other choice.”

“Well I’m not giving you another option, so tell me now.” Hermione felt her insides bubble with anger. Only Ron had ever worked her up like this.

“It’s not that simple, you don’t understand.” Luke’s voice began to rise.

“Why don’t you try me? Or do you take back all those compliments about my, what did you call it, Ravenclaw wits?”

“No, it’s not like that.”

“Then tell me what is is like.” Hermione cast a silencing charm on the door of Ginny’s room.

“You have no idea.” Luke’s voice suddenly went very quiet and his face twisted with suppressed fury. “You have no idea what it is like to be me. Living your life pretending you’re something you’re not.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You probably caught my guard slipping at some point. It becomes really hard sometimes to keep pretending.”

“What is it you are…” Hermione was growing more bewildered by the second.

“Do you know why Dumbledore and Grindelwald were such a big deal?” Luke interrupted her.

“What?”

“It wasn’t just because they were two powerful wizards. There was a lot of gossip about the two of them. People said a lot of things about the kind of relationship they had. Some folks said they had a falling out over it. It was the hottest topic of the time.” Luke was talking faster and faster. “And you know why that is? It’s blood. Everything in this world comes down to blood. There’s only so many of us right? Witches and wizards. Even fewer of us still who are purely of wizard stock like me. There’s a responsibility that comes with that. It’s why parents encourage marrying young. They don’t want their little boy left without a suitor. It doesn’t even enter their minds that little johnny may not even want it, or worse, that he may want something different.”

Luke’s hands were shaking and a lone tear had escaped his eyes. “You want the truth Hermione? I’m miserable. I’m lonely and angry and just so miserable.”

Hermione’s hand went to her mouth. “Luke….are you gay?”

Luke let out a long breath. “Yes Hermione.”

Her mouth simply hung open. This was far beyond anything Hermione could have expected. “Who else knows?” her brain went on autopilot.

“My friend Veronica, Fred and George Weasley, and my parents.”

“Wait….Fred and George know?” Hermione gasped.

“Yeah. I was always good friends with the twins, Fred in particular.” Luke seemed to deflate a little, “They caught on to why I never seemed to care about the pretty girls. They never treated me any differently though.”

“Who’s Veronica?”

“She’s a first year Ravenclaw I befriended on the train. That’s the voice you heard. I told her about it a few months ago after another one of my parents’ letters came.” Luke’s eyes burned with anger. “My parents only care about the family name and bloodline. I’m an only child.”

“Then why go out with me? Why pretend to be so interested in me?” Hermione felt her own anger rise in spite of herself.

“To appease my parents. They were threatening to pull me out of Hogwarts.” Luke’s tone softened, “I’m sorry Hermione. Being with you made them happy, even if you were a muggleborn. I thought that if I made them happy for a while they would forget about pulling me out and then I could tell you and end it.”

Hermione simply gaped at him. So she had simply been a pawn in a game she wasn’t even aware was being played. Luke stared at her with eyes filled with guilt. She felt her own guilt begin to fester and rise into her throat. While Luke had been playing one game, she had been playing another.

“Luke, I….”

“I’m sorry I hurt you Hermione….”

“No, listen.” She interrupted him, “I’m sorry too. I need to be honest with you. The only reason I agreed to go out with you was to get over someone else.”

Luke nodded his head solemnly. “Harry right?” Hermione nodded. “I have to admit that I thought there was something there. It was part of the reason I felt I didn’t need to tell you. As long as we could both play our game we could both get what we wanted.”

“I’m sorry Luke.” Hermione exhaled. “But I have to ask: why do your parents care so much? And surely it’s just them right? Not every witch and wizard thinks there’s anything wrong with who you are.”

Luke actually laughed. “You truly are an idealist Hermione. Of course other witches and wizards care. Most do. You really think a society as obsessed with blood and bloodlines as wizards are would openly tolerate people who wouldn’t keep it going? Haven’t you noticed how anachronistic wizards are?”

“That’s appalling.” Hermione’s temper flared again. “So what if two wizards love each other? All this blood nonsense is absolutely ridiculous.”

“Agreed, but as it stands it makes it very hard for people like me to be who they really are. Nobody crossed Dumbledore because he was so powerful. Later in life they dropped it all together once he basically became a celibate and made the world such a noticeably better place. It suited their interests to let it slide.”

For a moment neither of them said anything. The truth of the conversation was still sinking into Hermione.

“So what do we do now?” she looked up at Luke.

“I won’t hold you to this sham of a relationship. You know the truth about me now, besides I think we both know who you really want to be with.” Luke smiled, but it was a small sad smile instead of his perfect grin. There was something more genuine about it and Hermione smiled back.

“But what about your parents? What will you do?”

“I’ll tell them it didn’t work out. They’re not stupid; I can’t imagine they really thought it would last.”

“Luke you need to confront them. You can’t let them force you to live a lie.”

Luke sighed. “And what would come of it Hermione? Even if by some miracle my parents had some change of heart, there are still a whole lot of other wizards that would look down at me and no other wizard in his right mind would ever openly love me.”

“Luke you can’t just give up. It’s not fair.”

“Of course it’s not.” Luke’s voice shook and another tear slid down his face, “But life isn’t always fair.” Luke waved his wand to lift Hermione’s silencing charm. “I think its best that I go home. I hope you enjoy the rest of your holidays Hermione.” He gave her one last sad smile before he turned and walked out the door.

Hermione stood rooted to the spot. The last few minutes played on repeat in her mind while she struggled to make sense of it. She had not expected to end up feeling sorry for Luke or for the injustice that was his life. She had spent her life deploring the plight of magical creatures like house elves and wizards like her who were looked down on because of their birth, but never could she have imagined someone having to live in such misery based solely on who they loved.

She needed space to be able to absorb all of this. She grabbed her winter coat and threw a scarf around her neck. There was a park near here where she often snuck away for alone time. She had no desire to see anyone else, but she knew Harry to be downstairs with the others. Despairing over how to tell him where she was going, she decided that she could send her patronus down. It might raise some eyebrows, but it would be better than having to explain herself in person.

She closed her eyes and remembered the moment Voldemort had hit the ground. She had run to Harry and squeezed him with all her might, joy at seeing him alive and triumphant nearly making her heart burst.

“Expecto Patronum!”

Her eyes widened in shock as a large silver doe erupted from her wand instead of the gamboling otter.

My patronus has changed.

While her love for Harry was nothing new to her, there was something about having physical proof in front of her that sent her heart racing. She hesitated sending it to him, knowing that if he were to see her patronus now that it would mean she would have to explain why hers matched his.

Then she thought about Luke and how he wasn’t free to live life as himself because wizard society made it intolerable. Meanwhile the only thing keeping her from being who she truly was was her own stubborn pride.

Filling the patronus with her message, she waved her wand and sent it galloping down the stairs. There was no turning back now.

Hermione turned on the spot and felt the tight squeeze of apparition as the image of swing hanging from an oak tree filled her mind.

~

A/N: I think you all know what’s coming and I hope you are as excited as I am! I hesitate to say it as I may eat my own words, but we are over half way to the end of the story and the end of the trilogy. It’s still hard to believe how far it has come!

## 22. Chapter Twenty Two

A/N: Hope you enjoy! For those of you who like that sort of thing, my personal soundtrack to this would be “When I Go Down” by Relient K. Specifically the bridge (4:12-5:42). Cheers!

~

Harry had taken to watching the Weasley boys play their game. It wasn’t as straight forward as the games he was used to playing and he found it was easier to keep track of what was happening as an observer.

It was a complicated role playing game where each of the boys controlled miniature heroes from wizarding history and battled together against things like werewolves, dragons, merfolk and such. There were complicated rules and mechanics about the different heroes and monsters that mostly went over Harry’s head. While it was entertaining to watch the magical pieces duke it out based upon the boys’ decisions, Harry thought that he preferred thinking about fights from ground level where it was much more straightforward.

Ron’s miniature King Arthur was using his shield to ward off a dragon’s flames when a silver light behind him drew his attention away from the game.

It was a bright silver patronus in the form of a doe.

Harry’s mind went into a log jam. The last time he had seen a patronus like this, it was Severus Snape trying to lead him to Gryffindor’s sword.

But I watched Severus Snape die.

The doe bowed its head to Harry and then spoke in a female voice that took Harry by surprise.

“Harry, could you meet me in the park on the other side of town? I have something I want to talk about.” Hermione’s disembodied voice spoke from the doe which then slowly disappeared.

Harry stood rooted to the spot. He had the absurd mental image of Snape using Hermione’s voice in a patronus to lure him somewhere, but Harry knew that couldn’t be. Snape was dead and in any case wouldn’t bring him to harm. That could only mean one thing:

Hermione’s patronus has changed.

“Wait, I thought Hermione’s patronus was an otter?” George appeared next to Harry. The boys had abandoned their game and all of them wore puzzled expressions. All except for Ron who, Harry noticed, sported a grin.

“It was. It’s different now.” Harry stated simply.

“It could be some kind of trap Harry.” Bill put his hand on Harry’s shoulder. “I would be careful.”

“Who could possibly want to off Harry? Voldemort is dead and all his pals are locked up in Azkaban.” Charlie intervened.

“Plenty of people. There were plenty of folks who made off quite well under the false Ministry. They very well might want revenge for Harry ruining their livelihood.”

“It’s Hermione.” Harry brushed off Bill’s hand, “There’s nothing to worry about.” He couldn’t stand hearing them talk like that. That part of his life was over.

“If you say so.” Bill sounded unconvinced.

“Just let him go. He’ll be fine.” Ron was still grinning.

“What are you smiling about?” George asked.

“Nothing. Nothing at all.” Ron chuckled.

“I’ll be back before long.” Harry turned and grabbing a coat from Ron’s room made his way outside passed the apparition wards. He took a moment to refresh his memory on the park Hermione was referring to and when he had a strong image in his mind he turned his heel and appeared in front of a rusty black gate. A massive oak tree sat in the middle of a wide and open park, a single porch swing hanging from one of its lower branches. Harry could make out Hermione seated in the swing.

He took measured steps through the shallow snow as a light snowfall continued to pepper his shoulders and hair. Hermione heard his footsteps through the snow and stood up when he came within a few yards. When she turned to face him, her cheeks were rosy and there were tear streaks running down her face.

“Hermione…”

Before he could say more she closed the gap between them and flung her arms around him, placing her head into his chest and sobbing. Harry put his arms around her and held her until her body stopped jerking and the last of her sniffles died away.

“I’ve been so foolish Harry.” Hermione sniffed.

“What happened?” He used his thumb to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

“Luke is….he’s not really interested in me. It’s over.” Hermione looked down at her shoes. Harry felt anger begin to lick at his insides.

“What? That doesn’t make sense. He said loads about how great you were. What about all that?”

“I don’t know Harry, but trust me when I say that he doesn’t want to be with me.”

Harry frowned, “But you guys seemed so happy…”

“Harry, if I tell you the truth, do you swear not to tell anyone else?” Hermione looked up into his face.

“Of course.”

“Harry, Luke is…..Luke is gay.”

“Wait…”

“He’s gay. He went out with me to make his parents happy because they were going to pull him out of Hogwarts.”

Harry’s mind struggled to put the pieces together. “Why were they going to pull him out of Hogwarts?”

“Because they know about him being gay, but they want him to be a “normal” wizard. If he didn’t change, they were going to pull him out.”

“Why? I don’t understand what the big deal is.”

“It’s a long story Harry. Maybe we can talk about it some other time, for now that’s what you need to know.”

“So that was the only reason he went out with you in the first place?” Harry’s frown deepened.

“Yeah, I guess.” Hermione’s eyes watered. “After all, it’s not like guys are lining up to be with me. I was available and kind of famous and that’s all Luke needed.”

“Hey now, you are so much more than that.” Harry put his hands on her shoulders. “You are the most brilliant witch I know.”

She looked down at her shoes again and sniffed. “Yeah, well I don’t feel all that brilliant right now. I feel pretty stupid for believing he was really interested in me.”

“Hermione.” Harry’s voice was firm and he reached down and brought her chin up to face him, “You are not stupid.”

A fresh tear escaped her eyes. “No Harry, I am stupid.” She heaved a deep sigh, “I had my own reasons for going out with Luke.”

Harry hesitated. “He’s a good guy, that doesn’t make you stupid for wanting to be with him.”

Hermione laughed bitterly. “Harry, don’t play dumb. You saw my patronus.”

Harry’s heart began to race. He knew in the back of his mind what the change in her patronus meant. He knew it the instant he saw it. He just couldn’t quite believe it was true.

“Harry, please say something.”

“Tell me why you went out with him.” Harry blurted out.

Hermione heaved a deep sigh. “To get over you Harry. I just got so tired of seeing you with Ginny and being jealous. I got so tired of wishing for something that wasn’t mine to have. I thought….I thought maybe if I spent time with someone else, that I wouldn’t feel that way about you anymore.”

She reached into her winter coat and drew her wand. “Expecto Patronum!” The silver doe appeared next to the two of them, standing serenely in the snow. Its presence seemed to gently warm the air.

“But there it is Harry; there is all the proof you will ever need that I will never stop feeling this way about you.”

Like a dam bursting in his mind, memories flooded into Harry’s vision: Hermione’s lips crashing into his, the smell of coconut, a gentle ruffling of his hair as he lay on the couch, a starry sky above an Australian beach with Hermione leaning against him, the first time she said “I love you”, the feel of her crushing his bones in one of her hugs, a little eleven year old girl saying there were more important things than books or cleverness…..

A seventeen year old girl on a staircase.

“Harry, now would be a really good time to say something.” Hermione smiled tremulously.

“I…I never thought you could love me.” Harry whispered.

A fresh wave of tears appeared behind her eyes. “I’ve always loved you.” Her voice trembled.

“But Ron….”

“I loved Ron because I was so afraid of loving you.” Hermione’s voice grew stronger. “By the time we left Hogwarts after the Department of Mysteries, I knew without a doubt that I loved you more than anyone else in the world and that scared me Harry.”

“All this time?” Harry’s voice rose in pitch.

“Yes Harry. I locked it away and tried to hide it. I tried so hard to replace it with something else, but I couldn’t do it. I’ve been in love with you from the start.”

Snow began to fall thicker around them. There was a light layer of snow on Hermione’s hat and in her hair. The patronus had disappeared.

“Harry?”

Harry had spent his whole life until now relying on his gut to tell him what to do when words or thoughts failed him.

So he did exactly what his gut told him to do.

He put an arm around her waist and with his other hand brought her face to his and put his lips on hers. He felt her flinch and tense for the briefest of moments before her entire body relaxed and melted in his arms. The chill of the winter air was gone and replaced with warmth that started in his chest and worked its way to his toes. His hand went into her hair and his finger wrapped the curls around it. Hermione placed one hand on his chest and the other sent snow falling to the ground as it made its way through his wild mane. Whenever their lips parted for even the briefest of moments, he could hear her breathe his name.

He didn’t know how long they stood like that before he finally opened his eyes and they parted just far enough to look into each other’s eyes.

“Harry, I…”

“I love you Hermione.” He interrupted her.

“Oh, Harry.” She brought her lips against his for a long, slow kiss.

When they pulled apart again he gently moved his hand into hers and intertwined their fingers. They walked hand in hand towards the rusty entrance gate. Neither of them said anything. Harry knew there was plenty to discuss and things that still needed to be said, but for right now it was enough to simply feel her warm hand and to look over and see her radiant smiling face.

There would always be time to talk later.

~

A/N: And with that, the H.M.S. Pumpkin has officially left harbor. Hope you guys have a great weekend, I’m just gonna go cry a little. Looking forward to what’s left of the story!

## 23. Author's Note

A/N: Made some minor edits to the last chapter. Thanks to everyone for all the reviews! So happy that you guys enjoyed it!

## 24. Chapter Twenty Four

A/N: Short update tonight. Some news below. Hope you enjoy! Cheers!

~

Ron watched Harry go with a grin on his face.

“George, take over? I need to go find Ginny.” Ron stood up.

“She’s cooled off about that spat you had so don’t spoil it.” George slid into Ron’s vacant spot, talking over his shoulder.

“I’ll keep it in mind.” Ron shut the door behind him. He could hear Celestina Warbeck floating up the stairs, which would mean Ginny was going to be in her room. He climbed the steps to the next landing and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Ron opened the door. Ginny was sitting on her floor sorting through photos. “Hey Ginny, what are you doing?”

“Trying to find the best pictures for the scrapbook Mum gave me for Christmas.” She picked up one of her, Fred and George making faces in Diagon Alley. Smiling, she put it on top of a small pile to her right.

“Listen Ginny, I’m sorry about our fight.” Ron took a seat across from her.

Ginny sighed. “Me too. I know you were just trying to help.”

"Yeah, well I never have been much good at that.” Ron chuckled.

“It’s the thought that counts.” Ginny laughed. “Besides, I think I’m slowly coming to terms with it. Mum wants the best for me….for us.” She gave him a significant look. “Thing is, I’m the only one who really knows what’s best for me. You know?”

“Yeah. I do.” Ron smiles, coming to that conclusion wasn’t easy for him either. “It makes things a lot simpler, let me tell you.”

“I get it now.” Ginny looked intently at him, “I really wondered why you seemed so relieved when you came back and you and Hermione were just friends. You seemed happy and I just couldn’t get it.”

“Sure I was sad at first.” Ron shrugged, “But eventually I understood that it was what was best for everyone. Even if it broke Mum’s heart not to have Hermione officially in the family.”

“Yeah.” Ginny lets out a breath. “So, what brings you up here? I know you didn’t quit your game just to come apologize.”

“How did you….”

“Come on Ron. I can hear you all. These walls aren’t made of stone you know.”

Ron thought about all the things he had heard come out of Fred and George’s room over the years. “Point taken.”

“So what’s up?”

“Well,” Ron paused, unsure of how to broach the subject. “Hermione sent her patronus after Harry a few minutes ago.”

“And?”

“Well, you remember from D.A. meetings that it was an otter right?”

“Yes, what’s your point?”

“Well now it’s something else. A doe.” Ron watched his sister pause midway through picking up a photo.

“A doe?” Ginny asked quietly.

“Yeah. You remember what Hermione told us about patronuses and what could make them change?”

“Yeah, I do.” Ginny nodded. “So are they, like, together now?”

“I don’t know.” Ron shook his head, “But I don’t think it will be long now. Hermione has felt this way for a while, but I think you knew that already.”

Ginny let out a long breath. “Yes I have. I thought for a while that it was a one way street, but I couldn’t keep denying the way Harry looked at her.” Her eyes began to water and Ron shoved the photo album out of the way to scoot closer. Ginny stared at the wall to her left and Ron saw her swallow hard.

“Ginny…”

“I want them to be happy, I do.” Ginny wiped her eyes, “But damn it I loved him.”

“I know you did.” Ron spoke soothingly, “But you can’t force these kinds of things. Think of how miserable we would all be if we did.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“You’re going to be okay. You’re a beautiful girl and some guy will be really lucky to have you. If I don’t hex him first.” Ron smiled. “Hermione is your best friend and this is going to make her so happy. Harry too.”

Ginny kept staring at her wall, tears gently falling down her cheeks. “Can I be alone Ron?” she whispers.

“Yeah. Always here if you need me.” Ron stood up, making his way to the door.

“I know.” She whispers behind him.

Ron closes the door softly behind him.

Poor girl. He thought to himself. I hate to see her so upset, but this is how things are supposed to be.

Ron made his way back downstairs to watch his brothers, who had retired the board game in favor of exploding snap. In the back of his mind he pictured his sister in her room crying and for a brief moment felt his confidence waver, but he couldn’t be convinced that the patronus he saw come gliding in earlier wasn’t a confirmation of something he had known for months now.

There was no one on earth who could match up to Harry when it came to Hermione and if the boy would just open his eyes, he would realize that no one meant as much to Harry as Hermione did.

He had watched them for years. Seen the looks they gave one another. Heard them finish each other’s sentences and complete each other’s thoughts. He had seen the devotion spilling from Hermione’s eyes and the contentment on Harry’s face.

He’d spent so much time being jealous and looking after what he thought he wanted that it hadn’t dawned on him until this past summer that there really wasn’t any other way things could be.

It was what was best for everyone. And they would be so bloody happy together, if only the two bludger heads would get around to admitting it.

Just then, Harry walked in and there was snow on his jacket, his hair was a mess and he had a huge grin plastered across his face.

It’s about damn time.

~

A/N: So I decided that on another site, I’m actually going to combine this trilogy of stories into one long one. It’s something I’ve thought about doing for a while now and just seems to make sense.

That’s not going to change anything here on Portkey. It would be too much hassle to change on here (I don’t think the guidelines allow double posting of stories) and they seem to work fine separately here. Besides, this is the place where I’m posting my new content and getting feedback from it. No sense in disrupting that. That’s right; you guys get first dibs on all my works! Don’t you feel special?

Anyways, I could really use some help with something. I’m struggling mightily to think of a new title for the combined story. Truthfully even the ones I’m working with here are probably terrible and no one has told me yet. I digress. Point is, since you guys have been with me the longest and many of you have been with the story since the beginning, you guys know more about it than anyone.

I want to hear your thoughts! Can you think of a good title for the combined trilogy? I really could use the extra brainpower.

Thanks again for reading and all your lovely reviews! Look forward to hearing from you!

## 25. Chapter Twenty Five

A/N: Sorry to have been gone so long. Was out of town a while and got caught up with some things. Glad to be back!

~

The next day went about as well as Hermione could have hoped.

While neither her or Harry were calling themselves a couple yet, word had spread through the house like wildfire about their encounter in the park. Ron had simply smiled and said “I told you so.” Aubrey had given them both a wink when she had left that night. Neither George nor Percy had seemed to care, past George taking the mickey out of Harry for showing up freshly mauled. Ginny had been quiet, but had told Hermione at dinner that she was happy for them. Bill and Fleur had left the day after, but not before Fleur had the chance to tell everyone who would listen that she had known all along that Harry and Hermione were meant to be. Charlie had rumpled Harry’s hair and said he had seen it coming ever since Hermione had nearly jumped him after the first task of the Tri-Wizard tournament.

Mr. Weasley had quietly assured them that he was happy for them, though he had kept his peace around Molly aside from chastising her to “Let it go, dear.”

Mrs. Weasley hadn’t stopped pestering them as to how long they had known and if this was the real reason they had broken up with Ginny and Ron. While Harry had been truthful and said that it had been a factor, even if he hadn’t known it at the time, Hermione insisted that her and Ron had nothing to do with Harry.

Mrs. Weasley didn’t seem to buy it and resorted to pouting and ignoring them whenever she wasn’t pestering them. While it was frustrating, it was much better than how Hermione pictured it being.

Hermione was tucked away in her favorite reading spot in Ron’s window when Harry found her after dinner.

“Hiding from Mrs. Weasley?” He smiled, taking a seat on the floor next to her.

“That and trying to get some fun reading in before schoolwork sets in again.” She placed her bookmark and shut the book.

“What’s that?”

“Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”, it’s a muggle novel about a Transylvanian vampire.” She faced the book cover towards Harry.

“Sounds interesting.”

“Maybe I’ll let you borrow it when I’m done.” Hermione slid from the window sill to sit next to Harry. “You’re not mad about me not wanting to be “together” just yet are you?”

Harry shook his head. “Of course not. You have a good reason.”

“I just feel like I’m leaving you waiting.”

“Hermione, you’re fresh off of a relationship and so am I. Besides, I’m not going anywhere.” He reached down and took her hand. Hermione couldn’t help but smile.

“That’s good to know.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. She truly wasn’t ready for the labels of a relationship, but leaning against him and knowing that it was really going to happen made her light headed.

“Can I ask you something Hermione?” Harry squeezed her hand.

“Of course Harry.”

“Why did you try to hide the way you felt about me?”

Hermione frowned. “I already told you that I was scared. I was scared that loving you would get us both killed. I was scared that Ron wouldn’t want to be our friend anymore. Most importantly Harry, I was scared that you would never feel the same way about me.”

Harry’s eyes were wide with curiosity. Hermione laughed, “I know, not very Gryffindor-like of me at all to be so afraid and to let that fear keep me from being with you.”

“I don’t think any lesser of you.” Harry replied quietly. “To be honest I never thought you could feel that way about me. I always thought that you loved me more like a brother or something.”

“I remember Ron telling me you said that.” Hermione felt her face broaden into a grin, “But Harry, how could two only children know anything of what that’s like?”

Harry chuckled, “I guess you have a point. Ron mentioned one time that you told him that you fancied me, back in fifth year?”

“I did, but I told him that I was over it.”

“How did that even come up?” Harry raised an eyebrow.

“When we were trading stories later that summer about the Department of Mysteries, I guess there was something about the way I talked about you that gave it away to him. So he asked and I told him the truth.” Harry nodded his head, Hermione felt her smile falter. “Harry, why couldn’t I have just faced my fear? We could have had all this time.”

Harry shook his head. “It’s not that simple Hermione. I knew you were important to me, but remember I didn’t think you would ever think of me as anything more than your best friend. I was convinced that you and Ron were going to be together and quite honestly I never thought…”

“You would survive the war.” Hermione finished for him. Harry nodded. “But you didn’t know about the horcrux inside of you until…”

“I was a teenager going against the most powerful dark wizard who ever lived. I knew I would face him and hopefully kill him, but I never really thought about life afterwards because I didn’t think there would be one. That’s why…”

“You broke it off with Ginny.” She finished again. The two sat in silence for a moment, both of them looking at their feet. Harry broke the silence with a laugh. “What is so funny Harry?”

“You said yesterday you loved me from the start right?”

“Yes.”

“I finally get what happened in the potion puzzle room in first year, remember? You gave me a hug and said there were more important things?” Harry grinned.

Hermione felt herself blush. “Yes and I purposely withheld a word if you remember.”

“I do, you said “…friendship, bravery, and…” and you were going to say “love” weren’t you?”

“I was, but I was scared. I was also eleven, so I wasn’t even sure what that meant.”

“Is that hindsight talking?”

“Maybe.” Hermione shrugged. Harry was looking fondly at her. “What?”

“I’m just realizing how lucky I am. That’s all.”

“Oh stop.” Hermione felt the heat rise in her cheeks again.

“Seriously.” Harry cupped her chin and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. Hermione felt goosebumps climb up her neck and heat rising in an altogether different place.

“Harry, if we’re going to do that more often then I’m going to have a hard time with this whole “not together” thing.” Hermione said shakily as a brief wooziness came over her.

“That’s the plan.” And that stupid lopsided grin of his that she loved so much came bursting over his face. She couldn’t help herself and leaned in to give him a kiss of her own. Her chest felt like it might explode from the joy she felt bubbling up inside of her. She had only just put her lips on his when her face burst into a grin against his chin and she couldn’t suppress the laughter that came rolling over her. She could feel his face still stretched into a smile.

“What’s gotten into you?” He asked through his own laughter.

She moved her face until their noses where touching and she was peering directly into his dilated eyes. “I’m just so ridiculously happy.”

“I’m happy too.”

“I know what we said, but how could we have possibly missed this all these years? I thought we were supposed to be brilliant?”

Harry laughed. “You were always the brilliant one, why don’t you tell me?” Hermione closed her eyes and settled her head against his neck, breathing deeply his masculine scent.

“Well I suppose this is something I should get used to.” A chuckling voice came from the doorway. Ron was leaned against the doorframe. “And to answer your question Hermione you were both thick as a troll to have not cottoned on sooner.”

Hermione and Harry both untangled themselves and stood to their feet, Ron laughing again. “Just as long as you both have your clothes on anytime I run across you we’ll be alright.”

“Ron!” Hermione felt herself go scarlet.

“Relax, I’m joking.” Ron settled himself onto his bed. “Though this is my room, so may I suggest some more private snogging spots?”

“Sorry mate.” Harry mumbled.

“It’s nothing. It really is about time you two got your heads out of your arse and got together.”

“We’re not really together.” Harry cleared his throat.

“Well whatever it is you want to call it, it’s about time.” Ron waved his hand airily.

“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Harry asked worriedly.

“Of course mate. I’ve known for ages about Hermione and had my suspicions about you. We all got here and none of us are really worse for wear. I’ll call that a win any day.”

“What about Ginny?” Harry sounded unconvinced.

“She’ll be okay. She’s upset, naturally, but she’s cottoning on like I once did.”

“What do you mean by that?” Hermione interjected.

Ron smiled. “Oh come off it Hermione, we talked about this. I knew the instant you offered to follow him to your death that you loved Harry more than me. We may have been stubborn and thought we could make it work, but if you and I were both honest we knew all along that you and Harry was what was best for everyone. It finally sunk in for me somewhere between Australia and that night at the party.”

Hermione felt prickling behind her eyes. “Oh, Ron…”

“I’m happy Hermione.” Ron held up his hand. “I’m honestly happier than I’ve ever been. My two best friends are happy and I’m lucky enough to have the most beautiful, wonderful woman in the world. No offense.”

Hermione smiled. “None taken.”

There was an awkward pause before Ron dramatically yawned. “Well kids I think it’s time for me to call it a night so why don’t you love birds go find a quiet broom closet?”

Harry took Hermione’s hand and led her to the door, pausing briefly to turn back towards her. He gave her an exaggerated grin and a wink. “Maybe we’ll do just that.”

The door shut behind them to Ron faking gagging noises into his pillow.

## 26. Author's Note

A/N: Hey guys and gals, sorry I’ve been gone so long (about a month now since my last update). Didn’t want anyone to think I was gone forever. I still plan on finishing all my stories in progress. I’m very slowly chipping away at them, I promise. Just have a lot going on in my life at the moment and writing has been very hard. I sit down and it’s like pulling teeth trying to get the words to come out. Anyways, hope to be back soon with an update or two. Sorry to keep anyone waiting.

## 27. Chapter Twenty Seven

A/N: Finally finished up another chapter. Please let me know about the quality. I’ve hit a real brick wall of writer’s block and I’ll admit to being worried about it. In any case, sorry to have kept you waiting and hope you enjoy. Cheers!

~

Harry found it supremely ironic that for all those years people thought there was something between him and Hermione, now that there actually was something going on between them nobody seemed to notice or care.

Granted, their friends weren’t exactly going around telling everyone and Harry and Hermione both were keeping any displays of affection private. He knew Hermione wasn’t ready yet for everything that came with being a couple, so the only differences between their friendship from before and now were the good night kisses.

Two weeks went by with the most exciting thing happening being Peeves letting loose a horde of snakes during a Herbology lesson, creating a brief stampede of first years. Harry was sitting next to Hermione during lunch hour when Neville took a seat opposite him.

“Afternoon, Harry.”

“’lo Neville.” The man sitting opposite Harry was barely recognizable from the shy and nervous boy he had shared a dorm with for six years. “Sorry I haven’t made it up to Gryffindor tower much.”

“It’s alright Harry, I know you have a lot on your plate.” Neville looked at Hermione and then back to Harry. “Though I was actually wanting to ask you a favor, if you could spare the time?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“Can you help me with my dancing? The Winter Ball is next week and I’d rather not be stepping on Hannah’s feet.”

Harry choked on his drink. “Me? Help you with dancing?”

“Oh come on Harry. You were dancing just fine at your Head Boy party.” Hermione didn’t even look up from the Daily Prophet.

Harry felt himself blush. “Still, I’m not exactly someone who could teach it…”

“Well since Harry insists on being insufferably unsure of himself, then I’ll help you Neville.” Hermione put her paper down and smiled.

“Thanks Hermione and she’s right you know.” Neville turned to Harry who kept his gaze focused on pushing his food around his plate. “Well, I’ll see you guys around. Just send your patronus later to let me know what you need me to do Hermione.”

“Will do Neville. See you.”

Harry looked up and watched Neville rejoin Hannah. He could feel Hermione’s eyes on him and turned to see a look he’d seen a thousand times before. “I’m guessing this is where you tell me something about how I shouldn’t be so hard on myself or the like?”

“It would be nice if you at least could see how talented you are.” Hermione sighed.

“At what? Dancing?”

“You’re just talented Harry. Think about it, how often is it you try something and you’re rubbish at it?”

“I’m pretty rubbish at potions….”

“That’s only because you don’t apply yourself.”

“I’m terrible with girls.”

“Well, there is that, though I suppose you won’t need to worry about that anymore.”

Hermione was so matter of fact and so very Hermione-ish about it that Harry had to smile.

“What?” she gave him a perplexed look.

“Don’t ever change.” Harry laughed. He took a look around the Great Hall. Hagrid caught his eye, leaning down to have a conversation with Professor Sprout, holding his beard to keep it from tangling in her wild hair. Slughorn was seated between a couple of Ravenclaws, blathering on about some former student. Harry’s gaze landed on Malfoy, seated alone at the end of the Slytherin table.

“It’s kinda sad, even with him playing so well in quidditch he still sits all alone.”

Harry turned to stare at Hermione. He wasn’t sure what was stranger: her noticing Malfoy’s quidditch play or her feeling sorry for him. Feeling Harry’s eyes, she turned back towards him. “What? It is sad. Malfoy has been a rotten apple most of his life, but nobody deserves that.”

“Since when have you cared about Malfoy?”

“Harry, the war is over. Old grudges are precisely the kinds of things that make wars inevitable in the first place. Yes, Malfoy was a terrible person, but this a chance for people to start over.”

“Hermione you can’t expect….”

“I’m not asking you to be his best mate, but we could at least reach out to him. How would you feel if you were in his shoes? And before you say that you have been, remember that you always had Ron and I. He has nobody.”

Harry looked again at Malfoy. While the burning hatred he once felt had subsided, it wasn’t replaced by anything resembling good feelings either.

“Just think about it Harry.” Hermione reached down and grabbed her bag. “I’ll catch up with you in Herbology, I’m going to go put some finishing touches on my Potions essay for tomorrow.”

Harry’s mind flashed back to the Ball and something he had thought about when Neville had brought it up. “Hey, before you go, will you go to the Winter Ball with me?”

Hermione blushed, “I…of course Harry. I’d love to go with you.”

“Terrific. I’ll see you at Herbology then.”

“Yeah, see you.” Hermione turned and walked away, passing Ron and Aubrey on her way out. Ron took a seat next to Harry.

“Just where have you been?” Harry asked Ron, then, noticing his disheveled hair and Aubrey adjusting her robes, “Nevermind.”

Ron laughed, “So what’s got ‘Mione all flustered? She looked as red as my hair.”

“I’ll bet a certain someone asked her to the Winter Ball.” Aubrey reached across Ron for some treacle tart.

“What would he need to do that for? She’s his girl now, isn’t that kinda obvious?”

“It’s a lovely romantic gesture Ron.” Aubrey rolled her eyes in Harry’s direction. “So, am I right?”

“Yes.”

“Smashing.” Aubrey turned back to her treacle tart.

“We’re still throwing the after party right?” Ron asked, his mouth fit to explode. Aubrey rolled her eyes again. “Room of Requirement at midnight?”

“Yeah, Hermione and I checked and it still works.”

“Great. I’ll have to get with George and see if we can’t sneak in some of his stuff.”

“You’re a Prefect Ron!” Aubrey elbowed him.

“And? You’re a Prefect too and you didn’t seem to mind….”

“Shhhh not so loud Ronald.” Aubrey turned scarlet.

“Well I’ll catch you guys later.” Harry grinned and picked up his bag. He was a couple of steps from the front door when he looked again at Malfoy. Taking a deep breath, he walked passed the door to where Malfoy was seated.

“Potter.” Malfoy didn’t look up.

“Hey…” Harry took another deep breath, “Listen we’re having an after party after the Winter Ball. It’s in the Room of Requirement at midnight.”

Malfoy froze for a moment before pouring some more water into his cup. “And you’re telling me this why? To rub it in my face?”

“I’m telling you because you’re invited.” Harry forced himself not to grit his teeth. Malfoy looked up and couldn’t hide the surprise on his face. “You know…if you wanted to come.”

Harry and Malfoy looked at each other for a long time. Malfoy seemed to be trying to find the catch.

“Alright.” Malfoy looked back down at his plate and Harry recognized his dismissal. Turning back towards the door, Harry noticed that Ron was staring Malfoy down and even Neville was trying to be surreptitious about watching out of the corner of his eye. They had both slipped their hands to their wands.

“Wait.” Malfoy’s voice made Harry stop and turn around. “Thanks, Potter.”

Malfoy hadn’t looked up and hastily leaned below the table to reach into his bag for something, but he had said it. Harry stood stunned for a full second before finally making his way out of the Great Hall.

It had grated against everything inside of him, but maybe Hermione was right. The more Harry thought about it, the more he thought of Sirius and Snape. How two grown men had still hated each other mostly because of an old grudge from their Hogwarts days. It seemed frivolous now.

Maybe there was a second chance for him and Malfoy after all.

## 28. Chapter Twenty Eight

“Don’t watch your feet; you want to be looking up at me.”

“I’m trying; I just didn’t want to step on your feet.”

“I know, but that is why we memorize the steps so you won’t have to think about them.” Hermione waved her wand at the record player, “Now one more time tonight.”

Neville lead her in the first few steps of the dance beautifully. He caught the front edge of her toe right before the verse ended and kept looking down after that, but it was a vast improvement from when they had first started. Her feet had been sore for quite a while after their first session.

“Very good Neville, you’re coming along smashingly. Hannah will be blown away.” She gave him an encouraging smile. “Want to meet one more time before the ball?”

Neville blushed, “No, I think I got the hang of it now. I really appreciate this Hermione; sorry for all the times I stepped on you.”

“It’s quite alright, it happens.” Hermione waved her wand again to switch the record player off. “I’m more than happy to help.”

“So how are things with Harry?” Neville bent down to take his dress shoes off.

“They’re great.”

“You know, I always wondered about you two. You were always very close.”

“He’s my best friend.” Hermione smiled, “Always has been.”

Neville smiled and shook his head. “So I have to ask, was it you that put Harry up to inviting Malfoy to the after party?”

“I didn’t put him up to anything. I simply pointed out how sad it was that Malfoy didn’t seem to have anyone that cared, no friends to speak of.”

“I see.”

“Though I agree with what Harry did. You’ll be nice to him won’t you Neville?”

“It’s a little hard to be all chummy with him all of the sudden,” Hermione rolled her eyes, “but I suppose I’ll do my best. Thanks again Hermione, see you around.” Neville walked passed her and out into the second floor corridor. They had been practicing in an empty classroom. Hermione put away the record player and record she had borrowed from the library and took a seat in a chair, enjoying the silence. It wasn’t often she got to pause and just listen anymore.

The sound of footsteps came up to the door and someone knocked softly before pushing the door open.

“Hi.” Harry took the chair next to her. “How’d the lesson go?”

“Quite well, Neville really has gotten much better.”

Hermione felt butterflies flutter in her stomach for reasons she wasn’t sure of. “So, are you ready for the ball?” Harry asked, smiling nervously.

“Not really if I’m honest.” Hermione looked at her feet, “Maybe it’s just out of habit or for some other reason I can’t tell, but I’m still scared.”

“I’m pretty nervous too.”

Hermione looked up at him and couldn’t help but laugh. “Harry Potter? Nervous? You’re the bravest person I know.”

“Well in hindsight, everything I’ve ever done looks more stupid than brave.” Harry smiled.

“I’d say it all worked out in the end.”

“Yeah. This will too you know.”

“I know.” Hermione reached down and squeezed his hand. She thought of all the times she had been scared and how Harry had always grabbed her hand while they helped each other survive. This wouldn’t be any different. “I love you, Harry.”

“I love you too.”

~

“Watch where you’re going Malfoy.”

Draco never did get used to the sneering of his housemates. He walked out the entrance hall and onto the grounds towards his one sanctuary from the dirty looks and whispered insults. It was a small grove of trees just inside the grounds on the far side of the castle.

He plopped down and heaved a deep sigh.

This is not at all how it’s supposed to be.

His final year at Hogwarts should have been about making plans for a bright future of Ministry success, basking in quidditch glory and sticking it to Potter whenever he could.

Instead it had been a year’s worth of being a bigger outcast than that oddball Lovegood girl. Even his own housemates only gave him short reprieves when he played well in quidditch. With Crabbe dead and Goyle awaiting trial he had no one to turn to, no friends to speak of.

It wasn’t fair. None of it. His mother wrote to him weekly, but he had stopped reading the letters ages ago. They always said the same thing. Always prattling on about how they would make it through this and how his father would keep them afloat until everyone stopped hating them. He hadn’t spoken to his father in months.

His father had always been his hero, the one person he looked up to the most. He was powerful, connected, liked and respected. People stepped aside and tipped their caps when Lucius Malfoy walked by. Draco idolized him, but he hadn’t been able to live up to him. His father had strength of will that Draco lacked. Where his father acted with purpose, he had only shown reluctance.

His father loved him, which Draco knew. Lucius would have never abandoned his cause for anyone else besides his beloved son. It was the one thing that kept their relationship afloat. But somewhere between his first and second battle at Hogwarts something had broken. They had both reached their breaking points.

“You know, if you keep that scowl on forever then your face will get stuck that way.”

The voice surprised him out of his reverie, the Weasley girl stood a few feet in front of him.

“What?”

“It’s something my brothers used to tell me. You look miserable.”

“What do you care?” he snapped.

“Who said I cared? I was simply making an observation.” She replied coolly.

“Then why are you here?”

“I can walk wherever I please thank you.”

He stared into her brown eyes. There was a spark of defiance in her face that complimented her athletic features. If he looked passed the fact that she was a Weasley, he had to admit to himself that she was a pretty girl.

She peaked one of her eyebrows.

“Sorry.” He mumbled, looking away at the tree to his left.

~

Was he just checking me out? He can’t be serious.

Ginny looked down at Malfoy. He was staring off to his left, purposely not making eye contact. It used to be the sight of him made her want to hex him into jelly, but the person sitting on the grass was a shell of the boy who used to torment her friends. She almost felt sorry for him. She did feel sorry for him.

“Listen Draco, why don’t we start over?” she reached out a hand.

He stared back at her in disbelief. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, let’s try and put the past behind us and start fresh.”

“Why? Why would you want to do that? What are you people up to? First, Potter invites me to that party and now this.” Draco looked like a cornered animal.

“Is it so bad to have people that want to be your friend?” She answered the confused look that flashed across his face before he spoke, “My mum always taught me that there was some good in everyone, if you’re willing to take the time to find it.”

She could see him thinking hard. What is he so afraid of? She couldn’t help but notice his light grey eyes, so cold in all the years she had known him, had thawed and were more the palette of a rainy day.

He finally reached out his hand to her and she firmly shook it.

~

“Good, now I’m going to finish my walk before the free period is up. You can join me if you like.”

She turned away from Draco and walked towards the lake.

He had just made friends with a Weasley. His father would have a fit. Then again, Draco had already begun to wonder if being like his father was really what he wanted out of life.

He still didn’t get why she had been so nice to him or why Potter of all people had reached out to him. He had spent all his years here taking joy out of doing what he could to make them miserable. They were beneath him; at least that was what he had been taught to believe. But maybe there was something to them after all. They were willing to forgive or it seemed that way and that was something even Lucius with all of his willpower was unable to do.

Draco rose to his feet and brushed the grass off of his expensive robes. At the very least he had little to lose for trying something new. He headed in the direction of the lake at a leisurely pace, assured his longer legs would catch up to her before too long.

## 29. Chapter Twenty Nine

A/N: I’ve been looking forward to this one. This was a fun one. Hope you enjoy! Cheers!

~

“How do I look?” Ron turned from the mirror in the dragon skin dress robes his brother had given him.

“Great.” Harry fiddled with his bow tie. His insides were churning. He never did like being the center of attention, but the Head Boy and Girl traditionally christened the Winter Ball with its first dance. He was less than enthusiastic.

Still, he’d be with Hermione. That was something.

“What do you reckon is taking the women so long?” Ron whined.

Harry shrugged. Neville appeared from behind his bed. “S’ppose they’re getting ready yeah? They’ll look great, trust me.” Neville looked over at Harry and winked, leaving Harry perplexed.

Just then there was a soft knock and three beautiful women walked in, but Harry only had eyes for the one in the middle. Hermione was wearing an elegant dress that was a deep Gryffindor red that matched Harry’s robes. Her hair was shorter and fell in delicate curls.

All three boys stood in silence, taking in the sight. “I think we’ve made an impression.” Aubrey giggled, reaching forward to straighten Harry’s tie. Hermione faked a cough, “Don’t worry ‘Mione he’s all yours. Just helping the poor lad out is all.”

“What do you think Neville?” Hannah spun on the spot.

“Smashing.” Neville smiled. He took her by the arm and they made their way out the door. “See you guys downstairs.” Hannah waved as the door shut behind her.

“It’s not fair that Neville got to cheat.” Aubrey said over her shoulder, now retying Ron’s tie.

“What’s she mean by that?” Harry asked Hermione.

“Oh, we had this agreement that the boys wouldn’t see us in our dresses ahead of time.” Hermione answered.

“But she let Neville cheat.” Aubrey said, “Neville got to see her when they did their last practice.”

“I just thought he should practice with the longer dress in play is all.” Hermione sighed. “It’s not like Harry saw me or anything.”

Aubrey tutted, “I wonder sometimes how you got your straight laced reputation Granger. Come on Ron let’s get downstairs.” She pulled Ron by the hand who gave Harry and Hermione a wink before he followed her out the door.

“You ready?” Harry looked down at Hermione, his insides loosening a bit as he grabbed her hand.

“Yeah.” She answered back.

“You look great.”

“Thanks.” Hermione blushed. “Let’s go.”

They made their way leisurely down the staircase, until they reached the door to the Great Hall which was shut. A din of chatter could be heard on the other side of the door. McGonagall was waiting in her conservative black dress robes.

“Are you ready to begin?” She asked, a rare smile spreading across her hawkish features.

Harry and Hermione both nodded their heads. McGonagall pushed open the door as Hermione took Harry’s arm.

“Introducing, your Hogwarts Head Boy and Head Girl. Mr. Harry Potter and Ms. Hermione Granger.” McGonagall’s voice rang over the now hushed crowd, which split to make a pathway of sorts leading to the large dance floor at the front of the room.

Harry kept his eyes straight ahead and he felt Hermione’s grip tighten on his arm. There were hushed whispers on either side of them. After what seemed to be the longest walk of his life they finally reached the center of the dance floor. A classical ballad floated across the hall. Harry turned and offered his hand to Hermione. He noticed how she was worrying her bottom lip and her brow had tightened. He pulled her close to himself, getting her to look up at him.

He gave her a reassuring smile. Her face relaxed and she gave him a soft smile in return. They began to dance, Harry trying hard not to look anywhere but Hermione’s brown eyes. Her soft warm hands effortlessly followed his movements and her body seemed to fit with his like a glove whenever they drew close together. He saw in her eyes complete confidence whenever he dipped her, she trusted him completely.

He was crazy about her. It came across him like the gentle waves of the lake. He was madly in love with the woman in his arms and he didn’t give a damn who knew it. In fact, he felt rather like shouting it from the top of the Astronomy tower.

The song reached its final notes and Harry pulled her very close, he could almost feel her nose brushing against his and he could feel her breath on his lips. The crowd began to clap awkwardly.

He grinned at Hermione. She arched an eyebrow, “Harry, what..”

But she never got to finish. Harry put his hand on her cheek and put his lips against hers. He felt her freeze up for the briefest of moments, before she relented and returned his kiss in kind. He could vaguely hear someone wolf whistling beyond his heart pounding in his ears.

By the time he returned to his senses and they broke apart, the lights had gone down and the student body had joined them on the dance floor for a lively jazz number.

“Well, they’ll be talking about that one for a while.” Ron appeared behind Harry, clapping him on the back. “Real smooth Harry.”

“Shut up and dance Ronald.” Aubrey tugged his arm, pulling him back into the crowd.

“So, care for another dance?” Harry turned back to Hermione.

She had a funny expression on her face, one Harry had never seen before. “There will be all night to dance, I have something else in mind.”

Hermione pulled Harry through the crowd towards the open doors.

~

Ron spun Aubrey around, her laughing barely audible over the music and the people around them.

“Ron what are you doing?” she giggled.

“Improvising.” He grinned, spinning her around again, before pulling her back and dipping her.

“This isn’t how the dance goes.”

“Your point being?” He brought her face to face with him.

She pushed her hair back out of her face. “My point being that you’re crazy.” She laughed.

“Yeah, but you love me for it.”

“Confidant one aren’t you?” Aubrey smiled before taking a look around, “Say, where’s Ginny? I haven’t seen her.”

“Good question.” Ron scanned the crowd. “Why don’t you go find us a table and see if maybe she’s there I’ll look around.”

“Okay.”

Aubrey disappeared behind a couple of Ravenclaws. Ron skirted the edges of the dance floor, looking for his sisters’ red hair. He was just finishing up one complete lap when he caught sight of her at the edge of the room against the wall, talking with a tall blonde haired boy.

Ron sighed, his sister really was more popular with boys than he cared for. He took a few steps towards them before his frown deepened, he recognized now who she was talking to.

“There a problem here?” He took the last few steps in giant strides.

“No,” Ginny answered airily, “No problem here.”

“Weasley.” Malfoy’s brow furrowed, but it wasn’t the usual sneer Ron had heard for so many years.

“Why don’t you come with me and we’ll go find Aubrey, she’s getting us a table.” He took Ginny’s arm.

“Okay, why don’t you join us Draco?” She turned back to Malfoy, who hesitated.

Ron leaned in to whisper in Ginny’s ear. “Why are you inviting him?”

“Because he’s a friend.”

“Friend? Him? But it’s Malfoy.” Ron wasn’t whispering anymore.

“Yes, Ron, a friend.” Ginny yanked her arm away from him. “And so what if it’s him? I can make friends with whoever I want.”

“Haven’t you forgotten who we’re talking about here?” Ron gestured to Malfoy.

“Look, I’ll just go.” Draco turned to leave.

“No Draco, you’re not going anywhere.” Ginny glared at Ron, “Why can’t you give him a chance Ron? You saved his life, but you can’t at least try to look past what he did before?”

“What’s going on here?” Aubrey appeared.

“Ginny’s trying to convince us that Malfoy here has turned a new leaf.” Ron answered.

Aubrey looked from Ron, to Ginny, then to Malfoy. She frowned, “Ginny, what’s this all about?”

“Oh don’t take his side. You weren’t even around for any of this.” Ginny waved dismissively at Aubrey. “Don’t walk away Draco.”

“Weasley isn’t going to change his mind.” Draco glared at Ron. “And neither will his little girlfriend.”

Aubrey reached for her wand. “I won’t be so little when I turn you into sniveling rat that you are.”

“Stop it!” Ginny drew her own wand.

“Whoa, slow down everyone.” Neville suddenly burst through the crowd to Ron’s left. He waved his wand and both Ginny and Aubrey’s wand flew into his other hand. “Calm down. You’re ruining the ball.” None of them had realized that the crowd around them had stopped dancing and talking to watch the show. Ron was suddenly grateful a teacher hadn’t caught on yet.

“Show’s over folks.” Ron turned behind him. People turned back to their tables or returned to the dance floor.

“Now what is the meaning of all this?” Neville looked around at everyone.

“Ronald here was being an ass just because I invited Draco here to our table.” Ginny fumed.

“Is that true Ron?” Neville turned calmly to Ron.

“Oh come on Neville, its Malfoy! He made your life hell too, would you want him around us?”

“I think,” Neville gave Ginny and Aubrey their wands back, “that if Malfoy wants to prove that he’s turned over a new leaf, that we should afford him that opportunity.”

“Not you too!” Ron couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Aubrey’s mouth was agape. “Neville,”

“Harry invited him to the after party.” Neville cut across them. “I don’t know about you, but I’ll follow Harry’s lead.” Neville looked over at Malfoy and nodded. “Now let’s try and enjoy the ball.”

Neville disappeared back into the crowd, leaving an awkward silence behind him.

“What the bloody hell has gotten into him?” Ron said weakly, “One battle and all of the sudden he’s Godric Gryffindor…”

“Let’s head to a table shall we?” Ginny grabbed Malfoy by the arm and headed passed Ron towards an open table.

Ron stared at Aubrey who looked just as bewildered as he felt. “Lost her mind she has.” He gestured towards Ginny. “Where’s Harry? Surely he invited Malfoy to spike his drink with a puking pastille or something.”

“I saw him and Hermione leave a few minutes ago.” Aubrey actually smiled.

“Leave? What the hell for?”

“Oh Ron, my beautiful Ron, don’t ever change.” Aubrey giggled and walked towards the table.

“Mad. The whole world has gone mad.” Ron took a deep breath and prepared for an awkward evening in the company of Malfoy.

## 30. Chapter Thirty

A/N: And here, we finally arrive at the final chapter. I tried to tell myself I wouldn’t write an epilogue, but who am I kidding? Of course there’s going to be an epilogue. So that will be coming very shortly.

I also promised myself I wouldn’t gush in an author’s note after it was all said and done….I’ll probably break that promise too.

For the final time, I hope you guys and gals enjoy. Cheers!

~

Music blasted out of the door when Hermione and Harry opened the door to the Room of Requirement. There were huge banners for each house what were edged with white and peppered with moving snowflakes. The lights were low and kept changing colors like the Christmas lights Hermione had seen in her neighborhood as a little girl.

Harry went to get them drinks and Hermione made her way through the crowd. She felt lighter than air. If she didn’t know any better, she would almost swear she was glowing. It had already been one of the most wonderful nights of her life.

“There you are, I’ve been looking for you.” Ginny came bursting through the crowd with Aubrey at her side. When she caught sight of Hermione’s face her hand went to her mouth. “Hermione.”

Aubrey gave Hermione a wicked grin and turned to Ginny. “Now let’s not make a scene, we’ll get her to dish all the details later. I for one don’t want to miss the party.”

Ginny simply looked from Aubrey to Hermione before letting out an exasperated sigh. “Oh, alright.”

Aubrey grabbed Hermione’s arm. “Come on, George managed to sneak in firewhiskey.”

Hermione pulled her arm away. “Aubrey, you’re a prefect.”

“And you’re Head Girl. And yet, here you are.” Aubrey gestured. “Come on, loosen up it’s a party. Besides, you of all people can’t fuss too much about breaking school rules.”

Hermione frowned. “That was different.”

Aubrey held up her hand. “Now listen here. You’re about to leave here and go on to be Minister of Magic or what have you and live your wonderful life with the savior of the world. You’ll be too busy then to drink too much with us, so you’re going to drink too much with us now. I won’t take “no” for an answer.”

“Come on Hermione, let’s live a little. Merlin knows we haven’t been able to before.” Ginny pleaded.

Hermione looked at her two best friends and sighed. “Alright, but one drink and then…”

“Oh we’ll see about that.” Aubrey grinned wickedly. “Come on let’s go.”

Someone in the crowd caught Hermione’s eye. “Go ahead I’ll catch up.”

“I’m holding you to it Granger.” Ginny and Aubrey disappeared.

Hermione inched her way around some Ravenclaws to tap a boyishly handsome man on the shoulder. “I’m glad you could make it.”

Luke turned around and gave her that charming smile of his. She wondered how real it was. “Glad I was invited, though by the looks of it the whole school was invited.”

“Yeah, that’ll be Aubrey’s doing.” Hermione shook her head.

“Listen, Hermione..”

“Luke it’s okay.”

“Um, okay.”

An awkward silence hung in the air. “So, how are things with your parents?”

Luke hesitated. “We erm, we had a fight.”

“So you did talk to them.”

“Yeah, we had quite a row. Dad wanted to kick me out, but Mum talked him out of it. They tried to pull me out of Hogwarts, but once I pleaded my case with McGonagall she helped convince them to let me finish.”

“That’s great.” Hermione smiled tremulously, “So, what now?”

“I don’t know.” Luke sighed, “I’m not ready to be open about that just yet, but I’ve decided it’s not fair to me to live a lie.”

“Well, you’ll always have my support.” Hermione put her hand on his arm.

“Thanks, I’m just sorry I got you involved.”

“It’s alright.” Hermione felt a hand snake around her waist from behind.

“There you are. Hello Luke.” Harry appeared from behind her.

“Hi Harry.” Luke replied nervously. “I was just going.”

“No hard feelings Luke.” Harry said.

“Well I need to be going anyways. See you around.” Luke waved and disappeared towards the exit.

Hermione turned to Harry, who had a thoughtful expression. “How is he?” he asked.

“He’s okay.” She put an arm around his waist. “I think he’s getting there at least. I just wish he didn’t have such a hard road ahead of him.”

“If I know you, you’ll do whatever it takes to make it better.” Harry squeezed her.

“Thanks Harry.” She gave him a squeeze in return.

“Hermione!” a pair of female voices came lofting over the music.

“I think someone’s looking for you.” Harry grinned.

“Yeah, they want to get drunk tonight.” Hermione frowned. Harry actually started laughing. “What’s so funny?”

“I would pay a hundred galleons to see you drunk.”

“Harry James Potter!” she removed her arm from him like he was a hot iron. “You sound like Ron.” She scoffed.

“Well he’s on a table in the corner singing the national anthem, badly, so I hope I don’t sound like him.”

“And he’s a prefect. Irresponsible.” She muttered.

Harry gave her a peck on the cheek. “That’s my Hermione.” Another loud shout of “Hermione!” burst over the crowd. “Now go on, I’ll catch up with you later.”

Harry slipped out of sight. Hermione felt a little lurch in her stomach seeing her go.

He’s safe. No one is trying to hurt him now.

It was the same calming thought she had told herself time and time again for months anytime Harry and her were apart. It happened less and less now and she looked forward to the day she didn’t have to tell herself anymore.

But he was hers now and she was going to take care of him. That thought made her feel warmth in her chest.

“Hermione! Come on!” two pairs of hands reached from the crowd and pulled her towards a small bar in the back.

~

Harry chuckled to himself as he watched Hermione get dragged away by Ginny and Aubrey. He knew Hermione would have a good time. Especially once she figured out Luna was waiting for her up at the bar.

Harry stood in a corner and scanned the crowd. Practically everyone in the school was here and even some former students like Luna and George had come. He’d never tell Hermione but he and Ron had helped George clear out and widen the passage from the Shrieking Shack for that purpose. The invisibility cloak still had its uses.

He had never quite gotten used to parties. It suited him to stand here and watch his friends cut loose for a little while.

He watched Ron make a fool out of himself with George egging him on in the corner. He was now singing the Hogwarts alma mater at the top of his voice.

Draco Malfoy walked by and gave Harry a curt nod.

“Potter.”

“Malfoy.”

It wasn’t terribly friendly and Harry didn’t think it ever would be, but it was better than nothing.

He saw Draco take a seat next to Ginny at the bar. Aubrey and Ginny gave Hermione her first shot of firewhiskey and Hermione nearly gagged it back up with Luna watching serenely. Neville and Hannah were dancing to the bluesy number that was playing.

After a little while, Ginny turned and started talking to Draco. It was the most relaxed Harry had ever seen him. It made him feel uncomfortable to think of Ginny being so friendly with him, but he knew better than anyone that Ginny could take care of herself. Luna got up and started to do her own dance on the dance floor by herself. It didn’t seem to match the rhythm of the song at all.

Lee Jordan, who was the DJ, switched the music to a slower song. Aubrey and Ron found each other and began a wobbly slow dance. Harry made his way over and he and Hermione joined them.

The four of them continued to dance the night away to song after song. From slow ballads to the Weird Sisters. They even switched partners for a song and Harry learned that Aubrey was an accomplished dancer. The night slowly faded away and people began to trickle back to their common rooms.

“What time is it?” Hermione asked Ron.

“Almost seven.” Ron answered.

Hermione turned back to Harry. “Let’s go watch the sunrise.”

“Yeah.” Aubrey chimed in. “I bet the top of the Astronomy tower would be a great view.”

“Love, that’s a lot of stairs.” Ron hiccupped.

“Don’t worry Ronniekins I’ll hold your hand.” Aubrey teased. Harry and Hermione laughed.

“You coming Gin?” Harry turned towards the bar to see Ginny leaning heavily on George.

“’Fraid she had a bit much.” George chuckled. “I’ll make sure she gets to Gryffindor tower.”

“I love you Fred.” Ginny mumbled.

George winced. “Come on dear, let’s get you upstairs.”

“What about Draco?” Hermione pointed to where Malfoy had passed out at the bar.

“I’ll throw some water on him once she’s taken care of.” George said over his shoulder, carrying Ginny out the door.

“Come on; if we’re going to catch the sunrise we better get moving.” Aubrey tugged on Ron. The foursome made their way out the door and started the long climb to the Astronomy tower. Somehow, it had been left unlocked and they each took a seat on the ramparts, Hermione conjuring blankets, jars and a couple of blue bell flame charms to stave off the cold.

“You’re bloody brilliant.” Ron drunkenly patted Hermione’s hand.

“And you’re drunk.” Hermione sighed. Harry and Aubrey laughed.

Harry and Hermione snuggled together under one blanket with Ron and Aubrey under another. The sky was a pale grey as the sun began to rise behind the hills.

Harry looked from Ron, to Aubrey and finally to Hermione. He wouldn’t have been able to imaging this time last year that they would be sitting here in total peace. He had come a long way with Ron and Hermione and there was a long way ahead of them with Aubrey in tow.

The sun finally crested and Hermione squeezed his hand tight and leaned into him. Dawn seemed to capture everything Harry felt about his friends and the girl sitting next to him better than he could have put into words.

“Everything has changed, hasn’t it?” Hermione whispered.

“Yes, it has.” Harry answered.

He looked again at Ron and Aubrey who had fallen asleep leaning against each other and looked in Hermione’s bright brown eyes.

“Yes it has.”

The End

## 31. Epilogue

Epilogue

~

2 May, 2000

~

Harry’s chest finally expanded back outwards as the unrelenting pressure eased off.

“I never will get used to apparition.”

“I did say we could take the Floo network.” Hermione sighed.

“Yeah, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to actually apparate onto the grounds.”

“Why? Because I spent the better part of seven years telling you that you couldn’t?”

Harry grinned and Hermione exhaled. “Whatever will I do with you Harry?”

He offered his arm and they walked the winding path past the quidditch stadium and towards the tall towers of Hogwarts. A crowd had gathered in the front courtyard. When they got close enough to discern faces, there was a loud crack and a tall red headed man appeared next to a blonde haired woman.

“Did you have to get so close Ron? We could have apparated right onto someone’s head.”

“Hey, I was trying to save you a walk. The healer said you shouldn’t be walking long distances.”

“That’s not exactly what she said…”

“Hello Ronald.” Hermione tapped him on the shoulder, then wrapped Ron in a tight hug that he returned generously.

“Hermione, Merlin it’s good to see you.” Ron turned to see Harry, “And Harry, long time no see.”

“Not a lot of free time at the Academy.” Harry took Ron into a tight embrace. “Aubrey how are you?”

“I’m great Harry.” Harry was very gentle when embracing Aubrey. “Being pregnant isn’t all it’s cracked up to be though.”

“Do you know yet?” Hermione excitedly pushed passed Harry.

“Well….we was going to keep it a secret….” Ron waved his hand airily.

“Tell us, oh please tell us.” Hermione whined.

Aubrey looked like she might blow up she was trying so hard to hold it in. “It’s a girl!” She finally exploded.

Hermione and Aubrey both squealed in delight and hugged each other.

“Congrats mate.” Harry shook Ron’s hand.

“Mum nearly fainted.” Ron looked glowingly at Aubrey. “Said she always wanted a granddaughter. Still hasn’t quite forgiven me for not inviting Muriel to the wedding though.”

“Have you thought of a name?” Hermione asked excitedly.

“I like Anna Lee.” Aubrey answered, “But Ron is really partial to Emily.”

The two women talked in rapid sentences while Harry scanned the crowd. There were a lot of Ministry officials present. Kinglsey as well as most of his cabinet were seated on the stage. Directly behind them, the professors were dressed to the nines, though Sprout never could remove all the dirt from her hair. McGonagall alone was in the front row seated next to Kingsley.

There was a large, empty circle in front of the stage and the floor seating was arranged in a semi-circle around it. Many people Harry recognized were seated towards the front. The Weasley family took an entire row and the Longbottom, Tonks and Lovegood families were seated behind them. Harry chuckled to see little Teddy Lupin straining to escape his grandmothers grasp.

“I think they’re about to get started.” Hermione tugged Harry’s arm. Kinglsey had risen from his seat. Harry, Hermione, Ron and Aubrey took empty chairs in the back row.

“Today is a solemn occasion.” Kingsley’s deep voice needed no amplification. “Today we honor and remember those who gave their lives two years ago, on these very grounds, to defeat the greatest threat wizarding Britain has ever seen.”

Kingsley’s speech was short but elegant. A few witches in the front rows had begun to cry towards the end. Harry’s insides felt like ice. Hermione gently placed her hand into his and gave him a reassuring squeeze.

One by one, Kingsley called out names from a parchment in his hands. After each one a family member rose from their seats and accepted an Order of Merlin: First Class. George Weasley accepted on behalf of his brother. Andromeda Tonks (assisted by Arthur Weasley) accepted for both her daughter and for her son-in-law.

It was while Mr. Weasley was helping Andromeda back to her seat that a hard poke made Harry jump.

“Oi, what was that for?” He whispered to Ron.

“Look.” Ron pointed to the back row opposite them. Trying to be as small and quiet as possible, Draco Malfoy slipped into a seat. “What’s he doing here?”

“Shh.” Hermione hissed.

Harry had his own suspicions as to what brought Malfoy here. He scanned the row of Weasleys until he found Ginny at the very end. Just as Kingsley called out the next name, Ginny turned around and craned her neck. When she caught sight of Malfoy, she smiled and turned back around.

It took quite a while to work through all the names. When the last name had been called and everyone had returned to their seat, Kingsley stepped back to his chair and there was a moment of silence. Harry could hear the creaking of the trees in the Forbidden Forest as they moved with the wind. McGonagall, Flitwick and Sprout then stood and took up positions around the empty circle. They each waved their wands in an identical motion and a large stone rose from the ground.

The stone had three identical sides, each with a large blank space in the shape of a house of Hogwarts: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. With another simultaneous wave of wands names began to appear on each side, each in the handwriting of the person in question.

The professors remained standing in their places. Flitwick and Sprout had both begun to shed tears and McGonagall wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. Kingsley again stepped forward to the front of the stage.

“May their example embolden us all to forge a better tomorrow and may they rest in peace.”

With that, the crowd slowly began to disperse. Kingsley shook hands with all of the professors before he and his cabinet slipped out the back towards their waiting floo connection. Many of the family members pressed close to touch the name of their loved one on the stone. Most simply apparated away after a brief touch or a few words.

Molly Weasley pressed through the thinning crowd towards Harry.

“Hello dear.” She crushed Harry in a hug, wiping away the last of her dried tears. “This was all just so...” But apparently whatever the word was she couldn’t say it. “Anyways, are you coming ‘round for supper tonight?”

Harry looked to Hermione who nodded. “Sure Mrs. Weasley.”

“Thanks for all your help with the house.” Hermione gave her a hug. “I was going spare trying to get everything arranged right.”

“No trouble at all dear.” Molly smiled, turning to Harry. “Your parents would be so happy with what you’ve done with their home.”

“Thanks Mrs. Weasley.”

“Now where has that daughter of mine ran off to?” Molly’s eyes swept the courtyard.

“As if she has to ask.” Ron mumbled under his breath.

“Well I better get going. Arthur left to see Andromeda home. How soon until Teddy moves in with you dear?” Molly turned back to Harry.

“Next week.” Harry grinned. He was over the moon about his godson coming to live with him.

“Splendid, well do let me know if you need anything. See you tonight.” Molly kissed them all on the cheek before turning towards the Great Hall.

“You know she’s going to go ballistic when she finds out about Ginny.” Ron looked at Aubrey.

“Well I’m not terribly excited about it either.” Aubrey muttered. “Never thought I’d see the day where my child had to call Malfoy “Uncle Draco”.”

Ron made retching noises behind Aubrey’s back.

“You’ll have to let me know how that goes.” Harry laughed.

“Well we better get going too. I have to close up shop so we can head to Mum’s tonight.” Ron straightened himself and reached down to take Aubrey’s hand.

“Business booming as usual?” Harry asked.

“Beyond booming.” Ron sighed. “And that summer intern we hired is going to be the death of me.”

“Be nice Ron, she tries.” Hermione soothed.

“Yeah, tries to blow up the place.” Ron muttered. “Anyways, we’ll see you two later.” Harry and Hermione gave them both a wave as they turned their heel and disappeared.

“Want to take a walk around the lake? For old times’ sake?” Hermione intertwined her fingers with Harry’s.

“Okay.”

Before they had made it out of the courtyard, they came upon a short and very tanned wizard who was vigorously shaking the hand of a very uncomfortable looking Luke Morgan.

“Thank you very much sir, I’ll have my secretary forward the reports to you.” The man wheezed.

“Thanks Wilkins. See you around.”

With a crack Wilkins was gone and Luke let out a huge sigh.

“How are things in International Relations?” Harry asked.

“They’re great.” Luke perked up. “When Wilkins isn’t badgering me. How is the Auror Academy?”

“Tough.” Harry answered.

Luke nodded, “And I hear that someone is making waves in Magical law.” He turned to Hermione who blushed.

“It’s not much really. It’s just a small policy revision on house elf ownership.”

“So modest,” Luke shook his head. “Passes the first piece of legislation regarding house elf rights in a thousand years and it’s a “small policy revision”.”

“She’s pretty brilliant.” Harry smiled at her.

“By the way,” Luke lowered his voice, “I really did appreciate you trying. You know, with that other piece of legislature.”

Hermione frowned, “We had a solid presentation, but the opposition was just too heavily entrenched. We’re going to get there someday though, I promise.”

“The effort matters Hermione. People are talking about it now and that’s a start.”

“Would you like to come for dinner? We’re headed to the Weasleys tonight and I’m sure Mrs. Weasley wouldn’t mind.”

“I’m flattered, but I actually have a date.” Luke rubbed his neck awkwardly.

“Oh?” Harry and Hermione answered together.

“Yeah, it’s a guy I met in France actually. It’s my first real date with a guy.”

“I’m sure it will be great.”

“Yeah, good luck mate.” Harry and Hermione both answered.

“Thanks, well I better get going. I’ll see you guys around.”

With a small pop he was gone. Harry and Hermione left the courtyard and made their way slowly down towards Dumbledore’s tomb, stopping briefly to each conjure a rose on top of the white marble. There wasn’t any sort of sign of the violation that Voldemort had committed; the stone was as pristine as the day of the funeral. The giant squid was drifting lazily on the surface of the shallows as they made their way around the lake’s edge. They passed by their favorite tree and Hermione sighed and placed her head on Harry’s shoulder.

“It still hasn’t sunk in we’re not coming back.” Harry mused.

“McGonogall said we’re always welcome to stop by.” Hermione soothed. “Besides, I’m sure we’ll find reasons to come here for our own children.”

Harry looked across the lake. He could still see the last remnants of the crowd strolling around the grounds. The castle was just as he remembered it the first time he saw it, the lingering damage from two years ago had finally been repaired. His eyes lingered on the quidditch stadium and on the thing he had been twiddling between his fingers for the past few minutes.

“Harry?” Hermione sounded suspicious. It always had been hard to get things by her.

“I wondered if maybe we could try something different?” Harry brought out a tiny broom from his pocket and touched his wand to it. It swelled in size until his full size Firebolt was in his hands.

“Harry, you don’t mean….”

“Not all the way,” Harry hastily corrected her, “Just for a little while?”

Hermione smiled and shook her head at him. “I suppose I’ll have to get used to it someday.”

“Smashing.” Harry mounted his broom and Hermione gingerly climbed on behind him, reaching her arms around and clamping on tight.

“Let’s go home.” Hermione placed her head against his back.

Harry gently lifted off the ground and drifted higher. His feet brushed against the top of the trees as they looped around the grounds. As he climbed higher he leaned down to give it more speed as the stadium, Hagrid’s hut, the Whomping Willow and the Herbology greenhouses came and went below them. Before long the familiar rush of wind around him engulfed them and Harry’s heart swelled.

They flew towards the far mountains as the turreted towers and the sparkling lake faded into the distance behind them.

~

A/N: I couldn’t help but take a moment to say a massive thanks to all my readers. You guys and gals have been so wonderful to me over the length of this story. Your reviews have helped me all along the way to become better at writing and have been some of the most encouraging things ever said to me.

This has been a very long journey. It started late one night when I couldn’t sleep in the midst of depression and has seen some very high highs and some incredibly low lows. I’ve watched two very dear friends and an uncle pass away. I’ve wrote chapters from a hospital room next to a loved one. But if there’s one thing that Harry, Ron and Hermione taught me, it’s that friendship and love can see you through anything and everything in life.

Thanks again for everyone who has stuck with me through this journey. I’m humbled by each and every single one of you.

Rest in peace Tim Burns

Rest in peace D’Andre Humphery

Rest in peace Kenneth Knight