Disclaimer: Once again, I find myself telling a great secret, one which must be treated with the utmost care and discretion: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I make any money by doing this.

A/N: Hello again! Third post today, isn't this exciting? Please r&r with suggestions and constructive criticism! As usual, first reviewer gets to ask for a drabble/ficlet/oneshot or request pairing. I'm trying to catch up on these, so if you're reading and reviewed first for one of my other stories (and I never PMed you asking what you'd like) please mention that in the review! Thanks!

She doesn't like large crowds, that much he is sure of. Why their family believes that a huge surprise party to celebrate her 21st birthday would be a good idea, he doesn't know. So he isn't surprised when a little over an hour and a half later she catches his eye from across the room and leaves with an apologetic smile. He weaves his way through the crowd, and manages to catch her before she arrived at the apparation point.

"Going so soon?" He asks, falling into step beside her.

"I'm not into big groups of people, you know that."

"Well what about you and I go back to my flat? Celebrate with a nice glass of wine?"

"I'd like that," she tells him, before casually looping her arm through his. She looks stunning tonight, he thinks- more so than usual. Her hair is in a twist much like it was in at the Yule Ball, and it shows off her plump, red lips and small nose. Her eyes sparkle with mirth, and a small smile rests upon those lovely features. Her dress is a beautiful crimson, and matches the small earrings he had given to her for Christmas last year (much to her protest about the cost). He too smiles, in memory of that Christmas and at the comfort of her arm looped through his and her head resting on his shoulder.

Of course he thinks everything about her is beautiful- be it when she puts them in their place or when she protected them in the finale battle. He is wholly smitten, but he can't find himself to mind. She's everything he could ever want, but for now he'll admire her from afar and not ruin their friendship, because as clichéd as it may be friendship is better than nothing. So he goes home with her and gets out two glasses of wine, and they sit and talk long into the night about everything that comes to mind, just talking comfortably like the good old days. And when his arms fall asleep from the warm weight of her sleeping figure in his embrace, he can't stop the smile which overtakes his features.

He lightly kisses her temple, imagining what it would feel like to one day be able to kiss those lips and call her his. They went through so much together to get to where they are, that he can't imagine not going through every challenge she faces with him at her side. He loves her, he thinks to himself. He always has, and he knows he always will. But for once, the brightest witch of their age is oblivious, and he doesn't know what to do about it.

~fin~