Understanding

by Ydream08

Epilogue

Hermione cancelled her internship because she had important news for Harry. It couldn't wait. She wouldn't act about anything without sharing this with Harry.

So, at the dead of the night, Hermione packed her trunk and Floo'ed to Grimmauld Place. Even though she had told the boys she wouldn't be visiting during the Spring Break, she would be coming over.

Hopefully, Harry was awake. Hermione didn't think she could wait for the morning.

Harry did the right thing and let Ron head out early. They were teammates as Aurors, but Ron had outright begged to not stay longer for paperwork, and Harry had obliged. It wasn't something he couldn't handle. And Ron was desperate to leave, telling Harry repeatedly that he was already late for a night out.

Guessing there was a girl involved, but not pressing the subject, Harry let his friend go.

Arriving at home around two in the morning was, however, was a new record for him. In the morning, he would sleep in.

While ridding himself of sooth, Harry noticed the faint glow coming from the living room.

Taking out his wand, Harry muttered some spells as he cautiously made his way. There, in the spacious room, a solitary lamp was on, and next to it, sat Hermione reading a book under the light.

Harry sighed a breath in relief at seeing her. He and Ron hadn't dealt with high-danger cases in some while, but it was worthwhile to be careful.

Hermione wore jeans and a thick and brown woollen jumper. Her hair was tied at the back in a ponytail, but she occasionally pushed away a few tendrils that bounced in front of her sight. Standing there and observing her pouting lips as she mouthed words, Harry counted five times she pushed away her hair.

Next, she frowned so deeply that Harry thought she would set fire to the book in a bout of accidental magic.

Smiling, he greeted her, "Hey, love, is this a surprise?"

"Harry!" she gasped, closing her book and reaching for her heart that probably leapt out of its place.

"Sorry," Harry mumbled. It didn't occur to him that he was so quiet.

"I was waiting for you, how come I didn't hear—"

"Auror, remember?" Harry provided with a crooked grin.

Hermione sighed and shook her head. Harry was already crouching in front of her armchair when she put away her book and looked back at him.

Harry removed the stray hair from her face and gently put his hand over her cheek, caressing her soft skin with his thumb. "Hey, I missed you. I'm glad you came."

"I missed you, too. Sorry that I couldn't tell you earlier—"

"Surprise me like this and I can never fault you for that," Harry said with a wink. He reached to touch his lips softly at hers, but when he pulled away she followed him. Next, they were kissing slowly but deeply.

Oh, how much has he missed her!

Sighing to her delicious mouth, he broke the kiss. "It's late, why don't we go back to my room?"

She stalled him, however. At his questioning look, she rose to her feet and grabbed his hands in hers.

"Harry, I came because there is something you have to know."

With how worried she looked, and Merlin please not let it be, but scared, Harry immediately thought the worst thing. It was in his nature.

"Did something happen?" Dolohov was on the loose. "Any attacks? Why didn't McGonagall notify me? You will stay here, I will check with—"

"Harry, I'm fine! I really am." He was unbelieving of her until she grabbed the sides of his head to lower him back to her lips. The kiss soothed him in a way that nothing could.

"So, what's wrong? I mean, it is not wrong for you to come here. You should; come that is. More often. I miss you all the time. Arg, Hermione! You drive me insane. Can you please…?"

Harry knew he was messing his hair to a point of no turning back. Great. Just when the new hair product he had found that helped him a little.

"I'll explain," Hermione assured him, this time with a smile on her lips. "I don't know how to do it, though."

There was a silence in which Harry couldn't put a finger on why exactly Hermione's smile grew wider. Her eyes shone as if the sun was right behind them.

Hermione opened her mouth, closed it and tried again. Harry was focused singularly on her.

"Harry, we have been dating… for some time now, and although we have been taking precautions… what I'm trying to say…"

There were a click and faint steps in the background that the two of them ignored unconsciously.

"Harry, I had to come this late and find you, because—"

Hermione took hold of his hands and squeezed.

"I'm pregnant."

Harry opened his mouth but someone else spoke instead of him.

"Blimey, we didn't get to my room yet! How can you be pregnant?"

Harry and Hermione both turned to look at a couple standing just at the opening of the living room. All Harry could think of as he stared at Ron and his lady friend was that he should have hinged a door to the empty frame. That way, this interaction which knew no boundaries for privacy wouldn't have happened.

"Weasley, it's not me who's pregnant," came a miffed but familiar female voice.

Somehow, Ron was able to unhand the young woman who wore a black mini tight dress. All the coughs and efforts of clearing throats bought time for Harry to turn back to Hermione, and he finally processed what she had said.

"You are pregnant?" he asked to which she nodded hesitantly.

"Congratulations, Hermione," came a timid but well-intent voice of Ron's companion.

"Thank you, Parki—Pansy."

"Bloody— wow, yeah, congratulations, Hermione! And Harry!"

Hermione's smile and nods brought all the sense back to Harry.

"We're having a baby?" Harry asked just to be sure. The excitement laced in his voice was no secret.

Hermione nodded again. "Yes. I mean I want to, and if you—"

"YES!" shouted Harry and lept to hug Hermione. He was laughing as he lifted Hermione up and spun her around.

When he put her back, he kissed her cheeks and pecked her mouth and hugged her again. And again. And—

"WAIT! Hermione, wait right here," Harry said and not so gently made his way between Ron and Pansy.

He had put it in his drawer, up in his room. Climbing the stairs two and three at a time, then rushing even faster back, Harry came in the living room with a red velvet box in his hand.

"I've been thinking since the Battle. I got it done that summer, actually. Do you remember my Mum and Dad's photo? I commissioned for the goblins to make something similar." Harry's mumblings were halted when he finally stared back into Hermione's eyes. "Hermione, you are everything to me. I would want to live the rest of my life with you. I will give whatever I have. My time, my heart, my everything. I want you to want me the same. Will you be my wife?"

There was no kneeling; no need for that. Harry simply opened the box, searched Hermione's eyes for affirmative and gently slipped the ring on her finger.

There was much more kisses and hugs after that. Well, kisses were for his new wife, and hugs for his best mate and Parkinson. Oddly, sharing this intimate moment with Pansy Parkinson didn't occur Harry to be anything but unexpected. There was genuine happiness in the eyes of his best mate's new girlfriend.

The group of four had to depart eventually and truthfully that ended up being awkward.

Only years later would they learn both couples had retreated to their rooms and simply fell asleep in their respective partners' arms.

Either way, it was a night that was recounted many times in the House of Potter, which only proliferated in number, wealth and fame as the years passed.

"This was supposed to be the last one, Harry! We agreed it was the last one!" hissed his wife who clutched at his hand.

"You are hurting me, love," Harry said. He faintly heard James' endless questions to their Aunt Pansy. Rest of the kids had been fooled to get ice-cream by Ron, but as the oldest, James had been smart.

Merlin knew what Pansy was telling him.

"Harry, I'm telling you, I will murder you before you can ever convince me for another—"

"Please, darling. Our twins wouldn't want to hear their Mum threaten their Dad with murder, the first thing they arrive in the world."

"That's not helping," Hermione shouted. Harry had to admit she was funny, lovely but funny when she was all angry and fierce.

"Since I can't push personally, love," he snickered, "You have to be content with that."

"Please, Mrs Potter, one last powerful push," the Mediwitch said, so Harry hushed and pushed away Hermione's hair in favour of helping her.

In seconds there was a shrill cry coming from their baby boy.

Hermione heaved a sigh of relief and smiled. Harry kissed the top of her head and wiped her forehead.

The Mediwitch smiled. "Now, let's get out the other twin."

The END

Hello!

I hope you enjoyed the story. It surprises me how much I covered over the chapters for these characters! And honestly, writing about the trio where their relationship survived was so important to me. I know not all friendships last, but I guess I want to believe at least Ron, Harry and Hermione were able to do it.

Hopefully, we will meet at different -maybe new- stories!

Take good care!

Ydream08