A/N: The final chapter!! Autumn dance…happiness, fluff….the angst is over. R/R! No flaming…please. Hope you've enjoyed the story! If you have any ideas for another story for me to write then email me ([email protected]) what you'd like to see! I need plot lines, lol. I'm so bad at coming up with story ideas. And when they do occur to me, I get all these great ideas for lines and stuff to use…but then I forget them. Most of my ideas come in the shower…I should put a tablet in there so I can jot down ideas.
Chapter Ten"Hermione! Hold still!" Lavender cried in exasperation.
"I'm sorry I just really want to see," Hermione said, trying to peer around Lavender once again.
"No peeking!" Lavender reprimanded. She had spent the last hour trying to get Hermione ready for the Autumn dance occurring later that evening. First, they had used the remaining half of the straightening potion to straighten Hermione's hair. Then, they had charmed her hair into bouncy curls that were shiny and sleek because her hair had been straightened beforehand. Now Lavender was attempting to braid a few parts of Hermione's hair, but it was virtually impossible with all the squirming she was doing. "Done!" Lavender cried with bravado. She stepped aside and let Hermione take in her new appearance. She flushed in excitement and squealed, hugging Lavender tightly.
"Thank you!" she cried. Lavender laughed before pushing her off.
"Now out of the chair! Its my turn," she said with a laugh. Hermione obligingly got up and let Lavender concentrate on her own hair. Hermione stroked the silky material of her new dress robes with a gentle finger. They lay splayed upon her bed, just waiting for her to don them. She smiled and pulled the inner robe on. It was a soft champagne-gold color. There was only a few buttons to button, which left a long slit down from her thighs to the floor, revealing her shapely legs. She giggled softly before donning the outer robe. It was a pitch white color and had about the same number buttons, still letting her legs be seen. It was the new style down in Hogsmeade. The robes clung nicely to her curves and she twirled before the mirror, admiring her appearance. Lavender came up behind her, dressed similarly. She smiled as she put an earring in.
"Lookin' good there," Hermione said to Lavender.
"You're not too shabby yourself," Lavender replied. They giggled together again before giving themselves one last once over. Then they opened the door and descended from their dormitory. Harry and Ron were waiting at the bottom of the steps, looking rather bored. Harry looked up and saw Hermione…and gasped. She looked gorgeous. His jaw was nearly on the floor as she came to stand before him. She smiled and blushed slightly.
"Wow Hermione….you look…wow," Harry said. Hermione giggled and kissed him softly on the cheek.
"Thanks. You look pretty handsome yourself," she said, straightening his robes a little. He offered her his arm and she took it before descending with him into the Great Hall.
The hall had been transformed once again. Large trees dominated the area and clearly framed the dance floor. Brightly colored leaves were everywhere and nearly coated the floor. Harry felt like Robin Hood entering his forest alongside his love, Maid Marian. She smiled at him, the red and gold leaves around them perfectly complimenting her eyes. He leaned down, unable to help himself, and kissed her softly.
"Oi! Stop snogging and come dance!" Ron shouted. Harry and Hermione separated and hurried after their friends towards the dance floor. He twirled her around once they reached the dance floor and she gave an appreciative laugh as he caught her in his arms as he leaned towards the ground. (a/n: you know…like everybody does in those romantic movies lol…Zorro might do it too) He stood straight and wrapped his arms around her waist as she wrapped hers around his neck. She sighed contentedly and rested her head upon his shoulder as they swayed to the music.
Hermione felt a tap on her shoulder and reluctantly looked up…to find Nell. She and Harry stopped swaying and turned to face Nell.
"Hey Nell!" Hermione said cheerfully. Nell smiled.
"I'm happy," she said.
"Oh…" Hermione looked quizzically at Harry who simply shrugged, "Ok…" Nell smiled again, shaking her head.
"I mean I'm happy that you two are together." Harry smiled and put an arm around Hermione saying, "me too."
"Thanks, Nell. I'm glad that you don't…mind," Hermione said, struggling to find the right words.
"Of course I don't mind! If I hadn't been…er…rejected," Harry and Hermione winced, "then I never would've asked my precious Nevy to come with me to this dance!"
"Nevy?" Harry asked curiously. Nell nodded and turned to search the crowd. Her face lit up as she obviously caught sight of who she was looking for. She quickly waved at this 'Nevy' and motioned for him to come over. Harry and Hermione nearly keeled over when they saw that her precious Nevy was none other than their friend Neville. As Neville finally made it through the crowd, he handed Nell a cup of punch.
"Here's your punch, dear," he said sweetly. Nell blushed slightly and thanked him.
Another slow song came on and Nell turned to Neville.
"Dance with me, Nevy," she said, putting her cup on a nearby table. Neville smiled and placed his cup beside hers before taking her in his arms. The difference in height sent some of the neighboring couples into fits of laughter, but Harry and Hermione thought it was rather sweet. Both unsure individuals had found comfort in each other, like Harry and Hermione had done. Hermione turned to Harry, putting her arms around his neck once more.
"Dance with me, Harry," she whispered softly. Harry smiled and encircled her waist with his arms once more. Hermione tilted her head up towards his and he tilted his down towards hers. They grinned at each other before their lips connected in another kiss.
The dance waned on for a time, but eventually couples began to drift off the dance floor, and then out of the hall altogether. It was nearing one in the morning when Harry and Hermione decided they had had enough dancing and filtered out of the hall hand in hand. They headed back towards the Gryffindor common room through the many twisting corridors. Hermione looked up at Harry, studying his face. Her eyes caressed his strong, proud face, grazing over its curves and angles, the perfect arch of his eyebrows, the way his hair fell perfectly on his face, the way his lips curved when he knew exactly what she was thinking…she instantly snapped her eyes away from him, hoping that she hadn't been too obvious. Harry's lips were still curved in his mischievous, all knowing smile that she hated and loved so much at the same time.
"What?" she asked incredulously.
"Nothing," he replied mysteriously. She poked him in the ribs as she laughed. Déjà vu, she thought. A month ago, I did the same thing while I was wishing for Harry, and now, he's finally mine. And just to prove to herself that it was all actually true, she lifted her face and pulled his down toward hers. He eagerly returned her kiss, his fingers caressing her skin. She smiled as their kiss continued, and the smile stayed even as they broke apart and continued towards the Gryffindor tower once again, her head on his shoulder. Her heart swelled with happiness and she knew it was true, she had not been dreaming the past week. It was real. They were real. And it was good.
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A/N: Pretty short and pointless, but it's a clear ending! I doubt I'll do a sequel to this. But again, if you have ideas for me, email me ([email protected]) because I seriously need ideas. Anyways. I had fun writing this series, and I hope you enjoyed reading it. At least it might've been mildly entertaining. This chapter was sort of short and rushed…sorry, but I just wanted to end it. Notice that I used the same Hermione staring at Harry as I did in the beginning...trick, eh? I dunno why I did it, I thought it would give it a nice closing or something...But anyways! Ta ta for now! More stories (hopefully) coming soon. Review, but don't flame. Thank you, thank you very much. VIVA LAS VEGAS! (don't ask…I'm delirious with lack of sleep.)