A/N: I've been getting a lot of PMs to finish this story. I think part of me kept postponing it because I had a feeling it would not be the ending that everyone wants to see. No matter. I explain everything at the end of the chapter.

Epilogue

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"Ah! Mr Potter. It has been a while."

Harry smiled humourlessly as he accepted the hand of the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, shaking it firmly before stepping back to stand in line with the other five instructors who had joined him in this endeavour that had lasted the past three and a half years. What had started out as a programme that was to end in three years, got pushed back gradually until a further seven months were spent teaching new recruits that were to the joint wizarding army belonging to all magical countries. The other five looked the way Harry felt: tired, haggard and in need of a hot bath.

The Head of the Department went on to state the usual statements pertaining to how grateful they were to the service provided in the name of justice. Harry had heard it all countless times and he was sick of hearing the repetitious phrases from one country to another, to be said in different languages by different nationalities. It didn't change one fact; that he was back and in a position to resume his life. Something he was not yet ready for.

After meeting the rest of the Departmental Heads and briefing Kingsley, they were finally allowed to leave. Throwing the worn backpack over his shoulder, Harry said goodbye to the other instructors and made his way out of the office of the Minister for Magic and started on his way towards the exit of the Ministry where he could Floo out. He wanted nothing more in that moment than to stand under the warm, powerful spray of a shower, followed swiftly by collapsing onto a soft mattress so he could crash for several days. As he passed, he noticed how people watched him curiously, wondering briefly if they were shocked to see him, or shocked to see him with a beard. Somehow, that thought made him smile. Harry was too distracted by his one goal of cleanliness that it took a while to realise that someone had called out his name.

Turning around, Harry felt his stomach flip in happiness and knot itself with guilt when he saw Ron rush over to him.

"Blimey, Harry, I didn't even recognise you."

Harry grinned as he embraced his best friend, happiness winning over guilt for that small moment. "How did you recognise me?" he asked curiously as he pulled back.

"Easy," Ron said with a smirk. "I just looked at what everyone else was looking at."

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh, me?" Ron asked nervously. "Well... Percy said that they're looking for someone to be the Quidditch liaison for the Ministry so..."

Harry grinned. "That's great, Ron."

"Yeah? You think? I'm not really sure about it. I would have owled you but I didn't know where you bloody were."

"We kept moving a lot," he mumbled dryly.

"I figured," Ron said in good humour. "Listen, I've got to go meet Percy, but can you come over tonight? You owe me a Firewhisky."

Harry nodded, the need for companionship growing strong. "Yeah."

"Not the Burrow though," Ron said hurriedly. "You know what? I'll come get you. Grimmauld Place, yeah?"

Harry frowned. "You're not staying at the Burrow anymore?"

"Not for a while now. Moved in with Hermione a while back."

Even though he had been expecting his best friends to still be together, hearing it so casually was like a punch in his stomach. Harry forced a smile. "That's great."

Ron nodded wistfully. "It's still a bit hard to get used to. We still fight over everything."

"I'm surprised your mother allowed it," Harry mumbled.

A blush coloured his friend's ears. "She didn't at first. But we are going to get married. Was just waiting for you, mate," Ron said happily as he punched Harry's shoulder painfully. "Hermione's here actually. She's gonna go mental if you don't go see her."

Harry felt a certain hollowness rest inside his chest. "She is? Where?"

"Under the Department of Foreign Relations. Something about helping to translate Ogre contracts."

Harry highly doubted that was what she was doing. But he wasn't ready to see her just yet. "Actually, I really need a shower now."

Ron eyed him from head to toe before he said a serious, "Yeah."

Harry shoved him half-heartedly, laughing when his best friend feigned being off-balanced.

Ron slapped his shoulder with a loud laugh. "I'll see you tonight then. Pick you up at seven?" he asked before he bolted, moving quickly towards the exit.

Slowly, Harry stared at the closest elevator as he contemplated seeing Hermione for the first time since he had left. But the fear of seeing her alone, of not being able to control what he was going to say or do kept him rooted to the spot. Instead, he headed towards the Floo network. It was safer to see her in the presence of his best friend, anyway.

Dinner with Ron and Hermione was just as awkward as Harry had envisioned it would be. She was as silent as he was, looking down or at her drink, her eyebrows knitted with intense concentration while Harry tried and failed to answer Ron's questions with more than one-word answers. It didn't help matters when Ginny was proved to be a surprise guest; one that her brother clearly orchestrated with less than much care and skill.

Hermione wasn't looking at anything but the objects in front of her. Harry couldn't help but stare at her whenever he could.

"How about desert?" Ron asked to an audience of sullen expressions.

Hermione perked up. "I'll get it." She stood up quickly, using the excuse to leave Harry's presence just like she had been doing the whole night.

Harry smiled slightly at Ginny who shifted in her seat right beside him. Throwing his head back, he finished the last bit of Firewhisky that he had been nurturing in his glass only to wince when the liquid burned his throat with a vengeance. "I'll go get more," he said, gesturing sloppily at the empty glass before pushing his chair back and following Hermione to the kitchen.

Hermione was a mess; that much was certain. There were loose tendrils of hair slipping from her usually perfectly coiffed bun as she moved from one end to the other, opening cupboards and slamming drawers. Her glance flitted across him as he entered.

"I could have sworn I had a wooden spoon. That's how it is, isn't it?" She walked past him, her hand wiping sweat from her brow. "You think you buy something and you put it away for safekeeping, but when you need it, you can't find it." She was losing patience as she swirled around and nearly bumped into his chest.

Harry grabbed her arm before she could escape him. "You okay?"

Hermione faltered, a loose curl falling over her eye. "I'm fine."

Harry hesitated a moment before he gently pushed the hair behind her ear. Hermione ducked her head and moved back, forcing him to let go of her arm.

"You can't stay, Harry." Her words were whisper soft and they cut deeper than a blade ever could.

He let out a low breath, his throat constricting from the words he was about to say. "I know."

She shook her head in panic. "No, I mean… I feel awful. I've tried to tell him several times, but I'm not strong enough. I can't let him know what I did to him. What we did to him. You can't stay here. You can't be in my life. I thought I could ignore it. I thought that it would be different. But nothing has changed. Nothing."

Harry looked away from her, unable to see his best friend so distraught and in pain. He could see that all those years apart had been boiling down to this moment. It was surprising how unprepared he felt. "I'll leave. As soon as I can." He looked back at her, his gaze serious. "I won't be a problem."

Hermione nodded distractedly. "Thank you."

He was going to keep his promise, he was. It was just that the prospect of being kept at arm's length was excruciating.

This was the thought that ran through his mind as he leant towards her. She stared at him wide-eyed and panicked, but unmoving when he placed his hands gently on either side of her face. He moved slowly, giving her enough time to push him away or worse, cry out. Hermione did neither, staying perfect still as his eyes closed and his lips met hers.

The kiss was chaste and simple. He fought the impulse to deepen the kiss, even when he felt her hands circle his arms and hold on tightly. Her breath was warm against his cheek as he tried to focus on remembering every single thing about this moment.

Pulling away quickly, he didn't give himself enough time to second guess his choice. Moving past her he entered the living room and proceeded to grab his jacket and shrug it on.

"I have to go."

"What?" Ron rose from his seat as he stared at Harry in confusion. "Where do you need to go at this time?"

"I forgot about the report Kingsley wanted me to finish."

Ron eyed him incredulously. "He can't wait for one night?"

"Apparently not," Harry said with a shrug. He needed to leave before his resolve broke down and he did something he wouldn't be able to come back from. He quickly turned towards Ginny. "I can drop you home, if you want."

Her smile was wide as she stood up and joined him near the fireplace. "That would be great," she said gently.

Harry fought the feeling of guilt that seemed to be permanently roiling in his stomach. He took her hand in his just as Hermione appeared beside Ron, her hair perfectly coiffed with not a strand out of place.

Harry didn't bother with hugging his friends goodbye, mostly because he was unsure if he would ever let Hermione go. Instead, he stepped into the fireplace with Ginny and said, "The Burrow," as clearly as he could before Ginny tossed the Floo Powder she had taken into her fist.

Just before the green flames engulfed them, Harry saw Ron smirk as he turned to his soon-to-be wife. "Told you they'll get back together."

Hermione's eyes met Harry's only moments before her image disappeared and he felt the familiar sensation of travelling by Floo. At that moment, she had looked just as happy as he felt.

Harry knew he wouldn't be able to stay away for long. He had to be able to see her and speak to her. They would have to live their lives separately, but he had to be able to smile at his best friend.

Who knows? Maybe someday all will be well.

He could always hope.

Fin.

A/N: And with this, I have completed A Final Goodbye 2.0. Before you throw rotten tomatoes my way, quick explanation. This was what I originally intended when I first wrote this story. It fits the title, after all, and it blends right back into canon. However, when I did finally publish the story, I felt a fluffier ending would make sense for the fest. The reason why I love this ending is because I've always loved Harry/Hermione a specific way, which this falls into. They think of others more than themselves and they frustrate me to no end with their choices. Yet, I want that frustration because only they could give it to me.

In case you do want to compare, the link to the happier ending can be found on my profile.

P.S. - Don't hate me. Fluffier fics will be coming up. ^_^