Harry Potter belongs to the J K Rowling.

Just warning everyone, this is the final chapter, I think I lingered over the end long enough, but given that we are all used to stories that never end it might seem weird that this does.

Hermione happily twisted back and forth in front of Luna's mirror; her eyes shined, her heels set off her ankles perfectly, and the knee-length blue dress fit just right. She looked fabulous. Luna smiled at her, "that dress looks perfect on you," then she asked mischievously, "trying to impress somebody special?"

Harry's handsome image popped into her mind. It had been a week since they'd talked about how he killed Voldemort, and Hermione's stomach fluttered with happiness every time she thought about it. Harry had trusted her. He'd been scared, but he trusted her. What Harry had gone through was horrible, but how could she not be happy every time she thought about it? Harry had told her his worst memories, and she'd been able to help him feel better.

"Maybe," Hermione happily replied to her friend, "I love your hair, the strands of fire you worked into it are gorgeous."

They looked each other over again to make sure everything was in place, and then Hermione grabbed Luna's hand, "come on let's go."

Daphne had fallen in love while in South America. Her fiance was from a very wealthy Argentinian family, and the Greengrass family were throwing a big party to introduce their future son-in-law to the British wizarding world. Luna and Hermione arrived early because they wanted to support Daphne, so when they apparated to Greengrass Manor they found that the crowd in the ballroom had only started to gather. Hermione had always loved the giant room with shiny floors, and a mirror for the ceiling. The buffet tables were packed with mouthwatering and rare foods from around the world – Hermione thought Daphne's parents wanted to advertise how many countries they did business in to the partygoers. The Weird Sisters had been hired, and were preparing on the band stage.

Daphne saw them and ran up to hug Luna and Hermione with a broad smile, "I'm so glad you two are going to be able to finally meet Louis! He's so dreamy and handsome, and you'll love his sense of humor."

As Daphne enthusiastically described her fiancé Hermione's eyes briefly glanced around the ballroom to see who was already there. She saw Harry, he seemed to glow, like a bright lamp surrounded by candles. Harry was enthusiastically talking to Neville and he looked unusually handsome in his sharp black dress robes. His hair fell over his forehead, and his hands flashed white above the sleeve of his robes.

When Harry glanced over he caught her eye and walked towards them with a happy smile that made Hermione's stomach flip. He hugged Hermione and then Luna, and he smiled at the three of the girls while saying to Hermione, "you are looking especially beautiful tonight," he grinned at Luna, "you too." Then to Daphne, "I only talked to Louis for a minute, but he seems solid."

Daphne laughed, "of course he is, I did pick him. Just remember what I said: you can scare him, but only a little."

"Now, what makes you think I would ever scare your fiancé? I just want to get to know him."

Everyone laughed as the Weird Sisters started to play, Harry looked at Hermione with a twinkle in his eyes and he bowed elaborately taking her hand and kissing it, "would the lady do me the honor of giving me the first dance of the night."

Hermione giggled, "why yes, handsome sir, I do believe I have this dance open."

He took her hand and led her to the dance floor, and Harry's smile and bright eyes made the butterflies in Hermione's stomach intensify.

An hour later Hermione stood next to Daphne eating an alfajor she'd grabbed from the buffet table - it was a delicious creme filled cookie that was a popular Argentinian snack. They both watched Harry talk to Louis. Harry had a very serious look as he asked Louis questions; it made him look a bit scary - and very handsome, and Louis seemed a bit intimidated. Hermione couldn't stop smiling as she watched Harry speak, and admired the way his messy hair fell around the collar of his robe.

"You and Harry seem closer," Daphne leaned in and asked with a mischievous smile, "did you finally start sleeping together?"

Hermione blushed brightly, "No!"

"Well why not, he's a handsome bloke – I've seen how you've looked at him all night."

Hermione flushed, and looked open mouthed at her friend who continued, "you know, we all thought you two would have gotten together by now. I mean you are perfect together, and I can't imagine Harry being happy with anyone else, and you already make a cute couple. Its past time for you to make your move."

Hermione looked back at Harry, he and Louis were grinning at each other while shaking hands. He was so handsome. Especially when he was happy. Or serious. Or - well, Harry always looked good. As the two walked towards them Hermione looked at Daphne again, "you're right," she shook her head decidedly, "it is time."

The night had been perfect, and Hermione was glowing as the guests slowly dispersed. Harry apparated with her to a point Hermione had set up near her apartment by placing a muggle repelling ward. It took only a minute to walk the rest of the way. After Hermione unlocked her thick oak door, Harry hugged her briefly, then smiled and said, "well, good night Mione."

Hermione shouted before he could get far, "wait, Harry!" He turned around and he was illuminated by the light from an almost full moon, it made the glossy fabric of Harry's perfectly fitted dress robes seem to glow, and his hair fell over his forehead and Hermione licked her lips as she watched him.

For a long second Hermione stood there with a racing pulse, but before the silence turned awkward she darted forward and kissed Harry on the cheek and said, "thank you for everything." She whirled around and rushed into her apartment before Harry could say anything.

Hermione collapsed against her door with a broad smile and pulled her arms around her knees, while breathing heavily. After a minute of waiting she heard the subdued crack of Harry's apparition. She felt like an idiot and she felt like the world was perfect.

She loved Harry. As Hermione pulled off her heels and rubbed her feet she relived how he looked and how it felt when they danced earlier tonight. It had been wonderful to feel him twirl her and hold her with his strong arms; the Weird Sisters had played the song they'd played years ago at a Yule Ball when Hermione danced with Harry the first time. Harry looked so happy in his tux as they danced. She loved Harry.

As she worked through her nighttime routine Hermione smiled and smiled; she had so many, many reasons to love Harry. He always believed in her. He was handsome. He'd trusted her with his worst memories. He loved her voice. He liked to listen to her. He made her feel warm and cared for and a day without him was empty and sad.

She should have told him; it had been a perfect moment. That thought didn't damage Hermione's smile though - next time she had Harry to herself she would tell him.

Harry was there the next day when everybody met for Sunday brunch, but all of their time was spent in group activities, and getting to know Louis better; it was fun, but unfortunately Hermione had no opportunity to properly talk to Harry. Hermione decided that tomorrow, when she had pizza at Harry's apartment, like they normally did on Monday, she'd tell him.

When Hermione returned to her apartment after classes Monday afternoon, she ignored her homework and decided to figure out exactly what to say. She'd been nervous thinking about it all day. Hermione set a pile of college ruled notebook paper on the beautiful antique desk that had come with the room, and grabbed a big expensive pen with an Oxford logo that she'd bought during welcome week. She loved that pen and saved it for special occasions.

She wrote in big letters across the top of her first page: "Reasons I love Harry". She stared critically at the words, and underlined them. That looked more emphatic. She twisted her pen around as she frowned at the paper: what should she write? Finally Hermione placed on the sheet, "Very fanciable."

Hermione had a dreamy smile as she added: "very, very". She absently drew hearts around the words and remembered how Harry looked when he stood in line in front of her when they'd visited EuroDisney, and he'd worn a pair of grey shorts. Then Hermione's mouth went dry and she licked her lips as another image popped into her mind: Harry in exercise shorts and no shirt doing his morning exercise routine.

Hermione looked at the paper with the repetition of very and the hearts doodled around it. That was useless. She pushed the paper to the side and grabbed another sheet and wrote, "always listens to me", and beneath that she added "makes me feel warm and cared for when we talk." Then "I love the way Harry always looks down and frowns when he is thinking hard." Hermione hugged herself with a smile and finally added, "it feels really, really, really good when he gives me a tight hug."

Hermione frowned: this was all about how she felt. Hermione had read, and it made a lot of sense, that if you wanted someone to do something you shouldn't talk about why you wanted it done, but about what they would get out of it. Why should Harry want to be with her?

She stuck that piece of paper on top of the first and grabbed a fresh sheet: "Reasons I would be perfect for Harry." Immediately she wrote the first thing that popped into her mind, "He needs someone who will tell him when he's being an idiot." She loved how when she told Harry he was wrong about something he always listened and thought about what she said. He respected her. Hermione then added, "he needs someone he can tell anything. I know how to make him feel better when he is feeling down. I already know all of his secrets, and he trusted me enough to tell me them."

Hermione remembered Harry's wide eyes a week ago when he told her about killing Voldemort. He'd been scared but he still trusted her enough to tell her. Hermione shivered with happiness at that thought. She loved Harry, she loved him, she loved him, she loved him.

Hermione looked back at her list, this wouldn't work: he definitely needed someone to tell him when he was being stupid, but when she told him how much she loved him might not be the best time to bring it up. Hermione grabbed a new sheet and nervously reshuffled the papers so the most recent one was on the bottom.

Maybe she should figure out how to respond to any objections Harry might have. This made Hermione feel awful - what if he said 'you are just a child, I could never see you that way', or 'I just don't like you that way, I never could', or what if he said...

Hermione spent the next 45 minutes writing down lists of reasons Harry might reject her, and then crumpling them up and tossing them into her small yellow trashcan; she worried herself into a frenzy. Then she noticed the time, she still had no idea what she would say, but if she didn't hurry she'd be late and she didn't want to make Harry wait.

As Hermione put on her makeup she found her hands were shaking and it took twice as long as normal, and now that she was worried about what might go wrong her face just didn't look quite right. Should she use a different color lipstick? Were her eyebrows to thick? But it was too late to change anything, so Hermione folded the first three sheets she'd written and added a list of reasons why Harry should see her as an adult. The papers were useless, but they were all she had.

Hermione's mouth was dry as she opened the door on the first floor of Harry's building, and when she looked up his stairs she felt a sudden urge to turn around and run home. Hermione frowned at herself: she was a Gryffindor. Bravery was part of who she was, Hermione straightened, and though the scared feeling in her stomach was still there and her heart still pounded she confidently marched up the stairs.

Harry had let the twins design his door, and as soon as it saw Hermione the door shouted out, "Knock, knock," and when Hermione smiled nervously instead of immediately answering, the door begged, "Come on, say 'who's there'".

Before Hermione could play along Harry pulled the door open with a broad smile that made Hermione's heart beat faster and her stomach soar, "Hello, Dobby just brought the pizzas, they're under stasis charms; come in, come in."

Harry's one bedroom was spotlessly clean, with a TV and coffee table across from a green couch with red pillows in one half of the room and a table surrounded by a half dozen chairs in the other. It was a very familiar room: Hermione had helped decorate it years ago when Harry first moved in, and they'd spent dozens of evenings in it watching movies and talking over the years.

As Hermione glanced around she relaxed. She was safe here, and though she was still nervous about talking to Harry, and she knew it wouldn't come out quite right, everything would work out in the end.

Harry waved his wand to remove the stasis charm and handed Hermione her pizza before grabbing a slice from his own, and he started to eat it without sitting down, "What did you want to talk about?" Harry asked with his head tilted slightly.

With that Hermione's nerves returned. "Uh, yes." She grabbed her purse and pulled out the papers, and when Hermione looked up she saw Harry's wide grin, "Yes, I wrote some things out - don't make fun of me" she snapped a bit irritably as Harry's smile became even broader.

Harry leaned against his counter and slowly ate his pizza with a smile as he watched Hermione straighten her papers, "ah, yes. So I am an adult. I think we can both agree that at twenty one, and after graduating from Hogwarts and three years of college I am old enough to make my own decisions."

Harry interrupted her with a laugh, "I can say based on being twenty one my first time your age is hardly proof of excellent decision making skills - not that you have anything to worry about, of course, having always shown excellent decision making skills."

Hermione frowned at Harry as the nervous flutters in her stomach swelled at his teasing. "Yes, well," Hermione swallowed hard, "You, well I've- uh, well that is to say I've-", Hermione felt herself shaking as she tried to get out her speech.

Harry's grin faded and he put down his pizza to touch Hermione reassuringly on the shoulder with a concerned look, "Are you okay?"

Hermione drew in a deep breath, and smiled at Harry's face which was just a foot from her. She looked into his wonderful green eyes for a long moment and steadied herself. He'd always believed in her; She could tell him what he meant to her, and explain why he should love her back. Hermione took a deep breath, "Harry, I love you. When I'm with you I just feel happy and warm and safe, and I want to always feel like that, and - and you need me, if you don't have anyone you will be lonely, and you are happy when we talk and I love to see you smile, and - and I just want you to love me like I love you."

Hermione stopped, breathing hard as she watched Harry who looked at her with an open mouth, "Oh-," He looked stunned, and after half a minute Hermione decided, enough was enough, and she stepped forward, grabbed the back of Harry's head and kissed him firmly.

Harry didn't respond and when she stepped back he stood there staring with a wide open mouth. She'd never seen Harry look so surprised and though he still hadn't said anything something about his shocked expression made Hermione's nerves disappear completely. She smiled happily at Harry, he was slow sometimes, but he'd figure it out sooner or later.

Hermione looked at the table, where her chocolate chip and pepperoni pizza that Dobby somehow made delicious sat and she realized she'd been too nervous to eat lunch. She was hungry. Hermione sat down and grabbed three slices and started to eat them. Midway through her second Hermione looked back at Harry, his shocked expression had been replaced by a smirk as he looked at her. "What?" Hermione said.

He just smirked wider, and Hermione glanced down at the slice of pizza in her hand, "I didn't eat lunch" she said defensively.

Harry shook his head and grinned.

After a moment Hermione set the pizza down and said irritably, "well have you figured it out yet and decided to kiss me?"

"The idea feels weird - besides you're so young," Harry had an intense frown.

Hermione sniffed, "Hmph, I thought we'd agreed that I was an adult -"

"No," Harry interrupted her, "We'd agreed that being twenty-one doesn't mean you have good decision making skills," He placed one hand on the table and leaned forward, "are you sure about this? I'm wrong in so many ways - I will kill more people someday. And -"

"Stop being silly," Hermione snapped back, "I know that if you kill someone it will be to protect innocent people. Let me decide if I care, and I don't, I will always accept you no matter what. Besides, have you thought all of the ways you are right for me? You've always been here for me, and over the past month you, you've trusted me to know things you were scared to share. Besides, you are so handsome and sexy and your eyes get so intense and dreamy…."

Hermione trailed off before she locked her eyes on Harry's, "Harry, if you think I'm too young for you, or too young to decide that you are the best person for me, well, I can wait until I'm old enough you feel comfortable. I love you; I always will. But honestly, you are being rather silly about the whole thing."

As she spoke Hermione saw something change in Harry's eyes. She knew he'd listened to her when he looked at her as though he'd never seen her before.

As Harry slowly looked her over, up and down, Hermione's nerves tightened and her eyes widened at the intense look in his eyes.

He said moving a bit closer to her, "Don't I get a say in this."

Hermione swallowed hard, and then somehow their faces were closer than ever and she breathed out "Do you want one?"

"Maybe," Harry said as he kissed her.

A half hour later they were cuddled on the couch, ignoring the remaining pizza that had by now gone cold; Hermione curled up with her head against Harry's chest and a smile so wide it hurt. She loved Harry's smell; she loved the feel of his warm arms holding her tightly; she loved the way he looked at her. "So what were you thinking for those minutes you just stared at me?" Hermione asked happily.

Hermione could hear Harry's broad smile in his tone, and his happiness made Hermione feel warm everywhere; the world was perfect, "I was too surprised to think. Or I did think that I really should have expected this."

"Don't say it like its a bad thing," Hermione murmured into Harry's shirt.

Harry chuckled, and kissed her hair before he asked, "So what's in those papers?"

"Ah, I just - I wanted to plan out what I was going to say ahead of time." Hermione said going very red. It was silly, it was embarrassing, and it very much fit the image everyone had of her. She knew Harry was going to tell this story repeatedly.

"I know that," Harry grinned, "Can I see them?"

Hermione shook her head, "they're embarrassing"

"Pleeeaaase" he asked with a wide eyed pout that reminded Hermione of a puppy.

After a moment she frowned and grabbed them from her purse to hand to Harry, "Oh, all right - where did you ever learn that expression anyways?" she asked as Harry eagerly started to look through the papers.

"The twins taught me; never thought it'd be useful," he said absently before he suddenly snorted, "Oh, I can see why you didn't want to show me this. Though it is very cute." Harry said handing her the page with the hearts surrounding 'very very very fanciable'

"Merlin! I forgot that one." Hermione was completely red now, but despite her embarrassment couldn't stop smiling she reached for the rest of the papers in Harry's hand, "Give me those."

"Nope," he said holding them out of reach, before unfolding the next sheet with one hand, as he read it Harry's face softened and he turned towards Hermione and gave her a soft kiss and I tight hug, "That's so sweet, and I love it when you give me hugs too," Harry squeezed her and then kissed her again.

Several long, pleasant minutes later Hermione was leaning on his chest again while Harry looked at the last sheet, "I definitely do need you to tell me when I'm being an idiot" Harry grinned. Then he said in a serious tone, "You do know all of my secrets -" Harry gave her another tight hug, and kissed Hermione's hair again, "I had no idea how much better I'd feel once I told you everything. And I - I really was scared that night you asked me about what it had been like fighting and - thank you for making me talk about it. I never would have told you on my own, but I - I know it was wrong. What we did to You-Know-Who was wrong, I always knew that, it didn't matter what he'd done, we should have simply killed him. But, I suppose - I guess I really had always thought I was awful because I'd enjoyed torturing someone. And when you told me I was still a good person, it -" Harry took a deep breath, "Thank you for being there for me."

Hermione smiled as she snuggled closer to Harry, "I'll always be here for you."

Next Sunday when the group met for brunch, Hermione and Harry told everyone they were together. Nobody was very surprised, though everyone was very pleased, as Ginny put it "its so romantic that you two are finally a couple, you grew up as best friends, and have done everything together." Or as Daphne told Hermione, with her arm around Louis, who she'd brought to the group meeting, "I knew you had far too good sense to not jump on him."

Harry laughed at that, "Hermione told me you'd given her the push to talk to me - I've gotten this strong feeling that you all don't think I'm supposed to be in charge of arranging my own life."

"That's because you aren't," Susan laughed from where she sat next to Ernie, "boys really don't know what they are doing."

Harry grinned, showing the perpetual good mood he'd been in for the past week, "I certainly can't complain."

It was more surprising that Luna also had an announcement: she was dating Rolf Scamander, the grandson of the famous naturalist Newt Scamander, and a friend of Xeno's.

Now a week later Harry and Hermione were on a double date with him and Luna at their favorite Indian restaurant so they could get to know Rolf. Hermione liked him. He and Luna clicked in a very good way.

As everyone enjoyed the pleasant glow of good food and good conversation Rolf explained how he knew Xeno, "my family was always so boring - everything about it was worshiping grandpa's legacy, and nothing fun or innovative. I thought animals were boring, and so when I heard Uncle Arthur talk about how awful the Quibbler was I just had to read it."

Luna smiled grabbing Rolf's hand, "He's always been Daddy's biggest fan."

"I've definitely tried," Rolf grinned, "you see everything in the Quibbler was so interesting, a lot of it is clearly preliminary theories, but Xeno cared about the fun of discovery, and finding things no one else has even thought to look for, and when I sent him a letter, he replied. And he always encouraged me. Without him I'd have done something really awful, like become a potions master and I'd spend each day buried in a dungeon deep underground - or worse I'd have become the sort of horridly boring naturalist like Father and Uncle Arthur are."

Hermione took a large gulp of water to help with the burn from her curry, and shook her head, "I've always read the Quibbler of course, but I never realized Xeno could inspire someone that way."

"Its about how Xeno is willing to look at any idea, explore any theory, and then let the world know what he's found, even if it isn't yet fully developed, so that everyone else can look at it," Rolf replied, his eyes lighting up.

Harry laughed, "Xeno certainly is willing to look at any idea."

"I don't think you get his brilliance," Rolf replied, "of course not every theory is correct, but he has this ability to put together things based on tiny facts, and then be right." Rolf leaned forward, "I bet you never thought anybody would ever find a crumpled horned snorkack, but we did."

Hands held wide in surrender Harry nodded, "I certainly never expected that - I will admit after you used the time warp theory Luna developed at the DoM to actually find one I've been looking more carefully at the Quibbler. After all," Harry grinned, "which of Xeno's conspiracy theories might be true?" He nudged Hermione in the arm with his elbow, "Well, have your parents secretly been trying to overthrow the ministry all along?"

Everyone laughed as Hermione punched Harry, and then looked at Luna, "I am really, really happy you found a snorkack.".

"Well, Rolf did the work." Luna said looking proudly at him.

Rolf smiled at her, "That's just not true, I'd have been out in that Norwegian forest no matter what, but I'd never have found them without the theory you developed." Rolf then looked at Harry, "ever since I was a teenager and Xeno replied to my first letter he's always been my hero. And despite your joke, I can tell you are taking him more seriously now that we've proven to the world that snorkacks exist."

Luna smiled at Harry, flicking some water from her cup at him, "Ha, I always told you Daddy was brilliant, not just bonkers."

Harry laughed and said, "seriously though, I always knew he could be right about things everyone else thought were silly." Harry turned to Rolf, "Luna of course talked about you as a family friend before, but I haven't yet heard how you two decided to go out."

Luna jumped in, "When he visited last year, we kept talking about the crumple horned snorkack, and how we were sure it was out there, but just didn't know how to find it. So I kept thinking about how they might be hiding, and that's when I realized that the theory I'd just developed about how time turners worked could explain the way they stayed hidden. So I sent Rolf a letter." Luna looked at Rolf and smiled softly as she patted his arm, "and he kept writing back, at first about testing my idea in Norway, but the letters were just so smart and funny, and soon we started to tell each other everything about our weeks and what we were doing, and I told him things about growing up, and he told me about his childhood and then -"

"And then you were there with those smiling grey eyes when I arrived in London to present my paper on the snorkacks," Rolf grabbed Luna's hand and squeezed it, "that's when I knew you weren't just Xeno's little girl anymore."

After another half hour of laughter and food Hermione and Luna briefly went off leaving the Harry and Rolf behind, as soon as they were out of sight, Hermione grabbed Luna and gave her a hug, "You two are so cute together!" she enthused smiling, "It's so adorable the way he talks about your Daddy, and how you two worked together to find the snorkack - and I love how you got to know each other through letters; it's so romantic."

"We are cute together," Luna gushed, "Rolf is so sweet, and he already loves Daddy, and we get each other. And we've already found a snorkack, and I know we'll find lots more creatures together. Also," Luna emphasized the word in a way that let Hermione know she was talking about her ability to see likely events, "I know we're going to work out."

They happily looked at each other for a minute before Luna said with another huge smile, "You and Harry. I always, always knew you two would someday realize you were perfect for each other - and I'm so glad you it finally happened. I've spent all week smiling every time I think about you two."

"Me too," Hermione grinned just as widely in response, "I've smiled so much my cheeks keep hurting, but I can't stop. Everything is perfect. I talk to Harry even more, and the kissing and hugs are incredible, and he'll say these sweet things and I'll just go mushy and happy."

Luna squeed, "I know, you two look so happy together, always laughing and smiling, and Harry is so handsome, and the way he looks at you… I'd be terribly jealous if I didn't have Rolf."

Luna's happy smile made Hermione feel even better about the universe. Before they headed back to the boys Hermione gave Luna another hug, "I'm so, so happy you've found someone to be happy with. It makes everything even more perfect than it would be if it was just me and Harry."

"And just you and Harry would be very perfect," Luna grinned.

Hermione and Luna walked back to the table where Harry and Rolf sat laughing with each other, and Hermione had to smile widely: life was wonderful.

The End

I hope you enjoyed my story, I certainly enjoyed writing it, and thankyou for reading. Please review if you want to say nice things (or even if you don't).

Sorry if the ending feels like it comes too fast, but I did put in two scenes after they kissed, and it is a novella length story, not a full novel. I don't think more would fit very well. Also, I edited the scene where Ron attacked Harry in the first chapter. Mainly because I want to get the story over 40k words, but the writing in the first chapter is the weakest. I learned a lot over the course of writing the story.