Disclaimer: Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowling.

A/N: And, the finale. It has been a long time coming so I hope you like it. It ended up shorter than I had intended, but sometimes the characters take things in directions one does not plan for.

**SN**

She didn't let go of him.

Harry had just dumped both a load of responsibility and a ton of terrifyingly prophetic doom on to Hermione's plate; and she wasn't letting him go. The same news that had caused him to trash the headmaster's office. The same news that had nearly caused him to seek the empty refuge of the void, if only to see his godfather again.

The same news had made her weep and hold him tight, but not abandon him.

But on top of it all, Hermione, sweet, wonderful Hermione had kissed him. Which was probably the reason for his stupid grin.

Hermione was immovable in the storm that nearly crippled him. She held him close and showed Harry that he was not alone. He would share the news with Ron of course, but to have Hermione bearing this level of intimacy with him?

His life had changed.

In that one kiss, his life had taken on new meaning. Harry had been given new hope and he had felt, was feeling, something beyond what he had ever known.

If Voldemort tried to possess him now, he knew the git would catch on fire for the love he was feeling for her.

The room about them was a blur, not for speed, but because he wasn't really seeing it. In truth he was trying to analyze his life thus far, at least in terms of Hermione. How long had this been coming? Could he have seen it sooner? Did it matter? Likely not. As it had happened this evening, Harry wouldn't change a single thing.

"So, shall we see about getting your relatives kicked out of here?" Her lips moved against his neck as she spoke, her warm breath making Harry wish they were anywhere but in the middle of a crowd of people. It almost made him forget that she had mentioned this already.

"Uh, yeah. There is a problem with that though."

"Your things? We can work around that. You are of course welcome to stay with us, mum and daddy wouldn't hate you that much."

Harry chuckled. "Well that too, but I was thinking of something else."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. You see, I have this, conundrum I have to figure out first."

"What's that Harry?"

"Well, I've just infiltrated a beautiful woman's family, corrupted her cousins, and kissed her while dancing the night away. Seems like there is only one thing missing."

Hermione lifted her head and looked in to his eyes, her dimples showing in a radiant smile. "And what would that be Mr. Potter?"

"Pretty sure I have to ask that woman on a date lest she think I was taking advantage of her or something despicable like that."

"Hmmm. You might have to. Women can get very concerned about these things you know."

"I'll have to go find her first. Hermione, could you watch the dessert table for me while I go look for her?"

"Oh but of course. And what pray do you plan to say to this wonderful person who has captured the attentions of the great and noble Harry Potter?"

"Ah well, you know me. It doesn't matter what I say does it? But I suppose I should try. How about something like… Dearest lady, would you do me the honour of joining me on a romantic date the next opportunity we find ourselves mutually available in? No, no that's not right. How about, most radiant Hermione, would you please accept the offer of becoming my one and only girlfriend? How about that?"

How he loved her smile. It had always meant safety and love before. He just hadn't been looking for it.

"I believe that would make the poor thing swoon. She has no idea what she is getting herself in to does she?"

"Nope."

Harry brought them to a halt and pulled her a little closer. "Would you Hermione? I think you and I probably should've gotten going on this sooner, but maybe we weren't supposed to figure it out until now. Will you continue to be my best friend and also consent to letting me be head over heels for you?"

"If you continue speaking so eloquently I'm going to think you've been replaced by an imposter. But yes Harry. I would love to. I am glad we figured it out tonight though."

"Brilliant. Alright now we can go get the Dursleys kicked out."

"Not if you don't kiss me first you dolt."

"Ah, yes, I thought I'd forg…"

His words were cut off by her lips; something Harry wasn't ever going to find fault with.

Their kiss was cut off by someone yanking him from her and tossing him to the floor. Disoriented, Harry scrambled to his feet only to have a heavy hand grip his shoulder. It was Vernon.

Dudley was trying to guide Hermione away.

"Are you alright love? I saw what he did to you."

"He didn't do anything, what is wrong with you?" She tried to push him away but Harry's cousin wouldn't have it.

"He used something to make you want to be around him, I'm sure of it. It's okay now though, you're safe."

"Harry didn't do anything to me. Leave me alone or my uncle will have you thrown out."

"It's alright girl." Vernon said, squeezing Harry's shoulder tighter, his other hand balled in to a fist as if he would strike Harry here and now. "This one is known for these things. He might have drugged you or something more vile. Dudley saw him give you a sweet. We'll protect you from him."

"Excuse me!"

Harry blinked. Hermione's cheeks were flushed and her eyes narrowed. Her hand lashed out and her nails scraped across Dudley's face. He howled and released her, but at her enraged voice, the whole room went silent.

"This is my boyfriend and I do not appreciate your insinuation that he has mistreated me! He has neither drugged me as you claim, nor has he done, what was it you said, something more vile! Do not touch me again, do not speak to me again, and I'll thank you for letting go of him! You were not invited here simply so you could accuse my boyfriend of awful things just so I'd spend time with you! Now leave us the bloody hell alone!"

She seemed to burn with a heat and Harry couldn't help but smile. This was his Hermione. His girlfriend and damn it if she wasn't glorious in a true rage.

"Ms. You don't understand." His uncle continued.

"Oh I understand plenty Vernon Dursley. You may be here for your money but by the way you treat your nephew you should be in bloody prison. I haven't watched over him for five bloody years at school for you to treat him like a prisoner every bloody summer. I haven't started dating him just so you can try to claim he's a criminal. Stay out of my life Vernon Dursley because believe you me, I will make you."

Both his uncle's and cousin's faces went white and they stepped back.

Just as Mr. Jacobs arrived with Hermione's parents.

"Hermione, lower your voice." Her mother chided. "If you're going to scare someone off for something like this you have to use a low and threatening tone. Just ask your father. I'm sure the years in the military showed him something about that."

"Vernon, I do hope you will explain this." Mr. Jacobs said, stepping forward.

"I, I thought he had done something to her. He does these things. I'll just bring him home now so he doesn't cause you any further trouble sir."

"From what I have seen, Harry, hasn't caused any of the trouble."

Hermione was ignoring them though. She stepped forward between their words and got in Vernon's face.

"Let. Him. Go."

This time the words were terrifying and his uncle released him faster than if Harry had screamed the word magic.

"I don't like what I have seen here Vernon. Your son has clearly left a mark on my niece's arm, you have accused a guest of mine of manipulating Hermione, and not only did you not approach myself or her parents, but you chose to physically manhandle my guests in the middle of this room. Is this how he normally handles matters Harry?"

The question so unexpectedly directed at himself, and with Hermione now clinging to him for dear life, Harry wasn't able to respond quickly or coherently.

"Uh, I mean…"

"Ah, I see. Well if this is what we can expect from your family Mr. Dursley, then I feel rather safe in saying that you can collect your things and leave. Immediately. And, I think I shall send Simon and Ruth, with you to collect Harry's things from your home, if it's not too large a haul. I don't really feel safe sending this young man back home if this is the kind of treatment he is given while in your care."

"Sir, this is highly abnormal. You may remove me from your club, but taking my nephew from my charge with no cause is irregular to say the least. I am the only reason he is well managed in the first place. We shall be going ow."

"And why then does he look starved, exhausted, and normally wear very ill-fitting clothes when your son is well taken care of? Why Vernon is that? You mistake me. I have plenty of cause. The question is exactly when and how the authorities get brought in to this. After tonight, I assure you, it is only a matter of time. Now get off the property. Before I have you removed."

**SN**

Hermione held Harry's arm, clutched it really. Oh she wasn't scared or anything, but no one was going to be taking him away from her after that little fiasco. And maybe he needed to know that as well. The poor thing looked exhausted, though he didn't seem to be feeling it yet.

Around them, the room dissolved in to quiet whispers while Vernon, Dudley and Petunia huffed their way out of the hall.

Hermione couldn't help herself. She raised her lips to Harry's ear and whispered, "Mischief Managed."

He blinked at her confusedly. Then he looked at the retreating backs of his relatives, then back at her.

"I don't think you can claim that one love, you didn't start it."

"Oh, but I finished it alright."

"Yes, you did. Thanks for that."

He pulled her close and kissed her. Not long, but it was enough to make her mind go fuzzy. Couldn't they just stay like this?

"Ahem." She turned to find her uncle watching them. "Well, at least one good thing came of tonight. I won't consider it much of a waste then. Now, Harry, while this all gets sorted out, Simon and Ruth have offered you their GUEST ROOM," Here he pointedly looked at Hermione. Her cheeks started to burn and Harry was blushing like a fiend. "I'm not sure how long it will take, but depending on the result, we will figure something out. I know this was rather sudden and I hope you are alright with it, but sometimes these things are out of our control."

"I, I don't really know yet, it's all happening rather fast. But thank you sir."

"Of course. I'll drive you two to Hermione's house and wait for them there. Afterwards, I'm calling the police to report this and I'm going to have them come by tomorrow to meet with us about everything. Will that do?"

"Yes sir."

"I'm not going to tell you what to say, it's your life. But I've only known you for a day and I care about you son. I hope all this goes well for you. Now, let's get going."

Aunt Tracy had already taken the kids back, so the three of them had an extra car to themselves. Hermione wasn't being separated from Harry just yet, so she sat in the back next to him. Yes this was happening rather quickly, but she wanted the best for her Harry. Perhaps now they would have the whole summer.

"You know," she said, "This might just be the first summer where I don't have to worry about your overall health."

"Um, yay?"

She growled at him and wiggled her fingers in the ticklish spot on his ribs. Harry squealed and tried to fend her off. When she finally let him be, Harry laid his head back, letting his eyes ease closed.

"Nah, I'm actually glad. As long as you're around Hermione, this summer will be great."

Her heart grew warm as she watched him doze off.

Yes, she loved him very much.

"He did seem tired all day today." Uncle Steven commented quietly.

"They made him do chores all night as punishment."

"Then I'm really glad we're doing this. He's a nice young man, I'm happy for you Hermione."

"Thanks uncle Steven. He really is brilliant."

"Took you two five years?"

"Apparently."

"Hmmm. The kids love him, make sure you keep him around a while eh?"

She giggled. "I'll try."

"I don't know what they're teaching you two up in Scotland, and I don't need to know because clearly it's a secret the way you two dance about the topic; but it seems to terrify his uncle something awful. Good on you. I'm proud of you Hermione, both for standing up for yourself the way you did, but you've grown in to a fine young woman. Harry's a very lucky young man."

Hermione smiled. Her uncle could be rather detached and serious at times, but he was kind and had always appreciated her bookish ways.

"Thank you uncle."

The pulled in to the drive and Hermione shook Harry awake. Together they made their way inside to wait for her parents. She took the time to show Harry the guest room and then she quickly went to change in to her night clothes. She loved the dress but it wasn't practical and the heels were just starting to get uncomfortable. She arrived downstairs as her parents' car pulled up. The doors slammed and first in the door was her mother who looked furious. She spotted Harry and hurried forward to take him in an embrace.

"God I'm so sorry dear. You're always welcome here alright?" Over her shoulder she tossed at uncle Steven, "Destroy them, you hear me?"

Her father entered, carrying Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage. He set them down and grimaced at her uncle. Let's get these upstairs so Harry has his things, then we need to talk. The two men heaved Harry's few possessions between the two of them, her mother and Harry following.

Leaving Hermione alone in the living room, eyeing the camera her father had set down on the table.

No, they were never going to hurt her boyfriend, ever again.

**SN**

Thanks for reading and please review.

Elise