A/N: Well, here were are: the last chapter. This is how I always wanted to end the story, even down to the setting.

It's kind of sad now I've reached this point, but it's been enjoyable. I'll give myself a bit of a break from it all, but I'm sure I'll be back with another story at some point, but possibly a different pairing.

Thanks to all the people that have sent me PMs, both the supportive kind and the critical ones...it keeps life extremely interesting. ;)

83: Here and There

"How did she not feel that? It must have been agony?!" said Mrs. Weasley, as she was pressing a wad of cloth to the wounds, taking it off to inspect them, before pressing down again.

"I've read that sometimes when a person is in a dangerous situation they have so much adrenalin rushing through them, that they feel no pain," said Hermione; she gently caressed Ginny's cheek with the back of her hand, before she carefully removed the necklace of Andrasta from around Ginny's neck and placed it on the bedside table, once again indebted to it. "It's possible the wounds started to close up and only moving about, once we got back here, broke them open again."

"Muggles have some strange explanations," said Mrs. Weasley.

"It's science. After all, a human body is a human body, we might differ on courses of action, that's all." Hermione had been so relieved to find Ginny was still breathing, but that didn't calm her completely.

"We have some dittany up here, don't we?" asked a worried Mrs. Weasley.

"Yes, here," said Hermione, as she picked up the bottle from the bedside table and passed it over. "Fleur used some on me."

Fleur was now using pressure on the wounds as Mrs. Weasley wiped her hands on a cloth and was given the dittany by Hermione. Fleur removed the wadded cloth and stared at the wounds, leaning in closer to almost study them, before holding her wand over them.

"Well?" said Mrs. Weasley. "What do you think?"

"What does she think about what?" asked Hermione. "Ginny didn't get bitten."

"Didn't she?" asked a concerned Mrs. Weasley. "Neither you nor Ginny remembers her getting hurt, or you would have said something when you arrived back here. We don't know that...that Greyback didn't sink his teeth in at...at some point."

Hermione looked from Mrs. Weasley to Fleur and then to the pale-faced passed-out Ginny; she swallowed hard as she considered the implications, willing it not to be the case. You weren't bitten, Ginny, she thought, you weren't bitten, you were NOT bitten. Over and over she willed it to be true.

Fleur leaned in closely again, studying Ginny's wounds, which had finally stopped oozing fresh blood, and disturbingly sniffed at them; after hovering her wand over the gashes once more, she finally stood up, her face strained with concentration. "Have another look, and see what you think," she said to Mrs. Weasley. "I'll tell you what I think once you've had another look yourself."

The two women swapped places as Mrs. Weasley went through the same routine that the Frenchwoman had, although she didn't resort to sniffing her daughter.

"I have to ask," said Hermione in a very quiet voice to Fleur. "Why did you sniff Ginny? You didn't sniff me?"

"Your wounds were very shallow, scratches in comparison to Ginny's, and so obviously the result of claws. With these deep cuts it's hard to be sure on looks alone; the Veela in me recognizes certain things, and I'll never forget the details of my husband's terrible wounding," replied Fleur.

"So, is...?" began Hermione, but Fleur cut her off.

"In a moment," said Fleur, softly. "I want to know what she thinks before we reach any conclusions or decisions."

Another agonizing couple of minutes passed before Mrs. Weasley brushed some of Ginny's hair away from her forehead, and placed a kiss there. She stood back up straight to face the other two women. "I don't think it's the same as with Bill," she said. "What's your verdict, Fleur?"

Fleur's shoulders seemed to slump with relief. "I couldn't detect the same things as I did with Bill either. I think she's been clawed, not bitten and like Hermione they do not appear to be cursed, just nasty; although, she has some horrific bruises developing across her chest."

Hermione flopped down and sat on the edge of Ginny's bed, reaching for the girl's hand. "She's going to be okay?!" she said, nearly asking the air, instead of any specific person.

"Yes," said Mrs. Weasley. "She's lost a lot of blood, and mixed with exhaustion and shock I think that's why she passed out. My dear, dear Ginny..."

"At least we know what to do, now," said Hermione, as she looked at her girlfriend. "Oh and the bruises there, are probably from the necklace repelling the curses; it happened before."

Mrs. Weasley held the bottle of dittany and aimed several drops onto her daughter's wounds. The muscles in Ginny's shoulder twitched and spasmed, even though she didn't awaken. There were some sizzling sounds and a little steam rose up, but before all their eyes, the slashes knitted together and closed up, proving that the wounds were not cursed. To the four scar-like healed lines left, Fleur applied some of the salve she'd used on Hermione. Then Mrs. Weasley flicked her wand a couple of times, to clean Ginny up and put her into some sleepwear, and pulled the sheet and blanket up, so her daughter wouldn't get cold.

"When she stirs, we'll give her some potion to help with the healing process and to restore some of the blood she's lost, but for now let's leave her to sleep," said Mrs. Weasley.

"I'm not leaving her side!" said Hermione. "When she wakes up, I'll be here."

"Hermione, you could really do with going to get something to eat and drink, and get some rest yourself," said Mrs. Weasley, kindly. "She's not going anywhere and she's safe in her own bed."

Hermione was about to protest, when Fleur spoke to her mother-in-law. "Would you leave your husband's side, if he were hurt? I know you didn't after the attack from that snake, just as I didn't leave Bill's side. It's the same for Hermione, and Ginny would want her to be here."

The Weasley matriarch blinked, stared at Fleur for a moment, then moved her gaze to Hermione and finally to her daughter. "Yes...yes, of course."

Making herself comfortable, sitting on a chair beside Ginny's bed, Hermione said, "I'll let you know the moment she wakes up."

As Mrs. Weasley turned to leave the room, she rested a hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Thank you for getting her back."

"I would...," but Hermione was cut off.

"I know you would have done anything to get her back, and she would for you too, but I can still say thank you," said Mrs. Weasley as she then left the room. "The others will probably be getting back soon," she said out on the landing, before descending the stairs.

"I'll bring you up a cup of tea in a little while," said Fleur, as she also rested a comforting hand on Hermione's shoulder. "Ginny's going to be okay; she's going to be fine."

"Thanks Fleur," replied Hermione, feeling a lump in her throat. "If you hadn't given me the dagger, Ginny and me might both be craving raw meat or worse by now."

"Then I chose correctly," said Fleur with an encouraging smile, before leaving.

Ginny seemed to be fast asleep now, rather than passed out, and Hermione couldn't help but stare at her girlfriend and think of everything they'd been through and especially the last few hours. Goodness, if anything had happened to either of us that would have been a nasty surprise for my parents when they got back, she thought.

Hermione leaned forward from her chair, folding her arms in front of her onto Ginny's bed and rested her head on her arms, keeping it turned so she could watch over the redhead. Inevitably Hermione dropped off to sleep herself and only woke up when she felt something on her head; she jumped slightly, not knowing where she was for the moment.

"Hello," said a husky voice.

Hermione opened her eyes fully and saw that Ginny was awake and it was her hand on Hermione's head that had woken her up. "Ginny!" the brunette said, very much awake now. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired," said Ginny with a smile. She looked down at herself and at her room. "And a little confused."

Holding the redhead's hand, Hermione explained what had happened to a genuinely confused and marginally embarrassed Ginny. "Anyway, I need to go and tell your mum that you're awake."

"What time is it?"

Looking at the clock in the room Hermione replied. "Nearly 5am."

"She'll be in bed, won't she?"

"I don't know, but I said I'd tell her when you stirred," said Hermione as she stood up, leaned over Ginny and gently kissed her. "I'll be back in a tick."

On reaching the landing, with Hermione wondering if anyone was still awake, or if they'd left things the way they were thinking both girls needed the rest, she heard muffled voices. She made her way downstairs, and to her surprise everyone was still up and sitting in the living room. Mr. Weasley was dozing in his chair, and Ron had seemingly dropped off on the floor leaning up against the sofa. Fleur, Harry, Bill and Mrs. Weasley all looked wide awake. Even George and Percy were there with the rest of them.

"Hermione?" said Fleur; she was the first to notice her arrival into the room.

"Ginny's awake," said the brunette. "She seems to be okay."

In an almost comical way, everyone stood up, all wanting to go and see Ginny. In the circumstances Hermione didn't dream of telling them they should give Ginny some space; they'd all been worried sick about her kidnapping, even Ron, and they wanted to see with their own eyes that she was all right.

"I brought you a cup of tea," said Fleur, "But when I saw you were sleeping, I left you to it."

"That's okay, I obviously needed the sleep," said Hermione with a little smile.

Hermione walked into Ginny's room first. "I've sort of brought the entire family with me," she laughed, as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Fleur, George, Percy, Ron and Harry walked into the room.

Despite the late hour, which was so late it was in fact very early, everyone was wide awake, including Ginny now. Somehow everyone ended up sitting down; some on the bed Hermione used and others in a couple of chairs, as they all began to talk about the evening's events. Everything was discussed, from what they found on their search, to the black and white cat, to the mini battle that ensued, and finishing with the incredibly eerie belief that Ginny and Hermione might have had help from Anne Boleyn. That last fact wasn't laughed at by anyone, and certainly not from the people who had been there. Fleur, along with Ginny's parents, seemed to acknowledge the concept as possible too.

Finally everyone left the room to go and get some sleep, and Mrs. Weasley checked on Ginny, and was satisfied that the wounds Greyback had left were healed up and were only visible as four jagged red lines. There was still some visible bruising to Ginny's throat and jaw, even after using some dittany, but it was beginning to fade too. They looked at the bruising to Ginny's chest again, and used some dittany on that, which seemed to make a difference straight away. Mrs. Weasley then gave Ginny a potion to drink, which was supposed to help with the loss of blood and general healing.

Ginny had a sip of it and nearly spat it out. "That's bloody horrible!" she stated.

"Medicines rarely taste good," said Hermione. "Down it as quickly as you can, so you don't notice it so much."

"Easy for you to say," said Ginny. "You haven't just had your taste buds assaulted by something that tastes like cat vomit."

"I don't have much experience with drinking cat vomit," said Hermione with a grin.

"Ohhh!" groaned Ginny.

"Don't be a baby, just drink it!" said Mrs. Weasley. "Or do I have to hold your nose and force it down you?!"

"All right, all right! I'm drinking it!" said Ginny, as she grimaced and placed the cup of potion to her lips again. She did indeed gulp down the potion, and once done she looked a little queasy, as if she might heave the lot up again, but she survived it and settled back on the bed.

"Both try and get some sleep now, girls," said Mrs. Weasley, as she left the room.

Hermione went to close the door and with a wave of her wand was in a T'Shirt and shorts. She went over to Ginny and sat on her bed; they held hands and just looked at each other.

"I'm drawing with Harry now, aren't I?" said Ginny, breaking the silence.

"Drawing?" asked a confused Hermione.

"I've survived two Avada Kedavras, so has he...or has he got another one in there, I'm forgetting?"

"I think it was two that definitely made contact, although as he actually died with the second one, I'm not sure if that counts as surviving it...," considered Hermione, nearly wanting to laugh at how absurd the subject was. We're discussing surviving the Killing Curse, more than once, and by two different people, she thought, it's crazy!

"Anyway, I'm hoping that's all the balance needed now," said Ginny, tiredly.

"Balance?" asked Hermione.

"Harry's theory, which he got from Luna, about everything having to be balanced. Where there's a lot of good, there is often some bad."

"Hmm, I think we've had lopsided scales here," said Hermione. "Way too much pain and stress on our side.

"You think so?" said Ginny, deep in thought. "We brought back Harry from the dead and Harry defeated and basically killed Voldermort. That's two huge events to load our side up. For us, we've lost Fred, I also count Lupin and Tonks...you were injured badly back in 1943 and we were a little beaten up at the hands of Greyback. I think we still got the better deal; however much I miss Fred, we got rid of Voldemort for good."

"If you put it that way, I see your point," said Hermione. "But we nearly lost you to Bellatrix and...and..."

"But we didn't. I survived what the old hag threw at me."

"Well, whatever the case, I hope there aren't many more obstacles. I thought everything was fine once I'd found my parents. I felt I'd gone full circle from the day I decided to send them away," said Hermione. "And yet, there was even more crap thrown our way when Greyback took you. I thought I'd nearly lost you again when he had his hands round your throat and again with those curses, as I didn't have a clue you were wearing the necklace. We were worried you'd been bitten too. Why have our lives had to be so hard, lately? Harder than most people at the moment."

"I don't think life is easy for many people, especially not recently in the magical world," said Ginny. "It seems like it's easier for others, but I'm sure they all have their fair share of issues to deal with, it's just not so obvious in some people."

"For now, I'm happy to have you back and safe," said Hermione. She leaned over and kissed Ginny, tenderly pressing her lips to the redhead's. "I think after everything that's happened, that's all I need to be happy: to have you with me. Maybe I should stop looking ahead too far and just enjoy each moment for what it is. I've also been thinking on what Harry said."

"Oh?"

"About us having a connection deeper than anyone else can understand. I think it's something that began a while ago in a small way. When I went missing in 1943 you found me very quickly."

"I didn't really find you, it was Matt and Joe crossing my path that helped with that," said Ginny.

"Yeah, but you were in the right place and at the right time to see them and find out about me," offered Hermione. "And then us finding you at the Tower of London. It was bizarre how I was so sure of where you were when touching that dagger. And you know me, anything bordering on divination makes me uncertain, normally."

"Perhaps it's not meant to be explained, just accepted?"

"I've thought about something else too," said Hermione. "When I first had feelings for you, and yes, when I was trying to run from it, I kept having these long internal debates with myself. It was around the time you found me in 1943 that it started. It was like I was questioning everything and another part of me was answering. Often it made me more confused and didn't help at all. However, once I fully accepted that I loved you and we admitted it, and made love, that wary other part of me, the part that was almost goading me, went away. I've only had normal thoughts since then."

Ginny had looked deeply surprised. "You aren't going to believe this, but it happened to me too and around that same time. I had this nagging other inner voice...not an Anne Boleyn thing, because that was VERY different, but another part of me was continually questioning myself. It made me feel crazy at times because it didn't help...well, other than state the obvious and acknowledge the truth about the way I was feeling about you. I haven't had those inner conversations for a while and that's probably since I accepted I loved you and since I accepted that loving you and sleeping with you was completely what I wanted."

"It's not something I could easily explain to others, but I think that we formed a deep connection, beyond just love, when we accepted everything, when that inner voice didn't bother us anymore," said a very thoughtful Hermione. "It's almost like we created a link so strong it was like an Unbreakable Vow. Remember the morning after we first made love...?"

Ginny smiled and even blushed a little. "Of course I remember. I'll always remember that time."

"Remember how we both said we felt 'different'?" said Hermione. "I'm thinking that something happened when we slept together."

"Something definitely happened," said Ginny, unable to stop a little laugh. However, she saw how serious Hermione looked and gave her hands a little squeeze. "Sorry, go on."

"I think we...when we first made love, I think something changed and I think we created this bond, like an Unbreakable Vow. I'm not sure it's even magic, though, and it doesn't happen to everyone, but something about us, about the situation, about...everything, altered us." Hermione paused trying to find the best way to continue her explanation. "Remember how we were always tuned in to what the other was thinking even before our first time, and that feeling only got stronger after then. Our patronuses changed and from what Harry says it's usually from unrequited love. We didn't have unrequited love, but we were separated and fearful for the safety of the other. I think our patronuses changed, because in those moments we had a part of the other with us. It will sound sickly or clichéd, but you're a part of me now, and I'm bold enough to say I'm a part of you. I'm probably not making sense..."

"You are," said Ginny. "You're making sense to me. I think the reason why our patronuses went back to normal when we tested them later, was because we were together and there was no danger. I didn't have cause or a wand to use the charm when Greyback had me, but I bet my patronus would have been your otter."

"Yes," said Hermione. "I think it would have been. Whatever it is, I think and hope that we'll always have that."

"Well, I definitely think we do have something more going on." Ginny wrapped an arm around Hermione's neck and pulled her down for another kiss. "And I'm not sure I want to explain it completely beyond that. All I do know for certain is that, I love you, Hermione."

"I love you too, Ginny," said Hermione, as their eyes met, both sparkling with tears and love.

Not caring what anyone thought, if they saw it the next day, Hermione, with the help of magic, moved her bed next to Ginny's and performed a little transfiguration spell, to make it into a double bed, before getting in it and cuddling up with her girlfriend.

XXXXXXXXXX

The next few days were busy ones, with Hermione going to her parents' house to meet them when they arrived back. Ginny wanted to go too, and Hermione agreed, telling Mrs. Weasley that they wouldn't stay long as her parents would be jetlagged and in all probability need to rest for a couple of days.

In keeping with her policy of honesty, Hermione told her parents about the werewolf diversion a couple of days later. Her parents were deeply concerned about the events and extremely relieved to learn that neither girl had been bitten and infected, but they had already got to the stage where that kind of news no longer shocked them. They were worried, but not as deeply disturbed as most muggles would have been. In recent days they had learned so much about their daughter's world, more so than in the last six or seven years, that nothing completely surprised them anymore.

XXXXXXXXXX

A couple of weeks later at the beginning of July.

Hermione and Ginny were having breakfast at the house in Godric's Hollow; both were completely recovered from the incident with the werewolf, Greyback. Relations with Ron had improved beyond hope; he continued to prefer avoiding long conversations with them, if he could help it, but was almost pleasant to them now. Facing death and danger together had brought Ron to a different level of understanding, as if it proved to him that underneath it all, nothing had changed about their true underlying friendship or the fact he loved his family, whatever they did. They had caught him occasionally looking wistfully at them, but they had also caught Harry giving them the same look too. On the whole, life was much better, now.

As they finished their cups of tea, an owl squawked from the study; both women walked through to see if it was Hugo and instead saw a long-eared owl standing on the desk, all proud and as if at attention. Hermione untied the letter from its leg, gave the owl a treat and saw it fly off happily.

"It's from Hogwarts!" said Hermione, unable to contain the trace of excitement she had always felt when receiving the regular letter in the summer holidays. "Here's yours too," she said, handing Ginny a second letter attached to her own.

They both sat down, either side of the desk, as they opened the letters. The expected list of items and books was enclosed, and then they read the letter. Ginny read the first standard paragraph, as did Hermione, which was the usual welcome and hope for a good school year. The second paragraph mentioned all the work that had been done and was continuing to be carried out, to make the school ready in time for the new term. It was when they reached the third paragraph that Hermione stopped and looked over to Ginny. The redhead had stopped reading after the third paragraph too and looked a little bemused, before she looked to Hermione.

"Um, does your letter say anything about staff, or prefects, or...or personnel?" asked Hermione.

"Sort of," replied Ginny, unsure how to voice her own question. "Why?"

"It seems...and I almost don't want it, but it seems I've been made Head Girl," said Hermione.

"Oh. There's some sort of mistake, then."

"Mistake?" asked Hermione. "I shouldn't be Head Girl?"

"No, I don't mean that," said Ginny. "Shit, you're the logical choice! It's just...it says in my letter that I'm Head Girl too?!" She handed her letter to Hermione.

"Two Head Girls? In the same House?" said the brunette, as she read her girlfriend's letter. "You're right. Well, that's logical too, after what we did."

"It's a little strange, but I suppose if the last year has taught the magical world anything, it's the fact there's been a lot of change."

"Yes," said Hermione. She was silent as she continued to read the letters side by side, then she suddenly broke into a grin. "You know what this means, don't you?"

"I get to slap First Years around, and be loved for it!" laughed Ginny.

Hermione snorted with laughter, something the Hermione from a few years ago would not have found funny. Weasley humour is infectious! she thought. "Nooo! The Head Girl gets her own room in the dorms, not accessible by others without password and permission."

"They'll have to make...wait...we can share, can't we?" said Ginny, smiling, catching on very fast to Hermione's line of thinking.

"Precisely. Even if they offered a second single room, we can say we'll share."

"And then we'll both blush and the whole school will know the Head Girls' room is the 'lesbian love lounge'!" laughed Ginny.

"People will think what they want to, whatever we say or do, so shit to the lot of them! We'll be together and we're going to make the most of it!" said Hermione, with a determined nod of her head.

"Do you think McGonagall knows?" asked Ginny. "About us?"

"I'd say yes, because of Dumbledore."

"Dumbledore knows? How?"

"As you know, when you were kidnapped, we spoke to Dumbledore's portrait here to ask for some help on places to search. He said he knew what you meant to me, and the look he gave me was only one step away from giving me a wink!" said Hermione with a little laugh.

"Hmm," said Ginny, thinking it over. "You know, so what. If they know, they know. We're together and that's it."

"I couldn't agree more."

Around lunchtime Hermione paid her parents a visit, back at their old dental practice, to give them the good news. They were immensely proud of their daughter and her girlfriend and insisted the pair have dinner with them sometime that week. After leaving the Grangers they both went to the Burrow to tell Mrs. Weasley the good news. The woman was overjoyed, and agreed that both Ginny and Hermione deserved it.

"So that's three exciting letters today," said Mrs. Weasley.

"Three?" asked Ginny

"Ron got his letter from Hogwarts today too," said her mother.

"So he is definitely going back?" asked Hermione.

"Yes, but even better than that, he's been made Head Boy!" said Mrs. Weasley, smiling broadly and clapping her hands together. "Who would have thought it?!"

Ron's Head Boy? thought Hermione. I bet he never saw that one coming!

"Is he happy about it?" wondered Ginny.

"Once he picked his jaw up off the floor and muttered a few expletives, I think he rather likes the idea," said Mrs. Weasley.

Hermione laughed. "I never would have guessed that the boy with the grubby face on the Hogwarts Express, all those years ago, would be made Head Boy!" she laughed again, genuinely pleased for Ron.

"Yeah, it does seem unlikely for the 'puking slugs' boy to land the big prize, doesn't it?" laughed Ginny. Then she put her head on one side thinking about it. "Maybe it's his time to shine," she said generously. "I'm sure had Harry gone back to school he would have been Head Boy, and although everyone might still think that, the fact is Ron will be there and is Head Boy."

"I wonder if there's more than one Head Boy?" said Hermione. "I suppose we'll find out soon enough."

"I'm not sure how the rest of the school will take it, that three Head students are from Gryffindor?!" said Ginny.

"We didn't make the choices, the teachers and McGonagall did," replied Hermione. "I'd have been happy to carry on as just a prefect, but I'll accept the honour all the same. Is Ron around here?"

"No," said Mrs. Weasley. "He's helping George at the shop today."

"Well, we'll have to go to Diagon Alley shopping soon, and there's plenty of time before term starts to catch up with him," said Hermione. "It will feel odd without Harry, but I suppose that's one of the many changes we'll all have to get used to."

"It will be strange without him," said Ginny. "Thank goodness it's because he's working at the Ministry and not missing because he stayed dead."

"We'll have to have a little party for the three of you," said Mrs. Weasley. "All the family together, or as many as can visit."

"As long as I don't have to go out to the shed by myself, I'll be fine," said Ginny with a grin. "The last party kind of went a bit wrong for me."

"A bit wrong?" said Hermione. "You could say that! We'll have to arrange it around when we're having dinner with my parents."

"Why don't they come here, so we're all here together?" asked Mrs. Weasley. "The more the merrier."

Hermione was surprised by the offer, but smiled broadly. Up until now her parents and Ginny's had only had the one meeting for tea, at her house in Godric's Hollow. Everything had gone very well and as Ginny predicted, her mother got on with Hermione's mother like a house on fire and the two fathers seemed likely to be firm friends too.

"I'll ask them," replied Hermione. "I'm sure they'd like that."

"Excellent!" said Mrs. Weasley. "Nothing like a party and a house full."

Ginny looked to Hermione and couldn't contain a grin and then wrapped an arm around her shoulders. At a time like this, when everything was finally going right for them, in all ways, she wasn't sure she could be any happier. Well, I'm most happy in her arms, after making love with her, thought Ginny, who knew she was probably blushing slightly as the thoughts came to her. But this isn't a bad second!

XXXXXXXXXX

4 Years Later

It was a Friday evening and Hermione sat at her desk in the study of her house in Godric's Hollow, flicking through some memos from work, not really taking much notice of the writing on them, or absorbing any of the contents whatsoever. She sighed. Several times in the past few weeks she had questioned her choices. Did she even like her job? Did she see the point to it anymore? Did she agree with any of the choices she had made since leaving Hogwarts?

She got up from her desk and went through to the kitchen to get a glass of juice, before going back to the study and sitting down again. Everything had always seemed so clear and so certain, but sitting here now she was troubled by questions. What do I want? she thought, What is it that I really want?

Picking up another piece of paper she read it, but it only seemed to confuse her further and she slapped it down on the desk and held her head in her hands. What is it that I do? she thought. I'm a paper shuffler. How is this any different to being stuck in an office in the muggle world? Living one day to the next, feeling as if something is missing.

Hermione drank from her glass. Working at the Ministry had seemed the obvious choice for her and once she'd finished her final year at Hogwarts she was welcomed with open arms by the Minister, Kingsley Shacklebolt. Ron had begun auror training straight after Hogwarts too and it was nice to be around Harry again. To begin with, her work had been challenging and interesting and she felt she was making real progress with legislation, instigating several core changes to the harsher laws governing magical creatures, and humans with various afflictions and ancestry. After making such progress the work had begun to get boring and Hermione felt no more useful than any other office worker; dotting the i's and crossing the t's; working long hours which seemed to spill over into her evenings as well, was making her feel like she was forever walking through tar. I'm like the mythical Sisyphus forever rolling that boulder up a hill, she thought ruefully.

Although she worked across more than one department and was familiar with several of her colleagues from both Hogwarts and the Order, she felt lonely. Hermione hated feeling alone. She'd felt alone for most of her life, for many reasons. An only child; an only child with well above average intelligence; an only child, a genius and a first rate witch. Even with Harry and Ron as her first two real best friends, she had felt alone.

Then there was Ginny, who had been the first person to really light up the dusty dark corner where Hermione's true self resided. With Ginny she'd never felt alone, and felt part of something bigger. Everything they had done in the past had purpose and mattered, and their actions during the War, both the muggle World War Two and the Wizarding War, had directly affected many people, for the better. Yet, here she was, sitting at her desk in her study in Godric's Hollow, alone again, and it grated on her. Ginny, she thought, I know we chose what we chose and we had to do our own thing, but I hate it. I hate my decision now.

Hermione picked up the piece of paper she'd slapped down onto the desk before, read it through again, and folded it up. She looked at Hugo, her barn owl, as he sat with one eye closed on a perch; he felt her looking at him, and opened both eyes and jumped down onto the desk, waiting for the letter that usually followed when his guardian wore that look. Stroking the owl's neck, Hermione picked up a quill and was about to start writing, but stopped after writing the word 'Dear'.

She then unfolded the other piece of paper and read it again. "Bugger it!" she said loudly. "I don't care if it's a Friday, I'm going to do it!" She folded up the page and put it into her beaded bag and briefly checked the bag for other contents, before putting a jacket on. "Sorry Hugo, I won't be needing you this evening," she said, as she got him a treat.

Placing the beaded bag in a pocket, Hermione strode purposely through her house, out of the kitchen and scullery, to the back garden and Disapparated. Moments later the brunette found herself walking up to a large imposing mansion house, as evening was turning to dusk, surrounded by green fields and rolling hills, with the sea vaguely visible a few miles away and not another house in sight. The wind blew strongly across the landscape, with a fine mist of drizzle. She'd only been here twice before, by invitation, as it wasn't normally a place that allowed just anyone to visit when they felt like it.

With her jaw clenched, feeling determined, Hermione walked up the long driveway to the main doors, which were reached by several stone steps, forming an impressive portico. She rang the old brass bell near the door, by pulling hard onto the chain of it, making the bell clang out loudly. Shortly afterwards, the door was answered by a woman in a smart, dark green uniform of skirt and jacket.

"Can I be of help?" asked the woman; then she looked at the brunette standing on the step and like most witches and wizards, recognized her immediately. "Oh hello, Miss Granger. Are you expected?"

"No. I'm not, I need to..."

"I'm sorry, but if you're not expected I can't let you in. The policy on visitors is clear, especially on a Friday."

"I know that, I've been here before. But I need to...," Hermione tried again.

"If you know, then you know I can't help you. You need to have a pass or an appointment," persisted the woman.

"Look, you know who I am. I work for the Ministry, for crying out loud. I'm not going to sell secrets or...or do anything, I just need to..."

"You know the rules, Miss Granger, you don't want to lose me my job, do you?"

"Arghhhh! Just for once, for one time only, can you forget your PISSING rules!" shouted Hermione.

"I'm sorry, I'm not the one who makes the rules," said the woman, a little shocked at the outburst from the famous Hermione Granger.

"Well bloody find me someone who does then!?"

"Is everything all right?" asked another voice, as a woman in black trousers and a green shirt appeared at the open door. The newcomer recognized Hermione straight away and vice versa. "Hello. What's the problem here, then?"

"Miss Granger doesn't have an appointment or pass and isn't expected, but still wants me to let her in," said the other woman, tiredly.

"If I invite her in, then there's no problem, yes?" suggested the second woman. The first woman nodded, relieved that she didn't have to continue with the difficult situation that had arrived on the doorstep.

"Thank you," said Hermione, as she walked in through the door to a huge hallway, which had a massive staircase leading up to the next floor.

"Well, you'll be wanting to go up the stairs and to room eight," said the second woman.

Hermione nodded and walked to the staircase, only holding onto mild annoyance, after finally having got into the building. There seemed to be more stairs than there first looked, and Hermione felt incredibly unfit as she was nearly out of breath by the time she reached the landing. She walked along the finely carpeted hallway, looking at the door numbers as she walked. The carpet was green, the walls were another shade of green and even some of the tapestries and furniture had green thread or green enamel for decoration.

Two-thirds of the way down the hallway, Hermione finally found herself in front of room eight. She took a couple of steadying breaths and knocked on the door. A couple of noises were heard from within, followed by footsteps muffled on carpet and then the lock was turned and the door opened.

"Hermione?!"

"I had to see you," said Hermione, as she looked into the face she loved.

"Come in," said Ginny, completely surprised. She closed and locked the door again before turning to see Hermione standing and looking out of the window at an approaching dusk. "What are you doing here? How did you even get in?"

"I sort of became very persuasive," said Hermione with a smile. "Okay, I got pissed off and shouted and made a bit of a scene, and then Gwenog Jones let me in. I assume with her being captain she has some authority the others don't."

Something's really bothering her, thought a worried Ginny, as she went over to Hermione and wrapped her arms around her. "What's wrong?"

"I know you're supposed to be all focused on match weekends, especially the Friday night before a match at the team house here, but I...I can't take it anymore," said Hermione.

Looking very concerned and confused, Ginny moved back to look into Hermione's face. "You can't take it anymore?" she questioned. She got hold of Hermione's hand and led her to the sumptuously grand four poster bed in the room, and sat them down on the end of it. The bed even had a Harpies' green bedspread and curtains with gold thread designs.

"I've had enough of work, of doing pointless tasks, of working all hours and having my evenings and weekends eaten into. And I hate being alone so much," Hermione said, a frustrated tear rolling down her cheek.

"What are you saying?" asked Ginny. Gods, she can't mean she wants us to break up, can she? she thought for an awful moment. It doesn't feel like it, but something is really upsetting her. "We knew it was going to be hard; what with me playing for the Harpies and you working at the Ministry," said Ginny in a very soft voice, feeling so uncertain of what was going to be said next. "I hate being apart from you so much as well, but your work is important; you have to do those hours; I understand that. I understand that I don't get to have you all to myself anymore. And I'm away with the team on and off too, especially during the season."

"Is my work important?" asked Hermione in a vague way. "It doesn't feel it anymore. I'm bored with it, which is so unlike me. And...and I miss you so much." Another tear rolled down her cheek as she leaned into Ginny and captured her lips in a fierce kiss. The action had surprised Ginny, but also made her feel relief, knowing that Hermione wasn't about to suggest they split up, or something equally disturbing.

"I don't know what the answer is," said Ginny, when they broke from their kiss. "Life isn't fair, sometimes."

"I have the answer," said Hermione, as she wiped her cheek and retrieved from her beaded bag the folded piece of paper from her study. "This is the third one I've had in the past three weeks. And...well, just read it," she said, handing the paper to Ginny.

Ginny unfolded it and immediately recognized the sender, and read on. "You've had three of these? I didn't know about the other two?"

"Sorry. I was going to tell you...but you've been busy getting ready for the new quidditch season and I was going through my endless lists of boring paperwork," explained Hermione, a bit ashamed that she'd kept it from her partner. "I was also angry with myself because it threw me. I was so adamant to say 'no', so certain, but I never replied. So a second more persistent one arrived, which confused me further. Then this third one arrived early this evening, and...well, what do you think?"

"What do I think?" said Ginny. "They're not addressed to me. And I've always said that you have to do what you think is best for you. I'll support you, whatever you choose."

"I've been thinking about it this evening," said Hermione. "Thinking about it in detail and what it would actually entail. I've worked out that it's not full time, not like my Ministry job; I would get a lot of time off, and my evenings wouldn't be so clogged up, nor my weekends either. And the work I would have would make me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile and actually making a difference."

"Is this what you really want?"

"What I want is to have more time for you. To actually be able to see you play for the Harpies more than the odd match I managed last season. To feel like I have a worthwhile job, and not be so tired and bored with my days," said Hermione.

"Sounds like you've made your choice," said Ginny, smiling, before adding, "Professor!"

Hermione kissed Ginny again, before holding onto her tightly, her nose buried in the red hair she loved, inhaling the scent that was Ginny. "I'll only be teaching one subject and even if I took on other lessons and helped with different things, I'd still have so much more time. Anyway, I had to see you to talk to you about it, because I need to reply by Monday, to give me a week or two of preparation. I think McGonagall will ease me into it."

"You'll have to mark homework!" said Ginny. "Endless parchments with spelling mistakes and peculiar answers."

"Yeah, but that's easy. It's everything I know backwards, but the thing that won't make it boring, is actually feeling I'm making a difference; giving the kids a start in their magical lives."

"Hmm, I hope the job still isn't cursed?" said Ginny, mostly in jest.

"It was only cursed thanks to the direct and indirect influence of Voldemort. I intend to hold the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, for longer than the ones we knew!" said Hermione.

"No doubt the kids will find out you're with me, if they don't already know?"

"I couldn't care less about that," said Hermione. "We survived that final year at Hogwarts. After the first two weeks no one cared...in fact I think they were jealous!"

Ginny laughed. "Probably because we were getting 'some' and they weren't!"

"Whatever the case, I'm beyond being moved by strange looks or odd comments. I've dealt with that kind of thing most of my life, a classroom of kids isn't going to make me run from it all. It wasn't that long ago we were in that very classroom. I'm hoping I can actually make their lessons worth the time." Hermione sighed. "The best teacher we had for the subject was Lupin, and it was because he added his own style and made the lessons fun, even though what he taught us was very useful too. If I want to follow any example, and pay my respects in the best way I can, then he will be my guardian as I teach."

The two women kissed again and Ginny held Hermione tightly. "I can't do much to lessen the nights I have to be away with the team during the season," she said, feeling as though she ought to make more effort too.

"I don't expect you to," said Hermione. "This is what I want to do and I'm doing it not just for us, but for me too. And this job and my extra time with you will make me immensely happy, as will watching you play this season. Maybe I can work out a trip for the Hogwarts quidditch players to come and see one of your matches?"

"I'm sure that can be arranged," said Ginny.

"I'll already have a friend on the new teaching staff this year too," said Hermione, as she laid her head on Ginny's shoulder, enjoying being in her girlfriend's arms again.

"McGonagall, you mean? Although, she's not new, is she?"

"No. Neville!"

"Neville's a teacher?" said Ginny, surprised. "If you're going to tell me he's the new potions' master, I'll say you're lying!?"

"Herbology," replied Hermione. "He'll be perfect with that, and I think the kids will respond to him. I don't think he'll need to hand out many detentions."

Ginny began to nuzzle Hermione's neck, and placed some soft kisses to the skin there, before working her way to an ear and nibbling the earlobe, loving how Hermione inhaled some shallow breaths and gave a little shiver. "So, Professor," the redhead whispered. "Are you going to give me detention? Hmm?"

Hermione's reply was to move back, put a hand to Ginny's cheek and lean in to kiss her deeply and passionately. They both moaned into the kiss, as Ginny placed a hand between them, to knead Hermione's breast.

The brunette broke the kiss, suddenly. "No, we can't! The rules. I can't get you into trouble."

"Rules? You broke a shed load of them barging your way into this house!?"

Hermione couldn't help but smile. "Point taken," she said. "But in case you've forgotten, your little welcoming handbook, when you signed for the Harpies, mentioned the preference that players don't indulge in amorous activity the night before a match; it's another purpose of you being at this house before matches. And this happens to be before the first match of the new season, too!"

"I wasn't intending to indulge in any 'amorous activity'," said Ginny, amused.

"What do you call sex, then?" asked Hermione, equally amused.

"Something I very much want to have with you, right now," said Ginny, smirking.

"Ginny?! I don't want to mess things up for you. I'll be at your match tomorrow; I've made sure of that. I know this is the team house and I shouldn't have come here," said Hermione, who immediately wished she'd opted for a different choice of words.

"I want you to come here," said Ginny. When she saw Hermione roll her eyes she said, "Look, it's obvious what might happen if you're here. You were clearly in a bit of a state when you arrived; I don't think anyone will question it; and if I'm crap in the match tomorrow then I'll gladly take the punishment, but right now I want you, Hermione."

Hermione couldn't avoid answering, "I want you too. I always want you."

"You've made me so happy," said Ginny. "And I'm happy that you won't be miserable anymore, although I wish you'd talked to me about it and let me help you with that sooner, rather than suffering the way you have. I thought you were tired a lot, but didn't realize how depressed you were with your job. Anyway, there's no way I can be anything other than content." Ginny wrapped her arms around Hermione again, pressing kisses to her cheek and neck once more. "I think I'll be worse if we don't, you know...sexual frustration doesn't mix with concentration in sports."

"You just made that up!?" said Hermione, backing away to look Ginny in the eyes.

"It might not be in that funky handbook, but the girls often get talking and believe me, sexual frustration is a form killer!" Ginny put her hand on Hermione's shoulder and slowly slid it down to cup a breast through material. She caressed the firm mound, rubbing the fabric with her thumb over where she could feel a hardened nipple. "Do you really want to leave, now?"

Hermione had closed her eyes, enjoying feeling Ginny's hands touching her. It had been nearly four weeks since they'd had the time or opportunity to be intimate; due in part to Ginny's pre-season training and her own workload; as the redhead touched her now, in such a tame way, it made her ache for more.

"No," said Hermione, opening her eyes and sitting upright, before taking hold of the hand that was touching her.

Ginny stopped her hand. "No?"

"I don't want to leave. Please..." Hermione brought Ginny's hand to her mouth and kissed the palm. "Make me yours."

The two women made love, never feeling so close to one another and feeling as if they were falling in love all over again. Emotions and sensations were heightened from Hermione's decision on her career and wanting more time with Ginny, to the exciting feeling of breaking the rules by sleeping together in the team house. Both were glad they had thought to cast a silencing charm before they got too carried away, as they voiced the other's name when their releases crashed down upon them; their love simply burning inside them.

Afterwards, as they were in each other's arms, they considered their situation and both had never felt so content and at ease with life as they did in that moment. All of it had been worth it; all the stress, all the danger, all the changes, even if it had taken them a little longer to find the right choices now.

"I think another reason I was getting so fed up with my job and with not seeing you, was that connection thing we have," said Hermione, thoughtfully. "Like that part of me was pining for you and the less and less I saw of you the more dark and depressed it made me feel."

"It might be," said Ginny. "I admit to finding myself yearning for you too and getting utterly sick of the green decor in this bloody house! Once or twice Gwenog has found me bawling my eyes out for no apparent reason, in the last couple of years; I thought it was just my period or something, but I've often wondered if it was because I was away from you. In some ways it's not unlike what is said about twins and how they seem to be aware of the other. It was another reason I was so worried about George and still am to an extent; losing Fred must be beyond what most of us can imagine."

"If I'd said no to McGonagall and Flitwick way back then," said Hermione. "We would never have gone back in time and maybe never got together, whatever any destiny was supposed to be."

"Maybe, maybe not," replied Ginny. "Who knows? One of us might eventually have got a crush on the other."

"I doubt we would have acted on it. Not for a very long time."

"Possibly not, although we do have that 'deep connection' thing, which seemed to have been there even when we were trying to run from our feelings; so maybe we wouldn't have fought it forever. If there is such a thing as destiny, perhaps being together was always meant to be for us," said Ginny. "We have to be thankful that you're not a coward and were prepared to do whatever they asked of you, or it might have been years before anything had a chance of happening."

"And I have to be thankful that you were a nosy git who decided to follow me and spy on me!"

"Ouch!" said Ginny, in mock response to the accusation. "Someone had to keep an eye on you!"

"I know, you were looking out for me, as well as satisfying your curiosity."

"And now you satisfy me in a totally different way!" said Ginny, making them both laugh.

They were quiet for a time, with Hermione resting her head on Ginny's shoulder, tracing a pattern across the redhead's chest with a finger. Ginny had an arm around Hermione, her hand caressing the soft skin of the brunette's back. Both were thinking back to what they had done over four years ago, to help end Voldemort and how they had fallen in love. Hermione smiled as she remembered their initial bumbling attempts to admit their feelings to each other.

Ginny was thinking of the same things too. It's a cliché, she thought, as well as bloody sappy, but she completes me. I always knew that to some extent, by the way I've felt about her, but now? At this very moment, I mean it to the extreme of the phrase. I can't think of ever having wanted another, and doubt I ever will. I am so content, and she completes me as if I've gone full circle and just realized it properly...REALLY understood it. She smiled as she pressed another kiss to the top of Hermione's head.

Full circle, Ginny dreamily thought again. No, I don't want or need anyone else. Her thoughts were taken back to being in the Trophy Room at Hogwarts, after having brought Harry back from the dead. For some reason she remembered part of it, like a vision; of taking Hermione's hand, to look at the ring of Elizabeth Woodville. What was it I said? she thought, knowing she'd said something fairly vomit-worthy. Then it came to her: 'If we were alone I'd like to... Everything came to her, from that moment and exactly what she'd said. I said that?thought Ginny, then other thoughts came to her in answer to it. And I meant it. Except I've never actually...

"Hermione?"

"Hmm?"

"Will you marry me?"

Hermione laughed in reply.

"I'm serious," said Ginny, which made Hermione move so she could see her lover's face. "I once said to you that I wanted to place a ring on your finger to show you that yours is the only hand I want to place rings on. I meant it then, and I mean it now. Hermione Granger, will you marry me?"

"Fuck!"

"That wasn't quite the response I was hoping for," said Ginny, amused.

"It's not a question, Ginny..."

"I thought it was a question?"

"Yes."

"Yes, it was a question?" asked a very confused and slightly worried Ginny, now. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything and worked up to it for a week or two, she thought.

"YES! Of course I'll marry you!" said Hermione, as she leaned in and gently kissed Ginny.

"Ahh, well, there's a slight snag," said Ginny, suddenly realizing something. "I don't have a ring for you, yet, to actually do my proving part."

"You have nothing you need to prove to me, my love," said Hermione. "When we go shopping together for rings for both of us, you can do that bit then."

"You mean everything to me," said Ginny. "It feels like I've been to the ends of the earth with you, and I'm thankful for every moment."

"We've been to places and experienced things people can hardly dream of," said Hermione, wiping a tear away. "And I want to share the rest of my life with you."

"And I with you," said Ginny, her bottom lip trembling a little. "I love you, Hermione."

"I love you, Ginny, so much."

With tears of happiness they kissed and held each other, before Ginny suddenly exclaimed, "Bugger!"

"What?"

"Mum's going to be a bloody nightmare!"

"But she's okay with us being together, isn't she?" asked Hermione, wondering why getting engaged and married was a problem, when they'd been living together properly for nearly three years.

"Yes, she's okay with that, but she'll want to organize the wedding!" groaned Ginny.

There was a pause of awed silence, filled with some dread from both women, until Hermione came to a conclusion. "It doesn't matter," said Hermione. "As long as we're there together, and it's you and me and we're with the people we love, then everything else is irrelevant. If your mother wants white horses and pink roses, gnomes as page boys and a cake shaped like a pumpkin, let her have it. What matters is that I'll be standing next to you, and pledging my love and my life to you. I couldn't care less about the superficial nonsense around it. I always think all that stuff is for the guests' benefit and has little to do with what the couple getting married really want."

"You're right," considered Ginny, with a little relieved sigh, when she saw how clearly Hermione had made things. "We've been here and there, and crossed timelines, worn stupid uniforms and tackled dangerously crazy people, but as long as we're together, nothing else matters. Together we can face anything."

THE END OF HERE AND THERE

A/N: Thanks for staying with my little story, I had fun writing and sharing it, and if you enjoyed it, that's a bonus to me. :)

I don't have plans to write a sequel or the 'in between years' for this story, but I have enjoyed this particular pairing in this particular story, so I can never say never about it. What started out as a little wandering tale kind of allowed these characters to go through some things I never considered they would...I knew most of the things I wanted them to experience, but when it came to how they felt and how they acted, I just let them do and go where they wanted to. :)

As I was checking this chapter I was listening to a CD, Pink's "Truth About Love" album, and the song "Try" could almost be a soundtrack to this whole story. It's weird how that hit me. "Where there is desire, there is gonna be a flame. Where there is a flame, someone's bound to get burned. But just because it burns, doesn't mean you're gonna die. You gotta get up and try..."