AN: My dear, marvelous readers, we are here. I cannot express what your views and reviews and kindness and attention to detail have done for me as a writer and a person. A huge thanks to the faithful reviewers that have stuck with me for so long, to the guest reviewers who were willing to share their anonymous kindness and to those who are new in coming. You are so appreciated! I apologize for the length of this last chapter – I just couldn't stop writing! I hope your eyeballs don't fall out from exhaustion.

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Ron opened his door to find Hermione midst a tall stack of books in the middle of his room.

"Business or pleasure?" he asked, and indicated the pile.

Hermione flushed. "It's nothing, honestly."

His brow creased. "What do you mean?" He stepped closer, but she blocked him.

"Nothing … I … It's just that I …"

He waited.

"You…?"

She sighed and moved aside, so he could see.

"Modifying memories: permanent or temporary … Everything you need to know about Memory Modification … Obliviate: A guide to memory loss, restoration and modification … books for your parents."

She nodded shyly. "Restoring memories seems much trickier than modifying or wiping them."

Ron walked over and took a place beside her. "Yeah? Why's that?"

"Well it seems backwards, but when I modified their memories, I could make up the details. If I wanted them safe in Australia, that's where they'd go. I made fake names, identities – all of it straight from my imagination. But if restored incorrectly, or incompletely … well, it's a matter of the real details of their lives being lost. What if they remember that they're dentists and that they really live in a small town in England but not that … that…"

"They have a daughter?"

"Yes! And what if I don't do it perfectly and they remember they have me, but also remember everything about their lives in Australia and prefer that life? What if they liked being Monica and Wendell Wilkins, free of their magical daughter always getting into trouble?"

"That is not going to happen."

"How do you know?"

Ron smirked and shifted closer – as close as he could over the pile of books – and grabbed her hand. "No one in their right mind would choose a life without Hermione. Especially not your mum and dad. I guarantee that even without their memories, Monica and Wendell Wilkins have felt something missing. They're your parents!"

"Yes, yes, they're my parents. But they're also in a beautiful beach town off of Sydney Australia, living a wonderful life with everything they could ever need! And that leads me to the hardest decision … do I wipe that part of their lives? Do I have them begin as though I had just been upstairs watching the telly –"

"The what?"

"– or do I let them keep all of those memories and run the risk that the new life is the one they'd prefer?"

"Hermione. Isn't that exactly what they did for you? Trusted in a new, unfamiliar life that they thought might make you happier than you would be otherwise? Saying goodbye and taking the chance that, given the opportunity, you might choose your new life entirely over your life with them because you like it better?"

Her bottom lip quivered. "Yes. Yes, I suppose it is quite similar."

"And doesn't it seem rather silly now? Of course you love magic but, I mean … they'll always be your parents, right?"

"Yes."

"I think you're ready, Hermione."

She looked at him, fear in her eyes.

"I'm not so sure."

"You are! You modified their memories perfectly almost a year ago! And you've gotten loads better since then."

"I miss them so much – I mean, since I started at Hogwarts, I've always written to my mum once a week. And summer holidays it was only ever me and them. And it's been so long and I'm terrified that I'll mess it up."

"You won't."

"Do you really think I'm ready?"

"Of course you're ready."

By the next evening, the bags were packed. Ron insisted on accompanying her to Australia and, for the sake of his parents' peace of mind, Harry travelled with them. Ron was mildly disappointed; some time alone with Hermione would have been nice. At the same time, it seemed wrong somehow to go on a journey without Harry. Not to mention, Molly needed her daughter's company at the moment more than ever, so Ginny stayed at the Burrow. Ron had to admit, the fact that Harry and Ginny would not be alone unsupervised for who knew how long provided him some comfort.

"Be safe," Molly said, and her eyes filled with tears.

"Mum! What's the matter? We'll only be gone a week at most!"

She shook her head. "I know … I'm being silly."

Ron leaned in and hugged her, something that was becoming increasingly normal as of late. "We'll be back soon."

"I know I just … you were gone for so long the last time, and oh, honestly, I'm silly, really."

Harry hugged her next, and then Hermione.

The three of them stepped back and linked arms. Ron felt a pang of nostalgia – how many times had the three of them stood just like this, ready to disapparate together, willing to trust whatever new location Hermione had planned for them?

She turned on the spot and, one stomach turn and unpleasant sensation later, their feet hit concrete.

"Where are we?"

Ron looked around. They were in a dark alley between two brick buildings.

"About twenty minutes from Sydney. It's called Bankstown … it seemed nice enough, and they have impressive dental offices."

She led them down two streets until they reached one called Boronia Road. "They live in a flat down this way."

Ron noticed that she trembled, so he took her hand. She shot him a smile, but he could see anxiety written all over her face.

"You're the smartest person I know," Harry said, and squeezed her arm. "You'll be fine."

"I hope so."

They stopped in front of a large apartment complex.

Ron read the sign. "Juniper Hills."

Hermione smiled. "I thought it was quaint."

They approached the front with trepidation. They made sure there were no muggles watching while Hermione pointed her wand and the door and murmured, "Alohamora." Inside, they made their way up the stairs. Hermione stopped at the third floor. "Their flat's just down this hall."

She hesitated for a long moment in front of number 113. "I think maybe you two ought to step back a bit. I don't want to scare them."

Ron squeezed her hand one last time, and he and Harry walked around the corner. As luck would have it, there was a mirror at the end of the hallway, so they could still see what was going on.

Hermione rapped her fist twice against the door. She waited only a moment before Mr. Granger poked his head out.

"Hello? Did we ring you up?"

"No … I … erm …"

Mrs. Granger's face suddenly appeared over his shoulder. Her eyes widened. "You!" she gasped.

Ron could only see her back, but he could tell that Hermione tensed up.

"Erm … pardon?"

"You're the one –" Hermione's mum turned to her husband. "She's the one! In my dreams!"

Ron wished he could rush forward and grab her elbow as Hermione teetered. "I've been in your dreams?"

Mrs. Granger looked on the verge of tears. "Yes, and I don't understand at all – what on earth are you doing here? Who are you?"

Hermione's next words were thick with tears. "I'm Hermione. Your daughter."

In a motion almost too quick to catch, Hermione's wand sliced through the air as she muttered spells under her breath. Her parents froze, swayed for a moment, and then toppled to the floor.

Harry and Ron darted forward, even as Hermione spun around and held her hands up. "Don't worry – this is what's supposed to happen. Ideally, I've just placed all of our old memories back in their heads, and their brains are reconfiguring to allow the changes in what they remember."

Seconds later – though it felt like hours – Hermione's mum stirred.

"We don't mind that you're a witch, sweetie."

The three of them stared, riveted, as her mum continued, "We always knew you were special."

A moment later, her eyes opened, and then her dad's eyes as well. Both looked shaken, but they surveyed Ron and Harry would looks of vague recognition. Then, their eyes fell on their daughter.

"Hermione!"

"My baby!"

They jumped to their feet and the three of them fell into an embrace. Hermione and her mum cried, while her dad kissed her cheeks and hair.

"We didn't remember you!"

"What's going on?"

"Where have you been?"

"I was Monica Wilkins … why was I Monica Wilkins?"

So Hermione let her parents keep all of their memories. Ron smiled proudly.

"It's such a long story." Hermione laughed. "And I've missed you both so much!"

"I've missed you too, sweetheart! I didn't know why, but we never felt right. And you kept popping up in my dreams and telling me you had to keep us safe, and that you'd see us again someday!"

Hermione stared. "That's what I said just before I modified your memories!"

"You did this?"

Hermione explained the situation, just as Harry's hand fell on Ron's arm. They exchanged a look, silently agreeing to step out and give the reunited family their privacy. However, just before they could, Hermione's dad seemed to register that they were in the room.

"Ron! Harry! Kept our girl safe, did you?"

Harry and Ron laughed out loud. The idea that they had kept Hermione safe was nothing short of ridiculous.

"No, sir. We'd be sorry blokes without her."

Hermione and her parents talked and held each other well into the night. When, hours later, Harry and Ron made it back to the flat, the Grangers were still swapping stories. Hermione was in the middle of a drastically watered down version of the events at Malfoy Manor, and none of them noticed when the two boys walked in.

"How did you make it out?" her mother whispered, tears in her eyes.

Hermione smiled sadly. "A heroic little house elf – you'll remember all about house elves, I've told you so much about them. He saved us. Dark wizards completely underestimated him, of course. Little Dobby. But I wouldn't have made it out alive without Ron."

Mrs. Granger's eyes lit up, and Ron blushed to see it.

"Ron? He saved you? Oh, Hermione, that's so heroic. When is he ever going to admit his feelings for you?"

Ron's face heated up, and Harry elbowed him teasingly in the ribs.

"Mum!"

"What? He's fancied you for years!"

This had gone on quite long enough. Ron stepped forward.

"Hermione, your mum's absolutely right. It's about time I told you I fancied you."

Mrs. Granger was clearly delighted. Hermione laughed.

"How wonderful. I hope you don't mind, but I'm seeing someone."

Harry rolled his eyes at the two of them.

"What?"

Hermione's parents surveyed her in total shock.

"But … surely … you've always fancied him."

She smiled and gestured to Ron. "Mum, dad, meet my boyfriend. Ron."

Now it was Ron's turn to gape. Hermione had never called him that before. He didn't have long to process this, however, because Hermione's mum had already thrown her arms around him.

"Oh! How wonderful!"

Yes, Ron thought wryly, it really is.

Now that the three of them were able to use magic, it took hardly any time at all to get the Grangers packed and ready to head back to England. They settled back into their normal routines quite easily. They insisted that Hermione stay with them for at least a few weeks, and she conceded easily. Ron knew she'd missed them desperately and was anxious to make up for lost time.

Harry apparated alone back to the Burrow to give Ron and Hermione their privacy. They sat in the front porch swing together, hands linked.

"If only we weren't going to be travelling, I'd tell you to visit."

"It's good that you get some time for just you three."

Hermione nodded, but she didn't look entirely convinced. "I know. And I am happy. But it feels weird to run off and tour the world as though nothing is wrong. As though nothing has changed. I explained a lot, but there's still so much they don't understand from what happened. What was lost. What could have been lost."

"Why don't you tell them?"

She sighed. "I don't think they could handle it. It's better that they don't know."

He silently agreed. How would they react knowing that he'd walked out on their daughter?

Hermione touched his face. "Ron. Stop beating yourself up."

Of course she knew what he was thinking. He leaned forward and kissed her quickly.

"It'll be weird not seeing you every day."

"Yeah, but then you'll come back and we'll see each other loads. And when summer's over, I'll just be at the joke shop with George and you'll be close at the Ministry."

Hermione had been accepted to take an internship at the Ministry under the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, while Ron agreed to help George at the shop in nearby Diagon Alley.

She didn't speak for a long moment, and Ron glanced down at her. "What is it?"

"Nothing." She smiled, but it didn't meet her eyes, and he knew she was keeping something from him. Curious, but not wanting to ruin their last few moments together before she left, he dropped it.

"You'll have a fun trip."

She played with his fingers and nodded. "Yeah. It'll be good to spend time with my parents again."

A few, short minutes later, she hugged him goodbye. He leaned down and kissed her hard. "I'll write you all the time."

"Good. Don't use Pig, though. I'm not sure he'll survive."

Ron laughed. "You're probably right. Besides, I wouldn't set Pig on you while you're trying to relax. It would be too cruel."

She chuckled and kissed him once more. "I love you."

"I love you, too. Have fun."

As he disapparated, he still couldn't shake the feeling that she was keeping a secret from him.

Life at home without Hermione was lonely, to say the least. Harry and Ginny spent a lot of time with him, but they, of course, also needed time alone. His parents kept to themselves for the most part, Charlie was staying with Bill at Shell Cottage and George was always out with Lee, Angelina, or both. That left Percy and, desperate as he was, Ron was not anxious to chat with his older brother about how he still had a chance for a high end position at the Ministry.

One night, late in June, Ron sat in the garden flicking mud clots at the gnomes. In the distance, he spotted an unfamiliar owl and jumped to his feet, wondering if it was from Hermione. The owl perched on the window sill next to him and held out a leg. Ron pulled the letter off excitedly, but his heart fell when he saw that the print was formal and not Hermione's.

To Mr. Harry Potter, Ms. Hermione Granger, and Mr. Ronald Weasley.

He broke the seal and began to read.

Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley,

Together with Nimbus Broom and Co., Quality Quidditch Supplies would like to thank you for your contribution to the safety and preservation of wizards and witches everywhere. With gratitude, we would like to reward you each with our newest models, Nimbus 2006's – Ron's jaw went slack – We hope that you will come to us with all of your broomstick needs. At your convenience, please bring this letter into the shop, and we will outfit you with only the best.

With gratitude,

Alfred Mulnet, Company Head

A Nimbus. And not just any Nimbus – a Nimbus 2006? It was possible that this new broom would be faster, even, than Harry's old firebolt. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't believe it.

"HARRY!"

Harry rushed outside a moment later. "What? What is it?"

Ron held out his hand for Harry to read the paper.

"A Nimbus 2006! Merlin! Who knew we'd get free stuff?"

Just then, there was a pop from the front yard, and Ron turned around in time to see Hermione set down her bags.

Today was a day full of pleasant surprises. He rushed over to her and grabbed her in a tight embrace. "Hermione! You're back!"

Her arms wove around his neck and stayed there. "I missed you."

She pulled just far enough away to kiss him. He smiled against her lips, thinking about how, the last time she'd arrived at the Burrow for the holidays, she'd been crying from sending her parents away and he hadn't even known how to help her. And now here they were, snogging, after she'd just vacationed with her parents' memories newly restored.

"What are you smiling about?"

He laughed out loud. "What do you think I'm smiling about? Honestly, woman."

She rolled her eyes with a smirk and pulled away. "Hello, Harry!" She hugged him tightly. "Where's Ginny?"

"She was cooking with her mum when I raced out here to see what Ron was shouting about."

Hermione gave him a questioning look. "What were you shouting about?"

"Oh yeah! Look at this, Hermione." He passed the letter on to her. Her eyebrows rose.

"Merlin, how generous. These are supposed to be really nice, aren't they?"

Harry and Ron exchanged a baffled look. "Really nice? This is the newest broom there is! I'm not even sure if it's out in the shops yet!"

She smiled. "Well, how kind of them. But I don't have any need for a broom."

"I'll teach you! We'll teach you. It isn't so hard."

Hermione shook her head. "No, no, I think I'm content to ride alongside one of you should I ever need to get around by broom."

They gaped at her, and her eyes lit up.

"Oh, I know! I'll give mine to Ginny for her birthday!"

Harry looked pained. "How am I supposed to top the nicest broomstick in the world?"

Hermione laughed. "Shouldn't you just be happy that your girlfriend will have a broomstick as fast as yours? Unless, of course, you wanted to give yours to her."

Ron and Harry shook their heads. They couldn't pass up a Nimbus 2006.

"All right then, it's settled. Please don't tell Ginny that I was supposed to get a broom, too."

"What do you suggest we tell her instead?"

"I don't know, anything you want. Tell her we all were given reward money and you lot just decided to spend it on new brooms."

"Won't she wonder what you did with yours?"

"I'll tell her I've saved it. She'll assume as much, anyway. Now, where is she? I've brought her a souvenir. I have some for you both as well, but they're deep in my duffel, so I'll give them to you after I unpack."

Ron and Harry sat speechless in her wake.

"What am I going to get Ginny for her birthday now? I was going to get her something fantastic – it's her seventeenth! She'll be an adult."

"Maybe you could … duel her."

Harry shot him a scathing look. "Duel her? Was that an innuendo?"

Ron spluttered. "Of course not – blimey, she's my sister – no, I was just …" He turned bright red, not wanting to admit that he was thinking of a long ago day at Grimmauld Place with just him and Hermione. That duel had turned out rather well.

Harry laughed. "I'm kidding. I'll figure something out. Maybe I'll take her for a picnic in Australia now that we've been so I can apparate there. Or maybe we'll take a long broom trip and find somewhere neither of us have been."

"Not overnight!"

Harry smirked. "No, I doubt your mum would be too chuffed about that idea."

"Good."

"Not that we necessarily need a night to do anything we might want to."

"Watch it, Harry."

He laughed. "Only joking." He clapped Ron on the shoulder and went inside. Ron shook his head and followed, anxious to find Hermione and get her alone. Two weeks was too long to go without seeing her.

One day mid-June, Ron and Hermione sat beneath a tree. Overhead, Harry and Ginny raced Ron and Harry's Nimbuses. Despite bribe offers, persuasion and coercion from Harry and Ginny, Ron had been unwilling to loan Ginny his broom until Hermione leaned over and, with a low voice in his ear, said, "It would be nice to get some alone time."

Much to Ginny's glee and Hermione's amusement, he'd handed it over quickly after that.

Ron drew a pattern on Hermione's palm. She caught his hand in hers and pressed it to her lips.

"I don't want summer to end."

"It's only the middle of June!"

"I know. But it feels like it's going too fast. We don't get enough of a break after the year of running and starving and fighting … it's just too short. I'll miss relaxing with you every day."

"We'll be close when the summer's over, still. Just down the street. And where do you think you'll live? How is flat hunting coming along?"

Hermione didn't answer for a long moment. "It's all right."

He, once again, got the sense that she was hiding something from him. He didn't want to ruin the moment, so he chose to ignore it.

"At least it's not over yet."

He slid a hand under her chin and tilted her head to face him. "And you were right. It is nice to be alone sometimes."

His fingers slid softly down her neck, and her eyes fluttered closed. She leaned in, and their mouths met.

He still couldn't believe how easily it came to him to be with Hermione. The transition seemed like the most natural thing in the world – another facet of their friendship. In the least platonic way possible, of course.

Now, for instance, he felt anything but platonic as her hands trailed down his stomach. He found the end of her long plait, and he tugged the elastic from it. Then he ran his hands gently through her hair until it was a mess of curls again. She leaned back.

"Was that necessary?"

He kissed the hollow of her throat. "Yes."

She laughed. "It's windy today – I'll never get it back under control."

"Good. It's perfect the way it is."

Hermione pushed his shoulder, but it was a halfhearted effort. "Don't brown nose!"

"Who says I'm brown nosing?" He tugged on a springy curl. "I love your hair, Hermione Granger. Honest truth."

She sighed and leaned back against the tree. "Then you're mad."

"Mad for you," he said with an eyebrow wiggle. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"You are insufferable."

"You are beautiful."

"Stop, Ronald. I mean it."

"How can I with a woman like you in my life?"

He was goading her, and they both knew it.

"You know, I'm tired. I think I'll nip inside for a nap. Maybe I'll find your mum and offer to help with dinner."

She stood up. This was a terribly unfair move on her part. He jumped to his feet as she breezed past the broom shed. He caught up to her in three long strides and grabbed her hand. He spun her around to face him.

"I'll stop, I swear!"

She seemed to contemplate this. "All right, then. I suppose your word will have to do."

He grinned and leaned back against the door to the shed. "Yeah?"

"Yeah." She stepped forward and linked her hands behind his back. "Where were we?"

She kissed him, and Ron was acutely aware of the fact that they leaned against a broom shed. It would be nice to have a moment with Hermione that didn't take place in his bedroom – so easily interrupted – or in the yard, while Harry and Ginny flew just above, within clear visual distance.

His hand found the knob, and he twisted it. They fell through, but did not stop kissing.

"AHH!"

They separated with a jolt and turned to see who had screamed.

Ron gave a shout of surprise and immediately spun around. Angelina Johnson lay beneath George in only a white brassier.

Everything was silent for one long, thoroughly awkward moment.

"You can turn around, Ron."

He did. Angelina now sat, looking as embarrassed as he felt, with her blouse on.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have a flat?"

George sighed. "Lee's there."

"So you came to our bleeding broom shed?"

He smirked at this. "Yes. Fancy that. A snogging couple sneaking off to the broom shed. Who else in their right mind would have thought of such a thing?"

Ron flushed. "I – I mean we – it's …"

George chuckled, and stood. He held out a hand for Angelina, who stood beside him. Ron felt that something was different about George somehow – aside from Angelina's presence, of course.

"Come on, Ange. Let's get out of here before Ginny and Harry burst in and try making it a six-some."

She still looked embarrassed, but she followed without question. On her way out, she managed to exchange a small, knowing smile with Hermione, and a soft apology.

When they were gone, there was a lengthy pause. Then, Ron and Hermione dissolved into laughter.

"What in Merlin's name? Did you know they were dating?"

"I didn't even know they fancied each other!"

"George and Angelina. Who knew? I think they make a wonderful couple."

"Yeah, something was different about him."

"I noticed that too, but I couldn't put my finger on it."

"Well, good on George! Blimey, it can't be comfortable enough in here for activities like that one."

"So you weren't thinking of trying any activities that may be similar to that one when you first opened the door to this place?"

"What? Of course not!"

She laughed, and it was infectious, so he did too.

It was then that he realized why George seemed so different.

For the first time in a month and a half, he had smiled.

It was near the end of July before any more excitement happened. Ron and Hermione sat at the kitchen table playing exploding snap when there was a sudden scratching at the window.

"Ginny's school letter must've finally arrived. It's funny to think it won't be signed McGonagall anymore – I wonder who the new deputy is. Funny, I never even bothered to …"

Ron, who'd stood up to let the owl in, trailed off. There were two Hogwarts letters attached to its leg. And one of them read: Hermione Granger.

He spun around, the offending envelope clutched in his hand. Hermione had gone white, and she stared at her feet. "Why would they send you a letter? Didn't you tell McGonagall about the Ministry position?"

She chewed her lip. "I – I've given it a lot of thought, but I couldn't come to terms with finishing only six years and going straight into the position. I want to be prepared when I enter whatever career field I choose. And I'm not sure I want to begin in Magical law, anyway."

His jaw dropped. "When were you going to tell me about this?"

"I'm not sure. I meant to tell you, honestly, but it wasn't certain yet. It still isn't. I haven't made my final decision yet. I simply … wanted to keep my options open."

Ron felt his perfect fantasy of their post-war lives together in London evaporate. He told himself that he needed to be supportive of whatever choice she made – internship or Hogwarts – and that he had no right to be angry that she'd kept it from him when she hadn't even made a decision yet. Still, he felt his face heat up.

"So you've talked to McGonagall?"

"Yes. The good news is, though, if I did go to Hogwarts, I'd get to room with Ginny this year, and she wouldn't have to be alone with Romilda Vane! And her and Harry are going to see each other loads – I'll even break the rules and apparate from Hogsmeade any time I can."

Just then, Harry, Ginny, Molly and Arthur entered the kitchen.

"Finally, the book lists!" Ginny snatched hers from the owl. Numbly, Ron walked over to Hermione and handed the envelope he was holding to her. She took it with a worried look in his direction.

"Hermione, dear, what is it you've got there?"

Hermione flushed and looked up at Molly. "Well, it's my Hogwarts acceptance letter."

The gathered crowd erupted with noise. Ginny roared in excitement, and the rest of them couldn't seem to stop badgering her with opinions and questions.

"What about the internship?"

"How exciting!"

"I always knew you'd finish."

All the while, Ron stood next to her, still at a loss, trying to picture Hermione at Hogwarts without them. He noticed that she had a strange look on her face, and her fingers, clutched around the envelope, were frozen.

"What is it?" he asked quietly.

She stared at him in shock. Slowly, she broke the seal and pulled something from the envelope. Purple letters "HG" were etched on the front of a small, familiar badge.

For one bizarre moment, Ron wondered why they'd made her a badge with her initials on it, and then he realized.

"Head Girl!" The voice came from his mum. She hugged Hermione tightly to her chest. "We're so proud of you!"

Ginny nearly danced with glee. "Hermione's in a dorm with me and she's Head Girl!"

"They should've given this to someone in Ginny's year," Hermione finally said softly.

Everyone fell silent.

"Come off it, Hermione! You've wanted this since you first found out you were a witch."

"I know but … I don't want them to reward me with something like this just because I helped Harry defeat Voldemort. It doesn't feel right."

Harry snorted. "Of course, this is a badge for your help in the war and couldn't possibly have anything to do with your academic performance."

She still looked pained. "What about the girls who've been dreaming about this for as long as I have? Won't they be angry?"

Ginny laughed this time. "We have by far the smallest class at Hogwarts, and you outperform anyone my age by a land slide. No one in their right mind will think you don't deserve it."

As hurt and disappointed as he was that Hermione wouldn't be a quick floo away for the next year, Ron was overwhelmingly proud of her. Of course she would be the one to achieve a childhood dream and immediately insist that someone else deserved it more.

"Hermione, giving that badge to anyone besides you would have been mental."

She shot him a thankful smile. "Well. I suppose this decision just got a lot easier."

Ginny cheered, and the rest of them muttered their congratulations before leaving with Ginny to see what she would need for her seventh year. Ginny shouted her excitement a moment later when, from her own letter, a Quidditch Captain's badge fell out.

Back in the kitchen, Ron and Hermione sat in silence for a long moment.

"Blimey. Head Girl. That's amazing."

She sighed. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"That's all right. Maybe it's better you waited."

"Yeah?"

He shrugged. "Maybe. I'm glad I didn't get a chance to try and talk you out of it."

She smiled. "Head Girl. I can't believe it."

Ron leaned forward and kissed her. "I can."

Despite herself, he could tell that she was pleased. "Thank you."

"Of course. Although I may just be sucking up because you're Head Girl and all. Your highness."

"Oh, come off it! You wouldn't dream of brown nosing."

He smirked. "You're right. Care to be killed in a game of wizard's chess?"

"You're on."

With Hermione and Ginny headed back to Hogwarts and Ron working with George, only Harry was left to decide his future plans. One day, a week after Ginny's seventeenth birthday ("You did not get me a Nimbus, Hermione, you did not get me a Nimbus!"), Ron and Harry made their way to the Ministry where Harry was to have his entrance interview to become an auror. Ron never made the marks necessary, so he only accompanied Harry because he didn't want to be left alone with the girls shopping for school supplies.

Walking into the building brought memories flooding back. Ron was pleased to see the "Magic is Might" statue gone from the center of the atrium when they walked in. They sat and waited for Gawain Robards, the head of the auror department, to call Harry in.

"Harry Potter."

Ron gave Harry an encouraging grin, and the two men disappeared down a hallway together. Though it only took a few minutes, it felt like longer that Ron waited on the hard chair for them to come out. When they did, Ron stood up to go.

"Wait. Aren't you Ron Weasley?"

He paused. "Erm … yeah."

"You don't have any interest in becoming an auror, then?"

"Well, I mean, it's not so much a matter of interest as grades. I never did as well as Harry in school."

"Academics are only a portion of it, and a minor portion at that."

Ron frowned. "They always told us that to be an auror we needed top marks."

"For most people, that's correct. But then, most people haven't had anywhere close to the type of real life experience that you do when they graduate."

Ron stared between the man and Harry, who grinned in excitement.

"No, I suppose not, but Harry did most of it."

"That's not true!" Harry interjected firmly. "Ron did loads of it – first year he sacrificed himself on a giant chess set and got us into a guarded dungeon. Second year he fought off a whole crowd of acromantulas and made it into the Chamber of Secrets all without a proper wand!"

The man seemed impressed already. Ron opened his mouth to protest, but it seemed Harry was on a roll.

"Third year he helped fight off a dementors with a broken leg, fourth year he helped me with every Triwizard task –" Ron thought this was a stretch, but knew he had no hope of interrupting until Harry was finished "– fifth year he helped contain a giant and fought an entire group of death eaters at the Ministry and the next year he fought them again in the astronomy tower – I had nothing to do with that – and then for the past year, he's been on the run with me fighting – he fought Bellatrix Lestrange and whole groups of snatchers and, well, you were at the Battle of Hogwarts. He dueled a thousand death eaters there. And those are just the things I can think of right off the top of my head! I'd've died a million times over if it weren't for Ron."

The three of them were silent for a moment after this rather excessive endorsement by Harry.

"Well," Robards finally said. "I don't suppose you'd come in for an interview next week? I get the feeling you're being too modest, especially after Mr. Potter's glowing review. And it's no mystery to anyone in this office how pivotal your role was in this war, Mr. Weasley."

Ron honestly did not feel like he was exhibiting any false modesty. It all seemed much better when Harry listed it all at once like that. Still, he found himself agreeing to an interview the following week.

"Any chance your friend Ms. Granger would be interested?"

Ron and Harry exchanged an amused glance, but shook their heads.

The man looked disappointed, but waved them off.

Harry received word that he was accepted in the auror department the next morning. They'd forgone two stages of mandatory interviews as he, apparently, was qualified enough.

Ron went back to the interview the next week without any expectations. Only Harry knew that it was even happening. However, as with Harry, they notified him the next morning that, should he choose to accept, he would start the rigorous regime of training at the end of the summer.

When he finally plucked up the courage to tell Hermione, he could see that she was disappointed, even as she tried to hide it. "An auror! Ron that's … well … wonderful."

"I know! I couldn't even believe it! I didn't even have to show them any skill sets."

"So … aren't aurors often away on long missions?"

Ron paused to consider what this might mean for them. "Yes … but I'll still meet you in Hogsmeade any time I can."

"I suppose, yes. It's just beginning to feel like we're never going to see each other at all."

"I know it feels like that, but we will. As if Harry and I could honestly go for very long without you saving us every five minutes."

She smiled. "I'll miss you both."

He pulled her tightly to his chest and they stayed like that for a long time.

Months later, the night of August 31 was not a good one. Tensions were high, and Ron and Hermione stood only feet from each other and shouted.

"Do you even care that I'm Head Girl? Do you even care at all?"

"Do I care? I have always cared!"

"Ever since you found out I was going back –"

"Ever since you found out I was going to be an auror –"

"–things haven't been the same!"

"Well you sure kept it from me long enough!"

"If only I'd known you'd react so well!"

"You could have told me!"

"Why? I can make decisions on my own, Ron!"

"Of course you can! That's all you ever do!"

"I WILL NOT BE THAT GIRL!"

"WHAT GIRL?"

The pitch of Hermione's voice lowered, but only by an octave or two.

"The girl who gets a boyfriend and throws away her future – everything she'd ever worked for away because of it!"

Ron recoiled as if he'd been slapped.

"Throws away her future? Is that what this is? I've always known you were too good for me – smarter than I am, always known you would be more successful, that you would change the bloody world, Hermione, and I thought that I'd always encouraged it!"

He panted, his face red, but his next words were quiet and even.

"I didn't realize I was holding you back from your future, or I would have stayed the hell away."

"Wait, Ron, I didn't mean it like that!"

He spun on his heel, the words he'd always been afraid to hear still ringing in his ears. They'd been in the orchard, so, quietly as he could, he made his way to the top landing and flopped onto his bed. He glanced over, saw the empty cot, and remembered that Harry slept in Ginny's room every night, and Hermione slept in his. He knew enough to understand that Hermione would never dream of interrupting Harry and Ginny on their last night together, which meant that she would probably end up sleeping on the squashy sofa.

Their last night together.

What was he thinking? Hermione was going back to Hogwarts tomorrow, and he was lying in bed, acting like a prat. He jumped up from the mattress and retraced his steps. Sure enough, Hermione sat on the sofa, her knees pulled to her chest.

"Hey."

She glanced up at him, and her swollen eyes sent a pang through his heart.

"Hey."

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I care that you're head girl. I love that you're head girl. I guess I've just been worried."

"Of what?"

He flushed and looked down. "Of losing you."

"You won't."

"I know … I've just come close so many times. Most of them due to my own stupidity."

Her resulting smile was watery, but she patted the seat next to her. He walked over and sat down.

"You're not going to lose me, Ron."

"That's the other thing. What you said – Blimey, Hermione, I want you to do everything you've always wanted. If being with me is holding you back –"

"– It's not!"

"– if it is, then I don't want it."

Hermione sighed and faced him. "Ron, I didn't say any of that because you were holding me back or because you haven't encouraged me to accomplish whatever I want. The problem was I felt so right about returning to Hogwarts. The internship was not the department I wanted to start in, and I wanted to help rebuild the Hogwarts that I knew for the students who might come in. For the muggleborns entering the school after the war – especially for those poor eleven-year-olds that were in hiding or were tormented for their blood status – I wanted to show them that muggleborns were just as good. I hate to admit it, but I was also desperate to have some N.E.W.T. scores to show for six years of effort. I had every reason in the world to go back to Hogwarts, but the only thing I could think of was how badly I wanted to work near you. It was why I didn't say anything – I couldn't make up my mind. And that terrified me – it terrified me that the smart, successful, independent witch I'd always pictured myself becoming was suddenly tempted to walk away from what I knew I wanted because it didn't seem worth it to be away from you."

She paused to breathe, and Ron slid his arms around her waist and pulled her against his chest.

"But you did make the right decision. And for what it's worth, it took every ounce of will power I had not to write McGonagall the moment you got your letter and beg for her to take me back with you. I almost did it, too, but then I got the auror position and I knew that you deserved someone who would take a risk to accomplish what they wanted to in life."

She kissed his cheek. "I was only able to come to terms with the decision to go back to Hogwarts because I knew you'd want me to do what I felt is right, regardless."

Ron's nod turned into a yawn. "You're right. Now, before we fall asleep just like this on mum's sofa, why don't we head up to bed?"

He helped her stand, and she leaned into him. "Thanks for coming back for me."

"Sorry for walking away in the first place."

She shrugged. "I needed a moment alone anyways. Merlin. It's been ages since we've rowed like that."

He draped his arm around her shoulders. "I'm sure it's not the last time."

"I don't mind the rowing, as long as our make ups are always this pleasant."

"I can think of a few ways for making up to be even more pleasant."

She blushed, but still managed a coy smirk as she pulled away from him. "You'll have to tell me all about them when we get to your room."

"If you insist."

"Although I am awfully tired." She gave a theatrical yawn. "I might be fast asleep by the time you make it up there."

And with that, she disapparated.

Marveling at what an excellent flirt Hermione turned out to be, Ron chuckled and spun on the spot and arrived only moments later to a Hermione who was very much awake.

The next morning, Ron and Harry, after lots of kisses, hugs, winks and last minute luggage checks, waved goodbye to the girls. Most of the kissing, of course, had come from Hermione's mum and Molly, who was terribly sentimental about sending her last child off to Hogwarts for a final year.

Harry and Ron, on the other hand, had both settled on a quick peck on the lips for Ginny and Hermione respectively.

Both of them were content with the more than satisfactory goodbyes said the night before.

"SHOW THEM WHO'S BOSS!" Ron shouted.

"ONLY LET UGLY BLOKES ON THE TEAM!" Harry called.

Hermione and Ginny laughed and waved until the whistle blew and they were out of sight. Ron watched the train disappear and hoped the weeks until he would visit for her birthday would go by quickly. Already, the thought of being away from her so frequently made him impatient for it all to be over. With that in mind, his next words slipped out unchecked.

"I'm going to marry her, you know."

Harry looked a bit surprised, but only grinned.

"I know."

Together, they turned and walked back through the barrier, past crowds of gawking passersby, towards their new flat in Diagon Alley, towards the Ministry where they now worked, towards a future that, Ron could feel, was brighter than anything they'd left behind.