A/N: Sorry this took so long to get up. This is the final chapter of TPA. I hope you enjoyed the story and thank you for sticking with me for so long.

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Lee stepped out of the fireplace humming a Weird Sisters song to himself. He was curious to see whether George had actually gone through with asking out Hermione or if he had been all bravado with no follow-through and scarpered off instead. He walked out of the shop's office, looking around curiously. There was only a quarter hour before the shop opened, so he couldn't still be upstairs in his flat; he had to be in the shop somewhere. It was feasible that George was lost among the items - it wouldn't be the first time for either of them - but he wasn't used to the shop being so quiet, even so early in the morning.

He heard a rustle of boxes being moved and what sounded like a small box hitting the floor from a decent height, coming from the storage room. He headed back towards the noise. Maybe George was taking inventory; Lee wouldn't be remiss to helping if it made things move faster. He turned a corner, heading into the overstuffed room.

"Oi, GeoooOOOOH SWEET MOTHER OF MERLIN!"

Lee's eyes widened to what he was sure was comical proportions before he slapped his hand over his eyes and whirled around. Unfortunately, he was pretty sure that the image of George and Hermione snogging - with Hermione's legs wrapped around his best mate's waist and George's arms hooked under his friend and ally's arse as he kissed her up against the wall - was going to be burned into his retinas for all of eternity.

There was a loud gasp followed by a rough-voiced cry of "DAMMIT LEE!"

"How was I supposed to know?!" he shouted, blinking furiously in an attempt to unsee that moment.

There was a whisper, followed by the sound of feet hitting the ground. Lee figured it was safe to turn around and uncover his face.

"Merlin, Lee, what the hell are you doing here at half seven in the bloody morning?" George asked, looking very upset and yet very unthreatening with his mussed hair and bright red ears.

"What the hell are you doing…doing that," he asked, gesturing emphatically at Hermione, who was still standing next to the wall and adjusting her blouse, "half an hour before you open the bloody shop?"

George started to retort, but Hermione huffed, rolled her eyes, and walked forward, giving George a shove backwards. He stumbled slightly and gave her a questioning look.

"Just because you were interrupted does not mean you get to be a prat to your best friend," she said, pointing at him in a manner incredibly reminiscent of Molly Weasley when she yelled at one of her children. George started to retort but Hermione let out a little noise of warning and raised her finger. He rolled his eyes and fell into a mulish silence.

"What have you done to train him that well?" Lee asked wonderingly. "Because whatever it was, we need to bottle it and sell it. We'd make a fortune."

Hermione laughed. George shot Lee a rude hand gesture, but was clearly holding back a grin.

"Hello, Lee," said Hermione, coming forward and hugging him. "I apologize for the state we were in—"

"Really?" asked George smugly.

Hermione blushed slightly. "Let me amend that - I apologize that you saw us in that state," she said primly, although she seemed to be biting down a slight smile.

Lee saw George smirk from behind her.

"What brings you to the shop so early?"

"Well, I came to see if George actually went through with everything last night and apparently, everything seems to be getting on like gangbusters!" Lee and George exchanged grins while Hermione turned to George, hands on hips and looking fondly exasperated.

"You had to be coached into action. Why am I not surprised?"

"I just needed to talk it through," said George.

"Did you have to hold his hand and walk him through it?" Hermione asked Lee.

"Oi!" George shouted before rushing forwards and grabbing Hermione about the waist, lifting and shaking her slightly. Hermione half-laughed, half-yelled and tried to work his arms from around her.

"Nah," said Lee with a laugh, "that would have been really awkward for you and me. I mean, I think you're fit and all, 'Mione, but I'd rather not put my hands where Georgie's have been." He gestured to her bum, which made Hermione blush furiously and George cackle with laughter. "But seriously, you two, what happened last night?"

Hermione and George smiled at each other, George's arms wrapped softly around her waist now.

"You two didn't shag, did you?"

"LEE!" Hermione cried.

"Not with her barring me from her apartment last night," said George.

"OH MY GOD, GEORGE!" she shouted, mortified. "Oh god. I'm leaving," she said, pushing out of George's arms and walking quickly from the room.

George and Lee laughed as they followed her out to the front of the shop.

"But seriously, though, you didn't, right? Because I have money riding on this."

"What, seriously?" laughed George.

Lee heard a crackle and immediately felt a sharp pain scattering across his abdomen, as though fifty sets of sharp-nailed fingers were pinching his flesh. "Ow! Bloody hell! You tosser!" He quickly performed the counter-hex before glaring across the room at a smug Hermione.

"Oi, don't talk to my girlfriend that way," said George.

Lee stopped rubbing his sides and turned to stare at George. "Sorry, come again. Girlfriend?"

George gave no reply, just smiled.

Lee turned to face Hermione, who was at the till, checking the money. "Well done, you," he said with a grin. "You sure know how to get what you want."

Hermione chuckled and winked conspiratorially at Lee. He crossed and sat down on the counter next to Hermione, knocking over the coins she had been neatly stacking. She sighed before shooting him a look.

"I know you think I'm joking, but really, well done," Lee murmured to her, knowing George was busy with something on the next floor. "I know he doesn't understand what this past year has been like, but I do. I'm really happy for you two; you both deserve to have someone there who pushes you and takes care of you."

"You do too, Lee," Hermione interrupted, but he talked over her with a dismissive wave of his hand.

"I'm really pleased everything got sorted out. I know we didn't start out friends, but I think—"

"Lee, of course we're friends," Hermione cut in quickly, wrapping her hand around his. "Don't you dare say any different."

He laughed. "Allies, yeah?"

"Absolutely. And I know you're saying that we deserve this, but so do you, Lee. You make so many people happy, you—"

"Ugh," he groaned. "Are you going to be one of those people who, now that they got their fairy tale ending, they're gonna tell me that my 'other half' is 'out there' and that she's 'on her way' and all that crap?"

Hermione gave him a look. "Now why would I do that? Do I seem remotely like someone who believes that nonsense?"

Lee thought about it for a moment before he shook his head.

"Lee, you don't need anybody," said Hermione resolutely. "Nor do I, for that matter. We're both complete on our own. But I firmly believe that anyone would be lucky to be with you, and maybe someone needs you."
Lee watched as the first customers of the day ambled in, eyes roving the shop interestedly.

"And as for that supposed perfect ending…did you know he fake proposed?"

Lee gaped at her. "What? No!"

Hermione rolled her eyes, her cheeks pinking slightly. "He got down on one knee in front of the whole restaurant and everything. I was so mortified. I thought he was really proposing."

Lee laughed.

"And just between you and me," she whispered, "If he had, I would have said 'no'."

He gaped at her. "What? Really?"

Hermione nodded. "Just because we've been living in each other's back pockets for a year doesn't mean I know him well enough to marry him. Plus, we both know I'm not good with being impulsive."

Lee regarded her before ruffling her hair, eliciting a noise of aggravation. "Like I said, well done, Granger. Now you've just got to keep him in line."

Hermione grinned at him, but Seamus Finnegan, who had just entered the shop and waved at her, drew her attention away. She was in the midst of waving back when George appeared out of nowhere, making a beeline for Seamus and looking determined.

"Oh no," mumbled Hermione, "is he going to—"

"Hello, Seamus. How can I help you?" asked George, blocking the fellow Gryffindor's way to the front counter.

"'lo George," he said cheerily. "Just needing to talk to Hermione for a mo'."

"She's busy at the moment," said George smoothly.

Hermione rubbed her face with her palms as Lee rolled his eyes. "Do you think he's going to be like this all the time?" asked Hermione wearily.

"Trying to block you from all the single blokes? Oh yeah. He was already bad enough before you lot got together."

"Well," Seamus said with a confused smile, "she doesn't look too tied up."

"George," Hermione called warningly.

"She's taken," George blurted out.

"Oh," said Seamus in surprise. "Congrats, Hermione. And you too, Lee. You two look good together."

Lee burst into laughter and Hermione blushed and giggled as George sputtered, his ears turning red.

Seamus looked around, brow furrowed. "Did I miss something?"

"She's dating me!" George half-shouted.

"Oh." He shifted awkwardly. "Really?"

"What does that mean?" squawked George indignantly.

"It's just kind of…I dunno…an odd match," Seamus said awkwardly.

"But her and Lee makes sense?"

"Seamus has good taste," called Lee. "Cheers, mate. You get a product on the house from me today. That made my day."

"Sorry about that, mate," said Seamus, clapping George on the shoulder. "Hermione, can I borrow you?"

"Certainly," she said with a grin, walking around the counter and walking off with Seamus.

Lee grinned over at George, who was still slightly pink around the neck. "This is going to be so fun to watch."

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"George, you need to stop this."

"What are you talking about?"

"This is ridiculous!"

"You are acting a bit mad, mate," added Lee conversationally.

"You need to stop trying to scare off every male that walks into the shop!"

"I am no—"

"You're acting like I'm going to be stolen away any minute. I am allowed to talk to them, George. It's my job."

"I don't like that they ask for you specifically," George said, pouting slightly.

"Mate, if you took away all the people who want Hermione's help, you'd lose half your customers."

"But—"

"George," Hermione said sternly, again reminiscent of Mrs. Weasley, "this needs to stop. You're being ridiculous. We haven't even been dating a full day!"

"Well, he's been after you for a while, so he's got a lot of crazy stored up," said Lee.

George shot him a dirty look. "You're not helping."

"George, you have to trust me," said Hermione sternly.

"I trust you! It's them I don't trust! Seamus asked for you specifically. That's suspicious."

"He wanted help looking for a gift for Dean," Hermione hissed. "Really, George?"

George looked mildly abashed. He mumbled something that included the words sorry and stupid and worried.

Hermione softened and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around George's waist. "I'm not going anywhere," she said quietly.

George ducked down and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. Lee made gagging noises behind them. Hermione laughed, resting her head against her boyfriend's chest as George unraveled one of his hands from around Hermione's waist to push the side of Lee's head away.

"Just because I helped you two get together doesn't mean I want to see you two at it again, a'right?" he called after them.

"Erm, excuse me," asked a warm, husky voice behind him.

Lee was immediately struck with the sense of familiarity. He turned around and came face to face with one of the loveliest women he had ever met. He couldn't explain why he was so struck by her beauty; by each of her parts, she was most assuredly "pretty." She was average height, with dark skin, rich brown hair that haloed her with an afro, and a zaftig figure. She had high cheekbones and full lips, but the first thing that caught Lee's attention were her eyes - they were a bright green-blue that was almost clear in their luminescence. They gave an immediate impression of kindness and intelligence.

He realized he had been staring, and immediately snapped his slack jaw into action. "Hello," he said, "how can I help you?"

"I'm sorry to bother you, but are you Lee Jordan?"

Lee chuckled. "I am indeed. What can I do for you?"

The woman looked down at her hands bashfully before making eye contact once again. "I know this might sound odd, but I always promised I'd do this if I met you...but I wanted to thank you for doing "Potter Watch" during the War. I can't tell you how much it reassured me and my family."

Lee could feel himself blushing. That was the last thing he had been expecting. He started to respond, but she started talking again.

"It gave everyone I knew reassurance that things would work out in the end. And it was nice to hear someone on the radio if I couldn't get there."

That's when it finally hit Lee why that smoky voice seemed so familiar. "Wait, aren't you the DJ for Channel 1 of the Wizarding Wireless Network?"

The woman looked surprised. "I am! They wouldn't let me report the truth of the War, so I went off the air, which is why I loved your reports so much."

"Well, I'm glad they were appreciated."

She smiled, hesitating for a moment before she nodded her farewell, and started off towards the door.

Lee watched her retreating back, running his hand through his hair. There was something about her that made him intrigued in a way he hadn't been in years. As the front door jingled, he realized he didn't even know her name. Well, her real name, not her radio name.

He rushed out the door, deftly avoiding running into someone milling around the bargain barrels. He ran until he was a few paces from her before he slowed to a walk. He reached out and rested a couple fingers on her shoulder.

She turned, a shocked smile lighting up her face.

"I realized that you know my name, but I don't know yours," he said, trying to sound casual and not like he had suddenly found this information imperative.

She grinned and looked down, not meeting his eye. "You'll laugh at me."

"Why would I laugh?"

Her cheeks darkened in a blush. He thought it was adorable.

"I promise you I won't laugh."

She gave him a calculating look with those mesmerizing eyes before her mouth tilted up in a wry grin. "My name is River."

He stared at her for a minute before grinning. "It's nice to meet you, River." He could feel his heart thundering in his chest. It had been years since he'd done something like this. "Umm...I know this is forward...but, do you mind if I owl you sometime?"

She blinked a few times, clearly caught off-guard, before beaming at him. "I wouldn't mind that at all, Lee."

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Lee hardly remembered the walk back to the shop after trading information with River. He walked in, still feeling dazed, and headed towards the counter. About halfway there, he realized Hermione was watching him curiously.

"What was that all about?" she asked.

Wordlessly, Lee held up the ripped piece of parchment with River's information scribbled on it.

Hermione beamed. "Well done, Jordan."