Author's Note: So here we go. This is the epilogue. I'm sorry, but all stories have endings. Unless the author abandons the story, but that's irrelevant right now. I tried to incorporate a few little memories in here to answer a few questions, like what happened to Markovitch – I knew yous would never let that go xD And I do realize that this is very short. I wanted it to be a short and sweet ending. This is right after the battle. Literally right after it, like Harry just killed Voldemort a few hours ago. Anyways, without further ado, I present the epilogue.

Tears of a Mourning Bookworm

The Epilogue

"Ron, Luna, do you two mind if we wonder off for a little while? We'll be back as soon as we can," Harry told the couple.

Luna smiled brightly. "Of course, Harry."

"And you have no idea where we are," Hermione instructed.

"Haven't a clue where those lovebirds went," Ron said, causing her to blush.

Harry and Hermione nodded and thanked them, and rushed off to somewhere where nobody could find them. Harry wasn't even sure where they were going exactly, although it did look vaguely familiar. In fact, he noticed now, it was the same corridor where Markovitch had stopped them and demanded an extra appointment with Hermione. He smiled as he thought back to when the terrible Comforter had gotten fired; just a month after Hermione had hit a major artery – they hadn't talked about that incident itself since then – the Ministry was forced to remove her from her position. Harry wasn't sure how severely Dumbledore had threatened them, but it was certainly effective.

"I thought I'd never be able to escape," Harry whispered, holding a hand smaller than his own.

Hermione giggled and kissed his cheek. "We only have a small amount of time before people notice you're missing."

"But can't people understand that I want to spend time with the most beautiful girl in the world?" This earned him another kiss. Harry wrapped his arms around her waist as she rested her head on his broad shoulder.

"I really wouldn't mind a nice, comfortable bed right now," Hermione muttered sleepily, moments later. "And some hot chocolate."

"What about me?"

She paused, biting her lip and giving him that playful look he hadn't seen since they had began searching for horcruxes. Harry had missed it. All that had been on their minds was the determination to defeat Voldemort. He was responsible for the Potters' and Grangers' deaths, for Hermione being tortured, for Harry almost dying several times, and then actually dying for a few minutes several hours ago. They were both personally affected by him and were fueled with revenge.

The summer before they were supposed to enter their seventh year, Harry sensed what he had to do in order to finally finish off the evil man that had been after him for years. When he had told Hermione what he was going to do, she immediately wanted to be by his side. He recommended she shouldn't go along; he wanted to keep her safe. But it was no use. She was going with him, no matter what.

"You're too busy saving the world, Mr. Potter."

"No, I'm not."

Hermione looked up at him, her expression of playfulness still upon her pretty face. "Okay, for now you're not."

They were silent for several minutes in their embrace. "You haven't talked about it at all, and it's been hours," Harry said, breaking the silence.

"What's there to say?" Her expression faded into one of seriousness.

He wasn't sure how to answer this, so he remained quiet and continued to hold her in his arms. "Thank God, I guess, that it's all over."

"Mmm." She looked up at him and smiled. "You know, you're still just Harry to me, no many how many bastards you kill."

The last time Harry was this happy was when, over a year over, he kissed Hermione Granger on the lips in the common room. Of course he was happy every moment he spent with her, but times like these, where triumph was nearly bouncing off their auras, were priceless.

Hermione stood on her toes and kissed him unexpectedly. He happily kissed back and cupped her face in his hands. She smiled against his lips and then broke away. "I love you."

The last time she said those three words to him was when they merely escaped Bathilda Bagshot's home after being hunted down by Nagini.

"I'm so sorry," she mumbled as she held out his broken wand. "Harry, I'm so sorry, here, have my wand --"

Surprisingly, he wasn't angry. She looked like she was going to cry. "Don't worry about it. I'm not taking your wand, you need to protect yourself."

He took her into his embrace. "It's fine, we're fine."

"I was so scared," she whispered. "I thought we weren't – you weren't – getting out of there alive..."

"Shh," he whispered back. "We're safe now."

"I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you --"

"Hermione --"

She began crying into his shoulder. "I love you."

"I love you too, Hermione," he told her now. Harry ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her forehead.

"It really is over, isn't it?" she asked in near disbelief. Realization seemed to be taking over her, and tears met the edges of her eyes. "He's dead." And then she cried. Tears of joy rolled out of her chestnut eyes like waterfalls, and her smile was unbelievably huge. Harry returned the smile. The Death Eaters had fled in hiding or were captured. He held her tighter, not ever wanting to return to the Great Hall.

Nobody could hurt her anymore.

Author's Note: Well kids, that's it. Aaaaah I can't believe it's over. But thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited, and alerted this story. I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it :)