Happy Valentine's Day! This isn't connected to my seven-book Albus Potter Series, but I guess there's no reason it wouldn't be in the same universe... You don't have to read those, though, this is just Ron and Hermione. Enjoy!

Hermione cast a slow gaze back up at the castle. Seven years…

Well, eight if you counted the one where she was killing Voldemort…

Seven of the best years of her life, in this castle. And now she was finally leaving. Finally going out into the world. Tomorrow, already, she would be starting her internship at the Ministry.

One year ago, she was battling for her life against Voldemort's top lieutenant. Now she had finished her N.E.W.T.s—ten of them—and it was time to get out of the library and out into the field. This was a perfect moment, sailing on the Black Lake and gazing back at the castle. They'd picked the perfect way to send off the graduating seventh years: at the age of eleven, they'd sailed in wonder towards the castle, filled with dreams. Now they were sailing away, out of the castle, filled with the potential to make those dreams into realities.

The only thing that would have made this moment more perfect… would have been Ron.

She wished her friends, who had been with her all through school (sans pre-Halloween in their first year and excepting for a couple of arguments) were here graduating with her today. But they chose not to come back. Death Eaters still needed to be rounded up. She wasn't a fighter—she had to finish her education. But it was infinitely harder, sitting in the library alone, and even though she knew and loved the people who were with her now, it would have been so much more special if they could have finished everything together.

"Hermione?" asked Luna, the moonlight reflecting in her wide eyes. "Is everything all right?"

Hermione's eyes had started watering, and she hadn't realized it. She drew up her sleeve to wipe them. "Oh, yes, I'm fine," she replied, trying to straighten out the tremors in her voice. "Just a bit emotional, is all."

"Yes, it really is a sight," said Luna, staring back at the castle. "And we're leaving it forever now. It truly is sad. But it's also very happy…"

"Yeah, cheer up, Hermione!" said Ginny, nudging her. "If it wasn't for us, they would still be following Voldemort's agenda at Hogwarts."

Hermione smiled and nodded, and turned her eye on the beautiful castle again, knowing that this wouldn't be the last time she'd see it. Someday she'd return—maybe with her children.

Then there was a splashing sound—the kicking of water. Hermione turned towards the sound curiously. Something was in the water.

"Did somebody fall in?" asked Luna, peering through narrowed eyes to get a better glimpse.

Hermione tilted her head curiously. Someone was swimming towards them—from the shore. What on Earth?

"Lumos," she said, standing.

A beam of light was cast from her wand, searching across the water, winding through the small waves, until it came across a head of red hair.

Ron was swimming towards their boat.

She didn't even bother to slide out of her robes before she jumped out of the rocking boat and started swimming out to meet him.