Forgiveness

Twenty-five years to the date, Harry defeated Voldemort, the Dark Lord falling at his feet. She remembered being thankful that it was finally over but angry at what it had cost. Everything Dumbledore put them through, she felt could have been avoided if their headmaster just would have been honest. Instead, he played games and kept secrets and raised pigs for slaughter.

For the first time since being on the run, Hermione pulled out the Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore. The only good thing that Rita Skeeter did as a reporter for the Daily Prophet, even though it hurt Harry to read it and learn the truth. Hermione didn't want to believe it herself at first, but the evidence was overwhelming.

"Love, why do you have that out?" Harry said, walking into their bedroom. She was sitting against the far wall, her legs crossed.

Hermione sighed and shut the book. "I'm still trying to find it in me to forgive him for what he did to you and so many others. The war could have ended much sooner had he just confided in someone — anyone!"

Harry sat down next to her, and she dropped her head onto his shoulder. "I do believe he thought he was doing what was right at the time." Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but Harry stopped her. "Now, I am not defending him, but we don't know the details of everything that went on."

"You forgave him." It wasn't a question.

Harry nodded. "You know I did...a long time ago." He paused. "And I think it's time you do too. Let go, Hermione. Let go."

Hermione took a deep breath and closed her eyes, a few tears finding their way out of the corner of her eyes. It was just so hard to forgive a man that she believed only had his own interests in mind. But she supposed Harry was right. He always was.

She opened her eyes and lifted her head off of her husband's shoulder. "Okay."

"Okay?"

Hermione nodded. "It's so silly of me—"

"It's not silly of you to hold a grudge against him, Hermione," Harry interrupted her. "From everything we went through and him skirting the truth, we have every right to be angry at him. But why hold onto that anger when forgiveness if much more freeing?"

"Why are you always right?"

Harry laughed. "I'm not. That's usually you."

Hermione pressed a kiss against his lips before pulling back, gazing into the green eyes she fell in love with all of those years ago. It was crazy how the years passed, and that love for him only grew.

"I love you."

He pulled her close and pressed a kiss against her temple, intertwining their fingers. "And I, you."