Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything recognizable belongs to J.K. Rowling.

---

As Ron and Hermione rounded the corner where they had seen Luna and Harry last, they saw the two they were in pursuit of climbing into a carriage, pulled by a thestral (it still disturbed Hermione how she could see them.) Luna was just being helped into the carriage by Harry, his hand helping her up.

As fast as Hermione could run, she was still no physical match for Ron, who had longer legs and Quidditch training on his side. Ron sprinted ahead of her, grabbing the carriage door as Harry stepped inside and made to close it. Hermione sprinted faster ('Ignore… pain… in side…' Hermione thought, gritting her teeth,) and caught up to the carriage.

As she came closer, she could hear the conversation that Ron, Luna, and Harry were in.

"…let go of the door, Ron!"

Ron tugged on the carriage door deliberately. "No, just bloody hear us out!" Ron glanced at Hermione who had finally reached the carriage, panting heavily, and helped her inside. Ron scrambled inside dutifully after her.

The carriage door swiftly closed by Harry's pull, and the four sat in a few seconds of silence, only heavy breathing from Hermione disrupting the silence. As she looked up to catch everyone's eye, Harry was looking her with an amused expression.

"Excuse me if some of us don't run on a daily basis!" Hermione snapped, still catching her breath.

Harry held his hands up in defense, a small smile still gracing his face. "I wasn't saying anything."

Another few seconds of silence.

"I'm sorry, Harry!" Ron blurted out.

Harry, Luna, and Hermione raised their eyebrows waiting for him to continue.

Ron scratched the back of his head. "Er, well, it was still a git move to do the whole charade business, but you guys were right. We were being the gits first. I guess it was a whole, 'Hello, kettle, meet pot,' sort of deal earlier." Ron paused for a second. "Sorry, again, mate… And Luna."

Hermione looked at Ron, slightly shocked. Apparently, the shock was evident on her face, because Ron scowled. "What?"

Hermione shook her head, catching Harry's eye with a smile, and turned back to Ron. "Nothing. It's just that was the most sensitive thing I've heard from you all year, Ron."

Ron grumbled, crossing his arms. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it."

Everyone laughed and that eased the whole mood of the carriage.

"I forgive you, Ronald," Luna spoke up and Hermione could see Ron try to hide his delight at her words. Hermione caught Harry's eye again, both of them slightly grinning as they rolled their eyes at their best friend's behavior.

Ron squirmed a bit and coughed. "Well, er, thanks, Luna. It means a lot to me." He flushed, his cheeks tingeing slightly red.

"Aw, Ronnykins is blushing," Harry quipped, grinning.

Ron glared at his best friend. "Shut it, you. I'm still tee'd off at you."

"Why, Ron! What happened to the whole 'kettle meets pot' ordeal?" Harry cried out in mock despair.

Ron tinged red again as Luna laughed at this. "Shut it, Potter!"

Harry laughed, sharing an easy glance with Hermione.

Hermione stood, about to say something but at that, the carriage lurched to a stop.

The three remained in their seats, but the sudden stop caused Hermione to lunge forward, her hands in front of her to brace her fall and she met a soft, firm body instead of the hard floor.

"Oof!" Harry grunted, as Hermione took a hard fall into his lap, his arms around her to catch her fall ('His Seeker reflexes definitely came in handy here…' Hermione thought.)

Hermione was blushing as she avoided Harry's gaze. Ron and Luna seemed to be greatly amused at this for Ron cleared his throat and took Luna's hand.

"We'll leave you two alone…" Ron trailed off, holding back a laugh, and the two stepped out of the carriage, the door swinging closed and leaving Harry and Hermione alone.

--

Ron and Luna walked towards the castle, their hands linked, and Ron could find no other bliss that could match this. Finally, things in his life made sense (there was no other way to explain it, even if Ron had to resort to such… girly sentiments. 'Harry'll never let me hear the end of it,' Ron thought gloomily.) He felt happiness for his two best friends and a greater happiness for the girl beside him.

"Ronald, look!" Luna exclaimed, pointing upwards.

A single rain drop fell upon his nose as he looked up and he blinked. Luna's laugh resembled the pitter patter of rain ('speaking of…') upon a tin roof and his heart could not help but elate.

He wiped away the offending rain drop, his hands slightly shaking, before nervously chuckling. "Rain. We haven't had that in awhile."

Luna nodded, beaming at him as more began to fall, the slight drizzle turning into a heavy downpour. Ron cursed as the rain soaked his robes and he quickly glanced around to look for shelter. Luna grabbed his chin, causing him to stop his search.

"You're getting soaked!" Ron yelled, the sound of heavy rain causing him to raise his voice.

Luna laughed again. "I know, Ronald!"

Luna broke away from him, her face turned upwards to the sky, rain drops pelting her face. She spun a few times, giggling the whole time, spinning up mud at her feet.

Ron could not help but gape at this girl, this loony, yet wonderful girl. His throat seemed dry, despite everything around him being wet with the rain. Luna stopped twirling and looked at him, the lightning behind her illuminating her face so heavenly.

"What is it, Ronald?" She asked, the sound of the rain threatening to overwhelm her light, dreamy voice.

Ron shook his head with abandon, feeling things and emotions swell up in his chest, feeling himself fall for this girl, this loony girl, and again, he shook his head with resigned abandon, smiling.

"You're getting soaked!" He said again, grinning as he stepped towards her. He came to her, his shoes squishing in the mud she brought up with her twirling. The space between them was not even an inch, but it seemed entirely too far for him.

"You're getting soaked," he repeated, again, his voice barely distinguishable as he murmured the words.

Luna's eyes twinkled, and he felt himself fall again.

"You've said that, Ronald," she admonished him.

Ron brushed her wet blond hair out of her face, ignoring the loud, heavy rain falling upon them. The noise of the rain fell into a buzz in his ears as he stared upon her.

Ron was never smooth.

He didn't know how to do this. Bloody hell, she was the one who had kissed him first. Yet, his hands came up to frame her face, and he was amazed he had actually done so without elbowing her nose. His thumbs felt along her cheeks in circles, and he was surprised he hadn't managed to poke her in the eye.

He stepped closer to her, her pressing against him, reaching upwards on her toes, and he was amazed he didn't trip, despite the small distance. She had done all the talking, all he had done was stammer, like a fool in love (Ron gulped at that thought.) It was time for him to say something, and the pressure was overwhelming.

"Your necklace is mahogany," he managed to say, his words a mere whisper, but he had no doubt she heard them.

Luna began to smile. "Yes," she whispered back. But he didn't think she was agreeing with him or affirming his deduction. He thought that her yes was to his question, the question underneath his words spoken.

"Yes," she repeated, her arms coming up to behind his neck.

He knew she was his. She knew he was hers, always hers, that she had him, for as long as she wanted to have him.

He hesitated, blinking the rain out of his eyes. "Can I kiss you?" His heart beat and his skin thrummed from where it met Luna's own.

She had an amused smile, a small one upon her lips, before she replied, "You're getting soaked."

He closed his eyes and closed the final distance. He met his lips with hers, sinking into her taste.

Ron was still surprised he hadn't managed to miss, yet he knew from now on, that he could never miss her lips, his own always knowing where hers were. As she opened her mouth to him, pressing against him, he tasted her. She tasted like caramel and cinnamon and delicious treats, and she tasted like rain, tangy rain.

--

"You alright?" Harry asked Hermione, his arms gripping her as she regained her balance.

Hermione blushed. 'How had I managed to fall into Harry's lap? Convenient, really…'

"Yes, I'm fine. Just hadn't expected the carriage to stop so suddenly," Hermione replied.

Harry laughed. "Yes, well, carriages tend to do that, y'know, when we reach a destination," he teased.

Hermione rolled her eyes, poking his chest. "I knew that… git," she added for good measure, and looked away, smiling.

Harry rubbed the spot where she had poked him. "Ouch! Merlin, this one… what a temper!" Harry exclaimed dramatically.

Hermione laughed as she turned back to see him grinning at her. "Shut up. I know you're teasing me."

Harry looked exaggeratedly aghast, and gasped aloud. "Me? Tease Hermione Granger? Brightest witch of our age? Best friend extraordinaire? Unbelievable kisser? Never!"

Hermione blushed at the last one, and Harry laughed again, thinking her embarrassment was beyond adorable. He held her tighter as she tried to squirm away.

Hermione's cheeks were hot and she avoided looking at him in the eye. "You are such a git, Harry Potter."

Harry laughed again. "The git who caught you. No thank you in order?"

Hermione turned back to him, his eyes boring into hers. "Thank you… for catching me," Hermione said breathlessly, (because she was out of breath from falling, not because she was in Harry's embrace…)

Harry raised his eyebrows and a corner of his lips quirked up, no doubt at her breathless gratitude. He reached upwards and tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, his fingers trailing the curve of her cheek afterwards. Her breath caught. ('Okay, so maybe it is Harry's embrace…')

Harry chuckled. "I'll always be there to catch you." He said the words jokingly suave, but it came out as more of a promise. The two felt the underlying tone of his words.

Hermione looked in his eyes. "Whenever I fall?"

It was Harry's turn to catch his breath, and Hermione felt his chest inhale. Harry's gaze was smoldering as he replied, with a low whisper, "Whenever you fall."

Hermione had no idea what his words did, but suddenly, the carriage was filled with tension, nearly enough tension to cause a spark, the overwhelming 'maybe' and 'what-if' filling the carriage room. Hermione could not have pulled away from Harry's gaze if she wanted to, the stare between them seemingly electric.

Now, Hermione was all too aware how she was straddling Harry's lap, all too aware that his hands were leaving burning trails along her hips, that the muscles under her hands as she roamed along his chest tensed under her fingers. She was all too aware of his eyes flickering downwards, gazing at her lips, his chest inhaling again as he sought eye contact with her once more.

His grip on her hips tightened as her hands came up to his nape, fiddling with the bottom of his messy hair on the back of his neck. Hermione looked into his eyes and saw desire there and that made her nervous, excited, and anxious, all of these emotions causing her heart to race. Harry broke the gaze though, as if he knew what she had seen in his eyes.

"Hermione… this is…" Harry struggled with his words, further re-edifying his earlier confession at Hogsmeade of how bad he was with words. He turned back to her again. "This is it for me. It's not… I never felt like…" He blew out a breath. "I want you to be mine… and I want to be yours. For a long time."

Hermione felt her heart skip a beat, and she couldn't help but note how she had fallen into that cliché of girls who swooned over their suitors, but the thought was demolished as one of Harry's hands came up to hold her chin. Again, Hermione's mind went into overdrive, thoughts encompassing her but she could only find words for one.

"I'm yours, Harry."

Harry closed his eyes and she closed hers, as well. His lips brushed against hers softly, sweetly, gently, and she felt herself melt all over again. She pressed against his lips harder and she felt tingles all over her spine. He opened her mouth to his, and as her tongue swept along his, she grasped his hair in her hands, nails scraping along his scalp.

He groaned in pleasure and kissed her back, ferociously, his fingers gripping her waist tighter as he pulled away, biting softly at her bottom lip, before swooping in again, his mouth pressing urgently against hers. She heard herself moan, and she flushed. He pulled away, planting kisses all along her neck, his hot breath upon her skin, causing her to shiver in pleasure.

His lips trailed upward to her ear and he breathed into her ear, causing another onslaught of shivers everywhere upon her. He tugged at her earlobe with his teeth, scraping softly, and her breath caught once again as desire filled her. "Harry…" she whispered, eyes half-lidded. Another breath against her ear, and she turned him back towards her with her grip upon his hair and kissed him once again.

Tongues swept along each other as their lips crushed together. 'Merlin, he is an… oomph… incredible kisser… great Gatsby!' Hermione thought, gasping as his lips pressed against hers again.

The sound of thunder broke them apart and they both looked up at the carriage ceiling.

"When did it start raining?" Harry asked, his voice husky as his breath came in ragged gasps.

Hermione shook her head, trying to gain composure. "No idea," she whispered breathlessly. She glanced down at her robes and blushed as she found her attire messily rumpled from Harry's hands. She also noted something else and she quickly got up, untangling her legs from around his waist, blushing all the more.

"I'll let you… um, compose yourself," Hermione said, embarrassed, not catching Harry's eye as she straightened her robes. Harry caught on immediately and flushed before straightening himself as well, tightening his robes around his front.

Hermione looked at him and she restrained herself from kissing him once again. He looked so incredibly delicious, his lips red and slightly bruised, his hair messier than ever, his collar upturned at one corner. Harry seemed to catch on for his eyes darkened but thunder clapped loudly once again.

"We better go inside before it gets any worse," Harry remarked. Hermione nodded and laced her fingers with his and stepped out into the rain, running towards the castle. The castle doors shut soundly behind them.

Harry shook his head, causing droplets of rain to sprinkle everywhere. "What a downpour."

Hermione took off her robe, now wet, and shivered. "I know. Saw it coming though. Weather's been too great as of late."

The castle doors opened and closed again with a thud as Ron and Luna ran in, dripping wet from the rain, their shoes soaked in mud.

"It's so bloody cold!" Ron exclaimed, shivering as he wiped the rain off his forehead.

"Where were you guys?" Harry asked, his robe in his hands as it was soaked.

Ron and Luna both caught each other's eye and grinned. "Outside."

Harry and Hermione glanced each other, Harry's eyebrow raised, but shrugged.

"Really, guys, are we not wizards or witches?" Hermione asked rhetorically, before grabbing her wand and muttering a drying charm upon all four of them.

"Wow, that's better," Luna said.

Ron glanced at the clock upon the wall and cursed, despite Hermione's glare. "Come on, guys, we're late for dinner!"

The four sprinted down the hallway and towards the Great Hall.

--

The Great Hall doors fell open with a loud thud and all of Hogwarts turned to look at who entered.

Hermione blushed, but walked to the Gryffindor table, her hand held firmly in Harry's grasp. Ron and Luna followed suit, his arm around her shoulders. As they took their seats, everyone around them broke out in whispers.

"…Finally! …Again!"

"…Tell me about it… thought they'd never get together!"

"…Thank Merlin all that drama is over…"

"…Loony's always had a torch for Weasley! Saw it coming, I tell you…"

"…That Potter… lucky man, I say, lucky man…"

Harry flushed, overhearing that last tidbit and squeezed Hermione's hand underneath the table. Hermione gave him a small smile. Ron and Luna tucked into their food and Harry and Hermione followed suit.

As Harry piled potatoes unto his plate, Hermione nudged him. He turned to her.

"Look!" Hermione said in a low tone, causing the other three to turn in the direction she was looking. Ginny had entered in with Draco, both of them not looking at each other as they both went to their respective House tables. Ginny was blushing furiously and Draco took great lengths to avoid looking at her.

Ron's grip on his fork grew tighter. "That ferret! What's he doing with my sister!"

Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron. "Honestly, Ron, you need to stop holding grudges. He helped us, remember?"

Ron grumbled, shifting closer to Luna. "I don't have to bloody well like it, do I."

"What about them, Hermione?" Harry asked.

Hermione's eyes glinted mischievously. "Well, look at them! I mean, they're obviously in denial… they want each other! Look, all we have to do is--"

Harry laughed, "Ohh, no, you don't, missy! We've had enough scheming to last us the whole year."

Ron shared an amused glance with Harry, as Harry wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulders.

"I think those two look good together, don't you, Ronald?" Luna spoke up, glancing at the only female Weasley. "I mean, all it would take is just a little push."

Ron laughed, pulling Luna closer to him. "I agree with Harry. No more scheming for you ladies."

Hermione and Luna had nearly duplicate pouts and the boys laughed.

"Besides," Harry grinned, planting a kiss upon Hermione's forehead, "best laid plans never work out well."

--

A/N: Well, that's it. The end, as the chapter title clearly says. It's been a great ride. I know I nearly abandoned this story awhile back, but I came back to finish it, once and for all. Sorry for all the corny, sweet stuff in this chapter. This chapter is more sentimental than humorous and even I'm slightly sickened by the mushiness of the story. But it was well needed. I have no plans on finishing 'A Potions Incident' but there is another story lurking for me that I'm eager to start on... expect the debut chapter soon (really, I promise.) Here's an excerpt of my new story:

Harry was torturing her.

Really, there wasn't any other way to describe his behavior. He genuinely wanted her in agony, otherwise he would not be doing this. 'I mean, we're in the Great Hall! What on earth is he doing?' Hermione ranted.

A warm hand trailed its fingers along her thigh, the skin beneath it immediately tingling.

Hermione jolted, shocked in more ways than one, and accidentally knocked over her goblet. Thankfully, it was empty as it clattered, a hollow sound emitting as it hit the table. Ron shot her an odd look from across the table, raising an eyebrow.

"Alright there, Hermione?" Ron asked, digging into his plate with a fork.

"Yeah! I'm fine!" she squeaked out in a high pitch, which did nothing to reassure Ron, as he gave her another odd look.

"Yeah, you sure you're fine there, Hermione?" Harry asked, sitting beside her, nonchalantly, taking a sip from his goblet.

She glared at him as he asked this, and he peered over the brim of his goblet, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Yeah. Fine," she said through gritted teeth. He was still drinking, but one of the corners of his mouth twitched upwards. 'The little... bugger! What game is he playing, really?' Hermione fumed silently.

Harry still had a small smile as he dug into his meal, done with his goblet. He chatted with Ron across the table, waving his fork around with his right hand, acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

Hermione kept repeating the angry mantra in her head, 'Bugger, bugger, bugger,' as Harry's left hand trailed along her skin lightly, caressing her thigh.

'I'm going to kill this boy when I get my hands on him,' she thought angrily, shivering as Harry's hand made another round.

And there you have it. Stay tuned! And thank you to all who reviewed!