Last instalment! I've hoped you guys have enjoyed this story!

(P.S. Even though this is the last instalment, it doesn't hurt me if you leave a review. It could be about anything: how totally awesome it was, how much it sucked, suggestions, ravings on how much I rock ;D lol Just kiddin', just kiddin')

20 years later...

Harry Potter lay in his bed, his breathing ragged. He was sweating profusely, his heart was beating irregularly, and he had pain in his upper chest. All the doing of a rare Wizard virus that Harry had just happened to catch. It was ironic really, since he has survived the "darkest wizard of all time" more than once, fought in a wizard war, lost the love of his life, and lost a lot more people close to him, yet here he was; the one thing that would finally defeat him was a silly wizard virus at 37 yrs old.

As Harry lay in his bed that night, surrounded by his hallucinogenic hell, he was suddenly so sure of something that he would bet on his life (even though that didn't mean much now) that it was true:

The end was near for him.

He knew it, the Medi-Witch knew it, his friends knew it...hell, the whole Wizarding World knew it (thanks to the newest gossip at the Daily Prophet, Jane Skeeter, daughter of Rita Skeeter)!

As he waited patiently in his bed for the virus to finally take him, he began to go through his many memories…More specifically; his years spent at Hogwarts and the love he was surrounded with for such a long time.

But most of all, he remembered the love of his life.

Before his life ended, he was trying to remember every little detail about her; her looks, her personality, her nature...everything.

He was also remembering the times he had spent with her and his other best friend, Ronald Weasley (who was happily married to Lavender Brown with 4 children as of late).

He remembered both the good and the bad of his not-so-innocent school years. Remembering the pain, the laughter, the sorrow...the love. The love between him and his best friend Hermione Granger that took them at least 5 years of knowing each other to admit. 5 years that were wasted on glances full of longing and hopeful touches. 5 years wasted! Harry thought, immensely regretting not telling her earlier. He could've taken her to the Yule Ball in 4th year; he could've taken her to Hogsmede in 3rd.

So many missed opportunities...But Harry knew that if he kept thinking like this he'd be wasting the precious time he had left on Earth.

So to distract himself he grabbed the photo-book on his bedside table (not without struggle of course), something that Ron had forgotten to put back during his last visit.

He gently touched the worn leather cover, remembering the countless of times he had looked through these pages, trying to remember a time that he was happy. Most of the time he did.

"Let's see what you hold inside." Harry croaked, opening the book. It has been a long time since he has flipped through these pages, mainly because he has been too weak to do so. That, and he has found himself entertained (before he got sick) for the past few years by being the Uncle to the newest children in the Weasley family (Blaise Zabini's and Ginny Weasley's little twins); Herenia Harriet Zabini and Harold Herman Zabini.

Of course, Blaise didn't like Harry playing with his children for a long time...until he realized that there was a good chance that Harry might not ever be a father, and this was his only chance to leave a non-heroic imprint on the world. To be two 3 yr olds' favourite Uncle.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he looked upon the first page and looked straight into the eyes of his parents, Lily and James Potter. They were dancing and happy, with a baby Harry in their arms. Every once in awhile the picture Lily and James would wave at the camera and kiss Harry's forehead lovingly.

When Sirius was alive, he had told him that that picture was taken the day they finally found the perfect house at Godric's Hollow. That's why they were so happy.

"They had been looking for the best house they could find for such a long time. It took them at least 5 houses and half a year before they found the house in Godric's Hollow. It was such a nice house Harry! It would've been the perfect place to grow up in. But then...well, you know." Sirius had happily told Harry one afternoon when they were eating lunch at 12 Grimmauld Place.

Harry just sighed at the thought of Sirius and flipped the page. Three youthful faces greeted him with innocent smiles. Harry slightly smiled at the picture of him, Hermione and Ron from their first year. They looked happy and carefree, though there was a little sadness in each of their eyes at the thought of leaving Hogwarts and friends. Occasionally the images of him and his friends hugged each other sadly. And once or twice the image of Harry lifted his hand and wiped away the occasional tear from the image of Hermione. Harry smiled sadly at the three before turning the page again.

This time it was the image of a much older Hermione and Harry outside the Three Broomsticks on a Hogsmede weekend. They looked like they were around 13, maybe 14. It was almost winter, because only a thin layer of snow surrounded and fell around them. That and Harry was wearing a heavy sweater while Hermione was wearing Harry's light jacket over her own sweater (she had forgotten her jacket at school and only remembered when they had left the castle). Hermione had her arm slung casually over Harry's shoulder and they both were grinning happily at the camera. Every once in awhile the image of Harry would suddenly grab Hermione and lift her up, earning a soundless squeal from Hermione. She'd twist and laugh for a couple seconds while in his arms, then he'd let her go and they'd be back in the position they used to be in.

Harry smiled at the memory. In real life, he actually didn't pick her up, but imagine Hermione and Harry's surprise and embarrassment when they looked at the picture later on.

Harry then took the picture out of the scrapbook and turned it in his hand to see the writing on the back. Yes, there was writing on the back. More specifically, Hermione's neat scrawl was on the back of the picture.

Dear Harry,

We as a Trio may fight and get angry with each other occasionally...and there are times where we can't even stand each other...but know that no matter what happens, I'm always ready to catch you when you fall and help you up when you trip. Everyone needs someone to lean on, so know that no matter what you can always lean on me.

Love, Hermione

Harry didn't bother to wipe away the tears that were beginning to fall. Yep, this photo's from 4th year. He thought distractedly as he gently traced the letters of Hermione's name with his pallid fingertips. It was taken when he and Hermione decided to go to Hogsmede one weekend, just the two of them. It was when Ron and Harry were fighting, and were not on talking terms. Hermione was basically caught up in the middle at the time and she hated it but she still tried to spend time with both of them. In the picture it was obviously Harry's turn.

Harry smiled at the memories of that day: Hermione and he had had a blast in Hogsmede, buying lots of candy and butterbeer (and of course stopping at the nearest bookstore for almost an hour). They just hung out and acted like children that day. They both tried and mostly succeeded in forgetting about the Tournament and Rita Skeeter and Ron and Harry's fight.

Harry wiped another tear that fell unwittingly as he remembered them chatting happily and smoothly in the Three Broomsticks and he remembered a detail he hadn't in a long time (something he honestly hadn't remembered in at least 2 or 3 years): While they sat there talking and laughing that day, Hermione accidently let it slip that she liked hanging out with Harry more than Ron. She then proceeded to confess that it was so awkward when Ron and Hermione hung out, but with Harry...things flowed so much easier.

The teenage Harry had thought nothing of it at the time (except he did feel a sense of pride that he shrugged off quickly), but now the older Harry realized that it made all the difference in the world. It was only one of the very few instances he got—in which she had hinted that she felt more for him then in a friendly way.

The first time was when she kissed him on the cheek after he won a game for the Gryffindor team against Slytherin in 3rd year. Another instance was when she forced him to slow dance with her outside near the lake a day before the Yule ball so she was "practiced" enough to dance with Viktor (she only confessed to him later on when they got together that her real intention was just to be able to feel him hold her). The last instance was when she kissed him gently on the lips in the early months of 5th year.

The next day after that instance he cornered her and told her of his love for her.

The next day after that, they were together officially as a couple, not really shocking the school at all.

Harry smiled absentmindedly as he remembered the girly squeal (something that she was terribly embarrassed of afterwards) that emitted from her and the fiery kiss afterwards when he told her that he cared for her in a less friendly way and in a more...loving way.

He flipped the page of the scrapbook, and met with many faces, most of who were gone by now and some that were friendly now just as they were then.

The Order of the Phoenix from when my parents were alive and The Order of Phoenix from when Sirius and Dumbledore were alive...from when Hermione was alive as well...

Harry looked longingly and lovingly at the faces in both pictures, trying to capture and remember every face, every gesture the magical pictures made. His parents were smiling happily at him; the younger Sirius and the older (and late) Sirius grinned mischievously at the camera; both the young and old (and late) Lupin looked as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders; Dumbledore had a twinkle in his eye and a smile that warmed the coldest heart; Mr and Mrs Weasley smiled and waved; Ron and Ginny grinned at the camera one second and then were joking around the next; Fred and George were holding bunny ears overtop of McGonagall's and Harry's heads; and finally Hermione, who looked at the camera with a sincere smile before returning to the book that sat loyally on her lap.

That represents Herm—her so much. Harry thought, fighting back tears before turning the page again.

The rest of the book passed in a blur, and before he knew it he was towards the end of the book. Every photo had sentiment of course, but none of the next photos mattered wholly and completely to Harry that the first 3 pages had. But he had to admit that he was already beginning to miss the faces he had just passed while going through the book: the youthful faces, the smiling faces, the mischievous faces...so many faces belonging to so many important people in his life. He actually almost regretted that he was going to be leaving most of them behind soon.

He had finally made it to the last two pages of the book. The first photo he saw was of him and his friends and his friends' children, taken only a couple of months ago. When Harry was still healthy (for the most part; he was just beginning to come down with the first stages of the virus) and he and his friends decided to have a "friendly reunion".

In the photo was Harry, Ron and Lavender and their four children (Felicity, Ann, Hermione and Charlie), Draco and Luna with her very pregnant belly (it took Draco and Luna quite awhile to get pregnant, and it was actually only 2 days after this picture was taken that Luna gave birth to Elizabeth-Morgana Malfoy), Ginny and Blaise with their 2 yr old twins (at the time they were 2), and finally Neville and Hannah with their little dog Yappie (they decided not to have children in the end).

They were all grinning at the camera, and it was obvious that they were all enjoying themselves. Even Harry was at the time, smiling for the first time in awhile with his arm slung around Ron's shoulders. It was a happy day and it was a bloody pain to go back to everyday life afterwards.

Harry smiled sadly at the photo and tried to block out the thought that these were the people he was leaving behind, the most important people in the world to him (except for Draco and Blaise, who weren't really friends but weren't exactly enemies anymore either). He almost didn't want to leave...

That was, until he flipped the last page and he saw the 17 yr old face of the love of his life grinning up at him. He watched dazedly as picture-Hermione smile lazily at him and blew him a kiss. Her honey-brown eyes were twinkling with happiness, and he understood why.

It was the first day of spring when the picture was taken and Harry and Hermione decided to spend a couple of hours by themselves to just relax and love each other. The Final Battle was fast approaching and they didn't know what the future could hold. The two just needed that last afternoon together, to love each other, to talk...Just in case one of them didn't make it (but of course they didn't think or talk about that at all).

And they honestly did need it.

That afternoon was spent in a loved-filled haze (with a tiny bit of love-making of course) with smiles, laughter, fun and of course their love for one another.

When they returned later on, it was the hardest thing that they both had ever had to do. Hermione had to fight against tears and Harry had to fight against the little voice in his head that told him to run away with her, away from all of the pain and suffering.

But he wasn't selfish like that, and Hermione understood (he didn't know if that was a blessing or a curse). He knew though that if Hermione had asked, he would willingly run away with her (but he also knew she wasn't selfish either...something that was a curse).

And now she's gone...Harry thought, fighting against tears.

Then suddenly, he was 17 again, and he was waking up from the dream that felt so real at the time...the dream in which Hermione was with him again in the Gryffindor common room, and...She was there like she should've been in the end...but then she was gone...

"Hey! He's waking up!"

A 17 yr old Harry sat up instantly, looking around as if the devil himself was chasing him. He only stopped looking crazily around the room when he realized where he was and what was happening. He was in the Gryffindor Common Room, with 5 friends surrounding him: Neville, Ginny, Ron, Dean, and Seamus. They looked insanely worried, and for a second Harry was taken aback at the looks on their faces. Intensely worried, but also...sad. Grieving.

"W-what's g-g-going on?" Harry asked finally to break the silence that was threatening to turn awkward.

"You were dreaming mate...about Hermione. You were screaming her name and convulsing on the couch." Ron whispered, sounding as if he was choking on something.

Harry knew that feeling.

"I-I...she was here! I-I swear, s-she w-w-was..." Harry trailed off, looking around the Common Room as if searching for someone. The five knew who he was looking for and it hurt them all the more.

"She isn't here...she's gone Harry. She is and always will be. She died for you, and isn't coming back." Neville whispered sadly, looking at Harry almost with pity.

"B-b-b-but..." Harry whispered, shaking his head. It seemed so real. It honestly felt as if she was with him again. Hell, he could still smell her perfume in his nostrils and he could still feel the cotton of her shirt on his fingertips...

"I-I...I'll be right back..." Harry whispered, suddenly jumping off the couch onto his feet and racing out of the Common Room, ignoring the calls from his concerned friends that followed him out.

Hermione never did come back again after that.

But then everything changed for Harry. He decided that Hermione was right, even if she was only a dream. He needed to live for her—and, if she was telling the truth and her spirit had somehow found her way to him through his dreams, then he had to live for the child that was never born as well.

He was done dying while he was still alive.

It was time to live.

Well I've lived, and I'm ready to come back to you my love. Harry thought, raising his hand and touching picture-Hermione's smiling lips.

"Then come to me."

Harry looked up and smiled broadly when he saw her for the first time after 20 years of just seeing memories and pictures. She was just as beautiful as she was the last night he saw her, and she had a surprise in her arms. A little baby girl with brown hair and green eyes looked at him curiously with her thumb in her mouth. It took a couple seconds, but finally a small smile of recognition formed on the baby's mouth.

"This is Rain. She and I have been waiting a long time for you to come home Mr. Potter. There are many people just dying to see you up there." Hermione whispered lovingly, smiling mischievously because of her bad pun.

"D-does it hurt?" Harry couldn't help but ask.

"No. In fact, it feels heavenly. You're feeling better already aren't you?"

It was true. Ever since he had looked at her he had felt lighter and happier than he had in years. He felt young and he felt...oddly alive. Which was funny since he knew he was dying.

"It's time to come with me towards the light Harry. Leave your body behind, grab my hand and come with me..." Hermione said, holding out her hand.

And that's exactly what Harry did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~::~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning Ronald and Ginny Weasley found their best friend Harry Potter dead in his bedroom. He had passed at 37 in his sleep by a wizard virus with a photo album on his lap.

He was found with a smile on his face and a picture of the love of his life clutched in his hand.

The End

I hope you've enjoyed this story :)