I'm so glad all of you — well, the ones who reviewed, at least — liked the ending. Many, many thanks to you all!

Now, the end!

Epilogue

She watched the trees pass rapidly outside the window, the closest ones almost a green and brown blur, while the farthest almost still, as the Hogwarts Express moved, quickly and steadily, towards London. In one hour, more or less, they would be there, arriving at King's Cross for the last time, after her last year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Hermione smiled against the glass. It had been a month since last time, and she was dying to see him again, to hug him and kiss him. How she had missed him! If there was something she really missed of the powerful Ron, was his ability to Apparate into Hogwarts. She had never told him that, because he didn't like to talk about the time he had been in possession of the Source, but she had thought about it frequently, usually while she was in her bed, at night. She would fantasise about him Apparating there, with her, and they would make love and then sleep together until the morning. Just the mere idea made her smile, and she felt her cheeks flush at the thought.

"Why are you smiling?" Ginny asked her, taking her out of her daydream.

"Eh?" she said, turning her head to look at her friend, who was sitting in front of her. They were accompanied by some of Ginny's old classmates (who were also her classmates now). Hermione felt the eyes of Alisha, Olive and Madeleine upon her. Luna was there as well, though she was busy reading The Quibbler.

"I've asked why you are smiling," Ginny said, watching her. "And you look flushed as well ..." she shook her head and put a face of disgust. "No, you'd better not tell me. It involves Ron and I'm sure I don't want to know."

Madeleine and Olive exchanged a glance and giggled, and Hermione couldn't help a new smile.

"Well, I miss him," Hermione said shyly.

"And I miss Harry, too, Hermione, but this is our last train ride in the Hogwarts Express!"

"Yeah, it sounds strange, doesn't it?"

"A bit, yeah," agreed Ginny, nodding.

"I'll miss Hogwarts," Alisha said with a sigh.

"I won't," replied Olive. "I'll miss you, girls, but not all those amounts of homework, or the stress of the NEWTs. I'm quite glad that's all in the past now."

Hermione looked again out of the window. She hadn't minded the hard work. She had loved to have the opportunity of being with Ginny and repairing their friendship and bond, but being at Hogwarts without Ron and Harry was too odd for her. The homework had helped her to pass the time.

Fortunately, Ron and Harry had been able to visit quite frequently. They had been present in all the Quidditch matches Gryffindor had played (Ginny had been appointed as captain, winning the Cup) and used to go to Slughorn's parties at least once a month (though she suspected that Ron really hated them, and only came to see her). But still, it was not enough for Hermione after the months she had spent with him since the end of the war until last September; those months they had spent trying to mend their relationship.

She couldn't help it, and, as so frequently happened, she found herself remembering the two weeks they had spent in Australia after they had restored her parents' memories and explained everything to them. Initially, they had planned to spend just a weekend there, but they had ended up turning that 'dirty weekend' into a 'dirty fortnight'. Her body heated up just with the memories, and she felt her face grow hot again.

Sixteen months had passed since then, and she still woke up in the mornings thinking that being with Ron was too good to be true. Of course, not everything had been smooth and easy. There had been awkward moments, tension, arguments and tears. But she knew that would happen, and he knew, too, and both were ready for it. And, above all, the two of them remembered perfectly well how much they had endured to be where they were, and were ready to fight to keep and protect it.

Now school was over for her. She only had to await the results of her NEWTs, which — she believed — had gone very well, and then could finally join the Ministry. Ron had told her, the last time she had seen her, during the last Quidditch match of the season, that Kingsley was eager to have her. Of course, she wasn't going to join the Aurors: the Department of Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures awaited her.

The Aurors.

Ron was now Head of the Auror Office at the Ministry. He didn't have the Source anymore, but with the knowledge he still had and the power of his Wand, he was, for sure, a formidable wizard. Kingsley had offered the position to him days after he and Hermione had come back from Australia, and Harry had given him his full support. No one has dared to protest. Some of the Aurors, after all, had been beaten by him during the battle in the Ministry, and some people still feared him, which was a great advantage in that post.

Most of the magical population approved of this choice, however, feeling better knowing that Ron, vanquisher of Lord Voldemort, was in charge of the Aurors. Ron was, probably, the most famous wizard alive now.

And he hated every minute of it.

How things had changed!

Smiling again, Hermione's thoughts wandered to the day Ron had turned back into himself, that day they had spent in the Cave of Old Magic. They had woken up in the afternoon, and after making love once more, they had Apparated to The Burrow. She remembered the moment they had opened the door. The Weasleys and Harry were getting ready for dinner, while they waited for her. They believed, after all, that she had spent the night at Hogwarts and was travelling on the Hogwarts Express. Their sudden apparition had been a shock for everyone, but, after just a second, Mrs Weasley had run towards her son and had embraced him tightly, dissolving into tears of happiness and joy. And this time, Ron had hugged her back, with true feelings. After that, he had been embraced by Ginny, his father, Fleur and all his brothers, all of them astounded by his sudden apparition. And then, he and Harry had stood still for a while, facing each other. Ron, serious; Harry, looking ashamed, but with his eyes full of longing. Finally, after a few moments of tension, Ron had held out his hand, and Harry had shaken it. But, in the end, he had ended up hugging Ron, crying and muttering 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Ron' over and over again. Ron had still for a few moments, but, finally, he had embraced Harry as well.

After they had parted, both of them with their eyes wet, Ron simply had asked "Are you and Ginny together?" Harry had hesitated, but Ginny had answered "we're getting there", and Hermione had smiled at her.

"Then make sure she's happy, Potter. And if you make her suffer, just once, you'll know how powerful the Wand of Power is and how hard my fist can punch. Is it clear?"

And Harry, blinking, had smiled slightly and had replied, "I'll do my best."

Things had not been easy for the two, especially when the three were together, but both of them had tried. But though they had tried to act normal, to try and be best friends again, there had been several moments of tension, some arguments, and hard times. Things hadn't been easy.

The fifth night at The Burrow, Ron had walked in the house, after helping his father with some things, and had found Harry and Hermione sitting on the couch, talking. They weren't even touching, but the tension that had suddenly appeared in the room could have been cut with a knife.

Hermione had spent every night in Ron's room (Harry was using Percy's) since their return, but that night, for the first time, Ron had told her that he wanted to sleep alone when she had climbed up the stairs to join him. She had not replied, just nodded, and then had gone back to Ginny's room, where she had cried silently. She knew that this would happen, Ron had told her that things would not be easy. She knew that things would not be easy. He just needed some time for himself. But still, she had felt the need to cry.

And she had thought that maybe it was time to get her parents back.

The next day, she had got up early, and had gone outside for a walk. She was heading for the house when Ron had walked out and approached her, smiling warmly, and had kissed her before telling her that he was sorry for last night, but that he needed a little break. And Hermione, relieved, has said that she understood it and that he didn't have to explain anything. And then she had told him that she wanted to go to Australia to bring her parents back, and that maybe, if he wanted to, he could go with her and they could spend some time alone.

And Ron had accepted gladly, so they had arranged a Portkey, planning to restore Hermione's parents' memories and then spent a weekend in Australia.

Everything had gone well. Hermione's parents lived exactly where Ron had told her, and the charm had been reverted successfully. The explanations, however, hadn't been easy. Ron and Hermione had spent that first night with the Grangers, explaining everything, including the fact that Ron and Hermione were there together, after what Hermione had told them during the summer.

It hadn't been an easy talk.

And next morning, while the Grangers arranged everything to go back, Hermione had told them that they probably needed some time to take in all what they had heard, and that she and Ron were going to spend a few days alone and that they would see them again in England.

That weekend, however, had been so great for them that they had decided to stay for another two weeks before going back.

But, though that fortnight had been wonderful for Ron and Hermione, the tension between Ron and Harry was still there, despite their chats and that both of them were making efforts, so, a few weeks after Ron and Hermione had returned from Australia, Harry and Ron had told Hermione and Ginny that they were going to spend a weekend, both of them alone, in Grimmauld Place.

Hermione had not liked the idea. Grimmauld Place? Harry had said that he wouldn't go there ever again! And now he was planning to go there with Ron?

She had argued, and protested. But they were determined, and had told the girls not to go there, under any circumstances, until Sunday evening.

Even Kreacher had been forced to leave the place and spend the weekend at The Burrow. Hermione had gone to her parents' house, but she hadn't enjoyed it, anxious as she was. The hours had seemed to last days, and the days had seemed as long as years.

Finally, on Sunday evening, she had gone to fetch Ginny, and both of them had gone to Grimmauld Place, both full of fear. And they had found the two of them in the drawing room — which smelled strongly of Firewhiskey — lying on the floor and extremely drunk. Harry sported a black eye and a split lip, but other than that, they looked extremely cheerful, both laughing stupidly and stammering something about a centaur and an old hag.

After a few instants of shock, Ginny had put a scowling face, and with a tone that resembled her mother's, had started to yell.

"Harry Potter! Ronald Weasley! This is really great! We spend the entire weekend worried about you, thinking that you might be here duelling to death, and you are having a party and getting drunk!"

"Don' jell," had answered Ron, grimacing. "Whash yer phroblem? Wee haffent got drunk evah, haffent wee?"

"Yeah, ne — nevah, Gin," had agreed Harry, nodding stupidly. "Eet's not a bi-beeg deal. And weer the — the shosen ones, aren't wee?"

"Yeah, the chosen ones!" had yelled Ron. "I beet Voldy — Voldymort, and if I and m'frend want to get drunk, wee get drunk!"

"Ah, that's an excuse for this, then!" had shouted Ginny.

"Don' mind 'er, 'Arry," Ron had said, moving a hand dismissively towards Ginny. "Wesley women get mad too fre — freq — frequently," he had managed to say. "Yeh'll get ac — accustom'd teh eet."

"Yeah, vut I luv 'er tha — that way," had muttered Harry, grinning.

Ginny had blushed furiously, but Hermione couldn't tell whether it was due to embarrassment or anger.

"Yeh do," had nodded Ron, "vut she should loos'nup a bit, like 'Ermynee. Shee'sent jelling an' makeeng our 'eads 'urt, eesen' shee?"

"Yeah," had agreed Harry. "Best frend evah, 'Ermaynee."

"For yeh, luv," had said Ron, looking at Hermione and raising his bottle, clearly intending to drink from it.

"You don't need more of this!" had bellowed Ginny, moving forward and taking the bottle from him.

"Hey, dhad's mine!" had protested Ron.

"You don't have anything to say?" had said then Ginny, turning her head to look at Hermione.

Truly, one part of Hermione had wanted to tell them off for behaving like this, but she simply hadn't been able to. She hadn't been able to stop looking at them, utterly drunk and sharing this strange form or male-bonding, laughing, enjoying the company and defending each other.

"Well, to say the truth ... I don't see the problem," she had said, grinning and shocking Ginny completely.

No one had never known what had really happened that weekend, because Ron and Harry never explained anything; but, whatever it was, Hermione was utterly glad, because they had gone back — almost — to being their old selves around each other.

Life had started to be how it was supposed to be.

Hermione got out of her thoughts and noticed that the trees and fields had been replaced by streets and buildings. They were almost there. Her heart rate quickened, and she smiled again.

"You know, I'd love to look like you one day, Hermione," commented Olive, who was staring at her.

"Like me? What do you mean?"

"Well, you look so in love," Olive explained in a dreamy tone. "You went through so much, Hermione," she continued, surprising her a bit, because they usually didn't mention what had happened the year before. "Is it — is it worth it?"

Everyone looked at Hermione, and even Luna averted her eyes from the magazine.

Hermione looked out of the window again, and thought about the Christmas party, the time at Hogwarts with Ron, the terrible events of that June, the awful months in the run, with Harry ... And finally, about that miraculous night in the Cave of Old Magic.

"Yes," she said, smiling at Olive. "It's definitely worth it. It's worth everything."

"Yeah," nodded Ginny, also smiling. "It is."

The train began to slow down, and the five girls stood up and lifted down their trunks, ready to disembark for the last time at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

They hugged one another, wished the others good luck. Luna was the last to say goodbye.

"You can visit us whenever you want," said Ginny. "We live so near and yet never meet during the summer."

"I'll try," said Luna smiling. "It would be wonderful. But I don't know when, I'm going with my father and the Scamanders on a trip to search for fantastic creatures."

"The Scamanders?" asked Hermione, surprised. "As in Newt Scamander?"

"Yes," answered Luna. "Ralph Scamander, who is the son of Newt Scamander, wrote an article for The Quibbler. He invited us to a trip he was planning, and we're going with him, her wife Artemis and their son, Rolf."

"It sounds ... wonderful," said Hermione, smiling.

"Yes," nodded Ginny, "Good luck finding Snorkacks, or whatever creature you're looking for."

"We're going to Africa, and Crumpled-Horned Snorkacks live only in the north," replied Luna seriously, but then added, smiling and with her eyes gleaming with hope and joy, "I hope we'll see a Firegriff, though!"

"Yes ... good luck with that," Hermione said, trying to maintain a straight face.

Luna smiled, she hugged Hermione and Ginny and then left, leaving the other two girls alone. They got their things, got out of the train, and started to search for a known face amongst the crowd.

A family of four moved, after some hugs and greetings, and Hermione spotted Ron and Harry, standing still, alone, but receiving occasional glances from the people around them. She smiled radiantly. "They're there," she told Ginny, and both of them hurried towards the boys, and, at once, embraced their loved ones, who were smiling too.

"I've missed you," whispered Hermione against Ron's neck, hugging him tightly before moving her head to kiss him. "I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too," he replied, and kissed her once more.

They parted, and then she hugged Harry while Ron greeted her sister. The hug was brief, like all the others they had shared since the war, but enough to transmit the affection and friendship they felt for each other. She moved instantly closer to Ron again, and he put a protective arm around her shoulders.

"I thought my parents were going to come," commented Hermione, looking around.

"I had tea with them yesterday," Ron said. "I told them I would fetch you. We have to go and have dinner with them tonight, and afterwards you're mine for the rest of the weekend. I've missed you a lot," he added, whispering into her ear.

"The entire weekend? Really?" she asked, surprised but delighted.

"The entire weekend," Ron repeated.

"If you both hadn't missed the party Slughorn hosted five days ago you could have seen us," Ginny commented.

"We had a mission, we told you," explained Ron. "Besides, I hate Slughorn's parties, as you very well know."

"But you come to almost every one," replied Hermione.

"Yes, but just because I can sneak with you into the Room of Requirement afterwards," said Ron boldly, and Hermione flushed.

"We don't need to know what happens there, thank you," said Ginny with a grimace.

"You're right, you don't," agreed Ron. "I don't want you to pick any ideas for when you're alone with Harry."

"I don't need to 'pick ideas'," protested Ginny. "And what we do is none of your business!" she added, blushing.

"I disagree. He's one of my best Aurors, I must be sure that they are healthy and in good physical condition," Ron replied with all the seriousness he could muster, but a moment later Harry started to laugh, and soon they all were cracking with laughter.

"How was the mission, now that you mention it?" asked Hermione more seriously after a while.

"We caught them, in the evening, two days ago," explained Ron. "Three snatchers, hidden in an old shack. Piece of cake."

"Piece of cake?" repeated Hermione, watching him. "Then what's that little bruise you have on your left cheek?"

Ron and Harry exchanged a look. "Nothing," Ron said. "They tried to retaliate, but they still wet their pants when I show them this," he explained, taking his wand and raising it.

"I broke into the shack from one side, while Ron awaited them on the other," said Harry. "The plan was that, when they tried to escape, after hearing us, they'd run directly into Ron. It worked, and, the moment they saw Ron with the wand aloft, two of them froze on the spot and dropped their wands, scared to death. The third was, however, too stupid to know what was good for him, and tried to fight. He blew up a wall, trying to smash Ron."

"I blasted him," Ron continued, "and stopped the fragments of the wall from reaching me, but I missed a plank and it hit me here —" he pointed at the bruise, "— and caused this."

"You have to be more careful!" said Hermione in a scolding tone, her voice filled with worry.

"It was just a brief moment of distraction, Hermione, don't worry."

"Of course I worry! I had 'just a brief moment of distraction' once, Ron, and I almost died!"

"Yes, I told him that, too," said Harry.

"You shut up, Harry, if you don't want to spend the next week filling reports!" Ron said, flushing a little.

"You are ordering other people to fill reports?" Ginny asked, shocked.

"Hey!" Ron replied, frowning and looking offended. "Don't use that tone, I'm responsible now."

They all laughed again, and then Harry said, "Well, tell that to anyone who doesn't know you have an entire drawer stuffed with Chocolate Frogs!"

"Well, I need a morning snack, don't I?" Ron defended himself. "And you stop talking about confidential stuff if you want to keep your access rights to them!"

Harry raised his hands in surrender, and, again, they burst into laughter.

"When do you plan to join the Ministry, Hermione?" Harry asked, after the laughter died out. "Kingsley asked us yesterday if you could go and see him on Monday."

"I haven't received my NEWT results yet!"

"As if we needed a letter to know what you've got," commented Ron, rolling his eyes. Hermione blushed.

"Yeah, eleven 'Outstandings'," said Harry, nodding.

"She's capable of getting twelve doing only eleven exams," added Ron. Hermione blushed even more and Ginny and Harry started laughing again. But Hermione noticed that, though he was joking, Ron's eyes were full of pride, and she beamed at him.

"Well, now that we're talking about jobs and serious things," said then Ginny, drawing their attention, "I have the pleasure to announce — as you couldn't come and therefore don't know — that Gwenog Jones was in attendance at last Slughorn's party, she spoke to me and ... well, right now you have in front of you the last recruit of the Holyhead Harpies!" Ginny exclaimed, beaming.

Harry beamed at her, too, full of pride. "That's wonderful, Gin!"

"Yeah, I think so! We can get free passes!" added Ron, raising his right fist.

"Ron!" scolded Hermione.

"Okay, okay ..." he said, adopting a more serious expression. "Congratulations, Ginny. The Harpies are not the Chudley Cannons, but well done."

"Fortunately," replied Ginny in low voice, but Ron heard her and scowled. "I still have to pass the tryouts, you know," Ginny explained. "I might not make it."

"You will," said Harry encouragingly. "You were the best player of the year."

"You're saying that just because you want a snog," blurted out Ginny.

"NO!" yelled Harry, offended. "I'm saying it because it's the truth!"

"Too much information," said Ron, closing his eyes.

"Well, it's time to go to The Burrow," said Harry, checking his watch. "You two are going straight to Hermione's house, aren't you?" he asked Ron and Hermione.

"Yes," nodded Ron. "We'll see you all at dinner on Sunday."

"Enjoy your weekend, then," said Harry, and smiled happily at Hermione. She returned the smile, and knew at once what Harry meant with it: that, despite the Fates' cruelty, they had put these wonderful people in their paths; and that they were the luckiest people in the world just for having them.

Ginny grabbed Harry's hand and, with a goodbye, both of them Disapparated. Ron turned to look at her.

"Let's go, then?"

"Yes," she nodded, but, instead of moving, she asked, "Ron, where are we going? After dinner, I mean."

"It's a surprise," he answered with a little smile, and turned to look at her trunk.

Hermione looked around and noticed that the platform was now almost empty. Only two of three families were still there.

Ron took out his wand, and, with a flick, sent Hermione's luggage to her house. While he was doing it, Hermione noticed that, a few yards away, a first-year was watching him in awe. Ron acknowledged it after a few seconds and stared back at the child, who blushed, embarrassed, and turned round.

"I hate when people do that," he commented, in a low voice.

"They admire you."

"They don't know anything. They don't understand. They think what happened was a funny adventure, or something like that. People think we went to Hogwarts, that there were a few impressive battles, and the war was over. If they knew what happened, what we endured —" he shook his head, his expression a bit sad. "I'd never understood Harry like I do now. I can't believe I once envied his fame."

Hermione stared at him, profoundly amazed by how wonderful this man — her man, who had restored all her dreams and hopes — was. She could see the pain in his eyes, that pain that was also reflected in hers and Harry's, that pain that had made them all wiser, more mature, and more aware of what they had and how valuable it was.

"I love you, Ron," she blurted out suddenly. "I love you so much."

He stared back at her, and his eyes, that reflected that pain that made them more deep and even more enthralling, were immediately warmed by the love and affection he felt towards her, and his lips curved into a smile, that smile she so adored. Her left hand brushed against his, and he clutched it in his warm, larger one.

"I know, Hermione," he said, staring at her intensely. "Believe me, I know."

And while the sensation of Apparition engulfed them and they vanished from the Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, she thought that they were not only Apparating into their parents' house, but into their future, a future for which they had fought so hard, a future she planned to live to its fullest.

With Ron.

Her hero; her man.

Her only and true love.

Well, that's all! Their future — and life, with its ups and downs — await them. I'm sure this is not as good as last chapter, but I had to write it!

I don't know when I'll be posting the other stories, but at least, not within the next two weeks.

Feel free to contact me whenever you want, and thank you, again, for being there and read this.

See you!