Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me all the glory belongs to J.K.R.

Dinner, which consisted of the traditional Hogwarts feast, was a success. The elves truly outdid themselves.

Conversation in the hall died down as McGonagall took to the Owl Lecturn to begin the speeches.

"I would like to thank you all again for joining us on this special night. It is so wonderful to see so many you all again after all these years. I hope you take tonight to reconnect with old friends as we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts." She paused as the Hall gave polite applause. "Before we begin with the official speeches there are a few people I would like to thank for making this night possible. To our minister, Arthur Weasley, thank you for allowing this event to take place. To Mr Kingsley Shacklebot, head of the Auror Department, thank you for ensuring that we all arrived here safely and for providing us with the security of your Aurors…."

A few tables away from the Harry and the rest of the Weasley clan, the elder Malfoy patriarch sat bored with his wife and grandchildren.

"Lucius darling, can you at least pretend that you want to be here? You look like someone asked you to rewrite the International Statute of Secrecy."

"You know how I find these events are so dreadfully boring Narcissa. It's the same routine; we dress up, make small talk with people we pretend to care about, listen to unimportant people drivel on with long speeches, we make a large donation to whichever charity claims they need in most and then repeat once again the following month."

"Oh hush with all your complaining. You need to set an example for Carina and Scorpius, you're beginning to sound like one of those prickly old men who attend our board meetings." At this, he sent an empty glare at his wife.

"Everyone knows how tiresome these events can be, but it's more about the social aspect." At this the Malfoy matriarch reached to sip for her freshly filled glass of Elderflower wine. "Adelaide Nott just informed me that Leopold Bulstrode, Millicent's father, has moved on to his twelfth wife! How he's managed to go through twelve wives is beyond me. He was in Andromeda's year, so naturally, that means the newest Lady Bulstrode is thirty-four years his junior," She said incredulously. "Adelaide said she may be joining us for tea at next month's Ladies Society meeting. Poor Millicent must be at her wits ends having a stepmother who is just barely twenty-one. It's scandalous."

Lucius rolled his eyes still unable to comprehend how his wife managed to find joy in frivolous gossip.

A few tables over, the younger generation of women was trading gossip of their own.

"So I heard from Millicent- who heard from one of the Patil twins that Terry Boot just ended his relationship with Cho Chang because he caught her with her hands down Zacharias Smith's trousers at one of their department parties," said Tracey Davis.

"Honestly! That woman has serious issues with monogamy. You'd think she'd learn to respect a relationship after what happened with Weasley and Hermione," exclaimed Astoria as she turned to narrow her eyes at her husband. "Blaise, if you ever think of cheating on me, I'll make sure you'll never be able to have children."

"Tori, I think me having children won't be an issue," he said eyeing the bump where their daughter was growing. "Plus, the Zabini's are known to be a potent so-" he stopped as he noticed her glare "I mean of course I'll never cheat on you Amore mio, I'm not Weasley."

"Speaking of the Weasel, he seems to under the impression that you're his date tonight Hermione." said a smirking Pansy "Anything you'd like to share with us?"

"Yes, he and I have rekindled our old relationship. Draco, I'm taking the children and we're leaving so I can be with my true love. Pansy dear, care to be the maid of honour again at my second wedding?" Hermione replied sarcastically.

As the rest of the table sniggered Draco leaned in and pressed a kiss to Hermione's temple. "You would make quite the comedian love, as if you'd choose Weasel-bee over all of this." He said making a motion of waving his hand over himself. "We all know the bastard's got fewer brain cells than he can spare in that pea-sized brain of his, but why the hell is he under the impression Hermione is his date Pans?"

"When I was with Harry and Longbottom earlier on, Harry said that whatever happened outside the Great Hall before your grand entrance Hermione, has him believing that you wanted to get back together. He even went to chew out Weaselette for giving you a hard time."

"Of course he did," said Hermione " 'No' means 'Yes' to that man, although I can't understand why he'd think I would still want him after all these years. An entire decade has passed and we didn't even end off on remotely good terms, then he gropes me and thinks I'd want to take him back with open arms."

"Groped you, you say?" and her husband turned to sneer in the direction of the table where the Weasley in question was sitting.

"Relax Draco, I already threatened that you would hex him if he tried to touch me in that way again." She places a hand on his shoulder to bring his attention back to herself. "Besides, if he tried anything, pregnant or not I'd be sure to hand him his arse; I've always been a much better duelist that he is." She replied as she twirled her wand between the fingers of her right hand.

Across the hall, the youngest Weasley boy was deep into conversation with his conspiring with his sister. "I can't get the transfiguration right Gin, it keeps sagging in the middle and goes all wobbly." He whined as he handed her the small object.

She picked up her wand and with a quick "Reparifarge", Ron watched his poorly done transfiguration attempt return into its original state as a dessert spoon and then transform into a golden ring.

"There," said a grinning Ginny "She won't be able to say no once she sees this."

Ron nodded as he quickly inspected the ring and then slipped it into the inner pocket of his dress robes.

"Exactly, I don't know what she's been doing all these past years, but it's about time she settles down so we can start our family. I'll already know she'll be over the moon once I pop the question. Imagine being a girl her age, no husband, no children, it's a bit embarrassing really."

"Oi, will you two shut it over there," said Harry in a stage whisper while nodding in the direction of the head table, "McGonagall's about to start with the award presentation."

The siblings then both turn to see the Headmistress standing at the Owl Lectern, emerald green robes swirling around her as she began "I hope you've all enjoyed the feast prepared for us by our house-elves," and gratuitous applause rang throughout the Great Hall. "We would like to continue tonight events with the Presentation of Medallions. On behalf of the Ministry and the Goblin Liaison Office, tonight we recognize Ragnuk the Sixth for his leadership on the swift renovation of Gringotts Bank and stabilization and growth of our economy for this past decade."

From the centre of the room, a short and portly goblin made his way over to the Minister of Magic who stood to the side of Minerva by the table which held the bronzed medals for each of the recipients. Arthur shook hands and placed the medal around the neck of the balding creature and two posed as a photographer from The Daily Prophet snapped a photo. McGonagall and Mr Weasley continued down the list, highlighting prominent Aurors, Mediwitches, and magical beings when they began to award the surviving members of the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore's Army.

"At this point in the ceremony, I'd like to recognize three very important people. With them, none of us would be here tonight. From the moment this trio set foot onto the Hogwarts Grounds, trouble would always seem to find them. In their first year, as curious eleven-year-olds, they circumvented five enchantments and creatures put in place by their professors to obtain the Philosopher's Stone and stop Quirinus Quirrell and Lord Voldemort. A year later they deduced that a Basilisk was tormenting the school and dove into the bowels of Hogwarts to save Ginny Weasley, kill the basilisk and destroy Tom Riddle and his diary. In their fifth year, they flew on the school's Thestrals to battle with his Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. Then our Golden Trio decided to forego their final year of schooling to hunt for Horcruxes. Their journey lead them to months on the run leading them to infiltrate the Ministry, break into and out of Gringotts on the back of a dragon and to finally return to Hogwarts to destroy the remaining Horcruxes and kill Voldemort himself ten years ago today. It is with great pleasure to present these gold medallions to Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter."

At the end of McGonagall's speech, the entire hall erupted in thunderous applause as witches and wizards alike rose to their feet to honour their heroes. At the table consisting of the younger generation of Slytherins, Draco beamed down at his wife as he offered her his arm to help her make her way away from their crowed dining area to the centre aisle. Hermione's cheeks turned scarlet as an onslaught of tears and praise came toward hers from all those who sat on her side of the hall. As Draco returned to their friends, she weaved through the final set of tables and chairs and she craned her neck in search of the remaining two-thirds of her celebrated trio. She quickly spotted the two boys as Ron made his way around their table to clasp a bashful Harry around his shoulders and make their way her direction.

They met her in the centre aisle and each grabbing her hand, Harry taking the right and Ron the left hand until they reached the head table. After they each had been engulfed in a hug by their old professor, Arthur proudly presented each of them with their medals. The boisterous applause followed as they posed for their official photo with the Minister of Magic. Ron, who stood next to his father, managed to snake his arm around Hermione's waist and Harry quickly sensing her annoyance, did the same and pulled her closer to his side.

Set to return to her seat after the photograph, Hermione bent down to pick up the hem of her emerald gown in order to avoid stepping on it as she prepared to descend the few stairs that lead to the Owl Lectern when a sudden silence covered the hall. Senses suddenly heightened by the intense sense of quiet, she stood an saw that all attention had shifted to something behind her. The young witch, curious to see what had caused the atmosphere in the room to change so drastically, turned around to see Ron Weasley paused in genuflection. The red-headed wizard, now having her full attention reached into his pocket present her with a ring said a loudly with a smirk.

"After years apart, you've finally come back to what was always truly meant to be. I think it's high time we settle down and finish what we started all those years ago. So, what you do say? Let's go all the way to the altar for real this time, yeah. Hermione Granger, will you marry me?"

What? An update? Five years later? I know, even I'm shocked. I've always meant to come back and finish the little story I started, but life and school got in the way school, I actually have an Honours degree in Health Sciences now. So now that I'm done school, I hope I actually finish this up. I've actually had this chapter half-finished for the past 2-ish years. Anyways I hope you guys are all doing well and I apologize for the long wait!

All the best, K