Harry Potter and the Malevolent Affections

NB - Well, here it is, the last little bit. It's not much of a story, just a bit of conversation to tie things off. Thank you to everyone who's reviewed and if you still have questions then I'll try and answer them.

- Ankh

Disclaimer: Harry Potter was written and invented by JK Rowling. I don't own any of the characters and I'm not involved in the books in any way other than being a fan. This is a non-profit work of fiction.

Harry Potter and the Malevolent Affections

-Epilogue-

Harry moved a little closer to Hermione. They were sitting on a rickety bed packed into a small single-person room at the Leaky Cauldron. For a long time they didn't say anything. Although they'd been in for a fair few days the exhaustion and fatigue was only just beginning to leave their faces. The bustle of the busy city washed over them as they rested.

"Harry?"

"Yeah?" He stretched lazily and turned to face her.

"What would you have done if I hadn't come back?" Her brown eyes were suddenly focused on him, searching. He shrugged.

"I don’t know."

"Oh…" There was a little more silence.

"I'm glad you did though, in the end, it was for the best." Hermione smiled and reached out to capture him in a quick hug.

"Thanks... they were lousy knots anyway." Something crumpled between them. "What's this?" She reached out and plucked a piece of paper from his shirt pocket.

"It's nothing." It was the picture he'd started drawing at the bottom of the 'day's till Hogwarts' calendar. He'd finished it on the train. The rough sketch of the broom's rider had evolved into Hermione's likeness.

"It's pretty good."

"Thanks." He felt himself smile, he was still getting used to her as his 'girlfriend' but at times like this the affection between them felt almost timeless.

"What's going to happen to your Uncle's house?" She slid the picture beneath the cover of one of the many books that had piled up over their stay.

"Dumbledore said the Order would fix it… I guess it's pretty funny."

"What is?" He flashed her a devilish grin.

" would flip if he knew a bunch of wizards were cleaning the place from top to bottom." She giggled, the happiness was contagious. Soon they were both laughing, forgetting the joke and just being happy for the sake of it. "So… anymore questions?"

"Nope" She shook her head; he still had a mischievous gleam in his eyes.

"Excellent." He pulled her into a kiss and reached out his foot to nudge the door shut, cutting off the outside world and wrapping them in privacy...  it finally felt like he was going to enjoy the holidays.

PS. If you review I might just stop writing complete and utter tripe.