What Happened Afterwards

*NOTES* One more chapter down. Please read and enjoy and everything else. I can't think of anything else to say. So that is that. Reviews please, too.

“It's been two months, Remus.” Hermione said as she slung her bag over her should. “I think it is way past time Tonks and you had the house to yourselves. Plus July is going to be starting tomorrow and I'm sure Mrs. Weasley is expecting us any moment now.” She hugged Tonks as Remus stood by his girlfriend with his arms crossed.

Hermione could tell he thought it was too early for them to leave, but in truth all three of them were getting restless. And it wasn't due to lack of freedom because they had all the freedom they needed but they were tired of talking about the final battle. True it was the final battle but it wasn't the worse battle. Quickly she shook herself out of those thoughts and concentrated on what was going on. Harry was loading the rest of the boxes in his bag. Those boxes none of them had opened after Ron had his little meltdown and she wasn't sure they ever would. In consequence of those six days ago they had finally caved in and went to Diagon Alley.

“Come on Ron I need new clothes. I've been wearing the same three outfits for a month now.” Hermione said as Ron and her descended the stairs and continued their argument into the kitchen. “Harry thinks it is okay, don't you honey?”

She noticed Harry grimace at her words and immediately felt bad for putting him between his best friend and girlfriend. But on the other hand she knew he would agree because he had been getting tired of the same old clothes too. “Yes, Ron I think it would be a good idea.” Hermione heard him say as he took in her hopeful look.

“Fine,” Ron threw his hands up in the air and Hermione let out a tiny squeal. “But this better not take all day.”

“Oh and what else do you have to do today, Ron?”

“I just don't want to spend half of the day in the bookstore.” She knew Ron was complaining about how she had gotten them to start studying again. It was true Hermione had been bugging them about it since Harry and she went out to dinner that one night. He had told her that McGonagall had said they could come back to the school next term and it had instantly put Hermione back in good spirits. Well, actually it just gave her something to occupy her mind with.

“Oh fine you won't spend half the day in the bookstore, now can we please go.” It was with that the three friends apparated into the back alley behind the Leaky Cauldron. They immediately decided to go see Tom the bartender to see if they could reserve a private room for dinner that night. But as soon as they walked in the door a hush fell over the unusually crowded bar.

For the past two years Diagon Alley and Tom's bar had become a waste land. Only if you absolutely needed anything did you ever venture far away from your homes and even then you always went during the day and in a large group. But now it seemed like everything had returned back to the time when the war wasn't such a major front on everyone's minds.

“Hello, Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, and Mr. Weasley,” Tom said as he continued whipping off the glass in his hand. He of course was use to them popping in and out of his bar. They had come fairly often during the past months and he had always been helpful to them.

“Hey, Tom,” Ron said as he walked up to the bar. He didn't notice that his every move was being watched but Hermione did as she surveyed the room of witches and wizards. “We need a private parlor for later tonight. Let's say around dinner time.”

“It's all yours Mr. Weasley,” Tom said as Ron handed him five galleons. “Do you need anything else?” At Tom's question Ron shook his head and turned back to Hermione and Harry who were still surveying the room.

“Thanks Tom,” Hermione mentioned as soon as Ron cleared his throat she snapped her attention back to her friend. “We should get going, lots of books to buy.” At this Hermione smirked and Ron let out a groan.

She opened the walkway to Diagon Alley and all three were surprised to see an amazing amount of people out and shopping and chatting. They really shouldn't have been, reasoned Hermione, after all the bar was packed too. As they strode down the cobblestone street many whispers followed them but Hermione ignored them like she always did. But she could tell they were beginning to bug Harry and Ron. Quickly they made their way to Gringotts.

“Well that was exciting to say the least. Is this how it is going to be like for the rest of our lives because if it is I will go out there and give them a piece of my mind? We are not spectacles to gawk at.” Hermione huffed as Harry put his arm around her waist to try and calm her down. As she melted into his body she saw Ron approach another tall red head.

“I wonder what Bill is doing here,” She mentioned to Harry. “I thought he and Fleur would have gone back to Egypt now that the war is over?”

But Harry never got to voice his thoughts on the matter as Bill came over and directed them to the cart they would be using. He even decided to go along for the ride the whole time quizzing Ron on how he was.

“Vault 514,” The goblin said and all three got out. The goblin opened the vault with a stroke of his finger and then Ron, Harry, and Hermione stepped forward to gather up some money. It seemed useless to Hermione that all three of them had different areas to go to when they needed to get money so she decided to consolidate their assets into one vault. So far the situation was fairly stable but she knew that Ron would be saying it was charity soon.

As Harry was gathering the money Hermione went over to one stack of books and started shifting them around, “I know it is in here somewhere.” She muttered and eventually found the book she was looking for. It was a small leather bound book which she hugged to her chest. The book was precious to her and as she exited the vault Harry gave her a weird look. “None of your business,” She said upon him helping her back into the cart.

“Wasn't going to ask?” He said defensively and Hermione smiled at him. Yes he was, she thought.

They said goodbye to Bill shortly afterward and made their way through the crowded street and to Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Hermione immediately left Harry and Ron to Madame Malkin's devices as she began sorting through different colors. Upon Harry's completion, five day robes, two works robes, and a pair of dress robes, all in black, and two emerald green robes, Hermione had picked out three robes in light blue and two in light pink and one in lavender.

“They will look beautiful on you,” Hermione heard him say as his arm snaked around her waist. She beamed up at him before being taken away by Madame Malkin for her fitting and to make sure she had enough regular black robes.

“They will be done in the hour,” Madame Malkin said as she bowed them out of her shop and Hermione turned to look at Harry.

“Yes, let's go to the bookstore. Ron,” Harry said upon seeing his friend's face. “We will meet you at the twin's shop in one hour.”

Ron knowing when to escape did just that and Hermione knowing when to pull dragged Harry into the bookstore. “I don't suppose,” she started. “That McGonagall told you what books we will need next year?”

“No, Hermione,” She heard Harry sigh out and turned to look at him. She knew this wasn't his cup of tea and she knew the only reason he came was because he was protecting her but she wouldn't stand for it any longer.

“Harry, go with Ron to the Quidditch store. I'll meet up with you guys in an hour at the twin's store.” She watched his face go through an array of emotions before he finally gave her a quick kiss and left the store.

It was as Hermione was picking up her tenth book that she noticed someone staring at her. Turning she saw two witches coming her way. Without giving it a second thought she took out her wand and held it in the hand that also held the book.

“Staring is rude,” She said as the approached and for a second they look slightly taken aback.

“We are with the Daily Prophet and were wondering…” Hermione didn't let them finish their sentence as she pulled her wand into open view.

“I'm not giving an interview.” She replied curtly as she turned to head to the check out line. It was then that she noticed that the bookstore had become unusually crowded. Hermione froze as she saw a flash go off in her face. The press had apparently gotten wind that they were in Diagon Alley. She let out a sigh before brandishing her wand and without a second thought she silently cast a freezing charm on everyone in the room.

Carefully, she made her way up to the disgruntled manager and unfroze him. “Here is more than enough money for the books I'll be taking them how they are.” He just nodded at her and she left only to be met by more reporters outside.

Hermione let out a yelp as they surrounded her. Stupid people, she thought, probably worse than death eaters in their tactics. Before she could think about what hex to start using she felt someone grab her arm. Quickly, she tired to pull it away but as soon as she saw who it was she relented to the pulling. Harry it seemed had come to her aid. He put one arm around her shoulder, pulled her close to his chest, and together they pushed their way through the crowd. Hermione didn't pull away from Harry's chest until he told her it was okay, and when she did she wanted to go back and hide because she came face to face with Fred and George.

“Well this is a sight to see. Well, for the press that is.” Fred said as he closed the shades on the shop windows. “Harry Potter, savior of the wizarding world,” Hermione really didn't want to know where Fred was taking this, “comes to the rescue of his long time best friend who is sporting a dazzling ring on her left hand. Now I realize we were there for the proposal and everything so we know the truth but they are going to be speculating up a storm. Especially since you guys refuse to give interviews.”

Hermione at this pulled away from Harry's chest and glared at Fred. She reasoned with herself that Fred was completely right but he still didn't have to be so obvious about it.

“So what are you implying?” Hermione heard Ron's voice and it was filled with anger. “We just go and tell them we'll talk. What have we been doing for the last month?”

“We don't know,” George said quietly. “You never answered the owls we sent you and we haven't seen you guys since you left in the middle of the night.”

“Ron you never answered those owls?” She couldn't believe he would do such a thing. His mother must be going crazy, Hermione thought as she took in Ron's face. He was beginning to back away from her as she approached. But before she cut into Ron she turned to the twins, “Please tell Molly that we will be coming for a visit next Tuesday.”

“Aye aye, captain.” Fred said as he mocked saluted her. Hermione mocked saluted him right back.

The twins joined them for dinner at the Leaky Cauldron, where Tom told all the reporters to go bugger off, but in much less polite words. They enjoyed a dinner filled with laughter and at the end Hermione wasn't the only one a little sad.

“We should get going,” Ron said as Tom cleared the dishes. “Please tell mum we will be by soon and may even stay for a while.”

At this Harry stood up and pulled Hermione up along with him. She stumbled slightly at the sudden movement but caught her balance as she leaned against him. “Warn me next time,” she said softly against his ear.

“Do they do that often?” Fred asked Ron who nodded his head.

The five friends parted ways in Tom's back alley way. Hermione watched as Fred and George made their way back to their shop and then she, Ron, and Harry apparated back to Tonks and Remus's place.

Two days after their trip, Hermione went to retrieve the newspaper, once she saw the front cover she huffed. “I cannot believe this,” She said as she entered the kitchen. In her hands she held up the front page of a crumpled newspaper. Everyone took in the sight of her and Harry in what looked like a compromising situation. Underneath that picture was a smaller picture of her left hand.

“Well what did you expect?” Ron said over his cup of tea. “If either one of us went after you we would have been the one on display. Harry decided to go and I let him seeing as how you two are engaged.”

“I know that, but they are not suppose to know that.” She said as she slammed the paper down on the table. All through this Harry had just continued eating his eggs and bacon. “Why aren't you getting upset?” She rounded on him and he finally looked up at her.

“Why should I?”

“Because this is our life,” Hermione was getting mad that Harry wasn't getting mad and she didn't know why.

“Hermione,” Harry said as he stood up. “You can't let this upset you. You never use to let it upset you before, what changed?”

“I just don't want them to ruin it…they might screw everything up. And we are just getting back on our feet.” Harry and Hermione spent the rest of the morning talking everything over. They chatted about the press and how to handle them and they chatted about how to handle everything when they returned to Hogwarts.

“Hermione,” Ron's voice cut through her musing about their trip and she blushed. “I know you love the boy but you are blatantly staring.”

“Ah well just appreciating a work of art.” She said and then turned from Ron to the disgruntled Remus. “Thanks for everything,” Hermione knew Remus couldn't stay mad at them for long. And as she wrapped her arms around his stiff body she felt him relax.

“Anytime, Hermione,” As the pulled apart from each other Remus studied her for a moment. “You've grown so much from that timid little third year I knew. Still as smart as ever though, good thing too.” At his words she could feel herself starting to blush. “You guys should get going; Molly is probably going crazy by now.”

Hermione watched as Ron hugged Tonks and shook Remus's hands and then she watched as her boyfriend said goodbye to his family. She watched as Tonks kissed him on the cheek and told him to be safe and she watched as he hugged Remus. During the hug she could tell they exchanged a few words though none of them reached her ears.

“Well that's that,” Harry said as they exited the house and reached the designated apparition point.