What Happened Afterwards

*NOTES* Okay I think that I got everything in this chapter I wanted to put in! Yippee! Please read and review and enjoy. I will try and get the next chapter up as soon as possible but exams are coming up and I think I should start to do some studying. So keep your fingers crossed for me and all that jazz.

Hermione heard a pop as she frantically searched for the perfect pair of earrings to go with her outfit. Tonight was the night of the engagement party. It was a hushed affair and it was going to take place at the Three Broomsticks. It was also going to double as a birthday party for Harry and Neville. She let out a sigh as her eyes landed on the red chandelier earrings and quickly put them in. Before she could finish putting on her strapy sandals Ginny came bursting into the room.

“Wow, you look nice, what is the occasion?” the younger girl took in Hermione with big round eyes.

Hermione had to admit she did look nice, but she didn't think she would get that reaction from Ginny. She did one last check in the mirror and found everything did look nice. She was wearing black jeans, a red halter top, and those strapy sandals. Her hair was down and set in lose curls and the earrings perfectly matched her shoes and her top.

“We are going out tonight with some friends,” Hermione picked up her jacket as she said this so she missed the look on the younger girl's face. It could only be called disappointment.

“Oh,” but Hermione clearly heard the disappointment in her voice. “Well that's cool. Who is going to be there?”

Hermione mentally cringed at Ginny's questioning. It was true that Ginny had seemed to come to her senses about Harry and her. During the last couple of weeks she had even gone back to her normal self, the one that didn't seem to want to kill Hermione for loving Harry.

“Well, um, the gang I suppose, Neville, Harry, Ron, me, Luna, Susan, Hannah, Dean…everyone.” Hermione grab her purse and headed towards the door. “I have to go Ginny,” she turned to see the younger girl sitting on her bed and smiled slightly.

Just as Hermione closed the door she heard Ginny sigh and say, “Everyone but me.”

Hermione silently cursed herself as she tripped on the last step and tumbled right into Mr. Weasley. “So sorry, sir, it is these drat shoes. I love them but sometimes I just can't figure out how to walk in them. Harry?”

“He is in the kitchen, Hermione.” Mr. Weasley said her name kind of funny and she looked up at him.

“Is something wrong, Mr. Weasley?” She noticed his face had gone all glassy and he seemed to be remembering something from a long time ago. “Mr. Weasley?”

“Sorry, Hermione, it is just that you look stunning. Harry is in the kitchen and Ron has left to pick up Miss. Susan.” Hermione said her thanks and went to the kitchen. There she saw Harry in a pair of black slacks and a green button down shirt. The shirt she had gotten him for Christmas.

“Well, don't you look absolutely beautiful,” Mrs. Weasley said upon seeing Hermione enter the kitchen. Hermione barely heard her though because her eyes were glued on Harry's reaction, some things never changed with time.

“You sure you want to go to that party,” He said as she stepped closer to him.

Hermione laughed at his and lightly slapped him upside the head, “yes, Harry. We are the guest of honor.”

“Oh well, I was just thinking we could go and snog for a bit,” Hermione let out a laugh at this.

Some things did change with time, she thought. Harry and she didn't even get together until a couple days after Christmas. Ron, at the time of their first kiss, was still at his parent's house, and Hermione had just gotten back from her parent's house.

“Harry, I'm home!” She shouted as she entered the house. It was then that she noticed the quiet and wondered why Mrs. Black's portrait wasn't shouting like crazy. She made her way down to the kitchen and saw that Harry had cut off the portrait's head. When that sight met her eyes she took off at a run and as she entered the kitchen she tripped and landed right into Harry.

Once she untangled herself from him she started asking a million questions. “Are you okay? What happened? Did something happen? Please be okay?” She would have kept going on but Harry's lips cut her off. She didn't know how to react much less if it was her Harry and if it was why was he kissing her?

It must have taken her a minute to realize what was truly going on, Harry was kissing her, and she responded back. It was soft and sweet and everything a first kiss should be. Except it wasn't her first kiss, but at that moment she knew it was the kiss she would remember the most.

Hermione pulled back and looked at him. She didn't even register her hand reaching out and slapping Harry but it did. “What the hell was that?”

“Hermione,” Harry whispered as he brought his hand up to his red cheek. She winced slightly to see her hand imprinted on his face. Suddenly she felt like throwing up and laughing all at the same time. “What the hell was that for?” She heard Harry ask.

At that Hermione broke down in laughter. `Well…” she said as she gasped for air. “You just kissed me…” Hermione giggled again at the absurd thought of her and Harry going out and being anything more than friends.

“You kissed me back,” With Harry's simply statement she froze.

Hermione knew it was true, she had kissed him back, and as she thought about it her stomach began to churn. What was happening, she thought. Before Harry could get her to the sink she puked all over the floor. Everything had just become too much for her to handle, this stupid war, the stupid Horcruxes, the battles, the losing of friends and family, and now this to top it all off.

As Harry held her hair away from her face and stroked her back she shuddered, was she ready for this? They had been through so much, and now to fall in love, to fall in love with her best friend. Of course she had already loved Harry, unconditionally of course, but to actually love Harry was another thing. It would be hard and probably well worth it, but what if she loved him and then had to lose him. At this thought Hermione found herself throwing up once again. This time Harry let her fall to the floor afterwards.

“Okay I didn't think I would get this reaction,” He said as he handed her a glass of water.

“It wasn't you,” She whispered. “Harry we can't do this, not yet. I love you, I do, but if we do this and I lose you or you lose me then there won't be anyone else for me or you. But if we keep living in the dark then maybe, after this is all over, if one us doesn't make then we can find someone else to take the others place.”

“I don't want anyone else,” Harry said looking straight into her eyes. “You have always been there for me, Hermione, what makes you think that I would be able to live without you.”

“That is just the point,” Hermione's voice held a monotone quality to it. “I want you to live if I don't.”

Harry took this as his cue and got up to leave but Hermione reached out and stopped him. “Harry, you have the ability to love like no one else I've ever seen. Never give up on that and never give up on the ones that matter most.” They officially became a couple two days later when Harry promised Hermione that he could and would go on living without her if need be.

“Something wrong, Hermione?” Harry's voice jolted her out of her memory. She smiled up at him and let him lead her out the door and past the apparition wards. They found themselves in front of the shrieking shack seconds later.

The town was bustling, and no one would ever imagine that for a year it had been deserted. Someone had spent a good deal of time and charm work on making the city look like it was under a could of fairy lights. Harry and Hermione made their way down from the shack and into the bustling crowd.

“I think the celebrations are still going on,” Hermione yelled over the noise of everyone laughing and cheering.

“A long time to be celebrating the death of Voldemort,” Harry yelled right back. He held her close as they made their way through the crowds. It seemed like a mass of people were closing in on them and Harry gripped his wand afraid they might make a move to hurt either Hermione or him.

“Is that…him?” A voice suddenly shouted out but Harry and Hermione paid no heed to it, they just kept moving.

“Yes, that is Harry Potter,” another voice joined the fray.

Hermione heard the voices around Harry and her beginning to pick up the fact that they were there. “Shit,” she mumbled to herself. “We just had to come from the shrieking shack.” Quickly and silently she whipped out her wand and put a bubble around herself and Harry.

They tumbled into the closed Three Broomsticks and put a locking charm on the door. Madam Rosmerta looked up from her place behind the bar and smiled. Hermione could tell she was glad to be back and he eyes quickly saw that she Rosmerta was participating in the festivities. She had, obviously, given them the full bar on this busy night.

The bar was decked out in Gryffindor colors, red and gold, and there was a sign hung that read, Congratulations Harry and Hermione. On either side there was a lion and a phoenix. Also on two tables there were piles of presents, one for Harry and one for Neville.

“Well you were the one that said yes to the party, dear.” Harry whispered in her ear before they were separated by friends greeting them. Hermione was first given a bone crushing hug by Susan, Ron's date, and then Hannah.

“How'd it go?” Hermione asked Hannah as soon as they pulled away. Hannah just held up her hand and Hermione let out a squeal, there was a beautiful diamond ring adorning her finger.

“I know! Lavender and the Patils have been doing that for the last hour.” She saw Hermione's inquisitive gaze, “well we had to help set up.” Hermione let out a laugh at this and she was going to respond but she got pulled away by Neville who had finally fought his way through to hug her.

“I want you to know that it could have been me,” this had become their joke when Neville had found out about the two of them. He couldn't have been happier to see Hermione situated with someone who suited her so nicely.

“What can I say? I go for the tall, dark, and moody sort.” It was then that Rosmerta whistled over all the chatter and they all turned towards her.

Unconsciously Harry, Ron, and Hermione gripped their wands but quickly put them away when they realized there was no trouble. Madam Rosmerta had notice their movements and took a moment to check herself, she had never fully gotten over being put under the imperious curse.

“The food is ready so dig in and I want you all to remember that after there will be three cakes as we are celebrating three events: Harry and Neville turning eighteen and Harry and Hermione's engagement. Next week I think will be Hannah and Dean's turn.” Hannah and Dean laughed at this but said it was unnecessary because they were not going to have an engagement party until they actually planned part of their wedding.

“Which brings up the question of when is the wedding?” Lavender had just joined the line for food when she asked Harry this question.

“Not for a long while. We both want careers and to finish school and to find out if we can ever have a normal life.” Harry said as Lavender suddenly lurched forward and he looked down to her leg. It was during a surprise ambush that Lavender had gotten half of her leg chopped off. Instead of going for the Moody look she went and got a prosthetic leg from the muggle world. The only bad thing was sometimes it got stuck.

“Sorry about that, Harry.” She said once she righted herself. “I don't know how I'm going to deal at Hogwarts. With all the stairs and whatnot but I guess I'll find a way. After all I am a witch.” And with that she went to join everyone that was sitting down.

“Hey there, mate.” Ron said as he piled his plate with more food then it looked like it could hold. Harry just let him at it and went to join the over chatty fray.

Hermione listened on as everyone talked about going back to school. She listened and realized that they would no longer be in their own year and that their year, the very few of them, had graduated. They would be returning to a group of kids that they didn't know very well and they would be invading.

“Earth to Hermione,” Dean's voice shouted at her and she shook herself out of her thoughts. “What were you thinking about? Hopefully some very naughty thoughts.”

Hermione glared at him before responding, “I was just thinking about how different this year is going to be. We lived in our own little world for the past year and now we are going back to our world pre-war.” Everyone turned quite at this and it gave Hermione a chance to study her friends.

Hannah and Dean had come through this war basically unscratched, on the outside, but the inside was a different story. Dean had lost his mother to some Death Eaters while he was out on a raid, and Hannah had lost her mother and her father had gone into hiding.

Seamus had been to the hospital more times then most of the Drop-Outs, and each time it wasn't his fault. His parents had fled the country and he refused to join them saying his place was here with his friends.

Lavender had been a huge asset to the group, though she never fought in a single battle, as she honed her seeing abilities to their highest peak and often was consulted before a major battle though. The only battle she did participate is was one during a surprise ambush on Diagon Alley. It so happened that at the same time Hermione and Ron were there.

The Patil twins had gone against their parents every wish and were currently living with Lavender in a muggle apartment. They were a huge asset in the fact that together they were unstoppable and had even stood up to Voldemort once. But unfortunately during the one and only time they stood up in battle with Voldemort Padma had lost her sight. She was now completely reliant on her twin sister and extremely worried about returning to school.

Another two living together was Justin and Susan. Though they weren't romantically involved, Justin being gay, they were best friends. Susan had become the strongest, next to Neville, in defensive curses. Justin had become the resident healer and had been put through hell by healing everyone (except Lavender, she had been taken to St. Mungos) at least ten times and Susan even more than that because she never backed down from a fight.

Lastly Hermione took in Neville who was sitting beside his girlfriend Luna, the only one who had gone back to Hogwarts. Neville had grown over the years and was now the leader of the Drop-Outs. He was next best to Harry in fighting and was so cautious it was like staring at a mini Moody. The thing that got Hermione was that Neville could have stayed out of this fight. He could have sat back and done nothing for the prophecy wasn't about him even though it could have been. But Neville didn't and for that she was ever grateful.

Every sat around the bar talking and eating for the next hour or so. It was as Ron went to get his third helping of steak and kidney pie that Madam Rosmerta mentioned presents and cake. Ron immediately hastened back to his seat, beside Susan, and Hermione went over to help bring out the cakes.

“I brought some candles, Rosmerta,” She said as she entered the kitchen. Hermione pulled out a pack of muggle trick candles. Rosmerta couldn't help but hide her curiosity and immediately asked what they did. “You can keep trying to blow them out but they keep relighting themselves.” Hermione explained as she put eighteen on each cake.

The boys tried to put out the candles for ten minutes before Hermione, who was on the flooring laughing, gave pity on them and put them out. As everyone ate cake and Harry and Neville opened their presents Hermione was accosted by the girls into finding out how Harry proposed.

“Well, you know Harry…” Hermione started to say and all the girls started to giggle. She sighed as she realized that this was not going to be the type of story they wanted to hear. They wanted a story with a romantic dinner or maybe him proposing after the big battle and when they both thought they were on their death bed. “He proposed after we had made it back to the Burrow and it was after Madam Pomfrey had healed us and everyone got their say in. We had told the story of the battle and we sitting trying not to remember it all when Remus comes up and hands Harry his mother's engagement ring. And then he goes “What do you think?”” Hermione could tell they were all holding back giggles. “And that is the story of he, the dufus, proposed.”

“And you said yes,” Padma said in a sing song voice that sounded so much like Luna it was scary. She grabbed Hermione's hand and felt for the ring and gave an appreciative coo. “Well at least we can say the Potter men have good taste in jewelry.”

At this all the girls broke out in giggles and it was then that Hermione noticed the boys had finished opening their presents. It was also when she noticed Ron standing up holding a bottle of butterbeer.

“I would like to make a toast…a troll, ogre, and hag walk into a bar…” Everyone laughed at this and Ron turned serious. “Sorry couldn't resist but really I would like to say a few words to the happy couple. I've known you both since the first train ride to Hogwarts and we have been through so much together. You have always stood by one another and done everything to see the other person through whatever came up, mainly dark lords. Hermione nagged and Harry rushed into things without thinking, but you could tell they always had the best of intentions.” Hermione found an arm slung around her shoulder and snuggled closer to Harry as Ron spoke. “So I'm standing up here to say that I wish you a world full of happiness and no more dark lords out to get you.” With that Ron raised his glass and everyone followed, “to stupid dark lords and friendship.”

“To stupid dark lords and friendship,” everyone echoed Ron.