A/N: Well, here's the last chapter. I'm very glad to see that you guys liked this story. I certainly enjoyed writing it. Thanks to all those who reviewed. Your comments are appreciated. Right now, I'm working on a new story. Keep an eye out for me.
Hedwig76
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10. Down the Road
The following morning, Hermione was getting ready to go down for breakfast. When she woke up that morning, she had thought at first that everything had just been a dream. But now that she was looking at her reflection in the mirror, she knew it was real.
The rose in her night table, which still looked as fresh and smelled as wonderful as the day Dobby snack in (at Harry's request) to place it on her pillow, reminded her it hadn't been a dream. Plus, she could still feel the tingling sensation that Harry's kisses had left on her lips.
For the third time, Hermione undid her school tie to start over again. She was nervous. Her hands were sweating. She suddenly felt too aware of the reflection the mirror gave her.
She wondered what Harry had seen in her. She felt the luckiest girl in Hogwarts 'cause even when she had never paid much attention to her looks, Harry loved her. He loved her even without any make-up, or any fancy clothes. And she loved him just the same.
Finally, she was able to fix her tie and before taking a last look at the mirror, she grabbed her book bag and run downstairs.
Harry was waiting for her in the Common Room. When she saw Harry standing there, looking more gorgeous than ever (he hadn't done anything different and was wearing the same uniform as always), she felt the color rising in her face.
Harry walked up to her, a sweet smile in his face, and before saying anything, he kissed her. Hermione responded to him, but quickly pulled back when she heard someone giggling behind them.
A couple of first years were coming down the stairs and smiled at the sight of them. Hermione tried to pull away from Harry, being the Head Girl she was supposed to be a good role model, but Harry didn't let her go too far. He grabbed her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers.
"You ready?" asked Harry after the little girls had climbed out of the Portrait Hole.
Hermione looked at him. She wasn't sure if she was ready, not for breakfast, but to face everyone. Harry slightly squeezed her hand.
"It'll be fine, don't worry."
Hermione smiled shyly, following him out of the room and towards the Great Hall. Once they were standing a couple of steps away from the wooden doors that led to the Great Hall, Harry stopped. He placed a hand on the side of her face, caressing it gently with his thumb.
"You know I love you, right?" He said in a soft voice. Hermione nodded. "Then forget about everyone else. We're the only ones that matter."
He then gave her a soft kiss in the corner of her mouth, and pulled her into the Hall, their hands still glued together.
All the faces in the four long tables turned to see them as they walked by.
"News do travel fast," said Harry in Hermione's ear just before they sat across the table to where Ron was sitting.
It seemed that out of everyone in the Great Hall the one person whose mouth was still hanging open and could not believe what she was seeing was Angie.
"Hey you two!" greeted Ron, a big grin on his face. "I guess there's no need to ask how it go last night."
"You knew?" asked Hermione looking form Ron to Harry.
"'Course! Whose idea you think it was to use the Shrieking Shack?"
"Really?"
"Hey not all of it was your idea!"
"Okay," agreed Ron. "Maybe not all of it, but I did help. Besides if it wasn't for me… you two'd still be walking in the dark."
Harry smiled. It was true. In a way he owed this to Ron. He had helped him open up his eyes and recognize his feelings for what they really were.
"What do you mean? What did you do?" demanded to know Hermione.
"Uh… well, I… uh, Harry?"
Hermione looked intently at Ron's face. She didn't need to think about it too hard. It was written all over Ron's guilty expression. He had told Harry about her feelings.
"Listen, Hermione, it's just that…" Harry tried to explain it. He had after all promised Ron he'd help him out if things got rough once Hermione knew Ron had opened his mouth.
"You told him, didn't you?" asked Hermione accusingly, ignoring Harry's words.
"Well, I… He made me do it! I didn't … I was just…"
"It's okay, Ron." Hermione's tone of voice changed completely, to Harry and Ron's surprise. "I know you only were trying to help, and if that worked…"
Harry looked at his girlfriend and smiled. "That's why I love you." Right after that he placed a quick kiss in Hermione's lips.
"Eewwww…… guys, please!" complained Ron. "I shouldn't have opened my big mouth. I shouldn't have said anything to Harry."
Harry and Hermione laughed at their friend's silly face.
The rest of the breakfast continued as always. Ron speaking with his mouth full while Hermione reviewed her schedule to see what she needed to get done that day. Harry could only smile to himself.
He just loved the pair of them, in different ways of course. He sure was glad that his luck had guided him to them. He knew that without his two best friends, who now were his best friend and his girlfriend, he wouldn't had survived through all the things that had happened to him since the first day she set foot in Hogwarts.
Without them, life just wouldn't make sense to him. He wouldn't be the person he is now. He also knew that his future was not as bright as he would have hoped it to be. He knew that difficult times lay ahead, waiting for him.
But he also knew that as long as he had Hermione and Ron at his side, he'd make it through. He didn't have the slightest idea of how he was going to be able to pull that off, but he just knew it.
Harry had the certainty that Hermione and Ron wouldn't let him down, and that they would always be a part of his life. Harry just wouldn't have liked it any other way.
I'm dying to get to know you,
know what you're thinking,
open up all of your doors,
and defeat those storms
that want to want to throw us off,
center my eyes in yours,
sing with you until dawn,
kiss until our lips wear out,
and see in your face every day
grow that seed.
Create, dream, let it all out,
putting aside the fear to suffer.
Alex Ubago (Translated by Hedwig76)