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Return to Me

    Hermione Granger stepped into the Common Room once more. Finally, for one of the last times she would ever. It seemed like just yesterday she had come to Hogwarts for the first time. So eager to learn magic.

    Ron Weasley and Harry Potter entered just behind her. Ron, Harry, and Hermione had been friends almost instantly after beginning their first year. Ron and Harry headed up without a word to Hermione.

    It didn't bother her so much. Hermione felt the badge on her robe. Head Girl. A privilege she had always dreamed of. Ron was Head Boy, though not quite as thrilled as Hermione was. "Perfect," He had said. "I wonder if I can resign?" Hermione knew Ron didn't want to end up like Percy, one of Ron's many brothers.

    Hermione went up to unpack and spotted Ginny, Ron's youngest and only sister. "Hello," Ginny greeted Hermione. "Your last year, eh?"

    Hermione nodded. "Yes. My first day here is so close, yet, even more distant to me."

    Ginny sat down by Hermione. "We've been such troublemakers," She teased. "Breaking all the house rules."

    Hermione laughed, but just a little. She never full-out laughed. "Yes. I was worried about that. I still am, but slightly less. Which is Harry's fault."

    Ginny laughed, and looked a little rosy. Hermione knew she still cared about Harry. She hadn't told him so, but it didn't matter. Harry wasn't very interested in girls.

    Oh, the girls were interested in Harry, though! Harry had another secret admirer, who, Hermione wasn't entitled to say. Still, it was a messy triangle. Hermione silently decided to stay out of it as much as possible. She had her own life, academic and social.

    Dawn awoke Hermione early after her first night back. Hermione quietly dressed and went outside. Sitting by the lake, the sun reflecting off of it. A perfect morning. After a while Hermione went back inside to discover she had missed breakfast.

    Hermione made it just in time for her first class. "What kept you?" Ron asked. "It's not like you to miss anything."

    "I was just out."

    Class started; Potions class. Snape was merciless usual and gave the class a review pop quiz. He graded them right after and gave them their grades, smirking all the while.

    "An O," Boasted Malfoy, arch rival of Harry. "Perfect."

    "Oh, please," Said Hermione. "You're not perfect."

    "That's what you say, mudblood," Sneered Malfoy. "I'm perfectly perfecting imperfection."

    Hermione opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by Snape. "Talking out of turn, Miss Granger. Five points from Gryffindor."

    Malfoy smirked. The lesson pressed onward. "And, in conclusion," Said Snape, finally finishing his tiresome lecture. "Muggles do not realize the magical properties in the ingredients in our potions. We have labeled them as 'illegal drugs', and have put dangerous side affects on them if toyed around with by humans. For your work write a 1,000 word paper on why we disguised our ingredients the way we did."

    The trio left. "Man," Ron complained. "1,000 words."

    Hermione shrugged. "If you paid attention, you should be able to figure it out."

    "Oh," Ron said. "We were supposed to listen?"

    "Yes!" Said Hermione exasperatedly. "Ron, if you really want to become an Auror you need to learn these things!"

    "Sorry!" Ron said. "What's wrong with you? Snapping back at Malfoy like that? Losing us points?"

    "Just to refresh your memory," Hermione cried. "It's you who has lost more house points than me, Ron!!"

    Hermione walked off in a huff. He was so impossible sometimes! And to think, they'd been friends all these years! Suddenly an owl dropped a letter off above Hermione's head. She caught the letter and read it. It was from Viktor Krum, who was sort of her boyfriend.

    Dear Hermione,

    You are now in your final year of school, and you must be working very to become a teacher like you want to be. Though I was wondering if you could take some time off to come to my final Quidditch Match of the season, on your last day of school. I would be pleased if you could come to watch me play. Keep up your studies.

                                                                     Love, Viktor

    A ticket fell out of the letter. Hermione looked at them. Front row seats. Viktor must've gone out of his way to do this. Hermione smiled. She'd love to go.

    Ron looked over her shoulder. "Vicky again?"

    Hermione stuffed the letter in her robe pocket. "None of your business."

    "Must have been something awfully private," Said Ron. "Your face is red!"

    Hermione stormed off.

    "Ron," Harry said. "Why do you do those things to her?"

    Hermione's attitude was catching, and Ron was very grumpy, too. "What has he got that I don't? At least I'm closer to her age."

    Harry sighed. "Ron, be quiet."

    Ron spoke to Hermione again the next day, as if nothing went on. He obviously was sincere, though he never did apologize. "So," Harry said. "We're doing really good this year in Quidditch, Hermione. Ron's a good Chaser now."

    "Who do you play next?" Asked Hermione.

"Today," Harry responded. "We're going to slaughter Slytherin."

    "I'll come," Hermione said.

    "It's over!!" Announced the speaker. "Harry Potter snatches the Snitch!!! Gryffindor wins!!!"

    "YEAH!" Hermione cheered. "Go Harry! Well done Ron!"

    Hermione rushed down to meet them. "To then final match, now! Should be a great match against Ravenclaw!"

    "Yeah," Said Harry. "But I'm not too keen on playing Ravenclaw."

    "Did you see me score?" Ron asked Hermione.

    "Yes," She answered. "Very nice."

    Ron had a quiet look of triumph on his face. "All right then."

    Hermione felt like laughing, but didn't. Ron was so easygoing, and he was kind of handsome when he smiled like that, his freckles all bunched up…Hermione stopped herself. No, Ron was a friend. They were too good of friends to be anything more.

    Hermione wrote back to Viktor that she'd come.

    Viktor,

    Of course, I'd love to see you play again. I'm sure you'll do great.
                      Love, Hermione

    It was short, Ron would say. But Hermione didn't feel like saying all that much. Hermione quietly mailed the letter. Now, she felt, she felt, she couldn't explain it. And she didn't like it.

    "The last game is when?" Hermione repeated. "The last day of school? Oh, that's the day when Viktor is playing his big match. I'm sorry, you guys."

    "S'all right, Hermione," Harry said. "I'm sure you'll think of us." Harry walked up the stairs. "'Night."

    "Hermione," Ron said. "Can I talk to you?"

    "Of course," Hermione replied. "Is it Percy? What's he done now?"

    "No, no," Said Ron. "It's not Percy. It's….you."

    Hermione blushed. "I beg your pardon?"

    "I," Began Ron. "I love you. I can't help fighting with you; it's the whole Krum thing. It's like; you were taken from me before I even had you. Do you know what I mean?"

    Hermione was speechless for once in her life. Ron loved her? I used to love him, Hermione realized. Then Viktor, and Ron. "I don't love you," Hermione said, almost reduced to tears. "I love Viktor."

    Ron looked like he had lost his world. Hermione ran away. Did she love Ron? No, yes, NO! It was too complicated to love Ron. With Viktor, there was…whatever it was…Hermione finally did cry. An ocean of new sadness spilled out in her tears.

    The last day of school came. Without Ron, Hermione managed to exist by herself for two months. Eight long weeks. And not she was graduating, and she was going to see Viktor.

    Graduating Day came too fast, and too slow. The Headmaster called the students up to receive their diploma. "Hermione Granger," Dumbledore called. Hermione practically ran up to him. "Here," He said, handing her a diploma. "You've earned it." Hermione beamed and looked out at everyone, except Ron. She couldn't bear to look at him.

    "Good luck," Hermione whispered to Harry as she passed. "Win it for me."

    "'Kay," Harry smiled. "You enjoy yourself!"

    Hermione wished she could see Harry graduate, but there was no time. Hermione stepped out into the hall to find the Portkey, other students were waiting around to leave as well. Finally, a teacher Hermione never met stood at the front of the crowd. "Attention, if you are not leaving for the Quidditch match finals please leave now."

    Some students broke off of the throng. Hermione made a move to leave, but stepped back again. Then repeated and repeated that. "Miss!" The professor called. "Are you or are you not going?"

    Hermione hesitated. "Yes. I'm not going." Hermione smiled and ran out onto the Quidditch fields. Just in time for the beginning.

    Ron swerved and dodged bludgers. "Weasley in possession!" Cried the announcer. "And he scores! Ten points to Gryffindor!"

    Hermione clapped loudly. "Go, Ron!"

    The game progressed and the players flew, fell, dodged, and ran into each other. But, Harry made a mad lurch toward something, the Snitch! All of Gryffindor cheered him on. "Harry!" "Potter for the gold!" "Catch that Snitch!"

    Harry gave one last boost of energy with the Ravencalw seeker right on his tail, and! He grabbed it! A thunderous applause swept the stadium. But no one clapped more than Hermione.

    She flew down to meet the team, and threw herself in their way to stop them.

    "Hermione," Harry said, amazed. "Was the match over that quickly?"

    "Hermione?" Ron stood by Harry. "What're you doing here?"

    "I didn't go to Viktor's match at all," Admitted Hermione. "I had a change of conscience."

    "Got to go," Harry said. "I've, er, got some hands to shake." Harry left leaving Ron and Hermione alone.

    "So," Ron said idly. "Why didn't you go?"

    Hermione shrugged. "Something was more important to me."

    "Oh," Ron said nonchalantly. "Okay."

    "It was you," Hermione turned to face Ron. "Ronald Weasley. Who I always loved." Hermione kissed Ron on the cheek. "Can you forgive me?"

    Ron did a double blink. "Yes." Ron drew her into a hug. "Hermione, d'you want to get married, y'know someday?"

    "Someday," Hermione agreed. "After I'm a teacher and someone else is an Auror, that is."

    Ron smiled. "Yeah."

    Hermione smiled with him. "Yeah."

Return to me
You're the one I truly love
Return to me
Like feathers on the breeze
Return to me
You don't have to cry those sweet tears
Return to me
Love is forgiveness, love is hope
Return to me
Return to me
Return to me

~Fin~