• Harry Potter | Battle of Hogwarts & Post-War 

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He knew he'd have to die. 

Clearly, it was what he was raised to do. 

"I'll go with you," his best friend choked out. 

"No," he felt himself saying. "Kill the snake. You need to end this." 

He felt Hermione crash into him, grasping onto his shoulders desperately. For a moment- just a brief moment- everything felt okay. His mind flashed back to his very first year- the moment Hermione had engulfed him in her embrace at the end of the year. It had been his very first hug. It seemed only right that she be his very last. 

Ron watched the pair sadly, and Harry knew they'd likely end up together after the war. Perhaps it was for the best- he didn't want his two best friends dealing with his loss alone. 

He knew he often sided with Ron when the three of them argued, but if this year had taught him anything, it was that Hermione was his closest friend- perhaps even more so than Ron. She'd stayed beyond everyone else. She was the one who refused to let him put her on a safe pedestal. She was the one who made sure he lived past the end of every year. 

It was always her.  

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"HARRY!" 

Her's was the first voice he heard when he tumbled out of Hagrid's arms. Not that he had much time to dwell on it as he ran for his life. 

It was time to finish this- once and for all. 

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When the dust finally settled, allowing the hopeful and cleansing rays of sunlight back in, all they were left with was loss and pain. 

The Weasleys were devastated. After losing Fred, they'd never entirely be the same. 

Harry and Hermione watched from the edges, not really knowing how to comfort the inconsolable family. Harry couldn't calm Ginny, nor could Hermione with Ron. The family that had been a pillar of strength for the two their entire childhood came crumpling down, retreating into themselves to heal. 

"You're not going with Ron?" Harry asked Hermoine in a voice thick with emotion and unuse. 

She shook her head sadly. "I think he needs his family more than anything right now," she whispered, watching the way he had his arm around George's shoulder. 

"What about you?" Hermione asked. "Not going after Ginny?" 

Harry eyed the way Ginny supported her weeping mother. "No," he gulped. "Not yet."  

The Weasleys brokenly took Fred's body back to the Burrow. Almost overcome with the exhaustion of the last few months- hell, the last few years- Harry and Hermione decided to seek out shelter in their old home: Gryffindor Tower. 

After all, where else did they have to go? They were both without family and without homes. Who else did they have but each other? 

When they entered the dormitories, the large room lined with five beds felt like the haunting replica of a past life. Hermione looked at the big room with a moment of trepidation.    

"Come on," Harry said tiredly, leading her to the one bed by the window. "Let's just try and get some rest." 

Hermione didn't protest, allowing Harry to pull her into the bed. They lay on opposite sides, the small bed affording little space between them. They stared at each other, merely taking the other in. 

They'd made it. 

They'd survived. 

"I'm so happy you're alive," she whispered disbelievingly. It had all happened so fast. Her hand fluttered up to his face, feathering over the hair matted to his forehead. 

"Thank you,"  he said meaningfully. "For not leaving." 

They watched each other for a few moments of comfortable silence. 

"When will you go back to Ron?" he whispered. 

"I don't know," Hermione said, torn. She seemed to take the question more deeply than he'd meant it. Or perhaps he had meant it that way. "I don't think I can ever forget him walking out on us," she admitted.  

Harry nodded, not needing her to explain. "When will you tell him?" 

"Soon," she whispered. "I feel terrible doing it so soon after Fred... but the more I wait, the more complicated it'll get." 

Harry hummed in quiet contemplation. He always liked that about Hermione. She was never one to dally, even in her personal life. She did everything with an honesty and certainty he still struggled with.        

"Are you excited to finally reunite with Ginny?" She asked curiously. 

Harry's green eyes lifted to hers, and it was a long moment before he responded. 

"I don't know," he finally whispered. "Everything feels so different now. Even just after a year." 

Hermione waited patiently, no judgment in her gaze. 

"You know when I said goodbye to you before going into the forest?" He asked suddenly. 

She nodded. 

"I felt numb after realizing what I had to do. But somehow you made it okay. You always do that for me, 'Mione." 

"You know I'd do anything for you," she said sincerely. 

"Always?" He asked curiously. 

"Always." 

Harry studied her carefully, scootching closer minisculely. His eyes drifted down to her lips before finding those familiar caramel orbs again.    

"Anything?" His voice broke. 

Hermione's eyes widened in understanding, her body going absolutely still. She raised her hand to rest on his cheek gently. 

"I love you, Harry," Hermione admitted honestly. "I have since the end of the first year. I don't really know when you stopped being just my best friend and became the person I counted on for everything. I don't think there was ever a defining moment, you know?" 

Harry nodded, his hand coming to rest over hers. "You just bled into my life until I could never imagine it without you," he agreed understandingly. 

"But," Hermione stuttered with a deep exhale. "We can't do this. It would destroy our friends- you know that."      

He did know that he realized with a sinking heart. But for once, he just wanted to be selfish. He'd lived his entire life sacrificing for the greater good. For once, he just wanted to choose for himself. But he knew Hermione would never do that at the expense of others. He might've been born into his inevitable role, but Hermione made a choice to sacrifice for the greater good.    

"I'll still love you," he admitted sadly. 

"I'll still love you too," she smiled. 

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Ron had not taken their breakup well. Harry knew at that moment what a catastrophe it would have been if Hermione were to tell him she was also in love with his best friend. 

"Why?" Ron pleaded. "We had that kiss..." 

"I'm sorry, Ron. I really am!" 

"Is there someone else?" He asked. 

"No," she said after a minuscule pause. "I just- I'm always afraid you'll walk away in the middle of a fight. I can't live like that." 

"Merlin, Hermione! I apologized for that!" 

"I know! And I forgive you, I do. But part of me can't forget it. I just- I can't share myself with you like that, not with those expectations..." 

Ron stormed away, too upset to even yell at her like he usually would. When Hermione reentered the kitchen, the Weasleys watched her with disappointment. They didn't blame the girl, but they didn't entirely understand either. 

It took months before things reached a stable normal. Hermione would stop by the Burrow once a month, but every visit was tense and awkward. 

It wasn't until Ron brought home Parvati Patil that the entire family seemed to relax, letting go of the spilled milk. He'd run into her at Lavender Brown's funeral, and apparently, they'd been meeting more and more regularly ever since. Despite how hotheaded Ron tended to be, Parvati indeed seemed to temper that side of him. 

While Hermione and Ron only riled each other up at every turn, Parvati was a soothing balm to Ron's quick temper, and he was the comedic relief to her anxiousness. They were a surprisingly good match. 

Hermione was really happy for them. Harry could sense the relief coming from her the day Ron came to dinner with Parvati on his arm. 

She could finally stop feeling guilty. 

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 Harry and Ginny were a bit more complicated. 

They stayed together after the battle. Once Hermione made it clear they could never be together, it didn't seem logical to put his life on hold- especially since he craved comfort in those days. 

But comfort from Ginny felt a lot more platonic than he'd expected. They both seemed dazed in their relationship. They would cuddle and talk, but neither seemed to feel the desire to take anything further. Her year at Hogwarts under the Carrows had knocked the last remaining innocence out of Ginny, replacing the once light-hearted infatuation she'd had for Harry with a much deeper understanding. But it wasn't quite the same. Harry, for all he tried, could never entirely get Hermione out of his head. 

Hermione never once begrudged him those months with Ginny. Granted, she was gone more often than not after her breakup with Ron. But when she did come around, she always had bright smiles for the young pair.      

It wasn't until after Ron had moved on that the nagging thought returned to Harry. What if? 

One day he and Ginny were at Grimmauld watching a movie on the muggle telly Hermione had helped him set up. 

"Are you happy, Gin?" Harry asked suddenly. 

"I'm content," Ginny replied with a wry smile. "Why? Feeling insecure?" 

"Yes," Harry admitted.  

Ginny sat up, looking at Harry with her full attention now. "How do you mean?" 

"Maybe it's just me, but I don't think it is," Harry began hesitantly. "We're both changed a lot since that year. Can you honestly say your heart is here with me? Completely?" 

Ginny froze. He couldn't know, could he? She'd never told anyone. "No," she admitted with a deep sigh. 

"Me either," Harry whispered. "I barely know who I am these days, much less how to be with someone else."  

"So... what? We just break up?" Ginny asked, surprised at the sudden turn. 

"I think we're both at a point where we're ready to part ways," Harry said. "Aren't we?" 

Ginny sighed with a small, sad smile. "We are." 

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It had been two months since Harry had last seen his best friend. Hermione had gone to Australia to find her parents, promising to return with them as soon as she was able. Hermione left a few weeks after Ron officially introduced Parvati to the family, finally feeling okay to leave with the confidence she would come back to the Weasleys' open arms. He'd offered to go with her, but she'd have none of it. She insisted he focus on getting back on his feet and enjoying his time with Ginny. 

Little did she know, he and Ginny ended things a little over two weeks into her absence.  

A lot had changed in the following few weeks- most of which Harry'd never seen coming. But when Hermione walked into the Burrow on one of their typical Sunday brunches, two months after she'd first left, Harry couldn't help but beam in happiness. 

"You're back," he laughed, folding her into his embrace. 

"I told you I would come back," she said affectionately. 

"Your parents?" He asked. 

"Decided to stay in Australia," she shrugged, a hint of sadness bordering her eyes. "That's why I was there so long. I was trying to rebuild those bridges. They said they'll visit for the holidays, though!" 

"I'm glad," Harry squeezed her hand, relishing the warmth of her presence. 

"Hermione!" Parvati cried, rushing over to engulf the girl in a hug. 

Hermione glanced back to Harry in confusion, realizing he had yet to relinquish her hand. He merely smiled in amusement, shrugging aloofly. 

Ron came by, pulling her into a warm hug as well, not batting an eyelash at their joined hands. 

"Harry," she whispered urgently, trying to extract her hand from his. "What the hell is going on? Where's Ginny?" She was so confused. Harry Potter was holding her hand in front of the entire Weasley family- for much longer than seemed appropriate (even for two best friends). And more bizarrely, no one looked at all fazed.  

"Hermione," the excited voice of the young redhead drew their attention. 

Hermione's mouth dropped open as she saw Ginny rushing to them with none other than Draco Malfoy on her heels. Ginny hugged her, laughing at the befuddled look on her friend's face. 

"I promise we'll talk," she drew away, her eyes swimming in amusement. "But, I think Harry has a bit to fill you in on." 

Hermione stared at them all in open-mouthed shock. 

"You'll catch flies at this rate, Granger," Malfoy drawled, the usual vicious bite gone from his words. 

"Come on," Harry pulled her out the back door. "Let's get you some air." 

They'd walked but a few paces away from the house before the slew of questions came rushing out.     

"Harry, what in Merlin's name is going on? Why's Malfoy here? With GINNY? How is everyone-" 

"Breathe, Hermione," Harry laughed, rubbing her arms soothingly. 

She waited for an explanation, watching him expectantly. 

"It only took a few weeks after you left to realize what Gin and I had was not sustainable. Apparently, she felt the same. I was surprised, however, when she asked if I'd testify for Malfoy at his trial. I mean, I was already planning to speak on behalf of his mother, but I hadn't really considered Malfoy yet." 

"Why-" she interrupted softly. 

"Apparently, he saved her during the battle," his lips quirked up. "From Greyback, at that."

Hermione blinked owlishly. "So...now they're just together? You're okay with that?" 

He smiled affectionately at his childhood best friend. "Hermione, I told you the morning after the final battle what I really wanted. Who I wanted." 

"The Weasleys-" 

"Have accepted it," Harry told her reassuringly. "I talked to them while you were gone. I'm sorry if you didn't want that, and it's fine if that doesn't change anything for you. But-" 

"You did all that?" Hermione squeaked. "To be with me? But they're your family..." 

"So are you," Harry insisted. 

Hermione watched him with wide doe eyes, unable to process the reality of what she'd come back to. 

"Will you? Be my family?" Harry asked hoarsely, his hand outstretched. 

For a moment, she didn't react, and he feared he'd done the wrong thing. But with a flurry of movement, Hermione was rushing at him, hitting him with the force of one of her consuming hugs. 

Like the night of the final battle. 

Like his very first hug every- from her.