The Coin

But when Hermione looked into the sparkling hazel eyes of her best friend's bride-to-be, she saw only love and expectation. The horrors of her trauma had faded into shadows that only flitted briefly through her eyes on rare occasions, and only if one knew to look for them.

"I'm sorry I'm late, Lissa. At least I beat Ginny here."

Lissa laughed. "Like you expected anything else. And don't worry; it just gave me time to look through the selections of bridesmaids' gowns. What do you think of this peach one?" she asked, pulling Hermione over to a rack of dresses. Lissa held up a tea length dress that was made of taffeta with a ruffle around the scooped neck and an even bigger one around the hem, a broad green sash wrapped around the middle to tie in a big bow in the back.

"Well, it's...it's..." Hermione stammered trying to think of a polite way to say that is was one of the most hideous dresses she had ever seen.

Lissa dissolved into a fit of giggles. "If you could see your face, Hermione. I wish I had a camera."

Hermione let out a relieved sigh and laughed along with Lissa. "You are so bad. That wasn't nice at all. I think Ron is a bad influence on you."

"Probably so," she agreed. "Now would you like to see the dress I've really chosen?"

Just as Hermione was about to agree, Ginny came breezing into the shop. "Sorry I'm late, but Draco came home just as I was about to leave and distracted me."

"So that's why your blouse is buttoned wrong," Hermione observed with a laugh.

Ginny's face turned roughly the shade of her hair but a Cheshire cat sized grin of satisfaction split her face. "Yeah, so sue me. Like you wouldn't have done the same if Harry came in wearing nothing but that grin."

Hermione smiled weakly in return. Apparently she and Harry had indeed done a very good job hiding the fact that they were no longer seeing each other. Ginny obviously had no clue. But the sympathetic look Lissa cast in her direction made Hermione wonder if she was beginning to get an inkling that all was not right. The look was gone as quickly as it had come, though.

Lissa linked her arms through her two friend's arms and led them to the back of the store where she pulled out a beautiful scarlet gown. It was made of a shimmering silk, and had short cap sleeves, a round neck and classic lines that made it stunning in its simplicity.

Hermione and Ginny gasped at the same time.

"It's beautiful!"

"Perfect!"

Lissa smiled at the two. "I'm glad you approve of my choice. I thought it would look fabulous on both of you and of course the color was chosen for yours and Ron's house. He said if he was going to be made to wear a cummerbund then he was at least going to be able to pick the color."

Lissa handed the girls a dress in each of their sizes and urged them to try them on. When they both came out of the dressing rooms, Lissa gasped in pleasure. "Oh, you two look absolutely beautiful. No one will even know I'm in the room," Lissa said, not a hint of jealously in her tone.

Hermione shook her head. "I've seen your dress. No one will be able to take their eyes off the bride. Least of all the lucky groom."

Lissa blushed becomingly. "I never thought I could be so happy. I'm marrying a man I love more than anything in this world, and I have two of the best friends I've ever had standing up with me. How did I ever get so lucky?"

"Ron's the lucky one," Ginny said, tears misting her eyes. "He's not good enough for you by half, and I'm allowed to say that because he's my brother." She grinned cheekily.

Lissa's laughter was infectious and the three friends hugged and giggled not caring if they wrinkled silk dresses or earned dirty looks from other patrons disturbed by their mirth.

After Hermione and Ginny had changed back into their own clothes, paid for their gowns and made appointments for alterations, the three friends went out for a late lunch to celebrate friendship, life and love. That Hermione and Ginny shared conspiratorial glances and kept checking their watches throughout lunch, Lissa noticed, but didn't comment on.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*

He was going to be late. Harry swore under his breath. After promising that he wouldn't be. But this was something he wasn't looking forward to doing. And if he hadn't started thinking about her... Don't go there, Harry, his mind intoned. His only consolation was that Ron was not looking forward to it any more than he was. Small consolation that.

Hurrying down the busy street toward the shop, Harry saw his tall, lanky friend above the heads of the crowd standing there with an expression on his face something akin to the first time they had seen Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts.

"Hey, mate, don't worry, we don't have Care of Magical Creatures today," Harry laughed, stopping beside Ron and clasping him on the shoulder in greeting. "Sorry, I'm late, by the way," he added.

"I'd rather face the worst creature that Hagrid could throw at me than go in that shop there. Don't worry about being late. It just gave me time to perfect my speech to Lissa on why it would be better to elope," Ron said, grimacing. "And besides, Draco is later than you."

"Only by a few moments," Draco drawled as he walked up behind them. " I got sidetracked shagging your sister, Weasley. Hard to walk away from that," he said smirking as Ron glared daggers at him.

Harry laughed, but wisely didn't respond to Draco's taunt. Instead, he replied to Ron, "Somehow I don't think Lissa will go for an elopement. I think she has her heart set on the whole works. So nothing is going to save us from what's ahead. Might as well get it over with," Harry said, opening the door to the shop, sweeping his arm out in a gesture that indicated Ron and Draco should precede him.

Ron pulled a face at Harry, cast another dirty look in Draco's direction and walked resolutely into the shop.

"He's so easy," Draco drawled to Harry as he walked into the shop.

Harry silently agreed, but knew better than to voice that opinion, so he shook his head and followed reluctantly into the store.

The shop was bright and airy. Suits and tuxedos of all descriptions and colors hung on racks throughout the store. Ron, Harry and Draco stood there for a moment, contemplating the horror as a look of shared commiseration passed between them. A short, skinny, balding man came rushing up to greet them.

"Hello, welcome to Henri's," he said in a high, effeminate voice. "I saw the two of you from outside my window. Ah," he made a sound close to rapture, "your body language. The way you look at each other. May I say what a striking couple you make," he smiled effusively at Ron and Draco. And such a handsome best man." He eyed Harry up and down.

Draco snorted derisively. "I may be shagging a Weasley, but it certainly isn't him."

Ron sputtered, his face turning pink. "If I were going to shag any bloke it would be Harry, not Malfoy."

Harry, still slightly pink from Henri's perusal, grinned wickedly at Ron. "All these years, Ron, and I never knew."

Draco smirked. "Somehow I don't think Granger is into sharing, Weasley. Although," Draco paused as if considering, "you three were inseparable at school."

Ron and Harry both took a menacing step toward Draco.

Henri held up his hands. "Please, gentlemen, I'm so sorry for the misunderstanding. What may I do for you?"

Ron gave Draco a look promising future retribution, and then turned to the storeowner. "I'm Ron Weasley. I think my fiancée called. You were supposed to have tuxes ready for my friend, Malfoy and me to try to on."

"Yes, yes," he simpered. "Lovely American girl. Told me exactly what she wanted for you and your friends to wear. Follow me back to the changing rooms, please." He aved his hand in the general vicinity of the back of the store.

Ron, Harry and Draco followed the man without a word, but it was difficult for them to conceal the mirth on their faces.

After searching through several bags, the man let out a small "Aha!" then handed Ron a black garment bag. "Go right in there," he indicated the changing room. "Then come out and model for us and let us see how stunning you look."

"Yes," Draco drawled, "we can't wait to see how stunning you look. Hopefully it will be blue. To match your eyes."

Ron snatched the garment bag and disappeared into the changing room without a backwards glance. After a few moments Ron's voice drifted through the door. "There must be some mistake. My fiancée would have never chosen this."

"Oh no, Mr. Weasley, your fiancée was quite specific. I think you'll look darling in it. Just try it on and let us see."

After several long minutes, the door cracked open slightly.

"Come on, Ron. Ican't be that bad. Just let us see," Harry urged.

Ron stepped out into the open. He wore a baby blue tux with wide lapels and a white ruffled shirt underneath. To make matters worse, the sleeves and pant legs were at least four inches too short.

Henri gasped in horror, his hand flying up to cover his mouth. Harry bit his bottom lip, trying very hard not to laugh...and mostly succeeding. Draco simply smirked, shaking his head slowly from side to side.

"Weasley," he drawled in the driest tone Harry had ever heard him use, "I thought your dress robes were bad in fourth year for the Yule Ball, but this...this..."

"Go ahead, Malfoy, give it your best go," Ron said, his eyes downcast.

"No, Ron. Even I'm not that cruel," Draco replied sympathetically. At Ron's dubious look, Draco added, "Well, not anymore."

"Oh, Mr. Weasley, I'm so sorry. That is the wrong tux. The one your fiancée picked out is very tasteful and black." Henri rushed over to the rack, searching for the correct bag. He pulled it out and handed it to Ron quickly. He picked up the other garment bag. The tag read "Wesley" not Weasley. He blushed scarlet, falling all over himself to apologize to Ron.

Ron took the correct bag, turned to go back into the dressing room, and then stopped. He looked directly at Harry, who had remained mute through the whole exchange and then at Draco. "If either one of you breath one word of this to anyone... Lissa, Mum, Ginny, Hermione. It will be the last thing you ever do. I'll he..." He almost said hex but thought better of it in a Muggle establishment. "You'll regret it." That said, he went back into the dressing room and quietly closed the door.

Henri quickly found garment bags for Harry and Draco and showed them to dressing rooms also. When the three were dressed in simple but elegant black tuxes, they came back out to inspect each other.

"Much better, Weasley," Draco said, smiling. "Lissa has good taste. In formal wear, that is. Her taste in fiancés is still suspect."

"Sod off, Malfoy," Harry told him. "You're only in this wedding out of the goodness of Lissa's heart and the fact that you are seeing Ginny."

"Lucky me," Draco intoned sardonically.

"You are lucky that Ginny even gives you the time of day, Draco," Ron said in defense of his sister.

"I know that," he admitted. "Ginny's the best thing that ever happened to me. I was talking about feeling lucky to be in your wedding," he said sarcastically.

"Oh," Ron replied, cottoning on. "Well, it's only because Lissa likes you. Can't fathom that. She usually has such good taste."

Draco pulled a face at him.

Harry laughed. "Why don't we get out of these monkey suits? We're supposed to meet the girls at that new restaurant tonight, and I still have a couple hours worth of paper work on the Nappa case to do first."

"You'd think you would be finished with that by now, wouldn't you?" Ron commented.

"One would think," agreed Harry. "But there are still a few loose ends to tie up."

"Have Lissa and Hermione been able to put it all behind them now? What about the nightmares?" Draco asked.

"I think Lissa is finally starting to heal. She doesn't jump at every little sound like she did at first. She's still a bit afraid to be in total darkness, and I have to be very careful about taking my wand out and using it in front of her. But she's slept through the last couple nights without waking up from a bad dream," Ron confided.

"And Hermione?" Draco directed the question to Harry. "Have her bad dreams gone away?"

"Yeah," Harry answered.

Not that he knew this from first hand experience. He hadn't spent the night with Hermione for over three weeks. But he had asked her about her dreams. And she had answered politely that she was no longer plagued by any more night terrors, for which he was very grateful. Especially since he couldn't hold her and comfort her through them like he wanted to do.

"Good to hear," Draco responded. "Now like Potter said, let's get out of these things. If I hurry, I might have time for another quick shag before dinner."

Ron gave Draco a look. "If you shagged my sister as many times as you claim to..."

A wicked grin spread across Draco's pale face. "You wouldn't want to know, Weasley, believe me."

Grimacing, Ron agreed. "You're right, Malfoy, the thought of you shagging my sister makes me want to belch slugs. But as long as you continue to make her happy, then I'll keep the peace."

"Agreed. Now let's get dressed before Henri comes after us with a tape measure."

Harry and Ron shuddered at the thought and hurriedly went back to their respective dressing rooms to change.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Sometimes you have to admit when you are wrong...suck it up...and be a man about it. Or at least that's what Ron kept telling himself as he waited for Hermione and Ginny to arrive with Lissa.

It bothered him that Lissa had more money than he did. That she could afford nice things and he couldn't. Even if she had inherited her money. He didn't do badly for himself at the Ministry. He made a comfortable living, but he couldn't afford extravagances or the dream house that Lissa had fallen in love with. But almost losing her had taught him a few things about pride. Primarily, that it would have been a cold bedfellow if he'd lost Lissa. He'd learned other things, too. Like compromise. It might sting his wizard's pride, but if it meant that she would be happy then so be it. He was going to spend the rest of his life trying to make her as happy as possible.

He heard her soft Southern drawl and her laughter before he saw his sister and best friend leading his fiancée into the kitchen.

"What are you two up to? Why am I blindfolded? Where are we?" Lissa peppered questions at her two friends.

"Don't you know what curiosity did to the cat?" Ron asked, laughter in his own voice.

"Ron?" Lissa held out her hand in the direction of his voice.

Ron clasped her hand firmly in her own. "Yes, love, I'm here. No," he said quickly as she went to remove her blindfold. "Not yet."

"Thanks, Gin. Hermione. I appreciate your help in getting her here."

"Not a problem. We were happy to help," Ginny replied. "We'll see you tonight. If I hurry I can get in another quick shag with Draco before dinner." Ginny grinned at her brother.

"Draco told you to say that, didn't he?"

"No," Ginny replied innocently. "Why would you say that?"

Hermione laughed and took her friend by the arm. "Let's give them their privacy."

After Ginny and Hermione left, Ron turned Lissa towards him. "Sweetheart, first off, thank you so much for trusting me enough to let Gin and Hermione blindfold you to get you here. I considered that a long time before I asked it of them, but I just didn't see any other way around it. I didn't want you to know where they were bringing you."

Lissa took a moment before she responded. "I admit that did give me pause for a moment, but I trust Hermione and Ginny and they were bringing me to you so I just had to push that niggling fear aside. Anyway my curiosity won out. What's the surprise?" Lissa asked.

"Close your eyes," Ron commanded, gently removing the blindfold. "Okay, now open them. Do you recognize where you are?"

Lissa looked around the bright and sunny kitchen. It was the kitchen in her dream home. The one Ron said they couldn't afford. "I don't understand. You said we couldn't afford this house."

"No, love. I said I couldn't afford this house. We can. I just have to swallow my stupid pride and let you help contribute to this family."

"Ron..."

"Please, let me get this out." At Lissa's nod, he continued, "I almost lost you. I made all kinds of deals with God, Merlin, the fates, anyone who would listen while you were gone. I told them I wouldn't be a selfish, stupid prat. That I would compromise and put your wants and needs in front of my own. So that's what I'm doing. I'm putting away my useless pride and letting you have your dream of the home you've always wanted."

Lissa's hazel eyes were filled with tears by the time Ron finished his speech. "You're the only home I've ever wanted, Ron. But I'm so happy that you agreed to make this our house. I love it and I can't wait to start raising our family here."

"I love you, Melissa. With all my heart."

"And I love you, Ronald. With all of mine."

She went into his arms then. His encircled her tightly; the motion as essential and natural as breathing to them both now; their lips met in a slow kiss. One born not only of the love they shared but also of a future promised. The good times and the bad. The joys and the sorrows. Everything that made up a life. Their life...together.

Ron ended the kiss reluctantly and looked into his fiancée's upturned face. He thanked whatever deity had given her back to him and renewed his promise to spend the rest of his life making the woman in his arms as happy as possible.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Hermione was the last one to arrive at the restaurant, a highly unusual occurrence. But she'd spent more time with her appearance than she'd intended. To make herself feel better? To show him what he was missing? She wasn't sure which. But she was pleased with the results nevertheless. She spied her friends and hurried over to the table, trying to shake off the feeling of unease the short walk over had given her. It was almost a sensation of being followed. That was ridiculous, though, she told herself. Nappa was dead. His followers were in jail. But it wasn't the first time she'd felt that way in the last few weeks. She should tell Harry. She ruled that out immediately. If he were having her followed it would just lead to a row, and she didn't want that.

"Hello, everyone. Sorry I'm late," Hermione said a bit breathlessly, taking her seat at the table beside Harry. It was only logical that they had left that seat available for her. No one else knew they were not still seeing each other. But the close proximity was a bit more than she could bear tonight.

Everyone responded in kind, but she noticed Harry's hello was a bit mumbled and he didn't really look at her. If a sideways glance could be considered looking at her at all.

She picked up the menu that was lying at her place and started perusing the selections. "Has everyone decided what they want?"

"Harry and I are having the steak, Lissa and Ginny the chicken. Draco is having salmon...leave it to him to be different," Ron answered for all of them.

"Yes," Ginny piped up. "I rather thought he'd want more than that. He worked up such an app..."

"Don't go there, Gin," Ron said warningly.

Draco, Ginny and Harry all laughed, while Lissa patted Ron's arm in sympathy. Hermione hadn't taken her nose out of the menu long enough to get the joke.

After the waiter took their order, Hermione deciding on the chicken, too, the six started comparing notes on their wedding attire fittings.

"Oh, Harry, just wait until you see Hermione in her bridesmaid dress," Ginny exclaimed. "She's a knockout!"

Harry cast a quick glance in Hermione's direction. "She always looks beautiful in everything she wears. Just like she does tonight."

Hermione pinked a little under the praise. She hadn't realized that Harry had looked at her closely enough to notice what she was wearing tonight. That's why you took such care, wasn't it? A small voice in her head asked. No, she didn't want his attention. That part of their relationship was over. Wasn't it? Wasn't it better that they were just friends? Wasn't that what she wanted? What he evidently wanted too?

But she missed him. Oh, she still saw him. Probably as much as before. But she missed his touch. Holding his hand. Cuddling with him on her couch as they watched old movies. Feeding him cotton candy and pumpkin muffins. Kissing him. Making love with him. Just being with him in all the ways that counted.

But that part was over and they were still friends. That's what was important. That she hadn't lost Harry's friendship. It didn't matter that she'd lost the love of her life. Did it?

A gentle touch on her arm brought her out of her reverie. "Hermione? Ginny asked you how your chicken tasted?"

Hermione looked up, startled. She hadn't realized how much time had passed or what the conversation going round the table had been about. She hadn't even realized that the food had arrived and she'd begun to eat. As she looked into Harry's green eyes, which were staring intently at her, the heat of his hand resting lightly on her arm burned a path deep inside her. A simple touch shouldn't do that. She shouldn't want to throw her arms around him and ravage his mouth in front of her best friends and all the other diners in the restaurant. But she did. God help her, she still wanted him desperately. Instead she tore her gaze away from his and looked over at Ginny.

"The chicken is fine. Quite tender and tasty actually," Hermione replied in a somewhat shaky tone.

"You okay, Hermione?" Lissa asked, concerned. "You've been acting strangely all night. Like you're not really with us."

"No, actually," Hermione said, putting down her fork, "I feel a bit out of sorts. I think I need to go home. I'm sorry to ruin the evening for everyone."

Ginny looked at her friend in concern. "Don't worry about it. You just go home and get some rest. If you need me, you know how to get in touch."

Hermione stood and placed her napkin beside her plate. Although Harry wore an expression of concern, he made no move to rise. The others looked at him with puzzled expressions.

"Harry, I need you..." Hermione began then stopped, looking intently into Harry's eyes. "I need you to take me home."

"Of course, Hermione." Harry rose and reached into his pocket for his wallet.

"Don't worry about it, Potter. I'll get your check," Draco offered. "Just take Hermione home."

"Thanks, Draco."

Harry took Hermione's arm and they wended their way through the tables and out of the restaurant.

"Does anyone else besides me think that was very strange?" Ron questioned.

"I think it was strange that they came separately," Draco added.

"There is definitely something going on between the two of them." Ginny took a bite of her chicken and raised an eyebrow.

"I wonder if it's more of what's not going on," Lissa observed. "Did anyone else notice that they hardly looked at one another the whole time they were here? And they didn't touch either."

"That's not normal. Since they started dating, they haven't been able to keep their hands off one another," Ron mused.

The four friends fell silent for a moment as they tucked into their supper and contemplated this new turn of events. It didn't take long though before ideas about what was going on with Harry and Hermione were flying around the table faster than a snitch. By the end of the evening, the four had determined one thing. If there was trouble in paradise, they were going to do all within their power to make sure their friends got back on the road to happily ever after.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Sabrina was in her element. After a quick bite to eat, she'd stopped into the new bookstore that had opened close to her flat. She'd been exploring the stacks for the last hour, and she hadn't even moved out of the mystery section yet. Maybe she'd buy Hermione a new book as a welcome back present. Was it appropriate to give someone a new book as a welcome back from the dead present? For Hermione it would be. A book was always an acceptable gift no matter what the occasion.

She continued to leaf through volumes, large and small, until her gaze fell on a giant tome in the new books section. Coins, Curses and Other Curiosities, The Sixth Volume. Unable to resist a book on her favorite subject, she picked it up and looked at the price, six galleons, fifteen sickles. That was a lot of money to spend on a book. Even a large one. She'd have to give it careful consideration before making such an impulsive purchase.

But she couldn't resist at least looking through the book, so she carried it to one of the overstuffed chairs in the sitting area and sat down. She'd been paging through the book for several minutes when her eye was caught by a familiar looking coin. But instead of a brief description of the coin and the curse, like she had found in her other books, there were several pages with numerous photos and sketches.

Sabrina settled herself more comfortably into the chair and began to read.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

It was a long, silent journey back to Hermione's flat. When they arrived, Harry took the key from her unresisting hand and opened the door wordlessly. He ushered her in, flicking on the light and removing her cloak from her shoulders. He hung it on the hall tree beside the door. She walked partway into the room and stopped dead in her tracks, her back to Harry. Crookshanks meowed a plaintive greeting but didn't move from the couch as if he too could sense that all was not right in his mistress' world.

Harry walked up behind Hermione but stopped short of touching her. "Hermione, what's wrong? Do I need to call a doctor?" Concern and worry laced his voice.

Hermione slowly turned to face him. "I don't need a doctor, Harry."

Harry ran his hands through his already messy hair, breathing out a sigh of exasperation and confusion. "Something is wrong. I know it. Talk to me, Hermione. I know things have been strained between us since that day at the Bureau. I know you said you forgave me..."

"I did and I meant it," she stated emphatically.

"I know you did. But things changed all the same. It's like things went back to the way they were before...before we first kissed. Before we went on a date." He looked at her intently. "Before we made love. Before we said we loved each other. It's not like either one of us said 'Okay, we're going to be just friends now'; we just were. Friends and nothing more."

Harry shed his own cloak and began to pace around the room, his voice choked with confusion as he continued. "I know I was a prat. A stupid prat with a bloody lousy sense of timing. I should have told you I loved you that night we first made love. I knew it then. I was just too afraid to say it. Afraid of losing you. Afraid of losing me. Afraid of losing us. The us I'd known since I was eleven years old. Do you even know how much I depend on you?"

Hermione opened her mouth to reply but Harry held up a hand.

"You know me better than anyone else in this world. You have always been there for me. Believed in me. Even when no one else did."

"That wouldn't have changed just because we fell in love, Harry," Hermione interrupted in a small voice.

"I know that." At Hermione's raised eyebrow, Harry added, "Now."

"I could give you a thousand reasons for my reluctance to state the obvious. I could play the poor orphan boy card. Tell you that I never had an example of what loving someone and being loved in return was like growing up because I was raised by a family who probably wished I had died that night with my mother and father. But I won't. Because even though I was raised by the Dursleys, I did find out what love and acceptance were when I met the two most important people in my life on a train when I was eleven."

"Harry..."

"I know I've made it impossible to go back to what we had by not telling you sooner how I felt. I know I've destroyed whatever trust you could have ever had in my love by withholding it until it was too late. You'll never know how sorry I am about that. How much I regret it. How much I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

She stood there looking vulnerable, but a light of hope lit her brown eyes. "Harry, please may I say something?" Hermione interrupted, drawing his gaze from the window back to her.

Harry nodded.

"Will you come a little closer? I promise not to hex you into the next county or anything."

Harry smiled slightly and walked to stand right in front of her.

"While I did forgive you for what you had done, for all the reasons you named, even though I knew they weren't excuses, I was still mad at you." At his dubious look, she conceded, "Okay, furious. I was furious at you. It took me a while to realize, though, that I was mostly furious at myself.

"You said I knew you, better than anyone ever had. And you're right. I do. And because I do know you so well, I should have known how you felt and what you couldn't say and why you couldn't say it. But there was a part of me, Harry, that needed to hear you say the words. The part that Nappa played to his advantage so well. I'm not beautiful. I've always known that. I'm just some book smart know-it-all who knew all the answers in school but none of the answers in life. If anyone is to blame for this, it's me," Hermione finished, tears tracking down her face.

Harry took his thumbs and gently wiped the tears away, cupping her face with his hands. "Tell me, Hermione, what can I do to make this right? What I can say? What do you need from me?"

Hermione gazed up into bright green eyes, shining with unshed tears. "I only need one thing, Harry."

"Anything," he declared earnestly. "Name it and it's yours. What do you need?"

"You. The only thing I've ever needed is you."

It was said on a whisper. But his heart heard it loud and clear.

He swept her up into his arms, spinning her around until they were both dizzy. She clung to him as if her life depended upon it. Because it did. He was her life and she was his. They fell onto the couch, limbs entangled, laughing and giggling. A very put out Crookshanks jumped off the couch, gave them a disgusted look and stalked into Hermione's bedroom.

"I love you, Hermione Granger. With all my heart."

"And I love you, too, Harry Potter. You know I said I wanted you to say the words..."

"I love you. I love you. I love you." Harry grinned at her, punctuating each declaration with a kiss on her lips.

"But I should have known that you love me. I should have known that because you've shown me in so many different ways. The night we first made love... I should have never questioned that. Show me again, Harry. Please, show me how much you love me."

"For the rest of my life," he promised.

Harry picked Hermione up in his arms and carried her into her bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed, lying down beside her. Taking her in his arms, he cradled her head against his heart. He laced their fingers together, gently kissing the top of her head, her forehead. Down the side of her face until she raised her face up so that his lips could find hers. He continued his gentle exploration. His mouth explored hers. Harry could tell she wanted more. Faster. But tonight he wasn't going to oblige. She had told him to show her how much he loved her and he was going to take his time and show every inch of her just how lovely and loveable she truly was.

Abandoning her mouth, he kissed his way down the creamy flesh of her neck. Nibbling as he went along. He could feel the shivers it created in her body. He wondered if she could feel the answering hum in his own. It was torture for him to go so slowly when all he wanted to do was strip her clothes off and lose himself in her completely. Harry knew that if the soft mewling sound she was making as his hands and lips teased and caressed everywhere was any indication, she was in as equal a torment as he.

The bloody hell with slow and easy, Harry thought. She wanted to know how much he loved her and he was going to show her now. He drew her up into a sitting position, grasping the hem of her dress in his hands.

Reowwwwwww.

Harry glanced briefly around the room, but didn't see the cat so he went back to his task.

Reowwwwwwwwwwwww.

This time the cat's cry was louder and more insistent.

"He's just jealous because I've got all your attention." Harry grinned at her.

Hermione giggled. "He probably thinks you're hurting me. I was being rather vocal. Poor kitty. It's okay, baby. Mummy likes what Harry is doing to her."

REOWWWWWWW.

"Get your own girlfriend, Crookshanks," Harry told the upset feline exasperatedly.

"Let me see if I can find him." Hermione crawled off the bed in spite of Harry's protests.

She looked under the bed but didn't see him there. Next she looked behind his favorite chair.

Meow.

The sound was coming from behind her bureau. But that was impossible. The space was much too small for Crookshanks to have crawled underneath. She laid down flush with the floor and looked underneath the heavy piece of furniture. She could barely make out a pair of yellow eyes shining back at her.

"Oh, poor baby. Can't you get out?"

"Hermione. He got himself under there. Surely he can get himself out," Harry reasoned.

"Not necessarily, Harry. Come over here and help me get him out."

"Why don't you come back over here and we can finish what we started instead?" Harry suggested.

"The sooner we get Crookshanks out the sooner we can finish what we started," Hermione parried.

Harry was off the bed and by her side in a second. "Move over and let me get him." He picked up Hermione's wand from the top of the dresser and moved the heavy piece of furniture with a simple spell. Crookshanks lay there blinking up at them, his paws folded neatly in front of him.

Hermione bent down to pick up her cat, but Crookshanks rolled over onto his side, his paw batted a small, round, gold object in her direction.

"It's the coin!" Hermione exclaimed.

"What coin?" Harry asked.

Hermione picked it up. The cold metal immediately sent a chill down her spine. Harry reached out and took her open palm in his. The change was staggering. The warmth that now coursed through her warmed her whole being.

If this coin is held by two who love, its joy will all surround. But if lost before that love is known, only sorrow will abound.

It was true, Hermione thought.. The curse had been true all along. She had lost the coin before she and Harry had declared their love. And sorrow had come their way. But she'd found it. Did that cancel the curse? Sabrina had told her that all they would have had to do was hold the coin together and declare their love and the curse would have never taken effect. Would that reverse the negative effects of the coin? Cancel out any future unhappiness?

"Harry. I know this is going to make me sound mental, but I need you to hold this coin with me and tell me that you love me."

"Hermione, I'd shout I love you from the Astronomy Tower. Why do we need to hold that coin to do it?" he asked.

"Just trust me."

"With my life," he vowed with his heart.

Closing his hands around hers, he looked deeply into her eyes. Green holding brown for a fathomless second. "Hermione Granger, I love you. With all my heart and soul and hopefully very soon," he glanced over at the bed with that grin, "my body."

Hermione found it difficult to speak. She cleared her throat, but still found the tears streaming from her eyes clogging her throat. "Harry," she said on a sniff, "you are my life, my love and my strength. As clichéd as it may sound, you are the other half of me. The part that makes me whole. I love you with all my heart, my soul, and very, very soon, my body."

If Hermione had thought warmth had coursed through her when Harry had held her open palm with his hand, it was nothing to the sensation that flooded her now. If the look in Harry's eyes was any indication, he felt it, too. Unlike being in the presence of a Dementor when all hope and joy was taken away, the joy, hope and peace that spread through them now was almost unbearable in its intensity.

Hermione gasped and slowly opened her hand. The coin was gone.

Harry looked down at their joined hands, his eyes wide with surprise. "Nice magic trick." Hermione's eyes reflected back her wonder.

"Can you tell me what just happened?" Harry asked in a confused voice.

"Not sure I can," she admitted. "But I will try to explain some of it...later."

She launched herself into his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his middle, her dress riding up around her waist. "I have something better in mind to occupy your time for a while."

Harry got the idea. He claimed her mouth in a fierce kiss, hers opening immediately under his onslaught. He walked backwards until the backs of his legs touched the bed and he tumbled them onto it, a jumble of arms and legs and seeking hands.

An insistent knock on the front door halted his questing hands underneath the hem of Hermione's dress.

"Bloody hell," he swore, tearing his mouth away from hers.

"Ignore them. They'll go away," she promised, pulling his mouth back to hers.

Harry's hand beneath her dress had almost reached his goal when the knock at the door came again, louder this time.

"Where's your wand? I'm going to turn whoever is at that door into a toad!" Harry exclaimed, exasperatedly.

Hermione sighed in frustration. "You stay right there. I'll get rid of them." She kissed him hard on the mouth, straightened her dress and left the bedroom. Harry flopped back onto the bed, groaning in frustration.

Hermione stalked resolutely to the door, determined to banish the person on the other side in three seconds flat. Another knock sounded just as she opened the door, causing the person on the other side to stumble into the room. Hermione caught her secretary's arm before she fell to the floor.

"Sabrina. Now is not a good time. I'm rather...occupied."

Sabrina took in Hermione's appearance: her rumbled dress, her hair falling out of its barrette, her kiss swollen lips. "Oh my, I interrupted something."

"Yes," her boss smiled. "Now go and I'll see you tomorrow. Probably be late though."

Sabrina walked further into the flat. "I'm really sorry, but I think you'll want to see this," she said, indicating the book she held in her arms.

"Hermione can look at books anytime. She's busy at the moment. Leave it. She'll get to it sometime tomorrow," Harry interjected, leaning against the doorframe to the bedroom, his legs crossed. He didn't move into the room; he wasn't fit for company just yet.

"You really need to see this now, Hermione. It could affect what you are doing in there...with him." Sabrina sat down on the couch and motioned towards Harry and the bedroom.

Hermione sighed and sat beside her friend. She knew that Sabrina was like a dog with a bone, once she had hold of something, she didn't let go easily.

Sabrina opened the book, leafing through until she found the page she wanted. Turning it towards Hermione, she ordered, "Read...aloud. Harry needs to hear this, too."

Hermione took the book and began to read aloud.

"Of all the coins that I have researched through the years, the one pictured on the next few pages has, by far, the most interesting legend attached. Whether you believe the story or not is totally up to you."

Hermione settled more comfortably into the couch and began to read the heart of the story.

Ian MacDougal was a powerful wizard who lived in the early nineteenth century in the highlands of Scotland; he was Chieftain of his clan. He was a kind man and a good leader as well as a mighty wizard. His one weakness was his daughter, Ariana, whom he loved more than anything else on earth.

So on the occasion of her twenty first birthday, Ian knew that he wanted to give her a most special gift. Although he could afford to give her jewels or furs, he knew that material possessions were not what he wanted for his beloved offspring. He wanted to give her a life of love and happiness, contentment and peace. A life like he had found with Ariana's mother, Sherilyn. But their happiness had been hard fought and had come at a price. He had almost lost her because he had been unwilling to declare his devotion. Fortunately for him, Sherilyn had been persistent and had not given up on him despite his obstinacy. But it hadn't been easy. She had almost walked away more than once. There had been many fights and many tears before she was able to break through to his heart. He didn't want that for his daughter.

Ariana was in love. It was plain for anyone to see. With her best friend, Aidan Buchanan. The two had been inseparable since childhood. Only in the last year, though, had that friendship began to blossom into love. Ian knew that his daughter realized her feelings for her best friend. In all likelihood, Aidan realized his feelings, too. But he was like Ian himself had been; afraid to ruin the best thing in his life. So he would not admit to Ariana the truth of his heart.

Ian didn't want his only child to suffer through years of uncertainty and unhappiness like her mother had because of an obstinate male. So he devised a plan. The gift he would give his daughter would be a coin. Not a coin of monetary value, rather one that held a prophecy. If Ian knew anything about his daughter, he knew that she was insatiably curious and she loved books above anything else. So he conjured a book with the prophecy of the coin. He placed it on her bookshelf, knowing that she could not help but find it.

But as he stood on the moors and placed the spell on the coin, he had a momentary twinge of conscience. The spell was a simple one. A truth spell. When held by two in love, it would force the bearers to declare their feelings. It wouldn't force an untrue admission from anyone. It only revealed the truth that was already there.

The prophecy was a lark. A way to intrigue his daughter. He'd put no curse on the coin. He would wish for no harm to befall his precious child or anyone else. But he knew that if Ariana believed in it, she would go on a quest for the truth. And in that quest, she would have a way to bring about the truth that Aidan was unwilling to admit.

So for her birthday, Ian gave Ariana the coin and told her the prophecy.

If this coin is held by two who love, its joy will all surround. But if lost before that love is known, only sorrow will abound.

As he suspected she was very intrigued. But before she could begin her search for the truth, an unfortunate series of events occurred.

That evening a neighboring band of wizards, with whom Ian's tribe had been warring with for years, attacked their village. Ian MacDougal's tribe had to flee into the woods to avoid being captured or killed. After a few days in hiding, they deemed it safe to return to their village. Houses had been ransacked and most of their personal possessions had been destroyed or stolen.

Retaliation was the only option. The wizards who were old enough and who had not been injured in the first battle had to prepare to go to war. Ian MacDougal led his men out of the camp on a misty, cold January morning; Aidan by his side.

The night before Aidan had said his goodbyes to Ariana. She had thrown herself into his arms and told him that she loved him more than life itself. That he was not only her best friend, but her world. Though Aidan had held her tightly in her arms and kissed her passionately, he had not returned her declaration of love.

Although she hadn't thought about the coin while they were in hiding, she remembered it the afternoon that Aidan had left for battle. She turned her already ransacked home upside down looking for the missing coin. But to no avail. She couldn't find it.

She prayed fervently that no ill would befall her beloved before he came back to her. She knew he loved her. That he was just too frightened to admit it. That once he returned he would realize how important it was to tell the one you love how you feel. So she waited. Watching and hoping that Aidan would come home to her.

But she also feared that the prophecy would come true.

Five days later they carried his broken body home on a stretcher. Ariana was inconsolable in her grief. Her father tried to talk to her. But she wouldn't see him. This was all his fault, she raged.

He begged her to listen to him, pleaded that he had something of great importance to tell her. Something she had to know. But she wouldn't grant him audience. She cocooned herself into her room, still strewn with her possessions. Placed a powerful locking charm on her door and swore that if her parents tried to break it, she would kill herself. She just wanted to be alone in her grief.

Days went by. Ian and Sherilyn began to discuss breaking the door in. It didn't matter if she tried to kill herself; she was already succeeding in that quest by starving herself.

Ariana vaguely heard the noise outside the door. She had been drifting in and out of consciousness for a while. She was weak from lack of food and water. With great effort she pulled herself off the bed, reaching for her wand, which was lying on the floor, when something gold and shiny caught her weakened eye. She reached out and clasped the coin tightly in her hand. Then she fainted and knew no more.

She woke to find her father sitting by her bedside, tears streaming down his face. His hand held hers. The coin gripped tightly in her own.

He began to talk. To tell her of the coin and the prophecy and the truth. The book he had placed on her bookshelf detailing the story he had made for the coin. That the tragedy that had befallen their village and Aidan's death wasn't caused by a curse. That there was no curse. There never had been. All he had wanted was for his daughter to be happy. To be loved.

He took out a letter from the pocket of his robe. It was rumbled and worn. He handed it to Ariana. I'm so sorry, my love, for everything, he said, before he silently left the room.

Ariana knew the writing on the envelope. It was from Aidan. With a shaking hand, she opened up the final letter she would ever receive from her best friend.

Ariana,

If you are reading this letter, it means I did not make it home to you. I am so sorry, my love. For so many things. For not being there to grown old with you. For not being there to share the laughter and the tears of your life as we have for so many years. For deserting my best friend. But most of all, for not telling you how I truly feel.

I love you, Ariana. You are my heart. My soul. My laughter. And my reason for being. I should have told you this, but I thought I had time. Time. Forever. That's what I wanted to give you. Now all you will have are memories of me. And not even the memory of me telling you how much I love you. That is my deepest regret.

I do love you, my sweet, best friend. I will love you for eternity and be waiting for the day you come and join me. I promise when I see your beautiful face I will sweep you up in my arms and say the words over and over again.

I love you.

I love you.

I love you.

Until I hold you again.

All my love,

Aidan

Silent tears streamed down Ariana's face as she realized the truth. A truth Aidan had realized too late. If you loved someone, truly loved them, you had to tell them. There might not be a tomorrow if you put it off. There wasn't for her and Aidan. They wouldn't have had long, for she realized that nothing could have changed the events of the last few weeks. But they would have known what it truly meant to be loved, if only for a short while.

Now there was only a lifetime of what might have been.

Ariana looked down at the coin, still held tightly against her palm. She picked up her wand, which was lying, beside her bed.

Grief and bitterness ate at her soul. Aidan hadn't been strong enough to admit his love. And she would forever live her life alone because of it. She knew she would never risk her heart to such emotion again.

It was foolish to blame the coin, she knew that. But she couldn't help it. The pain and disillusionment were too great.

If this coin is held by two who love, she said softly, waving her wand over the coin, its joy will all surround, but if lost before that love is known, only sorrow will abound, she finished, placing the curse on the coin her father had never intended.

She gazed down at the cold gold object winking up at her in the soft light and Aidan's handsome face swam before her vision. And the part of her that couldn't completely let go of that love made her add.

But if this coin is held by the ones who love and freely tell the tale, the coin will disappear and nevermore bring to life despair.

"That this coin exists," Hermione read, coming to the last page, "there is no doubt. At the time I did the research for this book, it was currently owned by Hettie and Hubert Jenkins.

"Legend has it that if the couple who are in love admit their love while holding the coin, it will disappear and the curse will be no more. Through research of the last several couples to possess the coin, I have found that many of the couples have held the coin and admitted their love, some before they lost or misplaced the coin, others after. But it has never disappeared.

"If one believes in such things as witches and wizards and Ariana MacDougal really did place a curse on the coin, then why hasn't the curse been broken before now? Why hasn't the coin disappeared? Were the feelings of couples who held it not powerful enough to destroy the curse? Was their belief not strong enough? Or is it the fact that the curse that Ariana MacDougal placed on the coin so long ago simply too powerful, too all encompassing to ever truly be broken?

"If this coin is indeed cursed, who are the ones whose love is powerful enough, strong enough to break this spell.

"As of this writing, the current owners, The Jenkins, have been happily married for over fifty years. Yet even a love that has endured for half a century has not been enough to break the curse. Is there such a love? Are there two people out there who can ever end a curse that was forged in such pain and bitterness so long ago?

"We can only hope that the next owners of the coin will be the ones."

Hermione closed the book, stunned. Harry had come and sat beside her on the couch as she read.

"Harry, do you realize what this means?" she asked.

"We broke the curse?"

"Apparently."

"Wait!" Sabrina exclaimed. "I thought you lost the coin."

"So did I, but guess that didn't really matter anyway," Hermione answered. "It was under my bureau the whole time. Crookshanks found it tonight, and Harry and I held it and said we loved each other."

"And it disappeared?" Sabrina questioned.

"And it disappeared," Harry confirmed.

Sabrina jumped up from the couch. "I've got to go write the editor of this book!" She clutched the heavy tome to her and Disapparated.

Harry and Hermione sat in silence for several moments. Then Hermione began to giggle.

"What's so funny?" Harry questioned.

"I can see the headlines now. The Boy Who Lived becomes The Man who Canceled the Curse."

Harry took Hermione's hands in his own and looked intently into her face. "I'm sorry, Hermione. For once in your life, you are wrong. I didn't cancel the curse. We did. Together. Just like we have always done everything."

It was all Hermione could do not to cry. She sniffed back the tears and looked into the face of the man she loved more than anything. "As long as we are together, Harry, we can do anything from beating trolls to canceling curses. Nothing is impossible as long as you are by my side and you love me."

Unlinking their hands, Harry cupped her face gently. "I will always be by your side and I will always love you. That is my promise to you," he told her.

Fresh tears pricked the corners of Hermione's eyes. This time she didn't try to blink them away. "Seal it with a kiss?" she requested with a sniff.

And he did.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

The next day at lunch the plotting had begun in earnest. Ron, Lissa, Draco and Ginny sat in the crowded restaurant, their heads together, their sandwiches untouched.

"I'm opening the floor to ideas to get Harry and Hermione back together again," Ginny said, looking at the other three expectantly.

"Why don't we just talk to them, tell them all the reasons that they should put whatever differences they have aside and just admit how they feel?" Lissa asked.

"Because they would just give us reasons why they decided they don't work," Ron told her. "Especially Hermione. She'll get out parchment and quill, write out a list and then alphabetize it."

"True," sighed Ginny. "Other ideas?"

"I suppose we could set up a really romantic dinner, candles, soft music playing in the background," Ron suggested. A similar scene between he and Hermione flashed into his mind. "On second thought, maybe that's not such a good idea," Ron said, a dull blush coloring his face.

"Why don't we just lock them in a room, tell them we put one of Hagrid's creatures on the other side to block their escape and leave them there until they shag themselves senseless?" Draco suggested.

"Oooo," Ginny exclaimed, "I like that idea!"

"Well that would only work if they were someplace they couldn't Disapparate," Lissa added.

The three looked at her incredulously.

Lissa smiled mischievously. "I've been reading the school books Hermione loaned me. If I'm going to live in your world, I think I need to be a bit more knowledgeable about such things."

Ron leaned over and gifted her with a soft kiss to her mouth.

"Get a room, you two," drawled Draco with a smile. "But she is right. I hadn't thought about that."

"So we need to cast a spell on the room so they can't Disapparate," Ginny said. "Or find somewhere that you can't Disapparate."

"Hogwarts," Ron supplied.

"Hogwarts? Really?" asked Ginny. "How do you know that?"

"It's in Hogwarts, A History," Ron stated.

Ginny and Draco both snorted.

"You've read Hogwarts, A History?" Draco asked incredulously.

"Nope. Didn't need to. Hermione has. And she told us that so many times while we were in school, guess it finally stuck."

They all laughed.

"So, we have the place. How do we get them there?" Lissa questioned.

The plotting continued well after their allotted lunch hours were over, but the food still sat there untouched.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Harry strode purposefully into the castle. He cast his gaze around the entrance hall. He had thought Professor McGonagall would have been there to greet him. The owl he had received at work from her had told him she needed him urgently.

Just then he saw a familiar house-elf walking towards him. "Harry Potter, sir. So happy to see you, sir." Dobby bowed low, his long nose almost touching the floor.

"Hello, Dobby," greeted Harry. "Where's Professor McGonagall?"

"Follow me, Harry Potter, sir," he said, turning around, giving Harry no chance to ask any questions and no choice but to follow him.

Dobby led him up the stairs and down a series of hallways until he stopped at a section of wall blank of any doors, across the hallway hung a tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy. Walking back and forth in front of the wall three times, Dobby shut his bulging eyes tightly in concentration.

Harry wasn't a bit surprised when a door appeared in the wall.

"Harry Potter needs to go in there, sir," he said, simply, turning and walking away.

Harry was nonplused for a moment. What was going on? Did he dare go in? Why would Professor McGonagall send him an urgent owl then have Dobby lead him to the Room of Requirement?

Harry drew his wand then slowly approached the door. The knob turned easily in his hand. He entered, ready to meet any attacker head on. As soon as he entered the room, the door swung shut behind him. Then disappeared altogether.

"So you fell into their trap, too, I see."

Harry spun around at the sound of the voice, his wand at his side. There was no need to defend himself from the woman standing behind him. "Hermione. What's going on?"

She held out a letter-sized piece of parchment to him. "It seems our friends did pick up on the tension between us last night. Too bad they didn't bother talking to us before they went to such elaborate means to get us back together."

Harry took the letter from Hermione's hand and read aloud.

Harry and Hermione,

We don't know what has caused the rift between the two of you, but you must realize that what you two share is too special to lose over some petty misunderstanding or some stupid mistake that Harry probably made.

Harry glanced up to see Hermione grinning.

"Ron must have written that last part," Harry said with a frown.

"Probably," Hermione agreed. "Keep reading."

So we took it upon ourselves to give you a little private time. You will not be allowed out of this room until you have made up and then shagged yourselves senseless.

"Draco," they said in unison.

Remember, there is nothing more important in this world than being with the person you love and telling them how you feel.

"Ginny," said Harry.

"And Lissa," added Hermione.

Your friends,

Ron, Lissa, Draco and Ginny

Harry took a good look around the Room of Requirement for the first time. It was a beautifully furnished bedroom, complete with a four-poster with rich scarlet bed hangings. Candles glowed softly in the air and the fire from the hearth cast a warm glow. "Well, they did think of everything, didn't they?"

Hermione walked over to the table and retrieved two glasses of wine, handing Harry one. "Yes, they did." She took a sip and grinned. "Since the rift is already mended, whatever shall we do to pass the time, Mr. Potter?"

Taking a sip of his own wine, Harry looked thoughtful. "Play chess?" he suggested with a wide grin.

Hermione took Harry's glass as well as her own and placed them back on the table. "I think I might have a better suggestion. Let me whisper it to you." Hermione stood on tiptoe and whispered into Harry's ear, his already wide grin increasing in size.

"Hermione Granger, I can't believe you'd suggest such a thing!" Harry exclaimed in mock outrage.

"You're only put out because you didn't think of it first," Hermione smiled at him, took his hand and led him over to the bed.

Harry grabbed her around the waist and tumbled them onto the bed. "You always have to be right, don't you?"

"Yes. Now shut up and kiss me. Our friends went to a lot of trouble for us. Don't want to waste it."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, but nothing more as Hermione's mouth claimed his in a kiss.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Ron paced back and forth, his eyes kept darting to the clock hanging on the wall. Draco sat on the couch, his thumb rhythmically punching the button to change the channels on the television, not stopping long enough even to see what program was on each one. Ginny sat on the edge of the couch beside Draco, her foot tapping an impatient staccato on the carpet. Loud sounds of banging pots and pans issued from the kitchen as Lissa put together the evening meal.

"Tell me again what Harry said when you let them out of the Room of Requirement?" Ginny asked anxiously.

"I've told you," Ron stopped pacing to glare impatiently at his sister. "Hermione walked out with her head down, not even looking at me. Harry just stared at me and said I shouldn't have involved Dobby in our scheme and that the four of us should meet them at Lissa's tonight . That they needed to talk to us."

"Did it look like Hermione had been crying?" Ginny prodded.

"I couldn't tell. All that hair was hanging down in her face," Ron admitted.

"Let's face it. Our plan failed and they are coming over to ream us out," Draco said, looking glum. "What is the world coming to when I care that Harry and Hermione have broken up?" He glared accusingly at Ginny. "See what you've done to me."

"Sorry, babe," Ginny declared cheekily. "You could always break up with me."

Ron stopped pacing to look at the pair hopefully.

"And miss the opportunity to hack Ron off on a continual basis because I'm shagging his sister? Not likely," Draco smirked.

Ron reached to draw his wand from his pocket but it wasn't there. "Lissa, where is my wand?" he yelled.

"I put it up," she called from the kitchen. "It's always better if you don't have it when you and Draco are in the same room. Safer that way."

Draco laughed. "I knew there was a reason I liked your fiancée, Weasley. Smart girl that."

The doorbell rang before Ron could offer a retort. He walked to the door and opened it hesitantly. He could read nothing from either Harry or Hermione's face so he moved aside and let them enter. Harry sat down in the oversized chair next to the sofa and Hermione took the chair on the opposite end. Lissa came out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a dishtowel.

An uncomfortable silence descended over the room. Draco shifted awkwardly on the couch, the remote control forgotten. Ginny's foot began to tap a faster rhythm, and Ron resumed his pacing.

After a few moments in which no one spoke, Ron finally broke the silence, stopping to look at Harry. "All right, exactly how hacked off at us are you?"

"Should we tell them, Hermione?" Harry asked, his face blank.

"Yes, Harry. I think we should tell them exactly what we think of them." Her expression was as unreadable as Harry's.

"Would it help to say we are sorry?" Lissa began.

"And that next time we'll mind our own business," interjected Ginny.

Harry held out his hand and motioned for Hermione to join him. She got up, walked over and sat down on his lap. "Do you want to or should I?" she asked.

"Go right ahead. You were always the one who liked to explain everything in school," Harry told her.

At this point their four friends were looking at them in puzzlement. So Hermione decided to clear everything up for them.

"While we give you top marks for style and originality, we'll have to deduct points for not having all your facts straight before putting your plan in motion," Hermione told the group. "We think it's the sweetest thing that you wanted to get us back together. But we weren't broken up."

"But at dinner, the two of you were so distant and hardly spoke to one another," Ron said.

"And never touched," Lissa added. "That's totally unlike you."

Draco added, "Not to mention that you didn't come together, and Harry didn't act like he wanted to take you home at all."

"All good points and valid. But," Hermione smiled, "that was before we went back to my flat where we made up."

Harry took up the narrative. "You are all correct in your observations and Ron," Harry turned to look at his best friend who was now sitting on the arm of the chair Lissa had sat in when Hermione had vacated it, "you were right about the problems between us being my fault. I was being a prat."

"A stupid prat, I believe you said, "Hermione supplied helpfully, smiling at Harry.

"Yes, love, you're right. A stupid prat." Harry reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind Hermione's ear.

He glanced around at his friends. "I almost lost the most important person in my life, not because of Nappa or anyone else who wanted to hurt me. But because of myself. Because I was too afraid of losing someone who had been my best friend since I was eleven. I was afraid to take a risk and say three simple words. Words I knew to be true in my heart. So you see, it was my own stupidity that almost cost me Hermione," Harry finished, taking her hand in his, linking their fingers together.

Hermione brushed the fringe back from Harry's forehead with her free hand and admitted, "Well, he wasn't the only stubborn one. I have been known to be stubborn on occasion."

"Really?" five voices chorused at her.

Hermione laughed softly. "Yes, really." Her gaze met and held Harry's. "I knew that Harry loved me, but I also knew he couldn't admit it. And I knew why he couldn't admit it. But instead of waiting until he felt safe enough to tell me how he felt, I fell into Nappa's lies about not being worthy of Harry's love. Of not being good enough."

"And they were lies," Harry said, vehemently, taking Hermione's face into his hands and gazing intently into her eyes. "You're better than anything I deserve. I just thank God that you chose me."

Love shone out of Hermione's brown eyes as she gazed at the man she loved. "I love you, Harry."

"And I love you."

Harry kissed her, softly, with all the love he had stored up in his heart. All the love he had so desperately craved as a child and was never shown and all the love he felt for the woman in his arms and no longer wanted to deny. Could no longer deny.

It was a few moments before Harry and Hermione realized they still had an audience. They looked guiltily around the room but found that their friends had not been unaffected by their display of affection. Ginny and Lissa were openingly crying, tears streaming down both their faces. Ron was wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. Even Draco was not immune. He was rubbing his finger in the corner of his eye.

"What?" he asked defensively when the group's attention focused on him. "I have something in my eye."

"Sure, babe." Ginny grinned at him through her tears and gifted him with a kiss.

Looking around at the group of her friends, whom she loved with all her heart, which did, though she never would have thought it a few months before, included the blonde Slytherin sitting next to Ginny, Hermione realized how lucky she was. How close she had come to losing not only Harry, but all of them. Her gaze met and held Lissa's. That connection that had joined them through their dreams was still there to a lesser degree. Hermione knew as she saw her take Ron's hand and gaze at him lovingly that Lissa knew exactly what she was thinking.

"If I may be allowed just one more moment of sappiness," Hermione began.

"Must you?" Draco drawled, but his expression told her he really didn't mind.

"I'll be brief," Hermione replied, smiling at him.

A couple of snorts greeted her pronouncement.

She rolled her eyes and pretended to be mildly annoyed. "Just for that..."

The others groaned.

"Seriously," she began, "I just wanted you all to know how special you are to me. If these last months have taught me..." she amended, "us anything, it's that life is too short not to tell the important people in your life how you feel. And I just wanted each and every one of you to know that I treasure you as my friends." At Draco's raised eyebrow, Hermione confirmed, "Yes, even you, Draco."

"Surprisingly, I feel the same," Draco admitted. "I blame it all on Ginny." He looked lovingly at the witch snuggled into his side.

Ginny smiled, wiping fresh tears from her eyes. "I love you all, too."

Ron glanced over at Lissa whose eyes were awash with tears, too. "Okay," he said," we've all admitted we love each other and tolerate the Slytherin," Ron cast a quick glance over at Draco, trying not to smile, "so why don't we eat? Or we'll have to mop up the carpet from the water overflow. Besides, I smell something wonderful coming from the kitchen."

Lissa jumped up quickly, wiping her eyes. "Dinner! I almost forgot. I hope it isn't ruined."

"We'll help," Hermione said as she and Ginny wiped at the tears on their faces and rose to follow Lissa into the kitchen.

"I'll help," Ginny corrected. "You watch."

The girls all giggled as they went into the kitchen to rescue their evening meal.

Ron, Harry and Draco sat there in companionable silence, each thinking of how their lives would be a lot less emotional without the girls in them, but each knowing they wouldn't have it any other way.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Harry Potter had never been more nervous in his entire life. Not when he had faced down the Hungarian Horntail in the first task. Not even when he had faced Lord Voldemort in the Final Battle. Like the battle with Voldemort, this was a challenge that he could not afford to lose. His very life depended on it.

The last several weeks of his life had been sheer and utter bliss He and Hermione had spent every spare moment they had together. Most often in bed, he mused to himself, not that he was in any way complaining. He just couldn't seem to get enough of her, and he knew she felt exactly the same way. At this point, he wasn't sure he ever could. But after tonight, everything would change. And he fervently hoped it would be for the better. Funny thing was, everything hinged on four simple words in a question and a one word answer that would forever shape his life.

Harry looked in the mirror, frowning at his hair, which looked messier than usual. Maybe he should have invested in a bottle of that Sleekeasy's Hair Potion that Hermione had used fourth year for the Yule Ball. He had a feeling that even that hair product couldn't control his messy mane.

"You look very handsome," his mirror complimented him.

Harry looked at it in surprise. It usually insulted him in various inventive ways. Ron had given it to him as a Christmas present the year he'd moved into his own flat. It had taken Harry a while to cotton on that Ron had charmed it to offer the taunts.

"Thanks," Harry replied. "I hope she thinks so."

Glancing at the clock on the bedside table, Harry realized he had better hurry. He was due to pick Hermione up in twenty minutes, and he didn't want to start this important evening off by being late. He grabbed his cloak and hurried out the door.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

Something was different about tonight. Hermione could feel it. She had taken extra special care with her hair and her choice of dress. It was hardly the first time Harry had taken her out in the last couple of months, but an air of expectancy hung around her this evening. Her life was about to change. She didn't know why she felt that way but she couldn't deny the feeling. Maybe it was the way Harry had acted when he'd asked her out for the evening. Again, not an unusual occurrence since they had started dating, especially since they had mended their rift.

They had been spending all their available time together. Not that Hermione was complaining. If she wasn't at work or with Lissa and Ginny planning Ron and Lissa's wedding, she was with Harry. In bed with him was her favorite place to be. And his too unless she missed her guess.

Harry was a wonderful lover, kind and gentle by turns, but so fierce and passionate sometimes that it took her breath away. Although Harry had more experience than she, Hermione was a quick study. It hadn't taken her long to learn the things that pleased Harry and brought him as much pleasure as he gave her. Hermione blushed at the rather inventive thing he had taught her the night before. Hermione's idea of learning everything you needed to know from books had flown out the window quicker than Pig going to deliver a letter. Sometimes hands on training was much better.

Hermione glanced at the clock and saw that is was almost time for Harry to arrive. She gave her appearance one final, critical glance, then picked up her purse and cloak, went into her lounge room and waited for Harry to arrive.

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

The walk to the restaurant had been made in a companionable silence. They held hands and enjoyed the cold, crisp air, taking in the inky black sky sparkling with a million stars, all winking down at them as if they, too, knew the secret that this special night held.

The maitre'd ushered them to their table. The same one where they had sat that fateful night so many months ago.

"Is this satisfactory?" he inquired, handing them both a menu.

"Perfect," Harry responded.

"Your waiter will be with you shortly," he told them as he took his leave.

They fell into small talk about their jobs and Ron and Lissa's wedding as they enjoyed their dinner. After the waiter had cleared off their dinner plates, Harry looked at Hermione and smiled. "I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of ordering dessert for you tonight?"

"I don't mind at all. Although I certainly don't need it. Unless it's that wonderful pumpkin mousse that we had here the first time. Is it?" Hermione inquired with a smile.

As if on cue, their waiter arrived at the table carrying a small dessert plate. But instead of the expected pumpkin mousse, it held a small, black velvet box. The waiter put it in front of Hermione and left with a smile.

"Harry?" Hermione said, her voice trembling slightly.

Harry moved from his chair to kneel in front of her. He took her hands in his and looked deeply into her eyes. "Hermione. I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much. Would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?"

All the love he felt for her shone from his eyes and though Harry knew, without question, that Hermione loved him too, he still held his breath until he heard her softly uttered, "Yes." He breathed out in relief and joy.

Hermione flung herself into his arms, almost knocking him over. "Yes! Yes, Harry, I'll marry you!" She rained kisses all over his face until she reached his mouth. She kissed him hard and long; Harry returning the kiss in kind, until the loud applause and catcalls throughout the restaurant broke them apart. Blushing in embarrassment, Hermione hid her head in Harry's shoulder.

"Let's take this someplace more private, shall we?" Harry asked. He stood and pulled Hermione with him, flinging money onto the table and taking Hermione by the hand. He led her over to the door and reluctantly left to claim their cloaks.

Hermione stood there impatiently waiting for Harry. She almost didn't feel the frail hand touch her arm gently.

"It all worked out, I see." Hettie smiled up at Hermione. "You and your young man admitted how you feel about each other."

Hermione looked down at the old woman who had gifted her with the coin. So much had happened since that fateful night. Her first kiss with Harry. His rejection. Her kidnapping. Her "death" and resurrection. Lissa's brush with death. A daring rescue. And finally a declaration of love. Hermione reached down and hugged the old woman gratefully.

"Thank you for realizing what Harry and I were too blind to see or too scared to admit. And just so you know, the coin is gone. It will never again cause another couple pain or grief."

Hettie drew back and squeezed Hermione's hands. "I knew you two were the ones. The ones to cancel the curse. Your love is plain for anyone to see."

"It just took us a while," Hermione admitted.

"But you did," the older woman smiled. "That's what is important."

"Yes," Hermione nodded, "it is."

Harry walked up and slipped his arm around Hermione's waist. "Ready to go, love?"

"Yes." She reached down and kissed Hettie's cheek gently. "Goodbye."

Hettie watched as Harry and Hermione walked out of the restaurant, their hands linked together. She knew instinctively that their lives were not going to be easy. They would face obstacles, hard times as well as good. All couples did. But they would be among the few in this world today that survived. Not simply because they loved each other. Many couples loved each other but were unable to make it work.

Hettie knew that Harry and Hermione would have a happily ever after because they'd learned the lesson of give and take. Compromise. It had seen her and Hubert through fifty years of marriage. She knew it was what had brought the young lovers this far and what would carry them into the future. Their future, full of love and laughter, tears and sorrow. But one they would walk through as they had walked out of the restaurant. Hand in hand. Together.

Hubert placed Hettie's wrap around her bent shoulders. "Ready to go, dear?"

"Yes," Hettie replied, taking her husband's hand and shuffling out with him into the cold, starry night.

~fini~