No Regrets

"So, Potter..." Moody growled, "give us a shout if you need us. If we don't hear from you for three days in a row, we'll send someone along...."

Hermione grinned as Petunia Dursley whimpered. The Dursleys were getting exactly what they deserved.

After saying goodbye to Harry, she stood with Ron and watched their friend leave with a sense of unease.

Seeing her worried look, Ron spoke. "It'll be okay, 'Mione," he assured her.

Hermione turned and looked up into the face of her best friend. "I know, Ron, I know," she said heavily. "But...do you think Harry can handle it?"

"Handle what?"

"All of this. Sirius, the Dursleys, Voldemort. For heavens sake, Ron!" Hermione rolled her eyes as Ron jumped slightly. He really needed to get over the whole You-Know-Who thing.

"He can do it," Ron said. "He's always been the strong one."

"I'm still afraid," she said in a small voice, wincing at how pitiful she sounded. Ron put a comforting arm around her. Despite the gravity of the situation, Hermione's heart sped up. It always sped up when Ron was near.

"Harry can handle lots more than you think he can," Ron said sagely. "I know that if I had to put up with half the stuff he does, I'd have gone crazy long before now. Don't underestimate him."

"You're right," Hermione said. She immediately felt better. Despite his general clueless attitude, Ron always knew the right thing to say. At least on some subjects.

As if on cue, Ron realized that his arm was still around her. He hastily removed it, his ears turning bright red. Hermione blushed a little herself.

"So, erm..." Ron stuttered.

"Yeah..." Hermione twisted the material of her blouse between her fingers.

"Hermione!"

Hermione turned to see her parents, waving enthusiastically and calling her name. Glad for the excuse to get out of the awkward situation, she ran towards her parents. She didn't notice Ron's slightly disappointed look.

"Over here, Hermione!"

"Mum, Dad!" Hermione reached them, laughing with tears in her eyes. After almost being killed in the Department of Mysteries, she had realized just how much she took her parents for granted. If she had died, she'd have regretted her attitude towards them forever.

"Hermione, honey, it's so good to see you," her mother said, hugging her tightly. "I can't believe we still let you go to that school."

Hermione cringed. She believed in full honesty with her parents, and therefore they knew all of the times she'd gotten into trouble and gotten nearly killed. They were very understanding, and realized that she could never go back to being a Muggle.

"I know, Mum," Hermione whispered, her eyes prickling. She loved her mother, and was so glad to see her. Her mother was her best friend (next to Ron, Harry and Ginny), and Hermione told her everything. Well, she amended, with a glance at Ron, almost everything.

Seeing Hermione's rueful smile, Mrs. Granger followed her gaze until she saw Ron.

"Oh, look!" Mrs. Granger exclaimed. "Is that Ron? He's gotten so tall since the last time I saw him."

"Mum," Hermione said laughingly, "the last time you saw him, he was thirteen."

"Well, yes," Her mother agreed, "but he's so...tall. Just think about what you two's children will look like."

"Mum!" Hermione glanced at Ron, to make sure he hadn't heard. No, he was speaking to Ginny. "I assure you, Ron and I will never be in a position to have children. We're just friends."

"Are you quite sure, dear?" Mrs. Granger said, a small frown creasing her face. "I could have sworn...you do talk about him a lot."

"He takes up a lot of my time," Hermione pointed out. "He is my best friend, after all."

"True," Mrs. Granger said. "Where's the rest of his family? Seems to me that they were a lot...bigger last time."

"Yes, well, the others are busy, so it's just their father picking up him and Ginny."

"Oh, that explains it," her mother said. "Look at your father," she added, glancing fondly at her husband. Mr. Granger was talking excitedly to Arthur Weasley. Hermione didn't know what they were saying, but whatever it was involved quite a few sweeping hand gestures.

"He reminds me of Mr. Weasley," Hermione said. "They're both so happy about everything."

"I know," her mother agreed. "When we got your last letter, you won't believe what your father said!"

"What?"

"He said, 'So, Hermione's still alive, then? Only two more years, and she'll be able to risk life and limb full time!'"

Hermione laughed, the statement sounded exactly like something her father would say.

Mr. Granger and Mr. Weasley shook hands, and Mr. Granger walked back towards Hermione and Mrs. Granger. Mr. Weasley started to lead Ron and Ginny away.

Suddenly, Hermione was struck by a thought. These were troubled times, and she didn't know if they would all live a few weeks until they met again. Anything could happen at a time like this. If she died, right now, Hermione knew the one thing she'd regret the most.

"Mum, Dad, I'll be right back."

Her parents looked slightly confused, but told her to go ahead. Hermione ran after the Weasleys.

"Ron, Ginny, wait up!" she called as she ran.

Ron, Ginny, and Mr. Weasley turned as one to watch her approach. First, Hermione hugged Mr. Weasley.

"Mr. Weasley," she said, stepping away to look at him. "I couldn't help but think I might never see you again."

"Nonsense, Hermione," Mr. Weasley said, looking rather embarrassed at her attention.

"It's just so crazy," Hermione said. "Who knows what may happen in a few weeks time? Mr. Weasley, if I never see you again, thanks for being such a wonderful friend. You mean a lot to me."

Hermione hugged Ginny next.

"Ginny, thanks for being a friend. Ron and Harry are great, but sometimes I need another girl to talk to."

Ginny grinned. "No problem, Hermione. Same to you."

Then Hermione turned to Ron. She took a deep breath, and looked up at him. This was the one thing that wasn't so easy. Hug Mr. Weasley, hug Ginny, no big deal. Here came the difficult part. Hermione threw her arms around Ron. He instinctively hugged her back, and she smiled into his shoulder.

"Ron," she said, her voice slightly muffled, "thanks for being so great. You're the best friend a girl could ask for. And..." she broke off, unsure how to continue. If you don't do this now, she told herself, you'll regret it later.

Hermione took another steadying breath and looked up into his eyes.

"And..." Hermione's voice caught. She tried again. "I..."

Ron smiled at her. "You what, 'Mione?"

"I...damn it." She reached up and kissed him soundly on the mouth. To her relief, he kissed her back. She had waited for this moment for Merlin only knows how long, and she poured all the suppressed emotion of the last five years into her kiss.

The kiss was music, it was magic, it was all the melodies of the world mixed together in one perfect song. This was the right thing, Hermione assured herself.

When they broke apart, she knew that her face matched Ron's dazed one.

"And," she said, smiling up at him, "I love you."

Ron looked stunned. "You do?"

"Yes," she said.

Ron laughed. "Say it again!"

"I love you," she repeated happily.

"Once more, so I know I got it!"

"I love you, Ronald Weasley!" she proclaimed happily.

Ginny snickered. "You two are insane," she said.

"And we're quite proud of it, thank you," Ron said, tweaking a strand of Ginny's hair.

"What are we going to tell Harry?" Hermione sighed.

"Oh, trust me, Hermione," Ginny said, grinning like mad. "I think he already knows."

So Hermione left with her parents, and Ron left with his dad and his sister. Neither of them knew if they'd ever see each other again, but, for the moment, they had no regrets.