Hermione wasn't sure how long she stood in the empty office. Although, she knew it was longer than she'd intended.

People shuffled by after the sun had set and the room had darkened. She assumed they were Hufflepuff students on their way to their common room. But she couldn't be certain because she didn't know where the Hufflepuff common room was located.

Odd, she thought, that this is what I'm thinking about while my world crumbles around me. She laughed ironically and rolled her eyes. She'd broken out of her trance, but she still felt like a zombie.

Hermione felt a presence behind her, but she didn't turn. Instead, she stared out the circular window at the sky as the colors mixed and bled together. Like a wonderfully beautiful watercolor painting. Pinks, purples, blues, oranges, yellows and reds all came together painting such a beautiful sky that Hermione could hardly tear her eyes away from it. The colors slowly turned darker and she knew that night was upon her.

Oliver would be in London by now, she thought bitterly.

Someone cleared his throat from the doorway, "Is he gone, then?"

Hermione turned and smiled slightly at Justin Finch-Fletchley. "Yes." His head was bending around the corner of the door, peering in at her.

Justin nodded, "If you need to talk, I'm here."

She smiled at him, "Thank you, Justin."

"Justin!" Hannah Abbott's voice cried out from down the hall. "Are you coming? We're going to play Exploding Snap!"

"Be there in a jiff, Hannah," replied Justin, looking out in the hall. He stepped into the empty room and stood in front of Hermione. The only light in the room was filtering in from the corridor. "You really liked him didn't you." It was a statement, not a question.

Hermione sighed heavily, "Yes. I did." She shook her head, "I'm stupid, I know."

"No," Justin disagreed, "You are far from stupid. If you ask me, he's stupid for leaving."

"But he has a life outside these castle walls, I don't."

Justin laughed, "Of course you do. You have a family who loves you, wonderful friends...."

Hermione shrugged, "But the one thing I want, I can't have."

Justin sighed, his eyes looking very sad, "I know exactly how you feel."

"JUSTIN!" Hannah Abbott cried again.

"Coming, Hannah!" Justin replied shrilly. "I better go. Remember what I said." He put his hand gently on Hermione's arm for a split second and then strolled to the open door. "Hermione?"

Hermione looked at him, her eyes glistening with tears that she refused to let fall. "Yes?"

Justin smiled at her, "Tomorrow is another day."

With that, he walked off. Hermione collapsed onto the floor, not crying, but very upset anyway. The tears wanted so badly to fly from her eyes, but she restrained them. She wasn't going to cry anymore. She had to be strong for herself. She had to get over this.

Hermione made her way back to Gryffindor common room once the first star shown in the sky. The second she went through the portrait hole there were two people on either side of her, grabbing her elbows and pushing her out through the hole again.

Before Hermione could have time to protest, she was being led towards Moaning Myrtle's bathroom by Ron and Harry.

"Please, I just want to crawl into bed and forget this day ever happened," pleaded Hermione.

"Nothing doing," said Ron sternly, "something important awaits you in the loo."

Hermione stared at him, "What's gotten into you?"

"My friend is heartbroken," replied Ron quietly. "I'm trying to lighten the mood."

"Do me a favor," requested Harry, "don't."

Ron shrugged and pushed open the bathroom door. Moaning Myrtle was not there and Hermione thought this odd, but didn't say anything. Maybe she was there, but not showing herself.

Harry and Ron let go of her and thrust a note into her hands. They didn't say anything to her. She looked at the envelope and knew who it was from in a second. Harry winked at her as he pushed Ron out the door to give her privacy.

Hermione tore open the seal and brought the letter out, unfolding it quickly. She drew in a breath and then began to read.

Hermione put a hand to her chest, to slow her rapidly beating heart. He was in love with her. Her feelings towards him were returned. Oliver Wood loved her. Oliver Wood wanted to be with her. She sighed happily. She knew what she must do. She glanced at the letter again and noticed a postscript.

Hermione giggled and shook her head. She could hear Oliver's voice saying all of these words and her heart cried out for him.

Her heart hadn't felt lighter in years. Everything was so wonderful that she could hardly contain her excitement.

It was obvious to Harry and Ron what the letter contained when they saw her smiling face emerge from the bathroom.

"Up to the owlery, then?" Ron asked her, grinning.

Hermione giggled, "Yes. Most definitely."

Harry smiled at her, "Did Oliver say what we think he said?"

"You know, Harry. I reckon you were right." Hermione said, sidestepping his question. She started walking towards the owlery, the two boys following closely behind her.

"About what?" Harry wondered.

"About Oliver not being a Professor next year. And me not being a student."

Harry nodded. "And?" Ron prompted.

Hermione was still smiling and practically skipping to the owlery in delight. "And I think I may not be home for the holidays."

Ron looked dumbfounded and Harry looked confused by happy for her.

Hermione wrote a quick and completely gushy letter to Oliver and borrowed Hedwig for the delivery. She said that she did love him still, that she forgave him and also that she'd love to spend the summer holidays with him. That is, while she looked for a job.

She had no idea what awaited her next year, nor did she really care.

She did tell Harry and Ron exactly what was going on between she and Oliver before she went to bed. Ron, though a bit choked up, was very happy for her. Harry was excited for her beyond belief.

Hermione crawled into bed, a grin still on her face. She was so happy that she really didn't think she'd be able to sleep at all. But eventually, her eyes fluttered closed and sleep took over.

Hermione woke up the next morning blissfully happy. She felt ready to take on the world. What she wasn't ready for was to find a person at the end of her bed. Watching her sleep. She gasped loudly.

Hermione rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and peered out into the dim light that was morning. Finally, the room and the person, came into focus.

"Oliver? What are you doing here?" She sat up, smiling.

Oliver, sitting casually, smiled back at her and looked out the window. "Such a lovely morning."

"Are you all right?" she asked, a little concerned for his sanity.

Oliver turned to her, "Better than ever. I suddenly see everything so clearly that.....that I feel like everything is falling into place."

Hermione smiled at him, tears in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

Oliver smiled sweetly, "I mean you...and me. Us. It all makes sense."

Hermione laughed, "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you. I had to see you. Because, like I said, we have unfinished business and I can't have that hanging over my head like a dark cloud."

Hermione smiled at him in disbelief. He'd certainly lost all his marbles.

"But, Oliver, what about training?"

Oliver shrugged.

"Did you have some sort of brain surgery on the Hogwarts Express? The Oliver Wood I know would never skip out on Quidditch training."

"He would," smiled Oliver, "for the right girl."

Hermione raised her eyebrows at him, "Is that so?"

"Yes," affirmed Oliver, "I met this wonderful girl at Hogwarts."

She smiled sweetly at him.

He grinned wickedly, "And the unfinished business is just too hard to bare. I had to get it over with."

Before she could say anything more, Oliver leaned closer to her and put his lips to hers. She melted into him, happier than ever. She felt like all she needed was to be close to him, to have his arms around her.

And she was really ready to take on the world now.

The End.

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