At the end of January Harry apparated to the solicitor's office and signed the notarial sales contract for the house in Littlehampton. He then went to Gringotts with the account information of Hermione's uncle and had them transfer eight thousand four hundred galleons or four hundred twenty thousand pounds. He really thought it one of his best investments so far. He didn't tell anybody about it, but he fully planned to have a big housewarming party during the Easter break with those people that he was truly close to. Those that could be trusted with the secret of the Fidelius charm.
He also planned to get started on the garden over the Easter break and had got some gardening magazines in secret to get some ideas. With the help of magic nothing was too difficult to arrange. And he had already decided to not move into Grimmauld Place. The house held too many bad memories for him, especially seeing how Sirius had hated being kept prisoner there. He had told Kreacher, who had returned to the house, that he wanted him to renovate the house taking his time, as long as he got it ready by the start of summer. He planned to give Tonks and Remus the option to take over the house.
He knew that with his salary as a teacher Remus was better off than before, but with the baby soon coming, Tonks wouldn't be back to work for a few years at least. They could use a place to live that they didn't have to pay for. As Tonks was a Black descendant, and on top had the rare gift of being a metamorphmagus, a famed ability of the Blacks in history, Kreacher could probably be convinced to listen to her. And by spinning the story the way that Harry wanted to protect his distant cousins in a house where he knew they would be safe, he could get the old elf to not constantly insult Remus. And Remus had a much more even temper than Sirius had had. And there wasn't as much bad blood between him and the elf. He knew that the baby wouldn't be a werewolf, as Remus would have to be transformed to pass on that curse, so Kreacher would not be too bad.
And Harry fully planned to let him clean his new house regularly, so that he wouldn't be around the others all the time. Dobby had also asked if he could come to work for Harry, as after Snape had become headmaster, he had been looking for work again. It wasn't safe for him at Hogwarts anymore. Harry had agreed and Dobby was deliriously happy. Kreacher was old after all and he would need to rest sometime in the near future. Having Dobby to assist him and take over the full work once he couldn't work anymore, would work out best for all involved. And as he paid Dobby, Hermione couldn't kill him for taking Dobby as his elf.
Hermione expressed her happiness about the purchase of the house in a very appreciative way. It was the night of Valentine's Day and, as the headboy and headgirl had a private suite for themselves, they used it to make love for the first time. They had been getting closer to this for months now and it was great for both of them.
They had noticed how Ron was glaring at them all the time, but at least Ginny had resignedly accepted their relationship. Her medical treatment by the mind healer was going well, while Ron's didn't. He didn't want to see anything wrong with his opinions and ideas, and he was really stubborn. Thankfully he had to study a lot, thanks to his father's orders, and the information from the Ministry that, while they took anybody no matter what blood status or wealth they had, the applicants had to have the proper qualifications.
It made a lot of sense to everybody, except for pureblood bigots who had never had to work for their positions and simply got them by family connections. Ron didn't like that if he wanted to be an auror, he needed the NEWTs in Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbology and Defence Against the Dark Arts. And thanks to Harry holding full try-outs for the Quidditch team, he had lost his keeper spot to a second year, Michael Wood, who coincidentally was the younger cousin of Oliver Wood and loved Quidditch as much as him. Ron had ranted about the injustice of Harry being headboy and Quidditch captain, but Professor McGonagall had been firm in her decisions.
Harry had been captain the year before and done a good job and he had more than deserved the headboy position, after having been denied the rightful prefect position the years before, as Dumbledore had decided to meddle with the decisions of the head of Gryffindor. It was normally a sign that he didn't trust the decisions of the head of house, but somehow he had managed to make the argument sound somewhat reasonable, with Umbridge being slated to teach DADA and the whole pressure of the war not wanting to add to Harry's burden. It had been part of the reason why Harry had got the Quidditch Captaincy the next year over Katie Bell. Professor McGonagall had wanted to make it up at least a bit to Harry.
Their classes were also going the way they wanted them to. Harry now didn't hold anything back and with Hermione's reward system of snogging him for doing great, his grades had shot up all over the place. Now he didn't just have an O in DADA, he also had one in Charms and Transfiguration and was very close to one in Potions. Hermione was finally willing to go over the recipes in Snape's old Potions book, with the comment that while he had been an evil bastard, he at least knew his potions. Not to mention that his mother had been a genius in Potions as well and had probably taught him her tricks before he even started at Hogwarts. So she could expect that his modifications were safe.
While working through the recipes, Harry and Hermione also discussed why a modification worked better than the original recipe and put together their own notebooks. Hermione had suggested to publish a series of books about how to get better grades in Potions, as the class was horribly unsatisfyingly known to most people, thanks to over a decade of bad teaching. Harry fully supported her in that and offered to co-author the books. He decided to have some beginner books that would give the ones starting out brewing the instructions of what to do and not to do, in easily understandable chapters. He remembered too well how he struggled because nobody properly explained things to him. Other books for more advanced brewers could entail the improved recipes and the reasons why certain things worked out better than others.
It was a project that they started with at school and planned to continue after graduation.
Harry looked over the buffet he had prepared for the guests. He and Hermione had decided that they would go with this way, as it was easiest and everybody could simply take what he wanted to eat. They had invited about twenty people for the house warming party. The Lupins were coming, including baby Teddy, whom Harry had been asked to be godfather of, which he had accepted honoured, especially as that meant that Remus had forgiven him his harsh words, which Remus acknowledged he had needed to wake up to the massive mistake he had been about to make, just because of his insecurities. Thankfully Tonks hadn't been too mad at him, but really grateful to Harry.
Among the Weasleys, Bill, Fleur, Fred and George had been invited, with the twins having to promise not to prank any of the guests, but they could show their ingenuity with a private firework, as long as the muggles didn't see it. Then Professors McGonagall and Flitwick were on the list, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell, Neville and Luna, Hermione's parents and Andromeda and Ted Tonks.
Those were the people that the two would trust with keeping their secret, even if they for now couldn't tell it to anybody. One day they would undo the fidelius charm and only put other charms to make it impossible to find them with magical location means up, but that was one or two years into the future. For now safety was still a large aspect in their planning and privacy was right next to it.
"This looks amazing, Harry," Hermione complimented the work of her boyfriend.
"Thank you, dear," Harry replied smiling at her in the dress she had chosen for the party.
It was a simple long-sleeved dress, as it was still too cold for lighter clothes, but the dark blue dress hugged Hermione's body in all the right places and gave his mind very exciting ideas.
"Down, tiger," she quipped grinning, noticing his reaction, "First the party, then the private celebration."
"No fair," he mock protested and pulled her into a long and passionate kiss.
"You would just skip the whole party, if I let you follow through with that," Hermione said knowingly.
"Probably," Harry admitted sighing, "but I just can't help myself. You're so beautiful and I finally have you as my girlfriend, and I simply can't help myself desiring you all the time."
He kissed down her neck, which made her moan in happiness.
"Later, I promise, the wait will be worth it," Hermione finally told him seductively.
Then the bell rang and Harry just stole one last kiss from Hermione and then went to get the door.
The first ones to arrive were the Tonks and the Lupins. Baby Teddy was sleeping in his mother's arms, while his father was carrying the bag with all things needed for him.
"Hi, good to see you all, come in," Harry greeted them.
"Wotcher, Harry. Really nice place you have here," Tonks stated impressed.
"Thank you, Tonks," Harry replied smiling, "Did Teddy grow again since I last saw him?"
"Yes, I think about four centimetres. After all, it was over a month ago since you saw him," Remus confirmed.
"I really can't believe how fast he grows," Harry admitted.
"I couldn't either, but from what my healer says, it's completely normal and a metamorphmagus can grow even faster during the first three months," Tonks explained.
Harry just nodded, taking her at her word. Then he looked at Ted and Andromeda.
"We wish you the best for your new home, Harry," Ted said and handed over a basket with some presents, "This is from all of us."
"Thank you, Ted," Harry said and took the basket.
There was some of Honeydukes' best chocolate, a bottle of wine and something wrapped in green wrapping paper. Dobby appeared next to Harry, wearing a smart-looking uniform and took the basket from him.
"Dobby will put nice basket to the table reserved for prezzies, Master Harry," Dobby said.
"Thank you, Dobby," Harry nodded and Dobby popped away with the basket.
"So you hired a new elf?" Remus asked.
"Yes," Harry confirmed, "Dobby is the elf that I tricked Lucius Malfoy into freeing and ever since he has worshipped me. When Snape became headmaster, he couldn't continue working at Hogwarts anymore and he said that he was at the Hog's Head for a while, helping Dumbledore's younger brother running the pub, as Aberforth didn't mind hiring a free elf. When Riddle and most Death Eaters died, he asked me if I needed a house elf and I took him on. Kreacher is already old after all and sometime in the future he'll have to retire. Having an elf that knows his way around and is totally reliable is only a benefit then. And Dobby helped me a lot over the years, so I'm happy to have him around."
The four adults nodded smiling and followed Harry into the lounge, where Hermione was waiting to greet them. They would wait showing them all the way to the dining room where the buffet was set up, next to some tables to sit and eat comfortably, until everybody was present.
"Hey, Hermione," Tonks greeted and Hermione came over smiling.
"Hi, Tonks, you're looking well. Oh, Teddy is so cute," she gushed over the baby.
"He is. I'm so proud that he's a metamorphmagus like me," Tonks said proudly and showed off her tiny son.
"I can imagine," Hermione replied and continued cooing over the sleeping baby.
Harry meanwhile was on his way to the door again to let the next guests in. The Weasleys arrived at the same time as Harry's old Quidditch teammates and soon everybody was present. Dobby was happy to put many presents onto the designated table. Harry and Hermione had decided to not give a grand speech, but to simply show everybody around and then open the buffet and enjoy the evening. Dobby had everything under control and would keep food and drinks stocked all evening.
"Okay, I guess you're all curious how the house looks like, so Hermione and I would like to show you around a bit. I just ask you to not step onto the ground in the garden outside the paths, I have just sowed grass seeds and that wouldn't be good for them," Harry said.
Neville nodded along with that statement, being the top plant brain of them all. The tour of the house and garden took about an hour and then everybody was ready to eat and drink something.
"Now that we're done, please follow me into the dining room, the buffet there should be exactly the right thing for us now. You're free to eat and drink as much as you wish, just prevent overdoing it on the alcoholic drinks to the point of being sick," Harry told them and some laughed at that.
Soon some groups built around the round tables that had been set up to eat and everybody told stories, made jokes or talked about plans for the future. The twins were ecstatic about the idea of turning muggle inventions to work with magic and introducing them to the wizarding world through their shop. They promised to help with that and that they could talk numbers once they were ready to get started. The idea about the Potions book series was taken well by them all, especially Neville and Andromeda, who commented that something like that was long overdue, as the way the class had been taught in the past was abysmal.
While Slughorn was way better than Snape, he would soon retire again and there weren't that many Potions Masters that were willing to teach at a school. Having a book series that took care of the basics and gave proper explanations why certain things worked or didn't work, would make the work for any teacher much easier.
Overall the evening was a lot of fun. Harry and Hermione got a lot of teasing and questions when they would take the last step, but they, so far, kept silent about that.
Time flew until the end of year exams were upon Hogwarts again. There had been some unrest among the students, what with some children of now dead or squib Death Eaters holding a slight grudge, but which was stamped out as soon as they acted out against those that they felt were at fault for their worse situations in life. Most of the students simply wanted to enjoy the peace that had been won. They went to Hogsmeade with their friends, studied for tests, complained about long essays that they had to write and chased after one crush or another.
It was normal time at school without any crazy events taking place for once. But then again, the start of the year had been horrible enough for everybody to not want anything bad to happen again. The teachers were much more active against students breaking the rules and bullying. While for small scale rule breaking detentions and point deductions took place, for bullying and massive rule breaking harsher measures were taken. Nobody wanted to risk anything. They had seen where that attitude had led to and the idea of a repeat of the short reign of terror that Voldemort had started made them act for once.
Harry and Hermione did their duties as the student head duo while still finding lots of time to enjoy their relationship. They were always walking through the corridors holding hands, stealing kisses when they had the chance and simply basking in the other's company. By now they had tentatively allowed Ginny to join them for study time in the library, but nothing more. They could see that she was really sorry for having attempted to use the love potion on Harry, as she hadn't known about the consequences it could have had and that it was wrong to do that.
With how her mother had always told her idiotic stories and basically brainwashed her to her way of thinking, Ginny needed some time to overcome the notions she had been taught. But at least she was willing to overcome her problems. She was regularly seeing the mind healers and taking what they told her in. That was actually the main reason why Hermione had agreed to let her study with them again. Ron meanwhile was a pain. He didn't want to accept that Hermione had chosen Harry and not him. He tried wooing her again, but he completely failed to make any kind of positive impression with her. And he was watched for use of any kind of potion against Harry and Hermione.
Not to mention that he wasn't good at potions and couldn't brew a potion that would help his goals at all. He also only barely managed to pass his classes, now that Hermione had withdrawn all her support from him. Without the much needed nagging from her to study more, not to mention assistance in understanding the lessons, he fell to at best A's in the five classes he took. Thanks to his laziness, he didn't do more than absolutely necessary to pass his classes, which was stupid when you considered that NEWTs were coming up.
Harry and Hermione continued their training with spells in the Room of Requirement and studied going by a schedule that Hermione had set up and which Harry regularly lightened by distracting Hermione by snogging and cuddling with her. Not that she complained. She liked that part as much as he did.
Finally the exams were to be taken and like in their fifth year, the Great Hall was emptied of all house tables and single tables were placed there for the seventh years to take their NEWT tests. Harry wondered why they didn't put the fifth and seventh-years together for the written part, as it would have saved them a lot of time, but there probably was a reason for it. The fifth-years had to take their tests at half past eight in the morning and the seventh-years at eleven. That gave both years two hours for the written tests. They each had two full hours to complete the test and then they would be sent out of the Great Hall, be it to change the setting for the next age group or to quickly set things up for lunch, which was limited to half an hour for the days of the OWLs and NEWTs, with fruit bowls appearing in the common rooms to tide those that didn't make it for meal times, thanks to studying mostly, over until dinner.
Harry's first NEWT exam was Transfiguration and thanks to all the studying and practicing that he and Hermione had done while they were hunting horcruxes, not to mention his secret training the previous year, he easily got through the forty questions that made up the Transfiguration NEWT paper. It were ten questions more than there had been in his OWLs, he noticed. But things like: 'Describe the model behind the vanishing of mammals', were really easy for him now. His quill flew over the parchment and he finished his work with ten minutes to spare. He read over his answers one more time, corrected one spelling error and then watched how his test was summoned by Professor Flitwick in front of the whole group.
In the afternoon he had, among others, to show vanishing a parrot, turning a rabbit into bunny slippers, conjuring a wooden bench with points being given for how intricate he made it and he finally was asked to conjure a set of fine robes suited for an official function. Harry managed to do each of those tasks perfectly and was sent out with a content nod from the examiner. Harry was especially happy that all spells had been performed silently and with minimal wand movements.
When he exited from the Great Hall, Hermione was upon him immediately and asked him how it had gone, as she had finished before him. He told her about the things he had had to do and how he had a really good feeling about this.
The pattern continued and Harry found out why the exams were called nastily exhausting. You needed to perform a lot of magic and that took a lot out of you. He didn't want to think how much harder it had to be for Hermione, who was taking two subjects more than him. He just did his best to avoid that she stressed out too much, which thankfully could be achieved by giving her a shoulder massage or snogging once she was done with one repetition of a part of her notes, as she would be really cross with him, should he not let her revise at all.
When two weeks were over and all OWLs and NEWTs done, the school seemed to take a relieved breath. Now they only had to get to the end of the year. Contrary to the OWLs, the NEWTs would be graded first by the Ministry examiners and they would get their graduation diplomas during a festive ceremony. And the second reason for the NEWTs to be graded faster was that the new graduates would need the diplomas to apply for jobs after school. Many jobs required a certain level of competency after all and only now that the NEWTs were finished, they could prove that they had the competency.
Still, a few already had their positions secured, with only a clause in their contracts that they had to prove the NEWTs required once they started. For example Neville had an apprenticeship with a Herbology Master lined up for him, which Professor Sprout had helped him get. Padma Patil would start working in her father's business and learn the ropes of leading an import business. The Patils imported Indian spices and tea, as well as rare plants among other things and sold them in Europe. Ernie Macmillan would start at an entry level position at the Department of International Magical Cooperation, which was much more important now than it had been when Percy Weasley had started there.
Thanks to the previous Minister's rule, there was a lot of broken china to mend with other countries and that needed skilled diplomats. Justin Finch-Fletchley would start at a new department that had been set up after the fall of the old bigoted regime, the Department of Muggle Cooperation. It was mainly about keeping better relations with the muggle side of the government in Great Britain and to establish working practices to ensure that magic stayed hidden from the common people. With technology advancing as it did, there was a real need for working procedures being implemented. After all, most wizards and witches had no idea how muggles lived and that could become dangerous in the future if nothing was done.
Harry and Hermione had already decided to not do anything related to looking for a job. They wanted to travel for a while, to make Harry's dreams of seeing more of the world come true. They had already discussed it with Hermione's parents and they were all for them expanding their horizons and seeing more of the world, as long as they made sure to avoid war zones. They could easily promise that. They had had enough war to last them for life.
Minerva McGonagall looked at the graduates of this year with a mix of pride and sadness. It was normal for her by now, as every year students that had grown on her over seven years that they spent studying here at Hogwarts left to take on the world. Some she stayed in contact with, some not. It was simply how things were. But this year had been a special one. They had had to face more things than any other group of young witches and wizards. With their arrival at Hogwarts things changed. And many that should have been sitting among this group were lost forever to the magical world. Children that had, following the bad ideals of their parents, decided to follow a monster with delusions of grandeur and to believe in wrong ideas of the superiority of pure blood.
They had lost their magic thanks to allowing Tom Riddle to mark them as his property. They were in prison to be punished for their crimes. It was such a waste of lives. But she would rather have those that were willing to harm their fellow people in prison or dead than those that only wanted to live in peace have to deal with the results of murderers being allowed to do what they wanted. Among the group of seventh-years in their traditional black graduation robes that also had the trim in the colours of their house, two were especially dear to her heart. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. Though how much longer the latter would be a Granger and not a Potter she didn't want to place a bet on. It normally wouldn't be too long.
There was a deep love and trust that those two radiated whenever you looked at them. She was very grateful that they had decided to ask for help in the hunt for the horcruxes. She had given Albus' portrait a major tirade over irresponsibility and not sharing information in times of war. He had actually been shocked to find out that there had been such an easy way to deal with Voldemort once and for all and he could have known, had he just trusted Bill Weasley, as an expert on curses and dark magic, thanks to his job, with the knowledge after demanding an oath of silence from him. Harry refused to talk to his portrait. Hermione had told her she would 'talk' to it after the graduation ceremony was over with She knew it would be anything but talking. They hadn't forgiven him for the role he had played in the miserable life that Harry had led until Voldemort was dead. And his excuses were hollow. His secrets had nearly condemned them. Countless lives had been lost, because he kept information until it was nearly too late or already too late to use it properly. And to base the whole strategy of a war on a teenager's supposed power, was so ridiculous that Minerva bluntly told the portrait that if he was still alive, she would have forced him to get a mental evaluation for senility.
Needless to say that Albus Dumbledore's portrait was mostly silent whenever a student came into the headmistress's office for one thing or another.
Other student had also made their names known. Some positively, some negatively. Ron Weasley had only barely managed to pass his NEWTs, and he had failed Potions. Without Hermione and Harry helping him, he hadn't studied well enough to get the pass he needed, which meant he wouldn't have the option to go for auror training. Still, four NEWTs in Transfiguration, even if he only scrapped a pass by two points, Charms, a more solid A there, Herbology and Defence Against the Dark Arts, all normal A's, he at least would be able to apply for a normal job that would allow him to have a comfortable life. If his temper didn't get him in hot water with his future employer. That was always a risk with the red head.
Neville Longbottom had reached an O with honours in Herbology, E's in Charms and Defence and an A in his last NEWT of History of Magic, for which he hadn't taken the classes, but did self-study. Probably not that bad of an idea with how no student could actually stay awake in Cuthbert Binns' classes. It was a blessing that with Professor Irving they now could teach History in a much better way than before. Perhaps more students would go for the class at NEWT level in the future. This year Neville had been one of three to gain a NEWT there, the other two were Padma Patil and Anthony Goldstein in Ravenclaw.
Top student of the year was, how could it have been different after having that spot for six years already, Hermione Granger. Straight O's in her seven NEWTs. She was glad to see that Harry was only a little behind with five NEWTs with straight O's. Dating Hermione had done wonders for his study attitudes. She really wished all students the best for their lives, but those two deserved it even more than the others. Finally she was ready to give a few last words to the young men and women that looked at her expectantly.
"I'm pleased and honoured to have seen all of you grow from eleven years old children, unsure of what to expect during your seven years here at Hogwarts, into the fine young men and women that now sit before me. You didn't have an easy time in those seven years. Still, you got through the adversities that you were confronted with, be it the danger of the Chamber of Secrets being opened again after fifty years or dementors being stationed around our beloved Hogwarts for protection.
"You had to deal with paranoia of the now former Minister that wanted to deny the darkness that had returned to our world and which could have cost us much more than it already did. It already cost us too much, but the only way I can go on is by thinking that it could have been much worse, as thankfully the people that wanted to force us all under their rule of oppression, were stopped shortly after they could take over our government.
"You take from your seven years not only the knowledge you were taught in your classes, you also take experience of how bad things can turn out if good people let bad people get away with their behaviour. Here at Hogwarts we implemented a policy of not tolerating that anymore. We won't bow to terror and bigotry. We have survived the dark times, but we all are tasked to ensure that there won't be a repeat and that means staying vigilant. When you go out into the world, don't close your eyes to injustice and violence. Try to stop them when they are limited to small parts. If you notice it getting larger, call in back-up. We only barely escaped a terrible fate and I don't want to ever experience again that I'm powerless against people that would torture children for speaking their mind or simply not following their beliefs.
"You are the graduation class of 1998. I have seen great deeds done by many of you. Especially when our school was in the claws of Death Eaters, many of you stood for what was right and defended the younger students. I'm really proud of you. I want you to go out into the world to show them that you won't bow to pressure, I wish that you make things better than they are. You are privileged to be in a position where your actions can really change the world. Do it. Make our world better. Do all the little and big things that will see that change happen. I will do my part here at Hogwarts as headmistress. I hope to see many of you again and one day see your children go through this proud institution.
"Whatever you choose to do with your lives, be true to yourselves and don't forget the friends you found during your time here at Hogwarts. They will be the ones that will stand by you whatever happens. And with that I ask the first graduate to take her diploma. Hannah Abbot, Hufflepuff," McGonagall called out and Hannah rose from her seat next to Susan Bones, who was called up next.
The calling of all graduates was a repeat of the sorting of 1991, but everybody noticed the absence of a number of names. Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Pansy Parkinson and Draco Malfoy for example didn't receive a mention or diploma. There were some others that had been withdrawn from the school before the graduation as well. But overall the year that had started in 1991 was a good one. There were many students that would make their mark on their world, that much Minerva McGonagall knew for sure.
Harry looked at the white sandy beach that belonged to an island close to Tahiti that he had inherited with everything that Sirius had left him. It was probably where he had hidden away when he was on the run from the Ministry after Harry's third year at Hogwarts. In agreement with Hermione they had decided to first find a place where they could relax at a lovely beach before touring other parts of the world. They planned to go to Mexico after this, then Peru was on their travel plan, they wanted to see some sights of the USA, both muggle and magical and then they would head on to Japan.
Hermione insisted on Australia and New Zealand and Harry was looking forward to see koala bears and kangaroos. They would stop in India and take up an invitation of Parvati to spend some time at the Patil home there that belonged to their import company. They would coordinate it with their old classmate to have a week together there. From there they planned to stop by in Russia and China. In Europe they wanted to visit Greece and Italy for sure and Fleur had offered them to spend a joint holiday in one of the vacation homes of her family in Monaco.
It would take a long time to see everything that they wanted to see, but they had the time. They were in no hurry to take up jobs, as they could simply work on combining muggle things with magic to bring the wizarding world into the twentieth century and prepare for the step into the twenty first century.
Right now though, his main thought processes were on the beautiful girl lying on her beach towel next to him in just a very small blue bikini. He certainly appreciated the sight. They had been playing in the sea for a while before going back to their towels. With the food supplies that Dobby sent them once a week by elf magic, they wouldn't have to worry about eating like kings during all their travels. It was amazing what the house elves could do if they wanted to help their families.
Hermione had got used to the idea that Dobby wanted to work for Harry, even if she would still use her fame to make the wrongness of house elf abuse a topic that needed to be brought out into the open and changed. Thanks to some talks with Dobby she understood that she had taken the wrong approach with SPEW. She didn't take the wishes of the house elves into consideration and that the change had to be accepted by them. So, as a compromise, she would work on giving them better working conditions and giving them more rights against abusive masters. Not to mention that change took time. It needed to start somewhere, but you couldn't force your opinion on others, even if you might be in the right. To have success, you needed to convince people of something. They had to want the change.
"What are you thinking about?" Hermione asked.
"How lucky I am to be here with you and how we won't have to starve wherever our travel plans take us next," Harry answered honestly.
"Yes, Dobby would make sure of that," she agreed chuckling, "And I agree with you about being lucky to be here with you. It's a wonderful place."
"Yes, it makes me happy to know that Sirius, even if he was on the run, could retreat here for a while to recover. I wish he had survived, but I've long learned that what if's don't give you any peace of mind. Therefore I'll try to concentrate on the here and now and only take the past to learn from it, not to dwell on it," Harry told her.
"And what are you learning from your past?" Hermione asked.
Harry rolled onto his side and over her.
"That I would be a fool to not enjoy our time together, as it could be too short to waste any of it," Harry declared and kissed his girlfriend passionately.
Whatever would happen, they would face it together. And once Harry found the courage to spring the question, he would hopefully be able to put the diamond ring that he had found at the Potter family vault, and which had been the traditional engagement ring for the Potter heir for ages, onto the finger of just this girl.
The hunt they had started in August last year was over. Their war was over. They only had to work for a better future now. And that was something he was very willing to do, as long as this wonderful girl that owned his heart was by his side.