Epilogue

The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, and WB. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.

"What do you mean you're bringing someone?" Harry and Ron exclaimed simultaneously.

Hermione laughed. "What you do mean, what do I mean?! I'm bringing someone to Christmas dinner. Someone. A person. A warm body. A man. What's not to understand?"

Ginny shrieked and flew at Hermione, enveloping her in a hug. "You met someone? Who? When? Tell me!" she crowed as she jumped up and down before unceremoniously grabbing Hermione and dragging her over to Luna, who was in the kitchen.

Hermione watched Harry and Ron with amusement as she was dragged from the room; they were completely stunned. For all their years of teasing, it seemed that they still had a hard time believing that their little Hermione was a grown woman. She would always be a little sister to them.

Just wait until they meet my date, she mused, her eyes alight at the thought of it.

"So, who is it?" Ginny asked when they finally got her alone.

"I'm sorry, Ginny, but you'll just have to wait and see," Hermione teased.

"Oh, come on! You know you can tell us. We don't care who you date, just that you're happy."

"Thanks, I'm glad that you all care so much about me, but I still think I will keep this to myself." Her eyes sparkled impishly at them as she stifled a giggle.

Ginny huffed, her arms crossing and hip jutting out just so, while Luna merely nodded with sage understanding.

"Well, can't you at least tell us where you met?" Ginny whinged. "Have you slept with him yet? Was it good? What does he do? Do we know him?"

A bright blush spread across Hermione's face. She had forgotten how blunt Ginny could be when excited.

"Ginevra," Luna chided, "I'm sure Hermione will tell us everything when she is ready."

"Thank you, Luna. And as for you, Miss Nosey Pants, your answers are: no, no comment, no comment, definitely no comment, and yes."

Luna simply watched Hermione with quiet consideration as Ginny reviewed the answers to her aforementioned questions.

After a moment Ginny gasped. "We know him and you slept with him."

"I said no such thing," Hermione said with a laugh.

"You said no comment, and that means yes, because if you hadn't, you wouldn't have a problem telling me. So, was it good?"

Once again, Hermione blushed, and then, in a hushed whisper, she said, "All right, fine. You win. Yes and yes. Of course it was good! He's not the kind of man to do that poorly. Now, if you don't mind, I need to go. He's expecting me for dinner, and I don't want to be late."

Ginny laughed and sent her friend a victorious smile. "You better say bye to the boys. They still seem a bit flustered," Ginny said as she peeked through the door into the sitting room where the boys still sat.

"For Merlin's sake! What are they going to do when I actually bring him?" Hermione said with a sigh.

"Don't worry, Hermione. We'll make sure they are fully prepared and on their best behaviour. Perhaps you can have Professor Snape send over a Calming Draught before you arrive. We can slip some in their drinks beforehand," Luna suggested with a small smile.

At the mention of Professor Snape, Hermione's eyes jumped up to Luna's, like a stag caught in the wandlight. Luna smirked knowingly, her blue eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Bye, Hermione. We'll see you in two weeks," Ginny said as she hugged Hermione.

"Bye, Ginny, Luna," Hermione said before popping her head through the sitting room door and calling to her boys, "Bye, my boys. You'll behave at Christmas or else. I'll have your promises."

Harry and Ron jumped up and rushed to embrace Hermione, the pair of them smirking as they squeezed her tight.

Rolling her eyes and huffing at their typical boisterous and juvenile behaviour, she smacked them each on the chest until they released her.

"We promise," Harry said.

"We'll behave," Ron added.

"Good boys," she said with relief. "Now, I'll see you soon." Grabbing her bag, Hermione waved to Ginny, who was on her way upstairs to check on her napping children. Then she walked to the door and opened it.

Luna smiled and pulled Hermione into a hug before she could slip out. "Take care, Hermione," Luna said. "I'm glad you finally have found happiness. You both have more than earned it."

Hermione pulled back and looked at Luna in alarm. "Um... Thanks, Luna."

"Your secret is safe with me," Luna whispered.

"Sometimes, I think I'll never understand you, Luna. But I couldn't ask for a better friend."

As a smiling Hermione Apparated away, it was with genuine hope for a happy future growing in her heart.

The End

A special thanks to Laralee, who betaed this fluff of a story for me even though she prefers angst over my fluffy silliness! :)

And to linlawless, TPP Queue Admin Extraordinaire: Thank you, dear. For everything!