A Hogwarts Reunion

Chapter Six

The doors to Hogwarts opened to reveal the Great Hall. It was just as Hermione had remembered it, although now it was filled to the brim with Hogwarts alumni and their families. She felt my husband's hand in hers, making her worries evaporate into the starry ceiling.

"I'm going to chat with some old Slytherin mates," Draco whispered in her ear. "Go find your friends. I think it would be best if I wasn't around until a bit later." Hermione nodded in agreement, knowing that despite parting on decent terms, Draco was still more than unwelcome in the Gryffindor group.

"Alright. Lyra, honey, you go with daddy," Hermione urged her youngest, relieved as the girl nodded exuberantly.

After she watched the two make their way to the Slytherin group, Hermione approached the Gryffindor table. She searched for the signature red hair in the crowd, knowing that Harry wouldn't be far from them.
Hermione felt a pit in her stomach as she watched the people she had once called her best friends stand with their significant others, chatting absentmindedly. The brightest witch of her age swallowed the lump in her throat and weaved through the crowd to where they stood. Before she had the chance to get closer, the eyes of Ginny Weasley met hers and the ginger  let out an excited squeal.

Hermione was instantly tackled by the petite witch, and she returned the unexpected hug eagerly. She felt her worries melt in Ginny's warm arms, overjoyed that at least one of her old friends was happy to see her.

As her spouse turned to see what the commotion was about, Hermione's gaze was met with the famous emerald eyes of Harry Potter.

"Hermione?" he whispered in shock, making another familiar redhead spin around.

"Ginny...can't...breathe," the brunette managed to squeeze out before escaping from the tight embrace.

After a moment, she smiled timidly at Ron and Harry, her eyes begging for their forgiveness.
The Gryffindors were silent, until Harry spoke.

"How've you been?"

Hermione smiled through happy tears and pulled the three into another hug.
They stood like that for what felt like forever, bathed in complete surprise and happiness.  Finally, they pulled away and Ron spoke up.
"Where've you been?" he asked, quieter than Hermione had ever heard her best friend speak.

At the question, Ginny began to hit Hermione softly with her purse.

"You leave for Australia with no warning, you don't bother to send a single letter, and then you just show up twenty years later?" the ginger asked between hits, before Harry pulled her away.

"Love, let her explain," Harry told her, chuckling a bit at the woman's frustration. Hermione waited a moment for Ginny's red ears to return to their normal color, and then spoke.

"I'm sorry," she began, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I hate that I left like that, but I knew that if I told you, you would talk me into staying. You don't know how many times I've wanted to pick up the phone and call, but I didn't have the courage." Hermione's confession came out in a jumble, and she tried to catch her breath as she awaited their reaction.

"Phone?" Ginny asked, to which Harry whispered, "I'll explain later,"

Ginny nodded and then, catching sight of the ring on Hermione's finger, squealed again in delight.
"You're married?" she grinned, searching her friend's face for confirmation. Hermione blushed, studying the ruby-encrusted diamond ring bashfully.