As Hermione heard Harry's voice calling out to her, her heart soared with a mixture of relief and joy. Ignoring the crowd that had gathered around them, she rushed forward and threw her arms around him, clinging to him as if he were her lifeline.
"You idiot, dummy," she whispered, her voice choked with tears. "Why did you take my words seriously? I never stopped loving you."
Harry held her close, his own emotions threatening to overwhelm him as he reveled in the warmth of her embrace. "Hermione," he murmured, his voice trembling with emotion. "Are you really going to marry Lord Alexander?"
Hermione shook her head vehemently, her eyes shining with determination. "No, never," she declared. "I only said yes because of my parents. But now that you're back, no one will force me to marry him. I only ever loved you."
As they stood locked in each other's arms, a hush fell over the crowd, their murmurs of disbelief giving way to cheers of joy and celebration. For they knew that their former champion had returned, ready to fight for their freedom and protect them from the darkness that threatened to engulf their world.
And as Harry and Hermione looked out at the sea of faces before them, their hearts filled with hope for the future. Though they knew that the challenges ahead would be formidable, they also knew that as long as they stood together, united in their love and determination, they could overcome anything that stood in their way.
With the cheers of the crowd ringing in their ears, Harry and Hermione knew that their journey was far from over. But as they faced the trials and tribulations that lay ahead, they did so with courage and conviction, ready to confront whatever challenges the future held, secure in the knowledge that as long as they had each other, they could weather any storm.