Wow. So it's been three months exactly since I have updated this story and I must say that I am about as sorry as humanly possible. This chapter was actually really hard to write, for whatever reason, and it took me this long to find the time to get it uploaded.
I also just got back from going to the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando about two weeks ago, and let me just say, it was AMAZING. If you are a die hard fan of Harry Potter, like I am, you need to go there no matter where you live. The castle is absoluetly magical and so are all the shops. I purchased my wand, went into Honeydukes and got a chocolate frog, bertie botts, rock cakes, and even a cauldron cake (which was delicious by the way). I also sat down in front of the castle and had a butterbeer, which is by far my favorite drink in the world now, and a pumpkin juice. My description and picutures can't even put into place how amazing it is. My 20 hour drive was totally worth it.
Now, thanks to all those who reviewed last chapter:
dreadfuldelights: I'm totally game!
Avanell: I'm from New Jersey, so when i was thinking of the boardwalk they were at, I actually had a Jersey Shore in mind, like Wildwood lol.
obsidianbutterfly20: same!
OrangeJuice7: lol glad you liked it.
HarryPGinnyW4eva: thanks for the great review! and i totally understand.
musicofmyheart: thanks for the review!
voldyismyfather: i know... i hated doing it to her.
mad-bout-horses-nd-cowboys: glad to see you're back for more!
Irmorena: lol i like to think that narcissa loves lucius to much to do that.
Spunkywave77: we'll see ;)
mjmusiclover: yes she is. and thank you like always!
Amanda: thank you sooooo much!
Mika: happy you liked it!
beautifly92: sorry for the wait!
dracomalfoyswifey: happy you liked it, and i know, i hated creating sophia as much as everybody hated her lol.
daniela1417: lol sooooo sorry for the long wait! don't kill me :)
sandylovejay: awe :( . i'm sorry
CGinny: glad to see you like it.
Dairire: thanks for the great reivew! and sory for the long wait.
kaipanther: dont break your computer when you shake it, because then you really wouldnt be able to read this chapter lol.
Last Chapter:
Hermione closed her eyes, a tear falling down her cheek. "To find out what the hell we were doing." She inhaled deeply. "To find out what I was to you, what you felt towards me."
"Hermione…." Draco closed his eyes as well, disbelief hitting him.
"Obviously… I don't mean much at all."
"You know that's not true."
"Goodnight Draco."
"Please Hermione, let me in. Let me explain myself. Let me tell you what happened… please." But she never answered him, and Draco knew she was gone.
He had lost her.
Seventeen
April 16
Day 9
His mind seemed to be everywhere but the present as he twirled the wine in the glass he was holding. He couldn't get her face out of his mind and it was started to drive him crazy. When had he become so close, so attached, so keen on never wanted to let her go? Better yet, when did he start caring for her as much as he did at this very moment?
If he had to guess, he would say it was after he invited her to dinner with his parents. He might have been a huge git in Hogwarts, but like everyone else, the war made him realize how stupid people like his father were acting. Seeing how much his father's words hurt Hermione, well… he realized that that was how much he really hurt her. But he was done. He had turned a new leaf for good, with Hermione by his side.
He sighed deeply, resting his elbows on his knees as he started off in though. Hermione was no longer with him, and he could see no way of getting her back.
He brought the win to his lips, but stopped before he could take a sip. It wasn't his fault. It was that slutty ex-girlfriend of his, Sophia's. She had brought him this wine, and here was drinking it. Pissed at both her and himself, Draco stood up from his seat on the couch and chucked the glass, full of red wine, at the wall. It shattered, the win running down the wall and onto the carpet, but Draco didn't care. He grabbed the full bottle of wine and chucked that at the wall too, his fist clenched at his sides as he breathed heavily.
His doorbell suddenly rang and Draco immediately looked over at it. He wondered instantly who it could be. His heart took a leap at the thought of Hermione coming back to him, but anger flooded him as he realized it could be Sophia again.
Fist still clenched at his side, Draco marched to the front door. IN a way, he hoped it was Sophia so he could pound her face into the wall. He was never one to hit a girl, but Sophia… she was different. She wasn't a girl, at least not in Draco's eyes. She was more like the Devil, a female version of Voldemort.
He pulled open the door immediately, still fuming, and came face to face with the person he least expected. "Blaise." Draco said, suddenly calmer at the sigh t of a friendly face.
Blaise, who had been smiling seconds ago, was now frowning at his best mate. "Draco." He greeted carefully. "You okay, mate?"
Draco nodded, his first reaction to lie. "I'm fine. Why are you here so late?"
"Just came from the bar. Where've you been all day?"
"I was… out. Did you wanna come in?" Draco asked, stepping aside to allow Blaise in.
Blaise nodded. He walked inside Draco's flat, moving towards the living room. He froze suddenly, his eyes on the broken glass and stained carpet from the win Draco chucked. Blaise turned back to Draco, a half amused, half worried expression on his face. "I thought you said you were fine?" Draco ran his hand on the back of his neck, looking at the broken glass bottle. Blaise sighed, pulling out his wand and turning back to the carpet. With a wave, the glass quickly fixed itself, the wine disappearing back into the glass. "Talk to me, mate." Blaise said after retrieving the wine and handing it to Draco. "And I wouldn't drink that if I were you."
"Wasn't planning on it." Draco murmured, walking towards his kitchen, Blaise trailing him. When Draco reached the sink, he quickly tilted the wine bottle over the sink, watching as the wine disappeared down the drain.
"Draco." Blaise called, not liking how quiet his best friend was acting. "You look like a lttle girl who was just told her cat was hit by a rebounded curse." Draco didn't answer, just continued to stare down at the drain even though the wine was no longer running down it. "Actually, you look like how you looked after Sophia cheated on you."
Draco turned from the sink, moving over to sit at his kitchen table. "Can we not talk about her."
Blaise sighed, joining Draco at the table. "Then talk to me about something else. Where's Granger tonight? She off with Potter and Weasley?"
"I'm sure she's already told them what a 'rotten git' I am." Draco said, studying his hand. Blaise chuckled slightly, realizing it was a mistake as Draco glared at him. "Don't laugh, alright?" Draco shouted. "I just lost her, probably for forever." He was suddenly quiet, sad.
"Lost her forever?" Blaise questioned, confused. "What are you on about? Did you go home early or something?"
Draco shook his head. "My ex showed up here and threw herself at me. I tried to push her away but I couldn't in time. Hermione saw and now she won't listen to a word I have to say." He paused, studying his hands, not wanting to look Blaise in the eye. "I can't even tell her it wasn't my fault."
"Wait… Sophia?" Draco nodded his response as Blaise shook his head in disapproval. "I always said she was a bad egg."
Draco looked up at Blaise, glaring at him. "No you didn't!" He yelled. "You said you liked her! Said I picked the right woman this time with the perfect body."
"Alright, so I'm guilty." Blaise said, laughing slightly. "She was really pretty though, Draco, you have to admit that."
"Yeah… pretty slutty." Draco said, calming down slightly. "She was only after my name and my money, nothing more."
"I don't understand why you're so upset." Blaise said as he leaned back in his chair. "You were only using Granger anyway, right?" Draco didn't answer, only lowered his eyes, and Blaise could see right through him. He leaned forward in his chair, a look of complete shock on his face. "Merlin's pants! You care about her, don't you?"
Draco looked up at Blaise for a few seconds before turning his head away and standing up to make some tea. "Does it matter?" Draco asked without looking back at Blaise. "She doesn't want to see me anyway."
Blaise was now laughing hard. "This is great, really." Draco turned to glare at him, not seeing the funny side in any of this. "I mean, it sucks that you were framed and all, but you, Draco Malfoy have feelings for a muggleborn. It's just… hilarious."
Draco turned back to the tea. "Yes. I'm just rolling on the ground in tears of laughter." He said sarcastically.
"Well, are you going to get her back?" Draco turned to look at Blaise in confusion. "I thought Draco Malfoy always gets what he wants?"
Draco couldn't help but smirk at his best mate. "You're pushing me to get her back?" Blaise nodded. "I never thought you would approve." He murmured.
"Draco, my friend," Blaise smirked. "I was never as prejudice as you were." Draco chuckled slightly. "So, are we getting Granger back into your loving, Slytherin arms?"
"We?" Draco asked as the tea finished brewing. He poured himself and Blaise a drink before sitting back down at the kitchen table and taking a sip. "Are you going to help me?"
"What are best friends for?" He asked, taking a sip of his tea as well. "Besides, I know woman. I know how to figure them out."
Draco laughed. "I wish you could have figured out Sophia. I might not be in this situation." Draco sighed, placing his tea on the table. "You wouldn't believe what she said to me before I chased after Hermione. 'I saved you from the worst mistake of your life.'." Draco mimicked.
"You know," Blaise started, taking a sip of his tea. "That sounds like something your father would say."
Draco smiled, laughing slightly as he brought his tea to his lips, but then he froze. His father never approved of Hermione, and the more Draco thought about it, the more correct Blaise sounded. "My father!" Draco roared, standing up from his chair and marching towards the fireplace.
"Hey!" Blaise yelled after him. "Where in the bloody hell are you going?"
"Stay here." Draco ordered as he grabbed some floo powder. "I need to pay a visit to my loving, devoted father." And with that, he disappeared into green flames.
Malfoy Manor was dark as all its inhabitants slept soundly, but that didn't stop Draco from storming in. "Kippy!" Draco yelled for a house elf. It took longer than usual, Draco guessing that she must have been sleeping, but she soon stood before him within seconds. "I need to speak to my father."
"M-Master Lucius is sleeping, sir." The elf stuttered.
"So wake him. Tell him I need to speak with him immediately." The elf nodded before disappearing. He hadn't meant to be so cruel to the creature, but the anger towards his father was overwhelming.
It took a few minutes, but before long Lucius entered the study in which Draco was standing, still dressed in his nightgown, and Draco's rage took over. He charged at his father, grabbing the collar of his shirt and slamming him against the wall, wand at his father's throat. "How could you!" Draco yelled through his teeth."
"Nice to see you to, son."
"How could you frame me like that?" Draco yelled, ignoring his father. At that second, Draco heard a gasp from behind him as Narcissa entered the room. "I'm your son!" He yelled, irnoging his mother.
"Draco- what- what is going on here?" Narcissa asked.
"I think some of the courage from the mudblood our son is falling for is finally rubbing off on him, Narcissa." Lucius said, not taking his eyes off Draco.
At the word mudblood, Draco slammed his father against the wall again. "I never should have listened to you! I never should have believed you to be a good father! You've done nothing for me all seventeen years of my life."
"Draco!" Narcissa yelled.
"I will never be like you." Draco yelled, still ignoring his mother. "I will never be as prejudice as you are, and nothing you do, not even framing me, is going to stop me." Draco glared at his father. "If there's on thing I learned from you, it's how to get what I want."
"She's a mudblood Draco." Lucius snapped back.
"She's a human!" Draco snapped back. "And a damn good one at that. She's a better person then you could ever dream of being."
"Listen to yourself son!" Lucius yelled, become angry. "You sound like Potter!"
"Good." Draco said with a smile. "At least I don't sound like you anymore."
"Draco." Narcissa started, trying to sound calm. "Release your father and tell me what's going on."
Draco turned to look at his mother, not letting go of his father. "This amazing father of mine, called up one of my ex's and most likely paid her to go to my flat and… seduce me. He wanted Granger to see, so she wouldn't trust me anymore."
Narcissa looked shocked, now turning to her husband. "Lucius! You didn't!"
"He did."
"And judging by your reaction my plan was a success." Lucius smirked.
"For now." Draco said, and Lucius's smirk fell. "Unfortunately for you, I happen to have one of the most conniving Slytherins as my best mate." Draco couldn't help but chuckle slightly. "And if you're luck… Hermione will believe me when I tell her the truth."
Lucius suddenly looked like he was going to explode. "You're making a mistake!" He yelled. "She's not right for you! Your grandfather is probably rolling around in his grave right now."
"I don't care about an old, prejudice, dead man! This is what I want. Can't you just except that for once father?"
"No."
"Yes." Lucius and Narcissa both answered at the same time, the latter telling Draco what he wanted to hear. "You deserve to be happy son."
"Cissy!"
"Now, remove your father and go get her back." Narcissa smiled at Draco as he released his father slightly. "For once… you deserve to be happy."
Draco walked over to his mother, hugging her. "Thank you." He said before glaring back at his father one more time and then approaching the fireplace to floo away.
"Cissy, how-"
"You listen to me Lucius Malfoy." Narcissa said sternly. "You better hope she forgives him or else Draco and I are never going to forgive you."
"Yes you will." Lucius answered.
"Not this time Lucius." Narcissa warmed. "You've controlled Draco's life, drilling ideas into his head for too long. Eventually he's going to hate you for it and you'll never see him again. As for me, well, I'm tired of seeing him miserable."
Lucius smiled at his wife slightly. "He's not miserable, Cissy."
Narcissa quickly whipped out her wand, waving it in the air and watching as The Daily Prophet flew into his hands. She then approached Lucius, grabbing a picture off the wall as she did so. "This, she help the picture from the wall out to Lucius. "Was Draco after the war."
He looked as depressed, as disconnected as ever as he stared blankly back into Lucius's eyes. He had never noticed it during the war, seeing as they were all miserable, but now that everything was back to normal, he realized just how right his wife was. Draco was… miserable.
"And this," Narcissa handed him The Daily Prophet. "Is our Draco now. "It was a picture of him and Hermione, both smiling and laughing like Lucius had never seen his son laugh before. "Look at him Lucius." Narcissa whispered, looking at Lucius. "That girl is the reason he's so happy today."
Lucius sighed, turning to look at his wife. "Who cares if she's muggleborn? She makes Draco happier than I've ever seen him, and that should be enough for you." Narcissa continued.
Lucius smiled at his wife, placing his hands on the side of her face as he kissed her. She was right. He may not be able to say it aloud yet, but his kiss gave Narcissa the answer she wanted. She was right.
April 17
Day 10
Hermione stared at herself in the bathroom mirror the morning after her incident with Draco. She looked terrible, no matter how much she didn't want to admit it. She had bags under her blood shot eyes, evidence of a short, terrible night's sleep due to the tears coming from her eyes, and although she had just showered, her hair was a terrible mess, evidence of how much she really cared at the moment. She sighed, running her fingers along her bags and wishing they would go away, as she frowned at herself. Internally, she noticed this was the first time she looked so miserable since beginning this vacation. This fact only angered her more.
The fact that Draco Malfoy had been the reason for her happiness the past week made her blood boil. Never in her life had she ever been so stupid, so trustworthy. She allowed her heart to open up to a Slytherin, and the worst one in her opinion, and look what happened.
She glared at herself in the mirror, muttering curses under her breath as she walked out of the bathroom. Just as she was about to reach the kitchen, the doorbell suddenly rang. Hermione turned to look at the door curiously. Who was here to see her so early in the morning? Of course, it could be Draco. She scoffed as she approached the door. He's stay away from her if he knew what was best for him.
When she reached the door she unlocked it, opening it slightly to see who her guest was. However, when she met her visitors eyes, she opened the door all the way to face him, curiosity taking over. "Zabini?" Hermione questioned.
The dark Italian smiled at her slightly. "Happy to see you're awake." He said, giving a glance over. "Although… it looks like you didn't sleep very well."
Hermione's fingers self consciously went to the bags under her eyes, before she quickly removed them, glaring at Blaise. "Is there something I can do for you, Zabini?"
He smirked at her. "I'm here on my friends behalf."
"Malfoy's?" Hermione questioned immediately. "I can assure you that whatever Draco has to say to me, I could honestly care less about."
Blaise chuckled. "Don't lie to yourself, Granger. Why else would I be here if it wasn't for Draco?" Hermione didn't answer. "You knew very well why I'm here, yet you still answered the door."
"By mere curiosity." Hermione said in a soft voice, almost admitting to being caught red handed.
"Curiosity that maybe Draco still cares about you?" He paused. "That you still about him." The last part was a statement, not a question, and his cockiness pissed Hermione off. She went to slam the door on his face, but Blaise stopped it with his foot. "Don't slam the door on me because I'm right, Granger."
"Why are you here, Zabini?" Hermione snapped.
"To give you this." Blaise handed her a letter she hadn't realized he was holding until just now.
Hermione took it from him, studying it carefully. "Why not owl it?" She asked. "Why give it to me in person?"
"Because the second the owl delivered it to you, you would have tossed it in the fire." Blaise said knowingly. Hermione stared back at him, her lips forming a tight line. He was right, whether she admitted it to herself or not. As they stared at each other, Blaise's smug face suddenly fell and she sighted, looking at Hermione seriously. "I'm his best friend Granger."
"What's your point?" Hermione asked kindly.
"When he's with you… well, I've never seen him so happy." Hermione fidgeted nervously, looking away from Blaise for a second. "Give him another chance… please. Just… read the letter." Blaise smiled at her kindly before walking away from the door and apparating when he reached the sidewalk.
Hermione closed the door, leaning her back against it, letter in hand, as a sort of hope spread through her. Was he really as happy around her as she was with him? She closed her eyes, picturing his face smiling at her the night before on the Ferris wheel. Without a second though, she opened her eyes and moved to open the letter with her name on the front in Draco's pointy handwriting.
Hermione,
I'm going to start off by saying I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being such a terrible git and a horrible friend to you. I know I don't deserve your forgiveness, although if you allow me to explain, you would realize that what you saw last night was not my fault. I know I don't deserve a second chance, especially from you, after everything I've done to you in the past, but I need to ask for one more.
Please, if you are willing to give this to me, go to the restaurant where we had our first date at.
Draco
There was nothing more written, and Hermione studied it, her mind racing. The Draco Malfoy she knew from Hogwarts slept around with everybody, so what occurred the previous night seemed like a normal thing for him. But for him to write a letter, to ask Blaise to hand deliver it for him, didn't seem like something Draco would normally do to get somebody to forgive him.
And she didn't know whether it was the curiosity of what she would find at the restaurant or the fact that deep down in her heart she wanted to give Draco another chance. Either way, she folded the letter up and placed it inside her pocket, slipping on her flats that were sitting by the door and walking outside to the apparation spot, the restaurant they ate at pictured in her mind.
Hermione walked inside the restaurant and approached the host. She smiled at him and he quickly returned the gesture. "Hello Miss, can I help you?"
"Yes. I was wondering if you could tell me if Draco Malfoy left anything here for me?" She asked kindly.
The host looked suddenly confused. "No Miss, I'm sorry." He apologized. "Would you like a table this morning?"
"Oh- umm… no thank you." Hermione smiled back, although confused herself, and exited the restaurant. Once outside, she looked around cautiously, trying to think of where Draco could be. This was the place he stated in his letter, the place they had their first date. As she pondered, she didn't even realize she was walking the same path Draco walked as she chased after him, so naturally, she didn't realize that small pumpkin sitting on the ground.
She kicked it, letting out a small cry from the pain in her foot and looked down to examine what caused her the pain. She looked around at the people passing by, but nobody was paying her any attention. Bending down, she picked up the pumpkin and examined it. To her surprise, there was writing carved along the one side of it.
Cinderella and Prince Charming were never really expected to fall in love. Both were raised
differently, taught different things, and lived different lives. But thanks to one night, one ball
one party, they realized how much they really loved each other.
She smiled slightly, looking around for Draco or any familiar face, but when she didn't see one, she knew where she had to go.
Zabini Manor, the dance she attended with Draco just like Cinderella had with Prince Charming. She chuckled slightly before apparating. She wondered what Harry and Ron would say if she called Draco her Prince Charming.
She approached Zabini Manor, pumpkin still in her hand, her attention set on the door. When she reached it, she knocked twice and waited. When nobody came, she let out a frustrated sigh. "Hello! Zabini!" No noise came from the house and Hermione turned from the door and looked around at the front yard.
It was then something caught her eyes. Hoping across the yard towards one of the tress was a white rabbit. As soon as she spotted it, it turned and looked back at her, and that's when Hermione realized it was wearing something around its neck. As she started to approached it, it quickly disappeared into a whole by the tree and Hermione sprinted after it. She looked down the whole, but when she saw nothing, she got down on her hands and knees and stuck her hand inside.
She could feel her fingers touch something cold and metal, and she quickly grasped it, pulling it out. She looked at it and realized it was a clock, only the time was off by a couple hours. According to the clock, it would be noon in one minute. Confused, Hermione turned it over and found another message.
Alice falls through a rabbit hold, landing in Wonderland. At the age of eleven, you fell through
a sort of rabbit hold as well, hoping on a train and heading off to your own dreamland, a place
once destroyed and slowly making its way back to normal.
"My own dreamland." She repeated. "That would be Hogwarts." Just as she said it, the clock started to glow blue, and Hermione realized it was a portkey. She gripped it tightly and allowed it to take her to her destination.
It wasn't long before she landed exactly where she though, Hogwarts. She studied the grounds with a smile, taking into account how much work had been completed in the past couple of days. As she turned to look around her, she noticed something that she hadn't seen before, and as she approached it, her smile grew, and she realized what it was immediately.
Before her stood a statue of Professor Snape, stationed in front of where the whomping willow stood. He was glancing bacj up at the castle, a small smile on his face. His wand was grasped tightly in his right hand and beside him stood a doe, his patronus, one that Hermione knew all too well. She smiled as she read the inscription at his feet.
For Professor Severus Snape. In his time at Hogwarts, many of his students believed him to be untrustworthy and cruel. But as a deatheater, what would you really expect, right? But not many people knew the real Professor Snape, and nobody but a few know his true story today. Professor Snape, although a Slytherin, had the bravery of a Gryffindor, and showed it well by playing spy for Tom Marvolo Riddle while his loyalties still lied with Albus Dumbledore. We dedicate this statue to a brave Slytherin who risked everything for the love of a childhood friend and also a hero in the making.
Hermione couldn't help the small tear that ran down her cheek. She wished now, as she knew that Harry and Ron did as well, that they knew what they knew now about Snape sooner. The statue was great, but yet Hermione felt a pang in her heart. He deserved better, and she hoped, wherever he was now, that he was happy.
She wiped the rear form her eye and lowered her head. As she did, she saw a toy fairy sitting on the ground. Curious, she picked it up, and as she did, the fairy came to life. If flew through the air and it was then that Hermione realized it was spelling something.
The second star to the right takes Wendy, John, and Michael to Neverland, a place no-one in
their world knew existed. It was a place where no-one grew up. Everyone was a child. Thanks for being my Peter Pan
"The boardwalk!" Hermione exclaimed, and the fairy instantly turned back into a toy and started heading for the ground. Hermione caught it and watched as it started to flow blue as well. She held onto it as the second portkey transported her.
She landed under the boardwalk and inhaled the sea air before heading up. As soon as she did, she looked around and spotted nothing unusual, until:
"Come and play! Come win a spindle!"
Hermione looked up at the boy running the game curiously. She had never heard of a spindle as a prize before. Just as she started to approach the game, she me t the boys eye and he smiled at her. "Would you like to play?" He asked Hermione as she walked over.
"A spindle is an awfully strange prize, don't you think?" Hermione asked. The boy just smiled at her. "How much?"
"For you, my dear, it's free." He said, reaching under the desk and pulling out three balls. "Knock over all six cans and you get a prize."
Hermione studied him carefully, grabbing on of the baseballs in the process. Taking her eyes off the boy, she studied the cans, and with all her might, tossed it at them. To her surprise, they all fell over and Hermione turned to the boy in surprise, but not before she saw him slip something into his pocket. And suddenly, she understood. There games were made so you could lose. How could she, a small girl, accomplice something non-magic related that Viktor Krum wouldn't have been able to manage.
"A-Are you a-." She stopped when the boy winked at her, reaching up and pulling down a wooden spindle.
"Congratulations." The boy said before disappearing into a door behind the game.
Hermione grabbed the spindle and started walked back towards the beach. When she found a spot and sat down in the sand, she waited, staring at the spindle. However, nothing was happening and Hermione didn't understand. She sighed in frustration, and the sudden familiar voice behind her made her jump.
"You know, when Aurora touches the spindle, she falls into a deep sleep, one only her Prince Charming can wake her from." Hermione turned and stood quickly, looking at the man before her.
"Draco." She said, surprised. They started at each other for a few seconds, neither knowing what to say. "Am I supposed to be in a deep sleep then?" She asked, remembering she was supposed to be mad at him.
"Only if I'm the one who will wake you." They continued to stare at each other, this time Draco breaking the silence. "You left so fast last night… I couldn't explain."
"Draco-."
"No Hermione, listen to me." Draco said, now only a couple feet from her. "The girl you saw last night… she's my ex. Her name's Sophia, and she's a bloody whore. She used me for my money and my name while we were together, and that's it. I loved her, but she never loved me." Hermione listened, arms crossed across her chest. "Last night was nothing but a set up by my father. He's still not okay with the idea of us getting this friendly, she he paid her to tear us apart. He hates muggleborns still and he thinks me falling for you will ruin the Malfoy name."
"And do you, Draco?" Hermione asked.
"No." He answered seriously. "Why do you think I did all this?" Hermione looked at him curiously. "Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty. These are all muggle stories."
"And yet, you know them." Hermione pointed out, licking her lips nervously as her arms fell to her side. "How?"
Draco smiled at her slightly, looking at the ground as he put his hands inside his pockets. "I was… uh… up all night, looking them up in books I had found." Hermione looked at him shocked now. Draco Malfoy was up all night reading muggle fairy tales. "I knew your love for books and adventure, so I put them together." He finally looked up at her and was delighted to see her smiling at him. "Hermione, if this doesn't prove to you that I no longer hate muggleborns… then I don't know what will."
"Draco-."
"I need you to forgive me Hermione." Draco said, cutting her off. "Because without you I'm miserable… without you I'm a feast built for a dementor."
Hermione smiled at him more brightly, taking a step towards him and pulling his hands out of her pockets and holding them. "Any guy who gets caught snogging another woman, but then goes and learns the history about another person's background, sends them on a scavenger hunt of all their dates, and is man enough to admit that he is miserable without a girl is either really guilty of cheating and is only trying to make up for it or was just in the wrong place at the wrong time." Draco opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione cut him off. "And I don't think you were trying to make up for anything." The Slytherin beamed at the girl in front of him as he quickly placed his hands on the side of her face and kissed her.
Hermione kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. When the kiss ended, Draco lifted Hermione into the air and started spinning in circles, forcing Hermione to hold onto him tightly as she laughed from surprise and excitement.
And being held tightly in someone's arms, especially Draco Malfoy's, was the best feeling in the world to Hermione Granger right now.
Yay! So now that Hermione and Draco are back together again, the question about what will happen when Hermione has to go back to Australia comes into play. Is their love really strong enough to keep Hermione in England? ;)
Review please!