Hogwarts felt different. Better. Brighter. Dumbledore had come back to school, Voldemort's return had been proven and Draco Malfoy. He was different, kinder, than she had thought he was.

Hermione was folding her shirts and packing them into her trunk when Ginny came into the room. Everyone else had already moved out.

"Hey, Hermione," said Ginny. "Almost ready?"

"Almost."

Ginny flopped down on the bed. "Good. I'm ready to go home. You?"

"Yeah," said Hermione. She wasn't really listening. Her mind was on Silverhawk and, yeah, Draco Malfoy too.

"What's going on?" asked Ginny. "Something is up with you."

Hermione sighed. Was it that obvious? "Nothing is up." She felt heat rush to her cheeks.

"Right." Ginny rolled her eyes. Hermione zipped her suitcase.

"Fine. He's meeting me today."

"Who?... Oh! You-Know-Who." Ginny winked.

"Not funny." Hermione dragged her trunk off the bed. It clunked against the wooden floor.

"So you're really meeting him?" asked Ginny.

"If he shows." Hermione couldn't help but be worried about a repeat of what happened at Christmas.

"He'll show. If he didn't want to meet you, he wouldn't have agreed to it a second time. Are you nervous?"

Hermione laughed. "I've never been this nervous in my life."

"..."

"What?" Hermione asked. Ginny's eyes were squinted like she was trying to use leglimens on Hermione, though Hermione knew she couldn't.

"It's just back at Grimmauld Place you seemed a little cozy with a certain blonde Slytherin with abs like cement."

"Ginny!" Abs like... they weren't...

"What? It's true."

Hermione's heart pounded at the thought of Draco Malfoy. His pale face made paler by the candlelight. The sparkle of his silver eyes. She had to stop thinking about him. Silverhawk was the one. He was. He had to be.

"He's not... that wasn't."

"I'm just trying to figure out what would have brought a Malfoy over to the good side. It's one of two things. Money or chicks. That's all I'm saying. And we're certainly not paying him."

Hermione had tried not to think about what changed Draco's mind. Whenever she tried to figure it out, it just made less sense. It was contradictory to everything Hermione had ever believed.

"Come on, Ginny. Let's go."

"Sorry," she said, standing up from the bed. "I just want you to be happy."

Hermione nodded. "Thanks, Gin."

It was a chilly spring day. Hermione almost regretted the blue flower print dress she was wearing but she wanted to look her best for Silverhawk and it was her favorite dress. She wore a light cashmere grey cardigan over the dress.

Ginny was standing by her side when she caught a glimpse of Draco standing by himself, the sun shining down on his face. Hermione smiled.

"I'm just gonna go talk to Luna." Ginny nudged Hermione, laughed and walked over to Luna, who was tying her shoes. Guess she finally found them.

Draco turned toward Hermione and smiled. She exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath. Draco looked incredible. He wore a pair of jeans and an emerald green t-shirt with a black high collar jacket which made his face even whiter and his eyes sparkle with their metallic flecks.

"Hey," said Draco softly. "Nice day isn't it?"

"A little chilly."

Really? They were going to talk about the weather?

"You look beautiful," said Draco. He really needed to stop saying things like that. Hermione was losing her resolve and she only wanted Silverhawk.

"Thanks. You don't look bad yourself... how is everything?"

"Mum's leaving Father."

"Really? I'm sor-"

"Don't apologize. It's been a long time coming. And it'll be nice to get away from him and just be with Mum."

"So is she done with the whole Death Eater thing?"

"She was never a Death Eater, but yes. Not that I think she'll be singing up for the Order."

"And you?"

Draco smiled, his eyes focused on Hermione. "I'll help when I can."

Hermione smiled back. Draco really did look happier, lighter than she'd ever seen him.

"How is Potter holding up?" asked Draco.

Hermione shrugged. It was strange seeing Draco not hating Harry. "He's alright."

"Let me know if I can help with anything... not that I have any money anymore."

"How poor are you now?"

"We'll probably have to share a mansion with another family." Draco smirked.

Hermione laughed and Draco just stared at her. Merlin, he was beautiful. What was she thinking? She was meeting Silverhawk today.

"Is that?" In the distance, Blaise Zabini was leaning in and kissing... Hannah Abbot? She was a Hufflepuff. The world had gone mad. Absolutely mad. But in some ways it was a good kind of mad.

Draco turned around, laughed and then turned back to Hermione. "They look very happy."

"Yeah. They do."

"We should probably get going," said Draco. "Don't want to be late for the train."

"No. We wouldn't want that."

"Well." Draco stepped forward and gently stroked a lock of her hair. "Have a good summer, Hermione."

"You too, Draco."

He bowed his head and with a smile, spun around and walked toward Blaise. With her hands sweating and her heart pounding, Hermione took one last look at Draco and then walked over to where Harry, Ron, Luna and Ginny were all standing.

"What was that?" asked Ron, his arms folded defiantly across his chest.

"Nothing," said Hermione. Nothing at all. And it was nothing. Her eyes found themselves wandering back toward Draco. It could never be anything but nothing.

"Malfoy has finally lost it," said Harry. "Though I wished we had a picture of him stupefying his father. That's something I never thought I'd see and I'd love to see it again."

"He said he'd help," whispered Hermione under her breath. She didn't even mean for anyone else to hear it but they did. It was just a reminder for herself, of the kind of man Draco had become.

"Help with what? We don't need Malfoy's help," said Ron.

"Why should we turn down help?" asked Hermione. This old Weasley Malfoy feud was getting old.

Ron opened his mouth to speak but Harry butted into the conversation.

"Hermione's right. I dislike Malfoy as much as you do but I think he's shown us we can trust him."

"He's still a right foul git," snarled Ron. Something about this insult made Hermione clinch her fists. This year had changed a lot of things and one of the things it changed for Hermione was the way she saw Draco Malfoy. He was a lot of things, many of them less than pleasant, but she no longer though of him as 'right foul git'.

"Of course," laughed Harry. "Come on. We'll be late for the train."

They all climbed on board the Hogwarts Express. Hermione sat by the window, leaning her head against the glass and watching the countryside twist and move and roll. She didn't hear a word the others said. All she knew was at the end of this ride, Hermione would be standing face to face with Silverhawk. She would finally know who he was. She could reach out and touch him. Oh, how she wanted to.

King's Cross Station buzzed with hundreds of voices both muggle and wizard, expressing every sort of emotion, excitement, sadness, anticipation. It was much warmer here than it had been at Hogwarts. Sweat starting to trickle down Hermione's neck, but that could have also been the nerves.

"Goodbye, Hermione," said Harry. She hugged him close, taking in one last moment of familiar. The Weasleys had already left. Hermione was on her own.

Hermione walked through the curved brick divider that was Platform 9 ¾ and reemerged in the muggle world. It was still strange how muggles didn't notice. This area was less packed, but lighter as well, as sun streamed in through the partially glass ceiling and lit the faces of the travelers and their families that could to drop off or collect them.

She stepped out of the way, hoping to look obvious for Silverhawk but not so obvious she seemed crazy. It was a fine line to walk.

Her palms were sweating. Hermione wiped her hands on her sweater. Her heart was beating rapidly and time seemed to be at a stand still. Would he show up this time? He had to.

While she waited, thoughts drifted into her head. Unwelcome ones. Thoughts of grey eyes and slender arms. Of a worried smirk and a creased brow. Of green ties and tight black cardigans.

She had to stop.

Hermione jumped. As if by magic, her thoughts had materialized before her. It was Draco Malfoy.

His cheeks had been blushed by the heat, he ran his hand through his blonde hair, pushing it away from his eyes.

"I'm meeting someone," she said. Draco needed to leave. If Silverhawk saw her with him, maybe he'd just walk away.

"I know," he said, his voice a raspy whisper.

What did he mean he knew?

Draco moved toward her with a force, a dedication, that said no power, magic or muggle, could stop him from closing the distance between them. It was overwhelming. Like the ocean. A singular feeling, one that could never be repeated.

Tears started forming in her eyes though she didn't know why.

They were standing toe to toe. Hermione could smell the pinewood and caramel. His scent. His eyes were so grey. Merlin, they were so bloody... silver.

"Vinewood," he said it so quietly it seemed to come from somewhere other than his lips, like from inside her, from the very core of the universe.

A flash like being racked by a powerful spell shot through Hermione. It so was strong she almost stumbled. Visions crossed through her head. Moments hidden in time like ghosts now living, breathing. Obvious.

The way Draco had changed. What he said at Christmas. How long did he know? The time at Hogsmeade. In the forest. The almost kisses. The almost everything.

The project that needed fixing.

Draco Malfoy was Silverhawk.

Draco's hand fell against her cheek, sending volts of electricity through her. She was coming alive at every end. She couldn't help it. Tears leaked from her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. Draco wiped her tears away with his thumb.

"It's okay. It's okay," he said softly.

He was trembling against her skin. Hermione stared into his eyes, her mind searching for what to say. There were so many questions, but she had to face the truth. Hermione had been falling for Draco, seeing him for who he truly was. The capacity he had for kindness, joy and sacrifice. She had fallen for Silverhawk long ago. Believed in her heart that he was the one. The end game. Her perfect other. And here was this beautiful boy, his hand gently stroking her face, both Draco Malfoy and Silverhawk. He was everything and everything to her.

"Please say something," he whispered, his breathe hot on her ear.

"I'm so glad it's you," she said.

Draco's eyes fluttered shut then a smile crossed his lips. He dipped his head down and caught Hermione's lips in gentle kiss. She placed her hand in his soft blonde hair and pulled him closer. She wanted him closer.

They leaned against Platform 9 ¾ the world swirling around them and none of it mattered. Not tomorrow, not the next day or month or year. Not as their lips moved against one another and hands held each other. There would be obstacles for them. Plenty of obstacles for a muggle-born and a Death Eater's son, but they would face them all as they would face everything.

Together.

THE END

I can't believe it's over. I had so much fun writing this. Writing the last chapter was terrifying because I love all my readers and really wanted you to enjoy the end of the story. I hope you did. Thanks for sticking with it and for all the lovely reviews. I appreciate the time and the thought. Please leave a review if you've been reading this to let me know how you liked the last chapter and the story itself. Thanks again and lots of love.

(Also, in the next few days I'll be starting a new story based off the Beauty and the Beast fairytale called The Curse of Malfoy Manor. Maybe some of you will check that out. Thanks again.)