Chapter 3

Voldemort fell.

It was almost impossible to believe. But he had crumpled to the ground, a victim of his own rebounded spell, and in front of hundreds of witnesses at that. He had died, just like any other mortal.

Because that was what he was, in the end. They'd made sure of that.

Hermione watched the culmination of the battle as Harry confronted Voldemort and everything else seemed to grind to a halt, and when it ended she knew that she was expected to run to Harry. It was what everybody else did. And she had more right than any of them to go to him and claim some of his attention. He was her best friend and she had been his constant companion for the past nine months. For these past seven years.

On top of that fact, Harry was the one who had just defeated the darkest wizard their world had seen in centuries. He should have been her first thought. And she loved Harry- she did.

But her heart was with Draco, and she'd sprinted for him instead.

Later, the rest of the world would understand. Not that she cared about it at the time, or afterwards, really.

But the fact was that their reactions that day, and the tale that they would tell in the aftermath, developed into a love story for the ages, immortalized in print and in film. Much to Hermione's amusement they became wizarding Britain's Romeo and Juliet- but they had been smart enough to avoid a tragic end.

Draco had finally truly been unmasked and Hermione never been so proud of anybody in her entire life.

They would both have preferred a more private reunion, but this would have to do. After everything Draco had done, everything he'd sacrificed, Hermione realized that she should have known that he wouldn't stay away from the final battle.

As much as she had wanted to curse him when she'd first spotted him, she understood that he would have wanted to come to help finish things off and couldn't really blame him for not staying safely in hiding. The merest hint that she might be here would have brought him here too. That, and he wanted to take down the monster as badly as she did; maybe even as badly as Harry did. She was honestly beginning to think he may have been mis-sorted because there was a Gryffindor streak in him that even he would be hard pressed to deny.

Despite the fact that he had been wearing a glamour like he had that night at the masque, she'd recognized him immediately, just as she had on that Valentine's Day more than a year before. His mother stood tall and proud at his side, her own glamour did nothing to disguise her regal bearing.

Hermione watched them efficiently- ruthlessly- take out Death Eater after Death Eater. She was not for a moment offended by their lethal tactics and could only be relieved that they could handle themselves, and that Voldemort's followers couldn't get back up to hurt some of the people here who were substantially less prepared to fight than the Malfoy mother and son duo. Hermione didn't relish killing, by any means, but she'd come to understand that sometimes it was necessary. People willing to invade a school full of children deserved little mercy.

Especially from Draco and his mother who had sacrificed so much, and who were more knowledgeable than most about what these people were capable of doing. But the real shock was Lucius Malfoy who looked like he'd not only crawled into a bottle, but had taken up residence there, and yet was standing at his wife's side despite not even having a wand he looked prepared to take on anybody who tried to harm her with his bare hands. Apparently, he also hadn't had any problem recognizing his wife and son, nor Hermione either, given the way his eyes went wide as he watched her run to Draco.

She threw herself at Draco; knowing that he would catch her. Her arms went around his neck, her legs around his waist. He didn't even stumble at her virtual assault. And as she was enveloped in his familiar scent she felt like she could truly let out a breath for the first time in a year, her lips almost immediately found his.

They stood like that for the longest time, mouths meeting, and hands searching, more as an affirmation that they were safe and whole, than for pleasure. They were actually together again, it seemed too good to be true. She finally came somewhat back to her senses when he finally did stumble under their combined weight.

She pulled away, only enough to place her forehead against his. "Sorry," she murmured, dropping her legs, and sliding down his body.

"Are you kidding me? I am more than fine with it. I've been waiting to hold you again for more than a year." He bumped their foreheads together. "And to say this."

"What's that?" She whispered.

"I love you."

She grinned, she'd fallen to sleep for the past ten months to the memory of his voice saying those words. And she'd love him no matter how he looked, but his dull blond hair and rounded features were disconcerting, because they were so foreign to her."Could you cancel the glamour, it feels weird to be with you like this, with you looking like that."

He chuckled and tapped the top of his head with his wand. The charm faded and his familiar, handsome features reappeared.

"Better?"

"Much better," she gently touched his cheek and then ran her fingers through his hair; it was shorter than it had been when she'd last seen him. Given the stress of their sixth year he'd allowed it to grow almost shaggy, this new style made him look older and even more handsome than ever.

She sighed as she remembered the last time she'd seen him.

In the days leading up to the end of the term the year before, Hermione had been slowly briefed on the plans Dumbledore had formulated to both keep her boyfriend as safe as possible, and to ingratiate Professor Snape with Voldemort to assure that he could, in turn, be as useful as possible to the Order; because, apparently the Headmaster had been dying.

Hermione had mixed feelings about it all. On one hand, if it worked, it was rather brilliant. On the other, Draco, a student who was supposed to be under Dumbledore's protection, had been manipulated into becoming his spy. And it all seemed more than a little reckless as well as being highly dangerous, and not just for those in the know, it put the entire school at risk.

But on the one opportunity Hermione had to speak with Dumbledore by herself, when she'd seen how frail and tired and sad- not because he was dying, exactly, but to be leaving them with a job still to be completed- she found it difficult to hold it against him. Especially after he entreated her to support Harry and Draco both, told her how proud he felt of them both. Because she felt the same way.

But even more than that, his usually cheerful visage had been anything but. His eyes had been absolutely haunted. She couldn't bring herself to do anything other than wish him peace, and wish the rest of them godspeed.

Less than two weeks after that conversation with Dumbledore, Draco snuck a group of Death Eaters into Hogwarts and then faked suicide by drinking Draught of the Living Death in front of them all of top of the Astronomy Tower, stating that he couldn't go through with his task, nor could he risk the Dark Lord's wrath.

They were betting that the supposed shame of his actions, but the fact that he'd mostly completed his task, would allow Narcissa to slip away to mourn, unhunted.

Once he'd collapsed from the effects of the potion Professor Snape had then confirmed his "death." Then he'd killed the headmaster himself, and made off with the rest of the Death Eaters. When it was all over Professor McGonagall, the only other person who'd been brought in on the plans, had awoken Draco and brought him to Hermione to perform the ritual to remove his Dark Mark.

Despite how relieved Hermione had been to see Draco alive and well, it didn't stop her cheeks from flaming like a house on fire when she came face to face with her head of house when they both knew she was about to do a sex ritual with her boyfriend; even though they were both of age and it was for a very important reason.

But, her embarrassment was nothing, in the end. In light of what turned out to be the most beautiful experience of her life. Their love fueled their magic, driving any lingering darkness away. All that was left was the beautiful connection she'd always felt with Draco, stronger than ever.

It was a memory which she would cling to for almost a year when she could neither hear from nor see the man that she loved. She hadn't even known where he'd been hiding. So, she'd clung to that memory through the frigid, lonely nights; it had kept her sane under brutal torture and gave her the strength to go on.

"You look beautiful, as always, but you're too thin," Draco murmured drawing her out of her thoughts, continuing to hold her tight. "Where have you been? There was so little news," he choked, his grip on her almost becoming painful. "Did you- for fuck's sake Hermione, did you actually break into Gringotts?"

She bit her lip. She wasn't foolish enough to think that the past months had been any easier for him than they had been for her. Even if he'd somehow been living in the lap of luxury- which she very much doubted- he would have worried himself sick about her, just as she had about him. And what she had to tell him about what had actually happened to her would only cause him pain.

"I'll tell you every little detail," she promised, "but later. Please, lets just have this moment."

He answered her by holding her even tighter and repeatedly kissing her temple.

Hermione melted into him and only really became aware of the outside world again when she heard Draco's mother tell his father to leave them be. And then the reality of their situation struck her. She hadn't realized it before now, but the Great Hall had gone silent, and she could practically feel hundreds of eyes boring into the back of her head. Her Gryffindor courage was depleted, she buried her face against Draco's chest.

But then a familiar voice- albeit one she hadn't heard in many years before today- was addressing her. "Hello Dear, I've missed you," Narcissa said, and Hermione could instantly tell that she was being genuine, not just attempting to be polite for appearance's sake, which was something that Hermione couldn't and wouldn't ignore. Especially in the face of the fact that this was Draco's mother addressing her, the mother for whom he'd sacrificed so much.

No, Hermione would not snub her, no matter how little she relished facing reality outside of Draco's arms at the moment. She discreetly wiped her eyes and took a few deep breaths.

Draco brushed his nose along her hairline. "It's okay, I've told her all about you and us. She's been practically chomping at the bit to see you again, she's thrilled about us," he soothed, misinterpreting her reticence.

Hermione peeked up to look at the woman she'd once idolized- because it would have been almost impossible for a little girl not to idolize a woman as beautiful and elegant as Narcissa Malfoy. She relaxed at the at the delighted look on her face. Narcissa had also removed her glamour and Hermione grinned at her. She'd forgotten how happy and relaxed that the usually stoic woman could appear. When she'd seen her in passing as an adolescent she'd almost looked like she was in pain- it had been like looking at a totally different person.

And she had missed her.

"Hello, Mrs. Malfoy. I've missed you too."

"Oh, I think it's long past time you started calling me Narcissa." She stepped forward and cautiously held out her arms. Draco's arms tightened reflexively around Hermione, preventing her from stepping away from him.

"Draco," his mother chastised, but her eyes were hesitant and her arms dropped to her sides.

He let out a long breath into Hermione's hair. "I'm sorry Mother, I know that you'd never harm her, it's just that I only now got her back."

Narcissa regarded them shrewdly for a few moments and then she simply stepped forward and embraced them both. Hermione sunk gratefully into her arms. It had been too long since she'd felt the love that only a mother can give; too long since she'd felt anything really, other than hunger, fear, and pain.

"It's good to finally have our family together," Narcissa said, loud enough for those around them to hear, obviously intending for them to do so, to demonstrate that she completely accepted Draco's choice.

Lucius scoffed.

"Be quiet, Lucius," Narcissa snapped whipping around to point at her husband. "You have no idea how much we owe this young woman, but even if we didn't, she is who Draco wants and that is all that matters."

"Well, since everybody else seems to have gone mute I'll say it: bloody hell!"

Hermione reluctantly lifted her head from Draco's chest and looked around to see Tonks hovering at the edge of the circle of people that had formed around them, she appeared to be some combination of shocked and amused. Her husband stuck closely by her side, but he looked far less surprised than she by what he was witnessing.

And it suddenly occurred to Hermione that his lupine senses had probably alerted him to the fact that something wasn't quite as it seemed between herself and Draco. Probably as long ago as the year he'd been their professor, as that was the year that they'd renewed their friendship. But Remus was a picture of circumspection, and she'd kept his secret, it looked like he'd kept hers in return.

She smiled at them, pleased to see they were both safe.

'Okay?' He mouthed in her direction.

She nodded; he nodded and smiled in return. Tonks smirked, eyes flicking between her, Draco, and Narcissa, and for the first time Hermione saw the Black family resemblance.

But then Tonks' face suddenly grew serious and she dipped her head towards Narcissa and stepped forward. "It's nice to finally meet you, Aunt. I heard you were the one to kill Bellatrix. Didn't know who you were at the time, of course, damn impressive glamours by the way, and that's coming from a metamorphmagus. But still, I wanted to thank you, she would have murdered a family member rather than seeing them live as a blood traitor, and I know she was after me. And as much as I don't want to admit it, I didn't relish facing her again."

Narcissa dipped her head in acknowledgement. "I can't pretend I did it for you. As you say, she would have cut Draco down without a second thought, he's loved Hermione since he was a very little boy, there was no separating them even if I'd wished it. But if it also helped keep you safe, I'm happy to hear it."

Tonks switched her attention back to Hermione and smiled slyly. "By the way, I can't wait to hear this story." She motioned between Hermione and Draco.

Hermione rolled her eyes and finally looked around. It was immediately clear that Professor McGonagall was keeping the masses at bay. With Professor Snape's death she was the only one in the room who new the full truth of Draco's allegiances, and Hermione thought she might actually have erected some kind of magical barrier against anybody who meant them harm.

After taking this in, Hermione quickly caught Harry's eye. He too was hovering around the edge of the circle, but he merely looked confused. However, he gave her a tentative smile. And she knew in that moment that he would eventually come to understand and to accept Draco, even if they might never be friends.

Ron, on the other hand, was being physically restrained by Bill and Percy; which wasn't a shock after the way he'd kissed her earlier. She blamed herself for letting him down too easily, not wanting to lose his friendship. She had hoped he would one day understand, but she knew she couldn't count on it

Draco squeezed her waist and she looked up at him to see concern painting his expression. "It's okay," she assured him.

"I'd hoped things would be different, now that it was all over," he responded.

"Maybe not all at once, but things are definitely improving."

She gestured to the sight of Narcissa embracing her nephew-in-law, her werewolf nephew-in-law.

"Is it selfish to say the only thing I really care about is that I can finally be here with you in the open?"

"Maybe," she shrugged. "But then I'm selfish too. Now come on, let's go see Harry, I think it's time you met him properly"

Draco's eyes went wide and he groaned. "Oh, you're really going to make me eat those words aren't you?"

She just snickered and started tugging him in her friend's direction.

The End

Author's note: Remus and Tonks live! Because Draco and Narcissa's presence made that much of a difference, and also because I say so! :) When I originally posted this I thought I had a complete story, but when I went to publish the third part I realized I kind of hated it and just couldn't do it. And let me tell you THAT led to a massive case of writer's block. So I just wanted to thank you for you patience and for sticking with it. You guys are wonderful! Also thanks to Weestarmeggie who, as usual, listened to me whine and who read this over. I started a new Dramione called "The Beginning of Everything." It went live earlier this evening and I'd love if you'd check it out! Thanks again.