A/N: Sorry this took a little longer for me to put up! I've been busy, but here is the final chapter to Consequences. Hope you enjoy it!
Hermione walked into the Potions classroom in a state of great anticipation. She took a seat at a table with Harry and Ron, and caught Draco's eye as he sat down at the front of the room. Snape swept into the room and shut the door.
"Today you will be brewing an extremely difficult potion: The Dreamless Sleep Potion. Madam Pomfrey needs to replenish her stores, so I will be placing you in partners according to talent, in order to assure at least one decent result." Snape told the class. "Miss Granger with Mr. Malfoy" Harry and Ron looked at her sympathetically, and wondered how she would survive the lesson. "Potter with Mr. Zabini," Snape continued. Harry groaned, and began to move his ingredients and bag over to Zabini's table. "…and Weasley with Longbottom," Snape finished listing the pairs and everyone began moving around the room to join the person they were paired with. Hermione walked over to Draco's table and sat down.
"How are you?" Draco asked.
"A little bit nervous about what you might do, but otherwise I'm fine." She replied.
"Hermione, you shouldn't be nervous! I mean, when have I ever screwed anything up?"
"Do you want me to answer that question?" She replied with a laugh. He pretended to glare at her, and then smiled. "We should get started on the potion," he reminded them of the task at hand, and they set to work.
Harry and Ron kept looking over to see how Hermione was dealing with Malfoy. Both were surprised to find that the pair was working beautifully together, and were even more surprised when they started laughing at something Hermione had said. Who knew Malfoy could laugh? Harry thought to himself, and wondered why the two were acting so friendly all of a sudden.
"I think people have noticed something's different between us," Hermione said quietly to Malfoy.
"Well, maybe it's time to make the announcement. After all, class is nearly over, and we've finished our potion."
"Alright, but what are you going to say, Draco?"
"That you are my girlfriend, and I love you." Hermione blushed.
"Thank you Draco. And you're sure Professor Snape is okay with this?"
"Positive. Stop worrying, Granger. Everything's going to be perfect." He squeezed her hand reassuringly, and stood up to face the class. "Could I have your attention please?" He said loudly. Most of the students looked up from their cauldrons as they were cleaning up their potions. "Many of you may think that what I'm about to tell you is completely absurd, but I assure you, every word is true." He took a deep breath, and continued, "I want to present to you Hermione Granger, my girlfriend, and the love of my life." Hermione blushed a deep red, but was smiling from ear to ear. The whole class was speechless as Draco walked back to his seat, and took Hermione's hand. Both Gryffindors and Slytherins didn't know what to make of this new phenomenon, but thankfully the bell rang, signaling the end of class, and the slightly stunned students began to leave.
"Everyone's going to be talking about us," Hermione said as she walked out the room hand in hand with Draco. Finally, she thought.
"Well, that's alright." Draco replied. "As long as we can be together, I'm happy."
"Thank you Draco." She said happily, and he leaned in to kiss her cheek.
"Oi! Cut it out, you two!" They heard a shout from behind them. They turned, and saw Harry and Ron walking towards them. Ron was the one who had shouted.
"Malfoy, what do you think you're doing?" He asked rather rudely.
"Well Weasley, it just so happens that Hermione is my girlfriend, and I'm allowed to kiss her if I want to."
"I don't believe you! Hermione, this is Malfoy! You've hated him for years!" Ron protested.
"Ronald, you have no idea what you're talking about. I do not hate Draco, and I actually haven't hated him for awhile." Hermione retorted.
"And for your information, Weasley, I meant every word I said back in the classroom! I don't see why you're questioning it. Isn't Hermione supposed to be your best friend? Shouldn't you trust her?" Draco added.
"I do," Harry said quietly.
"You do?" Ron asked incredulously.
"You do?" Hermione asked gratefully.
"Yes, Ron. Hermione makes very good decisions, and even though it is Malfoy, if she's happy, then I don't see what the problem is," Harry explained.
"But it's Malfoy!" Ron protested.
"Oh good, Weasley you know my name." Draco said sarcastically. Ron looked as though he would punch Malfoy, but Harry stopped him.
"Ron, Hermione can make her own decisions. We should be happy that she's happy." Ron stood there, red in the face, looking as though he wanted to say a whole lot more, but he kept his mouth shut.
"We should get going," Harry said, and pulled on Ron's sleeve to get him to follow.
"I'll see you two later!" Hermione called after them, and then turned to look at Draco with a smile on her face.
"Happy?" He asked, a smile spreading across his own lips.
"Very." She replied, and felt herself being pulled in for a kiss that seemed like their first. Only now, they didn't have to hide.