I'm so sorry for the delay! I've been swamped with school work, and everything else has slid by the wayside! In an attempt to make it up to everyone who has been so supportive and positively lovely, I'll be posting the final two chapters back to back, and then the whole fic will be posted! Hooray! I can't thank you all for how INCREDIBLE you've been, it really warms this college student's cold, dead heart.

As the room erupted into a blur of colors once more, Hermione thought she would be sick. She had no idea what was happening to Draco, but she hoped with all of her heart that he wasn't stuck without her. I really am going to strangle Harry when I figure out how to get us out of this mess, she promised herself. Traveling through time had been hard enough when she had Malfoy there to keep her company, now the thought of being dumped in some strange time was unbearable.

The first thing that Hermione noticed this time was the noise. There were deafening horns and strings that seemed to come from every corner of the room, and the smell of smoke and musk lay upon the air like a blanket.

Hermione thanked her lucky stars that the room was unoccupied once again, only just realizing how perilous the situation could have been otherwise. She quickly tried to find any sort of clue as to what year it was, overjoyed to see that someone had left out a fresh looking newspaper on the dressing table across the room from her. Curiously enough, the paper had been left open to the society pages, where at the top of the page, in large print it read, "Scamander and Lestrange Engagement" with an enchanted portrait of a handsome looking couple underneath.

Hermione scanned the article that followed, gathering that a Leta Lestrange had gotten engaged to Theseus Scamander, Newt's older brother, and that it was to be the biggest wedding of the year the following summer. Checking the date of the paper, August 29th, 1927, and using the portrait for reference, Hermione once again changed her costume, replacing her heavy petticoats with a light red silk shift dress dotted with golden crystals that hung limply to just below her knees. The flappers really were onto something, weren't they?

After trying her hair into a low bun at the nape of her neck, Hermione slipped out of the bedroom and into the hall, hoping that the noise and recent events were indicators of a party. Right, Hermione, let's try to find Draco. IF he did get brought here along with you, he'll probably be wherever you left him. Determined to find her partner, Hermione made her way back to the foyer, which was now full with hundreds of bodies swaying together in a writhing mass.

Carefully, but with enough force to keep anyone from trying to stop her, she pushed through the crowd, hurrying off in the direction of the conservatory. When she arrived there, the tables and sofas of previous years had been replaced with large, lavish fountains that were spraying a golden mist into the air in delicate arches. Out of the crowd of indiscriminate faces, a striking woman with coal black hair approached her, extending an empty champagne flute.

"Good evening, darling! I'm so jazzed you could make it tonight, isn't it all just so lovely?" the woman asked Hermione, not showing any indication that she did not recognize her.

"Positively, only I've lost my date somewhere in the party!" Hermione laughed, hoping that it came off as lighthearted, rather than hysterical.

"Well, where'd you see him last? I'm sure he couldn't have gone too far, you know how men are."

"He was in the corner of the lawn when I left him to use the loo." Hermione replied, momentarily stunned when the woman grabbed her hand and led her out through the same door they had used with Corvus. It wasn't until Hermione noticed the quite generous diamond shining on her companion's left hand that everything finally clicked. This had to have been Leta Lestrange! That's why her face had seemed so familiar, Hermione had just seen it in the paper.

"What is your fella's name then? And yours while we're on the subject? Mine's Leta, but I suspect you already knew that."

"He's Draco. I'm Hermione. We're friends of Theseus, it's a pleasure to meet you though."

"Huh. You'd think I'd remember names like that. I'm sure that Theseus has told me all about you, but my mind is a sieve sometimes."

"Don't worry about it, I'm sure that there isn't much of interest about Draco and I to report to you." Hermione half-joked, hoping that they wouldn't run into Leta's betrothed. Hermione knew she was skating on thin ice with a lie as easily disproved as the one she told Leta, but she was far more worried about finding Draco than she was blowing their cover.

"So, what does this Draco of yours look like? Is he like Theseus, tall, dark, and handsome?" Leta asked over her shoulder, before pausing at the top of the stairs that joined the stone patio with the rolling lawn.

"No, not quite. He's tall and handsome, but his hair is so blonde it's white."

"Well darling, I'll keep my eyes peeled so lead the way."

"Not to sound ungrateful for your help, Leta, but shouldn't you be with Theseus? This is your engagement party, after all."

"Are you sure we know the same Theseus, honey? There isn't much Theseus hates more than crowds and noise, but I live for them. I don't believe there is anything better than the freedom of being just another face in the crowd. I don't think he'll even notice that I'm not there, and this goose chase is far more entertaining anyway." She smiled, her hard-looking eyes softening around the corners.

With that, Hermione led the two towards the corner of the garden where she had seen Draco last, just before Heloise had led her back up to that damned bedroom. Hermione was amazed that the grounds seemed to be choked with just as many people as the house was, the happy couple certainly seemed to be popular. It made their task exponentially more difficult, however, the absence of sunlight and the weak glow of the enchanted lanterns that hung about them did little to dispel the thick nighttime that had fallen over the gardens.

Hermione could feel herself growing frantic as they neared the stone wall at the edge of the lawn, a renewed sense of fear washing over her as she was faced with the possibility that Draco, was not, in fact there.

"Why don't you go see if he snuck off into the hedge maze?" Leta asked, pointing towards a line of impressively high bushes "It's the perfect kind of spot to sneak away together." she elaborated, raising her eyebrows suggestively. "In the meantime, I'll mingle out here, on the lookout."

Realizing that the hedge maze may be her last hope, Hermione quickly hurried off, thanking Leta for all of her help before nearly trotting to the opening in the bushes.

Sweet Merlin, I hope you're in here Malfoy, she prayed, before hurrying down the narrow path, keeping one hand firmly entwined in the wall of leaves on her right side. At least these bloody mazes are predictable, if you know what you're doing.

It seemed like Hermione walked for hours, the noise and smells from the party no longer reached her, and yet she had still not reached the heart of the maze. Just as she was beginning to doubt that the walls of hedge would ever end, she reached an arch guarded by a wrought iron gate.

She pushed it open, and stepped into the impressively large clearing. There were a few fountains spewing jets of water into the air and a cluster of immaculate marble sculptures at the center of the circular space. Hermione walked towards the space framed by the figures, feeling her heartbeat in her chest. When she finally saw a shock of bright white hair, she couldn't contain her relief.

"Draco! Thank goodness you're alright!"

When he faced her, Hermione knew that he was just as relieved. He still had not changed out of his clothing from their former stop, although he probably had no idea when they were.

"It's about fucking time, Granger. I thought I was going to grow old and die here, and we're in a fucking time loop for fuck's sake."

"How sweet of you dearest." she shot back, rolling her eyes at his irritation. "It's not as if I wasn't stuck here too. Besides, I'm sure that Harry would have sent me back in time to recover you, you're too much of a fucking liability."

"Enough about that, what in the hell is going on now? You've apparently been out and about while I've had to stay hidden away in this bloody maze."

"We are currently at the engagement party of Leta Lestrange and Theseus Scamander, today is August 29th, 1927." she answered smugly, glad to have a solid upper hand over her cranky partner.

"At least we seem to be going forward in time, rather than backwards; however this may pose a distinct problem if we don't find our way to that damn time turner soon."

"What do you mean?"

"I think we're rapidly running out of the good Lestranges, if you catch my drift, Hermione. If we stay here much longer we're going to end up at sleepaway camp with Voldemort, which is certainly something I never want to do again, thankyouverymuch."

"Right, then. We should figure out a plan while we're still in this maze. There are far too many people out there for us to fly by the seats of our pants on this one, Draco."

"I don't know what kind of plan you expect us to make. Have you checked the bedroom already?"

"Shit. Fuck. It totally slipped my mind when I left earlier, but as soon as we try to go back, we're just going to get thrown into another time."

"God damn it, Granger! What in the hell were you thinking?"

"I was thinking, you complete arse, that I needed to find you, more than anything."

"Fuck me, Hermione! What if the turner was in that room? We'd be absolutely fucked. Let's hope you can keep that Gryffindor temper and pride in check with Voldemort starts going on about how much he hates anything that isn't purebred." Draco groaned, collapsing on the same stone bench he had been seated at when Hermione arrived.

"Fine, Malfoy, let's just throw caution to the wind! I'll just go ask Leta Lestrange where they keep the bloody thing so that we can both get home." Hermione seethed, storming off in the direction she had entered from.

Startlingly enough, the wrought iron gate had disappeared. She slowly looked around the circle of shrubs, looking for the arch that had led her here, but found nothing.

"Draco?" she asked, unsure of what was going on.

"What now, Hermione?"

"The path I used to get here, it's gone. We're trapped in the middle of this maze."

"Bloody fucking brilliant. This really is hopeless, isn't it?"

"I don't understand...how could it just vanish?"

"In case you've forgotten, you're a witch. Magical things do happen to witches and wizards every now and then."

"But why would the maze close us up here? There has to be some reason this magic is working at this particular time, we both know that."

"Fate is taking the piss, Granger. We're doomed to be married forever and live out the rest of our days eating grass in our own hell-ish version of Eden."

Hermione let out a dry laugh, seeing the irony in Draco's words, that only momentarily suppressed the shaking sobs that surged forth out of her chest before sinking to the grass.

"We can't be trapped here forever, there are still so many things that I want to do with my life." she sobbed, mourning the loss of her future husband and children, nights with the Potters, even days at work. She grieved for everything that she would lose if they really were stuck here and, for once, Hermione Granger felt completely powerless.

"Don't cry, Hermione, please don't cry." Draco whispered, joining her on the grass before wrapping his arms around her in a surprisingly comforting, and comfortable embrace.

"What in the hell are we going to do, Draco? We have nothing here, no money, no home, no family or friends. It's not like we could show up at Malfoy Manor and as your great- grandparents to take us in when your father hasn't even been born yet."

"We have each other, Hermione, I swear to you, no matter what happens I'll be with you."

"We can't even get out of this FUCKING maze, Draco! We're going to fucking die here, and everything we've ever done will all be for nothing."

"Don't you say that, Granger. You're a hero. You saved so many people. You're so good and pure, you don't deserve to die here with a pathetic bastard like me."

The descended into silence, both feeling completely miserable.

"I never got to take you out, Granger. I never had the chance to convince you to take a chance on me."

"What? You've always hated me, Malfoy. We've rarely had a civil conversation before today."

"Merlin, fuck. Hermione, I am totally and completely bewitched by you. I've convinced myself that I'm entirely wrong for you and it has driven me fucking mad. I've been a total dick so that you wouldn't want to get close to me because I cannot handle the thought of your throwing your life away to be with me, hell even just to take a chance on me. I don't know if I'll ever be able to make up for the things that I've done and what I've seen, and I could never put that on you. You're too special to be brought down by my shit." Draco whispered, and Hermione couldn't help but notice the shaking of his hands.

"You're a fucking moron, Draco Malfoy." she replied, taking his hands in hers, "An absolute idiot."

"That's Draco Granger to you." He teased, looking at their entwined hands with a small smile.

"No, not yet. I swear, there has to be some goddamn reason that we're stuck in this maze and I'm going to figure it out if it's the last thing I do."

"There's she is." Draco chuckled, "I'll just be sitting on this bench if you need me."

Hermione ignored him, taking a lap around the clearing to search for any hints.

"Alright, there are 13 statues here, and they obviously depict Roman Gods, and they're the only things here."

"How'd you know they're Roman? What if they're Greek and you're about to get us fucked?"

"First, the Romans stole their Gods from the Greeks, so it really wouldn't matter. Second, these togas are obviously Roman, not Greek."

"I really don't know why you would have ever taken the time to study Greek and Roman togas, but I'll be damned if I'm not grateful you did, Granger."

"That's very nice, Malfoy, now be quiet so I can think."

Think, Hermione. Eagle, that one has to be Jupiter then, Hermione decided, slowly making her way back around the circle to get a second look at the statues.

"Wait! There are only 12 major Gods and there's 13 statues here! One is odd, and I'll bet anything that it's the key to getting the hell out of here!"

"That's bloody fucking brilliant, Granger!" Draco exclaimed, jumping up from the bench before sweeping Hermione into a hug, lifting her off of the ground.

"Thank you for the enthusiasm, Malfoy, but I still have to figure which one isn't right." She giggled.

"I'll help then, tell me what we need to look for."

"Okay, well, that one," Hermione said, pointing towards one of the statues, "is Jupiter, there's an eagle at his feet. Juno will probably have a peacock…"

"Here! I'd recognize one of those fuckers anywhere." Draco shouted, elaborating when he noticed Hermione's confused expression, "my mother insists on keeping those damn birds at the Manor. Every single time I try to walk through the gardens at least one of them attacks me."

Hermione couldn't help the snort she let out, certainly enjoying the mental image of Draco fleeing from a particularly vicious peacock.

"Oi, you, genius, I really need you to keep telling me what we're looking for if you ever want us to get out of here."

"Right, erm, Neptune, anything from the sea and his trident."

"The one with the curly hair over there?"

"The very same, Malfoy."

"Sort of looks like yours, don't you think Granger?"

"I didn't hear that, Malfoy. On to the next, Pluto has a helmet."

"Looks like a prick, doesn't he?"

"Considering he was the God of the Underworld, I don't imagine he'd be terribly pleasant."

"Alright Granger, this is too easy, give me some rapid fire ones."

"Ceres, wheat and pigs; Vulcan, fire and metal; Minerva, an owl; Venus, seashells and doves; Mars, spear and vulture; Apollo, lyre..."

"Wait, what in the hell is a lyre?"

"It's like a small harp, he's the one over there" Hermione answered, pointing in the direction of the statue.

"Right, I've found all of the others, what's left?"

"Diana, bow and arrow; Mercury, winged helmet and sandals; and Bacchus, grapes."

"Well then, Granger, that one there is the odd one out." Draco grinned, pointing at the last statue, one of a man holding a large sickle.

"Of fucking course!" Hermione yelped, smacking her forehead, "Saturn is the father of the gods, and he's the god of time! How could I have missed something so obvious?"

"Alright, so now what?"

"I don't know yet, there has to be something else."

Hermione and Draco simultaneously moved to inspect the statue further, but Hermione was baffled. There didn't seem to be anything out of place, and the statue's smile had begun to feel more mocking than genuine.

"Weird, this brooch-thing has an upside down A on it." Draco remarked, pointing up at a small round seal on the shoulder of the toga.

"Draco! That's the seal of the harvest but it's upside down! We must have to turn it!"

"Well, get over here and do the honors then, Granger!"

Hermione held her breath as she reached to turn the symbol, hoping that it hadn't been an accidental mistake on the sculptor's part. Her fingers trembled as she grasped the cool stone, willing herself to twist it.

"What are you waiting for, Hermione?"

"What if I'm wrong?"

"Don't be ridiculous, you're the Brightest Witch of Our Age, Granger, now turn your hand so we can get out of this maze!"

Finally, Hermione twisted her wrist, delighting in the grating of stone against stone as the emblem made its way back to its proper position. When it had completed its rotation, the emblem suddenly slid off of the statue, weighing down her hand. Instinctively Hermione turned the emblem over, feeling faint when she saw what the emblem had been hiding.

"Draco, look!"

"Merlin, Hermione, you found it!" Draco grinned, scooping her into his arms once again, before kissing Hermione firmly on the lips.

Before Hermione could process what was happening, she was returning the kiss, feeling herself melt into the embrace.

When they separated, Hermione was breathless.

"Wow," Draco breathed, "You are truly one of a kind, Granger."

Hermione felt her face spread into a wide grin, unable to contain the giddy joy that was spreading in her chest.

"Well, Hermione, what do you say to getting out of here? I can't die until I've taken you on a proper date, you know?"

"As long as you promise to kiss me like that when you do, Malfoy." she smiled back at him.

Draco took a hold of one of Hermione's hands as she tipped the emblem over his open palm, sending the time turner tumbling out it's hiding spot.

"Anything for you, Granger. I mean it." Draco whispered, gently slipping one of the golden chains over Hermione's head before doing the same for himself.

"How about tonight then? 7:00?"

"You name the time and date, and I'll be there."

With that, Hermione began carefully rotating the time turner, being sure to give it the right number of flicks to get them back home.