I've decided to make this 12 chapters and I've thought this out quite a bit. So, we're halfway through here folks. I've got chapter names for the next six chapters, so I guess I'll be going back to look through the other chapters and give them names too…so read chapter 7 and then review to make HannahKayJackson happy.

Chapter 7: Hogwarts Express

The end of the school year came too soon for Draco. The blissful time of falling in love with Hermione was shattered. The year was over and not just any year. It was the end of their seventh year. So, in short it was the end of their lives protected by Hogwarts. Draco sighed when he woke up that morning, knowing that now it was his turn to take care of Hermione. He smiled over at her before stumbling over to get dressed and pack his trunk.

When Hermione woke up, sleepily reaching out for Draco, she groaned. He wasn't there. "Draco…?" She asked her voice quiet and beautiful.

Draco walked over to her, smiling. "Good morning." He whispered, kissing her forehead. "How are you this morning, my dear?"

She smiled at him. "I'm good." She looked out the window with a small pout. "Why are you up so early, Malfoy? It's Saturday!" She complained loudly, throwing a pillow at him.

He laughed at her sleepy expression. "I was packing my trunk." He explained watching her expression brighten with understanding.

"Ugh! I feel so dim." She said, hopping up.

"You are nothing of the sort!" He told her seriously.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Her expression was dark as she hurried over to her trunk to find something to wear.

Draco walked over to her, kissing her nose. "You looked to peaceful. You go ahead and get ready to go, Hermione."

*Ah oh oh oh*

Draco frowned at Hermione as they walked down the hallway. "Hermione, you really aren't even going to Gryffindor Tower? It was your home for six and a half years. I think you'd regret not saying goodbye." He told her as they dropped their trunks in the Entrance Hall. "Everyone is surely gone by now." He thought for a moment. "I'll go with you if you'd like."

Her face brightened. "Will you?" She asked, excitedly.

"If they'll let me in," He said with a smile. "I am a big, bad Slytherin."

She shook her head. "No, you aren't." She protested with a pout. "You aren't a Slytherin anymore."

He smiled happily at her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Lead the way, my little Gryffindor princess." Hermione smiled and turned up the staircase, leading him up the beaten track to the portrait of the Fat Lady. Hermione muttered the password, but the Fat Lady glared at Draco.

"The boy!" She screeched, angrily staring at Draco. She stared him down, watching his face closely, but Hermione frowned at her.

"It's only Draco." Hermione heard herself saying, before she realized that that would make no difference to the portrait. She saw the symbol of Slytherin on Draco's robes. She wouldn't know that he's changed since first year when the Sorting Hat put him in the house of Slytherin. "He's a different person now," She felt like screaming at the painting, but she knew it wouldn't do any good.

"A Slytherin!" The Fat Lady screamed angrily, glaring at the emblem on Draco's cloak.

Hermione sighed, taking a chance. "His heart isn't one of a Slytherin anymore. He has changed." Hermione said, not really for the benefit of the Fat Lady, but to show Draco that she believed in him. "We've only come to say goodbye," was her last plea, but the painting stayed in place.

The portrait was shoved out of the way and Hermione cringed. On the other side of the hole was Harry with his arm wrapped around Ginny's back. Ginny's red hair was pulled up into a messy pony tall and she was frowning at Harry. Harry's eyes were tired and he looked like the tower had seen a lot of arguing this past week. Ron was behind the two, but his face was crunched up in a sour way. He seemed so angry and he hadn't even noticed Draco and Hermione holding hands yet… great. Hermione's breath came out in a loud huff.

"Hermione." Ginny mumbled under her breath when she noticed them standing there. "Oh… and hello Draco." Her voice was small.

Ron's head snapped up with a glare. "Oh, fantastic!" His bitter voice called from behind them.

Harry simply smiled weakly at Hermione. "Hi," Hermione whispered back.

There was an awkward silence for a long moment and Hermione finally pulled on Draco's hand, rushing away.

Draco coughed uncomfortably. "That went well."

Hermione nodded silently with a laugh. "Let's go ahead and go to the train. Who knows what we would run into if we visited the library."

Draco laughed at that comment. "You're probably right. Collectively you've spent more time in that library than your own common room. Monsters could be hiding in the corners."

He led her outside and across the lawn where they stood by the gates, staring up at the school. Hermione stared at the towers and the Black Lake, knowing she'd never see them again. She smiled looking at Draco again. "Goodbye Hogwarts," She whispered to the school as Draco wrapped an arm around her, steering her toward the always beautiful Hogwarts Express.

They found themselves in a secluded area near the back of the train in an empty compartment. Hermione sat the window, flipping though one of her schoolbooks, absentmindedly. Draco sat in front of her, gazing at her as she started down at the book in her hands.

"Hermione." Draco mumbled for his post a few feet away from her.

She looked up at him with a grin. "Yes?"

He stood up and walked over to her, sitting down beside her with a smile. He looked her in the eyes and she started at him, confused. She saw some exuberance in his eyes that left her wondering what was going on. Where is he going with this? She wondered to herself as he took her hands in one of his. "Hermione, I love you." She breathed heavily; because that was the first time he'd said it outright. "I've said it all before, you know. I want to be there for you. I'm going to show you I'm truly a good person. I'm going to do the right thing." He paused, looking in her eyes. "Although each of these things has only been followed through in the most minor way," He continued and Hermione smirked at the seriousness of his voice. "Hermione Jean Granger, I'm in love with you. We're having a baby and while it's conception wasn't under the best of circumstances I am prepared to make it right." He smiled, lovingly at her, slipping his hand in his pocket. Hermione gasped. "Marry me, Hermione. Please. I want to spend the rest of our lives together, with our baby. I want to be a real family." Hermione's eyes didn't leave his through the whole speech although she knew there was a ring in his hand. She simply started at his beautiful face before leaning over and kissed him with a sweet passion that made Draco smile. "Is that a yes?" Hermione nodded against his neck.

REVIEW