Author's Note: I have come to the conclusion that the possibilities for this story are truly endless. I like the way it ended in the last chapter, but I wanted to write another ending for it, a bit happier, sort of. And, of course, I have issues with closure, and this ending is much more open-ended than the other one. Oh, hell, just read it, will you?

"Hermione," Harry said, "I know what I did was wrong. I left you when you needed me the most, though I didn't realize it until I saw you earlier today. And I know that nothing will ever make it alright. So I promise you this: No matter what it takes, I'm going to find a way out of this, for all of us."

Harry, Hermione, and Ginny stood, backs together, wands out. They were shooting water spells all around, trying to put out the flames encircling them. There was nowhere to go. They were trapped. The house was no longer visible through the blaze, and even if they had been able to see it, they knew it wasn't standing. They had been trying for hours to find a way out of the inferno, but to no avail. Lucius Malfoy, though insane, had been thorough in his magic. Their only defense had been to keep the fire away from themselves for as long as they could, in hopes that someone would notice it at some time. But they didn't really believe that.

Hermione felt the heat pressing down on her. She couldn't speak anymore; she couldn't even breathe. She dropped her wand. "I'm sorry," she tried to say, but not even a whisper escaped her mouth. She felt the flames touch her, burning her…

She woke with a start. One more day, she thought, wishing that the dream had been true, that she wouldn't have to lay in her isolated misery any longer. With difficulty, she managed to sit up. Why should I? she wondered. What's stopping me? She thought about the dream she just woke up from. Is that really what it's like? She asked herself. Her stomach grumbled. She sighed and debated whether it would be worth getting up and eating.

There was a knock at her door. She jumped. The knock came again. She cursed under her breath as she got up and fumbled with the locks. She opened the door and then quickly shut it again, as it was the last person she expected to see.

"Draco?"

Author's Note (again): Jamie – that is, me – would like to say thank you to everyone who's read and reviewed this story. Also, there is no guarantee that this is the last chapter, but there's no guarantee that it isn't. Jamie would also like to thank Enchanted Beauty particularly, because they – I'm guessing she – has now reviewed pretty much every chapter of every story I've posted. Jamie would thank her personally – in a review or e-mail – but she hasn't posted any stories, and has no e-mail listed on the site, so Jamie can't. Jamie would also like to apologize for the third person-ness; she is bored and feels like it!