Authors Note: Hi, here's the latest chapter, just wanted to say that I have also posted another story, a one-shot called `Of Love and Desire...` if anyone read that it would be hugely appreciated. Thank you everyone for sticking with my story and for the amazing reviews, until next time... :-)

CHAPTER WARRNING: DRAMIONE FLUFF WARRNING...

Chapter 10... Friendship and Forgiveness...

"You put your arms around me and I'm home..." Arm's- Christina Perri...

Draco's POV...

A few hours later and twilight was already descending on the sky, Dobby had disapparated off long ago. He didn't tell us anything else apart from, "Dobby is sorry he must leave your assistance but there are other people he must see, but be ready for when Dobby return's for if that does happen then we will all have to depart this forest immediately!"

And then with a silent pop he was gone. After I had got back changed- much to the obvious delight of Hermione- all though...

"I can see right through you... I know th" I muttered just loudly enough so she could hear me.

"You .shut .up!"

I heard her shout from inside the tent. I think she's still a bit mad from earlier. Don't you? I'm not done there...

"Miones' mad at me..." I sang through the trees, much to my own amusement of hearing her trip over the dozen books' she has in the tent as soon as I started...

"We argued the other day... Why can't she seeee! She's" I paused slightly wondering what to sing next and smirked when I had an idea.

"Why can't she see, she's just to"

"I SAID SHUT UP DRACO!" Ok, so she might off heard me...

I waited a total of forty minutes before deciding that it was safe enough to saunter back inside just so I could annoy her more. The thing is I don't like hurting her feelings no matter what people think; it's just funny to see her so riled up!

"Get in here now, ferret!" Hermione shouted.

When I finally do reach the tent she is stood facing me, arms folded across her chest and an expression of thunder on her face.

"You" She pointed at me!

"Yes, dearest?" I asked as innocently as possible.

"Sit" She commanded. I just yawned at her and stayed standing much to her dislike.

"Didn't mummy ever tell you that it was rude to point `Mione?" I whispered as seductively as I could. She looked slightly flustered and then even more so when I smirked at her.

Oh the joys of annoying one Hermione Granger! See after the `incident` earlier that she refuses to talk about... I discovered the revelation that she is most embarrassed with the prospect that a male may actually like her! This is ridiculous! Potter and weasel-bee were idiots for being so blind! If I was best friends with a girl for seven year's straight then I would like to think that it would be going somewhere and that I would eventually ask her out. I mean, it makes sense doesn't it! Especially if it was Hermione Granger! I mean LOOK AT HER! SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!

I choked slightly on my own spit when I think that... Where did that come from! Your just friend's! I just shake my head at my own stupidity.

When she had picked her jaw up from the floor, it was going darker outside so I made to walk to my bed but her hand caught my wrist.

"C-can we talk?" She asked. I must have looked confused, stupid or both. She continued to explain when I still didn't get it.

"I-it-j-just when we were talking earlier then you seemed to want to tell me more. And I still have some questions for you" She looked into my eyes then and they were just doe like. I don't know why but when she looked at me like that it was like I was under the Imperius curse.

"Certainly, but what about?" I asked.

"Well, it's just we don't- I mean – w-we don't really know each other that well... considering the circumstances were in then it would be nice if we just took time out to talk... and get to know each other better" She finished lamely. I just raised my eyebrows and smiled down at her.

"Yeah, talking would be nice..." I whispered.

Talking went out the window fairly quickly and was instead replaced by uncontrollable snorts and giggles. We were just lay side by side on one of the beds.

"S-so let me get this straight! Weasley literally flew across the room and squealed as he did so?!" I choked on my laughter.

"Yep, he did. You see it was fifth year and we had already formed Dumbledore's army."

I remembered that year well because it was the year my father ordered me to join the intesaqural squad so I could spy on The-boy-who-just-won't-die and co. Along with being a prefect it was a lot to deal with, though it was worth it to see Potter's face when he got busted by Umbrige, Flinch and the rest of us. I will admit that slapping him and almost using the cruciartus curse on a fifteen year old is going too far.

Thank God Hermione told Umbrige about that secret weapon whatever it was... I thought briefly.

"So Harry was teaching us how to stun our opponent's- with Stupefy... And I was partnered with Ron and I was already still a bit mad at him for the year before" She explained, but I cut her off.

"Why were you mad at him, I mean don't get me wrong... he's an idiot." I stopped insulting him when she glared at me.

"Sorry, why were you mad at him?" I muttered.

"Well- God this is embarrassing- but in fourth year near the time of the Yule ball Ronald asked me to be his date and I quote `Hey, Hermione you're a girl, right? `. I mean, come on! He said it as if that was a question that needed to be asked! I mean clearly!" She gestured down to herself and the only thing that I kept telling myself to do was `don't look; it will get worse for you if you do! `.

"Clearly" I muttered weakly.

"Anyway what about you? I mean you always used to have back up by Crabbe and Goyle so..." She asked.

"Oh, yeah of course I did! Since they come from a family of pure-blood as well then my father paid their father's to have their son's `be friend` me at Hogwarts. But I still don't until this day know there first names'!" I explained to her and she looked saddened.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"N-nothing it's just..."

"Just what?"

"It's just you never let anyone in. I mean... on the very first day of Hogwarts you asked Harry to be your friend and when he turned you down you spent the rest of our school lives making all three of us miserable..." By the time she had finished the words had still not sunk in...

I took a deep breath and uttered the word's I had been meaning to say ever since we got into this mess and for the last seven years.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione...Making fun of Weasley and his family- when their far better wizard's then the Malfoy's will ever be... Potter, saying the awful things I did to him last year and breaking his nose. Calling you a MudBlood... As soon as that word slipe- NO, not slipped. I have no excuses. I have regretted it every single day since second year and you will never know how sorry I truly am. No one has any right to judge you for your blood status because the thing is its all utter rubbish! All of it! I have never believed in any of it and I never will. In fact there's no such thing as `Blood status' or `Blood traitor` or even a `MudBlood` for that matter. What matters is you! And let's face it what would they judge you on! Nothing! You- you're just..." I trailed of then realizing that she had not spoken one word during my speech.

I glanced down at Hermione to see her staring up at me, with tears in her wide, whiskey eyes that were slowly cascading down her face.

Oh, no I thought, panicking what have I said?

But she smiled at me through her tears. Without warning her arms were around my neck and I was being crushed to her in an embrace, it was meant to be a hug but... It just felt like more... She buried her face in my shoulder.

"I forgive you" She whispered. I felt the weight of the last seven year's leave me in an instant. My own arms automatically wrapped around her waist, and we just stayed like that for a while, holding each other. It wasn't until about five full minute's in that I begun to register just how intimate this hug was and what really surprised me the most was my own reaction to it. I mean I have gone in a space of five minutes from... shock to happiness to nausea and stomach ache and I was not ill, far from it actually. For when I was in her embrace it just felt like... home.

I sighed, Hermione still keeping her arms around my neck and mine still around her waist. Also it wasn't until she barely let me go that I saw just how close we had gotten since we had parted. We were chest to chest and her face was now inches from mine. Had she always been this beautiful? It was like being in the presence of an angel and if this was what an angel looked like then I would gladly accept death with a smile. So long as she never left me. She unwrapped herself from me, blushing as she did so, and made to walk over to her own bed. I couldn't bear it if she left me now, so I stretched my hand out to her and caught her finger's and entwined them with mine. She turned to face me with confusion on her face.

"Stay with me? Just for tonight?" I whispered tentatively. Her expression quickly turned from confusion to deeply disturbed horror.

Oh God I thought now what?!

"You" She started. I cut her of mortified that she would even think...

"NO OF COURSE NOT!" I exclaimed.

"Just what do you take me for?! Honestly..." I shook my head at her.

"Oh, sorry" She muttered clearly embarrassed about jumping to such conclusion's as that!

Well I thought bitterly this is awkward... She now hate's you! Well done Draco you have finally done the impossible and broke Hermione Granger.

I stopped thinking however when a hand was franticly waving in front of my eyes.

"Draco are even you listening to me? Hello!" She shouted practically in my ear.

"Ow, ow! Yes? What is it?" I asked her.

"Ok, I`ll stay. But..." She smirked at me!

"Is it because you afraid of the dark?" She asked her tone half-teasing yet half-gentle.

No I thought It's because I don't want to lose you or let you go ye- no not yet...ever.

"Ok" I admitted.

"Yes, laugh if you want- Draco Malfoy is scared of the dark!" But when I did look at her she was not laughing she was smiling.

"Why are you smiling?" I asked her confused.

"No, it's just... I think that its, well... cute and sweet." She muttered embarrassed.

"What?! M-Malfoy's are-e n-not cu- really!?" I stammered.

"Yes, really!" She giggled.

"Err... thank you." I ducked my head, making my fringe fall in front of my face so she couldn't see a pink tinge appear in my cheeks.

She yawned and I chuckled taking her wrist and leading her to my bed. I hopped under the cover's first and opened them slightly so she could climb in after me. I- as unusual- took time and care to straighten the pillow's and quilts', just to have her nag me not to `be a baby and stop fussing`. I just sighed and nestled even deeper in the covers. I swallowed when she placed her arms around my neck once more and buried her head in my chest, but responded immediately by wrapping my own arms around her waist and placing my chin at the top of her head. Our legs entangled them self's with the other's.

"Good night Draco" She whispered and within mere second's I could feel small whip's of her breath floating across my face as her head was tilting upwards slightly. I just stayed like that for a while holding her in my arms. Silently cursing myself for not doing this sooner and for wasting seven whole years' without her company or her affection.

"Good night `Mione" I whispered and gently fell into a perfectly dreamless sleep...