A/N Yes! I'm back! My SATs are (for a while, at least) over, and my first AP's are done for now. And with the advent of summer (two days!) and only two final exams left, I have written the next chapter during my two-month break. (: Yay me! However, beware, this chapter is not based on TOTS, since at this point in the story, the book plot has ended. But no worries! If my plans work out, after this sickingly pointless chapter (sorry!) I shall be incorporating a short part of another Shakespeare play into here. So… for now..

Disclaimer: Characters/names/setting/etc., belong to her majesty JK Rowling. (:
I hope you enjoy!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sun was starting to set on Hogsmeade, and the clear blue sky eventually became painted with pink and yellow streaks. Many storeowners began lighting their lamps and preparing for evening shoppers, and lunch menus were swiftly changed to dinners with several flicks of wands. From Hogsmeade Hill, two teenagers could be seen sitting together under a tree, and if you didn't know their story, it would have seemed quite a romantic scene.

The bushy haired brunette turned slightly to face her tall handsome partner.

"Thanks," Hermione said, lips slowly turning upward into a smile.

Draco said nothing.

She didn't turn away and continued to smile, eyes fixed with a faraway glaze, at Draco.

"What?" he finally said, feeling her eyes on him.

Hermione blinked, shaken out of her reverie, and smiled. "Nothing," she said, still wearing a remnant of a smile. "You just…you remind me so much of my neighbor from back home."

"Hogwarts?"

"No, my actual home." Hermione pursed her mouth slightly at her comment, but continued, "You two have the same hair, practically the same eyes. Anyway, we were such great friends; we used to have so much fun together –"

"Fun?" Draco drawled sarcastically, "By that, do you mean you guys hid out in libraries, reading textbooks and discussing theories? I can hardly imagine such fun."

The corners of Hermione's mouth twitched, as if she wasn't sure whether or not to laugh. Finally, she let out a reluctant chuckle and shook her head. "No," she scoffed, laughing. "We absolutely did not. In fact, he and I used to play football during the summer months. When I wasn't busy doing homework or visiting the Weasleys, of course."

"Football?" he snorted. "You?"

"Yes," Hermione sniffed. "Is that so hard to believe? Plus, he was a Muggle, so it wasn't as if I could just call him up for a game of Quidditch."

"Well, you probably should have, your Quidditch skills are abysmal."

"And how would you know that?"

"You obviously didn't hear any of Weasley and Potter's conversations about you while we were at school, then." Draco grimaced subconsciously at the mention of his old enemy's name, and continued, imitating Ron's deep voice, "'Well, Hermione's been improving at Quidditch.' 'Harry, do you remember that one shot Hermione made at my house over the summer?' 'Wow, Harry, we could teach Hermione that shot this summer!' I swear, that Weasley used to talk about you so often, it would be surprising if even Crabbe didn't pick up on something once in a while."

Hermione's smiled softly with reminiscence, remembering how Ron always did tease her about Quidditch, how he looked when he was confused, how his voice always stuttered when he was nervous, and how…

Without warning, Hermione's smile faded and her brown eyes suddenly filled with tears. Oh Merlin, she thought. I miss Ron, so much…and Harry. Ginny, Fred, George, Luna, everyone …To think, I may never get to see them again…

Hermione sat still for a second, chin resting on her knees, a tear running silently down her cheek.

"You miss him."

Hermione looked up at Draco, giving him a sad smile. "I guess so."

He nodded dispassionately, as if slowly digesting her words.

"I don't know," Hermione sighed, stretching out her legs. "I don't really want to talk about it -"

"So, the Chudley Cannons," Draco cut in smoothly, making Hermione laugh aloud in amusement.

Draco smirked.

By the time, the sun had gone down, Hermione and Draco had finished an extensive conversation about everything from the Quidditch Cup to old Hogwarts memories. After all, when you're sitting on a deserted hill with another person (particularly one who is your newly wedded spouse), the polite thing to do is to make conversation. Even so, formalities aside, Hermione found herself quite enjoying the presence of her kidnapper, and even vice versa. Draco found Hermione's opinions on topics interesting – he had finally found a conversationalist that could match his intellect and not bore him halfway to tears.

The evening progressed, and eventually, bright, luminous stars began to shine down on the small village of Hogsmeade. Every few seconds, a small puff of wind would rush through the trees and disturb Draco's hair, and once it passed, every sleek strand would fall neatly back into place. The two both knew they had to get back to the mansion sooner rather than later, yet neither of them made the first move. Instead, they sat a while longer in silence, simply watching the sky darken.

All of a sudden, through the corner of her eye, Hermione spotted a flash streak across the sky.

"A shooting star!" she gasped fondly, elbowing Draco with excitement. "Quick, make a wish!" she said, and squeezed her eyes shut.

As Hermione hastily made her wish, she heard Draco's voice drawled quietly, "Merlin, don't be stupid, it's probably just that Diggle and his fireworks… what has that man found to celebrate now? Probably bought some new dress robes or finished his dinner… shooting stars…so first year…" His voice drifted off.

Hermione finished her wish, opened her eyes, and laughed. "Why do you always have to act like you're so high and above little childish things, Malfoy?" she asked, half-joking.

He smirked, but didn't say anything.

"Don't you want to know what I wished for?" Hermione asked.

He didn't look at her. "To go home?" He barely whispered it.

"Not exactly."

"No. Don't tell me," he said firmly. "Then it won't come true."

Slowly, Hermione broke out into a smile. "I knew you had it in you! Look at you, being childish! I'm very pleased." She punched him lightly on the shoulder.

Draco chuckled softly and pulled out a pocket watch. It's nearing 9, he thought. The reception is most likely over, and Father must be wondering where we are… "We should be heading back," he said aloud, getting to his feet. Hermione did the same. As he prepared to apparate, Hermione pulled his arm and turned him to face her.

"Thank you again," she said, staring up at him. "Really, I feel like a great burden has been lifted from me."

Draco, who had never been particularly skilled at accepting thank-you's (or giving them, for that matter) only stared back and nodded. "Do you want to go home now?" he asked simply.

"Yes," Hermione echoed. "Let's go home."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N How was it? I hope you liked it! (: Please leave me a comment and let me know what you thought/ what I should do different/ what I should continue doing/ what you had for lunch/ anything! (: I would greatly appreciate your opinion. Thank you! It's great to be back. (: