A/N: Hello readers, boy it's been a long time! I've been so busy with school &the like that I have had zero time to really put my heart into writing. I don't feel like this chapter is completely..done or perfected, but you guys deserve something! I hope you enjoy! Reviews are always appreciated!

In half an hour, the issue was resolved, or as resolved as it was going to be. Sirius and Remus promised each other that they wouldn't fight if they could help it, and they definitely wouldn't let Harry and the others know, even if they did. The pair wanted to be there for them, not the other way around. Everyone met in the dining room to discuss the plan for the day.

"Listen, I'll stay back today," Tonks said. "Someone needs to be here in case someone floos from the castle. And I already know how to use a phone, so I think it would be best if I stayed."

"You can't stay by yourself, Tonks, that's no fun," the twins insisted.

"I'll stay with you," Remus spoke up. Ginny sniggered quietly, and Hermione threw her a warning glance. Tonks looked at him in surprise.

"Are you sure? You don't have to," she said.

"No, I'm sure. I want to," he insisted, smiling. She smiled back. She couldn't argue with that, not even if it was the right thing to do.
"So it's settled then," Remus continued. "Sirius, will you be able to manage them on your own? They can be quite a handful."

"We're right here," protested the twins, Ron, and Harry indignantly. Sirius laughed, messing up Harry's hair playfully.

"We'll be fine."

"Great, so I'm going to need help transfiguring the car. It needs to be able to fit nine of us and it can only fit four of us right now," Hermione said.

"Can't we apparate there?" Fred asked.

"No, we'll be too obvious. There's no way to really hide nine people apparating into the same spot."

"Alright, I'll do it," Sirius said.

"We did it with James's mum's car once didn't we?" Remus asked, remembering.

"Yeah, I think we did. Do you remember how we went about it?"

"I think so. Come on." And the two men and Tonks left to see to the car in the garage.

The rest of the kids moved outside. They were silent for a moment and then –

"Can you imagine? Living like they did growing up?" Ginny asked quietly.

"We are living the same way Ginny! Aren't we? I mean, we're at war, the Order exists, You-Know-Who is getting stronger…It's the same situation as before." Fred said.

"Yes but, we're learning from their mistakes. Can't you tell? And we're more protected, and we're more sheltered." Hermione countered.

"To be Remus…I can't even imagine what he goes through," Ron spoke quietly. "He's a werewolf and he goes through so much pain, and yet, he's so kind and patient. I don't think I'd be able to do it, if it was me. I don't think I'd be able to handle it the way he does. He's so…gifted. He makes everyone around him smile." Everyone nodded their agreement.

"And Sirius? He spent 12 years in Azkaban. That in itself must have been so difficult for him. I can't even imagine how he gets up and smiles and laughs," Harry said. Ginny smiled at him.
"He's lucky to have you, Harry. He's extremely lucky."

"And I am lucky to have him."

"You know, this trip has been action packed and we haven't even been here two days," George said amusedly.

"Let's make the most of it," Ron and Harry declared together, grinning. Hermione looked at Draco who was watching all of them quietly. She gave his arm a little squeeze, and he looked down at her smiling.

"I agree," he said softly to her.

When the car was ready, Hermione drove them all to the mall. She hadn't driven in awhile, but she got them there safely, and she promised the twins she'd let them have a spin when they got a chance. The mall parking lot was crowded so they parked near the back, and Hermione led the way towards it, with Ginny and Ron. The twins, Harry, Draco, and Sirius brought up the end. Harry and Sirius walked hand in hand; Harry was still glowing with happiness. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a boy jumped in front of Hermione, flanked by four other boys. They were all grinning evilly.

"Well, well, well, look who it is. Little Miss Granger, what are you doing here?" His voice was nasty and taunting. Instantly Draco was there, standing inbetween the stranger and Hermione. Harry and Ron stood at her sides, warily.

"Draco, leave it, it's fine," Hermione said softly, "He's…" But the boy cut him off.

"Looks like you have a new boy friend. Be careful mate. She might just sleep with your best friend."

Draco practically growled at him. "Don't say another fucking word."

"Draco, please," Hermione said softly, trying to get him to calm down, but Sirius interjected.
"Is there a problem here?" He cut in softly, and smoothly. The stranger's friends started to roll up their sleeves threateningly, but Sirus continued, unfazed. "Because I can assure you that you are severely outnumbered." Draco had his hand subtely on his wand, but it was unnecessary: the boy had enough common sense. He held up a hand to his stop his friends, and then glaring at Draco and Hermione one last time, he turned and left.

There was silence for a moment, and Draco was still glaring angrily at the retreating backs of the bullies. Hermione put an arm on his shoulder hesitantly.

"Draco, it's fine, I promise."

"He had no right to talk to you that way," he muttered angrily.

"You don't know that," she said, her words light. "For all you know, his words could be true."

Surprised, Draco turned around to face her. "But they aren't, are they?"

She laughed slightly.

"Oh, but they are."

"What?!" Several kids exclaimed at once.

"Edward is an ex-boyfriend," she explained, "and we broke up before fifth year, in the summer, because I couldn't handle a relationship with him, and be a part of what was going on at Hogwarts. His best friend, Jasper, is my best friend. We slept together after I broke up with Edward because I…didn't want to die a virgin, and there was no one else I trusted more at the time. Edward is angry because I didn't sleep with him, but Jasper was my friend first, and we were already broken up at the time. I have no regrets."

There was silence.

"It's a bit of an awkward story to share in the middle of a parking lot," she observed. The others nodded, and Ginny gave her a look that said they'd talk about it later, but no one spoke up. Finally, with a last look at the others, she turned and began walking back towards the mall. Everyone followed after a moment, but Harry held Draco back.

"So," he said, "When are you going to tell her you're in love with her?"

Draco paled. "I can't…I can't be in love with her."
"It's too late for that and you know it." Draco sighed.

"Things are moving too fast. I…"

"You'll run out of time if they don't."

"I don't have the courage to be rejected. She's not in love with me."

"She's on her way there."

"She is?"

"She is." Draco was silent for a moment.

"I have to tell her." Harry smiled.
"Good boy," he laughed, and Draco shoved him gently.

"Shut up, git." And they ran to catch the others.

The day was surprisingly normal for them. They hit the beach after the mall in their new swimsuits, eager to relax, swimming in the ocean, tanning on the sand, playing football in the sand (after Harry explained the rules of course.)...

Much to everyone's surprise, Draco and Hermione disappeared to get a bite to eat - which lasted for hours. ("I'm not surprised that they wanted to be alone together, I'm just surprised they had the guts to go about it," Ginny remarked playfully to Ron.) They returned, not hand in hand, as Ginny had hoped, but at least they were smiling and laughing. At the end of the day, a very tired family of friends left for home, where they were greeted with great news yet again, asleep on the couch and cuddled tightly together were Remus and Tonks! They awoke to find everyone grinning at them happily, except for Sirius who pulled Harry closer to him and put his chin on his head. Sirius had long accepted the fact that no matter what, a small part of his heart would always be in love with Remus. Sirius was happy for him, he was, but it was always a struggle to seem him with someone else. Though that was a secret he intended to take with him to the grave.

Remus and Tonks blushed at the stares but they couldn't stop smiling, and it was clear that the two of them had worked out their issues, at least for now.

Unfortunately, good news never seems to stick with the group for long. While the girls had gone up to discuss the events of the day, and the boys were hanging around playing exploding snap, wizard's chess, and just lounging around, Dumbledore firecalled.

Draco was called into a room and given some privacy, and when he came out he looked upset but resolved. Sirius knew instantly.

"I'm sorry Draco, I'm sorry it's happening so soon." Harry looked from Sirius to Draco, as Remus put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"You can fight this," Harry insisted. "You can stay here. You can turn to Dumbledore. Draco, this is your chance."

"I can't," Draco said brokenly, looking down. "My mother…"

Everyone looked away at this, afraid to look at him. Finally, Harry broke away from Sirius's grasp and moved to Draco's side.

"Did you tell her," he asked quietly. Draco shook his head. "You should then, she deserves to know before you go."

"I know. Dumbledore's given me an hour."

"Shit, Mal – Draco, I'm really sorry," Ron said softly. Draco nodded.

"Give me a minute." He climbed the stairs to the girls room, knocking, and entering slowly.

"Can I have a minute with Hermione?" he asked Tonks and Ginny. The two girls looked at Hermione who nodded, smiling. When they had left, she gestured for him to join her on the edge of the bed.

"Dumbledore flooed," he said softly. "I'm to leave in an hour to join my father."

"Oh Draco, please don't go! You don't have to! Stay with the Order, we'll protect you, I promise," she begged him, putting her hand on his shouler as if that small gesture could keep him from leaving her. She didn't know he had so little time. Draco shook his head, pulling away slightly and looking down.

"I'm sorry…" he said mournfully. "I can't. I just… can't." Hermione stood up and went to face the window. He didn't know how to continue, and there a silence fell.

"Then I guess we have nothing more to talk about," Hermione said abruptly, breaking it, and her words felt like a physical blow.

"I wanted to tell you…"

"I don't want to hear it."

"But…"

"I think you should go," she said, turning to him. There were tears in her eyes. "I think you should go. Now." Draco, afraid of her tears, and of seeing her cry, nodded slightly, and with a last glance at her he left the room.

He insisted on being alone to pack and get ready to go, and in a little under and hour, everyone gathered around the fireplace.

"Will we see you again?" Ginny was crying. He smiled bravely at her, and enveloped her in a hug.
"I'm not sure," he replied honestly. "But I'll try to come back, I will."

"Hermione's not here," Ron noticed suddenly.

"Oh crap, I'll get her. She'll want to…" Harry trailed off when Draco shook his head.

"It's fine," he said softly, trying desperately to hold back tears.

"No, it's not," Harry said desperately, "She should be here." He looked pleadingly at Sirius to agree.

But Sirius shook his head. "He's right," Sirius said gently. "You can't force her."

Draco took a deep breath and shook hands with everyone hugging Tonks and Harry in turn.

"Good luck Draco," Ron said softly, and Fred and George clapped him on the back reassuringly.

He nodded at everyone, and with a last small smile, he stepped into the fire place, and was gone.

As soon as he was gone, Harry pulled away from Sirius and began to storm up the stairs.

"Harry…" Sirius called, attempting to restrain him, but he pulled away.

"No, leave it."

He barged into Hermione's room with every intention of yelling at her, but one look at her and he didn't have the heart to. She was folded up on her bed crying and instantly he softened and went to her, putting her arms around her and holding her against him.

"Shh… it's okay, it's okay. You tried your best, I know you did. Don't worry, we'll move on together okay?" he whispered into her hair constantly, and she clung to him desperately, breathing in his familiar scent, and trying to regain control of her emotions.

Sickle for your thoughts? Please review! Hope you enjoyed!