Disclaimer: Nothing but the plot is my own!

This is my first full length story and I hope to better develop as my hobby builds! :) Check out "Last Granger Standing" (Romione), "Affections Disguised" (Fremione).

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Currently taking suggestions or prompts for my next story.

Part XI

I raced up the stairs, clutching my good news to my chest. Rounding the landing, I headed for Ronald's chamber. Finding him and Harry talking while lounging on the balcony, I rushed over with the biggest smile I had ever felt cross my face. He met me halfway, arching his brows at my excitement. Not giving him the chance to utter a single word, my hands laced around his neck and brought his lips to mine.

Harry laughed and excused himself, muttering something about finding Ginny. He cleverly closed the door behind him.

Too excited and needing to know this was part of reality, I broke our kiss and told him of my talk with the king.

He smiled and nodded, watching me carefully as I explained everything. He appeared happy for me most definitely, though not at all surprised.

"You're not shocked." I said.

He shook his head. "My family has known, but never told us children for fear he would never return to power. Mama and Papa specifically asked for you and the Grangers knew their motives. I did the unspeakable act of falling for the royal help. I was supposed to be your guard…protector, if you will. I was really attempting to deny my feelings, but sorely lost my own battle. Now that King Remus is back, your very existence is no longer in danger. You are free to be betrothed to some snobbish royal to make way for a treaty." His smile vanished and his expression changed to grief.

"I meant what I said before. I love you, but I am in not deserving of you." He walked past me and out his door, leaving me alone in his room.

My letter dropped to the floor. This family had risked everything to protect me. Ronald had fallen for me, fretted over our stations, discovered the truth and assumed he would lose me if I was ever legitimized.

"He granted his blessing." I uttered, my eyes brimming with unshed tears.

After the feast Molly prepared, I thanked her for the meal and celebrations. Bidding everyone a good night, I watched Ronald walked up the stairs, shoulders slumped in defeat. Making sure I was not seen, I followed him.

He entered his room and I scurried after him and stood in the doorway. He began to unfasten his top pacing. I closed the door, locked it, and made presence known.

"Hermione, we had this discussion already. Do not let my interest in you ruin your chances at decent marriage." His shoulders slumped and he sat on the edge of his bed.

Not wanting to let his misery continue, I rushed to him and tenderly held his face in my hands. Impulsive at the moment, I gripped his shirt and pulled him to a standing position. Bringing his lips to mine, my decision was made. This man's love for me was my only light during my time at the castle, my fuel to keep going during the battle, and my decision to do with what I so please.

I stopped our kiss to find him extremely confused by my actions. I smiled and started giggling. Holding one hand across his heartbeat and the other firmly resting in his hair, I informed him of my father's decision.

"He granted his blessing. I can marry you if I bloody well choose to. So, stop your misery."

He placed his hands on either side of my face, caressing my cheeks. "Aren't there policies against this?"

"Bypassed. Same policies restricted me from my father, but he bypassed those, as well."

"You're sure I'm the one?" he asked anxiously.

"The one and only." Sealing my vow with a kiss, our battle began once more. His hands held me close, spreading his fingers over shoulder blade and the small of my back.

I came up for air after several log moments. My lips were deliciously swollen and my breathing shallow. Stepping away, I tried to bid him goodnight, but his hand swept along my belly. Securing my back to his front, he buried his face in my hair.

"Stay with me. I promise nothing inappropriate will happen. I just want you as close as I'm allowed." His request whispered low in my ear. "Stay with me, tonight."

The morning dawned brightly through the French doors. We had surely overslept and the other members of the house, being the intelligent people they were, were sure to discover our secret.

His arm was drooped over my side, clutching my belly and hip. His warmth felt right behind me, cradled the rest of my body. Essentially, we were spooning and it would be quite the scandal if we were caught. Despite my desires to continue our snuggle session, someone unlocking his door made Ronald start and make sure I was covered.

"Well, I am glad it is us and not Mama, little brother." George and Fred entered, closing the door.

"Bloody hell! She stayed last night! Nothing happened, gits!" Ron said.

My face burned crimson as Fred winked at me. I slid further under the covers and hid from view.

"Relax, Ronniekins! We only came to find Miss Granger and tell her Draco and Luna wish to speak with her." Fred said.

"Tell him I shall meet him in the garden in one hour." My muffled reply earned a chuckle from one of the twins.

The door opened, and footsteps danced toward and alarmed me. My shelter of covers was pulled back and Tonks laughed at my attempts to regain my privacy.

"I have brought your dress for you." She ushered the twins out and moved to the hanging garment. "You will not hear a lecture from me about how to behave with a man. I can sense you only slept here, nothing highly inappropriate. However, Ron, if you hurt her…God, save you from Remus." Ron cleared his throat and left to get changed behind his panels.

"You really are very kind, Tonks. My father spoke highly of you." I turned to have my corset fastened.

"Your father is a brave soul. Amends his mistakes and loves dearly. Plenty of others would have left you to rot in an orphanage. He went to great lengths to ensure your safety. He actually went to see you when you were a babe, once. Remus returned from his travels in tears, forced to leave you in that home." My dress was nearly done by this point.

"Were you angry with him?"

"I was seven, nearly eight when you were born. I understood I was supposed to be his bride, but it was not expected of him to wait. He could play a little. I was too young and he needed his releases from time to time. I was not so ignorant of that fact. I feared for a moment, he would be forced to break our contract. He insisted he wanted it kept valid. The day he and Sirius disappeared, I fell to the floor and cried. My best friend and cousin were gone. My future uncertain, I was hidden away. Finally, the revolution ignites and he has returned. I thought he might release me and find me another suitable match. He did not recognize me at the battle, until Sirius pointed me out. He confronted me here and I confessed who I was. The brightest smile crossed his face and he swung me in the air, spinning in a circle. Holding me close, he asked me if I was still waiting. I nodded and told him-"

"I would have waited forever for my best friend to return. I love him!" We spun to find Remus lazily leaning on the door. "Then, I held her close and kissed her." Tonks chuckled.

"Your father, for a man imprisoned with only another man for years on end, sure seems full of his skills, eh?" Ron laughed from the panels and Remus crossed over to us, placing a kiss to her temple and lacing his arms around her waist.

I was dressed and my hair was combed through and reset. Ronald joined our small party, my father eyeing our interactions.

"I'm going to pretend I am naïve enough to believe my daughter did not sleep here and this was simply the only space she could dress for the time being." A pop from Tonks hit him in his chest.

"She was clothed and nothing happened, save for comfort and sleep."

I kissed Ronald and Remus on the cheek, thanked Tonks, and excused myself from the room.

The garden was being repaired slowly with the help of the entire family and Luna's creativity. Draco stood admiring her work, seemingly lost in his thoughts.

"You wished to see me," I said announcing myself.

He turned to me and motioned for me to follow him into the privacy of the garden. Luna noticed us and left her work with hedges.

"I realize I put you in jeopardy for our cause, but I want to offer my sincerest apologies for anything you felt forced to do. Bill and the twins told me about their discovery of you. I told them of the plot we made with Snape and told them it was never my intention for you to be put in that situation and that I couldn't do anything to protect you without risking both of our necks. Rumors are floating from the maids that your virtue is in question." He stopped walking when Luna joined us. Planting a kiss on her cheek and rubbing dirt from her nose, he took her hand in his.

Luna turned to me and smiled the brightest definition of happiness. "I know your situation was not ideal and you gambled your virginity with a plot that could fall either way. I know that Draco was announced as your fiancé at court and that something happened the night before King Remus returned. No harsh feelings are felt towards you. Your heart lies with a certain ginger boy with freckles and dreamy blue eyes and you did what was necessary to survive."

"The rumors of our chamber at the castle have been brought to King Remus's attention. He can be quite dangerously terrifying when he needs to be. I do not believe Ronald was made aware of them, though. So, unless you want to open that Pandora's Box, we can keep that secret among us."

"Sadly, he suspects, or knows. The matter has been dealt with. Thank you, for the kindness and care you offer, though!" Planting a kiss to their cheeks, I exited the garden.

A/N: Reviews are awesome.

ONE MORE PART REMAINING!