AN: THE FINAL CHAPTER! Thanks so much for the support of the story, it's been truly amazing! If you guys liked this story and want more like it, please let me know. I'm happy to write! Sorry for the delay in updates, but I've been trying to have the perfect ending for this. Harmless self promotion: Other Dramione stories- 100 Dramione Drabbles, Terrible Things, A Potions Problem, When the Truth Spills Out and soon to be: Speechless. Thanks again!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter and I am not making any money off of this. The quote is from Kahlil Gibran.
Previously:
"I hope you are vot jealous ov my beautivul date," He said slowly.I glanced at Pansy and shook my head. She pouted and glared at me.
"Not at all, not at all," I grabbed my two butterbeers and turned to walk over to Hermione. I saw her talking with a very red looking Ron and new that that couldn't be good…
Presently:
So then, I decided to go over and see what the fuss was about. "Is there a problem?" I asked Ron from behind.
"No!" He snapped, spinning around to glare at me.
"Good," I said, as calmly as I could possibly muster with that idiot. "Wanna dance?" I turned and ask Hermione.
"But you just got us drinks!" She said. "Just imagine how hard the house elv-"
"Here Weasley. Make yourself useful and hold these," I shoved the two glass into Weasley's hands and glided back onto the dance floor with Hermione. We started dancing to the Weird Sisters and only left the floor at least an hour later. The music had just completely overtaken us. We finally left the dance floor and grabbed the two drinks that I saw Weasley put on a nearby table. I muttered a few spells to make sure he hadn't done anything to them and handed one to Hermione. We slowly walked out into the enchanted gardens and sat hidden in some bushes.
"What a night!" Hermione sighed.
"Yeah. It's just hard to think that it's all going to be over tomorrow, you know?" I asked her. She nodded in agreement and placed a hand over mine.
"But it doesn't mean that the memory's won't last forever," She said, smiling up at me.
"You're ri-" I got cut off by someone snapping through branches and tumbling down upon us. It was Fleur Delacour and some boy snogging. When they fell upon us, they looked slightly startled but the got quickly got up. Without apologizing or anything they just ran away to another bench where the continued there... activities. Lucky for us, our drinks had already been finished. Otherwise, we would have been in an awkward situation had it spilt all over us.
Hermione and I glanced at each other a little awkwardly. We'd never kissed like that, let alone kissed in public. I cleared my throat and was about to say something when the bells started chiming. We both jumped and then started laughing. We were way too tense. It was nice to get that laugh out. I silently counted the chimes and found out it was eleven o'clock. Had three hours really already gone by!?
"Want to dance?" Hermione asked me.
"Anything you want Hermione, anything," I said. She blushed and stood up. We slowly made our way back to the Great Hall. There were far fewer couples there now and I was glad. We dropped our glasses off at a nearby table and walked onto the dance floor. There was a slow song playing. So I wrapped my arms around her waist and she wrapped hers around my neck. We started slowly swaying to the music. I hummed along with the song and Hermione smiled shyly at me.
"What?" I asked as I raised an eyebrow.
"You're cute when you hum like that," She whispered in my ear. This was it.
I bent my head down and leaned slightly forward. Hermione's eyes grew big as she realized what I was doing. Luckily, she didn't back away but leaned forward herself. Our lips met in the middle and I heard people gasp around us. They all knew we were together, but, we had never kissed in public before. I closed my eyes and slowly deepened the kiss. It was a sweet kiss, nothing near a snog, but that didn't matter. It was perfect, she was perfect. She just lit a fire within me. And this fire within was not about to be ruined by anyone.
I felt firm hands press on my chest and opened my eyes. Hermione was pushing me away. I stopped kissing her and stood up straight. "I'm sorry Malfoy, but I can't do this," She whispered. Before I could say anything, she left me standing in the middle of the dance floor. I saw Ron running after her and screaming about fraternizing with the enemy, bloody git. I went after her but I felt a hand grab my forearm.
"What do you want Potter," I sneered at him.
"Just let her go. It never would have worked between you two anyways," He said calmly.
"Like you and Weaslette?" I snarled. Potter blushed and I yanked my arm back. I ran after her and saw her sitting on the staircase crying. Maybe Potter was right. Someone great once said, "'If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were." So, if she's mine, she'll come back. But if she isn't…
The next day:
"What do you want Potter?" I sneered when he was staring at me as I walked down the hall.
"I need to talk to you Malfoy," Harry said calmly.
"About what?" I asked him, confused.
"What happened at the Yule Ball last night," He told me. I felt my blood grow cold and my heart dropped to the very farthest pit in my stomach. That night…
"What about it?" I asked him. I motioned him into an empty classroom and we both sat down after I closed the door. I cast a silencing charm on the room and gestured for him to explain.
"It's about Hermione," He started. I cringed. She hadn't sought me out last night. I already missed her. She was the one person I had ever let my guard down for. Serves me right, she deserves better than me anyways.
"She refuses to talk to anyone and skipped classes today," Potter continued. I perked up a bit at that. "I think you need to talk to her Malfoy. I know she left you last night, but I think it's because of her feelings for you. I think she was afraid to mess up this "thing" she has with you," I smile. Hermione needs me more then I need her! I would be there for her, whenever and wherever she needed me. She saved me, now it was my turn to save her.
"What should I do?" I asked him.
"I can sneak you in if you want?" He asked me.
"I have a better idea…"
Eleven o'clock that night:
I gently tapped on the window beside Hermione's bed. I heard a faint rustling and she pulled the window open a crack.
"Hermione I-" I started saying.
"Draco!" She gasped. She opened the window fully and hauled me in. I placed my broom down on her bed and she practically threw herself at me. "I'm s-so sor-ry," She wailed. "I love you Draco. At least I think I do. I didn't want to ruin everything because of my inexperience. You were so perfect- are so perfect. I thought if I left that it would be better. We could go back to being friends and I wouldn't have to worry about losing you. But that was stupid. I need you Draco, more than words can express. I ne-" I cut her off by pressing my lips against hers.
"I need you too Hermione. And I love you. You could never wreak what we have, it's too strong. Love will prevail as long as it's true," I whispered.
"Sorry to ruin your precious moment and all, but some of us are trying to sleep," Parvati Patil said.
"Yeah guys. I know you're "in love" and rubbish like that and I honestly don't need beauty sleep but I think Hermione does," Lavender said saucily.
"Oh shut it Brown!" Hermione exclaimed. Lavender huffed but crawled back into bed.
"Now where were we?" I asked her.
"I think it was something like this," She said standing up on her tiptoes. She pecked me on the check and then made a shooing motion. "Now go, before we get in trouble!"
"Night love," I said as I flew out the window.
"Goodnight Draco," She whispered as I raced away.
I smiled as I finally realized the depth of Hermione's words. She said that she loved me. And with that four letter word, the fire within me was rekindled and burning brightly. I guess this whole year wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...
AN: I hope you liked my final chappie! Please tell me what you think. The criticism and advice help me to become a much better writer. I will probably go back and edit other chappies. Thanks for the support!
~Kaloge11