AN- Cringe worthy end scene in this chapter. I have a love hate relationship with them.

Hermione walked up the dirt path towards the burrow all on her own. She had missed this place, missed just hanging out here with her best friends, playing carefree in the orchard. She tapped gently on the door to the house and before she could finish, she was greeted by Ginny in her dressing gown.

"Hermione, you're early. Where's Malfoy?" she asked, opening the door to let her in.

"Oh, he had some things to do, thought maybe he should give it a miss today" she said, heading into the small but homely kitchen.

"Hmm, maybe for the best I suppose" said Ginny as she poured Hermione a cup of tea. The two sat together in at the dining table nursing their tea.

"Oh Ginny… I don't really know what to do" Hermione said, letting out the words she was desperate to hold in.

"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.

"We… wait, is anybody else up? I don't want people hearing" she said.

"Just Charlie and mum" said Ginny.

"Can we go somewhere private?" Hermione asked, tears in her eyes.

"What's the matter Hermione? Is everything ok?" Ginny asked.

"No, I don't know… Can we go to your room?" Hermione asked.

"Sure, come on" Ginny said.

The two girls headed up the stairs, Hermione desperate for some advice from the girl who knew far more about relationships than Hermione ever could.

As they entered Ginny's room, Hermione put a silencing spell on the room and sat down on the bed.

"We had a fight" she said.

"Is that all?" Ginny asked, smiling.

"You don't get it, I was cruel and horrible to him and I tried to make it right and he wouldn't even listen. Now he's taken off to Merlin knows where" she said.

"What was the fight about?" Ginny asked.

"Well, he wants to live off his family money and do nothing for the foreseeable future… but I think it's more practical that we do summer school and start job training straight away" Hermione said. "He told me that he wasn't going to back down on his family traditions and I lost it" she said.

"Because his family traditions have always been anti-muggle?" Ginny asked.

"I called myself a mudblood" Hermione said.

"How did he take that?" Ginny asked.

"Well, I don't know… I sort of didn't give him the opportunity to respond. I just went and had a shower and got into the bed in the guest room. The first time either of us had slept alone since we left Malfoy Manor. I went to lay with him, set things straight, apologise… but he just pretended to be asleep" she said.

"Oh, Hermione, I think that everything will be ok. This is what being in a real relationship is all about. You fight, you spend time apart to figure things out, then you make up" Ginny said.

"I don't know if I am ready for a real relationship though. It's been 10 days since we escaped and now we're living together, sleeping together, spending every minute of every day together. Six months ago, I hated him. This is all very surreal" Hermione said.

"I can only imagine… Harry and I don't get to spend much time together but when we do we still have our ups and downs. It's just an adjustment. You're used to doing something a certain way and now you have to take into consideration how he feels and what he wants to do. It's an adjustment for you both. Is there a way you could compromise?" Ginny asked.

"Of course there is. I know that he's right. He has every right to want to take some time off. I just don't have that luxury" she said.

"People expect certain things of you?" Ginny assed.

"That too. But mostly, I am not someone who can rely on another person to pay my way. I need my own money" she said.

"He loves you though, doesn't he?" Ginny asked.

"Well, he says he does"

"Does he show it?"

"Of course he does" Hermione answered, smiling to herself as she thought about the various things he has one in the last week to show her how he felt.

"So, what if things were reversed, if you had more money than you could spend and he had none. Would you want to share your money with him?" Ginny asked.

"Of course,"

"so… What's the issue then?"

"My pride?"

"Hmm, exactly"

"Ginny Weasley, you're smart woman!" Hermione said.

"So, what are you going to do about the training?"

"I'm going to do it. But I won't push him. If he wants to travel, or shop or do nothing I'm ok with that, I think."

"It might be a good way to spend some time apart?" Ginny asked.

"That's very true. I love the man, but I miss my friends and my family" she said.

"Speaking of family… What are you going to do about yours?" Ginny asked.

"Well, I think I need to go sooner rather than later. I have put it off too long already" she said.

"So, this week then?" Ginny asked.

"Tomorrow, I suppose"

"And Malfoy?"

"He can either come, or not come"

"How are you going to pay?"

"I was planning on maybe doing the backpacker thing, you know, apple picking and all that"

"I think you need to talk to your boyfriend about it" Ginny said.

"I suppose I will. I'll need to fly over wont I?"

"Or you could ask about an international port key?"

"I suppose that would be much quicker"

"And cheaper"

"And safer"

"How do those giant flying things stay in the sky without magic?" Ginny asked.

"No idea" Hermione answered. Both girls laughed.

The girls conversation took a more casual turn, discussing things that were not of high importance. The normalcy felt just right for Hermione, who now had a strong sense of what her plans were for her immediate future and the unease she felt upon her arrival at the Burrow was almost gone. She still had to face Ron and participate in Fred's funeral and knew that it was going to be a very long day.

The morning dragged on slowly as the Weasley family, Harry and Hermione prepared for the arrival of the many guests that would surely arrive soon. It had been easy for Hermione to settle back into the family, being tasked with various things to keep her busy. She hadn't had the opportunity to think too much about anything while she was busy helping make food, arranging chairs and de-gnoming the garden.

As people began arriving and Hermione greeted them, it was evident that she was still considered one of the 'golden trio'. She was met with handshakes, hugs, congratulations and applause, however she became increasingly annoyed at this, given it was Fred's funeral.

"I've been putting up with it for the last week and a half" said Ron from out of nowhere. Hermione had gone out of her way to avoid him all day and had been successful till now.

"Be careful what you wish for, hey?" Hermione asked, referring to Ron's years of jealousy over Harry's unwanted fame.

"Look Hermione, I want to..." he began.

"No Ron, not today" she said. "This isn't the day for it. I forgive you. That stuff on the wireless, I don't care anymore. I know the truth, it doesn't matter what anybody tries to say about me or my relationship. I know that I will deal with it for as long as I'm with him. That's my choice. I'm ok with that" she said.

"Right… well, let's do this thing then" he said, gesturing towards the chairs that faced the Weasley burial plot in the far ends of their orchard.

Harry and Hermione walked down the centre of the isle, towards where the coffin sat, taking their seats two rows back from the front. Following them were Ginny, Ron, Percy, Bill and Charlie, taking seats in the front two rows. George walked down alone, followed closely by Mr and Mrs Weasley. The service began with some humorous recounts of the antics Fred had been up to in his life, all but one or two involving George. George stood to deliver a personal eulogy for his twin and did so with blank emotionless calm.

"He has been taking potions to stop the nightmares and the panic" Harry whispered to her.

"Right…" she whispered back.

When the guests were asked to speak, a couple of Fred's class mates went to the front and spoke openly about the ways in which Fred had touched their lives and Hermione felt it was fitting for her to tell people what she had spoken with Fred about those years ago. She stood shakily and walked to the front of the crowd. She had nothing prepared, hoping to just be able to say the right things to offer some kind of comfort.

"Not many people really knew this, but Fred and I used to talk quite a lot about our lives, our fears, things that comforted us…" she began, glancing around the crowd. At the back, she saw the familiar blonde hair and pointed chin of her favourite person. Malfoy had come. She was surprised and glad he had come, as though this was confirmation that everything was ok. She offered him a small smile before continuing. "… he was always so open with me about how he felt about his family, his friends and the war. It was an odd friendship that we had developed, but in the early hours of the morning when I spent summers here, when we often found ourselves unable to sleep, Fred shared with me some things that I would now like to share with you all… Fred loved his family dearly. He adored his mum and his little sister immensely and spoke often about the lengths he would be willing to go to, to protect the most important women in his life. He cared very deeply about his brothers and spoke of how proud he was of all of them. Charlie- Fred admired your work with dragons, Bill- your Gringotts work made him look up to you, Percy- you were always spoken highly of despite the family tensions, Fred was so very proud of you. Ron was perhaps the most talked about brother and the least suspected favourite. Fred never specifically said so, but he was incredibly proud of you Ron, and he just knew you would go far in life. And you have already, in so many ways. He loved Harry like a brother and me as a sister, but the one person he was closest to, was his twin George. He didn't speak much about George, but anybody that knew the two of them, knew they were inseparable. As annoying as it was, having them finish each other's sentences, it demonstrated a bond like no other. Fred's biggest fear was losing George. He told me that it was one thing that kept him up at night. He said to me that to lose his brother, his twin, his soul mate, he would have lost himself too. I suppose I just wanted everyone to know that there was more to Fred than his jokes and humour. Fred was incredibly deep and loyal to those he loved. I, as well as everyone here, will miss Fred, will miss the opportunities he never got to fulfil, the laughter that he carried until his final breath. I hope that my words have offered some sort of comfort to those who are hurting so badly" she finished, wiping a tear from her eye.

As she stepped down from the podium, she looked up, noticing Malfoy having taken a seat at the back. She thought for a second about joining him, but instead, sat back down beside Harry. The rest of the funeral went on as it should. No more words were spoken, just some final goodbyes and then the eventual lowering of the coffin, as the crowd of people stood around. As the first specs of dirt landed on the top of the wooden box that contained the remains of Fred Weasley, Hermione felt the familiar comforting arm of Draco Malfoy around her waist. She closed her eyes and leant into his chest, allowing herself to cry fresh tears for Fred, for his family, for his friends and for the wizarding world who had lost an incredible person.

As George had discussed earlier that day, the tears had been mopped and the celebrations of Fred's life had begun not long after the burial.

Hermione, who hadn't had much opportunity to speak alone with Malfoy since he arrived, had now found a table out of the way so she could finally sort out whatever it was that was happening between them.

"I'm glad you came" she said.

"Me too" he said, taking her hand in his and kissing her knuckles gently

"I want to let you know that I didn't mean any of what I said last night. You can do whatever you want to do, I won't stop you and it was stupid of me to expect that you would just do what I wanted you to do because I was doing it. If you need some time, I am ok with that" she said.

"I'm sorry too. I'm a fool. I'm trying to figure out how to live this new kind of life. I feel like I've lost everything that I am and whenever I try and do the right thing, it seems to be wrong. Last night when you came in and lay next to me, I wanted more than anything to hold onto you and tell you that I'm an idiot and you're right, but my stupid Malfoy pride got in the way. I guess it's just going to take some time for us to get to where we need to be, and I hope you will stay with me long enough to find it" he said.

"I love you Malfoy. I want to be with you" she said.

At this, Malfoy let go of her hands, took his wand out and cast a circle around his enclosed left hand. Hermione watched carefully, not sure of what to make of it. After uttering a few words that Hermione couldn't make out, Malfoy stopped, placed his wand inside the pocket of his robe and held his hand closer to Hermione. She looked at his hand and up into his eyes that seemed full of fear. What was going on? He opened his hand and in it, he held a gold ring that contained some small stones that shone brighter than the sun.

"I'm not asking you to marry me, yet… but I am making you a promise that I am yours. Hermione, I love you and I need you in my life. I need you to know that I am serious about us. Please wear this ring as a promise that you're mine too" he said, desperation and fear radiating from his words. Hermione looked down at the ring and back at his face. She was stunned and shocked. Just this morning, she thought he had left her.

"I… ok, yes I will wear the ring. I'm yours, always" she said softly.

Her words were met with that smile she rarely saw on his face, the one she hadn't seen until recently. He took the ring from his hand and it promptly stopped glowing, revealing a beautifully subtle gold ring with small stones set inside the intricacies of the ring, that gleamed slightly when the light touched it. He placed it carefully on her finger and leant forward to kiss her. Everything about this moment was perfect. It didn't matter that they were at a wake. It didn't matter that they had been fighting up until an hour ago. It didn't matter that Ron was staring daggers at them at that very moment. Hermione had never been surer of something in her whole life as she now was about her love for Draco Malfoy.

The event went on and Hermione made a point of talking to everyone that she could. The general consensus was that Malfoy was capable of change and everyone was happy for them in their relationship. Harry congratulated them and suggested the 4 of them try and get together whenever they could. Nothing would ever make right all the things Malfoy had done to the trio in the past if Harry Potter could get past it, almost everyone could. The only person who wasn't cheering for the couple was Ron, who had started drinking firewhisky shortly after the burial. Hermione knew a fight was coming between Ron and Malfoy, she just hoped it didn't have to be now.

As the afternoon turned to night and the lights in the garden twinkled, the wake had turned into a full-blown party, with bonfire, music and laughter. Ron was staggering over by the orchard, but everyone else was still talking about Fred and Georges antics with fondness.

Hermione thought about going over to see if he was alright but thought better of it. They had finally come to a place where they could be ok with one another and she didn't want to ruin that by getting into an argument while he was drunk.

She sat beside Malfoy, staring into the fire thinking about how much they had to do to before their lives could ever feel normal, like a regular teenage couple, ready to begin to lead adult lives. As she contemplated this, Fleur came over and sat beside her.

"Ermione, so 'appy to see you 'ere" she said.

"Fleur, how have you been?" Hermione asked.

"Eet has been rough. Ze family is suffering… I was 'oping to talk to you in privat, no?" she said.

"I'll go get us some drinks" Malfoy said, kissing Hermione on top of her head before walking away.

"Is everything ok?" Hermione asked.

"I came across zomething interesting recently and I thought it waz a good idea to tell you" she began, "Ave you ever 'eard of Stockholm Syndrome?" she asked.

"I think I remember the term, but not sure on the specifics" she said.

"Vell, it is a muggle phrase that I learned ov that talks about people who 'av been kidnapped… Sometimes, ze 'uman brain can trick us into theenking we feel something for someone that eesnt what it would usually be" she said.

"What do you mean Fleur?" asked Hermione, confused.

"I am sorry, my eenglish is a bit off today. I will try… DO you theenk, that you might only think zat you love this person, when you might have developed feelings for him because you had to adapt? He kept you as his prisoner Ermione, you should be feeling zome hatred for him, no?" Fleur asked.

"You're asking if I might be confused about my feelings for Malfoy?" Hermione asked.

"Yes"

"Fleur, I can assure you, my feelings and his are real. He was just as much a prisoner as I was. We helped each other escape. We saved each other" Hermione said.

"Ok, zat is all I needed to hear. If you are appy and believe in your love, who am I to tell you different?" she asked, offering a smile to Hermione who was now feeling slightly annoyed.

"Who else thinks that I'm crazy?" Hermine asked.

"I've only talked to Bill about it" she said.

"Good. It's a load of rubbish and completely ridiculous" Hermione said, getting up from where she sat and walking away to find her boyfriend.

She walked through the small gathering of people and eventually found Malfoy deep in conversation with Harry. She was initially worried, but as she watched from a distance, she saw that they appeared to be getting on. She approached them and stood close, beside Malfoy.

"You ready to go soon? We have a big day tomorrow" she said.

"Yeah, just catching up on old times with Potter here" Malfoy said.

"That concerns me" she said.

"Its fine Hermione, we've agreed to leave our differences in the past. Just having a joke about the things each of us hadn't known the other had done" Harry said.

"The Polyjuice?" she asked.

"I can't believe you turned yourself into a cat" Malfoy said.

"Yes, well… That's so funny isn't it" she said with a sigh.

"What's tomorrow?" Harry asked.

"I need to go to Australia, sooner rather than later" she said. "I was going to speak to Kinglsey to arrange for a portkey as soon as I can" she said.

"You're going alone?" Harry asked.

"No chance" Malfoy said.

"Well, I'm glad Hermione will have someone taking care of her. I've been so busy with the hearings and things I couldn't even go if I wanted to" Harry said. "And Ron… well, he's not in any position to be going anywhere" he added.

"Hmm, maybe you should go check on him? We're heading home now anyway. I'll keep in touch though" she said, encasing her best friend in a hug.

"You better" he said, shaking Malfoy's hand before heading over to where Ron was arguing with a gnome

"Come on, let me take you home. I missed you" Malfoy said, leading her down the dirt path towards the boundary gate.

The pair stood side by side, arm in arm in the moonlight and kissed, before twisting into the night air and vanishing from where they stood.

Arriving on the front porch, the couple entered the house, hand in hand. Hermione was greeted with the sight of what appeared to be a hundred yellow daisies.

"What is this?" she asked, stunned.

"My way of saying I'm sorry" he said.

She looked around at the sight with a smile on her face.

"You're forgiven" she said, kissing him.

"I missed this" he said.

"It was only half a day" she said.

"Half a day and a night that I could have been kissing you" he said. "I was stupid to fight with you" he said.

"It doesn't matter anymore" she said, standing on her tip toes to kiss him. She kissed him as though she were making up for the lost time. With passion and greed, desperate to tell him that things were ok.

((AN- If you're not old enough, don't read the rest of this chapter. You wont miss any story line, just some smut. Consider yourself warned))

When he kissed her back, she hurriedly undid his tie, ripping it off from around his neck and followed quickly with his shirt buttons. She continued kissing him as she pushed his shirt from his shoulders and down to the floor. She reached behind herself and swiftly undid the zipper at the back of her dress, leaving them standing in the living room, surrounded by flowers, him in just his pants, her in her underwear. She walked him carefully to the couch, pushing him to sit as she straddled him. She was eager to show him how much this relationship meant to her, in any way she could.

She sat facing him, her legs either side of his, giving her full control of the situation. His erection was in its full glory, protesting against the fabric of his pants, pulsing against her. She continued kissing him, unsure exactly of what to do next. She hadn't really thought this through but now that she was there, she was going to see it through. She was grinding herself against him, feeling him press against her sensitive places. His hands explored her body, grabbing her backside, guiding her body as she moved slowly on top of him. She continued kissing him, desperate for this intimacy, following their fight.

She moved back slightly, allowing her access to his pants. She undid his belt and his pants allowing his erection to spring free. It did so with raging fury and she took the opportunity to take it into her hand, grasping it firmly. She heard his sharp intake of breath and looked to his face as he clearly enjoyed the feel of her hand on him. She moved slowly up and down, unsure of what she was doing, but going with what felt natural. Malfoy reached beside him, retrieving his wand, vanishing her underwear swiftly as she continued.

"I want to be buried deep inside you" he hissed through is teeth, before grasping her face and roughly, eagerly kissing her.

She held his erection in her hand as she lifted her body up, moving it closer to his. She knew it would be painful like the first time, but now she was prepared, she knew the pain would be short lived and the ecstasy following it would be divine. She hovered over his erection briefly, before slowly lowering herself onto it. She felt the tip enter her and the sharp pain that she felt the first time returned. She removed her hand and placed both hands on the back of the couch. She thought she might not be able to go on, but Malfoy's hand cupped her breast, fondling her nipple and she let go of the pain in her mind. Ever so slowly she lowered herself down, sinking him into her, every inch deep down inside her core, where no one but he had ever been present. The pain remained but the feeling of him inside her, the emotions attached to those feelings overcame the pain. She carefully raised herself up just a bit before slowly lowering back down again, feeling the warmth of his skin against hers.

Malfoy placed his hands on her backside, directing her movements, slow at first, guiding her up and down, sliding himself almost completely out of her, before pulling her back down, filling her, stretching her, claiming her as his own. He didn't hurry, instead allowing her to set the pace, going slow to savour the moment. With the pain but a memory, Hermione picked up the pace a little, grinding against him until she felt the familiar sensation building deep within her core. She kissed him clumsily before rocking back and forth, no longer concerned with feeling every inch of him, instead, desperate to feel any part of him press against her sensitive spot.

She felt herself build more and more, the longer she went on. She knew that he wouldn't last much longer as she could sense his breathing get faster and he was now gripping her harder than ever. She threw her head back as her orgasm took hold of her body, unrelenting, starting at the place where the two of the joined and spreading its warmth throughout her whole body, finishing up in her mind where she now saw only stars. She was vaguely aware that she was still moving, still gripping the back of the couch. He had control now. He directed her to stand, easing himself out of her. His eyes were full of passion, desperation and lust.

"Hold onto the back of the couch" he instructed. "This might be fast" he said.

Hermione did as she was told, bending to place her hands on the back of the couch. He stood behind her, gripping her, running his hands up her back, around her body and cupping her breasts. She felt vulnerable but had no time to think before she felt him run the tip of his erection up and down her slit. He carefully eased himself back inside of her, making her moan as the sensation was free from pain and full of delight.

"Is this ok?" he asked.

She had no words in her vocabulary at that time, but simply nodded, pushing back against him as he filled her completely. He gripped her hips and moved his body against hers, slow at first, eager to keep her from hurting. She gripped the couch as she moved her body in time with his. Back and forward, eager to feel him come apart as she had moments earlier. He continued to thrust into her, building in speed, gripping her harder. She knew he was close and wanted him to feel good. She pushed back against him hard now, showing him how much she wanted this, how much she loved this, how much she wanted him to pour himself into her. And that he did. He held tight onto her and where he was once gentle, he was now pounding himself into her, slamming his body against hers, over and over, gripping her tight as she held tight onto the couch. She felt his body convulse and could feel him throbbing inside of her, releasing all that he is into her, climaxing with finality as he groaned her name.

He released his grip on her, slowly pulling out of her before he took the blanket off the back of the couch and wrapping it around both of them. He pulled her onto his lap, stretching out on the couch and kissed the top of her head. He felt loved, cherished, completed sated.

She laid against his chest, listing to his heart beat and breathing slow down gradually. She wasn't sure if she fell asleep first or if he did.