Author's Note: I cried as i finished, just because it's been so fun to write and i've loved writing it. one final apology to everyone i confused, i hope this helps clear things up. Please review...i'll be making my usual thankyou's chapter!! and in that chapter there will be a place for your favourite parts in the story I'll maybe have 4/5 overall favourite bits. so if you'd like to vote for your favourite part of the story then please review or message me!

thankyou all...i love you...hope you like it...

"Oh god." It just about summed it up. Harry was shocked to the core but for the first time in months something was making sense. And not just something, but everything, was falling into place. It didn't make it better, but it made it real. The air bit at his skin and caught in his throat, he wasn't crying but if he hadn't been so cold he might have noticed the deadly ache in his heart; he couldn't believe what Hermione had gone to do.

Suddenly, echoing through his desperate thoughts and piercing to his heart came the sound of his name. Even from this ridiculous distance he could hear who it was and it tore his heart from his body. The footsteps that pounding on the ground, just metres behind him, became the rushing of his own blood in his ears I can't! I just can't!

"That was quick!" He yelled over his shoulder, "Grand total of fifteen minutes that must have been enjoyable." His voice was almost hysterical as he began to stride away from Hermione's bobbing figure with more purpose and jealousy.

"Harry stop!" She cried after him, but he couldn't, nothing would make him. "Harry I didn't do it. I couldn't do it. You have to believe me." Nothing except that.

"What?" He turned around slowly.

"Harry I couldn't, as much as you believe that all I wrote in that diary is the truth you have to believe this. I just couldn't, not this time. I love you." The words hung in the air between them, glowing and spinning in Harry's mind.

Hermione flung herself into Harry's waiting arms,

"I couldn't…I couldn't…I couldn't," Was all she could say again and again. Harry pressed her fiercely to him,

"I know. I believe you, it's ok." He sshed her gently as they gripped onto each other in the gathering dark, both heaving with the effort of keeping their breathing under control, and both feeling gradually more content at the calm feeling creeping over them.

-*-

Hermione had to take several calming breaths before she could even think about entering the Great Hall next morning. The Slytherins would know she hadn't done the Dare, soon the whole school would know and Draco would have her forfeit waiting. Not surprisingly as she made her way over to Harry a large gang of Slytherins blocked her path, Draco was to one side but Pansy was absent for some reason, Crabbe and Goyle were the two main bulks that stood in her way sniggering.

"Alright slag?" Hermione merely looked at the ground, waiting,

"We've seen the picture Mud-Blood. Not too bad for dirty blooded scum."

"We didn't think you'd go through with it Missy. I'm almost impressed." Hermione looked up, shocked,

"What are you talking about?" She asked sharply, her eyes sought out Draco's who instantly registered trouble and came and stood between her and the motley gang.

"Look, you've seen the picture, you know she's going to deny it. Just leave the little Mud-blood alone now, I guess she must have had enough of playing with the big boys." He jeered and threw a snigger in Hermione's direction.

Hermione's brain was working over time, just what was going on? I don't have a forfeit? She kept up Draco's hurried act and pushed past them with mock anger in place on her face.

"What was that all about Mione?" Harry's voice was tense with his knew found knowledge of the dare.

"Nothing sweetheart." She leant down and kissed him, "Just usual Slytherin taunting."

"You'd tell me if it was anything…" He faded off at the look in Hermione's eyes; it plainly said of course I would, love.

After wolfing down her breakfast at top speed, in relief that the drama had passed, Hermione glanced around for Draco. She noticed him leaving the hall alone and heading outside. Hermione knew where he was going and quickly excused herself from breakfast, knowing that Harry would suspect nothing. She dashed outside into the bright but chilly day and by the time she had walked round to the cherry trees Draco was already sat reading; or at least, he had has book open. Hermione raised her eyebrows and he shrugged, so she sat down next to him.

"No forfeit?"

"No forfeit."

"Thank you." She told him earnestly, "What did you do?" Draco closed his book and regarded her thoughtfully for a minute.

"Well you know how much Pansy likes me?" Hermione snorted and Draco returned an amused grimace. "Well I took some cleverly angled pictures of myself …um…with her last night, after you'd gone. She's none the wiser and no one in on the Dare has bothered to check that it's not really you in those pictures."

"You did that to save me?"

"And me." Draco added defensively, "Besides, I figured you didn't deserve to be in on such a Dare, I was an idiot to ever even ask you."

"So why did you?" Hermione asked exasperatedly, wanting him to tell the truth just the once. Draco looked down, blushed, and then looked directly at Hermione,

"Because I like you. I have done for the longest time, and I thought…I thought…it's much too late now, I was really stupid." Hermione gave a half laugh,

"Yes you were." She saw the hurt flash across his face, "I do love Harry."

"I know." He muttered back, picking up his book again, for something to hold rather than to actually read,

"Well," Hermione stood up and took a deep breath, and then she smiled, her first genuine, carefree and happy smile in the longest time. "If that's what happens to the people you like…I'd hate to see what you do to people you hate." They both laughed a little. She gave one final glance to Draco's arrogant and beautiful form sat in the grass and knew they didn't need each other one bit; Hermione turned and walked away.

-*-

"Hermione what was that?" Harry was waiting by the gates for her. Behind him stood Ginny, Dean, Parvati, Seamus, Lavender, Neville, Padma, Ron and Cho and Roger. They were all waiting to go into Hogsmede with Harry and Hermione.

"I had to make sure the Dare was over-"

"What dare?" A voice from behind Harry came but they both ignored it.

"No forfeits?"

"No forfeits, no catch…it's just over."

"Are you sure? This is Draco Malfoy you're trusting here."

"I know." Hermione nodded and then looked into Harry's honest eyes, "I think we can trust him just this once."

"If you say so love. So are we together, forever?"

"I didn't break my promise."

"You did kiss Draco Malfoy."

"You kissed Cho and Ginny."

"You started the Dare."

"You wanted me in the first place."

"Truce?" Hermione laughed and nodded. "You know we'll drive each other mad, every single day. We'll hate each other and argue all the time. We're going to really have to work at this relationship."

"I know and I love you Harry, so if that's what we have to do, that's what we have to do." Hermione reached a hand and felt everything from the last year fall into place with the interlocking of their fingers. Ron locked eyes with Harry and shrugged,

"When you've quite finished." He smiled, "Let's go."