A/N: Hello everyone. First of all, I'd like to say thank you for being so very patient. After like 2 months I am finally happy with this ending, I think you guys will like it too. I've titled it The End? because whether or not I write an epilogue is entirely up to you. I think it could go either way. As always thank you for reading and sticking through with this story, and for all the feedback. I'm sad it's ending but it was fun to write. I'll have some new stories coming soon!

~Mrs. Malfoy

Hermione sat at the station, waiting for the metro. Her life had slowly begun to return to normal. Though she now worked at the Ministry, she still enjoyed spending time in the muggle world. It made her feel at home after a long day at work. She closed her book as the train came to a screechy halt. Passengers clambered on and off in a frenzy. That was when she noticed a blonde man sitting in her seat. Her heart stopped.

"I just came for my ring." He might as well would have run a spear through her stomach. She just really wanted to talk to him. She told him so. "Look, you and I had a deal. I came through with my end of the bargain." She couldn't breathe. She thought she might faint. Why all this trouble over someone like Draco Malfoy? What had she expected? That'd he come running and swoop her up in his arms, taking them away to paradise? Yes. That was what she had expected. It didn't make sense. After all the time they had spent together. But it had only been a day. Nevertheless she thought there was something there. She knew there was something there. She pulled out her necklace, her motions elongated, on autopilot as her mind struggled to grasp Draco's words.

His eyes met hers suddenly. Yes, she was right, there was something. She could see it in his eyes. Could he not see it in hers? Harry said something but it sounded muddled in her ears. Draco turned around. Why was he turning around? "Draco." she mouthed. But he couldn't see. No sound came out. And Harry was turning her around, guiding her inside. He didn't turn around. He didn't come back for her.

The days after that were a blur. Much like the rest of her life. She couldn't fit the pieces together. She hadn't laughed in a while. The days she spent with Draco continued to run through her mind like an old movie. But the ending was cut off and misplaced. So you don't know how it ends. She wasn't depressed exactly, but she wasn't happy either.

But now here he was. Right there. In front of her. Sitting in her spot. The image made her smile. And he was reading. He had the book up by his face. The title was shining proudly. Pride and Prejudice. It left a bittersweet taste in her heart.

She approached somewhat in a daze and sat down quietly next to him. "Draco?" Her voice was small. He tensed up. The book rolled down his body and fell with a clunky thump on the floor. A few of the other passengers looked in their direction at the sound. Draco turned to face her. "Hermione," his voice caught in his throat, "Hermione I-" "I know," she stopped him, "I just wanted to thank you." He gave a tense nod and bent to reach his book. "No problem." She looked away awkwardly, focusing on a stain on the ground. They sat like that for a while. The sounds of the strained metal on the track bumping along as they went.

"How are you?" he said abruptly, not looking up from his book. They came to a stop and passengers got on and off. "I'm getting better. Some things are still fuzzy." she said, but her tongue felt as though it was tripping over itself. She bit her lip. "How are you?" her voice quivered. He looked at her but didn't put the book down. "I'm alright." he said slowly. She nodded her head. She began to sweat suddenly. She was so nervous. She swallowed hard and licked her lips. "Why'd you leave?" she said quietly, just as the train screeched to a halt. She thought he hadn't heard her.

But he had heard her. Loud and clear. It caused his whole self to freeze. His heart pounded loudly against his chest. He let out a shaky breath. "I'm not good for you." he said, his face hard. He got up to leave. She lunged for his arm. "No," she said, "Don't do this to me again." Damn those eyes. They glistened with fear and hope. He tried not to look at them. He shook her off and shot for the door. But she dashed behind him. "Go away Hermione." "No." she said, trying to match his pace. "Not until you explain why." He shut his eyes and took a deep breath. He pulled her into a corner and rolled up his sleeve. "This is why goddamnit!" The ugly scar stretched along his entire forearm. He couldn't read the look on her face. It wasn't pity exactly. Frustration mixed with some sort of understanding perhaps? She stepped towards him. They were just inches apart. "I have one too remember?" she said, rolling up her own sleeve. She held her arm against his, their scars eerily similar. "They don't mean the same Hermione. I chose my scar. I'm no victim." Her eyes were soft. "I don't believe that." His features softened. He should've known Hermione Granger wouldn't give up so easily.

"Draco?" she said softly. "Yes Hermione?"She bit her lip timorously and, without warning, kissed his cheek. She looked down instantly, suddenly ashamed at her actions. "Hermione." Draco said purposely. "I'm sorry," she said, turning to leave. He was going to lose her again.

He grabbed her arms and spun her around. He cupped her face gently and brought their lips together. He could finally breathe.

And at that moment Draco Malfoy woke up.

Every night it was a dream like this. Or something similar. A strange, omniscient view of a scene, almost like a movie. It was driving him crazy. He needed to see her. He needed to breathe.

But how? She wouldn't want to see him, not after all he'd done. But maybe...maybe she did. She certainly wanted to see him in his dreams. But those were his dreams. He slid off the covers and swung his legs so that he sat at the edge of the bed. He looked at the clock. 3:14am. This was no time to be paying visits to anyone. But somehow, he knew he must. And he would. Without thinking he apparated to just outside her apartment. He stood there, heart pounding, breath hitched, becoming aware of the fact that he had no shoes on. No matter, he needed to see her face. He buzzed the doorbell twice and knocked on the door. I'm crazy, he thought.

Hermione groaned as she got up from bed. Harry had been doing nightly rounds just to check up on her. But she thought this had stopped. It had been a few weeks afterall. And she was fine. She pulled on her night robe and shuffled down to her front door. She opened the door mumbling words that carried annoyance.

"I'm fine Harry, really I don't see why you have to-"

As her eyes met his her words stopped.

His heart pounded hard and fast in his ears. "Hi." was all he could manage. She wrapped the robe tightly around herself and crossed her arms. "Hello." she said softly. "How are you?" his words were fumbled. "Draco it's three in the morning." "Yes, yes, right of course, I um, I was just in the neighborhood." he mumbled. "In you pajamas?" sleepy confusion was slowly evaporating from the both of them. He cleared his throat and swallowed nervously. "Yes." he said. She said nothing, half of her body hidden as she leaned on the door. "I love you Hermione Granger." he said suddenly, his voice choking.

Before he had any time to process what he had just said or how she would react, she was embracing him, holding him tighter than anyone ever had. He could feel the wetness from her tears on his shoulder. "You bastard," she whispered, "I hate you." she cried into his chest, but held on even tighter, as if he might disappear. "I know," he said, burrying his face in her hair, "I know" he breathed. He grabbed her shoulders pulled away suddenly, making her look at him. "I won't let anything happen to you." he said, his lips were thin across his face and his eyes glistened with fire. "I know," she said, her own eyes sparkling with stars. She pulled him in brought her lips up to his ear. She hugged him tight. "I love you too Draco Malfoy."

And finally, finally Draco Malfoy could breathe.