So it has literally been forever since I last updated! I am so very, very sorry! The good news is that I'm finally doing it and the better news (or bad news depending on how you look at it) is that I've finished this story!

HERMIONE

I was sitting in my favorite chair in Draco's study when I heard him chuckle behind me. "How did I know I'd find you here?"

I closed my book and smiled, "I'm a creature of habit."

He sat down in the chair next to mine, his eyes twinkling. "I heard you snogged Millicent."

"Oh lord," I groaned. "That's not true! Stupid Blaise and his stupid big mouth!"

"Blaise? I heard it from Pansy."

"Pansy? How did she find out?"

Draco shrugged, "Probably the same way everyone else did." I rolled my eyes; it had to be Blaise. "Which brings me to why I'm here, you're wanted in the headmistress's office."

"Me?" He nodded. "Great." I stood up and gathered my bag. "Do you think this has anything to do with Pansy's body?"

"I don't know, I would suppose so."

I sighed. "I'm ready for this whole thing to be over. I thought this year was going to be normal but it's been strange as any."

Draco was quiet, gazing fondly at something I couldn't see. "It has been strange hasn't it? But it's been nice." He looked back to me. "I'm glad you came to Slytherin."

I smiled, my stomach flip-flopping at his words, "Me too."

"Hermione?"

"Hm?"

"Would…" He took a deep breath, "Would you accompany me to Hogsmeade this weekend?"

I felt my face heat up and I tried not to read too much into his question. He probably needed someone to help him pick out a gift for his mother or something, Christmas was right around the corner. It wasn't a date. "Of course." I said, heading for the exit.

"Uh Hermione?"

"Yes Draco?"

"I mean… I mean like a date."

"W-what?" I trembled, barely believing my ears.

"A date. In Hogsmeade." His face was a shade of vulnerability I'd never seen before.

"With me?" The words came out quiet.

"Yes with you," He laughed. "So?" He smiled, "I must admit I'm not a terribly patient person."

"I-I… yes! Definitely yes." He smiled again, the genuine smile that made my heart a big soggy lump in my chest. He stood and crossed the room in a few short strides, pulling me into his arms.

"I'm going to kiss you know." I barely nodded before his lips met mine. The kiss was soft, gentler than I would've thought possible, but sent tingles all the way to my toes. It was better than anything I'd ever experienced. "You should go." He said, breaking the kiss. "I wouldn't want to piss McGonagall off."

"Yea," I nodded, my head still cloudy.

"I'll walk you," He said, grabbing my hand.

PANSY

"Has Ginny come out of her room yet?"

"Who cares?" I said, rolling my eyes. "It's been a week, she should be over it by now."

"Pansy!"

"What? I thought you wanted them broken up!"

"Well yea," Ron shifted uneasily, "But I didn't think she'd be all depressed and shit. She never was with any of her other break ups."

"She was never dumped by the Boy Who Lived before."

Ron sighed and slumped down into the chair. "This is all my fault."

I rolled my eyes, "So what? You gonna get them back together then?" He was quiet, staring at his feet. "Oh come on Ron! This isn't your fault. Harry made his decision, she'll get over it."

He lifted his eyes and met mine, a small smile on his face. "Thanks Pansy."

"Yea, yea don't get all sappy on me." I said but a small blush warmed the back of my neck. Bloody Gryffindors, making me soft. The common room door swung open and the boy wonder himself walked in. He looked like he might be sick.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked immediately.

"McGonagall wants to see Pansy." Harry gave me a pointed look.

I felt my stomach drop. "Oh."

"And?" Ron asked, slow as ever. "What happened? What did I miss?"

"I won't let her send you Pansy." Harry said fiercely. "I'll vouch for you, I'll- I'll…" He faltered for a moment, "I'll go to Kingsley!"

"Woah, wait! Why are we going to Kingsley? What's going on?" Ron demanded.

"McGonagall is sending me to Azkaban." I said quietly.

Ron jumped to his feet now, "No! She can't! You haven't done anything!"

"Ginny and I were dueling… That was my last chance."

"She won't send you to Azkaban for dueling!" Ron argued; he looked to Harry for support. The dark haired by looked less sure.

"I don't know Ron." I sighed. "I guess I shouldn't keep her waiting."

"We're coming with you." Harry said. I nodded once, I didn't want to admit it but I was scared. A big hand squeezed my shoulder, "Don't worry, I'll figure something out."

HERMIONE

"Thank you Mr. Malfoy, you may leave." Draco nodded and squeezed my hand.

"I'll see you later." He said and left.

"Have a seat Miss Granger." I sat down in one of the two seats on the other side of her desk. McGonagall sat down as well. " I'm sure you know why you are here."

"I think so professor. Does this have to do with Ginny and Pansy?"

She nodded, "Yes, in part. Ah Miss Parkinson!" I turned around to see Pansy enter flanked by Ron and Harry. "Thank you Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley."

"You can't send Pansy away!" Ron blurted out. "She didn't do anything wrong, Ginny started it!"

"Thank you Mr. Weasley." McGonagall said pointedly. Ron hesitated and Harry gave him a short tug on his shirt. They left, glancing once more at Pansy. Pansy was more subdue than I'd ever seen her. Soundlessly she took the empty seat next to me. "Miss Parkinson you are aware of why you are here?" She nodded, staring at her hands folded in her lap. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"I…" Pansy finally looked up, tears sparkling in her eyes. "Please don't send me to Azkaban." She begged in a quiet voice.

"What?" I looked between Pansy and McGonagall, mouth open in shock. "You can't! Professor she's-"

"Miss Granger-"

"No! You just can't." I could hear the blood pulsing in my ears. "She's changed, they all have! I mean, of course she's still annoying and snotty and well a bit rude-"
"The point Granger," Pansy growled.

"Right! Pansy is good! Deep, deep down there and you can't send her to Azkaban she's hasn't done anything wrong! She's been to all her appointments with Professor Kentz, she hasn't been in detention in weeks, and that thing with Ginny well that was Ginny's fault too. She'd say so, I know it, just ask her! Please, you can't do this." I took a deep breath.

"Are you done Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall asked, peering over her glasses. I nodded, my words failing me. "Well both of you can calm down now, I have no intention of sending Miss Parkinson to Azkaban."

"You don't?" Pansy asked breathlessly.

"Of course not. I simply think things have gotten a bit out of hand as of late, particularly that incident with Miss Weasley." The look on McGonagall's face had me squirming guiltily in my seat. Beside me Pansy shifted in her seat as well. "This whole inter-house unity experiment has become detrimental to your studies and I think it is time that you return to your respective houses." A silence fell between the three of us. I was struggling with a mix of emotions. Despite everything that had happened, the Slytherin dormitory had become like a home. I'd miss my new friends. On the other hand, I couldn't deny how terribly excited I was to be returning to Gryffindor.

Pansy finally found her voice, "Really? That's all?" She sounded doubtful. "I'm not getting detention, I just get to go back to my own house?"

"Well I haven't ruled out detention quite yet, you were dueling in the corridor."

"But no Azkaban?"

The professor shook her head, "Not as long as you continue to improve."

Pansy snorted and pushed herself to standing, "Can I leave then?" She asked, half way to the exit already and leaving without an answer.

"Professor?" I paused, watching Pansy leave. "If you had no intention of sending her to Azkaban then why did let us think you did?"

"I tried to tell you." She pointed out.

"Yes, I suppose you did."

"I must admit though, I was curious to hear what you had to say Miss Granger. I was unaware of how deeply you felt."

"The Slytherins…" I trailed off thinking of Draco. "They aren't so bad."

"I do believe I see the glow of new love about your persons." McGonagall said, a knowing twinkle in her eye. I blushed deeply and lowered my gaze. "You may leave now."

"Thank you," I said, heading for the exit.

"Oh and Miss Granger?"

"Hm?"

"You could do a lot worse than Draco Malfoy." I left the room quickly, a smile threatening to split my face wide open.

PANSY

"You're packing." Harry said.

"They let you take stuff to Azkaban?" Ron asked thickly.

"Of course they don't you idiot." I said, rolling my eyes.

"Then why are you packing?"

I groaned, "Are you really that thick?" I finally looked up from my packing. Ron still looked confused but Harry was grinning.

"You aren't going to Azkaban."

I sat on the bed, grinning, "I really am too pretty for prison." Ron beamed and lunged for me. I ducted out of the way and slapped him on the side of the head. "What the fuck are you doing?"
"It's called a hug." He said, still beaming and reaching out for me once more. This time he was quicker and I soon smashed against his cotton-shirt clad chest.

"Ugh, Weasley stench."

"Accept it!" He said and squeezed me tighter. I felt a second pair of arms joined the embrace.

"Not you too Potter."

"I never thought I'd say this, but I'm really glad you're here Pansy." I could feel Harry's smile against my back, an oddly comforting feeling.

"I will deny this if you ever bring it up," I warned, "But I'm glad I am too."

Finally the two boys released me and Ron lay back on the bed, "So why are you packing?"

"I'm going back to Slytherin."

"Hermione's coming back then?" Harry asked excitedly.

"No, they're keeping her." I said sarcastically, biting down the irritation I felt at his excitement. It shouldn't bother me that he wanted Granger back it only made sense.

"Will you visit?"

"It's not like I'm leaving the country, honestly Ron."

"But will you?" He insisted.

"I'm not promising anything." I said, despite the warm feeling his words were eliciting. Any irritation I had felt at Harry's excitement was long gone. Damn Gryffindors, I really had become soft.

"Are you going to say good-bye to Ginny?"

I thought about it for a moment, "No I don't think so. She needs some time to heal before I talk to her. Besides I'm probably the last person in the world she wants to see, I did after all plot to ruin her perfect relationship."

"You what?" Harry asked suspiciously.

Oops. "Hug?" I quickly pulled the dark-haired boy into a one-armed hug.

"You aren't getting off that easy Pansy."

"This is my last day in Gryffindor Tower, can that confrontation wait for another day?"

"I suppose so." He said sounding weary.

"We should celebrate." Ron said. I flung my free arm around the redhead's shoulder.

"That's the smartest thing you've said all day."

I hope you enjoyed :D and because you are all such wonderful readers and I've been terrible at updating I decided to go ahead and post the Epilogue as well!