Well here it is faithful readers, the last installement of this epic tale. Sorry for the delay but apparently my teachers love to pile homework upon homework on me and I have not had time to write anything. Also I have become mildly addicted to CSI and have been watching it from season 1. If there are any fans out there review and I'll be sure to read your stories. Anyway I just wanted to say thanks for all the reviews you have left and since this is the last chapter and all just go crazy and leave really long ones, it makes me very happy!

Hermione made it back to the common room just as Ginny was walking down the stairs from the girl's dormitory. On seeing her Ginny cried out, "Where have you bee…?" She cut off what she was about to say, however, as she saw the state Hermione was in. There was blood all over her face and tears were pouring silently down her cheeks. Ginny looked at her and then said quietly, "They got you again didn't they."

Hermione nodded unable to speak without fear of bursting into hysterical sobs. Just then there was a frantic knocking on the portrait hole and Ginny looked at Hermione in confusion.

"They didn't…follow you here did they?" She asked fear lacing her voice.

Hermione just stared at the door in mounting horror, imagining Slytherins and Ravenclaws standing outside with pitchforks and burning torches. Then she spun wildly around remembering the Gryffindor boy. Was she even safe in her own house?

A random fourth year boy walked over to the portrait hole, curious as to why someone was knocking wildly on it. Hermione put up her hand to stop him but he didn't see and even as Ginny was shouting at the boy he pulled on the door and it swung open.

There was a moment of silence as Hermione and Ginny stared in horror at the dark square wondering who was there, the boy oblivious to their terror stared out. Suddenly he was knocked aside and hit the ground with an 'oof'.

Hermione almost fainted with relief as she recognised the boy who came barrelling towards her to sweep her up in a bear hug.

"Draco," she whispered into his ear enjoying the safe feeling she felt in his arms, "how did you know?"

He clung onto her ignoring the blood she was smearing over his jumper; he just wanted to feel her in his arms. "McGonagall told me, she saw me walking down the corridor after she left those boys at the hospital wing. I ran as fast as I could."

A few people had noticed by now that there was in fact a Slytherin in the Gryffindor common room and there was a general outrage. There were a few shouts of, "a Slytherin, get him out!" and "oh my god that's Draco Malfoy, he's so fit!"

Hermione and Draco ignored them all caught up in just being together in each other's arms. About three hours had gone by and the common room was gradually emptying as the girls went upstairs to get ready for the dance and the boys congregated in their dorms to brag about who scored the hottest date. Hermione noticed this suddenly and said, "Oh! I have to go and get ready, only five hours til the dance Draco!"

Draco looked appalled, "do you seriously need that much time to get ready?" He asked genuinely curious

Hermione playfully slapped his arm, "yes and don't joke, you'll be happy I spent that long getting ready, I'm going to have to rush now you realise? Do you have any idea how long it takes to get my hair flat?"

Draco looked confused, "Umm…no, and I would be more worried if I actually did know that to be honest."

Hermione laughed and steered him towards the portrait hole. "Go on, get out of here!"

They shared one last kiss and Hermione watched him step out of the room and then said to his retreating back, "Draco, be careful."

He turned to look at her one last time and felt her heart clench in worry. She hoped nothing happened to him on the way back to his dorm…or in his dorm for that matter.

Five hours later exactly Hermione Granger walked slowly down the stairs from the girls dorms self-consciously patting her hair and smoothing her dress.

Ron and Harry who were chatting at the bottom of the stairs looked up and did a humorous double take. "Hermione, wow," gaped Harry and Hermione giggled even more self conscious now.

Ron just gaped at her and then quickly cleared his throat looking away; this caused the scene to become rather awkward. Ginny, however, appeared at just the right time exclaiming, "Hermione, you look amazing!"

After much more blushing and gasps from admiring housemates who cast envious looks at Hermione's straight satin blue dress they proceeded on their way to the great hall. Ron, Harry and Hermione appeared at the top of the steps leading down to the hall, Hog wart's famous golden trio framed at the top of the steps smiling brightly, although sporting a few bruises. Hermione sighed happily.

She felt that somehow everything would work out for the best, the memory of her assault just a few hours earlier was already receding in the light of the splendid decorations that had been put up for the dance. Angelina was right; she had her boyfriend and her two best friends. What else did she need?

She watched in amusement as Ron hastily detached himself from their little group to wander awkwardly over to Luna who looked stunning in a slightly odd and frilly but nevertheless flattering dress. She was still, however, proudly showing her butterbeer cork necklace.

Ginny reappeared nervously hovering around where Hermione and Harry were standing casting shy looks in their direction. Harry was purposely ignoring this although Hermione thought she knew the reason why.

"Harry? Do you still like her?" She said gesturing in Ginny's general direction.

Harry started and turned red, "who? Do I like who?"

Hermione laughed, "Ginny you idiot, the girl who's been waiting for you to ask her to dance for like the past ten minutes!"

Harry looked as if there was an emotional argument going on in his head, "you mean she still likes me?"

Hermione nodded, watching his expression carefully.

"So," Harry continued, "if I asked her to dance I wouldn't be making the first step technically as she still likes me, so I don't have to blame myself for our relationship is something happens…"

Hermione grinned as Harry continued to blabber on, it sounded as if he was trying to convince himself as well as her.

She gave him a small push in Ginny's direction and said "just ask her to dance already and stop your blathering."

Now standing alone she watched in contentment as Ginny's face lit up as Harry strode over to her. She spied Ron dancing with Luna and sighed happily. Her happiness was short-lived however as she spied Professor McGonagall walking over to her with a stern expression on her face.

This was not a good way to tell what sort of news she was bearing however as Professor McGonagall always tended to have a stern expression on her face even if the next words out of her mouth were going to be, "Voldemort has finally been defeated and we are free forever from the dark thralls of his shadowy power".

"Miss Granger," she said upon reaching her, "may I have a word?"

Hermione stomach suddenly flip-flopped, she was very aware of the absence of the person she had been waiting for and looking into Professor McGonagall's serious eyes she couldn't help but wonder if her worst fears had been confirmed and something had actually happened to Draco.

"Yes Professor, what is it?" She whispered fear lacing her tone.

"I just wanted to reassure you that the three boys caught today assaulting you have been expelled and are to attend a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic to determine their fate. If you wish to attend you may but they will most definitely ask you to act as a witness."

Hermione felt as if the contents of her stomach had found a trampoline somewhere down there and were currently jumping up towards her throat. This was not what she wanted to think about right now, she was at her school dance for heavens sake. She should be thinking about how her dress looked or if she needed to retouch her make-up.

Not about the three boys who had tried to sexually abuse her earlier. She just wanted to forget.

Professor McGonagall seemed to notice her discomfort and said quickly, "However all that is needed is a vial of your thoughts, they have a pensieve which can be used. You need not attend the hearing in person."

Hermione sighed in relief and nodded, "yes of course I will do that, thank you Professor."

She then walked quickly away towards the vicinity of the drinks table craving a glass of water to calm herself. On her way there she bumped into someone who stepped out in front of her.

"Oh sorry," she said before she recognised who it was.

"Hermione," said Blaise looking at her with an odd expression on his face.

"Look I was just on my way to the drink's table, I don't want to start anything," she said hurriedly.

Blaise looked at her probably trying to judge how sincere she was being and then said the most surprising thing, "I'm sorry."

Hermione just blinked at him and then realising he had actually said what she thought he had said, "For what?"

Blaise just shrugged and replied, "look I know we have had a very strange relationship, first we date then we end up hating each other and somewhere along the way there was some blackmail thrown in," he had the grace to look sheepish at this point in his apology, "I just want you to know I was never really angry at you more at Draco and I've made my peace with him now so I hope maybe we can manage to get along…for Draco's sake."

Hermione stared at him in shock and then remembered something she had done, "err…in the spirit of apologies, I feel I should say sorry then for going physco on you in the great hall that time and um…punching you."

Blaise laughed unexpectedly and said, "Yeah you sure got me there!"

Hermione grinned but her eyes widened at the figure she caught sight of behind Blaise, "Draco!"

The blonde boy turned abruptly and grinned at her but then caught sight of the boy standing next to her and his grin turned into a scowl, "what are you doing with her Zabini?" he growled.

Blaise held his hand up in surrender and said, "don't worry Draco, I'm just making my peace, I was hoping now that everything seems to have settled itself that we could go back to being friends. I got my revenge with that…hilarious potion. I'm over it now."

Hermione wasn't sure whether she was happy that Blaise was getting to be friends again with Draco or angry that he could get over her so quickly but for Draco's sake she picked the former option.

Draco stared at him and then said, "took you about time Blaise, I've been waiting for that apology for at least three days now!"

Blaise laughed and they engaged in one of those guy hugs that involved a lot of black slapping. Hermione looked on in amusement.

Draco then turned to her and held out his hand saying, "a dance my lady?"

"Why of course, good sir," she replied laughing.

As Draco held her close swaying in time to the music she felt a warm glow of happiness bubbling up inside her and she felt that everything seemed to have worked out after all. She laughed softly to herself, funny how things worked sometimes wasn't it?

Alright I know, MAJOR cheese alert at the end there but I figured I would end the story on a happy note considering the violence of the last chapter. I can't believe this story is over, I am so sad. Anyway if anyone is interested in slightly angsty stories with possible slash of the Harry/Draco variety check out my other fic which is in process called Exodus.

Now you know the drill and it would mean A LOT for some last reviews. So press that little button - you know you want to!