Disclaimer: Everything is owned by J.K Rowling except for the plot.

A/N: Hi all, I just to start off with saying. Sorry! Please forgive me! I haven't updated around two months! I've just been busy with my personal life and have had major writer's block. But without further ado, Enjoy!

Chapter 21: Everlasting

After what seemed like forever to him, she finally said. "I...I like you too."

Was what he was hearing correct? This was not possible. He's was dreaming, right?... If so, he hoped he would never wake up from it. Draco thought stunned and dazed as he stared blankly at the girl who possessed both his mind and heart.

"..w-what..?" He managed to mumble out.

"I like you." Hermione said once more, but firmer with a bright smile.

All at once, the surroundings became blurry and out of focus. The only thing he could see before him was Hermione.

"You like me?!" Draco repeated back with disbelief. After seeing her nod bashfully, Draco was overwhelmed with joy. He had never felt this ecstatic before. He laughed out loud as he ran his hand through his hair, now, out of habit. He wanted to hold her... Treasure her... This girl he would have never thought he would fall for.

"Ah!" Hermione yelp with shock then laughed. Before Hermione knew it, he had picked her up and spun her around then wrapped her tightly in a hug. When they leaned out of the hug, they looked at each other with such joy and a subtle hint of shyness. Then Draco quickly realized what he had done out of the spur of the moment and set her down carefully. Scratching the nape of his neck awkwardly, he apologized quietly.

"I didn't mind." Hermione blushed. Then she remembered why they were where they were. "But you need to go back and apologize to Micheal." She said firmly. Hermione listened as he explained the misunderstanding while he grimaced at his mistake. He had punched the guy out of nowhere. Although he knew it was his fault, Draco was not looking forward to apologizing. Malfoys seldom show weakness. Apologies were a type of weakness. But right now, he was more happy than not after learning each other's mutual feelings.

"Come on then." Draco smiled affectionately to Hermione. He started to walk back towards where they came from. Purposefully slowing down his pace so Hermione's would match his, Hermione easily walked up beside him with a bright smile. He peeked sideways at her, peered down, and noticed how close their hands were.

He took a deep breath and went for it. He wrapped his hand with hers. Afraid she might pull back, Draco held in that deep breath of air. But then released it when he was pleasantly surprised by a soft squeeze of her hand. With widened eyes, he looked over at her as she looked up at him with a grin. He couldn't help but grin back widely. He thought was going to explode with happiness. They continued up the path back in comfortable silence with joined hands.

Micheal was still there, but he now sported a large bruise on the area he was punched. He was among his friends now who met up with him. Closest to him, a pretty blonde was nursing the dark bruise on his face.

"Micheal." Hermione said to catch his attention. The Ravenclaw boy turned away from his group and looked at the direction of the pair.

"Hermione. Are you alright?" He asked genuinely concerned for her well being. He wasn't sure what happened and why he was attacked all the sudden. He also wasn't sure if something was going to happen to her when she was dragged away so abruptly.

"Yes, I'm fine. But never mind me, are you okay?" Hermione worriedly questioned. She gestured at the very noticeable bruise on the handsome Ravenclaw boy's face.

"Yes. No worries. Alice is helping me with some pain killing spells." He said as he smiled lovingly at the blonde next to him. She mirrored his act and acknowledged the two as they greeted her back.

"That's a relief to hear. Also, Malfoy has something to you." Hermione added as she nudged Draco forward with the hand that held his.

Draco groaned just thinking about what he was about to do. Me and my stupid primal instinct... He blamed himself for putting himself in his current predicament. He looked at the smiling Ravenclaw boy and grimaced inwardly. He didn't think he had punched him that hard.

Feeling bad, Draco couldn't look him in the face, but mumbled: "Sorry."

Seeing how guilty Draco appeared, Micheal accepted his apology. "It's fine. Most likely a misunderstanding." Draco was surprised at how forgiving he was. If it were him, he wouldn't be as forgiving.

Hermione explained Draco's point of view and why he punched him. After listening to the story, Micheal chuckled, but winced a little from the bruise. "I guess you found someone too, Hermione." He teased.

She blushed. "I guess I did." Draco grumbled beside her because he still didn't really like the Ravenclaw as he recalled he was Hermione's date from the masquerade ball. He wasn't really fond of their friendship and the way they conversed with each other. Even with Alice beside Micheal, he didn't feel completely assured the Ravenclaw didn't have any lingering attraction towards Hermione.

Micheal, Alice, and their friends bid adieu to the pair as the large group decided to head to Hogsmeade.

Not long, Hermione and Draco's regular group of friends started to show up at their meeting point. Once everyone was present, they all started to make their way towards the small town near the school. With the girls taking the lead, the Gryffindor boys walked in a group of three behind them and the Slytherin duo tailing closely behind them. The Gryffindor boys animatedly chatted amongst themselves about sports and such while the two Slytherin males walked behind them in unusual silence.

Uncomfortable with the silence, Blaise was the first to speak up.

"So you and Hermione, huh?" He asked his blonde childhood friend. When he saw them at the meeting point, he could tell the difference in their behaviors especially towards each other. Actually, everyone knew. It was obvious. When he found out about his friend's feelings towards the Head Girl, it surprised him at first, but he was ultimately happy for Draco. Happy that he has finally found someone to cherish. Seeing the way the two were with each other after coming back from Christmas break, it was only in a matter of time.

"Yeah." Draco could only say as he directed his gaze forward unable to look his friend in the eye. He felt guilty about liking the same girl his friend liked not long before as he remembered the scene before the fountain at the ball. He wasn't sure what to do or say as they had never gone through a situation like this before.

As his best friend, Blaise understood Draco's thoughts and assured him. "If you are feeling bad about being with her, don't be. Yes, I liked Hermione before, but I've had some time to think over the break. My feelings for her were strong, but ever since breaking the engagement with Scarlet, Scar's all I can think of. I know now that she has been in my heart for a long time and I was an idiot to let her go." Blaise said to Draco as he listened quietly.

Blaise chuckled to himself. "Look at me, getting all mushy. But honestly, mate. I'm happy for you. Treat her right and if you really love her, never let her go." He said as he patted his friend's shoulder.

"Yeah. Thanks, Blaise." Draco said as he finally looked over at his friend who smiled at him. They continued their way down the path listened and occasionally contributed to the conversation the Gryffindor boys were having about the upcoming Quidditch season.

...

Walking in front the boys, the three girls were chatting amongst themselves. Once they were out of earshot, Ginny surprised Hermione with a hug.

"Oomph, w-what the.." Taken aback by the hug, she awkwardly stood there but slowly wrapped her arms around the red head still confused as of why she was doing this all the sudden.

"I'm so happy for you. Scarlet and I have been wondering when it was going to happen." Ginny said as she leaned out of their hug and hooked her right arm on Hermione's left.

"What..." Hermione said befuddled.

"Oh for Merlin's sake, Hermione. For the brightest witch of our time, you sure are slow." Ginny joked. "You and Malfoy." She spelled it out for her.

"Ginny's right. For all the years I have been around Draco, I have never seen him this way towards anyone before. Not that he wasn't before, but with you, he is more gentle and kinder. It's like I'm seeing a whole new Draco Malfoy. I'm glad you guys are finally together." Scarlet agreed with Ginny as Ginny hooked her other arm on Scarlet's arm.

Their comments made her blush. "I never saw it that way. Thanks, you guys." Hermione said with a flushed face. The three walked the rest of the way linked together.

In the following week, Hermione and Draco were more inseparable than ever. The students were now more used to them together. There were less whispers and pointing as they roamed the halls, ate at the Great Hall, and hung out together. They didn't parade their new relationship in public obnoxiously like some couples have done in the past. They acted naturally with each other, but more affectionate and caring towards one another.

Seated in the library at their usual table, Hermione and Draco were sitting across from each other in comfortable silence as they were working on their respective class assignments. The scratches of the quills marking the parchments and flipping of book pages could be heard through out the large library. Several students were scattered around the library doing their own reading and writing.

Draco was reading through his Potions textbook as he glanced up to peek on Hermione as he has grown accustomed in doing for the past week. He just couldn't believe that the girl sitting before him actually accepted his feelings and felt the same way. He felt so lucky. Smiling, he adoringly gazed at her trying to capture the moment and hoping the moment and his feelings of happiness wouldn't ever end.

Hermione was concentrating heavily on her assignment as her eyes focused earnestly at the task at hand. He watched as she diligently and neatly wrote on her long parchment paper as her uniform and pristine handwriting flowed naturally on the paper word after word. He smiled wider when he saw her furrow her brows together as her fluid writing motion slowed to a stop when she approached a complicated question that required extra research. When she stopped, she finally felt eyes on herself and looked up catching Draco in the act. His eyes widened for a brief second, but continued to keep his gaze. She chuckled at him and asked why he wasn't working on his assignment.

"I just want to remember this moment forever. Us, you and me together. I'm just so content right now." He said as he placed his right hand over her left. He rubbed his thumb over her hand gently as she felt the same thrill and electric she felt whenever they make contact.

...

It was the weekend again and the group decided to have game night at the Head Dorm. Hermione had volunteered in bringing cookies as the other snacks were spread among the others.

As she walked down the long winding steps to the castle kitchen, she smirked as she had forced Draco to come along knowing how much he didn't like going to the kitchen due to his to traumatic past with the castle's kitchen house elves. She wasn't sure what happened but it must have been bad as he didn't want to get into the details of it too much. Before going to the kitchen, Blaise overheard that Draco was going to the kitchen, and so he started to laugh so hard that he couldn't stop resulting in death glares from Draco. She was dying to know the reason, but Draco insisted that it wasn't something worth sharing. Unable to ask Blaise due to his continuous laughter, they just decided to leave the Head dorm to the kitchen leaving Blaise behind.

He didn't understand why they had to go to the kitchen to get these blasted cookies. Hermione could easily just request the houseelves to bring them to their room as one of the privileges the Heads were allowed to. Sometimes he didn't understand what went on in that pretty head of hers. He sighed audibly resulting in a snicker from Hermione.

"Are you laughing at my misery, Mia?" Draco's mood brightened quickly as it has happened the past week whenever he spoke with her.

Hearing him call her by that name made Hermione's heart flutter. It was a name that he started to call her since they started their relationship. If anyone else had called her that, she would have cringed, but when it came from his lips she couldn't help but feel warm and giddy. It felt so natural.

"Of course not." She tried to stifle her snickers as she shook her head in denial, but if he saw her face, her smile would give her away immediately.

"Turn towards me and say that again." He said as he reached towards her. When she saw his arm reach over, she shrieked in delight uncharacteristically and started to run towards their destination. Sometimes she just felt and acted like a child around him unknowingly.

Draco smirked and chase after her. Being the athlete he was, he caught her in no time and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind as she yelped in surprise and delight. "Trying to lie to me? It won't work and you should know that by now. I know you too well, Mia." He smiled as he whispered with his deep voice into her ear. His warm breath on her ear caused a shiver to travel down her spine and up again.

She blushed and shook her head. "N-no." She managed to say with a shaky breath.

"Oh, Mia. What am I going to do with you?" He said as he removed his arms and spun her around gently to face him. He took this opportunity to take in the girl before him. Even with some strands of hair out of place because of their chase, she was still the most charming and beautiful lady he has ever seen. Seeing her look up at him with her warm honey colored eyes, he was compelled to touch her. Lifting his right hand he reach out and caressed her cheek as she welcomed his touch by lifting her own hand to place over his. She pressed her cheek against his hand as she smiled back at him.

"Missus Granger is here again!" They heard a terrified voice next to them interrupting their intimate moment. The two stopped at their tracks and turned towards the voice. It was one of the castle's house elves. Before Hermione could say anything to the creature, it snapped its fingers and disappeared in an instant with a worried expression on its face. Most likely, to the kitchen.

Draco looked at Hermione with one of his brows raised silently questioning her.

"There was a period I started S.P.E.W...let's just say they weren't entirely happy about it." Hermione said quickly. Draco chuckled remembering what she did a few years back with S.P.E.W. He was with one of the many who thought she was starting a lost cause with trying to give the house elves the same rights as wizards. "Anyways...let's go." She said changing the subject and grabbed his hand dragging him towards the painting of a bowl of fruit. Reaching up and tickling the pear among the fruits, the pear slowly transformed into a green door-knob after laughing and squirming.

Draco dragged his feet behind her reluctantly entering the large kitchen. Several high pitched voices and whispers could be heard throughout the room with a mixture of fear, disgust, and glee.

"Mister Malfoy is back! Hurry! Find some food for him! Mister Malfoy is finally back!"

"Mister Malfoy!" "Mister Malfoy!" "You are finally back!"

"Oh no. Why is Missus Granger here?"

"No...Missus Granger..."

"Seems like you are a popular one. I'm jealous." Hermione joked to Draco. He faked a smile. He wasn't sure what he did to gain their respect and trust, but he didn't abuse them or anything just gave them some treats and small knick knacks when he saw them. He didn't think anything of it, but when he went to the castle's kitchen for the first time with Blaise, they bombarded them with so much hospitality and kindness that it scarred him. They offered so much food that never wanted to go back. And all, his so called friend, Blaise did was laugh uncontrollably watching the scene go down.

"Trust me, you don't want to be in my shoes." Draco said.

"Alright, let's get started." She started to walk over to one of tables near a stove and oven. She placed the small bag she brought with her on the table and started to pull out several ingredients as Draco watched wide-eyed. She had placed an extendable charm on the bag so she could fit everything in.

"What are you doing?" He asked afraid to hear her answer hoping she wasn't going to say what he thought she was going to say.

"We are going to bake cookies. What do you think? Just meeting the house elves?" Hermione smirked as she brought out more items from her bag. "May I borrow a pan, bowl, and a whisk?" She asked a house elf nearby who was fighting between whether to speak to Draco or hide from Hermione.

"I will, as long as Missus does not force me to accept any clothing." The house elf said bravely.

Hermione sighed. "Don't worry, I won't...for now." She whispered the last bit under her breath. She smiled at the house elf. "May I ask for your name?"

"Name's Pippy, Missus." He said braver than earlier after hearing her answer. He then left to fetch the items she asked for.

"What?! You are baking cookies? From scratch? Can't we just ask them to make them for us?" Draco asked as he looked at her incredulously.

"I'm not. We are." She corrected him. "Plus seeing the faces on the people who eat it in the end is worth it. Trust me." She said as she saw him cross his arms over his chest. "Come on, Mr. Grumpy Pants." She laughed as she grabbed his arm and pulled him over to her. At that moment, Pippy came back with the asked items. "Thank you, Pippy."

"Missus need anything else?"

"I'm good, Pippy. Thank you." She answered him.

"What is Mister and Missus planning to do?" He asked curiously.

"We are baking cookies." Hermione answered matter factly.

"Pippy can do that for you. Let Pippy do it for you." He said.

"No need, Pippy. We want to do it." Hermione said. "Speak for yourself." Draco grumbled. Hermione flashed a glare at him and he stuck his tongue out at her resulting in a eye roll from her.

"No, no, no. Let Pippy."

"It's alright, Pippy." This went on for a while until Pippy couldn't do anything about Hermione's stubbornness and all he could do was stand by and watch. The other house elves clearly expressed their displeasure at Hermione's decision but knowing that they couldn't do anything about it, they left them alone.

"Draco, take this flour and sift it into the bowl." Hermione instructed him. He looked at her as if she was speaking a different language. "Sift." He continued to look confused. Taking the sieve from him, she demonstrated an example of how to do it. "It's to separate the course parts of the flour so it's more uniform when we mix it." She then handed it to Draco who relunctantly took it from her and copied her motion.

Hermione then went on to preheat the old styled oven the castle had and prepping the other ingredients to make her grandmother's recipe of chocolate chunk cookies. After he was done with his task, he signaled to Hermione. She then added the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients and instructed him to mix it. Draco followed her instructions and started to mix it with great concentration. While he was mixing, he heard a sharp 'click' causing him to look up.

He saw Hermione holding what looked like a small sized camera. He had seen magical cameras before but this was new to him. It was much smaller in size compared to the ones his parents use when they take family photos. "What is that? Did you just take a picture of me?"

"This is a Muggle invention. It's called a Polaroid camera. It prints out the photo immediately and comes out from this slot." She pulled the photo from the side of the camera as it slid out from inside. "Although, I did tweak it a bit with a charm so the pictures come out the way it does with wizarding photos." She shook the film for a bit and showed him the end result. It was a photo of him holding the bowl and mixing the batter with vigor as closed his mouth tight in concentration. The picture started from him picking up the bowl and mixing it fast and the cycle continued.

"This way we can capture moments and remember them easier." She said with a smile as she looked at her first photo.

"You don't want to keep that one." Draco said as he reached for the film. He didn't want the first picture she took of him to be that. She quickly pulled her hand away and dodged his grasp.

"Yes, I do." She said as she looked at it again and smiled gently as she held it against her chest.

"No, you don't." He set the bowl down and went towards her. Sensing his determation to take it from her, she tried to run away, but due to the limited space she was trapped. Not thinking straight, she grabbed a handful of flour and threw it at him as it hit him full on his face. Draco was able to shut his eyes fast enough to stop it from getting into his eyes, but some entered his mouth as he coughed out a puff of white flour smoke. Hermione laughed at the comical scene in front of her. Never would she have thought she would see the Great Draco Malfoy like this. Not taking any chances, she snapped another picture before he moved again. Taking the film out and shaking it, she guffawed at the photo.

Draco lunged at her and grabbed her waist with one hand and reached for the picture with the other. "Okay, I give. I give!" Hermione said. "Just let me keep it. You can take one of me any way you want." She bargained.

"Any way?" He asked with a mischievous smile.

"Yes?..Although, I'm regretting it now."

"You can't take it back!" He said with a smile. Hermione couldn't help but laugh at Draco's white flour covered face.

"Sorry, I just can't take you seriously right now." She giggled.

"And whose fault is it?" He asked. "How do you work this thing?" He asked as Hermione handed him the Polaroid camera. She taught him how to use it and he was able to take one of her as a test drive.

"Okay, stand here and close your eyes." He said as he instructed her to stand near a table.

"You want me to close my eyes for the picture?" She asked with a confused look.

"Just do as I say." He said cheerfully. She furrowed her brows and closed her eyes waiting for the click sound of the button.

As she was waiting, she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head that she had been feeling the past school year a few times before. She tried to contain it and grimaced inwardly so she wouldn't worry Draco. But suddenly she felt light headed and unstable, she grabbed the table to steady herself.

She opened her eyes from shock. Draco was already by her side holding her to make sure she was steady. "Are you okay? Does something hurt?" He said concerned.

"No, I'm fine. Must be just tired." She lied with a heavy heart. She didn't want him to worry. Since Hermione seemed like she didn't want to say anymore, Draco didn't push for answers.

The pain subsided and left as quickly as it came. It was strange, but she knew the Healers at St. Mungo's were currently conducting tests. She hadn't heard from them yet which is a bit worrisome. Hermione made a mental note to research in private and not raise any flags about something that hopefully wasn't a big deal. She brought her mind back to the present and smiled.

"Okay, I'm ready." She said to Draco signaling him to take a photo and then shut her eyes. With her eyes closed, she waited patiently for the click.

As she was anticipating the click, she felt a soft and warm touch on her cheek with a bit of pressure. She opened her eyes with surprise from the foreign contact. At that moment, that's when she heard the click.

Before she realized what had happened, Draco's face was no longer near hers as he was pulling the film from the camera to check the photo. It was what she thought. Draco kissed her on the cheek and as a result from his kiss, one side of her face had flour from where his face touched hers.

She blushed from Draco's bold action as she wasn't completely used to being in a relationship and skinship. But it was nice and she liked it as she smiled at Draco's actions.

"We have to put these in the oven quickly. We have to meet them soon!" Hermione said suddenly as she realized how behind they were in the schedule she had planned. After putting the cookies in the oven, they waited for them to bake.

Hermione couldn't stop looking at the photos she had taken. Draco was the same way and couldn't stop grinning. Hermione actually casted a spell to make a copy of the picture of the two of them and couldn't stop looking at it. It made her heart flutter once more as she felt herself heat up. And it wasn't because of the oven. They looked up from the pictures and their eyes met. They gazed at each other affectionately. As they smiled at each other, they thought how they were so lucky to have each other and how they never wanted this to end.

Even with these positive thoughts, Draco couldn't help but have a bad sink feeling in his gut when he was reminded of the times she fainted this year.

A/N:

Can you guys guess what's wrong?

I hope you guys liked it! I hope I didn't lose any readers from this chapter. I felt I should have at least one chapter with them being happy and lovey dovey before stuff happens. *hint hint* please don't be mad! It's just how I envisioned the story to go. Drama~~

I am still going strong with no soda if anyone was wondering. :) one punchhhh!

Thanks to all my lovely readers until next time!

Cheers!

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