Disclaimer: Uhm...I have been possessed by the spirit of...ok fine, I haven't. I own nothing. I'm not JK and now I'm sad. THANKS.

AN: Ok bitches, this is the LAST chapter. don't cry. there's an epilogue. i love you guys *sniff*

Chapter 24

Lucius Malfoy paced his room angrily. Sometimes he skipped and laughed, other times he stomped and raged. There didn't seem to be a big range of emotions for him anymore, if there ever was. He vacillated between anger and amusement so quickly; the Healers had stopped monitoring his moods. By order of the Wizengamot, Lucius Malfoy would never leave the Janus Thickey Ward. While it couldn't be proved his addled mental state was due to spell damage, there simply wasn't another option for his long-term care which suited his son just fine.

Draco Malfoy stood at the door, watching his father skip about through the glass window. He didn't want to go inside. He didn't want to see his father this way. He didn't want to see his father at all. He'd only come because his mother had begged him. Draco pushed open the door.

"Hello! I'm a wizard!" Lucius announced to his son, giggling and waving wildly.

"Hello, Father. Yes, I'm aware." Draco desperately tried to sound bored but he couldn't manage it. He was terrified.

"You're Draco. I know you. You're a naughty, naughty boy." Lucius over exaggerated the shaking of his head, sending his blonde hair flailing about his head.

"I've been told." Draco refused to move closer to this obviously insane person once known as Father. Lucius didn't mind in the least.

"Mother says you love a Mudblood. Abraxas would be MOST disappointed with youuuu." Lucius skipped around Draco, poking him with a bony, pointy finger.

"I could give a flying fu..."

"LANGUAGE!" Lucius interrupted; a shadow of his former self peaking through.

"Yes sir." Draco automatically replied, mentally kicking himself for caving.

"Why are you here?" Lucius sat suddenly though trying to look prim and proper in hospital robes was laughable.

"Mother suggested it. I've come to tell you, I'm leaving. I'm going away. I won't see you again." He felt relieved saying it aloud to someone other than himself. He couldn't bear it. Bill was right. He needed to get on with his life. He needed to rediscover how to live without Hermione Granger.

"Oh! A trip! Where are you going?! Can I come with you? I love a good holiday!" Lucius bounced in his seat like a toddler. With disgust, Draco Malfoy left the hospital room, feeling no better for having wasted precious moments of his time. Vowing never to return, Draco felt lighter as the relief of discarding his father coursed through him.

He met his mother for tea at Malfoy Manor, prepared to tell her what he had already told his maniacal father.

"Mother, I"

"You're leaving, aren't you?" Narcissa Malfoy sat stiffly on the garden chair, uncomfortable outside now that it was so cold and dreary. She only did it to appease her son.

"I have to. I can't sit here forever. Please, don't try to talk me out of it. I'm very glad your Muggle-born wizard remembered you. I'm terribly sorry Grandfather murdered him. Hermione Granger isn't him. I don't think..." His voice broke, but he carried on, "She's not coming back. I have to let go. If I keep on, I'll come undone and I'm already halfway there." Draco swallowed the lump in his throat. He didn't want to let go of her. He wanted to keep her safe and love her. He wanted to carry around every single precious memory, but he knew it was killing him.

"I understand." Narcissa's eyes fluttered shut. She refused to shed tears in front of her son. She refused to beg him to stay. "When?" The word was shaky, but she remained strong. She had to.

"Tonight, I'm going to my house, to…take care of a few things and then I'll be off. I don't know when I'll return. If she...if she...comes by, will you, will you tell her..." Draco couldn't say it. His heart was broken into thousands of tiny shards stabbing him from the inside out. He wished they would hurry. The sooner they killed him the sooner he wouldn't have to struggle through every day simply to breathe.

"I'll tell her, Draco. I promise." As if to signify the finality of it all, raindrops started to fall. The sky turned a dark grey, black clouds rolling in, fat rain drops fell, soaking them instantly. Neither Malfoy ran. They stood and clasped hands, walking into Malfoy Manor together.

"Ginny? Ginny? Ginny! Stop ignoring me!" Hermione threw a shoe at her friend since it was the closest thing in proximity to her. Ginny was hit in the chest with it, throwing the shoe back at Hermione who ducked, making her stomach roll.

"What did Bill mean? Was he suggesting..." Hermione stopped. Her face went deathly pale. She started shaking her head slowly, her brown eyes wide in apprehension. "No, no no, he can't mean, not that. He's wrong. He's a man; they don't know anything anyway, right? It's impossible, isn't it? I haven't..." Ginny watched Hermione change colours and fret.

"Listen. It's a quick trip to St Mungo's. Then you'll know." Ginny skirted the underlying question quickly, picking up the discarded shoe.

"You know. You know and you're not telling me. Oh Gods, I have, haven't I?"

"Uhm, lots actually." Hermione's pallor continued to pale as she swayed upon her feet.

"With…with Malfoy. You're telling me I've…I've shagged…Draco Malfoy." Ginny threw Hermione's cloak over her arm, opening her office door.

"Yes, and you didn't seem to mind from what I've seen but that's neither here nor there. Come on then. She'll be back later." Ginny told the secretary whose name she never bothered to learn.

"Can we use the Floo? Apparition and I aren't great friends right now." Ginny closed her eyes, pinched the bridge of her nose and nodded curtly. She knew exactly what was wrong with her friend, but there was nothing on Merlin's green earth that could make her bear that news.

"Bill! You're absolutely sopping! Quickly, come." Narcissa pushed aside her elderly house-elf, pulling Bill into the foyer. The water droplets pooled around his feet, his hair a proverbial river of rain water.

"Where is he? He's not at the cabin. Is he here?" Bill skipped the formalities, his self-imposed task branded into his constitution.

"Cabin? What cabin? He has a cabin?" Bill found his hands clenching Narcissa Malfoy's lapel a hairs breath away from shaking her sternly.

"Not the point. Yes. Is. He. Here?" Narcissa Malfoy lost her aristocratic composure, her chin trembling, blue eyes shining with unspent tears.

"He was, yes. He said he's leaving. He...can't wait for her anymore. It's killing him. Why are you looking for him? What's wrong?" Her voice wavered but she stubbornly raised her chin, unwilling to completely lose her composure.

"Leaving? Of course he'd choose NOW to listen to anything I've got to say. Bastard." Bill released Narcissa with a slight shove. His wet robes whipped around him while he stormed toward the drawing room.

"Is it her? Did she remember?" Narcissa followed him, curiosity getting the best of her.

"Her? HER? Hermione Granger. That's her name. Perhaps you should learn it." Narcissa's hand fluttered to her throat, terrified of the venom in Bill Weasley. He looked positively animalistic with rage, yet her haughty nature revealed itself.

"Why ever would I wish to do such a thing?" She sniffed, raising her eyebrows in derision to punctuate her point. She would never admit to Bill Weasley her begrudged affection for the Muggle-born witch in question. Narcissa wasn't willing to admit it to herself, let alone anyone else.

Bill convulsed as the waves of fury rolled through him. For a split second, Bill absolutely believed this would be the defining moment he altered between man and beast. His teeth bared, the tic in his cheek jumping, a throaty growl escaping his chest, he slammed Narcissa Malfoy into the glass paned door, leading to the garden.

"Never-mind your son loves her, as he's never loved ANYONE. Never-mind the war is OVER and your half blood Lord is DEAD AND GONE. Never-mind you're a vile, cold-hearted evil SHREW. Forget ALL of it. Why? Narcissa Malfoy demands to know WHY she should deign to utter the name Hermione Granger! Well, for no other reason than she carries your grandchild." With a final violent shove of anger, Bill released her, bursting through the glass panes into the torrential rain to soothe the fire in his veins.

She slumped to the floor, rain pelting her through broken panes. The realisation of Bill's truth was shaking her sentiments to their very core. The house-elves scurried to the darkest corners of Malfoy Manor as its Mistress hid her face in her hands, rocking as the keening of her soul filled the Manor.

A scant hour later, Ginny held Hermione's clammy hands, while they were sitting in the waiting area of St Mungos.

"Hermione Granger!" A tiny, wisp of a Mediwitch called out.

"Do you want me to go with you?" Ginny didn't want to go with her, but she knew she wouldn't be a very good friend if she didn't offer.

"No." Hermione was surprisingly calm. She walked into the office, took a seat and waited.

"Ginny Potter?" Another tiny Mediwitch called from the round desk near the door. Ginny frowned, wondering how anyone knew she was there.

"Yes?" The pert blonde handed Ginny an envelope. Ginny tore it open, scanning the scant words on the parchment. "Do you have an owl?" The Mediwitch rolled her eyes and pointed. Ginny hurried over to the owl kiosk, scribbled a few words on the parchment and sent it off.

"Bollocks." Ginny spat the word, causing a small group of children to back away from her pointing. She rolled her eyes, intent on returning to her seat when Hermione exited the office. Hermione walked straight into Ginny, pinning her arms.

"Ginny, I...I'm...what am I going to do?" Hermione didn't cry. She didn't sob. She didn't much of anything, except squeeze Ginny Potter to the point of death.

"Can't. Breathe." Hermione loosened her grip immediately. "Ok. First, I'm going to enjoy some oxygen. Then, you're going to tell Draco Malfoy. Right now. Shut up. He's leaving."

"Leaving? Where is he going? He can't just leave!" Hysteria flooded out of Hermione's mouth.

"Yes he can! You haven't been to see him or owled him or anything in weeks and weeks! Did you really think he was going to sit around waiting for you forever? That's very selfish of you. I know you're all broken and whatnot and we've all been patient, but you're not even trying anymore. So you get yourself over to Malfoy Manor right now before it's too late!" Ginny shoved Hermione toward the doors, spinning in the opposite direction, before she said things she might regret.

Hermione Granger stood there for a moment in the rain, feeling it pelting her skin, but it didn't feel cold. She realised, she didn't feel much of anything. The only time she felt alive was in those few moments she closed her eyes and drifted through memories she didn't remember making.

"Children. A child. Me? I always want..." She stopped suddenly, gasping in wonder as images were flitting across her eyes. She closed them, thinking it was just a bout of dizziness, but they intensified. In the orchard, behind The Burrow, she could smell the trees even knowing she stood on the walk in front of St Mungos.

"I think I'd like to have children."
"Right now? Seems a bit vulgar."
"What if it happened? What would happen to us? We're not exactly careful."
"Are you saying..."
"No. No Malfoy."
"Ohh I suppose I'd definitely have to marry you. Otherwise I'd find myself on the wrong end of a Bat Bogey Hex directly to my man bits. Never mind the curses of Potter and Mrs Weasley. So yes. I'd definitely have to marry you."
"But. Do you love me?"
"Aw Granger. You...you know how I feel."

Hermione felt as if she had been punched in the gut. Every moment, every second, every thought and every feeling that went with them surged through her body. Passersby stopped to ask if she was alright, she could only nod and grunt. It wasn't painful per se, but it didn't exactly feel good either. Ginny turned, expecting Hermione to be miles in the opposite direction, but she wasn't. She was hunched over, gasping. Ginny whisked out of St Mungos in a huff.

"Merlin! Hermione! What's wrong?" Ginny was fully prepared to drag Hermione back inside for a full workup when it stopped. Hermione's mind was clear for the first time in weeks and weeks. Her heart was aching with an emptiness and a longing for him.

"Where is he?" Hermione shook Ginny's shoulders so hard, Ginny's head snapped back and forth as if she were a doll.

"Who?" It was difficult to think when one's head was independently dancing upon one's shoulders.

"Malfoy of course! Where is he? I need him!" Hermione's desperation choked her with emotion. Her fingers dug into Ginny's shoulders, begging her friend for answers.

"You remember!" Ginny would have danced if Hermione would stop shaking her. "He's leaving. Bill owled me. You don't have much time." Hermione released her best friend and started to run. She ran through the rain feeling the cold drops land on her skin, until she hit the corner and Disapparated.

"Oh she's going to pay for that. I hope she lands outside." Ginny shuddered, before scurrying off. She had happy news to share...with everyone.

Hermione arrived on the steps of Malfoy Manor. It was the first place she met Narcissa Malfoy without derision. Immediately she decorated the Malfoy topiaries, which is exactly how Narcissa found her.

"Ms. Granger? Hermione, are you ill?" With a final heave and a wipe of her mouth with her sleeve, Hermione turned around with a fire in her eyes.

"Where is he?" Narcissa stepped away from the angry brunette witch, with instant realisation.

"Oh Merlin. You've remembered! You've got to hurry! He's leaving! He went home. Bill says there's a cabin." Hermione felt her stomach roll again.

"I'm going to be sick." Hermione spun away from Narcissa, redecorating the topiaries. "Of course I have to Apparate. Ugh. I'm going to kill him." Narcissa blinked and Hermione was gone with a pop. Moments later, more pops alerted Narcissa to visitors.

Molly, Arthur, Bill, Harry, Ginny, George, carrying little James and yes, even Ron ran up the steps to Malfoy Manor.

"Are they here? Did you see?" A babble of overlapping voices greeted her. Narcissa Malfoy, stood in the rain, opened her arms, threw back her head and laughed. It was the dawning of a new age.

Hermione was soaked when she arrived in the empty field. She looked at the cabin, remembering the way it always smelled of him, even when he wasn't there. She saw a dim light flickering in an upstairs window. She had hope, perhaps she wasn't too late.

"MALFOY!" Hermione screamed into the rain. Rivulets of water were running down her face, soaking her hair, chilling her to the bone. Over and over she screamed for him. She saw his pale face in the window, staring down at her. She saw him again in the kitchen window, still staring at her with absolute amazement. Finally, he stood in the doorway.

"Malfoy. Don't make me come up there, you bastard." That was the moment the Apparating caught up to her. That was the moment she vomited all over her own shoes. That was the moment her knees gave out as she watched the contents of her stomach litter the tall grass.

Draco Malfoy thought he was dreaming again. He thought he heard a woman screaming his name in a thunderstorm, but that couldn't be right. Only one woman knew the exact location of his cabin and she didn't even remember him. As he threw random articles of clothing into a leather bag, he listened to the litany, convinced it was all in his mind, until he looked out the window.

"Granger?" He whispered to himself, dashing down the stairs. "If I look out the window and she's still there, I'll open the door." He snuck a quick look out the small kitchen window and there she was, screaming his name.

"If I open the door and she's still there, I'll go to her." It was the only way he could rationalise it. Otherwise he'd commit himself to St Mungos and never leave. He desperately wanted to leave. He'd do almost anything to escape the torment of his moments, days, weeks, and months spent with her.

He opened the door and Hermione Granger was still there, until she was on her knees voiding the contents of her stomach. For a moment he couldn't tear his eyes from her, yet he was unable to fathom this reality. His silver eyes scrunched shut to simply peel open and she was still there.
Finally, he ran to her, scooped her up, and ran back inside his cabin. He set her on her feet, threw an old blanket over her shoulders, prepared to drag her in front of the now roaring fireplace.

"Can't." She said, heading for the sink. "Have to brush my teeth." Hermione's teeth chattered, but she wasn't going anywhere until the rancid taste was scoured from her mouth.

"Use a spell, Granger! Let's go." Draco wanted to soak up every moment of this mirage before it was gone.

"Can't. Parents would kill me. Dentists." Hermione shoved some sort of brush with little white bristles on it into her mouth and scrubbed. When she was finished, she spat into the sink, prepared to face him.

Draco Malfoy held his breath the moment his steely grey eyes met her warm brown ones. He saw her. The woman she was in the before. The cloud of gloom which had settled over him, started to clear as the warmth began to return to his extremities. He saw the woman he loved looking back. These eyes were warm and welcoming and filled with...love. He wanted to gather her into his arms, never let her go. Draco stepped toward her, but she retreated, smiling nervously before speaking. Hermione took a deep breath, deciding to take the plunge.

"I think I'd like to have children." She said. He studied her for a moment, confused. The memory came to him quickly, a half smile tugging the corner of his mouth.

"Really? Now? It's a bit vulgar don't you think?" He casually leaned in the doorway, watching her slink toward him slowly.

"What if it happened though? We're not careful. Not at all." She was barely a foot away from him now, if he stretched out his fingertips, he could snatch her right into his arms, wet or not.

"Are you saying?" Draco watched her eyes sparkle, a grin playing about her lips.

"Yes. Yes, Malfoy, I am." He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. He just wanted to hold her.

"Well, I'll definitely have to marry you then." Hermione's hands were on his chest.

"But...do you love me?" She rubbed her head on his chin.

"Desperately."