I don't own Hp, and never will, but we all know that. Thanks to everyone for their awesome reviews and support! I hope you all enjoy! The ending of the chapter was so unexpected, but hey, my Muse has a mind of her own.


Chapter 28

Hermione smiled, clutching onto Charlie's arm. He kissed the top of her head. "Are you sure you're ready for this?" He asked once more.

"Yes Charlie. I'll be fine." She said confidently.

The two of them entered the ballroom and were greeted by the Malfoys. "We're so glad you could make it," Lucius drawled, sounding rather bored.

Hermione simply smiled. "Thank you so much for the invitation. It was very thoughtful of you."

Narcissa smiled, then abruptly pulled Hermione in for a hug. "My dear, I am so sorry about everything that has happened in the past. Could you ever forgive us?"

Hermione hugged her back. "Yes Mrs. Malfoy. All is forgiven."

She pulled back grinning. "Oh, dear, please, call me Narcissa."

"Of course."

"May I have a word, Miss Granger?" Lucius spoke up.

Hermione felt her throat constrict, but nodded. He offered her his arm, and she took it. He escorted them to a small corner of the room.

Hermione felt her eyes rake over him. He looked haggard, like he hadn't slept in days. She could guess that the post war has not been well on him. Many people disliked the Malfoy name and some even blamed them for the wars. If it wasn't for the fact Harry had defended the Malfoys, they would have received the Kiss. In fact, Bellatrix was scheduled to receive her Kiss any day now.

She glanced at him expectedly, waiting for him to say something, anything. He appeared to be battling with himself.

"I don't understand." He finally said, his voice hoarse.

Hermione scrunched her eyebrows up in confusion. "What do you mean?"

He sighed deeply. "I don't know how you can forgive my family so easily, after all that we had done to you and your kind."

Hermione was speechless. This wasn't how she expected this conversation to go at all. "I... Well..."

"I deserve to rot for what I've done, yet you find it in yourself to forgive me? Pity me even? I just don't understand." Lucius growled.

Hermione took a deep breath. "I have too."

"Oh, so you don't really forgive us, you're just saying it? That would explain things," he said harshly.

Hermione took another breath. "Calm yourself Mr. Malfoy. I'm simply saying, that if we want the Wizarding World to heal, we need to forgive others. The past is the past, that is where it must remain. If all of us brooded over who wronged who, there would be no progress. The War, all those lives lost, it all would have been for nothing."

Lucius waited to see if she would say more.

"Pureblood supremacy doesn't exist anymore. We're all equal people, with equal rights, and the same blood. Holding a grudge over something that doesn't even matter any more is pointless and stupid." She took a deep breath, and waited for his response.

"You are exactly right. Thank you, Miss Granger, for everything you have done for me, and my family. I hold you in the utmost respect." He said, bowing slightly to her.

She blushed. "Thank you."

He sent her a smile, not a smirk, a smile. "Would you do me the honor of giving me this next dance?" He held his hand out to her, and she couldn't just say no, so she accepted.

The two of them walked out on to the dance floor, creating a lot of whispers around them. Immediately, he began twirling them around the room, flawlessly.

He dipped her low, "Surprised?"

She smiled, "A bit."

"Don't be. I'm an aristocrat. I've been trained since birth for this kind of things." He said proudly.

Hermione felt a tap on her shoulder and saw Draco. "May I cut in?"

Lucius nodded stiffly, and kissed the back of Hermione's hand. Draco took her next and began twirling her around.

"Was my father bothering you?" He asked.

Hermione shook her head. "Oh no. He was apologizing. He was very polite."

Draco sighed. "Good. I was nervous he would start something. I didn't want anything bad to happen to you."

"Awh, thanks Drake," she teased.

He rolled his eyes, "Here, your date can have you," he spun her, then let go, letting her bump into another man's arms.

She looked up and saw Charlie smiling down at her. He gently began to move around the room with her. "Well aren't you just the belle of the ball?" He said, sticking out his tongue.

Her cheeks turned red. "Shush Charlie."

He chuckled. "You look beautiful."

She blushed even more.

He leant down and captured her soft lips in a kiss. His arm wrapped firmly around her waist, her own snaking around his neck. Their fingers met in mid-air, entwining as Charlie began to lead her across the floor once more. She felt herself floating as they danced around the room, the love between the couple apparent to everyone else in the room.

The song ended, and the two remained close, entwined in each others arms. Grinning, Hermione pressed her lips to his, filling the gap in a sweet, long kiss. They both broke apart, Charlie's cheeks a beautiful shade of pink.

"Is that red I see on your face Mr. Weasley?" She said playfully.

He lent closer, meeting her eyes. "All I can see is you."

Hermione felt her face flush. "Charlie," she whispered, closing th gap between them once more.

They broke apart, and Charlie took her hand, leading her towards the Balcony.

The two of them sat out in the cool air, enjoying the faint sound of music and laughter.

"You do know I love you, right?" Charlie said, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Yes Charlie," she replied, rubbing her hands together. He grabbed them in his own.

"And you know that I'm not going anywhere, right Hermione? You've got me for good," Charlie said, after a thoughtful pause, brushing her cheek with his thumb.

"Yes Charlie, I know. And I'm here for good too," she laughed, looking down at their entwined hands. "I never knew I'd end up with you." She admitted softly.

"I had always hoped. You were beautiful, and so smart. I had always admired you, but after Bill and Fleur's wedding, that admiration developed into something deeper. You fascinate me Hermione Granger." He captured her lips in a kiss.

Back in the ballroom, they could hear excited voices floating from the party. It was almost midnight.

Charlie pulled away slightly, still holding onto her hands. He stared at her, causing Hermione to shiver. "Charlie, is something wrong?"

He blushed, "What? Oh, no. No, everything is perfect."

Hermione chuckled. "Maybe we should go back inside."

"No!" Charlie shouted. Hermione looked at him confused, and he rubbed the back of his neck. He took a deep breath, and looked into Hermione's brown eyes. "I meant what I said about not going anywhere. I can't imagine not having you in my life. Now that I have you, I don't ever want you to leave. You make me happier than anything in the world. These past four months have been the greatest of my life, and there's only one thing that could possibly make it better."

Hermione felt her heart pounded and her eyes grow wide as Charlie dropped to his knee in front of her. He wasn't serious, was he? Oh Merlin, he was. Charlie pulled out a small blue velvet box. She could feel the tears gathering in the corner of her eyes.

"Hermione Granger, I love you so much. And I promise that I'll be here until our dying day. So, will you marry me?" He asked, his voice filled with hope and love.

The tears burst free, sliding down her face, as she jumped up and down. "Oh Charlie, yes! I'll marry you!" She flung her arms around his neck, placing kisses every spot she could get too.

He pulled her in for a kiss, just as the clock struck twelve.