Part XXXVIII

I need to be alone, with you:

Bill carried Hermione all the way to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Then a tired and exhausted Draco Malfoy took her in his arms once again and he wouldn't let her go. When they reached the castle, Minister Shacklebolt himself was there to question her. He wanted a full report from everyone. Draco didn't care. He told them they could talk to everyone but her. She needed to rest. He cradled her in his arms, but didn't know where to take her. The Hospital wing was crowded, with Luna, and Neville being there. Her room in the teacher's quarters was out of the question, since he did not know the password, and she was still crying too hard even to speak.

He went up to the fifth floor corridor. Hannah Abbott walked all the way up with him and said, "Take her to her old room. We'll station different eighth years at the portrait way, and we won't let anyone come and see her, okay?" Ernie walked out of the portrait and held the way open for them. Draco smiled at them and told them thank you. Ernie and Hannah took up the first guard.

Draco walked with her to her old room and opened the door. He placed her on her bed. She took off her shoes as he pulled her bedspread over her body, even though it was warm outside. He opened her windows, sat down on the floor, and watched her cry. She cried until she could cry no more, and then she went to sleep. After she finally went to sleep, Draco Malfoy, who had never in his life felt as tired as he did at that moment, came over to lie down beside her. He pulled back the cover, (what was he thinking, covering her up on a warm day?) and he put his head on her pillow, and brought her sleeping form into his warm embrace. He finally slept. He slept better than he had in a long time.

After many hours of uninterrupted sleep, Hermione woke first. She seriously didn't know where she was at first and began to panic, which woke Draco. She sat up in bed and cried out for him, not even realizing he was by her side. He pulled her down to him and said, "Its fine, Granger. It's finally over." She glanced over at him and touched his cheek.

"Is it really?" She could not believe it.

"Yes, I promise you, it's over," he told her, tracing her jaw line with his finger.

She put her head on his chest and said, "I thought it would never be over."

"We've been through hell and back these last months, haven't we, little one?" he asked.

Hermione looked up at his face and said, "Talk about a slap in the face. I won't even begin to know how to act without someone stalking me, threatening me, my boyfriend dying, coming back to life, bird attacks, blood all over my room, dead otters, well, the list could go on forever."

He liked that she could see the humour in the whole thing. He said, "When you put it like that, it sounds sort of insane, doesn't it?"

"Draco?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"What do we do now? Where do we go from here? Do we stay and finish school? I don't know what to do?" She felt like she was going to cry again.

"You just need to take it one day at a time. Do what your heart tells you to do, and not what you think people expect you to do," he proposed and then he stroked her arm up and down with his fingertips.

"We should go and talk to the Minister and the Aurors now," she decided. She tried to sit up, but he pulled her back down. She said, "Let me up. I'm surprised that they aren't banging down my door as we speak."

"That's because our fellow eighth years are standing guard, and refuse to let anyone enter the corridor," Draco smiled.

"Seriously?" she asked.

"Truly," he answered.

"Well, cheers to them," Hermione said, cuddling back into his arms.

"Should we stay at school now? Bill told me the other day I was welcome at Shell Cottage for as long as I wanted to stay. You don't think he was just being nice, do you?" Draco inquired.

"No," she began, "I'm sure he was sincere. It's just, we've been through too much, and worked too hard not to stay, take our exams, and graduate. After that, well, I've been thinking. I want to go visit my parents for a month, and then come back here and do my internship with Professor McGonagall, and then teach after that."

"Where do I fit in that equation?" He was not ashamed to ask. "I don't have anywhere to go this summer, and I don't know what I want to do after school. I can go back to the Manor, but that thought depresses me to no end." He turned to his side. She turned to face him.

"You can come with me to see my parents. They like you. I want you to come," she explained.

"My mum will be getting out of prison by August. Maybe I should stay so I can see her for a while," he thought, "get reacquainted."

"Sure, that sounds good, too," she said, moving to her back.

He put his hand on her stomach. He watched his hand rise up and down with her even breathing. Was it really just yesterday that he thought she was dead? That he couldn't see her breathing. He kissed her cheek and said, "I want us to be together; is that something you want, or am I just being selfish?"

She turned back to her side and put her hand on his face. She touched his eyes and his eyebrows. "I want us to stay together too, so we'll find a way. You know, even if we are separated by miles, we can still be in love, and have a future, so don't worry, I'm not that easy to get rid of, ask Harry and Ron." She smiled and kissed his lips. He did not want to get rid of her.

Harry Potter knocked on the door. He snuck his head in and was slightly embarrassed that Draco and Hermione were on her bed together, even though they were just talking. He said, "I had a hell of a time getting in here. Justin and Ernie tried to keep me out, but I told them I would hex them if they didn't let me pass." He smiled. Hermione sat up and Draco got off the bed. Harry went over to the bed and sat next to Hermione.

"I'm on my way back to the Burrow," Harry began, "and I just wanted to tell you goodbye first. Bill has arranged for you to go talk to the Ministry officials tomorrow. He'll take you both in himself."

"Okay," she said, looking down at his hand. She put her hand in his. Now Draco felt like he was imposing. She asked, "Any news on Don Boot?"

"Yes, he's alive. He turned into a raven just before he hit the water. He's hurt, but not too bad. He wanted me to tell you that if he didn't see you before he left, that he would write to you soon. He told me to tell both you and Malfoy thank you." Harry put her hand up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. He let go of her hand and hugged her shoulder. She put her head on his shoulder and her arms around his neck.

"I'll see you tomorrow. I will have to go give my statement also, as will Draco. It will be one big reunion." Harry laughed. He stood up and so did she. He hugged her and kissed her cheek. He said, "I love you, Hermione." He turned to Draco, and offered his hand, "I don't love you, Malfoy," he joked.

Draco shook his hand and said, "Good to know, because the feeling is quite mutual."

"Take care of her," Harry said, squeezing Malfoy's hand tightly before letting it go. "I'll see you both tomorrow." And with that, he walked out of the room and shut the door.

She went up to Draco and said, "It's good that we can wait to talk to the Aurors until tomorrow. I was dreading talking to them tonight."

He put his arms around her and said, "Me too."

She looked up at him and said, "You don't think they will arrest me, do you? I took a man's life, even if it was in self-defence."

"I think they'll all realize he had it coming," Draco responded.

"Do you think they'll want to conduct testing on me, to find out how I killed him with a non-verbal spell?" she asked, worried.

"I really don't know, because that has to be a rarity," Draco confirmed.

"You aren't scared of me now, are you?" She tried to make a joke, as she sat back on the bed.

Draco said, "Well, the fact that you could hex me without even a warning is a bit frightening, but it'll keep me on my toes, I suppose."

She gave him a weak and weary smile, and reclined back down on the bed. He came to lie down next to her, climbed over her body, with his back against the wall. His large body was splayed awkwardly in the tiny little space. He said, "Scoot over a bit, Granger." He pushed her body to the edge of the bed.

Hermione said, "Now I don't have room."

"We need a bigger bed," he reasoned.

"I like the small bed. I like being close to you," she retorted, putting her hand on his chest and her head next to his on the pillow.

I love you:

She turned in his arms again, so she was on her side. He was still on his back and his arm was under her body. She started to stroke his chest and shoulders with her hand. Draco's eyes were shut and he was caught up in the moment. He never wanted this moment to end. How many nights did he lie awake dreaming of her doing the very thing she was doing now? How many days did he spend worrying that he would never feel this way again? Was it really just yesterday that he thought she had died? Was it just a day ago that he thought he would never kiss her, feel her, or be a part of her again?

He took a deep breath, almost a sigh, and turned to his side to face her. She leaned closer and kissed his mouth sweetly, before moving her lips to his forehead, his eyes, his cheek, and then his neck. Her hand went up under the bottom of his shirt, and rested on his bare stomach. He leaned closer as he did the same to her. He kissed her cheek, her forehead, her mouth, and then her chin. He put his hand on her side, up under her shirt, and put his fingers on her back. He pulled her closer to him. They were so close they were almost one.

Hermione started unbuttoning his shirt. She reached the end, and slipped it off his shoulders. The feel of her delicate hands on his skin was electrifying. He growled slightly and considered that she was now ahead in this little game, and he needed to catch up, so he pulled her shirt over her body. She had to sit up slightly, to help him remove it over her shoulders and head. He threw it on the floor next to his. He put the knuckle side of his hand on her chest, bringing it down to her breast. He cupped one breast, stroking it gently with his thumb, over her bra. He bent his head to kiss the swell of the breast that was exposed from the top of her bra. He reached around and unclasped the bra, and brought it slowly over her arms. It landed on the floor with their shirts.

He smiled and said, "It's your turn, Granger."

She guided him back to his back, and put one hand on his lower abdomen, as her lips kissed his chest, and his nipples. She bent lower and kissed the outline of his ribs, and then his lower abdomen, below her hand. She climbed back up his body, and kissed his jaw line and his neck again. She leaned against him, and her bare torso pressed up against him, her nipples are hard and erect. He was going out of his mind.

He felt it was time to participate a bit more. He pushed her off him to her back. He sat up on the bed, and unzipped her jeans. He removed her socks, (she had removed her own shoes when they first entered the room), and he pulled her pants down her legs, slowly. He threw them on the ever-expanding pile of clothing on the floor. He leaned over her body and kissed the thigh of one leg, as his hand went up and down on the other. He kissed her stomach, as his hands went on her hips and pulled down her knickers. He rolled her on her side, and kissed her hip, as his hand cupped her behind. He stroked her back slowly, and then kissed his way up from her hip, to her side, to her ribcage, to the side of her breast, to her neck again.

Without warning, she pushed him back on his back and said, "My turn again," as she bent over him and unbuckled his belt. She removed it from around his waist. She threw it down and then unbuttoned his slacks before unzipping them. She pulled them down his legs, as he kicked off his shoes and socks. She climbed up his body, with both hands on both of his legs, stroking them slowly as she came up to his chest. She sat on his waist, and rubbed his chest and arms. She leaned down one more time and kissed him languidly, almost wantonly. She climbed off his body and put her hand on the waistband of his shorts. She reached inside, and stroked him, with one hand, before taking both hands and pulling his shorts down his legs, and putting them on the floor. She reached down and put her fingers around him again, and his head went back against the pillow and he shut his eyes, giving into the pleasure. She continued to stroke him, now with both hands, delicately and without much pressure, but it was almost more than he could stand. He was harder than he had ever remembered being. She put both hands at his base, and started to bring them to his tip, he opened his eyes, looking at the top of her head.

He reached for her face, and forced her back up to the pillow. She had to forgo her previous activity. He placed his hands on the sides of her face and kissed her with all the passion he had felt for so long. He forced her back to her back for what he knew would be that last time, for he was ready to get this over and done. He never left contact with her mouth. With his lips still on her lips, he drank from her, thirstier for her than he had ever been. His hand went to her core, as he reciprocated her actions from earlier. He moved his mouth to her neck, then her collarbone, then her breasts. He licked her breasts with wide, even strokes of his tongue. His hand was still at her heat, stroking her lightly. She moved her head to the side, and put one hand up to grasp the railing of her headboard, and the other went on the arm that was giving her such incredible pleasure that she was almost undone.

He took that moment to look up at her face and he said, "Look at me, Hermione." She managed to open her eyes, as his fingers started to enter her and he said, "I love you."

She breathlessly said, "I love you," and then she almost let out a cry, a moan, a whimper.

He kissed her lips again, as he entered her with two fingers. She put both hands on his shoulders, and then moved them around his neck. She abruptly said, "Oh, Malfoy, is my door locked?"

He thought it was too late if it wasn't, but he removed his hand from her, leaned over her body to grab his pants, took out his wand and locked her door with a locking spell. He threw his wand halfway across the room, where it hit the wall, and then the floor, where it made a loud noise as it hit. He said, "It is now."

"What about a silencing charm?" she asked.

"You're killing me!" He grimaced. He jumped off the bed, picked up his wand, and said a silencing charm. He threw the wand down once more and said, "Now shut the hell up."

He immediately climbed back on her body, and took her mouth to his. He was ready, and surely she was as well. He entered her slowly, biting his bottom lip, because he wanted to go slow, even though his body wanted him to go quick. He started a slow, steady rhythm, and she hooked one leg over his hip. He supported his weight on his elbows, and she bit down on her lip. He quickened his pace, and started groaning. She matched his groans with high-pitched moans. He thought that silencing charm was a good idea after all. He said, "I need you now!"

She was already his, so what did he mean? She said, "I'm yours, I'm ready," and he reached a higher pitch, just as she started her crescendo. He was ready for his release, and when he saw that she had started to quake, he let go with a powerful surge, one of which he had never felt before. She yelled loudly. It was a yell that sounded like a cross between pleasure and pain. That was how she felt, so that was how she screamed.

He collapsed. He was so exhausted. He moved slightly off her, and rested his head on her breasts. She stroked his head and back. He said, "That was bloody great, Granger."

She sighed and shut her eyes. He looked up at her face and said, "You go to sleep. We both need to sleep now. I'll wake you up early in the morning."

She rolled over to her side, and he pulled the bedspread back over her. He moved on his side, so they were facing the same way. He pulled her back into his chest, put his arm around her waist, and rested his cheek on hers. "I do love you, you know. I wasn't just saying that in the moment."

She was already asleep, but it didn't matter. He knew she knew how he felt.

To the Ministry, and back again:

It rained hard the next day. Draco felt the weather outside matched the mood he felt . Draco kept his promise; he woke up early, before daybreak, and woke her. They both went to shower and change. It was the first day of the last full week of school. Their exams were to start at the end of the week, and end the start of next week. Graduation was the Saturday after that. Hermione didn't even care. If she didn't know the information by now, it would never be known. She wanted to relax the rest of the week. She would have to wait until after today to start her relaxing.

Bill met them in the Great Hall after breakfast. He escorted them to the main doors, where Aurors were to meet them. When Hermione saw all the Aurors, she asked, "Am I under arrest?"

Bill said, "Heavens no, Hermione, why would you think that?"

"Why do we have to be escorted by Aurors?" she inquired.

"They wanted to escort you. They're indebted to you. It's a sign of respect," Bill told her. She looked at him confused. She turned to face Draco, who reached for her hand. She was just about to take it, when instead she ran past him, back toward the Grand Staircase. Bill and Draco turned around confused, but then saw why she ran.

Hermione ran straight into the waiting arms of Don Boot. He hugged her tightly and said, "It's over, Hermione. Everything will be okay, now. Thank you for everything you've done."

"No, thank you for protecting me," she countered. "Do you have to go to the Ministry as well?"

"Yes, I might be in a spot of trouble, but nothing I can't handle." He laughed. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I've been offered a post here, as Potions Master, and I think I will accept." She hugged him.

"I'm coming back here next year, too," she said softly.

"I know. Now, you need to convince Malfoy to come, and study under me. I only intend to stay for a year or two, so he'll need to take over for me," he said with a wink.

"I'll try," she promised, hugging him again. He took her hand and walked toward the waiting Aurors. He handed her over to Draco and smiled and shook Draco's other hand.

After four hours of questioning at the Ministry, Draco and Hermione were allowed to leave. The Ministry decided they would be not charged with anything. They were leaving the Ministry with Bill, to go spend the rest of the day at the Burrow, when they passed Michael Corner. He said, "I've just been cleared of all charges."

Hermione hugged him, and said, "Us too."

She caught up with Bill and Draco and she said, "Draco, may I talk to Bill before we leave?" Draco nodded and went to talk to Michael.

"What's up?" Bill asked, putting his arm around her shoulders. She was like another little sister to him, and he was so glad that her year from hell was over and done.

"After the Ministry officials had Draco and I leave the room, what did you all talk about up there?" she asked.

"The Ministry wanted to talk about how you were able to overcome Mankin's potion. They found more of it in his room at Hogwarts, and they found his journals. They were just shocked that you were able to come out of it, that's all," he confessed.

"What did they say about the non-verbal death curse? Why was I able to do that?" she asked, very concerned. She added, "Am I some sort of freak of nature?" and she laughed.

"Of course you are," Bill laughed back, "that's what makes you, you."

She frowned.

He said, "Let me rephrase that. While it's not common for someone who is Muggle-born, and your tender age, to be able to do such advance magic, things like nonverbal spells, and even a nonverbal unforgivable curse is not completely unheard of, and perhaps the fact that you were able to come out of that horrible potion just means that you tapped into an unknown stases of your brain, and your magic is now more advanced, because of it." She hung her head and he put his hand under her chin, to force her to look up at him.

"Listen, Hermione," Bill almost scolded, "Whatever happened back at that cave, whatever magical abilities you showed; it was something that was inside of you all along. It was always part of your destiny. You're a very intelligent, highly gifted and exceptionally talented witch, but I think you already know that. Come on, Mum has been waiting lunch for us, let's go."

Hermione walked back over to Draco, who was now sitting on a bench in the corner. "Alright, Granger?" he asked.

"Alright, Malfoy," she answered, taking his hand. Bill led them to the floo system and they went directly to the kitchen of the Burrow.

After good food, and conversations with good friends, Hermione told Draco she was tired and needed to go back to school. He was glad. He wanted to go back hours ago.

She kissed everyone goodbye, and took Draco's hand, and the flooed to the Three Broomsticks, in Hogsmeade.

He said, "Up for a walk?"

"Since that's the only way back, I guess so," she answered, amused that he would ask.

He said, "So, I heard from Bill that Don Boot is taking over Mankin's position next year."

"Yes, he already told me. He wanted me to try to convince you to come and study under him, so you could take over the position someday," she confessed.

"I know. Are you definitely going back there next year?" he asked.

"Definitely, it's my home," she told him.

"What would happen if I don't want to go back?" he asked her, worried.

She let go of his hand and stopped walking. "I told you last night that we don't have to be physically together to still be together. I love you and nothing will change that. I want a future with you, but we have the rest of our lives. We don't have to rush into anything. Just realize that I can't give up my dream for anyone, not even you, and I hope you won't ask me to, because I wouldn't ask you to give up your dream for me." She started to walk again.

He rushed up to her, grabbed her arm, and turned her around, "First, Granger, I would never expect, nor would I ask, for you to give up anything for me. I was just checking. I just wanted some assurance, I guess. I love you too, I want a future with you, and I agree that our present is what matters the most. We have the rest of our lives to figure out our future." He put his arms around her waist and kissed her. He let her go, took her hand once more, and started walking back toward the school.

They walked hand in hand back to Hogwarts. Hermione was uncertain of her future, and weary of her past, but walking hand in hand with Draco Malfoy, she was sure of one thing: her present was here with him. She was home, as long as he was with her, and not just physically, but in her heart.