A/N
I couldn't wait any longer- so here's the next chapter! OOOOOH I hope you guys like it! A lot happens- but the end is my favourite ;) So get reading, okay?!
Hermione once again found herself anxiously sitting in the seat directly behind Draco only this time she couldn't help but reach out and place a comforting hand on his shoulder. She felt him relax slightly at her touch, but didn't turn to acknowledge her as Blaise whispered quietly to him. She couldn't hear what he was saying but assumed he was giving him some final reassuring statements.
Across the room Hermione spotted the Weasley's still clustered together, only this time they looked just as anxious as she did. She knew the evidence presented had been strongly on Draco's side and was fairly confident he'd be granted freedom, but she continued to worry about Ron's fate. Did it make her a horrible friend to vouch for Draco and not Ron? Because it felt like it. She was given little choice though- Ron may have been the one accusing Draco, but it was the Ministry as a whole who had convicted him and therefore it had been impossible to drop the charges.
The whispers died down as Kingsley stood in his seat and gazed at the large crowd. Hermione could feel the tension radiating off of everyone as they awaited the results. Next to her Narcissa was sitting even stiffer than she had been before and she refused to take her eyes off of the back of Draco's head as if she was trying to memorize every hair.
Kingsley cleared his throat and opened his mouth. "The wizengamot has come to a decision. There was an overwhelming amount of evidence presented to us today and we have had to take every single piece of it into consideration. On one hand, the accused is trying to state that it was one of our own who caused the attack- on the other hand, we want to trust that one of our employees did not intentionally attack a civilian inside our halls.
"Many brave witnesses stood up today and told their stories, and we saw an honest pattern in what they said. That, paired with all of the evidence brought forwards, means the Wizengamot has no choice but to drop the charges laid on Mr Malfoy today. We extend our sincere apologizes for his unlawful stay at Azkaban, and hope he forgives us. Mr Malfoy, you are free to go."
Draco stood up quickly and swung around, grasped Hermione's face in his, and kissed her in front of the entire court room. She was so caught off guard she hardly had a chance to kiss him back before he pulled away with a wide smile. She blushed but grinned in return as Kingsley swept a silencing charm over the room, once more, as various angry outbursts echoed in the chamber.
"Silence," he said in his calming voice. "There is still the matter at hand- it remains to be seen that Mr Weasley did, in fact, assault Mr Malfoy in return and therefore I have no choice but to strip him of his title of 'Auror'. From this moment forwards your suspension is indefinite, Mr Weasley."
"What?" Ron burst out as Mrs Weasley's sob echoed around them. "You can't do that! It was all his fault-."
"I'm sorry, Mr Weasley, but consequences must be paid. We can't have our Aurors attacking civilians inside the Ministry. They come here for refuge, after all.
"Court dismissed." The room lit up and Draco couldn't help but laugh as he picked Hermione up and swung her around, kissing her again only this time Hermione returned his passion, relieved he was free.
"Congratulations mate," Blaise grinned extending his hand for Draco to shake.
"Couldn't have done it without you," Draco stated.
"You're in our debt, Zabini, we owe you one," Hermione agreed.
"I'll be sure to collect," Blaise smirked before gathering his papers from the table in front of him and departing.
Narcissa cleared her throat. "I'm pleased, Draco."
"Mother." Draco nodded. He reached up and ruffled his once sleeked back hair. "I, uh, I'm sorry about father-."
"I don't blame you," Narcissa said in a firm voice. "The magic was out of your control- the two of you best fix that." Narcissa glanced at the watch on her wrist. "You only have two hours, after all."
"Two hours?" Draco asked as Hermione's eyes widened. "Why so little time?"
"The one final piece of the curse," Narcissa shrugged casually as if this wasn't life altering information. "The moment you turn twenty one is when the cure is activated- you were born at twelve thirteen am. It's now a little after ten. You're truly running out of time."
"Draco, I-."
"No," Draco quickly said cutting Hermione off; he wasn't even sure that's what she was going to say but if it was he didn't want it to be said here. "Let's go back to the Estate. Right now. Would you like to come mother?"
Narcissa scrunched up her nose and shook her head, "I should get back to the Manor, dear. This is a moment best kept between the two of you."
"Thank you mother." Draco leaned over and kissed her cheek, then he grabbed Hermione's hand and rushed her out of there. Hermione looked over her shoulder as he did; she saw Harry talking with Ron, who seemed enraged at the outcome. Just as Hermione was being pulled out of the doorway she caught Ron's eye- the look he gave her sent chills down her back.
It took a while to get out of the Ministry as crowds were gathered in the Atrium from those who had sat witness in court room ten. Hermione kept anxiously looking at the clock as they waited their turn in line for an apparation point. It took nearly twenty minutes to get to the front of the cue, and by the time they apparated and got through the gates of the Estate, Hermione felt as if they were running out of time.
"It's already eleven," she stated anxiously as they stood in the front doors of the Estate, Draco holding onto the stone dragon which Kingsley had handed back to him once the trial was over. Hermione glanced around knowing Lucius' portrait was likely listening to their every word. "We have so little time left-."
"I don't want to rush this Hermione, I want to make the moment count."
Hermione couldn't help but smile at that. "As romantic as that is, Draco, we have no choice but to rush things a little."
"Enough talking," Draco smirked as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her body close, his lips barely brushing hers and leaving her breathless. "I can think of better things to do."
Hermione pushed her mouth firmly onto his, feeling the smile on his lips as he kissed her back. Her hands wound into her hair and forced his mouth closer to hers- if that was even possible. Draco's hands were wound in her hair, which had been pinned up for the trial but was now laying in soft curls down her back.
They moved apart, both breathless and panting, and stared into each others eyes. "Draco I-." Hermione began but he held up a finger and placed it gently on her lips, silencing her.
"Just wait, I want to speak first. Okay?" she nodded and waited for him to collect his thoughts. Finally he said, "I can't thank you enough for everything you did for me Hermione. The extensive research you completed, breaking into this Estate to find the tomes- not to mention simply siding with me on this case, I know it couldn't have been easy for you to be on the other side of the Weasleys today." Hermione smiled a little sadly at him, but didn't speak. He continued. "Nobody has ever done what you did for me before. If there was ever any doubt in my mind- and I promise you there hasn't been, not since I opened myself up to you- you've blasted any of them away. I love you Hermione."
With tears in her eyes Hermione grabbed Draco's face and brought her mouth to his once more, needing to kiss him once more before saying. "Draco, I-."
That was as far as she got though. The front door swung open with a crash and a blast separated the two of them. With a cry Hermione fell to the ground as Draco was lifted off his feet and thrown across the room, as Ron walked into the entrance way.
"Am I interrupting something?" he snarled, sending another curse towards Draco.
"Ron stop!" Hermione cried getting to her feet. She grabbed her wand from the pocket of her dress robes and raised it, surprised the Estate was even allowing him to wield such power. "What are you doing?"
"He doesn't deserve you, Hermione!" Ron yelled as he sent a third curse at Draco; one that the blonde successfully blocked as he raised his own wand.
"How did you get in here?" Draco snarled raising a shield as Ron tried to attack again.
"I followed you," Ron growled. "I had the coordinates from the day Hermione and Harry broke in here. I don't know how you got everyone to lie for you back there, because your wards are weak, Malfoy."
Draco's eyes widened, "it's because we're too close," Draco mumbled in surprise; this moment of realization caused Draco's guard to lower and Ron's curse struck, knocking Draco off of his feet.
"Draco!" Hermione tried rushing towards Draco but it felt as if an invisible hand was pulling her backwards; she had no idea Ron knew these sort of spells, but it made sense since he was an Auror. "Ron let me go!"
Ron ignored her and turned his attention back to Draco. "Are you in love with her Malfoy?" Ron spat sounding deranged as he sent another spell at the defenceless blonde. "As if she could ever love you back! How could she when you're merely using her to break this so-called curse set upon you and your family? Besides, you're nothing but a withering ferret, why would she want you when she can have a war hero like me?"
These words caused Draco to growl and dodge Ron's spell; rolling his body out of the way he used a chair as a barrier between himself and the red head. Ron sent another spell at him but it missed, hitting the wall instead. Draco finally managed to fire a counter charm back at the red head, causing Ron to hiss in pain as a cut appeared on his hand.
"Illegal spells Malfoy?" Ron yelled with a cackle. "Of course you would be coward enough to hide behind them! You're no better than your father, you know that?"
With an angry cry Draco came out from his hiding spot and brandished his wand at Ron at the same time Ron fired at him, the spells ricocheted off each other and went wayward; Hermione had to block one from hitting her and ran into the sitting room standing between the two men. "You must stop this!"
"Move Hermione!" Ron screamed as he raised his wand again. He tried leaning to the side to go around her, but she wouldn't let him.
"I will not Ronald! It's not Draco you should be angry with, it's me! So stop this childish behaviour before you get yourself into any more trouble!" She glanced behind her at Draco to make sure he was okay, and Ron took this distraction to his advantage. He tried to lean around Hermione, not wanting to hurt her, and fired a spell at Draco, but he hadn't moved far enough.
Hermione's eyes widened as she turned, hearing Ron gasp; she saw the bright light approach her, then felt something collide into her body before she hit the ground, at the same time Draco's body slumped down unconscious next to her. "Draco?" she whispered in shock, crawling on her hands and knees over to his immobile body. There was barely a flicker of a pulse beneath her fingers. "Draco? What did you do to him Ron?" Hermione asked as tears welled in her eyes.
Ron was silent for a moment, slightly in shock that he'd almost hit Hermione. As the scene registered in his mind he smiled. "I did it Mione! The bewitchment should be broken! He has no hold over you anymore."
"Bewitchment?' Hermione gasped, tears now flowing steadily down her face. "I was never bewitched, Ron! That spell is highly dangerous to a person who hadn't placed a bewitchment on another! It could kill him." Her fingers tried to find his pulse again as tears dripped down onto his face. "Draco? Draco! Please don't die on me, not now!"
Ron looked at her confused, "why are you crying Hermione? You're free now! He can't manipulate you anymore, you don't have to be afraid, you're safe now. Here," he extended his hand, silently begging Hermione to take it. When she didn't he wiggled his fingers a bit. "Take my hand Hermione so we can get out of here!"
"I'm not leaving with you Ronald!" Hermione snapped, wiping her face clear of the tears. She picked up Draco's hand and held it tightly in her own. "Please wake up Draco. I can't lose you now, not after all that we've been through to get here."
Ron was growing more and more frustrated. He tried grabbing Hermione's arm and yanking her up but she thrust it out of his reach and shoved him away. "Leave, Ron! Get out of here. I can't stand to look at you right now."
"I don't understand," Ron mumbled. "He- he manipulated you, charmed you or something- but I took care of it, you should be happy!"
Hermione narrowed her eyes at the red head and spoke in her most venomous voice. "If he doesn't wake up- I swear to Merlin, Ronald Weasley- I will have you thrown in Azkaban."
"Fine," Ron sneered. He reached for his wand and backed away towards the door. "You'll come around eventually, Hermione. You'll see."
She didn't bother responding, couldn't even look up to watch him retreat. She kept her eyes glued to Draco's face and continued to hold his hand in hers. "Please wake up, Draco. Please."
She watched as his eyes flickered a few times and gasped, praying they'd open. When his silver blue orbs met her brown ones tears began to leak even more down her face. "You came back," she whispered.
"Course I came back," he mumbled in a hoarse voice. "I'll always come back."
Hermione leaned down and pressed her lips to his- just as the clock began to strike midnight. She pulled away quickly, eyes on Draco who's tired eyes had begun to widen. "Does this mean-."
"I don't know-." Draco's words were cut off as his body went rigid.
"Draco?" Hermione called out in a terrified voice. "Draco?"
He was unable to answer her. A moment later his eyes fluttered closed as his body went unconscious yet again. "Draco? Draco? No! No this can't be happening. We're suppose to have thirteen more minutes! He wasn't born until twelve thirteen!"
As she said this his body began to glow a bright blue light; the shine was so luminescent she had to shield herself from it despite the fact she didn't want to. "Stop, please, you can't take his magic from him! You can't take him from me."
She lowered her hand and squinted, searching the room for something- someone- to help her. Her eyes landed on the stone statue which was laying on the ground ten feet away; Draco must have dropped it- but when? Was it when Ron had jinxed him, or had it fallen to the ground when the couple had shared their first kiss as a reunited pair? Hermione wasn't sure. All she knew was that the dragon was the key to this- she had to get the dragon.
She was reluctant to leave Draco's side so it was with a pang in her heart as she started to crawl across the room, those ten feet, to the Dragon still laying in it's glass encasement. The Dragon raised it's head- it was also glowing- and tilted it to the side. "His time isn't up yet," she whispered. "We have to stop this from happening." The Dragon flicked it's tail in agreement. She inhaled a shaky breath and carefully brought the dragon back over to Draco's body. What she needed to do now, though, she wasn't sure.
Through squinted eyes she glanced at the Dragon who once again nodded, it's head pointing towards Draco's body, and that's when Hermione knew- though the process had begun, there were still seven minutes to go until twelve thirteen; Draco had already declared his love to her, would telling him she loved him too stop the process?
"Draco?" She whispered as her voice wavered and new tears began to glisten in her eyes. "Draco, we have to stop this. I never got to tell you how I feel in return. I love you too Draco- please don't let the process be complete. I don't know what I'd do without you in my life anymore. I love you, Draco, I love you."
Hermione hadn't been sure it worked; she closed her eyes and grabbed his body in hers, letting the tears slip down her cheeks and soak his new, expensive dress robes; but she didn't care. She wanted him to wake up- he had to wake up!
The glow dimmed for a moment, and then started up again only this time it let off a green light. With tears sparkling in her eyes Hermione raised her head and stared as the Dragon's glass encasement vanished and the stone statue rose into the air. Hermione was so transfixed on what was happening before her that she didn't notice Draco open his eyes. Together the pair watched as the dragon glowed brighter and exploded, the stone disappearing and the green emeralds rising further into the air. A gold light joined the green one until the light formed into a metal band, the green emerald settling in the middle, and slowly floated down.
The ring vanished, only for Hermione to feel a weight on her left hand. With wide eyes she glanced and saw the ring settled on the forth finger; a perfect fit.
"I couldn't have chosen a better one myself."
With a gasp Hermione whipped her head to stare at Draco's now open eyes and without a moments hesitation she bent down and connected their lips together, kissing him with a passion she never knew existed, and he returned her kiss, his lips just as fiery as his.
"You came back to me," she whispered once again; it almost didn't feel real.
"I'll always come back," he repeated before pulling her in for another kiss.
"I love you, Draco Malfoy." Hermione whispered between kisses.
"I love you too, Hermione Granger."
