Hey everyone, sorry it's been so long, but i just started year 12 and it's been kind of hectic, so it's been a bit hard to sit down and write another chapter. But here it is!! Pure fluffyness.

Chapter fifteen

Hermione was sitting at the window, reading a book she had found in the Zabini library. She sighed as a bird floated past. Why couldn't she be free like that? Why did her life have to be so... complicated.

Well, the answer to that was pretty simple. She was human.

Meanwhile, Draco watched her from the doorway, a desperate longing to comfort her settling on his heart. He stepped back and shook his head. Hermione was... she could never love him. Not after what Krum had done to her. There was just no way in hell she would be willing to love anyone after this, let alone him.

Pansy's hand rested on his shoulder. "Go talk to her." She encouraged quietly. Draco turned around to see Blaise standing behind her, a sympathetic look in his eyes. He nodded in agreement with Pansy.

The blonde nodded and opened the door, stepping in. Pansy smiled at Blaise, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. "You're such a good friend to him." She grinned into his shoulder

Blaise grinned down at her. "I know, he's bloody lucky to have me, too." He said cockily. Pansy laughed, thwacking him in the shoulder.

"Do you want to... I don't know... go get something to eat?" She blushed slightly. He grinned down at her and took her hand, leading her over to the fireplace and grabbing some floo powder.

"Gianno's Resteraunt, Diagon Alley." He stated and pulled Pansy into the green flames.

Draco cleared his throat and her head popped up to stare at him. She smiled slightly. "Hello." She said. "Do you want to sit down?" She shifted her legs to make room.

He sat down next to her. "How are you doing?" He asked, concerned.

Hermione shrugged. "Alright. I've been here five days and I feel... boxed in." She admitted, sighing and looking out the window longingly.

"Boxed in?" He asked and she nodded. A mischievous smile formed on his face. "I can fix that." He took her hand and pulled her up as she protested lightly, curious as to where he was taking her.

"How? How can you fix my feeling of being boxed in?" She was extremely curious now, as they had passed the fireplace and were now headed out the doors. But she had this inkling feeling that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't going to like this. But she trusted him.

Draco liked the feeling of her hand in his as he pulled her outside and toward a small shed. He opened the door with a screech and went inside, locating his broom. "Close your eyes." He called out from inside.

Hermione did as she was told and as he came out of the shed, he mounted his broom. "What are you doing?" She asked.

"Open your eyes." She opened them and gasped. "Get on." He instructed.

Hermione shook her head. "I can't get on that!" She exclaimed. "No way." He gave her a pointed look and she sighed. "Okay, I guess I trust you."

This statement surprised Draco. She trusted him? He grinned on the outside and cheered inwardly. "Good." He said, his heart fluttering.

Hermione clambered on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Please, go slow." She told him firmly. He let out a low chuckle and patted her on the hand.

"Sure, Hermione." Little did she know, he had no intention of going slow. Well, at least on the broom stick. He kicked off from the ground at a high speed and she squealed, gripping him tighter.

Her nails were digging into his stomach and her eyes were closed tight. Draco stopped the broom mid air, hovering. He massaged her wrists and her grip loosened. He grinned and flew higher, through the clouds.

Hermione was loving the feeling of flying, but her eyes remained shut. The wind battered at her face and her hair was going wild, but she didn't care.

He stopped and looked at her from a side on view. She looked truly beautiful. "Open your eyes." He instructed once more. She shook her head and he ran the fingers of one hand over her face, soothing her. "Open them and have a look."

This time they fluttered open and she grinned at him, after taking in the view of the Zabini Manor grounds. "It's beautiful." She sighed, relaxing against him. "I never realised they were so big." She said in awe.

"Still feeling boxed in, Hermione?" He asked huskily. Her eyes snapped to his, a faint smile on her face.

"No, not boxed in at all." She replied coolly. She rested her chin on his shoulder, gazing out into the sky as they hovered. "Do you ever wonder how far the sky goes?" She was pensive now.

Draco nodded mutely unable to speak. She was just so beautiful. So... innocent. Up here, anyway. Finally, he found his voice as his eyes met hers. "It's not so bad, now, is it?"

She smiled at him and closed her eyes. "Thank you." She whispered.

He rubbed her hand. Draco had never felt the butterflies go so insane. They had never been this active before and he knew why they were. It was because of her. Hermione and her beauty, intelligence and the way he was completely and utterly in love with her.

They began to descend as the clouds darkened. Once on the ground, they were met by a happy looking Maria, who was holding a piece of paper in her hands.

Hermione cocked her head to the side. "What's that?" She asked. Maria just smiled and handed it to her. Her brows furrowed. It was from the ministry.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it, I had to read it." She said unashamedly. Hermione just nodded and began to read.

Dear Miss Granger,

I am pleased to inform you that Mr. Viktor Krum has of now, been officially convicted for the various crimes of sexual assault. His trial was a smooth one, resulting in his sentencing to forty years in Azkaban Prison.

As she read, her smile widened to one of complete gratefulness.

There will be no possible way for Krum to get out of prison until he has served his forty years.

Yours Sincerely,

Harry Potter,

Head of the Auror Department,

Ministry of Magic

Below it, there was a quickly scribbled note in her best friend's hand writing.

Congratulations, Hermione!

I knew the bastard would get what he deserved. Ron sends his congratulations, as well.

We should have lunch sometime soon, just the three of us, if you like.

Love, Harry

She dropped the note on the ground and grinned widely, before squealing in quite a female way and throwing her arms around Maria. "He's been convicted!" She exclaimed.

"Congratulations, Hermione." Maria said, wiping stray tears from her eyes. "I suggest we celebrate." She said with a grin on her face. "How about a dinner? You can invite Harry, the Weasleys and whoever else you want, honey."

Hermione nodded and turned to Draco. "Will you come, too, Draco?" She asked excitedly.

He nodded mutely, happiness spreading over him as her eyes shone with her own happiness. She was bubbling about who she would invite.

Then, she said words so horrible, Draco almost fainted.

She turned to him with a grin on her beautiful face and said, "You should invite your mother."