Author's note: Hello again! This is thankfully the last segment to my elongated fiction. It was not supposed to be this long, trust me. But here you are, and it's what 5 parts long? Well I finished reading The Goblet of Fire so some of the stuff on here is retarded now but oh well you'll survive right? Oh yeah, and for everyone who complains about the language in this, I'm sorry, but JK Rowling hasn't exactly refrained either! Even in the first book! Anyways, it just adds realistic touches to an otherwise unbelievable story. J
Draco stood in front of his dangerous father who was clutching his wand. He didn't stop to think, just talked calmly. "If you must, then kill me. But I will never do as you say. Ever. And you will be regarded as what you really are, a scum bag that would murder his own son because he was doing what was 'right'." He heard Hermione gasp.
"Hermione, I want to thank you. For showing me that following him was not the correct path." He kissed her and she wrapped her arms around him, not willing to let go. Lucius Malfoy appeared as though he might gag. Finally, Draco stepped forward and threw down his wand. Lucius repositioned his wand and focused on his son.
"Draco-" Hermione interrupted Lucius' actions. "I think I love you. If I do, I love you for being who you are, not what someone else wants you to be. If you die-and I certainly don't want you to-you will be one of the most significant martyrs in wizard history. I really truly think I love you." Her brown eyes accumulated wet drops of tears.
"I love you too, Hermione." Then Lucius screamed.
"STOP IT! Don't you see? She's dragging you down!"
"Leave her out of this. If you are not going to take action, I will leave and lead a good life, and not yours." He looked incredulously at his son. Then he turned around and apparated.
Seeing this, Draco scooped Hermione up into the air and kissed her. It seemed as though perhaps they could live normal lives now, undisturbed by prejudiced people.
"What the-" Ron Weasley had just walked into the clearing. "Um, tell me something. Am I just dreaming or are you guys really…uh…an item." Hermione, full of excitement, ran to him and gave him a huge hug.
"Yes! We are together!" they both beamed and Ron almost fell over.
"Do you have any idea what this is going to do? Jesus Christ, what is Harry going to do? I mean, he's almost obsessed with….wups. I probably shouldn't have said that. Dammit." He shrugged. "Oh well, here he comes. Remus is going to pick you up, Malfoy, to take you to Sirius."
"Ron-" Draco started angrily. Ron looked at him and he forced himself to take a calming breath. "Ron, call me Draco." Then he awkwardly stuck out his hand. Cautiously, Ron took it and shook it.
"Sure, Draco." If Hermione's smile could have gotten any wider, it did. All she needed was Harry now. And sure enough, Harry burst through the bushes, panting.
"Hey you found her. Great, I wanted to say good-bye before I leave with Re- ack! What are you doing here?"
"Hey Harry, how's it going?" Draco put his arm protectively around Hermione.
"Wazzup?" Ron said in a squeaky voice.
"Hermione, can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure. I'll be back, Draco." She almost thought she would cry at leaving him, although she did not know why. They headed off into the trees, which were no longer frightening.
"Um, what's up?" she started after an awkward silence.
"Ha! You're asking me what's up? More like I should be asking you what's up with you and the creep?"
"He's not a creep, Harry. Get over it. I really like him. I'm not sure if it's love, but I've never felt anything like this before. I don't want to be more than 5 feet away from him, ever. Do you understand?" Harry was soundless and still, although he was thinking rapidly. Of course I know how it feels, Hermione. Don't you see? Don't you understand? You are so brilliant, it's a shame that you missed the biggest clue you've ever gotten. I love you more than you can ever know. You are beautiful, caring, intelligent, everything I ever wanted in anyone. Cho-she's just a decoy, trust me. The 'famous Harry Potter' must have a girlfriend by the time he's sixteen. Even if he doesn't care if she falls off a bridge chasing that damn snitch. You have to understand, my sweet.
"Hermione-I must tell you something." For a moment he stood, doubting that the voice he heard was his own. It couldn't have been him. But she was looking at him curiously. She looked a bit emotionally worn-out, but still intact. He began once more.
"You may not believe me, but I have been holding this in for years. Remember when you were petrified in 3rd year? I felt horrible about that. It was almost my fault. So awful, in fact, I cried. I missed you terribly. That is when I realized that I had feelings for you. At first, I tried to squash them. I mean-you were one of my best friends, and it wouldn't be right. But I just kept wanting you to hold me. To touch me and get the buzz that I felt whenever I touched you." He reached out and put his hand on her shoulder. "I don't know why you didn't see it, Hermione. You are incredibly smart and likewise beautiful." She was close to tears again. "Hermione-" he paused. "Hermione, I want you to know my true emotions. I love you. I really truly love you with all my heart. Why do you think whenever I don't know where you are, I go searching for you? I cannot bare the thought of something happening to you. Something that would result in me never seeing you again and never telling you my true feelings….Hermione-say something, please." She was speechless. She couldn't even look at him. "Never mind, don't talk." With that, he pulled her close and delicately kissed her. It was short, yet sweet. He backed away and looked at her. She was crying. "I'm so sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean to make you cry-I just wanted you to know." His sensitive green eyes looked into her downcast ones.
"No, Harry. It should be me that is apologizing. I have inadvertently done something despicable. "
"No, Hermione. You have been the best thing that has ever happened to me. I love you."
"Harry-" she choked. "I'm sorry." Then she turned around to wipe her tears. Suddenly, Harry realized what she was saying. She really did love that creep, Malfoy. How was that humanly possible, though? He was the coldest, self-absorbed scum-bag that he had ever come across, excluding Voldemort.
"No…this can't be happening. You are supposed to say that you like me too and then we live happily ever after!" He whispered, mostly to himself. She looked at him. "Please Hermione. Tell me that you don't really mean what you are insinuating." He was begging.
"I'm so sorry…I just can't say what I don't feel. It's not like I want to break your heart, Harry. I love you, but as a friend." She took a breath. "And nothing else." Harry held his head in his hands and sobbed. He didn't have the energy to go anywhere so that she wouldn't see him breakdown. She knew everything anyway, so what was there to hide?
He crouched against a tree on the forest floor as the sunlight burst through on him, warming the top of his head. She sat down next to him and put her head on his trembling shoulder. Putting her arm around him, she caressingly rubbed his back. Finally, he looked up at the beautiful sky and sighed. Getting on her knees, Hermione gave him a huge hug.
He tilted her chin up at him and kissed her until she was reduced to tears once more. "Harry, stop. I told you the truth and now you need to respect it. I'm so sorry, and I'm being redundant."
"Fine." He pushed her away and wiped his eyes with his shirt. Then he stood up and she realized that he was still just the little boy that she had bossed around when she was younger. He was almost a man, but she still saw him as that boy, and he was this at heart, no matter if he was at least 5 inches taller than her and had bristle on his chin if he didn't shave daily. She turned to head back to where Draco was.
"I'm so sorry this had to happen to you, of all people." She whispered as a final parting. Then she trudged back to the meadow.
When she got there, Ron was glaring at his reflection in the pond. The tops of his ears were bright crimson and he had clearly put his back to Draco, who was appearing equally incriminated. His arms were crossed over his chest and his nose was high into the air. Suddenly, he spotted her.
"What took you so long?" he snapped. She looked hurt. "Sorry. I didn't mean to bite your head off. Lupin stopped by and told me that we were leaving in a half an hour. So we need to get back."
"Yeah, that's right. Okay, let's go. Hey Ron, are you coming?"
"In a minute." His voice wavered.
When they were out of hearing range, Hermione asked Draco why Ron had such a mood swing.
"Dunno." He tried to act innocent. Hermione sent him a look that could have killed. "All right, all right. He was trying to talk to me and I didn't really want to talk; I just wanted to think; and he kept going and really irritating me. Then he took off his socks and shoes to put his feet in the pond and his socks were all holy and I just couldn't resist-"
"Draco, I cannot believe you antagonized him again! Can't you guys just be friends now? Please?" She hit him with her best pleading gaze.
He grinned. "Oh all right. Hey it looks like we're leaving, so I'll see you soon, right? I mean, your 'rents will let you come and visit, won't they?"
"I'm not sure, but I think they might. They are pretty relaxed about that sort of thing. At least, I'll try. Goodbye." Lupin was now hovering behind Draco, waiting for him to depart with him. Hermione raised her eyebrows and the older man turned around, half laughing.
"All right, I get the point!" he went towards where Dumbledore was standing. Hermione gave Draco a quick kiss and promised to see him again this summer. With that, she tugged her bags over to the train and boarded. He watched her leave and smiled, partly to himself. It seemed like she was who he had been looking for all his life.
By the time Lupin, Draco, and Harry arrived at their destination, they were exhausted. They had ridden their brooms all the way there and it took enormous concentration to be sure that none of their luggage had fallen off. The boys were also worried about how this summer would turn out. They could have it one of two ways. Draco and Harry could be either friend or enemies, and enemies seemed out of the question throughout the whole summer. Maybe they could start to be able to stand each other, but would that be possible when they both were in love with the same girl?
Sirius Black walked out of the tiny hidden cottage buried deep in the forest to greet them. A smile played on the formerly depressed and gaunt face. Where before, in his time at Azkaban, he had been greasy and dirty, now he was equally handsome. Harry noticed that he almost looked like the same person in his parents' wedding pictures. All except for a strange darkness in his eyes, he was almost identical.
"Harry! Remus!" Sirius called out to them. "It's great to see you!" the escapee strolled over to where Draco was awkwardly fumbling with his bags. "And you must be the alleged Draco. It's a pleasure to meet you my friend, and I look forward to getting to know you this summer." The man braced himself for the rumored coldness Draco had and what Sirius knew his father to be like. But instead, the boy casually smiled.
"And you must be the infamous Sirius Black. The pleasure is all mine." He offered his hand to him. "I just wanted to thank you for taking me in for this summer. I'll try not to cause too much trouble!" They both grinned as Sirius took Draco's hand. Harry watched the two and a pure green envy shined through his eyes. Deciding enough was enough, he interrupted the two.
"Sirius! I haven't seen you in so long!" he announced almost annoyingly. Lupin smiled to himself at Harry's jealousy and entered the small house.
"Harry, why don't you come in here and help me set up?" The green-eyed boy ignored the call and waited for Sirius to respond to him. He wasn't about to loose Sirius and Hermione to Draco in the same day!
"Yes it has been a while, hasn't it?" With a little smile, he picked up a few bags and carried them into the cottage, motioning for the boys to follow. But Harry decided he needed to get a few things straightened out with Draco first.
"Draco, listen-" but the other interrupted.
"Harry, I should be the first to apologize. I know that I have done things to hurt you in the past, but I intend on never doing them again. You shouldn't have to be sorry." Harry looked astonished. He hadn't even thought about apologizing to the creep, let alone first. But he played along.
"No, I have been rude and unkind. But let's not think about that now, okay?"
"Okay, why don't we go get settled in?" Draco walked into the house where Lupin and Sirius were waiting for him. Harry gaped at him but followed. He supposed that he would have to get used to this intrusion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The first time Hermione came to visit was about midsummer. It was around 7:00 in the evening that she arrived, by broom of course. She landed in a clearing that was a few minutes' walk to the cottage. The first being she met was Lupin, in wolf form. It took her a minute to realize who it was, but then she knew and turned into a snowy white owl.
Hello Moony. she called. The wolf looked questionably at her.
Hermione, what are you doing here?
Visiting you, of course! the gray wolf seemed to smile, if that animal could.
I'm glad. Harry and Draco will be surprised to see you! If you follow me I'll show you the way. The owl grasped the broom and flew off through the night after Lupin. Soon enough, she spotted the small house and swooped through the window. Draco was sitting absentmindedly at the table eating a bowl of cereal. He cocked an eyebrow at the owl and continued eating. Harry padded into the kitchen wearing only a pair of khaki shorts. He immediately realized just who the owl was.
"HERMIONE!!!!!" he screamed happily. Draco laughed at him as if he were insane. The owl squawked and perched on Draco's shoulder. A tremendous grin came across Harry's face. "What are you doing here?" Draco rolled his eyes as the other boy chatted with the bird on his shoulder. To his surprise, the bird answered.
What do you think I'm doing here? he jumped out of his seat, spilling his Fruit Loops. The pure white owl fluttered and landed on the table. In a moment, she was a no longer an owl, but a girl. Specifically, Hermione.
"Hermione?" Draco looked confused. "Is that you or am I dreaming or something?"
She laughed. "Yes, it's me, silly! I've come to visit you!" Draco's gray eyes lit up and turned a bluish color and he looked less pale than he usually was. Enveloping her in a monster hug, he kissed her. Harry thought he was going to puke.
"Spare me, you guys! Get a freaking room!"
"Harry, come on. You should have taken time out of your busy boot-licking schedule to get over it!" Draco shot at Harry. They were obviously still rivals.
"Boot-licking? I don't think so!" the dark-haired boy defended himself.
"Well you never leave Remus or Sirius alone, and when Dumbledore comes, you are all over him! Listen, why don't you just let Hermione and I alone for a tic and then she's all yours!" Harry rolled his eyes and went back into his room.
"Draco-" Hermoine started. "Have you guys gotten along any better lately?"
"Kind of, I guess, why?"
"It really doesn't seem like it from my standpoint, and I want my friends to get along!"
"So that's all I am to you?" Draco stood up, insulted.
"What?" Hermoine managed to get to her feet as she was dumped from his lap.
"Just a friend? I thought I was more to you than that! This whole summer, the only thing that has kept me alive is the thought that you were coming to visit soon and you thought that the exile and the werewolf were good company! I would have never done this if you hadn't suggested it, Hermoine. I was under the impression that we were, you know, together. More than friends. More than that, Hermoine, don't you understand?"
Hermoine, not being able to get a word in during his monologue, spoke up. "Draco, it's not like that! I didn't mean that we weren't, I was just saying that I want my friends to like each other."
"You know something, Hermoine? I think that if you really meant that, you would have said it." At that point, the gray-eyed boy stormed out of the room and Harry came back in. Hermoine bit her lip and turned away from her best friend.
"What has that bastard done now?" Harry pried.
"He's not a bastard. He's just in a bad mood." She evaded his eye contact and stared at a spot on the floor.
"Sure he is, Herm-oh-ninny." Harry called her the name her old flare Viktor Krum used to call her. "So you planning on staying the night?"
"Uh, yeah, if it's okay with you guys. I'll just sleep in my owl mode."
"No, you can have my room!" Harry insisted.
"Seriously, I wasn't invited really so I'd rather not go into all of that. Trust me, it's okay!" She shot him a look and he dare not ask again. She had made up her mind.
"Yes'm!" They smiled and proceeded to talk about how they had been this summer and that. Soon enough, Sirius walked in.
"Hey Hermoine! How's it going?" Sirius sat down on a chair next to them and drank his glass of butterbeer. "I didn't see you come in!"
"Well, I flew here as an owl and Moony escorted me in." he nodded.
"Care for a butterbeer?"
"Sure, that would be great!" He conjured up a tall glass for her and Harry. Harry gulped his down in a hurry.
"Hey listen, Herm-oh-ninny, I've gotta go do something, be back later, okay?" He rose from his chair.
"Okay." She looked at Sirius, watching for any hesitance from him. But he appeared to have none.
"Where's Mr. Dragon?" He inquired of her.
"Who Draco?" he laughed.
"Yes, that's his new nickname. Seen him around lately? I thought he would be the first-"
"Yeah, he was, but uh…" She looked at her drink in an upset manner.
"Ah, I see. The first fight… I remember that! Always the worst. But with the best make-ups, as I recall!" the girl smiled. Sirius put a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be all right, don't worry." Just as he finished his sentence, Draco walked in. "Yeah, so I'll see you later, okay?" He said suavely.
"Okay, thanks." She smiled sincerely as he left the room. Draco paced around her chair as she sipped her drink. Then he stopped and turned back out of the room. After a few minutes of sitting by herself, she got up, going in search of someone to talk to. Not knowing her way around the cottage, she went outside. She spotted two dark creatures sitting next to each other, apparently engaged in conversation. It was a large dog and a wolf. If she hadn't known better, she would have thought this odd.
Hello again Hermoine. the wolf nodded and she turned into an owl.
Hi. she replied. The giant canine cocked his shaggy head at her.
Where'd the dragon go?
It was weird, Sirius. He came in, walked around me, thinking about something, and then went back out. I don't know what to do! Sirius turned to Remus.
They just had their first fight. he explained. The wolf seemed to smile.
Ah. I always hated those. Lupin said. Hermoine absentmindedly preened her white feathers. Where are you sleeping tonight?
Oh I'll just stay in owl form and perch somewhere so I won't be in the way. And don't object, Harry already tried, unsuccessfully. The odd couple smiled.
The never-bending rule of a woman. I had almost forgot what it was like to be under one's command, don't you think Remus? The dog looked at the wolf.
Well, unless dementors have sexes, which I don't think they do, then no, you haven't been under the command of a female in quite some time, Sirius. the wolf seemed to rethink this idea. In fact, I haven't either for a long time…I suppose being a werewolf doesn't help relationships. As he finished his statement, all three animals perked up their ears and turned in the direction of an oncoming figure. In the twilight, they couldn't make out much except for the fact that his hair was wild.
Harry? Hermoine called. The silhouette froze.
"Uh, who's talking to me?" As he said this, he disappeared behind some tall shrubbery.
It's me! A unicorn reappeared in his place.
Hermoine?
Yep! the pure white unicorn pranced around, looking for something.
Can't find you! Where are you hiding Herm-oh-ninny? he teased. She flew over to find and perched on his muscular equine shoulder. Oh hey, what's up?
Draco is being really weird again. But where did you go before?
Just somewhere.
Doesn't everyone already know? Sirius didn't seem to care that you didn't say where you were going.
No. I don't think it's that he doesn't care, I think he wants me to have time to myself. The owl darted a glance at the dog and wolf under the shady tree. They were nodding, as if telling her to let him go on. But she couldn't do that to one of her best friends!
Oh okay. Well, if this is so secretive, better make it closed mind speak. she practiced this herself as she told him to.
Really? Well I suppose that's a good idea, I mean, I have no clue where Draco or anyone is. he said to only her.
All right, go on.
Well, I found this place, not far from here, near a pond. I had been using it for a place to write about my feelings. You know, angst and emotions about Voldemort, my parents, the Dursleys, you, Draco, everything! But one time I walked around the area, and I found a little lean-to. It's not much, but lately when I usually would have been writing, I've been checking it out. And it's definitely being inhabited. But I'm not sure by whom. It's not Voldemort's style, he's much sneakier. But maybe one of his supporters? I'm seriously stumped.
Not a clue, Harry, not a clue. The owl yawned. Wow, I'm really exhausted. I think I'm heading to my perch if that's okay with you. Maybe Draco will be better in the morning. Harry pranced inside only to be met by a gruff looking Draco drinking from a milk carton. He glared at the unicorn, not seeing the owl on his shoulder.
"God Harry…" He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. The mystical creature rolled its bright green eyes at him, almost showing the unicorn's natural animosity towards males. Soon enough the animal began to resemble Harry.
"Yeah well at least I can do it!" Harry was now totally human.
"I could," Draco protested. "If I wanted to. Plus, who wants to turn into a wussy little unicorn? I would turn into something just a bit more manly. And powerful. Like…" Draco paused.
"A dragon?" Harry supplied.
"Precisely. But Harry, you go ahead and be a girly unicorn. I'm going to bed." With that he turned and exited the room.
"Night Hermione. See you in the morning." Harry followed Draco through the door but went into his room instead. Hermione settled down on a chair and fell into a peaceful sleep.
She awoke to a jarring feeling and found herself in complete darkness, which was odd for an owl. Feeling around her, she observed that she was in a rough burlap bag. She was being bounced around and she had no clue where she was. Hooting once, she squirmed around to try to get out. Finding that this action did not work, she stopped and waited for the motion to stop. A few minutes later they came to a halt and felt herself being thrown onto the ground and she could see that the tie on the bag was being loosened. Next she saw two dirty, raggedy fingernails, leading two gnarly fingers.
She was abruptly yanked out of the bag so she faced the face of possibly her worst enemy. Lucius Malfoy. She spotted a bead of cold sweat running down his pale cheek.
"Come out, Mudblood." He demanded in a low whisper, the very nuance of it sounding incredibly evil. Hermione had been very close to Voldemort, and this was by far worst. Perhaps it was because she wasn't really Voldemort's archrival like Harry and now it seemed that Lucius Malfoy was her biggest enemy. She wondered if she could make him think that he had just captured a random owl and it wasn't her. But a random owl that just happened to be sleeping in Sirius Black's house and one that didn't make so much as a hoot on the trip over? She didn't think so.
"Transform, my illegal animagus. I know it's you." She figured she had no choice and she would rather face him with her wand. So in front of him, she began to develop human-like features and soon enough she was Hermione Granger once more.
"What do you want with me?" she asked, grasping her wand.
"You warped my son. Now you pay." He breathed at her, all the time glaring.
"How did you find us?" she diverted, thinking about Sirius' out-of-the-way abode.
"You seriously think that I'm that incompetent? As soon as I got word that my son was being taken away from me, I got to Hogwarts and watched over him, and I figured that I could find him and talk with him. But he was more impertinent then I've ever seen him. So I followed him. It wasn't hard." He shrugged. His eyes, which were shining like pale sapphires in the night, hardened as he remembered his task. "Now chose your death method: quick and easy, long and painful, or mediocre. Myself, I enjoy long and painful." She hadn't seen it before, but his elongated wand was stationed in his right hand, like a limb.
She thought quickly. She knew that no matter what, he was either going to submit her to the Crucio curse or the Imperious curse. In her head, she picked out Crucio because he would be able to manipulate her in the imperious curse. Make Draco feel betrayed and go to the Dark Arts, etc. But before she could even clear her throat, Draco appeared before them from out of nowhere.
Hermione wondered where he learned to Apparate from. Lucius glanced at him. "Son!" he cried. Hermione thought he sounded quite desperate. "Your evil friend is trying to kill me! And you next! Look at the wand poised in her hand!" Hermione almost scoffed, but looked down. It was true! Her wand had a great aim at Lucius while his wand lying on the ground, a foot away from him.
Draco's line of sight darted from Hermione's right hand to his father's empty one to the wand on the ground and then to Hermione's face. She shook her head no, but the questioning expression remained on his face. He looked confused and betrayed.
"Hermione, what is the meaning of this?" he inquired in a low voice. But it was not the intimate whisper she was used to. No, this tone was sharp and poignant.
"Draco, you don't honestly believe him do you? I mean, after all he's done to you, and-for God's sake, Draco! It's me! Hermione!" she exclaimed.
"Hermione, I may have been angry with my father, but I never meant to kill him. And if I did, it was something I needed to do for myself! I don't require your help." He said, as if he was sinking an arrow into her heart. Her mouth gaped open at this.
"But-"
"No buts, Hermione. This is not a matter for you. In fact, it is something that perhaps I should kill you for." She frantically detected the faint break in his voice when he said this. But she didn't know what to say. She reached for him, but he shoved her away. "Get away from me, Mudblood!" he yelled.
She gasped. "Draco, w-what are you d-doing?" she stammered. "This isn't what you w-want to d-do!"
"Silence!" he demanded, then turning to his cowering body, regarding him as a child.
"Draco, son, listen to me. This evil girl, this monster tried to kill your own father! You were next, dearest son! She vowed to destroy you after myself, then run away with that Potter figure. I speak the truth! She was about to put an unforgivable curse on me, and she told me her plan! It was devious and well thought-out! That's what she does in the library all the time, Draco! Reads up on ancient Dark Curses and evil wizards! Truly!" He said convincingly. Draco stood up straight, and leveled his glare at Hermione.
It was an icy gray, like spears being thrown at her. He placed his wand in his hand and aimed it at her.
"I thought we had something, and now I see it was just a façade. For a devious plan. So prepare to die, Mudblood." He opened his mouth to say the curse.
"Draco! No! He's lying! Don't listen to him!" She screamed, not even thinking about her wand, which was still leveled at Lucius.
"A-" but before Draco could finish the curse, an enormous black dog pounced on him and tore the wand out of his hand. "Get off, Sirius!" he howled.
The dog barked and became Sirius Black. "Draco, I saw it." Draco looked confused once more.
"Well, actually Remus saw it, but he didn't trust himself around all of you on a full moon. But Mr. Malfoy kidnapped Hermione, right out of the kitchen. She was sleeping as an owl form and it was too easy for him. But Remus was roaming outside. He was going to go after her himself, but he didn't want to attack anyone without an excuse first. So he got me-by howling, which woke up the whole house. You Apparated here, and Harry told me about Lucius. I got here as quickly as possible." Draco's jaw dropped.
"What was he doing here?" he gestured to Lucius.
"Why don't you ask him yourself? It's been something that's been nagging my mind for a while now." Sirius got up and brushed himself off. Draco looked expectantly at his father.
"I-uh-you see, it was-well-you really wouldn't understand even if I told you and-erm-" Lucius stuttered almost incomprehensibly.
"It's true then?!" Draco roared. "Were you going to kill her? Well, were you?" he demanded belligerently, leaning in his father's face. Draco towered over him.
"Well, it was really for your own good, you see…" he tried.
"You will pay for this!" But before Draco could grab his wand, Sirius grabbed his arm.
"Yes he will. He'll pay for it by living for the rest of his days amongst dementors in Azkaban, because that's what every good wizard should do, right Draco? Especially those who don't know any death spells that wouldn't end them up in that wonderful prison instead, correct?" Sirius persuaded in a compromising way. Draco nodded stonily. "Now you need some rest. Lupin will take care of this." With that a gray wolf trotted out of the bushes. Foam dripped from his shining rows of sharp teeth. They left the opposite way of the cabin. That left Draco and Hermione standing alone in the clearing.
Draco glanced up at her like a sad puppy and then burst into tears. He fell to his knees and hugged her around the waist.
"Please, please forgive me! I don't know what came over me! It was awful! I don't know how you did it! And I was there-I was going to kill you! Oh, shame on me! I wouldn't blame you if you never forgave me!" he sobbed, his head against her abdomen.
Suddenly, a breath of relief washed over her. Then she unintentionally mimicked him. She was down on the ground next to him, the tears streaming down both of their faces. She took his face and pressed it against hers so the tears formed rivers, zigzagging down both of their cheeks. He hugged her tight until she felt like she couldn't breathe, but she belonged. They kneeled there in that tight embrace until they fell asleep.
~*~*~*~*~
Hermione woke up to the birds singing and the air warm. The sky was bright blue and the sun was beaming down on her. Opening her eyes, she saw that she was lying in a soft patch of grass and that Draco was standing beside the pond. She smiled sleepily at him until he turned around.
"Was it a dream?" she yawned as he sat down by her.
"No, unfortunately. Are you all right?" he asked, concerned.
"I'm perfect. What about you?"
"I've been better in some senses, and wonderful in others." His sky blue eyes beamed down on her. "Let's go back to the cabin, what do you say?" she nodded and they got up, stretched their legs, and walked back, holding hands.
~*~*~*~*~
6 Decades later, Draco Malfoy took his wife's hand and led her to the secret clearing behind their house, where a crystal clear pond was and where the sky was always bright blue and the sun was always shining.
On one side of the pond stood a few very important headstones. They often came here to reminisce about the owners of them. The first one was Harry Potter, who died when he was 17, after defeating Voldemort for the last time. Next was the stone of Remus Lupin, who died a happy death of old age in his sleep, next to his wife, who was buried next to him. Then was Sirius Black, who died giving Harry the last of his power to defeat Voldemort forever. After that was Cho Chang, who Harry had finally fallen in love with. She had sadly committed suicide after Harry died, leaving the child with Hermione and Draco.
The last grave was of Albus Dumbledore, who had also died that fatal day along with Harry and Sirius. But he died peacefully after knowing that Lord Voldemort was gone from the Earth forever.
Draco grasped Hermione's hand tighter as they read each one again. Their eyes were wet with tears at the end of the line.
But before they could think about the deceased any longer, they heard the chatter of voices coming their way. It was their granddaughter, Lily, and one of her friends. They watched her tug a boy her age over towards the graves. Obviously not seeing her grandparents, she motioned to the headstones.
"Look, Cedric! Here's Harry Potter's grave. You remember about him, right? Of course you do! Him, and Voldemort…"
"Wow, Lily, that's spectacular. I've never seen this before. You know my grandpa Ron was great friends with him!" Cedric ran his fingers through his red hair.
"Yeah, I know. Both my grandparents on the Malfoy side knew him well. Did you know that at one point Harry Potter was in love with my grandma? Isn't that cool?" she said excitedly, her long brown hair moving in the wind.
"It's awesome." He pulled her near to him, and her blue eyes glittered as he kissed her. "I'm so happy I know you, Lily."
"Me too, Cedric." She said dreamily.
"You know what?" he asked. "I was named after an innocent guy that Voldemort murdered."
"I was too! Except she was Harry Potter's mother. She was the reason that no one could ever harm Harry."
"Wow, that's a powerful namesake." Then they heard a call.
"Lily! Cedric! Where are you?" the voice called. Then the owner appeared. It was Harry and Cho's son, Albus. He was grown now, and had children himself.
He was the exact replica of Harry except for the fact that he had a little bit more of a twinkle in his eye and no lightning bolt scar.
"Hey kids, it's time for dinner, you've got to help me round up your brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and parents and grandparents." He smiled. Hermione and Draco made like they were just passing by and say Albus there.
"Albus, dear! Here we are!" Hermione called. She had always had one of the best relationships with him, other than Ron.
"Good! Four down, about another million to go!" he said cheerfully. "Don't you just love family reunions? Well, we're about to eat and we can't find anyone!"
"We'll help." Draco suggested. And together, they all walked off in search of more of their family members.
A/N: Sorry for the sappy ending, as I said, it's always the worst. I hope you like it and realize that as I was writing the part about Harry dying, I was getting very tearful! *Lafs* So be nice and review the whole thing. And remember, I'm not a published author (or even out of high school yet!).