Disclaimer: Nothing but the plot belongs to me

Author's Notes: Final chappy! Wow, it always feels so weird when you finish a fic… but if you guys want, I will write an epilogue and I know pretty much for sure that there IS going to be a sequel *listens for applause, nothing but crickets* I hope you guys liked this and I hope to see you all read the sequel (hopefully I'll write it soon) ;)

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The year was finally drawing to a close and the end of the year feast was also approaching. Most of the students of Hogwarts were excited, ready to hang out in the summer, the time of sunscreen and ginger lemonade, the time where you can throw on a shorts and tank top and go around barefoot if you wanted to. Many students were busily exchanging muggle addresses if they didn't have owls yet but everyday seemed to go by too fast for Draco and Hermione.

"When are they going to do it?" asked Hermione.

"After the end of the year feast," said Draco. "They have to make sure that the students don't notice anything. This is supposed to be kept under wraps."

"It's selfish of me but I'm glad you're not going through this," said Hermione.

"I know," Draco answered.

"What are you going to do?" Draco shrugged wearily.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"'Mione?" asked Ron. It was the end of the year feast and Hermione felt dull and detached from her body as she dumbly tried to eat, only moving the food around her plate. Hermione slowly looked up.

"I'm sorry Hermione," said Ron, simply. He looked like he was going to say more but Hermione knew she didn't have to hear it. She knew he was sorry, she was sorry too.

"Are you coming to the Burrow again this year?" he asked. It took Hermoine a minute to register. She said slowly,

"I don't think so." Her voice sounded hollow. "I have other things to do this summer." Ron didn't pester her any further, he learned his lesson. Hermione let her eyes roam until they landed on Harry who's arm was draped around Ginny. Surprisingly, Hermione saw that Ginny looked sad and empty, she didn't look like she had eaten for awhile. Hermione shrugged to herself. She couldn't take care of everyone, could she? Hermione found her eyes landing on Dean who was looking straight back at her, eyes hard. Hermione swallowed. He wouldn't do anything stupid, would he?

"I'm sorry things didn't work out," said Hermione, quietly. She had walked up to Dean, wanting to close all ties with him.

"That really hurt Hermione," said Dean, sounding angry.

"I'm sorry I was so selfish, I didn't know what I was thinking. Actually I do. I love Draco and I would never want anything to jeopardize that."

"And you had to bring me into your little game?" asked Dean.

"I'm sorry."

"You told me, why don't you tell everyone else that you love Draco Malfoy? That you're a player?" Dean shouted. The loud room suddenly fell silent.

"You bastard," said Hermione, quietly. "You don't know what I'm going through." Hermione turned on her heel and started to leave when she felt a hand grab her elbow and turn her back around. She thought it would be Dean but nearly fell over in shock when she saw that it was Draco.

"It doesn't matter anymore," he said, softly. "I want everyone to know how we feel." Hermione felt her eyes prick with tears. This was too much. Lucius death, then finding out he wasn't dead, Draco's dilemma, fighting with Dean….she couldn't handle it.

"Shall we show them?" whispered Draco. Suddenly, all the thoughts flew out of Hermione's head and she found that she could only nod. Draco leaned down and kissed her so sweetly, Hermione could feel tears in her eyes again. Was this the last time she'd ever be able to kiss him? Hermione could hear people starting to clap. When they broke apart, Hermione saw Pansy looking furious, and Ron and Harry both clapping, sad smiles on their faces. Hermione looked at Draco.

"Well," he said. "Now they know." They both saw Snape clapping softly, McGonagall wiping tears from her eyes, and Dumbledore smiling with approval. He met their eyes and gave them each a firm nod.

"What now?" asked Hermione.

"I know what to do," said Draco.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The celebration did continue afterwards the House Cup was awarded to Gryffindor house as usual. But Hermione and Draco weren't there to see it. They had to sneak out and were outside the castle.

"So this is it?" asked Hermione. "I can't believe this is it."

"This is not it, I'll see you again," said Draco. "Don't be stupid." Hermione kept her eyes downcast.

"Don't give me that look," teased Draco, gently. He put two fingers underneath her chin and made her look up. He leaned down and kissed her again, then stuck out his wand hand. Sure enough, a rumble of a bus starting coming close.

"Mr. Malfoy," said a voice. Hermione and Draco jumped and saw Snape and Dumbledore standing behind them.

"I trust I will see you again," said Dumbledore, eyes twinkling, but still looking somber.

"Stay alive boy," Snape ordered. "I kept you alive too long for you to die on me now."

"You knew all along?" asked Draco, surprised.

"We suspected you wouldn't want to go through with the spell. That was one time I am glad you are so close with Ms. Granger," said Snape. "Stay away from Hogwarts but do send us an owl once every so often, so we know you're alive." Draco nodded.

"Go with my blessing, boy," said Dumbledore. And for the first time, when Dumbledore patted Draco's shoulder, Draco didn't flinch. They heard the sound of the bus getting louder and looked and saw the Knight Bus heading their way. Dumbledore and Snape walked back a couple of steps, leaving Hermione and Draco alone.

"I don't want you to leave," whispered Hermione, tears finally spilling down her face. Draco hugged her.

"I'll come back for you," he promised. They shared one more kiss and Draco broke away and started to climb the stairs of the bus. Hermione couldn't take it. The bus doors closed and the bus started to pull away, getting farther and farther away in a remarkable speed.

"No!" cried Hermione, wretchedly. She tried lunging after the bus but Snape held onto her.

"Let met go!" she screamed. Snape did but Hermione sank to the floor, sobbing. The bus was completely gone from view.

"Let it all out," said Snape, stroking her hair. Hermione cried into the grass, refusing to look up. Then, Hermione suddenly leapt away and threw out her wand hand.

"No, Hermione," Dumbledore ordered but Hermione ignored them. She started running towards the speck from a distance coming closer and closer. It was the Knight bus. The doors of the bus opened and Hermione sprinted up the stairs….right into Draco's arms.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"How's it going?" asked Draco.

"Hard," Hermione admitted. They were on the bus, heading away from Hogwarts. Draco stood behind Hermione and put his arms around her, helping her give strength to try and write the letter she had been meaning to for awhile. Hermione took a deep breath and started to write.

Dear Mom,

A lot of things happened this year that I know you might be shocked to know. First of all, I'm not a virgin anymore and second of all, I don't think I'll be coming home this summer…

Hermione finally finished the letter and carefully folded it up and attached it to an owl that the Knight bus supplied. She held the owl in her hands and opened up the window and let the owl fly away. It flew farther and farther away until Hermione couldn't see it anymore against the sky. The light was fading and the sky was painted with vivid colors. Hermione leaned back into the warm, comfortable circle of Draco's arms. The sky was almost dark now, the stars twinkled sweetly. Hermione took a deep breath. She knew that even if she lost everything, she'd still have Draco, and he'd always hold her, no matter what.

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A/N: And it's a wrap! Yes, it's finally over! But I will probably write a sequel and maybe an epilogue if you guys would like. Thank you all who reviewed and read, I hope you enjoyed it, I loved writing it!