A/n: Yay more reviews! I'm glad you guys are still here, reading my fic. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! You have no idea how happy you guys make me lol. Anyways, there's only like, a chapter left after this one so yeah. Thanks again!

Chapter twenty six

            A few more weeks passed by quickly. The exams were coming up very, very soon. As Hermione, Harry and Ron walked in the Transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall told Hermione to approach her.

            "Yes Professor?" Hermione asked.

            "If you haven't noticed, Miss Granger, Mister Malfoy hasn't been in school for quite awhile now." The professor said. "However, the school will no longer have a Head Boy until the Headmaster decides. The reason is, well, I don't want this to be circling around the school but -"

            Hermione stared at her eagerly.

            "Mister Malfoy is being sent to Azkaban for a five year sentence." McGonagall said flatly.

            Hermione gasped. "But w-why?"

            "He…" McGonagall looked away from Hermione. "He performed the Avada Kedavra curse on his father."

            Hermione's mouth fell open. She couldn't believe it. Lucius Malfoy was killed by his own son. "How? Why?" Hermione was filled with questions.

            "I do not intend to further discuss the details of what happened, Miss Granger. You may sit down now." McGonagall said sternly.

            Hermione walked back to her seat, still shocked about what she just found out.

~          *          ~          *          ~

            "He what?" Ron exclaimed. Hermione had just told him and Harry about Draco and Lucius.

            "Shh! Be quiet Ron!" Hermione shushed him. "I can't believe it either. Who would've known…"

            "I don't blame him though, even if he was a git." Harry commented. "Lucius is nothing more than a scum bag. Someone would've eventually killed him anyway."        

            Hermione looked at Harry with a frown.

            "What? It's true." Harry said. Hermione could see the hatred in his eyes.

            "Hi Harry, Hermione and Ron!" Ginny chirped. She sat down beside Harry. "Sorry I was late; I had to stay a little bit after class. Snape was such a pain!"

            After lunch, they all headed back to their classes. On the way, Hermione saw Dumbledore talking to a young man.

            "You guys go ahead." Hermione told Ron and Harry. She carefully walked closer to Dumbledore and the man. To her surprise, the man was accompanied by dementors. She tiptoed and tried to get a clearer view of the man. To her surprise, it was Draco.

            "Why Mister Malfoy? Why?" She heard Dumbledore ask.

            "I've had enough of him and his evil ways." Draco said with anger in his voice. "He hurt enough people."

            "There are other ways to get justice." Dumbledore replied. "Less violent ways."
            "He would always find a way to get out of it, no matter what the Ministry did." Draco answered. "This was the only way. Someone had to end his miserable life."

            "It didn't have to be you." Dumbledore said softly.

            "I only came back here to ask if I could see Hermione again." Draco told him. Hermione felt her heart beat faster. "I – we – have things to talk about."

            "I believe right now is the perfect time." Dumbledore smiled. He looked straight at Hermione who was still trying to hide. "Hello Miss Granger."

            "Uh – I was just – uh….looking for something." Hermione lied.

            "I think I should head back to my office now." Dumbledore said. "Miss Granger, I expect you to return to your class when you are done." He walked away and left Hermione and Draco standing.

            "So…" Hermione began. She stared at the marble floor.

            "I just wanted to tell you, Hermione." Draco said, not looking her in the eye either. "That I'm sorry."

            Hermione looked up at him. "Excuse me? Did you just apologize?" She didn't mean to sound rude, but she was truly surprised.

            "I'm sorry for…you know…." Draco said. "As soon as I get out of Azkaban, I promise I'll help take care of it, whether you want me to or not."

            "Mal – I mean, Draco, I -" Hermione started to tell him but he cut her off.

            He took her hand and held it tightly. "You may not believe what's going on right now, I don't believe it either. But I'm sure of one thing. I've changed, Hermione. I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry that you have to go through this pain. But I promise you, as soon as I get out of -"

            "I'm going to marry Ron." Hermione said softly.

            "What?" Draco let go of her hand.

            "H – He's going to be known as the child's father." Hermione explained, not looking at Draco. "I don't need you. I don't need your promises."

            Draco's expression suddenly turned grim. "Fine. Do whatever the fuck you want! I want the child."

            "You bastard!" Hermione slapped him. "You can't just ask for it like that! Like it's an object! The child will be better off with me."

            "You'll be nothing but a poor, wretched beggar in the streets!" Draco yelled. "I can see it now; the child will be wrapped in a dirty blanket, freezing to death in the winter. Starving and suffering. What a bright future."

            "Shut the fuck up! Just shut up!" Hermione said angrily. Her temper was rising uncontrollably. "Yes I'm sure the child would be so proud to know that his father was a murderer!" Hermione began to walk away but Draco grabbed her arm.

            "This isn't over yet…" Draco said looking at her menacingly. "Mudblood."

            Hermione slapped him again but he just gave her a smirk. Then, he walked away with the Dementors. Hermione just watched him walk away as she cried and cried by herself in the dimly lit hallway.

A/n: Okay this is the 2nd last chap! One more to go and my fic is finished! Now go and make me happy and review! lol