This story was actually ready a week after the last chapter… but school started and yup. Physics and Chemistry are killers, I swear those teachers want to kill us. I could only submit it this weekend. Also because of my mad obsession with Legolas and Oliver Wood. I need some more inspiration for Draco Malfoy. Unfortunately, I can't find A Dragon's Feast on this site… if anyone knows please tell me so I can get out of this writer's block… Second last chapter. Usual disclaimer. Inspiration from Coldplay, you guess the song.

Hermione's POV

My eyes swept over the placid letters on the parchment. I struggled to resist the firm temptation to close my eyes and allow sleep to overcome me. I had returned to my habitual "mad studying late hours," as Ron would call it. When I wasn't studying, I was either worrying that I might have read something to quickly in preparation for the Newts or in contemplation of why Draco had not bothered to visit me for five days. Call me paranoid, but I was beginning to worry about his loyalties. There was always that voice in my head that said, "Hermione, he can't be there for you twenty four seven!" Then again, I was reminded that Harry had visited me several times and was there for me twenty four seven.

Ron still was pondering on if they should trust Draco since he use to be the "enemy." Of course, I would defend Draco and Harry wouldn't say a word because he was obviously on Ron's side but didn't want to upset me. They were relieved when we visited Dumbledore soon after Draco's previous visit. Dumbledore was aware of the attack that would take place on February 27. Furthermore, it surprised me that Dumbledore knew about my pregnancy… but then again he is who he is. He had hinted it in the smallest possible way. He was not concerned about stopping the visits from the other schools that would be arriving earlier on that date.

February 27 was to be a grand event where students from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, and other well known wizarding schools would be arriving to enhance the connections between the schools. Important officials from different Ministries would be attending to support the cause and to establish better connections amongst themselves in these times where Voldemort could attack any moment. It would be an amazing sight because many lost connections had been resolved since the destruction and pain felt when Voldemort arose for the first time when we very young. In addition to the students and the ministry officials, family relatives were invited. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, Fred, George and Professor Lupin had confirmed there attendance after Dumbledore informed them secretly about the attack that would occur. He figured that if many people from the Light side attended, they would have a better chance of fighting Voldemort. Sirius Black was ordered to remain near school headquarters in case, and whenever, anything came up.

I sighed in frustration and closed my book. I searched around my desk for my Potions book when suddenly two frozen hands creeping around my neck. I yelled and jumped at the same time. My books fell to the floor and my only source of light turned off.

"Relax, it's only me," Draco's voice sounded as I turned around and found him standing in his usual apparel of black robes, his hair messed up in that sexy way which had thrown me head over heels in love with him. Those grey eyes stared back at me in anticipation. The moonlight drifted across the room and bathed me in its light. His face remained covered with the shadows of the night. But wasn't his face always sinister? Wasn't I accustomed to seeing him covered with that usual sense of darkness?

He grinned at me, "You should take a break from studying, you've read that same book four times since last Friday."

"How would you know? You haven't been around since that same amount of time. You're like a complete stranger… how dare you just walk in here and think that everything is normal? When is the next time that you'll visit me? Will it only be when your fucking son or daughter is born?" I said, surprising myself with the anger that had build up and had finally toppled over on him without any warning.

He remained silent for a few minutes, while I fought back my tears. His head bowed down as he stood in the darkness of the room. I waited for him to say something, anything at all. It's like that period in a relationship where you just stand there and contemplate the past. Telling yourself that you want to be brought back there. The numbers and words run through your head and you think that you're going to crumble. Crumble with all those words and numbers of the days that you spent with them. You keep on standing there saying to the other consciously, "Tell me you love me." The question arises if they can hear you…or are you just standing alone. Standing alone like you have always been, but you've never taken the moment to notice. Then it haunts you. Is it the end? For a moment you ask yourself if it was love or a stupid crush that is going to haunt your life till you step into the bare boards of your coffin.

Draco lifts up his head and I ceased breathing. No, it wasn't small crush. It was love. A love so strong for the other person that you put yourself in danger unnoticeably because you suddenly don't care if they say those three words back to you. But you love them, and you wait for those three words. You wait for the signal.

He took a step forward into the light and prompted my chin upwards gently. "Please forgive me," he said, "I'm always there for you, Hermione. I love you, Hermione Elizabeth Granger. I need you desperately, if you haven't noticed." He plopped down on my bed and said, "Hermione, you're my soul weakness. I cannot stand the thought of any Death Eater laying so much as a finger on you. You're my determination, Mione. You make me… complete. If they ever found out in the future… and used you to their advantage in order to get me."

"Draco they won't," I said, trying to savor his words.

"Of course they won't," he said haughtily, lifting his head proudly. He started to laugh and looked at me from the corner of his eyes, "I still have my Malfoy pride."

"We can't forget that huge factor," I muttered.

"Hey!" he said nudging me in the ribs, "I have feelings, you know."

"99% of this school still hasn't figured that," I mumbled.

"Hope that you're that single one percent at least," he said, obviously trying to comfort me.

"No you're representative of the one percent… you are a student after all," I said.

"Guess it is comforting that you still care enough to call me a whole percent," he said, shrugging.

"I'm joking, Draco," I said casually, and started giggling like a mad person.

"Now that's the Hermione that I love and cherish. Thought that I'd have to deal with an over emotional Mione for another few months," he said lifting his hands into the air and thanking an invisible figure.

"Hey! I thought you were a goner too!" I said, as he kissed my cheek.

"Thanks a lot. It helps to know that you have so much faith in me," Draco said, allowing me to lay my head on his lap.

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Draco's POV

"What have you been doing lately?" she asked me while I rubbed her back to help ease the tension.

"Eating, sleeping, working, studying, watching you-," he explained.

"Watching me?!" she said, lifting her head slowly from her resting place.

"Yes," I said, grinning broadly, "I have this mirror in my room… you should really see it. I performed a spell on it so that I can see any room in the school… and other places. I can do it to yours if you want."

"Why don't you just come and visit me, if you want to see me. I'd rater appreciate it than having that odd feeling that you might be watching me at any moment," she said as calmly as she could.

"You're too busy studying. Mione, you must cut down on your studying. You're too stressed, even Potter and Weasley are worried about you," I said, as gently as I could. I was worried like hell over her. Every few minutes when I attempted to retain one new form of magic, I would watch her from my mirror. The way that her hands trembled. She hardly got any sleep with the amount of studying and her frantic worrying. If she wasn't listening to Potter or Weasley's advice, then I put it upon myself to bring her back to reality.

"Harry and Ron are already telling me, I don't need you to nag me about it," she said in a stressful and hurt way. She quickly added, " I'll be better if you are around much more."

"I will," I said putting her into a sleeping position on the bed. "I've been learning some new spells… in case."

"Really," she said sarcastically, "Hopefully you're not branching off onto the other uses of Avada Kedavra."

"No I did that when I was four," I said, without and emotion.

"Very funny I meant that as a joke," she said, looking at me awkwardly.

"Well I wasn't joking, it's not a stupid question. My father thought it necessary to learn them at a very young age. I'm surprised that you know about them, considering that you're not a Slytherin… then again I do have to take into consideration your 'light reading' sessions," I said.

"I have feelings, you know," she said, mimicking me. "That's horrible." She glanced up at me.

"Guess the Dark Lord's plans were all sorted out by the time that he attacked the Potters," I said, losing myself in my thoughts. Imagine, Potter brought an end to Voldemort's reign and I was already destined to become the next Dark Lord before I could barely walk. The Dark Side works in mysterious ways.

Hermione closed her eyes and said, "Don't know who would want to become the leader of the Dark side and have a heart of ice. Killing all those innocent people."

She was right, as much as a part of me wanted to defend the old teachings I had memorized like the alphabet. I remembered all the days when Lucius denied me a normal childhood and instead drilled into my head that Muggles were dirty and deserved to be killed. She brought some sense to his teachings. Most importantly, Hermione rebelled against all of the Dark Side's teachings. Muggles could be better wizards and witches than the purebloods. Although she didn't like to admit it, she was smarter than many wizards and witches around.

"It does have some advantages," I said, without thinking.

She jumped out of her position and stared at me with disbelief, "Don't you dare tell me that there are advantages to having blood on your hands!"

"Hermione Granger, I just meant that you can learn new arts of magic," I said playfully. She was practically fuming and ready to kick me out of her room.

"I don't see anything worth learning about killing people. I think that it's a horrid use of magic that should never have existed," Hermione said, looking at me disturbingly as if I had turned into something ugly.

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Hermione's POV

My eyes widened in shock at what he was saying. How could he think that killing was funny? I waked up every single day since I learned about Voldemort's attacks on Muggles and thanked God that I was alive. Here he was, calling dark magic on Muggles interesting!

"Yes, but Mione, where there is darkness, there's light," he said, straightening himself on my bed. He looked profoundly into my eyes, trying to express his beliefs, "There's hope. There's never a shortage of light. Evil things have there beauty."

"Sure," I said sarcastically, "Give an example."

He looked into the darkness of the room, his eyes becoming cloudy and dark. He waited, contemplating his answer in the best possible way. His gaze returned to me and he said in a low tone that sent shivers up my spine, "You love me don't you? I'm dark, sinister, cruel… plain evil like I've been raised to be… and you're my light. The light to Voldemort is seen as Potter. The beauty of dark magic is seen through the beauty that can be created through it." He grasped my hand roughly and ran his fingers through my hair.

He hissed incoherently a few words and a snake appeared in his arms.

I gasped in horror and amazement, "Keep it away from." I watched as he petted the serpent while the snake's tongue menaced me.

He muttered another word and the snake was replaced by a dark velvety crimson rose. He brushed the soft petals next to my cheek with that rare smile of his. Draco teased my lips open and kissed me while stroking my neck. His kisses ran along my neck until he laid his head over my chest.

"He's going to be strong and intelligent," he said proudly.

"How do you know if it's a boy?" I asked, caressing the delicate rose petals.

He looked awkwardly at me and said jokingly, "I'm his father, of course I know."

I closed my eyes, "I'm tired like hell."

"Study less," he said casually, wrapping his arms around my waist and drifting into a deep sleep near me.

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Hermione's POV

The days leading to February 27 were spent planning the defense of Hogwarts secretly. Harry's scar began to hurt last week and today, February 26, the pain has increased since the arrival of the visitors from Beauxbatons, Durmstrang, the other schools and the Ministry.

Meanwhile, Draco had kept his promise and remained with me every possible second when we were alone.

Harry, Ron and Draco had assembled in my room to set things straight with me for the next day.

"You'll remain in the abandoned dungeon on the west side of the castle," Draco informed me.

"What if I don't want to be," I said grumpily.

"You must," Harry ordered, "Don't you think of moving out of the room."

"I'm not special! It's not fair that I be protected while so many other Muggles in our school will be in the face of danger."

"Hermione-," Ron said, slapping his forehead mildly in frustration.

"You're too stubborn," Draco said, finishing Ron's sentence and kissing me.

"Look who's talking," Harry said rolling his eyes at Draco. They still didn't seem to be on good terms since I left Harry for Draco.

"What's that supposed to mean, Potter?" Draco said, watching Harry sternly from the corner of his eye.

"As if we can't see the death glares you've been sending to the Durmstrang and the other foreign men who have been hitting on Hermione," Ron sputtered.

I stifled a small giggle and watched as Draco's face reddened in embarrassment or anger.

"Fuck off Potter, Weasley," he hissed at them, "Don't tell me you wouldn't do it to your girlfriends." He paused and smirked, "Oh, my sincere apologies. You don't have any."

"Draco," I warned him threateningly. I began to laugh, "You really frightened Mark from Durmstrang away from me."

"He was nearly touching your arse when you dance with him at the opening dance today. Not only that, he was staring at your breasts," Draco defended himself in exasperation.

"Think we'll make it a night," Harry mumbled, heading towards the door. Draco cringed when I kissed Ron goodnight on the cheek. Harry approached me for his kiss but Draco blocked him.

"What?!" Draco said, staring at the three of us, "You're her ex-boyfriend for Merlin's sake!"

"You're bloody paranoid, Malfoy," Harry said, in what seemed like a laugh but was too short to catch. He and Ron left, leaving Draco and I alone.

"I have a surprise for you," Draco said, smiling. I allowed him to blindfold me, wondering what his 'surprise' was. He led me by the hand and seated me on his lap before blindfolding me.

A table was set before me, with different assortments of foods. A bouquet of roses decorated the centre of the table.

"I compiled some of the different foods that you had told me about," Draco said, "With the help of some magic."

"Please don't tell me that this is a hippogriff that you transformed into food… that would be going a little too far with your transformations," I said, laughing. "Sushi!" I grabbed a pair of chopsticks.

"I won't bother to ask what that is," Draco laughed. It was good to hear him laugh like that.

"Good," I said, nodding her head in agreement. I finished the food on my plate as Draco just sat and studied me under his steel gaze. "So are you going to explain what this is all for?"

"Inquisitive, aren't we, Mrs. Granger," Draco said, his eyebrow arching. He stood up from his seat and took out a single flower from the vase. It was the only rose that wasn't open.

"Draco?" I murmured questionably. He got down on his knee and presented the rose.

"I'm not good at this, so don't blame me. Hermione Granger, I loved you from the moment I met you at the ball. Although, you might have not changed me entirely, I need you. You are my queen, the mother of my child, and I will kill myself if you say no-," he said, as the rose slowly bloomed and revealed a diamond ring. The tears welled up in my eyes. "I'd be the happiest bloke if you'd marry me Mione," he said.

I opened my mouth, waiting for the words to come out.

He started to hesitate, "I know that I haven't been the greatest to you the past few weeks and you deserve to say no. After all that I have-."

"Yes," I responded, while he slid the ring on my finger

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Draco's POV

"You won't regret this," I said convincingly. The simple word of "yes" left me in a complete state of joy. I would marry her and make her the happiest in the world

"I know," she said, grinning and giving me a quick kiss before laying back on my chest. She was crying. I never understood why women were so passionate about weddings.

"What if tomorrow-," Hermione said in a worried tone.

"Tomorrow will be the end of Voldemort's reign," I said defiantly, "No harm will come to you or me. Promise me that you won't put one step out of the room." She didn't say a word.

"Should I wear the black or blue robes," she said obviously trying to change the subject.

"Love," I said huskily, lowering my head to see her better.

"Fine," she said stubbornly. She crossed her arms across her chess tenaciously. She did her best puppy face look. She jumped when I started to tickle her.

"Malfoy, stop it!" Hermione said, punching me with all her force on my shoulders.

"Quite the fighter aren't we? You'd look better in the black robes, for tomorrow. Black is more appealing" I said laughing. I had never played with anyone like this before. Usually, the only playing I did with my women was in bed, and that was to my advantage.

"Please stop," Hermione pleaded.

"Com'on a little more wouldn't hurt," I said tickling her even more.

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Hermione's POV

Suddenly out of no where it began to rain on us, in his room.

"What the fuck," I said, when he finally stopped tickling me.

"A little late, don't you think?" Draco responded, "Remember all our experiences in the rain?"

"How can I forget," I said fixing Draco's wet hair. I ran my tongue over my wet lips. He was irresistible when his hair was wet and his shirt was sticking to his body. I fixed his hair, and snuck into his bed sheets to feel the warmth from all the dampness in the rain.

"Are we still having the wedding in Azkaban," I asked.

"The day that we are wed in Azkaban is the day that I hire Potter and Weasley as strippers to my bachelor party," Draco said in a twisted sort of humor.

I was about to die of laughter. "Actually, Harry would look quite good without his-,"I said, watching Draco's face turn stone cold.

"That's not funny Mione," he said in a serious tone.

I laughed, "Doesn't matter, they can work at my party."

Draco appeared as if he'd break into a major spasm, "I'm joking, relax. I'll just get Oliver Wood, Dean or …Oliver would definitely be a big hit. "

" I'd kill Wood before he would have a chance to-," Draco said, his anger getting the better of him.

" Someone's very possessive," I said, snuggling him.

"I just don't want to imagine you and Wood snogging while he carries his broomstick in his other hand saying your name in his Scottish accent," he said, shaking his head in disapproval, "Oh yes, and I that's his Quidditch broom, not the other one...hopefully." He smirked to himself.

"That's cruel," I said, laughing at his corruptive jokes, "Besides Scottish accents are gorgeous." I yawned and closed my eyes. Draco kissed my forehead, "Good night, love."

WOW! That was too sappy for my liking. I feel like barfing. Anyhow. The next chapter is the last, I've promised myself. Thanks for reading. I'm planning to start a LOTR/HP fic!! After this one is done… Hermione Granger and Legolas Greenleaf. Sometimes Hermione has to deal with too much crap from men in some stories. Besides Legolas is perfection. Too bad he doesn't exist… only in Orlando Bloom. Anyhow adeus… oh next chapter will be within the next month, HOPEFULLY. Stupid writer's block!