She had felt odd for the rest of the ongoing week. After coming back from the elevator, she had stood under the hot, stinging shower spray, humming to herself in a way that surprised even her. She was so happy in her own little wonderland that consisted of nothing but Draco Malfoy--yet, as soon as she stepped out of the shower, she was reminded that she Ron in the other room, still fast asleep and her heart plummeted to the bottom of her stomach.

The following week was slow and nerve wracking for Hermione. Ron always insisted on giving her little kisses when people weren't looking. They were warm and sweet kisses and she was sure any woman would be damned lucky to have such a gentle man like Ron-but she didn't want gentle anymore. She wanted Draco. Her hands fell to her stomach again and she closed her eyes tightly together.

Draco's words had stunned her in the very beginning but pleased her more and more with every ongoing second. The whispers gave her goose bumps and caused desire in every nerve. "Another great dragon will be born." The words echoed off her brain. Had he meant what she thought he meant. She kept messaging her stomach with the tips of her fingers. She hoped so.

"Hermione, snap out of it," called Harry, waving his hand in front of her eyes. He had a look of concern drawn on his face. "Is your stomach hurting you? Maybe you should go get something for it before we leave."

"No, Harry, I'm ok. I'm just a little eager to go home I guess. I'm really homesick," she lied. Ron had insisted she just go straight to the Burrow with them but she made up a lie about her mother needing her for a few days. He had raised his eyebrows at her as if he didn't believe her. Hermione felt terrible, her guilt eating quickly at her heart every time Ron was so kind to her. She wanted him to argue with her like before. Instead he greeted her with loving kisses and hugs.

"How can you be homesick, when we used to spend so long away from home at Hogwarts?"

Hermione's face turned the color of a radish. "That's different."

Harry shrugged. "I don't see how." He picked up his few bags and turned his back to her. "You know, you can't lie to me. When you feel like telling me what's up it will make you feel much better."

Hermione raised her hand to the hollow of her throat and nearly screamed, "I'M IN LOVE WITH DRACO MALFOY AND HE LOVES ME!" but she only sighed deeply as he walked away. Harry wouldn't understand and Ron would probably have a heart attack. Well, maybe not a heart attack but Hermione was sure he would never talk to her again. After her things were packed and placed on the Dolly, Hermione hugged Egoise and made for the exit to the bus terminals.

She pushed her dolly to the back of the bright green bus with the flashing lights that screamed "PLEASE COME BACK TO HOLLY HORRIS'S SOON!" Just as when she arrived to the hotel, she was once again struggling to lift her ten-ton suitcases into the back of the bus. Her toothpick like arms shuttered with the weight of it all and the suitcases fumbled to the ground. "Oh, what a day this will be," she muttered. If only Draco was here, with that dazzling smirk, to help her with her luggage like before.

"Need help, milady?" Ron drawled in her ear. Every time he spoke to her Hermione became nervous.

"I-yes, please, they're so heavy."

Ron seemed to have a little trouble when he got to the last suitcase and was huffing and puffing with his hands clasped to his knees. "Woman, what did you put in those bags? Bricks?" He was laughing in between breaths.

"Ron."

"Yeah, what's on your mind?" He could see the pain in her face. "Hermione, are you ok?"

"Why do you like me?"

He looked almost taken back. "But, Hermione, I've always liked you. Even when everyone else didn't notice the amazing qualities you have.I did." To her surprise his face didn't blush like he usually did in her presence. He looked so sincere. He wrapped his arm around her and inhaled the sweet fragrance of her hair. Hermione's body stiffened at his touch and her eyes darted back and forth, as if Draco had been watching her again. "I know it must be weird for you, but I've waited this long and all this has happened between us. I can wait longer if you still have some things to think over before we do anything drastic."

Hermione was biting the inside of her cheeks to prevent her tears from gushing out like waterfalls. "Thank you, Ron. I suppose I will see you at the Burrow in a couple days then." She gave him a false smile but he only smiled back and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"And by the way, Granger, being with you that one night was like a dream. Did it really happen?"

Hermione looked down at the ground. "It was no dream, Ron."

A huge grin was plastered on his face when she looked up. "Good, then I will remember it always," he said, turning to board the bus. Hermione hesitated was thinking to herself, 'I wish it were a dream. This whole trip, I just wish I could wake up from all of this.'

The ride on the bus was a comfortable one. The interior was decorated in an assortment of greens and a little mix of purple. Instead of beds, there were couches of all kinds and beautiful coffee tables made of ice that was charmed to never melt so it keeps people's drinks cool. The ceiling was enchanted to look like a sunny day on the beach and even seagulls where sent wild in the bus, which didn't seem like a smart idea. The birds began attacking anyone who had food in their hands. The bus driving had to immobilize them after so many complaints.

Hermione, Ron, and Harry sat in back drinking their chilled pumpkin juice and talking about the strangeness of knowing they wouldn't ever go back to Hogwarts again.

"Do you think they'll let us come back and visit?" Harry asked.

"Harry, you know very well they will," Hermione snapped, acting like her know-it-all self. "I mean how times have you vanquished Voldemort? (Ron shivered-he still wasn't comfort) "Oh, Ron, please! He's gone for good! Harry destroyed him for good, even Professor Dumbledore says so! So," she adjusted her comment to Harry, "since you DID save Hogwarts so many times, I don't see why they don't even make Harry Headmaster Potter before it's all over with."

"Aren't you aware some of his followers are still out there? I don't see why one of them couldn't follow in the same steps he did!"

"Yeah, followers like Draco Malfoy are still out there and should be put out of their misery," sneered Ron.

Hermione's face drained of blood and she looked out the window, trying to no avoid the conversation suddenly. Behind her Harry's eyes widened with apprehension. He had never seen her step down so quickly from a debate.

"Hermione-have you seen Malfoy." but he was cut short by the drivers announcement that they had reached London, where Hermione was to catch her wizards taxi back to her house.

"Well, I'll see you in a few days," she said, sitting up quickly and knocking over her cup of pumpkin juice. She also fumbled with a purse and kissed Ron quickly on the cheek. They both waved at her sadly as she nearly sprinted to the front of the bus to get away from all the questions. "I can't keep this up!" she mumbled to herself. "The guilt is killing me."

The bus station was almost nearly emptied of wizards and Muggles when Hermione managed to get her bags drug out of there. The streets were hardly driven on either. Everywhere was empty. Hermione got a cold chill and turned quickly around, only to stare at pair of blazing gray eyes.

"Well, my dear, we meet again," the woman smirked. "Petrificus Totalus!!" she cried brandishing her wand towards Hermione. The unsuspecting girl crashed to the floor with on hand on her mouth, eyes wide in surprise.

Pansy Parkinson stood above her with dark content in her eyes. "Draco is my husband; he doesn't need a worthless girl like you. You are a Mudblood, what would he want with you except to use you. I will make you lose your mind with the torture Narcissa and I have planned."