Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any other character. Neither do I own the places. All I own is the plot. The rest belongs to J.K Rowling.

- Chapter twenty: Guts -

Draco sat up.

"Do you think they believed us?" he asked her as he massaged her neck.

"I don't know. They all looked so...well, strange."

"But we told them the truth. They have to believe us."

"And they will. Just let Dumbledore talk to them." She said soothingly.

She turned around and smiled at him. He leaned in and kissed her.

"I'd better go downstairs. I promised Ginny I'd help cooking tonight." She said.

When she closed the door behind her, he fell back on the bed. He closed his eyes and smiled. His hand crawled under his pillow and got a little box from underneath it.

It was strange. He had severed himself from all his Malfoy ties, but he still held on to this trinket.

'It would look beautiful on her...if I only had the guts to give it to her.'

He looked at it, gently touching it with his finger.

"Oh, before I forget." Hermione entered the room again.

He quickly hid the ring inside his pocket.

"Do you need help cleaning up this room? It's kinda...dusty."

He shook his head. "No, that's okay. The room is fine. I can manage."

Hermione smiled and left the room again. He sighed.

'If I only had the guts.'

"So, what's up with you and Malfoy?" Ginny said as she threw the potato peels in the bin.

Hermione blushed.

"What-what do you mean?" she stuttered.

"Oh come off it Mione. You two...you're always together, supporting each other, talking, hugging."

"...Well...I think you already know..." she said, still blushing heavily.

Ginny looked at her. "So you two really are..."

"Ginny, is the dinner ready yet?" asked mrs. Weasley, who popped into the kitchen.

"No mum. We were about to put it in the oven. Just another half hour. Think the boys can manage?"

Hermione slipped out of the kitchen. She could do with a walk. She was about to put on her coat when someone grabbed her wrist. She snapped around.

"Harry! Don't you ever scare me like that again!"

"Sorry...I'm really sorry Mione...Can I join you on your walk? I need to talk to you."

"Oh...I guess so..."

They silently walked into the garden. Hermione sat down on the bench. Harry followed her example.

"I just wanted to say that I'm glad you're back." He said. "You don't know how much I missed you."

"Oh, don't I? I can assure you I'm still angry about what you did. I can't just get up and forget about it, Harry."

He looked at her, not understanding.

"I really don't understand what you mean. What have I done to make you so cold towards me?"

"You abandonned me! You left me at Malfoy Manor to die. That's what!"

"Abandonned? I went to save you! There were these two guards, I hexed them. I broke into Malfoy Manor to save you! But some of the Order came here, to save me before the Death Eaters caught me. If they hadn't...I'd have found you. I'll bet your sweet Malfoy didn't tell you about that, did he?"

She shot him and angry look.

"And why should I believe you?"

Harry looked speachless for a second. Then he looked very serious.

"Well...because, Hermione..." He took her hand and slipped of the bench, onto one knee.

Hermione's eyes opened wode with shock.

"Harry! It's your turn to set the table with Fred!" mrs. Weasley's voice broke the tension.

Hermione jumped up and ran inside, gasping for breath. She ran straight ahead, straight into someone.

"Hey Hermione, be careful."

Draco helped her up.

"Oh Sorry Draco...I just...had to run. Harry he-"

"Did he hurt you?"

"No! He...he took my hand. He said he had tried to save me, that he had been forced not to save me by the Order, that he had missed me...He took my hand and he-"

She hid her face in his shoulder. "What should I do!"

He patted her back and pulled her into a hug.

"Don't worry Hermione. Shh..."

She tightened the hug even more. They hugged in silence for a few minutes. Draco looked at her face, his heart beating fast. He kissed her forehead.

"Hermione?"

She looked up at his face. It was serious. He looked at her hand and took it in his. He sat down on one knee and pulled a small ring out of his.

"Will you marry me?" he whispered.

She looked at him speachlessly. He looked at her. Why didn't she say anything?

"Hermione?"

"...yes..." she whispered breathlessly. "Yes I will."

He shoved the ring on her finger and she pulled him up and kissed him. A tear of happiness flowed down his cheek.

"I love you so much!"

He'd finally had the guts.

"Dinner is ready...Are you two coming?" Ginny's voice made them jump, both blushing heavily.

"Yeah, just a sec."

Ginny disapeared again and Draco and Hermione looked at each other before bursting into laughter. Hermione stretched out her hand and wiped away a tear on his face.

"You're crying..."

"Only of , let's go into the diningroom...I'm starved."

He took her hand and they walked to the diningtable together. There were two seats left. One next to Lupin and one next to Harry. Before they even had the chance to choose, Harry had taken her hand and lead her to the empty seat beside him.

She looked at Draco with slight panick in her eyes, but he smiled. His eyes seemed to tell her everything would be okay.

Ah...another chapter done...and only a few to go! But anyway, even though some of you aren't here because of the holidays, I'm still continueing this until I'm leaving for Danmark myself. Sorry that I updated a bit late...I was kinda busy :D

Suzaku's Rose: awww thanks! I reall am glad you like it so much. Sorry I didn't update for a longer while then usual!!!

Dark Angels: Actually, I DID want to update really soon just for you :D but I forgot...SOWWY! I was so totally busy with other stuff and I just didn't really get round to it...but the next update will be very soon!!! (Also because I leave for Danmark on Thursday and i want to give you all another update before then) Glad you're feeling better, though! I sent you the first chapter of Angel by the way...I hope you like it.

Riddleness: I'm glad you enjoy this fic so much I hope you're gonna like the ending too...because I have a slight feeling that some people aren't going to like it...oh well...we'll see, won't we

Shadowrayne: I'm not sure she'll feel like crap...because she still feels angry towards him. Even though it wasn't his choice to leave her at Malfoy Manor, she built up this feeling of dislike for Harry and it's not going to go away easily. And, on top of that, Harry isn't being really nice to Draco...he is still trying to persuade Hermione to come back to him...but all will be revieled soon.

see you all very soon!
-raven55