A/N: I thought I would do another disclaimer so... I don't own any of the JK. Rowling characters used or Harry Potter related places (e.g.- Hogwarts, diagon alley. You get the idea.)

Chapter 23- Just a little further

Draco and Hermione continually walked through the forests. Up and down, up and down. Draco could see Hermione was getting tired.

"Lets stop here for a bit of a rest."

Hermione sat down on a log while Draco rummaged through the bag. Hermione took this time to catch her breath is really had been an exhausting journey. Draco pulled out two squished sandwiches and tossed one over to Hermione.

"I managed to make these before we left, ya know I never did see the inside of my kitchen."

"Thanks and that's pretty sad you haven't seen your own kitchen."

Draco smirked. "They're a bit squished from the train ride with us laying on them and all"

Hermione smiled and took a bite. She was quite hungry they hadn't eaten since this morning at the burrow. No offence to Mrs. Weasley or anything but she wasn't exactly the best cook. No wonder Ron pigs out at Hogwarts. Hermione watched Draco navigate the rest of the trip while she ate her sandwich. Draco had eaten his sandwich within two seconds of having unwrapped it. If she hadn't seen him unwrap it she would have easily thought he ate the plastic along with it. When Hermione was finished and rested for a bit they were soon on there way again. Hermione didn't dare complain, what Draco was doing right now, giving up his family for her, which is hard no matter who's your family. They continued to walk it seemed as if it would never end. They soon even began to climb over small cliff type land. They had traveled so far from society that it seemed they had wondered into nonexistence. Hermione soon found herself crossing over a small stream. Her unsteadiness caused her to miss one of the rocks and step right into the stream soaking her left leg up to her ankle.

"C'mon we're almost there its not far now." Draco tried to encourage her.

He reached back and grabbed her hand with a reassuring look on his face. Hermione gratefully took his hand and continued on. She loved how he no longer had that cold look lingering in his eyes; all she could see now was warmth. They safely made there way across the stream and on to dry land. The sun was beginning to set. It was a truly beautiful site. Oranges, purples, blues and all sorts of other colours lit the sky. A cool breeze shook the trees around them. Hermione pulled out her cloak and wrapped it around herself feeling a gust of wind brush across her still dampened leg.

"How far are we?" Hermione asked getting a little aggravated with Draco's continuing answer of 'its not far now'

"Its..." Draco was stopped right after his first word. "Don't tell me its not far now, you've been saying that for the past hour." Hermione interrupted with a touch of anger and annoyance in her voice.

Draco continued again. "Its just beyond that tree there."

"Which tree we are in a forest there are loads of trees." Hermione wasn't being very pleasant anymore. But anyone in her situation might have cracked a bit early than her.

"That one there" Draco said pointing towards the largest tree of the bunch.

Hermione felt a bit better now being able to actually see where they were headed and that it truly was no more than a 5-minute walk.

Hermione quickened there pace eager to see what was just beyond the tree. She had no clue what it was going to be, she had even began to think Draco himself hadn't a clue where they were going. But when her eyes met that astonishing site she knew, he had known exactly where they were the whole time.

"What do you think?" Draco asked not mad at all Hermione had been a little short-tempered.

"It's, it's perfect!" Hermione said as a few tears welled up.

Draco smiled obviously pleased with Hermione's response. "C'mon lets go."

Draco grabbed Hermione's hand and led her into the small hut. It was perfecting timing since now the moon was up and it was rather cold.

Hermione stepped the small hut. Well inside wasn't all that small at all. It was perfect sizing for them.

"How long have you been planning this I mean this is the most secluded spot. No one would even think to look here and you seem to have thought of every possible need." Hermione inquired as she explored the room.

"Well its actually not that hard. I mean with the help of some magic anything is possible." Draco winked at Hermione.

Hermione smiled and continued to walk around the room. The hut was in the oddest shape; it was similar to a cabin. When you walked in the door directly on your left was the kitchen with a small fridge and stove. This part had almost a circular shape to it. From there, there was a small living room with a couch bookshelf full of books just for Hermione and a desk. In front of the couch was a fireplace. It wasn't any ordinary fireplace; it was like none other she had ever seen quite baffling really. She continued to explore the cabin, passing through the front room. She walked over to a door on the right wall near the back. She opened the door to find it leading to a hallway. The hallway wasn't very long and there were only two doors, one on either side. She decided to open the right door first. Inside was a four-poster bed much like the one she had at the Malfoys. There was a small closet and window that faced the back. That was it for that room. She went across the hall and opened the other door. Inside was a small bathroom. Which consisted of your basic hygiene needs shower, sink, and toilet.

Hermione closed the door leading to the bathroom and went and sat on the couch beside Draco.

"This is amazing Draco." Hermione said as she embraced him in a long and passionate kiss.

Draco was more than happy to deepen the kiss and wanted to keep it going for as long as possible. Right now to him air was over-rated. Hermione finally broke their kiss gasping for air. This by far had been their most passionate kiss and this wouldn't be the last.

"I've been thinking about Hogwarts." Hermione said still a little out of breath

"While we kiss you think of Hogwarts, figures it was something with books." Draco said playfully.

Hermione laughed. "You know what I mean"

"I know" Draco said with a wink.

"I think we should go to Dumbledore for help. He can protect us and that way we can still go to school together."

"Dumbledore?" Draco repeated a little hesitant.

"Yes I know he'll help us."

"I don't know Hermione."

"Please I know you don't exactly welcome the idea of getting help from Dumbledore but what else is there?"

Hermione had definitely had a point. There wasn't really anyone strong enough they could turn too.

"Alright Hermione."

Hermione was so happy. She would get to go to Hogwarts and her and Draco could now openly express their feelings with out ridicule. Well at least until they got to Hogwarts they could. From there that would take a little bit of convincing people and ignoring whispers, stares of shock and mortification. But until then they could be free.

Hermione immediately walked over to the desk and found a quill, ink, and parchment. She began to write a letter to Dumbledore. She explained everything briefly, saving the details till when they meet. She sealed the letter with wax and paused for a moment.

"Uh Draco how is he suppose to get it?"

"Owl of course. I really did think of everything Hermione"

Draco left the room and came back with a gorgeous white owl. Hermione handed Draco the letter to tie around its leg. Within seconds the owl was off. Hermione hoped she would get a reply that night. But it was quite late so she suspected to get it in the morning.

Hermione rolled over to find Draco not there. She sat up and looked around he wasn't in the room either. She got up and went across the hall to the bathroom and opened the door to find yet another room. She walked in the front room and still no Draco insight. At this point she was a little worried. She saw a shadow moving in the far corner. The floor creaked at Hermione approaching the unknown figure.

The figure turned around at the noise. "Good morning Hermione."

"Draco" Hermione shouted so relieved.

Draco pulled out a letter from his pocket and handed it over to Hermione. "I wanted to wait for you to open it. It's from Dumbledore."

Hermione smiled and took the letter. Carefully opening it. She read it aloud.

"Dear Hermione,
I am pleased to hear that you and Mr. Malfoy have settled your differences, even if it is on an extreme level. Its disappointing to hear Lucius Malfoy is so disapproving and can not get over his old ways. I will be pleased to help you and Mr. Malfoy continue here at Hogwarts. I shall make arrangements before start of term and inform you of them soon as possible.

Sincerely

-Professor Dumbledore"

A/N: Another chapter finished. Hope you liked it. Read and Review, Review!!