Chapter 21

All of a sudden it was pandemonium! Spells being fired to and from every direction, Harry and Ron ducked and ran towards the bed that held Hermione and Malfoy captive.

"Are you two alright?" Harry asked

"Yes thanks Harry!" Hermione said happily. "Thank goodness we didn't have to go far!"

Malfoy nodded in agreement. "Hey, get us loose!"

"What spell did he use?" Harry asked, not seeing any visible bonds.

"I don't know!" Came Malfoy's frustrated reply.

"Great, now what do we do?!" Ron whined.

"Harry look out!" Hermione cried as a jet of green light came right at Harry.

Just in time, Harry ducked and the spell whizzed over the top of his head.

"Thanks, Mione!" he said gratefully.

Hermione smiled in response.

Harry and Ron tried different spells to get Hermione and Malfoy free, but none worked.

Suddenly, all went quiet.

The four students looked up to see the deatheaters falling to the floor, snoring! Voldemort looked around in anger, before looking drowsy and falling to the floor in a deep sleep too.

The only deatheater that remained standing was Snape, who looked around him at all the slumbering Deatheaters and started doing a victory dance.

"Well done, Severus!" Dumbledore said proudly.

"Yeah, good job Sev!" Tonks piped up.

"Now, I suggest, while we have time, that we get the students back to Hogwarts before this lot wake up." Said Dumbledore.

"I'll let the Ministry know what happened." Lupin said before disapperating.

Mr and Mrs Weasley, Dumbledore, Snape and Tonks rushed over to the bed where the four students were.

"Professor, we can't get them free!" Ron wailed.

"Voldemort used some sort of binding spell so they couldn't get off the bed and we've tried every spell we know to get them loose, but none work!"

Dumbledor looked thoughtful. "Perhaps it would be easier to just turn the bed into a portkey and get back to Hogwarts. Then we can figure out how to free them." He suggested.

Everyone nodded. Sounded like a good plan.

Dumbledore tapped the bed with his wand, said a spell and the bed glowed blue for a few seconds.

"Ok, everyone, on the count of three, jump on the bed!" He instructed. "One...two...THREE!"

Everyone jumped on the bed at once, almost squashing Malfoy and Hermione, and the familiar tug behind everyone's navel occurred.

Everything was a blur as they sped towards Hogwarts, and within seconds, they had landed in the Great Hall at Hogwarts with a bump.

Luckily, it was deserted as it was 2 in the morning and the party had finished long ago.

They all took a moment to recover then started rejoicing in their victorious rescue mission.

"I haven't had so much fun since last year!" Dumbledore chuckled.

"That was a great plan Severus!" Mr Weasley said.

Everyone voiced their agreement.

Snape couldn't help but enjoy the praise!

"Umm, I don't mean to ruin the moment or anything...but could you get us free from this confounded bed if it's not TOO MUCH TROUBLE!!!!!" Malfoy said yelling the last part.

"Oh, of course, my apologies!" Dumbldore said rolling up his sleeves and drawing his wand.

He uttered a very complicated sounding spell that no-one – not even Snape – had heard of before, and waved his wand.

Suddenly, they were free and jumped off the bed as if it was made of molten lava.

"Thank you Professor Dumbledore!" Hermione said hugging the old wizard around his middle.

He patted her on the back. "You are most welcome, miss Granger!" he chuckled.

Snape stood to the side, watching. Suddenly, a flurry of white chiffon engulfed him and he looked down in bewilderment to find that he was being...HUGGED!!!

He didn't know what to do! He'd never been hugged before!

Hermione continued to hug him. "Thank you Professor Snape! You were wonderful!"

"It's just a hug, Severus... nothing to be afraid of!" Dumbledore chuckled.

Snape sniffed indignantly and patted Hermione on the head. "You're welcome." He said stiffly.

"Group hug!" Mrs Weasley cried tearfully.

Everyone surged toward Snape and Hermione and a group hug commenced.

Snape was NOT comfortable with this, but he had no choice! He was being hugged and there was nothing he could do about it!

"Yes, yes alright!" he snapped.

Finally, the group hug ended and they gave him some space, much to his relief.

He brushed himself down in a preening sort of way, and took a deep calming breath. He felt it was time for things to go back to normal.

"Well," he said shortly "It's been an interesting evening, but I should like to return to my rooms, if you don't mind!"

Dumbledore nodded. "If you wish, Severus. Have a pleasant night's rest."

Snape nodded curtly before sweeping off out of the hall, his robes billowing out behind him.

Harry snickered.

"10 points from Griffindor for laughing Mr Potter!" Snape said without missing a beat.

As soon as he was out of the hall, Professor McGonnagal leaned down to Harry. "100 points to Griffindor for being so calm tonight!" she said.

Harry, Ron and Hermione grinned.

"And 100 points to Slytherin, Mr Malfoy, for being such a good friend." Professor McGonnagal added, smiling proudly at Malfoy.

Malfoy smiled back, pleased that he had earned his house some points!

"Well, I say we should all have a nice cup of tea, before retiring to bed!" Dumbledore suggested.

Everyone thought this was a splendid idea, and so Dumbledore summoned a few house elves and they brought trays of tea and some cakes.

The group sat around one table and enjoyed their victory.

Hermione, Ron, Harry and Malfoy sat together and discussed the nights events.

"I couldn't believe what he wanted us to do!" Hermione said scandalously.

"Me neither!" Malfoy agreed. "I didn't know how to do what he was asking!"

Hermione giggled. Malfoy blushed.

"Are you blushing, Malfoy?" Ron asked.

"Wouldn't you?" Harry put in.

"Yeah, you're right there mate!" Ron agreed.

They all chatted happily, drinking their tea and nibbling on cake, until it was all gone and Dumbledore announced that they should all go to bed.

They all bade goodnight to one another and went their separate ways.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Malfoy walked together until they reached the Slytherin Common room corridor.

"Well, goodnight, mate, see you tomorrow!" Ron said shaking Malfoy's hand.

Malfoy returned the gesture and nodded.

Then Harry did the same. "Night Malfoy!"

"Night, Potter." Malfoy replied.

"You guys walk on, I'll catch up." Hermione told Harry and Ron.
Harry nodded and pulled Ron away and off down the corridor.

Hermione turned to Malfoy and smiled at him. "Thanks, Draco." She said.

Malfoy smiled at her. "You too." He replied.

There was a moment of silence between the two before Hermione gestured with her hand in the direction Harry and Ron had went.

"Well, I'd better..." she said.

"Yes." Malfoy nodded.

They hugged briefly and Hermione turned to leave.

She felt Malfoy take her hand and stop her.

"Hermione?" he said softly.
"Yes?" she asked wondering what he wanted.

He answered her with a soft lingering kiss that took her breath away.

Harry and Ron watched from the shadows.

Suddenly, Harry remembered how Ron was in the dungeon. "Ron?"

"Yeah?" Ron answered as he looked sadly at Hermione and Malfoy.

"What was it that was bothering you back in the dungeon?" Harry asked.

Ron looked down at his shoes for a moment before looking back up at Malfoy and Hermione. "I was jealous." He said simply.

Harry frowned. "Of what?"

Ron sighed, not taking his eyes off of Hermione. "Because I love her too."

Harry's heart sank. "Oh Ron...I'm sorry!" he said quietly. Harry knew how Ron felt. He had felt the same way when he found that Cho Chang was going to the yule ball with Cedric Diggory.

Ron shrugged. "My own fault, I never told her." He mumbled.

Then he turned his head to look at Harry. "Promise you won't tell her?!"

"I promise." Harry replied.

"Thanks, mate." Ron said gratefully.

Malfoy and Hermione broke apart and looked at each other.

"I love you, Hermione." Malfoy told her truthfully.

"I love you too, Draco." She whispered.

"Goodnight, love." Malfoy said, smiling and departing.

"Goodnight." She whispered back before turning and walking towards Harry and Ron.

They quickly got their act together and put on a happy face as she approached them, looking dreamy.

"You look like Luna Lovegood, Mione!" Harry teased.

"Hmmm?" Hermione said absently.

Ron rolled his eyes and they laughed. But inside, he was aching. 'Ah, well," he told himself. 'better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all.'.

With that, the three Griffindors went back to Griffindor tower, one friend richer.

The End

A/N:  Sorry if it was an abismal ending, but it just turned out that way.  I'm not very good at writing mushy stuff.  Hope you liked.  Let me know if you would like me to write another fanfic and please please please read and review!!!!