CHAPTER TEN: CHOICES

DISCLAIMER: Harry Potter is not mine; it is J.K. Rowling's property. No money is being made, etc…

A/N: Sorry for being so late!! Argh! Our Internet got busted so I had to use an Internet café instead… Anyway, I typed it all up on our computer, but I was a little late in getting to an Internet café so… sorry sorry sorry!! And I have no dedications on this last chapter because Internet comes with e-mail alerts… and the e-mail alerts come with Review Alerts so I can't check who's reviewed and who hasn't! And if I go and check and edit it on the computer/s at the Internet café, they'll charge me more so… no dedications. VERY VERY SORRY!! (hits self on head). Anyway, I hope I can make up for it in this last chapter. Again, sorry for the lateness and the dedicationless-ness! I just have to say that you all are very very very really really really great readers!!!

"Ah…" Dumbledore said as they arrived. "I see you've finally arrived. I've been expecting you."

"W-we can explain, P-Professor," Harry stammered.

"There is no need for—" Dumbledore started.

"It was all my fault, Professor!" Hermione cut in. "Some—someone—"

The headmaster cut her off. "There is no need for explanation, Ms. Granger." He continued. "As I was about to say… you three have a perfect excuse for not being here for the last two days."

"But what about Hermione's kidnappers?" Draco asked from behind.

Harry, Ron and Hermione nearly jumped; they had not realized that Draco had regained consciousness.

"As to her kidnappers, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore said. "We cannot do anything about that at this moment. I believe it was yet another attempt to lure Harry into Voldemort's clutches…"

A loud silence ensued as all this information sunk in.

Then, Dumbledore spoke once more. "Now I trust that you three go straight to the infirmary for a rest. I'm sure Madam Pomfrey can fix up those injuries in a snap."

Harry, Ron and Hermione looked behind them at Draco, who was the one with the most damage.

Hands in pockets, he looked at them slightly innocently, "What?" He shrugged.

Ron rolled his eyes. "If you don't know, I'm not going to tell you."

Harry and Hermione choked down laughter as the four of them headed out the door and down the moving spiral staircase of Dumbledore's office.

"So…" Ron said as they walked slowly toward the hospital wing. "What's this about you and Malfoy fucking?"

Hermione flushed. "What—what do you mean?"

"Don't try to change the subject, Hermione." Harry said. "You heard what the Death Eater said."

"Yeah!" Ron said. "I thought I was your 'significant other'?"

Harry and Draco's eyes widened. "What?" They demanded in unison.

"Well… uh…" Hermione was at a loss for words. "Please tell me you won't get mad?"

Harry, Ron and Draco stared at her, their faces looking for an explanation.

Hermione looked at each of their glowering faces, and with a shaky voice she quietly said, "I've sort of been…"

"Been…?" Ron urged.

"Been… sleeping… w-with a-all three of—of you…"

"WHAT?!" Said all three voices at once.

"What do you mean…?" Harry said.

"I thought we—we were…" Ron spluttered.

"I'm not really surprised." Draco stated.

Tears leaked freely from Hermione's eyes. "I'm sorry!" She said through her tears. "It's just… I—I'm not really sure how I feel about the… the three of you!"

"Oh, well I can perfectly understand you being with Harry." Ron said. "But Malfoy?"

Malfoy shot a fierce look at Ron, but said nothing.

"Hermione, it's not like you," Harry said. "You have to choose one of us…"

They were at the infirmary door now, but no one made a move to get inside. They decided to settle this before dealing with their aches and pains.

"No pressure." Draco said. "Really. I'm not really surprised about this. I mean… I thought you'd been having sex with one of these guys ages ago!"

"What?" Hermione looked dumbfounded.

"Come on," Draco pointed out. "You three have been friends for years; two guys, one girl. I say… threesome."

"You're such a pervert, Malfoy." Ron said.

"What?" Draco said, unoffended. "I'm just telling you what happens in real life."

Ron was about to say something foul in reply but Harry interrupted, "Stop it, you two." He said. "We have to get through what's important here." He looked at Hermione and asked her, "Well? Which one of us do you want to be with you?"

Behind Harry, Ron was mouthing, Not Malfoy, to Hermione. Draco saw this and shoved Ron. Ron shoved him back. They continued this steady shoving contest until finally, Hermione spoke.

"I—I don't know…" she said. "Well, at least not yet. Please… give me until tomorrow night to think about it."

Harry sighed, but nodded.

Once the four of them were in the infirmary, Madam Pomfrey nearly shrieked at the sight of them. And at the sight of Draco, she looked about ready to faint.

"What you four have been through!" She exclaimed.

Harry was generally alright, just a few bruises and a cut on his cheek. Ron was covered in more injuries because of his fight with Draco, and falling down the steps of Gringotts. Hermione had cuts in her arms and a bruise on her shoulder where the Stunning spell had hit her. But Draco was the most messed up of them all.

Scratches covered his entire body, he had a large, painful discoloration on his cheek, and his fair hair was almost completely damp with blood.

"I thought you said that they didn't attack Malfoys. The scanters, I mean." Harry said as Madam Pomfrey bustled about, opening jars of disinfectant and potions for healing.

"Well I had to say that," Draco said. "Or else you two'd be there with me for a hell of a long time, and we'd never get to Hermione on the same day. Plus, you'd also experience a whole lot of pain for no reason. Madam Pomfrey would have had a hard time fixing up all three of us."

"I can't believe you did that," Ron said.

"Did what?" Draco asked. "Oh, right… I'm used to it." He said simply.

Ron was about to ask something, but Madam Pomfrey steered him away to fix up his cuts and contusions.

The next day, after a night's rest at the hospital wing, all four of them felt a lot better. And with word from Madam Pomfrey that they could go, they gladly fixed up their things and headed out to the Great Hall for breakfast.

Harry, Ron and Hermione walked together to the Gryffindor table, and Draco stalked over to the Slytherin table to meet Crabbe and Goyle, who immediately asked him about where he had been. Draco just shook his head and said he had to "do something important."

Crabbe and Goyle being who they were, immediately went back to their breakfasts and proceeded with stuffing their faces with eggs.

Draco looked over at the Gryffindor table, and met Harry's eye. Harry, seeing him too, grinned.

Taken slightly aback, Draco blinked, but then smiled back.

Later that night, Harry was working on his homework with Hermione in the Gryffindor common room. Ron was in the boys' dormitories, reading a biography on the Chudely Cannons that had been collecting dust at the bottom of his trunk. He had finally come to his senses and opened it.

"Uh… Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Yeah?" Hermione said, thinking that she knew what Harry was about to ask her, and was dreading the question.

"Have you decided yet?" Harry asked.

"Decided what?" Hermione asked, stalling for time.

"You know," Harry said. "Between the three of us…"

Hermione sighed. "I—I don't know how to tell you this…"

"It's not me, is it?" Harry said.

"No, Harry…" Hermione said. "I'm afraid not. You—you can't possibly understand being in love with three people."

"No," Harry said. "I guess I can't. But… am I at least your second choice?"

Hermione was surprised, but answered him. "Yes… yes, Harry. You are…. But I don't know why you need to know that."

"I know," Harry admitted. "But… I just wanted to know… if—if Ron, or Draco weren't… would I be the one?"

"Yes, Harry…" Hermione said. "You would."

Harry nodded, and commenced with his Potions essay.

Hermione chewed on her quill, thinking. She already knew who she wanted. But she couldn't help but feel guilty. Harry, Ron and Draco seemed so patient with her. They hadn't been angry, and hadn't sworn not to talk to her again. How could this be?

This all made it harder to decide, but in the end, Hermione had chosen. It was a hard choice, but she figured it was really what she wanted. He was really what she wanted.

Gathering her wits, Hermione stood up and went for the portrait hole.

"Where are you going?" Harry asked.

"Just… for a walk." Hermione said, exiting Gryffindor Tower.

He sat on the most comfortable leather couch near the fire, just staring at the leaping orange flames. No one was in the common room, it had emptied out since it was nearly twelve midnight.

She wasn't coming. He heaved a sigh and stood up, heading for the boys' dormitories. I wonder who she's with, he wondered.

Suddenly, there was a knocking at the entrance to the common room. His heart leapt. Could it be her?

He opened the entrance and there she was, smiling shyly at him.

"Hello, Draco," Hermione said.

Draco smiled back at her. "Hi, Hermione."

Hermione crossed through the entrance and wrapped her arms around him.

A/N: Well? How was the ending? I liked it, sort of. I was going for something different… but then… I changed it. I don't know if it's better… but I think it is. Reviews please!!