Disclaimer: Not mine. Because I can't handle publishing dates.

Author's Note: Well, this was going to be longer and be the end, but i'm not done the end yet, and i figured you'd want something. So here you go. R&R!

EDIT: Reposted. The squiggly lines didn't show, despite numerous attempts.


I'm the kind of person who endorses
a deep commitment
Getting comfy getting perfect
is what I live for
But a look, then a smell of perfume
It's like I'm down on the floor
And I don't know what I'm in for

I Want You, by Savage Garden


"Um, Draco?"

"Hm?"

"I don't have any pajamas."

Resisting the impulse to say something crude, he replied by tossing a shirt behind him.

"Hey! You hit me in the head!" Hermione complained.

"Well, you muttered something about hexing me if I turned around before you were done. And the shirt is the best I can offer you, since the house elves are all asleep, and it would look a bit odd for your clothing to be caught whizzing through the halls at this hour. Besides, you can always transfigure it."

"No-" she stopped to yawn -"I can't. The last time I tried to do magic when I was tired… well let's just say it wasn't pretty."

"So Hermione Granger does have a weakness."

"Several, actually, but you'll never hear me admit it. You can turn around now."

Despite the shadows in the room caused by the flickering candlelight, Draco could see enough of her legs to be quite impressed. Catching the raised eyebrow, Hermione muttered something.

"What was that?"

"I'm too tired to remember." She said quietly as she crawled between the obsidian sheets. "Oooh, soft."

Draco chuckled. "Not a night person?"

"Nope. Mornings. Astronomy classes would've killed me if I hadn't discovered the miraculous powers of coffee." Hermione snuggled closer to him as he wrapped his arm around her.

"We'd better get some sleep… it's pretty late." He kissed her hair. "G'night, love."

She was already asleep.

(time/scene change)

"She's back? When did she get back? Why didn't you-"

"Because I knew you'd act like this." Ginny interrupted Ron. "She got back shortly after lunch, then went to the library and came back with a large stack of books about a half hour before everyone was due back from the Quidditch match. She's been in her room since."

Ron started pacing the common room. Harry sat down beside Ginny on the sofa. "Sorry Gin, you know how Ron gets. How's your ankle?"

"A little sore, but that's it. I still think I could've flown in today's game."

"When Madame Pomfrey says wait a day, you wait a day. Otherwise she'll hunt you down and force you to stay in the hospital wing for a week." Harry chuckled. "Besides, we don't want our Ginny getting any more hurt than she already is."

"Harry, I have six brothers. On top of that, two of them create explosions on a daily basis – if not more often – and one chases dragons. This is noth- ow!"

Harry had taken her shoe and sock off and was looking at her foot. "Then why did you say 'ow'? And if you don't mind me saying so, that's an interesting shade of purple you've got there."

Ginny glared at him, attempting to look serious and stifle giggles at the same time.

"I hate to interrupt whatever it is you're doing, but Ginny, I need some help here," Ron began. "I mean, 'Mione sno… er… left with Malfoy. It just isn't right."

She gave him a real glare as she sternly replied: "Hermione snogged Draco. Get it through your carrot head." Ignoring Ron's gagging noises, Ginny continued. "She spent the night with him, and came back looking happy. So either she really likes him, or he's an excellent shag. From what I've can pick up, probably both."

Harry gave Ginny a surprised and slightly scared look. She wasn't normally this outright, and it was a bit disturbing. "Alright Gin, now you're beginning to give me the shudders."

She stiffened. "No wonder she's burrowed away in her room. You two are supposed to be her friends! You don't like Draco and her being together because he's in Slytherin, but it doesn't matter what house you're in – if you can't support one of your best friends, you're a complete wanker. I'm going to go talk to Hermione. You two had better think about what I said." Ginny gave them a look that could rival McGonagall's and stormed off.

Harry and Ron continued to stand in front of the fireplace. "She acted just like me mum, there."

Harry nodded.

"…Except for the wanker part."

(scene change)

A knock on the door spurred Hermione away from her thoughts.

"'Mione, can I come in? It's me, Ginny… Harry and Ron aren't with me." The door opened slowly. "How're you doing?"

"To be honest, I'm not really sure. Everything's so confusing. I mean, I like him, but…"

"Hermione, sit down. Have something to eat, relax for a moment. I brought you some food, since you skipped dinner."

Hermione smiled as the redhead handed her a napkin. "Thanks, but I'm… I'm just not very hungry right now." Noticing Ginny's worried look, she added: "I promise I'll eat it later, alright?"

"Alright." Ginny gave her a warm smile. "Now, what's up?"

"I… I like him Ginny; I really like him. He seems to understand me in a way that no one else does. Like I told Ron, he's grown up a lot – although I strongly suspect his attitude towards Harry and Ron will never change. But he reads Ginny, he reads! No one else in this school, aside from the Professors, actually enjoys books! I can actually have an intellectually stimulating conversation with him. Yet we don't have to talk, we can be quiet and just be happy and comfortable and…" Hermione stopped, noticing Ginny's laughter. "What?" she asked, annoyed.

"I'm sorry – it's just…" she laughed again, " you're the only person who would have 'reads' on your list of requirements for someone you'd go out with."

Hermione's glare softened. "Well it's important to me."

"Okay, okay. One question though. Is he a good kisser?"

"Ginny! I am not answering that!"

"So he is, then?"

"I didn't say anything!"

"Your cheeks are redder than my hair."

"Oh. Um, please don't share that. Anyways, I really like him."

"So then, what's the problem?"

"Well let's see… how about the fact that his father is Lucius Malfoy, who happens to be a Death Eater? Not to mention that I've already heard at least sixteen different rumors about us, several of which have me pregnant, one by his father. I think I also heard something about Snape? Finally, I can already guess how Harry and Ron are being about the whole thing; what about the rest of the school?"

"Hermione, since when did you ever care about what the rest of the students think? As for Lucius, in-laws are already a bother. As for the rumors… well, you missed the one with the giant squid."

Hermione couldn't help but laugh at that. "Giant squid? I don't even want to… hold on. Did you say 'in-laws'?"

"You know what I mean. Besides, you never know…" Ginny's eyes lit up mischievously, "Seriously though, 'Mione, you think too much. This is something you can't analyze. Sometimes you sort of have to dive in headfirst. And I know it's a cliché, but sometimes you have to follow your heart." She stood up. "I have to go now, before they think you're cheating on Draco."

"Ginny!" Hermione smiled despite herself. "Thanks, Gin. See you tomorrow. Oh, and bother the boys about their homework for me!"

Ginny chuckled as she left the room. Some things never changed.