Chapter 20-

A/N: First I want to say thanks so much for all the good reviews!! I love getting good reviews, which is why I'm updating so fast. I know there was a terribly huge gap between my last two updates, and I am extremely sorry. I had a somewhat bad case of writer's block, but never fear! For I now am finished with this story. I have everything written out, I just have to post it. I will only post one at a time so I can get reviews for each chapter. I know I have disappointed some of you and I just really hope you stick it out and like this. Thanks!!

Fairy Lights- I'm so glad you're interested in this. Keep reviewing!

AngelSparkle006- Thanks for being an awesome and encouraging reviewer. I appreciate it!

Brooks- Yes, everything couldn't be perfect with their relationship. Don't worry, I'm queen of happy endings!

Regina-terrae- I'm glad. Keep reading!

Katina Wellson- Yeah, I would never have just randomly thought of everything Hermione did. But she's supposed to be brilliant like that. Thanks for reviewing!

Debatingqueen- Yes, I feel bad for Draco, too. Don't worry, things always work out in my mind!

tfishot- I know they seem like cliffhangers, but I just try to end the chapters dramatically. I couldn't tell from your review whether you like this or not, but I hope you do. Thanks for reviewing!

Gryffindor620- It would be Hermione to think of it, wouldn't it? Thanks for being a faithful reviewer! And no, Lavender doesn't really want to kill Draco.

PKpepper- Thanks so much for reviewing!

creamycreamycreamycheese- I particularly liked writing the paragraph/speech that Ron gave to Harry. It seemed so dramatic, like in the first movie where he talks to Harry during the large chess game. Thanks for reviewing!! I loved the compliments.

snowyangel83- I'm glad you still are reading this. Thanks so much!

xcharmedx- I'm so glad you like this. Keep reviewing!!!!

ladyvirgo- I'm glad this caught your attention. Thanks for reviewing!

magick-wolf- Yeah, I don't much like Ginny but she's important to the Weasley family, so I can't just kill her off. Tom is better than Draco, because Tom is real. :) Thanks for reviewing!

Lucyferina- Thanks a bunch for reviewing!!

overXposed- Yeah, I felt bad for Lavender and Seamus and I tried to imagine how mad I'd be if my mom was killed. I'd be pretty harsh, too. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!

Brooks- I'm trying to keep people's attention, so yes, I guess it is pretty intense. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

kole17- Yay for our conversations. We haven't had any in too long. Thanks for always reviewing!!!

"In order to bring the school together again, we've got to talk to Draco," Hermione decided.

"We? It was you who made him distrust you," Ron said.

"Yes, but it was you and Harry who stormed outside and almost attacked him," Hermione pointed out. He thought about it a minute, then nodded in admittance.

"Well you sit by him in every class. You talk to him," Harry said to Hermione.

"Yes, I will," she decided. "He'll listen to me, won't he?"

"Draco, please just listen to me!" Hermione pleaded in a harsh whisper so that Professor Snape wouldn't hear her. However, it was obvious that Draco was ignoring her.

A little childish, he thought to himself. But it serves her right for treating me like a murderer.

"Will you please just listen?" she asked desperately.

"Excuse me, is there something you would like to share with the class?" Snape said loudly.

"No, professor," she answered mechanically, her teeth together. She muted him out as he droned back into the lesson.

"I'll listen, but don't expect anything more," Draco told her. Good enough, she thought.

"Thanks. I just want to say that I'm sorry for not being understanding and for not defending you. And by the way, we're helping Voldemort take over Hogwarts," she said, then went back to her work as if nothing happened. Draco's head turned fast enough to snap his neck.

"What?" he asked.

"Ha, got you talking," she laughed. He rolled his eyes.

"What are you talking about?" he repeated.

"Look, do you realize that our being together united Hogwarts?" she asked him.

"We're only two people out of like, a thousand. We had nothing to do with it," he said. Hermione shook her head.

"No," she said. Then she preceded to tell Draco everything she had told Harry and Ron. He looked thoughtful for a moment.

"I understand what you're saying, but I can't help you."

"What do you mean, you can't help?" she asked. "All you have to do is accept my apology and get back together again."

"See, that may be easy for you. But I can't forgive so easily. That's how feelings get taken advantage of," he explained. Luckily, right then, class was dismissed. Hermione could get away before the tears in her eyes escaped. True, she wanted to help the school. But she really did miss Draco and wanted things to be right again.

It was time to go to the Great Hall for dinner, so she sauntered down the corridor to find Lavender. She wanted to apologize and vouch for Draco. She owed it to him. She spotted Lavender near the entrance to the Great Hall.

"Hi. I just wanted to say, I'm very sorry to hear about your mum. And I swear I didn't know anything about it; neither did Harry or Ron. Please believe me; we would have done anything to stop it. And it really wasn't Draco's fault. I know you have no reason at all to believe it, but he really is not a bad person. Please, just trust me. And I really am sorry," she concluded, putting her head down. Lavender shook her head.

"No, I know; I just overreacted. I just don't know if I can take this. I mean my mum..." Her eyes welled up with tears, and she swallowed hard. "I just wanted someone to blame, you know?"

Hermione nodded. "If you ever need anything, we'd be happy to help," she offered. Lavender smiled and nodded, then walked away. Hermione found Ron and Harry in the Great Hall and sat down next to them.

"Well, Draco's not going to help us," Hermione told them.

"And you thought he would?" Harry asked skeptically. Hermione gave him a look, then continued.

"But, we have to do something anyways. As always, it's up to us," she sighed. She stood up, and started towards the Head Table beckoning Harry and Ron to follow her. She stopped in front of Dumbledore and whispered something. He nodded, drawing a quizzical look from other students. Hermione faced them and began to speak loudly.

"I realize some pretty bad things have been happening here," she began. Ron noted she looked nervous. She'd better get used to it if she's going to be our valedictorian, he thought. She continued.

"But there's a...uh...saying that we really need to acknowledge. Divided, our school is a sitting duck to the Death Eaters. I know that sounds stupid, but just look at us! Accusing each other of things, fighting with each other, banning together within Houses...Do you realize you're helping Voldemort win the war? No, it hasn't started yet, but he has the head start. Kidnapping students, killing parents, everything that is causing tension in this school. We can't fight back if we are all skewed. It's what Voldemort wants, and I just think we need to organize ourselves to be stronger than them so we can get rid of their threat when the time comes," she said.

"How can you tell us to get along when you have the greatest rivalry with Slytherin in this school?" a random student asked loudly.

"That was a childish war that started first year. Some students just can't get along. This year, we ended that rivalry. That should prove to all of you that it is possible to all get along."

"I don't see any Slytherins backing you up now," one other students commented. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Voldemort found his way to ruin that, too, which is why I'm bringing it to all your attention that we need to stick together," she said sharply. At that moment, Draco got up and put his arm around her.

"She's right, you know. Everything she says is true. So get along or...or I'll make sure you regret it," he finished, for lack of a better threat. Hermione was shocked at his stepping forward, but couldn't help but laugh at his typicalness. She looked back at Dumbledore for help. He must have understood, because he stood up.

"Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy are, indeed, correct. We are vulnerable to attack when we are all uptight. Thank you for your speech," he said to Hermione, concluding everything. Slowly, an applause began among the students. Hermione looked at Draco.

"Thank you," she said. They they hugged, breaking the tension of not talking for awhile. She looked back at Ron and Harry and they were smiling.

"Let's hope that was effective," she said as the four of them left the Great Hall.

"In the weeks that followed, the atmosphere definitely improved. Draco and Hermione's relationship truly brought the school together. Extra classes were being offered to prepare for the war. Complicated spells, defensive shields, and charms to help in certain conditions were taught to those students in seventh year. Of course, Dumbledore helped to make sure everyone would be prepared to fight in case of a sudden event. Technically, Harry, Ron, Draco, and Hermione weren't allowed to fight because they weren't seventh year students. But when had they ever followed the rules? With all the preparing, no one thought of much else, but the inevitable battle between good and evil.

A/N: I know some of these lines are somewhat cheesy, and these chapters may seem boring, but I'm really trying. Please read and review!

Love,

Amber