Author's Notes:

Hello guys! At last I've finished a multi-chaptered story. Many were commenting that this story sucks, but well, I think it doesn't. And I'm now giving you the last chapter. Hope you enjoy it even if it's not as spectacular as I promised.

Sorry if I uploaded this only now. I was banned for a whole week in fanfiction because of creating a songfic. Didn't know it was already prohibited. Stupid me.

And to those who're asking if English is my first language, no. I am a Filipino, so please bear with me if I ever commit typographical and especially grammatical errors.

The letter part if this story made me a bit teary-eyed. I pitied Draco. But then, this should end as a Ron-Herm fic. So that's it. Enjoy reading, guys! And please read and review! ;-)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Stop nagging me.

The rest of September passed quickly by that Hermione had not noticed it was already the first day of October. She still had not decided who to choose. Her happiness after being able to reconcile Draco and Ron was soon replaced by stress and tension.

Hermione sighed. True, she had succeeded in reconciling the two, but that was not enough. She had to decipher what her real feelings for the two are.

"We're letting you take your time, but please don't make us wait very long," Draco was kind to remind her last night.

"Whatever happens I should be able to know the answer by tomorrow," she told herself determinedly. She then rested her face on the pillow and feel into a deep trance.

Draco and Ron visited Hermione the following morning. She felt even more pressured with their presence but accepted them inside all the same.

She led them to the living room and stormed into the kitchen to make them some tea. She came back carrying a tray with a plate of biscuits, three cups and a pot of tea. She sat down beside Ron afterwards.

"So, what should we talk about?" she asked them. Draco sipped in his cup and then answered.

"Well, we just wanted to know if you've already decided," Draco said, looking Hermione in the eye. Hermione felt tensed.

"To tell you the truth, my mind is still full of questions. Asking me what my answer is right now is useless, I think," she told them truthfully.

Ron put his cup down for a while. "Hermione, we've been waiting for such a long time already. What's keeping you from deciding right now?" he answered a bit impatiently. Hermione was annoyed. She slapped her hand onto the table and barked, fuming mad.

"DON'T PRESSURE ME, ALRIGHT? IF YOU WANT MY ANSWER SOON THEN STOP PESTERING ME!" she yelled at them angrily. She then apparated to the two's bewilderment.

Draco and Ron were left in her dormitory, unable to utter a single word.

Hermione appeared in Hogsmeade. Tears were falling from her eyes again. She did not intend to cry but could not help it anymore. Her heart was full of mixed feelings which made her mind even more confused.

She went inside the Three Broomsticks and ordered some butterbeer to warm her up.

"Dear, why are you crying? Is there anything wrong?" Madame Rosmerta asked concernedly. Hermione shook her head.

"Are you sure?" she insisted. Hermione nodded.

"Very well then. Oh, before I forget to tell you, your friend Harry Potter is here. There, at the far left end of the store," she said, pointing to a boy with jet-black hair. Sure enough, it was Harry, drinking his own butterbeer. Hermione's face lit up.

"Thank you Madame!" she said. She hurried towards Harry, carrying her butterbeer.

Harry looked up to see who had just come. His surprise was soon replaced by glee, seeing his best friend again.

"Hermione! What in Merlin's name are you doing here?" he asked her with high spirits. Hermione smiled at him.

"I just want to clear my mind of things for a while," she answered sadly. Harry smiled, as if knowing the deepest concerns of her heart.

"It's about Ron and Malfoy, isn't it?" he asked. "You're confused about your feelings, am I right?"

Hermione nodded gently. Harry comforted her. "Don't worry, you'll know the answer soon. Let your heart decide, not your brain. It's your heart that loves. And don't be troubled because you're not alone. Ginny broke up with me."

Hermione looked up at this. "Are you serious?" she asked him worriedly. Harry nodded.

"Why, Harry? What made her do it?" Hermione asked anxiously. Harry smiled at her sadly.

"I saw her one night with Michael Corner. They were acting like lovers. Michael Corner was hugging her while Ginny's head was resting on his shoulder. I thought she was having a secret affair with him, but then I was very wrong. She tried to explain but I told her to go and continue her flirting with Corner. She slapped me and then ran away, crying. It took a week before I found out that Corner was only comforting her because she and Percy had a terrible fight. I tried to get her back but she told me to leave her alone. She said I was judging people so quickly. She told me that I should have used not only my brain but my heart. Said she would not be able to betray me. And then she left me. Well, that's the whole story," he said.

Hermione looked at him with overflowing concern. She could not help but feel sorry for her best friend. Harry tried to smile at her, although his smile was twisted.

"And now I'm a goner, Hermione. So, that should serve you a lesson. Be wise, but with wisdom should come love and sympathy. So if you're finding it hard to decide, listen to your heart, okay? That way you won't screw things up," he said. He then drank all that was left in his bottle. He called Madame Rosmerta.

"One more, Madame," he said.

"Certainly." Madame Rosmerta then took off to get his order.

"Should've listened to her. Shouldn't have been stupid," he muttered repeatedly.

Hermione could not help but cry again. Tears silently fell from her brown eyes.

"What are you crying about, Hermione?" Harry asked.

"Nothing. I just feel sad, imagining how bad it must have felt," she said sincerely.

"Don't mind me. Know what? I know that you can avoid feeling like this. You're clever, Hermione. And besides from that you're strong. You also have a good heart," Harry told her as-a-matter-of-factly. Hermione shyly smiled at him.

"Not really. But thanks anyway," she answered. Both of them spent the rest of the day in each other's company.

It was already nine in the evening when Hermione decided to go back to her dormitory.

She headed to her room for a shower. She felt that she needed to be refreshed. Their trip in Hogsmeade wearied her.

After dressing herself, she did not sleep immediately. She first went to her study table then grabbed a quill, a bottle of ink and a piece of parchment. She sat on the wooden chair, and, thinking deeply, began to write. She paused every now and then, thinking of the appropriate words to write. She then folded the parchment, put it inside an envelope, and then addressed it to Draco Malfoy.

She grabbed another piece of parchment. This time, she was not pausing very often but was writing almost continuously. She seemed to be pouring every feeling in her heart on the piece of parchment, though. After she finished, she folded it and put it inside an envelope just like what she did to the first letter. She addressed it to Ron Weasley.

Hermione kept all the materials after that. She stretched, yawned, and went to her bed.

"I'll deliver the letters by owl post tomorrow morning," she told herself while she closed her eyes.

Draco had just finished dressing himself when an owl came, flying and hooting outside his window.

He was quite astounded to have received a letter. He had not received one since his seventh year at Hogwarts ended.

He opened the window carefully and let the owl inside his bedroom. He untied the letter on the owl's leg and opened it. The owl flew away after delivering the letter.

He unfolded the parchment and began to read.

Dear Draco,

Hi! How are you? I hope you're doing alright. By the way, I'm sorry for what I did yesterday. I didn't mean to be that rude. I was just feeling bad at the moment.

I wrote this letter to let you know my answer. I have just decided before I wrote this letter. I thought very hard, though, before deciding. And I listened to my heart as well.

You've been a good friend to me, Draco. I could not imagine it at first because you were always throwing insults at me when we were still at school. But I believe that you've already changed, and I'm very thankful for it.

I know how hard you fought for me. You fought even your own parents. And for that I cannot be more grateful.

You are the perfect guy ever – rich, handsome, smart, loving and understanding. But my heart chose to love another person – someone who is far from perfect but is still a great person inside.

I am actually guilty because of that. You have been so good to me. I even asked my heart why it couldn't be you. I didn't want to hurt you, but my heart answered me that love doesn't ask for reasons. That's just the way it is.

My brain is insisting on choosing you, but my heart is shouting Ron's name. I don't know how it all happened. Maybe it was because Ron is my best friend. Maybe it was because I've proven his intentions already. But like I've already told you, love doesn't ask for reasons. I realized I love him for everything he is, even his shyness, not just because of the good qualities he possess. It just took me a long time to realize it.

I want you to know that even if I am choosing Ron, I still love you as a friend. I'll never forget you, Draco. I hope my decision won't ruin the beautiful friendship we've already started, and I hope you accept my decision.

I know that someday you'll find your own partner. She's just around, I know. You just have to open your eyes, and, most importantly, your heart. It's what I did. And believe me, you'll be happier if you follow my advice.

Thank you for everything. And again, just for you to always bear in your mind, I'll never forget you.

Love,
Hermione

Draco closed the piece of parchment while tears fell from his eyes. He sighed, looking heartbroken, but he still smiled.

"Okay, Hermione. I'm letting you be happy with Ron. I'll follow your advice. And hey, I'll never forget you, too," he muttered silently while droplets of tears ran down his cheeks again.

It was a sunny day. Hermione was walking around Hogsmeade while waiting for the time that she arranged with Ron. She was remembering how happy the three of them were roaming those places when they were still at school.

Looking at her watch, she realized that only ten minutes were left before Ron would arrive at the Three Broomsticks. She hurriedly walked back to the store.

Hermione saw Ron sitting near the counter. She approached him carefully, a smile plastered on her face.

"You're early," she told Ron as she sat in front of him.

"I guessed you'd come early, too, so I came a bit earlier than our agreed time," he explained, smiling happily.

"Oh, I see," Hermione answered. "So, how's Harry and Ginny?"

"Oh that. Well, they're on good terms again. They've never been happier in their lives," Ron said as he grinned.

Hermione beamed. "Well, serves them right. Anyway, forget them for a while. Let's talk about us," Hermione suggested. She smiled at Ron playfully.

"What is it about us that we should talk about?" Ron asked, trying to look innocent. Hermione chuckled.

"Aren't you happy that we're together now?" she asked him. Ron smiled at her.

"I'm very happy, of course. I thought you'd choose Malfoy. But I'm grateful anyway. And fortunately my shyness didn't get in the way," he answered, beaming.

"I didn't realize it before. I thought I just loved you as a friend," Hermione said.

"Doesn't matter. At least we're together now. So, will you mind if I kiss you, right here and right now?" Ron asked while a mischievous grin played on his face.

"Certainly not," she answered, beaming at him.

Ron bent forward to give Hermione a kiss. The moment their lips touched, their minds went blank. The kiss was gentle yet full of love.

They spent the rest of their day in Hogsmeade, their favorite place in the world, walking hand in hand.

So that's the end of all of it! I am so sorry because this did not turn out very interesting as I wanted it to be. But all the same I loved it. I hope that you'll learn to appreciate this, too. It's hard for me to create multi-chaptered ron-herm fics. Draco-herm is an easier ship to write about but I like ron-herm better. So anyways, that's it. Thank you for reading this fic. You just don't know how your slightest attention to this means to me. Thank you very much and mabuhay:D