A/N: Well, here it is! Hasn't been 2 months, And, yes I am alive and well, thank you to all of those who thought I was dead, but became joyful upon proof otherwise! heh heh… ahem… Right, so, chapter 36:

Disclaimer: I think you know by now that JKR would NEVER write shit like this, this is mine, I'm borrowing her stuff.

A small green snake slithered through the cold dewy grass along the stone pathway. Sharp footsteps reverberated through the ground, moving the earth under her stomach. She slithered up the post to the porch, and inconspicuously glided over the threshold as the tall man walked though the opened doorway.

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'Pop.' A tall, darkly colored man took a brief look around, and wrinkled his nose in disgust at the sight of his own breath in the evening air. He quickly turned and walked up the path towards the dimly lit house. He stomped up the front porch and pounded on the door. He didn't bother acknowledging the house elf that opened the door as he walked straight for the parlour.

"W-what do you want, Alessandro?"

"I am not here to speak to you, Pettigrew, so take me to the Master right now."

Wormtail mumbled a response, and led the imposing man to a small study off of the parlour.

The man knelt down on the floor at the foot of a chair, "Good evening, Master."

"Get on with it, Venzetti," came the bored, icy voice, "I haven't got all night."

"I have received word that Draco Malfoy, who was once so promising, has taken up with a Mudblood from that school of his."

The Dark Lord said nothing, but sat pensively for a moment. "So, young Draco has made his decision. I have no tolerance for traitors. I'm sure you'll remember the incident back after my… unfortunate debacle with those idiot Potter's. What was that man's name? Ferrars? Foster? In any event, I'm sure Foster's stupid wife regrets ever sticking her nose where it didn't belong. And I hope his time in Azkaban has been making him think. In a few months, we will act; the time to strike is drawing more near. We will take Azkaban and Hogwarts, and everyone who has betrayed me and our cause will live to regret it… but not for long."

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Hermione stood in front of the mirror and examined herself. She had on cuffed grey trousers, a fitted white button down shirt, and a long black cardigan. Her hair was pulled back into a braid; she put on some clear lip gloss and face powder, and tossed on her glasses to look more studious. The butterflies in her stomach seemed almost tangible: it was the day of their presentation.

She double checked that she had all of her notes with her, and set off for breakfast. She found Draco, Kevin, and a very pink-cheeked Eleanor sitting at the table.

"Good morning," Hermione said, sitting next to Draco.

Kevin flashed her a grin, "Morning Hermione."

"What are you two doing?" Hermione demanded, looking at Eleanor, who was studying her toast.

"Nothing," Kevin said with feigned innocence.

Hermione raised her eyebrows at Draco.

"Well, Mione, we were just wondering if Eleanor's found any… you know, diversions, here in Venice," Draco said, chuckling.

Hermione groaned inwardly, and wondered to herself if Kevin was really THAT oblivious. She decided it would be best to change the subject.

"Draco, did you look over your notes?"

"Nice try, Hermione," Kevin interrupted, "but this is too fun. Come on, Eleanor, you've got to tell us! What about that Russian guy? What's his name? Probably Vassily or Vladimir or Ivan. Maybe that Peruvian guy with the longer hair? Or maybe-"

"Excuse me, I've got to go." Eleanor interrupted Kevin, and quickly walked away from the table.

Hermione turned to glare at him, "Don't you men know when to stop for God's sake? Now you've completely embarrassed poor Eleanor!"

"Well, she could have just told us," Kevin said defensively.

"Oh, you are just INSANELY oblivious, Kevin!" Hermione exclaimed.

Kevin spent the remainder of the meal pestering Hermione to tell him why he was oblivious, but she knew that it was not her place to alert Kevin of his rather blatantly infatuated Belgian admirer.

When they were done, Hermione grabbed Draco and pulled him into the conference room to set up. She was racing about frantically ordering him around, like he was Neville in Potions class.

"The podium is not centered, Draco! How can you expect them to give us credibility if the podium's not centered! And, look, our water glasses are different, this isn't coordinating! And, look, you've spelled Leicestershire wrong on your note card! What if someone looked at this?" She kept exclaiming things at him hurriedly.

Draco merely stood there with his arms crossed across his chest, smirking at her broadly.

She stopped short and glared at him, "I don't appreciate your patronizing attitude, buster."

Draco laughed at loud at her manner of address. He took her hands in his, "Hermione, it's fine, no one will notice if our water glasses are different, and no one will know that I spelled Leicestershire wrong on my card. Everything will be fine, you're brilliant, and everyone will be amazed by your presentation."

"It's our presentation, Draco," she reminded him.

"You did most of the work, Mione."

"I did not, so shut it now. Your research has kicked mine in the arse, you know way more about this than I do. I hate it when you shortchange yourself, you know."

Draco sighed, "Well, of course I know more about this than you do. I don't recall your father being Voldemort's right-hand man," he replied sadly, staring down at his feet.

It struck Hermione how insecure Draco still was with matters concerning Lucius. She gave him a tight hug, and kissed him on the cheek, "You're not him, Draco."

He looked at her with almost pleading eyes, as if he wanted to be reassured that she didn't really think that. Hermione smiled at him, and pulled him up behind the podium.

"They'll be in here any minute, Draco."

He nodded, and silence fell over them for a few moments. Hermione abruptly turned to him with panic in her eyes.

"I think I'm going to be sick!"

Draco chuckled and kissed her on the forehead, "I think you're going to be just fine, Granger. Here they come. Break a leg, baby."

Hermione looked out over the familiar faces filling in the chairs. She locked eyes with Maria suddenly, and she gave Hermione a malicious smile that made Hermione's stomach twitch.

'Something's wrong,' Hermione thought to herself. She shook the feeling off, and stepped to the podium.

"There's a Muggle adage that says 'united we stand, divided we fall.' The Wizard world, though we often overlook it, is divided on many planes. Different countries separate us, different school houses create friction, different alliances and preferences cause conflict. We must learn that in order to combat the Dark Arts, our strength is in our diversity. My name is Hermione Granger; I'm a representative from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This is my… partner, Draco Malfoy. Today, ladies and gentlemen, we will be speaking about Modern Defense Against the Dark Arts."

With the introduction complete, Hermione relaxed into her half of the presentation. She and Draco went back and forth smoothly complimenting each other's presentation. Their audience remained in captive silence throughout their speeches. Many seemed especially moved by Draco's narratives on the power of the Dark Arts to destroy, and the importance of acceptance and unity.

When the presentation was over, the room erupted into tumultuous applause. Draco stared at Hermione as her face lit up. She turned to face him, grinning like a maniac. He took her and gave her a platonic hug.

"I'm so proud of you," she whispered into his ear.

They pulled away, and Hermione noticed that Draco's eyes looked slightly glassy.

After Hermione and Draco had finally made their way through the crowd, after chatting with Ministers and reporters, each retired to their respective common rooms.

"Hermione, you guys were so great," Daisy said in an awed voice.

"Thanks, I'm so glad you guys liked it. I was so nervous."

Hermione glanced over at Eleanor, who was toying with the fringe on the rug.

"What's wrong, Eleanor?" she inquired.

Eleanor sighed, "Well, it's just… tomorrow's the last night here, and I'm just worried about the ball, that's all."

"You're worried about Kevin, you mean," Marine said.

Eleanor shrugged.

"I could ask him for you, El," Daisy offered.

The round-faced girl shook her head, "No, I'd rather not know that be flat- out rejected," she said miserably.

Sophie stood up abruptly, "Eleanor, you must stop zis! You are a wonderful person, and eef Keveen eez going to be stupeed, zen 'e eez not worth your time! But, since I cannot fathom zat 'e EEZ zat stupeed, eet will surely work out!" she exclaimed.

All of the girls stifled their laughter. It was fairly amusing to see the little French girl get so worked up.

"And eef not, zen you seemply say to 'im, 'Keveen, va te faire foutre, branleur!' (A/N: Special recognition to anyone who knows the translation of this particular piece of French foul-mouthing!) And walk away," Sophie finished with a smirk.

Eleanor gasped a bit, "I can't say THAT in public, Sophie!" She looked very scandalized.

Hermione, Daisy, and Marine, who all spoke French were rolling around on the floor laughing. Caroline, the girl from Australia looked very confused, until Marine whispered the translation to her, and she joined them. Vulgarity and Eleanor didn't seem to mesh well.

"Well, we must plan something for tonight, girls, it's our last free night together. I think Draco, Jerome, Guy, Kevin, and Franco are all going to some international Muggle football game or something. I think Franco's got a Muggle uncle who has tickets. So, we have to do something lovely!" Hermione exclaimed. So, the girls set forth planning their last night out together.

A/N: Righto, so this is just more segue into the beginning of the end of this fine, fine story I'm writing. Next chapter will be their last in Venice (have to get the farewell ball in there). Ermmm……… I dunno what else I have to say in this particular Author's Note. I hope, in my absence, while checking to see if I posted during those 2 months, you guys checked out some of my favorites, there are some seriously under-reviewed fics out there that are really, really great. Right, well……. On to the thanks that I promised I'd put in.

My eternal gratitude is owed to:

Rebecca Anne, hp4eva, wild cherry berry, lili, Khatt, Lyndzie, D109, Periwinka, PrudenceOfCharms, Shadowcat7130, rackel, fawkesfire1, smallgal, laura, Veronica , joey demz 4lyfe, gracie, Bianca, superHPfan, wellduh... , Christine, waiting, BoByN, Calypso in Love, Saria, Jeni's diary is my muse, Manzy Malfoy, FrickFack252098, Willangel101, moo, VirtualFarie, zelija, mionegurl, Julia, can't think of a darn sn, The Charmed One, juliast, VenusDeMilo, katalina o'riley, socalsister, Tanya, cho, sly, allycat739, Arime setta, PunkyPrincesss14, Jennifer, Jordan, Arial, meskup, Michelle, Lydia, Nuri, Mionewannabe, Kichigai kimita, HerbieWerbie, Chrissy, firefaerie96, akiri pie-chan, britt, Christine, LJ, Amaiko, lion1990, Gnomey, gracie, Kat097, kikimachi, Sonya Kapoor, Dawn Bridges, Rachel, citywitch110, lolo, Jessica B., reena, hyper_shark, blue earth goddess, CrystalWolf, G*Ness, mad mandy, Quimberly, kitty, amaryllis, Kearie, Alanna Roseguard, Bunny, Avalon, mimi, Kristen, Elizabeth, Christine, starbrite, ChimaeraGurl, Icy Stormz, Dragon Eyes, Draco'z chick, magicalpen16, porkypop.

Gracie- I will not intervene in any LoPotter's #1 Fan fights, lol, but I'm really very grateful to everyone who takes the time to review!

Seeker4reality- "We have new people" lol, it feels like it's the "old LoPotter people-who-have-been-reading-for-a-long-time club" or something ( I'm glad to see that you're still with me!! Sorry bout the wait. Oh, and I don't think I'm a great writer.. but you guys all know that already

Cyrano de Bergerac- Well, I've heard Francophone Belgians speak English before, but I couldn't really think of how to express it in writing, hence my lack of accent on Marine and Eleanor. If you notice, only Sophie and Guy had accents in the text. This is mostly because I'm too lazy to think of how to spell English with accents, heehee.

Nedesico- I'm glad to now know your complete feelings on the Spiderman movie, lol… I'm going to see it tonight, I just love Tobey Maguire. And please tell Mila/Naiomi that I wish her a very happy birthday!

Raven Delanuit- I will certainly not come in between your fight over Draco…. Though, I'm kind of rooting for our dear friend Hermione ;-) And I forgive you for not reviewing every chapter. I certainly couldn't ask for any more than I have!

Jenna Malfoy- I was pretty much just sitting around on my ass checking my reviews for a long time. I wasn't really in HP mode, I have to be HP- focused in order to write, and nothing was coming, but then it finally did. So… here I am! So maybe now YOU can go post some second chapters, eh? This is my 36th! You have no excuse, lol!

Laureate- haha, I laughed my ass off when I was reading your review. I enjoy the exclamation "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!" Equally, I enjoy "Jesus, Maria, y Jose!" I am the personification of multiculturalism, aren't i? riiiiight…

Gryphon- I'm quite glad you like the peanut gallery, I'm quite fond of them myself. I'll be sad to see them go, but I'll make sure they keep in touch. And if I ever get around to writing a wedding scene, I'll make sure they're there in honor of you!

Johnny apple Chunk- This is 2 weeks, a slight upgrade from 2 months!! ~pats self on back~ And real relationships will NEVER work out this way because men are ASSHOLES, ahem, NOT that I'm bitter

RainDancer- Once again, thanks for your review, I'm glad that you like this story so much, it truly means a lot to me

Shaz Kay Gee Bee- I dunno why but I found it hysterical that you congratulated me on getting 35 out, lol. It's kinda like when you congratulate a 3 year old for learning to use a toilet or something… haha, maybe I'm imagining things.

Mediterranean Queen- Hmmm… I liked Rhiannon Greenleaf, that was a good name, lol. Anyhoo, yes, I definitely know what the rest of the story will be, I am going somewhere, I PROMISE!! Oooh, and thank you for throwing things at me, I always like practice avoiding flailing objects

Aaren- Don't worry, I WILL finish this, I know exactly what's going to happen. And, I have the last 3 chapters written anyway, so it'd be a waste if I didn't post them!

Madame Padfoot- Wow, you READ this thing to someone?!?!?!? You're nuts!! Well, I hope it was an enjoyable experience in any event, lol!

DMRox- Your 7 reviews on 34 were very helpful in motivating me. I kept thinking, "If DMRox has to review one more time, I think I'm going to get my ass whupped," haha so, here I am! And I'm glad NiaP helped get you in to ff!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand

Squinny- hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha… It's apparently been such a long time since you've thought about this first half of this MARVELLOUS story that you forgot that Malfoy Sr. is dead, member? Hee hee hee, I forgive you, though, Squinny, you know I love you!!!