Chapter 17: Beds are Burning

A/N: Thanks for those who reviewed! Thanks sooo much! I told you I would have the next chapter up pretty fast... or did I tell you that? I don't know! Anyways, this is a big chapter... next one will be even BIGGER! Lots of stuff happening... and my brain is working swell lately (WOOT!) So yes, enjoy this chapter.. and prepare yourself for... the end. (WOOT x3!) Oh, and it would be MIGHTY FINE if you reviewed. Merci!


Hermione lay in her bed, on her side, watching the sleeping Draco beside her. It was rather early, five in the morning Hermione guessed. The sun hadn't risen yet, giving Hermione another couple of hours of sleep before she had to get up and go to her classes. Hermione closed her eyes; savouring Draco's chiselled face, and drifted off into her own little world.
Draco woke up as the sun hit his face with full force. He yawned and rolled over, becoming face to face with Hermione. Draco was surprised at her. Last night, she did some things that were very out of character. She had taken charge and Draco loved it.

He kissed her cheek quickly before getting up, headed for a shower. He shivered slightly at the cool morning breeze that came through Hermione's open window. He closed to bathroom door and walked into his room, getting clean clothes then back into the bathroom. He was just going into the shower when he saw Hermione leaning against the wall, naked.

"Want some company?" She said, mischievously.

"Who would deny you?" He said, as Hermione came closer. "I thought you could use some more sleep. Last night took a lot out of us, eh?" Hermione just smiled and kissed Draco's naked neck. "Hey! We're not even in the shower yet." He said playfully.

The hot water woke Hermione up fast. She was soon forcefully snogging Draco, who was trying to shampoo his hair. "Just a second," He said, laughing.

"Hey," Hermione pouted, putting her hands on her hips and backing away, "Fine… I'll wait." She grabbed some soap and started washing her own body, fully knowing that Draco was watching her every move.


"We are sorry to see such a promising group of young wizards and witches but we know that they will all be successful in whatever they choose to do. I would like you all to raise your classes to this year's graduates!" Dumbledore finished, and everyone raised their glasses. Hermione stood in between Draco and Harry, with tears in her eyes. She wasn't ready to leave this place. She had so many memories here. Draco's arm made its away around her, comfortingly and Hermione's tears stopped. She looked up at him and smiled.

"This is it, eh?" She said, another tear fell down her face. Draco wiped it away softly and she could feel a few stares from the crowd in front of them. Professor McGonagall led them through a door and told them to wait until they heard there name was called, then they were to go up and receive there "diploma."

Hermione had gotten through exams with flying colours, of course. Even in potions. There was no sense of Professor Snape ignoring the fact that Hermione, even with her smart-ass attitude, was a fantastic potion-maker. Most of the teachers were sad to see her leave as well, especially McGonagall, who had taken to Hermione quite fiercely.

Harry, Ron and Lavender were sitting down on some chairs that were in the corner of the room talking about Hermione and Draco.

"If I know anything about young relationships," Lavender started, "then I know that they are not going to last. I mean, Draco could have anyone yet he insists he loves Hermione? I seriously doubt it. It was probably some sort of self-indulgence. He just had to have someone who no one would think he could get."

"Yet, it's been, like, what? Six months and they're still going strong. It's just such a shame that they won't be seeing each other much over the summer. I mean Hermione lives in a Muggle town; like Draco wants that."

Ron and Harry were sitting there looking at each other, occasionally rolling their eyes or sighing in hopes she would stop. "Look, Lavender, we really don't care." Ron finally said, which caused Lavender to get in a huff and run away in search of Parvati.

"Well I take it you two are over." Hermione said, coming over with Draco.

"Look who it is... little miss perfect in every class." Harry said, jokingly.

"Hey! It's not my fault I know how to use my brain," She paused. "I can't believe that this day is here. At first, I couldn't wait for it to get here. But now that it is here I wish it wasn't. I'm not ready to leave this place."

"I don't think any of us are," Ron said.

"I am," Draco said softly.

Both Harry and Ron ignored him but Hermione turned around, almost as if she hadn't expected him to be there. She didn't know what to say to this, but luckily Harry started up another topic.

"So what are you guys going to do this summer?" He asked.

"Who? Draco and me?" Hermione asked.

"I guess," Harry said.

Hermione looked at Draco, who seemed pretty preoccupied with his hands. She looked back at Harry and shrugged her shoulders. "We're not sure yet."

"Actually," Draco cut in, "Hermione and I are going to be staying at my place, Potter."

Hermione's face gave away the "and how come I didn't know this?" thought in her head. Harry noticed it too but didn't bother to say anything, knowing it could cause something.

"Hermione Granger!" Dumbledore's voice boomed. Hermione gasped, snapping back to reality. She quickly kissed Draco and walked out the door that headed into the Great Hall.

Draco was left standing there with the two people he hated most in the world. He spotted Blaise standing in a corner, leaning against the wall, looking loner-like. He gave a look to Potter and Weasley and walked away to congratulate his friend.

"So, life as we know it is over," Draco said as he made his way towards Blaise.

"Hey," Blaise said, still leaning against the wall. "Where's Hermione?"

"She just got called."

"Oh, well I'm going to be here for awhile," He smirked.

"Nice."

"So what were you doing talking to those two?" He said, gesturing to Harry and Ron.

"I wasn't talking to them, believe me, last thing I want to do. Oh god how I loathe Potter. No, Hermione was talking to them."

"Oh," Was all that Blaise could say because Draco's name was being called.

"Good luck, mate." He said, sounding a lot like Ron at the moment.

"Thanks," Draco took a deep breath and walked through the door. He looked into the crowd and saw the school from a whole new perspective. He really was going to miss it: the fabulous food, his friends, his room, everything practically. He would especially miss the fact that this place was freedom to him, from his father and the life he lived back in the Manor. It kept him sane for so many years and led him to Hermione. He smiled as all the teachers spoke pleasant words to him but he was in his own little world, thinking about what really was going to happen after tomorrow. Was Hermione up to living with him? She had put up with him for the whole year with no complaints… but that was sort of forced. Would she want to live with her mother for a little while? Would she want to live in a different house?

Draco was quite apprehensive about living in the Manor. He loved that house a lot but there were so many memories, so many horrible nights at that place. He didn't believe himself strong enough to put up with all the things that were associated wit the house.

Before Draco knew it his hand was being shaken by Dumbledore and he was speaking to him. He cleared his head of all thoughts and listened intently to Dumbledore's words. "Mr. Malfoy. My, my. You were a pleasure to have in this school indeed… always interesting… a bit of a troublemaker. Defiantly a good student, top grades… nice competition for Miss Granger. Now, I do hope you will come back and visit."

"Thank you Headmaster. I will, of course." He once again shook his hand and headed off the platform to sit down at the Slytherin table.

After Blaise came and sat down the feast started and finished quickly. Both Hermione and Draco could not eat fast enough. They wanted to get back to their room and talk, at least Hermione did, but Draco had other things on his mind.

Hermione waited in the entrance for Draco to come out of the Great Hall. After five minutes of waiting he finally appeared and quickly scooped Hermione up and started walking to their room. All Hermione could do was smile.

He said the password, and headed straight to his room, gently throwing Hermione down and immediately pouncing on her.

This wasn't what Hermione wanted though. She wanted to talk. She needed to talk; about such things as their future, which happened to be much more important then shagging. Then it hit her… maybe Draco wasn't ready to live with her full-time… maybe he was just getting with her one last time and then breaking her heart tomorrow. She pushed him forcefully and sat up, adjusting her top.

Draco, who was propped up by his hand, looked confused. "What?" He asked her.

"What?" Hermione said, trying to hold back her anger, "What, you ask me." Draco still sat there confused with the whole situation.

"What did I do?" Draco said, hoping for an answer this time.

"You," Hermione's heart gave a little flutter. She couldn't do this to him, and even to herself, on their last night at Hogwarts. She wanted it to be special… and causing a fight wouldn't be worth it. Although, she decided that talking to Draco was more important. "Oh never mind," She said.

"Okay…" Draco looked utterly perplexed and decided maybe he said go, "I think I'll just go then." He said, shortly.

"Oh, Draco! Please! I don't want you to go."

"Okay," He said again, "Then what do you want of me? If you don't tell me what I do wrong how can I correct myself and teach myself not to do that. You are being difficult Hermione!"

"Sorry," She said as a tear fell from her cheek. "I really don't mean to be. But it's just that well, what's going to happen to us? This is our last night at Hogwarts… forever! I wanted it to feel special but my head is mostly consumedby emotions. And I want to ask you everything that's been on my mind but I'm afraid of the answer."

"Hermione, how long have we been together?" He paused, "Yes, a long time now right? Well I think that means you can tell me almost anything!"

"I know. I shouldn't be like this at all! But it's just… awkward, I guess?" She said, almost timidly.

"Well, you are not gonna get off this easy. If you want to talk, let's talk."

Hermione couldn't help but smiling, "Alright." Taking a deep breath, she started, "Well, it's just when Harry asked what we were going to do this summer I didn't know and it hit me thatI justdidn't know where we were headed! I didn't know what was going to happen to us. Then you had to say I would live with you yet we hadn't even discussed any of this and it bugged me! I thought, 'Oh he's probably just saying that to get Harry fired up.' But no, it got me thinking… 'What if he's being serious?' And I haven't been able to think of nothing else since."

"Honestly, I don't know what I want." He looked straight in her eyes. "I don't want to lose you Hermione but I don't know if living together will work for both of us. I don't know if you are ready to leave your mother—"

"I am," She said, shortly.

"You are?"

"Well, since I've been thinking about it since it was mentioned… I decided that living away from my parents wouldn't be so bad." She smiled angelically towards him.

"Well, I don't want to live alone," Draco said as he came and swept her up in a kiss.


All I have to say: next chapter... MAY BE THE LAST.DUN DUN DUN
So enjoy it while it lasts -winks- Oh, and if possible... REVIEW. Please?