OK, I know I'm absolutely horrible, and I'm sorry for not updating sooner, but I have no computer. I get to check my email once a week at the library and I didn't have anywhere I could upload. So this is the next chapter and I have absolutely no clue when I'll be able to deliver the next one. Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Sorry!

Chapter 21

Fresh Air

Draco's POV

I was worried, as I always seemed to be now, about Hermione. We were outside the front doors heading for the carriages to take us down to Hogsmeade. I knew for a fact that she hadn't been outside since Halloween, close to a month before. And I wasn't so sure she was ready to be outside now. The tall red-head had her by the hand and was talking quickly as he pulled her toward the carriages. She hadn't said much since we had left Dumbledore's office. Weasley hopped up through the nearest open door, but I stopped.

"Hermione." She turned to look at me, concern for me crossing her pretty face.

"Draco? What's wrong?" I couldn't help but smile at her.

"Nothing with me, are you sure you're alright with this? We can go back inside." I could see the apprehension in her gaze and watched a few different emotions flicker across her face, then she nodded.

"Yes, I can handle this. I can't let a little thing like… like that get the best of me." I could see a quiet dertermination in her eyes, and nodded to her.

"Alright, but if we need to come back…." I let the offer hang there and she smiled at me.

"I'll be fine, love. Come on, let's enjoy the day." She grabbed my hand and pulled me into the carriage.

Hermione's POV

Did I want to stay? You'd better believe it. But I couldn't let Harry get the best of me. I just couldn't let that happen. He had already scared me into staying away from everything I loved for too long. I couldn't let him hurt me again, and I knew Draco would never let him hurt me again. Draco had changed in the last few months, he wasn't the cold-hearted bastard he used to be. And thinking about it, I was beginning to realize that he had been changing for a long time. Since fifth year, but I just hadn't seen it. Either way, I felt safe with him and I knew he would never intentionally hurt me. And I loved him. That's the part that still shocked me. I loved him and that would never change. Smiling to myself, I linked my fingers through his and turned my mind to what Ron was saying.

"Well, Snape has been a royal git, Mione. We get at least two assignments every class! I can barely keep up and poor Neville is completely lost."

"Ron, I know."

"And Flitwick has been piling on the essays. The one about advanced levitation was a killer. I couldn't anything and he wanted four feet! Harry-" he stopped, his face emptying of color, then flooding with red. I stopped short for a minute, then gave him a smile.

"Ron, I've been doing the homework too, remember?" he gave me a sheepish smile.

"Yeah, I guess you have. What did you think about the advanced-"

"Ron, it's alright. I'm fine. You don't need to worry."

"But, Mione-" I leaned across and took his hands.

"Ron, I'm alright. Harry hurt me, really badly, but I'm still me. I'm sorry I haven't been there for you all year, but I was still hurting." I sniffed, my eyes were filling with tears against my will. "But Draco's helping me now. You being here is helping me. I'm alright now. I promise everything will be alright. Now let's just enjoy the day. Please?"

"Mione, are you absolutely sure?"

"Ron."

"Alright, Mione." He pulled me into a hug. 'But if you need me, I'll be there. I promise.'

"Thank you, Ron." I kissed him on the cheek, causing him to blush deeply. Sitting back, Draco casually draped his arm around my shoulders, holding me tight and reasurring me without words that he would be there too.  "Now, I need a butterbeer in the worst way. What do you boys think?" Ron smiled at me.

"Sounds good."

*Four Hours Later*

Draco's POV

"I love butterbeer. It's amazing the small things that you don't think about that you love. And then when you haven't had it for a long time, how heavenly it tastes. Butterbeer is full of happiness and joy. And those warm fuzzy feelings you get when you're doing something you love. Butterbeer just magnifies all those things."

"Umm, Mione? Are you alright?"

"What do you mean, Draco my love? I'm feeling wonderful." She giggled. "The sun is shining and the sky is blue."

"Mione, you're acting a little weird."

"I'm fine, Ron. I haven't felt this good in weeks." She went to take another sip out of her butterbeer, but it was empty. "Madame Rosmerta! May I have another?" the stout lady at the bar looked at her, then looked at me.

"No thank you, Ma'am. She's had enough."

"Draco!"

"No, Mione, you've had quite enough." Weasley backed me up. "I think fifteen butterbeers is more than enough for anyone, no matter how good they taste.'

"Mightn't I have just one more? They taste so heavnly. Like spring and summer and my favorite romance novels and movies all bundleded up into one with a big red bow. Like cookies and monkeys with surfboards and-"

"Hermione, you've had enough. Now, let's go back to the castle and you can tell us more about these things on the way there, mi cara. Now come on." I tried to pull her to her feet, but she slumped back into the chair, giggling.

"But Draco, I don't want to go back to that big smelly old castle right now. It's soo much nicer in here." Ron started laughing.

"What's so funny, Weasley?" I shot him a glare, but he ignored me.

"Mione's-" he snorted "drunk." He fell back into the booth weak with laughter. "I've never seen her like this. It's really funny."

"Weasley, I need help, now do I have to go get a few Slytherins or will you do it?' he stopped laughing.

"Alright, I'm coming. No slimy Slytherins will touch her." I glared at him. "Well, you're the only slimy exception."

"Shut up, stupid noble Gryffindor."

"Boys, what are you arguing about? Drink some more butterbeers, it'll make you feel so much better. I swear, it works!" I turned my attention back to the giggling girl in the booth.

"Come on, Hermione. We're going back to the castle, and you can tell us all about it on the way back." Ron slipped his arm under her and lifted her to her feet. She swayed precariously and laughed.

"Why is the room spinning so fast? Draco, did you do it?" I shook my head and slipped my shoulder under her other arm. "I love you, Draco."

"Yes, Hermione, I know you do."

"And I love you too, Ron. And I love you, Madame Rosmerta!" she yelled this last bit as we carried her out the door. "And I love butterbeer. And cookies. And cheese, and sausage. And I love the moon. It's really big." She stopped talking for a minute and looked thoughtful. "Well, it's big sometimes. It's not all the time. And I love to read. Did you know that, Draco? Reading is so much fun. I love to read. Reading is amusing. You should try it sometime. It gives me something to do. I like to read outside. Do you like to read outside, Draco?"

"Yes, I like to read outside. And I'm sure you do too, love. Now, let's just climb into the carriage and we can go back to the castle and take a nice nap."

"But I don't want a nap. I'm not three, I'm-" she started trying to play with her fingers "seventeen!" she said triumphantly after a few minutes.

"Yes, you're seventeen, now step into the carriage like a good girl." She tried and slipped. Sighing, I climbed in and lifted her up and onto a seat. Weasley sat across from us. Hermione sat there for a minute, then fell against my shoulder, snoring softly. Ron smiled.

"Finally, silence."

"I know, I didn't ever think she'd shut up." We laughed and chatted until we reached the castle. I brought Hermione up to bed and fell asleep myself.

~*~*~*~

There! I heart you all!

~K~