A/N: Sorry for the very long delay! I've been spending the past weeks rereading HBP over and over and over again (Who else was shocked at what transpired? ;)), and dealing with reports and loads of homework.

Chapter 24

"I'm not pretty, Malfoy. Neither am I rich, or of any benefit to you whatsoever. So why?"

"For starters, love, try calling me Draco. It's not so hard. Only two syllables," Draco replied.

Hermione looked a bit like she wanted to whack him on the noggin with her nearly-empty plate.

"OK, OK, alright." His face became thoughtful. "Why, indeed?"

Hermione flinched in surprise, as she heard him echo her very thoughts.

"Well, as you are undoubtedly well aware, there are loads of girls here far more physically attractive than you, with a spot more sophistication and elegance, and better hair."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Gee, thanks."

"But—here is where I get horribly sappy—I must say I have never met one quite as honorable as you. Sly old fox." The last three words he muttered under his breath. He looked away hastily, but Hermione noticed he looked quite embarrassed and disgruntled.

"And so what if I am?" Hermione was secretly rather pleased. Honorable? Her?

"I value honor," Draco said simply. "It was what every pureblood child has been taught to do."

"Um, I believe you got the wrong instruction manual then. You do realize what kind of 'honor' they speak of?"

Draco raised an eyebrow. "You and your misconceptions, Hermione, love. We're not just taught 'Vanquish the Mudbloods!' you know. We do have a sense of actual honor amongst ourselves. One of the few good things we've got."

"Funny how well you hide it."

"We're supposed to. We're the bad guys."

"Ah. Well…how'd you come to that conclusion? That I'm…so."

"Let me put it this way: You're someone I can see who wouldn't take me to court and rob me of ten thousand Galleons three days after we get married."

Hermione felt her face redden. "Enough with the references to marriage, Malfoy, because you don't even know that I will." Although that wouldn't be so bad…

He grinned. "No denial, then?" He reached across the table and grasped her hand, his expression overly dramatic. She rolled her eyes, and tugged her hand away.

"Oh great," he grumbled when they heard footsteps and chattering voices heading towards the Great Hall. "We had better go."

Vanishing their plates of food, they snuck out quickly. Hermione, however, decided to peek and see who had disturbed them.

It was Harry.

He was seated in the very spot she and Draco had just vacated moments ago. And he was not alone. Ginny was with him, and they were chatting happily. Harry looked very much absorbed in his companion, and Hermione had yet to see him look so cheerful.

"Potter and Weasley? Merlin's beard, I'm good," Draco commented. He was peering over Hermione's shoulder. "I guessed this second year." Then his eyes brightened. "Does that mean the Weasel will kill him?"

"You don't have to sound so happy," Hermione hissed. Backing away, she grabbed Draco's wrist. "Let's go."

They decided to return to their respective common rooms, and to Hermione's surprise, Draco insisted on walking her there.

"Um, I think not."

"Why not?"

"Oh, I'm sure no one will react at seeing you walk down the hall with me."

"I'll Disillusion."

"Draco, there's no need."

"Aha!"

Hermione flushed. "Slip of the tongue. Anyway, I'll be going now…"

"Hey, wait one darn minute before you go!"

Hermione turned slowly around and Draco waved a book in front of her nose.

"I think this is yours?"

Hermione took the Lord of the Rings book from him with shaking fingers. "My precious…"

"Oh, I'm touched."

"Not you, beanbrain."

"That's just wrong, cooing over a book instead of me."

"You are the most conceited person I have ever had the misfortune to meet."

"Ouch, harsh words."

"Goodbye, Malfoy." Hermione concluded before swiftly turning away.

Draco shook his head, grinning, the old challenge in his eyes.

"Don't even try it. I have a first period Ancient Runes class and I am NOT skiving."

"Why not? It'll be fun. Come on…"

xxxxxxxxxx

Surprisingly for Draco, he lost. Hermione had smirked at him before prancing away (making sure her hair smacked him right in the face). With a sigh, Draco had followed, and was currently stuck in first-period Defense Against the Dark Arts. The class had become decidedly lackluster since the events in the past week, but to her credit, the professor was still doing very well.

"Draco Malfoy?"

He jumped, coming out of a pleasant daydream. The classroom was empty, and Professor Greenleaf was staring down at him, a single eyebrow raised.

"What's this?" She pulled from under his textbook a scrap of parchment on which he had been absently doodling. "Oh, this is certainly cute…"

Draco, for the first time, looked at his masterpiece and screeched in horror.

Scrawled (in the round, curlicue handwriting his mother had forced him to learn when he was seven) across the Snitch he had drawn was the word Hermione.

Absolutely red-faced, Draco made a grab for the parchment, but the teacher swept it away instantly.

"Not so fast…"

xxxxxxxxxx

Harry opened the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom door to a scene of pandemonium.

Draco Malfoy, his arch-nemesis, was beet-red as he jumped up and down, attempting to grab at a piece of parchment a casually yawning Professor Greenleaf was levitating as she sat atop her desk. She made the scrap bounce up and down teasingly out of Draco's reach.

Harry allowed himself to enjoy the scene immensely for a minute before calling out, "Professor?"

Professor Greenleaf looked up in surprise. "Harry!"

She pointed her wand at Draco's pocket, and the parchment zoomed into it. "Off you go, Malfoy."

Draco quickly scurried out, his face losing none of its redness.

"What brings you here?" Professor Greenleaf asked, jumping down from her table. "Make it a bit snappy though—my next class is in five minutes."

"I've a free period now, and I thought I'd see how you're holding up," Harry said, taking a chair in the front row.

The professor played thoughtfully with a yellow-white flower in her hand. "Well, I've talked with Professor Dumbledore. And…well, I've had a great time teaching you."

Harry was surprised. "You're not coming back?"

She smiled. "You're an observant boy, Harry, and I think you've seen what my classes are like now. You know what the parents are like too—especially in these dangerous times. Besides, it's a good time for me to come to terms about Sirius." She stared down at the flower.

"Where are you going to go?"

"Oh, I won't be far away." She beamed. "Professor Dumbledore has given me a rather excellent mission for the Order of the Phoenix. It'll be a joy working with Remus again."

"That's…great."

They both glanced at the door.

"Well…I better go, Professor."

She waved. "See you, Harry."

xxxxxxxxxx

The end of yet another year was approaching. War was now very much upon them (Voldemort was very much in the open, and had already committed some very grave murders). Hogwarts was as it had not been in many long years—children being withdrawn at an alarming rate, Aurors being posted on every square inch of the castle grounds, and tensions high.

Draco was sitting in the Astronomy Tower, his face hard.

Hermione opened the door a crack and peeked at him. It seemed like such a long time ago that they were fighting and yelling and teasing each other mercilessly, now that things had become so serious.

Draco looked up, and a brief smile crossed his face.

"So, I heard about your nice, cushy new job," she said as she entered the room.

Draco and Hermione were no longer bodyguarding Harry. Harry had done well over the year, and Dumbledore had deemed the tailing no longer necessary.

"Yeah." Draco studied his sleeve intently, his gray eyes darkening.

"Well…best of luck then. It's going to be a dangerous world out there."

"I'll do what I have to."

He turned and stared out the window. Suddenly, someone grabbed his wrist, and he whirled.

In a swift motion, Hermione Granger's lips were upon his, and her arms snaking around his neck. Upon recovering from the initial shock, Draco wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her closer.

When they parted, she was smiling. "One for the road."

XXXXX

A/N: If you've noticed, I've put some HBP references in. Nothing too obvious or spoilery, though.

This is NOT yet the last chapter. There'll still be another after this, and don't worry, it won't take long because I'm already writing it. :)

As always, I thank God for His sustenance through everything that's been going on in the world.

To my reviewers:

American Deer Hunter 73, pluto, sarklover826, God'sGirl88, Swtndreamypnay, Sacagawea- Thanks:)

Natyslacks- Thanks:) And don't worry, I haven't abandoned this fic just yet

Rose- Oh, no problem—I hope you had fun! Where'd you vacation? Yeah, HBP was great:)

Snowmouse- Oh, I'm sorry if it was :D Basically, Draco and Hermione are talking about why he joined the good side. And Harry likes Ginny, but he's just way too stupid to see it… :))

Adriane1- Wow, thanks! Sure, I'd love to e-mail you too! My email address is jianhaozaizaixc at yahoo. And thanks for the heads-up about Avadne—I was really worried that my story was starting to suck or something. :)

Steelo- Hmmm, that's a very interesting idea… Thanks:)

Goodybad- Ooh! Don't worry, I'm sure you and your coauthor will be able to find the perfect medium. :) Thanks:hugs you right back:

Next: Well, I'll keep mum on this one. I mean, we don't know what's going to happen to our pretty pair as Draco sets off on his dangerous…whatever.

God bless, all!