A/n- Damn this school schedule and everything about it! So annoying, the way I couldn't type up a new chapter. Anyways, it's here now, so hopefully you guys are too excited to realize that it took a teeny bit longer than expected.

On a different note, I have sent you guys 'review responses' through those private messaging thingers. So hopefully you've read them, that's how I'll be responding to them.

Let me know if you want a sequel or an epilogue…I actually have a good idea for a sequel, but whatever you guys want.

On to chapter 23! Second to last readers!

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Surprises

Almost a month has passed since Draco's birthday. Draco and Hermione were much closer, as well as Draco and Harry. Harry had always said no one could ever replace Ron, but Draco was doing a damn well good job. Right now, they were all sitting under a tree on the grounds in the bright sunlight, the little 1st and 2nd years running around crazily, and celebrating the end of exams.

"I'm beat," Draco announced. He had just finished taking his Transfiguration N.E.W.T just like everyone else, and that was the last one. He had had many sleepless nights, worrying about his grades and his life.

"God, me too. Can you believe tonight is the last night we'll sleep in our dorms?" Hermione asked, cuddling closer to Draco. They all shook their heads, except for Ginny, who was grinning.

"Not me," she replied. They all laughed and Harry brought her closer.

"Are you going to be a good girl when I'm not around to watch you?" he asked her and she smiled at him.

"Of course. I'd never cheat on you," she said faithfully and placed a kiss on his lips. Beside him, Hermione grinned. She always liked to see a happy ending.

Draco's insides gave a squirm. He was nervous about tonight. It was his final dance with Hermione, and he still wasn't completely sure about what he was about to do.

"Draco I'm going to go and get ready with Ginny, alright? Get ready in Harry's room alright?" Hermione asked and Draco nodded, giving her a quick kiss before her and Ginny scampered off towards the castle.

"So Draco, what's up? You have got a pretty weird look on your face," Harry asked and Draco leaned back into the tree, relaxing.

"I can't do this." Of course, Harry had no idea what he was talking about. He hadn't told anything to anybody about what was going to happen tonight.

"Do what? Leave? I know its going to be hard but-" but he was silenced by Draco's hand.

"Not that. Promise if I tell you, you tell no one, especially Ginny." Harry nodded and shook his hand. "I'm proposing to Hermione tonight."

Harry's eyes widened but the Boy-Who-Lived laughed and smiled. "Wow, man! Finally!"

"What do you mean, finally?"

"Well, Ginny was telling me about Hermione was wondering when you were going to ask her."

"Ok. Good. So, she wants to marry me. It's weird, I'm only 18. But, I love her, you know?" he said, letting Harry know his confused feelings about Hermione.

"Age doesn't matter. Come on, we need to get ready for the Leaving Feast."

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Draco had fixed his robes about 5 times already and he still wasn't satisfied. Not that there was anything wrong with them at all, he just needed something to keep his mind of his nerves. Inside his front pocket was a small velvet black box, and inside that was a beautiful diamond ring, that Draco had spent quite a lot of money on.

"Ok, ready. Don't worry mate, you're gunna do fine," Harry said as he walked out of bathroom, fixing his tie. He clapped a hand on Draco's shoulder and he smiled.

They both walked out into the Gryffindor common room, where everyone from 4th year and up was congregating, waiting for the prefects to give the OK to go down to the Feast/Ball. Most of the girls were crowded in groups, whispering and pointing to their dates.

Parvati and Lavender shuffled into view, shaking Draco and Harry's hand. Parvati looked nervous about something, but before they could say anything, she turned to Harry. "Can I speak to you for a minute Harry?" Parvati asked, and Harry shrugged.

"Sure. Draco, I'll meet you in the Heads room in 5 minutes, ok?" Draco nodded and walked out the portrait alone. He walked through the halls alone until he reached the portrait, which he entered immediately.

Hermione and Ginny were already down there. Hermione smiled as he walked into the room and ran and hugged him. "You look beautiful," he commented, and Hermione smiled.

"You clean up well." Draco smirked and noticed Ginny's worried look.

"Where's Harry?" she asked anxiously.

"Parvati needed to tell him something. He said he'd catch up." At that moment, Harry rushed into the portrait, a weird look on his face.

"What's wrong?" Draco asked him, knowing full well he looked odd. Harry smiled and looked away.

"Nothing. Let's go, the Gryffindors were just told they could go to the Ball now. We might be a little late," he said, grabbing Ginny's hand gently and leading the way down to the feast, Draco and Hermione in tow behind him. When they reached the hall, there were people standing there waiting for the Heads to arrive so the dance could begin.

Draco and Hermione led the way into a spectacular looking hall, which the prefects had planned and decorated on their own. Draco caught a smirk from Harry before Hermione leaned into him on the dance floor. All of the 7th years enjoyed a nice calm dance before settling down to dinner.

Harry was oddly quiet throughout the whole dinner, and Parvati kept shooting him glances between mouthfuls of food. Draco kept quiet and didn't say anything, but promised himself to ask Harry privately about it later on.

"Come on, let's dance." Draco allowed himself to be led to the dance floor by Hermione. On the side of him, Harry and Ginny were swaying to the slow music too. For all the 7th years, this dance was a subdued event. It was sad to see Hogwarts go, and a big loss for the lot of them.

The dance passed quickly, mainly because Draco danced the whole night, not wanting to waste any opportunity to be with Hermione. But his insides were churning as Dumbledore asked Hermione and Draco to come up to the stage.

"The Heads have a few words to say to their fellow classmates, now that the other has filed out." It was true, the younger students had been sent to bed. Only the 7th years were left. Harry had pleaded with Dumbledore, and Ginny had been allowed to stay, along with a few girls or boys who had older dates.

Hermione went up first. "It's been a really long year. A long 7 years actually. I just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed being at Hogwarts, alone with all of you. My life was a real turn around when I found out I was a witch. I've learned so much from this experience, and I hope we all stay in touch."

She left the podium, and Draco stepped up. He literally thought he was going to be sick. "Since I was two years old, I knew I was a wizard. When I went to Hogwarts, my whole life changed. Even though it wasn't always good, I loved it all the time. This year, it was particularly good. I got exactly what I needed in my life; my girlfriend Hermione Granger." He took a deep breath and stepped off the podium.

He got on one knee in front of her and the entire year of students. His heart was pounding almost out of his chest. "Hermione Granger, you are the love of my life. I don't know what I would be or where I would be without you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Hermione, will you marry me?" he said, showing her the ring in the box in front of her. She gasped and her face had gone a deep red.

"Yes," she managed to choke out before spilling out tears of joy onto his shoulder. He slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed her lightly. He turned to Dumbledore, and the teachers, who were smiling. Professor McGonagall was crying. The crowd was clapping and Ginny ran up on stage and enveloped Hermione in a hug, who had a smile planted on her make-up ran face.

The whole crowd was laughing and cheering as they began to file out of the hall. Some of them had tears in their eyes.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

It was 12:30 and the four kids were on the banks of the lake, dipping their feet into the cold water. Hermione and Draco were holding hands and Harry and Ginny were hugging each other.

"I'm going to miss this place," Hermione commented.

"It's not going to be the same without you guys," Ginny said, and leaned into Harry.

"I have some news guys," Harry announced suddenly. "It's good."

"What's up?"

"Well, first thing first. I…I'm going to be coming back here." Hermione looked at him weirdly. "Dumbledore offered me the Defense against the Dark Arts job, and I took it. Now I can be with Ginny if I want."

Draco smiled and hugged him, Ginny was in tears, and Hermione just looked at him. "I'm so proud of you Harry."

"That's not it. I…well…I don't know how to say this," he said uneasily, twitching in his spot.

"What is it? You ok?" Draco asked, shaking his shoulders.

"Parvati's 3 months pregnant," he choked out. "And it's Ron's."

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

A/n- Hello, nice children who won't hurt me because of that. So, I've decided there's going to be a sequel, as well as another chapter. The next chapter is going the wedding, if you guys wanted to know. And then I'll be giving you guys a teaser for the sequel, and then I'll begin writing it. Any ideas on the title, let me know! Because I'm not sure what to call it. It'll be about Hermione and Draco, duh!

Review please! Let me know what you think, and any ideas on a title for a sequel!

Ok, fanfiction is being gay and won't load right for me. So if this is out on Sunday instead of Saturday(today) then that's not MY fault.

Krista!