Hermione stepped into the common room during dinner time in search of someone- And she found him, seated alone on one of the red couches, quiet and with both hands clasped as he sat.

She sucked her breath in. " Harry. "

He looked up and smiled a little. " Hey."

And she walked up to him slowly. She sat opposite on a chair to him. She looked into his green eyes and found something she didn't want to see. Sadness. But it was definitely better than hatred.

" Harry, " she tried to start. But she found it so difficult, like something was stuck in her throat. How would she say it? Now that she knew everything? Now that she knew how everything happened, what caused it?

Harry looked into her eyes and tried to say something, but he just sighed.

" Harry, " Hermione said again.

Harry's footing shifted and he sat straighter this time, instead of being hunched over like some miserable arse. He opened his mouth; there was always something to say, after all. " I'm sorry, Hermione, I suppose you know the whole thing now? "

Hermione nodded and bit her lower lip. " Pansy had been gracious enough to tell me everything. Oh, Harry. " She stopped and held his hand.

" I'm glad you're back together… well you must be right? You're, you look much happier now, " Harry said quickly.

Hermione looked down the stone floor and didn't say anything.

Harry took another deep breath. " In any case, you should still hear it from me, everything I can say, now- "

Hermione nodded, encouraging him to carry on.

" I fell in love with you probably the same time Malfoy did… you were here, sleeping, I came down with that stupid excuse of looking for my homework when you had woken up. I almost kissed you but I wanted to resist what I had felt because, you're my best friend first… And the Yule Ball happened, and I was glad when you became my partner, of course I couldn't show how ecstatic I was, now could I? But I fell for you even more… And then denial took place, because I knew it would be difficult to tell you or to get rid of my feelings for you. "

Hermione gulped and touched his hand. "Go on. "

" I suspected your little outings had more to it than the customary library work, I wanted to find out what it was, and then Pansy came and told me everything about you two. When you came from Hogsmeade, crying because of the scene Pansy made with Draco, I knew about that, and although I took no part in joining her, I still knew, but didn't tell you, because I had my little hopes of you and him breaking up, me being…whatever. So I realized it quite late, I've got Ron to thank for being so patient with my arseness, I figured the next best thing I could do was to work with Draco and help fix the bloody mess. " He stopped and threw his hands up in the air out of exasperation.

" The whole bloody point is that I've been a complete arse, and that I'm very much in love with you, " he finished. " But… I know, I've stepped beyond the bounds of friendship, and I'd very much like to be your best friend once more, even if it'll take awhile to get you to trust me again. "

Hermione held both of his hands with hers. " Thank you, Harry. "

" For hurting you? "

Hermione nodded and finally gave a soft smile. " You've made me realize how I should value what I have. " And without warning she kissed him lightly on the cheek. " Thank you. "

Harry summoned the courage to smile. " I'm still your friend? "

" You're still my best friend. " And Hermione drew Harry into a tight hug. " Never forget that. No matter what. "

Harry hugged her back with some control. He smelled her hair, felt the warmth she gave off to him…Then Hermione stood up.

" Let's eat? " And she walked towards the portrait door.

Harry stood for a few seconds, with a thousand things running in his head. He looked at Hermione, wondering when he would stop loving her romantically, he wondered if everything would be truly alright between them, he wondered if he and Draco would remain in more genial terms this time… he wondered-

" Harry? You coming? " she asked. She looked pretty against the backside of the portrait, since the wallpaper was a dark red…

He nodded, smiling, cut off from his thoughts. Perhaps everything was going to be alright now. Well… most likely.

" I'm coming, " he said with a grin.

" About time, " Ron muttered as he stood in the hall.

" Sorry mate, had a little heart to heart chat, " Harry said with a laugh.

Ron frowned. " You shouldn't keep food waiting. "

Weeks later…

It was a windy spring day and a girl was seated on a boulder, looking at the quiet lake. A leaf fell on the lake from a very bent tree and she watched as the ripples grew wider and wider until it completely disappeared.

She had been sitting for more than half an hour, since she wanted to be alone for awhile to absorb and recollect about what had happened to them, to her over the course of four months. It had been a… how would she put this? An unusual kind of experience. Well everything in Hogwarts was unusual but it served as a lesson to everyone.

The experience made everyone included more mature. It opened a few doors left unopened by previous students of all houses especially the houses of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin. The entire school population had been then adjusted to a new kind of camaraderie, one that still involved hush-hush, but now commanding more deference.

It had not been easy, both he and her adjusted to the primary reactions of everyone who didn't know. Some showed condescension, others, like Ginny thought of it as romantic, most predicted it wouldn't last, some wanted it to last. But she didn't care. The moment was there, and while it lasted, for awhile or forever, she would take it all.

There were scenes she found unsettling over the course of the finals, like actually talking to Pansy without death threats. And although it had been a fairly quiet and collected conversation, Hermione knew Pansy had somehow changed as well. They had met one day, on the way to the Quidditch pitch, where Slytherin and Gryffindor was to have their final match to determine who would receive the honor of having the House Cup.

Pansy brushed past her in a hurry as she walked calmly. Pansy paused to see who she had bumped into. It was Hermione. She opened her mouth, and finally gave a curt nod to represent a 'hello' or 'I'm sorry'.

Hermione wanted to say something, even though she knew it would be of no use at all. She hadn't spoken to her since that incident.

" Saved yourself a seat? " Pansy asked with a pinched look. " You're running quite late, aren't you? "

Hermione nodded. " Last few errands. Something about a little party prior to the last day of school. "

" Well, good luck to your house, " Pansy finally said. Her footing shifted uncomfortably. She took a deep breath, as if finding herself talking to Hermione as difficult.

Hermione nodded. " You too. "

And it was a peculiar moment. Both from rival houses, wishing each other luck, when everyone wanted to win, when Hermione's heart belonged to someone Harry and Ron and the rest of the Gryffindors were fighting against- Draco's team and Slytherin; for the House Cup.

Pansy breathed in deeply, knowing there was nothing more to be said. And she gave another nod and quickly walked away. She shuddered as she did. She had accepted her fate…that Draco wasn't for her…and yet…there was some pain along with the acceptance. She knew she still loved him truly, that wouldn't change for a very long time. And she hugged her cloak tighter to her body, to ward off the cold, and to ward off the sudden ache.

Hermione stared at Pansy's figure. Pansy had never apologized to her, but Draco had told her that Pansy had said she was sorry a few days after everything became alright with her and Draco. It had been a sight he said he wouldn't forget for quite some time, for he had relayed that Pansy actually knelt on the floor in the middle of the empty common room, her head on his knees as he sat, to ask for his forgiveness, and she was crying the whole time.

Hermione's eyebrows had shot up after hearing what Draco had said. Pansy would never grovel… but then again, she loved Draco, and she remembered Pansy was willing to do anything for him.

Ron still had his doubts about Draco, but he had considerably relaxed, after seeing Harry actually talk to Draco in a civilized manner, without death threats, without hexes, without vulgar language. Draco did the same as well, although Hermione knew, there would always be a rift between them, no matter what. Competition was still there, to prove who the best house was.

The game had ended with Gryffindor winning hands down, 350-330. A very close match indeed, and when the confetti of red and gold showered on everyone, coupled with the hundreds of screams, and he had shaken Harry's hand and congratulated them for winning, knowing they were quite a challenge, Draco had looked up to her, not with a look of defeat, but with a smile. And without warning, he winked at her. From the stands, Hermione could only laugh, as some of the people noticed it as well, and began to tease her about it.

Hermione ran down and hugged Ron and Harry tightly, as Ginny came swooping down on them, hugging Hermione as well.

" We won! We bloody won! " Ron said with a bleeding lip. " I can't believe it! Harry I could bloody kiss you! "

" Damn it! Don't spoil the mood, " Harry said laughing.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Draco retreat to where the Slytherin stands were stationed, and he saw Draco shaking the hands of the Slytherins who still admired their efforts for putting up one of the most thrilling games Hogwarts had seen in years….

She shivered to herself. And then she felt a coat around her, she looked down at the crest on the coat, silver and green, with a serpent as a badge. She looked up and smiled.

" Hey you, " he said softly.

" Hey you, " she replied.

" Did you wait long? " he asked.

" Just a few minutes, " she replied.

He sat beside her and sighed and looked at the lake. Then he looked back at her again. " Is something wrong? " he asked.

She shook her head. " Nothing, nothing at all. "

He kissed her cheek suddenly. She laughed.

" What was that for? "

" Nothing, " he replied with a wink.

She jabbed her shoulder at his side softly. " Right. "

" Really, " he said. And he laughed again, and she liked listening to it, because she knew Draco was acting the way he felt like it. There was no manic control over his emotions here, not anymore.

" Remember the rose? " he asked.

Hermione sighed and frowned a little. " You don't have to remind me about that, you know. I really tried to, but there was no… " she stopped.

Draco held a hand in front of her.

" What are you doing? "

" Just a little magic. " And he flicked his hand a few times, and moved it up and down and sideways, and out of thin air, a red short stemmed rose materialized.

Hermione laughed. " Now that's magic. " Her hand moved in to take it from his, but then he lifted his hand away from her reach.

" Close your eyes. "

" Not again. "

" Just do it. "

And she closed her eyes, wondering what little magic trick he would come up with this time. A light chilly breeze fluttered on her skin.

" Open your eyes. "

And she did, and she gasped and smiled and laughed. Many actions, one emotion. And she looked at it for awhile, marveled at how such a tiny thing could suddenly mean so much to her. And she looked past at what he held in his hand, and into his silver eyes, that reflected the coolness of the rose and the warmth of his love, and she saw herself in them, and she knew that everything was real enough to be called love. To feel love.

He was love, no matter what he did, no matter how many stars he had made dance for her, no matter how many kisses and embraces, no matter how many material gifts he gave… he was hers to keep.

He grinned as she stared, astonished at the sudden appearance of an 'iced rose'. " Aren't you going to take it? " he asked.

" I… how did you, and it's spring… " She looked surprised and elated all at the same time.

He winked. " That's for me to know. "

And she slowly reached for it, and he saw the joy in her eyes, the glow of the crystallized rose shone in her russet eyes, and he saw himself when she looked up to him again. He saw himself in her eyes, and he knew he wanted to stay in them, perpetually. He loved her, he knew it. And he loved knowing that he did, and that she was there, she was here, beside him, here… now.

" It won't melt, " he started.

" Unless you let it, " she finished.

He laughed and so did she. And as the laughter died down, it was replaced not by conversation, but by a contented silence… of being just beside each other. She looked back at the lake again.

She felt a soft hand clasp hers.

And she held his hand gently and he knew that it was all he needed.

----FIN-----

A/N: wow! I can't believe I finished this story! It's been an incredible ride for me since i have never gone this far on fanfiction before! I'm quite pleased with myself, despite the limited reviews. But I truly am grateful to all those who did review! I suppose I need to mention names but...there have been quite alot of you. I hope a big THANK YOU! does the trick?

I don't know what else to say...to actually finish a Draco/Hermione fic...wow! hahaha! Well...now that that's done, i hope you guys read my latest story, it's entitled " The Chemicals Between Them ". It's not your average DM/HG fic! hahaha! how's that as an ad? Don't upset me okay? You have to read! You have to! (okay...now i'm being a fandom whore! )

Once again: T.H.A.N.K Y.O.U!