A/N: okay guys this is the final chapter. I have tried wrapping up some loose ends with characters even if they don't appear in here much. I really hope you like it.

Two years later

Hermione was sat at one of the tables in the middle of Eden waiting for Draco to come back to his seat.

The last two years had been a whirlwind as so much had changed in such a short space of time.

Shortly after Astoria's confession it was announced that not only had her betrothal to Draco been dissolved, but that she would be marrying Ron in the new year.

The press had gone wild with rumours and published various articles speculating why it had happened. Only a few of them had been right, and when her baby bump started to show it caused a scandal that neither of them had truly come back from.

It was obvious to the majority of people that the child had been conceived either when he and Hermione were still together, or shortly after, and that he had lied about their break up to hide his indiscretion.

"I heard that the press have released an apology to you," Draco said.

"They did. I didn't ask them to, but it was nice that they took the initiative. Some have even asked me for a statement. I have only told them that I just want to carry on with my life and put the past behind me. I'm glad people know the truth though," she told him.

"They're now going after Ron and Astoria very hard," he informed her.

"It's their own fault . They made the choice to have an affair, but I won't add fuel to the fire by defaming them."

Publications such as the Daily Prophet and Witch Weekly had written extremely scathing pieces about the pair and villianised them to the point that they received hate mail. Luckily, Astoria had not been hurt by the cursed letters which had been sent, but Ron hadn't been so lucky. He had ended up being sent undiluted bubotuber pus like she had in fourth year and had spent a week with his hands in bandages.

During that time Hermione had declined to comment on it at all. She just wanted to get on with her life and put it all behind her. It was easier said than done though.

A month after the reveal, Astoria had owled her and asked to talk.

The two had met at the Greengrass home as they wanted to do it in private.

"I wanted to say that I'm sorry. I should never have betrayed you like that," Astoria said quietly.

"No, you shouldn't have. Why did you?" Hermione asked.

"The first time we were drunk and it was a mistake, and then it was a mistake that I kept on making. The thought of only ever being with Draco made me baulk. Don't get me wrong, I liked him, but I wanted to explore what it would be like with other people too. I didn't choose Ron on purpose to hurt you. It just kind of happened. It was like a drug that I couldn't stop taking even though I knew it was wrong. I felt guilty afterwards, but in the moment I only thought about what I was feeling," she explained.

Hermione frowned.

Whilst she understood Astoria's point of view, she wholly disagreed with it.

There was something beautiful about being intimate with only one person for your whole life. Knowing that you were each other's only lover, and learning about sex together was special. Neither partner had to feel inadequate because the other person was more experienced than them.

"I can't pretend that I'm still not upset. You may have been drunk the first time, and perhaps I could have forgiven that. I can't, however, forgive the fact that you chose to carry on. You compared it to a person taking drugs, but even they have a choice to take them or not. You knew how much I loved him and yet you carried on anyway."

Astoria was silent for a moment.

"I guess this means our friendship is over?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, but it is. I don't think I will ever be able to trust you again. I wish I could, because apart from this situation with Ron you've been a decent friend," Hermione replied honestly.

"I understand," Astoria said as her tears started to fall.

Hermione had left shortly after, and that was the last time they had a proper conversation.

The pair had seen each other briefly at functions, or weddings, but they tended to avoid each other if they could. It wasn't as if they would end up in a screaming match with each other - they were more dignified than that - they just wanted to avoid any lingering awkwardness.

Luckily Daphne and Louisa had understood her decision too and hadn't held it against her.

In fact, her friendship with Daphne had only grown stronger.

Her former classmate had apologised profusely for her sister's behaviour and swore that she hadn't known anything.

Hermione had reassured her that she held nothing against the rest of the family, and that she could tell from their reactions that the news had been a shock to them.

"What are you thinking about?" Draco asked, as he sat back in his seat.

"How much things have changed. I never thought my life would lead me here, but I wouldn't change it for the world," she admitted.

And she wouldn't. The age old saying what doesn't kill you makes you stronger was true.

It didn't matter what life threw at her, she would get through it.

"I wouldn't either. Even though I used to be a little shit, I learnt from it."

"I wouldn't be here if you hadn't," she chuckled.

A silence settled over them and Hermione could tell that Draco was nervous about something.

She didn't know what as he knew that he could tell her anything and she wouldn't judge him.

The two of them had grown even closer over the past two years, especially after they had started dating nine months ago.

Both Narcissa and Lucius had been supportive of their relationship, and Hermione thought it was because they knew she wouldn't betray him the way Astoria had.

"Hermione, there is something I wanted to ask you," he said, capturing her attention once again.

"I know we've only been dating for less than a year,but I love you. I think I started to fall in love with you before I should have. Over never felt like this before. Will you marry me?" Draco asked, pulling out a ring box and setting on the table.

Hermione was stunned.

Out of all the things he could have asked she was not expecting this.

Not that she wasn't happy that he had. She loved him too and knew that she would never feel like this for anyone else either.

"Yes, I will marry you, Draco," she said, as tears pooled in her eyes.

Draco gave her a rare smile and opened the box to reveal a silver ring with a princess cut diamond. It was simple but elegant. Just how she liked her jewellery.

"Will you give me your hand so I can put it on?"

Hermione placed her left hand in the middle of the table, and watched as he slipped the ring gently on her finger.

"It's beautiful, Draco," she said, admiring how it looked on her finger.

"I love you so much. I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am," she said.

Hermione couldn't stop smiling.

It was one of the best nights of her life, and she would never forget it.

"I love you too, Hermione," Draco said softly.

She couldn't wait to tell her friends and family.

None of them had been surprised when the two had started dating - not even her aunt and uncle. Her parents had told them all about him and their rivalry. They had realised after meeting him that he had changed into a man that their nniece admired, trusted, and loved and that was all that mattered.

The only thing which concerned them was her happiness, and that was with Draco. It always would be with Draco.