A/N: I updated! Hallelujah! I know it has been forever, like, 8..ish months. But I'm back! I hope to have the whole story done before I leave for college in August, so please keep checking back for updates. I've got a few good chapters still left in me. Thanks to everyone who kept reviewing and to those who bugged me through email. It's nice to know that you enjoy my writing enough to bother me at home. I probably wouldn't have begun writing again if it hadn't been for you. FYI, I am horrible at French. I know Draco's mother's name is Narcissa. Please stop complaining. Nobody's perfect.

To those of you who promised me cookies, I am waiting!

Thanks for being loyal, luv you all.

Disclaimer: I own Jack.

Sighing, Hermione fiddled with her hair. Today was the day. The day when she was to finally return completely to the normality of life, as normal as wizard life goes anyways. She examined her reflection once again and decided on the final piece to her outfit. Shuffling through the top of her trunk she pulled out a gold sequin scarf and tied it firmly around her waist.

"I wouldn't wear that if I were you," a familiar voice said behind her.

"Do you always insist on slinking into other peoples' rooms?" she asked catching his eyes in the mirror.

"I do make it a habit when they are in my home," Draco replied as he approached her from the doorway of the library.

"But then again, it isn't your home is it?" Hermione teased.

"Oh, it will be someday. Hopefully not soon, but not too far away…" he wizened, "I will inherit everything you know; the manor, our fortune, our businesses…"

"Yes yes, I know you're wealthy out the wazoo, but money isn't everything is it?" Hermione snipped as she took the scarf off, "Now why can't I wear this?" She threw the scarf his way where he caught it. He rested on her bed and ran the smooth silk under his nose.

Hermione gave him a slightly disgusted look and pulled it away from him.

"Smelling my things?" She said sarcastically as she flounced on the bed next to him. He gave her a sheepish look that soon became a smirk. "So why can't I wear this?" she repeated letting the gold silk shine in the light as it slid through the air.

"It will clash," Draco said simply. Hermione gave him an annoyed look.

"No it will not. I do have decent fashion sense by the way and I know that gold does not clash whatsoever with white and blue. Hermione was wearing a lacy white top with a floor length hippie skirt with frills all around the bottom. She jingled slightly when she walked because the hip ties had small bells attached to them.

Draco gave her a small smirk. "Well it will clash with this," he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black velvet bag. He poured the contents into Hermione's hand. She gasped.

"What is this?" she exclaimed. She took the end of the silver chain and pulled it up, examining the sparking necklace. It was a simple chain, and upon closer examination Hermione realized it was made of very fine white gold. Hanging from the chain was a small round pendant. The entire out rim was a line of finely cut diamonds. In the center of the white gold circle was a single (but much larger) diamond surrounded by cream-colored pearls.

Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. No one in her entire life had ever given her something this beautiful, or this expensive. The only rival was the gift from her parents.

"Draco, it's… it's…," Hermione said. He watched her with hungry eyes. "Lovely," she gasped. His entire face lit up more that she had ever thought possible of Draco Malfoy. "But too much," she added softly. His heart sank. He locked eyes with her.

"Hermione, nothing is too much for you. The Myntasiov Diamonds belong to my family and I want you to wear them," he said passionately.

"But, why? What made you want to give me this?" she asked.

"We're going back to our lives whether we want to or not. I just want to make sure that you have something. A symbol of me… of us," he answered, "Please. For me?"

Hermione gave him a look of acknowledgement. He smiled lightly again and clasped the necklace around her neck. She felt a soft pulsation sweep her body when the pendant hit her chest. She made a startled sound, thinking in the back of her mind that it was all a deception, Draco had just bewitched her!

"Don't worry, that's supposed to happen," Draco reassured her, "It's just connecting to you." Hermione stared at him with wide questioning eyes. "It's the diamond. It's connected to it's made. The Myntasiov Diamonds were found in the lost Dwarven caverns of Hestia. Merlin himself bewitched them when he first met Arthur. They allow the two whom where them to transfer sensations and feelings to the other. He did it to protect Arthur growing up so whenever he felt fear or pain Merlin would know so he could come to aid him. My family acquired them a few centuries ago, but no one has worn them," Draco explained.

"And you have…" Hermione inquired. Draco smiled again and pulled a matching pendant from beneath his shirt. He touched the gem on his. It glowed softly for a moment. Almost instantly Hermione felt hers grow pleasantly warm and she was filled with a sensation of unutterable joy. She felt what Draco was feeling at the moment. She smiled wide and let out a small laugh.

"I haven't felt this happy since before… before… well, before I went home this summer," she hastened. She ran her finger lightly over her gem. It grew hot as well, she let go immediately. She had absentmindedly let Draco catch her emotions. His face sank. Now he knew how it felt. To fell like your loneliness was an absolution. Everyone was gone. He felt her fear and terror at the thought of leaving her culture behind. He shook it off.

Taking her hand he tried to reassure her. "It's alright, with me we're lonely together. Someday it will just click and you'll be certain you'll never feel alone again," he said. Hermione nodded and stood. Draco stood and watched as she went over and locked her trunk. He waited and they left her room together. Hermione silently said goodbye to the mountains of still untouched books, mentally promising them she would return to liberate them someday. As they walked down the stairs toward the main entrance she stopped and turned to Draco. He stopped as well and waited.

"Thank you, really… Thank you. I'd never imagine anything like this," she said.

"Hermione, really it is nothing. I want to give you so much more than jewelry, and I will, I…," Draco said, but was cut off.

"No, not the necklace, but yes, thank you, it's magnificent. But thank you for everything. For saving my life, bringing me here, taking care of me. I know few people who would have done anything like this for me, especially someone who I had never been civil to anyways," Hermione babbled. Draco silenced her with a finger to her lips.

"You're welcome," he said gently. Hermione gave a small nod and they continued to the front hall.

"So, how are we getting to Platform 9 ¾ ?" Hermione asked, "Floo, portkey?"

"No, sadly because of the intense fighting that has been breaking out in London the school has had to find a completely safe and unmuggle related mode of transportation to the school. Having hundreds of young adults and families traveling through open fighting to the remains of a destroyed train station is unnecessary danger. Every student is getting personal pick-up from their homes," Draco explained.

"How convenient," Hermione said happily. She hid the small amount of sadness at this though. She was looking forward to seeing Harry, Ron, and Ginny at the station. Now she wouldn't see them till they arrived at school. "So… we're…"

"Site-to-site aided apparition," Draco replied as they waited at the base of the steps. Hermione gave him an annoyed glare. He smiled at the fact he knew something she didn't. "It's when someone who is a certified apparationist can take others along with the aid or more magic. They should arrive shortly," he explained. Hermione entertained the idea in her head. Momentarily she heard a loud crack as a rushed looking witch appeared at the front of the hall. Numerous broken pencils held her blood red hair and she wore plain grey robes and was carrying a worn book.

"Granger-Dolohov Hermione, Malfoy Draco," she called loudly and exasperated.

"Here," Draco said giving a stiff wave. They stepped onto the marble, heading for the witch when they heard her scream loudly. Hermione's head snapped up as she realized that the jeweled chandelier had come to life. The jeweled snakes fell from the chains above and encircled the witch, basilisk fangs bared and dripping. The witch screamed again in terror.

"WAIT WAIT!" Hermione cried.

"She's with me," Draco said loudly and sternly. The snakes turned at the sound of Draco's voice. "I said she's with me, now get back to your positions!" He yelled, most terrifyingly. Hermione had begun to sweat. Draco looked fierce, scary. The snakes hissed at him, but he only stared them down. The snakes gave a final hiss at the witch and quickly slithered up the walls and returned to the chandelier frozen. Hermione gulped.

"I apologize. They are part of our extensive security spell network. No one who comes into Malfoy Manor is expected to leave miss," he explained as he and Hermione made their way over to the shaken up witch.

"Yes, yes of course. You could have alerted them to my coming though," she said smartly as she yanked one of the pencils out of her hair. She scribbled something down. "Are both parties present?" she asked tonelessly. They both stared back. "Right," she said. Your things will be sent through floo by your family, servants, or hired labor," she asked. They both nodded. "Do you have the necessary consent papers for site-to-site apparition. Please mind I am a certified Apparationist, qualified for site-to-site transport of human, magical creature, plant species as well as artifacts of unjinxed history?" They nodded again. She glanced over the papers Draco had handed her. "I see Ms. Granger-Dolohov has had her papers signed by a Governor Lucius Malfoy, has this been approved by the proper authorities?" she asked.

"It has," Draco answered.

"And it's just Granger," Hermione added curtly. The witch glanced at her and scribbled something out.

"Fine fine, the witch muttered. "Please move to the specified area and prepare for relocation," she said. She pulled her wand out of the folds of her robes and quickly drew two silver circles on the floor. After mumbling a few spells at the circles she motioned for them to stand in the circles. The placed a hand on each of their backs.

Hermione felt the extreme sensation that she had to sneeze. She felt it coming and quickly shut her eyes to ensure they didn't pop out of her skull. The sneeze faded as quickly as it came; however, and she opened her eyes. They were standing on a street corner. Hermione glanced over at her party. The witch gave an exasperated wave and quickly popped away. Draco stood next to her and they glanced around.

"We're in Hogsmeade," Hermione stated. Draco agreed.

"You can't apparate into Hogwart's. Hogsmeade's what's closest and safest.

"Now what?" Hermione asked.

"Now, we wait," Draco replied, pulling out an itinerary, "It says here that all students are to meet at the train station at 8:20 for transport to the school. Currently, it is 11: 42."

"Nice," Hermione said.

"Want to get a bite to eat?" Draco asked. "I know this great little tea room just around the corner."

Hermione laughed out loud. "No, that's alright. I've heard about that certain tea room and personally I am shocked that you would try and take me there Draco Malfoy."

Draco shrugged. "Can't blame a guy for trying…" he joked.

"Well stop trying, I can sense you intentions mind you, even without a jewel," Hermione responded as they laughed.

"Rosmerta's sound alright then?" Draco asked. Hermione nodded. She shifted her pack. They needed to change into their robes soon.

They entered and found a table near the bar. It seemed they were one of the first groups to be brought into Hogsmeade. It was virtually empty.

" 'ello there!" Madame Rosmerta asked as she came to their table. " 'ows about some lunch?" They both nodded. "Soup de jour sound okay? It's clam chowda o peanut soup. Your choice of sandwich."

Hermione consented and asked for the chowder with a chicken sandwich. Draco declined and asked for a salad instead. She brought their food quickly with a few bottles of butterbeer. After finishing their meal they got up to leave.

As they left, Hermione couldn't help but add, "Careful with your alcohol Draco, don't want you getting all grumpy tomorrow do we?" She laughed and he gave her a menacing smirk.

"No telling anyone, or I'll spill about you," he said. Hermione consented with the wave of her hand.

"You're safe," she promised. They made their way down the lane, making a few stops in random shops. Over time, the street had begun to significantly fill up.

They were contemplating a window display when Hermione heard two very distinct voices call out her name. She whipped around and saw Ron and Harry charging towards her down the street.

"Ron! Harry!" she screeched. She broke out into a sprint two until all three met in one giant hug (A/N: warm fuzzy!).

"Mione, we've been so worried, we hadn't heard from you all summer. Especially with this muggle war, we didn't know where you'd been sent," Ron said as he hugged her again.

"Well, I spent a good while in the recovery ward of St. Mungo's, then I went to live with Draco and…" she began.

"Draco? Draco Malfoy? That ferret!" Ron exclaimed.

"This ferret paid for your friend to be nursed back to health and then helped her re-establish her life! Which is more than either of you can say. Honestly, as if you could afford so much as a band aid for her," Draco snapped.

"Hermione, is this true?" Harry asked calmly, "You went to live with Malfoy."

"Yes, she did. I'm sure she loved hearing from you two as well. Really, true friends you are, being all worried and nothing so much as an owl making sure she was still alive. That is of course, if either of you remember how to write that is," Draco shouted.

"Why on earth would you even give a second thought about Hermione, all you've ever done is try to make her miserable, I know, I was there defending her when you were being an ass for the past six years, and I'll be here for the seventh at that," Ron snarled.

"Why don't you just head off then Malfoy, we can take it from here," Harry remarked. Draco's chest puffed up severely and he was immediately in Harry's face.

"From where I was, Hermione and I were having a very good time before either of you arrived, so maybe you two should just head off, go snog or something," Draco hissed.

"How about I say something," Hermione said annoyed as she watched the entire testosterone display, hands planted firmly on her hips. Ginny had appeared beside her, obviously just in time for female support.

"Harry, Ron; Draco has been kind enough to look after me all summer after he rescued me from the rubble of my home. We have both put the past behind us and now get along just peachy. Now I don't feel like spending my entire year being a mediator to my friends. This is my first day back at Hogwart's so I suggest you all shut up and make up before I through a BF," Hermione snapped.

"What's a BF?" Ron asked Harry.

"A bitch fit," Ginny mouthed.

Hermione looked over and saw a rather triumphant look playing on Draco's mouth.

"And you," she said to Draco, "Ron, Harry, and Ginny are my best friends so you better treat them the same you treat me, or at least somewhere close." Draco gave a curt nod and began examining the brickwork of the nearest building. "RIGHT?" she howled.

"Right," all three males said in tiny voices, obviously scared of the 'angry' Hermione. Ginny smirked and gave a sisterly nod.

"Now," Hermione said, now much calmer, "I am going to find a place to change into my robes and I suggest all of us do so seeing how it is already 6 o'clock. The party nodded.

They found the post office mostly deserted and took turns changing into their school robes. As they all exited onto the street again Ron stopped and quickly turned back to Hermione.

"Where's your head girl badge?" he asked worriedly. Hermione thought for a second.

"I don't know, maybe I didn't get it," she said. The entire party laughed out loud.

"Yeah, right, you… not head girl? That's a load," laughed Ron.

"Dumbledore probably has just been too busy arranging all this and securing the school from the war that he didn't have time to contact the heads yet. In fact, I haven't even seen any prefect badges gleaming yet," Harry said. Ginny looked a little hopeful at this.

"Oy! Draco!" they heard in the distance. Glancing up, they all saw two rather husky figures making their way towards them, clearing a path of first and second years lying on the ground.

"How did you two find me?" Draco asked slowly. Obviously he was used to speaking to these two at their level.

"We've been looking for you all day. We got here at noon and have been trying to find you ever since," Crabbe said.

"Time well spent I'm sure," Draco said. They nodded.

"What you doin with this crowd?" Goyle asked, "Givin him trouble. I've been wantin to show the Wonder Twins all summer." Both the imbeciles cracked their knuckles "menacingly" and prepared for battle.

"Step down you asses," Draco ordered, "You're not to touch them. They're with me."

"With you!" Ron exclaimed, only to be quickly silenced by Ginny.

Crabbe and Goyle both nodded to Draco and just stood their, seemingly waiting for orders. The group waited in silence for a few moments.

"Do me a favor you two," Draco began. Both jumped to attention. "Go find out who the head boy and girl are and don't pester me till you know." In a flash they were both gone, to who knows where.

"Where do you think they're going?" Harry asked.

"Probably to find out what the word 'pester' means," everyone chuckled.

"I think we should go to the train station. It's getting dark," Harry said.

"Aw, is Potty afraid of the dark?" Draco teased. After receiving a death glare from Hermione he stopped and muttered a quick apology and something that sounded like "old habits die hard."

When they reached the train they milled around for a half hour or so making casual conversation with other students. Hermione and Ginny laughed with some of the other Gryffindor girls as they all compared new hair cuts, piercing, whatever. Harry and Ron started up and always fascinating Quidditch conversation near Neville while Draco struggled to get Pansy off of him nearby. Unfortunately, Hermione could not save him this time, no matter how much she wanted to squeeze his ass.

"Hermione Granger! Hermione Granger!" rang through the crowd. Professor Snape was struggling through the crowd to find Hermione.

"Yes, professor, I'm over here!" Hermione exclaimed, waving her hands frantically. Draco came to her side, followed soon by Ron and Harry.

"Ms. Granger, I need to speak with you over here," Professor Snape said shortly as they moved away from the crowd. Hermione noticed that Blaise Zabini from Slytherin had joined them.

"I'm sorry neither of you has been informed earlier than this, but with the entire war effort, we had no opportunity. I would personally like to congratulate both of you on being named Head Boy and Girl. Here are your badges. Congratulations again, this is a great honor, and so forth," he drawled. He handed both of them a badge and quickly slinked back into the crowd. Hermione looked in awe at her badge. Finally, she had tried so hard and now she was being rewarded! This was one of the best days of her life! She gripped the badge to her chest and quickly pinned it to her robes, stopping briefly to touch the diamond on her necklace to let Draco know how happy she was.

"God sakes Granger, don't have an orgasm," Blaise joked as he too pinned on his badge. Hermione gave him a glare. "Hey hey, just a joke," he said with his hands raised. "Just trying to break the ice. I know you'll do a good job and let's just help each other out this year alright?" he asked. Hermione gave him a smile in agreement. He gave her a small wave and went back to the crowd. He stopped at Draco and showed him his new badge.

"Better luck next time old pal!" he said. Draco gave him a cold stare.

"Good thing you copied off me then all these years," Draco said emotionlessly.

"Never gladder," Blaise laughed as he went back to his circle of Crabbe, Goyle, a pouting Pansy, and other Slytherins.

Draco rolled his eyes as he left. Hermione strode over to him, spilling over with joy. She laughed as she walked up. Everyone was right there to congratulate her and tell her they knew it was her all along. Draco couldn't help but smile at her happiness. He didn't even notice Harry staring right at him.

"All first years, follow me!" they heard Hagrid yell, whom they had spoken with earlier.

The smallest figures nudged quickly through the crowd, many on the verge of tears for fear or the half-giant.

The rest of the students began piling toward the carriages that were to carry them. Hermione had to stop suddenly. She gasped.

"What on earth are those?" she squealed as she saw huge, monstrous horses pulling the carriages.

"What the blazes are you talking about?" Ron asked.

Hermione felt Draco put his hands on her waist as the other stared at the carriages.

"It's okay, I'll explain them later," he said. She nodded slowly and began to walk again. The others believed she had been seeing things and began to walk again. Harry watched her, and made a note to tell her about the horses later. He realized Hermione must have had a much worse summer than she was letting off if she could see the horses only those who had seen death could see.

Ginny ran off and joined another sixth year boy from Hufflepuff whom Ron stared down for a few seconds before Harry persuaded him into the carriage. Hermione and Draco sat next to each other as the door swung shut. The carriage shifted and began bouncing its way up to the school they had all come to love. Harry and Ron both watched the first years sailing across the lake.

In the darkness the lights of the castle shone beautifully in the clear night sky. Hermione let out a happy sigh as she was welcomed home.

No one even noticed that one individual in the carriage who was happier than Hermione, wasn't even watching the castle at all.