Authors Note: I am so sorry for waiting so long to update. I had to get through my sister's high school graduation, finals, and a term paper. Thanks to all of those who have read my story thus far and reviewed! So here is the eighth chapter. Enjoy!

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Hermione changed quickly into what she thought was an acceptable outfit. She also ran her fingers through her hair, with a bit of a serum that calmed the frizz a little. Curls let down, per Draco's request, she walked out of her room to a smooth-looking Draco. He was running his hands through his hair, and with the tangles gone that resulted from their whatever-it-was earlier, Hermione felt very much like doing things that would put more there. But she dismissed her somewhat inappropriate desires and started to move towards the door.

She noticed that Draco wasn't following her, so she turned around to see an apprehensive visage on a lowered head.

"Draco, what's wrong? Aren't you ready to this?"

"Well, it's just that…don't you think we should have a plan of attack or some sort strategy to approach this? I'm not so sure that just going out there, holding hands and shouting, 'Oi, everybody, look at us. We're in love and don't care about what anybody thinks!' is the best thing to do."

With a bit of a chuckle, Hermione replied, "Yeah, I guess you're right. Anyways, I did want to talk to Ginny about us first. Would you mind waiting in the Gryffindor common room while I talk to her?"

"Only if Potter and Weasley aren't there. I would rather take this one Gryffindor at a time, if you know what I mean."

"Maybe I should bring Ginny back here? She usually understands when I would prefer more privacy than her dorm room offers."

"Sounds brilliant. I guess I'll just stick around here then."

And with a not-so-quick kiss good-bye, Hermione set off to get her best friend.

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Hermione was walking down the long halls that led her to the Gryffindor common room. When she reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, she paused just a moment before recalling the latest password. With the whisper of a word she entered the magnificent room.

It had been quite a while since she spent any time here. Because of the rareness of her visits, she got a few quizzical glances. And upon seeing Ginny, she walked quietly over to the corner, where Ginny and Harry were sitting together displaying their affection publicly. Hermione dreamt of the day she could do that with Draco, and maybe it would come sooner than imagined.

She cleared her throat loudly to get the attention of the two that were too busy to look up. Harry immediately stopped, and once he realized who was standing there, he said, "Hermione, where have you been? Ron and I have been looking all over for you. We both need your help with a couple things for history, and now Ron is off looking for you in the library, again."

"Oh, I've been busy all morning, head duties and such. I can tell you about them later, right now I would to speak privately with Ginny."

Harry gave an inquisitive "Oh? What's so important that only Ginny needs to know?"

Ginny elbowed her boyfriend, softly but still with meaning, in the ribs,"Harry, stop it. If 'Mione wants to talk privately with me, it is absolutely none of your business." And with a glance around a room full of nosy Gryffindors and privacy also lacking in the dorms, Ginny suggested somewhere else for this conversation. Hermione gladly proposed her own room. Harry gave a look of disgust as his girlfriend left him without even the slightest goodbye.

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"Okay Hermione, you need to tell me now what this private conversation is going to be about. You can't just whisk me away from Harry without an explanation."

When Ginny didn't get an answer, she stopped walking alongside Hermione and stood in the lonely hallway with her arms crossed.

"Ginny, come on. I really don't want to talk about it here. It's really important to me that nobody (looking at the curious portraits) knows what I'm about to tell you."

"Is it really that important?"

"Of course it is, or else I wouldn't hide it from Harry and Ron."

"I guess I can wait until we get to your room. I just hope that Draco isn't there. He gets so pissy when we shoo him off."

"Uh, Gin, about that… Well, you'll just have to wait and see."

"Now you are really starting to confuse me Hermione."

"Patience Ginny. Just come along, please."

And with a bit of a groan and a nearly inaudible "okay", Ginny started walking again, struggling to keep up with her hurried friend.

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Draco was sitting there, alone in the common room, contemplating the all of the recent events. It seemed to him that everything that happened since last night had occurred over days or even weeks. Time does fly when you're having fun, but it is painfully slow when you are in anguish.

Draco was lying down, wondering how Hermione and Ginny were coming along when he heard them enter the room. He sat up quickly, looking at both of them quizzically.

"Did you tell her already? You've only been gone a few minutes, right?"

"No Draco, I didn't tell her yet. I brought her here because the Gryffindor common room was way too busy and her room wasn't private enough either."

Ginny was definitely confused now. "Hold on! What in bloody hell are you guys going on about? And why are you talking about me as if I'm not here?"

Hermione turned to face her best friend and said, "Though you may not believe it or like it, Draco and I are together. Ginny, we've been together for some time now. And now we think it's time to let people in. I can't take the fact that none of my best friends know how much I love Draco, or how much he makes me happy."

And with that said, Draco stood up to go hold the hand of his girlfriend. He knew that she needed his support.

Ginny stood back from the two of them, mouth agape. "Are you serious? Are you fuckin' serious? No, Hermione, you hate him. You always have. How many times have you two fought? How many times has he hurt you? Caused you pain? Made you cry? You can't love him. Honestly Hermione."

Ginny stood there a little longer, looking at them together, seeing the truth in both of their eyes.

Draco knew Ginny was beginning to see their love, so he stepped in and said, "Ginny, everything in the past is in the past. You should understand that. We all know of the things you have done in the past, and that you were forgiven. Hermione has forgiven me. We are beyond forgiveness and now we are just trying to forget. The pain I caused her causes me equal pain when I think of it. I want to die when I think of all of the names I have called her, the hateful words, the humiliation, the heartbreak…I know now that I was wrong, so wrong Ginny. And nothing could make Hermione happier than your continued friendship, and beyond friendship, your understanding. In order for us, me and Hermione, to survive, we need your help. Please Ginny."

"Merlin, you two really are in love, aren't you? I can't bloody believe this. Hermione, is Draco the reason you and Ron never worked out?"

Hermione gave a guilty nod and told Ginny, "I do love Ron, but more as a brother than anything else. Draco is the only person I could truly love. Look at him Gin, he's changed, for me, for us."

At that moment, Draco felt too overcome with emotion. He grabbed Hermione and turned her to face him. She smiled up at him, and with his hair falling in his face, he leaned in and kissed Hermione gently. Ginny immediately saw all of the passion, care, and love that they shared. She stood there as long she comfortably could before clearing her throat loudly.

Hermione broke away from Draco, blushing a shade of red seen on most apples. Ginny laughed, breaking the tension. She looked at Draco and stated rather commandingly, "You know, you are quite a git for thinking you could ever hate my Hermione."

"Well Ginny, I do believe she is now my Hermione, and that I am the biggest git, or perhaps the second biggest git, the first being your brother for not snatching her up when he had the chance."

They laughed, knowing the full truth of the latest saying.

Ginny, now standing with her hands comfortably on her hips asked, "So how do you guys expect to let Ron and Harry know? Harry might be able to handle this, but it would break Ron's heart."

"What do mean 'break Ron's heart'?"

"Hermione, you can't be serious? Ron has loved you since at least fourth year. Most of the things he does is so you notice him. Ron would have never joined the quidditch team if he didn't think he would look better in your eyes. And he couldn't stand Lavender. He just snogged her crazy so you would see, and hopefully get jealous. Why he thinks either of those would work, I don't know, but he does love you."

Hermione was taken aback. How did she never see? Looking back, all the signs were right in front of her face. She must have been so blind.

"I can't believe I never noticed. There were a couple times here and there where I thought he might like me, but then he would always do something to convince me otherwise. Gin, I don't want to break his heart." Turning to Draco she said, "Did you know? Did you know Ron loves me?"

"Of course, Hermione? How could he not? His every look at you, his every action showed it. I might not have noticed if I weren't watching you, but it is there."

Hermione was nearly overcome with this news, or what was news to her. Draco helped her over to one of the sofas as her knees started to weaken. Ginny also moved to help her friend. Draco and Ginny made eye contact as they both took one of Hermione's hands. Their gazes held each other for a moment and shared an understanding. This understanding was that they both cared immensely for someone who was the best friend of both. The eye contact broke when the heard Hermione give a held back sob and started saying "Ron" over and over, first as a statement and then questioningly.

"Ron? How could he…? Why didn't …?"

Draco was first to respond, with just a simple, "Hermione."

"Draco, I don't want to hurt him. I don't. Maybe we just shouldn't tell anybody else."

"No, Hermione. We need to tell him. If we don't, you'll just keep getting hurt, by him and by us just existing. We can't live this lie anymore. It's hurting you and it's killing us."

"But it would kill him to tell him. He loves me. I can't just break his heart."

Ginny then offered her thoughts up. "Hermione, Ron would forgive you. And if he truly loves you, even if just as a friend, he would never do anything to hurt you or prevent you from being happy. Living a lie won't let you be happy. You have to let both Ron and Harry know. It's the only way you and Draco can move on. It may be hard for them to accept it, but if they could only see you two together as I see now, they would have to accept it."

Draco then took both of Hermione's hands into his own and put his forehead against hers. "Hermione, it's the only way. We have to do it. And I'll be with you every step of the way, and so will Ginny. We can do it. We can be happy."

"Okay. Let's do it then. Now."

Hermione took a deep breath and stood up from the sofa. Draco and Ginny stood next to her and they all walked out together, to face the fight to come.

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