Disclaimer: Do I write like Rowling? No.

Warnings: blah…blah…bla blah! Sorry about that. AU, sappiness, stupidity, weirdness, the non-sensical writings of a derranged mind…

ACT 1: Chapter 5

"Come on you two!" Hermione said tapping her foot at Ron and Harry. They were being sluggish.

It had taken her a while to speak to professor McGonagall to get permission and when she made it to the common room, she found them slumped over on the chair and couch still sleeping!

"Alright Hermione, two seconds!" Ron yelled from the boys' dorm.

She was more excited than angry. They hadn't seen her garden, and Harry hadn't been to common room. Finally she heard the thump, thump of sneakers coming down the stone steps.

"What's the rush?" Harry asked.

"Lunch will be over soon and you to still have homework to do", she mothered, "plus, I want to show you something."

They looked at her strangely before they headed out. Expecting to turn towards the staircases, they went in the opposite direction.

"The stairs are this way Hermione," Harry said quirking an eyebrow.

"Yes, but the lift is this way."

They followed her to the little closet room that barely fit the three of them and entered. Hermione pressed the button and the same voice told them to stand back. And just as before, glass slid across the frame and the elevator ascended to the Heads' common room.

"That is bloody brilliant of you Hermione!" Ron said.

Hermione blushed, but couldn't keep the truth to herself.

"It wasn't my idea. It was Malfoy's, unfortunately."

"Oh," Ron replied.

"Has he come back yet Hermione?" Harry asked.

"He came back either this morning or last night. I've gotten him straightened out though," she remarked proudly.

"It was last night," Ron spoke, "I ought have pummeled him for doing that."

The elevator dinged and Malfoy's rude comment rang through the tiny space.

"No you shouldn't have. I didn't mind doing the work, I just thought he might have had a bit of decency to tell me, or tell a teacher, that he left."

"The words decency and Malfoy aren't even in the same language as one another, so why would you think that he would put in notice?" Harry asked.

"Because, no matter how much you want to deny it, he has changed. He even apologized to me this morning for skiving off and…" she held back telling them he had gotten slightly violent with her.

The boys stopped walking as Hermione walked a head a bit before turning around to meet two sets of eyes that were filled with curiosity and laced with threats.

"And…" Ron said taking a protective step towards her.

She held her ground.

"Nothing."

He looked like he didn't believe her, but he let it go.

They took up walking again and came to the portrait of Scarlet.

"I hate this painting," Hermione said underneath her breath.

"And I don't like you," an evil looking set of teeth appeared from the black abyss.

Hermione glared at the grinning cat as she whispered the password.

Once inside, Hermione and Ron walked a head of Harry who stayed behind to gawk at the beautiful room.

"This is beautiful Hermione."

"Again, don't thank me," she said with a smile. Even though Malfoy was a stupid blighter, she wasn't going to hog his credit. He did have fine taste after all.

She continued, "but outside is something you can thank me for."

They followed her outside and were amazed at the garden that was before them.

"Hermione this is lovely," Ron said pulling her next to him.

"Thank you. I thought we could have lunch here and talk. We never get to see each other that much anymore."

The air was warm but a cool wind picked up as they sat together eating sandwiches and drinking some chilled butterbeer from their last Hogsmeade visit.

"You mean you can change anything in this room just by thinking?" Harry asked with great skepticism.

"Oh yes watch!"

She thought of some vines gently, yet wildly, climbing up the stone gate. And they appeared.

The boys were stunned.

She thought of something a bit more drastic. The wind died down and it grew a colder.

"That is incredible!" they said simultaneously.

Smiling, she put the weather back to they way it was.

"Malfoy put our rooms and everything into a cottage. I can't even describe how wonderful this place has been."

"No wonder you never come to visit," Ron said looking around.

Hermione's face fell. Had she really been neglecting her friends?

"I am sorry for that. That's the reason I was hoping to spend some time with you guys today. So much has happened to us and so much has changed."

Ron looked at her a bit helplessly. He never did know the right thing to say. He grabbed her hand and did what he could to comfort her.

Hermione didn't cry, but she really wanted to. She needed to grow up and stop thinking that they were going to be same little kids that had adventures together. Harry got up to give them a moment alone.

"Thank you Ron; for being here. I am sorry I haven't been with you that much this year."

"Hermione, you don't have to explain, love."

She looked up into his eyes,

"'Love'?"

"Hmm?"

"You called me 'love.'"

"Yes I did."

Draco was spending a wonderful time with his wife. Though it was cold, at least the sun was out and they were together.

"Nothing could ruin this day," he thought.

"Draco!"

"Well, almost nothing."

There, in the crowd of people, was Pansy Parkinson bounding her way to where he and Katrina were.

"Draco! I am so…who is this?" she said looking at Katrina with obvious hatred and jealousy that she was holding Draco's hand.

"Pansy, this is Katrina."

His wife mirrored the look of disdain for the woman standing in front of her.

"Pleasure," Katrina said in a way that obviously meant that Pansy needed to sod off.

Pansy, not being incredibly bright, continued on with her mission.

"Draco, I was wondering if you would like to spend the day with me," then she shifted her eyes to focus on Katrina and looked her up and down quickly, "instead of your…present company."

Katrina just stood there smiling a sickeningly sweet smile and said, "I am sorry, dear, but Draco is spending the day with someone he actually fancies. Now, why don't you go skipping off to the ice cream shop, and down your sorrows in a pint or two of mint chocolate ice cream," Katrina also looked Pansy up and down, sizing her up, and continued; "goodness knows you might have a heart attack if you don't eat again soon, love."

Katrina's smile never faltered. Her voice had the essence of an angel, but her words were as harsh as a demon.

Draco was busting up at the horrid look on Pansy's face as she turned around. Pansy didn't really look as though the understood what Katrina had just said.

"I don't suppose you enjoyed that?" he said with a grin.

"Not one bit," she said sarcasm laced in her words, "I really must be getting back to school Draco," she continued, reluctantly looking at her watch.

School. If only they hadn't been so far away. While Dumbledore allowed Katrina to visit, her Headmistress hadn't been as understanding. Dumbledore spoke with Madame Maxime about the matter and convinced her to let Katrina visit Hogwarts on weekends, but Draco wasn't allowed to step one foot inside the castle.

What the headmaster and headmistress didn't know was that Draco had often snuck out to Beauxbatons to see Katrina, and often went there to bring her back to Hogwarts.

"I suppose so," he sighed.

She smiled sadly and kissed him tenderly on his lips and he pulled her into a warm, strong hug.

"I love you. Not even being on the other side of the world could change that," she said into his chest.

Giving her one last squeeze he said.

"I know. I just wish you didn't need to go."

She nodded her head in silence before giving him one last peck on the cheek and vanishing with a pop back to France.

Sadly staring in empty nothingness, Draco heaved a sigh and he made his way back to Hogwarts, kicking rocks and muttering swear words as he did so.

When Harry had left them, he walked back down the path and now stood looking out at the empty expanse of lush grass. Though he was happy for them, it still was a bit of a shock to see them like that. He loved his friends dearly and, though he didn't admit it, he too had a sinking feeling that this was there last year together as children and that they needed to grow up.

He heard smooth grass being smashed by feet coming from behind him and turned to look to see Ron with his hands in his pockets and a content expression on his face.

"Hey," Ron said standing next to him.

"Hey."

"What are you looking at?" Ron asked, only physically there.

Harry shook his head, "nothing."

There was a moment of awkward silence where Harry could feel that something was on his friend's mind but he wouldn't get it out.

Before Harry could ask, Ron blurted out,

"I love her, Harry. I'm going to ask her to marry me," he said not looking at Harry and wearing a silly grin.

Harry looked at his friend in bewilderment.

"Wha…what?"

This time Ron looked at him, beaming.

"I am going to ask her to marry me. Before we graduate."

"Ron don't you think that is a little… fast? You've only been dating for a few months."

"Harry, we've known each other for over six years! How can that be fast?"

Harry stared at his love struck comrade. This was a bit more than he could take and turned away.

"Ron, I…I don't know what to say."

Ron looked at his friend a little disheartened.

"You don't think she loves me?"

Harry snapped his head quickly and looked at him in disbelief.

"Don't be stupid! Of course she loves you. Even Malfoy will tell you that. I just think it's way too fast. You are so young."

"We're of age, Harry."

Harry was trying to hide what he really thought. The truth was, yes it seemed fast to him, but not in terms of their relationship. It was too fast because marriage was a huge step. Ron and Hermione getting married meant that they would be spending more time with each other. Would they still be fighting with him when the war came? Would they still be his family?

He turned away from Ron and walked off leaving him standing there, looking confused and a bit hurt.

Hermione came up to Ron and he turned to look at her. When she came close enough, he put his arm around her.

"What's going on?" she asked worriedly.

"Nothing. Harry, he…he has a lot on his mind," Ron replied mysteriously.

They followed him back inside.

A/N: Phew! Lot of writing! Oh well. Please send in your comments! You can tell me this suck, you can tell me this is good, just tell me something! How can I make this better if I don't get feed back? Anyways, more to come!