14.

NOT SO SECRET

When Hermione noticed that Draco was missing at breakfast again, Theo told her that he had gone to the site of Dumbledore's tomb before the flurry of activity around there started for the memorial. She quickly finished her pumpkin juice and walked down to the lakeshore looking for him.

He was sitting on the ground where the tree line started. She could have sworn he was asleep, leaning back on a tree trunk with his eyes closed. But when she approached, he raised his head and looked at her. His face was serene.

"Hi," she said softly, not wanting to disturb his peace. The silence around this space seemed more evident.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Am I interrupting your…nap?"

Draco smirked. "The little girl, Wanda, taught me how to meditate," he explained.

"That's good," she said smiling a little and he nodded. "Mind if I sit with you?"

"Of course not," he said, looking at her with a weird expression, confused but welcoming.

She bent down and removed a few twigs before sitting to his left. The weather was starting to warm up, so she'd opted to wear one of her new skirts for the first time, a light blue one that rode up an inch or two when she sat. She noticed him eyeing her legs and secretly enjoyed his attention.

"Hermione, I'm—"

"Wait, let me say something first," she interrupted. She'd come looking for him to take some control back of their situation and she felt like she needed to make the first move into a positive outcome.

"Okay…"

"I just think we shouldn't leave after what happened without acknowledging the fact that we had a good friendship at the very least."

"Oh."

She realised then what it must have sounded like and regretted it immediately.

"I'm not saying that I want us to only be friends," she rushed to say. "Even though we could be, but I think we could work on what we had and maybe build up to making it public. Because what Harry said the other day is right. I mean, we shouldn't be ashamed of what we've been through, we can accept and embrace it to become better people. And I'm not going to sit back again and just wait for you to get your head out of your arse—"

"Granger."

"What?"

"I agree."

She looked at him startled. "You agree?"

Draco nodded slowly. He tentatively moved his left arm to rest with his palm facing up. Hermione saw the scar from his Morsmordre mark had healed significantly. She traced it with her finger before she put his hand on her thigh. They both sighed and she smiled.

"Potter told me the Minister has been putting together a team to revise all blood-purist laws and modify them," Draco murmured, closing his hand on her more tightly. "I want to believe in a better world and I don't want to live in fear anymore."

She felt tears threatening to spill when she heard the shakiness in his voice. He looked in the distance towards the white tomb. He turned his head and fixed his eyes on hers before raising his other hand to rest under her chin.

"Would you be my not-so-secret girlfriend, Hermione Granger?" he asked with a smirk.

She laughed merrily, rolling her head back, and he chuckled along. "Yes, I would, Draco Malfoy," she said once she sobered. He let go of her hand and put his down on the ground behind her, leaning closer. Their lips met in a tentative kiss before she became more insistent. She'd missed the feeling of being desired and cherished.

"I'm sorry I was an idiot," he whispered against her lips. She hummed in acknowledgement but didn't stop kissing him.

They spent several minutes making up for lost time, snogging on the ground like teenagers. When they heard people making their way near the tomb, where the memorial would be held, they stood up. Hermione walked ahead when she spotted their friends standing together where Professor Flitwick was creating a circle. Ginny was having a conversation with Astoria right behind Wanda and Roman, who stood in front because they were smaller. Hermione approached Ginny and the redhead smiled at her.

"Everything okay?" she asked as her gaze travelled behind Hermione. She felt a strong arm wrap around her shoulders and she knew exactly who it was. Ginny grinned wider and Hermione felt a flutter in her stomach.

"We're good," Draco said next to them.

"I see that," Ginny said with a chuckle before squeezing Hermione's hand closest to her.

Hermione chanced a glance at Astoria and the girl was watching them with rapt attention. When she caught Hermione's eye, she smiled at her with genuine delight.

The memorial service was brief. Headmistress McGonagall spoke a few words about Professor Dumbledore from when she met him. She expressed regret about how newcomer students this first year after the war and some of last year didn't have a chance to meet him, but she welcomed everyone to keep asking and talking about him, to keep him in their memories.

After the ceremony, the group of friends stayed behind as everybody else walked away, either back to the castle or around to the other side of the lake. But Dennis Creevey didn't leave. Instead, the boy approached Hermione's group, whose arm was clutched around Draco's as they listened to Theo.

"…so I told Mr Shacklebolt I can start whenever—" he was saying.

"Excuse me," Dennis said behind them and they turned. "Malfoy?"

Draco looked at him in confusion. "Yes?"

Dennis looked around, seemingly noticing for the first time how an entire group of people were looking at him expectantly. He took a deep breath and forced his words out quickly.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I appreciate you trying to be better and…good luck."

"Thank you," Draco said earnestly.

Hermione smiled. "Thank you, Dennis," she said and the boy nodded at them, blushing slightly, before walking away.

"Well, that was interesting…" said Theo.

"Hey, what do you say about us having a party in the Room of Requirement to celebrate our graduation?" Astoria suggested.

They all agreed to go up after the end of the school year feast but reminded Roman and Wanda that they'd have to leave before curfew. Later that night, they all shared an evening playing games and forgetting House colours in favour of cultivating their friendship.

Hermione learned that Astoria also wanted to become a Healer, but wanted to focus more on research as she suffered from an ancestral blood curse that she wanted to find the cure for. It was also the reason for her interest in studying Alchemy in the first place. Everyone stayed quiet for a moment while they processed the news, but Astoria assured them that she would find a solution. It seemed that Draco already knew about this, so he was the first to try and divert the attention by asking other people about their plans after school.

Blaise wasn't sure of any specific occupation he'd like to have, but he wanted to travel around the world for a while, and he already had the money for it. Ginny had been drafted to play Quidditch professionally and begin training within the next season. Theo finally finished telling the group about his meeting with the Minister, who'd offered him a job at the Department of Mysteries. He'd be shadowing a few officials for some time before he was assigned cases by himself, but he was happy to assist regardless. Luna had decided to continue her research on magizoology and after having met her over Easter, Newton Scamander had offered her a spot as his apprentice before Rolf graduated the following year. They'd planned to open a sanctuary together for magical beasts near extinction.

Hermione explained her plan to visit Australia during the summer and she noticed Draco clamming up after that. He only said he'd get a few things together before he attempted to open up a shop.

They all had a good time sharing stories from Hogwarts and they promised to keep in contact with each other in the future.

Hermione and Draco chose to spend the night in the bedroom inside the Room of Requirement. While he'd been quick to agree to stay, he'd also seemed a bit distant throughout the night, so that was the first thing she asked him about as soon as they got rid of their clothes and laid in bed in their underwear. He was facing up, looking at the ceiling and she laid on her side with a hand supporting her head, looking at him.

"Did you freak out earlier when I said I was leaving for the summer?" she asked.

Draco stayed silent for a few seconds before he turned his head to look at her. She saw vulnerability in his grey eyes, something she'd never seen before.

"You asked me once what I thought would happen with us after school," he began with a low voice. "I don't like the idea of being away from you."

"I know," she whispered. "Me either."

Hermione moved closer and rested a hand on his chest, caressing the scarce hairs there before brushing his scar with a feather-light touch. She had considered not leaving after they'd reconciled, but getting her parents back as soon as possible had been a priority long before she came back to Hogwarts.

"You know that recovering my parents' memories is my number one goal right now," she explained, hoping he would understand. "Seeing them in July was not enough and I still need to learn more. The Healers at St Mungo's are making progress with Lockheart, and I realise until I get there I won't know what to do with my parents, but I need to establish some contact at least. I miss them."

"Hermione," he said as he sat up, putting a hand over hers in his chest and brushing a tear away from her cheeks. "I'm not asking you to choose, I know they're important. But would you consider taking me with you?"

The shock on her face as she registered his words would have been comical, had their conversation not been so serious.

"I thought you had a few months of house arrest left to fulfil," she said with furrowed brows.

"I settled my and my mother's debt with the Minister the other day," he said with a proud smirk.

"What?" she asked amazed. "How did that happen? Is that why she was here?"

"Yeah, she came by to give me a late birthday present and attend the meeting with McGonagall," he said quickly. "Anyway, I donated half the frozen eggs to Slughorn and also a quarter of my recently-inherited Malfoy fortune to the school. Adding that up with my good deeds and stellar behaviour this year, I managed to acquire a pardon for myself and my mother."

She looked at him in astonishment. "I'm sorry, uh…They lifted your house arrest, just like that?" She wasn't sure whether to be glad and proud that he was finally free or disappointed at the judicial system for accepting money in exchange for a pardon so quickly. She figured the fact that it was going to Hogwarts instead of the Ministry was worth considering as a better choice.

"Turns out I'm too rich now, but I'd rather my family's dirty money go to a good cause than just sitting on it because I'm not planning on touching much of it anyway," he explained. "I'll buy my mother a place wherever she wishes to live, give her part of the money and the rest I can donate overtime."

Draco looked at Hermione expectantly. It was clear that he'd been hesitant to tell her about the money and he was unsure about what she would think. She thought about it and decided that after all, whatever he chose to do with his riches was his business, but at least he was being generous about it.

"So you're free to travel abroad, then?" she finally asked, smiling.

He grinned and kissed her nose sweetly. "I am," he said. "As soon as I put some things in order with Mother and my living arrangements. Maybe a couple of weeks?"

"Sounds perfect," she said and leaned forward to kiss him properly this time.

Hermione pushed him back to lay his head on the pillow and she sat straddling him on the bed. This was her favourite position, where she felt the most in control. They snogged for minutes, taking their time to get reacquainted with each other's taste. Their bodies moved on their own accord, her hips gyrating slightly and grinding on him while he tried to push up, both seeking some much-needed friction to quench their burning.

"You said something about a birthday?" she asked panting into his lips.

"I turned twenty on the fifth of June," he said, smirking before he kissed her mouth. "I was too busy being stupid to tell you, remember?"

"Ugh, let's forget that ever happened," she suggested. Her brain felt fuzzy from lust.

"No," he responded almost in a groan. "You confessed you'd fallen for me."

She stopped moving over him and felt her heartbeat increasing. She looked down at him and saw his half-closed eyes fixed on her with intensity. She swallowed hard.

"Is that still true?" he asked and she nodded slowly. "Do you want to hear my confession?"

She nodded again and he sat up, keeping her in his arms. They ended up chest to chest and she could feel the rise and fall of his as he breathed. She thought he could probably feel how her heart was hammering fast in hers. Hermione raked her eyes over his face as she brushed her arms from his neck to his shoulders and down his arms, trying to commit this moment to her memory. She knew what was coming and she hoped her mouth would work with her brain when it came time to answer.

"You're…incredible, Hermione, and I admire you so much," he began and she feared he might back down and disappoint her, but he didn't, because in the next breath he said shakily, "I've fallen hard for you too," and she felt like she might explode from massive happiness, relief and affection all at the same time. She realised it wasn't the biggest revelation ever, but the fact that he said it so nervously meant it was more than she could ask for at the moment. Right then, it was significant enough and there would be time to expand on it. He seemed nervous for a second as she stared at him before her face broke into the biggest smile ever. She started giggling almost uncontrollably and he grinned.

"You think it's funny that I'm pouring my heart out for you, witch?" he said playfully in between gritted teeth. He tickled her sides as she laughed harder, trying to fight him off.

"I think it's brilliant!" she exclaimed breathlessly in between laughter.

Draco ceased his tickling and ran his hands down her sides to grab her arse. Hermione sighed contentedly and leaned her forehead on his shoulder as he ground her against him. She kissed his neck after nipping it softly and whispered, "Happy belated birthday, Draco," into his ear. She felt his smile against her cheek and she turned to kiss his. She pulled back while she kept her face close to his as she brushed her hand down to cup his erection through his pants and he moaned.

"Happy, indeed," he said with a hiss.

· - ·

The next day, the castle was a flurry of activity. The excitement about going back home and spending the summer without homework and classes was evident in everyone's faces. Last year students shared bittersweet moments as they toured the castle after breakfast for the last time as students. Hermione walked up the steps to the Headmistress office an hour before the train would leave. She entered the room and looked around before her eyes fell upon Professor McGonagall, who was leaning on her desk with a small smile on her face.

"Hermione Granger," she said fondly. "You know, you're welcomed at Hogwarts any time you want to come back."

"Thank you, Professor," Hermione said. "I'll keep that in mind."

"I believe your dedication and resilience will get you far." McGonagall moved towards her with an extended arm and hugged her.

After a brief conversation with the older woman, Hermione waved goodbye to the portrait of Dumbledore, who called out to her, and she walked down to the Entrance Hall where all of the students were slowly being ushered out by Filch. Hermione saw Hagrid waving first-years down towards the boathouse and she sidled between them. She hugged the large man and said goodbye. Always a sensitive man, Hagrid's eyes welled with tears. She promised to write to him frequently and he cried even harder. When the younger kids started giggling, he composed himself and they parted ways.

Hermione already felt nostalgic as she rode in the Thestral-pulled carriage with Draco, Blaise, Theo and Ginny. Her Hogwarts years were finally over. When she decided to follow Harry in his quest to find the Horcruxes, she hadn't considered the fact that not coming back to Hogwarts that year could be a permanent decision. It was only when she was presented with the possibility of finishing her education that she realised how much she'd missed it. The past year had been equally bizarre and exciting, but if she was honest with herself, she couldn't wait to move on with her life.

The long train ride back to London was mostly silent. Blaise and Theo had chosen to ride in the Slytherin compartment at the end of the train. Theo and Daphne had been getting closer again and Blaise declared he'd rather be the third wheel to them than to Hermione and Draco. The couple found a small compartment and shared it with Ginny, Luna and Rolf. Draco took up most of one bench as he laid horizontally with his head on Hermione's lap. She brushed his hair while she alternated between reading a book, chatting with her friends and looking out the window.

When the lady with the trolley came by asking if they wanted anything, Hermione bought two chocolate frogs. She saved one for Draco, who was napping, and she opened the other one. She smiled when she saw who was looking at her from the card inside. It seemed that Minerva McGonagall had been added to the list of famous witches and wizards.

The door to the compartment opened sometime before the end of the journey to reveal Roman and Wanda.

"Miss Hermione!" Roman said loudly, startling Draco awake.

"Fucking Hell," Draco protested, giving the boy a scowling look as he propped himself up to a seating position.

"Oh, sorry," Roman said sheepishly as the women laughed. "Wanda told me she wanted to say goodbye so I tagged along."

"It's okay, Roman," Hermione said kindly. She smiled and stood up to give a hug to both first-years. "I'll miss you, guys."

"We'll miss you all, too," said Wanda.

Hugs were also exchanged with Luna, Rolf and Ginny, but Draco gave them a gruff wave, still looking sleepy.

A voice echoed through the walls, "We will be reaching King's Cross Station, London, in five minutes' time. Please, remember to take all your personal belongings with you."

"You go ahead and get ready to leave," Hermione told the young Slytherins. "I'll write to you, okay? And if you have any questions about any class, you can ask me, yes? Well, except Divination."

Ginny laughed. "Yeah, she says she hates it, but I predicted this," she said pointing her finger between Hermione and Draco, "with tarot cards."

"Huh?" Draco asked dumbfounded and Rolf chuckled.

"Unimportant," Hermione declared and hugged them briefly again. "Off you go."

"Wait, Red, you have to explain," Draco said when Hermione closed the door.

"No, because it was inconsequential," Hermione said, interrupting whatever Ginny had been about to say. "Just a fluke."

The train stopped then as they'd arrived at Platform 9 and ¾ so they all stood up.

"I'll tell you one day," Hermione heard Ginny whisper to Draco behind her as they exited the compartment.

The platform was packed with families. Rolf spotted his parents right away, so he and Luna said goodbye to the rest and walked away. As soon as they saw Harry, Ron, Molly and Arthur Weasley walking towards them, Draco told Hermione he had to go say goodbye to his friends and he'd be back. Hermione was disappointed for a moment and wanted to follow him, but all of sudden she was enveloped in a hug.

"I told Arthur I'm proposing to Ginny soon and he's not very happy," Harry whispered in her ear. "Please, help."

Hermione's eyes must have shown utter surprise because Ron laughed at her as Harry let her go. Her friend looked at her rather sheepishly and she was left speechless. He was proposing to Ginny? Wasn't it too soon? But then, she reckoned, if you knew, you knew, right? She thought about her and Draco the previous night, confessing their feelings for each other.

"Um, hi," she said to Molly and Arthur, who had just got done embracing Ginny.

Molly smiled widely and opened her arms for Hermione to step in. Hermione's eyes welled up as she accepted the woman's motherly hug. She'd missed her just as much as she missed her own mother.

"Oh, dear," Molly said after they pulled apart and she noticed Hermione's glassy eyes. "When we heard you had been hurt we were so worried."

"Yes," Arthur agreed, giving Harry a bit of a side-eye. He had his arm wrapped protectively around Ginny. "That was a bit of a scare you gave us."

Harry hung his head next to Hermione and muttered an apology, but nobody except her heard him over the crowd.

"Well, we better get a move on, darlings, dinner isn't going to cook itself," Molly said. "Not all of it, anyway."

Hermione had agreed to join Harry at the Burrow that night, then she'd go stay with him at Grimmauld's Place while she got everything together before her trip. Molly, Arthur and Ginny walked ahead with their trunks, but Hermione hung back and scanned the crowd looking for Draco.

"Hey, Princess!" a familiar voice called behind a tall wizard. A hand shot up and she saw Theo approaching with Draco in tow.

"I thought I told you long ago not to call me that," Hermione said, playfully scolding while secretly loving his attention.

"You'll forever be my Gryffindor Princess," Theo said in a mocking whine before he hugged her.

"Oi," Hermione heard Ron say.

She looked at him and he seemed very confused. "Oh, didn't you meet at the memorial party last month?" Hermione asked. "Sorry. Theo, this is my friend Ron. Ron, this is my friend Theo."

Ron looked at Theo up and down before offering his hand, which the other boy shook while wearing a smirk on his face.

"Hold up, aren't you a Slytherin?" Ron asked.

"A handsome Slytherin, thank you very much," Theo responded cheekily and Ron's ears turned red, almost blending in with his hair.

"Stop," Hermione said smiling as she felt strong arms wrap around her waist.

"Hey," Draco said into her hair at the back of her head.

Hermione smiled wider and turned around in his arms. He settled his hands on her hips and looked around her face with a bit of apprehension.

"Woah," she barely registered Ron say behind her before Theo and Harry pulled him back and started a conversation to give the couple some space.

"You're going to stay with Potter, then?" he asked and she nodded.

She realised for the first time that he'd always implied he wasn't going back to Malfoy Manor and she'd assumed he'd go live on another one of the Malfoy properties, but he'd told her his mother had been gutting them all to sell them as soon as possible.

"Where are you…?" She wasn't sure how to phrase the question.

"I have a beautiful place in Cokeworth, on Spinner's End Street," he said smugly. "My godfather, The Half-Blood Prince, left me his decrepit childhood house in a dirty neighbourhood with everything inside."

They'd briefly discussed the bloody textbook and its implication in harmful magic. Draco had been gathering the revised potion recipes and had the idea to test them and submit an edited version for publication. It seemed that along with the book, Severus Snape had left his house and possessions to his godson.

"That's generous," Hermione said. "Surely there are tons of potion ingredients and books you can use in there."

"I don't doubt it," Draco said with a smile.

Hermione saw him eyeing her mouth and she absentmindedly licked her lips. She looked around to see what their friends were doing and she noticed they were all gaping at them, trying unsuccessfully to be discreet. There were still some families making their way out of the platform, and some of them were also gawking at her and Draco standing so close together.

He moved his hands up to frame her face and her cheeks turned pink when she saw the intent in his eyes. It was as though time stood at a standstill as he leaned closer and closer until she had to shut her eyelids so that her eyes wouldn't cross. Before she had time to feel the anticipation of what was about to happen, his lips were on hers. They moved gently at first, but when she stepped closer and put her hands flat against his back, their snogging became more fervent.

A sudden flash of light startled them apart. Looking for the source, Hermione saw a young man holding a big camera next to them. He started taking another picture and the flash went off, but Harry was quick to intercept it.

"I'm sorry, you can't take pictures here," he told the man.

"This is a public space, Sir," the man responded shrugging.

"Well, well, well, another notch on your belt, Miss Granger?" a female voice said from behind the photographer. "I come here hoping to interview the so-called 'Eighth Year' students like yourself, and look what I've found."

The smug expression on Rita Skeeter's face told Hermione she felt satisfied with what she'd seen. The insufferable woman raised her jewelled spectacles on her nose before taking out her Quick-Quotes Quill from her crocodile-skin handbag.

"Hermione Granger," she began dictating, "daughter of missing muggle parents, finds young love again with Death Eater—"

Hermione was quick to pull out her wand and point it at Skeeter. "Say that again, you nasty woman. You know what I can do to you."

"Oh," Skeeter exclaimed with a fake offended tone. "But you have nothing else against me anymore, do you?"

"Watch me act first and ask later," Hermione threatened. "I'm sure I can find something dirty about you afterwards."

Skeeter looked mildly scared, but she forced herself to straighten her spine. Harry tried to diffuse the situation while the others merely watched. Hermione finally backed down when Draco put a hand on her shoulder and said, "You can write about us, describe exactly what you've seen."

Hermione looked at him with a mixture of amazement and pride. The fact that he'd decided to step up and accept their public display, not only with their kiss but also standing up to the journalist, made her feel alight with happiness.

"I don't need your permission to do my job," Skeeter spat angrily, brushing her tight blond curls out of her face.

"Include the photo as well," he continued unfazed. "And I'd like a copy too."

Skeeter huffed, turned around and walked away with the photographer in tow.

"Hot," Theo commented.

"Which part?" Ron asked, looking confused.

"All of it," Theo clarified grinning.

Ron looked at him as though he'd grown a second head and his face was comical enough to send Hermione into a fit of giggles. Draco smiled fondly at her and she hugged him, grateful.

"Hello, dear," another familiar female voice said on the other side.

Hermione groaned softly against Draco's chest. He put his hand protectively on the back of her head and rubbed gently. They pulled apart and turned towards Narcissa Malfoy.

"Mother," Draco said. "I wasn't expecting you here."

"Clearly," she responded not looking at him, but at Hermione.

He cleared his throat but didn't let go of her, his arm still wrapped around her waist. "This is—"

"Hermione Granger, I know."

An awkward silence enveloped the group and Mrs Malfoy stood there looking at Draco expectantly. He cleared his throat again, seemingly trying to pull courage from wherever he could.

"So yes, this is Hermione, my girlfriend," he finally declared.

"Blimey," Ron said from further away.

"I see," Mrs Malfoy said, her eyes turning into slits.

"Hi," Hermione said lamely before taking a sharp breath.

"The wards at…your house prevent me from going in by myself," Mrs Malfoy explained to Draco. "I just came here to help you clean up and rearrange."

"Uh, sure," Draco said and turned to Hermione. "See you soon?"

She nodded and gave him a small smile. He pecked her mouth and turned to his mother, ready to side-along apparate. "Theo, you coming?" he asked hesitantly, with a look that led Hermione to believe he very much hoped his friend would agree. Theo let him sweat it out for a few seconds, looking like he was about to refuse before he finally said yes with a smug smile. He wouldn't let Draco off the hook very easily.

Draco pecked Hermione's lips again lightly and pulled away to grab his trunk and extend his arm for his mother to grab onto it. The older woman fixed her eyes on Hermione with an interested expression before she and her son disappeared with a resounding pop. Theo smirked and winked at her before he also disapparated.

Hermione was left there with Ron and Harry and they stepped to stand on either side of her. She sighed contentedly. Harry wrapped his arm on her shoulder and she leaned her head on his.

"So…" Ron began apprehensively. "Can someone explain what just happened?"

Hermione turned to him and he looked so utterly confused that she couldn't help but laugh, which made him even more disconcerted. She often reminisced fondly about the days when they would spend time together, just the three of them. Now it all had changed, but she figured it was for the better. Their group of friends had expanded almost effortlessly and she'd found, in the most unexpected person, someone to share her love with, hopefully forever. As she kept laughing and crying happy tears, she couldn't wait to get on with the next big chapter of her life.

FIN

· - ·

· - ·

A/N. This is it, my friends. I hope you enjoyed this little story! Let me know in your reviews.

As always, AurorEowyn and Girl of Chaos were an integral part of this, being my best betas ever. They donated their time and I'll be forever grateful.

So I still have a few ideas, maybe a future-take for these two lovebirds or a Wanda spin-off or something...There was a little easter egg about her a few episodes back. Stay tuned if you want to see that.

Finally, thank you everyone who read till the end and took the time to leave comments throughout. I very much appreciate you all.
Stay safe and healthy, folks!