A/N: As you may have noticed, I am bringing this story towards the end, as I feel there is more that can happen for these two love birds once they aren't confined to the castle walls of Hogwarts. Therefore, I will finish off their 8th and final year at Hogwarts, and then I will began writing a sequel, which will be uploaded as a separate story to this one, but it will still be on this account. Be sure to look out for it when it begins. In the mean time, enjoy this new chapter.

Chapter 22 - Dreaded Exams

"Ginny? Are you OK?"

"Yeap, just revising." She rushed her words with a sharp tone.

"Are you sure, only Ron said..."

"Oh, Ron said?" She raised her voice to interrupt Harry, "What does he know?"

"He's only trying to help you. He's your brother and he loves you."

Her face dropped when she realised that she had snapped at her ex. "Look, I'm sorry. You're right, I guess I'm just worrying too much about these exams."

At that moment, Draco walked in. He gently sat down beside them.

"Hey love, hey Ginny"

"Hi love, I'm sorry but I'm just talking to Ginny."

"No! It's OK, he can stay."

"Are you sure, I can leave."

"No, it's fine."

Harry filled Draco in and ithe turned to Ginny.

"Why are you over doing yourself?"

"Honestly, but don't tell anyone, I feel like I have to. All of my brothers have got great grades and skills at school, and I don't want to look weaker because I'm the only girl. What will mum and dad say? "

"So you feel like you have you fit into a box? Like you have to follow in your family's shadow?"

"Yeah, pretty much. How come you understand me so well?"

"Well, that's how I felt." He pulled back his sleeve, revealing the dark mark. "I felt forced to follow in my father's lifestyle. I thought, if I didn't, I would be seen as a traitor to my family. Like no one would talk to me again. I blocked out everyone who was trying to help me. But now, I see how stupid I was. If I had accepted the help, then maybe it would be different."

Harry smiled weakly, but remained staring at the mark, as though in a trance." Has it faded? ". His voice sounded genuinely puzzled.

"You see it too? I thought that, but I think it's just because the Dark Lord is dead."

"Oh, I guess so."

Ginny had recompiled herself, and leant over to Draco, giving him a hug, "Thank you, I'm glad you understand me.". She got up, went to Harry and did the same, "And thank you for coming to help me. You made me realise I was over reacting.". She grabbed her belongings, waved goodbye, and left the library.

"That was really nice of you, love. I think I'll make a better person of you yet."

"Ha, I bet you think that. Well, good luck, you'll need it."

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

When exams finally came, the school was a heap of panic. All 7th years and, for the first time, 8th years were cramming in revision in every place they could. Free periods, lunches, dinners, after school. They all knew every text book word for word from start to beginning. Even Hermione was rereading books, and she began them in 1st year.

"Exams?! Already! I can't believe it!" Ron exclaimed whilst reading his charms textbook.

"Well Ron, you've known for ages, I hope you can remember your dates for history of magic."

He froze, and swapped to his history of magic textbook, trying to get the dates to sent in.

The only person who seemed calm, other than Hermione, was Draco. He always did well in class, and he was lucky, as many skills came to him naturally. He was excellent at potions, highly skilled in Arithmancy, and pretty good at charms. And after his first hand experience with dark magic, he was an expert in defence against the dark arts. So, instead of wasting his time, he sat in the library with Harry and Ginny, helping them to revise.

"OK, so Ginny, what is the incantation for the locking charm?"

"Colloportus, come on that was easy."

"Oh really? Harry, did you know that?"

"Erm, ye... yeah. Of course." The certainty in his voice was more clear than his love for Draco, which was extremely obvious.

"Come on Harry, that's got to be important for an Auror."

"I know, you're right."

Lunch came around, and the three grabbed their things and headed for the hall.

"Ginny, you'll be fine. You got every question I asked you right, I'm more worried about Harry."

Ginny laughed and thanked Draco for the help. She felt alot calmer for the charms exam she had next.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

The days of exams dragged by, making it worse for the panic building up inside. Everyday felt the same, after breakfast it was constant revision and exams, and then it was back to bed, waking up the next day to so the same. Harry knew he couldn't wait for this to end, and he could relax, spending more time with his lover. Yet, he wished he didn't have to leave the school where he had learnt almost everything he knew about magic. For 8 years he had been within the school walls, granted, not much last year, learning spells, making friends, he even defeated the most powerful dark wizard of the age, within the school. And now, he had merely a few weeks.

"Hey Harry, what exams have you got left today?"

Harry stopped his day dreaming and turned to see Hermione sat beside him. "Oh hey, only Care for Magical Creatures. What about you?"

"Same. Are you alright? You were day dreaming for a while."

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just can't believe we're gonna leave all of this behind."

"I know, it's sad to think about. The leaving ceremony is gonna be huge though, two years of students. And, you've got a great future ahead of you. You've got a home, someone who loves you, and you're gonna get some great results."

"Thanks Hermione. I guess you're right. Some people will have it worse than me. Well, we'd best have something to eat before our exam. Are you coming?"

"Yeah, I don't want to be handling creatures on an empty stomach."

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"Yay!"

"Whoop!"

"FINALLY! THEY'RE OVER!"

The last exam eventually came and went and 7th and 8th years poured through and onto the grass banks, collapsing to the floor and enjoying their freedom from work. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco all ran down to Hagrid's hut to tell them about their Defense Against the Dark Arts exam.

They all shrieked with excitement and rambled on about questions and the answers they got.

"Alright, calm down", Hagrid's voice boomed over the four, "I'm glad for you all, and I want you all to do amazing. But let's sit down and talk a bit quieter, so I can here you all. Who wants a drink?"

They continued to sit down and take their drinks, one by one, calmly talking about their excitement and sadness of leaving. Hagrid was really gonna miss them all." So, what are all of your plans? "

Hermione began, "Well, I'm planning to work for the ministry, but first, me and Ron are planning a trip." Ron smiled and held her hand.

"Really? That's a great idea! Where to?" Hagrid asked.

"Well, apparently, my parent's have moved to Australia. And in my free time, I've been learning about some very difficult magic to undo Memory Charms. They can only be performed successfully by the person who cast the original charm. I just want them to know me again. I've really missed them, but Mr and Mrs Weasley are really nice to me, so they always helped me. "

Hagrid began to shed a tear. "Hermione, that's wonderful. I hope it goes well for you. Owl me, in fact, you can all owl me. I want to keep in touch with you all."

The four nodded in agreement.

"So Ron, after joining Hermione on this heart touching mission, what do you plan to do?"

"Well, George is really struggling with the Joke Shop, especially cause Fred shared the load with him. So I've offered to take Fred's job, and he's happy to have me. I'm just glad I've found a job I'll enjoy."

"And you, Harry?"

"Well, I've applied to take Auror training at the ministry, and provided I get the required results, I'll be on the path to become an Auror. In the mean time, me and Draco are moving into Sirius' place. You're welcome to visit anytime."

"I'm happy for you Harry, well you both. Well, all of you. But, well done, and thanks for the invite. And Draco?"

"Hmm, oh, yeah. It took me a while, but thanks to Professor Slughorn and Harry, I've decided I want to be a writer. I want to spread my message about the Wizarding world. The mistakes I've made, and the consequences on innocent people."

"Oh wow, that's an incredible decision. I'm so proud of you all."

Just then, Ginny walked in with Pansy and Blaise.

"Oh hello, I don't think I've got enough space. Tell you what, shall we go outside and ill bring some more drinks out."

The groups got up and sat outside Hagrid's hut. It was a beautiful day to finish their exams. They all continued to talk until it got dark, and they made their ways to bed. Harry couldn't believe it was all nearly over.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"Harry! Harry get up! Results day!"

"Merlin I forgot! Thanks Ron."

"That's OK, looks like Malfoy couldn't wait."

The two made their way down to the hall and Harry spotted Malfoy sat alone in the corner.

"I'll be over in a bit, don't wait for me, get your results."

When he got closer to the blonde, he noticed a piece of parchment in his hands. Results. His heart pounded, had he failed? But he was so good. He didn't want to think his lover had failed anything, he knew it all.

"Draco? Are you OK? What's the matter?"

Harry felt himself getting upset, seeing Malfoy with tears rolling down his face just broke his heart.

"Look, I'm here for you. I love you. If you've failed..."

"No, I've not failed, I've passed. Everything." He motioned the parchment towards Harry's face. He sat down beside him and held him with his unnocupied arm. Upon reading the results, he saw he had done incredible.

"It's that I don't deserve them. Everything I've done had hurt someone. I've done nothing right and now I've got this. I should have failed. It's what I deserve."

"No, come on. Stop this. You know you didn't choose to hurt so many people. And look at you now, you've changed soo much, you're a completely different person. You have worked so hard. You've done all your work, you've helped us all out with revision. And you've made me a very happy man. "

He looked at the brunette through his teary eyes and smiled, before pulling him into a hug.

"Thank you. Now, let's get your results."

They stood up, and Harry felt suddenly weak at his knees. Ron was with Hermione. She was crying with joy at her results, Harry knew what she had gotten without looking, and Ron was still beaming with happiness. He must have done well. They reached the table and he got his envelope.

He opened it and he saw...