A/N: We are finally here! Last chapter of this fic, I just wanted to thank everyone who has left reviews, favorited, and followed this story. I am unbelievably grateful for you. When I first started writing this it was never supposed to leave the confines of my personal files, but when I did post it I was shocked that you guys liked it, and were leaving such positive reviews! So honestly, truly, and deeply thank you. I never thought I would write something worth reading, but you guys gave me the confidence to keep writing.

Love, MommaBadger

Chapter 34

Hermione's eyes fluttered open, but she was blinded by the blaring lights of the room, her body had become accustomed to the dark cell. She shielded her eyes and looked around. Sure enough, she was laying in crisp white sheets in a bland hospital room and she had never been more grateful for the the sterile, uncaring feel of a hospital.

"There you are."

Hermione looked over and there, sitting next to her bed, were her boys. Tears of relief rolled down her cheeks as she slowly sat up and Ron leaned over the bed to give her a hug. She cried into his shoulder, as if she were letting the loneliness of the dungeon cell spill from her tear ducts. "Thank you," she murmured into his Auror's cloak. Harry came to sit on the opposite side of Ron and rubbed her back soothingly.

Hermione slowly let go of Ron and smiled at Harry, who then leaned over to embrace her. Harry embraced her tightly, as if he had no intentions of letting her ago again, and she melted. All the fear, the uncertainty, fell from her as if she had released a load of bricks from her back. They held each other for what seemed like an eternity. More than anything in the world, she needed this, she needed him. Harry had always been her rock, her safe place, in a world that had been anything but stable and, in this moment, he stabilized her. She took another long deep breath to anchor herself some more. She gently let go and looked between the two men, overwhelmed in her love for the both of them. They came through for her, as they always did, as she knew they would, but she couldn't express how much she appreciated them. "I take it the mission went well?" She asked this same question every time they got back from hunting a dark wizard.

Harry chuckled. "Yep," he smiled, "got all the bad guys." Harry always answered on some variation of getting the bad guy(s).

Hermione smiled at him, but her smile fell slowly. "And Draco?" her brows knitting together.

Harry and Ron exchanged a look that made Hermione's heart clench. "He's here," Harry drew out. "He's still unconscious, however. Whatever Nott hit him with was fairly damaging." Harry paused again. "The healers have been working on him and he's improving, physically, but he's still not awake."

Hermione clenched her sheets. "What happened?" Though she wasn't sure if she wanted to know the answer.

"Well," Harry was choosing his words meticulously, "somehow he made it out of his cell."

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, he gave them a fake wand, let himself out, and then gave me his wand to escape."

Ron narrowed his eyes slightly. "So he's the reason I found you running around the castle, barefoot and starved?"

Hermione gave Ron a irritated look. "No, he wanted me to stay until morning, after he had..." she trailed off. Hermione knew there was no way she could phrase Draco's intentions in a good light, he wanted to murder everyone in that castle.

Harry cut in, understanding her hesitation. "He did manage to tear in to Alecto and Lucius, we found them shredded to pieces. The odd thing, however, is that he didn't go after any of us. My team walked in on him feasting on Lucius, we all had our wands on him ready to knock him out, but instead he just looked at me, and continued on Lucius. It wasn't until someone else hit him that he went on a rampage, and even then he only went after the Death Eaters. Nott hit him hard with something as he attacked Amyus."

Hermione was shocked, it had never been documented that werewolves choose their prey. Every time there was an attack, it was thought that it was bad luck, bad timing. This would have to be something that she looked in to when she went back to work. "Can I see him?"

Harry gave her a sympathetic smile. "I'm not sure you're strong enough to walk, the healers have said you are severely emaciated, dehydrated and weak. They were surprised you made it out of the dungeon."

Hermione gave Harry a pleading look. "Please, Harry."

Harry sighed. "I'll see if I can find a wheelchair." Harry, smiling at her softly, stood up, kissed her sweetly on the forehead and left.

"Mione," Ron looked worried as she directed her attention back to him, "you scared the bloody shit out of us."

Hermione smirked. "Well, being kidnapped was not really something I wanted to do, to be fair."

Ron, however, was not having it. "Look, I know you really like Malfoy and, to be honest, the bastard is sorta growing on me, but after everything, are you still sure that you want to be with him? I mean, if you two hadn't been together, none of this would have happened."

Hermione took a deep breath, she knew he was coming from a place of good intentions and that Ron only wanted the best for her. "Well, Ron," she spoke softly "if I was so concerned about not being in danger, I would have stopped hanging out with you first year when you both insisted that we go after the stone." She smiled softly reaching out for his hand. "I love both you and Harry and, because of that, I faced the most terrifying things in my life." She sought out his eyes as he tried to shy away from her. "But we made it out, and I made it out. You can't run from things just because they're dangerous." He looked back at her, a meek smile on his face. "You know that." Hermione rubbed the back of Ron's hand with her thumb. "I love him, Ron."

Ron took a sharp breath, and stared at her for a long moment. "Okay," he whispered softly.

It was then that Harry returned with a wheelchair in hand. "Healers aren't fond of the idea, but I told them that they'd have to tell you that and they quickly backed down." Harry chuckled. He wheeled the chair over to Hermione's bedside and, with some help from Ron, lowered her down into the chair. Harry rolled out of the room and was walked down the hallway when Ron stopped just outside Hermione's door.

"I actually think I'm going to head back to office now. They need help sorting through all the stuff we got from the castle." Ron shuffled his feet awkwardly.

Harry looked like he wanted to say something but must have decided better. "Okay, mate, see you later then," he said casually.

Ron caught up gave Hermione peck on the cheek and then walked off. Hermione grimaced as she watched him walk away.

"Don't worry, he'll get used to it," Harry leaned over as he started pushing her to Draco's room.

Hermione sighed heavily. "I know, I was just hoping it would be sooner rather than later. At this point, our kids will be on their way to Hogwarts before he's used to it."

Harry chuckled. "He's doing the best he can, Hermione. He did love you deeply when you two were together and to see you with someone else is a blow already. The fact that it's Malfoy knocked the wind out of him."

Hermione rolled her eyes, she knew Harry was right. It was a just a few months ago that she was hurt over Ron's engagement, and that was to a girl she actually quite liked. "Which is why I'm not pushing it, but it's frustrating still."

Harry chuckled. "And if that were the only frustrating thing in our lives we would all be much happier, but there are bigger things. He'll come around," he encouraged.

Hermione nodded slightly, knowing that Harry was right. On the list of things to be upset about that one was at the end of it. Harry stopped in front of a door, opened it, and pushed her through. Draco lay on the bed, looking rather beat up, he must have take a few spells in his werewolf form.

Harry wheeled her up to Draco's bedside and leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I'll leave you here, the healers will take you back when you're ready." He gave her small kiss on the cheek and left her there to sit with Draco.

Once she heard the door close, Hermione leaned forward and laid one of her arms on his bed, cradling her head in the crook of her elbow while her other hand reached for his. She rubbed her thumb on the back of his hand slowly and methodically. She just watched him for a long time, listening to the bustle of the hospital outside his door. He looked so peaceful in his unconscious state, as if he were just deeply sleeping. She wondered what Nott had hit him with, she wondered when he would wake up, if he would be mad, she lost in thought when he began to come to.

Draco cringed, his body was aching all over. He normally felt like shit after his transformations, but this was on a whole new level. He clenched his fists in pain only to realize that someone's hand lay in his. He begrudgingly opened his eyes, his vision was blurred for a long moment. When his eyes focused, a mass of curly hair was leaning on to his bed and a soft warm smile greeted him. Draco's heart burst. He had never seen anything so wonderfully beautiful in his life than the woman that sat by his bedside. He could feel small tears of relief and happiness welling up in his eyes.

Hermione shushed as she slowly lifted herself up, carefully sitting herself on the bed to lean into him. "Now, now," she whispered sweetly into his ear, wrapping her arms around him.

Draco shuddered at the feeling of her body pressed closely to his. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face into the crook of her neck, letting out a shaking breath as he released the anxiety and worry that he had been carrying since he saw her tied to a pole. He felt the tears run down his cheek, he had never felt this vulnerable in his life, he always had wall to protect his heart, but that came tumbling down at the sight of her smile. Never had someone made him feel so weak, so defenseless, and yet so unbelievably strong and resilient. She could break him, Draco knew it in his soul, but he knew that she would protect that with everything she was, and in return, Draco would protect her. This is what Ginny meant. Draco hugged her tighter, never wanting to let her go, even though his body screamed in pain at the immense amount of pressure that he applying to his wounds, but he didn't care. Right now, he was healing his soul.

Hermione slowly stroked the back of his head as he crushed her against his frame. "I'm okay, it's okay, we made it out."

Draco slackened his grip and kissed her neck. "I'm so fucking sorry." He lifted his head to rest his forehead on hers.

"Draco," she sang softly, "this wasn't your fault."

Draco took a sharp breath. "If you hadn't gotten involved with me, then you would never have been in that cell."

Hermione pulled his chin up to look her in the eyes. "I also would have never loved anyone this deeply," she whispered under her breath.

Draco's breath hitched for a moment before he leaned in to kiss her. Their life may not always be perfect. He was certain that they would meet adversity, whether it be because of his past or her fame. People would always look at him and wonder why she was with him, how a war heroine could hitch herself to the villain, and he knew that would be hard to swallow. This moment, this feeling, however, was worth it, to be with her, to have her love and trust would empower him through the dirty looks and whispers. With her, Draco could do anything he ever wanted.

Draco let go of the kiss first and leaned back to see her fully. "I love you, Hermione Granger."

Hermione smirked at him. "I love you, Draco Malfoy."

"Marry me." The words were already out of his mouth before he realized what he had said. It was true, he wanted to marry her, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, but asking so soon after such a traumatizing experience was probably not the time to ask.

Hermione didn't flinch, however. Her smirk turned into a tender smile. "If you insist."

Draco leaned forward and dragged her on to his lap, pressing her in to him firmly, then kissed her on top of the head. He didn't think that they would start the wedding planning tomorrow. Hell, he hadn't even chosen the ring, but the fact that she had accepted without hesitation was enough for him. They would figure out the details later. Right now, it was just him and her, and nothing had ever felt so right in his life.

They remained quietly engaged for the better part of a year. She wore no ring, they made no announcements, and wrote no betrothal agreements. They felt that they needed none of that, the promise that they would do it in their own time, in their own way, was enough. It wasn't much different than dating really, but they both knew, at some point, that they would marry one and another, and that was all the assurances they needed.

Hermione returned to work shortly after her release from the hospital, that Draco did take issue with, but he knew there would be no telling her otherwise. So instead he also took a job at the ministry. That way, if she ever needed him, he would be there. It also gave him a purpose. He had applied for a position in the international trading department, seeing as he had already had experience with international dealings anyways, but found that he was far more intrigued with magical law and rather excelled at it. It also meant that he saw a lot of Hermione, which, for the most part, he considered an advantage. It was only when they disagreed about how laws were interpreted, or how they should be changed that he found himself regretting working with someone he so deeply cared for. It never, however, spilled into their personal life. Draco had always been very gifted at compartmentalizing his life and Hermione was getting better at it with each day.

It was just after the fifth anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts that they decided to make it official. Instead of throwing a huge elaborate wedding that was traditional of pureblood society, they packed up their closest friends and family, took them to the chateau in France, because it was Hermione's favorite, and had a small intimate wedding just with those whom they loved.

"Well, Mrs. Malfoy, is this everything you ever wanted?" Draco asked her as the danced together to the string quartet.

Hermione hummed for a moment, as if racking her brain for anything else she may want. "I think so, Mr. Malfoy," she said softly after a moment.

Draco nodded. "I would do anything for you, Mrs. Malfoy, so never be afraid to ask."

Hermione smiled devilishly up at him. "I would never dream of it."

Draco chuckled as she lay her head against his chest and they swayed back and forth to soft sweet music.

The End