(A/N: Sorry this has taken so long, but this chapter has kicked my ass all the way to hell and back.)
Chapter 34Harry sat at Ginny's bedside, where he'd been for three days. Hermione smiled from her position by the door. It really was cute to see Harry so devoted. She could hear them speaking, and laughing. In fact, so absorbed with her observations was she, that Hermione didn't notice Draco sneak through the doors to her right, and only became aware of his presence when he wrapped his arms around her waist and lay his chin on her shoulder. She could hear his chuckle when she jumped slightly.
"Watching the star struck lovers, are we?" He mumbled in her ear.
"I didn't want to intrude upon them." She replied quietly.
"So instead you eavesdrop?" Draco asked incredulously.
"Well, when you say it like that."
"Indeed. What do you say we get out of here? Let them have some time alone." He whispered seductively.
"Draco Malfoy!" She turned to see his smiling face, and he took advantage of the position graciously, and simultaneously pulled her through the doors leading to the corridor.
''
Sunday, exactly a week after the raid on Malfoy Manor found Harry sitting by the lake, staring blankly at his surroundings. He looked out at the lake where he had fought the merpeople, and rescued the hostages. To the Quidditch pitch, which held some of the best, and one of the worst memories for him. Across the grounds, to Hagrid's hut, where he had first seen a dragon. To the forbidden forest, where he followed the spiders in his second year. To the numerous places he and his friends had sat while on break. Lastly, he looked toward Hogwarts herself, the first place he felt he belonged, the place where he had found friends, his home.
Ginny found him there, his face wet with tears. She took him inside and got him a cup of tea, and called Dobby to come start a fire and keep him company.
''
It was four days since Ginny had been released from the hospital wing, and N.E.W.T.'s were fast approaching. Hermione, not quite up to her usual standards, had all the boys studying. She would make them spend hours on end in the library.
"Honestly, some days I wonder how you lot put up with her for six years," Draco whispered over the potions text he was taking notes from.
"You get used to it after a while," Harry told him; Ron nodded in agreement before going back to do as little as possible while still looking busy.
"If you think this is bad, you should have seen her before. She hasn't made study schedules yet," Ginny added with a laugh, to which all three boys groaned. Ginny had taken to accompanying them and using the time to do her homework. Harry often told her that she should go hang out with her friends, rather be cooped all day. She told him she didn't mind; besides she knew he liked having her with him.
"Screw studying! Where did Hermione go anyway?" Ron asked, ignoring Harry and Draco when they pointed to a nearby bookshelf, "I'm not going to remember this stuff and we haven't had a day off in ages. Don't look at me like that Harry! Do you know what were doing while you and Ginny lounged about in the Hospital wing? No? We were in here, get this, STUDYING!" By this point Harry was making a slashing motion across his throat. Ron noticed a moment too late, "She's right behind me isn't she?" Both Draco and Harry nodded grimly. Ginny got up to go have her giggling fit away from the group so as to have her head remain attached to her shoulders.
''
"Ron?" Harry asked nervously stopping in the hallway and turning to his friend. They had finally managed to calm Hermione and Ginny had dragged her off to have a 'girl talk'. "What's Ginny's ring size?"
"To hell if I know," Ron replied shrugging, "What's it matter anyway?"
"Weasley I knew you were thick, but I didn't know you were that thick," Draco smirked at him, "He needs to buy the ring!" Harry and Draco both laughed as comprehension dawned on Ron.
"I know we all knew I intended to marry, but I never have actually proposed, Ron, and I can't get the ring until I know what size she wears."
"Don't worry about it Potter, I'll have Hermione ask about it. Less conspicuous that way."
"Thanks."
"So…" Draco intoned, draping an arm across Harry's shoulder, "How do you plan to do it?"
"Well, I don't exactly know that yet…"
''
"So…"
"So what?" Hermione looked up briefly from her work to pin Draco with an annoyed glare.
"What do you plan for after graduation?"
"I don't know. I was looking at working for Gringotts, it sounds interesting, or perhaps a library or bookstore."
"I'm not talking about a career, Hermione." Draco stated exasperatedly, sitting beside Hermione on the couch in their common room.
"Then what are you talking about?" Hermione had long since gone back to studying.
"Herm, you're smart, you know what I'm talking about."
"Do I?" She asked marking her place and closing the book she had been reading all afternoon.
(A/N: I've got some bad news for you. I made my high school softball team, so I'll be practicing everyday until about three-thirty, four o'clock, starting Friday. I then still have my honors course load, and my teachers don't know what 'night off' means. So my updates are going to take a while, though undoubtedly not as long as this one has.)