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A week later, Hermione was up and about, but Harry still hadn't awakened. She kept vigil at his bedside, only leaving when Ron forced her to go eat something, and then he'd sit with him.

Draco would check on her everyday, but wasn't up to discussing them while she sat at Harry's bedside.

A week after that, Harry finally awoke. Ron went to send for his family, all lucky enough to have survived. Hermione cried and hugged him when he recognized her. She hadn't known what to expect if and when he ever woke up, but relief came over her in droves as she sobbed on his chest.

Draco watched only for a moment before leaving. He didn't come back.

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Hermione sat with Harry the next few days while he was awake, helping him eat. Soon, he was well enough to complain about being bedridden and played chess with Ron to pass most of his time. They all talked about what happened and who'd survived and who was sent to Azkaban and news about Hogwarts.

The school governors board was slightly depleted since the last battle and they were busy naming new members before they decided anything about Hogwarts.

One afternoon, Hermione sat with Harry alone.

He smiled softly at her, resting his eyes. "Looks like I fulfilled my promise."

She smiled and nodded. "Looks like it's everyone else's turn."

He looked down and she followed his gaze to see his palm facing up, reaching towards her. She placed her hand in it and squeezed. He squeezed back but only briefly. He was still weak.

"Hey, Harry."

They glanced towards the door. It was Ginny. Hermione turned back to Harry and smiled. She stood and placed a kiss on his forehead.

"I'll let you two talk."

Harry smiled briefly. Hermione nodded at Ginny as the redhead came to the other side of Harry's bed. She smiled and nodded back before turning her attention to Harry.

Hermione quickly made her way out of the hospital wing and down the corridor. She decided she could use some air.

It was sunny out and a cool breeze kept it from being too hot. As soon as Harry had awoken, she had taken to wearing her normal clothes from a year ago. No longer did she sport black, but instead a white tee and a khaki skirt with matching sandals.

The castle grounds were devoid of the bodies littering it only a few weeks ago. A memorial for their fallen comrades would take place in a few days now that their saviour had awoken.

Her steps took her to where she knew Dumbledore lay. The White Tomb. A figure sat before it. As Hermione drew closer, she recognized the white blond hair.

Draco heard her approach. He didn't turn when she stopped next to him. After a minute, she dropped to the ground, kneeling next to him, resting back on her feet.

"That night," Draco started. "That horrible night that Dumbledore died…all I could think was, I hope my mum is still alive. When I saw her, relief coursed through me. A minute later when she was dead, the pain was ten times worse than I'd imagined." He stared down at his hands. "When Snape…when he—I just thought, 'my mother is saved' and then I heard my father saying 'no thanks to you.' But I didn't care. I just wanted to get out of there and go see her, to make sure she would be safe.

Only when I had outran my pursuers, and after I cried for my mother, did I consider how Dumbledore was gone. How his death hadn't changed my mother's fate in the least. And how him and my mother were both gone…because of me." Draco shook his head. "Love. Something I'd scorned my whole life because that's how my father reacted to it. Something I'd only felt for him when I was younger before I knew better and still for my mother. Something that compelled me to plan the death of my Headmaster, when all odds were against me. Something that caused my mother's death in the end. Her love for me…." He bent his head then, breathing hard his eyes squinted against a sudden onslaught of tears.

Hermione sat frowning in concern as he spoke. She laid a hand on his back and rubbed it soothingly.

"I don't know—there were so many—what could I—" he stuttered out, his voice breaking, overwhelmed.

"Ssh," Hermione cooed, scooting closer, pulling his head to her chest. He leaned into her, sobbing brokenly.

"So many things—I," he hiccuped. "I could've done—but what, I just don't know."

Hermione hushed him. "Don't blame yourself. Voldemort put you in an impossible place. Your upbringing did not prepare you to do anything but succeed and most would have been too afraid to had they been in your position to ask for help. You didn't do it in the end. That's all that matters." She leaned back to look him in the face. His eyes were watery and bloodshot. "Your mum died for you because she knew you were worth saving. She made that vow with Snape because she knew you were better than your father and wanted you to have a chance to prove it." Hermione nodded in affirmation, having his full attention. "So prove it to her."

Draco gulped his forehead creasing. "How?"

"Live your life. Go after whatever would make you happy. Take the road Lucius never took."

Draco turned his head, looking past Dumbledore's grave in thought. Hermione watched him, studying his pointed features. The same features she used to find hard and callous and had scorned.

Now, staring at his eyes glistening with tears she found they softened his whole face and Hermione realized she'd never be able to look at Draco the same again.

He suddenly turned to face her again, his saddened gaze searching and determined. Hermione felt her mouth open in surprise as he leaned forward and took her mouth with his. His head tilted, deepening the kiss when she didn't pull away. She slowly slid her arms around his neck as she kissed him back. It was gentle and reverent, his lips smooth against hers.

A minute later they broke apart, both breathing heavier.

"What was that?" Hermione breathed.

Draco slowly smirked. "A kiss. I must be out of practice if you didn't recognize that."

She laughed and he grinned.

"What does this mean, I meant," she asked.

Draco lifted a brow, sending her a slightly challenging gaze. "You said I should go after what I want."

Hermione's eyes widened marginally. She heard Ginny's words echoing in her head from that day, seemingly so long ago. Malfoy wants you… Even after he'd kissed her, she hadn't been able to believe it, but hearing him say it…

"You…you want me?" she ended on a squeak, and cleared her throat annoyed with herself.

Draco smirked and leaned in slowly. He tilted his head to the side, his eyes roving over her face, his gaze shuttered. "What do you think?" he breathed against her lips before pressing his mouth against hers once again.

Hermione had become very still during his perusal but melted as soon as she felt his lips. His first kiss had sent a trill of awareness through her, but this one sent heat coursing through her entire body. He gripped her waist, squeezing her gently, moving his lips over hers in earnest.

When his tongue slipped out and along her lips, she gasped. He took the advantage and slid his tongue against hers. Pleasure coursed through her at his nearness and she moaned, tangling her tongue with his.

Then he gentled the kiss, rubbing the tip of his tongue against hers, his thumb moving back and forth against the skin of her stomach, and her skin turned to flame causing her to pull back with a gasp.

His eyes flew open at her abrupt movement and they stared at each other, panting. She opened her mouth to speak, but had no idea what to say.

"I…I," was all she could get out.

Draco tilted his head down, looking up at her expectantly.

"I think you do...like me," she finally got out, recalling his earlier question.

He smirked. "Are you going to do something about it?"

Hermione glanced side to side. "What do you suggest?"

Draco reached up, pushing a curl behind her ear. "Give me a chance."

"A chance?" she repeated.

He nodded, holding her gaze. "A chance to court you properly."

Hermione's eyebrows shot up. "Court me?"

He nodded again. "Yes." He glanced down briefly, before looking at her. "My mother wouldn't expect anything less of me."

Hermione closed her mouth and smiled. "Alright."

"You will?" he asked, his voice brightening.

She nodded.

Draco smiled briefly, stunning her with its pureness, before he looked at her seriously.

"But I may not be the heir to the Malfoy fortune and estate anymore, if Lucius decided to disown me while in Azkaban. I have some things to figure out." With a twist of his lips, he asked, "Do you still want to date a penniless orphan with no job prospects?"

Hermione considered a moment before looking up at him with a small smile. "That depends. Will you let me be your friend and allow me to help you figure it all out?"

Draco stared at her and wondered if it could be that easy. He remembered her friends then and his face fell as his thoughts centered on Harry.

"What about Potter?" he asked, his voice suddenly cold.

She frowned, confused. "What about him?"

"You're not in love with him?"

Hermione confusion grew. "No, who told you that?"

He frowned. "No one. I've seen the way you look at him. You can't tell me there's nothing there."

Hermione sighed. "Of course there's something there. He's my best friend. I love him and care about him deeply, but I'm not in love with him." She shook her head. "I admit, we had a short thing last year, but we were both blinded by grief over Dumbledore and realized we're better as friends."

Draco looked away at her confession, a scowl etched on his face. Hermione huffed.

"Well, this is never going to work if you don't believe me now. Harry's always going to be in my life; he's my family. If you can't handle that, then you should forget about this," she started to stand, but he grabbed her wrist and yanked her back down.

She frowned at him furiously and he scowled back.

"You…slept with Potter and expect me not to be jealous of him?!" he demanded.

"I wasn't in my right mind, Draco! Do you realize that little slip-up could've cost me my friendship with him? I would never knowingly risk that. But here I am, in full control of all my faculties, accepting you and your offer of more, and you act like I don't know my own heart!" She scooted away from him and stood. "You know, I never realized how hard Harry had it when Cho was too jealous of me to accept what she had, but now I'm more than aware."

Brushing herself off angrily, Hermione took off. Making a split second decision, Draco leaped up and raced after her. Grabbing her arm, he jerked her to a halt, and bending down he pressed his lips to hers once again. Her angry words died in her throat as she immediately returned his kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck, his arms sliding around her waist.

His lips moved over hers fervently, his head tilting at different angles, desperately trying to inhale her. Hermione's fingers mussed his hair, before clenching her fists in it, trying to control her raging emotions. It was too fast. Reluctantly, she broke the kiss.

Draco's eyelids opened heavily, their breath coming out in pants. After a moment, when his breathing had slowed a bit, he said, "Just don't expect me to be friends with him."

Hermione gave him a challenging look, not happy with his statement.

"Fine, but not right away," Draco conceded.

Her features brightened immediately and she hugged him.

"You can forget about Weasley and I getting chummy, though," he mumbled into her shoulder.

She pulled back and frowned. "Ron's my—"

Draco shook his head. "No way," he interrupted.

"Draco," she spoke in a warning tone.

"Don't 'Draco' me," he shook his head, stepping past her towards the castle. "It's not like he'll try to get along with me either for your sake. He's not a saint like Potter."

Hermione followed him. "Ron is difficult, yes, but you just have to be the bigger man."

Draco snorted. "You mean a bloody ponce."

"Oh, you are just—"

They continued to bicker all the way to the castle. When they reached the front doors, Hermione still hadn't dropped it, so Draco did the only thing he knew would work. He kissed her. When she melted against him, Draco's mouth curved into a smile against hers. This beautiful, smart, dangerously powerful witch was his. He'd do everything possible to make sure it stayed that way; even befriend the quick-tempered Weasel…possibly.

But she didn't need to know that. That he could admit it to himself was enough. Pulling away, he smiled down at the dazed Gryffindor. She smiled back. He slid an arm around her shoulders, guiding her toward the beginning of their brand new futures, finally bright with opportunity.

Draco pictured his mother and thought, I'll make you proud, mum. I promise.

Hermione's voice brought him back to earth. "Don't think you've settled the issue, Draco," she warned.

Draco shook his head. "Wouldn't dream of it, Hermione."

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Fin.

A/N: Alright, that's it! Unless I'm still compelled to do an epilogue, or light-hearted sequel thingy after Deathly Hallows. Four more days! Kinda hard to stay excited about the end, though and the deaths of at least four beloved characters. Someone should've taken the series away from that woman after Cedric died ;P Silly, I know.

Okay, so let me know what you think and if a epilogue/sequel thing is warranted since I'm not entirely happy with this chapter. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, you're all awesome, and to those who will in the future, simply because you're that considerate ;D