Four months later...
"So what's the plan for tonight?" Pansy asked as she slipped into the vacant seat next to Hermione in Charms class.
A few months ago, an outsider observing the exchange may have thought that they were hallucinating. However, this type of exchange was now normal. The "quadruple date" that Blaise and Harry had suggested had been a huge success. Once the group had put aside their prejudices, they had discovered that they not only had a lot in common, but that they quite enjoyed each others company. It was hard to say what new couple was happiest, what novice friendship was deepest. There had been a bit of a snag when, in typical Ron fashion, he had been jealous of the blooming friendship between Harry and Blaise. However, after Blaise had asked him for some chess advice, explaining that he knew nothing about it, a suggestion which may or may not have shrewdly been suggested to him by Hermione, Ron felt mollified and secure in the belief that he had not grown inferior to Blaise and had given Blaise a fair shot, one which the other boy had not wasted. The two now enjoyed lengthy chats about food and practical jokes.
The success of the Adjustments class had prompted McGonagall to abolish the house divisions in the Great Hall among other divisive traditions at Hogwarts. While students were still sorted into the four houses for efficacy, they now enjoyed intermingling. There had been a few incidents, but the Great War had made people want to move on, and when the Gryffindors and Slytherins saw the golden trio acting friendly and dating the Slytherin Prince and his cronies, they were quick to follow suite.
"I think that we're meeting in the Room of Requirement after dinner." Hermione told Pansy with a smile.
xxxxx
"Hey you," Draco greeted Hermione as he took her hand and began guiding her away from the Great Hall where she had been headed.
"What's going on, Draco?" Hermione asked, confused.
"I thought that we could go to the Room of Requirement a bit earlier than the others," he explained.
"What about dinner?" she asked
"I've got that covered," he replied with an easy grin, gesturing to the picnic basket on his arm that she hadn't noticed before.
The butterflies that Hermione had grown accustomed to feeling in her stomach whenever she was around Draco fluttered madly at the notion he was presenting her with. Eager to have some time alone with him, it suddenly became her dragging him along.
As Minerva McGonagall observed the unlikely pair leave the entrance of the Great Hall, she felt not disapproval, but satisfaction, and a tad bit of smugness. While the Adjustments class had not been her idea, pairing Hermione and Draco together had been. Others had scoffed at the likelihood of the two getting along, but Minerva had recognised the size of Hermione's caring heart, and the desperation of a boy who had been raised to do and believe bad things, but who wanted more than anything to shed those beliefs. She had realised just how much her two students could help and teach one another...and maybe develop feelings along the way.
xxxxx
"You know," Draco said, gazing at his Gryffindor girlfriend over his bottle of butter beer (Harry's house elf connections had proved to be a very useful perk of being friends with the boy who lived) "these last few months with you have been the happiest of my life."
Hermione felt her cheeks redden under his steady, sincere gaze. Grasping his hand, she replied,
"I know what you mean, because I feel the same way about you. It's kind of crazy isn't it? I mean...a few years, or even a few months ago, I never would have even imagined us sitting like this...I guess maybe this Adjustments class wasn't such a bad idea."
"I know," Draco agreed. "Who would have ever thought that you and I would willingly sit in the same room, talking, laughing, kissing..."
Giggling, Hermione allowed herself to be lead over to the couch that had materialised thanks to the room's magical properties, to let her lips work off a few calories from dinner.
...And there you have it. My first completed multi-chap. I am both proud and saddened. Thank you to all of you who stuck it out with me ! If you liked it, please show your appreciation by hitting that "Favourite" or "Review" button...it is the last chapter after all! I'd love to know what you thought, or any suggestions that you have for new stories-I'd like to start another but am looking for inspiration !
Thank you again, and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I loved writing it. :)
~fanofdenial