Author's Notes: Would someone like to beta this story for me? I keep rereading it and finding mistakes and I'd like someone to go through and point out all the issues so I can go back and fix it so the completed version is as close to being grammatically correct and spelling mistake free. This is going to be the longest chapter but I didn't want to break it up. I hope you enjoy this chapter and the whole story. I'm already writing a short sequel.

Chapter 10: Warrior Princess

-Draco's POV-

I sit on the bed in our – my apartment and stare into the closet where her clothes use to be. I guess this is it; she's out of my life. I tried to find her, tried to tell her how I really feel, but I didn't try hard enough. I wipe away the stray tear that escapes and I hear a tapping sound from the window. A small barn owl is trying to deliver a letter.

I retrieve the letter and recognize the small neat scrawl on it. I immediately open it up and read it as quickly as I can.

Draco,

I'm sorry to make you worry. I heard about the love potion. Don't worry. I love you and now know that I should never question it. Please make sure you attend the End of Summer Faire for Little Phoenix, I want to talk to you then. I have some important things to discuss. Remember, I love you.

Hermione

There's hope for me yet!

-Iris's POV-

Stupid sister! How could she do this? She had to ruin the perfect plans to get our family back to top! I could have lived through her and the Malfoy fortune she'd be set to attain. We were so close! So close, we tripped at the finish line! Why? Because my sister had to go all noble.

I am interrupted from my thoughts by a stupid house-elf giving me a letter addressed to me.

Miss Parkinson,

Your attendance at this year's End of Summer Faire is required. Considering your marks at the end of the program, you will have to repeat your potions course this following year at Hogwarts on top of the seventh year class. This of course is if you choose to obtain your NEWTs for Potions.

Miss Granger

P.S. Maybe if you paid more attention in class instead of interfering in the lives of others you put your intelligence to use. I know you have a brain, please use it properly.

GAH!

-Pansy's POV-

Pansy,

I'm going to be calling you that and not Parkinson because I think that we can be friends. I hope that you will want to be. I'm sorry that Draco is still a little prickly towards you but that'll change. I promise! I just wanted to say thank you for helping everyone figure out what happened and for being a good enough person to not take advantage of the situation.

I know you took what Draco said to you all those years ago to heart, and while I don't agree with the way he treated you, I'm glad that you have become a better person for it. Also, I think I know someone who just may fancy you. Let's have lunch next week?

Oh, also, try and attend the End of Summer Faire for the school I teach. I'm sure your sister will be there so she can give you more information. If not, just ask Ron, I'm sure he'll be more than happy to oblige. See you soon!

Hermione

Well, that was not what I expected but I'm glad that in the end it worked out, well almost worked out considering it's not the end yet. I don't think that she's spoken to Draco or anyone for that matter yet. But these are definitely good developments. And Weasley fancying me? Hmm, that is an interesting thought. When he isn't eating he can be quite fetching.

I send her a reply letting her know that I'll definitely be there and I'd love to be her friend. I also ask for more information about Weasley and ask for the best time for our lunch. It'll be good to have a friend.

-George's POV-

I'm pacing the store while looking at Dean at the register. I feel so terrible. I can't believe that Malfoy was in the right and I was in the wrong. It's just ridiculous. Dean doesn't look to be faring much better. I wonder what it's like at home. I'm sure that Ginny gave all of them a stern talking to as well.

Next thing I know, Teddy comes into the store and hands both Dean and me a letter.

George,

I appreciate that you care about me but sometimes what you think is best isn't really what is best. Come on, you run a joke shop that I have – more than on one occasion – given you a stern talking to about. Our moral compass doesn't necessarily point to the same north, so who is it to say that my compass points to a different happiness?

Anyway, I wanted to invite you to the End of Summer Faire. I'm inviting quite a few people so you won't have to feel alone. I even recommended you to the school for planning the firework show at the end so watch out for that missive.

Please come, I do miss you, regardless.

Hermione

Even when I'm a total wanker she's still kind to me. She brings me new business when I make her unhappy. Yes, I'm a total slime ball.

-Jean Granger's POV-

Mum and Dad,

I'm sorry that I'm not what you expected. I'm sorry that I'm magical, but it's who I am and I'm not going to ever apologize for it ever again.

I love Draco, I love my job, and I love magic. I refuse to feel guilty for my love. I hope you can understand.

I've included an invitation to an event that the school I teach at is throwing. I hope that you can be supportive and show up.

Love,

Hermione

I look at my husband and can see that his face is reflective of my own. I'm trying not to cry but I just feel like I've failed as a parent. I hope that she can forgive us.

-Lucius's POV-

Lucius,

You are a knuckle-head.

That was Narcissa and Andromeda. They tell me that when I see you next that I need to knock some sense into you, but I won't take them literally. We already know that I can take you on in a duel. Teddy said he'd like to see that, so maybe we can schedule a practice duel sometime?

I'm sorry that I haven't been by for some time. I didn't mean to take offense to what you said, I just needed time to process. I'll be by next week at our usual time to continue. Please tell me that you finished reading last month's Potion's Monthly and Transfiguration and You. There were a couple of articles that I am most anxious to hear your thoughts on.

Narcissa and Andromeda will be attending the End of Summer Faire and ask me to remind you that your presence is required. I will admit that I'm also requiring you to be there. See you then!

Hermione

I thank Nolly, our house-elf, for giving me the letter and quickly ask for last month's magazines. I have some catch up reading to do.

-Hermione's POV-

I hide backstage so that no one really knows where I am. I don't want to talk to anyone individually. I need to just get everything off my chest. I don't want to continue to hide from everyone – to hide from myself. I'm tired of this. Who cares where I belong. I belong where I want to belong. No one can say where I should be, who I should be with, and what I should do. It's up to me, and I'm done with this. No more weak and broken Hermione. Time to be the Gryffindor that everyone knows me as that I forgot about.

I walk up the main stage and cast Sonorus so that everyone at the festival can hear me. "Hello everyone! I know that some of you have been worried about me, but I want to tell you that, you don't have to anymore. I'm done letting other people think that I'm inferior or weak and needing those around me to defend me and tell me what they think is best." I look around and see that mostly everyone has stopped what they're doing.

Little James is waving at me. I smile.

I look for my parents and find them near Arthur Weasley. Might as well start with them. "Some people think that I don't belong in Muggle World, which is ridiculous. I'm a muggle-born, and damn proud of it. I may be a witch, but for the first eleven years of my life I grew up muggle and I even went to a muggle university just to make those same people happy. You say that I don't belong there if I continue magic, but you know what? I fought in a war! Against people who said I didn't belong in the wizarding world and now you're saying my first home will not even welcome me? And you know what, that's fine. I don't need it; it's not where I belong." I try not to look at my parents any longer. I don't want to cry because they don't deserve my tears. I let a tear slip for the loss of my first home and then I move on.

I find Lucius standing with Narcissa and Andromeda. "There are others who feel that I'm just a reminder of what has been. I'm proof that what they believe no longer holds true. Sure, I'm known as the 'brightest witch of my age' while being muggle-born but that's not who I am. It's a part of me, but it's just that, a part. My role in the war and the battles I fought where just the past. They make me who I am today. But today I am a different person. I am not a reminder of all that you did wrong. The whole me is much more than what you let yourself think. I am more than my battle scars, my NEWT scores, my CV, my friends, my family, my love; I am all of that together. As are you. You are not a death eater anymore. You don't think that anyone besides a pureblood is beneath you. You are made of the love you have for your family. They love you, as do I. I wouldn't be me without you, the you were back then, and the you who you are now. It will do you well to remember that." Lucius is trying to remain stoic. I can see the sheen in his eyes. I feel proud that I almost made the great Lucius Malfoy cry. I don't think many can say they've done that. I try not to chuckle, but I do grin at him. He curtly nods at me and then looks away.

I see the Greengrass family seething with Mrs. Parkinson and Iris. I look them over and search the crowd for any other prejudiced pureblood families. There are quite a few. I just look at each of them for several seconds and then look at the next while I continue, "Then there are you who think that I don't belong in the wizarding world, even after the Second War. Doesn't it mean anything to you that your prejudiced attitude was the reason that so many died? Those who continue to suffer in Azkaban for supporting that same attitude? Including your family and friends? Do you believe in your views enough that you will die for them? That you will subject those you love to The Kiss for them? Does it really mean so much to you that you cannot let those around you have the happiness that they so kindly deserve? Don't you want your own happiness? These follies, plans, and plots against me and those like me, how are they making you happy? I look at you now and I don't see any happiness there. Isn't the point in life to be happy? You're clearly doing something wrong."

Most of these people will not hear a word I'm saying. It's almost pointless. But I wouldn't be me if I did not try.

I start searching for my old classmates: the Patil twins sitting with Dean and Seamus; Professor McGonagall, Flitwick, and Slughorn with Hagrid at a table at the back; the Weasley's at their own table near the front; Luna sitting on Blaise's lap at the table with Neville, Hannah, Susan, and Anthony. "Then there are those who say I deserve better. That I'm just wasting my time. Be it work or relationships. But I implore you, who are you to decide what it is that I deserve? Did you live the life I lived? Were you there when I first taught my neighbor to tie her shoe? Were you there when I made revision tables for me and my closest friends? Were you there to actually do all the studying? Were you there when I left the wizarding world for Muggle University? Were you there to discuss how Romeo & Juliette paralleled your own life? Were you there this summer when I questioned everything that I ever knew about myself? No, you were not there for my whole life, and the only person who can ever decide what it is that I deserve is me. I suggest you get used to that because from this point onward, you –" I look at each of them and then look back at the groups of people I've already mentioned. "and all of you to get in in your thick skulls that anything you say will mean absolutely nothing to me if you continue to question every decision I've made in my life after today."

"And finally, this last decision, which none of you can or will ever sway," I find Draco. He's now standing at the front of the stage looking up at me with so much pride. I love this man and I can't believe I was an idiot to ever think he didn't deserve me. I whisper to him with a smile "I was at Adromeda's." I find her and I smile.

I look for Ginny and Pansy and when I find them they're beaming. Pansy is even giving me double thumbs up. I look back at Draco.

"I may not belong in the muggle world or the wizarding world or with friends or foes. But I know where I belong, and that's with you, Draco. We belong with each other, and no matter where we are, that's where I belong because I'll have you. I love you Draco." He's smiling so big it's sad that he's facing me, no one in the crowd will believe how genuinely happy he looks. Haha! And now to get him where he least expects it. I walk off the stage and grab his hand.

"Will you be mine forever Draco and marry me?"