The day of the funerals was unbearably hard for all of us. We all watched as the caskets were lowered, we all listened as the words were spoken and we all leaned on each other for support. It didn't matter, nothing helped. The wound was too new and too raw to be closed that easily or soon. We all dropped flowers and I stood next to Draco as he dropped a single flower on top of Blaise's casket. It was a black rose.

"I'm not sure what to do with myself," he told me as a single tear slipped from his impossibly blue eyes. "He was a good friend."

I knew that nothing I could say in that moment would be enough. Rather than attempting to soothe him with words I wrapped my arms around him and leaned into him. In the moment that was my comfort for him. When everything was said and done we all went inside to mill about in the Great Hall. There was food set around in case anyone was hungry, though nobody was moving towards it. Dumbledore's podium was set up in case anyone wanted to say anything publicly.

Draco and I stood away from the crowd, just talking. At first people avoided us like the plague; nobody quite understood his role in the war, and everyone was still wary of his alliances. Gradually though, people started to float over and speak to us. At first they only talked to me and somewhat distantly acknowledged Draco's presence, but first the Weasleys and then Seamus' family thanked him for what he'd done, and slowly but surely people seemed to realize it was okay to talk to both of us. The Patil twins' parents were moving away to talk to Dumbledore when Ron walked up with Harry and Ginny. The look that passed between Padma's mother and Ron made my heart ache; in that moment in Ron's eyes I could see a true manifestation of anguish and pain. The Patil family moved on and the Weasleys and Harry came to stand with Draco and me.

"Hi," Ginny managed weakly.

It was the first time I'd seen her since my encounter with Lucius and I hugged her tightly. "Hi." I pulled away and looked into her eyes shining with tears. "We'll talk," I said.

She nodded. "Yes." She stepped back and Harry immediately took her into his arms.

"I don't think we've really thanked you properly for everything you've done, Mal… Sorry, Draco," Ron said. "If it hadn't been for you I hate to think what would have happened."

"Ron's right, what you did for Ginny and Hermione, it means more than you'll ever know," Harry told him, and I saw Ginny squeeze his hand.

Draco shook his head. "I only did what was right. No woman should be violated that way, and any bastard who tries deserves whatever he gets. Plus I wasn't about to let anything happen to Hermione or anyone she loves." He said sincerely, turning to drop a kiss on my forehead.

"Thank you Draco," Ginny whispered.

He nodded. "You're welcome Ginny."

They stayed to talk for a moment and then Harry was called away by one of the professors and Ginny and Ron went to find their family. As they walked away I felt something grip my heart and I looked up at Draco. "I'll be right back." Running, I caught up with them and asked to speak with Ron.

"Are you okay Hermione?" he asked.

I shook my head. "Not yet, but I think I will be in time. I wanted to see how you're doing."

He took a shuddering breath. "I'm doing…" He paused and shook his head. "I can't stop thinking about her, Hermione. I saw her die, and there was nothing I could do."

"I'm so sorry Ron."

"I was going to ask her to marry me, if we got through it. I had the ring and everything. I guess I know now that it's never wise to hope too much." He said, his blue eyes shining with unshed tears.

I shook my head. "Ron, you couldn't have known. It's always better to hope, its hope that keeps us alive."

He nodded. "You're right, I know you are. We all knew the risks; I just never imagined it would be her. But I'll be okay eventually, just like you."

I hugged him tightly and when we pulled apart he managed a small smile. "You're happy with him aren't you?" He asked.

I nodded with a grin. "The happiest I've been in a long time."

"Then hold on to him."

I nodded and watched him as he went to his parents. I waved at Mrs. Weasley then went back to Draco. I must have had some kind of strange look on my face because he turned his head to one side and regarded me curiously.

"Everything okay?" he asked.

I went into his arms and pressed my hands against his back. "Just wondering at Ron's new found wisdom, and thinking how sad it is that it had to be brought on by the death of someone he loved. He was going to marry her, Draco."

He let out a hard breath and held me closer. "How can he stand it?"

"I'm beginning to realize that he is much stronger than I ever could have imagined."

Later in the night a hushed silence fell as Dumbledore stepped up to the podium to speak. "We're here today to mourn, and to celebrate the lives of those who died in their efforts to rid our world of the poison of Lord Voldemort and his followers. Though it is a small comfort, their families should be proud of the knowledge that their loved ones died for such a noble cause. At this time I would like to take a moment to acknowledge two young men who were essential to the downfall of Lord Voldemort."

Everyone looked around slightly confused. They all knew that Dumbledore referred to Harry, but they weren't sure who the other young man was. I knew immediately, and my heart caught in my throat. "Oh," I whispered.

Dumbledore continued. "Harry Potter has defeated Voldemort countless times in the past, and it was he who was ultimately responsible for his final demise. And Draco Malfoy…" Whispers rose from the crowd; apparently nobody realized what an integral part Draco had played in Voldemort's downfall. "Mr. Malfoy made the choice to take the dangerous job of spy. The information he was able to give us allowed our forces to adequately prepare and break through the Death Eaters' defenses. Would Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy please join me at the podium?"

Ginny slid up next to me as Draco and Harry walked up to the front of the hall together. She linked her arm with mine. "They look wonderful don't they?" she asked proudly.

"They really do," I said, fighting back tears. We both looked up again as Dumbledore began to speak again.

"Both of these young men will be invested with the highest honors of the Wizarding world," he said, eyes twinkling.

A roar of cheering and applause rose up and both Harry and Draco looked both happy and embarrassed as they walked back towards us. Ginny and I both hugged each of them and Harry was almost immediately pulled away. Draco saw a surge of people coming towards us and his eyes widened. With a look of distress he took my hand and rushed us both away before they could reach us. When we were safe in the entryway, away from the people he leaned against the wall and breathed a sigh of relief.

I folded my arms against my chest and tried to suppress a smile. "You're not comfortable with all this attention are you?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm not. I could tell you almost word for word the questions they're going to ask. 'Do you have the Dark Mark?' 'Can I see it?' 'How could you betray your entire family?' 'How could you kill your father?' I'm a sideshow, and I understand that, but I'm not ready to answer those questions."

"I understand." I frowned. "Let's not go back in there."

"Thank God." I squealed as he pulled me into his arms. "I was hoping you'd say that."

I laughed and kissed him soundly. "Let's find somewhere to hide."

A few days later classes had resumed so that we could finish the year relatively close to when we should have. Once again I had started spending a great deal of time in the library, and it was there that Ginny found me just before closing one night.

"You managed to give Harry the slip?" I asked with a smile.

She sat down and heaved a sigh. "I love him, and I appreciate his concern, but it's like he's afraid I'll break. You should know. Draco seems like he's terrified to leave you alone."

I nodded. "He is. He's still so haunted by the fact that he killed his father."

"I was just wondering if you'd like to have that talk now."

"I would, yes."

There was an awkward pause. "I don't know how to start a conversation like this," she said, shaking her head.

"It's hard to know where to start, but it's comforting to know that there's someone who understands."

She nodded and let her head fall. When she raised it again her eyes, in that moment so like Ron's, were filled with tears. "It was so frightening Hermione. He was so much bigger than me, and even though I fought I couldn't get free. I kept screaming for Harry and Ron but I knew neither of them could get to me. I was so terrified that…"

She trailed off and I took her hand in mine. "I know. In the end I was so sure that there was nothing else I could do. All I could do was fight and scream."

"It seems like Draco is our own private savior. I owe him more than I can ever express."

"I do as well. He was so angry and so afraid for me. Lucius was cruel, he wanted me to be a lesson, but Draco was only concerned for me. He saved me from something worse than death." The conversation paused and suddenly it was as if the clouds opened and light poured into me. My heart clenched painfully once then opened and filled to bursting. "Oh God," I gasped.

"Hermione are you okay?" Ginny asked her voice full of concern.

I shook my head and pressed my hand to my heart. "Oh God, God I'm in love with him." I whispered.

She looked at me with wide eyes. "Hermione are you sure? It's only been a few months."

"How did you know it was Harry?" I asked.

"I just knew. It snuck up on me and in an instant I knew he was it for me."

"That's how I feel, in this instant. I feel like… I don't know that I can describe it. I just know."

Ginny nodded. "Then it's right."

That night the two of us talked for hours. When we were kicked out of the library we went to Gryffindor tower and it was well into the early morning before we both drifted off. The next morning I met Draco at breakfast with a smile on my face.

"Having a good morning?" he asked.

I nodded. "I am. Ginny and I talked last night."

"Good. Are you going to be okay?"

"Everybody keeps asking me that," I said, shaking my head. "It's going to take some time, but I will be."

He gathered me in his arms and kissed me softly. "Good."