A/N: I'm finally back. Sorry for the long delay. My semester has finally ended. I meant to have this up around Thanksgiving but my computer started having issues once again but all is well now. This is the chapter many of you have been waiting for and I'm happy to finally post it. I hope you all enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the following songs I used lyrics from; "Always"-Blink-182, "I'd Do Anything"-Simple Plan, "Every time We Touch"- Cascada, "Stand Inside Your Love"-Smashing Pumpkins, "What I Needed"- Journey.

Chapter 24

The next morning, Hermione and Harry had breakfast together like usual but Hermione was unaware that Harry would soon be leaving. He was due to leave around noon when Dumbledore arrived and still had not gotten around to telling her any of what was about to happen. All throughout breakfast, Harry kept checking the time, wondering when Snape and Draco would arrive.

After their breakfast, the pair moved into the library. Hermione sat in a chair reading a book while Harry sat at the table going over notes from Dumbledore, trying to make sense of all the intelligence gathered so far. At a quarter til noon, there was a knock at the front door. As Harry jumped up to check who it was, Hermione stared after him in alarm. She immediately pulled out her wand and followed behind him.

After checking their identities through questions, Harry opened the door and welcomed the gusts in. Hermione stood at the top of the stairs surprised to watch Snape and Draco enter the house. She made her presence known by descending the stairs and all three of the men turned their attention to her. "Hello Snape. Malfoy," she greeted plainly before turning her attention to her friend. "Harry can I speak with you alone for a moment?"

Harry agreed and followed Hermione into the dining room. She crossed her arms against her chest and asked, "What is this all about? Why are they hear?"

"I'm leaving today with Dumbledore and he should be here shortly. We'll be gone for about a week searching for a horocrux. Snape agreed to come stay here so you wouldn't be alone in case anything bad were to happen."

"So, you couldn't get anyone else to come like perhaps Lupin or Tonks or someone else from the Order we like?"

"Everyone else was busy with other tasks and couldn't spare the time. I'm sorry but Snape would be a good defense," Harry replied. He didn't like Snape being here in his godfather's house and having to lie to Hermione but it was for the best.

And the lie worked. Hermione sighed and uncrossed her arms, "But why didn't Draco tag along?"

"I don't know. I didn't know he would be coming. Is it going to be too much for you for him to be here?"

"No, I'll be fine. It's just a week." Hermione was not completely happy about this current situation. She wanted to see Draco after the letter but she didn't know what to do about it now.

"Alright. I'm going to show them where they can sleep and get ready for Dumbledore." Harry gave Hermione a half smile before leaving the dining room. He returned the entrance hall and found Snape and Draco in the middle of the conversation. Snape immediately hushed Draco when Harry entered. Harry cleared his throat and couldn't believe Snape was going to be here for a week. 'If Sirius could see me now,' he thought. "Let me show you to where you will sleep," Harry said.

Snape only replied with a nod. With his bag, he followed Harry up the stairs with Draco slowly trailing behind him. Harry took them to the master bedroom which had been Sirius' parents' room. "This is the only available room but there is plenty of room in here for two," Harry said as he opened the door. He hadn't bothered cleaning it out nor had Sirius. Kreacher had kept the room clean of dust and cobwebs but the room had been used as a storage room. Snape surveyed the room with an unhappy expression."Excuse the mess. I haven't gotten around to cleaning it out yet."

Snape didn't reply. Just then, the three of them heard a loud 'pop' sound from the first floor. Harry glanced at his watch and realized it was noon. He quickly left the two and hurried downstairs to find Dumbledore talking with Hermione.

"Hello, Professor," Harry greeted.

Dumbledore turned from Hermione to Harry, "Hello to you too, Harry. Are you ready to go?"

Harry accio'd his bag from his room and turned to Hermione. Harry threw his arms around her, "I'll only be gone for a week at the most. If anything happens, message me immediately and I'll be back as soon as I can."

"I'm sure everything will be fine, Harry. I hope you have a safe trip," Hermione said.

Harry pulled away from Hermione and threw his bag over his left shoulder. "I'm ready sir."

"Excellent! Let us be off. We have a long journey ahead of us. Good-bye, Hermione." Dumbledore held put his hand to Harry, who accepted, and they were gone in a second.

Hermione stood in her spot for a moment before glancing up at the second floor where she heard Snape and Draco talking. She wondered what this week was going to be like having Draco around the whole time. She could easily ignore Snape but not Draco. But least she wasn't going to be alone with Draco.

Only if that was true. Just then, Snape descended the stairs with Draco right on his heels. "But Snape, where do you have to be right now?" Draco asked.

"I have something I need to take care of. You'll be fine here by yourself."

"Can't I leave too?"

"Nope, both of you are to remain here. I'm going to lock this house down so neither of you can leave." After he performed the spells, he looked at the two and said, "I'll be back by dinner time." And then he was gone.

Hermione and Draco stood in silence avoiding eye contact. Hermione tapped her foot on the floor and Draco leaned against the stair banister.

"So, did you receive my letter?" Draco finally asked, breaking the awkward silence.

"Yes, I did."

Draco waited for her to continue but that's all she said. "Ok, well I'm going to clean up the room now."

"Alright then." Hermione was going to ask if he needed any help but then decided not too.

Draco made his way back up the stairs and to the bedroom. Once he was gone, Hermione made her way to the library to resume her reading. Draco reached his temporary bedroom and gazed around at all the boxes that were stacked all over the room. He decided to start with the bed first since it was covered with things. He wanted at a least a proper place to sleep. Draco really wanted to talk with Hermione though but she didn't seem to want to talk to him. If this kept up, it was going to be one awkward week.

Snape returned by dinner time like he has said. Kreacher cooked their meal and they all sat at the dining room table in silence. When they were finished, they went their separate ways in the house. Snape went to the library, Hermione went to her room to read, and Draco walked around exploring the house. He found the old fascinating. He went into each room expect for Sirius' room. When he arrived at Hermione's room, which was Regulus' room, and stopped at the closed door. He considering knocking on it to try and talk with her but he couldn't think of anything to say to her.

Draco decided to continue on and went back to his room. Hermione heard footsteps outside her door and knew it was Draco. She paused in her reading and wondered if he was going to knock or not. She waited for him to but she heard him walk away. She felt disappointed that he hadn't knocked. Hermione tried to continue with her reading but hadn't difficulty concentrating. She knew something had to be done about Draco and their relationship. Draco did take the first step in writing the letter and all she had done so far was ignore him. "That's it. Tomorrow I will go speak with him and gets this whole thing over with," she said out loud to herself. There was no use in trying to continue reading, so she marked her place, laid they book on her night stand, and laid in bed trying to formulate what she would say to Draco the next day.

XxX

Hermione awoke the next morning and walked down to the dining room for breakfast. She forgot their was company because she was shocked to find Draco sitting at the table eating. She quickly changed her expression before sitting down. "Morning," she greeted.

Draco glanced up Hermione and greeted her but did a double take on her. Hermione was still in her blue pajamas and her hair was a mess. It took Hermione a moment to wonder why he was trying to laugh at her. She soon realized her appearance was not the best. She closed her eyes, scrunched her face and her hair soon changed to soft waves and free of bedhead. Hermione pretended nothing had happened as she placed a few sausage links and a slice of toast on her plate.

"Is Snape up?" she asked.

"Yes and he's already left for the day. He said he has something important to do again," Draco replied with a hint of irritation.

"So much for him saying here for protection," replied Hermione under her breath but Draco still heard it. But Hermione thought it was probably better Snape was gone for the day. It would be make it easier to talk to Draco.

The two ate the rest of their meal in silence. Just as Hermione had gotten the courage to say something to Draco, he rose from his chair finished with his breakfast. Kreacher entered the room and cleaned up his plate. Hermione cursed herself for not saying something sooner. She quickly finished her breakfast and returned to her room so she could take a fast shower. When she was finished and dried, she dressed into a red v-neck fitted shirt and black pants. After a few minutes of prep talking herself, she exited her room and made her way down the hallway to Draco's room. Once there, she knocked three times on the door and waited.

Draco answered the door a moment later, "Hey, Hermione. What can I do for you?"

"Can we talk? It's important."

Draco stepped back and held the door open for her as she entered. She stood in the room and waited for him to close to door. Draco walked over to the bed and sat down on the foot of it and looked at Hermione. Hermione didn't make eye contact right away and remained standing. Now that she was in the room with him, she had trouble trying to speak.

"What is it that you want to talk about?" Draco asked.

Hermione finally looked at the blond. "It's about your letter," she paused for a moment then continued, "did you mean what you wrote in it?"

"Of course I meant it. I meant every word I wrote in that letter," he responded, "why wouldn't I?"

"I figured you did but I was just making sure." Hermione paused again to get all of her thoughts in order. "For years now I've been missing something in my life. I've been searching for whatever it was but I couldn't seem to get it right. I thought that my incompleteness was from being alone so I tried dating Ron, hoping that would help. I was happy at the beginning but I still had that feeling. I came to the conclusion that I would always feel it...until you. I felt a change in me last December. I admit I was surprised it was you who caused it but I was happy with you. I could and never would go back to Ron and I hate how you thought I did. I don't understand why you thought that. I know I had acted stupid a few days before everything blew up but I was not seeing Ron in secret or anything like that."

Draco listened to everything Hermione said and looked at her the whole time while she was talking. Once she finished, he said, "I should have suspected Ron was up to something and it was all his doing. You are the first girl I have ever had a serious relationship with and I have a lot of feelings for you. Feeling that I have never felt for another girl. I couldn't believe you wanted to be with me after everything I did to you since first year. Whenever I saw Ron around you I got jealous. I shouldn't have but I couldn't control it. When you wouldn't talk to me and tell me what was wrong I got worried. I'm sorry for how I acted. I used to always get my way and I'm still getting used to the fact that everything isn't going to be given to me anymore. You made me see that I could change. You believed in me when I didn't didn't even believe in myself and stood strong. You brought out the best in me but I messed everything up. I'd do anything just to hold you in my arms, to try to make you laugh because I can't put you in the past."

Hermione smiled, You don't have to do anything. All I ask is you'll take me if you want me. I've missed your laugh and your smile. We've been through the good times and the bad. I'm sick of fighting. Let's start this again for real. I want this to last. I need you, Draco, in my life and by my side. You and me are meant to be though it seems impossible. It's destiny. You're everything I want and ask for."

Draco rose from the bed and closed the space in-between them. "Hermione, of course I want you. You're what I need. I've been hiding my true emotions from you but for the first time, I'm telling you how much I need you, Hermione Jane Granger. I love you."

All Hermione could say was, "I love you."

For the third time, their rings lit up but brighter than ever. They ignored them as they embraced each other each and kissed. They had missed this so much. The kiss seemed to last forever but it was merely seconds. They soon separated and gazed at the other. Draco took Hermione's hand in his and gestured to the bed behind him. Hermione slowly nodded her head and allowed him to pull her toward the bed. Hermione laid down on the bed and Draco climbed on top of her where they resumed their previous action. Things started to heat up and Draco pulled away.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied breathlessly.

Draco smiled, "You're about to have the time of your life."

A/N: I admit the last line was little on the cheesy side but I had to have it. I'm going to have the next chapter up in a day or so because I don't want to keep you waiting too long for it. I hope you enjoyed this one. Again, I'm sorry for the delay. I still intend to have this story finished before my Spring semester starts in January so I will be working hard over break to get this done. Until next time, Peace!