A/N1: I decided to split the end into two chapters! If I left it as one ending chapter, then it would have been really long by my normal chapter standards. So now here is part 2 of the end; and what should have been part of chapter 29!

Disclaimer: To give you an idea of when I will own Harry Potter, I must quote 'The Raven' and say NEVERMORE!! Oh and I don't own that poem either!

NOTE: This chapter is dedicated to every single one of my past, present and future reviewers of this story. I can't thank you enough for all the support that you've given me from day one. Now I'm up to 410 reviews and I'm speechless. Thank you all so much! This story wouldn't be the same without all of you guys.

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXDraco and Hermione in the carriageXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

While Hermione was engaged in her mental argument, Draco was watching her and soon got involved in his own mental discussion.

Stop staring at her.

No.

So you like her?

Yes and your point?

Hmm, that was easy to get you to admit, especially after so much denial! What changed?

Well I figured that I might as well get use to the idea of being with her forever...and I've thought a lot about it. It's not so bad. I mean now that we're actually friends I like her a lot more than I thought I would. If you'd have asked me how I'd feel about her a couple of months ago, I'd probably say that I'd loathe her. But I don't. In fact, I was really worried about her when she when she didn't reply for a long time. Then when I got her reply, I felt...concerned for her I guess. And seeing her break down like that in the compartment was certainly an eye opener. I guess lots of things have changed. It's more of a gradual thing, not all at once.

Okay so we've established the fact that you are friends with her, and yet you like her as more and you're completely fine with being soul mates. Now the question is: are you going to do anything about it? Eventually you will, but why not now? If you make a move sooner rather than later, you'll have more time to get to know her even better as a...partner...or soul mate. Friends can only go so far.

I don't know when. I really don't. But I'll figure out something.

Hopefully soon; just because you're soul mates doesn't mean she can't date other people does it? Was there a rule saying that? You just have to live your lives together, but at Hogwarts this year she could start dating the Weasel. Better hurry.

On that note, the carriage pulled up in front of the magnificent castle. Draco held the carriage door open for Hermione and she smiled. "Thanks. I'll see you after the feast. We wait right outside the Great Hall for Dumbledore correct?"

"Yes. I'll see you then." He smiled and walked off to join Blaise and Spencer at the entrance hall. Hermione ran up to Ginny and engulfed her in a hug.

"Hey Ginny! C'mon let's go in. I'm hungry."

"Don't you want to wait for Harry and my brother?"

"No, not really! Let's go." Ginny gave her friend an odd look but willingly followed her to the Gryffindor table. While the sorting seemed to take ages, the feast passed by in a blur for Hermione as she ate and then waited for everyone else to finish eating and talking so Dumbledore would start his beginning-of-term speech. Finally, the plates cleared and the headmaster stood up to make his announcements.

"Good evening and welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I trust you've all had good summers and that you are now well-fed and ready to sleep. So I won't keep you too long. Mr. Filch has updated his list of 'Confiscatable Items' to 589 and it is—as always—posted on his door. He would like me to mention that any and every Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes product is most definitely on the list. The Forest remains, as it always has, strictly out-of-bounds for all students. And as a final note, the head students for this year are Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. Have a good nights' sleep and be sure that you are ready for classes in the morning." With those parting words and a wave of his hand, the mass of students got up and went to their dormitories, except of course for Hermione and Draco.

The headmaster greeted them cheerfully. "Congratulations on your positions." He winked at them conspiratorially, "There was no real competition; you two have always been exemplary students. Now follow me and I will show you to your shared dormitory. We don't normally offer this option and of course you don't need to feel obligated to use it, you can always just room with your house. Would either of you prefer to do that instead?" Both shook their heads.

"Splendid. I can see we are already on our way to house unity!" When Dumbledore turned around, Hermione and Draco rolled their eyes at each other. He really wanted house unity, didn't he?

After a few minutes of walking, Dumbledore stopped them in front of a portrait of a small cottage with flowers surrounding it. There were three children riding on multi-colored unicorns right outside the cottage. The oldest looked to be about sixteen years old; she had deep brown eyes and caramel colored hair down to the middle of her back that was pin-straight and made Hermione instantly jealous, and she was riding a purple unicorn that was—for some odd reason—wearing scuba diving gear and yelling something about a swarm of poisonous fugoo fish, whatever those were. Next there was a boy who looked about sixteen also, and like he could be the fraternal brother of the first teenager. He had curly dark brown hair with smoky grey eyes and was riding a unicorn that matched his eyes. And the littlest child, she looked to be about three years old, was riding a pink unicorn; she had platinum curls and the most startling blue eyes. Hermione looked intrigued at the children in the picture and smiled wryly when she realized who they were supposed to be. Draco however, didn't seem to catch on and Hermione sure wasn't going to be the one to tell him.

"The password for your portrait is 'Choo Choo Shoe'. Feel free to discuss it and change it later. Just make sure that both of you agree and are aware of when the password is changed. You two will be in charge of the prefects' patrolling partners, schedule and areas." He handed them a list of the 6th and 7th year prefects. "And every night the two of you will patrol together from 8pm to 10pm starting tomorrow. Any questions?"

"No sir." Hermione answered for the both of them.

"Very good. Oh and I before I forget to mention, you and a staff of students I will leave up to your discretion, will be organizing and hosting our annual Yule Ball." Hermione's face lit up, and Draco stayed indifferent. "Goodnight Mr. Malfoy and Miss Granger."

"Goodnight Headmaster." They chorused before turning to their new portrait hole.

"Choo Choo Shoe." Hermione said hesitantly, not quite sure who in the portrait to address. The pink and purple unicorns began to chant: "Chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga; chugga, chugga, chugga, chugga sho-ooe, sho-ooe!" The portrait swung open and the two entered. Once the door shut behind them they laughed nervously.

"I think that the unicorns are neurotic, well at least the pink and purple ones are. We should change the password really soon." Hermione nodded in agreement.

"Hey, do you want to make the prefects chart right now or tomorrow morning?" Draco asked Hermione in a nonchalant tone.

"Why don't we do them now? I'm not really that tired."

"Great!" Draco grinned enthusiastically. Hermione looked unsure of why he was so happy to do work, but she went along with it. Happiness and excitement could be contagious. They sat next to each other on the beige couch in what could be deemed their 'living room' area and they looked over the prefects list.

6th years

Ravenclaws: Elaine and Eric

Hufflepuffs: Marie and Ian

Gryffindor: Ginny and Colin

Slytherins: Lola and Jake

7th years:

Ravenclaws: Alyssa and Oliver

Hufflepuffs: Hannah and Mike

Gryffindors: Sarah and Aaron

Slytherins: Spencer and Blaise

Hermione giggled outright at the names on the list. "Most of the people are paired up in couples!" Draco looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Look at the list! Elaine is dating Eric, Marie is dating Ian, Aaron is planning on asking Sarah out tomorrow, Lola and Jake are together, and Alyssa and Oliver are possibly the cutest couple ever! They've been together since the end of last year! Hannah and Mike are meant to be, Spencer and Blaise, well duh! And Ginny and Colin are the only two on there that are paired together and not a couple. Okay, so we can not have the couples patrol together no matter what." Hermione declared.

"Why not?" Hermione gave Draco an incredulous look.

"Are you serious? If we have couples patrolling together, do you really think that they will do anything but snog each other senseless?" Draco flushed.

"You bring up a fair point. So then who do we pair up with whom?"

"Hmm, well Ginny and Colin can stay the same. For everyone else we will just separate them from their significant other and put them with someone of the opposite gender to prevent any infidelity. Hopefully it will prevent infidelity anyway..." Hermione trailed off looking slightly sickened at the thought of what would happen if it didn't.

"Why are there 7th year prefects instead of 5th year? I remember that in our 5th year we were prefects and the only 7th years were the head students." Draco wondered aloud.

"I don't know. Maybe it was because...no, I don't know. It doesn't matter though; this will be fun. Most of my friends are on this list!! We will make a great ball committee!" Once they had the prefect list re-organized Hermione decided that she wanted to read. Excusing herself for a moment, she went to go get a book from her suitcase. Looking at her collection, she caught a glimpse of Eclipse. Perfect! She thought. The next book is coming out in four days—technically three if I was going to the midnight release—so I'd better start re-reading the series; even though I didn't forget anything. Hermione grabbed her book and headed back to where she had left Draco. In her absence, he too had gotten a book and was sitting on the couch reading. She smiled; she hadn't expected him to join her. It was a nice change. I could get used to this. It's quiet and he's reading with me! Not distracting me. In the Gryffindor common room it was never quiet and nobody would ever read with me! They—especially Harry, Ron and Ginny—always distracted me and insisted that I put my book down. This is definitely a nice change. Hermione sat down next to Draco and began reading about Bella and Edward.

After a couple of minutes of reading, Hermione noticed out of the corner of her eye that Draco had stopped reading and had set the book upside-down on his lap. Maybe he's asleep... Hermione chanced a glance at him only to find that she was wrong, he wasn't asleep. Instead he was staring at her, his grey eyes smoldering and for some reason, making her feel weak in the knees. I wonder if this is how Bella feels when Edward does that thing with his eyes. If it is, I don't blame her for falling in love with him. Wait—what am I thinking; and more importantly, what is he doing?

Draco slowly inched his face forwards, until they were inches apart and their breath mingled. He reached a hand out and slowly caressed her cheek; Hermione was absolutely frozen to her seat, not moving closer nor was she moving away. She closed her eyes and waited for him to either spring away from her or to kiss her. He chose the latter option. His lips were soft and sweet on hers, just like the gentle kiss he left there. Hermione opened her eyes and saw him still watching her, waiting for a reaction that he could measure. The look in her eyes she hoped was completely unreadable and inscrutable. She thought it worked, for as the clock kept ticking, she could see Draco start to display signs of being nervous.

Deciding to put the poor boy out of his misery, Hermione leaned forward and entwined her arms around his neck and kissed him again, this time slightly parting her lips when he ran his tongue across them. Yeah, I could get used to this too. She grinned internally as his arms secured her waist and as their lips continued to mesh. Soul mates, eh? Well Mrs. Hermione Malfoy doesn't sound that bad after all.

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Are you Twilight fanatics out there as excited as me for the next book? WHOOO!!

A/N2: Did you like it? Was it cute? Lame? Cliché? Perfect? Awesome? Tell me!

Next will be the epilogue—if you guys want one. Should I write an epilogue? Review and tell me! Reviewer 420 gets a one-shot dedicated to/written for them added to Bittersweet Lullabies.

Lovelove, Amanda

AGAIN: Are you Twilight fanatics out there as excited as me for the next book?