CHAPTER 12

I could make you happy

Make your dreams come true

Nothing that I wouldn't do

Go to the ends

Of the Earth for you

to make you feel my love

Adele - Make you feel my love

"No!" But it was too late he was gone.

Hermione stood rooted to the ground, she took a deep breath and apparated with a crack.

When she opened her eyes she was in Draco's room. "Draco?" She took a few hesitant steps around the room. "Draco?" She repeated again.

Guess he's not here. She sat down on his bed and started to speak, as if he were around.

"Draco, you might never hear this but I do want to be with you. I'm not ashamed of being with you don't get me wrong. The reason for not telling Harry and Ron about you was because of our history. All of our history Draco. Give me a little more time I'll tell them. And I love you.. I know you can't hear this but hopefully you can feel it when I'm with you."

She stood up and left with a pop.

A silent blonde slid out of his hiding place and stared at the spot where the love of his life had left.

He had a decision to make.

When Hermione was back at her office, she was met with two very anxious and angry young men.

"Where the hell were you Hermione! We got so worried, I thought someone had attacked you and took you away!" Harry Potter was having one of his post-war anxiety again and Ron was just Ron. "Exactly 'Mione! I was pounding on the door for forever until Harry remembered we were wizards and used his wand to open the door. Why did you lock it in the first place?"

Hermione took a deep breath again, tonight was just too much for her. Her mind was filled with Draco and what she had promised him. So she took another breath and lied. "I went back home to check on Crookshanks first, I need to feed him before I could meet up with you guys. You know how hungry that cat is and I doubt we'll be heading home early. Sorry to make you guys worry I should have said something. Anyway let's go now! I'm in desperate need of a drink right now."

And with that she whisked her best friends off arm in arm, away into their favourite bar.

The bar was crowded but they managed to find seats at a corner where it wasn't as rowdy. Hermione took the initiative to order drinks for everyone before seating down. She wanted no interruption for what she was going to tell them. Harry could sense the tension in his best friend when she gulped down her drink in one shot and kept tapping her fingers on the wooden table. A habit of hers that existed since third year.

"Hermione, is something wrong?" He was concerned now. Immediately his Auror-trained mind went to what Ginny had said about a guy that was currently involved with Hermione.

Hermione looked at her best friends and decided it was now or never. "Harry, Ron I need to tell you something- "

"Hi Potter,Weasley. May I join you guys?" Draco Malfoy stood behind Hermione, she never saw him walking over, and guessing from the shocked faces of Harry and Ron they didn't see him coming either.

He laid a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her as she looked up. He then decided to sit down anyway, much to the disgust of Ron.

"Get your hands off her Malfoy, and what the hell are you doing here?" He was in shocked to see the level of closeness between Malfoy and Hermione.

Draco wanted to retort back with something condescending but thought better of it since he was only here for Hermione. She was right, all of their history together in Hogwarts was indeed hard to ignore even with the current situation with Hermione.

He looked at her again and saw that her eyes were full of gratitude that he was here. She had almost wanted to do it alone, fully knowing that she would get a ear lash from her best friends. So that did it for him. He took Hermione's hand and placed it on the table.

"Potter, Weasley. The War has been over for six years now, we've all moved on and grown up. I am no longer the bastard that used to torment you guys for fun nor am I the ignorant son of a Death Eater. Blood purity is nothing but rubbish to me now. I have changed for the better and even more so after I've met Hermione. We've become friends over time and even though I had feelings for her at the beginning I had unfortunately ignored them in order to pursue another woman. It took no it wasted a few weeks of my life being with this woman to realise that it was Hermione that resided in my heart all along. So what I am requesting from you, Potter and Weasley is that you would give us your approval. Even if you don't, I would not back away from Hermione for I really want to be with her. Believe it or not, I do love her. And I know that she loves me too, if not she would not have cared for me to the extent that she did and for that I am extremely grateful for her in my life. I will not lose her." He said it all in one breath and by the end of it he was sure that Potter and Weasley looked almost ready to faint. He was looking at the both of them now, grey eyes full of fire and vigor. He felt a squeeze in his hands and saw Hermione smiling with tears in her eyes. She leaned closer and kiss him on the lips, "Thank you Draco." She was glad that he didn't mention the arrangement, it didn't matter now that their feelings were known for each other.

Harry and Ron were speechless. Is this Malfoy? Hermione and Malfoy? How did this happened?

"What happened when we were gone Hermione. Oh gods you and Malfoy?" Harry frowned and massaged his temples. He wasn't asking a question, it was more like a thought out-loud.

"How do I know you're not using her Malfoy? How do we trust we after all you've done to us huh?" Ron's voice was rising but surprising he wasn't angry. He was almost touched that Malfoy had spoken about Hermione in this way. He would have never expected this to come out from his mouth. The famous Slytherin Prince had changed.

"I assure you that I mean her no harm. It would be the last thing that I would do. I give you my word Weasley." Draco replied with so much sincerity that the redhead was almost convinced that he had actually meant what he said.

"I still don't trust you but if Hermione trusts you then I trust her judgement. But if you hurt her I'll - " Ron raised a fist as if to accentuate his point.

"I'll kill myself for you. I promise." Draco finished it off for him.

Hermione looked at her two best friends nervously, noticing that they haven't fought or broke into a heated argument with Draco.

"So does this mean that you guys approve of us?" She said softly.

Harry looked at Ron and vice-versa. Then he looked back at Malfoy, slowly, he extended a hand. "I second what Ron said if you were to ever hurt her Malfoy."

Draco smirked, "And I know that your threats should be taken seriously Potter." He stood up and took his hand into a handshake. "I promise you that I will take care of Hermione with my life." And he smiled, a genuine smile at his ex-enemy. After shaking Potter's hand, he moved on to Weasley. Ron looked at it suspiciously before take a quick glance at Hermione. "This is for you 'Mione. I really want you to be happy." And he shook his hand. Hermione burst into tears and stood up, hugging Ron, then Harry.

"Thank you guys, it means so much to me that you approve of me and Draco." Harry wiped away the tears that had fallen out of her big brown eyes, "Does he make you happy Hermione?" He whispered when Hermione was still hugging him. She pulled away and replied, "I can't give you an answer now Harry. This is only the beginning for us. But I know even so, he's the only one that fits me perfectly. The only one that can keep my heart beating. And that's enough for me." Harry Potter smiled at his best friend, glad that she had finally found someone, albeit it being Malfoy but nevertheless he had never seen her so happy. "Then that's good enough for me too."

Draco watched the exchange between Potter and Hermione, jealous that they could be so close with one another when he felt a nudge at his side.

"So Malfoy, what are you getting for Hermione next week?" Ron asked casually as he sipped his drink.

"Next week?" What's going on next week?

"It's her frigging birthday you git. All those love that you just professed to us and you don't even know her birthday? I'm starting to doubt your love for her Malfoy."

AN:

Roseweasely85: Thank you for reading and reviewing :)

shaymars: Thank you for the reviews! Hope this chapter didn't disappoint!

Okay guys so you kinda know where the story is heading, hope you liked what you've read so far!