A/N: Alright so this is gonna be the last chapter. Until after the Seventh Movie comes out. BUTTT! if i get ten more reviews between then and now, i might update sooner. Trust me, you'll want to review after this chapter... call me evil and i'll answer... ;)

Thank you to for reviewing. and trust me I will never ignore reviews :)

Also thank you to anonymous for reviewing. i would acknowledge you but you didn't have a name :( and i didn't even think about Cedric. I was thinking either neville or one of the twins. :)

Please review unless you want to wait until July 15. and it might be later, because the next chapter is gonna be a big one and i'm going to the midnight showing and i have a job that's only on the weekends... so ya. :) Here's the chapter. Hate me all you want.

Chapter Six

The Morning After

It had been amazing. The whole night had been absolutely perfect. And nothing could have changed how Hermione now felt about Draco. Or at least that's what Hermione thought the morning after the Yule Ball.

Here's the run down of what had happened at the Yule Ball:

George and Angelina Johnson went together and probably had the best time. Towards the end they pulled this hilarious prank on their brother Ron who had the gall to turn up and accuse his sister Ginny of fraternizing with the enemy.

Ginny had gone with Viktor Krum who apparently really liked her. They danced the night away, and ignored Ron.

Cassie had gone with Fred. While Fred had danced a small dance with Hermione, Draco and Cassie had danced together. It wasn't weird for them. Their parents had both made them go through ball room dancing lessons when they were younger and they were used to dancing together.

Plus they were really good at dancing and they enjoyed having another partner who was as advanced as them.

Harry had gone with Victoria, he had hung out with her quite a lot during the first few months of school and had liked her quite a bit.

Overall the night went very well and the whole dance thing was a great way to start off the Holidays.

The next morning was rough for everyone. Most had to wake up early to get on the train to leave, and those who weren't leaving were woken up by those that were. Draco and Cassie were staying behind because they knew of the parties that would be held and how tired they would be. Plus, things were going on at their house that they didn't want to be around.

As the few that remained finally filed down to breakfast, almost no noise was heard. There were groans here and there, and some first years that talked loudly. But with a small glare from a sixth year, their mouths were nearly glued shut for the rest of breakfast. The fact that the sixth years knew wordless magic was just a side fact.

The previous night so many parties had been going on, no one had been to just one party. Hermione herself had gone to a party from every House and even a few parties held by other people in various places. The teachers and Filch had attempted to close down every single party, however, with Harry's map, Hermione, Draco, Cassie, Victoria, Ginny and Harry had been able to avoid the teachers and help close down parties before the teachers got there and get them started up again.

Cassie watched as everyone moved slowly and silently around places. She loved watching people and the way they acted. She loved knowing what people were thinking and how they reacted to certain things. But she never could have imagined what would happen next.

As usual the owls came early in the morning to deliver the letters and news to their respective students. Cassie watched as her brother got a letter and saw as he frowned in response to the letter.

He handed the letter to Cassie, and then got up haughtily from the table and left the Hall, definitely fuming. Cassie read it, and immediately crunched it up and disintegrated it with her wand. She then realized that her brother had removed himself from the Great Hall, and got up to run after him.

It took Hermione a few minutes to realize what had happened. By the time she realized that Draco might be in a bad mood, it was too late to go after him. There was no way she would find him and help calm him down. Cassie was after him, so it was taken care of pretty much. Or she hoped it was taken care of.

Cassie followed her brother, attempting to catch up with him and talk to him about what was in that letter. This was really going to upset Draco, but if he made it much farther without her catching up, he would be lost forever.

Cassie saw him round the corner ahead of her and ran to catch up with him. She had to help him with this. He was probably going to do something very stupid, and she didn't want to think about those consequences.

But as soon as Cassie turned the corner that her brother had gone around, there was nothing but an empty wall. So this was the opening to the Slytherin dorms. And being a Gryffindor, Cassie wasn't allowed in the Slytherin House Common Room, or even down here. Cassie rolled her eyes and sighed, she knew this was going to end badly.

Cassie hates to admit it, but she is nosy and loves listening to fights and finding out what people are fighting about. So when she heard the yelling, she just had to stay and find out what was going on. Especially when she heard her brother's voice above all.

"How could you have done this? I thought you loved me? I thought that we had an understanding that you can do whatever you like with that your stupid sluts on the side, but how could you lie to me like this, then have this happen? WHY DRACO?" Some girl screamed at the top of her lungs. Cassie disliked this girl already. She didn't seem like the kind that was right for Draco at all.

"What are you talking about? I never had an understanding with you! I don't even like you! I never have! And what do you mean how could I have done this? I asked a girl I like, a girl I really like to the Yule Ball, and had a good time with you. And you decide it's your duty to go and tell my parents? WHAT THE FUCK WOULD YOU MAKE YOU THINK I WOULD EVEN REMOTELY RESPECT YOU AFTER THAT?" Draco bellowed at the girl. Cassie finally understood what was going on. Whoever this was, it was the girl that had told their parents about Draco's what they claimed affair with a Mudblood.

"Drakie, we are supposed to be getting married after school. And nothing that stupid mudblood does will change that. You got that Draco Abraxas Malfoy?" Cassie heard this and was infuriated. How dare that bimbo insult her best friend! Whoever that whore was, she was definitely not worth Draco's time or even deserving of his inheritance.

Suddenly Cassie couldn't hear anything. She knew that whoever the bimbo was, she was speaking in low tones. Cassie decided it wasn't going to be worth it to get caught and she should probably get away from the Slytherin dungeons when it was very likely two Slytherins were going to be coming out of that place. She finally walked away from the wall, and away to the Great Hall.

Hermione had walked up to the Tower soon after Cassie and Draco had run off. She didn't care what they did, she just wanted to sit up at the highest point at Hogwarts and think about last night and what it would mean.

Draco had been the most amazing date ever. He was a good dancer, and an amazing kisser. She wondered what it would mean now that this had happened. Would they be in a relationship? Or would they just continue on as friends and continue to grow as friends? Hermione wasn't sure. She had never really done this before.

She was really hoping that he would actually ask her to be his girlfriend. She liked him, and she was pretty sure that he liked her, too.

Hermione stared out over the Grounds and just relaxed as the sun shone out over the lake. It was beautiful. She listened as the nature before her sang it's song. The rustling of the trees, the birds chirping happily in the morning, the lapping of the water on the shore. She closed her eyes and disappeared into the beauty of the world.

For the longest time she sat there, allowing her mind to run free and wake up the proper way. She didn't need coffee or Advil or even anti Hangover potions. She had the morning air to clear her mind of all the alcohol. And it worked just fine.

When she finally opened her eyes again, she found herself perched on a railing close to the edge of the Tower. she took a small gasp then calmed down a bit. This wasn't where she had been when she'd closed her eyes. She smiled as she saw the view beneath her. It was breath taking.

It was pretty much the same as before, but she was super high up, and the people below were staring up at her, some scared that she was gonna jump, some weirded out because they were still suffering from their hangovers.

Hermione smiled, and climbed off of the railing. As she turned around, she noticed she wasn't the only one up here. Cassie stood towards the back of the Tower, her face sad and slightly angry. She looked like she was waiting to find out whether Hermione was in a good enough mood or not. Apparently Cassie thought so, because she stepped forward and cleared her throat.

"Hermione, I have to talk to you about something." Cassie started out, but was interrupted when giggling could be heard from the staircase just a few feet away. Cassie made to go close the door, when Hermione shook her head. She had recognized Pansy Parkinson's voice and knew that whatever she had to say was gossip. Hermione wasn't into gossip, but knew it had to be good. It was the day after the Yule Ball for Merlin's sake.

"And then, this morning he just walked into my room and woke my up with a good fuck. It was amazing." Pansy started out with.

"Wait, wait... you and Draco are back together? That's so good. You are such a cute couple, Pansy."

"I know. And his parents actually approve of me."

"Wait, so what was he doing with the Mudblood last night at the ball?"

"Oh, he lost a bet. He apologized furiously this morning for his affair with her. He said that he just couldn't get out of it. Drakie said he really wanted to go with me, but a bet is a bet."

"And how was the sex? As good as they say?"

"Even better. Though, I do admit, he smelled a little weird. I think it was the mudblood. If memory serves that whore was all over him last night."

At this Cassie couldn't take anymore. She took a few strides across the Tower room, and opened the door, slamming it shut behind her. Hermione heard yells and arguing. She looked at the door, and smiled a sad smile. She walked across to the railing, and put one leg over then the other. She clung to the railing with her arms behind her.

She listened to the chirping birds, and the rustling trees, and the lapping water. She knew the circle of life and understood it well.

Hermione closed her eyes and allowed herself to become immersed in the nature around her. And as the ground rushed at her, she imagined what she might become in the next life.

Review. Just don't kill me. See you after the End. :) Unless you review :)