A/N: So it's been a while. For the last 3 or so years, this story has tormented me, and I would often think about it. When I started it off, it was going to end around here, after she tells him to stay, they were going to have this big amazing sex scene and that was going to be it. But something felt wrong with that, and as I slowed down in the writing process, my life started to change. I started dating a very conservative catholic and got all these ideas in my head about how sex before marriage was super wrong, and that conflicted with my story, and I just didn't know how to end it. I've started writing these next few chapters countless times, only to abandon them because it just didn't feel right. Every time my world views changed, I would go back to this story. Every time I thought I had figured myself out, I would go back to this story. In the end, this story, and the process I went through writing, and rewriting these next few chapters, have really had an impact on me and figuring myself out. I think I'm finally in the right state of mind to be able to finish it, I'm only sorry it took me so long.

All these years I thought I was Hermione, turns out I'm Draco. Enjoy these chapters, they took me a damn long time to write.

Chapter 19 - The Final Chase

"My father is going to Azkaban."

Hermione did not respond right away, she was far too smart for that. He knew that she had very conflicting feelings about this information. She was probably quite relieved in some ways, his father was, after all, a death eater. He had been instrumental in some of her mistreatment as a muggle born, and as a friend of Harry Potter. Above all, in her mind, Lucius Malfoy was a bad man, and in her mind, bad men needed to be punished.

She stared at him, silently, processing all the information in her mind. Calculating her response so that she was honest, but not mean. Were there any good things to be said about Lucius Malfoy in her mind? That thought gave him pause. Were there any good things he could think to say about his own father? Sure, he had fed and housed him, but was that out of love, or because he would be looked down upon if he didn't? All his father's life was about image, all about what the right people thought of him.

"I would say I was sorry, but I'm not." She finally spoke, just loud enough for him to hear.

"I'll get enough empty words, I don't need them from you." He chuckled.

"Bloody bastard deserves it." She growled.

"I agree."

"So what are you going to do about it?"

"Let the bloody bastard hang."

At breakfast, he received a formal letter from the ministry telling him of his father's arrest, and the upcoming trial, at which he was welcome to speak on his father's behalf. The arrest had also made the front page of the Daily Prophet, so the whole school was buzzing with the news. A few Slytherins went as far as to laugh at him.

"He ought to have known better, going to all those meetings with the ministry watching his every move. Aren't the smartest lot, now are they, the Malfoys?" One of the uglier boys in his year, Theodore Nott, sneered at him.

"Yes, well at least I won't be joining my father in jail. I can't say the same for you when your time comes, Nott." Retorted Draco, then approaching the boy "Say what you want about my name, but know that I learn from other's mistakes. I've heard it to be a key element in survival when the going gets tough." He paused to a moment to look the now shaking man-child over "And you lack it. Severely." He whispered, before turning on his heel and leaving the group behind him.

"Up to your old tricks or new ones?" He turned to see Hermione just outside the entrance to the Great Hall, surprising him slightly. She had obviously seen most of what had happened, judging by what she had said and the inquisitive look on her face.

"I assure you, m'lady, I left my old ways back with my ignorance." He smiled at her as he kissed her hand. "Which you, my dear, have thoroughly beat out of me."

She blushed ever so slightly before gathering her wits. "This is cause for rejoice, good sir, as I did find your old ways to be rather revolting." He did not blame her for that, he too found how he used to act, and think to be rather disgusting.

"Oh did you now?" He arched his eyebrow. "I hope you accept my most sincere apologies, one must always strive to please the most beautiful lady in the school, not to mention the most intelligent." He smirked, it was lovely to be able to compliment her like she deserved and get away with it because she thought it was in jest.

"Well then, I guess you'd better go find the most beautiful lady in the school." She smiled cheekily before turning on her heel and running off. He had half the mind to sprint after her and tackle her to the ground. To not let her up until she fully believed she was indeed the most beautiful girl in the whole school. Because any true man knew that beauty was not truly all about looks. No, true beauty came from the inside just as much as it came from the outside, which is why all the girls who spent hours upon hours in front of the mirror perfecting their hair and makeup had nothing on Hermione. She was real, and they were fake.

He started walking towards the library, it was mostly on the way to their common room anyway, which was really the only other place she would go. He entered, and began looking for her, finally finding her in one of the far corners, away from everyone, nose buried in a book. She looked up when she heard his footsteps approaching.

"My reputation proceeds me, I guess. I thought only those Gryffindors close enough to hear Ron and Harry's constant nagging knew how much time I spent in the library." She sighed, obviously frustrated at being so predictable, probably interpreting it as boring. Now it was his turn to sigh, wondering how many males had tried to stamp Hermione's intelligence and thirst for knowledge out of her. How many men wanted to bring her down to their level instead of striving to reach hers.

"Ah, non ma belle, you see, you told me to find the most beautiful lady at our school. But if you recall, I also said she was the most intelligent, so the library was a good place to start." He smiled sweetly at her, meaning every word he said. He saw her eyes widen at his no longer playful tone when he said such things to her.

"Uh... Well... I-er- wish you the best of luck in finding her. The library is an awful lot bigger than most people think." She stammered. The poor girl was obviously nervous, and very unsure of what to do. He sighed once more, inwardly this time, to think that so few had made an advance on her, to leave her so unprepared for this moment.

"Most lack the capacity to... explore like you and I, Miss Granger. They are content with living within the limits those before them set out. Never... testing boundaries, or questioning things that ought to be questioned." He whispered, tentatively approaching her. "However, on this fine occasion, I needn't go to such lengths, as she's right in front of me."

He saw her chest begin to rise and fall with greater speed and irregularity than before. The pulse on her neck had also become visible.

"Me?" She stammered. "You're, er, too kind. Kind of saw that one coming though, with the terribly long lead up and all? Thanks, though, I suppose." Oh, the poor girl, he would teach her to not become shell shocked when someone complimented her. It should not be a rare thing for someone of her caliber to hear the truth about herself. It was disgusting that she had been so mistreated.

"Yes you, Miss Granger. One day, you'll learn how to take a compliment love, even if it kills me."

Thanks for reading, thanks for the people who will randomly follow this story 2+ years after I had stopped writing, and thanks for making me always want to come back.

Always,

Shan :)