Yes, I know that I am completely horrible for not updating sooner! ...And I'm pretty sure that this is the last chapter- although I haven't decided whether or not to do a sequel. At the very least, I will do an epilogue though...
The wind had a chill to it as it whipped around the young couple. Being the second week of March, the winter snow had melted, yet, surprisingly, it left no mud in its wake. Hermione shivered as another gust of air blew her hair. She felt an arm snake around her shoulders to warm her.
"Thank you."
"It is no problem, mein Engel."
Hermione smiled at Adelino; he really wasn't a horrible person like his parents. She had actually thought he might let her out of the Binding Contract, but it seemed tradition overruled kindness. She really was trying to like Adelino; she didn't want to marry someone she hated.
Hermione sighed as they continued their walk. He is nice I suppose… I wouldn't have chosen him for myself, but he does make it hard not to like him…
Her relationship with Adelino, she determined, would progress slowly and they wouldn't marry until she was ready. Since Adelino was already quite smitten with her, he had no protests against her need to wait. They had, however, shared a single kiss that had greatly rivaled all of her kisses with Draco; it seemed that deep down, Hermione and Adelino had some sparks.
Adelino paused to hold open the wrought iron gate for Hermione to enter the cemetery. She hesitated before moving forward.
Hermione swallowed the lump in her throat and helped Adelino search the rows of headstones for her parents' names. It had been Harry's idea for Hermione to venture into the cemetery; he had visited Godric's Hallow during Christmas Break.
After what seemed like ages, Adelino called out that he had found them.
She tried to hold them back, but as soon as she saw the surname 'Granger,' the tears flowed freely down her cheeks. This was the first time since leaving for school that she was able to see her parents and they were six feet below her.
Adelino looked uncomfortable as he watched Hermione conjure roses to place on the headstones. Being raised a gentleman, he waited until she was finished paying respects to say anything. "May we be going now?"
She looked at him, shocked. "These are my parents!"
He cleared his throat. "Well, they were your adoptive parents. I should think that you would want to pay respect to your real parents."
"These… They were my real parents! They raised me; that makes them my real parents!" How can he say that!? Are 'Purebloods' that prejudiced against Muggles!? "Wait- what did you just say!?" Hermione's eyes were brightened as they puzzle pieces began fitting together.
Adelino tilted his head to the side and looked at her. He had never raised his voice at her and he didn't want to start now. "You're a 'Pureblood' and you need to start acting like it. These people were Muggles and are therefore beneath you."
She wasn't listening to him. My adoptive parents… Could it really be that simple!? How could we not have seen this!? "I- Goodbye!" And she Apparated without a moment's delay.
"Martha!" Hermione ran through the hall of the business building, looking for the office she had only visited once before. "Martha!"
Finally, she found the open door and raced in. The older witch was startled by Hermione's sudden presence and fell from her chair, scattering legal papers everywhere. "Oh, Miss Granger!"
"Martha!" Hermione rushed to help her up. "Martha, I'm adopted!"
"I- Miss Granger, I don't follow…"
"I'm adopted! The Grangers were my legal guardians! The moment the adoption went through, the Binding Contract should have been voided!"
"I-" Realization slowly flooded the lawyer's face. "It's so simple…"
"Yes, I don't know how Draco never thought of it!" Draco… I've got to see him! "Can we test it?"
"Yes, yes here!" Martha thrust the copy into Hermione's outstretched hands. "Now, you must firmly state your reason for voiding the contract, and we should be able to tell immediately if it works."
Hermione took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "I, Hermione Jean Granger, declare this contract to be voided. The Gryffindors are no longer my legal guardians, therefore they cannot promise me to be married."
The paper in her hands began to flutter. Hermione opened her eyes to see it tear into hundreds of paper butterflies. They flew around her before soaring into the raging fireplace.
"Congratulations Miss Granger!"
Hermione couldn't believe what had just happened. After months of work- mostly by Draco- she was finally free! A smile broke across her face.
"I have to see Draco!" She ran from the room, leaving Martha smiling after her.
Hermione coughed as the green flames around her disappeared; she was back in the Heads' Tower. She crossed the room in quick strides and flung open Draco's bedroom door. "Oh!" She jumped back in surprise as she came face-to-face with Harry and Ginny.
"Hermione?"
She threw her arms around Ginny. "I did it! I broke the contract!"
They looked at her, shock written on their faces. "So… You and Malfoy can be together now?"
"Yes, Ginny, now get out of my way!"
Harry laughed at Hermione, who was bouncing up and down in excitement. "Well, you won't be able to see him for awhile since we just got him to drink a sleeping potion. You can go in though, I guess…"
"Honestly, Harry, it's not like I'm going to shag him brains out! I'm just happy to be free from all of this madness!" She blushed. "Now I can just be with Draco without anyone interfering!"
Ginny grabbed Harry and tugged him towards the portrait hole. "Come on Harry, let's leave Hermione alone…"
"Hey, wait, why are you two here anyway?"
They both looked at their feet, unwilling to look at her face. "Well, Blaise has asked us to check on Malfoy from time to time… the Slytherins feel uncomfortable physically showing emotion and he knew we'd be up here anyway… Well, either that, or Blaise is just lazy, we're not entirely sure, but it could go either way at the moment."
"So even the Slytherins think I'm a heartless bitch?"
"No, Hermione! We know you did it for a reason! And, as for the Slytherins, who know what they think? 'Heartless bitch' might be good in their books, after all."
"Yeah… Well, I better go see Draco now…"
Hermione turned and entered Draco's dark room before she could feel any worse about herself. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust, but once they did she crawled into bed beside Draco's sleeping form. He looked bad- like he hadn't been eating or sleeping well. Even though he was under the affects of the sleeping potion, his body looked physically tense. She ran her hands over his arms and the muscles relaxed under her touch. His face also relaxed; it was like he knew she was with him. She moved closer and wrapped his arms around her body.
"Hermione…"
"Draco! You should be asleep…" She noticed that his eyes were closed and figured he was probably sleep-talking.
"Are you really here? Please don't leave me…"
"Yes, I'm really here. And I'll be here as long as you want me." She kissed his forehead and fell asleep beside him.
Well, what did you think? Let me know!
I'll try to post the sequel or epilogue (whatever I decide to do...) sooner than it took to post this chapter...
