Chapter 56

It was over. Draco nearly fell to the ground as he watched Voldemort collapse. There were so many different emotions coursing through him right now, that he didn't know what he should be feeling. He was relieved that Voldemort was dead, overwhelmed because it was over, sad for the losses, and happy for those who survived.

"Hey, you okay?" a familiar voice asked him softly, as the owner placed a hand on his shoulder gingerly. He turned to see Hermione looking worriedly at him.

He smiled as he pulled her into him tightly. "I'm okay, it's going to be okay now," he murmured into her hair as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

She held onto him tightly, "You worried me. When you confronted him like that, I was sure Voldemort was going to kill you. I was so scared."

He cupped her cheek softly, "I'm sorry, I am. But there was no way that I was going to let him hurt you, or Neville. I'll be damned if I'd let him take away any more people from my life; there's no way he's touching the most important person I have left."

She kissed him without warning; flinging herself onto him as she wrapped her arms around her neck. He was caught off guard by it, but picked her up so her legs were dangling in the air and he kissed her back with everything he had left.

"Well isn't this cute?" a voice sneered from behind them. Hermione looked hesitant as she pulled herself off of him to turn and face the unwelcomed guest.

"What do you want, Smith?" she asked him in a cool tone. Draco gave the Hufflepuff a quick onceover to size up what he would have to deal with.

"Just wondering why you, the shining golden girl would sully herself with this Death Eater," Smith said in a cold voice.

Hermione glared at him. "Don't pretend to understand things you don't, Smith. It doesn't suit you."

"Don't I?" He asked her. "I think I understand everything perfectly. See Malfoy here has you all wrapped up under his spell so that way you'll testify for him and he can escape Azkaban. His crimes will go unpunished, and he'll be free from that life. Do you think he'll wait for you after all he's cleared from it all? He's going to leave you behind like a piece of trash and marry some pureblood girl so his familial line isn't dirtied with the likes of you. And if you really don't believe it's going to happen, well then you're more stupid than I thought."

He slid his arm around her waist, but she didn't even flinch at his words. "Don't you dare pretend to understand Draco or I. I may be many things, but stupid has never been one of them. I don't expect someone like you to understand, and I don't know why I'm even wasting my time on you, but I know I'm going to have to say this many more times, and I gladly will. Draco is on our side, and has been for over a year, and I don't care if you don't like that. And if you can't accept that, well I don't really care. Besides, he stood up to Voldemort, and nearly got killed for that, both by him, and Bellatrix. So if that isn't proof enough for you, well then I have to say that it's a really good thing that you weren't placed in Ravenclaw."

Draco stared at her in awe, as he never knew that she had that in her.

"You're an idiot, Granger," Smith hissed.

"Oi," He heard Ron call out. "No one insults Hermione, not even Harry or I, so you don't get to get away with it."

"Oh please, don't tell me that the two of you actually support this!" Smith asked incredulously.

"We do," Harry said. "Now I would leave if I were you; don't want to insult the saviour of the wizarding world, do you?"

Smith gave him a glare. "Don't think so highly of yourself, Potter. You never were anything special."

"Just leave already, Smith," Draco said, nearly groaning with exasperation. "Can you not see when you're not wanted somewhere? I thought it would be obvious, even for someone with as few brains as you, but honestly, I'm highly starting to doubt that."

Smith shot them one last dirty look before stalking off to bother someone else. Good riddance to that!

Hermione kissed Draco softly on the cheek before pulling away and launching herself into Harry's arms, nearly toppling him over.

"I must say, it's a bit concerning to see my girlfriend break an embrace with me just to tackle you, Potter," Draco said lightly.

Harry chuckled, as he held Hermione tightly. "I'm here," he said, as he stroked her hair. "I'm not going anywhere."

She pulled away and glared at him. "You have no idea what you did to me, Harry James Potter! I thought you were d-dead. When I saw them throw your body to the ground, it nearly killed me! How do you think I felt through that?"

He looked sheepish. "I'm sorry! I didn't think I would survive! But when I did, I knew I had the upper hand. Your mother," he said, as he nodded at Draco, "lied for me to him, telling Voldemort that I was dead, and I knew it would work a lot better if everyone thought I was too."

She slapped his chest lightly. "I'm angry at you for that, but I get it. You better hope Ginny is as understanding."

He groaned. "She's going to kill me, isn't she?"

"I hope so," Ron joked. "Then I don't have to do it."

Draco laughed, and Hermione smacked him lightly. "Bloody hell, woman, are you always this violent?"

Ron shot him a smirk, "That she is. At least she's your problem now."

Draco stopped breathing, as he looked at his ginger companion. The words were short and simple, but the meaning was clear. 'She's yours, and I'm not going to stand in your way any longer.'

He gave Ron a grateful smile. He loved Hermione, and while he knew the feeling was reciprocated, Draco would never be completely comfortable with the matter when he knew that Ron was pursuing her.

Hermione seemed to catch on as well, as she gave his arm a quick squeeze before pulling away from Harry and going back to where Draco was standing, and holding his hand tightly.

"I'm going to go find Ginny," Harry said, looking a combination of excited and nervous. He turned and walked away from the group, and Draco mentally wished him good luck. After everything he'd been through lately, the least he could get was a happy ending with someone he loved.

Ron looked awkward that the two of them, "I'm going to –er go and do…something," he said as he stalked off as well.

"Looks like it's just you and me again," Draco said huskily to her, as he placed his arms against her lower back, to bring her into him once more.

There was a sound of a throat being cleared from behind him, and Draco groaned. What now?

"Nice to know that my son welcomes me so dearly," his mother said in a mock hurt tone.

He gasped, not expecting to see her here amongst everyone else. In the last few years he had grown to be over a head taller than her, and it was still a weird concept to him, but he didn't let it get in the way of hugging her tightly.

"My baby boy," she whispered, as she held him tightly. "You have no idea how worried I've been about you through all of this. There were so many times when I was sure that you were dead, and it broke my heart repeatedly."

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I wanted to tell you, but doing so would have put both our lives at risk, and I wasn't willing to endanger you, not with Voldemort living in our home."

"I know," his mother said. "I'm so proud of everything you've done Draco. You turned into a much better man that I ever could have raised you to be. When he, the Dark Lord, gave you that mission, I was terrified. I knew exactly what it would mean for you and for your safety. And I had no idea what to do. I went to Severus, because it was all I could think of. I thought at the most he would do it for you and you would return to me. But I'm so proud that you found your own path and grew up while doing so. And furthermore, I'm proud that you managed to fall in love despite the ongoing war. I know I told you before, briefly, but I didn't get to tell you everything I wanted to say. I'm glad you found her, because she suits you so perfectly. I was watching for a bit before coming over, and I've never seen you so happy, even as a child, and anyone who can make you feel so, is a good choice, blood status be damned."

Hermione's eyes began to water, and his mother pulled her into the hug, "Thank you for taking care of my baby boy when I couldn't. You helped him so much, and I am so grateful for everything you've done for him, regardless of your awful past with my family. I wish to personally apologise to you for it, and hope that you can someday forgive us for our actions."

"There's nothing to forgive," Hermione said gently. "I love your son, and I would do anything for him. What's happened in the past is history, and I've moved past it long ago."

She smiled at Hermione and Draco, before looking at someone past them. "If only others would be as forgiving as you."

Draco looked at the direction which his mother was looking, and saw her looking longingly at her sister. His aunt Andromeda was holding a young boy, Teddy Lupin, and crouching over the bodies of her dead daughter and son-in-law. He felt himself cringe as he saw the sight, thinking back to how wonderful she had been to him when he stayed with her the past summer. It was so wonderful to be around his aunt, uncle, cousin, and soon to be cousin-in-law, and now all of them were dead, with the exception of his aunt.

"It may not be too late," Draco told his mother. "She took me in last year and was more than generous. She's a kind and forgiving soul, and I'm sure she'll hear you out."

She looked nervous, but nodded. "You're right. She's my sister, and while I can't fix what I've done, at least I can try to mend the fences right?"

Hermione smiled at her encouragingly, "Yes, you can. And if nothing else, then you'll always have Draco and I."

He squeezed his girlfriend's hand, "We'll be here for you, Mum," Draco said, addressing his mother less formally than he had in a long time.

She gave them both a smile, before going to her sister.

Draco shot his girlfriend a look, "Hermione, do you want to take a walk with me?" he asked her nervously, his hand fingering the object in his robe pocket.

She gave him a smile, a true genuine carefree one that he hadn't seen in a long time, and it melted his heart. "Of course, Draco," she said.

He held her hand and led her out into the hallway for a bit of privacy. He remained silent at first, so she spoke first.

"It's so nice to see everyone reunited with the people they care about," she said longingly, and he knew what she was thinking about.

"Hey," he said, as he cupped her face in his hands. "You're not alone either, you have Harry and Ron, and you have me. But I can assure you, that's not all you have. Hermione, I know you miss your parents, and that you're terrified about them and their wellbeing, and I want to promise you that I'm going to help you find them. We'll go get them, and reverse their memory, so they remember you, and you can have them back in your life."

A couple of tears slid down her face, "Really?" she asked, sounding unsure of the answer he would give her.

"Really," he said, as he kissed her forehead. "I want to be able to ask your parents for their permission to marry you, and it would be a bit difficult if they weren't around, now wouldn't it?" He paused for a moment, to let his words sink in. "But until then," he said, as he got down on one knee, and pulled out the ring that was in his pocket, Hermione Jean Granger, will you marry me?"

She looked stunned beyond anything in the world, when she finally spoke, she said, "When did you have time to get a ring?"

He laughed at her response, as he continued to hold one of her hands, "My mother slipped it to me earlier. It's a Malfoy family heirloom and has been in our family for generations. But if you'll accept me, it'll belong to you now."

She didn't speak for a moment, and a few more tears fell from her eyes, and he immediately began to panic. Had she changed her mind since he brought up the idea all those months ago? Had things changed between the two of them, and he failed to notice?

"Yes!" she cried out, breaking him from his panicked thoughts. "Of course I'll marry you, Draco," she said as a smile filled her face. "I've never come close to even caring about another person as much as I care for you, and I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, through all the ups and downs, I want to be with you, and only you."

A large grin broke out on his face, and he slipped the ring on her finger, before getting up and lifting her into the air and spinning her around, while kissing her. For the first time today, Draco finally felt truly happy.

It was a little while later when Hermione heard a whisper sound out to her, "Hermione, Draco, will you come outside with me for a moment?" she heard Harry ask the two of them. They had been helping those around them, bandaging wounds, and healing the results of dark curses. She had been struck with awe as she watched how well her fiancé worked with the people, assuring them that they would be okay, and that he would be able to heal them, and keeping his promise to them.

She smiled at the word she used to describe Draco subconsciously. She had been stunned beyond measure when he had proposed but was filled with so much happiness now that the beautiful emerald ring lay on her finger. The band was gold, and there were rubies embedded on the side. When she asked about it, she was told that his great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather fell in love with a Gryffindor, who had refused his prior proposal because the ring was too "Slytherin like" for her tastes, so to win her over, he created a ring to unify them both. She played with the ring, loving the feel of it on her finger, as she looked around the room

The hall was filled with a mixture of celebration, but also sombre for all the losses during the war. The bodies were placed in one section of the room so people could mourn them, and also begin to think about the various arrangements they would have to make for their loved ones who had passed away during the battle

Ron had been with Lavender as the healers rushed to heal the wounds that the werewolf Greyback inflicted on her. It had been a really close call, but thankfully they had gotten to her soon enough to heal her. She would have heavily scarred tissue for the rest of her life, but at least she was alive. Ron had been by her side the entire time, never once letting go of her hand.

She followed Harry out the doors of the Great Hall, where Ron was waiting for them. Harry took off the cloak, and led them up the familiar path of stairs to Dumbledore's office. She knew that Harry probably wanted some privacy from everything that had just happened, and she would happy oblige and give it to him, knowing fully well that he didn't want the attention associated with his actions during the battle.

Harry looked at the statue of the Gargoyle and asked it if he needed a password, however the doors just opened up wide for them without any further prompting. She followed Harry into the room, as Draco and Ron came in behind her.

Upon entry the various portraits began to applaud for Harry, but also for them as well. She felt herself redden slightly from the attention, even if most of it was directed towards Harry. She could hear the voice of Phineas Nigellus call out, "And let it be known that Slytherin played its part in this battle. Let it be known that the last of the Blacks, Draco Malfoy, helped bring down that abomination."

Draco looked flustered at this, but Hermione slipped her fingers through his. The ring on her finger lay firmly between the two of their hands.

Harry kept walking toward where the painting of Dumbledore was hanging before coming to a stop. He gave a nod to the paintings, and they respectfully stopped their clapping. He held out the Elder Wand and his Invisibility Cloak.

"I don't have the ring any more, it fell in the forest, but I'm not going to go looking for it," he said firmly.

Dumbledore nodded. "It's better that it remains away from this world."

"I will keep the cloak however, and pass it on to my children," Harry continued, earning another approving nod from Dumbledore's portrait.

"As it is yours to do so."

"But I don't want to keep the wand," Harry said finally.

Ron could not contain his shock. "Are you mental? Do you know how much power it has? Why wouldn't you want to keep it?"

"Because I don't need it, and I'm happier without it," Harry said. "And if I die a normal death, the wand will no longer have a master, and the bloodshed associated with it will be over."

He pulled out his old, broken wand, and pointed the Elder wand at it, "Reparo," he said, and the two pieces of his wand snapped together again. "I'm going to put it back where it came from, in the ground."

"I'm proud of you, Harry," Dumbledore said, smiling at his actions.

"Are you sure?" Ron asked him weakly.

"I think you're doing the right thing," Hermione said. "It's nothing but trouble."

Harry looked at Draco, wanting to see what he had to say, "I think you should do what you feel is best, be it keep the wand or not, it's your choice."

Harry waited a moment, before speaking, "I think I've had more than enough trouble for a life time. There are more important things in this world than power: love, friendship, compassion; all of those things are what matter the most and I would much rather focus on that for the rest of my life."

Dumbledore look at the four of them, "You've all grown up so much, that you could see the difference between what's right and wrong. You've realized that there's not just a light and dark side, as the split cannot be made so cleanly. There is a line between the two sides, but sometimes it gets complicated, sometimes, the line blurs, and the difference between what's right and wrong isn't always as clear any more. But you four learned to look past that, you learned to accept others, despite their background, and their circumstances."

Harry smiled, before turning to face them, "Let's go face the aftermath, shall we?" he asked them, before turning to leave the room. However this time, they all walked out together, ready to face whatever else life threw at them.

A/N: Guys you have no idea how sad I am that the actual story is over. I'm still going to post an epilogue for this, but this is it; the end. This is the longest story I've ever written, and I poured so much effort into making it happen. Thank you so much for continuing to follow the story and go along with the changes and side stories that I added to this story. It's been a long ride, but once again, for the last time for this story, I'll see you guys next week.