A/N: here it is... the final chapter. I'm sorry to end this so abruptly, but as I breezed through my story plots, I spent this past weekend figuring out other plots for the story, but nothing really stuck out to me that would improve the story. So many apologies, to those who expected something more!

The separate italic parts are flashbacks.

Chapter 17

Days spent with Ginny began to blend in together. Those days spent talking about anything and everything pertaining to her life and mine with Draco, because of how polite and sweet he was to her that one meeting weeks ago. Little did she know that had all been an act as he only did it to get to me, especially when he tossed me a wink or a smirk, then I knew it had been all an act.

Hell, he practically flirted with her!

**flashback**

[Last Week of May]

Ginny's laugh ricocheted about the room. It was quite lovely to see her look so carefree and just... happy. Draco sure knew how to charm her, no doubt about that.

"Will you stop it? Honestly, you're making me blush!"

I saw the blush creeping up to her cheeks before she sheepishly dropped her gaze and then her hand slipped out from his grasp.

"It's true" he said tossing me a wink, as he stroked his throat, "The dress you wore at the Yule Ball was quite fetching. No one could sport off pink like you did. You positively glowed. It's easily the only time I've been jealous of Longbottom."

I almost gagged. God he really knows how to lay it on thick, doesn't he?

"Well I can't fit in the dress now can I?" She rubbed her small baby bump. Finally accepting that she'll be a mother with Harry.

"Wait, Longbottom? Who's that again?" She looked to me for an explanation.

"Neville. You uh, you saw him yesterday with Luna."

"Yesterday..." Ginny echoed, her eyes glossing over in deep thought, "OH! The tall lanky one? That was Neville?"

I nod once and Ginny smiles. She turns back to Draco, "And you were jealous of him?"

Draco put a hand over his heart, and smirked, "Cause he got to dance with the most attractive witch in the room then, and at the graduation party"

OH LORD! I'm sure Ginny saw through that vomit inducing comment! I brave a glance to her and she giggled. GIGGLED! A very strange sound coming from her, if I do say so myself. Whether it be because of her pregnancy hormones or not, it's still good to see her smile nonetheless.

"Oh Godric, aren't you a charmer!" Ginny said, the blush creeping slowly on her cheeks.

"Just call me a sucker for red-heads"

"My word, however do you deal with it, Hermione?" She murmured while trying oh so hard to keep her giggling down.

I swear I would've hexed him right then and there! Not that I'm jealous or anything. "One day at a time,"

"If I didn't know any better, love," Draco sighs, "I'd say you're jealous"

I managed to scoff at him as I stubbornly keep my gaze on Ginny. I suppose the tone of my voice gave me away.

"That's how you met, isn't it? At the graduation party?" She said, taking a casual sip of water. "Before the dream I mean," Her eyes volleying between myself and Draco. Draco leans back in his chair, combing his fingers through his hair.

"We shared the odd dance or two, yes. But nothing really bloomed until we had that dream. Of course all those details will have to remain between us, isn't that right love?" He added a wink.

Almost immediately, I'm plagued with this warmth, right in the worst spot. Around the shirt collar, and behind your ears. Where over time, it slowly creeps all over your skin and itching against your clothes.

Damn him!

"Uh-oh someone's blushing! One can only fathom what that means" Ginny said taking another sip of water.

"Nothing!" I say, waving my hand at her face, "It means absolutely nothing, Ginevra!"

"Ouch, I'm hurt love," Draco said, his arm curling around my waist. How he got behind me, I'll never know.

I hear Ginny giggle again, and I find myself fighting hard not to give in. But damn, are laughs ever contagious. Especially the ones you try so hard to hold off, where the tiniest little squeak can set you off. In fact, it only makes it worse. The need to laugh taunts your brain and tickles your throat, and before you could stop it, you're laughing. Just thinking about it, your lips twitch just slightly, wanting to tear open to release the sound. I feel it threatening to pour out now... and before I can help it, I'm laughing.

"Prat!" I mutter, elbowing him in the ribs to escape his hold.

**end**

Well, at least it got her to smile then. She even wanted to work on reconnecting with Harry. Now that was really nice to see. Harry been the happiest I've seen since he broke down in my shop. Sure she acted a little uncertain around him, but with my constant encouragement that everything is all fine, I managed to convince her to break open her shell.

**flashback**

[Mid June]

"And you never told me how you felt?" She said, with the same hesitation I once had when seeing Ron for the first time. She asked me to stay in the room in case anything were to happen. Not that I'm sure what that means.

Harry glances over to me for a second before he looks back at Ginny. "You had a boyfriend at the time. Dean Thomas"

"Dean Thomas?" Much like she did for Neville, she expects me to answer.

"He showed up here with Seamus a few days ago."

"Seamus... oh, he's the one with an Irish accent, isn't he?"

"Yes"

Ginny's eyes shot wide, "Oh wow. I never thought I'd have a boyfriend during school."

I smirk and Harry shies away.

"Well actually that was my doing," I say joining her side. "See uh you actually fancied Harry quite a bit, being his best friend, you asked me how he felt about you. I never asked him, but I knew how he felt because I..." I trail off from the tickle in my throat, as the nervous suddenly washed over me. I never once told her about me liking Ron when I told her all there was to know about Hogwarts, as she been more interested in the here and now.

"I been going through the same thing with your brother, Ron" Unable to brave her gaze. I remain fixated with the tiled floor.

"You fancied Ron?" She blinked and then scoffed. "But he's so different compared to you!"

"I know, but I just spent so much time with both he and Harry it just happened. We clicked. I thought we belonged together but...um, we fizzed out." I can feel the rut in my chest, just thinking about him. "Our love just died."

"Hang on... is this why Ron can't stay in the same room as you? Because you two had a thing and now it's over?"

Harry's the one to offer me an encouraging hand squeeze this time. However, I'm uncertain as what I should say. No matter what I say, nothing good would come from this.

"Yes,"

"Wanker," she mutters. And I slip my hand away from Harry's.

"Anyway, you were really upset that Harry didn't see you in the way you wanted him to, because you couldn't even look at him without blushing"

All the colour drained from Ginny's face. "Seriously? I been that shy?"

I smirk and glance to Harry, encouraging him to enter the conversation. He adjusted his glasses and walked over to her side.

"Yes, very much so. So I helped you by getting you to date others to open yourself up more. Soon enough Harry saw your newfound confidence and well, you were together after sixth year was over."

"Sixth year? That puts me at what..." she began counting her fingers, "Sixteen?"

Both Harry and I nod.

"Blimey. That's so young!"

"We all were and when the War happened..." Harry trails off, dropping his gaze to the ground.

"It's okay Harry," Ginny said trying to gain his attention again. "Hermione's told me all about Voldemort and what he did in the War"

Harry had that look. One that says he almost swallowed his tongue.

"She what?! But Ginny you're-"

"Pregnant and shouldn't get agitated or overwhelmed, right, tell me something I don't know Harry! Hermione isn't the one to blame here! If everyone hadn't been walking on eggshells around me, I wouldn't have to ask her anything!"

Harry groans, but doesn't say anything else. Of course, he still shot me an angry glare, but that doesn't surprise me.

"Right well, after all that happened" Harry says, running a hand through his fringe, "We put our focus into each other and our families and eventually our careers."

"I'm a Quidditch player, right?"

"Yeah a Chaser for the Holyhead Harpies"

"Oh wow!"

And thankfully for me, Ron or my association to him was never brought up again. And Ginny and Harry became friends.

Well that's better than nothing.

**end**

Yet here we are, months later. Three to be exact. In the time where Ginny has become less hostile and more accepting of her condition. Although I have caught her crying now and then. Harry been the one to get her to calm down with slow rubs of the back and soft murmurs of no one hating her in her ears. He remains optimistic that one day his Ginny will someday return; he and all the other Weasley's actually, but I find that unlikely.

Theo told me in my recovering period, that amnesia patients should start to experience déjà vu well after a month from waking up from their coma. That the familiar setting should trigger memories. But alas, no such thing has happened. Ninety days and counting, and still, she has no memory of her life.

Not all news is bad, of course. In these past summer months, George and Percy have warmed up to me, saying that my presence around Ginny is doing more harm than good. Even Ron couldn't deny that - much to Molly's displeasure!

Actually, I wouldn't even be here, celebrating Ginny's twenty-third birthday, hadn't been for Ron and I reconciling just weeks before.

**flashback**

[July]

Walking down the street of Diagon Alley for my four-month check up with Theo. I run into Ron. He's just leaving his brother George's shop. He looks me up and down, like he's never seen me before. Which is true. I haven't seen him since we broke up back in April. Three months ago.

He looks just as handsome as I remember him being, if not more.

Someone must hate me.

"Oh hullo," he greets with no expression or emotion. His gorgeous blue eyes hold nothing either. They just shine in the sun, almost like tears, but I blame that on hope that still remains within my heart.

Will we ever get past this... awkwardness?

"And goodbye" he adds quickly, ready to move around me, but I block him.

"No more Ron"

I square my shoulders and meet his gaze head-on. "We need to talk about this"

"Why?" He groans, "Can't you just get on with your life? I have!"

He goes to leave me again, but I grab his arm. "Stop it!"

He turns back to face me. His eyes are shining. Now he's getting misty eyed. "Ginny has invited me over for her birthday and I'll be damned if I let this awkward behaviour come between us!"

"Why, it was all your doing anyway!"

I close my eyes. Trying not to let his words affect me. "Ron, stop this! Stop being so bloody childish!"

"No Hermione, you stop it! Stop... stop tormenting me!"

"Tormenting you?"

"Think about it for a minute Hermione" He mutters, his jaw tensing, "Who do I hate more in this world?"

Closing my eyes for one second, I think back on Draco and the Wand Oath.

"Even more so when you and him are off flaunting it"

Ron yanks his arm from me, but I will not let him go. I grab a hold of his other arm instead.

"Flaunting what exactly? Our happiness? Well Ron if you hate it so, then why did you do it? Why brush me off and then resent me for giving me no other option?"

"No other option? Are you fucking serious Hermione?!"

I winced, and gave a quick look around the street. There is a few onlookers and so I urge Ron away from the street. Past the building and into an alley, before casting a Muffliato around us.

"Yes I am being serious!" I seethed. "I loved you. I was honest with you for what I did and... and you threw me away!"

"YOU BROKE MY HEART!"

Closing my eyes, I can feel my chest collapsing in on itself. It's hard and painful with each breath I take. Like a boulder found its home right in my ribcage. Weighted.

"Honestly, why should I fight for someone who really-"

"Because that's what people do in relationships Ron! They FIGHT for their love ones! They don't just admit defeat! Do you have any idea what that did to me? I wanted to make things right. I wanted work things out. I wanted YOU! I wanted the man who said he'd marry me! I..." I released a shattering breath, "I wanted my best-friend back."

The tears were pouring down my eyes now. Tears I didn't expect to shed. Not to him at least.

"Hermione..."

"But no, you were so mad at me for what I did, you just left. Refused me contact and the like!"

I turn my back to him, and I openly weep. And here I thought it'd be easier dealing with Ron now that Theo helped me with my depression. Sadly, I find it reawakening once more.

"I chose Draco because he wanted me! I heard him say it. So really why should I deny myself that love? You obviously didn't care!"

"Hermione" Ron tries again. His hands are now on my shoulders. "I never said I didn't care about you,"

Closing my eyes, I let the tears fall. I let him turn me back around to face him. Mentally counting to three before I open them.

"I've always cared about you Hermione. Always." Ron bowed his head. "Harry said I was a foul git for just tossing off thirteen years of friendship. That if I had a shred of decency, I would at least give you the O-K for happiness."

"And then you tossed a punch for good measure?"

I see the tell-tale twitch on his lips. A barely there smirk. The ache in my chest has lessened and I find myself mesmerised by his gaze. Such gorgeous blue eyes.

"Well it IS Malfoy, I couldn't just let him walk off, gloating"

"Ron..."

Ron inhaled sharply, taking in our surroundings before his eyes settled on mine once more. He lifted his hand to brush back a strand of my hair. His fingers lightly graze my jaw. Shivers race down my spine to my toes.

"I hate it when you cry. Even more so when I'm the reason for those tears"

His hand falls down and he steps back from me, "So you said Ginny asked you to her place for her birthday? So uh... I'll see you then I suppose"

"Really? I mean... you're going?"

"What can I say? Cause of you Ginny's the happiest she's ever been. Sure she's not the same, but it's good seeing her so happy. I have you to thank for it"

And then he hugs me.

I didn't realize how much I've missed his hugs until this moment.

Ron...

"Say uh, were you off to? Do you want some company?"

Sniffing once I nod, "Only... only if you promise not... not to hurt Draco anymore"

His face turns sour, "He's not invited too is he?"

Shaking my head I tuck the hair behind my ear this time, "He's in Romania right now. Distributing his Vampire Aid Potion. Said to give Vampires a beating heart and a lifespan. The ability to eat and sleep again!"

Ron eyebrows shoot up high, "Hang on. You mean those things will die? How is that a cure? Just stake them and be done with it"

"Because Ron, it gives them a chance to live their lives to their fullest. His potion also contains a memory lapse, so the drinker won't remember ever being a Vampire or living for centuries."

"Bloody hell that's...wow. But uh, don't ever tell him I said that! Merlin knows the wanker won't let it go!"

"Well what do you expect Ron, Draco wasn't in NEWT Potions for nothing!"

**end**

"You all right Hermione?" Neville says, stroking my arm, "You look lost."

I shake my head and turn to face him. Oh right the party.

"I'm fine"

"Good, cause Ginny's just about to cut the cake!"

The rest of the party went splendidly. Us ex-Gryffindors had a blast. Even more so when Lavender had enough of me and Parvati being at each other's throats and forced us together to say truce. Sure that been a chore getting Parvati to do it, but in the end, Dean had convinced her to do it, once everyone set eyes on us. Lavender couldn't contain her happiness, and jumped up and down.

Almost like me when I saw Draco standing in my living room when I arrived back from the party.

"You're back!"

I give him no time to respond as I wrap my arms tightly around him. "These past two weeks has been murder without you," I murmur into his neck.

"Has it now?"

He kisses my temple and I endure a pleasant shiver down my skin to my toes. "Am I to expect a lovely welcoming in your bed then?"

I push myself away from him, "Depends, did you get me anything?"

He said he would, as Parvati took her vacation at that time so I had to stay and work. Coincidence? I don't think so. Oh well whatever, that's in the past.

He takes a hold of my hand and smiles at me. I find my knees buckling.

"Depends," he says, kissing me once again on the temple. "Are you wearing your last gift I gave you?"

My heart speeds up and I find myself melting into his grasp. "Well, you'll just have to wait and see, won't you?"

I turn my head to I can kiss his lips.

"Hmm or I can just give you your surprise now and get rewarded after."

Humming to myself, I take this game to a different route.

"You're that confident your gift will get such a response?" My playful smile is still prominent on my lips.

Draco flashes me a smile. One I can feel straight to my heart-strings. "Most definitely."

Shivering, I decide to play along with his game, "We'll see about that."

He winks this time, "Close your eyes."

I did, ever so slowly.

God... whatever could it be?

Draco's POV

The look on her face made my heart pound with anticipation. I wait ever so patiently for her to close her eyes. Once the coast is clear, I shove my hand into my trouser pocket, and grip around the small box. Within it, holds the ring that will forever change our lives.

"On the count of three, I want you to open them."

[THE END]

E/N: thanks to all who enjoyed the story anyway! It meant a lot :) No epilogue planned.