A/N: Hello, I hope this chapter finds you all in good health and good spirits. I'm about to go on break for two weeks, so I should have more time to write, although if they all turn out to be as long as this chapter, don't expect them any faster haha. Really though, I hope you enjoy it. It's got a little bit of time jumping in there, and a lot of content to chew through. Next chapter will be probably a bit shorter and solely dealing with the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts, because there is a lot that's about to happen.

Also, just thought I should mention that there is smut/lemons/all of that stuff in this chapter, and it's quite a hefty chunk of it, so I am happy for you to skip it, but you know, your loss, I guess...

As always, please leave your reviews, I love seeing them and reading them. Constructive criticism is always welcome, and feedback on the way this is going is also always appreciated. Love to all of you who have reviewed, and love to all of you who haven't reviewed (although please do haha)!

Disclaimer: JKR owns everything and I do not profit from this.

Song: Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield
Lyrics: Reaching for something in the distance/ So close you can almost taste it/ Release your inhibitions…

Chapter Eight: Preparation

It took Hermione two weeks to hear back from Ginny about meeting up, assuming she was sceptical of the note, or even just unwilling to see her. She had chosen 2pm on a Thursday afternoon, a time that coincided with her own study period. Hermione stood by the Black Lake, waiting for Ginny to arrive. She read and reread the note, double checking the time was correct when she heard the familiar crunch of footsteps on leaves. As she swivelled around, she saw Ginny walking towards her, her expression unreadable.

"Hermione." Ginny greeted coldly.

"Ginny." Hermione nodded back.

The two stood in awkward silence for a moment, the weight of the looming conversation hanging in the space between them.

"I just-"

"I wanted to-"

Both girls began speaking at the same time. Ginny let out a nervous giggle and Hermione released a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. She motioned for Ginny to continue.

"I just wanted to apologise to you." Ginny began, the coldness thawing from her voice, "I've been an absolute bitch. You're my sister, my best friend. I should have trusted your judgement about Malfoy, and I should have been there to support you."

Hermione smiled, "Ginny, I understand how you must have felt." Her smile faltered and a crease appeared between her eyebrows as she remembered the words written as a postscript on Ron's last letter to her, "I'm not going to lie, you hurt me. To feel like you thought I had turned my back on my family for sex stung like hell."

"Hermione, that was just me being angry. I know you wouldn't turn your back on us. You didn't lose us, we've always been there for you. I'm sorry I didn't show it. I'm sorry for what I said." Ginny stepped forward and extended her arm, her fingers hovering above Hermione's shoulder.

"I forgive you." Hermione stepped closer still and swept the younger girl into a long embrace. Ginny's shoulders shook and Hermione cried.

The two girls spent the rest of their break sitting by the Black Lake and catching up on each other's lives.

Three months passed slowly, even with the curriculum being crammed into each lesson and their impending N.E.W.T.s approaching rapidly.

"There are less than four months left until our final exams and we've barely touched on half the content!" Hermione fretted as she paced back and forth in front of a charmed year planner, stuck to a wall next to the desk in their dormitory. "How am I meant to plan my final study when I don't even know where we'll be up to in the curriculum at that point? I can't predict what will be cut from the test!"

"Hermione, love, I need you to relax." Draco began, stepping towards her.

"Relax?" Hermione all but shrieked, whirling around to face him. Her hair was crackling with magic and her eyes were wide and murderous, "I can't relax until I have this schedule finished!"

Draco visibly recoiled from his fuming girlfriend but spoke calmly to her, "Hermione," he tried again, "I know it's frustrating not knowing what will be in the final exam." Draco moved towards her and placed his hands on her shoulders, feeling her slump beneath his fingers, "But I know you. I know that you know all the content back to front, completely memorised already, and we've barely scratched the surface. I'd wager that you know more about any of our subjects than what the professors have been teaching us."

Hermione blushed, "I do have an extensive collection of extra readings."

"See, there's nothing for you to worry about." Draco walked towards her year planner and stood for a moment, studying it. She had colour coded each subject with their classes and allotted times to study, including both her and Draco's subjects. "You know, if you just swap Arithmancy here, and add an extra hour to Ancient Runes over there, we'll have three hours every Friday night for us to relax. It's important that you don't get so stressed out about this, Hermione. I don't want to be rushing you to the Hospital Wing because you've overworked yourself."

"Harry told you about that?" Hermione asked sheepishly, ducking her head and busying herself moving around the subjects on the planner as Draco had suggested.

"Of course he did. He's worried about you, Hermione, and he made me promise I'd keep an eye on your study habits." Draco replied. He looked at her timetable adjustments. The two weeks prior to exams were still a rainbow of colours with the occasional white sliver for meal times, but Draco was happy with that as long as he was here to look out for her.

"Pipsy!" Hermione called.

The elf popped in almost immediately, "Can I get Master Draco and Miss Hermione their nightly tea?"

"That would be lovely, thank you Pipsy." Hermione replied.

"Could you also bring us the…" Draco grappled for words, "Snack." He finished suspiciously.

"Of course Master!" Pipsy disapparated and reappeared moments later with two trays. The tea service was set up on the low table by the fire and the other tray was left beside it with its silver cloche still covering it. Pipsy bowed lowly and disappeared again.

"Draco," Hermione asked cautiously, "what is this?"

She stepped toward the covered tray and eyed it suspiciously.

"Nothing to be afraid of." Draco seemed nervous, although she couldn't fathom why. "Tea?" He asked, ignoring the second tray for the meantime.

"Please." She replied. He prepared her tea the way that he knew she took it, down to each stir of the teaspoon. They sipped their tea in silence, but Hermione couldn't help but feel like this was leading somewhere.

Draco left their empty teacups on the tray and moved to the other one. He pulled the cloche and there sat two bowls: one full of warm melted chocolate, the other a bowl of perfectly ripened strawberries.

"Draco, they look divine!" Hermione sat on the couch, her legs tucked underneath herself as she craned her head to marvel at how perfect these strawberries looked.

"I wanted to do something special for my girlfriend." Draco replied as he dipped the end of a strawberry into the chocolate, twirling it in his fingers to stop it from dripping. His eyes asked, "may I?" and Hermione gave an imperceptible nod.

Draco leant down over her on the couch, one arm braced behind her head, the other hand teasing her lips with the sweet strawberry. Hermione's tongue darted out to swipe some chocolate from her lip and Draco all but groaned at the sight. He slowly inched the strawberry into Hermione's mouth and she bit down, chewing slowly and moaning at the taste.

"Draco," she murmured, "they're delicious."

"Really?" He smirked, confidence building in him at his girlfriend's reaction, "Maybe I should try."

He bent impossibly lower and brushed his lips against hers, pulling back to gauge her reaction. This wasn't the first time that they'd been intimate, but they hadn't gone any further than roaming hands during heavy snogging sessions – fully clothed. Hermione stared up at him, her pupils dilated, her hair a mess, her lips stained red from the strawberry. Draco thought she looked beautiful. She threaded her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck and crashed his lips to hers. They met in a bruising, passionate kiss. His tongue swept across her bottom lip and she allowed him entrance, tasting the strawberry on her tongue. Her body stretched out on the couch and he hovered over her, hands drawing circles on her waist, where her shirt had ridden up to expose the creamy skin of her flat stomach. Her fingers were braced on his shoulders, pulling herself up for their bodies to meet. Her hips ground upwards into his, feeling his erection straining in his pants and longing to feel that friction.

Suddenly, Draco pulled back, both of them panting hard as a troubled look crossed his face. Hermione drew herself up and they sat beside each other for a moment.

"Love, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, concerned for Draco. She had been thoroughly enjoying what was happening.

"It's embarrassing." Draco muttered quietly.

"Hey, look at me." Hermione commanded gently, and he did. "You can trust me with anything."

"Promise you won't think differently of me?" Draco asked and she nodded. He let out a quiet sigh, "I'm a virgin."

Hermione was a little dumbfounded for a moment but regained her composure, "Wait, the 'Slytherin Sex God' is a… virgin?"

Draco dropped his gaze and nodded.

"Why would I think any differently of you, love?" Hermione asked.

Draco thought for a moment, "I thought you might have heard of the rumours and expected more of me. Like I was experienced."

Hermione only laughed softly, "The only expectation that I have is that we'll be experiencing this for the first time together."

Draco looked up at her gratefully. She really was totally understanding, absolutely perfect. She plucked a strawberry from the top of the bowl and swirled it in the chocolate, holding it expectantly in front of Draco's lips, her large brown eyes pouring her emotions into his soul. He parted his lips and she fed him the strawberry. She was right, it really was divine. His hand came up to caress her cheek softly as he leant back towards her. Their lips met in another kiss, however this was full of love and a slow, burning passion. Her heart felt like it was about to leap from her chest.

They pulled back from each other and Hermione stood, offering her hand towards Draco. He accepted and she lead him to his bedroom, waving her wand at the door behind them. She turned towards him, staring straight into his silvery eyes, and began to undress. Her jacket fell to the floor first, followed by her shirt. She shimmied out of her pants and underwear, until she was left standing naked in front of him. Neither of them had broken eye contact throughout and she stepped closer to him. Draco swallowed nervously. He'd never been this far with a woman. All the rumours of his sexual escapades in the past had been just that, rumours. Hermione was directly in front of him now, her eyes begging permission as she slipped her hands beneath his jumper. He nodded and she began to undress him, almost reverently. His jumper and shirt came off together, the feel of her cold fingertips dancing across his abs sent electric shocks through his body. She hooked her fingers into the waistband of his pants and underwear and slowly pulled them over his hips, allowing them to pool at his feet. They continued to stare into each other's eyes for a moment longer, before Hermione reached for Draco's hand. Slowly, she brought it to rest on her hip, stretching up on her tiptoes, she kissed him slowly, probingly, her fingertips tracing patterns on his bare back. Draco closed the distance between them, both of his hands linking behind her back and drawing her closer to him. Her breasts pressed against his stony chest and they both groaned at the contact of skin on skin.

"Hermione," Draco moaned.

Abruptly, Hermione stepped back from his intoxicating embrace, "One moment." She looked for her wand and quickly cast contraceptive charms over them both. "Just in case we forget later."

Draco was grateful for his overly intelligent girlfriend. Although he had entertained the idea of frizzy-haired, platinum blonde babies, he was certainly not ready for them now.

"Come back to me, baby." Draco whined.

"How about you come over here?" Hermione winked and she turned her back on him, climbing onto his bed and wiggling her bottom invitingly.

Draco growled and his eyes darkened with lust. He strode over to the bed in four steps, and then he was above her. His hand came to caress her cheek, the pad of his thumb stroking down her jaw. His lips kissed the path his thumb had traced, then slowly made his way further, trailing into the hollow of her throat, nipping at her collarbones, leaving lovebites on her shoulders, eventually facing her breasts. Hermione made soft whimpering noises as Draco continued his ministrations on her body, threading her fingers through his hair as he palmed one of her breasts. Suddenly, all the air was sucked from her body as he dragged his tongue around her nipple, swirling a few times and then grazing her sensitive peak with his teeth, tugging slightly as she moaned loudly. Her back arched up, craving him to take more of her. He moved slowly and deliberately, paying the same attentions to her other breast, then resuming his trail of kisses down her stomach. His teeth grazed her hip bone, finding it to be a particular erogenous zone for Hermione and playing with it more, teasing her. He kissed down the outside of her thigh, then around to the inside, lifting her leg over his shoulder as he moved back towards her core. His breath ghosted over her throbbing bud, aching to be touched, but he continued playing with her, teasing more kisses at the joint between her pelvis and her leg. Hermione groaned, her hips bucking sporadically, searching for friction, searching for release. Draco was driving her insane. He placed two slender fingers at her opening, feeling how slick she was, how much she wanted him, and that drove him crazy. He circled her clit with his thumb a few times before he pushed in with his fingers, a combination of both kinds of stimulation filling Hermione's senses. She all but screamed her climax after a few minutes, clenching around Draco's fingers.

He positioned himself above her once more, hovering with a nervous expression on his face.

"Love, look at me." Hermione tried to say gently, although she was panting from her orgasm.

Draco smiled as his eyes met hers. He was overjoyed that he could bring her this kind of pleasure, that he was the only person who had ever brought her this kind of pleasure.

Hermione reached up and slowly unhooked his magic reducing necklace, laying it on the bedside table. She didn't want the caged stone smacking her whilst they made love. Draco's magic crackled and she pressed her hands into his, their magic flowing throughout both of them, Hermione helping to keep his at bay, feeling the electric energy running through their veins.

"I want you, I need you." Hermione released his hands, bracing her fingers on his hips as she slowly brought his length closer to her opening.

Draco sank into Hermione slowly and they both let out a mixture of a groan and a sigh. Draco thought it felt heavenly, Hermione's tight, soaking walls gripping him. Hermione felt full, uncomfortable; she had never felt this before. Draco began to move, slowly, and Hermione began to feel what she assumed was the reason people enjoyed sex so much. His member pressed delectably against that little bundle of nerves inside her, painstakingly slowly, and the angle of his body meant that every stroke he took rubbed her clit in just the right way. Neither knew what they were doing, neither had any experience whatsoever, but both of them felt like they fitted together perfectly.

"This feels so… right." Draco commented, pressing his forehead against hers. Their sweat mixed together and matted their hair, but neither of them cared.

The building pressure inside each of them was an impending climax. Draco staved off for as long as he could, knowing that it wouldn't be that long due to his inexperience and just how good it felt to be inside his Hermione. His movements sped slightly and Hermione's hips moved against his own, a slapping noise made by their skin, which they both giggled at. Hermione clutched at Draco's back, raking her fingernails down his spine, clawing at his shoulders, moaning, needing more. So Draco gave her more, sheathed to the hilt he moved fast and hard into her, gritting his teeth as he reached for her hands again, sweat beading and dripping from his nose.

"I can't hold back much longer, Mi." Draco bit out.

"Come for me, love." Hermione cried, then her own climax hit, with a scream of "Draco!"

Draco moved inside her a few more times and then he spilled himself into her, her fluttering walls convulsing hard and making him shudder as she milked him.

The couple laid there for a moment, completely spent. They were still joined and Draco had collapsed on top of Hermione, willing himself not to crush his tiny girlfriend. When he eventually found the strength to pull out of her, they both felt something missing.

Draco replaced the crystal around his neck, immediately feeling like a part of him was gone again, although he wasn't sure if it was because he was dampening his magic, or because he wasn't touching Hermione. When their magic mixed together it sung through both of their veins. Both knew the other could feel it.

"Can I say something odd?" Hermione asked, her voice raspy from the moaning.

"Of course, love." Draco replied, fetching Hermione's wand for her so that she could clean herself up.

"I feel empty now. Like when you were… inside me, you made me feel whole. Especially with our magic combining, I just felt complete." Hermione stated blushing. She took the proffered wand and began casting quick cleaning spells on herself, Draco, and the bed.

"I understand exactly what you mean." Draco replied. He paused for a moment, "Can I say something odd too?"

Hermione simply nodded, pulling the blanket up to cover herself as a breeze swept through the room.

"I don't want you to think it's because we had sex, but I have to admit it just solidified my feelings more." Draco lay down beside her, took her hands in his and gazed deeply into her eyes, "I love you, Hermione Granger."

Hermione thought she should have felt surprised by the proclamation, annoyed at the timing, or dumbfounded that Draco, the closed off ex-Death Eater, ex-school bully, could say those words to her. She wasn't, however, because she realised that she felt the exact same way.

"I love you too, Draco Malfoy."

The next week passed even more agonisingly slowly than the last three months had. Hermione had gushed to Ginny and Harry about her loss of virginity to Draco and his confession of his love, although sparing them both the details. Ginny had smirked and asked if he was a good enough shag to leave her family for, both of them laughing at her use of those words that had stung so harshly. Harry had covered his ears, making loud noises until he saw Hermione frown and stop talking, then proceeded to give her a hug and congratulating her on defrosting the Slytherin's heart.

Hermione had also learnt that after she and Ginny had resumed their friendship, she had apologised profusely to Harry and practically begged that he take her back. He was still in love with her, although Hermione could see that Ginny's moral compass plagued him and their relationship. They were taking it incredibly slow, barely a snail's pace because of this, and both seemed alright for the time being.

Harry cornered Draco two days later in the library when the usual trio had been studying together. Hermione had just left to retrieve a book when Harry rounded on him.

"Look, I know we're mates and all now. You're actually one of my best mates. But if you ever do anything to harm Hermione, I will hunt you down and that trademark hair of yours will not be platinum ever again. Are we agreed?" Harry stuck his hand out, reminding Draco of his trial almost a year prior.

"Harry, I could never hurt Hermione." Draco grasped his hand quickly and then looked down, studying a knot in the table, "I'm too over my head in love with her. If she was hurt, I don't know what I'd do with myself. I depend on her like she's my life. She's my reason for living. Without her, my world is black. Without her, my world would have been Azkaban prison. But she's here. She's my light, Harry. She's everything that's good in this world. Our magic together, it's so harmonious, it's like two pieces of a puzzle just clicking together. We just feel so… right."

Harry awkwardly patted the other boy on the shoulder, "I knew you two were going to be perfect together from day one. You'd fight, you'd have your differences, and you'd both be stubborn about everything, but once you both got through each other's barriers, you'd be perfect. Yin and yang."

Draco nodded simply, but abruptly looked up at Harry, "Please don't tell her I told you this. I don't know if we're ready for that. I only said I love her two days ago!"

"Relax mate. Your gross, overemotional, soppy confessions are safe with me." Harry beamed and Draco scowled.

Hermione leant back against a stack of books. She had only left for a moment, ducking around the corner to fetch a book, but she heard the protectiveness in Harry's voice and knew he was giving Draco a talking to. Whilst she knew she could handle herself in any situation, and considering Draco's current magic status, she thought it was a bit overboard, although she knew that Harry meant well in his overprotectiveness. What she hadn't expected was Draco's admission following that. She slumped further down onto the floor and touched a hand to her heart. She loved him with everything that she was, and he felt the same. She had never heard anyone talk about her with such reverence and love since her parents, and they were gone. Tears welled in her eyes at the sentiments and the thought of her parents, but she quickly willed them away as she steeled herself and rounded the corner to continue their study session.

The week leading up to the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts was tense. Draco received more death threats in the span of seven days than he had in his entire 'career' as a Death Eater. The castle's mood was sombre. Even Hermione had become more withdrawn with Draco, enjoying her privacy and sharing moments with Harry. Draco wasn't fazed by their closeness, as he knew their relationship was purely platonic.

Over the course of their friendship, Hermione had been telling Draco some of the stories from the war. She told him of the nightmares she had before they had been sleeping together, and still sometimes if she fell asleep without him. She told him of the hardships but also the good times, like how Ron left during the horcrux hunt, but how Harry tried to lift her spirits by dancing with her. Draco smiled fondly every time she spoke of her experience in the war, impressed by his girlfriend's intelligence, wit, and quick thinking. He often thought that if Dumbledore was still around, he'd have given Gryffindor a thousand points to each member of the Golden Trio for making it out of the war alive – and he would have gladly accepted it, because it meant that it led him to his amazing relationship with Hermione.

In return, Draco told Hermione of some of his experiences in the war. Hermione never showed pity on her face, always understanding and compassion, but never pity. He loved that about her. He didn't need pity, but he appreciated that she understood where he was at the time, and that she could empathise with him, despite their totally different circumstances. Draco had done some abhorrent things in his brief stint as a Death Eater, and Hermione always took the time to look him in the eye and tell him that he would be forgiven. They began to clear his conscience – she cleared his conscience, and he would be forever grateful for that. Draco, too, had nightmares when he slept without Hermione, which was rare. They both dreaded sleeping without the other, and had plenty of sleeping draught on hand if need be, although somehow the nightmares would always creep their way in.

The anniversary day had been cleared from any Hogwarts schedule, with guests welcome from anywhere and everywhere to pay their respects and mourn their losses. Harry, Hermione and Ron had all been asked to give speeches, and, although Hermione had intended to decline, Draco encouraged her that she would be the light in this world of darkness, as she was for him. The Golden Trio, were also to be presented with the Order of Merlin, First Class, although really it was just the ceremony and press coverage, as their titles and ribbons had been received within the month following the Battle of Hogwarts.

Draco sat with Hermione the night before the anniversary, both with red-rimmed eyes from days of crying, listening to her practice her speech for the following day and adding useful input where he could. She appreciated the help and his support and encouragement. Sometimes she had to remind herself that she wasn't alone anymore, that she had Draco, and she would apologise to him for being so reserved, although he would always dismiss her apology, remarking that he understood.

"I think you should add something more personal in that section." Draco commented, "You're an amazing speech-writer and speaker, but I think your speech is lacking personal experience. I know that you're distancing yourself from this speech, but people need to know that you're real and you're human too. We all went through this war together, and if you want your speech to connect like it should, you need to tell them what you feel."

Hermione thought about this for a moment, "But what I'm trying to convey is strength, perseverance, and most importantly forgiveness. If I say what I'm really feeling…"

Draco let her gather herself for a moment.

She met his eye briefly before turning to gaze out of the window. "I'm scared, Draco. If you're not around I still have nightmares. I still feel like I need to watch my back, and even more so watch yours. If I put that into my speech, it'll become too real. I'll cry. I don't feel like I embody what I'm trying to convey. I won't be able to make it through."

"Yes you will, Hermione." Draco strode towards her and sat in front of her, gazing deeply into her eyes. "If you're going to break down, find me in the crowd. I'll always be here for you, Hermione, like you're here for me. The people will want to see your emotion, and that is your raw emotion. You can't hide it because that's real and it's what you think."

Hermione was about to interrupt when Draco took her hand in his. He clenched it into a fist.

"Strength," He began. "There is no one in this world that's stronger than you. Your mental strength, your physical strength, your magic. The sheer force you are when you walk into a room. Hermione, you command people. You are strong. You fought off cruciatus after cruciatus as well as physical torture and you're still here to tell the tale. You fooled Lord fucking Voldemort when he tried to enter your mind. You are so strong, and you can show it."

He unclenched her fist placed their palms flat together.

"Perseverance. From the moment you decided to help me in that courtroom, you and I have been attacked day in and day out. You know what you've done though? You've persevered. You have stuck by me through it all, and I wouldn't be here if you hadn't. You're persevering every day and you don't even realise it."

Draco finally threaded their fingers together, placing a quick kiss to her forehead before continuing.

"Forgiveness. That is your most defining quality: your ability to forgive. Hermione, your forgiveness has saved me. Your forgiveness is boundless. I was your nemesis, your childhood bully, and a Death Eater. You chose to forgive me. You found it in your heart to fight for me when no one else would. You are the embodiment of forgiveness. So don't you ever say that you aren't the absolute epitome of what you are fighting for in this post-war world. You are everything, love."

Hermione was crying. She had been crying most of the week, weeping over memories, for lost loved ones, for her parents who could never be returned to her, for her friends who lost, for her enemies. This time, she cried out of pure love. The emotion that Draco had put into his speech reminded her of the conversation she overheard in the library over a week ago. She knew that as much as she was fighting for him, he was fighting right back for her.

She had to let him in. She couldn't isolate herself any longer, knowing how much he fought for her, how much he truly loved her. She abandoned all of her speech notes, raised herself onto her knees and launched herself into his arms, clinging to him and wrapping her legs around his torso. She kissed him like her life depended on it. She kissed him and tried to put everything she couldn't say into it. He kissed her back just as hard, just as emotionally charged. Their lips tingled and their magic intermingled despite Draco's crystal, flowing through them, trying desperately to show each other just what they meant to one another. It wasn't frenzied or hurried. It was a long, emotional kiss that left them both breathless.

When they pulled back, Draco stood, lifting Hermione with him, and walked them towards her bedroom, tucking them both underneath the sheets and holding her close to his body.

"You are my light, Hermione."

"You are everything to me, Draco."