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Here it is, the epilogue. I will save my ramblings of thanks for the end.

Enjoy!

Seven Months Later

Draco POV

I couldn't believe seventh year had flown by so quickly, actually I couldn't believe all of my time at Hogwarts and flown by so quickly. When tomorrow morning rolled around I'd be packing my bags and leaving on the Hogwarts Express for the final time. It just didn't seem real, this whole year didn't seem real. If you would have told me at the start of the year that I would have fallen head over heels in love with Hermione Granger and she would have fallen in love with me as well, I would have laughed in your face. I'm glad I would have been wrong on that account because Hermione is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.

Our relationship has been stronger than ever and we still can't keep our hands off of each other. We made it our personal mission to hook up in as many places around campus as possible and I think we succeeded. There were nights where we couldn't get enough of each other and things went fast like they did in the beginning and then there were nights where things would be slow, passionate, and loving. I wasn't sure which I liked best, as long as I had Hermione in my arms I didn't care how we decided to play it that night.

I was sitting on the bank of the Black Lake in our spot, the spot where we'd first told each other we loved each other. It was my last night here and Hermione was supposed to be meeting me. We needed to visit our spot one last time before this amazing ride was over. Once we left for the final time tomorrow everything would be different, we'd be out in the real world. Hermione and I were both starting jobs at the beginning of next week. She was starting at the Ministry as an Auror and I was starting at St. Mungos as and apothecary. We were both excited, but it was going to be the opening of a huge chapter in our lives.

When we leave Hogwarts tomorrow we are moving into a shared flat in the center of Wizard London, close to both of our jobs. Our relationship isn't one that we are going to leave behind when we pass through the Hogwarts gates for the last time, no it's going to be with us much longer than that. If I have anything to do with it I will never let Hermione go. I'll admit it, I've fantasized about her being my wife and I have ever intention of asking her someday. Today's not the day though; we're still too young. I want to get our feet under us first.

"Hey babe," Hermione smiles as she approaches me. I smile every time she calls me babe. I used to be the only one with the little terms of affection, but over the months she'd picked it up as well. I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it, it meant she was feeling the same way I was.

"Hey," I smiled up at her as she reached me and patted the spot next to me. She sat down and I wrapped my arm around her shoulder bringing her closer to me. She cuddles into my side as I say, "So, are you ready to leave tomorrow?" I know I'm not, it's a huge step.

"Yes and no," Hermione says as she stares out at the water twinkling in the sun. "I'm ready to start my job and my life outside of these castle walls, but I'm not ready to leave behind everything that's happened over the years. It's been an amazing last seven years," I can hear the smile in her voice. She's right, it has been an amazing last seven years even if she was only in my life like this for the last year. I'd had fun while I was at Hogwarts, made friends and memories that I wanted to hold onto for life. It was going to be hard leaving tomorrow.

"I know exactly what you mean," I agree as I run my fingers over her bare arm.

"At least we're all staying close together," Hermione says.

"Very true," I nod. All of our friends are moving into flats close to ours and starting jobs in either the Ministry or St. Mungo's as well. At least our friends who were done with Hogwarts were, Ginny and Luna still had a year left. I couldn't imagine what Blaise was going through at the thought of not having access to Ginny for the whole school year, the two of them never kept their hands off of each other so this was definitely going to put them to the test. I wasn't too worried about Harry and Luna though, I think they can manage.

Our little group of friends was now all paired off with each other, there was Hermione and I, Blaise and Ginny, Harry and Luna, and Ron and Pansy. It was weird how we all fit together like this, but it was really nice. Hermione's friends and my friends all got along because they were all dating each other. It worked out perfectly for us and I had a feeling all of them would last as well as Hermione's and my relationship would. We were all in it for the long haul even though we were still young.

"This is one of my favorite spots on campus," Hermione said after we were silent for a few minutes. "Thanks for making it that way," she turns and smiles up at me.

"No problem love," I smile as lean down to place a kiss on her lips. "I still love you as much as I did that day and that's never going to change," I brush a strand of hair out of her face.

"I love you too Draco," she smiles up at me.

We sit there for the next few minutes reminiscing about all of the great times we'd had on the grounds of Hogwarts over the years. From Hermione punching me in third year to the moment at this lake, it was funny to see how our feelings for each other had grown. I sat there with Hermione in my arms as we talked about he past and the future. I wasn't ready to leave the past behind, but I was excited for what the future would hold.

Our friends all finally joined us and we had our own little going away party, it was another memory that would stay within this chapter of my life. Hogwarts had been good to me over the years, I'd made friends, memories, gotten good grades and the chance to play on the Quidditch team, I'd found a good job because of them and most importantly of all I'd found Hermione. I was in love with her and nothing was going to change that. When we left the Hogwarts grounds for final time tomorrow she would be at my side, it would be the ending of one chapter and the beginning of another. I was excited to see what the future had to hold, we were heading off into the unknown but I had a feeling we'd come out on top. I loved Hermione and that's all I needed, one day we'd take that next step in our relationship but right now we had all the time in the world for that.

Thanks for reading and I'd love to know what you think!

This is it, the end of this story but I promise there will be a sequel. I can't believe this story has come this far, I started this as a one shot and here we are 37 chapters later and a sequel to come. I want to thank each and everyone of you for reading and reviewing and making this my best story yet. The reception was amazing and I was extremely happy when this reached 100 reviews (my previous record was 90) and now I am ecstatic because you all helped me break 200. I had no idea when I started writing this how it would turn out and I had no idea the reception it would receive.

All of you are amazing and I appreciate that you have read, reviewed, and/or supported this story all the way through. You are the reason I wrote it and you are the reason it was successful. I will be writing a sequel to this story and I hope to get that underway soon. For any other those who don't know what I am planning on doing for the sequel: The sequel is going to be set about ten years in the future when Hermione and Draco are married with kids and things have kind of gotten in the way. They are still deeply in love and what not, but they don't have the time to constantly have their hands on each other like they did back at Hogwarts, but they are going to find a way around that. Throughout the story there will be flashback to their weddings and everything that has happened over those last ten years. I'm not exactly sure how it's going to play out but I can guarantee you there there will be no cheating or doubt or relationship falling apart on Draco and Hermione's end.

The sequel will most likely be called Remind Me and I hope to have it started soon. I will post a chapter 39 to this story when the sequel does come out with the details, so if you follow this story you will know when the sequel starts. If you have anything you want to see happen in the sequel, just let me know and I will work it in. I want to write what you want to read!

Well, I guess that's about it. You all are amazing! I wouldn't have been able to do this without you and I appreciate all the support and feedback you have given me. Thank you for stick with me through this story! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I'm not sure what else to say, so I guess that's about it.

Thank you for reading and I'd love to know what you thought about this little epilogue and the whole story in general!

Thanks again!

~GinnyGinervaWeasley