This Subdued Fire

*Sob*! The last chapter!! NOOOOO. Gosh. I\'ve lived with this story for so long, I\'m about to be all teary eyed and shit. : * * * ( But...there it is. All good things must come to an end, right? Right.

And so...for the first time, I\'m doing individual acknowledgments. Yay.

angelina - for giving me my very first review! yay!

HPFreak18 - for giving me my second review!

Draco_Fan - for reading and giving constructive reviews and keeping up with the story

Fiery Slut aka Raffie - Thank you SO much for reviewing me and introducing my fic to CV. Eternal gratitude.

The Wishful Witch - detailed reviews melt my butter, thanks for making my day.

JadedAdvocate - thanks for calling me on my inattention to canon, but it is those little departures that make fanfic what it is. ;)

Croft - for being into the story from the beginning and keeping up with it as it progressed, thanks so much.

Krista (ksinnis) - Thanks. Loved your reviews.

s - glad I made you cry

BT - you caught my error! hooray. I fixed it because of your eagle eye! TYVM

key - Thanks for saying I\'m \"bloody brilliant.\" Not true, but the praise made me blush.

BamsDeadChick - You\'re a good writer and I\'m glad that you enjoyed my story.

Kiristeen - Yay. I was so squeeing when I got a review by you.

Zahrah - for being the one who made me do an email update list! :)

Zephyr - I LOVE your stories and I\'m glad you\'ve enjoyed mine.

Pammy - for checking back and reviewing!

Cat - for making me write more

Jez, cow, Tabata, Ashley, Nita - Love your reviews, even when cow was picking at me for making it Hermione centered.

Raphaelle - for making my Hermione closer to the Hermione in canon. Thanks.

CLily - the reviews & emails were a blast. Thanks

Jules, jenn, Apollonia, dianna, and Kiana - Thanks ever so much

Campy - for putting the official Campy stamp of approval on my ramblings. Mille mercis.

jess, blossom, Tala, Rebecca, gracemis, tbj, Lola, Jennifer, estrilda, LeAnn, Menoly, luxy, DG, subliminality, talaymina, raelynne, pixie, cewitcwitch, jeannette, kittypilla, Blacksatin, Sam, Diana, em, Bridget, Hanna Delacour, iPnay, deblovesdragon, - woah. just realized how many people actually read this thing! scary. Thanks and love to all.

Yoli - for the fantabulous emails you sent

deedee - You are a devoted reader. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! From the first chapter to the last, you were there.

Hexia - for emailing and telling me to get off my ass about posting chapters. THANKS!! Mille mercis, ma petite.

Gin - for being the one who got me into writing fanfic in the first place, my kitten and my adorable Snape-lovah. my beta and the who calls me just to make sure I\'m ok. Many hearts, flowers, candy and kisses. Eternal gratitude - Gammie :)

Blissay - My lovely wife, even if it is over cyberspace and two continents. Tell Kevin not to be jealous of our love and thanks for being the second person ever to read my fic and nitpick it to death to make it better. Many many many thanks and gratitude.

And last, but definitely not least -

Jo Rowling, for thinking up this wonderfully rich world and populating it with storied and fascinating characters for me to play with. By the way, don\'t sue me. But it sure would be nice to have Hermione hook up with Draco. :D (I had to slip it in there)

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter books, movies and assorted whatevers do not belong to me, I did not purchase them at any time, will probanevenever be rich enough to do so and I treat them with the utmost respect. No copyright infringement is implied or intended.

Now. On with the show.
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The End of the Beginning

The end of term tests were over and all were exhausted. The examinations that the professors devised were more excruciating than anything NEWTs had thrown at the students. But they\'d all run the gauntlet and come out the other side. It was now the day of the Leaving Feast.

Preparations were being made for the Matriculation Ceremony before the Feast. Seventh-years were scurrying about, making sure that their black robes and hennins were perfect. Wands were polished and shoes were buffed to a high-gloss shine. Hermione and Draco, as Head Girl and Boy, were counted on to give an ending speech.

Spring had finally given way to the warmth of summer and the sun waxed high in the bright cerulean sky. Hermione and Draco were out by the lake, lazing away in the grass. She sat resting against the trunk of a tree, Draco\'s head in her lap as he dozed. Hermione had a quill and parchment in hand, thinking of what she could possibly say to sum up this wild and woolly term.

She was drawing a complete blank which was compounded by the fact that Draco had his remarks already done. Then, too, in only two hours the ceremony would begin. Hermione would don the Hogwarts uniform for the last time and sit in her place at Gryffindor\'s table for the last time. She felt elated and melancholic all at once. Hermione laid aside the blank parchment and quill. She stroked Draco\'s hair absently as she stared at the castle. Her brain cast her back to the first night she\'d ever encountered Hogw.
.

The boat ride across the lake in the rain, Hagrid\'s imposing figure...the even more intimidating Professor McGonagall...being sorted into Gryffindor and the Welcome Feast. More memories tumbled through her consciousness. The troll, finally finding friends, the basilisk, Sirius, the Yule Ball, Viktor Krum and her first kiss, the Department of Mysteries, that bastard Dolohov and the satisfaction at finally seeing him die. Then her mind flashed on Draco. The night of the butterflies and his subsequent blackmail, later turning to patient seduction. Their first night in the Astronomy Tower...God, that felt like a millennium ago. More images came crashing along on the heels of others. And then the last, strongest image imprinted itself onto her vision. Hermione rested her head against a bole on the tree and closed her eyes.

The night that Draco proposed soared into recollective being. The perfect spring midnight, stars above, wind rustling the trees ever so faintly. Strange ever still that Snape should be there, witness and not yet witness to it all. Her hands stroked Draco\'s head tenderly. The large diamond on her hand twinkled merrily in the afternoon sunlight. Hermione opened her eyes and looked at her lover as he lay in repose. She smoothed a finger delicately along his silvery brows, marvelling at his nearly perfect features. To think that nearly nine years would culminate in this: a quiet afternoon spent by a lake erfeerfect, undisturbed peace.

She could feel Draco stirring under her ministrations and he opened his eyes to gaze at her. He reached up and caught her wrist, bringing her hand to lay a kiss in the opened palm.

\"You examine me, Miss Granger. Do you find me handsome?\"

Hermione didn\'t even have the heart to take the mickey out of him. \"Devastatingly so.\"

\"What? A compliment?\"

\"Oh, come on, Draco. I complimented your face; keep your wig on.\"

Draco made a face and settled more comfortably in his sprawl. \"Have you finished your speech yet?\"

\"No. I can\'t think of anything worthwhile to say.\" Hermione transfigured a long blade of grass into a hair tie and pulled her curls out of her face.

\"Possibly because you, as a Gryffindor, *have* nothing worthwhile to say?\" He gave her an innocent look that was wholly incongruous with his smarmy words.

\"Stuff it, Draco. I\'m being serious. The ceremony is in, Merlin\'s teeth! Half an hour! Damn.\" Hermione leapt up from her spot, thumping Draco\'s cranium on the ground in the process.

\"Ow! Be a little more careful with that, Granger!\" Draco sat up and rubbed his injured head.

\"Sorry.\" She pulled her robe on and tossed Draco his. \"But we haven\'t much time.\"

\"Yes, yes, I know.\" Draco stood up and put his robe on, charming any wrinkles out of his and Hermione\'s. \"But calm down. They can\'t start this show without us, love

\"I know. Still...\"

\"You want to get it right?\" Hermione nodded at Draco\'s assessment. He smiled and gave her a small kiss. \"Always the perfectionist.\"

He led her off to the castle and to that haven of havens; Hermione\'s eternal refuge: the Library. There, able to concentrate, Hermione jotted off a quick speech that would be suitable for the audience of a graduation ceremony. She finished just in the nick of time, MadPincPince shooing them off towards the Trophy Room so they could march in with the rest of their classmates.

Professor McGonagall, now Headmistress, came to check on all of her cubs before taking her place on the dais in front of the assembled. She straightened robes and peaked caps. Minerva made sure that not a hair was out of place and that clothes were wrinkle-free and shoes were polished to a gloss. When she came to Hermione, the older witch had a suspicious twinkle in her fine russet eyes. The Headmistress placed Hermione\'s cap upon her head and gave the younger woman, her protege, a firm and hearty hug.

\"Miss Granger...\" McGonagall softened. \"Hermione. I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am of you. I remember when you were a tiny little thing of ten, looking so frightened and well, like a drowned kitten. And now, a fully grown witch of magnificent power.\" Minerva smiled at Hermione\'s slight blush. \"You\'ve made a fine match.\" She looked over at where Draco stood. \" He is quite lucky to have you. And if ever you need my assisstance or aid, I will be here. The gates of Hogwarts will always be open to you both, my dear.\"

\"Thank you, Headmistress,\" Hermione replied quietly.

\"De rien, ma chere.\" Minerva gave Hermione a broad smile coupled with a wink and glided off to talk to Harry, who most definitely had tears in his eyes.

On the other side of the room, slightly away from the rest of the mob, Draco stood with his Head of House, his Godfather and friend. Snape had his hair pulled back into a queue and his black robes were impressive, to say the least. A tall hennin was perched on his head, making him appear even taller than usual. She couldn\'t make out the words he was saying to Draco but from the look on Draco\'s face she could tell that they were uncharacteristically sentimental. Severus Snape, sentimental...Hermione scoffed inwardly. Who would\'ve thought?

\"Draco.\" Severus looked gravely at his tall, whippet thin godson. \"I wanted to let you know that...\" And here, Snape stumbled, not knowing how exactly to phrase his statements. Draco looked at him expectantly, adjusting the peaked black hat which had the faintest of silver threads running through it. \"I just wanted to say that, in spite of your horrid upbrining, you\'ve turned out quite adequately. Better than I\'d hoped.\"

The snarky, back-handed compliment was just what Draco expected of his surly, truculent godfather. However, Draco knew what it was Severus was loathe to say. It was a moment of shining pride for Severus, indeed, all of Slytherin House. Draco Octavian Malfoy, had managed to overcome and to fulfill that elusive dream of uniting the houses together - if only for a brief timeuse use rivalries were still in place, if not as vicious as they once were.

\"Thank you, sir.\"

\"You\'re welcome.\" Snape laid a hand on Draco\'s shoulder, removed it and spun away to speak with the small bunch of seventh-year Slytherins.

Hermione turned her gaze away from Draco and looked to Ron and Harry. Her friends, the best friends a girl could have. They\'d been together, stuck by one another through thick and thin for nearly nine years. She sniffed back a nose full of soppy sentiment. Now was not the time to begin weeping.

The Heads of Houses lined their charges up and the doors to the Trophy Room opened. They were marched into the room in absolute silence. The House banners fluttered in the faint breeze from the opened windows. Quidditch cups gleamed in their glass cases in the yellow sunlight. Hermione was struck with a thought: how fitting that this should end where it began - in the Trophy Room. She looked over and saw Draco giving her a faint smile, knowing that he was thinking the same thing.

The Houses sat themselves in their sections. The Heads went to the dais set in front with Draco and Hermione following. The minute the Head Boy and Girl took their seats, their headgear changed. Hermione\'s peaked cap changed to a deep scarlet colour with a golden lion running rampant along the curve of the cone. Draco\'s became silver with a shining viridian serpent uncoiling and sliding silkily across the front.

Hermione and Draco looked at one another inonisonishment and replaced their hats upon their heads. The professors were grinning faintly at their reactions. It was so pleasant to see that the jaded students could still be amazed at the wonders of the magical world. Hermione turned to look out at the audience of students and family members. Her grandparents were there, as were her Tantes Renee and Josette, along with cousine Armande.

Lydia was agog at the open and free use of magic around her. She stared, open-mouthed at her granddaughter, who was so much a part of this society. The older woman had some idea of what went on, but as a Muggle with no contact with the Wizarding world, she could not have imagined the extent of it.

Antoine, for his part, took it in with typical Gallic sang-froid. Having had to deal with Armande all of her life until she went off to Beauxbatons made it that much easier to shrug it off. He eased back in his chair, looking on his granddaughter with pride and loveppy ppy for her accomplishments. Antoine\'s only wish was that Clarice and Peter could have been there to see it.

Each Head of House spoke in their turn, with McGonagall going last and paying tribute to those fallen in the last battle. Minerva got a bit choked up when she spoke of Albus, but she managed to contain herself. Thus finished with not a dry eye in the house, she called for the students to rise.

The Headmistress called for Plumeria Sprout to come forward. The stout witch rose from her seat and went to the lectern, asking for Hufflepuff House to queue up. They did so and proceeded to the platform to receive their certificates. The first called out was Hannah Abbott. The Hufflepuff and Dumbledore\'s Army member stepped up and her Head of House gave her the certificate, the little hennin on Hannah\'s head turned from ordinary black to black and gold stripes, her house colours. Sprout gave the girl a hug and sent her back to her seat. The rest of Hufflepuff proceeded in this manner until they were finished. When the last student filled the section of the Hall, Professor Sprout called out the names of the fallen Hufflepuffs and a member from each one\'s family came to get their loved one\'s paper.

rituritual was repeated with Ravenclaw, Slytherin and Gryffindor in due time. And finally, it was time for Draco and Hermione to receive their diplomas. The Headmistress stood once more to introduce them. Snape stood at his chair, Draco\'s paper and something else in hand.

\"Every year, there are students who manage to rise beyond expectation into excellence. Not only do they excel at academics, but they exceed in every area that counts.\" Minerva turned around to look aaco aco and Hermione fondly, who preened and squirmed respectively. \"In that vein, it means more to be Head Boy or Girl simply by being top of the tests. Intelligence is certainly prized, but so are Loyalty, Compassion, and Drive. The two students whom the staff, which, I may add, must vote on unanimously, have chosen to represent these qualities, have exemplified the Hogwarts spirit above and beyond what anyone could ask. It is my honour and delight to give you your Head Boy, Draco Octavian Malfoy and your Head Girl, Hermione Valentina Granger.\"

Those seated rose to their feet and gave the two a very hearty round of applause. Minerva gestured Draco forward and Severus followed. Hermione sat, her eyes shining at her fiance. Severus handed Draco his diploma and a long thin box. Draco opened it and his eyes went wide with shock and surprise. Inside the box was a new wand, lacquered ebonod wod with a mother of pearl serpent inlaid on the handle. Draco knew that this wand had to have cost his godfather a pretty penny. And even though Draco did not need a wand to perform magic, the significance of the gift was not lost. He could now put aside his old, battered wand of childhood and take up the tool of manhood.

Tears glinted in Draco\'s fine eyes and in an uncharacteristic move, he grabbed up his godfather in a huge, gruff hug. Severus appeared shocked for at least ten seconds before his arms wound around his godson and returned his hug. Minerva, looking on from her seat beside Hermione sniffled loudly, wiped her eyes with a lace-trimmed handkerchief.

The two broke apart and with much masculine clearing of throats, Severus went back to his chair and Draco stepped to the lectern. He looked out over the audience, muttered *Sonorous* and glanced once back at Hermione before beginning.

\"My fellow classmates, I stand before you now, not as Head Boy, not as a Malfoy, but as your peer. If I have learned anything in my seven years here at Hogwarts, it is that each one of us has a part to play, a unique and wonderful role to fill. Pureblood, mixed-blood and Muggle-born, it makes no difference. We are, all of us, important to our community and to the world at large. There are some people who would have us believe otherwise.\" He looked up and the faintest of shadows appeared in his eyes. \"Even I once thought that. But fortunately, fate managed to intervene and send a person into my life who showed me that this belief was an utter falsity.\" Draco reached back and grasped Hermione\'s hand briefly before letting it go. \"It was here, in this very room, that began me on my road to discovering what the Hogwarts spirit was made of. Intelligence, Loyalty, Compassion and Drive. These are the qualities which makes not only a Head Boy *or* Girl but which is in every student here in this school. We, as a whole, are what makes Hogwarts strong and full of life. And as your Head Boy, a title, which I think I richly deserve.\" At this, Draco got a chuckle for his characteristically immodest remark. \"I must say that I am proud of us, all of us and that I have come to consider Hogwarts my home away from home and that I am also proud to call all of you \'friend\'.\" Draco smiled and nodded his head at the applause that erupted from the audience.

Draco ended the charm and went to resume his seat but before he could, McGonagall got up and gave Draco a hug, the first show of affection to the young man from the older witch. Finally, a sign of approval from her. He broke into an even wider smile and sat next to Hermione, who gave him a kiss before rising to join her Head of House.

Minerva handed Hermione her diploma and a similar long box. Upon opening the box, Hermione found a similar wand: shiny lacquered ebony wood with pink and white five-petaled roses inlaid on the handle. McGonagall managed not to tear up again and she took her seat as Hermione went up to the podium.

She pulled out the piece of parchment from her robe pocket, looked at it and discarded it quickly. Hermione looked up from the surface of the lectern out into the faces of those she\'d spent nearly half her life with. Her eyes touched on Ron\'s and Harry\'s faces. She saw the Wey cey clan, looking so happy and proud of their son and of Harry, who they considered to be a son. Hermione flicked her gaze over to her own family. They were smiling so widely, she thought that their faces might split. Stifling a small, amused chuckle, she began to speak, muttering *Sonorous* quietly.

\"I thought about reading what managed to scribble down a half-hour before this ceremony began. But then I realized it was trite and boring and not at all from the Heart, h ish is what I feel that you, as my friends and colleagues deserve.\" She cleared her throat, obviously blinking back tears. \"Being here, as a Muggle-born, I did not always feel as if I had a place. And there were those who were all too eager to point out that did *not* have a place here. But there were those who, from the beginning, made sure that I knew that I was welcomed and, in time, loved. I have lost many things here, in these sheltering walls. But I have gained ever so much more. I have gained real and true friends who have guided me and shephered me through losing parents, losing friends, losing lovers. And in the process, I ned ned that books and cleverness was not all that there was to the world. To truly belong to Hogwarts means to be True, Loving and Driven. To push onto being a better person and making a real difference in the world. To be able to look out at the faces of one\'s classmates...*your* faces and being proud to calem \em \'friend.\' To offer aid and assistance not grudgingly, but with both hands open. To never stop trying to embody that ideal which burns in each of us: excellence. As the Head Boy said, it is not only the Head Girl or Boy who show these things. It is in each and every one here today. We are as important to Hogwarts as the very living stones that it is made of. It is only through the bonds we have forged that Hogwarts stands as tall and inimitable as it ever did. And as for bonds,\" Here, Hermione looked back at Draco, a soppy expression on her face. \"The connections I have made here are more precious to me than silver or gold.\" Hermione laid her left hand on the top of the lectern and the diamond on her finger winked merrily in the light. Her eyes lit with love on her friends out in the crowd. She could see that Harry had open, unashamed tears running down his face and Ron kept wiping his eyes on the sleeve of his robe. \"It has been a difficult year for all of us ao I o I send up a thank you to those who have given all so that we may be here today, in this time of peace. And I also thank you, my friends, for being all that any person would wish you to be.\"

Hermione stepped back from the podium and returned to her seat. McGonagall was weeping openly into her hankie and even Snape had a slight shimmer in his dark eyes. The older witch got up and pulled Hermione into a hug. Minerva released Hermione and stood in front of the audience, motioning the students seated to rise and face their friends and parents. With a wide smile, she said, \"It is my extreme pleasure to present to you the Hogwarts Class of Nineteen Ninety-eight.\"

And she burst into loud applause which was taken up and echoed by everyone there. Minerva silenced the crowd and with a swish and flick of her wand, four of the eight banners which hung from the ceiling dropped from their spots and combined to form an entirely new banner. Elements from each house crest were set against a backdrop of white velvet, thorns surrounding them with roses amid the thorns. Two wands crossed were below that and along the very top of the banner, in gleaming multi-coloured letters were the words \"Class of 1998.\" The finished banner took its place along the wall with the other banners of the past, shining and new against the dark grey of the stone wall.

The ceremony done, those who were on the dais swept down to join the crowd. There were hugs and smiles and tears all around. Moreover, there was relief that it was over, they weree tee to do as they wished. No more Voldemort or Death Eaters hanging over their heads, clouding their happiness.

Lydia stood with Hermione, looking her granddaughter over. The strained quality that surrounded Hermione was gone. In the place of that bowstring taut girl was a poised and glowingly happy young woman. Lydia suspected that it had much to do with the tall, handsome blond that stood at Hermione\'s side.

\"Grandmother, this is Draco Malfoy, Head Boy.\" The two shook hands. \"And my fiance.\"

Lydia\'s eyes widened in surprised delight. \"Fiance?\"

Her tone was echoed by the rest of Hermione\'s relative. \"Fiance?\" They all responded in unison.

\"Yes. Draco and I are to be married.\" Hermione held out her hand, showing off the band on her finger.

\"Impressive, Hermione,\" Armande grabbed up her hand. \"You\'ve enchanted this band, haven\'t you?\" She queried of Draco.

\"Yes, I have. How did you know?\" He cocked his head to the side and studied this cousin of Hermione\'s. She had the same face shape and the same nose and hair, although A.J.\'s was a deeper brown, almost black. Instead of brown eyes, the girl had inherited dark green orbs that widened in that enchantingly Gallic way.

\"Why, I am a witch. I attended Beauxbatons. Fleur Delacour was in my class.\" She flicked her head over to where Fleur stood with the Weasleys as they congratulated Ron and Harry. She lookedn hen her nose at the 6\'1\" tall Draco. Armande was tall and willowy, taller than Draco even. She looked as if she hovered around the 6\'2\" mark. Added to that was the fact that she wore three inch heels. Draco disliked her immediately. That damned French condescension had always rankled him.

Hermione subtly nudged him with her elbow. (Be nice.) She sent winging his way.

(I\'ll try, but she bugs the hell out of me.)

(She takes a bit of getting used to, but she\'s a lovely girl. Please, Draco, for me.)

(Alright, love. Only for you.) \"Was she really?\" He directed at Armande.\"I do seem to remember Fleur telling some rather ribald stories about a Muggle-born witch...\" Draco trailed off, seeing Armande\'s face go rather pink.

\"As I\'ve heard stories of you, M\'sieur Malfoy.\" And with a sniff of that haughty little nose, Armande stalked off to introduce herself to members of the Weasley clan.

An intrigued Remus Lupin eyed the woman\'s lithe figure as she walked across the room and felt the need to get to know her a bit better. It was a good thing that Sirius wasn\'t there, he thought a bit disloyally. He\'d have stolen a march on Lupin with no hesitation whatsoever.

The group rolled their eyes and proceeded to make Draco feel welcome in a way that had always eluded him before. The meet and greet lasted for nearly an hour and the sun sank lower in the west. Chimes were rung from the direction of the doors. The talking dwindled to a low roar and stopped all together when Professor McGonagall bade them to make their temporary farewells as the students must still participate in the Leaving Feast. There were hugs and kisses all around as the various family members were escorted out and the students made their way to the Great Hall.

Inside there was much noise as both pupils and professors conversed merrily. Amongst the sixth- and seventh- years there was a sense of nostalgia, a bit of depression as they contemplated the beginnings of the end of their years in Hogwarts. The Headmistress and her Deputy took to the head table and called for silence. Minerva made a few remarks about the ending year and how it was all fortuitous that the war was over and how we should not forget the fallen and blah blah blah. It would\'ve impressed the seventh-years and some of the sixth-years more if they\'d not just heard a more heartfelt version of the speech some five hours ago.

And then the woman began awarding those bloody last minute House points.

She awarded an extra hundred and fifty points to each house. Next, an extra hundred points a piece to Hermione, Harry and Ginny for heroics on the battlefield. Those points made Slytherin a hundred points below Gryffindor. McGonagall then turned to the Slytherin Head of House and smirked at him. Severus just hung his head. It was always a bloody pipe dream to think that his House would win the House Cup. But then she turned back to face the students. She awarded one-hundred points to Draco Malfoy for courage and valor in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Gryffindor was now even with Slytherin.

McGonagall then did the unthinkable.

\"As my own House has managed, miraculously, to win the Quidditch Cup seven years running, not to mention the House Cup for longer than that...\" She trailed off, looking at the students who awaited her pronouncement with bated breath. \"To that end, I award Millicent Bulstrode one House point for keen eyes and the quickness to rescue a seasoned warrior on the field of honour.\"

The mouths of all assembled dropped open, watching as the previously blue and silver banners changed to green and silver. Slytherin had done it at last. They\'d won the House Cup.

And managed to send their normally cold and stoic Head of House into paroxyisms of happiness. He leapt up from the table and gave Minerva a buss on the cheek that made the old lady blush like a newly hatched schoolgirl.

\"Now, it is time to get down to the serious business.\" She clapped her hands and ridiculous amounts of food appeared on the tables. They dug in and when everyone was glutted insensate, the dishes disappeared and the students bid a wonderful last night.

Hermione managed to roll her stuffed self from the table. Draco was waiting for her by the door. He looked like a right little porker, a bit of the cherry pie he\'d consumed lingering by his mouth. Sleepy and sated, the two ambled off in the direction of the Slytherin common room, all house rivalries put aside for the moment.

Draco gave the password and escorted Hermione down the flight of steps to his room. The pair, too tired for anything more than sleeping, stripped down. Draco pulled out a pair of blue silk pajamas and tossed the top to Hermione. After putting on their respective halves, they settled down into the black satin sheets and drifted into the arms of slumber.
**********

The next day was pandemonium.

Student were rng ang about like chickens with their heads cut off in their preparations to leave Hogwarts. Shouts were ringing through the castle as articles were lost and recovered. It always seemed like someone was missing a shoe. Or a book. Or a cauldron. Poor Neville had lost Trevor again. Hermione and Draco were currently in the dungeon room sorting out books and other assorted items. Although why they bothered, they could not have said. Hermione, with all of her belongings were travelling to the deep-in-renovations Nox Aeternum, more commonly known as Malfoy Castle.

It was a normal looking border keep and for a castle, rather cozy. However, Hermione would be sending her things on and going back to London to collect the rest of it for transport.

\"So, how long is this process to take?\" Draco enquired.

\"I should only be there a day or two, depending on when we get into King\'s Cross. Then, too, I should spend a bit of time with my granny.\"

\"You can always Apparate whenever you like. I don\'t like being separated from you.\" Draco looked slightly put out.

\"Darling, I\'ll be back in a day or so. There\'s no need to go all pouty.\" Hermione sealed the last box and smiled at Draco.

\"Alright. Still, I\'ll be counting the minutes.\"

\"Lord, save me from soppy declarations like that.\" Hermione rolled her eyes.

\"You\'re no good, woman, you know that?\" He gave her a gimlet glare.

\"I\'m very, very good. And well you know it,\" she winked at him slyly. \"Now, shrink those boxes over there and stick them in that bag.\" Draco did so and Hermione thanked him, taking up the satchel. \"Come on. My other things are already packed, so I am ready to go.\"

Draco took the bag from her and they ascended the stairs to the first floor. Leaving behind the castle proper, they walked across the grounds to the gates where the thestral-drawn carriages were. He sent her off with a kiss and a wave and then stepping further out, Apparated to the keep further south.
********

There was a loud, solitary knock on the large wooden door. Draco descended the stairs, not a house elf was in sight. Pushing open the door, he saw Hermione standing on the top step. She gave him an airy smile and tossed her bags inside the door.

Draco forgot all reserve and kissed her thoroughly in the doorway. When they were both flushed and grinning, he led her inside, not only to his house but to his heart.

*The End*