A/N: Well, readers, here we are! The final words of Treacherous Affairs. Read on…

The final few months at Hogwarts got underway, the events of the past year just a pleasant - or otherwise - memory.

Pansy, predictably, was expelled. Lavender told the other Gryffindors, who heard it from Theo, that as she left her room for the last time, with Filch staggering under the weight of her trunk behind her, she had to 'run the gauntlet' of the entirety of Slytherin House, who were none too pleased that two of their most popular senior students had fallen victim to her treachery.

They didn't make it too pleasant for her.

Harry, who despite everything, still missed Ron's jolly presence, a constant for most the past seven years, moved into the Heads' Dorm, thus becoming the portrait's newest object of her dreary affections. He and Hermione spent many warm evenings together, sometimes proffering shoulders to cry on, no questions asked, if one or the other felt the raw ache of loneliness a bit too much to bear.

True to his word, Draco sent Hermione a letter the day after he left Hogwarts. His haughty eagle owl landed on the Gryffindor breakfast table in amongst the detritus, nodded to her regally, and stuck out his leg that held the letter.

Accustomed to just having the mail land in her muesli, Hermione gingerly removed it, steering clear of its spectacular beak, and offered the owl something from the breakfast table. It surveyed the mess, gave her a baleful look and soared off, scattering a dozen slower, smaller owls to the four corners of the Hall.

She held her breath while she opened the letter.

My love, it began.

Her cheeks grew pink, then pinker as she read.

'How's Malfoy?' Theo asked after a discreet silence, who was sitting at the Gryffindor table with Lavender.

She smiled. 'In a whole pile of trouble with his father.'

Theo grimaced. 'Rather him than me.'

Hermione wondered what Draco's parents would think when they met her; but decided she'd jump off that bridge another day. Meanwhile, she should find out from Draco what his intimidating owl preferred as treats.

Finally, it was time for the Seventh Years to go. Clutching their final exam results (Hermione obtained the highest scores ever, of course), they listened to Professor Dumbledore's final, stirring speech – congratulating them on their success (a little over-hopefully in some cases), wishing them the best of luck with their future, and humbly asking them to fondly remember their times at the school that will never forget them.

Hermione was in so many tears as she said goodbye to friends and teachers that she even found herself hugging Professor Snape, to his extreme astonishment and her acute embarrassment.

'Very well, get along, Miss Granger,' he rumbled uncomfortably. He lowered his voice. 'Tell Mr Malfoy I expect him to be up to play with all the reading I have assigned him for next year.'

She smiled. 'I'll make sure of it.'

On the train, heading home for the final time.

When Harry and Hermione weren't conducting their final Prefects duties (making sure the passengers made it to London in one piece, clutching the same belongings they had when they started the journey), they shared a carriage with Lavender and Theo.

'Um, should we knock next time?' Harry said, entering the carriage with his hand over his eyes.

Theo and Lavender paused in their heated kiss. 'That would be great, Potter, thanks,' Theo smirked. He winked at Lavender. 'Given enough notice, who knows what we could get up to in here?'

She shoved him. 'You'll be doing it on your own.'

Hermione giggled as she sat down. She held out her hand. 'Hand it over, Brown, I want to stare at it in awe again.'

Blushing, Lavender held out her left hand, and Hermione once more marvelled at the beautiful solitaire diamond occupying her ring finger. Hermione turned it this way and that. It caught the late Spring sun, giving off a very light purple glint.

'Wow,' Hermione breathed. 'Theo, I still can't believe you gave Lavender a lavender-coloured diamond engagement ring.'

Theo looked pretty pleased with himself.

'Yeah, thanks, Nott,' grizzled Harry. Way to set the bar for the rest of us.'

'Oh, yeah? Who are you planning on proposing to?'

'N-No-one!' stammered Harry. 'But – you know. One day…'

Hermione smirked. 'How's your correspondence with Ginny going?'

He blushed. 'Yeah, it's going well. She'll be home for the holidays, and I'm going to The Burrow to visit her before I start my pro Quidditch try-outs.'

'That's great!' Hermione said. 'I'm sure they'll love to have you there. I imagine it won't be the same without Ron…' she trailed off.

All four sat in silence, each with their own memories.

'What about you, Hermione?' Lavender asked. 'What are your plans for the summer?'

'Well,' she began, 'instead of going straight home, I'm going to spend some time at Malfoy Manor first.' She put on her brightest face, which, of course, fooled no-one.

'It'll be okay,' Theo said reassuringly. 'Draco won't let anything happen to you. And his mother will love you. I guarantee it. She'd even love Parkinson if she was the one who saved her son's life.'

Hermione snorted. 'I suppose two out of three isn't bad.'

'That's the spirit!' cheered Harry.

At long last, the Hogwarts Express pulled up at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. Hermione and Harry stayed behind, corralling over-excitable students, reuniting lost property with their frantic or forgetful owners and checking each carriage to make sure that no-one had fallen asleep and forgotten to disembark.

When they stepped out onto the platform, it was heaving with joyful students, parents and other close family and friends.

They hugged and kissed Neville and Parvati goodbye. They were off on an intrepid journey to Comoros, where the lush, unique vegetation in a volcanic setting held endless opportunities for Neville to get his hands dirty before he returned, with Malfoy, to Hogwarts to begin his Herbology Mastership.

Harry was on his way home to Grimmauld Place. After extracting a promise from each other that they would get together over the summer, he and Hermione hugged each other tightly.

'I don't want to miss you,' Hermione said, tears forming in her eyes.

'Me either,' Harry said gruffly. Then he looked around. 'I can feel someone glowering at me,' he smiled. 'Is someone here to collect you?'

Hermione smiled coyly. 'Someone might be.'

'Well, I'll leave you to your reunion,' he smiled. He kissed her cheek. 'Take care, Hermione.'

She smiled and kissed him back. 'You too, Harry.'

Collecting her bag, she dried her eyes and looked around for Draco. This, of course, was almost impossible to do, since she was a shorty.

'You look like you're in need of rescuing, Miss,' a voice nearby said.

She bit her lip to contain her smile. 'I'm looking for my boyfriend,' she said. 'Have you seen him?' He's tall, with blonde hair, grey eyes, gorgeous face, hot body, snappy dresser – does he sound familiar?'

The voice chuckled. 'Yeah, I think he's close by.'

Hermione turned around and she stared at the gorgeous young man in faded jeans, a white shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, ruffled hair and a sinfully sexy smile.

She took two sedate steps towards Draco – then ran into his arms.

He wrapped his arms around her and whirled her around before holding her close to him.

'It's been too long,' he whispered.

They kissed – a long, slow, heavenly kiss – as the passengers ebbed and flowed around them.

THE END

A/N: Well, folks, there you have it – Nevernik's Potterisation of Dangerous Liaisons, or Cruel Intentions for the readers who are younger than me.

What an adventure! I hope you enjoyed it, even if there were a few places where you might have wondered what on earth was wrong with my head.

If you liked it, please read the sequel Treacherous Affairs Part Two.

Once again, thank you so much for your time, attention, reviews, favourites and follows. I am completely overwhelmed.

Hei konā mai (Goodbye for now)

NeverNik