Disclaimer: I don't own anything, blah, blah, blah.

            "Miss Granger, there's someone here to see you," Sherry said, suddenly appearing in the doorway. Hermione turned around from her filing cabinet to see her little blonde secretary. Hermione now worked for the Ministry in connection with Hogwarts, where she taught two classes as well as work for the Ministry of Magic. She turned back to the cabinet, searching for the impossible file, sighing in exasperation.

            "Alright, send them in."

She heard Sherry's stiletto heels clicking across the floor and the door shut.

            "2 months apart and not even so much as a hello?"

Hermione dropped the file she was holding and whipped around to see Deaco in his business suit. He opened up his arms and smiled.

"Get over here." She couldn't reach him fast enough. Pulling him closer she held him tightly, trying to make up for lost time.

            "God I missed you," Hermione whispered.

Draco had been working for the Ministry since their graduation four years ago, in the Muggle Studies Department and as an undercover investigator for the Minister himself. While she had been more than pleased with his decision, it required that he sometimes travel. The last trip had sent him to Australia for two months. With both of their busy schedules, and the nature of Draco's last case, there had been no time for visiting.

Draco pulled back a bit and kissed her softly. He rested his forehead against hers and swallowed.

            "All that sun and sand, and I have never been more miserable. Believer me, it was two months of hell." He kissed her again and grinned,

"I definitely missed that."       

            "Well, then we should make up for lost time," Hermione smiled, capturing his lips again. Things began to heat up, but they were interrupted by another knock on the door. Sherry opened it with a giggle,

            "Excuse me Miss Granger, but Mr.Burke is on line one." Hermione was about to respond when Draco cut in.

            "Tell him that she'll have to call him back and then… take the rest of the night off." Sherry looked at her as Draco pulled Hermione out the door. She sighed,

            "You heard the man."

            "Oh and Sherry," Draco stopped, turning around and tossing her the keys. "Don't forget to lock up."

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            Snow fell softly as Draco and Hermione walked hand in hand through the decorated streets of London.

            "How's your mother?" Hermione asked.

            "Oh, best that can be expected I suppose. That big old house gets lonely when you're all by yourself. Of course, she had Libby now, but we must visit her over the holidays, she'd love to see you."

            "Of course, Christmas day we'll go over," she hesitated slightly before asking the next question. "Draco…are you going to go to Azkaban?"

            "I suppose I will. He's still my father," he sighed. "No one deserves to be alone at Christmas, not even him."

            For one moment, Hermione saw sadness in his eyes. He and Harry really weren't that different at all, in a way, Draco had never known his father either. At least, not the man his father had been. And just as quickly as it had come, the sadness was gone. At one time, it had worried her, where did it all go? She had never seen him get angry or cry about it, he was always so strong, always holding it together, holding them together. The night after his father had been arrested; his mother had tried to kill herself. They had gone to the hospital to visit her and Draco had remained composed. But it was destroying him, she could see it. When they came home to their flat that evening, a huge fight ensued.

"I'm fine! Alright, will you bloody well leave me alone!" he shouted.

"You're not fine! Why don't you talk to me! You're quiet and withdrawn!" he turned his face away from her. She put her hand on his cheek and turned it back to look at her. Her voice quivered as she spoke. "You don't need to protect me. It's my turn to be strong for you."

He turned to walk away from her. "You can't act like it never happened! It was always there! But you never get upset, you just held it all in!" She screamed at him in frustration, he turned around to look at her with fire in his eyes.

"You don't understand! They need me to be strong! They need me to hold us together! I get upset and this family falls apart!" his voice shook with a rage Hermione had never seen in him before, and it was good.

  " No they don't! They're adults! They should be taking care of you! You are their child! You don't need to be strong for them or for you! I will be strong for the both of us Draco, so cry damn it! You've never cried for him, for you or for your mother!" She began to move closer to him. "For your broken childhood and broken family! Cry for what you never had! For everything you endured! You never cried for them, you never got upset!" At that point he broke down and sunk to his knees on the floor. He hugged her waist, sobbing as she held and cradled his head, just like a child.

After that, their relationship had been stronger than ever. Draco talked to her when something about his parents upset him. Together they arranged for a full time nurse to stay with his mother and make sure she was all right. But Draco was happy now, the anger and frustration was no longer bottled up inside of him.

         "So how is little Jess?" Draco asked, bringing Hermione back to reality.

         "Beautiful, she's such a sweet little girl," Hermione laughed softly.

         "And her parents, are they managing alright?"

         "Oh, Harry and Ginny are fine. Tired, but fine. I think that baby is the best thing that ever happened to them. You should see the way Harry's eyes light up, and the smile…I've never seen him so happy…" she trailed off. Draco squeezed her hand softly.

         "Your mate's been through a lot."

         "I think he finally understands what it's like to have a family. It's that part of his life that's always been missing, he's watched everyone else have it, and now it's his turn."

         "Well, we should call them up over the holidays, I can't wait to see Jess," Draco said. "How 'bout your other mate?"

         "Ron's fine, he and Lavender called me from Paris. He said to wish you Happy Christmas and he hopes to see us when they get back. What are we doing here?" Hermione asked as they stopped outside the back of a building.

         "You'll see, it's a surprise," Draco grinned. He knocked on the door three times and waited. Finally, the door opened. "Common," he ushered her inside into the pitch black.

         "Draco please, where are we?"

         "Here," he answered, opening another door and pulling her through. They stepped in and Hermione finally realized where they were.

         "Oh my god," she breathed as Draco pulled her through the crowd to the dance floor.

         "I heard there was going to be a crowd tonight so I had a friend get us in. It's been a long time since we've been here," he sighed. He owed this club everything if he though about it. This was where he and Hermione had first begun that long road four and a half years ago. As they reached the middle of the floor, the cheering began as the band came out on stage. Hermione gasped in surprise and began clapping as well.

         "Hello London! On behalf of Necessary Living, it's nice to be back where it all started for us. This place is packed! How's everybody feeling?" Darren asked. The crowd went wild with cheers. "Fantastic!" the guitarist laughed. "Well, to start things off, we have a special song for you. There are two very good friends of mine in the audience tonight, and so here's 'Bigger Than My Body' by Mr. John Mayer. A special thanks to my mates, Draco and Hermione, this one's for you," Hermione cheered and Darren winked at them. Draco pulled her closer to him and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

This is a call to the colourblind

This is an IOU

I'm stranded behind the horizon line

Tied up in something true

         "Draco! This is amazing! There are so many people! I didn't know you and Darren still talked."

         "Oh yeah, he said that they were going to be in town tonight and wanted to come back here and do a show, and he said he could get us in."

         Hermione noticed that he had become pale.

         "Draco are you alright?"

         "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, but there's, uh, something I need to ask you."

         "Of course, anything," she said reaching up and brushing the hair from his face. He took her hand and kissed the backs of her fingers.

         "When I kissed you here that first night, I never expected any of this to happen. But it did, and I'm so glad that it did. You saved me. You saw me when I couldn't see myself anymore. Every time I've leaned towards that darkness and given up on life, you've pulled me out kept me going. You've been my rock and my strength, you make me whole. It's like that missing piece has finally been filled, and I never want to lose you," they were both beginning to cry. He pulled a small box out of his pocket and got down on one knee. Draco's voice quivered as he continued. "The only thing I want for Christmas this year is to have you as my wife. Hermione Granger, will you marry me?" Hermione covered her mouth with one hand as she continued to cry, but nodded her head. Draco slipped the ring on her finger and she pulled him up to hug him. He held her tightly, both of them still crying. Hermione pulled back slightly and kissed him.

Someday I'll fly

            Someday I'll soar

            Someday I'll be so damn much more

         Cause I'm bigger than my body gives me credit for

         "I love you," she whispered.

         "I love you too." He kissed her lips again softly and then rested his forehead against hers.

         "Well, aren't you two just a sorry sight!" someone laughed behind them.

         "Ron?" Hermione asked, turning around.

         "Congratulations sweet heart!" he said as she hugged him. 'Congrats man," he said shaking Draco's hand. Their differences had long since been settled and Ron had finally accepted Draco, as a friend.

         "What, no hug for your other best friend?"

         "Harry!" Hermione pulled him immediately into a hug.

         "You look beautiful."

         "Liar!" she laughed. "My eyes are all blotchy now. So where are the wives?" she asked them.

         "Right here behind you," she heard Ginny giggle, giving her a hug.  

         "Now, let's see that rock on your hand," Lavender demanded after also embracing her. Hermione held up her hand for both of them to see.

         "Draco, I'm impressed!" Ginny gaped.

         "Yeah, nice job," Lavender agreed. Draco grinned happily coming up and snaking his arm around Hermione's waist.

         " I thought it would be nice for them to be here celebrate with us," he whispered in her ear. She gave him her approval with a searing kiss, leaving him weak. "Have I told you how much I love you," he breathed.

         "You may have mentioned it," Hermione laughed, capturing his lips again. A break came in the song and Darren voice came through the mike,

         "A very special congratulations to Draco and Hermione, who have just gotten engaged! All the best to you guys, now let's finish this off!"

Someday I'll fly

            Someday I'll soar

            Someday I'll be so damn much more

            Now there was no holding back and no letting go. Everyone began to dance around them as the song drew to a close. Just like Hermione had that first night, she pulled Draco into the dance.

Cause I'm bigger than my body gives me credit for

            Cause I'm bigger than my body

            I'm bigger than my body

            I'm bigger than my body now

But for them, the song wasn't ending, it was just beginning.       

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Author's Note:  I suppose this is my final author's note. Again, that song was 'Bigger Than My Body' By John Mayer and to really get the full effect, you should listen to it while you're reading that part. I got a little teary trying to finish this, that's why it took me so long, I just didn't want it to be over. Thanks to my friends Kim and Liz, who have been there, all the way supporting this story with their numerous reviews and reminders, as well as their motivation to get me to post chapters. You guys are awesome! To all of my readers, from those of you who have been with me from the beginning to those who have just started reading recently, thank you for all of your encouragement and support. The months since I've started writing this story have been tough for me, especially since school started and to come home to your wonderful reviews and kind words have really helped me get through and keep writing. You've been exceptionally patient with me, especially when it comes to my late posting and my screwing up facts, etc. and for that I am extremely grateful. I don't think I could tell you how much fun this has been and how grateful I am to you. I'm hoping to start another story after Christmas or after my exams are over. It may be a sequel to this one or an entirely new story. Anywaz, be on the look out for that and I wish you all a very Happy Holidays and a safe and healthy New Year for you and your families. Thanks again and enjoy!

Ciao!

~*Arwen5*~