Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
A/N: This chapter is extremely short, but it was just meant to tie up loose ends (that and I just wasn't ready to end it last chapter). Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter!
HarryPotterFan670, Benji Girl, Raleigh, Krazy Krysia, theloudone – Thank you for the reviews everyone! J I'm so happy that you all liked how I brought Draco back!
ydole3343 – I'm happy you're so excited! And I'm glad you liked the song I chose, I happened to be suffering from writers block during one of the earlier chapters, and that song came on, and my first thought was 'OMG that's the perfect song for the ball chapter!'
Kacie – (phew! Glad I managed to avoid your curses!) Yeah, I figured people would get suspicious about that, so I wanted to make sure everyone knew that he was just drinking pepper-up potion. ;o) I kinda sad too, but I'll definitely let you know if I post any other stories!
Ginny-W3, my1-and-only, Jessie, Stella, tom-felton –luver1-2-2, Hermione Weasley192, essicaDracoMalfoy, zuvalupa, ilovetom Siria, Ai Sakura, Dixiechix581, twistedtwin, FalconWing, melovedraco, Daniel-luver00, dragonblood – Thanks for the reviews! I'm so happy you all like it!
shadow-n-the-dark – Well I'm happy that you're happy! I know it's kind of bittersweet that this is the last chapter, but I decided to go ahead with the sequel, so you can look forward to that!
midnite-azn – thanks! I know I'm sad too, that's why it's taken me so long to update even though this chapters short, I didn't want it to end! And Pansy, I kinda ignored her at the end cause I don't like her.
elektra30 – thank you very much! And yes there's 1 more chapter because I just wasn't ready to stop after the last one (lol). Thanks for the advice for the sequel, I'll definitely keep it in mind, although I know it will be hard to write with them already in a relationship I'm ready to challenge myself. J
Kara Black – I know! I had already written most of the chapter when I read your review, and I was like, wow it's freaky how similar our ideas are for the end! It made me happy to know I wasn't the only one who saw that as the best way to get them back together. Thanks for the review!
TheAngelOfDarkness – Thank you! I'm so glad that you like it. And thank you for the compliments about my writing, hearing everyone's responses has definitely given me more confidence in my writing, so perhaps I will try out some of my own ideas . . . .
Roundrockrules – Thank you! I would love your input and ideas regarding the sequel. I've begun the outline and I know what I want for the beginning and the end, but the middle, transitioning between the two is harder, so when I get there I'm sure I'll be desperate for help!
NeVeRmInD2 – Seriously! Wow, thank you for the compliment and the review!
Here's the Final Chapter! Enjoy!
Chapter 25: Another Year Gone
The next morning Hermione awoke feeling wonderful and refreshed, having slept soundly for the first time in months. Yet, as she packed her trunk and loaded Crookshanks into his carrier, she felt a pain in her chest. She didn't want to spend an entire summer away from her friends, from Hogwarts, from the magical world, but most of all she didn't want to be apart from Draco that long. She knew that Ron and Ginny would probably invite her and Harry to the Burrow as they always did, and that would be nice, but she still wouldn't feel right. As she walked down to the common room with her things, she hoped that she would get to see Draco on the train, and maybe even have a moment to talk with him alone.
She was the first down to the common room; she realized that she must have woken up much earlier than she had thought because she saw the sun rising out of the window. She placed her trunk in the corner where it would be magically transferred to the train. She then took Crookshanks out of his carrier, and allowed him one last romp around Gryffindor tower. She sat in her favorite chair by the fire waiting for the others, staring into the fire, and holding onto her dragon pendant.
Once they arrived, they went to the Great Hall for their final breakfast of the year, Hermione continually glanced around for Draco, but she never saw him, 'perhaps he came early' she thought, her heart sinking slightly at the idea that she may not get to see him on the train. Once they were done eating, they walked to the line of carriages. The four Gryffindors, along with Crookshanks, Hedwig, and Pig climbed into a carriage, and were brought to the Hogsmeade train station.
On the train, they enclosed themselves in a compartment and began talking about their summer plans. Harry was not at all looking forward to returning to the Dursley's, but Ron promised that he would get to come to the Burrow as soon as Dumbledore would allow. Hermione meanwhile, was traveling to Italy with her parents. She could not wait to visit the sites, and the ancient ruins in Rome, and ride a gondola in Venice. She had many plans for her vacation.
She was having so much fun talking and playing games with her friends that she didn't think about Draco until she felt the train begin to slow. They were pulling into the London station, and she still had not seen him once. As she gathered Crookshanks, and pulled her trunk down disappointment took over her. She was going to miss him so much.
- - - - - - - - -
Draco had woken up extremely early that morning, his head throbbing from his first night sleeping without the aid of a potion since he had come out of the coma. He levitated his trunk to the common room and went to breakfast, he was one of the only people there at the time, and he enjoyed the quiet solitude. He didn't think he would have been able to stand the usual noisy Great Hall. He finished breakfast and left before the other students arrived.
He did not return to the common room, he did not want to see his housemates at the moment. Instead he meandered to down to the library, and into his and Hermione's private room. So much had happened in this room, and he hated the thought of leaving it. He sat down on the couch, and looked into the now empty fireplace. If it hadn't been for that potion, he never would have fallen in love with Hermione, he never would have had the courage to denounce Lucius, and instead of going hom to a Lucius free manor, he would be going home to become a Death Eater. He couldn't believe how much he had changed over the year, how much he had gone through, or how much he was missing Hermione already.
Draco did not leave the room until it was time to go to the Hogsmeade train station. He caught one of the first carriages, and was one of the first on the train. He immediately found a compartment for himself, sealed the door, and lay down on the seat. By the time the journey back to London had begun, he was fast asleep.
- - - - - - - - - -
"Hermione, are you okay?" asked Ginny once they were queued up to return to muggle London.
"Oh, yeah, I'm sorry I was just thinking about . . ."
"About Draco?" suggested Ginny smiling.
"Yeah, why are you smiling? Am I that easy to read?" asked Hermione, slightly embarrassed.
"No, it's just, I think he was thinking about you too" Ginny was laughing by now, and she motioned to something behind Hermione.
Hermione turned, and standing right behind her was Draco, smiling the same smile she had grown to love so much. Hermione blushed, but returned the smile. Draco moved closer and held her hands "didn't think you were getting out of here without saying goodbye did you?"
"I hoped I wouldn't" answered Hermione in a whisper. Together they leaned in and kissed each other. The kiss was short, but very sweet, and it filled Hermione with happiness. "You better keep in touch over the summer," lectured Hermione, "I won't have a boyfriend who forgets about me just because he doesn't see me for a while."
"Hermione," whispered Draco in the voice that always filled her with desire, "I could never forget about you." He kissed her forehead, "I love you." He flashed another smile at her, gently squeezed her hands, and turned to walk to the fireplace, where students who paid an extra fee could use floo powder to return home instead of traveling through the muggle world. Before he left Hermione stopped him, "Draco, I love you too." He smiled at her and Hermione watched him as he walked away and stepped into the fire with his trunk, and in a flash of green flames, he was gone.
"Hermione . . . . Hermione!" shouted Ginny, trying to get Hermione's attention. "Come on, it's our turn!"
"Oh, right, sorry." With one last glance toward where Draco had been, Hermione leaned through the barrier along with Ginny. Once on the other side, she ran into the arms of her parents, hugging them each and giving them the news of her Head Girl appointment.
She then turned and bid a final good-bye to her friends, and followed her parents out of the train station. Once in the car, Hermione stared serenely out the window. She answered her parents' questions about school, and they talked about their upcoming vacation. Halfway through the ride, something very unexpected happened. There was a loud pop and into Hermione's lap fell a single red rose, and a letter.
"What's that Hermione?" asked Mrs. Granger.
Hermione read the note before answering;
I miss you already; next year cannot come soon enough.
Love,
Draco
"Oh, it's just a rose and a note . . . . from my boyfriend." Hermione smiled and blushed a brilliant shade of red as she spoke, she hadn't told her parents (both of whom were speechless) about dating Draco. She smiled to herself thinking 'indeed, next year cannot come soon enough.'
Well, it's over. I certainly hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! I would love to get reviews for what you thought of this chapter and/or the story as a whole!
And to all who are interested, I will be writing a sequel! It is going to be called "Serpent Fangs and Lion Hearts" (a similar title to this one since it's the sequel). Here's a little teaser for the types of things you can expect in it: 'the return of Lucius, Death Eaters in Hogwarts, an extremely jealous Ron (even more so than in this story!), and of course, lots of stuff going on between Draco and Hermione because the fic is about them!'
By the way, if I am not on your author alert list, but you would like to know when I post the next story, be sure to include your e-mail address in you review so I can e-mail you when I post it!
So, again, please send me a review with what you thought of this story. Thank you so much to everyone who has read "Serpent Fang in the Lions Den", and a special thanks to everyone who reviewed it!
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Hands out butterbeer and chocolate frogs to everyone as a way of saying thanks!! J