Disclaimer: This is the last time I'm going to say this… I'm not JK Rowling and I don't own the HP series.

A/N: Chapter 40… oh my gosh… chapter 40 is here! The 40th and last chapter of my fanficiton story 'Pureblood Princess Diaries'. All right, here's the last chapter now. Enjoy!

Chapter 40: The Royal Engagement

Finally, the day had come. The very special day for two people. And that two was none other than Draco and Hermione. Today was their engagement.

The decorations in the Great Hall in Hogwarts were finally done. The decorations were absolutely magnificent. Even though it was June, Queen Helen thought of charming snow inside to make it look lovelier. She always knew her daughter loves snow even though Hermione hadn't told her. Like what Queen Helen always tells her daughter, she just knew. There was also a long red carpet at the middle of the aisle, as if there as a marriage going on. The four long tables were transfigured into many smaller tables where four students can sit. The teachers' table were occupied by the teachers (obviously) and the King and Queen.

The students, finally back from the castle of the royal family, were now seen in the Great Hall wearing formal yet fancy robes. Boys were wearing their dress robes while girls were wearing different kinds of beautiful dresses.

Everything was perfect. Except for one thing. The fiancée was nowhere to be seen and her fiancé was starting to become impatient and worried.

Draco stood just near the teachers' table, his arms crossed and tapping his foot impatiently. Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Luna were looking at him while shaking their heads.

"Where's that bloody woman?" Draco mumbled, looking at his watch from time to time. "She's 20 minutes late, for crying out loud!"

"Draco, Draco," Harry said, tutting and shaking his head (yes, they're calling each other by their first names already!), "Hermione might still be dressing up."

"Dressing up?" Draco asked. "Dressing up?! Well, she's making me impatient here!"

Ron snorted. "If I knew better you are worried she wouldn't show up, aren't you?"

"Ronald Weasley!" Luna exclaimed making Ron cower behind his sister.

Draco glared at Ron. "Well, do you think she would do that to me?"

"Of course not, Draco," Ginny said, glaring at her brother. "Girls really take a long time in dressing up. Since Hermione here should be the star of the night, she should look really, really beautiful… just for her fiancé."

Ginny's words had done it all. Draco nodded his head in agreement. "I suppose so," he said.

"Good one, sweetie," Harry said, kissing Ginny's cheek.

"I will appreciate it greatly if you two don't do that in front of me," Ron said, glaring at the couple.

Harry and Ginny just rolled their eyes.

"Alice, are you finally done?!" Hermione exclaimed exasperatedly. "I'm 20 minutes late, Alice!"

"Calm down, you're Highness," Alice, her personal stylist, said as she put some unfamiliar spells on Hermione's hair. "Just calm down. I'm going to make you the most beautiful woman among the witches in the ball!"

"Oh, Alice," Hermione said, "Draco might be angry with me already! I'm making him wait for 20 minutes already!"

"Make Prince Charming wait, Princess Hermione," Alice said, chuckling. "Your fiancé would be fine. Just let him wait because once he sees you, his waiting would be worth it."

Hermione sighed. "Just make it faster."

"All right, that's it. I doubt that Hermione's dressing up," Harry said, looking at his watch. "She's half an hour late already."

Queen Helen, noticing that her daughter was nowhere to be seen, approached the group with a worried look on her face. "Did Hermione arrive already?"

Draco shook his head. "No, you're Highness. And I don't know the reason why."

Suddenly, the oak-wooden doors opened. Everyone looked at the doors immediately, expecting to see the Princess but instead, in came Alice.

"There's Alice!" Luna exclaimed.

"Alice?" Ron asked.

"She's Hermione's personal stylist," Ginny explained. "She's the one who styled us on the pre-Christmas ball. I bet she knows where Hermione is."

"I agree, dear," Queen Helen said. "I asked Alice to fix Hermione. I think she really knows where my daughter is."

Draco was about to run towards the woman, when suddenly, the oak-wooden doors opened. Everyone looked again at the door, expecting this time to see the Princess but instead, in came Edward (King Troy's secretary). Draco sighed. 'Where in Merlin's name are you, Hermione?!'

"The Princess arrives," Edward's suddenly booming voice (he used a spell to make his voice loud as if he swallowed a microphone) said. Everyone looked at the oak-wooden doors; this time sure that Princess Hermione would come in. Draco stopped, too, trembling slightly with anger. 'You'll pay for making me wait, Granger,' he thought.

And then, the oak-wooden doors opened.

Draco then forgot about his anger as soon as she saw her.

Hermione walked towards the very front of the Great Hall, her feet stepping on the red carpet. Everyone watched her silently, some admiring her, some envying her. She was wearing an ivory silk satin gown which is strapless with hints of gold beading at the end of the skirt part and embroidery. A gold ribbon was seen tied around her waist, not too loose, not too tight. Her necklace was hanging around her delicate milky white neck. Diamond earrings were seen attached on both of her ears and a diamond bracelet wrapped around her right wrist. Her hair was half-tied which was held by a white rose. Her hair also evidently has glitters, making her hair sparkle and shimmer. Her make-up, not so light but professionally applied. She was wearing silver sandals on her feet with 2-inch heels. And to conclude all, her crown was seen on top of her hair.

Hermione slowly smirked. She found Alice giving her two-thumbs up. The brunette sighed. 'I'll thank Alice later,' she told herself.

Draco watched as Hermione walked towards them, her figure sparkling (literally because of the glitters and all). At first, he thought they're having their wedding already but mentally smacked himself when he remembered that they will still be having their engagement today. But thinking it was their wedding day was what Draco imagined because there Hermione was, walking down the aisle on a red carpet towards them, him. He caught her eyes and her smirk turned into a loving smile making Draco think of melting right on the place he was standing.

"What a beautiful child," Professor McGonagall whispered to Professor Dumbledore who nodded his head in agreement.

"And they are a very beautiful pair," the old Headmaster commented as he saw Hermione walking just beside Draco and holding his hand.

"Absolutely," the Transfiguration teacher said.

Hermione looked at her parents and bowed down. "Mother, Father," she greeted with a smile.

"My daughter," Queen Helen said, her eyes becoming watery. "You're very beautiful, dear."

The Princess smiled at her.

"Now, everyone, let us enjoy!" Professor Dumbledore exclaimed as music began. Everyone obeyed and started to enjoy.

Draco and Hermione were seated on one of the 4-seater tables near the teachers' table. They'd been talking for minutes and the engagement ceremony or whatever they called it was finally done. And soon, a slow song began. The blond stood up and extended his hand. "Would you care to dance?" he asked with a smile.

Hermione shook her head. "No," she simply said.

Draco's smile instantly disappeared. "Why not?"

The brunette chuckled. "Don't jump into conclusions, Draco."

"Then why can't we dance?" the Head Boy asked, curiously.

"Because there would soon be a surprise," Hermione said with a mysterious smile on her face.

"Surprise?" Draco asked. His question was answered when the slow music was abruptly stopped and King Troy stood up, holding a microphone.

"Attention please," the King said. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at their leader. "Thank you."

"As you all know," King Troy started, "today is the engagement day of my one and only daughter, Princess Hermione with Mr. Draco Malfoy."

Everyone broke into murmurings. King Troy raised a hand and immediately, everyone became silent.

"But today, you had not only witnessed their engagement but you will also witness something else, which would have a very important role for their future," King Troy said as he looked at the newly engaged couple. "This should supposedly happen on their marriage day, actually, but because of my daughter's persuasion, I had decided to do it right now. Draco, could you please come up on stage."

Draco looked at Hermione who just gave him an encouraging smile. The blond went up the stage and walked beside the King.

"Now, kneel down on one knee," King Troy instructed. Draco looked at King Troy questioningly but obeyed Hermione's father and knelt down with one knee. "Bow down your head, Draco and give me your wand," he said and Draco bowed his head and gave the King his wand (though hesitantly)

"For being the new fiancé of my daughter, the Princess of the Wizarding World, Princess Hermione Gardner," King Troy started as he tapped Draco's wand on the blond's right shoulder. The wand slightly glowed. "You, Draco Lucius Malfoy, will be crowned as the new Prince of the Wizarding World and shall be called Prince Draco Malfoy. You shall be treated with equal respect and courtesy from the wizards and witches as to how they respected my family," King Troy tapped the Head Boy's wand on his left shoulder. The wand was glowing brighter. "I now bless you and hope that in the future, you would rule as a good and well-respected King of the Wizarding World," and lastly, King Troy tapped his head and the wand now glowed very bright. Everyone watched in amazement. King Troy then got a gold crown and placed it on top of Draco's head. "Let us give Prince Draco Malfoy a warm round of applause." Everyone broke into applause in greeting for their new Prince.

Draco took this as a cue to stand up and bow, making the applause louder. He looked at where Hermione was seated.

"Why you," Draco mouthed.

"I love you," Hermione mouthed back, laughing softly as she remembered this scene.

"So, how does it feel like to be the new Prince of the Wizarding World?" Hermione asked as she swayed together with Draco on the dance floor. She buried her head comfortably on his shoulder as she hummed slightly together with the song. Since the 'surprise' was done, they can dance already.

"Brilliant!" Draco softly exclaimed. "Absolutely brilliant! Everyone would envy me now… oww… What are you doing? Stop poking my head!"

"Well, you're ego's starting to grow bigger again," Hermione said, continuing to poke his head. "I hope this poking thing I do can deflate your rather huge ego."

"Hahaha, very funny, Hermione Gardner," Draco said, kissing Hermione's forehead.

They stayed dancing until Hermione broke the silence.

"Oh no," Hermione whispered, her arms tightening around Draco's neck.

"Oh no what?" Draco asked.

"Pansy Parkinson is scaring me now, Draco," Hermione said, looking at the furious young woman. "Look at how she slices her steak." Draco turned around and indeed saw Pansy glaring at them while slicing her steak rather harshly. "I think she's imagining that the steak was my head that she was slicing."

Draco chuckled. "Smith, too. Look at him." Hermione looked at where Zacharias Smith was seated as was gripping his glass and close to breaking it and imagining as if it was Draco. "Let's get out of here. Somewhere where no one is devising a plan to murder us."

Hermione nodded and together with Draco, they went out of the Great Hall unknown to the other people in the ball. They found a nice place in the Hogwarts garden. Draco conjured a blanket and placed it on an unoccupied spot on the ground. He removed his shoes and crown and had put it beside the blanket. He then sat down.

"Come on, sit down, too," Draco said looking at his fiancée with a smile. Hermione removed her sandals and crown (carefully so that she won't ruin her hair) and placed it beside Draco's. She sat down beside him. Draco wrapped an arm around her while Hermione's head found its place on Draco's shoulder.

There was silence around the atmosphere but it didn't bother the two. All that was important was that they're together.

"Look at the sky, Draco," Hermione said. "Do you see that?" she pointed her finger at the night sky. "That's Orion's constellation and belt. And look! There's the star Betelgeuse. Did you know that Betelgeuse actually means 'armpit'? That's the reason why they called that star Betelgeuse because it is located in Orion's armpit. Oh, and look! There's Mars! And the star Sirius! Harry should see this. Oh, and there's your constellation Draco! The great Dragon!"

Draco smiled, sighing contentedly. Looking around the garden, he remembered the time he kissed her. "Hermione?"

"Hmmm?" the brunette asked as she tore her gaze away from the night sky towards Draco.

"Am I your first kiss?" Draco asked.

The question quite shocked Hermione. "No," she answered slowly. "You're actually the third. My first kiss was Viktor Krum on the Yule Ball and my second is Ron, just last year but nothing else happened between us. We agreed to just be friends. Why?"

"What?! I'm not your first?!" Draco exclaimed.

Hermione glared at him. "What? You thought no one would like me? And you shouldn't bloody react like that because I very well know that our kiss is your 50th!"

"Of course not!" the blond protested.

Hermione glared at him.

"52nd actually."

"See?" the brunette said, snorting, which was unlady-like.

"What if I told you I will kiss some girls in the future rather than you?" Draco unexpectedly asked the brunette. Of course he meant it as a joke. He didn't really mean it.

"Fine, do that," the Princess said, narrowing her eyes. "Then, when that day had come, you'll just know that I'm with Viktor Krum. You don't know this but since the summer before we started our last year, Viktor was sending me letters begging me to come back to him. So if you continue to threaten me like that, I won't hesitate to go - ."

"NO!" Draco shouted as he wrapped his arms around Hermione tightly and made an un-Malfoy-ish sound. "No, I was just joking, Hermione! Merlin, I was just joking!" What Hermione had said had frankly scared him.

And suddenly, Hermione had burst into laughter. "You're so adorable, Draco," she said as she kissed Draco's cheek.

The blond frowned.

"Draco, you can let go of me now," Hermione said, wiping her eyes because of the tears that formed while she was laughing,

The blond's frown disappeared replaced by a smirk. His hug tightened.

"Draco?" Hermione asked. 'Uh-oh,' she thought, gulping. "Draco, let go of me now."

"Make me," Draco whispered in a dangerously low tone.

"Let me go or else…"

"Or else what?"

"Or else… I'll do this!" Hermione poked Draco's stomach and the blond released a shout. Hermione quickly covered his mouth, laughing. "I didn't know that the great Draco Malfoy has a ticklish part in him."

Draco's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Prepare Hermione Gardner."

"Uh-oh," Hermione said, now out loud and gulped.

Draco poked her stomach and Hermione shrieked aloud. Draco started to poke her sides and Hermione just laughed and laughed and laughed. Draco continued to tickle her, laughing at her laughter. Hermione's arms were still wrapped around Draco's neck so when she became off-balanced and had fell, lying down on the blanket, she pulled Draco with him and he was now on top of her, still laughing.

"Stop… please stop it," Hermione said, gasping for air and releasing some giggles.

Draco kissed her forehead. "Let's dance," he said as he heard a slow music playing inside the Great Hall. He stood up and brushed of some dirt. He extended his arm and helped Hermione up. Once she was up, Draco didn't let go of her hand but instead wrapped it around his neck. Hermione wrapped her other around his neck too. Draco's arms then found their place around Hermione's petite waist and placed his head against her head.

"Do you honestly think I'll leave you?" Hermione suddenly asked, a smirk forming on her lips.

"Do you honestly believe that I'll kiss other girls?" Draco asked.

"I asked first," the Princess said, smiling.

"I asked second," Draco said with sarcasm and a roll of eyes. "You scared me all right. So don't you ever tell me something like that, Granger."

"Yes, Malfoy," she said.

They swayed there, under the moonlight and the stars as the song continued. Draco twirled her around then pulled her back into his arms, this time, looking at here intensely. Hermione blushed under his gaze.

"Hermione?" Draco said, breaking the silence.

"Yes?"

"Can I kiss you?"

That was unexpected, in Hermione opinion. But then, for her answer, she closed her eyes with a small smile on her face. Draco took this as a yes and without any hesitation, he closed the gap between them.

He kissed her. Slow and sweet. Not too hard. Not too rough. Just slow and sweet. And loving. Hermione kissed him back with equal slowness and sweetness as her arms tightened around his neck. Draco tightened his arms around her waist, too, pulling her closer to him if it was even possible. Draco's one arm then traveled towards her mane, running his fingers through it. When finally he knew that oxygen was needed, his lips moved away from Hermione's lips but instead, it went towards her cheek. Hermione was slightly gasping for air but Draco, his lips then traveled to her closed right eye, then to her forehead, then to her nose, then to her left closed eye… Hermione was thankful that Alice applied her make-up which can only be removed by magic. She sighed in contentment as he kissed her left cheek and lastly, gave her a quick kiss on her lips before pulling away.

Draco looked at her as she slowly opened her eyes. She was still slightly gasping. She was blushing. She was smiling. She was beautiful.

Hermione buried her head against Draco's neck again and gave it a slight kiss.

"I love you," Draco whispered. He felt Hermione tightening her hug.

"I love you, too," Hermione whispered back, feeling teary-eyed. And then, they danced together with the slow music again.

Queen Helen was looking around the Hall to find her daughter and her fiancé. At last, she found them in the Hogwarts garden, dancing and laughing. The Queen smiled. It's been a long time ever since she saw two teenagers like that. It has been a long time ever since she saw two teenagers greatly in love with each other.

"Dears," Queen Helen said, hating to break the happy moment of the young couple.

Draco and Hermione both looked at the owner of the voice at the same time, resulting for their head to bump against each other.

"Ouch," Hermione said, rubbing her head. Draco was rubbing his head, too, then looked at Hermione. He started to laugh and kissed her smarting head.

"I'm so sorry, dears," Queen Helen said with a smile.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked.

"Hermione, someone's looking for you, you see," the Queen said, looking at Draco instead of Hermione. "He's a guy (she noticed Draco's back straightening) and he said his name is Viktor Krum. I tried to ignore him, dear, but he keeps on telling me that he really needs to see you right now."

The Princess looked at Draco whose eyes were narrowed.

"Tell him we'll be there, you're Highness," Draco said, emphasizing on the word 'we'll'.

"All right, I'm going inside now," the Queen said and went inside the Hall again.

Draco picked up her crown and carefully placed it on top of her head. He placed his crown, too, on his head. He wore both sandals on Hermione's feet (making Hermione remember about Cinderella, a Muggle fairy tale) and wore his shoes. With a flick of his wand, the blanket disappeared.

"Draco, it's Viktor Krum," Hermione said.

"I know, dear," Draco said, sounding very much like King Troy. "And I'll let Krum know that he looks like my Betelgeuse."

With this, Hermione laughed.

Now, the Princess and Prince went inside the Great Hall, hand in hand.

Years passed by and their lives either changed. They all had grown into mature adults.

Blaise, for example, was now happily engaged to a Ravenclaw girl by the name of Elizabeth Frank, a very beautiful and intelligent girl. He was glad he got over with Hermione but still he knew, that in his masculine heart, Hermione still has a place in there.

Harry and Ginny got married and now lived in America since Harry was placed in that country for work. Little Lily Potter was now included in their family.

Ron and Luna were engaged, too, planning to get married after Luna finished studying her mastery in becoming a Healer. Luna had always wanted to become a Healer so, even though Ron wanted to marry her, he still waited patiently and respected Luna's decision until she finally finished her studying and became a very good Healer.

There were no news about Zacharias Smith but the only thing known was that he migrated to France to find another 'Princess' which would catch his eyes.

Pansy Parkinson was now in the mental ward in St. Mungos. The thing about Draco choosing Hermione over her made her insane. So now, she's in a mental ward, badly flirting with another mental patient. Poor her.

King Troy and Queen Helen were now resting in peace. It was really a great loss for the Wizarding World when the two great leaders died. They had done so many good things for them but then, all of us are finite beings. Our end would come and for them, it unfortunately came already.

And now, for our protagonists, Draco and Hermione. They got married and since Hermione had fulfilled the Gardner's rule, she was still bearing her title. Now as the new King and Queen of the Wizarding World, they were faced in new responsibilities. Being a King and Queen wasn't that hard for them since in their 7th year, they were the Head Boy and Girl. The only difference was that they were handling a much bigger population. They have new responsibilities, too, but as parents. Little Princess Mia came to their lives, making the family happier. They were also expecting a baby boy.

As for Hermione's diary, it is carefully placed inside the Queen's treasure box. It's too precious to be lost for the brunette. Her diary kept so many memories about Hermione's past. Happy memories and sad memories. Pleasant and unpleasant ones. But Hermione still doesn't stop writing some entries in it. The only difference was that she doesn't write as Princess Hermione Gardner anymore but now as Queen Hermione Malfoy.

A/N: End of chapter. End of story. Ending this fanfiction of mine makes me sad. Thank you for all the readers who patiently waited for me to update. I'm sorry if I disappoint you in the last chapter. Sorry I can't write the wedding of Draco and Hermione. I'm a bit… sleepy right now, you see. My eyes are half-closed. It's been a tiring day for me. Anyway, thank you again! Thank you very, very much! And for the very last time… review please!

With so much love,
2booklover4 :p