Silence spread through the forest like a toxic mist. The Death Eaters that weren't being held by their opponents began apparating away, the opponents themselves too stunned to stop them.

Draco's wand dropped to the floor.

A brave woman walked cautiously over to check for a pulse.

"Lord Voldemort is dead!"

Draco fell to his knees. The people around were applauding and cheering, and yet he thought nothing of, 'I just vanquished the most evil wizard of all time.' His only thoughts were of Hermione, lying pale and motionless on the hard, grass floor.

"Here he is, man of the hour!"

Draco walked through the sea of people, receiving a pat on the back each step he took, applause ringing in his aching head. "Where..?" he asked Mr Weasley, needing to say nothing more.

"Fourth floor, ward two. I'll take you, i'm just here getting Molly a drink and keeping this lot informed. The wards are overrun, they aren't allowed in."

The troubled blonde nodded and followed the cheerful man through the corridors of St Mungo's.

"Did you get everything sorted at The Manor?" he asked, as they passed an applauding portrait.

"Yes. Kingsley spoke to my parents and took my aunt to Azkaban. Sir, how does everyone know it was me? I was in disguise, and it seems like everyone knows."

"News of victory travels fast. It only takes a few people knowing the details for everyone to know. Why? Aren't you pleased?"

Draco considered him. "I don't know. It's hard to feel anything right now."

Mr Weasley smiled warmly. "She's okay, Draco. The healers say she won't be here longer than a week or two. She's strong."

He nodded.

They stopped outside a door labelled 'Ward Two'. There were no healers names on the door, or any other door.

"Who-"

"St Mungo's was invaded a while back, the healer's took off their names because so many disappeared, they couldn't just assign themselves one ward. Apparently a few have already returned." he explained, waiting for Draco to open the door.

He took a deep, apprehensive breath. Pushing open the double doors, the quiet of the hallway was extinguished.

The wards really were overrun; healers weaved their ways through the crowds of anxious families, extra beds were spread randomly around the room, each of them occupied by people who looked as if they'd suffered for months without seeking help.

The balding wizard led the way to the left of the room where, tucked behind a group of children, a whole line of beds were occupied by familiar faces. Draco only cared about one.

Seeing her didn't offer the relief he had wanted. Hermione was extremely pale and very weak, but she was awake. He recognised the girl stood by her bed as Lavender Brown, a Gryffindor in their year. She had a large scar on her neck.

"Oh, I should go back to my room," she started when she saw Draco. "I don't know when my healer will be ready for me. Nice to see you Hermione, get well soon."

She made her exit with a wave toward Ron, who was sitting up in bed, talking across to Neville.

Draco replaced her place by the bed, not knowing what to say.

"Thank you, Draco." she croaked.

The lump in his throat thickened- why did he feel guilty?

"How are you?" he asked gravely.

"Pretty good." She smiled slightly and coughed. "This is better than last time. The healers gave me some potion for the pain, i'm just tired. But don't tell anyone, I don't want to sleep."

"Of course you don't." he chuckled, taking her hand.

She stared at him for a little while, then started to cry. Big, salty tears streaked down her face.

"What's wrong? Are you in pain?" he let go of her hand and looked around for a healer.

"No, no. I just- it's over. The war's finally over." she said through the waterfall on her cheeks.

"Isn't that a good thing?" he frowned.

She gulped and looked down. "Yes. But now I have nothing important to focus on, and all I can think about is how much I wish Harry was here, and Lupin and Tonks and- even Percy! And I miss them and i'm scared, and for years my life was devoted to helping Harry and destroying Voldemort, and now they're both dead and I don't know what i'm supposed to do now! I don't have any qualifications and I might never find my parents, and i'll never argue with Ron and Harry, or listen to them talk about Quidditch, or explain to them why they're such idiots while thinking about how much I love them and wouldn't trade them for anything, and now I lost him and Ron lost him and everyone's been acting like nothing happened because we had to focus on stopping Voldemort, for Harry! And all these people died, they don't exist anymore and I've been spending all this time not thinking about them and now I am and I can't stop, it's like they're gone and never coming back and yet that thought won't leave me and I can't-"

The tears finally swallowed her as he laid down on the edge of her bed to hold her, and they ignored all of the chaos and noise in the room as she sobbed herself to sleep in his arms.

"Are you sure you're ready to go?" Draco asked lovingly, as he hoisted Hermione's bag over his shoulder.

"Yes Malfoy! Ginny's going today anyway, and I already feel guilty letting your parents pay for this room for us, a week is long enough!" she smiled, and began moving slowly and carefully to him with her walking stick.

As she spoke, Ginny returned from their private bathroom with a small coloured bag. "I totally agree- let's get out of here!"

The younger witch packed the last thing in her ruck-sack and joined them by the door.

"Sure you don't want a wheelchair?" Draco directed to his hobbling girlfriend.

She and Ginny rolled their eyes in unison, and exited the room to their small crowd of escorts.

Mrs Weasley beamed at the sight of her daughter. "There they are!"

Ron smiled from behind his buoyant parents. As they all ambled at Hermione's pace through the corridors of St Mungo's, he joined Draco and Hermione and started conversation. "Um, Mum's throwing a party for everyone. It's going to be kind of big, I hope you're up to it."

Hermione grinned. "I've had nothing to do all week but sit in a bed; for once, a party sounds wonderful."

Hermione slumped into a chair on Draco's empty table.

"I'm surprised to see you sat alone. I thought they wouldn't let you get any peace all night. You haven't been rude to them have you? Or scared them away?" She winked and put her glass on the table, so she could take his hand.

"I have restrained myself as much as I could," he replied seriously. "You haven't exactly been bored with the same people?"

She traced a light pattern on his wrist. "I may not be as famous as you, but I think i've become quite well known over time."

Draco scoffed. "Famous. All week, people have stared at me like i'm a hippogriff wearing a feather boa. I don't know how most of them even know what I look like."

"Someone's getting cranky." she teased.

He laughed sarcastically and she stuck out her tongue.

"Anyway, as long as I have you here, I didn't know what to do with all the rest of your things so I left them at the manor. I can help you move them whenever you want. You know, or not..." He looked at her meaningfully.

She blinked. "Really?"

He stared awkwardly at their hands again. "Well, yeah, I mean, we had a pretty good set up, and this week's been really weird without you there, and now everyone knows who you are, I don't know, I thought you might like to stay. As you. But you probably have other places to be, old Gryffindor friends to catch up with. I have some stuff to do too, big parties and stuff, hitting the town like the young, hot wizard I am."

Hermione giggled and leant over to kiss him.

"I'd be delighted to... leave the rest of my stuff where it is. I was sort of thinking though: when everything settles down, when I know everyone here will be okay without me, i'd quite like to go travelling. To Australia. I- I wanted to try and find my parents."

"Are your parents in Australia?" he asked, his arm now draped around her as she leant against his shoulder.

"Last I heard. I sent them away at the end of our sixth year, in case Voldemort went after them. If I find them, i'll break their memory charms and hopefully bring them back to England. If not, they'll carry on not knowing I exist. But it would be nice to do some travelling. Would- wouldn't you love to see Australia?"

"Yes, that would be nice."

He rested his ice blonde head on hers, and they watched the sun set on the field of guests, as the celebrations continued into the cold, winter night.

Oh my god that's the end! It feels kind of cheesy and, well, bad, but hey that's what i've written! Not going to do an epilogue, I think you can decide for yourselves what happens next ;)

Oh, i'm so crazy, I started getting all emotional trying to decide where to leave it!

Uh, yeah, I hope that satisfies as a decent ending. I may be finished with the story, but i'd love it if people would continue to review, possibly to help me get better for future fan-fics I MIGHT write... Thanks so much to all the people who do/have reviewed, I really appreciate it, whether it was helpful ideas or insights, or just a lovely message that made me smile! And to all the people who put me on Story Alert, or FAVOURITES, those I was REALLY pleased with! And if you were just reading the story in general, just thank you!

Blah blah blah, thank you again, i'll be shutting up now. I hope you get to read my ramblings again some time :)