Hermione had not seen Draco for three days. Since the ball, he seemed to be out of sight. She didn't have to turn the other way around when he saw a sleek mop of blond hair in the school premises. She didn't have to sit at the very front of the class. She can even use the Head Common Room in peace now. It was odd. Staying away from him was half of her day, and now that he has taken it into a whole new level, it felt uneasy. Talk about stealthy.

It was easier for her to try to be happy. But she wasn't. She felt that something was missing.

So instead she studied all day and night for her OWLs. She figured she wouldn't be distracted if he wasn't around.

The day before their OWLS, on her way to her Potions class, Pansy, Blaise and Theo approached her.

"What did you do to him?" Pansy snarled. It made Hermione flinch and back up.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't scare her, Pans." Theo nudged Pansy. "You see Granger, we haven't seen Draco in days. And as lame as it sounds, we're kind of worried about him."

Her forehead crinkled. What? "I haven't seen him either."

"When was the last time you saw him?" Blaise asked.

"At the ball."

"And he never told you where he went?" Pansy asked. The two boys muttered a curse. "Draco is not like this. He doesn't just run away reckless without a word. I am so close to telling his parents about this."

She shook her head. "I thought I didn't see him because he was busy with, em…"

"Who? Daphne?" Pansy chuckled. "Oh please, she asked him desperately. He'd never be interested in her but that is not the point right now!"

"Wait, you're serious? Draco's missing?"

"Do we come to you and small talk with jokes, Granger? No, this is very serious." Pansy bit her fingernails. "You think we should—"

"I just thought he was getting really good at staying away from me."

"You know he couldn't even if he wanted to." Theo replied softly. Hermione looked at Draco's three friends. So this was why she never saw him. Not only did she felt longing, it was added with fear and anxiety.

"He'd say where he went. If not to me, which I highly doubt he will given our… situation. Surely he'd tell you?"

Blaise sighed. "Granger, we would be this bothered if we knew."

"And we wouldn't ask!" Pansy added with her arms crossed.

"Why do you keep shouting at me?"

"Because you're most likely the reason why he left! Let's be honest here, Granger, you're not the best person for Draco. But somehow, it worked. It worked until you had to ruin everything. I was actually coming in terms to whatever it is you two had," Pansy twirled her finger all over Hermione. "I'm happy if he's happy. But he's not. Not anymore, thanks to you."

"Pans—"

"No, she has to hear this. Believe it or not, he has never been serious with any girl, even to me, until you. You can believe all the stupid lies you've heard, but we know him better than anyone else. And you ruined it. Fix this, Granger." Pansy stormed off and started brisk walking in the opposite direction. Blaise and Theo followed behind like sick puppies.

Hermione stood there like someone poured a bucket of ice at her. Draco was gone.

Later that night she paced around their common room as she pondered where Draco could be. She asked a few people who could know other than her and his friends. She asked the Slytherin Quidditch team, his former companions, even Dylan. They all said the same thing; they didn't know where Draco was. She should probably have a final review for OWLs tomorrow, skim her books. It will calm her mind about Draco. She grabbed a book and read, but gave up and ended up pacing all over again. Hermione barely got some sleep.

The next day, the time has come. Her results in OWLs will dictate her future. Well not entirely, but having all Os would make a great impact.

Would Draco miss this?

When she went downstairs to get her cup of hot chocolate, Draco's bedroom door opened and he came out. Hermione almost dropped her cup, but settled it down the pantry too aggressively.

"Where the hell have you been?"

He looked at her, his face filled with shock. "What?"

"People here have been worried senseless! Leaving without so much as a say? Or even a note? What is the matter with you?" She approached and pushed his chest. "You could have been dead!"

"But I—"

"And we have our OWLs today! Do you even remember? Or are you deliberately trying to make your life miserable? But who cares right? Because you already have a job when you get out of here! You just had to bother everyone else of your whereabouts! How selfish could you be?"

"Hermione—"

"You know what? I don't care! I don't care where you've been, or how you are. Do whatever you want." She stormed off, leaving Draco at a loss for words. He sat on their couch and made a heavy sigh. The truth was he was in Australia, looking for her parents. And he did find them. They were in a quaint turquoise bungalow and had three dogs. He gave them some money for a month's food supply. The father, Wendell, said it was hard to find work. He wasn't as strong as he was before so he took odd jobs. The mother, Helen, stayed at home. They thanked him for his generosity and he told them to make no mention of it.

To think Draco was actually ecstatic to tell Hermione the wonderful news.

He grunted and banged the back of his head by the couch and then got ready for their big day.

That night they approached their door at the same time, almost bumping each other by the nose. Draco scratched the back of his head and Hermione cleared her throat as they grew their distance.

"So, erm, how did you do? With the OWLs I mean." she asked.

"I did alright. Could have done better I guess." He opened the door and let her in. "You?"

"Same. My nerves got the best of me at some points, but I pulled through."

"That's good."

"Yeah."

They stood at the opposite side of each other in a distance. Hermione cringed at the memory of how harsh she was to him that morning. It became worse given the serenity of his approach to her. She blamed her lack of sleep and infinite worry over his whereabouts the past few days. She wanted to ask, she was dying to know. Although asking would be a sign of concern, she was trying her best not to be involved with him, her way towards supposed happiness.

"Right then, I'm going to bed." Hermione turned to the stairs to her bedroom.

Draco's stomach fell. "Wait, aren't you going to ask where I've been for the past few days?"

Hermione sighed deeply. Here goes. "You have nothing to explain to me, and besides it's none of my business."

"Didn't you ever wonder where I was?" Did you even care? He thought.

"I- I figured you were out with your friends." Friends including Daphne, she thought.

"Hermione, if I was you would know. And you would be turning the other way." Seriously, she wasn't that sly. Who would miss a mop of hair like that?

"Look, we've had a long day, I just want to—"

"To think that I did it for—", Draco put his hands on his hips, his head hung down. "Forget it. Just forget it." He turned away from her and went to his room with a bang of his door.

With only a week before graduation, students at Hogwarts could do whatever they wanted. This event was not something Hermione needed to plan for, so she could do other things. She wasn't sure what. Maybe she'll start hanging out with her friends again.

Draco, however, was pretty adamant on getting pissed all week. Hermione's lack of empathy has taken a toll on him. He was never a patient man, and she was getting him to the end of his rope. He decided to just give her the location of her parents, get pissed to graduation, and then do the rest of his life.

"I can't believe you'll be gone next year. Who am I going to hang out with?" Ginny whined.

"You have plenty other friends, Gin." Harry said as he put an arm around her shoulders. "And just think, you'll be Quidditch captain."

"Oh yes! I never thought of that. With you gone, I could take your position and make it to the Chuddley Cannons! I mean they're already eyeing me since last year, but this would definitely seal the deal."

"And with that, she won't ever miss me while I'm gone." Harry said.

Hermione laughed with her friends. She looked at Ron, who had Lavender on his lap, looking very happy. Their little moment backstage didn't cause any conflict. Her best friends, who she thought were quite immature, are now having relationships and are doing a better job at it than she did.

Draco called for another round. It was the same drunken trio again, in addition to Pansy. They asked him where he went and lied, said he just wanted to go somewhere for a while. This earned him a slap at the back of the head from Pansy and punches on the arms from the gents. Talk about a great welcoming committee.

"I don't think I could go on another day like this." Blaise slurred. "We've been drinking for three days!"

"That only means you're not drinking enough, my friend."

"Draco, you know I'm your best mate, and I have to say that this is too much." Theo shook his head.

"And I'm tired of dragging all of you to bed, you know? Seriously Draco, what brought this on?" Pansy asked.

"It's a week-long celebratory towards our graduation, what do you think this is?" Draco said as he drank the remaining beer in his cup. "Another!"

Later that night, when Draco was already sober, he decided to go back to their room. Hermione wouldn't like it if he went home drunk, and even if he knew she wouldn't care, he still had the courtesy to go home clean. When he opened the door she saw her, clad in her pajamas and her favorite book lounging in the couch. She straightened at the sight of him. Before when he caught her reading, she'd look up and smile at him. He liked that better. Draco took the note on his pocket and put it on the table.

"I know I'm not your favorite person at the moment, but there's something I have to give you." Draco said. "And I know I should probably share the common courtesy of not minding your business as well, since that's what you wanted, but I couldn't help it. Good night."

Hermione merely nodded at him, her book clutched in her chest. When he left, she looked at the sheet of paper on the table and pondered whether to look at it or not. Her curiosity got the best of her, so she took and opened it. It had an address of which she wasn't familiar with. What could possibly be there?

She spent the rest of her night looking at the note, thinking about her next action. Maybe they were supposed to meet there and talk. They could talk right now? Maybe he wants it to be completely private, with no distractions.

"Ah, hell," she thought and then apparated.

She landed in a door step of a blue house. Outside there was a garden full of all sorts of flowers, and out came a dog. It barked, but not menacingly, at her. She heard steps approaching the door and it opened to the sight of her mother.

"Yes, can I help you?"

Hermione lost her breath, her eyes beginning to water. There was her mother, standing in front of her, alive and healthy. She wore a smile on her face, and it made Hermione smile back wider. She shuddered and then raised her wand to her mother's head. Out went specks of light that entered her mother's eyes and it closed. Hermione casted her wand down and waited. Her mother opened her eyes and gasped.

"Hermione dear? What- How did-"

That moment, when her mother recognized her, was when Hermione's tears started to fall. "Oh mum, I missed you. So much." She said as she hugged her tightly. Her mother hugged back and said soft, soothing words. She felt home.

Later that night, when her father arrived, he thought his wife gained a new friend in the neighborhood. When Hermione reversed the spell on him, he swiftly hugged his daughter. Hermione explained everything to them. She told about the war, the reason why she had to make them forget her.

"You had to be safe. It was the only way." Hermione said, her hands on one of her parents'.

"But dear, that was a war. Even if we don't have powers like you do, we would have wanted to help in any way we can." Her father said. "It must have been traumatizing for you. Are you all right?"

"It was tough at first, I have to admit. We lost a lot of friends who were like family to me. I still remember and…" She paused. This caused her parents great distress and her mother moved to hug her. "We'll be okay. We'll all be. And I will, now that we're finally together."

"How did you find us?" Her mother asked.

"My, er, friend told me about this place. Someone from my year, a head like me."

Her parents looked at each other and her mother said, "Does this happen to be a man? With a name of Draco?"

"What? How do you-"

"He went here a few days back." Her dad said. "He said he was new to the neighborhood, wanted to look around. What a lad he was, he even gave us money. Times are hard to find work for a man as old as me, and when he knew, he didn't even hesitate. Now I wouldn't really take money from strangers, you know me better than that dear, but he seemed like a decent man who really cared about us…"

As her father blabbered, Hermione pondered. This was reason why he was gone for days. He went to find her parents, all for her. After all she did to hurt him and break his heart, he still thought about her.

"Why on earth would he do that?" Hermione told herself.

"Well he must care a whole lot about you. Oh Hermione, do tell us what has happened to you over the past, oh I don't know how long it's been. What year is it anyway?" She said and stood to find a calendar.

"You okay, Hermione?" Her father asked.

"I think I made a complete mistake, dad."

"At what my dear?"

She merely shook her head.

"Well, knowing you your entire life, I'm sure you know how to fix it." His arms went around her. "Say, that's not boy problems, is it? Wait, Draco and you?"

Hermione's cheeks turned to a blush and her father boomed with laughter. "Honey, our Hermione's got a crush on the Draco Malfoy lad!"

"Dad!"

Because of this, Hermione did an embarrassing retelling of her year, especially her memories with Draco. Her parents smiled when she told the fun parts, and they frowned through the messy ones. They did a specific frown of the incident when she broke it off with him. She never saw that before.

"Darling, it seems to me that you are ending a possible happy relationship over something you overheard?" Her mom said. Hermione nodded. "Well no offense dear, but that's pretty silly."

"Not to mention you're not exactly a good listener. You barely hear me when I call you at home." Her dad added.

"The point is dear," Her mom added, "that you didn't even bother to hear his side. For the short time we've met him, he has been nothing but a gentleman to us. Now he may have had, er, trysts with others before you but that doesn't mean that he cannot defend himself. People change, especially for the ones they care for greatly. What if he did for you?"

"We taught you better than to simply judge a person, love." Her dad said. And they did. "We know you'll do the right thing. But for now, we have a lot of catching up to do!"

The day of their graduation came, and Hogwarts was filled with buzz. All graduating students from four different houses were now blended in one color, united as one. There were parents and even young children running around the halls, presumably smaller siblings. Hermione used to regret when this moment arrived, for fear she might be alone, but she wasn't. And she had to thank one specific person for it.

The ceremony was solemn. Hermione shed a few tears and held her best friends' hands. They made it. After all that they have been through, they finally graduated. It wasn't as common as other people might have had given all the trouble they got into. But they got through it and here they are. They had enough adventure to last a lifetime, and now they're going to have more.

After the ceremony she looked for Draco. She stood a little taller to find the bright mop of hair she stayed away from the past few months. When she did, she not only saw one, but three. Draco's parents, she thought.

"What are your plans now, my boy?" Narcissa asked her son, still wiping her tears.

Draco sighed. He was finally glad that it was over. Now he could resume wallowing. "I don't know, go to the pub with Blaise and Theo, a celebratory drink."

"Someone's been to going to the pub regularly, and I've heard it's because of one girl." Lucius said, his eyebrow raised.

Draco's eyes widened, "How did you—"

"Oh please, like Severus wouldn't tell us. He did take a vow, you know."

Draco grunted and messed up his hair. "This conversation is so awkward."

His mother chuckled. "What dear? Talk to your parents about this girl you love? It should be expected. Although imagine the offspring, Lucius—"

"Bushy haired blondes, I'd pay to see that."

"Well at least we'd know they'd be intelligent, given they both are. As for attractiveness, it will probably do."

"Someone kill me now."

"Oh hush Draco, don't be so dramatic." Narcissa said. "I'm surprised you're not even shocked we're not disapproving of you two."

"We're shocked deep down." Lucius added. "Still getting used to it."

Draco fidgeted. "I won't, because that ship has sailed alright? She, well, uhm… she dumped me."

"Dumped you? You?" Lucius exclaimed. "Well, what in hell did you do this time Draco?"

"Why do you think it's my fault?"

"You're really asking me that question? Goodness sake, son, she dumped you didn't she? That means you did something. She wouldn't dump herself now, would she? Silly boy."

"Your father has a point."

"Sometimes it could be her fault, couldn't it?"

"It is possible, but let's be realistic here."

"Why are you two ganging up on me? This is my graduation. Aren't I supposed to be the center of attention here?"

"You are, my love." His mother kissed his crown. "Ready to go home?"

"Yes just let me get my things to the carriage. I'll be back."

Draco lied. He wasn't going back to his room.

He went to a completely different route and took flights of stairs for one last look at one place he would not ever forget.

The Astronomy Tower.

So many memories came back to him when he set foot, both good and the bad. It was where he had confronted Dumbledore when he was tasked to kill him, the beginning of the war. It was the lowest point in his life. It was also where he had found Hermione crying over Weasley. That was a whole different beginning that had ended so soon.

"Hello."

Draco looked behind him, knowing who it was even when he didn't saw the face.

Hermione followed him to the tower.

"Are your things packed?"

Draco put his hands on his waist. "Yes, my parents are waiting for me at the carriage. And yours?"

"They're with Molly and Arthur." She replied as she rubbed her hands and moved closer to where he stood. "You don't know how much it meant to me, them being here."

"I know."

She nodded timidly. "How did you find them?"

"Actually, it was Daphne. I did her a favor, she told me and then I went to find them." He shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal. I was just at the right place at the right time. And you needed to know. You've been alone for so long."

"I wasn't alone." She replied softly.

"Well, given your friends have girlfriends I figured—"

"I meant you, Draco." Hermione said. "I had you. And then I messed it up."

His throat bobbled. "I'm not blaming you."

"But I do, I blame myself." Hermione's voice faltered and then she took a piece of parchment out of her pocket and started reading. "I'm sorry if I—"

"That's your apology letter?"

"I had to write it down. If I didn't I would just start blabbering and it wouldn't make sense and most likely come out the wrong way—"

"Try, Hermione." He stepped closer to her.

Hermione shuddered and sighed. Here goes nothing.

"I'm stupid. I feel very stupid. After all that you have done for me, after how happy you made me feel, I ruined it all because I was scared. I was scared to get hurt again. When Ron and I broke up, you were there. When I needed help with work, you did it without question." Her tears started to fall, her voice wavering. "When I was missing my parents, you took me in and made me feel like I was home. And I ruined it, I ruined us. I shut myself out, shut myself away from you. And I hided, very poorly if I may add, from you thinking that it would make my feelings and yours go away. And I'm just so, so stupid and why do I keep saying that word?"

"Because you feel stupid."

"Yes I do. And I'm so sorry." She sniffed. "I'm sorry I hurt you. But you have to know I hurt myself in the process too. I should have listened to what you had to say. Especially when you said you love me."

Draco sighed. He wanted to hear that for so long. But he had to clarify some things. "You hurt me."

"I know."

"Because you didn't listen to me."

"I know."

"And over what? Something you overheard? I have never been with anyone ever since I started helping you with Weasley! Before I even knew I had a chance! Hermione I—I was so angry," Draco said. "I put my heart out there and you just shoved it like it was scrap!"

"I know I'm sorry—"

"And then I did what you told me, I stayed away. Nice try running the other way like I haven't already seen you from afar. You're not that hard to spot, you know? Because I see you, I see you everywhere. Even when you're not really there, you're—", He gulped. "You were everywhere to me."

Her lips only quivered in reply.

"And then I saw you kiss Weasley and I knew it was time for me to move on."

Hermione gasped. "What?"

"Backstage, during the graduation ball. I was going to tell you about your parents. We could find them together. But I saw you with him. So I left, found them on my own. Your lack of concern was astounding thanks, when I did it for you. How can I go back to that, after how much you hurt me?" He said, voice breaking.

Hermione has never seen him like this. Even when he was struggling with the war, he held himself together, never letting anyone see him break down. And now he did, because he hurt her so badly over a stupid mistake. It hurt her too.

"Draco, I know now. I can't tell you how sorry I am, and how much I love you too. But I swear," Her voice cracking, tears falling. "I swear I'll do whatever it takes for you to love me again. Just please, please give me a chance."

Draco looked at her breaking stance, her lips quivering as she cried. Her eyes pleaded and begged. And he knew then she was hurt too.

He couldn't stand that.

He was onto her in a matter of seconds. His hand moved to her cheeks and kissed her fervently. Hermione moaned and wrapped her arms around his back. She tasted just the same, this time with her tears, but it still had the same effect on him. How could he ever stop loving her?

He released her lips from his and put his forehead on hers, "I love you."

She cried even more. "I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry—"

"No, shh, stop. I love you," He said as he kissed her everywhere, saying those three words over and over again, hoping it would soothe her. He kissed her cheeks, nose, and eyelids. He then put his arms around her, with no plans of letting her go for a while. She repeated the same words to him over and over again through muffled cries over his chest, hoping it would make it sound like she meant it. And she very well did. It was more than enough of those three words to last the time they've lost.

Sometimes you have to choose love, and choosing love is choosing to forgive. And he loved her too much to give her that.

At some point, Hermione's tears stopped and she looked into Draco's eyes. She smiled, and it was the brightest, most breathtaking thing he had seen. And he felt damn lucky it was for him. He couldn't help but smile back.

"Am I forgiven?" She asked. "Because I have a few tricks up my sleeve to get you back."

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"Hmm, I'll wear that Halloween costume you really liked?"

"On second thought," Draco playfully shoved her away. "I will not forgive you just yet. You should probably get the costume out." They walked away hand in hand, smiles stuck on their faces.

The last time he saw her crying in the tower, it was for sorrow about a boy. This time it was for joy about a boy. And it was him.

EPILOGUE

"I have a secret to tell you."

Draco looked up from his stacks of papers to the look of his girlfriend slash roommate as she leaned on the door, smiling devilishly.

After graduation and their reunion, they received their OWLs. They both got Os, which Hermione thought was unfair because he didn't even study for them. She worked for the Ministry of Magic while Draco took over his family's business. Through the course of their relationship, they decided to do a merger. It was an organization that promoted the union of purebloods and muggleborns, taking their term 'Wizarding World's Power Couple' into good use. They also did a personal merger by living together in an apartment at Central London, right in the middle of the portal to the Wizarding World. Hermione wanted to be as close to her parents as possible and Draco couldn't agree more. He'd move to just about anywhere but it needed two things: a great view and only one bed. It was a win-win situation.

"Well then pray tell. You know I don't like you keeping secrets from me."

One time Hermione did a surprise birthday party for him at the apartment. It was fun, if only he wasn't all pent up over kissing her, with every single family and friend to witness the evidence.

"You know I have this bad habit of mine," She said as she walked closer to him. "About, you know, listening through doors…"

"Ah yes, always the eavesdropper."

"Well you see the thing is I happened to have heard a conversation about a certain someone planning to propose to her girlfriend any time soon."

Draco's eyes shot out and he gulped. Uh oh. "Really? Well, I er, wonder who could that be?"

Hermione looked at him sternly. Draco began to sweat bullets by the way she ogled him. But then it was cut short when she shrugged. "I didn't hear the name."

He let out a sigh and said, "Thank God."

"Why would you say that?" Hermione got herself ready for bed, their bed, pulling on the covers.

"Let's just say that would have, you know, ruined the proposal. Not that I know who it was, but I'm sure that's what he would have felt." He stood from his seat and approached the bed, to her. "It must already be worrying the hell out of him."

"Nah, I think he'll be fine."

Draco sat on the edge of the bed. Hermione sat up, her face inches away from his. "Really, why'd you think that?"

She bit his bottom lip and then whispered. "Because she'd definitely say yes."

They smiled as they kissed.

Well. There it is. The end of this story.

This is the first story I have ever written that I finished. I honestly don't know how I did. Or how I feel.

It's great but at the same time it's not. Because this is an accomplishment for me, but also I could have made this story go on and on and on but had to let go. That is how stories work.

I always thought that maybe I'm not really cut out for writing, always attempting and then scrapping over and over. Every writer goes through that insecurity. This fanfiction took me TWO YEARS to finish. I had at some point forgot I had stories to write. Sometimes you just have to keep pushing, trying, and finding time so that you could write and most importantly, finish and deliver.

I am so utterly grateful to all of you that followed. I know I just borrowed almost everything to JK Rowling, but it's nice to know that in a way, I have made these characters mine, even for only a short time, and for purely my passion for writing. Thank you for all your reviews and constructive criticisms. You have all helped me through this. I would have given up telling stories if I knew no one was listening. And miraculously people did, and that makes it all worth it for me. My heart goes out to all of you. If you guys want to keep in touch, I'll be at .com and we can be friends.

In the meantime if you guys have time feel free to check my other stories. I have another DHr story ongoing, and M-fic called Remember Me. Thank you all again. Stay gold, everybody.