There's More To You Than You Let On

Chapter 23; Together again

Hermione finally slept well that night. So well that she didn't wake up until noon the next morning. She got up and took a much needed shower with a bright smile on her face. For the first time in awhile she finally felt happy. She got ready and walked out of her room to see a bunch of food waiting for her in her common room, put there by Ginny and Luna. She sat and ate as much as she could while reading and studying for N.E.W.T.s. Even with everything going on, she was determined to get all 'O's on her exams.

After she ate she decided to go read in the library, so she got up and walked out of the portrait hole. On her way to the library she was stopped by Professor McGonagall and the Minister. "Ms. Granger, so lovely to see you, do you mind if we have a word with you?" Professor McGonagall asked in a serious, almost sympathetic, tone.

"O-of course, Professor." She followed them all the way to the Head Mistress's office. Professor McGonagall moved swiftly behind her desk as the Minister stood next to it. Hermione sat in the seat across from Professor McGonagall's desk that the professor had just conjured. "Is there something wrong, Professor?" Hermione asked. Professor McGonagall looked over at the minister after inhaling deeply.

"I am afraid...," he began before clearing his throat and starting again. "It is... about your parents." The minister paused at Hermione's large intake of air.

"W-what about them?" Hermione asked, knowing perfectly that it was something terrible due to Professor McGonagall and the Minister's behavior.

"I am afraid... that your parents... are dead," The Minister finally finished. Hermione burst into sobs.

"No! No, no. No no no no!" She cried as she stood up. "I-I sent them away! I did it to protect them! They were supposed to be safe!"

"They were in a car accident in Australia. They collided with another car.... a drunk driver," The minister explained. Hermione stumbled back into the wall with one hand over her heart and the other over her mouth. She shook her head as tears poured from her closed eyes.

"I sent them away to protect them...," she mumbled to herself.

"Ms. Granger, do you want me to call anyone? Ms. Weasley? Ms. Lovegood?" Professor McGonagall asked. Hermione shook her head. She knew who she wanted to talk to. She knew exactly who'd she wanted to talk to for the past 3 weeks.

She turned and rushed out of the Head Mistress's office and towards the Great Hall where most students were having lunch. She burst through the doors with her mascara running down her face and her heart beating fast. She looked from both sides of the hall to another, at the Gryffindor to the Slytherin boy. She couldn't wait any longer, not for anyone's feelings. Her parents were dead and she wanted to talk to the boy she loved, and only him. She looked at the other boy one last time before turning and walking as calmly as she could the other direction.

When he saw the sobbing girl walking faster towards him he stood up. He made his own way towards her as she walked faster. She broke into a run and collapsed into his chest, sobbing. He hugged her tightly and slowly began to guide her out of the Great Hall. "Come, Mione. Let's go somewhere private," He whispered as he patted her head. They walked out of the Great Hall in each other's arms.

He didn't care at the moment that he had just gotten the love of his life back. He didn't care that she chose him over the other boy. His only concern was to make sure she was ok and that she would be happy. They sat down by a window in an empty corridor. She sobbed into his chest about what happened. "T-they'-re de-ad. M-y parent-s... th-eyre g-one... for-ev-er!" She was gasping between words. Breathlessly crying. He could feel her hurt from in his arms. His shirt was soaked with her tears.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione," He whispered. "I know it seems like the end of the world now, but it's going to get better, I promise. I'll make it better." She didn't say anything back. She cried in his arms until she ran out of tears. His shirt was soaked with tears and had mascara stains but he didn't mind. He loved her with every part of him. Her breathing calmed and she was slowly drifting to sleep. "Come on, Hermione, lets go to bed." She sleepily nodded and allowed him to pick her up bridal style. He took her up to the Head common room but didn't know the password. "Mione, what's the new password?" He whispered.

"Dragon heart," She mumbled. He repeated the password clearly to the portrait of Lupin and Tonks before it swung open. He carried her to her room and laid her down. He kissed her upon her forehead gently before standing up to leave. He turned to walk out put she reached out a grabbed his wrist. "Stay... please..," she spoke sleepily, barely above a whisper. He smiled and laid down next to her. Her immediate reaction was to move closer to him and hide her face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. He finally had his Hermione back. The love of his life, his future wife, Mrs. Draco Malfoy.