Good Girls

Chapter 30

Voldemort walked into the courtyard, Hagrid following him with Harry's limp body in his arms. Hermione saw him and sobbed, falling into Ron's arms. Ron held her close and rubbed her back soothingly.

Draco, standing with other Hogwarts students some distance away was not amused. He wished he was the one comforting her. But he could not. Unless he wanted certain death.

He looked at the Dark Lord and shivered. This man shouldn't win. He couldn't win. Draco looked at Harry's body, seeing his eyes open for a second. 'It can't be' he thought. And then he saw his eyes flutter again.

The Dark Lord, oblivious to this, called for his followers. "Draco my boy, come forward," he said. Everyone's eyes landed on him. The remainder of Dumbledore's Army looked between him and Hermione confusedly. Draco grimaced and stepped forward, holding his wand tightly in his hand. "Glad to see you are still on the right side." Voldemort said, reaching his hand out for Draco.

Draco looked between him and Harry and made a split second decision. Looking like he would walk towards Voldemort, he suddenly broke into a sprint, throwing the wand at Harry. "Potter," he screamed as he ducked past a curse and made a beeline for his beloved. Harry caught the wand and began to fight Voldemort, who was losing miserably.

Meanwhile Draco held a quivering Hermione in his arms. She looked at him in utter confusion. "How did you know?"

"I just knew. He's the luckiest guy I know. No way he would die."

"I really thought you were going to go with him. I mean it would make sense to keep you and your family safe."

"I couldn't be kept from you even if the castle was on fire," he said softly as he leaned down to kiss her. Amidst all the fighting, all the fire, all the chaos, they still found a way to find solace in each other.

"Certainly not the time," Ron muttered as he turned away. In a moment, Voldemort's curse rebounded and hit himself, causing his demise.

-
Several hours after the battle Draco walked into the Great Hall to find Hermione. Behind him trailed his mother. Hermione spotted him and waved him over. He saw the solemn faces of the Weasley family and held Hermione close. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you," he said as he hugged her tightly. Hermione found comfort in their proximity. She needed him in that moment. Draco released her first, moving to hug Ginny. "I'm so sorry for your loss Ginny." He said as his arms encircled her small frame. She hugged him back, sobbing into his arms.

"He's gone Draco. He's gone. This godforsaken war took him from us. I don't know what I'll do," she sputtered. Molly Weasley looked over with her hand over her mouth, shocked at the scene that was unfolding. Harry walked into the hall and made a beeline for the Weasley's. He stepped over to them and tapped Draco on the shoulder.

Draco turned and saw him, slowly transferring the redhead into his arms. When Draco turned around he saw his mother smiling lightly at Hermione. Hermione hugged her suddenly and Narcissa was shocked for a moment but hugged back.

"Thank you for everything you've done for me." Hermione said softly. Narcissa patted her back lovingly.

"My dear you brought out something in my son that I thought he lost long ago. You have truly been the light in our family. As far as I'm concerned, you're already a Malfoy."

Draco stood up and walked over to the two most important women in his life. "Mother, if I may," he said as he reached for Hermione. Narcissa released her hold on the girl as Draco held Hermione close once again.

"Thank you," Hermione said softly.

"For what?"

"For saving Harry. For being good. For consoling my friends. And most of all, for loving me and showing everyone the Draco I've seen all along."

Draco held her tighter. She refused to move away from him. She had feared she had lost him. Harry released Ginny and stepped over to them. "Thank you Mrs. Malfoy. You didn't have to help me but you did."

"Mr. Potter I am not an evil woman. I just did whatever I could to protect my son. And my son is very enamored with your best friend. So by association, I had no choice but to help you,"

"Well either way, I will make absolutely certain that you are pardoned in every way." Narcissa nodded at him and walked away, leaving her son to be with the girl he so loved. "And you, Malfoy, thank you."

Draco looked up at him, not moving his position at all. "Potter don't worry about it. I did what any sane person would do."

"You did the right thing" Harry said before turning around. "And Hermione, you were right once again."

"About?" she asked quietly.

"Him," Harry said before he made his way to talk to someone else. Hermione smiled, looking up at Draco.

"Yes," she said softly.

"Yes?" Draco asked, confused.

"Yes, I'll marry you. This is my official acceptance," she said as he looked at her in wonder.

"Well, I'm here to put a ring on it," he whispered before getting on one knee and pulling a ring out of his blazer pocket. He slipped it onto her ring finger. "Perfect," he continued, kissing her hand.