Disclaimer: All HP characters are owned by Warner Brothers and JKR.

A/N: I know, I know. I haven't worked on this for a long time. For awhile, I just couldn't bring Draco to light again. I just wasn't feeling it. But finally, I found my muse- so happy day! I hope that you like this final chapter. I know that you probably weren't expecting the end to come here, but it felt right.

I have a feeling some of you will want to throttle me for this chapter. I hope that it has been worth the wait. Just a little temptation- I have a new fic in the works. Hopefully, the first chapter of it will be posted sometime this month.

"So, where shall this refined meeting take place?" Hermione asked.

Draco rolled his eyes. "Well, you know, it would be nice to get the "Burnt Alaska" smell gone from my arm."

Penelope looked at the two youngsters and began to laugh. "Children, I swear. The both of you are going to give me a heart attack with your foolishness"

Hermione shook her head. "Now really, I know we aren't that bad."

Penelope's eyes sparkled. "Well my dear, you may not be, but the boy however... I'm just not sure."

"Not wait just one moment. You barely know me, how in God's name can you expect to know what I am and am not capable of?" Draco asked, smirking.

"Because, "Mr. Alexander", I know you all too well, and Penelope is not an idiot. You are evil, ludicrous, and maybe just a mite insane." Hermione said, doing her best not to laugh, but failing horribly.

"Well... one can hardly argue with a spiel like that." Draco smiled. He knew he was finally getting somewhere. If he could make her laugh, maybe then things would be okay. "Now, can I ask a simple favor?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "What?"

Draco took an unsoiled business card from his pocket and handed it to Hermione. "Call around 7. That will give me time to make myself presentable. He took a deep breath, hoping that he hadn't yet again made a dreadful mistake.

"Of course she understands." Penelope said, grabbing Hermione by the arm. "I'll see that she comes to call at 7, Mr Alexander."

Hermione frowned, but once Penelope reached this level of interference, there wasn't much she could do.

"Thank you, Penelope. I am greatly appreciative." He said, smiling at the elder lady. He turned to Hermione. "I'll see you... later." He didn't give her time to make a single utterance. He was gone from the cafe in what seemed like an instant.

"One of these days, I'm going to strangle him." Hermione said.

"Now dear, that is no way to talk about your future betrothed."

Hermione glared at Penelope. "Keep it up, and you might be next on my list."

Penelope laughed. "Yes dear, anything you say. Just remember to be on your best behavior."

"What? Do you mean you aren't coming with me?" Hermione asked.

"Of course not, dear. He is a man. I am an old lady. I would only be in the way of the natural course of things."

Hermione shook her head and allowed herself to be lead from the cafe, there really wasn't much else she could do.

Draco hopped into his car and drove as fast as he could to his home. He knew he couldn't mess this up. It was bad enough that he'd had so many chances, but he knew that if he didn't get this one right, he might as well give up what was left of his humanity.

As soon as he reached his house, he let himself into the garage and darted into the house and up the stairs. In minutes he was finished putting himself back together. His hair was still wet, but at this point, he didn't really care. All that mattered was Hermione.

He tidied his sitting room that didn't need tidying, and took his seat near the fireplace. All that was left now was to wait... and think. He'd been wanting this moment for years, and now he didn't have the slightest idea as to what to say. Part of him wanted to take her and lock her in the cage he had specifically put in the basement years ago, but he couldn't do that. He wanted Hermione for him, but not as a slave. He wanted her to like him, even if there was still a part of him that wasn't quite right. He hoped that getting her in his life would keep that part of him from coming out so often, but he still didn't know if it would work. Above all, he didn't want to hurt her.

He supposed that his time in the human world had helped to hold him steady for awhile. He knew that no one knew what lurked behind his eyes. It helped that humans had contact lenses. They wouldn't understand his odd eyes. Of course, he wasn't sure if anyone could ever understand him anymore. He looked at the clock. it was a quarter to 7. He could only wonder if she was still as early as she used to be. Part of him hoped so, it wouldn't do for him to think those thoughts much longer. The longer he thought like that, the closer the beast came to surfacing, and the beast did not need to surface.

Suddenly, he heard the crunch of gravel. He couldn't help but smile. She hadn't changed. Maybe something was going right for once.

He got up from his chair and walked over and opened the door. She was just getting out of her car and seemed shocked to see him waiting for her.

He was waiting for her. It was almost like a little puppy waiting and waiting for its master to return. She grabbed her purse from the car and smiled.

"Welcome, Hermione." He said.

Hermione walked up the drive. He stepped aside so that she could enter. It was funny, she didn't remember Draco being this gentlemanly.

As she walked into his home, she was astounded by the luxury of it. It wasn't as if she didn't know that he and his family had money, it was just that she had never seen so many expensive things in one place outside of a museum.

"This is beautiful, Draco." Hermione said.

Draco smiled. "I'm glad you like it. Would you like something to drink?"

Hermione looked around dazedly. "Sure." She said, not really knowing what she had just been asked.

Draco left her and she wandered into the sitting room. The room was ivory with a powder blue carpet. Everything was clean and modern, and clearly very expensive. Before she knew it, she felt a hand on her elbow. She looked up.

"Your drink, Hermione." Draco said. She accepted it, and he led her to a chair in front of the fireplace.

She sat, set her drink on the table beside her, and took a deep breath. "So why did you bring me all the way over here, Draco?"

Draco nodded, he knew that question was coming. "I want another chance with you."

Hermione laughed. "Whatever for? Honestly Draco, the last time was just a complete catastrophe."

"I know, Hermione. Believe me, I know. What can I do to explain things to you? Ever since I lost you, I could not think of anyone else but you. I tried, I honestly did, but no girl compared to you."

Hermione shook her head. "Then, honestly Draco, you didn't try very hard. I'm not all that special. I am an ordinary woman."

Draco sighed. "That's where you're wrong, Hermione. That's where you've always been wrong. You are anything but ordinary."

"While the compliments are nice, Draco. Remember that it was your actions that caused all of this in the first place. I don't know what you want from me. I really don't. What I had to give wasn't enough for you before, why is it enough now?"

Draco tried to hide the anger from his eyes, but it just didn't happen. "You know, Hermione. I'm trying here. I really am. I have admitted I was an idiot. What else do you want me to do? All of this happened how many years ago and you still aren't over it?"

Hermione's eyes widened. He was right. She still wasn't over it. She still loved him. "No, I guess I'm not."

"You do know what that means, Hermione?" Draco asked.

She paused. "No, not really."

Draco smirked. "It means that you still love me. There is a fine line between love and hate. Have you crossed that line yet, Hermione?"

She wanted to lie, she really did, but she couldn't. "No. No, Draco. I haven't."

Draco nodded. "Well then. That brings us back to the original question. What are we going to do about everything?"

Hermione paused. What was the worst thing that could happen? That he would cheat on her again? She'd been through that once and survived. "Draco, I... I just don't know."

"Don't know what, Hermione? There is no sense in holding back. I'm not letting you go this time."

Hermione nodded. "So now what?"

Draco got up from his chair and pulled her up from hers. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. "I'm not going to mess this up, Hermione. I promise you."

Hermione nodded slowly.

Draco bent down and kissed her. When she didn't pull away, he kissed her deeply and held her close.

"Wow." Hermione said.

"Wow is right. I never thought I would get to feel that again." Draco mumbled into her hair.

Hermione swatted his face away. 'That tickles!"

Draco laughed. "I know other places I can tickle."

"Where you always this bad?" Hermione asked.

"Just when I was in a good mood."

Hermione chuckled. "So now what?"

Draco let her go and ruffled his hand through his hair. "Well, I could give you the grand tour, since you came all the way out here and all."

Hermione smiled. "That sounds like a splendid plan."

Draco walked over to a desk, opened the front drawer and pulled out a key. He smiled a smile and wasn't quite right. His eyes turned dull and lost their sparkle. He turned to Hermione. "Might as well start with the basement."

The End

A/N: Don't kill me. The ending is my own homage to Lucio Fulci, the director of such films as "The Gates of Hell".