I knew we'd arrived at the right place when we came across a large stone sticking out of the sand, inscribed with child-like writing.

"Dobby?" I breathed, sinking down to my knees and recognising Harry's handiwork at once. Only he would think to carry out such a compassionate act.

And why he never joined SPEW, I'll never know. This sort of thing would have got him member of the week for sure.

I made a mental note to give him a gold star on behalf of SPEW. Maybe I'd even get Draco to present it to him in an attempt to build bridges.

"Who's Dobby?"

I stared up at Draco, my mouth agape. "He was your house-elf."

Draco scratched his head, looking genuinely confused. "I didn't think our house-elves ever had names. They were just... there."

"Of course they have names! Just like you and I have names and feelings and personalities. This is exactly the kind of awareness we need to be promoting. What we need to focus on is-"

He placed a hand on my shoulder, silencing me. "Hermione, what we need to focus on right now is winning the war as per your request. I promise you, once we've done that, I'll be right behind you in whatever elf-fare campaign you need to promote, but right now, there are bigger issues."

I hung my head, knowing he was right. Twisting round, I got to my feet and allowed him to pull me into a hug as I quietly wept for Dobby even though I had promised myself that I would not yet cry.

But Dobby deserved a tear or two at the very least.

And then a new voice sounded, as though from far away in the distance, but at the same time, close by.

"Hermione? Oh my god, Hermione!"

I lifted my head from Draco's chest to see a familiar bespectacled boy suddenly materialise out of thin air, skidding across the sand dunes towards us.

"Harry!" I gasped, relief causing me to laugh through my tears.

Breaking away from Draco, I ran towards him, slipping and sliding over the sand but not stopping until my body had slammed into Harry's and we were hugging, hugging so hard, grateful that the other was alive.

"Fuck, Hermione, we've been so worried about you," he murmured into my hair, clutching me tight. "Not knowing where you were... it's been killing us."

I looked up at him, so many questions on my lips, not knowing where to start. "Us? Ron... please tell me that he's-"

"He's fine. We're all fine. Well, all accept for Dobby, that is." He paused to swallow, tears glistening in his eyes. "He saved us, Hermione. He got everyone safely out of Malfoy Manor but paid the ultimate price for it."

"I'm sorry," I said in a rush, my voice hurried yet sincere, "I know how much you cared for him. I know that saying goodbye to him must have been one of the most difficult things to do-"

"Ahem."

I froze at the interruption, having almost forgotten about my white-blond haired companion.

Harry quickly let go of me and reached for his wand. His eyes narrowing suspiciously as he pointed it at Draco.

"Relax, Potter," Draco drawled disdainfully as he held up his hands. "I've clearly come in peace."

"That may be so," Harry snarled, keeping his wand aloft, "but you're still a Death Eater. You're still in league with my enemy."

"Actually, I'm not," Draco said in a bored manner, his shoulders giving a little lift. "Not anymore. Granger helped me to remove the Mark and now I'm as free as the rest of you. And more fool me, I'm here to help you fight."

"It's true," I added, nodding imploringly at Harry as I stepped up to Draco's side, taking his hand. "You-Know-Who has been terrorising Draco and his family for years, now. Of course he wants rid of him. So I've spent the last three weeks bringing him up to speed. He knows all about our hunt for Horcruxes."

Harry's mouth hung open, giving him the appearance of someone stupid. "Hermione, that was our secret! The golden trio's next adventure! TRIO! That means three people, Hermione, not four. One, two, thr-"

"Keep your wig on, Potter," Draco cut in, rolling his eyes, "it sounds like you need the help given by what Hermione's told me. My loyalty, after all, remains with her. If what happened at the Manor doesn't prove that to you, then I don't know what else will."

Love fluttered in my heart as I looked up at him, my lips twitching into a warm smile.

Harry lowered his wand, still looking suspicious. Although, I had a feeling his pride had more to do with his hesitancy rather than anything else.

"Okay, whatever," Harry muttered stiffly, stuffing his wand back in his pocket. "The more the merrier, I suppose."

Except there certainly wasn't anything 'merry' about the atmosphere awaiting us in Shell Cottage, of which had now become visible to us.

Fleur greeted us with a strained smile, and I could tell our presence wasn't exactly welcome.

"Vee 'av little room az it iz," she sighed irritably, glaring angrily at an unapologetic looking Harry.

"There's no need, we have a tent." Draco drawled, snaking an arm around my waist. "Don't we, darling?"

It was unfortunate that at that very moment, Ron appeared at the top of stairs, his face pinched in fury as he glared down at Draco and me.

"Had a nice little holiday, did you?" He snapped as he heavily stomped down the stairs. "Don't worry about us, we were fine after you decided to leg it from the Manor. Just ask Dobby. Oh wait, no you can't because Harry buried him six foot underground!"

"Uh- he was dead." Harry interjected when everyone turned to look at him.

A familiar floaty voice drifted from the back of the cottage. "Oh, Hermione. How lovely to see you again."

Luna came into view, walking through a doorway, smiling dreamily. "And Draco, too. I do hope your family haven't been punished too much for mine and Mr Ollivander's escape. It wasn't anything personal, you see, but one cannot thrive too long without sunlight."

Draco said nothing, looking embarrassed.

"Hello, Luna," I stepped in, saving him from having to respond. "Draco escaped too, we know not much of what happened after we left due to being in hiding."

"Oh." She blinked, not taking her eyes from Draco. "That's a shame. I expect your mother is missing you, though. I liked her. She was always kind to me and Mr Ollivander when she brought us our bread and water. Not like that aunt of yours who used to Crucio us just for the fun of it."

An uncomfortable silence ensued, with Draco quietly coughing, his face pink.

Luckily, we were saved by Bill who called us all through to the kitchen for a cup of tea. There, we were greeted by Dean Thomas who waved to us cheerily and asked if we'd happened to catch the latest football scores on our travels.

We were filled in with what happened after we'd Disapparated from the Manor, that they'd not only rescued my wand and the sword, but Griphook, too.

Draco looked up, startled. "The goblin? They are not to be trusted."

"Funny," Ron muttered nastily, "that's what they say about Malfoys."

Draco ignored this slight, keeping his hard stare upon Harry. "I mean it, Potter. If you are involving a goblin in your plans, then you need to tread very carefully. They are back stabbing creatures who are renowned for their dislike of wizards."

"I know," Harry shrugged coolly. "But I've little choice on the matter."

"Then let me help," Draco offered. "I've recent experience in dealing with them."

Harry gave a stiff nod, accepting his old nemesis's offer of help.

I beamed, looking from the two of them, proud they were finally working as a team.

Ron, however, couldn't look less enthusiastic, and I knew he'd take more convincing in accepting Draco's involvement.

So, later on, when every one else was otherwise occupied, I cornered Ron in the kitchen where he was raiding the fridge.

"Can we talk?" I asked, waiting patiently for him to finish filling his gob with squirty cream.

He shrugged, refusing to meet my eye as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, a scowl etched on his face.

"I just feel like we should clear the air-"

"So, it's official then? You and him?" His voice was angry and cold as he replaced the cream and slammed the fridge door shut, still refusing to look at me.

"I suppose so, yes." I said lightly, trying to ignore the sting of his tone.

"Do you love him?"

I blinked, not having expected this question. I knew my answer would hurt him, but I also knew I had to be honest.

"Yes, I do."

His face crumpled, but he composed himself almost immediately, taking a deep, shaky breath before speaking again.

"I would ask if he loves you, but I don't think I need to. I just hope he treats you right, 'mione. Better than I did, at any rate."

And I realised then that he wasn't being cold - he was protecting his broken heart. And I felt bad, really bad. Because I knew exactly what unrequited love felt like and it hurt like a bitch.

But our hearts were never destined to sing in sync. I loved him too soon and he loved me too late.

The best we could hope for now was to find it in our selves to be happy for one another, which I understood was easier for me at this moment in time than it was for him.

So, I didn't rub anything in his face, being sure to display my affection for Draco in private, which was difficult to do so in such a tiny cottage that was full of more people than it catered for.

But thankfully our tent and a Silencing Charm offered us the privacy we so desperately needed after long days of talking and planning with Harry, Ron and Griphook.

On the whole, though, Draco got on surprisingly well with Ron and Harry, impressing both of them with his no nonsense attitude towards Griphook (who was proving to be very unhelpful in our plan to break into Gringotts).

However, when it was suggested that I Polyjuice into Bellatrix, Draco went apeshit.

"Over my dead body!"

"Which it will be if we don't execute this plan properly." Harry snarled, banging his fist down loudly on the table, making us all jump. "This is not the time to start playing the protective boyfriend. Hermione is the only one of us who can get away with imitating her voice. Either we are all in this plan fully or we are not in it at all."

Draco opened his mouth to say something, but I hushed him with a hand on his knee. "It's okay, Draco. I can do this. And you can help me with Bellatrix's mannerisms. If you think about it, it's the perfect plan."

His face screwed up, as though it physically pained him to even imagine me turning into his aunt. "I hate her more than I hate him. What if I look at you when you are her and find myself hating you too?"

"But it won't be me you feel hatred for. Please, Draco, Harry's right, this is the only way we can get into Bellatrix's vault."

"If it's a female you need then why can't we recruit Loony... or that french one? You know, someone who hasn't suffered at the hands of that bitch."

"I've already said, we can't involve anyone else," Harry demanded, taking off his glasses to aggressively wipe them on his sleeve. "You're lucky I'm even letting you in on the plan."

Draco sniffed, not looking in the least bit convinced, but he remained silent all the same and let proceedings continue.

When the day eventually arrived, we all awoke early, the five of us moving quietly around the kitchen as we prepared ourselves. Draco kept throwing me furtive looks and I could tell he was anxious about me taking the Polyjuice Potion.

Before I went upstairs to make my transformation, Draco pulled me aside into the empty sitting room and held me tight against him. I could feel his heart racing wildly beneath his chest. He was frightened. And so was I.

"Honestly, I don't think I'm going to be able to look at you once you're her," he murmured, cupping my face and pressing his lips against my temple.

"It'll be fine," I assured him, "just remember, it's me inside. It's my mind and my heart."

"Just... don't talk about our sex life as my aunt. It'd be weird."

I raised my eyebrows. "I think it would be weird if I talked about our sex life in front of Ron, Harry and Griphook whatever. Not to mention incredibly awkward."

"You mean you aren't going to talk about how I tickled your tonsils last night?" He chuckled softly in my ear. "Why, Granger, I don't think I thanked you for that, at least not verbally, anyway."

I smacked his shoulder, laughing as I went to pull away. But he caught my wrist, halting me.

"I love you, Hermione, you know that, don't you?"

His question was serious, sincere and strangely final.

I swallowed and nodded, but I didn't like the uneasy feeling stirring in the pit of my stomach. I didn't like it one bit.

*****