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Struggling Through New Beginnings	By : HarryGinny4eva Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 31236 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Spoilers - I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 41
- 42
- 43
Disclaimer: Spoilers - I do
not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from
the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter 43

�But, how can I just let things be?� Pansy asked
seriously.

Tonks shrugged, �Pansy, you just do. You sit back
and enjoy this time together. You talk to one another and you set your own
pace. You don�t dwell in the past anymore and you try not to worry about a
future you have little control over. You live in the now and have fun with him.�

While many of their Monday Mental Health sessions
had been about the war and their lingering feelings about it, and they�d
covered, at least in part, the things they were supposed to, they both
acknowledged that speaking about other things most often seemed more pressing
and rewarding. They were closing in on a friendship that for each of them was
unlike all the others they had and they enjoyed it immensely. Their talks
allowed each of them an ear and a shoulder when needed, that wasn�t attached to
a close friend or a complete stranger. Tonks found herself opening up about
things that she and Remus fought about or troubles she had as a new mother,
because she finally had someone to listen to her. Most of her friends and
acquaintances were much older or somewhat younger and they shared their
friendship with her husband. For Pansy their relationship had developed into
one much like she imagined having an older sister would be. She could, and had,
told Tonks things she couldn�t imagine telling anyone else. She reveled in
having someone to tell her inner most thoughts and secrets to who didn�t judge,
placate, or jump all over her for having them.

�I�m just so afraid of screwing this up, Tonks,�
Pansy sighed heavily. �He�s so�good. And, I am, I was��

�We�ve been through this before,� Tonks reminded
her gently. �You may not have been the nicest person in
the past, and you made some mistakes in judgment, but the simple fact that you
wanted to change, means you weren�t as bad as you think you were.�

�I get that now, I think. But, what if he, I mean
I�,� Pansy whispered.

When Pansy didn�t elaborate Tonks moved from her
own chair to sit next to Pansy�s and took her hand, �We�ve talked about just
about everything very openly haven�t we?�

She continued when Pansy nodded, �You can tell me
anything.�

�I know, it�s just,� Pansy trailed off once again.

�Is this about sex?� Tonks asked.

She had been eighteen not too long ago and remembered
how many things in the world had revolved around romance and sexuality at that
age. Tonks had noticed the way Ron and Pansy interacted, and she knew Ron came
from a rather prolific family. It wasn�t a long shot to guess that sex would be
on their minds.

�Kind of,� Pansy hedged, but she didn�t turn away.

�Is he pressuring you?� Tonks asked softly, even
though in her head she was already planning ways to hex the redhead without
getting caught.

�No! It�s not like that,� Pansy rushed to tell her.
Then she laughed, �It�ll probably be the other way around soon, though.�

�It�s like that is it?� Tonks laughed in relief.
When Pansy blushed and nodded she asked, �So, then? What�s the problem?�

�He�s going to find out I�m a��

�A?�

�Virgin,� Pansy said as if it were the worst thing
on the planet.

Tonks laughed lightly, �Regardless of all the
rumors around this place, Pansy, I think you will find that most of the girls
here are.�

�But, I�m not supposed to be!� Pansy cried as she
stood up and began pacing. �Everyone thinks Draco and I, but we never, there was
just too much going on. I really didn�t like him like that anyway, so it just
wasn�t, but we were promised to one another, so I guess I should have. We
fooled around a bit sometimes, but then he really didn�t seem to want to, with
me, I mean, not really. Plus, he was so busy trying to do all he had to do back
then. But, we never told anyone we didn�t and we kind of let people think it. I
mean, what was the point of saying we hadn�t? We were a couple in everyone�s
eyes, so it wasn�t like it would have been wrong, but��

�Pansy breathe!� Tonks
stopped her pacing by putting her hands on the Pansy�s shoulders. �Good. Now,
start over. I�m not understanding.�

Pansy collapsed into a chair and started to wring
her hands. Tonks watched with pride as Pansy realized what she was doing and collected
herself, something she wouldn�t have been able to do a little over a month ago.
Pansy then straightened and took in a deep breath.

She closed her eyes and said in a voice that
dripped with embarrassment, �He�s going to think I know what I�m doing. What if
I am complete crap at it? He�ll be upset and we�ll break up and I�ll��

�Whoa whoa! That�s a bit of a leap, don�t you think?� Tonks interrupted with a
tender smile. When Pansy just shrugged and looked at her sadly, Tonks continued.
�Okay, first, most guys Ron�s age are pretty happy to just be there, if you
know what I mean, so I don�t see how it�s possible for him to be all that
disappointed. Plus, I know him pretty well and I think it�s safe to say he�ll
think being your first will be pretty great. And, last, why don�t you just talk
to him?�

�About this?!� Pansy gasped in shock.

�Yes,� Tonks nodded emphatically. �I�ll tell you
what my mother told me, �if you can�t talk about it, then you shouldn�t be
doing it.� I hate to agree with her, but think about it. You want to share your
whole self with him, right?�

�Yeah,� Pansy blushed.

�You love him?�

�I guess,� Pansy shrugged. But then she nodded, �I
mean, I�m pretty sure I do, I think, but I haven�t told him or anything yet.�

�Well, maybe you should,� Tonks smiled. �Has he
told you?�

�Not really,� Pansy shook her head with a dreamy
smile. �But, he did say that he liked me a lot, though.�

�Liked you? That�s it?!�

�No, it was more than that. I told him I liked him
a lot, too,� Pansy answered in defense even as she blushed.

Tonks grinned in understanding, �Ah, so you two really like each other. Got it. And, do you talk? I mean really talk. About stuff
that�s sometimes uncomfortable?�

Pansy nodded as she thought about their talks of
the war and their first six years of school.

�So, don�t you think you should be able to talk to
him about something this important?�

�I guess,� Pansy demurred.

Tonks tilted her head and gave Pansy a very
motherly stare as she asked, �Are you sure you�re ready for this? Or, are you
doing it just because you think you should?�

�I want this,� Pansy said even as she blushed a deep crimson. �I want him. Tonks, I think I do lo�love
him.�

The older witch smiled softly and her hair changed
to a soft shade of red as she said, �Okay, then. All that�s left is to talk to
him.�

�But, how? When? What do I say?�

�I can�t give you the words, Pansy, or tell you
when to say them; just that you should do it before you get to that point of no
return. You tell him how you feel and how you got to where you are. You tell
him how you were able to hold onto your virginity, so that you could gift it to
someone special. You let him tell you how he feels about it. Then the two of
you figure out what to do, and when, together.�

Pansy was quiet for a moment as she took in Tonks�
words, then she nodded, �Okay. I talk to him. I just tell him.�

Tonks nodded, �You just tell him.�

xxxxxx

�Tell
me everything!� Ginny demanded.

Hermione
stifled her surprised screech as she realized who had pulled her behind a
statue on her way to Arithmancy. She hadn�t seen her friends since the dance,
as she and Draco had stayed in his rooms for the remainder of the weekend. Theo
had intruded on them as little as possible and they hadn�t gone out for meals,
preferring to snack and simply be together. They�d talked and studied and
finished their Potions essays. They�d laughed, whispered
secrets and talked about their dreams. And, they�d explored each other over and
over again until they�d gotten it, to use his words, �Just perfect.�

With
the same dogged determination he�d used most of his life, Draco had set out to
find out how he could make her fall apart right before he followed. It had
taken them a lot of practice, and Hermione hadn�t gotten a lot of sleep, but
her loopy grin proved she hadn�t minded at all.

�Wha�tell you what?� Hermione blinked in confusion.

Ginny
laughed as she answered, �You and Draco never surfaced after the dance. You�re
all but walking into walls. You haven�t stopped grinning all day. And, most
damning of all, when Hagrid asked the class if anyone had ever seen a mountain
troll, you didn�t even respond!�

�When?� Hermione asked in shock. �I never heard
him ask that?!�

�Well,
I supposed not if you were thinking about what I think you were thinking about.
Now talk!�

Hermione
blushed and giggled, �It was�oh God, Gin�he was��

�So
the rumors of him being god-like are true?� Ginny asked in awe.

Barking
a laugh Hermione shook her head, �He hates that nickname.�

�But,
is it true?� Ginny persisted.

�He�s
getting there,� Hermione smiled dreamily.

When
the silence stretched Ginny snapped her fingers in front of her friend�s face
to bring her back to the conversation, �Hello!�

�Oh,
sorry, I just�� Hermione blushed and grinned just as the warning bells were
heard ringing through the halls. �We�re going to be late to class. Come on!�

She
and Ginny hurried down the hall toward their respective classes, but Ginny
didn�t let the conversation go, �You and I are having lunch in the all commons
and you�re going to give me every little detail, young lady!�

Hermione
laughingly agreed, �Okay okay. I�ll see you there.�

Ginny
shouted, �You better!� as she dashed off down the hall to the hospital wing for
Basic Medical Aide. Hermione waved and hurried down the hall to Arithmancy and
Draco.

xxxxxx

�Can
you pass the Bruise Removal Paste, please?� Ginny asked.

�Don�t
we have to heal the cuts first?� Pansy asked as she leaned across the body they
were working on in class.

Millie
shook her head, �Not unless they�re large and deadly. All this body�s got is
scrapes.�

�Millie�s
right,� Luna nodded. �Removing the bruising will allow us to see if there�s any
swelling.�

For
a while they worked quietly as they finished their assignment to heal the
�patient� they�d been assigned. In order to give them practical experience, as
well as book learning, on Monday mornings Madame Pomphrey gave them a patient
suffering from the various maladies they�d previously discussed. They had to
heal them by the end of the class. On Wednesdays there was lecture and the
assigning of papers, and Fridays were for handing in their papers and taking
their weekly exams.

When
Luna and Millie left to get more potions from the supply closet, Pansy leaned
over the body and asked with a grin, �So? Did you talk to her?�

�A
bit,� Ginny nodded. �But, we didn�t have a lot of time, so we�re meeting for
lunch.�

�Did
she look like she was, um, you know, okay?�

�Oh
yeah,� Ginny laughed. Then she waggled her eyebrows, �I think it�s safe to say
they had a good time, if you know what I mean.�

Pansy
blushed and nodded, �Well, good for her.� Then she
glanced around to make sure no one was listening before she leaned closer, �Did
she say if he was, erm, I mean was he��

�Well,
you should know, shouldn�t you?� Ginny laughed lightly until she saw Pansy�s
shrug. �Wait. But, I thought you two��

Pansy
shook her head as her face flamed.

Ginny�s
jaw dropped as Pansy�s answer sunk in and Hermione�s earlier statement, He�s getting there, played back in her
mind. �You never�HE never?!�

�Shh!� Pansy hissed. �For Merlin�s sake,
Ginny!�

�For Merlin�s sake, what?� Millie asked from
behind Pansy when she returned with her arms full of potions.

Pansy
jumped in surprise, but Ginny tried to cover for them both, �We, uh, we were just
exasperated with the number of injuries on the body.�

Luna
came up and dropped her potions on the table as she laughed, �You�re as bad a
liar as Hermione, Ginny. If you two were talking privately and don�t want us to
know what you were talking about, just say so. It�s ever so much easier and you
don�t risk codomongla syndrome.�

Ginny
winced, but nodded, �You�re right, Luna. Sorry guys. It was just kind of
personal and a bit embarrassing.�

�Can�t
imagine what the two of you would have to be embarrassed about,� Millie grunted.

�Nothing,�
both girls answered.

�Enough
chatter, ladies. More healing,� Madame Pomphrey interrupted.

All
four put their heads down and got back to work.

xxxxxx

�Yes,
that�ll work. The ham and cheese with chips, thank you.�

Ginny
waited until Hermione got her food and they walked over to a small table near
the windows. �Okay, talk!� she demanded as soon as they sat down.

Hermione
blushed and grinned as she admonished, �It�s not like you don�t know what it�s
like, Gin.�

Ginny
laughed, �Avoidance won�t work on me; you know that. How was it? Did it hurt?�

�No.
Not as much as I thought it would, based on all you�d said,� Hermione laughed
as she dipped a chip. �It was nice.�

�You
were lucky. Probably all of that horseback riding you used to do. Trust me; it
really did hurt the first time.� Ginny shuddered in memory then smiled, �But,
at least it got better. Much better.�

Hermione
laughed and then Ginny asked, �So, just nice?�

�Well,
it was really good at first and it was getting better, but then it was just
over,� Hermione shrugged.

Ginny�s
eyes widened, �He didn�t try to, you know, help you finish?�

Hermione
blushed, �Well he was kind of excited, Gin.�

�Of
course he was, being his first time and��

�How did you know?!�

Ginny
told her about her talk with Pansy both during class and afterward and then
promised to never let Draco know she knew. Once Hermione got over her initial
embarrassment about talking about things, the two of them began talking in
earnest about their experiences. By the time lunch was over Hermione was pretty
sure she wouldn�t be able to look Harry in the eye for a long while. She was
also armed with a couple of new ideas she was sure Draco would enjoy trying.

xxxxxx

�Are
you sure you�re okay, Greg?� Parvati asked softly that evening as she sat with
her feet up under her on the sofa in front of the fire in her common room. He
had been staring into the fire lost in thought and she worried that he was sad
over his breakup with Millie.

Greg
looked over and nodded as he smiled at her from his seat in the chair opposite
the sofa, �I�m really fine, Vati. Thanks for asking though.�

�Okay,
but if you want to talk or something, I�m here,� she smiled at him.

�Thanks,�
he said again before he looked back down at his essay.

Theo
came in from the kitchenette with drinks for everyone and sat down next to
Parvati. �So, where are we?�

They
were working on their papers for Muggle Studies and were
each trying to fill two feet of parchment. Although each had chosen a different
topic they were trying to help each other remember things from the Hermione�s
birthday that each had forgotten.

�I�m
almost done,� Parvati answered. �I just need to write up the last bit about how
the Big Ben clock actually works; about five inches, I expect.�

Greg
held up his parchment with a chuckle, �This is probably the easiest paper I�ve
ever written. I may even get extra credit for going over. I�m already at two
and a half feet and I�m not done yet.�

�I
still can�t believe you chose the servers,� Theo laughed.

�Well,
it was interesting; seeing people carrying and cleaning and stuff. The
comparison between them and house elves and how they did things was kinda cool,� Greg shrugged. Then he teased, �Besides, it�s way more interesting than the similarities and
differences between muggle and wizard lighting.�

Theo
sat forward as he spoke, �But, it was so different! I mean, did you see all the
various types and sizes they used everywhere we went? And,
not a candle to be seen anywhere!�

Greg
rolled his eyes and shook his head. With all the things they�d seen and done
during that day, Theo had been most fascinated by the lights, light fixtures,
and even light switches. When they�d gone bowling, the swirling, moving lights
on all the boards had shocked him so much that he�d spent the first fifteen
minutes simply staring at all of them. Then, for days after the weekend,
whenever anyone had asked about what they�d seen or done, Theo had launched
into a �let me tell you how they light things� story that left most bored
senseless.

Parvati,
who had heard him go on and on all weekend, patted his knee and gave him a
small indulgent smile, �So you�ve said, love. I�m sure Professor Mills will
enjoy reading it. But, you need to finish writing it, first.�

�Oh,
right,� he agreed. �Only a few inches left. I still have to write about the
knobs they used to turn the lights on and off.�

He
continued to mutter to himself as he started to scribble on his parchment.
Parvati shook her head with a giggle, while Greg rolled his eyes and went back
to his own essay.

�What
were their uniforms called again?�

�Tuxedos,�
Parvati answered before she settled back into her own essay.

xxxxxx

The
next day in Charms class Professor Flitwick decided
they were far enough long to learn the Fidelius Charm. He explained that they would
need to think of a secret and then learn to hide that secret within their
partner. After a reminder to them that it should be something they wouldn�t
mind getting out, in case the charms didn�t work, he read off the pairs.

When
he said, �Miss Granger and Mr. Zabini,� the entire class fell silent awaiting
the explosion. They held a collective breath when Blaise stood up from his desk
and turned to face Hermione.

Blaise
kept his face blank as he looked into Hermione�s eyes and stoically ignored the
silence. He then huffed out a breath and picked up his books. Almost every jaw,
including Hermione�s, dropped when Blaise simply moved over to Hermione and sat
in the empty chair next to her.

Professor
Flitwick didn�t seem to notice anything amiss and continued
to call out the rest of the names on his list. But, everyone else whispered and
speculated on how soon the insults and hexes would begin flying between the
pair, until the last pair was called, �That leaves, Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy.�

Where
there had been whispers before, the class then erupted in rather loud chatter
as everyone looked between the two pairs of unlikely couples. It took the
professor a couple of minutes to call the class back to order and give them
instruction on the motions and sounds of the charm. He also explained the
various ways in which the charm could be performed incorrectly and the
consequences of doing so. It was a good thing Hermione, Blaise, Harry and Draco
were good students, as none of them paid any attention to the lecture as they
each sat lost in their own thoughts.

Blaise
decided he would be mature about it. He�d spent the majority of the time after
the dance in his room thinking and making lists. On one piece of paper he�d listed
all of the things he remembered Hermione and her friends saying and doing wrong
to him in the past. It had been a pitifully short list, so he�d expanded it to
include all the things they�d done to his friends. That list hadn�t been much
longer, but at least he�d thought of some things. Once he�d completed that one
to his satisfaction, he�d begun the second, the list of all the things they�d
ever done that had been nice. When the list of things grew to the second sheet
of paper, and he�d realized it had been a much easier list to write, he�d
stopped writing and gone flying. There, soaring above the school in wide, quiet
circles, he let things go finally. With each pass of the towers and turrets of
the building, he felt his anger, pain, and disillusionment abate
a bit more. The faster he flew, the more of the past he released.� By the time he�d landed and gone back to his
room, he had laughed to himself as he imagined that he was a lot like the
muggle Christmas Grinch that Professor Mills had told them about in class the
week before.

As
he sat in class looking into the confused and suspicious eyes of the person who
had taken the brunt of his confusion and anger, he felt something he�d never
felt in her presence before, sorrow. He wanted to apologize for the things he�s
said and done to her, but he knew words would never suffice. It was time for
action. He opened his mouth to start the assignment, but was cut off by her.

Hermione
raised her chin and narrowed her eyes at him, �Look Zabini, I know you don�t want
to be paired with me, but I refuse to get a bad grade because of you and your��

�Hermione,�
he began and watched as her jaw clamped shut at the use of her first name. He
cleared his throat uncomfortably and finished his sentence. �I need to keep my
grades up and do a good job on this assignment, as well. As I�m paired with the
supposedly brightest witch in the school, I don�t see why that shouldn�t
happen.�

He
almost laughed at her very comical imitation of a fish out of water, but held
it in. Even though he planned to make a better effort to get
along with her, it still felt good to shut her up for a bit.

Instead
he smiled, which he noticed made her eyes widen and then grow suspicious again,
and said, �Shall we get started?�

xxxxxx

Across
the room, Harry and Draco watched and waited. Both felt the urge to go over and
see what Blaise was saying to Hermione that had her looking so surprised and
suspicious, but as they knew she could fight her own battles, they stopped
themselves. Anyone who happened to glance in their direction would have seen
the same belligerent stance they�d adopted; the similar looks on their faces.
In fact, Theo and Ginny actually laughed together at the picture they made, one
light, one dark, mirroring one another without meaning to do so.

When
Hermione relaxed back into her seat and the grip she had on her wand relaxed,
both Harry and Draco leaned back in their chairs with a relieved sigh. The
simultaneous actions made them finally look at each other. When both sneered,
they realized how similarly they sat and rolled their eyes at one another.
Then, Harry�s face broke into a small grin.

�God,
it�s like looking at a negative of myself,� he laughed
a bit. When Draco simply lifted an eyebrow at him the smile left Harry�s face
and he sighed heavily. �Malfoy, I think it�s safe to say neither of us wants to
be doing this.�

Draco
nodded once, but didn�t speak. He didn�t consider it his fault they were at
their impasse. Harry had been just as much of a jerk, if not more, this year
than Draco had.

Harry
waited to see if the blonde would speak, and when he didn�t Harry cleared his
throat and nodded, �Okay. So, should we begin?�

Again,
Draco didn�t speak, but nodded once and picked up his wand.

�So,
what deep, dark, Deatheater secret are you going to
tell me?� Harry asked snidely when he got tired of the silent treatment.

Draco
took a breath before he answered finally, �You know, Potter, for a guy who
started off the year telling me he wanted us to behave civilly, you don�t even
seem to be trying.� Harry sat up in his chair defensively, but Draco continued,
�Look, I�m tired of fighting with you. I don�t even know why we do it anymore.
Let�s just accept that we don�t like each other and move on. All this childish
bullshit is getting old and getting us nowhere. I will not stoop to your level
anymore, Potter. And, I am not going to let you mess things up with Hermione
and me. I�m not going away, so be a man and suck it up!�

Harry
was quiet as he stared at the belligerent face of the one person in his life who still represented all the evil of his past. He knew
Draco was right, but the thought of agreeing out loud with him stuck in his
craw. Instead he lifted his wand, made the correct motion and said, �Fidelius.�

Draco�s
eyes widened in shock at Harry�s actions, but he said nothing as he waited for
the secret the golden boy of Gryffindor would impart. He never expected the
secret he received.

�I
don�t like you and I don�t trust you. But, as far back as I can remember I have
never really hated you. I know hate, Malfoy, and I simply don�t feel it towards
you. I am truly sorry for almost killing you with that spell sixth year. But, I
guess my secret is this. I don�t hate you, Malfoy, and now that I reluctantly
know you better, I know that in another life, under different circumstances,
the very things that piss me off about you are the same things that would have
made us friends.�

Draco,
who had expected to hear some great truth about the war, was shocked at Harry�s
statement. He wasn�t quite sure what to say back as there seem to be no right
way to answer such a thing. Then he remembered it was his turn and thought over
what secret he would expose. It gave him a bit of satisfaction to see Potter
flinch when he whipped his wand up and pointed it at the scar on the other
man�s forehead. But, he decided if Potter could be that honest, so could he.

�Fidelius,� Draco said as he completed the correct wand
movement. Then, �I don�t hate you either, Potter, there�s even a small part of
me that actually admires some of the things you�ve done. I�ve spent far too
much of my time this year trying to figure out why we�re the only two who can�t
seem to get along. What I have come to realize, my secret if you will, is that
I hate the feeling of knowing that my entire life might have been different if
you had only taken my hand that first day of school and I may never be able to
forgive you for not doing so.�

Neither
even contemplated the idea that they hadn�t cast the charms correctly, and they
knew the other hadn�t either. Their secrets were safe. But, as they continued
to stare at one another in the ever quieting room, the same thought dawned on
them. With the release of those simple secrets much of their animosity towards
one another faded and they were left wondering where they would go from there.
Then, without meaning to, they once again mirrored each other as they turned
away with similar contemplative looks on their faces and looked over to check
on Hermione and Blaise.

Professor
Flitwick waited at the front of the room for everyone
to finish and tried to keep his own devilish grin to a minimum. He knew most of
the students in the school saw him as a bit of a joke and therefore always
underestimated his Ravenclaw intelligence. He knew his students well enough to
know that most would cast the charms correctly, so as he�d thought about the
day�s lesson he decided to pair them with people they normally would not want
knowing any kind of secret about them. Then, before he opened the doors to the
classroom, he�d cast two spells of his own. The first was a protection spell over
himself, so he would remain unaffected by anything
that might happen in the room. Then he cast the second, a True Confession Charm,
on the room at large, so that each student would be compelled to tell a true,
deeply held secret. It was his own test of their Charms� skills. If they cast
the spell properly, their secrets were safe and they passed the lesson. If they
didn�t and their secrets got out, he would hear about it, and they failed.

He
never took into account the possibility of altering the lives of the students
in the room as he stood in front proudly waiting for them to finish. He might
have rethought the strength of his confession charm had he heard the secrets
that were spilled.

�I
think I�ve always hated you because you were everything I wanted so much to love
and couldn�t have.�

�A
part of me has always wondered what my life would have been like had I been
born into a magical family.�

�I�m
scared to death of her father and have cried over the thought that he won�t let
her marry me.�

�I
think I may be pregnant.�

�I�m
a virgin and I want you to be my first.�

�I
plan to wait until marriage to have sex.�

�I
sometimes wish I didn�t have a twin so people would try harder to get to know me
alone and not always thinking of me as part of a set.�

�I
want to find love and have someone treat me like a normal person, not an ex-Deatheater or a big lump of stupid.�

�Nargles are real.�

xxxxxx

Author�s Responses: I hope you
enjoyed that and thank you once again for reading my story. Can you believe
there are only two chapters left?! I still can�t. But, I have already started
the sequel, so it�s not really over yet. I will tell you that your reviews,
questions and thoughts have given me some great ideas. I hope you give me even
more to work with in the final three chapters. Thank you all again!

angeles: Thank you! Glad
you enjoyed it.

margaritama: I do have an LJ
account, but I don�t post there and I don�t go there often. I am thrilled you �liked
the realism of this chapter� as that�s exactly what I was going for with it. I
wanted them to not be too over the top with it, as there is still a whole other
story for them. lol

bLondpierogi: �Bloody Awesome��THANK
YOU!

AriesGirl: I hope Ginny�s
explanation above gave you your answers. :-) You didn�t drive me insane� you cracked
me up with your theories. ha ha
ha Lockhart?! Where on earth did that come from?! LMAO Thank you for the review, compliments, suggestion, and the
really good giggle. Sounds like you and your hubby-to-be have had loads
of fun. Congratulations.

Mrs.DracoMalfoy: Thank you, hon. I
am glad you liked it and didn�t see it as overdone. Yeah, me!!! And, thank you!

LadyBlueEyes: Hi there! I am so
glad his ramblings, although confusing, made some semblance of sense. lol You said it perfectly, ��at 18 do any of us truly know
what we want?� Their first time�thank you again! And, yes, I am sure they will
�practice�. tee hee hee You are WAY too good to me. (Personal WOO HOO on the brilliant again!!) Love and hugs right back
to you!

kazfeist: Why, thank you! I
am very glad you liked it. :D

marie: Thank you, hon! I thought so, too. lol

Dreamweaver: Hermione having a
defense mechanism against Draco�s seriousness?! Huh? I have no idea of what you
speak! *evil snicker*� Thank
you!! �tender and honest� was EXACTLY what I was
trying to convey. :-D Thank you again, hon! Off to
write�
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Struggling Through New Beginnings