She read it again. And again. She hoped this is not what she read. But every time she read it, the words became clearer and clearer.

Lucius Malfoy has escaped Azkaban.

He heard her soft voice, sounding sweet in his ear, but he pretend not to hear her, shutting his eyes. Draco was pushing her away from him mentally, but it was proving to be difficult. He ran his fingers through his hair, breathing heavily. He felt the bed shift, knowing she was turning away from him and feeling the silk brush against his bare back.

Draco, he told himself, remember where you stand.

He knew he struck a nerve as she began shaking with fury. “Not, everything is about money, Malfoy! I didn’t say yes to Ron’s proposal because of money or anything so superficial! But for the good in him and what’s in here!” She pointed at her heart. “Something you’ll never understand. And you’ll never even amount to half the man he is!...." 

She slapped him. Her hand left a stinging sensation on his cheek as he grazed it with his thumb in total shock, she actually hit him. AGAIN! Never in his life was he ever hit other than her! And the fact that she did it again! He turned to her, eyes flashing threateningly.

Draco’s heart pounded with the realization. He was attracted to Hermione Granger. There was no doubt about that. But that was all there was. 

He looked down at her face, their faces so close. And a thought hit him. Drastic times call for drastic measures. He pressed his lips hard against her as her eyes widened in shock, distracting her from the picture. He was able to snatch the photo from her hand. But even with the photo in his hand, his lips lingered on her much longer than what he intended and should had. Her lips were perfect, supple and tender. He wanted to bite down teasingly on her bottom lip. But he knew better. Draco pulled back his roughly, his heart beating a storm in his chest. 

Draco felt something strange… Was it pride? Looking at Hermione show the tattoo, was it pride he felt that she was his? 

“MALFOY!” she cried. “NO!” Her sob was loud and desperate, her chest heaving. She ran to the wreckage, pulling bricks and throwing them aside. “PLEASE!” she howled. She tried to apparate, but couldn’t. She balled her fist together and squeezed her eyes shut. No use.

He heard her voice distant and glanced behind him. She wasn’t there. “Granger!” he bellowed, panicked.  "No. Please. No.” He darted to the debris, screaming on top of his lungs, “GRANGER! GRANGER!” 

Then he spotted a stunning blonde in the crowd. Every man was eyeing her, hungrily. She seemed oblivious. She was just staring up at the ceiling. And he knew he had to have her. He weaved through people and once he was behind her, he brushed his fingers up her thigh. Hermione immediately wheeled around to see a handsome man smiling at her. This was her chance. To prove to herself that she didn’t need Ron. There were plenty of other men just like the one in front of her. 

Why hadn't she ever felt this way before? Why did it seem that Draco was the only one she was attracted to? She blushed at this. Oh, Merlin! Did she have a crush on Draco Malfoy—

“Got to live every moment like it’s your last.”

Hermione’s heart was pounding hard as she became entranced with his stormy grey eyes. Draco licked his lips… Live in the moment. He cupped her face, his heart thundering as he leaned forward. His lips brushed lightly against her and as he was about to fully meet her soft lips— 

The fudge touched her lips as she brought her hand to the back of his neck. Her lips vaguely met his lips with half of the fudged in her mouth. He bit down on the fudge, breaking it. He sucked on it, but his lips still brushed against hers. Hermione was ready. She wanted it, a dangerous feeling of lust for this man. 

Draco dropped to his knees in front of Hermione and held her shoulders, rubbing them. “Is that what you thought? Listen, I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t. Are you still going to accept his proposal?”

“Yes. I’m better off with Blaise. You’re too unstable.” Shakily, she rose to her feet and stared down in pity at Draco. “I can’t handle you anymore.” 

He unintentionally slammed her against the wall roughly as his kisses were no longer gentle. It was uncontrollable as he gave in to the enslaving hunger. Hermione wasn’t necessarily gentle either as she cupped his face and pressed his lips hard against hers. So much for a one-night stand. 

“Do you, Draco Lucius Malfoy take this woman, Hermione Jean Granger as your wife, to love her and to honor her, to nurture, serve and support her, in times of joy and in times of difficulty? Do you promise to remain by her side regardless of what trouble befalls you, and in the presence of temptation to forsake this love, do you promise to remain steadfast and true? Do you promise with all your heart and soul to honor this vow till death do you part? If so answer now, “I do.’” 

“Well, I know I haven’t been the best. Most of the time I’m a jerk… I can be a smart ass and rude, but… I—I, well I care for you… Merlin, this is er—hard, well I—um, love you,” he sighed.

Hermione wanted to fall weak on her knees. Was this a confession of love? She almost stopped breathing.

“And I never properly propose to you… So, I am kinda now…” he nervously chuckled. “Will you marry me? Officially…that is.”   

Please, leave Malfoy and come to France… I will make it up to you.

Love always and forever,

Ron 

 Oh, Melrin…. She wanted to bent over and vomit. No, she really wanted to vomit. She held her stomach...  

“I’m sorry I ran. I didn’t know what else to do. What was I supposed to do? I can’t parade around like other fathers with pride.”

“Because the child is half-blood?” she snarled, baring her teeth. 

“Why are you running from Draco?...”

She gazed up at him with tear-filled eyes and shook her head vaguely.  

Everything came screeching into a halt for Draco. All that was heard was the clock ticking away, but surely everything else had stopped for Draco. The devastation dawned on him slowly like a lonely dark sunset on the horizon turning to black. 

She can only hope once the war was over, she could finally have her happy ever after.  

Hermione was beyond puzzled. She could not believe that Draco was actually asking for a divorce. “A…a…divorce…is that what you want?”

He fully turned towards her with arms crossed and leaned against the desk. “Granger…”

“I’m not Granger…”

“At least not yet…” 

 Hermione became silent for a bit with wide eyes, filled with salty lakes. “Draco… I was never acting. I never lied, ever. When I said the words, ‘I love you,’ I meant with all my heart and still mean it.”

“And you know that I’m madly in love with you?”

“I am dangerously in love with you.”