Please note that none of these characters are my own, and I am just a Harry Potter fan trying to create the ending I would have wanted. I've never shipped Hermione and Ron because I just don't think they would be compatible in reality. Constructive criticism, suggestions, and positivity are all appreciated! :)


"I hate you for walking away from this you bloody coward!" Hermione screamed with ire at the retreating figure with all the strength she could muster. She slid off the bed and began to follow the man towards the door, the tears in her eyes blurring his shape. "I should have known better than to trust you, because running away is all you ever do! When are you going to have the courage to fight for what you want?"

The figure cloaked in black, with his back still turned, stopped walking at this outburst and clenched his fists by his sides. His fingers flexed open, and closed again before he drew up his shoulders and gathered the strength to face Hermione. He whipped his head around and stormed back to meet her in the middle of the floor, his face only inches from hers.

"That's sweet," he drawled scathingly. "You think you're what I want?" Her lower lip trembled.

"I know it," she replied forcefully, practically spitting in his face.

He continued to walk towards her menacingly, forcing her back into the nearest wall. He was now so close she could feel him breathing in and expelling the warm air between them. Her breath was caught in her throat, and she froze, afraid that if she moved she might scare him away entirely.

"You hate me, do you?" He took a step forward. "I'm a coward, am I?" He snarled, grabbing her wrists and holding them above her head, pinning her in place with his hips. "I love it when you talk dirty to me. Please keep telling me how much you hate me, because it will only make it easier for me to walk away from you," he spat. "Not that it's hard in the first place."

"Then why haven't you left already, you great prat?" She whimpered, but practically screaming it all the same. He tightened his grip on her wrists and she continued without waiting for a response.

"You're lying, Draco," she said and she pulled one of her wrists free from his grip before placing it lightly on his cheek, and looking deeply into his eyes. His cheek leaned into her hand for a moment, his steel grey eyes softening for a moment, before hardening again. "Tell me that all of this is really just fucking to you, that it meant nothing, that I mean nothing to you, and I'll let you walk away." He didn't say anything and turned his head from her piercing gaze, wrenching it away from the heat of her palm.

"See, you've always been a terrible liar. Your heart is too good, despite your efforts to prove otherwise. But if you're going to be nasty to me of all people, after all this, and expect me to believe it, then you've got to put some conviction behind it," she continued with a hint of disgust. "I mean, you have really got to mean it. So try again. Tell me exactly why you're walking away."

He pushed her hand back up above her head."You're such an entitled bitch. What makes you think you're privy to that information? You shouldn't presume to know anything about me, sweetheart," Draco retorted. "What you think just because we have been in bed together, all of a sudden you know my deepest thoughts? I. Don't. Feel. Anything. Not for you, and certainly not for my fucking parents."

"Because, Draco, I do know you. And after everything we have been through these past few months, everything I've given to you, you owe me the truth," she said. He stepped back quickly, as though burned.

She continued, "You can't scare me away by saying nasty things to me. For fucks sake, I've spent more than half my life being bullied by you. I just want to hear you say it. Admit that you're scared," she asked of him. He flinched. "Guess what Draco? I am too. We all are. Sorry to tell you, but you're not the only one who wants to run away and hide. How entitled are you to think you can evade all this and that everything will be peachy keen without having to fight for it? I don't care if you run away from Voldemort, or your family, or even your friends, but I won't let you run away from me -" she responded, grinding her hips against his in an attempt to remind him what they had just been doing only moments before. "- or this. Not without a bloody explanation!" His arms were braced on the wall beside her head, boxing her in, and he hung his head in defeat, his breath coming out in puffs next to her ears.

He lifted his head turned his eyes towards her and asked with a smirk, "But I thought you hated me and my cowardice."

"You know me well enough by now to know when I'm lying, and when I'm simply trying to win an argument," she responded in kind.

"I do, but if you did hate me it would make it easier for me to walk away from you and not feel like my heart was being ripped out of my fucking chest," he let out a shaky breath. "I am scared Hermione, but not because of the war, not because Lord Voldemort has decided to set up shop in my home, not because I've been asked to do an impossible task, and not even because I might die before I have a wife, family, and home of my own. No, I am absolutely fucking petrified because I don't want to imagine my future without you in it, and I don't want anyone to connect us and realize that you're important to me. I am terrified because I couldn't live with myself if I was the reason you died. I fucking love you Hermione." Hermione's breath caught in her throat and her eyes welled with tears at his heartfelt declaration. It was the first time she'd ever heard those words from him.

"I'm already a target, with or without you. Our relationship means more to me than just this, Hermione," he said grinding his hips against hers to demonstrate his point. "Can't you see that? It isn't just about getting my bloody rocks off with you," his voice lowered to her ear and whispered,"-or inside of you." She shivered. "But that is why we cannot continue this. Don't you understand how dangerous this is?"

"I'm not daft. I do understand the implications of this relationship. But please don't walk away from me Draco. I-I just couldn't bear it, not now - not after everything," she choked out, looking into the depths of his steely grey eyes, trying to convey the depth of her feelings. "We are so close, and you were supposed to be with me until the end."

"You will have to do this without me, Hermione. You and Potty and Weaselbee are destined to save the world. The golden trio is just that, a trio. And it most certainly does not include the likes of Draco Malfoy and his associates. Or did you forget whose side I chose?" Draco asked, pulling his sleeve up to flash his Dark Mark. Hermione turned her head away. "It is your destiny to be on the victorious side, not mine. Not everyone is as willing to sacrifice themselves to the greater good like you and Saint fucking Potter?"

"But you didn't choose it, and you don't belong with them. That's not who you are Draco, so don't you dare use that as an excuse. Your prejudice ended as soon as this started, perhaps even well before," she responded weakly, motioning between the two of them.

"It was, and sometimes it still is. This darkness will be a part of me forever Hermione. And now it is the only way I know I can keep you safe. Gods Hermione-" he paused with his arms on either side of the wall behind her, looking down, "I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you."

"Hey, look at me," she tilted his chin up to look into his eyes, "I don't want to talk about the what-ifs. And it won't do us any good to talk about this anymore if neither of us will relent. Just don't leave me yet," she pleaded. "We won't have many more of these moments together."

Draco ground hips into hers, so she could feel his hard length through his school slacks. She gasped, and he silenced her gasp, kissing her fiercely while gathering her in his arms. They were teeth-bumping, lip-bruising kisses and more passionate than they had ever been. Each of the two were trying to overpower the other, pouring their heart and soul into this kiss. Grinding their hips against one another, they each softly moaned into their kisses. One of them, certain they had won the argument, relaxed into the embrace knowing they still had time before they had to let go of this incredible feeling while meanwhile her blonde-haired companion began mustering the strength to leave.

With tears clouding his eyes, Draco finally broke the kiss, leaned his forehead against Hermione's, and whispered quickly, "If I don't leave now, then I'll never find the strength. I love you, Hermione, which is why I have to walk away from you, before it is too late."

He then refastened his cloak, lightly brushed a kiss against her forehead and walked out of the Room of Requirement with finality, his robes trailing behind him and the scent of his cologne lingering in the air. This time he did not look back, and Hermione did not try to stop him this time. If there is one thing she did know about Draco Malfoy, it is that he is stubborn, and it would be futile to try to change his mind.

"It already is too late," Hermione whispered to his retreating figure, bereft of his warm body around hers. "Because I love you too." He stiffened, but kept going.

She sucked in her swollen lower lip, trying to hold in the emotions that were threatening to burst forth. However, this was to no avail, and she soon found herself inconsolable, wrapped up in the rumpled sheets where they had just made love for the last time.


Please let me know your thoughts on this first chapter. I keep coming back and making edits, so hopefully this version will stick for awhile. I thought this would be a good stopping point for now!