"Please don't go," Hermione whispered, his back already facing hers. "I love you."
Her voice didn't shake, thank Merlin, but traitorous tears still forced her to blink more than normal. Even though she wanted to keep looking out the window and save herself the pain if he did keep walking away, she buckled up her courage and kept her shoulders towards him.
Draco sighed and fisted his hands at his sides several times, but he didn't take another step away from her.
"You know I love you, too," he said, turning slowly to face her. "But this is bigger than you, or me, or even us together…forgive my selfishness, but if I leave I know it means that you live, and I won't stand for anything else."
prompt from: anonymous