It is almost laughable, she decides, that the situation she currently finds herself in is happening on a dreary day such as this. The low rubble of thunder shakes the grass beneath her feet, and the misty rain makes it harder to see to the blond man before her. Yes, laughable indeed.
"You cannot be serious," she mutters, over and over again. Her heel is wedged into the soft earth, and she pulls it out quickly, groaning at the dirt caking the shoe.
"I am, 'Mione," he replies, putting his hand out as if to reach for her. She jerks away instantly.
"Don't call me that!" she shrieks, thanking Merlin no one is around to hear them or to see her tears. "I left Ron for you! I… I forgave you for everything. I've run around behind everyone's back with you, for you! I've been willing to make us public, and you want to do that?"
She swears she sees tears falling from his eyes but shortly dismisses the thought.
"I'm doing it for you," he whispers, almost inaudible. "I don't want you living your life as an ex-Death Eater's wife. You're a war hero… You, you deserve more. Better."
She shakes her head wildly, curly hair flying in front of her face. He reaches out to move it, and this time she doesn't move a muscle.
"I want you."
"Hermione Jean Granger, look at me," he says, voice low. She can't help it and looks. "This…This is what's best for you. Do you understand that? I can't live my life knowing you could live a better one, one without me. It'll be hard, seeing you places and at events, but I can do it as long as I know you're happy. Please understand."
"Don't do this to me," she breathes out, and it makes him pull back abruptly.
"I have to," he tells her.
"No, you don't!" she yells at him. She steps forward and beats on his chest as he tries to hold her close to him. "You don't have to do this to me or you! Don't act like a damn hero, because you weren't one during the War! Just stop and think."
"I already have!" he screams, angry now. "I've lost so many nights of sleep over this, Granger! This…This has to happen. It has to. I c-can't be guilty for another thing. I just can't."
She stops being mad for a moment and just cries. She knows what he wants will happen in the end; he's always gotten what he wants, whether it being her or not.
"Kiss me."
And by Merlin, he does. It's soft and sweet and full of emotion at first, but escalates into moans and their cold breath mingling. They both know this is the last time they'll get to do this, and they cling to each other, not coming up for air. He tastes like quidditch and alcohol, and she cries against his cheeks as she comes to the realization she won't get to taste it anymore.
He grabs her face and wipes away the tears that have escaped before running his hands through her soaked hair.
"You are beautiful and wonderful, and you're going to have an amazing life, alright?"
"O-okay," she whimpers.
"I love you," he tells her, and this time she sees the tears as he pulls out his wand.
"I love you, too," she says, closing her eyes.
"Obliviate."
"Malfoy?" she asks and for the life of her can't remember why she's in a park in the middle of London during a storm. "Are you… crying?"
"No, Granger," he sneers. She feels violated as his glance lingers a bit too long on her before he turns sharply on his foot and leaves, his figure retreating until she can no longer see the man she had despised for so long. She shakes her head, and with a pop! leaves to get cleaned up at her flat before the party at Harry's that night