All's Fair in Love and War

by J.M.Maltbie

Leading up to the war Draco was Hermione's secret hero, but that changed when he chose his family over her. Now she's "won" the war but lost her love. Will they find each other again and heal their scars? Or fall apart with no one to hold them together? (I'm really bad at summaries sorry!) (Rating may go up, for now, to be safe, I'm putting T)

1. Prologue

All's Fair in Love and War

Prologue

Hot tears rolled down the slope of her cheek, a few slipping into her mouth as she sobbed alone. It was over, they had won, yet why did she feel as if she had lost everything? Eyes squeezed shut she tried to remember the times when she had her parents, when she had him. Nothing came to mind.

The war had ravaged her memory leaving only horrors behind. The scar labeling her arm was proof. Nothing was or would be the same. Too much had been lost, taken from everyone involved. Nothing is fair in love and war because in the end, war wins and love is lost.

Light glinted in the mirror before her and she looked up to see the woman she no longer recognized. Hermione's fingers reached out to trace along the reflected edge of her face, her bush of hair braided down her back but still a mess.

A hand tried to smooth the windblown mess left over from her apparition away from the one man who would be able to comfort her right now. "Draco." She choked out his name. A desperate part of her almost thought she could summon him to her side. That they could go back to being children who protected each other. No matter what.

But instead of always, they had never. And as much as she should blame him, blame the war, blame fate, she blamed herself above it all for her loss.

"I never should have said goodbye." She hadn't realized she had spoken aloud until a voice questioned her from behind.

"Said goodbye to who, 'Mione?"

Ron's brows crinkled in confusion as he took her in. Why was she crying? They had won, everything would be alright now. Hermione rushed to wipe away the stray tears and plastered on a smile.

"No one important," her voice squeaked from clenched teeth as she forced herself to speak the lie. "No one important."

Ron shrugged and held out a hand with a grin, "Come on, the others are still returning. And you know we'd love to have you help us with fixing up new rooms for all the guests."

He laughed and she echoed it. Of course he just wants her help. That's all she is to them, a tool, Draco was always right. But she shook the bitter thoughts away. Draco was gone.

All she had was this family she had made and God help anyone who tried to take it from her.