Prologue

She was standing feverishly straight, breathing softly as the dark shadow approached her. The wind was blowing violently, trees dancing in the night – shaking with agitated speed, threatening her, imploring her to leave the desolated area before they tumbled down upon her. She should have known it was nature's silent warning of what was to come. Part of her wanted to run, her brain shouted at her to run, but she remained rooted to the ground, waiting as the tall shadow approached her, inching closer and closer to his prey. The rain felt like bullets on her fair features with each drop piercing her as she raised her head up, ready for his coming.

The dark shadow drew near her and didn't stop until he stood directly before her, gazing down into her eyes, never breaking contact. Tilting his head to one side he gave her a pointed look before raising a hand and placing it mere centimeters away from her neck. His gaze softened then and followed his hand as it moved up her cheek, never touching her skin. No, they both knew the disaster that such action would cause. Another thunderbolt hit the ground and his eyes quickly moved to meet hers again. His silver orbs shone like twin moons, pleading forgiveness to a brutal sun. She could make out the dark mark on his pale arm as he raised his hand to her hair and closed his eyes in blissful agony. Time was closing in between them and they both knew it.

With one last glance down at her, he closed the gap between them and intertwined his hand on her hair, pulling her towards him as his lips met her forehead.

"Granger"

And just like that, the night broke.

The sky cracked with dark magic and immediately she knew that they had been found. She moved to turn around and witness their coming, but his strong arms spun her around and pushed her back behind him. The rain was coming down harder and she could barely make out the meadow around her, let alone the man standing before her. Giving her one last glance, he moved his lips in a silent whisper as the magic played around her and concealed her location from anyone else but him.

Seconds later a bright green light hit him with titan-like strength and before she could do anything the wizard before her tumbled to the ground.

The world stopped for Hermione.

"DRACO!"

Thunder lit up the sky as Hermione Granger's eyes shot open, tears falling gently down her face.

One hundred miles away, on the outskirts of Wiltshire, a very confused and dazed Slytherin stirred awake.