For once in her life, she was silent.

He almost laughed at his observation, and he would have. It turns out you're incapable of laughter when it feels as if your heart's physically breaking into a million pieces, never to feel the same again.

"Are you sure about this?" She whispered.

"You're the one who proposed the idea."

She sniffed, turning away. He knew she couldn't look into his eyes, didn't want him to see the tears spilling out of her own.

He got up, walking over to where she was sitting. Kneeling down in front of her, he grabbed her hands and pulled them to his lips. She couldn't help the tears running down her cheeks as his lips traced her fingers, before placing a gentle kiss on both.

Draco Malfoy always thought he was emotionless, but then again, he'd never had someone love him so much despite all his faults. Despite the Dark Mark on his arm. Despite the fact that he was forced to be on the side that supported a psychopath. As he kneeled before Hermione, he hungrily drank in all her features. Her curly, bushy hair that she'd attempted to pull together in a bun and failed. The large, dark eyes that were glazed over with tears as she struggled to compose herself.

She failed at that too.

She pulled him to his feet in an action that surprised him, and kissed him before he could protest. His arms found her back as she melted into him. This wasn't a kiss of mere passion – it was urgency, need.She poured everything she couldn't say into the kiss, because God knew she'd break down crying if she even tried. They broke apart, their breathing ragged, and she looked at the face of the man she loved. Sometimes, loving someone didn't guarantee they could stay together, and as she looked at the grey eyes she'd come to love, she realised they had to do this. Her own mortality was of little consequence to her at the moment, she could NOT let Draco be in more danger.

"Before we do this, I need to say something." His voice pulled her out of her reverie, as he made her sit down and kneeled down in front of her again.

"Granger." She smiled. "I don't want to be cliche, but I cannot help it. I never really thought I'd find someone to love me after the horrific things I've done and I'm expected to do, but there you were. The most stubborn, infuriating, MAD person I've ever met, and I fell in love with you. I've never wanted my side to lose, but it's all I want right now. Just so our future is secure."

Tears were rolling down his cheeks as well, but he kept going.

"I know you've told Potter about what we're going to do, and I've told Zabini. When all of this is over, they'll know how to lift the charms and we can finally be together."
He reached into his pocket, and took out a ring.

Hermione gasped when she saw it. She knew it was a family heirloom. It was single stripe of miniature diamonds.

"You won't know why you're wearing it, but I hope our love is strong enough to not make you want to remove it." He said, sliding it onto her right ring finger.

"I love you, Hermione Granger." He said, his voice finally breaking.

"I love you too, Draco Malfoy", she said, cradling his head as he sobbed in her lap.

After a while, they got up, and made their way to the opposite sides of the room. Her wand wavered, his step faltered.

"On three, Malfoy."

"One, two.." He whispered.

And then in tandem,

"Obliviate."