Author's Note: Hello, everyone! :) So this is officially my first "non-drabble" fanfiction and I'm REALLY EXCITED! :D Later, I'd love to know what you think...And if there are any tips you could give, that'd be bloody fantastic as well! Please do REVIEW at the end! Hope you enjoy it!

- The Paragon

P.S. - I do not own Harry Potter, his friends, or his beautiful magical world *sniffles*


"His unkindness may defeat my life, But never taint my love…" – Othello, Act 4, Scene 2.

She couldn't take it anymore.

"Say it!" she cried.

Hands still in his pockets, Draco cocked his head; his fair brows knitted in feigned confusion.

"What?"

"Say it! Tell me you don't feel it too! Tell me you don't love me!" said Hermione. "Tell me that after everything we've been through you still don't feel anything at all but disgust for my mere existence! Th-that I'm worthless because I'm n-nothing but a Mudblood and that I'm not worthy…not worthy of you! Tell me the truth! Do you feel anything for me?"

She was crying openly now, tears wrongfully staining her rosy cheeks.

Draco clenched his fists, trying hard to resist the compelling urge to walk up to her and wipe those tears away. She didn't deserve this.

He wanted to hug her tight and tell her that everything would be alright, that she was not worthless, that her lineage didn't matter to him anymore, that she was the best thing that ever happened to him, that right now nothing else mattered and she was the most important thing in the world to him!

Oh, how he wanted to say yes. So badly. He wanted to say it with all his heart. He wanted to confess that after all they had been through, he had indeed come to feel something for the girl in front of him. That he adored, wanted her…needed her. That he would happily surrender his own life to protect her

But most of all, he wanted to tell her…

…that he loved her.

Sadly for Draco Malfoy, none of those were options.

No. Not in times like these.

A war was about to break out and he knew it.

Wars were grim, harsh, cruel, ruthless and unforgiving. Only the strong survive and triumph whilst the weak fall and wilt away in their misery – that was

the timeless game of war.

Draco was coming to find that life, on the other hand, is a whole different story. Sometimes even the strongest, bravest and most courageous of people, like Hermione Granger, are crushed and destroyed without warning and it wasn't fair. It was never fair. He was trying to protect her, yet in the process he knew he was killing her deep inside.

"SAY IT!" she screamed, her chest heaving with every breath she took. "Tell me I'm not worthy of you!"

No, I'm not worthy of you, Draco thought sadly. I don't deserve you.

"Tell me you don't love me."

I love you.

"I don't want you to leave…" she choked out.

I don't want to leave you.

"I don't want you to run away, we can fix this. Whatever I've done to push you away, to make you hate me…please tell me"

What? I could never hate you. Merlin, how could she even think that?

"Malfoy, please…say something." Hermione pleaded.

She took a step towards him with one hand reaching out, wanting to touch him. To hold him. To be in his arms again. To feel safe again.

Draco remained motionless, hoping his cold facade would convince her to shut up and walk away. He saw her trying to close the distance between them and immediately stepped back. His gesture did not go unnoticed as Hermione reddened and looked down at her feet, clearly embarrassed at his rejection. Her thick lashes cast a shadow on her wet cheeks.

Merlin, she's so beautiful. I'm gonna miss her. Even when all this is over, I could never forget her. She'll hate me, but at least she'll be safe.

She was a muggle-born and an important member of the Golden Trio - Saviour of the Wizarding World Harry Potter's second in command. He was well aware that if his prejudicial father, or any other Death Eater for that matter, ever found out that they were together, they would murder Hermione. Or worse.

It'll be easier this way. Away from me, far from any chance of being discovered easily by other bloody Death Eaters. Safe from the Dark Lord. With no connection to his disciples. With no connection to me.

"Look at me, Granger." he ground out harshly.

Hermione looked up at him wearily, a flood of tears waiting to spill from the corners of her eyes.

The young Malfoy looked straight into Hermione's soft brown eyes with his piercing grey ones.

"I feel nothing for you. Nothing." He stressed on each syllable as he forced the damn words out.

She stared at him in disbelief, "You're lying."

"I'm not."

"You don't mean that", she said pitifully. She shook her head, as if trying to get rid of the absurd idea.

Hermione ached to know if she still had hope and if he still belonged to her.

Little did she know that he did.

He always would, he always had.

She tried again and walked up to him. This time she placed a warm hand on his icy cheek and looked at him hard. For anything, any sign to help her know the truth. And that was exactly what Draco was afraid of. She knew him too well and he knew she wouldn't give up on him that easily. Hermione cupped his face with both hands and told him softly, "Now, you look at me…"

He obeyed.

"You belong with me…" she said. "As I belong with you…my one and only."

During that instant, they both knew that she could not have been any more right.

"I couldn't bear the thought of losing you. I love you, Draco. I know you still feel the same way. Don't do this. Please don't leave me."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, losing himself in the feeling of her touch, savouring every dear moment. And then she kissed him. It was passionate. Bruising. Perfect. He could taste her tears. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. All the hate, anger, cruelty and evil in the world were completely forgotten.

And for just that moment. That one brief moment. Nothing else mattered.

Just the two of them.

Draco and Hermione.

Granger and Malfoy.

The words replayed themselves in his head over and over like an old forgotten song.

This is how it's supposed to be, he thought bitterly. Granger in his arms. His love, his…what had she called him? Her one and only. Yes…she was his as well. His one and only. It would have been perfect. If only they could stay together. Like this. Just this way…forever.

Alas, none of them had that luxury. He remembered what he had to do.


Author's Note: SO what do did think? :) Love it? Hate it? What do you think is gonna happen next? Do tell me. Please REVIEW! Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Until next time...

- The Paragon