A/n: This is the first fanfic I have ever published. Yet the 4th one I have written so please be gentle. I fell down the rabbit hole that is Dramione fanfiction and I've been captured by it. I own nothing as far as the characters and the poem featured in this story...

There was a 'whoosh' sound from the floo as Hermione entered into Draco's apartment.

"Draco?!" she called to him, her voice unsteady and her eyes were glassy. Walking further in to his home she called again.

"In here love." He replied. She followed the sound of his voice in to the dining area. There she was greeted by a candlelit dinner and his brilliant smile. As soon as the romantic scene was absorbed by her mind the tears in her eyes welled. Realizing the look of devastation on her face, Draco ran to her.

"What is it, do you hate my surprise?" His voice was laced with concern as he took her in his arms. The minute their bodies touched she let out a sob. Holding her tighter for a moment Draco smoothed his hands over her back and shoulders while whispering words of comfort. Hermione tried to catch herself loosening her grip on his tear soaked shirt while he guided them to the couch.

"What's wrong baby?" He asked pulling her to sit in his lap as he cradled her.

"I-I can't do this anymore. I'm so sorry. Y-you d-deserve someone w-who can give you t-their whole h-heart." She stammered out between gasps of air and fresh falling tears.

He held her tighter, a lump forming in his throat. He swallowed hard so he could try to speak. "Does he know?" Draco asked. Hermione just shook her head 'no', taking in a shaky breath she nuzzled his neck. His intoxicating scent, clean and earthy, having a calming effect on her. She slowly spoke her head on his shoulder. "No, he has a feeling something is off but he cannot confirm anything. Oh, Draco I feel so guilty." She said as the flood gates to her tears opened again.

Rubbing her arms and whispering to her again. Hermione calmed down once more. "Hermione look at me." He says. She complies lifting her head up from the crook of his neck. Their eyes meet, his soft, loving silver to her sad, golden flecked brown.

"It was never my intention to make you feel guilty about anything-" He started but she interrupted.

"We crossed a line, I, crossed a line I should not have. You made me feel pretty, and alive and more like myself than I have felt in years. I had forgotten so much of who I am, but you, stirred something in my soul. Godric knows I tried to resist. I knew it would not end well, but I never expected to... to-" She said in a pleading tone.

"To what, exactly. To love me? Merlin, Hermione... I never thought it would happen. You are brilliant, gorgeous and I love you... I'm in love with you." He said.

"Draco, this can't happen anymore I can't give up my family and my husband. I can't be this selfish, I love you but please say you understand?" She asks.

Draco bows his head. "I understand, if things were different... it would be us... but..." He says softly his eyes glossy from the tears he is desperately trying to hold back. Taking a deep breath he looked up at her tear stained face. She noticed his eyes welling with his own tears. Draco moves his hand to hold her face and crashes into her lips. She moans into their kiss. Pulling his lips away from hers, the rest their foreheads together.

"Stay with me tonight. Please, stay with me for one night." He peppers kissed all over her face. "Let me love you for one night. Just one night baby. Then you can walk away, I'll never contact you. You won't see me again, but tonight, give me this one night to love you once more. Please baby... please." Draco kisses her once more tasting their tears on each other's lips.

"Make whatever excuse you can. Just say you will stay." He said making one final plea.

Hermione wraps her arms around him tightly. "I'll stay tonight." She whispers to him. He holds her just as tight relishing in the feel of her body in his arms and the floral scent of her hair. They sit there for a minute letting the gravity of their situation set in. Hermione and Draco were in love, neither meaning for it to happen. However, Hermione was married to Ron and their two children were off at Hogwarts.

Rose, Hermione and Ron's daughter, was in her 3rd year while Hugo, their son just started his first year. Ron's job as an Auror with the Ministry of Magic would keep him away days sometimes weeks from home. After having Rose, Hermione threw herself whole heartedly into domestic life. Catering to her family's every need and placing herself last. She had taking a part time job at a book store in Muggle London close to her children's school. She wanted her children to experience some of the Muggle ways she was raised with before discovering her magic and going off to attend Hogwarts. The job was only so she could be close to her children should they need her, yet Hermione could not resist being surrounded by books for part of her day. Though books and stories could not help her escape the tedium of her existence. So when Draco reemerged in her life she grabbed at the distraction he offered, underestimating their attraction to one another till it was too late.

Hermione and Draco left the couch silently walking to the dining table. Draco pulled her chair out as she gracefully glided to sit down. Taking the seat next to her, both staring off into space going through the motions of eating the meal Draco prepared. Hermione took a sip of wine, clearing her throat to speak. "This is delicious." She said with a half smile looking at Draco.

"Thanks." Draco replied reaching for his glass of wine. Afterwards he reached for her hand. Holding on to her, he continued. "I wanted to make you something special." Her face flushed as she caught his eye. "Will you read to me after dinner?" He asked. She nodded in affirmation.

During their time together Hermione would read to Draco from some of the Muggle books she found interesting, ones she thought he would like too. After dinner they curled up on the floor, he sitting with his back against the sofa and her back against his chest. The fireplace letting off warm ocher colored glow on them. Hermione choose to read him poetry. Turing the page she began to read 'Splendor in the grass' by William Wordsworth.

What though the radiance

which was once so bright

Be now for ever taken from my sight,

Though nothing can bring back the hour

Of splendor in the grass,

of glory in the flower,

We will grieve not, rather find

Strength in what remains behind;

In the primal sympathy

Which having been must ever be;

In the soothing thoughts that spring

Out of human suffering;

In the faith that looks through death,

In years that bring the philosophic mind.

She closed the book, turning to look at Draco and said. "We will grieve not, rather find, strength in what remains behind." Finishing her statement she reaches for Draco's face planting a soft kiss on his lips. Their eyes meet, his stare is loving yet intense.

"Come with me." He said. The get up off the living room floor as Draco holds his hand out for Hermione. He leads her to the bedroom. In front of the foot of the bed he pulls her to him, gazing into her beautiful, sad eyes he places his hands on either side of her face gently kissing her lips. Their kiss begins to intensify, he runs his hand over her shoulders wrapping them around her waist pulling her body closer to him. She in turn drapes her arms around his neck. They finally break apart for air, panting hard after their passionate kiss. Lips bruised, hair mussed. She looks lustfully in his eyes. She barely says over a whisper. "Make love to me."

Draco gives her a small smirk, reaching for the hem of her shirt and pulling it over her head he smoothes his hand over her soft shoulders down to her waist thumbing the waist band of her skirt pulling it down over her hips. She steps out of the pooled fabric on the floor. She looks ethereal in the candlelit room. Draco gazing at her taking in every feature, every curve. Wanting to engrain every facet of her body to his mind. She wraps her arms around his neck pulling him to kiss her. In one fluid motion he sweeps her up in his arms carrying her to the side of the bed and gently laying her down. He unbuttons his shirt exposing his broad shoulders and muscular chest. Fussing with his belt he drops is pants on the floor, then climbs over her body. She reached for him again, they begin to kiss passionately, their tongues interlaced, darting in and out of each other's mouths causing all logical thoughts to fade. His hands run over her body as he moved to kiss her neck and chest. Her fingers combing through his soft opalescent hair, softly moaning to the feel of his hands on her skin and the weight of his body on her. He rolls her above him unclasping her bra letting her soft creamy mounds free from the restricting garment. Draco cups them in each of his hands playing with her taught pink nipples. She groans tossing her head back her brown curly hair loose and wild. Draco runs his hands up to her shoulders coaxing her body closer to his as he takes one of her nipples in his mouth sucking and flicking it with his tongue. She rocks her body feeling his arousal grow. Releasing her, he rolls her under him, removing the last of the fabric barriers between them. He adjusts feeling her smooth, strong legs on either side of his hips. He whispers to her. "Look at me"

Their eyes meet as he enters her, stifling a groan as he feels her warm wetness tightly around him. She tosses her head back as he fills her to the hilt. She closes her eyes and she moans his name. She arches her back into him as he kisses her neck and chest. Their rhythm is slow, savoring the feeling of their bodies melding together. Draco kisses her jaw line, meeting her lips they kiss with a passionate fury as their pace increases. As they begin to reach their climax Draco says.

"Hermione, tell me you love me." Between lustful grunts and moans.

Hermione looked deep in to Draco's eyes, licking her lips and letting out a shuttered breath she spoke. "I love you Draco. I love you." A small tear escaped from the corner of her eye. Draco thumbed it away.

Reaching the peak their passion, Draco thrusting deeper, Hermione griping his shoulders tighter digging her nails into his pale flesh they both spill over the edge at the same time. Breathlessly Draco whispers to Hermione. "I love you baby. I'll love you forever."

The next morning after waking up and getting dressed for the day the room is heavy with emotion. Hermione stares at herself in the mirror making sure her curls are neatly tucked away in her now signature bun. She transfigured the skirt from the day before in to heather gray dress pants and changed the color of her shirt to coordinate in to something suitable for work. Draco is across the room standing in the bathroom door watching her. Admiring the woman that he loves for as long as possible. She catches his eye in the mirror as he begins to walk over to her. He reaches for her waist pulling her into his body.

"Do you know just how gorgeous you are?" He asked in her ear. Planting a kiss on her neck just under her earlobe.

Breaking his hold on her she spins around to hug on to his waist, resting her head on his chest she says."You are the only one who makes me feel that way." A sad smile emerging on her lips. Draco kisses the top of her head. They stay like that for a quick moment before Hermione notes the time and says she must leave for work.

After apparating to the alley next to the book store, Draco and Hermione walk in silence to the entryway of the passage. Turing to Draco she reaches to have one last embrace before they part ways for good. Draco envelopes Hermione in a strong hug. Taking her chin in his hand, he lifts her lips to his placing one last kiss upon them. Quite tears stream down her cheeks. This is the last kiss, the last touch, the last embrace they will share. She has memorized the feel of his hands on her skin, the tone of the sweet words he has spoken to her, the speckles of silver that shine in his eyes. The eyes of the man she truly loves. Finally, letting go she hastily turns away walking towards the front of the store. Draco has his wand out, before she can turn around his last word to her is "Obliviate".

He noticed her shoulders relax just before he runs deeper into the ally to apparate back home. Upon landing his legs give way as he crashes to the floor sobbing and holding his heart. He knew she would not be able to face Ron if she held on to the memories of their past three months together. Especially, after last night, he knew the guilt would eat way at her. He had decided earlier that morning his course of action. Only he would remember their love. Only he would know the passion they shared. Only he would grieve for a love now lost.

Two weeks later

Ron and Hermione are sitting at the breakfast table. Ron eyed the headlines of the day from the Daily Prophet, cocking an eyebrow he says. "Oi, the ferret is missing?"

Hermione slowly looks up to her husband's face. "Come again." She said

"Draco bloody Malfoy has disappeared." He stated to her in a knowing tone.

"Disappeared?" She questioned trying to hide the sudden, inexplicable tightness in her chest.

Ron reads the headline out loud. "Draco Malfoy has seemingly disappeared off the face of the planet." Ron continued reading. "After much speculation, Mr. Malfoy had not been seen in London (Wizard or Muggle) for the past two weeks. Some are under the impression that he has left the country to acquire new business opportunities for Malfoy Enterprises. Others claim he has fled the country to heal a broken heart. Though we cannot confirm or deny any of the reports sources say he has moved from his flat in Muggle London...

"Hmmph... Fancy, you can just pick up and go without a care in the world." Ron said unaffected by the article of his childhood nemesis.

"Fancy that." Hermione said giving Ron a small smile.