Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Harry Potter, or The Morning Of's lyrics.
Love was never enough to hold our hearts. We were always the ones to fall apart.
Hermione always knew that one day it would all end. The way she would smile and he would return it, eyes crinkling. The way he would seek her out in the dark and empty part of the library, the tension that weighed his shoulders down leaving him for a few hours as they talked. Hermione saw it the moment it started - the back of his head, walking away from the school, from her, from them. She saw it, she feared it, but she opened her arms and welcomed him into her life because she knew that despite the way it would end - because it would end - she knew they both needed it. They needed each other, if only for a little while.
That day when she woke up it was bright and sunny, and it made her scowl. She went through her morning routine with that scowl plastered on her face, her stomach turning and twisting uncomfortably, and her throat closing up whenever her thoughts strayed a little too far. Despite knowing this was coming for months, despite having nightmares about it for weeks, it still shocked her speechless when he came into the library that afternoon, looking like he hadn't slept in weeks.
"Hermione," he said, and it was such a desperate sound that it brought tears to her eyes. She didn't get up, though. She knew where this was going. "It's happening."
Her eyes closed, but only for a moment, and then she composed herself. "I haven't told anyone."
He looked away, his jaw working furiously for a moment before he answered, still glaring at something to her left. "I know you haven't, Hermione."
There was a horrible, tension-filled pause, in which Hermione studied his face and he closed his eyes, all anger melting away and leaving a bone-deep weariness in it's place. "I'm so sorry, Draco," Hermione whispered, her eyebrows coming together in an effort to hold back tears. "This shouldn't be happening to you."
Draco's eyes opened, meeting hers. "I shouldn't have brought you into this."
"You needed someone. I don't regret it."
"You've been lying to your friends for months about something that could kill someone-"
"I know what I've done!" Hermione spat, standing now, her book tossed to the side. "I hate that I had to lie to Harry and Ron, but you needed me, and I promised! I promised you I would be there! And we will fight tonight, we will fight against whatever you're bringing into the school, and we will win."
"I won't fight you," Draco said, moving to stand in front of the small girl.
"I'll fight anything that threatens my friends," Hermione whispered. "I'm sorry."
Draco rested his forehead against Hermione's, and they both closed their eyes, breathing in the other's scent, memorizing the warmth and comfort the other provided. Neither could express the emotion they both felt in their bones, but they both understood without words the amazing amount they meant to each other.
Draco pulled away, his eyes brighter than usual. "I wish I didn't have to."
"I know," Hermione said, squeezing his hand before dropping it.
Draco placed a soft kiss on her temple, and then he was gone, leaving Hermione to try and put herself back together and jump into the middle of a war.
Hermione never regretted loving him, she never regretted that that love stayed with her for the rest of her life. She knew he loved her, too.