Disclaimer: Don't own them….just another attempt to answer the question-what if…."

Warning: Post War Hogwarts, Mild Violence, Aghast, Lime… all that other good stuff.

Pairing: HGXDM

Part One

"Is that it then?"

Draco couldn't look up. He didn't dare try to look into the black, depthless pits of his best mate's eyes.

"You're just going to let her go? Just like that?" Blaise reached forward, grabbing his long time mate by the collar, and shaking him. "Dammit Draco, answer me! Don't you get it? Is anything processing in that thick skull of yours? Granger left! You just let her go! You're- a fucking coward! You-!" At this, Draco pushed Blaise off of him and started panting from his onslaught of emotions.

"What do you want me to say? You heard her! She wanted to leave. Was I supposed to get down on my knees and beg her to stay with me?" Draco ran a frustrated hand though his blond locks.

Blaise shook his head. "And you say you love her. If you really love her like you say, then you should bloody be running after her. "

Draco looked at his dark companion, and Blaise took an involuntary step back at the cool blaze of fury lurking in the Malfoy heir's eyes. "Don't even start that Zabini. Of course I fucking love her!"

Blaise crossed his arms. "Really? Cause the last time I checked, you don't let the person you love leave without fighting for them. "

The fire that had lit Draco's eyes went out. His demeanor changed; his shoulders slumped and with a dejected sigh he ran his hand through his hair again. "I had to Blaise. I had to let Granger go. Some muggle nutter once said ' if you love something let it go, if it comes back it was always yours. If not then it was never yours to begin with.' Or some bullshite like that. "He took another sigh. " Granger….she has to find her parents. And I'll just get in the way of that. I can't chain her to me just because I don't want her to go. If it was my parents…."

He paused and Blaise was beginning to understand, albeit reluctantly. No one knew but him and Hermione just how much Draco cherished his parents, no matter what wrongs they had committed in the past. They were the only family the young heir had after all.

"Anyway, I have some things to take care of while she's gone." Looking at his friend's raised eyebrow and slightly curious expression, Draco smiled ruefully. "I have to make sure Granger comes back to a man worthy of her. " Giving a little shrug, Draco let his eyes gaze into the distance of some far off memory.

She bit her lip as she stared at him, and he couldn't help but want to wrap her in his embrace and never let her go. But he refrained. This was not the best time for such notions. Finally she opened her mouth to speak.

"I…. I have to go. My parents-"

"I know." He cut her off, his tone neither angry nor passionate. In fact, it seemed quite flat and detached, his tone betraying the storm of emotions he tried to hide from her. And yet he couldn't. As their eyes met, Hermione saw everything he tried to hide within his mesmerizing silver orbs. She shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, before taking a tentative step forward and reaching out a hand toward him. "Draco-"

A second later, she found he had pulled her into a tight embrace, the reality of her leaving him for an indefinite amount of time crashing down on him like a bludger to the head. "Come back to me. That's all I ask, is that you come back to me when it's all over….. Hermione. "Her name, softly whispered from his lips, was like a caress against her ear and she shivered, hugging him back tightly.

She heard his silent plea along with everything he couldn't say.

That he wanted her to come back him safe and sound. That he hoped she found her parents and in turn found peace. That he loved her enough to let her go without him, even if that meant he'd worry himself sick about her every day, hour and second they were apart. That he would wait forever if he had to. Well, at least until he couldn't take it anymore and ran after her.

At that last thought, she let out a small giggle.

Hearing her soft, twinkling laugh, he broke away from her just enough to see her face. To look into her warm honey eyes. And after seeing the understanding at what he tried to convey in their embrace, he smiled, tracing his lips with the tip of finger before claiming them in a somewhat sweet and tortured kiss. A moment later, they broke apart and Draco frowned, wiping the trails of tears that Hermione wasn't aware she had shed.

Clearing his throat, he placed his forehead against hers, and closed his eyes memorizing this moment. He muttered his love for her, before breaking away, knowing that if he opened his eyes and looked at her he would be hell bent on making her stay. "You should get going then, Granger."

With that he turned his back to her, and waited for her to leave. Opening her eyes, she wrapped her arms around him from behind, and tiptoed to his ear. "I love you too, Draco." And with that she was gone, out of the room, down the stairs, and out the front of the Manor, the door closing not only on Draco, but on their love for the time being.

The sound seemed to echo for hours.

That was until Blaise Zabini, Draco's best mate from school and childhood, and also work partner with Hermione had come charging into his house, demanding answers to the rumors going around that Hermione had fled London.

Author's note: It's not going to really focus much on Hermione's journey in finding her parents. So you enjoyed and look forward to the next chapter. =D