Chapter Four

It was as long as four months could be. Her past self was enamored with Malfoy, and Malfoy... He seemed equally enamored with her. The way he caressed her face, it was a shock to her system. Not once did he call her a 'mudblood' or teased her, or even asked for information on Harry. He was being... Genuine. He was sickly in appearance, with dark bags under his eyes and a complexion to rival Nearly Headless Nick. But whenever he caught sight of her, he lit up, smiling a rare smile. Even in the busy hallways when they passed his hand brushed hers.

On Christmas, pass their curfew they walked up to the icy tower without their books. He grinned at her before sliding across the patch of ice, his arms out at his sides as his yell reached the stars. She followed him, giggling as he caught her around the waist. The force of it made them fall hard on their bottoms and they laid back, still in fits of laughter. It was then that out of his coat pocket he brought out a small box wrapped in green snowflake paper, placing it in her gloved hands.

"Merry Christmas," he told her.

"Draco -" she started.

"Don't say anything. Just open it."

She pulled on the string and the wrapping fell away presenting a dark wooden box the size of her palm, elegantly etched with flowers their steams like vines climbing over the edges. She opened the lid and the melody of Silent Night played loud enough to fill the tower. Her breath was taken away, she happily sighed. "This is beautiful."

"It'll play any song you want to hear, even the song you can't place into words. It'll match itself to your mood."

"This is..." She swallowed. "I'm afraid I didn't get you anything."

His dragon hide gloves moved roughly over her cheek. "Then we have a problem. In return, I want you to make me a vow."

She waited, the smoke of her breath ceasing its rise, a strand of her hair escaping her plait.

He brushed the strand behind her ear. "Whatever I am made to do, forgive me now for it."

The music faded as she shut the lid of the box. "Draco, you won't be made to do anything if you go to Dumbledore."

"We've been over this. Promise me, Hermione."

"I promise."

He kissed her hard on her mouth.

Hermione thought of bringing herself out of these memories. It was hard to accept, but there was no denying that they were hers. The question was, why didn't she remember them?

Her answer came on a colder night, following herself in her red plaid pajamas out of bed past snow-covered windows to a darkened corner of an abandoned classroom. Malfoy sat on a desk, bundled in a heavy black coat, fingering his wand thoughtfully.

It was different than any other time. The scene she was in, it was the most important, for Malfoy looked at her sadly.

"There's still time," she begged him. "We could keep you safe. Go to Dumbledore. He'll keep your family safe. Draco, please."

"I have to do this."

"No, you don't -"

"You don't get it," he snapped.

"Then explain it to me."

He sighed heavily, and stood. "My parents would rather die than hide. I can't leave them. Surely you can understand that. You won't even tell me what you're going to do with your parents when you go off with Potter."

"I have to go with Harry. I have to help end this. I can't let him go at this alone."

Malfoy's thumb traced a blue vein on her wrist. "Then can you understand why I have to do this?"

Tears poured and she threw her arms around him. "Be careful. Be safe."

"Hermione..." He pressed his lips to her ear. "Can you shield your thoughts?"

She forced herself away from him and took out of her pocket a tiny plastic vial. The present Hermione gasped, suddenly realizing.

"If we survive this war, will you come for me?"

Draco stared at the vial like he was going to be sick. "Always."

She placed the lip of the vial to her eye and a silver tear rolled into the glass. She sealed it with a cork and placed it in his palm, curling his fingers over it. "Keep it safe."

"I will."

"You will need this, too." Out of the same pocket, she shakily withdrew an envelope. "If... If I survive -"

"Stop it -"

"If I survive," she said again, "send these two things to me and I will come."

Malfoy looked less certain. "You'll hate me."

"That is precisely why you have to send these."

"What if you're captured?"

Hermione of the past held his face securely, their noses touching, their breath a shared heat. "Draco, listen to me. No matter what happens, you have to let me go. Don't try to save me. You know what he'll do if you try - if you consider it."

"It's not that easy," he said through clenched teeth. "I won't let you die. Whatever it looks like, it isn't."

"I know, but we don't have another choice." She kissed him soft but urgently. "Will you do okay to remember me?"

"I can't have it any other way."

"Draco -"

"I can hide my thoughts, Hermione. Don't worry about me."

The tears fell faster, no longer silver but real and painful to watch. "I won't," she said logically as she stepped away.

He raised his wand.

The present Hermione watched in horror as she let the man that she once hated point a wand at her to boil her blood at thoughts of him. A light flashed and her past self's eyes glazed over before she crumbled and Malfoy caught her, holding her close to him. He picked her up, and carried her up to the empty infirmary where he laid her down on a white bed.

Brushing her hair from her eyes, he pressed a last kiss to her lips. He hushed to her sleeping figure, "remember that by helping me, you changed me. You made this black heart soft, Hermione. Because of you, I will never be the same. Because of you, I live. Thank you."

As he passed her, Hermione saw his hands shaking. She could barely see though as she was crying herself.

A/N: Happy Holidays, everyone! Thank you for the lovely reviews. There is one more chapter.