In the last chapter…
A breeze shook through the pitch, and Harry flipped his head back, whipping his messy black hair off his forehead.
"You couldn't possibly understand what Hermione and I mean to each other," he exclaimed. His cheeks flushed a deep red.
Draco rolled his eyes.
"Not anymore, Potter. It's over. Can't you understand that? Can't you just let her go?"
"It's not over," Harry replied in a strangled whisper. "Hermione and I are going to be together forever." He turned and faced Hermione with imploring eyes. "Aren't we, Hermione?"
Hermione felt her heart wrench at Harry's desperate plea. She opened her mouth to respond, but she found herself at a loss for words. She couldn't say yes, but she couldn't say no either.
Draco grabbed Harry by his arm. "Would you stop it?" he said, his voice dripping with disdain.
"You're pathetic." He repeated.
Draco's gesture seemed to catapult Harry into action. "Get out of my way," he growled.
Harry turned to Hermione and fell down on one knee in front of her. His deep emerald eyes overflowing with tenderness, he held the sparkling silver band out to her. "Hermione, will you marry me?" he whispered.
Hermione gasped, feeling the blood drain from her face. Was Harry losing his mind? Draco looked on in shocked silence.
"Harry," Hermione whispered, but she didn't know what to say. She felt dangerously on the edge of tears.
Draco broke the silence. He grabbed Harry by the arm and yanked him violently on his feet.
"I've had enough of this!" he yelled.
Harry pushed him back.
"I'm the one who's had enough," he shouted. "If you knew what was good for you, you'd go away – far away. You'd leave Hogwarts just the way you came.
Draco crossed his arms over his chest. "Is that a threat?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," Harry answered, taking a few menacing steps forward. "It is."
Draco shoved him in the chest. "Just leave Hermione and me alone."
"I'll leave you alone, that's for sure. But always remember. Hermione is MINE."
Draco pushed Harry hard, and he slammed against the ground. Harry whirled around, his fists clenched. Harry gave Draco a sharp hook to the jaw, and Draco responded by punching him in the gut. Harry recoiled, wrapping his arms around his stomach. Gritting his teeth, Harry lunged full force at Draco.
"Stop it!" Hermione screamed, forgetting that it was in the middle of the night. It was like history repeating itself. She jumped in horror. "Stop it!" What was going on? Draco was always so refined, and Harry was usually so gentle. Now the two of them were rolling on the ground like a pair of wild beasts.
"Stop it or I'll KILL myself!" Hermione yelled. She conjured up a knife from a blade of grass and pointed it at her neck. That got their attention at last. Harry looked shocked while Draco looked aghast.
"Hermione?" Draco implored quietly.
"No! Don't. Stay away!"
Thinking that Hermione wouldn't actually hurt herself, Harry took a few steps towards her. She pressed it against her neck harder and a few drops of blood actually dripped down her neck.
Draco cursed under his breath.
"Will the both of you just stop it?" Hermione pleaded, with tears flowing down like the pearls in a necklace which has broken. "Just stop it."
"Fine. We'll stop. Just put down the knife." Harry said.
Hermione looked at Draco for reassurance while Draco just nodded in agreement. Hermione put down her knife and gently touched the spot on her neck where it was bleeding. Draco rushed to her and helped clean away the blood. Harry looked at the ground, not knowing what to say. That's when Ginny came into the picture.
"Harry! Fight him! Get her back!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Ginny, stay out of this." Harry said in a tired voice.
Draco raised his eyebrows and exchanged a look with Hermione that said, 'Where did SHE come from?'
"But Harry!"
"Ginny, will you please shut up?"
"Fine." She puffed. "I just don't understand why you're picking HER over me." she pointed to Hermione. "At least you can be sure that I'll not stab you in the back the moment you turn around." She spat.
"Just look at her! What's so great about her? Whatever she can give, I can give too, Harry! And you know that! So why not me?" Ginny seemed close to hysterical.
"Because you're not her." Harry said simply.
"What?" Ginny whispered.
"Because you're not her! You're lucky, you know! I can just use you, and then throw you away again! What I want is her, not you. You're not even my type." He said.
Ginny's widened in disbelief. She picked up the knife on the ground and placed it against her neck.
"Not you, too. Come on, Ginny, there are plenty of guys out there." Harry said with his eyes closed. "You know, I-"
But he couldn't finish his sentence. The four of them seemed to be trapped in a whirlpool, not able to get out.