AN: Hello again! I'm one day behind my newly-acquired once-a-week plan. So sorry for lateness! One thing I can say is, never underestimate how taxing volunteering to help in a conference is. I had lots of fun, though.

Also, even though I hate repeating myself, just in case you haven't been aware of my 'retirement' from fanfiction. net, please check out my profile for details.

Now, on to the second to last instalment.

7 First Kisses
by leopion

The Last

Hermione breathed in the familiar scent of her bedding and sighed in relief. During the last few days, she had come to appreciate this scent more than anything, since every time she came back, it was the first thing that signalled to her the start of a new day, a new chance. She would have a chance to save Percy after all.

But what if Malfoy refused to help her again? First the fight, then that sudden kiss in the forest. She didn't know what to make of it, especially when he had so determinedly avoided her by the end of the night. Of course, it had partly been her fault for not admitting that Malfoy was right about the possibility of her not being included in 'her loved ones'. She should have been more careful.

She got up and quickly donned her Bellatrix outfit. It was the sixth time she'd lived this day, and even the foul taste of the Polyjuice Potion no longer scared her. Hermione nodded to herself. She only needed to admit to Malfoy that she had been wrong, and hopefully everything would turn out fine.

Hermione went to the Room of Requirement with the apology she'd kept rehearsing in her mind since morning. To her surprise, Malfoy greeted her as if nothing had happened the day before, and she eventually decided not to stir up the mess either. Soon, they were conversing about the sole remaining flaw in their plan: saving Fred without endangering Percy—or anyone else. In the fourth day, luck had been on her side, and it might happen again. But Hermione was not the type of person who depended on luck.

'I can't cast three Shield Charms at once,' she said. 'Two was already pushing the limit.'

'How about casting a big one directly underneath the ceiling just before the attack?' asked Malfoy thoughtfully.

'You're right. I won't have to divide my attention that way.'

He nodded. 'Besides, you're not going to be alone.'

'Why didn't I think of that?' exclaimed Hermione, aghast that such a simple solution had been eluding her. She left out her wonder at Malfoy's words: you're not going to be alone. Was it his way of offering help?

'Well, you're too close to the situation. Don't be so hard on yourself.'

'Right. Sometimes you need an outsider's perspective,' she conceded.

'Fresh eye never hurts.' Malfoy smirked at her, but Hermione was far from annoyed. She responded to him with a smile. There was nothing that could stop them now.

'Wow, that was lightning-fast reflex, Hermione,' shouted Ron as he pointed his wand towards the ceiling to aid Hermione's newly-formed Shield.

'Such remarkable skills should be utilised on the Quidditch pitch.' Fred winked at her. Hermione scrunched up her nose at the notion, though she had to admit perhaps there was some truth in Fred's comment. The very first Shield that stalled the impact of the explosion had been Malfoy's, but he'd withdrawn it as soon as Hermione cast her own. If he'd held it any longer, her friends would probably have become aware of another person's presence.

One after another, Harry, Fred, and Percy also came to her aid. She could feel each of their Shields combining with hers as the weight of the blasted ceiling no longer made her wand hand tremble. However, she knew their protection wouldn't hold for long.

'I say we gradually lower the Shield while retreating from the corridor,' said Hermione. Once the debris had been laid under their feet, she knew she wouldn't be able to prevent Percy or Fred from rejoining the battle. Apprehension filled her chest as she imagined all the complications that could result from them getting involved where they hadn't been able to previously. Despite these pressing concerns, somehow her thoughts quickly turned to Malfoy and whether he'd already gone to the battle.

The one-hour armistice came at last. Hermione's heart warmed as her eyes grazed across the Hall, taking in the reunion of the Weasleys, of Lupin and Tonks, and of many others. There were still losses that she hadn't been able to prevent, but it seemed she and Malfoy would finally succeed today.

Without prior discussion, they both exited the Great Hall at the same time as though they had reached a kind of harmony in their coordination. It seemed strange that after years of adventures, she'd never felt anything quite like it with Ron and Harry.

They arrived at their usual hiding place near the clearing without incident. It was not even close to the time when Harry would appear, and the forest was dead silent except for the crackling fire. For once, Hermione had enough time to realise just how close she and Malfoy had always been whenever they waited here for his moment to act. The memory of them on the same spot yesterday flitted through her mind. Why did he want to kiss her then? Would he try to do it again today? And would she let him?

Hermione glanced at Malfoy from under her lashes, but she could only make out the outline of his face in the darkness. Should she say something? She chose to occupy herself by constantly checking her watch instead. Time didn't seem to move fast enough.

'Will you stop that?' asked Malfoy when Hermione was about to bring her wrist close to her face yet again.

'I'm anxious,' said Hermione, continuing with what she set out to do. She ended up staring at her empty wrist. 'Did you Vanish my watch?'

'Of course not,' he replied.

'You did,' she persisted, annoyed at Malfoy but at the same time relieved that she had something else to do while they were waiting. But the strange thing about time was that it seemed to race when she didn't need it to. Harry's declaration in the middle of the clearing was all it took for both Hermione and Malfoy to switch back to alert mode.

Once again, Molly'd finished off Bellatrix on her own, and Harry had just revealed himself to protect her from Voldemort's wrath. Everything would end any moment now. Harry would w—

'Avada Kedavra!'

'Draco!' A tormented cry made her heart drop. Hermione's own scream was stuck in her throat. She forced herself to not think, to not feel, for the only conclusion that came to her mind was too cruel to be true.

'Very touching!' Voldemort laughed, his malicious voice rending her insides apart. 'I suppose that should be enough of a punishment for your treachery, Narcissa.'

Hermione wheeled around, her throat seizing up. Draco's limp body was draped over his mother. The deadly curse had been aimed at Narcissa Malfoy, and he had acted as her shield. But why? He had condemned Hermione so vehemently for launching herself onto that Ravenclaw girl to save her from a curse. This was his mother. Nonetheless, he would still be able to save her when the day—It will never repeat for her, Hermione's own voice echoed in her head. And it will not repeat for his mother ... or him. Hermione suddenly understood that he had always known that.

Time seemed to pause in that one stunned moment, when every eye in the Hall turned towards the two Malfoys. But soon, people re-directed their attention to Harry and Voldemort. Hermione was not one of them: her eyes were transfixed on that one corner, where Narcissa was trying to haul her son out of a mound of wreckage. Apparently, the impact of the curse had sent them slamming into the table behind, breaking it into pieces.

Harry started talking, but all she could hear was Draco's voice. Have you ever stopped to think that you might not have included yourself in that wish? What if she hadn't been including him? She'd been constantly fearful that somehow he would not remember the previous day, that he would not come to the Room of Requirement, that he would not help her. But once he had appeared, it was a given that he would accompany her in the mission to save the people she loved. She had never stopped to consider if he fell into that category. It broke her heart to realize that he was leaving her when their victory was so close.

The battle of the century seemed like a blur to Hermione until Ginny shook her shoulders and told her that it was over.

'I think I need some time on my own,' said Hermione. She knew that Ginny had detected something wrong, but was grateful that the younger girl did not press the matter.

Everywhere around them, people were cheering, celebrating, and grieving. Her eyes flitted across the hall to where he lay, surrounded by his parents. She longed to see him one last time. All the same, who was she to intrude on their moment of grief?

Hermione stumbled through the crowd and out of the Great Hall, not knowing where her feet led her. The image of a willow tree—her usual haven—flashed into her mind, but she dismissed it. If she went there, she would start wishing he'd come to console her like he had done.

She kept going and eventually settled for one of the few remaining arches framing the hallway. Hermione leaned against the ancient column and sank to her knees. Forcing herself not to weep, she turned her gaze to the sky outside. Surprisingly, the dull greyness sparked in her a glimmer of hope. The night had not yet ended. Time might still turn back again.

'You didn't come to say goodbye.'

Hermione's heart skipped a beat. As soon as she looked up, tears threatened to fall again. It was him, silver hair and silver eyes. But they made no difference: everything about him was silver now.

'Who says this is goodbye?' she rasped out, her eyes not leaving his face. She tried her best not to let the image of the ruined wall behind him taint his features in her vision, but couldn't. She wasn't supposed to remember him like this. She didn't want to.

'The day will repeat until my wish is fulfilled,' she continued. 'It'll only stop when none of my loved ones are lost.'

'But you hated me when you made that wish.'

'No, I never hated you.'

He smiled, and her breath caught. The first genuine smile he ever directed at her was a sad one. 'That still doesn't make me one of your loved ones, does it?'

She didn't answer. She wanted to say he was, but she wasn't sure if that was true.

'Can I have one last first kiss?' he asked hesitantly.

She nodded numbly, unable to tell him that it wouldn't be their last. It was what she wanted to believe. Hermione closed her eyes and waited. She could feel his hands on her shoulders, making her shiver slightly. His lips came down on hers like water, smooth but icy cold. The sensation didn't last long.

'Draco,' breathed Hermione as the warmth returned. She opened her eyes to the rising dawn. Realisation caused her to choke. 'Draco!'

He didn't stay long enough to hear her last whispers.

AN: Have faith, you all!

Love,
Leo

References: From 50 First Dates

Henry (sticks the toothpick into Lucy's waffle house): You know, why don't you try this? It's kind of a hinge.
Lucy: Now, why didn't l think of that?
Henry: Well, you're too close to the project. Don't be hard on yourself.
Lucy: Right. Sometimes you need an outsider's perspective.
Henry:Fresh eye never hurts.

Lucy: Could I have one last first kiss?