Day 5
„'ermione's going to be 'ere any minute." She reassured him, stroking his hair out of his face once more.
„Hermione?" He whispered, looking right at her. „Is that you?"
She bit her lip and swallowed her tears down. „Yes." She then lied. „Yes, it's me."
A smile appeared on his face. „I was hoping you would come." He whispered.
Tears were falling down her cheeks once more. Maybe it was the wrong thing to do to pretend like she was Hermione, but she had no idea where she was. And she could tell that Draco's time was running out. He needed to know that Hermione forgave him, and if he believed that she was Hermione then that would only help him understand. Her inside hurt so much seeing him hurt and dying and knowing that he only wanted to see the woman he loved. She closed her eyes tightly. Then she heard him whisper "I love you, Hermione."
"I love you too, Draco." She replied, not sure if she was still pretending to be Hermione or not. She sat there for a little while, her eyes still closed.
When she finally opened her eyes again his own steel-colored eyes stared off into space expressionlessly. His body lay there limp and motionless. She could see that his chest was completely still due to him not taking any breaths anymore.
"Goodbye, Draco." She murmured, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks.
Hermione finally got up and walked over to the bed. The dead eyes of the man she loved were staring back at her.
"Draco." She said, hoping he could see her from wherever he was. "I need you to know that I forgave you for every little thing. I forgive you for everything that has ever happened. I am so sorry for what happened or what I said. I didn't mean it." She hesitated a little, letting the tears fall. "The truth is that I love you, Draco. I really do. And I am so sorry for it ending this way. I know that it is my fault. It's all my fault. I hope that you can forgive me for that too. Even though I don't deserve it." She kneeled down next to him and took his cold and stiff hand in hers. She leaned over him a little and kissed his dead lips.
"I love you." she sobbed again. "And I'll never stop loving you."
With one quick motion she closed his eyes with her hands.
When she got up again and left the hut, she again whispered "I'm so sorry." and walked up to Fleur, who stood outside of the hut, waiting for her. Hermione had never seen the blond witch so torn up before. Not even after Bill had been attacked by the werewolf. Hermione stood next to her for a while, silently, both crying and deep in their own thoughts.
"No one can know about zis." Fleur finally whispered. "No one. Narcissa can't know."
Hermione nodded sadly. She understood where Fleur was coming from. It would hurt his mother just as much as it hurt her.
"I will take care of 'er as soon as we get back. Become 'er new daughter. But zat will be ze only change boz of us make in our lives. You will pretend like nozing ever 'appened. Draco" her voice broke a little "left for Thailand and lives next to a beautiful beach now, where 'e sips cocktails all day long and 'as the time of 'is life. You will stay at Grimmauld place for a little while longer, I will assure Bill zat nozing ever 'appened between Draco" her voice broke again "and me." she murmured.
Hermione nodded again, gulping hardly.
"I know it's going to be 'ard." Fleur continued. "But it's necessary. Draco would 'ave wanted it."
And for both women that were standing there that was the only thing that mattered to them. That Draco would have wanted it like this. That Draco never had wanted anyone to know so that no one would get hurt. But it had happened anyways.