" When you look up at the night sky, what do you see?" Hermione murmurs from beside Draco.
For a moment, the blonde contemplates the words set before him. What did he see, one could wonder? Descended from the Black family line, his name, like his relatives before him, had a meaning taken from the a constellation in the sky. Is this what caused him to always train his gaze upon the stars above for answers? For once, he couldn't be sure. All he knows is that when the rest of the world is chaos, they are always the one constant in his life.
" Stability," he murmurs in truth.
Turning out of his embrace, Hermione turns onto her stomach on the blanket underneath them both on the floor of the Astronomy Tower, while propping her head gently into her hands to look straight into his eyes, which are bright and expectant.
" When you look at me, what do you see?"
Gulping, Draco looks around, as if the correct answer will just pop out of thin air. How is he supposed to answer her? They'd secretly been seeing each other for nine months now. Gone already are his old preconceived misconceptions that she is inferior, replaced with new emotions he could hardly understand. Coupled with being a randy hormonal adolescent, it never made for a good combination. However, so far, he had kept himself in check. He knows that the fallout of this relationship had so much more at stake than broken hearts. Silently, he wills himself to find words to respond, before he puts her off into thinking he doesn't care.
Cupping her left cheek with his right hand, he gazes into her eyes, noticing how lovely they look gazing at only him. The thought of her doing this with anyone else, especially Potter or Weasley, made him shudder internally. Although he would not admit it, the fact that they were able to spend unlimited time with the witch in front of him made him slightly barmy.
" My world," he whispers softly into her right ear.
Shivering at the sensations that stem from the breath rushing over her, she looks up at him surprised by the candid manner in which he is acting tonight. Not an overly romantic person, Draco chooses his moments carefully. Before either could say anything to tarnish the moment, Hermione captures his lips against her own, and kisses her boyfriend with a fervor.
Deepening the kiss, both shiver and moan lightly, pulling each other even closer. Now, completely wrapped in a lover's embrace, each feel their bodies relaxing against one another's touch. Never had either been this close to any one person in their entire life. At this moment, they were each separately glad that this moment is being spent with each other.
Minutes later, as the sensations begin to become more than either can bare, the rational part of Draco's brain overrides the notions within his body, urging him to continue. Despite wishing that he could let it go on, he knows that he should pull their embrace apart, before something happens that neither of them can take back. As they disentangle, each releases a ragged breath, attempting to steady their rapidly beating hearts. Pulling her against him, she hears the rapid pace slow down, and with it, so does hers.
Absentmindedly, he pulls the hair out of her face, making sure to properly arrange and attempt to smooth the frizzy disarray. He never understood how she manages to tame the monstrosity she calls her hair, while still making it look presentable each day. It is one of the many reasons he has for considering her a truly gifted witch, among others.
" I know you don't like talking about what is to come-,"
" Then don't Hermione. I've done all of the talking I can,"
Suddenly, both tense, and the air around them seems as if it is crackling with electricity.
" You know there are people who would help you, bring you over to our side, if you let them,"
" And let my parents die? I think not. We've had this discussion before, and I'm through. If you don't like what I'm doing, you know where the door is,"
" Don't say that. You don't get to act like that when just moments ago, we-,"
" We what Granger? Snogged. Last time I checked, people do that all of the time without feeling a damn thing," he spouts out callously, blinded by the building anger he feels inside.
" Stop it Draco. Quit acting like a git. I only want to help you,"
" No matter what you say Hermione, you know what my answer will always be. I have to do this. I have absolutely no choice. You knew this about me, from the moment we chose to take up this fledgling relationship and let it mean something. If you wish to back out now, I'll understand. If you choose to stay though, please for the love of Merlin and all that Muggles hold holy, let my duties to my family be a moot point. I have yet to interfere or question your side in this war. We both know our fates, without needing to bring them to light constantly. As much as I wish I had a choice, I simply don't. It's all or nothing with me, love. That has always been our bargain,"
" That may be, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Every day Harry rambles on about how he knows you're a Death Eater, and so forth. Whether or not this is completely true, you have never fully disclosed. However, I'm not daft. People do not call me the brightest witch of our age because I act like Lavender Brown, chasing after trousers at every chance she comes upon. I have more intellect than that. Do you know how hard it is to listen to the accusations and not be able to defend you, because deep down, I know that they're right!"
" No one is making you stay, Granger. You are welcome to leave at any moment, and that includes this one!" he jumps up, angrily turning away.
Ignoring his comment, she jumps up as well and jerks on his shirt hard to get his attention. When he turns around, his eyes are bright and glinting dangerously. She knows that she has slipped into precarious waters, but she wasn't proclaimed Gryffindor because her hair complimented the house colors.
" Do you know how hard it is knowing that you don't want to be involved, knowing that you're only doing this because a mad man is threatening to kill your family, and not be able to coerce you to reach out for help when it is right within your grasp?" she whispers dangerously, standing up to her full height against the taller man in front of her.
" I don't know how else to make you understand. I have no choice!"
" We all have choices Draco!"
" You couldn't possibly understand, because you have never been in my position before. I can't believe I was foolish enough to think that this could work. If Voldemort doesn't do me in first, you're going to be the death of me, you will," Draco says, sighing into the hand he pulls in front of his face.
" You don't really mean that, do you?"
" That one day you'll be the death of me? Of course Granger, you drive me barmy,"
" That's not what I meant and you know it," her voice suddenly becoming very quiet.
Taking a look at the damage in her eyes, Draco swallows his pride and walks closer towards her. Slowly, he pulls her into his arms, and wraps them tightly around her.
" You and I both know that we'd be better off if we had never met one another, simply because we're too opposite,"
Choosing not to say anything, she continues to listen. Taking her silence as an opening to speak, Draco begins again.
" This doesn't mean that I'm not willing to still continue to try. But dammit, when I ask you to let it lie, please listen. I'm not asking to be cruel, I'm asking to protect you. I do what I do for a reason, Hermione. Since the moment I found you lying on the floor, all but lifeless, something changed. I refuse to ever let that happen to you again if I can help it. One day, I hope that you'll see this,"
Softly, he kisses her on the forehead. Allowing a few more moments in his arms, he nods and gently pulls away.
" I suppose I have no choice but to attempt to see it your way, because that's the only option you are giving me,"
" For good reason. Now, we should probably sneak back to our dormitories before we're caught up here. I don't fancy attempting to explain to Filch why the two prefects are out past curfew with a blanket spread beneath them. If we are to continue this, we need to be more discreet. The risks are higher now than ever before. Please take caution on your way back, love. I'll be behind you in a bit," he states, and then places a soft kiss upon her lips, before sending her off.
Once she leaves, instead of turning in for the night, he chooses to look up at the stars for a bit longer. Somewhere up there, he hopes that whatever fate could possibly smile upon him, would choose to do so soon. Despite the stand he took with Hermione minutes before, he could feel his resolve against her pleas threatening to crack him to his very core.