Chapter 10- Too much to live for…

Thank you very much for all your reviews… I checked my email on my birthday, and was so happy to see that I had managed to gain some good responses. Everyone else out there, please feel free to review my work, I take all suggestions on board… Please, please, please keep them coming... coz I love getting them so very much!

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Draco's mouth fell open in shock, he refused to believe that Blaise… Blaise…was… "YOU LIE!" He grabbed Pansy roughly by the shoulders and shook her wildly. "WHY DO YOU TELL ME SUCH LIES?"

Pansy violently shoved him away, her chest heaving with unshed tears. "I'm not lying… he's gone.. oh my god… what am I going to do?"

Draco felt his hands begin to shake, small tremors shuddering through his entire being. His face paled, and his grey eyes grew unnaturally dull. His shuttered gaze blocked out all the light, as he slowly let his mind cloud with darkness. He had to force each breath in … and out… of his tight chest, a horrible grief that could not be spoken, suspended in the air like the hangman's noose.

Hermione gently laid her fingers against his skin; she could feel the coldness emanating from deep within, something bone deep and terrifyingly chilling. She began to wrap her arms around him, when Pansy began to wail with uncontrolled anguish.

"You… YOU DID THIS!" Pansy's eyeliner ran down her pallid cheeks, streaking her face like charcoal. Her finger pointing straight at Hermione, shakily she sucked in a sharp breath. He fierce eyes then flew to Draco's immobile form. "SEE WHAT YOU'VE DONE!"

Draco felt rage boil within him, his grave sorrow slowly converting to anger.

"YOU'RE LOVE FOR THAT FUCKING MUDBLOOD KILLED YOUR BEST FRIEND!" Pansy screamed, her heart aching with every word. "YOU MIGHT AS WELL HAVE KILLED HIM YOURSELF!"

The air crackled with tension, the disgusting words cutting Draco to the quick and with complete control, he murmured "Who killed him Pansy? What man dared murder Blaise Zabini?"

Pansy gave a bitter laugh, "Ah.. Draco… the world is so very small… He loved you so much, he loved you too much… hah… It seemed only fitting that he was killed by a Malfoy." Heavy droplets of water fell unheeded to the floor. "Your damn father, Draco… YOUR GOD DAMN FATHER!"

Draco felt as if a boulder had smashed him over the head, his father had killed his best friend? It was a ludicrous thought. "Why Pansy? Why'd he do it?"

"Blaise couldn't help but feel worried about you, Draco. He felt you were throwing it all away… for that she-devil mud blood…" She sneered at Hermione, her eyes flickering with hate "He was loyal to the end, Draco. You see, he told me all about 'the mission', about how your father would kill you if you gave it all up… so he went to tell him, to tell him you needed help… he pleaded for your life, as your father flew into an uncontrollable rage! The very image haunts me…"

Pansy seemed to collapse internally, her breathing grew shallow, and she grasped her hand to her chest as if listening to her own beating heart. Almost as if ensuring that she herself, was still alive and breathing. "He told me to wait outside for him, he was unsure to how your father would react… All I remember is him screaming… He was in pain… Oh god. I was too fearful to go in after him until I was sure your father had left the mansion…" Pansy's gaze was now blank, her mind elsewhere. "He was on the floor, his head was bleeding… There was so much blood, it was his temple… and the cane, that silver cane that he always carries; the imprint marred his arms and legs… He was still alive when I saw him, but even I knew he couldn't live…"

Hermione shuddered as she noticed that Pansy's robes were spotted with dark patches, undetectable at first glace, due to the darkness of the robes. They stained her clothing like a brand, and Hermione feared that she knew what had made those very marks.

"He could hardly breathe… your father had broken his ribs… his chest was basically caving in on him." Pansy sobbed "He tried to save you, but instead gained your father's wrath… your father has gone mad, his mind is now unable to guide his actions… I think his consciousness must have died when he found out you were… in love …with the Granger mudblood."

Draco could still hear the crazed screaming and yelling outside the dormitory. "Then he is coming for me, isn't he?"

Pansy gravely looked him straight in the eye. "Yes. He wants your blood… you disobeyed the Malfoy tradition and he will make you pay."

"Well, it is not a price I am willing to afford." Draco reached out to hold Hermione tight against him. "not now, I have too much to live for."

"You can tell it to him yourself, Draco." Pansy released a weary sigh. "You have paved your path, now you must follow it. He's looking for you… I suggest you go meet him, for he will demand satisfaction. …Not to mention the Zabini family will want you dead too, for you did lead to the demise of their heir…"

"So I have created a war between our families?"

"The Zabini-Malfoy alliance is over…"

"Then let me go," Draco gave a piercing look to Hermione. One that lent a longing to her soul, acted as a balm to her grieving heart. "Let me go avenge my best friend…"

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The whole school was in turmoil, students were running wildly through the corridors. The hall was rife with broken screams, word of mouth told that Lucius Malfoy was scouring the castle for his son. No one had much notion why, but the fact that a madman was on the loose was enough to get anyone's feet moving. Draco and Hermione slowly began to weave their way back through the surging crowd. Against Draco's insistence, Hermione had persisted on coming to confront his father. He was not going to be alone. Pushing their way to the end, they were unexpectedly shoved into a small alcove, covered by fine gauze, shielding them from the frantic gazes of many of the other panicky students.

"Draco.." Hermione whispered "I know that this may be a bad time, but I lo-"

Draco softly grazed his fingers across her lips, "I know.." His eyes glittered as she tucked her head into the crook of his neck.

Her heart beat an erratic rhythm against his chest, as she lay against him. She reached up to curve her arms about his shoulders; she needed his support just as much as he needed hers. "Draco.. I am scared…I am so scared for you…"

Draco's lips swooped down to capture hers; passionately he caressed her swollen lips. He could feel her tears as they rolled down her soft cheeks, and he could taste the saltiness on her skin. "Hush… sweeting… hush…" Draco gently pulled her close, his arms holding her tight. "Please don't cry for me… Everything will be alright… I know it, because no matter what happens, I will always be by your side."

Hermione felt a chill shiver down her spine. "Draco, you sound as if you can feel your impending… death…"

Draco did not speak, his fears caught in her very sentence. So many people wanted him dead…. It would only be a matter of time…

"Draco, why are you so silent? Tell me you don't think you'll … promise me that you will stay with me forever…"

Draco bowed his head to brush his lips across her temple. "Just remember that I love you."

"Your father has gone mad, then…?" Hermione hesitantly asked "Maybe Dumbledore has found him, and you are safe…?"

Draco placated her with a small smile, but deep down, he knew that his father would not have yet been captured… not yet… no… not before he had taken Draco down with him.

"Hermione, I will ask you once more, will you not stay here? Where I know you are safe?"

Hermione shook her head, her curls bouncing with every movement. "No… I will not turn my back on you. Wherever you go, so will I."

Draco could not help but admire her bravery. She was his siren, his weakness… if anything was to happen to her… he could not bear to think of it.

Pulling her softly by the hand, he managed to lead her out of the alcove. He feared that those precious minutes of privacy might very well be his last. The hallways seemed quieter now, for the rush of students seemed to have dissipated. His father was somewhere in the castle, and knowing him, right at this very moment he was probably at Draco and Hermione's dormitory. Rifling through their belongings, searching for any sign of Draco's whereabouts.

Running with amazing speed, they dodged many rusty artefacts, only to be met with sharp light as they managed to exit through the west wing of the school. They sky was cloudy and grey, a distinct replica of Draco's eyes. Hermione couldn't help but feel that it represented an impending disturbance… a disturbance of horrifying proportions.

Rushing out over the cobblestones, Hermione's feet ached with the constant strain of movement. Her wrist burning as Draco pulled her along. Her feet flew, but her mind remained behind, questioning how far they could run before they were stopped by Lucius Malfoy.

Finally they stopped as they reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest. "Hermione, are you okay?"

"Uhh… not great, but it is not me I am worried about, it is you." Hermione pushed a loose lock of blond hair out of his eyes. His grey eyes raged stormily, unimpeded by his golden hair. "You are so handsome…" Hermione laughed dreamily.

"Hermione!" Draco managed a small laugh "Where is your pride?"

Hermione let her eyes flicker up to rest on his attractive face, only to notice once again that he was so very beautiful… His features radiated with a glow that depicted the kind heart that had lain hidden for so many years behind his Malfoy arrogance. Hermione felt tears flutter on her lashes, her lower lip catching between her teeth. Draco Malfoy was the man she had been looking for… he was everything she could never find in Ron. He had grown up, and so had she, but like a terrible tragedy, circumstances were forcing them to part. It broke her heart a thousand times over to think that perhaps the void was too wide… she could not even think of it.

Hermione's eyes were now filled with tears. "Don't you see Draco? You, are my pride. You, are the one that makes me proud… proud that I can call you my own." Hermione smiled, as she stepped from his embrace. Pulling his hand to cover her breast, she whispered "My heart beats for you, and you alone. No other boy, could ever fill my soul the way you do. I love you Draco Malfoy, like a fire that burns deep within me, I love you."

Suddenly Draco released a pent up sigh, and yanked her close. Hurriedly he pushed his lips down onto hers, but unlike before, this kiss was filled with violent passion. Brutal, adoring love. Hermione revelled in the experience, his hands roughly massaged her breasts as she moaned, her euphoric sighs echoing deep into the forest.

Draco hardened the embrace, as her nipples hardened against his palms. Savagely he struggled to take off her shirt, trying to unfasten the small row of buttons that graced the front of her blouse.

"Draco?" Hermione groaned breathlessly. "Is.. it … okay .. to do…this … out…side?"

Draco ran his hands through her hair, as he tipped back her face for a long kiss. As he moved back, he gave a wolflike grin "We can do whatever we like."

The danger seemingly forgotten, Hermione ran her hands up under his shirt. Her hands seemed unable to get enough of his hard, masculine form. With a prolonged sigh, she aided him in removing her shirt.

"Draco I need you…"

Moving his hands over her delicately rounded shoulders, he fumbled for the clasp that secured her lingerie. Once freed from the contraption, Draco gave a fiendish glance, allowing her no room to protest as he bent his head to secure his lips to her taut nipple, caressing it with his tongue.

"DRACO!" Hermione shrieked in shock, however her initial surprise soon dissolved into a bout of small erratic sighs. "Oh.. Draco…"

Draco grazed his teeth across her plump flesh, arousing her to indefinable heights. Her body soared, as he mind was left behind… only once had she ever suffered from the 'little death' and that had been in Draco's embrace. Only in his arms had she felt safer than she'd ever felt before. Draco was now roughly kissing the side of her neck, his scent swirled around her…She winced at the fear that he might be taken away from her…

Before they had had a chance to be together…

I love him too much to lose him now…

This thought managed to inflame Hermione further, and as she pushed Draco up against one of the trees lining the outside of the Forbidden Forest, she felt her heart jump as his gaze came to rest upon her face. It was the fire that raged there in his stare that frightened her, frightened her and intrigued her.

I love you Draco…

"Draco, I- …oh…"

I want to be with you forever…

"Ohhh…."

You are my one and only…

"I want-"

I'd die for you Draco…

Suddenly, a jet of red light shot out from nowhere. Draco saw it seconds before it came, and by that time it was too late. A scream of warning pushed at his throat…No… He began to shove Hermione out of the way… too late… too late… the ray met its target, striking Hermione in the back. Her whole being arched with the force, and Draco instinctively reached out to support her. Her eyes were open with shock, and tears fell to drop upon his shirt.

"HERMIONE!" Draco yelled, his voice hoarse. She fell limp into his arms; blood seeped from a deep wound at her side. Draco put his hand to her waist, only to encounter a deep hole through her body.

No… it can't end this way…

Hermione's chest was heaving with shallow breaths, once filled with sighs of rapture, she now struggled to breathe. "Draco?"

Draco knew that tears were coursing down his face. "Yes, my love?" Tears which he knew he'd never have allowed, due to his insurmountable pride.

"I am so happy it wasn't you… He has hurt you so much already…" Her voice was soft, as her fingers went to smooth the puckered flesh on the nape of his neck. "..I will always be with you… remember?"

Draco tried to stunt the tears that grew fresh on his lashes. "hang on Hermione! You can't leave me!"

"I just hope you trust that I'll love you forever…" Hermione showed a gentle smile.

Draco gently lay her down on the grassy knoll, as he turned to face the foe that stood masked in shadows. A cold voice resonated from deep within the forest. "My son…she will soon know what it means to die… You will suffer the way you made me suffer… you will watch her die… and soon enough, you will join her."