Thanks so much for all the wonderful feedback for this story. It was so fun to write that last chapter with their big revelations and the fight...

Anyway, I won't delay you any longer. I absolutely LOVE this chapter, it takes a look into Draco and Hermione's past. I hope you like it as much as I do, I think it's really really gorgeous :)

--

It was the first day of spring. Hermione sighed moodily as she plucked a flower from the grounds and twirled it absent-mindedly through her fingers. It also happened to be Ron's 18th birthday. Hermione had stayed up all night writing him a birthday letter. Inside she had admitted her feelings for him. She told him that she hoped he would ask her out.

And what had he done? He had pretended that he hadn't even received her letter! And then he had avoided her all day! Hermione scowled as she began to pluck the petals off the innocent little daisy in her hands. She would never like another man as long as she lived.

Suddenly there were footsteps nearby. Hermione looked around and saw no one. It was almost seven o'clock and everyone was still at dinner. She had skipped, finding it unbearable to watch Ron ignoring her, and hidden herself in the grounds by the lake. But there they were again, the unmistakeable sound of approaching feet.

Hermione sat up a little straighter and made sure that she was carefully hidden behind the bush she had placed herself behind. She wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. But as the figure finally came into her line of vision Hermione discovered that she wasn't the only one who didn't feel like talking.

Draco Malfoy was all but running towards the lake. Hermione couldn't see his face but from the intense way that he was moving she could tell that he was angry about something. For one moment Hermione thought he was going to fling himself into the depths of the water as he reached the bank's edge, but he stopped abruptly and crouched by the water.

As Hermione watched he stared deep into the dark water, leaning so far forwards that again she was sure he was about to dive in and drown himself. Before Hermione realised what she was doing she had jumped out of her hiding place.

'Malfoy, don't!' she cried, hurrying towards him to pull him away from the water. But Malfoy was so startled by her sudden appearance that as he jumped to his feet and whipped around to see who had spoken he overbalanced. Hermione froze and put her hands over her mouth as Malfoy toppled over backwards into the lake. She rushed forwards and knelt down, waiting for him to re-emerge. After what seemed like hours his head broke the surface of the water, gasping furiously for breath. Malfoy spluttered and his arms splashed frantically - he couldn't swim!

'Take my hand!' Hermione gasped, reaching out to him. Malfoy grabbed her by the wrist tightly and just as Hermione was about to pull him towards her Malfoy suddenly grinned mischievously up at her. He gave one mighty tug - and she fell forwards into the water to join him.

Hermione came back up glaring at him furiously as he laughed hysterically at the look on her face. She spat out a large amount of algae before whacking him over the head. But Malfoy continued to laugh at her, his face turning slightly red, and Hermione soon found her own face cracking a small smile. It was kind of funny. Malfoy had a disgusting looking plant entwined in his silvery hair. He looked comical, the murky water dripping off the end of his nose. Hermione couldn't help it. She joined in with his mirth and soon the two of them were half-drowning, half-crying in hysterical laughter.

When their legs became too tired to tread water any longer, they paddled the few metres back to the bank and climbed out, their soaking robes weighing them down considerably. They took one look at each other and then they were at it again, rolling around on the grass as they were unable to contain themselves. After several long, loud minutes, they fell silent and lay on the grass, staring silently up at the sky. The moon had come out and darkness was slowly setting in around them.

Hermione turned her head to look at Malfoy and saw that he was frowning, his eyes tightly shut.

'Um…are you okay?' she asked him hesitantly. Now that their moment of fun was over she expected him to snap at her. It felt so strange, lying next to him and laughing with him. Slowly Malfoy opened his eyes and turned his head to stare at her. He was puzzled to see sincere concern in her eyes. He sighed.

'I don't know, Granger,' he said softly. Hermione's brow furrowed as she searched his face for answers. His expression gave nothing away, however.

'You want to tell me about it?' she asked timidly. She didn't know why but she suddenly felt the urge to comfort him in his obvious sorrow. Hermione had always been an extraordinarily kind and observant witch. Malfoy opened his mouth, all set to tell her to go away and leave him alone. But suddenly he realised that he didn't want to. He needed to talk to someone. And she was there.

'My…my mother's very sick,' he whispered, looking back to the sky. Hermione opened her mouth slightly and gazed at him in pity.

'Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know.' Of course you didn't know, Hermione, she reminded herself.

Malfoy said nothing but his face was now screwed up as if he were trying hard not to cry.

'Will she…will she get better?' Hermione asked quietly, watching him intently. Malfoy opened his eyes and Hermione was shocked to see tears forming at the corners of his eyes.

'No,' he whispered. Hermione's heart was clenching painfully for him. She reached out her hand and hesitated for only a moment before squeezing his fingers tightly. He squeezed her back and Hermione breathed a tiny inner sigh of relief.

'What is it?' she asked softly. Malfoy was silent for so long she didn't think he was going to answer. Maybe she had pushed him as far as he was going to go. But then he spoke again.

'It's a curse. Something ancient. She…she got it off an old book in our manor. My great-grandfather cursed it years ago.'

Hermione closed her eyes in agony. What a horrible way to die - death by book! She couldn't have imagined anything worse!

'I'm so sorry, Draco,' she whispered. Malfoy looked at her in puzzlement. But Hermione didn't even realise her slip - it only seemed right to call him by his first name in this situation. Malfoy frowned at her and sat up suddenly.

'I don't know why I'm telling you this. I'm leaving,' he said suddenly. But Hermione reached for his hand again and he paused.

'It's okay, you know. Just because you hate me doesn't mean I'm not a good listener.'

Malfoy stared at her for a moment as his mind tried to make sense of this sentence. He came to the conclusion that it was rubbish, but still his body seemed to refuse to move. So he sat down again heavily and buried his head in his hands. Hermione watched him silently, feeling something she never thought she would in her entire life - sympathy for Draco Malfoy.

Finally, Malfoy looked up at her and he looked back to his normal self again.

'Thank you,' he said finally. Hermione smiled weakly.

'I didn't do anything.'

'It doesn't matter,' Malfoy shook his head. 'So anyway, what are you doing out here?'

Hermione scowled. But surprisingly she found that she didn't mind telling him. After all, he had just told her his secret.

'I'm avoiding Ronald Weasley,' she muttered, and Malfoy laughed.

'Who isn't?' Hermione smirked. 'What's he done now?'

'Oh, just being his usual tactless self. I…' she stopped suddenly and blushed furiously. 'I wrote him a letter for his birthday. A very private letter. But he pretended like he didn't even get it!'

'Git,' Malfoy shook his head. Hermione nodded in agreement. Suddenly the two of them looked at each other strangely. It just seemed to register in the two of them that they had just confided a secret in each other. Hermione felt stunned. Malfoy felt confused and annoyed with himself. But he still couldn't bring his feet to get up and walk away. So instead he lay back down and stared up at the sky. Hermione followed suit and they were silent as they watched the dark clouds rolling in.

'It's getting late,' she finally said after what felt like hours. Malfoy grunted and rolled over to get to his feet just as Hermione did the same. They found themselves face to face, their noses almost touching and their bodies pressed up against each other. Hermione shivered slightly at the sudden warmth against her cold body. Malfoy felt her shaking and was very aware of the way her chest was rising and falling heavily against his own. He stared into her wide eyes and she stared back, looking almost scared.

And then, without thinking about what he was doing, Malfoy leaned forwards and caught her lips with his own. Hermione stared at him for a moment in surprise then let her eyes drift shut, leaning into the kiss. Slowly, Malfoy reached out and ran a hand down the side of her body, making her quiver. Hermione rolled over on to her back and pulled Malfoy with her. He lay on top of her, cautious of her tiny frame, and for several moments they were silent as they kissed softly and sweetly. Then Malfoy pulled away and looked down at her curiously. She stared back, her eyes unreadable. And then she smiled faintly at him. He smiled back. He had no idea what had just happened, but it had felt right.

--

Hermione couldn't bring herself to get out of bed the next morning. It was well past midday and she was still lying beneath the covers, her eyes red from crying. She wanted more than anything to turn back time and to tell Draco not to leave. She wanted him back so badly it made her entire body ache. She should have told him that she loved him and wanted nothing more than to run away with him. But now he was gone forever and she was stuck in the fog that was her life.

'Mummy?' Sky peered cautiously in the doorway, clutching his toy snake in his hand. Hermione pulled back the covers to show she wasn't ignoring him and he climbed in beside her. She hugged him tightly and several more tears escaped from her sore, puffy eyes.

'Is Mummy okay?' Sky whispered, looking up at her with curiosity and fear. Hermione wiped away her tears and tried to smile at him.

'Yes, Sky. Mummy's just a bit upset today.'

'Did Mummy and Daddy have a fight?' Sky asked, patting his snake absentmindedly. At the mention of Sky's father a fresh wave of tears threatened to engulf her again, but Hermione held them back determinedly.

'You could say that,' she sniffed finally. Sky looked at her curiously, then suddenly smiled a brilliant smile. He held his snake out to her and grinned.

'Pat snake!' he demanded. Hermione laughed and obliged him, even going as far as pretending that the snake had bitten her finger off. Sky shrieked delightedly and Hermione tickled him furiously, making his little legs kick out. When she thought she had better stop before he wet the bed, she picked him up and climbed slowly out of bed.

'Let's get you some lunch, yeah?' she sighed, carrying him out of the room that she hadn't left all day and heading downstairs to the empty house. She put him into his highchair and busied herself making spaghetti for him. As she stirred it around the pot her thoughts again strayed away to the man that had only a few days ago admitted his own love for spaghetti. She shook her head angrily, telling herself not to cry again, and sat down at the table with her head in her hands as Sky ate happily. When he was done Hermione had a terrible mess to clean up, so she took him into the living room and set him down with a large collection of building blocks that she conjured from midair. She used her wand to cast an invisible barrier several metres around him to ensure that he wouldn't get up and wander away into the fireplace. She had been neglecting him lately and she knew it. But she just couldn't pull herself out of the depression that was growing inside her.

That morning several Ministry officials had come by the house to help Ron put up the extra charms he had told her about last night. It would now be impossible for anybody who didn't know where they lived to find them. But this thought didn't ease Hermione's fear - on the contrary, she was filled with a new sense of doom. If nobody could get in, then there was no way that he could come back…

--

It was the Easter holidays. Harry had left the previous morning for the Burrow along with the entire Weasley clan, but Hermione had insisted that she had too much work to do to come along. But that wasn't the real reason. She was still upset with Ron. He had been barely speaking to her since his birthday and Hermione was so hurt that she couldn't bear to be around him for more than a few minutes at a time.

And yet, that wasn't the real reason either. Slowly, Hermione stretched and rose from her cosy chair by the common room fire. Gryffindor tower was completely empty. Not a single person had stayed these holidays, which wasn't exactly surprising. Ever since the return of Voldemort parents wanted as much time as possible with their children. Hermione's parents hadn't minded when she told them she wouldn't be visiting. They understood how much her studies meant to her.

Hermione clambered through the portrait hole and made her way down to the entrance hall. She stopped quickly in the empty Great Hall to grab a couple of bread rolls off the closest table, then made her way out into the sunny grounds. Her pace quickened as she neared the lake. She couldn't wait to see him again.

And there he was, sitting by the water's edge. He turned as she approached and smiled at her.

'Here,' she said, handing him a roll. He took it gratefully and they sat in silence together, watching the still water before them and munching quietly. Once they had finished he turned to her.

'I missed you,' he said quietly. She could barely contain the grin that spread across her face.

'I missed you too, Draco.'

'It's nice, isn't it? With everyone gone,' he said appreciatively as he stretched out on the grass.

'It is,' Hermione agreed. 'We don't have to hide…'

They looked at each other and a smile passed between them as if they knew a secret that no one else knew. And they did.

'You look beautiful,' Draco suddenly whispered, brushing a lock of hair away from her cheek. Hermione felt herself blush pleasantly as she lay down beside him. She propped herself onto one elbow and traced a pattern across his chest. He lay back and closed his eyes, a small smile playing about his lips. Hermione stopped her tracing and leaned her head against his chest, feeling the steady beating of his heart. It was right there, beside her own.

It was still impossible to them that they were here together, but they never stopped to think about it. Ever since the night they had first divulged a little bit of themselves in each other, they had been unable to stay apart. In class they shared secret smiles, both trying to hide the puzzlement they felt underneath. When they passed in corridors they averted their eyes to stop from falling into another round of hysterical laughter. And whenever they got the chance, they snuck out to the lake to talk. It wasn't easy. They couldn't let anyone know that they had suddenly become on speaking terms with each other because their friends would surely have disowned them. But whenever the school wasn't watching, Hermione and Draco were together.

They hadn't kissed since their first encounter, but that didn't matter to them. All they wanted was the company, someone to talk to and someone to listen. Draco had never experienced this before and he was in awe of the kindness of this girl whom he had treated like shit for his entire life. Hermione was struck by the vulnerability that this boy, who had always seemed so invincible, would show whenever she let him drop his guard. It was like he was tensed up permanently, always putting on a show for the world. But Hermione now knew that there were something beneath that.

Draco loved his mother more than anything. She was the only person he had ever loved. His father was every bit the monster everyone thought him to be, and the tales that he had told her made Hermione's insides squirm uncomfortably. She listened to the stories about his mother in wonder - she sounded nothing like the woman she had imagined her to be. Hermione was desperately sorry that she was dying. Draco was going to lose the only person that he cared for and it killed her to see him suffering through it. He had no one else to confide in, no one to hug and to tell him that it was all going to be okay.

In return Hermione told him stories about her own childhood. He seemed interested but sceptical about the muggle inventions she described to him. But he loved hearing her stories. They never talked about their friends or school or work. That would make it too real for them. Hermione kept expecting Draco to suddenly come to his senses and realise that he was with her, Hermione Granger, mudblood and enemy number one. But he didn't. And she was starting to feel for him in a way that she would never have thought possible.

After the Easter holidays were up they returned to their lives, still finding the rare moments to find each other in the sea of strangers and share their secrets. And as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks turned into months, Draco Malfoy fell in love with Hermione Granger.

One night at the beginning of June they had agreed to meet in their favourite place by the water's edge. It was a Sunday night, well past their bedtime, but they hadn't given it a second thought. Hermione was thrilled with the inexplicable happiness that she now reserved only for her meetings with him. When she saw him waiting for her, her heart skipped a beat.

'God I missed you,' Draco whispered into her ear as he held her close. She nodded against his chest.

'It's so hard, this,' she said quietly. 'I wish we didn't have to hide.'

'We don't, you know,' Draco told her. She sighed heavily.

'Yes, we do. You know we do. Your father would kill you. No, your father would kill me.'

Draco laughed and pulled her to the ground. It was almost midnight and a beautiful full moon hung above them. They lay against each other in silence, gazing up at the skies. It was their favourite thing to do. The sky was limitless, endless, full of possibilities. It gave them hope. It gave them the possibility of happiness together. In the skies, they were the only two people in the world. In the skies, they were in charge of their own destinies. In the skies, they were the rulers.

After a while Draco leant down and kissed Hermione gently on the forehead. She raised her face to smile at him and kissed him on the end of his nose. She giggled as he swatted at her in mock irritation, and soon they were rolling about in the darkness, tickling each other madly. Draco rolled on top of Hermione and pinned her arms high above her head. Hermione giggled, but quickly fell silent as she looked deep into his eyes.

Draco stared back at her. The feelings running through his mind were completely foreign to him. He didn't understand how he could love this girl before him. The girl he had hated for years. But he didn't want to fight it. He was sick of fighting. So he grabbed her face and kissed her.

Hermione sighed into his mouth and ran her hands through his hair. Draco shivered at her touch and held her more tightly, his lips becoming more urgent against hers. Slowly he kissed his way down to her collarbone and Hermione lay back, her eyes drifting shut. Watching her carefully for any signs for him to stop, Draco delicately began to unbutton her shirt. As her chest was revealed to him he let out a sharp breath, causing Hermione to shiver beneath him. Slowly, he kissed his way down her stomach, his hands stroking every bit of her fair skin that was revealed to him. He kissed his way back up to her face and she opened her eyes to look up at him. She looked so innocent.

'Hermione…' he breathed. Her eyes widened at the shake in his voice.

'What?' she whispered back, looking at him curiously. Draco took a deep breath.

'I...I think I'm in love with you.'

--

Hermione let Sky pull her around the garden. She sat and played his games with him, a big fake smile plastered across her face. But whenever Sky wasn't looking Hermione turned into the wreck that she was. Three days had gone by since that night where she had stood in the rain. Her heart was still aching. Her eyes had dark rings around them. She couldn't sleep. She had barely eaten. She hated herself for sending him away. And she hated him for leaving. Again.

She thought back to what he had said to her. He had gone into hiding to save her. He had been on the run ever since. His own father was trying to kill him. She wondered where he was now and hoped that he was okay. If he was dead she would never forgive herself. But if he was dead, she would never know anyway.

'Mummy?' Sky trotted over to her holding a snail in his hand. He passed it to her and Hermione took it absentmindedly. Sky looked at his mother with concern. 'Are you still upset with Daddy?'

'No, Sky. Mummy's not upset with your Daddy. She just misses him.'

'He'll be home soon!' Sky said confidently, and he ran off again in search of new prey.

'No, he won't,' Hermione whispered. She was sitting so close to where she had been the other night. When he had admitted his love for her. When she should have admitted her love for him. She closed her eyes. She didn't want to remember.

--

Hermione stared up at Draco in shock. Had he just said what she thought he had? Her eyes suddenly felt moist and Draco's expression turned to alarm.

'Hermione? I'm sorry - I shouldn't have said it,' he said, looking mortified. But Hermione shook her head quickly.

'No, it's not that. It's just…no boy's ever said that to me before.'

And then they were kissing again. Draco felt as if a huge weight was lifted off his back - he had been dying to tell her that for the past few days but he had been terrified she would laugh and push him away. He had been terrified that he would wake from this wonderful dream that had been the last few months. He now felt energized - he had just told a girl that he loved her for the first time in his life. He wanted to kiss her forever and never stop.

'Draco!' Hermione gasped, breaking their lips apart. 'I don't know what's happening with us at the moment…' her eyes gave away the confusion that she was feeling. '…but I think I'm in love with you too.'

Draco kissed her again with a new passion. Hermione responded urgently, her hands squeezing him tight. Draco slowly finished unbuttoning her shirt and Hermione raised herself slightly off the ground to shrug it off. She reached up to do the same to him and whipped his shirt over his head, throwing it off into the darkness. Her hands explored his bare chest, marvelling at his beautiful stomach and chiselled chest. For the first time in her life Hermione Granger appreciated Quidditch.

And then Draco was slowly sliding her skirt down her legs. Hermione slipped her shoes and socks off as he did the same and she lay back down, her eyes staring unseeingly up at the sky as Draco's hands traced her skin lightly enough for it to be a cloud. He kissed his way up her stomach and stopped hesitantly when he reached her bra. Slowly, he slid the straps off her shoulders and Hermione's heart began to pound almost painfully in anticipation as he reached behind her back to undo it.

As it slid off her skin she heard Draco let out a sharp intake of breath. She opened her eyes and looked at him. He was staring back at her, his hand resting between her breasts. Slowly, his hand moved to cover her and Hermione felt her nipple tingle pleasantly in a manner she had never experienced before. Draco cupped her breasts gently in his hands and lowered his mouth to kiss his way in between them, finding her neck and sucking gently. Hermione moaned and her hands went to his hair. She pulled his face eagerly up to meet hers and kissed him ferociously, making Draco groan slightly as his pants became uncomfortably tight. Their lips broke apart and their foreheads rested against each others as they panted slightly.

'Make love to me, Draco,' Hermione suddenly whispered. Draco stared at her for a long time to confirm that was what she really wanted.

'Please,' she urged him softly. Her hips ground against his own and he shivered.

Hermione reached down and found the buckle of his belt. She slid it off slowly and began to unbutton his pants as Draco held himself above her, supporting his weight with his arms to stop from squashing her. As his pants slipped down his legs he kicked them off and rested on one elbow to trace a finger down her stomach. Hermione was staring up at him, the picture of innocence and fear, as Draco gently tugged her underwear down her thighs, sliding them off one leg at a time. And then he looked at her. He took in her thin legs, squeezing together nervously. Her narrow hips and stomach. Her breasts, rising and falling quickly as she breathed heavily. And finally her face. Her hair was curled about her face. Her cheeks were slightly pink and her lips were full and bruised from his fierce kissing.

He looked into her hazy eyes as his hand moved slowly between her legs. As he found her centre, Hermione moaned and arched her back. He slid a finger inside her gently and found that she was soaking already from his touch. His manhood was desperate to escape from their fabric restraints. Hermione could feel him throbbing against her leg.

'Please Draco,' she moaned, pulling him closer. Draco quickly slid his boxers off and Hermione's eyes widened slightly at the size of him. Draco nudged her legs apart with his knees. They fell open willingly and he positioned himself at her entrance. He leaned up on his elbows as Hermione gripped his arms tightly. She looked scared.

'I'll be gentle,' Draco promised her. Her face relaxed and she nodded, her hips brushing against him slightly. Slowly, Draco slipped inside her and Hermione braced herself for the pain that she knew would come. She stared up at him, squeezing his arms tightly, as slowly he broke through her barrier. She whimpered slightly but then Draco was moving in and out of her and she let out a long, deep moan.

'Draco,' she moaned softly, her eyes rolling back into her head. Draco buried his face in her neck and kissed her hungrily, his hips thrusting up and down as he made love to her slowly and carefully.

'Faster, Draco,' Hermione pleaded, her hips now coming up to join his at every thrust. Draco gritted his teeth as his pace quickened. She was so wet and tight he couldn't last much longer. He wanted to make it good for her though. He adjusted his hips slightly and her legs parted further, allowing him deeper entry. As he trust into her with more urgency a low whining came from the back of Hermione's throat.

'Draco, that feels so…oh!' she gasped, her eyes unable to focus on him. Draco growled softly and covered her lips with his as she reached her climax. As her insides clamped tightly around him, Draco groaned. With Hermione's moans filling his ears, he came deep inside her, emptying his seed into her soaking pussy.

Slowly, both of them panting heavily, they looked at each other. Hermione couldn't read Draco's expression but he seemed to be watching her to see her reaction. She smiled at him to show him she was happy and he smiled back in relief. Rolling off her carefully, he lay back and put an arm behind his head. Hermione cuddled up to his side and they lay in silence, Draco's cloak thrown over them, and watched the skies.

--

'Hermione?'

Hermione looked up. She had been staring out the kitchen window, her thoughts a million miles away. Now Ron was looking at her with some irritation.

'Sorry?'

'I said, are you alright?' Ron repeated, looking annoyed.

'Yes. Yes, I'm fine,' Hermione said unconvincingly, and her eyes again slid out the window. She was gone again. Ron sighed and got up from the table, storming from the room.

A week had now gone by since Draco had left and Hermione had not improved in the slightest. She had barely spoken to words to Ron and he was becoming incredibly frustrated with her. He believed that she was overcome with fear ever since he had told her that the Death Eaters had files on them and he decided that the best thing to do was leave her alone in her misery. He took Sky upstairs and put him to bed before tucking himself in.

Downstairs, Hermione was still staring out the window. She didn't care that Ron was mad at her. She didn't care about him at all. She didn't care about anything. She just wanted Draco to come back to her so that she could apologise for everything she had said and done. She still couldn't comprehend why she had sent him away. She would have lived her life over again a thousand times if she could take it back.

Hermione moaned and buried her head on the table. She couldn't live like this. She couldn't live with herself. He was dead, she just knew it. She had lost him again.

--

It was the last day of the school year and Hermione stood on Platform Nine and Three Quarters searching desperately through the crowd for the one person she cared about more than anything. Harry, Ron and Ginny had already left with the promise that they would see her soon. They had agreed to meet to get their exam results together. Hermione's stomach clenched every time she thought of it. The exams had been easy for her, but as the days went by she was filled with more and more doubt. What if she didn't pass? What if she couldn't become a healer?

She still couldn't believe that their days at Hogwarts were over. They had gone by much to quickly for her liking, particularly the last few weeks. She had spent as much time as she could out in the grounds, trying to memorise everything about them. She had been spending more and more time with Draco, as well. She loved him like crazy. Just last night they had sat together by the lake and talked of the future and made love for the last time.

It was still incomprehensible to them, but they didn't want to let each other go. So they had made plans for the future. When the Hogwarts Express finished their last journey home from Hogwarts they would meet after their friends had left and Hermione would hand him a note with her address on it. He was going home to say his last goodbyes to his dying mother, then he would come and stay with her. Once his mother was gone, there would be nothing there for him. He hated his father.

Hermione glanced around anxiously. And there he was, walking casually towards her with a sneer on his face. As he approached he glanced around, and seeing that there was no one nearby who they recognised, his sneer turned to a smile. Hermione passed him a folded piece of parchment and he tucked it inside his robes, winking at her. But she couldn't say goodbye that easily. She flung her arms around his neck and they hugged fiercely.

'I love you,' she whispered into his ear.

'I love you more,' he replied. They stepped apart and Hermione's eyes were shining brightly.

'Promise you'll come soon,' she urged. He smiled at her.

'I wouldn't dream of being late,' he said. With one last smile, he turned and walked away from her.

That was the last time she saw him.