Stormy Ocean

"The Wizengamot Court states that Draco Malfoy will be sentenced to fifteen years in Azkaban for letting Death Eaters into Hogswart School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, attempted murder of Albus Dumbledore, and being affiliated with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. His parole will be negotiable in fifteen years."

With that it was over. Draco shut his eyes. He would never see the day of light again. Azkaban would rip him apart and drive him insane. He prayed he would die there. He hoped that an angry wizard or witch killed him while he was being moved. He looked up and instantly noticed the Golden trio sitting in the first row of benches. He looked at Weasley first; though his expression was neutral, Draco could almost feel the gloating coming from his presence. Of course he would be happy, finally a Weasley has triumphed a Malfoy. Potter was next, his stance was rigid and his face hard. His hair was possibly even crazier than it was before and he looked like he was in deep thought. Finally his eyes landed on Granger, who was madly scribbling on a notepad. She would constantly dip her quill in her ink pot to continue whatever she was writing. He stared at her the longest. Granger most likely felt his eyes on her and looked up to make eye contact with him. She offered him a shy smile which he tried to return. It was ironic considering where he was headed.

"Come on Malfoy." An Azkaban guard muttered. The guard knew how it was in there. Malfoy had only been there for two months awaiting the trial, how will he live for another fifteen years? Slowly he got up; trying to get everyone's face mesmerized even the trio's. He felt eyes on him but he refused to look. He couldn't. Those eyes would break him and Malfoys don't break. Well at least not to the public eye.

18 years old and he was going to Azkaban. It was too late, even being a Malfoy won't help him now. He stared down at his forearm narrowing his eyes.

One bloody mistake.

Just one.

It took one mistake for his life to crumble and fall apart. The day he took his mark was the day he cursed himself to hell. Malfoy could hear his mother's quiet tears in the background and he gulped, closing his eyes he counted to five and reopened them. It was not the time to break especially in front of his mother. She needed to know he was fine. That he was going to be okay. Even if it meant he wasn't going to be.

oOo

"Ms. Hermione Granger, Mr. Malfoy insists your presence before he is headed to Azkaban." The Golden Trio looked up as they heard those words.

"No! You're not going to go see him Hermione. Let the git rot."

"Ron!" She gasped, giving him a glare she stormed off to the room. She could hear voices in the room and saw Narcissa Malfoy in his arms crying quietly. He was whispering something in her ear but when he saw Hermione he straightened up. Narcissa quickly exited the room as Hermione watched.

Though she was crying, Narcissa Malfoy still managed to look beautiful. Shaking her head she made eye contact with Malfoy.

"I need a flavor." He asked, more like ordered. Hermione inclined her head to show she was listening. He didn't have to ask, she would do it. Maybe because she owed him her life. Or maybe because she cared. Or maybe it was because she loved him.

And him? She would never know. She would never know how he felt about her or if he even did. It was too late for them.

"I need you to take care of mother for me. This is going to kill her." And it did. Narcissa didn't last two years without her son. She died of a broken heart.

"Is that it?" She asked. He nodded and she was crushed. Nodding as well, Hermione turned to head out.

"Granger?" She stopped, her back to him, closing her eyes. "Thank you. For everything." Turning her head she looked him in the eyes, memorizing him. She looked at his eyes last. Stormy as the ocean. Hermione always managed to get lost in them.

"Goodbye Malfoy."

oOo

Fifteen years passed by. Fifteen long years. Hermione knew that. Malfoy knew better. She never settled down and the boys always wondered why. Ron tried. He really did. Hermione loved Ron but she wasn't in love with him. He was safe, too safe. She knew she would be content with him however never happy. He would give her everything but nothing she wanted. He would shower her with love and joy but she didn't have the heart to return it back.

Azkaban destroyed Draco Malfoy. After fifteen years there he lost himself.

The once tall and proud man was shriveled and broken. Their days consisted of staying indoors and small talk. Draco barely spoke unless it was needed. Their nights consisted of nightmares from him as Hermione sat up all night holding on to him, whispering feverishly in his ear saying everything was okay.

It wasn't.

Sixteen months passed and he was slowing healing. He was getting back to being his old self and Hermione was beyond proud of him.

In the mornings they ate breakfast together and Hermione thought back to how things were perfect 15 years ago. Things were different now and she wondered how life would be different if she ended up with someone else. She shook her head, ashamed of herself. She loved Draco with everything she had and more. Life wouldn't be the same without him. As she looked at him eating his pancakes she smiled at him. He needed a haircut. Soon. He looked up feeling her eyes on him and he smiled back. Her smile grew even more.

He'll get through this and she'll help him. That was a vow she made to herself.

"Thanks for breakfast Granger. I don't know how you do it. These pancakes always taste amazing." As he sipped on his coffee, she retrieved his coat for him. He slipped it on and she grabbed his briefcase for him. When she turned towards him, he was on his knee, a ring on in his hands.

"Will you marry me?"

She froze.

"Draco! Oh my!" She exclaimed. He stood up fast and hugged her tight. She smelled his cologne and hugged him tighter. Her happiness was sky high.

"Perfect. Just the reaction I wanted. She'll love it." Hermione froze again.

"What?" She asked stunned.

"Astoria? I was practicing on you! I'm going to ask her to marry me later tonight. Perfect right?" Hermione stepped back then and looked at him, trying to hold herself together.

"Perfect. She'll love it Draco." She whispered, staring everywhere but at him. She couldn't. If she did, she would break down right in front of him and that was another vow she promised he would never see.

"You're the best Granger." He said hugging her again. "I love you." She gave him a weak smile and he kissed her on the cheek as he picked up floo powder. The last thing she saw was his eyes on her.

Stormy as the ocean.

Forever her weakness.

The second Draco whisked away her knees buckled and she fell on the floor. Within minutes she was curled up and she couldn't stop the lone tear that fell from her eye. She didn't want too.