Chapter 10

Week 15

"Hermione, you have a visitor."

Hermione couldn't help the small smile that crept onto her face as she heard those words. It was an odd feeling, this slight giddiness she felt at the thought of Draco Malfoy. She was still very cautious, but after her talk with Ginny yesterday she realized that she did have to give a little. She hadn't seen him since Thursday, and she missed him. He had sent her a note yesterday saying he was back but still had to interview the other aurors involved in whatever the case was about, so she didn't get to see him or talk to him. He'd been surprisingly patient with her, something she never would have expected. She was excited at the thought of finally seeing him since right after his trial, and was anxious to hear all about his new case he was taking with the aurors.

"Send them in, please." She said into the desk top intercom. He was later than usual, but she didn't mind, he did have a lot going on with this new case. She rose to grab her sweater in anticipation for Draco taking her out to lunch, then froze as she didn't see Draco entering her office, but Narcissa Malfoy.

"Ms. McClaggen." She greeted in a bland tone. "Or it is Ms. Granger... again."

"M- Mrs. Malfoy." She stammered, frustrated with herself. "To what do I owe this surprise?"

Narcissa walked further into Hermione's office. "May I sit?"

Hermione glanced at the chair in front of her desk. "Of course. Please." She motioned to the chair and sat in the one next to it, turning slightly to face her. She set her shoulders back and braced herself for whatever was about to come. "What can I do for you?"

"I wish to speak to you about Draco."

"Draco?"

"Yes, Ms. McClaggen."

"Hermione is just fine." She rushed out.

"I believe Draco has told you of his intentions?"

"His... intentions?"

"Yes, dear. His intentions. He has told you that you are his soulmate, has he not?"

"Well, Yes. But-"

"Wonderful." She said, cutting Hermione off. "I wish to know how much longer you intend to keep my son waiting."

Hermione gaped at her. "Excuse me?"

"I realize it's most likely difficult for you to understand, but my son comes from two very prestigious bloodlines. As a Black and a Malfoy, he has certain expectations of him and I do not wish for him to be... careless with his time."

Hermione shook her head. There were so many insults in that one sentence alone that she couldn't pick which one to address first. Her lack of response however, only fueled the woman to press on.

"Draco has responsibilities. I had fully expected him to be married and be on his way to producing an heir by now."

Ahh. There is was. The heir. The sacred bloodlines that must continue on.

"He has decided that he would like to peruse you, instead."

"Does this bother you?"

"Of course It does. I can't possibly see how you, of all people, could be my sons true soulmate. But despite this if that is what he wishes then the soulmate bond overrules blood status."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"The child you will produce will be treated as a pureblood heir, in spite of your true blood status."

"The... the child I will produce..."

"Yes. Now, how long do you plan on keeping my son waiting? There is no use in prolonging the inevitable."

Hermione felt the panic bubbling in her chest. This was all too much to take in. She stood and hoped that she looked calmer than she really was.

"Mrs. Malfoy, I believe it's time that you leave. I do have another appointment soon, that I need to prepare for."

"Ms.-"

"Do feel free to make an appointment with my secretary should you wish to discuss anything further." Hermione said before she could utter those words again. She motioned to the door, hoping the woman would take the hint.

Narcissa stood, looking every bit the royalty she considered herself to be. "I will be in touch." She laced her threat with a sweet voice, one that would be considered friendly if one didn't know any better.

Hermione held herself together as she watched her leave. The moment the door shut and she was alone she flexed her shaking hands and tried to relieve the aching muscles in them. She hadn't even noticed they had balled up into fists. The slow deep breaths she had trained herself to take weren't working either, she could still feel the panic, the dread. She felt stupid and small. She looked at the clock and felt even worse when she saw the time. She never received a memo from Draco today about their lunch, maybe he couldn't make it? Now feeling disappointed, she grabbed her sweater and her bag and thought she would just go home for lunch. She could work out her nerves and settle down, then stop by Draco's office later and see if they could meet for dinner instead.

Once she was home she threw her bag on the couch and headed for the kitchen. Why wouldn't he send her anything? He always sent memos when he was going to be late, or to confirm their plans, or for any reason really. His notes always made her smile, just to know that she was on his mind, it helped a lot to know that he was looking forward to seeing her each time. She shook her head to try and rid herself of these thoughts. He was probably just busy with his new case, it didn't mean anything that she didn't get a note. Then there was the problem with his mother. Did they speak of her? Draco told her that they didn't have a good relationship, but did that mean that he never visited her? Family was always important to him, it defined who he was. Did he feel the way Narcissa did? That she was taking too long, and just prolonging the inevitable? Her heart wanted him in her life more than anything, but she couldn't do this to him... she can't give him what he really wants. Draco's family has always been whats important to him, and she would only disappoint him if she stayed any longer.

She looked at the clock and realized that she'd been standing the same spot in her kitchen, staring at nothing for a solid fifteen minutes, lost in her thoughts. She had to end this, it wasn't right. Her eyes welled with tears at just the thought. No, maybe she should just tell him. If he heard it from her first, before they started anything may be wouldn't leave her, maybe they could figure something out. Maybe he would accept that she couldn't have any children... maybe he wanted her more than he wanted anything else, too. Snapping out of her thoughts again she realized that she had to clear her mind. She would take a long lunch and hopefully feel better by the time she wanted to head back to work. She'd missed so much time already, she couldn't let this get in the way. If she just headed back to work right now, she wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything and she would just stare at her door, waiting for Draco to walk in and make it all better and that just wasn't going to happen today.

Her appetite nearly gone, she decided that she would just make herself some tea. A good book sounded nice, the distraction of another world calling to her. She noticed her hands were still slightly trembling as she reached for the teapot. If she could only calm down, she knew she could work through this, there had to be another way! She headed into her library. Her beautiful library. She selected a book that was filled with poetry and secrets and letters that would never be delivered. She often found that it was her go to book when she needed to clear her mind. The thought of getting lost in someone elses thoughts and feelings tended to put her life into better perspective.

She levitated her tea tray to follow her out to the balcony. The sun was out and she found comfort in the calm of nature. Nature was steady, constant, and reliable. The leaves always fell and the snow always came and the rain always washed away everything from the day before. As she curled up on her small outdoor loveseat she began to read as she sipped her tea, silently praying that she would feel better about all of this, that the answer would come to her, and she wouldn't be forced to lose him.

Draco walked down the hall that led to Hermione's office at exactly seventeen minutes after twelve. Annoyed his meeting took longer than he had expected, he hoped that he would still be able to have a quick lunch with Hermione, even if that meant staying at the Ministry and eating in that god awful cafeteria. Even Potter was ready to run out the door when it was finally over. He managed to send a very brief note to Hermione saying that he had to push their lunch back from eleven to twelve, and hoped that she understood. His skin was tingling with anticipation at finally seeing her after all this time, and even though his meeting with Head Auror Robards dampened his mood, he was still excited to see her.

"Good afternoon, can I help you?" Hermione's temporary secretary said to him. She had on a bright purple sweater and matching skirt with a huge pink quill sticking out from her bun of jet black hair.

"Draco Malfoy, I'm just here to see Hermione." He nodded as he headed for the door. He didn't like this woman. She wasn't anything like Sophie and he doubted Hermione liked her either.

"Sir, she's not here."

That stopped him. He turned around with a curious look. "She left?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Did she receive my memo?"

"No, Sir. She was in a meeting, and left right after."

Well that's just great. Sophie would've known to give her the message anyway. "Alright. Would you please let me know when she returns?"

"Absolutely!" She said with a nod, making the obnoxious pink quill she had sticking out of her hair bounce. She looked around, presumably for something to write with, and Draco felt like this was a lost cause.

He glanced at her office door, wondering if maybe he should just leave her a note saying he was here, but thought better of it. He didn't want her to see it as an intrusion of her privacy. He went back to his office, not bothering to eat lunch himself. He figured since he had the time he could use to get ahead on a few cases, hoping this time would pay off later and he could leave early at the end of the week.

Two hours went by and he hadn't heard anything from Hermione's secretary. Surely she was back in the office by now. Hoping the idiot girl just forgot to let him know, he sent an interdepartmental memo to her, asking if Hermione was back yet so he could stop by before he left for the day. It was Tuesday after all, and he wasn't leaving without seeing her.

Barely a minute passed by before a small envelope appeared on his desk. He couldn't help the smile that crept onto his face at the hope that he would finally be able to see her now. But Draco should have known better, disappointment tended to follow him wherever he went.

Sorry Sir. She sent a missive saying she wasn't returning to the office today.

Draco crumpled up the memo and threw in the trash bin. The silly twit could have told him that! He organized his desk, intending to head out and ask the girl if she had anymore information. Her memo was not very informative, and he needed to know. Making his way down that familiar hallway he headed straight over to her desk. He couldn't remember her name, so once he was close enough he cleared his throat to get her attention.

"Mr. Malfoy." She said with surprise. "I just sent you a memo, did you not receive it?"

"Oh, no, I did. I was just wondering when this missive from Hermione arrived?"

"Oh. About an hour ago, maybe longer."

Draco brows rose in surprise. "A hour you say? And you didn't think to tell me?"

"Well, you said that you wished for me to tell you when she returned. Which she didn't."

Well he had to give her credit there.

"I think her last appointment might have upset her now that I think about it. Well it wasn't an appointment, her last visitor I should say."

"Oh? Any idea who it was?"

"I think she said she was Mrs. Malfoy, but sh-"

"I'm sorry. What?"

"Well, she didn't really look like you, though. But I don't know any other Malfoy's." She rambled on. "Are you married? She seems a bit old for you, not that..."

Draco's mind was racing a mile a minute. What could his mother possibly... oh no. Without another word to her, Draco raced down the hallway towards the floo.

Once he reached the atrium he tried to floo to Hermione's, but nothing happened. She must have disconnected it, meaning she was home. Deciding to apparate, he landed on her front step. He didn't want to seem desperate or panicked, that wouldn't help her if she was feeling the same way. As calmly as he could, he knocked on the door.

"Hermione?" He called out. He knocked again, a little harder but she didn't come to the door. This felt all too familiar. She was shutting him out. He had his wand out, prepared to try and decider which locking charms she would have put on the door, but then took a step back. No, he wouldn't do that. If this was what she wanted he would give her time. For today. Then tomorrow, he would start all over.

Draco apparated to the front gates of Malfoy Manor, furious with his mother's actions. He barged right threw them, marching to the house with determination. He took several deep breaths before entering, he didn't want to snap at her right away. He should probably hear her out first, but the more he thought about it the angrier he became.

"What have you done?!" He roared as he made his way into her private receiving room.

"Draco." She said brightly, a fake smile plastered on her face. They were all fake smiles, every single one.

"You went to her office?!"

The woman simply picked up her teacup and took a small sip, setting it down delicately before she decided to answer him. "You have responsibilities, Draco."

He took a long steady breath to try and alleviate his desire to curse the woman. "Mother, I don't think you realize what you've done. You've just severely set back the progress I have made."

"There is no point in delaying what should be. She should very well understand what is expected of her."

"Nothing is expected of her! Nothing!"

"You know your expectations, Draco. The Malfoy line needs an heir. She needs to realize that since you have decided to pursue this, she must produce an heir."

Draco just stared at her. "Tell me you didn't say that. Please, tell me those words didn't leave your mouth." His mind raced with what Hermione could possibly be thinking right now. He was so happy with the progress that they'd been making! He was perfectly happy to even be in her company, then his mother just had to butt in. Did she realize that she more or less asked why Hermione hasn't jumped into bed with him yet?! He was certain she was panicking... he had to get to her somehow.

"I'm not quite sure of the exact phrasing, but she understood the point." Narcissa said evenly.

Draco shut his eyes and pushed the palms of his hands into them. Merlin he had a headache, and this situation was just getting worse. "You've just destroyed this."

"What is it exactly that you have, Draco? Tell me. You claim that she knows that you are her soulmate yet you insist on this chase."

"It's not a chase, mother! I've grown quite fond of her! I enjoy her company. I will win her, the proper way. I would never force her into anything!"

"Draco don't be so absurd. Don't you think this has gone on long enough? Astoria Greengrass stood at the alter to marry you not so long ago, you could have just-"

"What happened between Astoria and I was never my choice, and you damn well know it." He said in a chilling voice. "I would never force her, she always had a choice. I will always offer a choice, since I so seldom had one. You had no right to do what you did."

"Draco, the Black and the Malfoy-"

"I don't care! I don't care if the bloodline ends with me!"

"Surely you don't mean that." She breathed.

"I mean every word. If Hermione were to wed me and she never wanted children I would never force her. Ever. And if you've just destroyed whatever affections she had for me I will never forgive you, do you understand? I will never marry anyone else. I will never want anyone else! If that doesn't suit you, then feel free to leave."

With a look that could kill, he stared at his mother a moment more before he stormed out of the room. He flooed back to the Ministry, heading straight towards Potter's office. He stopped in the middle of the hallway and wondered if he should even ask him for advice on what to do. The man knew Hermione better than anyone, he had to admit that. Figuring it couldn't get any worse, he walked up to his office door and knocked. He heard him say something through the door then opened it.

"Potter, do you have a moment?"

"Make it quick, Malfoy. I'm about to head home, Ginny has an appointment."

"Right." Draco shut the door but didn't move into the office further. "My mother went to Hermione's office this morning."

Harry's head snapped up. "What?"

"Her useless secretary only told me about it maybe a half-hour ago. She was there before lunch. Hermione must've left right after, and I haven't been able to talk to her."

Harry pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do you know what was said?"

Draco nodded even though the man wasn't looking at him. "It wasn't good."

"What was said, Malfoy." He demanded.

"Basically she went to remind Hermione of her... her duties, that come with being my soulmate. Continuing the Malfoy line and marriage and to stop resisting-"

Harry held up his hand and Draco immediately stopped talking. "Continuing the Malfoy line... meaning having children."

Draco's brows rose in surprise that Harry bloody Potter could actually be that stupid. How the hell else would a bloodline continue? Before he could make some smartass comment he watched as Potter grabbed his jacket and headed for the door.

"Let's go." He said as he ripped the door open.

"Go where?" Draco asked as he ran to keep up with him.

"Hermione's."

"Potter she shut down the floo. I already tried and couldn't get in. She didn't answer the door either."

"It's always open to my house. Trust me."

Draco rolled his eyes. Of course Potter would be able to reach her. Another stab of dejection ran through him at the thought. She would always let Potter in, he would always be her knight in shining armor. She had warded her house against Draco, and Draco alone. He couldn't get to her and she knew that because that's the way she wanted it.

He slowed his pace at his thoughts.

Harry turned to look at him when he noticed Draco wasn't beside him anymore. "What are you doing?"

"Just tell her that I'm concerned when you get there."

"What? You're coming with me."

"No, Potter. I'm not. She doesn't want to see me, she made that clear. You're the one she wants."

Before Harry could argue with him Draco turned and left.

Harry flooed home alone then, annoyed that Malfoy ran away instead of being there for Hermione. Seeing that Ginny wasn't home yet either, he wrote a quick note then headed to Hermione's.

"Hermione?" He called out as he stepped out from the fireplace. He looked around and saw nothing out of place. Her work bag and her sweater were thrown on the couch, so he knew she was here. He checked her library first, then her bedroom. As he walked back into the living room he saw the balcony doors and made his way over.

He found her curled up on her small loveseat, asleep. Her book had fallen to the floor and her teacup was knocked over.

"Hermione." He whispered as he pushed her hair away from her face.

"Harry?"

"Mhm." He gave her a smile when she opened her eyes. "Everything alright?"

"Yes. I'm fine." She stood up and gathered her things and went back into the house, knowing Harry would follow her.

"Hermione, I heard about Malfoy's mother."

She let out a deep breath. "I don't know what to think."

"You know all of that was nonsense, right?"

"No, Harry. It's not. Wait... how do you know what she said?"

"Malfoy. He stopped by my office and told me what happened. He's concerned."

Hermione nodded. "So he does talk to her then." She felt her heart shatter. "And you know what she said."

Harry nodded. "Some of it, Yes."

She shut her eyes tightly as she set her teacup and book on the counter, trying to keep the pain away. "I can't do this, Harry. It's not fair to him. She was right."

"Hermione-"

"You can't tell me that he doesn't want children, he should be with some one that can give that to him." She said harshly as she turned to face him.

"Have you talked about this?" Harry asked her, ignoring her outburst. "He seemed scared, Hermione. You need to tell him if you haven't already."

"It's pointless now anyway." She answered stubbornly.

With a sigh he walked over to her. "I have to go, Ginny has an appointment and I told her I would be there. Just... don't shut him out Hermione."

"You hate him, Harry."

"I don't hate him. I think his intentions are genuine, and I also think that you should try and let him in."

"I'm scared to." She practically whispered.

He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I know. But I know that Gryffindor nerve is still in there. Somehow, he makes you you again. And I find that I quite like it. Just think about going to go see him, Okay?"

Hermione remembered Draco saying those same words to her all those months ago. A soulmate is someone that makes you you.

"Maybe tomorrow."

He smiled at her. "Tomorrow it is." With a quick hug and one last look he stepped into the floo and left.

It was dark by the time Draco left his office. He headed straight home, wondering all the while if he should try to check on her again. He paced back and forth in front of his fireplace as he debated trying it. The disappointment would be too much if her floo was still disconnected. Deciding that he always was a glutton for punishment, he grabbed a handful of floo powder and threw it in as he shouted her address.

To his great surprise, he landed in her living room. Well now what? He hadn't really expected it to work. He didn't have a clue what he was going to say. He didn't see her right away, so he stood there for a moment, to collect his thoughts and try to put together a coherent sentence when he saw her step out of her library. His heart felt like it was trying to escape the moment he saw her. God, she was so beautiful. Her hair was down and curly and she wore a simple t shirt and pink pajama pants, and he just wanted to run her and hold her. To tell her how sorry he was, that he wished he had been here for her.

"Hermione?"

She jumped at his voice and dropped her books. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry. I was just worried about you." He moved to pick up the books that had fallen to the floor, and handed them to her. Her hands brushed his as she accepted them, and it set his skin on fire.

"I'm fine. Really, there was no need to worry."

"I didn't mean to miss our lunch today." He blurted out. She started to move away from him and he just wanted her to stay where she was for a while.

"Don't be. It's late, you should-"

"Hermione, please." He said a little desperately.

"Please just leave, Malfoy." Her words came out harsher than she meant them to, and regretted them the moment they spilled out.

He slowly stepped back at her words. As if proximity had anything to do with the hurt he felt. "Draco." He nearly pleaded. Malfoy was the idiot that didn't realize what was in front of him. Draco was the man before her now, begging her to love him.

She shook her head without realizing it. "I can't do this. You don't understand."

"Then explain it to me, please." He begged.

"I can't give you what you want. I'm sorry. Just leave me."

"Hermione, don't do this. Don't push me away because of what my mother said to you, which was completely inaccurate by the way."

She scoffed at him. "Do you think so little of me that you feel the need to lie to me? What's in it for you? You'll get me in your bed, and then what? What happens to me then?!" She took a steadying breath. She had already revealed too much. "I want you to leave. Now."

Draco's mind was spinning with what she just said. He wanted to push, he wanted her to finally open up to him. "The only thing that's in it for me is you. That's all I want." He said softly.

"That sounds nice and all but when your expectations become impossible to ignore then what?"

"I don't care about anything my mother said!" He shouted. "I want you to give me a chance! A real chance. I will never want anyone else."

"You don't mean that." She spat, her eyes filling with tears. "You'll say anything to-"

"Hermione, I won't! You have to know this." He pushed his fingers through his hair. Everything was falling apart. He had worked so hard for months just so his mother could destroy it all in minutes.

Refusing to let the tears fall, she held her head a little higher. "I want you to leave."

He watched as she turned to walk up the stairs and he panicked. "Hermione, no." He reached for her arm and as soon as his fingers wrapped around her elbow she let out a hiss and backed herself up against the wall. He had only seen this reaction from her one other time.

"Hermione, I'm sorry." He released her and held up his hands to show he was serious.

Her breathing was rapid and heavy. Cursing herself for her pitiful reaction, she glared at him. "Malfoy, get out of my life!"

Fire.

Hermione Granger always was the fire. And no amount of the ice that made up Draco Malfoy could ever dampen it. She was out of control, and he couldn't stop it now. She was too emotional, too lost. He felt her push him away, he felt the rejection and it completely broke him.

The broken expression on his face had her regretting her words. She wanted to go to him, to tell him that she was sorry, that she's just scared of what this all means now. That she feels a lot of something for him and is just too afraid to label it because that's how hearts get shattered and dreams get broken. Before she could say any of this however, he turned and walked away, and he kept walking until he walked right out her back door.

Should she go after him? Should she scream his name and beg him to come back? Should she let him go, knowing that this meant she was throwing it all away? Pushing past the panic and the fear she ran into the kitchen and ripped the door open to find... nothing. He was already gone.

Draco allowed himself to take twelve steps before disaparating. Twelve slow steps to allow her to change her mind and come after him. When he turned and looked back at her door that was still closed, he shut his eyes and left.

Draco held his wand to the front gate of the Nott Estate and pushed it open when he felt the wards accept him. Before he even made it to the front door Theo was at there to greet his friend. One look at the man however told him that something was very wrong.

"Draco?"

Draco looked up and met his eyes. "Is she here?" His throat convulsing with emotions.

Theo nodded once. "Come in."

Draco walked inside and let Theo lead him into his study.

"I'll go get her, wait here, Alright?"

Draco nodded. Or he thought he nodded, really his body was moving more off of instinct than anything else. He sat on the small sofa that Theo had perched under a window and hung his head. His hands came up to tangle themselves in his own hair as his elbows rested on his knees.

Astoria rushed in and stopped suddenly at the very familiar sight of Draco, sitting the exact same way she had found him in on their wedding day. "Draco?" She said softly as she came over to sit next to him.

Her voice pulled him out of his own mind, but it also broke the last bit of strength he had that was holding him together.

"Oh, Draco." Her tone sent something through him as she sat next to him and pulled him close. His arms came around her waist and she held him as he cried.

The familiar smell of her perfume filled his senses and it felt comforting and wrong at the same time. He was so sick of feeling this way. So unbelievably done with being so alone that he just wanted something, anything, from anyone. Astoria was the first person that he had thought of and he knew is wasn't fair to either of them, but in the moment he craved her comfort. The comfort that only she could give him. She calmed him, and made him see things in a better way. Damn it, why couldn't it have been her? Even as he sat there in her arms he knew it wasn't right, but a man could only be rejected so many times before he broke. And Draco had reached his limit.

"What happened?" She asked after he began to calm down.

"I love her." He whispered. "But she doesn't love me, she won't love me."

"Draco, you can't think that way."

"I don't think that way. She-she told me." He pulled away even though he didn't want to.

"What?"

"She told me to get out of her life, and that means the same thing. She wouldn't even call me Draco. I'm back to Malfoy all because of my mother."

"What? Your mother?"

Draco told her what had happened earlier that day. Everything from what he knew of at her office, then going to the Manor, about going to Potter for help, to finally when she had kicked him out of her flat and didn't bother to come after him. She sat and listened to him tell her about his horrible day that kept getting worse by the word.

"Your mother is a real piece of work." She spat bitterly. "How dare she have the nerve to ruin her son's life?"

"She doesn't see it that way." He sighed as he closed his eyes and leaned back against the cushions. His eyes were so tired.

"Has Hermione told you anything about her past relationships?"

"Hardly anything. Potter won't tell me, says it's not his story to tell. Can't blame him really, the man hates me."

"I'm sure he doesn't hate you."

"I hate me." His voice full of despair.

"Don't do this to yourself." She scolded. "Don't fall back into what you thought of yourself before. You're better than that, Draco."

"Why don't I deserve to be happy, too?" He pleaded. "I lost you, and I will never have her, and I'm so sick of being alone."

Astoria slipped off her shoes and curled her legs under her to lean against him. "You're not alone. It's there, you know she feels it, too. And I will always be here for you, you know that."

"I know her marriage was bad. It had to be with the way she acts sometimes. She's so broken, and I can barely fix me, how the hell am I going to fix her?!"

"By being the patient man you have been this entire time." She answered without hesitation. "You know what to do. You know how to fix her. Draco, it sounds like she was abused, you realize that, right? This isn't going to be fixed overnight. I guarantee she's more upset with herself than she is with you."

"I hope you're right." He said as he let out a deep breath. He could feel his throat getting tight again and he moved to wipe his eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cry all over you. You look very nice by the way." He finally noticed the way she was dressed. Her black dress and heels with a diamond bracelet he knew he'd gotten her.

"Thank you." She said in a shy voice. "I had a date tonight."

"Had? Oh, Stori! You didn't stay here with my pathetic self and miss it, did you?"

She patted his knee, as she always did when he knew she was trying to make him feel better. "There will be other dates, Draco."

"Who is the lucky man?"

"Ernie Macmillan." Her smile lit up her entire face and Draco couldn't help but smile back.

"I remember him. Hufflepuff." He said with a nod. "Sacred twenty-eight."

"You know that has never mattered to me."

"I know." He said gently as he grabbed her hand and held it. "You like him, then?"

"Very much. It feels, I can't even explain it. Like..."

"Like home." He finished. "Like you were meant to be there all along. Like everything else fades away and it feels like it's just the two of you. Like you will never feel as free as you feel when you're together. It feels like your soul is complete. Like you never knew you were incomplete to begin with, but somehow they make you, you."

Draco turned to face her, and cracked a small smile at her shocked expression. "I bet your goblet will be gold." He whispered. He cleared his throat and pulled his hand from hers to wipe his eyes that were now threatening to fill with tears. Again. "I'm really happy for you. You always were too kind for a Slytherin."

Without warning she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "And you're too human to be a monster. Remember that, do you hear me?"

He smiled as he recalled those words. She had said them so many times when they had first got together. He held her close for as long as she would let him. "I'll try."

He flooed home after spending nearly two hours with Astoria. He removed his shoes and draped his jacket over a chair on the way to the bathroom and changed for bed. The silence was deafening. He pulled out a pair of sleep pants and a long sleeved shirt, the darkness the night always brought made him cold and uncomfortable. He crawled into bed, curling up on his side and brought the blankets up to nearly cover his face, the words that Astoria had told him still fresh in his mind. He tried to remember them, tried to let them wash him in comfort, but the more he laid there, alone, the more he felt the darkness creeping back. He thought of Hermione, hoping it would help calm him, instead it only brought on the pain. Unable to hold it off any longer, he cried himself to sleep.

A/N: I can't even bring myself to apologize because I love this chapter so much! It hurts, but it gets better! Favorite #3 right here :) I'm so happy with how the Draco/Astoria moment turned out, it's what makes this chapter stand out to me. Hope everyone likes it!