It was the eve of his departure. Harry had gotten over himself in the week or two they had spent planning, and was giving Malfoy a few last words. Draco gave back the magical parchment Mr. Weasley had given him, just in case he was caught, and it was then that Hermione had to leave before she started to cry.
Tomorrow would be the last day he'd come here before leaving permanently.
Hermione was tired of crying, though. She'd been doing it for awhile now, since the decision was made, and she didn't know if she could bear the fact that he was leaving. Perhaps siding with him to end the war sooner wasn't the best idea. Oh stop being so selfish! she chided herself, You know you couldn't be together anyway. You knew it was going to end someday. It was all too good to be true. Besides, it's still forbidden, whether you like it or not!
But she just couldn't convince herself. Her selfishness won over her morals, and she wanted him to stay even if it meant the war would last forever. Was that love?
Harry's hand on her arm brought her out of her reverie, and she glanced at him, her eyes swollen from crying so much. She hadn't even heard him come in.
"You alright 'mione?" he asked softly, and Hermione just sniffed in response.
"Yes. I'm not sure why I'm getting so weepy," she said, forcing a chuckle. It convinced Harry, and he smiled.
"I guess everyone is just getting emotional these days."
"Yeah," she replied softly, looking out the window of her room.
"Well, it's high tea. Come down soon."
Hermione nodded, and as Harry walked away, she blurted out the question that was burning on her tongue. "Is he coming?"
Harry stopped and looked at her in a little confusion for a moment, then furrowed his brows in understanding. "I think so. He might stay, but he'll eat in the kitchen again."
Hermione nodded again and looked back out the window at the afternoon sun. In a moment, she was rereading the notes Draco had written her. It was the first of many, many times she'd do this.
A few minutes later, she sighed heavily, bored and a bit hungry, and got up and went down to the kitchen where most of the Order members sat. George, looking melancholy, spontaneously hugged her before going up to his room. Dreariness seemed to drip off his very being, and Hermione was worried. He was still an absolute mess over the death of his two brothers, though he didn't show it as much. Oh George…
Hermione watched Angelina Johnson look over her shoulder at the single twin, then abandoned her breakfast to go after him.
Hermione sighed, thinking wistfully of too many things as she collected her plate and food articles before drifting off into the kitchen to be with Draco again. He looked up from his food, pleasantly surprised again, and smiled.
"Hello, love," he said, passing her temple this time and going straight for her lips. Hermione smiled weakly before sitting down to eat.
They were silent for a little while, till Draco cleared his throat. "Anything wrong?"
Hermione just shook her head curtly, intently focused on eating her food.
"You don't seem alright," he observed, and Hermione just sniffed.
They were quiet for a moment, Hermione just poking at her food while Draco stared at her, waiting for a response.
Hermione finally dropped her fork and looked at him. "You're not coming back tomorrow."
Draco opened his mouth, thought better of it, and closed it again. "You're right, I'm not."
"Why?"
"Hermione, you know why. Don't pretend to be ignorant of it."
She was silent at that. What could she say? I love you, don't go?
That thought jolted Hermione's brain. I love you, don't go?
"Granger? You alright?"
Hermione looked at him, her eyes wide with her new revelation. "Draco, I…"
"Hermione?" Mrs. Weasley called as she popped her head in. The two looked at the witch. "Can you come out here, please?"
Hermione cast a glance on Draco before sliding off her stool and going to Mrs. Weasley. I love you, don't go.
"I'm going to go shopping for gifts, so I want you to clear the table and all for me. Will you do that?"
"Oh yes, of course," Hermione replied as her body ran on autopilot. "But gifts for what?"
Mrs. Weasley looked at her as if she had gone mad. "For what? For Christmas of course! It's the day after tomorrow! We only haven't gotten the tree because of our situation, you see. But Arthur promised the war to be over soon, and I believe him. Call Ginny, will you? Have her help you, dear. I'll be back soon!"
Molly left, leaving Hermione alone in a daze. Christmas was here already? And so soon!
Her body ran on autopilot again as she stacked up the dishes and levitated them to the kitchen. She let the dishes pile into the sink and cast the cleaning charm on them so they would wash themselves, and turned just to see Draco standing right in front of her.
"Hey, I was calling you! Didn't you hear me?"
Hermione just stared at him and blurted out the only coherent thought in her mind. "It's Christmas Eve tomorrow."
"Yes, it is. What of it?"
"You're leaving on Christmas Eve. You won't be here for Christmas. I haven't gotten you a gift! Good Merlin!" Hermione exclaimed, and tried to rush past him, but he grabbed her arms, keeping her in her place.
"What's wrong with you? Have you gone mad?"
"I need to get gifts! It's Christmas! Oh Draco, you're going to leave me!" Hermione cried and threw herself at the confused wizard. He kissed her head and quietly tried to soothe her, but she finally lifted her head indignantly.
"I need to go," she said quietly, but he didn't let go of her.
"What's wrong with you? Tell me."
"Nothing!"
"You're lying."
"I—"
"You don't want me to go, don't you? You want me to stay here with you!"
She was silent.
"I'm right, aren't I?"
"How would you know?" she replied softly and tentatively. She couldn't meet his eyes.
"Because…that's how I feel too."
Hermione looked up at that, gasping. "Really?"
Draco sighed and looked out the kitchen window. "Yes. But I know that, as much as I love you and I want to stay here with you, this war needs to end now. Too many lives are being lost."
"Draco, I want you to stay," Hermione pleaded. "I was wrong to side with you. I trust you, but I—"
"Hermione!" Harry called, bursting through. He saw Draco holding Hermione, and he scowled. "Malfoy, get your hands off her."
Draco dropped his arms and looked back at his girl. His girl.
"Hermione, come quick! George is going mad!"
Hermione rushed passed Draco, forgetting the confession she had just been about to make. "What?!"
"Hurry!"
Harry led Hermione quickly up the stairs to George's room where he held the newly-arrived Percy in a headlock.
"You were there when Fred died and you didn't even come back to us! You ran away again! You're a bloody coward! A pussy! A pansy! You don't even deserve to be called our brother, you pathetic little—"
"George!" Angelina was yelling and grabbing on his arm. Lee was doing the same on his other side, but neither were really succeeding.
"George Weasley!" Hermione yelled. "What the heck are you doing?"
"—you no-good-dirty—"
"George!" Charlie yelled, attempting to get Percy free. Molly and Arthur came running at the scene, and managed to get the two brothers apart.
"George Weasley! I am ashamed of you! To beat your brother like that is absolutely wrong!" Molly scolded, and George glowered at her, silent.
Percy rubbed his sore neck, but for once in his life knew not to reprimand his younger brother.
"George, don't blame him," Angelina said coolly. "It's not his fault Fred died."
"But he didn't come back to the family at all. Not to tell us, not to talk, not to bond, not for anything. And I blame him for that."
No one could argue with him there.
"Percy, let's get you some soup. You must be starving," Molly said softly, and Hermione nodded and quickly disappeared into the kitchen where Draco sat at the counter, tapping his thumbs together.
"Draco, Percy's coming. You'd better go."
Draco sighed, nodded and withdrew his wand. In a moment of impetuousness, Hermione grabbed onto his arm just as he Disapparated.
They appeared in a grassy moor, and Draco looked at her in shock.
"Why did you grab onto my arm? You're lucky you weren't splinched! I could have been going back to the Manor!"
Hermione just smiled at him. "I remember awhile back you said that you always go into an empty field before Apparating to Grimmauld Place or the Malfoy Manor."
"You remember that still?"
"I do," Hermione replied, beaming. Draco just let out a chuckle, and put his arm around her.
"At least here I can hold you and no one can rebuke us about it."
Hermione swallowed and just nodded, leaning into him. She suddenly sighed heavily and moved to stand in front of him after a short silence.
"I don't want you to go," she whispered, and he smiled softly at her. He took her hands in his and rested his forehead atop hers, still holding her hands close to his chest.
"I don't want to go either. I'm sure nobody wants to send me, for all different reasons," he whispered back, and Hermione closed her eyes, clasping her fingers around his a little tighter.
One of his hands let go of hers to cup her left cheek, his thumb stroking her scar lightly. "Look at me," he whispered almost inaudibly, and she opened her honey-brown eyes to see his orbs of a molten grey gazing at her softly.
He sighed, and Hermione closed her mouth, still gazing deeply into his eyes. They gazed at each other for a long time, his hand still resting on her cheek and unconsciously stroking the scar on her cheekbone, their hands still clasped tightly together.
"Merlin, I love you," he suddenly moaned softly, and kissed her. Hermione was a little surprised by how ardent he was, and put forth all her passion as well. At that, he swept her up into his arms and held her so close she felt as if she was at the brink of being smothered, but at the moment, being kissed senselessly was worth it.
A long moment later, Hermione found herself on the ground, staring up at Draco, as he blocked the slowly setting sun from her eyes. He leant down to kiss her again, and she indulged with the passion of a woman who very little time left.
When they finally pulled apart, he snuggled his head into the crook of her neck, and breathed her in. Hermione closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, and sighed, making him shiver. He pulled back with wet, grey eyes, and just looked at her again. He touched noses with her and closed his eyes when his forehead met hers again. Hermione wanted badly to ask him what the matter was, but the silence was just too poignant to be broken with words. He was breathing heavily, his eyes still closed, and Hermione tentatively touched his face, then caressed his cheek when he leant into her hand.
Draco finally opened his eyes. He seemed to suddenly remember himself, and he stood up and held out a hand to help her up as well. Hermione accepted it, and their gazes locked for a long time.
Finally, Hermione looked down at her shoes and sighed. She looked back at him, but didn't bother to force a reassuring smile.
"I'm going back to see if the coast is clear," she said, and he nodded, still mesmerised by her eyes.
"Be back soon," he murmured, and Hermione laughed suddenly, despite the depressed feeling that was pulsing through her. He looked a bit startled.
"I will," she said, feeling the overwhelming amount of despair take over her. She wanted nothing but to be in his arms right now, but she Disapparated instead.
Hermione arrived in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place and blinked. Hannah started at Hermione's arrival, and Mr. Weasley looked up from the Evening Prophet. Seamus and Dean looked up from the game they were playing, and Percy sat with Ginny at the end of the table, sulking.
"Hermione, where have you been?" Arthur asked sternly, and she just sighed.
"Out, contemplating life," she replied in a melancholy tone. Everyone was startled by her odd answer, and was stunned in silence as she Disapparated again on the spot.
She arrived at the moor she had imagined, where Draco was standing with his hands deep in the pockets of his trousers as he stared toward the setting sun, his back to her. Hermione, in a moment of sudden recklessness, stalked behind him and suddenly leapt onto his back.
Draco staggered forward, automatically putting his hands behind to steady her. Hermione put her arms around his neck, rested her head on his shoulder, and smiled at him when he turned his head around to look at the load on his back.
"Hullo," she said, and he chuckled in disbelief before looking back at the sun. "Where are we, anyway? How come it's not snowing here?" Hermione asked softly, and he chuckled again.
"I thought that would be the first question you'd ask. We're not in England anymore, love. We're in the Americas."
"The United States?!"
"Mhm."
"We're so far away!"
"Yes, I know. Nice, isn't it? To get away from it all for just a little while."
Hermione sighed. "Yes, it is nice."
They were silent for a little longer, then Draco dropped Hermione back onto her feet. With a sound kiss, he smiled at her and brushed a curl away from her face just as the wind began to pick up.
"I've got to go back, now. I can't stay here anymore. I'll be back tomorrow, I promise."
"Don't break your promise," Hermione said firmly, and he chuckled.
"I won't. I don't break the few promises I do make."
Hermione sighed and kissed him again before waving at him and Disapparating back to Grimmauld Place. At her arrival, she got a bowl of soup and sat with Percy and Ginny, sipping a little out of her bowl and lazily watching Seamus and Dean's game with a bit of disinterest. There was too much on her mind to really pay attention to one thing except for one thought. I didn't get to tell him I love him.
Author's Note: thanks for reading! please review! this is a bit of a depressing chapter, and when I read it, I get this bittersweet feeling. I hope you aren't too depressed by this chapter...but tell me what you think about it. thanks for reading! -LoVeDoNtHaTe
