Hemingway watched as Hermione pulled her chair closer to him. He smiled a little and hoped that she would be happy with the news. He knew he couldn't reveal himself to her tonight, but he wanted it to be soon.

Once he had her full attention he swallowed a little knowing that he was going to have to tell her of his past without her figuring out who he was. It was going to be hard, but in the end he knew it would be worth it. She had the right to know everything about him. And once he revealed his true identity, he hoped she would remember this night.

Taking a breath he launched into his story.

"I want to start by telling you about my past. It will make what I have to tell you all the sweeter my love." He waited for Hermione to acknowledge that it was ok. He smiled when she nodded her head smiling. Quickly before he began he transfigured a couch out of the table and led Hermione over to get comfortable. He summoned a blanket that he had hidden by his chair. Once they were seated with Hermione leaning against him he placed the blanket over them and started.

"When I was growing up my mother would always be around. Helping to learn to read and write. She taught me a lot of other things. What I was missing in my life was my father. I had thought that maybe I wasn't good enough for him" he told a deep breath swallowing back his tears as his thought of his childhood.

"As I got older my father started to come around more. But not in the loving manner of most fathers, he was harsh. Critical of everything that I did, he would punish me for not getting something on the first try. He started to call me stupid and worthless. After a while though he let up a little, that's also around the time that my mother started to walk around on egg shells around him, he started to beat her for my mistakes."

Hermione sat silent, but couldn't stop her heart from breaking a little for him and his mother. No child should be punished for something that stupid. She hugged him tightly to her. She somehow knew just what he needed. He pulled her closer and continued.

"As I was getting closer to the age of being able to go to Hogwarts, he started preaching to me about how I had to be perfect. There couldn't be any mistakes. When I got my letter telling me that he expected me to be head of the class and that he expected me to be Head Boy. No excuses."

"He is unfortunately also a believer in that blood purity shit." Hemingway sighed. "I constantly had to listen to him spew his bullshit about that. My mother luckily taught me that blood doesn't matter. Unfortunately I was sorted into a house where I was constantly being watched. My father would beat me when I got home for breaks after finding out that I wasn't top of my class or if I was seen being nice to a muggleborn."

"There was one time that he found my journal. He was infuriated at me for liking you. He beat me to the point where I had to miss several days of school. My mother healed me, but I had to act like I was still injured. I physically got sick because of the smug look on his face seeing me laying there injured." Hemingway pulled Hermione on his lap. She was a little shocked, but got comfortable quickly knowing he needed this closeness. She placed her head on his shoulder and smiled when he kissed her head and quietly said thank you.

"When I returned to school I knew I needed to start putting on a big act. I was harsh to everyone around me. I didn't want to deal with the beatings anymore. I tried to close my heart and saw myself turning into someone I absolutely hated. I was turning into my father. I hated myself. Most nights I silently cried myself to sleep."

"As the years pasted I couldn't help but wonder what I could do to channel all the anguish I was dealing with. Then the Yule Ball came and I saw you walking down the stairs and you took my breath away. You were so beautiful that night love. I wish it could have been me escorting you to the ball that night. When I left the ball I headed back to my dorm and found a blank piece of paper and started to draw you. I started to feel a little better."

"Once I figured out that I could use that as my outlet, I owled my mother to have her send me a sketch book and something to draw with. When I got them I started drawing all the time. I had done it a few times when I was younger, but they weren't that great. When I got home the summer after the Tri Wizard Cup, my mother sent me to France where I took lessons all summer in drawing. Later I found out from her that she also sent me away because of that crazy git coming back."

"My whole world turned upside down when I found out that you had gone missing with Harry and Ron. I suffered that year. Unforgivable curses fell throughout the castle as punishments. I kept mostly to myself that year. I didn't want anything to do with the war. When my father sent for me, he was not pleased to find out that the three of you were on the run."

"The beatings started daily, both magically and physical. My mother took the brunt of it because I was in school. I wanted nothing more than to run to the Order and beg them to help me and my mother out. I just didn't know where to turn. When my father sent for me half way through the year, I was led into a room with HIM and told that I was to follow him whether or not I wanted to."

"My mother protested and was in turn beaten for defying him in front of me. That was also the night that the three of you were brought to the Malfoys'. I was there that night doing some stupid task when I heard your screams. I died a little that night. I don't know if HE knew it, but I went to the room I was staying in and cried for hours. My mother came in and tried to comfort me, but I could still hear your screams in my head. When she told me that you had escaped I was so happy." As he told this part of his story he tugged Hermione as close as he could. He needed to know that she was really there and that she was safe.

"When the final battle came around I tried to hide. I know it's cowardly, but all I could think about was if I made it through this, I would change. If I made it I was going to tell you about my feelings for you. Once the battle ended my father snapped. Auror's came to the house in the middle of the night and arrested us. We were tried and my mother and I were let go because we were tortured into serving him. They used Veritus Serum on us to make sure we were telling the truth. They threw my father into Azkaban. "

"After a while the prison started to overflow. They decided to take some drastic measures to get the prisoner count down to a manageable number. They started stripping people of their magic and putting them under house arrest. Unfortunately for my mother and me he was sent home. He was infuriated that we were set free and that he was not."

"I felt guilty for leaving my mother there to come to school, but I needed to see you again love. I knew I couldn't be without you this year. My mother helped me to start the process by giving me the suggestion to start writing to you. It was the best decision I've ever made. Having you here in my arms…I can't describe the feeling love."

Hermione smiled at him with tears in her eyes and lifted her head so she could kiss him. Once they broke apart, she listened as Hemingway continued. She knew he was close to telling her about the letter he had received.

"My mother sent me a letter recently to tell me that my father was due to receive the dementor's kiss." He heard her quick intake of breath. He kissed the top of her head and smiled. She was such an amazing person with a beautiful heart.

"He won't be receiving it for a few months so until that point, I can't reveal myself to you. My father is an evil man Hermione. If he were to find out about this, us, he would have you killed. I can't put you in that kind of danger love. I can't even bare to think about what he would have done to you. Please understand that I do want to reveal myself, but I need to think of your safety."

Hermione sat there for a few minutes letting everything that he had just told her. It was a lot to take in. This incredible man wanted her and all he was asking for was time. She was having a hard time with the safety thing, but she knew that for his sanity she would let it slide.

"Ok I can understand that. I'm sorry that you had to suffer like that. No one should have a childhood like that. But is it crazy of me to be thankful for it? I mean if you hadn't been brought up like that, you wouldn't be the man I'm with now."

Hemingway kissed her lovingly. He didn't want this night to end, but he knew they both need to get to bed. At that thought Hermione started to yawn and cuddle in closer to Hemingway. Just before she closed her eyes, she realized that she had to tell him about her sort of date with Draco. She started to fidget a little not sure of how to tell him without hurting him.

"Love, what's wrong? Did I do something to upset you?"

Hermione quickly shock her head and softly said "No, but I fear that I may have agreed to something that may upset you."

"Well why don't you let me be the judge of that?" He smiled knowing she was talking about her date with Draco.

"Well you see before I came here, the Head Boy Draco asked me to dinner tonight."

"I see. Obviously you said no because you're here. I don't see anything wrong with that. You are a very beautiful woman."

Hermione blushed and put her head down. "Well that's the thing. I um I told him that I would go to dinner with him tomorrow night. I'm so sorry. I wasn't even thinking about it. For the first time he and I are actually getti…"Hemingway silenced her with a kiss and then smiled at her.

"Love I'm not angry. As I just said you are a beautiful woman. Of course you're going to have suitors. I trust you Hermione. Just promise me that you'll have a good time. And" he took a deep breath "if you decide that you want to see where things go with him, know that I will still be here. I love you Hermione and I only want to see you happy. And as much as it would break my heart, if he would make you happy, then be happy. Don't ever let anyone change your mind."

He pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. He felt so guilty about this, but he knew she would feel guilty the entire time that they were out tomorrow night. And he as Draco had all intentions of kissing her when they got back to the common room. He didn't want her to feel guilty, even though he knew she would.

A/N: Sooooooo yeah. I had a little bit of a hard time writing this chapter. Please let me know what you think! :D