I Think We're Alone Now

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Chapter Fourteen – The Hardest Things To Say

"Wait!" the door was thrown open violently, someone ran in, he stopped dead with his horrified eyes on the scene. Voldemort turned to face the guest and a small smile found its way to his thin lips. Draco's eyes shifted nervously to the man watching quietly. "What...what is going on here?"

"Ah, Severus, I expected you to be rushing through that door tonight, and right on time I must say," said Voldemort, "I also expected you not to know of the little love affair that was happening right under your nose. That is true, I know." Snape's eyes lingered on Draco's for a moment before beginning to play carefully, "judging from your expression, I am right. Draco has been infatuated with a dirty little Gryffindor Mudblood for some time now. A nice young girl told me the other night. Now, I have come to punish him, as he so rightly deserves."

"Please, my Lord, I beg of you!" Snape stepped forwards, his eyes wide and hands shaking. "Draco...he knows his mistakes, please, give him some time. You know how dedicated and loyal he is, he will be of so much importance! He just needs time, he is still young, young people make mistakes like these." Snape saw the flash of understanding in Voldemort's eyes as he thought things over. Finally, his hands fell to his sides comfortably and he smiled at the two males before him.

"Alright then, your time starts now. But remember this, Draco," Voldemort's cold, cruel eyes settled on the boy's face for a moment, "if you do not come to me with your choice as a brave man, I will kill you and I will kill her." He turned to the window but quickly turned back, thinking, "no...I will destroy her."

And without another word, he was gone.

88

In its fullest phase, the moon shone down with a sorrowful gleam, lighting up Hogwarts' grounds in all its snowy, winter splendour. Draco's hand held Hermione's tightly as he led her out toward the lake, the shadows on his skin hiding the previous night's events. Unaware of the trauma inside her lover's mind, Hermione followed him quietly with a smile on her face as she admired the beauty of the grounds. When they came to a stop, Draco turned and pulled Hermione into a close, tight embrace.

"Draco...is there anything wrong?" Hermione's words echoed in his mind like a trumpet sounding in an empty hall. How could he explain it all? How could he tell her that a few hours ago, he could have been dead? Lying there on the cold, stone floor of the Slytherin Dormitory with 'fool' imprinted on his face and heart. He stayed quiet for a while longer, his fingers twirling her soft hair, his head resting against hers.

Hermione pushed him away and stared at him worriedly, her eyes were suspicious and conscious of how strange he was acting that night. Draco turned away, staring at the empathetic moon. "Say something, Draco? Just...don't lie to me. I want to know." His eyes closed for a moment before he returned to her beautiful, shining face, too beautiful for someone like him, he was sure. "You saw him again, didn't you? There was a rumour going around that he was in the Slytherin Dormitory last night, but I didn't want to question you – I didn't believe it was true. But...it is, isn't it?"

"I never wanted you to be pushed into all of this...I never meant for your life to be on the line...I swear..." his voice trailed off, no more words were available then. He looked up at her, ashamed and tearful. How could he cry? Wasn't he meant to be strong? No...Hermione was strong and caring and thoughtful, he was just a poor, pathetic child. Draco rushed to her, holding her hands in his and staring deep into her eyes, "I love you Hermione, I truly do, with all of my heart."

She waited silently for a few minutes, her eyes were on the ground in thought before looking at his, "you're going to leave, aren't you?" it seemed like it was inevitable now, though it was so impossible a few days before. Hermione stroked his cheek with her hand, softly, gently, it rested on his pale skin and he bent down to kiss her. It wasn't true though, it was weak and distant, it always was. Hermione shook her head and looked up at him, tears threatening to leave her eyes and fall.

"You're never true, you're always afraid. You're always scared there's someone around, watching. I know, there was, wasn't there? He was watching. But now...now, aren't we alone? I think we are. Please, if you're leaving me, just once, kiss me once like no one's watching..."

With tears in his eyes, he pulled Hermione forward and pressed his lips against hers passionately. His arms wrapped around her thin, frail body – yet so much stronger than his – her hands stroked his neck and his face, played with his hair. He felt cold tears drip onto his cheeks from her long eyelashes, and he was sure she felt the same from his. Finally letting go, he had to pull her hands away and step backwards. She held on, her fingers tight around his sleeves but he shook his head.

"Can't we...please...Dumbledore will help! And Harry and Ron, they're beginning to believe, and Blaise and Ginny. Please..." Draco shook his head again, his eyes were half closed, or staring somewhere else. He couldn't stand to see those hurt tears running down her flushed cheeks, her pained eyes staring longingly at him, wishing, hoping. He couldn't stay. "I wouldn't let him get you, or me, we'd be safe! I...please...please!" Hermione stumbled forward but Draco stepped backwards and turned, not allowing her to take hold of him.

Hermione fell to the ground, her pain-wrenched body exploding the snow beneath her as she collided with the ground. Draco couldn't face her kneeling figure. His hands curled into fists and he bit his lip, fighting back the strong urge to cry, to sob, to weep. How could he leave her behind? He heard Hermione's heart-wrenching sobs somewhere close, but everything seemed to be distant now.

"If there's anything I've ever been more true about in my life, it was my love for you, Hermione," he spoke softly, his back turned toward the weeping girl. She looked up at him sadly, his tall figure bathed in trembling moonlight. "I'll come back for you one day. I may never return after seeing him, but even if I have to fight through Heaven and Hell and all else, I'll find you."

The doors of the entrance hall shuddered against the wall as the bright light flooded out and someone was scurrying down the grounds toward them. Snape appeared out of the forest, he headed slowly for Draco, portkey in hand. Hermione watched the two men stand together, Draco's eyes averted from her. She could see the glint of tears on his face, running thickly and strongly, though his face was set and firm. Hermione trembled in the snow, letting out one last shuddering sob before staring up at the blonde who was slowly turning to face her, to give her one last strong smile seconds before disappearing. She opened her mouth, words already tumbling out.

"I love you too."

Then he disappeared.