Chapter 14

Hermione had been in shock, and she found herself pacing for the last ten minutes, contemplating ways to escape, ways to inform Harry and Ron so they could kill him once and for all. Everyone would be free then, muggles, muggle borns, and Draco. The way would be over. Everything could be over, but how? She could apparate to the multiple places they had talked about before and see if she could catch them in time to warn them, and if not then she could join the search for the Horcrux's.

"Hermione?" Draco questioned cautiously. Hermione stopped pacing and her eyes locked onto his. When she didn't burst into tears or scream Draco decided to continue speaking. "Along with him coming, you are supposed to come to the meeting with us."

Hermione's face was a mix of anger and shock, like she had just been trapped or betrayed. "Why?" She whispered, wrapping her arms around her chest for comfort.

"You never would have been a part of this but last night you chose me, and my mother knows you did because I didn't go to her like I said I would once I left the apartment. She had to immediately inform the Dark Lord, so he would know what they we are dealing with, and he wants to meet you, to swear you to secrecy. None of us saw it coming."

"When did you find out?"

"Gilly, the house Elf told me while you were in the bathroom."

"He's going to kill me, kill us."

"I won't let him." Draco said in a dangerous tone.

"It doesn't matter what you want or think you can do. Only Harry can beat him. Didn't you hear the prophecy? Neither can live while the other survives, they were made to kill each other. You are out of you mind to think you could even try."

"I didn't say I would kill him. I would protect you and get you out before anything happened."

Hermione looked into his silver eyes, "I shouldn't have stayed." For the first time regret filled her, her life was on the line once again because she chose Draco, because she was childish enough to think everything would be okay if they were together, but she was wrong. She had betrayed her friends, Dumbledore and her family even. All for a Veela bond.

"Don't say that Hermione," Draco sad sadly, standing up and walking to her. "Don't you fucking say that." His voice cracked as tears filled his eyes. He attempted to put his hand to her cheek, but she jerked away.

"Take me back. Please." She said, looking away from his eyes. Draco waited a moment, to see if there was anything else she wanted to say. When the silence remained Draco placed a hand on her shoulder and aparated them back to his bedroom.

As soon as Hermione's feet landed on the floor her resolve fell apart. She collapsed to her knees, a hand on each side of her head, and released a blood curdling scream, that even scared Draco. She rocked back and forth crying. She cried for everything. She cried because she felt betrayed, she cried because she had just escaped death only a few days prior only to be put back in the presence of death itself. She and Draco would die, she was going to be leaving everyone she loved behind, and there was no hope now. It was all lost.

"Hermione?" Draco bent next to her, in an attempt to comfort.

"Don't touch me!" She screeched, jerking away. "I trusted you! How could you let this happen?"

"I didn't know Hermione!" He yelled back at her.

"Bring me back to the apartment," She whispered. "I'll be safe there."

"No," Draco quickly said. "You are safe with me."

She continued crying, eventually going from her knees to her side on the floor, holding herself as the tears stained her face. She was angry and frustrated. It was always like this, when things started to get good they all fell apart. They found the sword to destroy the Horcrux's they got brought here. Bill and Fluer's wedding, then it got raided by Death Eaters. Nothing was ever simple.

Hermione couldn't remember how she got here in life, when was it decided that she would be a part of a big war, and helping the chosen one no less. How did she get mixed up with Draco? But wouldn't have it happened anyway? She would have still been a muggle born, the war would have still happened regardless and Draco would still be a Veela, so they would be made for each other. Nothing would have changed really if she hadn't met Harry.

She suddenly felt terribly, she had so many emotions inside of her, and she could only take it out on the closest person to her. She didn't do feelings per say, she was intellectual and not meant to deal with emotions, at least ones like these; and she didn't know how to handle it. Draco had become her target, and as much as she wanted to control it she couldn't. That thought only made her cry harder.

Draco brought a hand to her side, relieved when she didn't pull away. "Hermione please talk to me, let me help you, let me comfort you. Please." It was quiet and he got no response. He sighed, she wasn't even blinking, the tears were just falling of her eyes with occasional sob sounds.

As much as Hermione wanted to talk, and say sorry and be comforted, the last seven years of her life were crashing around her, rendering her speechless. She had gone through so much, risked her life so many times for the greater good, and all of that seemed as though it were for nothing now, because she didn't know if she was going to be alive or dead by the end of the night, if she would get to help finish the war. The sudden wave of depression was threatening to swallow her completely, and bring her into the deep abyss.

Draco brushed the hair out of her face, "Please don't go." He scooped her up in his arms, kissing the top of her head. "I need you." He cried into her neck, bringing her to the bed. He laid her down and he lay right beside her, his head falling onto her chest and his hands hanging onto her petite frame as his own tears came out.

Hermione briefly registered what was happening, she felt the weight and grasp on her body, and the tremors that ran through him. She placed her hand on his head, stroking his hair to comfort him. She wasn't quite sure why only certain parts of her responded, why she couldn't move her whole body, or why speech wasn't coming to her. It felt strange, like she was outside of her body and watching, but not in any type of control.

Draco kissed her collarbone, surprised she didn't jerk away. "Are you hungry? Do you want anything, is there anything I can do?" He whispered.

Hermione looked at him," No."

"She speaks." He smiled into her skin, taking a deep inhale of her scent. A mix of lavender and strawberries, Draco's favorite.

"When will he arrive?" She whispered.

Draco sat up, letting go of her body and slid off the bed to stand. "Soon. You'll have to dress like a Malfoy. All black and sophisticated, my mother will do the same and she's willing to help you if you like, or all the things you need are in the bathroom."

"I can get ready on my own."

"Hermione, I honestly had no idea any of this would happen."

Hermione glared at Draco, "Can you just stop talking, you aren't helping anything."

"Oh and being a hallow shell like you were ten seconds ago did wonders for the situation?" He snapped. "Why can't you believe me when I tell you that you are safe? He ensured your safety, remember?"

"From other people, not himself! And you've given me no reason to trust you!" She screamed, almost apologizing when she saw Draco flinch at her words.

Draco grabbed her arm and yanked her from the bed, so she was standing in front of him. "I have given you every fucking reason to trust me!"

Hermione felt her anger bubble up in her chest, only getting worse after he grabbed her. "I hate you. I hate this house, I regret you touching me and marking me. I hate everything about you Draco Malfoy. I wish we never met, and then none of this would have happened."

Draco's grip on Hermione's arm loosened, and a mix of emotions touched his face. They were mates how could she say something like that? Wasn't it impossible to hate each other after you've become one? "You don't mean it." His voice breaking, as his hand let go of her arm and he slumped to the floor, by her feet. "Tell me you don't mean it."

Hermione knew she didn't mean it, she didn't even know why she said it, and she felt his pain. His agony, his apologies, everything he was feeling at that moment radiated off and onto her. She had no reason as to why she said all those horrible things, none at all, she just wanted to hurt someone like she was hurting, to get her feelings across, and she had now. Hermione's eyes welled up with new tears as she sat right next to Draco, leaning her head against the back of the bed.

She closed her eyes and took a shaky breath. "No, I don't mean it."

"Don't say shit like that," Draco said, reaching over and pulling her into a hug. "It scares me when you say shit like that."

Immediately Hermione felt like she was filled with complete calmness and warm, as if Voldemort wasn't even coming to the Manor. She knew she was dramatic, she knew she was in the wrong and she knew that there was no excuse for her behavior, she wasn't even sure where it came from, but it was there. Years of stuffing emotions, and then lack sleep and all the complications of the past week, she had finally exploded and had no one else to take it out on but Draco. But as soon as he pulled her into a hug all those feelings when away, and instead she found peace.

"I'm sorry."

"Are you going to blow up at me every time things get stressful?" Draco asked

"Are you going to be this loving every time I blow up at you?"

"Yes." He responded quickly.

Hermione smiled, "Then there is your answer."

Draco chuckled softy, with one arm around her waist and the other grabbing her head he pulled her in closer. "I love you."

"I don't think you should." She said pulling away to look at him. "I have been too rude and harsh with you. For the 'brightest witch of my age' you would think that I would see reason."

"You are under a lot of stress." He kissed her mouth gently. "I'll always forgive you and I will always love you. But we need to get ready, love. Make-up and everything is in the bathroom, are you sure you don't want my mothers help?"

Hermione took a deep calming breath, "Same as before no, I can get myself together. You have make-up?"

"Well since we haven't gotten your wand, I decided to have someone go fetch make up that you can use. It is what you use right? You wear make-up?"

"I'm surprised you know what it is, and yes I wear make-up, just very little and I normally have a wand to put it on so this should be interesting." She chuckled.

"You'll look fine. We don't have a lot of time, go and get ready. I'll be waiting for you." He kissed her forehead and turned away, walking towards his closet.

Hermione walked to the bathroom and shut the door behind her. Just as she was told all types of make-up were on the counter. Different eye shadows, eyeliners and lipstick. It seemed strange that the Malfoy's would decide to deal with something so common as make-up in their home. It was amusing how Muggle it seemed.

Hermione made a decision, she would look the part, and she would play the part because it could save them and no questions would be asked. But first it was getting the make-up in place. Grabbing the lightest foundation that she could get away with, she put an ample amount on her fingers and started spreading it on her face, covering up every single flaw until there was nothing to pick that was wrong with her. There must have been some type of magic in the make-up because with normal make-up the flaws were still easy to pick out.

Next she put on eyeliner; it took many tries for her to get it right. She had seen other people wear such things, but she never actually decided to sport the look. She had the top lids done and decided that she was going to leave it like that and just put mascara on. Picking up a tube of lipstick she opened it up to find a bright pink color, and she laughed putting it back. She opened a couple different ones until she came across a deep red lipstick. It was daring, and Malfoy's were always daring. Carefully putting it on, getting each area of her lips perfectly, she analyzed herself in the mirror.

She had never looked so beautiful and flawless, her skin was of a perfect honey- colored complexion, and although the rest of the make-up was rather natural, the lipstick made her whole face stand out. She looked elegant and refined. Her hair wasn't even a problem because today it was the perfect amount of curls and volume, and nothing needed to be done.

Turning to the back of the door, where the garment bag was hanging on the hook and she slowly unzipped it. A pool of black silk fell out of the bottom and Hermione's jaw dropped, her fingers touching the soft silky material, it was heavy and smooth, like water.

Hermione undressed and took the mass of black fabric off the hook, a little bit excitement hitting her. She unzipped it and slipped on the dress, pulling it over her thighs and hips carefully, until it reached her bust. She zipped up the side, struggling a little as she got closer to the top. Looking in the mirror Hermione couldn't believe her reflection. The top had the style of a corset without strings, but the wires to make her waist look even smaller than what it already was. Reaching the top of her hips was a complicated and beautiful sown on belt; the jewels were silver and were random cut out shapes like pieces of a shattered mirror. After the belt, the dress had more of a flow feel to it, all silk, with a black tulle layer covering it. It was such a dark black, that it had a hint of dark blue come through when light hit the fabric a certain way. It was stunning.

Hermione grabbed the shoe box that was by the sink and pulled out a black pair of shoes, in the style of ballroom dance shoe, and as she slipped them, the strap continued to coil up her leg, and she realized that the strap was actually in the form of a snake wrapped around her calf. It was strange that the shoes had so much intricate detail when they were going to be hidden underneath the silk skirt of her Dress.

Taking one last glance at her reflection in the mirror, making sure everything was in place. She noticed her hair cascaded down her back in a mixture of curls and waves, the honey color contrasting with the dark dress and red lips. She felt confident, and a scary feeling came over her, it was one of power. She felt strong, like she could face anything in this that Voldemort didn't seem so forbidding anymore and that she was a Malfoy.