After two years I am finally saying goodbye to Nothing But Dreams. I hope that you will like the final chapter :)
One last thank you to all my readers, your support gave me the strength to continue this story. A special thank you to Shaymars for the kind words and lovely feedback.
This story is being beta's by Wisteriamoon1992.
She could feel a pounding in her head, like someone had knocked her down with something hard and heavy.
With a groaning sound leaving her lips, Hermione slowly tried to open her eyes; blinking a few times as she tried to adjust her sight to her new surroundings.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't identify anything remotely familiar. The only thing she could see was the darkness around her and the cold
stone floor beneath her.
Hermione started to search around with her hands, trying to find something to pull herself from the ground.
She was confused.
Dazed.
And she felt cold.
"Finally." A voice behind her huffed.
Hermione heard how the sound of footsteps came closer. That person must have been watching her all this time.
"You fell pretty hard."
Hermione narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out who was standing before her.
"I almost thought that you were dead."
She lifted her head to look up and cringed as a sharp feeling of pain washed over her body. Of course she knew who was speaking to her, she could have
recognized that voice out of a million people, but still she had to be sure.
And there she was...Pansy Parkinson. The black-haired Slytherin girl was grinning at her, but it didn't reach her eyes. She looked disappointed.
" Clearly you are not happy to see me." Pansy pouted.
Hermione stared at her as she finally managed to lift herself from the floor. "What do you want?"
"I wanted to spend some quality time with you." Pansy answered as she started to move around Hermione, holding her wand firmly in her right hand."Just you
and me."
"Where are we?"
"Oh how rude of me, I forgot to turn on the light. Darkness always has something mysterious, don't you think? Something dangerous."
"Parkinson!"
"So impatient." Pansy shook her head before she lifted her wand, "Lumos."
Within seconds, the room was illuminated with a bright light. Rows of shelves became visible. All were filled with a multitude of objects, a variation of books,
swords, and so on. Hermione could even see an enormous stuffed troll tucked away behind the shelf in front of her. Next to this broken and damaged furniture
was visible all around the room as well.
Hermione could still feel the memory of the fire lingering in the room, even though everything was restored to their former glory.
The Room of Requirement.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Pansy shrugged," I asked for a place to let someone disappear."
Her answer lingered in the air.
For a moment Hermione didn't know what to say, she was taken back with the tone Pansy had answered in, as if she was simply exchanging pleasantries .
So she spoke the first words that came to her mind, "They will come looking for me."
And once again Pansy didn't look impressed.
"Probably. But by the time they realise that you didn't come back from your patrol duty it will be too late."
Hermione let out a heavy sigh. Pansy was right she had been alone when she was taken to the Room of Requirement. At this point everybody thought she was
patrolling the halls of Hogwarts, they knew that she didn't like to be bothered when she was doing her tasks.
Nobody was missing her.
'Right,' Hermione thought as her eyes scanned the room, 'I will have to take matters into my own hands.'
She would use distractions to escape from this place.
"I have one question for you."
Pansy nodded, moving closer towards Hermione, a smirk gracing her lips.
"Why do you want me to disappear?"
It was a stupid question, Hermione knew that. And she could figure out what the answer to it was right away, but still it was her best option to keep Pansy
occupied.
And apparently the question seemed to trigger something. Pansy's face turned bright red with anger as she clenched her fist tightly around her wand.
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop your innocent act." She hissed, "I told you to stay away from Draco, but you just had to take him away from me."
Hermione shook her head, she was tired of having this discussion over and over again. "This isn't my fault. If you hadn't given me that potion none of this
would have happened."
"Typical, everything is my fault. Poor little Granger was forced to sleep with my boyfriend."
"I am not saying that I was forced and I am not going to repeat myself. I could have had a normal year but ..." Hermione threw her hands in the air as a sign of
despair. "It doesn't even matter anymore, Malfoy is all yours."
The wicked grin on Pansy's lips appeared once again, "Not yet, I just have to get rid of one irritating obstacle."
This was it.
Hermione had to act fast. If she could cast the Confundus Charm, she would have enough time to escape from the room and call professor McGonagall.
Without breaking eye-contact with Pansy, Hermione reached in her left pocket to reach for her … Nothing.
How could that be, she always made sure that she had her wand with her.
Frowning, she reached into her right pocket only to find that it was also empty.
"Looking for this?"
And there it was, dangling in the hand of Pansy Parkinson, her wand made from vine wood with a dragon heartstring core.
"Did you really think I would leave it in your cloak?"
Hermione felt her heart beating rapidly in her chest. She had to find a way to defend herself. If only she could reach for a broomstick or perhaps a sword ...
"I am not going to waste any more time on you, Mudblood Granger. I am going to finish the work of Bellatrix once and for all."
And before Hermione could react, Pansy murmured the words she never wanted to hear again.
"Crucio!"
An agonizing scream left Hermione's lips as her body started to twitch violently , rocking from side to side. It felt as if someone was boring a thousand white-
hot knives into her skin before pulling them out slowly.
She couldn't stop screaming.
Hermione was vaguely aware of Pansy standing next to her as she could hear a sound of laughter.
She was fighting the blackness that was trying to consume her.
"Now let me see." Pansy smiled as she grabbed Hermione's arm, "Where did Bellatrix leave her mark."
With all the strength she possessed, Hermione reached for something behind her. She felt a small and sharp object beneath her hand, and without giving it a
second though she launched her free arm.
Pansy let out a loud yell while stumbling a few feet backwards. Her hand reaching for her cheek, her fingers turning red from her blood.
Slowly, Hermione started to stand up still holding a piece of glass in her hand. She felt nauseous but she had no time to gain her breath. She had to find her
wand.
"You filthy..."
"Your insults are getting old." Hermione breathed heavily as she located her wand next to the second shelf. It must have fallen out of Pansy's hands when she
hit her with the glass.
She quickly turned around, ready to grab her wand.
"Alarte Ascendra!"
Hermione's fingers touched the wood of the wand before she was lifted high in the air and before falling on the bust of an old warlock.
"This is the last time you will ever cross me." Pansy screamed as she grabbed Hermione's hair, pulling her out of a pile of stone.
The room felt colder as Pansy preformed the Cruciatus Curse once again.
Tears started to sting behind her brown eyes but she refused to cry.
She was strong.
She thought about her father and her mother and how much she had treasured their time together after the war. She hoped that she had made them proud
and that they knew how much she loved them.
Her friends...the only thing she could say was that they were her family. The people who stood by her and protected her. Her heart hurt as she thought about
the way she had treated them over the past few months.
And then there was Draco, the boy who had captured her heart without her even realising it...
Her body felt numb.
She saw how Pansy knelt beside her, lifting her arm once again.
She couldn't move.
"I am going to make sure that if someone were to find you, they would know how filthy you are." Pansy whispered dangerously low as she started to engrave
words with her wand in Hermione's arm.
And without looking Hermione knew that she was writing the same words Bellatrix had written down not so long ago.
But she didn't flinch.
She was strong.
Until her last breath.
For the third time that evening, Draco knocked on Hermione's door but yet again there came no answer from the other side.
"You can't avoid me forever." Draco said, not knowing if she was even listening.
He let his hand rest on the doorknob for a few seconds as he tried to control his frustrations. He had to stay calm or this conversation would end in another
fight.
When there was still no response he let out a heavy sigh and turned the doorknob, pushing the door open.
"You can yell as much as you want to but..." Draco stopped mid-sentence as he realised that Hermione wasn't there. The room was covered in darkness, the
bed was still neatly made and in the left corner he saw her bag with books still inside of it.
He frowned, she should have been back from her round by now. Hermione was always very punctual.
Draco didn't wait in the room to see if she would come back.
There was no point in staying there. He had to find her before it was too late to turn back time.
Without any sign of hesitation, Draco opened the portrait and stepped into the deserted hallway.
There was only one place he knew she could be.
A place where she felt safe and where she knew she would be surrounded with love and support.
He had to enter the lion's den.
Draco started to move quietly. Even though all students were back in their dorms and the halls were completely deserted, he didn't want to risk the chance to
run into professor McGonagall doing her nightly check up.
He stayed close to the walls, making sure that he was hidden away in the shadows.
When he finally reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, he noticed that she was busy eating grapes and not really paying attention to what was happening
before her.
With a loud cough he tried to get her attention.
He watched how she took a sip from a golden goblet presumably filled with wine before she turned her head and acknowledged his presence.
"What are you doing here at this hour?"
"I have to speak to Hermione Granger."
The Fat Lady gave him a doubtful look, she wasn't planning to give in that easily," You can get into trouble if someone sees you here."
"I don't care."
"But you should." The Fat Lady continued, pointing her finger at Draco, "Aren't you the Head Boy? You have a responsibility and now you are setting a bad
example..."
"Enough." Draco hissed, rubbing his temples. "I came here to speak to Hermione Granger not to hear you giving me a lesson in responsibilities."
She huffed at the rudeness in his voice.
"So can I speak with her?" Draco tried again.
"Password."
"What?"
The Fat Lady crossed her arms, a small smile graced her lips,"If you want to enter the room you will have to give me the password."
"I don't know the password."
"Ah well, that means you can't enter."
Draco pinched the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes, "I have to talk to Hermione."
"You will simply have to wait until she comes out."
"Look," Draco started to reason, taking a few steps closer, "You know who I am and you know what I am doing here... surely you can make an exception just
this once."
"No. For all I know you came here to make a mess or to pick fights with the students. I cannot allow it. No password, no entrance."
"This is ridiculous!" Draco started to raise his voice, he was losing his temper. "I am going in whether you like it or not."
He moved even closer until his nose was almost touching the portrait. His hands grabbed the golden-covered frame and he started to pull.
"It doesn't work that way."
"Let me in!"
"Care for a grape?"
He ignored her as he kept pulling the frame, knowing very well that it wouldn't budge.
Suddenly he felt a pull on the other side of the portrait. He quickly took a few steps backwards, watching the smug grin of the Fat Lady slowly disappearing as
the portrait swung open.
"What is going on here?" Harry asked, climbing out of the portrait hole. He adjusted his glasses before looking around, wondering where the loud noises came
from.
Draco almost saw the hatred radiating from Harry's body as he finally noticed him standing there.
"Before you say anything, Potter, I just want to speak with Hermione."
"Leave right now." Harry said, his voice dangerously low. His hands balled up into fists and his face turned red with anger.
"I am not leaving without seeing her."
"I will give you one last chance, but only because I made a promise to Hermione not to hurt you."
The sound of footsteps coming closer broke through the silence that had grown between the boys after Harry's last words.
Draco knew exactly who was coming.
"Harry? Did you see what was...YOU!" Ron shouted before launching himself on Draco, tackling him on the ground.
"You will pay for what you did to her!"
Draco struggled for a moment, trying to push the boy off him,"You are mad Weasley! Get off me before you wake up someone else."
"Scared that they will see how weak you are?" Ron breathed heavily before punching Draco with his fist.
Draco blinked a few times, a sharp pain ran through his body as his head hit the stone floor. "Bloody hell!" He mumbled as he felt how someone pulled the red
haired boy off him.
"Ron! You idiot! " Ginny whispered angrily, "What were you thinking?"
"Don't you tell me that he didn't deserve it."
"But we promised Hermione..." Harry pointed out as he watched how Draco started to get up.
"I promised her nothing! Let me go, Ginny, I am not done with him yet."
Ginny shook her head while Harry helped her to control her brother, "He isn't worth the trouble."
"At last someone with common sense." Draco intervened.
"What do you want, Malfoy?"
They watched how he rolled his eyes at them, clearly annoyed by the fact that he had to repeat himself for the umpteenth time that night. "Like I told him, I
want to talk to Hermione."
"Why?"
"Ginny, why are you wasting your time by listening to his lies?" Harry grumbled, but she ignored him as she kept looking at Draco.
"I have to explain to her what happened."
Ginny moved forwards, letting go of Ron in the process. Her eyes didn't give away any sign of emotion, "We saw you with Pansy, and it didn't look like you
were having a bad time."
"We?" Draco questioned.
She nodded,"Hermione was with me."
"Blimey!" Ron spat. " You didn't even have the dignity to wait before you crawled back to Parkinson? You just had to hurt Hermione even more."
"You don't deserve her." Harry said icily, still holding Ron in a firm grip.
"I didn't crawl back to Pansy. I was telling her that it was over... I don't want anything to do with her." Draco said. He hated the fact that he was wasting time
by trying to defend himself, "Did you really think I would come here if I truly was playing a game?"
Both boys shook their head not convinced by the words that had left Draco's mouth.
Draco sighed, "I don't care if you believe me or not. There is only one person who needs an explanation and I am going to give it to her."
For the first time that night Ginny looked at him differently. She had seen the vulnerability in his eyes when he had asked about Hermione and she knew that
he was hurting in the same way her friend was hurting.
It was in that moment that she made a decision.
"She is not here."
"I don't believe you."
"Well, I am telling the truth."
Ron frowned as he looked at his sister, not really sure what was happening, but he did see the compassion in her eyes which made him slightly angry, "Why
are you helping him?"
Ginny glanced at him, "You weren't there when Hermione told me how she felt. You didn't see the sadness in her eyes."
"I was there when I saw her break down because of him, are you forgetting that?"
"I will never forget that, but sometimes a heart needs be broken before it can understand the true meaning of love."
Ron huffed at her words, finally releasing himself from Harry's grip but he didn't attack Draco again. He just stood there, waiting to see what was going to
happen.
"If she isn't here then where is she?"
Ginny shrugged, her ponytail swinging from side to side as she shook her head, "She told me that she was planning to stay here once she'd finished patrolling,
but she didn't come, so I assumed that she went back to her own room."
A sudden feeling of angst washed over Draco as he let Ginny's words sink in. This wasn't something Hermione would do. She had to be somewhere in this
castle, but where?
"I'm going to look for her."
He turned around, ready to descend the marble stairs, when a voice called him back.
"I am going with you."
"What? Ginny, are you completely mad!"
"If you are going, then so will I."
"Harry, what are you doing?"
Draco rolled his eyes as he witnessed the argument between the three friends. He was wasting time because of them so he cleared his throat. "I am going
with or without you."
Once again he turned around, running down the stairs. He had plan. He would search the rooms that Hermione considered as her safe haven.
As he made his way to the third floor he heard footsteps behind him and even without looking he knew that all three of them had followed him.
When he'd finally reached the doors of the library he grabbed his wand, "Alohomora." He watched how the locks started to move until he could open the door.
"The library is closed, Hermione would never be here after hours. " Ron pointed out, watching how everyone else walked inside.
"Lumos." Harry whispered, a white light appeared from the tip of his wand, allowing them to have a clear vision.
They searched every row, every corner, every section; but she wasn't there. The library was completely empty.
"We could have a look in the Great Hall?" Harry suggested, trying to hide the fact that he was getting worried.
Even though they all knew that their little trip to the Great Hall would be pointless they still agreed to see if she was there. None of them spoke as they
descended the stairs, walking through the deserted hallway.
When they reached their destination, Draco pushed the door open only to be greeted by darkness and the sight of four empty house tables.
"This all your fault." Ron muttered under his breath, glaring angrily at Draco.
"Shut up, Weasley."
"We are not going to find Hermione if we keep on fighting." Harry spoke, rubbing his temples.
Ginny nodded and Draco simply turned around, ready to leave the Great Hall. There was no point in staying here any longer.
But Ron shook his head,his cheeks turning red again, "I am not going to act like nothing happened. He is the reason why we are searching for Hermione if
he..."
"Enough." Draco hissed. "I made a mistake, I know that, but you need to get over yourself and accept that everyone deserves a second chance."
Ginny and Harry watched the discussion from a distance, silently agreeing that this wasn't their battle to fight.
Ron laughed loudly, "A second chance? Hermione gave you a chance and look what happened, she disappeared." He shook his head once again. "Somehow
you managed to get rid of her."
Draco stared at him, narrowing his eyes, "What did you say?"
"That you managed to get rid of her, are you deaf?"
"Before that?" Draco asked, ignoring Ron's last comment.
The red-haired boy looked at him with confusion written in his eyes, not really sure what Draco was trying to prove, "She disappeared?"
Once again it became silent as Draco tried to process everything that had been said. No one could leave the castle, and if someone tried to leave the
Headmistress would be notified immediately. So that would mean that Hermione was still here but...
"Bloody hell."
Without saying another word, he started to move. His feet taking him to the dungeons of Hogwarts. Ginny, Harry and Ron were following him closely,all of them
were asking him questions which varied from 'where are we going?' to 'blimey, would it kill you to answer?'
Finally, Draco came to an halt before a stone wall. "Snake." He said quickly, watching how a passage revealed itself, leading to the common room.
The light in the room gave the room a green tinge, revealing the dark wood cupboards, skulls and green button-tufted , leather sofas .The entire atmosphere in
the common room felt ice cold.
"What are we doing in the Slytherin common room?" Ginny questioned as she looked around. Even though there was not single person in the room besides
them, she still felt unwelcome.
"I have to check something."
Draco made his way to the door on his right, slowly pushing it open.
Nothing.
Just like Hermione's room this room was also completely empty. He cursed as his fear was confirmed.
"Malfoy, who's room is this?"
"Pansy's."
"What are we doing here?"
Draco sighed, frustrated that he didn't think of this earlier. But then again he never thought that Pansy would be crazy enough to do something like this.
"I told Pansy that she meant nothing to me, and she didn't take it very well. She went mad and told me that she would made sure that Hermione could never
have me."
"Do you mean that..."
Draco nodded, "Pansy is keeping her promise."
"Bloody hell." Ron whispered, his face turning pale. "Where are they."
"I don't know. Like you said, they disappeared." He was trying to hide the desperation in his voice. He had to find her before it was too late.
Suddenly a gasp filled the room, and all heads turned to where Harry was standing. "How could we have missed it."
"What?"
"We all know that they couldn't have left the castle without being noticed, so Pansy had to find a hiding place. A place where no one could find them, a place to
disappear."
"I don't...'
"The Room of Requirement." Draco grimaced, "We have to go right now."
They made their way to the seventh floor. The room was located in the left corridor of Hogwarts Castle with a hidden entrance opposite of the tapestry
depicting the attempt of Barnabas the Barmy to train trolls for the ballet.
"Right, we just need to walk past it three times and don't forget to be specific or the room will not know what we really want." Ron said rather hastily.
"We don't have time for that."
"Well, I don't hear any suggestions coming from you."
Draco rolled his eyes and grabbed his wand, pointing it at the wall, "Bombarda Maxima!". A white light appeared, followed by an explosion. The spell had
demolished the entire wall in the process.
"Is this suggestion good enough?" Draco commented before running through the hole he had created.
It didn't take long before a loud screech reached their ears, encouraging them to move faster.
"Hermione?"
"Hold on, Hermione. Please hold on." Ginny yelled as a second scream filled the room. The scream had sounded weaker, as if the person had no more energy
left.
By the eight row they'd finally reached the middle of the room, and there she was laying on the cold hard floor. And they knew that she was in pain as it was
written in her eyes. Her face and her arm were covered in blood.
"Ginny," Harry whispered, "Go find professor McGonagall and bring her here. Tell her that Hermione is in danger."
"But I want to help." Ginny answered desperately, watching Hermione flinch as Pansy approached her.
"You are helping. Please..."
She looked at him for a second before she nodded and ran back to the entrance, trying to be as quiet as possible.
"I know you are there, Draco." Pansy smiled, "Your little spell was loud enough to wake up the entire castle."
Without hesitation Draco moved closer, his wand still firmly in his hand. Harry and Ron were behind him.
"Oh look at that." Pansy smiled once again, "You brought a little army with you. Couldn't handle me on your own?"
Harry was the first one who stepped forward, his wand pointed at the dark- haired girl. "You will pay for what you did, Parkinson!"
"I just have to say one spell to make an end of this, so don't threaten me Potter."
Pansy's eyes were wide and red with anger, her jumper was slightly ripped. She was kneeling down and was gently caressing Hermione's cheek. "Can you see
how dirty her blood is?"
"Do not touch her, Parkinson." Draco hissed.
Pansy looked up with a wicked grin, "I am only doing what's best for us, don't you see that?" With her free hand she let her wand follow the outlines of
Hermione's face. "It will all be over very soon."
"I told you not to touch her."
She ignored him.
"All you have to do, is tell her how you really feel about her. I want to see her heart broken one more time."
Draco stared at her before he nodded, "You are right. I have played this game long enough." He smiled at her, "It has always been you and me."
"What?"
"Bloody bastard." The boys said simultaneous as they watched how Draco knelt down next to Hermione as well.
"I knew that you would come to your senses. You almost had me fooled."
"You know me all too well."
"I will kill you!" Ron bellowed , running towards Draco only to be greeted by his wand.
"If you take one step closer, you will be the one to be killed."
Pansy was looking at them with an amused expression on her face, "Go on, Draco. I want to hear you say it."
He moved a little closer, lowering his head until his lips almost touched Hermione's ear, "It was never a game to me. Everything that has happened... it was
real. And I know that I have never said it before and yes I know this is long overdue but I have feelings for you. So please don't give up. I am not ready to let
you go."
When he finally looked back up he could see the anger radiating from Pansy's body. And this time it was his turn to smile. "You are still stupid enough to believe
everything they tell you."
"I...you..."
"Try to make full sentences."
Pansy shook her head. "That is it! You have made a fool of me long enough." She stood up and grabbed Hermione by her hair.
Quickly Draco stood on his two feet, his wand at the ready.
"Confundo!" Ron yelled loudly.
But Pansy was faster, "Expelliarmus!" She watched how Ron's wand flew away and turned her attention towards Harry, "Immobulus!"
Harry didn't even have the chance to react as he froze immediately.
"Quite the protectors." Pansy huffed. "Now where was I?"
"Say goodbye to your little Mudblood!" Pansy raised her wand one last time, letting it hover above Hermione's heart, "Avada..."
"NO!"
"Expelliarmus!"
This time Pansy's eyes widened again but not from anger of frustration. This time only one emotion could be seen in her eyes...fear.
Draco moved forward to where Pansy was standing, "How does it feel, Parkinson, to be powerless?"
"I was only joking Draco, you know that I didn't mean it." She stuttered, taking a few steps backwards.
"I will make you suffer."
"Please don't do it..."
"Crucio!"
Pansy wrapped her arms around her waist as she fell on the ground. A feeling of pain was washing all over her body and she screamed as loud as she could,
hoping that that it would disappear.
"How does that feel?" Draco muttered under his breath, ready to cast the spell once again, only to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"Stop, Malfoy. Let McGonagall deal with her."
"Look what she did to Hermione." Draco said, pointing at the spot where she was laying.
Ron nodded, slowly taking Draco's wand away from him, "You have to take her to Madam Pomfrey."
Draco let out a heavy sigh as he made his way to Hermione. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw how Ron cast the Incarcerous spell, the ropes were being
firmly wrapped around Pansy's body.
When he turned his attention back towards Hermione, he saw how she slowly closed her eyes, letting the darkness come in.
Hermione slowly opened her eyes, blinking a few times as she tried to have a clear vision of her surroundings.
She knew that she was in the Hospital Wing at seeing several empty beds covered with white blankets. Next to her, she saw that her night table was covered
with candy and cards from her friends. She smiled as she thought about them.
And then she saw him. He was sitting on a chair, sleeping.
"Draco?" She whispered, her voice still pretty hoarse.
He didn't move.
"Draco?"
When he still didn't give a sign of life, Hermione picked up an Every Flavour Bean from the box next to her and threw it at him.
"Blimey! You are supposed to be resting."
Hermione smiled as she saw the expression on his face, "Is a the way to greet people?"
Draco finally looked at her and returning the smile, he pulled his chair closer to the bed and took her hand, "She hurt you."
Hermione shrugged, trying not to flinch as she saw the bandage around her arm. She knew very well what word was hidden underneath it. "I've had worse."
"You don't have to pretend."
"I am not pretending."
They looked at each other for a moment, and Draco could still see the hurt in her eyes even though she denied it.
"What happened with Parkinson?" Hermione suddenly asked, trying to change the subject.
He decided to play along.
"After Weasley stopped me from hurting her, McGonagall walked in and took her away. She is no longer allowed to set foot on the grounds of Hogwarts and
she has been taken away to St Mungo's."
"Did you tell professor McGonagall the reason why Pansy tried to kill me?"
Draco shook his head, "I wanted to tell her about the potion but the Weasley girl told her that Pansy simply snapped because she saw that you and me were
getting closer."
"And she believed Ginny?"
"She was pretty convincing."
Hermione nodded as she let the memories of last night run through her mind. The accusations of Pansy, the hurt she'd felt when the spells had hit her body...
She allowed herself to feel everything again for she knew that it would only make her stronger.
And then she thought back at the words he had whispered in her ear.
"Did you mean it?"
"Did I mean what?" Draco asked confused.
"What you told me."
He smiled a little, "So you heard me." His eyes moved to their entwined fingers, studying them carefully. "I know that I hurt you, Hermione. And if I could I
would take it all back... I was just a stupid idiot who wanted attention. But I can't change how I feel about you."
"I want to try and move past all of this but every time I see it I...I can't forget."
Draco nodded sadly, "I understand."
"And then there you were and saved me."
"I wanted you to know that despite everything I have done I am changing and that's all because of you. I will never be perfect, and I don't want to be that, but
I am trying and I am not planning to let you go."
"Draco..."
He raised his free hand and continued,"I know what you are going to say and I will accept your decision."
"I am not going to say that I love you." Hermione said as she looked at Draco. She saw how he bowed his head. "I am not afraid to say that you broke my
heart and I hate you for that. "
She sighed.
"But I know how I feel about you and I also don't want to let that feeling go."
There was silence as Draco slowly started to look up again, his eyes locking with Hermione's, "What?"
She smiled at him, bringing the hand she was holding closer and placing it against her right cheek. "I am trying to say that I still fancy you Draco Malfoy. "
"You want to start over again?"
"From the beginning."
"I think that is a great idea." Draco grinned as he placed his other hand on her left cheek. "And before I forget, I fancy you too Hermione Granger."
Hermione could feel how her cheeks were turning red but she didn't care. In this moment she felt loved and safe. "Then I think that it is about time for you to
kiss me."
"It would be my pleasure."He smiled one last time as he placed his lips against hers.
And even though he knew that it would take a while before she would exactly say it, Draco knew that Hermione loved him.
And he loved her.
The END
Goodbye FanFiction...Someday we will meet again