We are nearing what I would consider the mid-point to the story. The next couple of chapters will be more action packed, then I will begin posting a Part Two onto this story a couple weeks after the final chapter of Part One. I believe there will be 4 or 5 more chapters in this part. :)

Chapter Twenty-Two

"I love you too, Draco," Hermione said against his shoulder. He gripped her tighter and kissed her neck. She turned her head to capture his lips and pulled him back down on top of her without breaking contact. She flicked her hips up against his, rubbing along his erection and he growled involuntarily. She began pawing at his trousers and he broke the kiss to rip them off. He lowered himself back down onto her, leaning his weight on his elbows which framed her face.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered to her, watching her blush. He leaned all of his weight onto his left elbow and reached down with his right hand to rub her slick folds. "Are you sure you're ready?"

Brown eyes locked onto silver. He watched her nod determinedly. He used his hand to rub his cock along her slit, coating himself in her wetness, before carefully sliding himself into her entrance.

She winced slightly as he slowly slid inside, but didn't show any other indication of being in pain. He eased his full length into her, releasing the breath he didn't realize he was holding once he was enclosed completely in her warmth. She had her eyes squeezed shut and her breath was coming in short gasps. He kept his cock still inside of her, but leaned down to kiss her cheeks, causing her eyes to pop open.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, his voice husky.

"Fine. It feels fine. Just – ah – different," she whispered back. "You can move now."

He kissed her cheek once more and began to thrust slowly. Her eyes drifted shut again and she panted in time with his thrusts. He gradually began snapping his hips faster and he knew he wouldn't last long. Hermione was panting and moaning underneath him and it was one of the most glorious sights he'd ever experienced.

He leaned down to kiss her deeply and caught a moan in his mouth when he snapped his hips again. She broke the kiss to gasp near his ear as he lowered a hand to rub her clit. He felt her body stiffen and she sucked in a breath as he rubbed in steady circles. He could feel her becoming wetter as he kept up his quick pace in thrusts.

"Draco, I… I think…"

"Shh, it's okay," he silenced her with a kiss and seconds later, her body tensed and her walls squeezed around his cock. Two more quick thrusts and he was spilling himself into her.

He laid his body over hers, pressing into her but supporting most of his weight on his elbows. He peppered kisses on her face and neck before rolling onto his back and pulling her into his arms. She sighed as she settled her head in the crook of Draco's arm. He kissed her hair and squeezed her tightly for a moment. He felt her settle the blanket over herself, up to her shoulders and it reaching just about to his chest.

"How do you feel?" Draco asked.

"Great. That was great. I am a little sore but… It was way better than I ever imagined it would be."

"I'm glad to exceed your expectations," Draco smirked. He grabbed his wand and waved it over her stomach. "Contraceptive charm." Hermione only nodded.

They lay quietly for quite some time before Hermione broke the silence. "So what happens to you that night? When the cabinet is used?"

"Are you sure you want to hear?"

"Yes. Just keep details sparse."

Draco pulled himself into a sitting position, gathering the sheet around his still naked lower half. Hermione also sat up, blanket clutched to her chest as she faced him. "I will let them into the castle just after curfew. Bella will lead the attack and I am to follow behind her. She and the Dark Lord are keeping most details to themselves but I know that she is expected to make sure I complete the other half of my task."

"What happens if you don't complete it?"

"You know the answer to that."

"But Snape agreed to be the one to actually do it!" Hermione stated.

"I know he did. But I don't know the details, I don't know how it will actually work out. At this moment, we have to assume that if he doesn't do it before then, it will fall on my shoulders to do."

"Fine. I trust Dumbledore so I'm sure there is a plan in place. What happens after…that?"

Draco squeezed his eyes shut. "We flee from the castle. I will most like be taken to the Dark Lord and he will appraise whether the job is completed to his liking."

Draco opened his to see Hermione staring at his Dark Mark which was exposed from their equal nudity. She had her head cocked and her hair was floating around her in a jumbled mess. He moved his arm to conceal the Mark. This seemed to break her trance and she glanced back up at him.

"So… it seems like we have an expiration date," she mumbled, tears in her eyes.

"Don't say that," he scooted closer to her, sitting cross-legged in front of her and grabbing her left hand in his left hand across their laps. "We can still talk. Every day hopefully. Thanks to you," he used his free hand to wipe tears from her face.

"It's not the same."

"No, it's not. And it will be hard… And Hermione. I will have to do things. And you will hear about them. There may come a day when you take this watch off and never care again. And even if you don't, your opinion may be forever changed about me."

"We will both change due to this, Draco. I have plans too, for after this year. It'll be dangerous, and I guarantee you I will be doing illegal things as well. You could very easily change your opinion of me as well. But I promise you, at the end of this, I will still want you."

Her plans were news to Draco and he stared at her confused. "Plans? What do you mean? What has Potter done this time? Is he dragging you into danger?!"

"Draco, I will be in danger regardless! Because of this!" she gestured to his Mark. "I am a Mudblood and this war is about putting me and people like me on the other side of the Veil! I am willingly going with Harry into this to help end this."

"You're right Hermione! You're already a target! How could you add to that?!"

"How can you expect me to hide away, knowing my friends are fighting for me, and possibly dying?!"

Draco stared at her for a long moment, then sighed. "I know, I know. That's not who you are, you would never hide away. It just terrifies me. I want you safe at the end of this."

"I'm fighting so I will be safe, at the end of this. I'm fighting for a better world for myself… And for you," she lined their left arms up next to each other, her pale smooth skin contrasting the black ink embedded in his skin. "And when it is over, I will fight for you. Fight to keep you by my side and make sure the whole world knows you did what you did, to help us."

Draco stared at their arms a moment longer, willing himself not to cry. "I love you, Hermione."