Chapter Twenty-Three

Their last two weeks flew by too quickly. Before she knew it, 29 June arrived and Hermione was pacing the wall to open the Room of Requirement for what she expected to be the last time. When she entered, she was shocked to see Draco already there, leaning against the back of the couch, arms across his chest and legs crossed as he stared down at his feet. His head snapped up and the door clicked closed.

She watched as he uncrossed his arms, holding them out for her. The sleeves on his white button down shirt were rolled to his elbows, his Mark exposed. He had become more comfortable letting her see it and she was shocked by the fact that it didn't affect her the way she thought it should. In her mind, it didn't mean anything. He hadn't asked for it.

She nestled her head into the crook of his shoulder as he enveloped her in a warm hug. She breathed in the scent of him, prolonging their physical contact as much as she could. Draco indulged her for a few long moments before pulling her back by her shoulders and looking into her eyes.

"I have a gift for you today, love."

She raised her brows at him and he only smirked as he shuffled her to sit on the sofa. He took a seat beside her and pulled a small box from his pocket. He chuckled as her brows rose impossibly higher.

"It's a ring, but not that ring, love," he said to her while still chuckling. He flipped open the box and handed it to her.

She looked down at the ring nestled inside the box. It was gorgeous, thick and heavy looking, with snakes engraved up the sides, leading to a large emerald with a silver M in the center.

"It's a Malfoy family ring, meant to be given to a person you are promising the future to, whether it be an arranged betrothal, or a chosen partner."

Hermione looked up at him, stunned. "So, not an engagement ring, but close," she jested.

Draco chuckled once again. "I guess you could say that. But I'm not meaning it as a marriage proposal, just a promise that no matter what, my heart belongs to you. I know you don't want to think of it, but I need you to know that if I don't make it to the end of this, my heart is yours. In this moment, until the end, my heart is no one else's. No matter what happens, no matter what I have to do, I am fully yours. Everything I do, I will do with the intention of getting back to you."

Hermione was crying as Draco finished his thoughts. She looked at him through her tears. He looked nervous as he stared at her. "Draco, I love it. What finger do I put it on? How do you know it will fit?"

He took the box from her once more. "It is enchanted to size to your finger perfectly. Let me put it on for you."

"Wait! How do you know it doesn't have any other sort of enchantments on it? Enchantments that aren't as nice as a ring sizing charm?"

"I had it checked by Professor Flitwick," Draco told her, having had the same thought as her prior to giving her the ring.

"Okay. On with it then!" She smiled at him.

Draco slipped the ring onto the ring finger of her right hand. "Now you match me," he wiggled his right hand in her vision to show her his own Malfoy ring. She smiled at him, but it vanished quickly and tears filled her eyes.

"I don't want tomorrow to come," she whispered.

Draco took her in his arms, cradling her in his lap. Her small frame was engulfed by his large body as he rocked her on the sofa. He stroked her hair as she cried onto his shoulder.

"I don't want it to come either. But it has to. We just need to enjoy our last night here with each other," Draco murmured into her hair, kissing her a few times as she tried to control her tears.

After a few minutes, she collected herself and straightened, looking at him and forcing a smile, before leaning down and kissing him. She poured all of her emotion into her kiss and it became heated quickly.

She removed her shirt and began working the buttons on his. He helped her with the bottom two buttons and slipped it from his torso. She moaned as he placed his hands on her hips and slid her back and forth across his hardening length.

Hermione felt his hands slip up her uniform skirt. She leaned her head back as she felt his left hand graze across her covered clit. Warmth was pooling in her underwear and she was becoming impatient. She stood up, between his knees, and removed her bra. She could feel him watching her as she took off her skirt and underwear. Only when she stood before him naked, did she look at him.

He was looking at her up and down, taking in her body. She fought the urge to cover her intimate parts, reminding herself that they'd done this several times already and that tonight would be the last experience for an unforeseen amount of time. Draco slowly got to his feet, wrapping his arms around her waist as he stood before her. Her eyes locked onto his and he smiled softly. She smiled back as he lowered his lips to hers in a sweet, almost chaste kiss.

He pressed his bare chest to hers, causing her to sigh at the contact. His arms still around her waist, he lifted her from the ground to carry her to the bed in the corner. Hermione felt him lay her gently on the bed and opened her eyes to watch him remove his trousers and underwear before crawling onto the bed, covering her body with his. He trailed his fingers up and down her side as he kissed up from her navel, to her chest, then her neck before finally capturing her lips once more.

She kissed back, savoring the slow pace her was setting for their last night together. She wanted it to last forever and he was doing his best to pretend it would. Draco only kissed her lips for a few moments before working his way back down her body, leaving wet trails in his wake.

She tried not to let herself get nervous as he worked his way lower and lower, but she couldn't help it as she lifted herself up to her elbows to look at him. He kept his eyes locked onto hers as he lowered his mouth to brush his tongue along her wet slit. She couldn't help but moan as he swiped again, and again. Before she knew it, her head was thrown back as she felt her release onto his tongue.

He clambered back over top of her, less gracefully this time and kissed her deeply. She could taste herself on him, but it wasn't horrible. She ran her arms up his sides and over his upper arms in a pattern before pressing on his chest, making him pull up and away. He looked at her questioningly, but she only sat up and pushed him into a laying position on the bed. She settled herself between his thighs, hands caressing his hips.

"You don't have to.. That's not why I – " Draco started.

"I know. I want to," she responded to him, smiling. Slowly, she bent at the waist and pressed her lips against the tip of his penis. There was moisture pooled on it and she cautiously swiped her tongue across it, before opening her mouth fully, taking over half his length into her mouth. She found she was unable to go much further so she wrapped her left hand around the remaining and moved it in time with her head as she bobbed up and down clumsily.

She became more confident as she heard Draco gasp and moan above her. After a few moments he pulled her off, his eyes hazy as he gathered her into his arms. He kissed her fiercely, flipping her onto her back without breaking contact with her lips.

She felt him prod her opening with his cock, coating it in her juices. He slowly slid his way in, still kissing her. His hands were everywhere from her hair to her hips, grazing over her nipples and holding her throat as he slowly thrust into her.

He went slowly, dragging out both of their releases for long minutes. Together they savored their last night together before drifting off to sleep, tangled in the gray silk sheets.