A/N: This kind of took longer than expected to get out. Sorry, guys! Stupid writer's block :( But it's extra long to make up for the shortness of the last chapter and the wait it took to get this out. Hope you like it!

Hartwi1, potatocrazy4, BambixEyesx, Leafstar Skyclan, XxAvengingAngelxX, Love Me Some Lautner, dizzydazzle, Lycoris Brightwater, Leanora, BelovedSaiai, Ceylon, and LauriFlowi for reviewing last chapter! I'm glad you guys liked it!

XxAvengingAngelxX: I would be all evil and be like "No! You have to read and find out!" but telling you doesn't really reveal anything important haha so here's the answers to your questions: No, Ron doesn't like Hermione anymore, let's just say for the benefit of this story that they dated for a while and it didn't work out after Hogwarts (so cliche, but oh well!), he hated Draco because I figured that of the trio he would be the most likely to hold a grudge the longest, and your last question is hopefully answered in this chapter!

I don't like the beginning of this chapter too much, but I like the end :)

Chapter 17: Love Me, Leave Me

Draco's Christmas presents had always been for a bit of a show. There was never any love or care behind the gifts that his father bought for him, or at least he didn't think so. It was a show of their wealth, and nothing more.

The presents that were being passed to him were not shows of wealth. In fact, most of the objects were incredibly cheap, but they were for him nonetheless. He was thoroughly surprised that anyone had gotten anything for him. He felt increasingly guilty that the only one he had gotten a present for was Hermione, because she was the only one who he thought would get him something.

But the Weasley twins had gotten him a few things from their joke shop, and Potter and Weasley had both gotten him chocolate frogs and a few packages of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. Hermione had gotten him an fancy-looking watch, which he had immediately put on at Hermione's insisting, and Mrs. Weasley had packaged him a few of what she had gathered to be his favorite sweets. His mother had gotten him the same thing she did every year: Apparently it was their tradition; to pass on gifts to everyone in the room. He found it odd and unfamiliar, weren't people only supposed to give gifts to people they cared about?

Hermione peeled away the wrapping on the gift he had gotten her, and he was pleased to see her gleeful grin as her eyes found his. He had taken great care in gathering the gift. He had ordered it from a Wizarding Jewelry Catalogue in a different name, and had it sent to a random Muggle house. He Apparated there moments after it was delivered and picked it up from the doorstep of the house, and then disappeared. He was sure that his movements were impossible to be tracked.

"Oh, Draco, this must have cost a fortune." Every eye turned to Hermione's gift, and Draco felt an odd sense of pride from the wide eyes. It was a necklace, and the charm was in the shape of a flower, which was fully encrusted in tiny diamonds. It had cost him a fortune, but what kind of man needed money when he was a month from dying?

"Well, put it on, dear!" Mrs. Weasley cooed, eyeing the necklace with a jealous eye. Draco had come to find that jewelry was a weak spot for most women.

"Could you help me, Draco?"

He heard the underlying tease in her voice, and suddenly found himself very nervous. It was just clasping a necklace around her neck, right? Everyone's eyes followed him as he circled around the table and took the chain in his hands and Hermione gathered her hair up and moved it out of the way. He fastened the clasp at her neck, and his hands lingered there for a moment longer than necessary, feeling the smooth skin on the nape of her neck, and her hair falling on his hands as she let it go. It was soft.

He stepped back and Hermione touched the diamond necklace hanging perfectly on her chest, smiling brightly. "Thank you, Draco."

Mrs. Weasley had prepared a grand breakfast, as she always did, and the people around him were digging in in unison like a true family, talking about Christmas cheer and happiness. Such happiness can not last long in a time of war.

The door burst open and everyone jumped, glancing at their visitor. Kingsley entered the room, his robes askew and straightening his hat, surveying their party with a saddened eye. Everyone tensed at his expression, knowing some bad news was coming. Lupin stood, passing his baby to his wife. "No no, sit down, Remus. Everyone needs to hear this." Kingsley said in his deep, booming voice. Draco saw Potter wince. He had a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. Had someone died?

"I'm sorry to bring you this news on this day. There was an attack on St. Mungo's. Twenty Death Eaters. There wasn't enough protection. Twenty-eight Healers were killed trying to protect the patients, and sixty-seven patients were killed. They were looking for someone." In the corner of his eye, Draco saw Hermione's hand fly to her mouth and her eyes begin to water. "Mr. Longbottom," Kingsley said, turning to Neville. "I'm sorry."

Neville paled. Everyone seemed to understand this but Draco. They instantly crowded Neville with words of comfort, apologies flying out of their mouths. Hermione stood, and only Draco seemed to notice as she disappeared outside. He thought about following her, but decided against it.

Neville stood so suddenly that his chair flipped backwards and clattered to the ground loudly. Silence fell over them like a thick, suffocating blanket, and everyone averted their eyes as Neville disappeared up the stairs. Draco felt horribly left out as no one spoke, their eyes brimming with tears. He wanted to feel sad, perhaps to show that he was human, but he couldn't find it within himself. All he felt was an overwhelming relief that at least no one important to him had died. Perhaps he was still the evil, snobby Slytherin on the inside.

"Neville's parents were in Mungo's." Draco looked up, Potter was talking to him. "They were Crucio'd until they were insane."

"Oh." Draco said. What else was he supposed to say? He had a sinking suspicion that Bellatrix had had something to do with it, and Bellatrix was his aunt. Guilt washed over Draco, making it almost hard to breathe. It wasn't his fault, why did he feel guilty? Potter stood and said something about finding Hermione.

Moments later the door crashed open and Potter flew inside, looking paler than ever, his eyes wide. "She's gone. Hermione's gone."

:::

Hermione fingered her recently transformed blonde hair and repositioned the glasses on her eyes as she surveyed the absolute wreckage before her. Mungo's was practically in ruins. Rubble lay everywhere, and there were Healers darting about to most likely take care of the patients that still lived. Patients lay in some of the corners of the shattered floor since their rooms had been destroyed, moaning in pain, and she wanted to shut out the sound, to block it from her ears, but it was too loud, she pressed her hands to her ears and shut her eyes and wanted to turn and run, but she couldn't, this was her fault, the Death Eaters had been looking for her, it was all her fault…

"Excuse me?" Hermione squinted from underneath her eyelashes at an older man who looked to be a Healer gripping her shoulders. He gave her a gentle shake and Hermione immediately felt embarrassed as she let her hands drop to her sides. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm…is…is there anything I can do to help?"

He gave her a grateful look and directed her towards some patients who needed help being moved to their new rooms. She tried her best to smile, even though it wasn't quite the time for that, and moved to where he had directed, immediately getting to work.

:::

"I'm worried."

"You heard Lupin. She couldn't have been captured. She left."

"Where would she have gone to?"

"I don't know. You've known her for longer than I have, shouldn't you be able to guess?"

"You've known her for just as long as I have."

"Yes, and I terrorized her for the first six years that we knew one another. What a flourishing relationship we've had."

"Well, it's your own damn fault."

"Oh, really? I was under the impression it was her's."

Weasley whirled around to glare at Draco from where he had been walking in front. Their little Christmas party had split up to search any notable places for Hermione. Unfortunately, Draco had been paired up with Weasley. They were investigating the old town that Hermione's parents had lived in. "You know, everyone's going on about 'oh, he's changed' and 'oh, he's a better person now', but you sure do seem to me like you're the exact same guy. Maybe with less insults, but still bitter and rude. Here I am trying to make decent conversation and perhaps learn to at least get along, like Harry asked, but you are being uncooperative and stand-offish. I'm willing to give you a second chance, Malfoy. If Harry and Hermione can do it, so can I."

"Oh, how kind of you." Malfoy said with a roll of his eyes. "Gee, perhaps when you join me in the world of the dead, you can inform me if you were a bit bitter as you were dying. Oh, and did I mention, Hermione's missing?"

"Hermione's fine." Ron said, as if just coming to this decision. "She wouldn't waltz off to some Death Eater camp. She must know what she's doing, whatever it is. And about you and your, um, death," Ron turned again to look Draco squarely in the eyes, "I'm sorry. I really, truly am. I know we're not, er, the best of friends," Draco snorted, "but I'm a decent guy. I honestly feel horrible about what happened and the way it did. I know it was partially my fault. I do. But I wish you would stop moping around about it."

"I-" Draco said, ready to make an angry retort, but Weasley stopped him.

"No, not for me, not for you, but…for Hermione. She…She cares about you. I may not be the most observant in the world, but I can tell. She's scared and worried. She's driven herself mad looking for a nonexistent cure." Draco winced, wishing for a bit more subtlety. "And the only one that can help her is you." Draco suddenly was aware of the harshness in Weasley's voice.

He surveyed the red-head that was glaring him down. In Hogwarts, Weasley had always been second to Potter. Not as talented, not as popular, not as rich…and he had always been immature. The immaturity had somehow dissolved throughout the events of the Second War. He was actually displaying signs of intelligence. It surprised Draco.

"And Hermione's a really caring person, you know-"

"Wait." Draco cut him off. "Say that again."

"…What? She's…a…caring person?"

A grin suddenly lit Draco's face, and Weasley took a hesitant step back. "I know where Hermione is." Without a second hesitation or to bother explaining himself to Ron, he grabbed the other boy's arm and Disapparated on the spot. "Why…are we outside Mungo's?" Ron asked, and after a moment, it hit him. His mouth made a little 'o' of understanding.

:::

"It'll be fine." Hermione cooed softly to the little girl who was holding her hand and crying. "We'll find your mummy, I promise."

Suddenly, a hand descended on Hermione's shoulder, and she almost shrieked, but it was muffled as her attacker pressed a hand to her mouth. She ripped it off and glared angrily at Draco, who was glaring right back, Ron standing behind him looking equally pissed. She was slightly surprised they had been able to tell who she was from the back with her blonde hair. "Go found Eric." She said to the little girl, who wobbled off to a middle-aged Healer. Hermione turned her attention back to Draco. "What do you want?" She asked, trying to act as if she was in control of the situation.

"We're leaving. Now." Draco hissed, squeezing her arm so tightly that it hurt. She was suddenly afraid, and horribly reminded of the Draco from Hogwarts. "Are you crazy? It's dangerous here! And you go without even telling anyone?"

Hermione stuck her nose in the air, trying to keep a shred of her dignity. "If I would have asked, you all would have said no."

"Damn right we would have! Do you realize how stupid this is? Weaslette started crying. Crying, Granger!" For some reason, it hurt to hear him use her last name instead of her first. "It's fucking Christmas. Christmas!"

"Exactly!" Hermione shrieked, ripping her arm from his grip so suddenly that he let go in surprise. "It's Christmas, and this is my fault, it's all my fault, a-and I have to a-at least do s-something for these people because it's my f-fault they're like this in the f-first place!" She was distantly aware that tears were now spilling down her cheeks, but she was too angry to care. "I'm not leaving. I'm not leaving, and you can just deal with it."

His face darkened and she was suddenly afraid that he was going to hit her, and had to remind herself that this was not Hogwarts Draco. This Draco would not hurt her. Right?

"Fine." He gritted through his teeth, and it caught her off guard. He was just letting her go that easily? He turned, and she was afraid he was going to leave, because even though he was mad she didn't want him to leave. But instead, he walked straight over to the little girl Hermione had been with only moments ago, and lifted her into his arms.

"What's your Mum look like? We'll go look for her." And he walked straight into the lift and out of sight.

Hermione was sure her jaw had dropped to the ground in shock. Ron walked up to stand alongside her, also watching the spot where Draco had disappeared. "That Malfoy…he's unpredictable." Ron said before walking off to also help.

Hermione wiped the tears from her eyes and returned to her work.

:::

Needless to say, the others that were staying in the Burrow were not pleased when Draco, Ron, and Hermione showed up on the doorstep many hours later, a bit of blood staining spots in their cloaks and looking incredibly worn out. They had received hours of lecturing from Moody, Lupin, Narcissa, and Mrs. Weasley in turn, and even Potter had stormed off when they had said they didn't send an owl because there weren't any in Mungo's.

After a non-too cheerful goodbye from Luna, Seamus, and Dean, (Neville had disappeared hours before to visit his Gran and tell her the news), the group returned to the Order. A week passed in a heartbeat, with Ron, Harry, and Hermione frequently having secret meetings that Draco didn't bother in joining in.

The scar was spreading. He could tell. It had once been the size of a Snitch, and now it was fractionally bigger. The moment it reached his heart was when the effects would start taking place. He had started sleeping in a shirt at night, so that Hermione wouldn't see that the scar had grown. He didn't want her to worry. Weasley's words had echoed in his head for the entire week, and she had been incredibly fragile ever since Mungo's. The slightest thing would set her off and she would scream if she was in anger or cry if she was depressed.

The attitudes of the people around him were changing. He frequently found his mother crying alone, and that did not help his decreasing hope for survival. Potter stared at him with pity and regret, and Weasley watched him as if he were an explosion waiting to happen. He wasn't sure which was worse. To his face, Hermione would act like nothing was wrong, but Hermione would frequently excuse herself from the group to be alone at random times.

They were having dinner when she did it again. Draco watched as Hermione wordlessly rose from the table and lightly walked upstairs, and he set down his fork and followed her. The others at the table said nothing.

He found her in their room, delicately flipping through a book out of her collection of many. He watched her through the crack in the door. Her eyes raked each page with the speed of someone who had read far too many books, but each flip of the page was a little bit harsher than the previous. Finally, after the book had obviously yielded no positive results, she took it in her hand and flung it across the room with a scream of frustration. He watched as tears began to silently course down her face. She buried her head in her hands and let out loud sobs and, without a word, Draco pushed open the door and entered.

She immediately attempted to quickly wipe away the evidence of her defeat and his nearing death with her hands, saying, "There just books I took from Mungo's. Stupid, really. It's not stealing, I'll give them back. It's…it's not stealing…"

He silenced her by gently taking hold of her wrists and pulling them down, away from her face. Silently, he pressed his fingers to her cheeks and wiped away the wetness, something he had wanted to do many times, clearing away her sadness, and trying to convey a message in his actions: It's not your fault.

He wiped a stray lock of hair that had been sticking to her wet cheek aside, and his hand lingered there, on her neck just below her ear.

She kissed him.

Their lips crashed together, sending ripples of shock coursing through his body, and Draco pulled her closer to him, craving the intimate closeness of their bodies. She threw her arms around his neck, and he buried a hand deep in her hair. He could taste saltiness through their kiss; was it his tears, or her's? It didn't matter, all that mattered was the two of them, in this moment. There may not be a time for this later with Death looming so near and extending a threatening hand towards His next victim, there may not be a time to convey how they truly felt. There wasn't time.

Dimly, as he deepened their kiss by pulling her closer to him, he knew that this was not how it was supposed to be. A relationship was supposed to take time to develop, but they did not have time. They had been pushed into their actions simply because they did not have enough time to truly explore their own feelings. If he had not been dying, Hermione would probably not be kissing him right now.

And as Hermione wrapped her legs around his waist, he dimly realized that he did not care.

A/N: I WOULD put a link to a picture of the necklace Draco got Hermione, but I know when you put links on here they get all messed up and I know you're supposed to put spaces in it or something but I just don't know how, so if you're actually interested, Google 'Diamond flower necklace' and it's the first picture under 'images'. Hope you guys liked this chapter!