Hermione gazed out at the slowly darkening sky, braced against the rail, the breeze ruffling her hair. Her fear of falling, her fear of heights had somehow been overshadowed by the other dark thoughts and fears that she couldn't shake away. Each day she was torn between trying not to think about it and needing to think about it. Needing to find a solution that always just seemed out of grasp. What if she lost him? What if at the end of this year he went home and never came back? Could she convince him to stay? And to what end? Harry would never trust him, Professor Snape wouldn't help him, and she doubted that even Professor Dumbledore could save him. Hermione let out a shakey breath and willed herself to believe that she could.

Hermiome strained to listen closely until she could hear the shouts from the Quidditch pitch. Gryffindor practice was still on then. She would not be discovered here as long as it ran. But their calls were often masked by the soft music playing below. Something on the Wizard Wireless perhaps. Lulling and romantic, it soothed her dark thoughts. She wanted him. Wanted him here, wrapped around her, swaying, forgetting… just being.

She lived for those moments, those hidden moments where the stress disappeared and she was happy.

"We have to stop meeting like this Granger."

She didn't turn around to face him, but she smiled. A slow satisfied smile. He had come to stand directly behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist, just as she'd wished for a moment ago. She'd never thought of herself as a particularly passionate person, but Draco brought out this unexpected desire in her. She craved it. Was it the emotions that heightened the desire or did the desire heighten her emotions? Did she even care?

"Are you reading minds now? I was hoping you'd come." If only wishing could make things so.

His mouth curved against her skin. "I don't know whether that's flattering or insulting." He nuzzled her behind her ear, bit the lobe. Hermione sighed contentedly and she leaned back into him, baring her neck in invitation.

"What do you mean?" Hermione held his hand, teased the skin on the back of it with her fingers, tracing absently. Warm skin, yet so many sparks.

"Well, I did teach you Legilimency – are you complimenting my skill at it or insulting my teaching abilities?" She felt him chuckle, but she spun around all the same. Gazed into those mischievous silver eyes.

"Insulting your teaching, naturally. We can thank my natural skill for my progress." Her eyes twinkled and she gave him a smirk to rival his own.

"Of course. You are the brightest witch of our age." Draco smirked back and dropped a hard quick kiss on her surprised mouth. Just that one touch could send a flare of heat through her, distract her from everything and anything. Almost anything.

It couldn't distract her from Draco himself. Hermione had seen the wariness in his eyes, the apprehensiveness which lined his face, despite the teasing tone of his voice. Just as she had suffered countless restless nights, it seemed that he was no better off. Hermione deepened the kiss, stroked her hands along his back, wanting to soothe, wanting to make him forget too.

He tasted perfect. He felt perfect. This was what she had needed to bury her fears away.

He pulled away for a moment, looking past her head to the grounds below.

"Is that music?"

She fiddled with his hair, relishing the physical contact yet bemused with his distraction. "Yes. The Wireless most likely. Someone else is enjoying the evening, I suppose." The sky was clear, the stars twinkled, and the winter chill had faded away.

Draco bent his head close to whisper wickedly in her ear. "Two young lovers perhaps."

"We never needed music." She smiled cheekily at him, and then moved closer to brush her lips along his jaw.

"We never had any music. Maybe we should take advantage." He pulled back and Hermione frowned quizzically. He slipped a hand to her waist, and the other captured one of her own.

"Dance with me Granger." He breathed the words into her hair and Hermione's heart stuttered. They swayed, bodies pressed together. Slowly moving in tune the faint sounds below. It was intimate. Far more intimate than she expected, especially after all the other barriers they'd crossed. Hermione was nearly oblivious to everything other than Draco. The smell of him – surprisingly citrusy and a bit spicy, with a hint of leather. The feel of him - firm and warm and strong. She felt the sudden need to memorize every detail.

Draco let his hand wander from her waist to her spine and then back again. A gentle caress he was tempted to take farther. But for the moment, dancing with her would certainly do.

Draco closed his eyes and rested his chin atop her head as they moved. I won't let anyone tell me who I can love. He'd repeated the words like a mantra. So often in fact, that they had become seared into his mind. She loved him. He understood why he loved her; fierce, strong, powerful, and brilliant. He was surprised that no other wizard had realized this yet. Not that he was complaining, as he rather liked that her attentions had settled on him. That her heart had settled on his.

He didn't want to let that go. To think that there was a time when he had been expected to make a suitable match. He scoffed at the idea now. There would never be anyone else. He wouldn't let there be. He knew what he wanted from her. What he needed. The words. The words that would bind them together and keep them from ever being torn apart. He just needed to be brave enough to say them.

He kept his feet moving in that steady one two of the dance and tried to keep his voice steady. "What do you think about marriage?"

Hermione stumbled a bit, hand tightening in his, but she regained her posture quickly. Her blissful fog had been interrupted and it took her a moment to comprehend the question. Even then, she wasn't sure she even wanted to understand it.

"Theoretically?" she asked, a touch warily. "Or are you suggesting something?" She tried to let that last bit come off with humour but failed spectacularly. The words hung between them.

Finally Draco came to a halt and looked down at her. "I'm suggesting." His expression was so serious that Hermione felt panic and elation war within her. It was the most impractical, insane thing she'd ever heard him say. It was also the most romantic. Draco Malfoy wanted to be with her and announce it to the world.

Unfortunately, panic and reason won. "Draco, you can't be serious."

He looked unfazed by her disbelief. "Why can't I?"

His unwavering expression shook her. "Well… well, for one thing, we're teenagers! We're not even legal age in the Wizarding World, so it's not even worth arguing about."

He watched her through guarded eyes. "So your issue is with our age? Not with the idea of marrying me?".

"I, I-" Hermione stammered over her words in confusion. Was that her only issue? Was she seriously not alarmed by the idea of marrying Draco Malfoy? She was still in his arms. She could still breathe him, and what she needed was air. Air to clear her thoughts from this seductive haze. She turned away from him, moving to the edge of the Tower and looked out at the night sky. She steadied herself and tried to think. The answer wasn't difficult to discover.

"No..." she answered slowly without turning back. "No, I don't have an issue with the idea of marrying you." In fact, she was quickly becoming quite fond of the idea. What would it be like? She had a feeling it would be rather wonderful. But maybe in a different time… a different place. "It doesn't change anything though."

"It would change a lot of things." He voice was behind her, but he hadn't moved closer, giving her the space she needed to think and breathe. "We'd be together. That's all I want. To be with you, always. And despite what they'd all say, there'd be nothing anyone could do. They'd have to accept it eventually." His words were coaxing, luring her down a path she wasn't sure she was ready to explore.

"And who would stop us?" he continued. "My family? Your friends? No one would know but us. You'd be mine, I'd be yours. It'd be that simple."

Hermione's heart thumped a little faster in her chest. You'd be mine, I'd be yours.

She shook her head again, but not as forcefully as before. "This is madness Draco. This isn't some Shakespearian drama. We're not going to end up like Romeo and Juliet, for Merlin's sake!" The similarities in their positions wasn't lost on her, but it wasn't a path she was willing to follow either. "Who are these people? And how did they end up exactly?" He was moving closer, as if sensing she was wavering. Hermione wanted to laugh, but fear gripped at her. If anything, they should serve as a cautionary tale, not a source of humour.

"They ended up dead." Hermione answered, a little too gruffly even for her ears. She turned to him, determined to stop thinking insane thoughts that couldn't be. She hadn't expected the fierceness of Draco's expression.

"Well then, it's not too much of a stretch, is it?" He countered, temper rising. "We may be young, Hermione, but we are not naïve or foolish. We fully understand what is coming, what is expected of us, what our fates may be. There is a very good chance one or both of us will end up dead by the end of this."

"Don't." Hermione warned, hand raised, heart protesting his claims. She knew it. Hadn't she practically said those very words to him, right at the beginning? But she didn't want to hear it again now.

"I don't want to think about it anymore than you do." He took her hands. "We both have targets on our backs." He paused and took a fortifying breath. "I will love you all my life Hermione. Whether that be one more day or one hundred more years. Just the thought of you is enough to anchor me in this whirlwind. Being bonded with you… that would be indescribable." Hermione stilled, heart thudding so hard she was sure he could hear it. How long had he been thinking of this? Bondings were more, so much more, traditional. More magical. The type of vow that could seal two people together for an eternity. The type of power they could generate… Hermione couldn't fathom it. She shivered.

"Draco, bondings are…" she couldn't fine the words to voice her protest. Maybe she no longer had them, she didn't know. But she knew she had to hear him out. He'd given this serious thought and the least she could was listen.

"Bondings are unconventional now, I know. For some reason, they've fallen a tad out of fashion. Probably because so many of them were patriarchal." Hermione frowned at him, but he continued. "But it's the same thing though. Still basically married. And there are some that would definitely be useful. I know of a few used during the Goblin Wars." He frowned and then turned away from her.

"What types of bonding were you thinking of Draco?" There were many she knew. But she wanted to know what he thought, how he thought bonding would solve anything, and which bond he'd her.

"Magical core bonding." He didn't even hesitate. He turned and linked their hands together. "You always know. You've heard, I'm sure, how some people say they know the moment their loved one has died or has been put in danger. We could link our cores. We'd always know."

Hermione blinked at him blindly. Was that what this was? Some failsafe to know if she died? The words stabbed at her. They weren't what she wanted to hear, and yet that should be a relief. After all, they couldn't do this.

"We'd find out eventually… and even then, there'd be nothing we could do, Draco." The words came from her in a hoarse whisper. He gripped her hands so hard Hermione gasped.

"I don't want to just find out Hermione. If you ever needed me, I'd want… I'd want to be there. I'd need to be there."

Hermione nodded hesitantly in understanding, but in reality she knew that wasn't a possibility. And yet… wouldn't it be better to know? Would she spend those summer months endlessly worried about him? Would she even be able to focus on what Harry needed or would her thoughts be so otherwise engaged that she'd fail him? And then fail everyone?

"We could do it, you know." He voice was a mere whisper. "I know the spell."

Hermione stared at their enjoined hands mutely for a minute, trying to comprehend everything he had just said. This sudden onslaught of information had thrown her. She was saved a reply by the a loud crashing in the distance. They leapt apart, eyeing the door like two children caught red-handed. That sad sense of reality sank back into Hermione. Draco walked to the rail without looking at her, without pushing her for an answer. Silence reigned. They didn't speak. No other surprising sounds were heard.

"You wouldn't consider running away with me would you?" He asked as if he knew better than to bring up the previous topic. Yet he didn't know why he asked when he already knew the answer. He didn't face her, just let the words softly float back.

The question pierced her to the core. Not because she wouldn't, but because for about a second she wanted to. She went to him, leant her front to his back, needing him to know that her answer wasn't because she didn't feel anything for him.

"I can't." She murmured the words against his back, wondering if that's what he'd do. If it wasn't for her, would he have run away and abandoned them all?

"I know. I don't know why I asked. It's not like I can run anyway." His laugh was short and brittle.

She closed her eyes. "I'll think of something. We'll find a solution." He switched positions and ran his hands along her arms.

"Sometimes there isn't a solution, Hermione. Only dealing with what is. You can't fix all the problems of the world." He said gently. She pursed her lips in agitation as she looked at him.

"I don't wan't to fix all the problems of the world." Just our problems, for now.

He pulled her back to him again, and she contentedly went. Draco had known she wouldn't run. And still that other idea taunted him, beckoned him, shone like a light at the end of the tunnel. A future with promise.

Hermione hurried along the empty corridors, grateful there were no prying eyes to see her. She was practically bouncing in excitement.

In the days following Draco's "proposal," Hermione had noticed that Draco had been even more markedly sullen. She'd known because she felt the same. She couldn't stop thinking about it, about him. She wasn't sure when it had happened exactly, but at some point he had become intricately entwined in her visions of a future. Oh it wasn't something she allowed herself very often – those fantasies where Harry triumphed and she had moved on from Hogwarts, her parents were safe, she'd found the perfect career, and perhaps there was a husband who loved her madly waiting for her at the end of it all. She had thought for some time that the vague shadow would be a certain redhead. But it was funny, now that she had Draco, that figure wasn't vague anymore.

Not that Hermione would allow these fantasies of her future to define her actions. There were still far too many other factors at play.

The proposal had, however, prompted her to revisit one of her many plans to help save Draco. And his mother. That had been the most troubling part of her plans – getting to Narcissa Malfoy was never going to be an easy task. But now, perhaps, there was an opportunity.

She looked around cautiously before hurrying into the Room of Requirement. Her heart jumped at the site of him. She'd wondered for a moment if he'd show up. It had taken ages to even get a message to him, but she wanted to see him. To explain everything.

"Draco." It was one word. All she'd said was one word and it was enough to push him over the edge. Just his name coming from her lips. He was at her side in an instant. No words. Just his mouth fiercely demanding her own. He sucked, nibbled, licked. Tasted her, his own sweet drug. It's not that it had been too long. It was the way they had left things, so uncertain, so negative. He didn't want that for her.

Hermione pulled him closer, pressing herself firmly against him. It was good. Too good. It would be so easy to lose herself in him, but they had to talk.

Letting out a shuddery moan, she pulled her lips away. "Draco," she tried again, but his lips had started a determined journey along the side of her neck.

She half-laughed, half-cried as she pushed at his chest to get his attention. He finally stopped his ardourous kisses, burying his face in her hair.

"I'm sorry," he murmured. He'd probably be apologizing forever, if things continued as they were, but hell, he'd take it if she'd have him.

Hermione pulled back in surprise, "Whatever for?"

Draco sighed as he looked into her trusting gaze. "Everything, I suppose."

"Oh Draco, don't be so melancholy. Not right now. Not when I finally have an idea!" Hermione's enthusiasm had returned. She grabbed his hand and dragged him over to the couch in the small, cosy room. She turned to him, eyes alit with excitement.

"I think I've figured out a way to help your mother."

Draco hissed out his breath. His heart picked up pace, fear icing his veins. "Hermione, you are not going anywhere near my mother, you understand me? It is far too dangerous! I won't let you risk yourself, not like that, not for her. Not for me."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Let's ignore the part where you think you can tell me what risks I can take, for the moment. I'm not an idiot Draco."

Draco grit his teeth, still fearful. "Hermione—" She held a hand to his mouth.

"Will you please simply listen?" His heart twitched as he noticed her eyes becoming markedly dimmer. He had done that. He had already put a damper on her happiness. He didn't want to do that. Not now. Not when he'd be causing so much pain later. He nodded silently. She smiled again and his heart returned to its normal rhythm.

"Good. Now, as I was saying, I think I've figured out a way we can help your mother, and in doing so, help you." Hermione pulled a rusty looking key from her robes. "You see this key? It will be the key to solving our problems." Hermione laughed at her little joke. "It's the key to my late grandmother's cottage. She left the cottage to me. I was her only grandchild, you see."

Draco had a bad idea he knew where this was going. "Hermione, we couldn't possibly…"

Hermione huffed. "Of course you could. And it's not like I'm suggesting you just take the key and go there. That's far too simple and you'd be far too likely to get caught. No, you still need to get your mother out of Malfoy Manor. That's why I charmed it."

Taking Draco's hand, Hermione pressed the key into his palm. "I've made it into a Portkey."

Draco felt that uncomfortable feeling again, gnawing at him as she spoke. "When's it timed for?" He didn't know why he asked. It's not like he could use it.

Hermione smirked in satisfaction. "That was the tricky part. It would be took risky to have the Portkey set with a time. I had to fiddle with the Portus charm a bit. It will take you to the cottage with a code word. When the time comes, when you have your mother with you, you say Adimo portus."

His heart stuttered. She had done all this for his mother? For him? He shouldn't be surprised, but he was. Over and over again, she had proved how much she cared for him. He couldn't accept it. Draco went to push the key back into her hand.

"Hermione, even if we could, it just… it just wouldn't work," he finished lamely. Hermione pursed her lips in agitation and pushed the key back at him.

"Of course it will. Now, the cottage is in a quiet muggle area, so you wouldn't be able to use magic, but I think you could manage a few months if I stocked the space sufficiently." And provide detailed lists of instructions, Hermione added silently to herself. "It's a risk, of course, but I knew it would be. Which is why I didn't mention it until now. Not until I worked out the other precautions." Hermione paused and took a breath, her face excited again. "We'd need to ward the cottage of course for your protection. I thought of a Fidelius Charm, but it would be unwise for one of us to be the Secret Keeper and I can't trust anyone else with this."

Hermione braced herself, turned to Draco and took his hands in hers.

"But when you asked me… the other night when you mentioned marriage and bonding, I realized there was another solution. Magical core wards. No one would expect it, they are so rare, and if we combine them with blood wards, well, we could practically make your location unplottable. I could set them once I leave Hogwarts. And then you'd be able to access the cottage. Only you, and whomever you permitted, which would naturally be your mother. There are details to work out, but the point of the matter is… yes, Draco, I will marry you."