Chapter 23 The Erroris

Authors Note: Sorry this update took me long. But Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! And if you don't celebrate anything I hope your day was great. Also, I was super surprised to learn that some of you have never heard about wand replaced for willy. I would look it up if I were you. Anyway enjoy!

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Draco barged into the Grangers house. Wishing she was here. Wishing she was okay. However, all he found was an empty house. No life. Deserted. All the photos were vacant. None with her. Next, he went to Hogsmade. His hope of finding her was very slim. He didn't even go and see if she was at Hogwarts. That place was crawling with Death Eaters. As a last resort, he went to Grimmauld Place. He no longer held that hope of finding her. Just the need. He could feel the pull. Fell the want. He had to find her or the sensation would be too much to bare. But again, the house was empty. He immediately apparated home and flung his long body onto a black couch. The screams of Hermione were echoing through his head. The word mudblood was still red overlapping his dark mark. But he didn't care. He only cared about her. He would die if it meant that she would be safe.

"Draco. Honey is that you?"

"What!" His response was muffled due to his face currently smashing into the cushions of the couch.

"Go to her." Draco looked up into his teary-eyed mother.

"I don't know where she is."

"Take Lyra."

"How on Earth could that bird possibly help?" He let his face fall once more onto the soft cushions.

A quick smack on the back of the head from Narcissa grabbed Draco's attention. "Don't be a foul! Lyra is our best tracking owl. She can lead you to Hermione. Follow the bird."

His jaw dropped. He stayed there, just staring at her. "Mother you are a genius! Have I told you that recently?" He gave her a quick hug and peck on the cheek.

"No, but I wouldn't mind it. Now go!" He just gave her a cheeky smile before running off. She loved seeing the life back in his eyes. She unlike her husband does not use the three Unforgivable Curses as a form of punishment.

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Draco quickly grabbed his Firebolt and ran to the owlery. He addressed the letter to her but put no markings of him writing it. The only words on the paper were I'm sorry. It would be too dangerous with the current state of things to sign his name. Going to see her wasn't the smartest idea but he would be hidden. Using his well perfected delusion charm.

"Erroris." The slivery mist spread all over his body. Making himself practically invisible. He quickly tied the letter to Lyra's foot and was off. He didn't care how long it would take him. He would find her. He had to.

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It has been less than 24 hours since escaping Malfoy Manor and Hermione lay in bed. The cottage off in the distance was owned by Bill and Fleur. Ron carried her all the way there. After further inspection by the adults of the house they concluded that Hermione would be out for a few days. Her body and mind were trying to catch up with the tragic incident she just went through.

Off in the distance, Draco sat upon his flying broom. His owl had delivered the letter. The questions were who was in the house, how would he get in, and where exactly was Hermione? He lowered his broom and hid it behind some trees. Next, he as quietly as possible approached the small house. He saw some familiar faces through the windows. For example, Harry, Ron, Luna, and the girl from the Triwizard Tournament who got last place. But where was Hermione?

What felt like hours of waiting he was finally able to slip inside. Harry and Ron opened the door, leaving the cottage, and allowing Draco to slip in before the door shut. He found Luna on the couch, the champion girl and an old red head in the kitchen, Draco assumed he was a Weasley, and finally a goblin trying to ignore Luna.

He walked straight past them. For one he allowed his heart to guide him. To lead him. Once his feet came to a stop he slowly opened his eyes, revealing an old greyish wooden door. He took a deep breath before grabbing the handle. Her still form lay on the old bed. Draco quickly closed the door and just stood there. She was so beautiful in her sleep. So pure. So innocent. But the dark word mudblood would always be there to show her she meant nothing. Draco hated that. He hated tainting her. Causing her pain. Allowing her to get hurt. He hated himself for loving her. Hermione was such an open person. He would have never gotten close to her if he knew this was the outcome. He would have rather died at age seventeen. He should have never bitten her. He should have never changed his ways. She would have neve been in situation if he didn't try. But how was he supposed to know that love meant pain. He shouldn't blame himself but that's all he could do.

Draco didn't want to wake her so he quietly sat in a chair. It was in the corner of the room so he could see her and the door. Draco didn't know what he would do when she woke up but at least he would be here. Possible catch a small smile when she sees her friends.

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It was the next day and Draco was woken by the sound of voices.

"She's still asleep."

"Don't worry Harry. Its Hermione for heaven's sake. She's a fighter. And anyway, she could really use some sleep."

"I guess. We'll check again tomorrow if she isn't already awake."

"Deal." The male part of the trio gave Hermione one more look. Harry moved a curl from her face before exiting the room.

Draco doesn't really know what compelled him to do it but he got in bed with Hermione. Without hesitation, he wrapped his pale arms around her small frame and pulled her flush against him. Their whole bodies were touching as he stuck his face into her hair. Basking in the scent. If anyone walked in they would only see Hermione on her side. So, Draco felt safe letting his guard down and just soaking her in.

A few hours later Hermione began to stir. He eyes flashed opened and she was meet with darkness. It must be the middle of the night. When she tried to sit up she felt like there was a rope around her waist. Upon further movement, she concluded that there was a whole body in her bed. Her face flushed in the darkness. For some reason, she wasn't scared it was a Death Eater or a person out to hurt her. The closeness embarrassed her. She decided it was time to wake this invisible person. She positioned her hands where she assumed his or her chest should be and pushed hard. The bang on the floor showed her she accomplished her goal.

"Ouch! What was that for? Wait. Hermione your awake!" The person jumped on the bed and engulfed her in a big hug.

"Who are you?" Hermione was pushing at their chest as the delusion charm was removed. "Draco?" Hermione became rigid in his arms. Not moving an inch. Afraid to.

"Hermione?"

She pulled away and had her back facing him. "I wish that I had never meet you. Then there would be no need to impress you. No need to want you. No need for loving you. No need for crying over you. No need for heartbreaks. No need for pain or tears. No need for forgotten promises. No need for rejected hugs. No need for crying myself to sleep. No need for acting like your care. No need, for everything you've done to make me feel like absolutely nothing." She turned towards him. Her black eyes raining. "You Draco Malfoy hurt me. And here I was think you cared."

Draco was completely shocked. "Hermione I miss you. I need you, if only you knew the pain I feel when I'm not with you. I'm thinking about you all day, which never makes the pain go away. The pain I have knowing that this might be my last day my last breath. That you may be my last kiss my last love. The pain you put me through I hope you never have to feel because the pain makes you not want to feel." He stopped to steady his breaking voice. "I never meant for you to get hurt. I'm not saying my pain was worse than yours but I do feel pain. You are my everything. I'm so sorry I came into your life. I'm sorry I got you hurt. I'm sorry for loving you. I'm sorry for not stopping the pain sooner." He stood and walked over to the door. "Hermione, I will always love you. The pain I felt when you were being hurt will live in me forever. Your screams keep me up at night. Your all I think about." He began to turn the knob.

"Why didn't you stop it? Why didn't you try and stop Bellatrix?"

Draco released the handle and walked towards Hermione, wiping a tear away from her face with his thumb. "Trust me I wanted to. I was about to but our connection." He rolled up his left sleeve to show his identical marking. "I felt the same pain you did. I even tried to attack Bellatrix. Seeing your still body on the floor sent shock waves through me. I would never be able to live with myself if you got hurt. I'm hardly living now."

She slowly reached out and traced the hated word. Sending goosebumps throughout his body. "What happened after I left. All I remember was you being hit with a spell and me being pulled away."

"My father used the torture curse on me so I would let you go. I woke up hours later in a cell, the Dark Lord was there. I called him a Half-Blood which proceeded to more rounds of torture."

Hermione had her hands over her mouth. Her black eyes vast. "How can you talk about the torture curse so lightly? It's one of the three Unforgivable Curses."

"My father has used it as a form of punishment ever since I was little. Isn't that normal?"

Hermione threw her arms around Draco's neck, flattening him against the bed. "I'm so sorry. I was just angry earlier. I know it wasn't your fault that I got hurt. And I don't blame you."

Draco's arms slid around her waist. "I should be the one saying sorry. You never deserved any of this. And that word on your arm will be there forever."

"It's a constant reminder of what we're fighting for." Hermione inched up and pressed her lips to his. The immediate heat spread through their bodies. Draco's fingers began to tingle as Hermione pulled away. "I love you."

His eyes grew large and his mouth hung open. The soft chuckle from Hermione's lips filled the dim lite room. She began to get up and walk away from the bed as Draco's arm slid around her waist, pulling her onto his lap. "I love you too."

Hermione flushed from the closeness. When he started to kiss her neck, she could really feel the heat in her face growing. She tried to jump away from him. "Draco let me go!" His arms only tightened around her. "I'm serious! I have to tell Ron and Harry I'm awake."

"Can't you wait until morning? That's when they are coming to check on you again." He continued to kiss her neck.

"How do you know that? Draco how long have you been here?"

He pulled away and looked into her beautiful questioning face. "Two days." He gave a cheeky smile as his cheeks started to heat up. She looked at him for a few more seconds before launching her lips upon his. After a few more seconds, she jumped away and out of reach. "Hey no fair!"

She only gave a sweet music filled laugh before opening the door and trying to find where Harry and Ron were.

Authors Note: Ok so I'm not an artist and I don't know if any of you are. But would someone be willing to draw me Draco's arm with the Death Eater mark and word mudblood going through it. Private Message me if you are interested. Thanks!