a/n: Hey guys, sorry for the shortest chapter ever, but I really wanted to give you guys something and I promise I'll add another one really soon! Before we start I would love to thank everybody who read and reviewed my story! I love reading every single one of your reviews and you make me want to get back to writing asap.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy this very short chapter. Again, so sorry :(

Chapter 27

Draco came to in the hospital, his vision blurred and foggy.
"Can you hear me?" He recognized the voice.
"Draco," it spoke again, this time more pressing. The dark haired man appeared in his vision, his hands bloody, definitely not the person he wanted to see right now.
"I can hear you," he whispered, barely audible.
"Good, how are you feeling?" the voice asked again.
"Great," Draco answered in a voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Don't sass me, boy, you almost died." Draco sighed.
"Again," he added, softly.
"What was that?" Snape asked, sounding pretty annoyed.
"Nothing," Draco tried to sit up in the bed but found his movements blocked by a strong hand.
"We need to talk," Snape insisted.
"There is someone I want to see first," Draco tried to get up again.
"Miss Granger, I know, that's what we need to talk about." Draco stopped struggling and looked at the greasy haired man. His face wasn't telling him anything good.

"What about her?" Draco asked, slightly worried.

"Did something happen to her?" he asked, his voice all but breaking.
"She's fine, I'm sure she'll come barging in any second," the older man stated. "You need to stay away from her, I don't know what's going on between you two, but it can only end in death and misery." Snape's vision was trained on Draco, his gaze firm.
"You don't get to tell me who I can be with," Draco snapped, frowning.
"Draco," the older man grabbed the younger's hand. Draco looked down, slightly taken aback by the sudden gentleness in the potion master's voice.
"I know how this feels, but you can't be with her. You might think that you two will defy the odds, believe me, I once did too." The cogs in Draco's mind were running overtime. "He will find out and he will take her from you in the worst way possible. She's already in enough danger by associating with Potter."
"So we don't tell him?" Draco questioned.
"You know it's not about telling him, we both know that he'll find out." Draco bit his lip. He knew he was right. Voldemort would find out and he would hunt her like a prey. "And even if you could hide in your mind, she would be devastated if she found out about your mission." He had forgotten about that, he had to admit. The second he had seen her, the real her, he had forgotten all about his mother and his mission. He had to stay as far away from her as he possibly could. He had to protect her, even if that meant losing her forever. Even if it meant dying a little himself.
"You understand?" the older man asked once more, squeezing his hand gently. Draco nodded softly.
"Good, now drink this." He handed him a concoction. "It'll help you sleep. You need it." Draco threw his head back and let the soothing liquid slide down his throat. He watched Snape leave before succumbing to the pull of sleep, the black robes the last thing he saw disappear through the huge double doors.

When he woke, it was dark out. He must have been sleeping for a good while. He shifted in his bed and found a weight on his legs. He let his eyes get used to the dark for a second before realising who was asleep on his bed. Her hair was sprayed over the covers, surrounding her head like a halo of hazel curls. His fingers carefully threaded through the strands, revelling in the feel of her soft hair. He noticed the soft rise and fall of her chest and her mouth slightly ajar. His fingers trailed over her cheekbones, carefully sliding down her nose over her lips, he wanted to commit her entire face to memory. Her eyelids fluttered before she slowly opened her eyes. The moonlight causing her ember eyes to glow. She smiled softly and breathed his name before throwing her arms around his neck. His arms wrapped around her tiny frame in response. He breathed in her familiar scent, trying to name every note so he could remember later.
"You're here," he whispered.
"I am," she answered against his neck. He pushed her off slightly, finding her eyes for a second before he pressed his lips against hers in a hungry need. She tasted exactly as he remembered, warm and sweet.
"I missed you so much," he breathed against her lips.
"I missed you more," she answered, smiling. "Tell me what happened," he whispered softly.
"So much and yet so little. I basically retreaded to my chambers after you… well, left," she started, "it was terrible being there by myself, but I couldn't leave knowing he would be okay," he stopped her.
"He?" he asked.
"Yes, he," she smiled a sad smile and handed him the book she found in his bag, opened on the page after theirs.
"His name is Draco, too." He looked at the painting. He looked so much like him, the same platinum hair, the same grey eyes. The boy was wearing a golden crown Draco knew very well and around his neck were two rings.
"He is beautiful, right?" she asked and Draco grabbed her face in his hands.
"He is perfect," he whispered, tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm just sad I'll never get to meet him," he added softly.
"I know," Hermione answered. "I told him we loved him so much and I told his grandmother to tell him about you. I wrote him a letter too," she whispered.
"You did?" he asked. She nodded soflty.
"I didn't have much time with him, minutes, before I died and woke up here." He pulled her into his arms once more and hugged her tightly.
"Please don't ever leave me again," she whispered.
"I love you," he answered.
"I love you too, Draco," she breathed against his neck.
"Please don't hate me for this," he whispered, barely audible before grabbing his wand and pointing it against her head. Tears were rolling down his face as he carefully enunciated the word.
"Obliviate."