A/N: Ah, we're nearing the end of this collection! Can y'all believe I started this 2 years ago? I just can't believe my lazy ass is gonna finish something. Only 5 more chapters left! Hope y'all are as ready as I am. :)

Hogwarts: Gobstones Club: Silver Stone: Money - A - (dialogue) "Don't leave me."; P- (color) Ivory; T - (emotion) frustrated; Around the World: Guyana - (word) glamour

Pairing the Character: Draco/Hermione

Word count: 457

Title inspired by In the Heights - 96,000

Stay Broke Then

The air hung high and tense between them and his shoes looked particularly shiny against the marble floor. He could hear the soft breathing of the woman beside him and he flinched when she placed a tan hand against his ivory one. He doesn't understand why she's still here. He'd already told her the horrible truth.

Everybody left after they heard it. After they heard that he was all glamour and appearances, but he hadn't a cent in his bank account. That all Draco had was his big house and everything in it.

"You're an idiot," her voice whispered, and Draco tried to move his hand away from the table and from her grip. Of course, Hermione wouldn't be any different. He was a fool to think she'd stay. He was foolish to think that this was love. But Hermione grabbed his hand tighter and refused to let go. "Look at me," Hermione said, voice louder and certain.

Draco could never say no to her.

He tore his eyes from the floor and stared into her brown, doe eyes. "I don't care," she declared, "if you have money or not. That was never the point of this."

"This?"

"Yes! This relationship. I'm here because I love you, and unless not having any money changes your feelings, then I'm here to fucking stay, okay?" She raised their hands off the table and pressed a soft kiss on Draco's knuckles to emphasize her point.

"Why?" Draco asked hoarsely, trying to find any deception in Hermione's face. "I can't wrap my head around it. Don't you hate me? I lied to you. You should hate me. I promised you so many things I can't keep, but god, I want to." He laughed bitterly. "I'd give you the world if I could."

Hermione scoffed, her free hand wiping away his falling tears. He hadn't realized he was crying. "I don't need the world when I have you."

"Don't be cheesy," Draco whispered, voice cracking. His heart could burst out of his chest. "That was never us."

"Maybe it is," Hermione said, smile wide and eyes teary. She looked ridiculous, grinning so stupidly like that. But Draco liked ridiculous, it was a nice change from seeing anger so many damn times. "In the future, you know. Maybe we'll go insane and whisper sweet nothings to each other."

"The future?" he asked, lips quirking into a smile.

Hermione nodded, pressing their foreheads together. "Yeah, the future. Doesn't that sound nice?"

"Yes, yes, it does." He inhaled sharply; fears and doubt still poking at his heart and mind because no one ever stayed this long. "Stay, please. Don't leave me."

Soft lips pressed against his forehead in a calming reassurance. "I never wanted to."