Author's Note: So here is the penultimate chapter of my little fiction. Yes folks, the next chapter will be the last. I might be able to write a sequel, but I'm not sure. It could all go drastically wrong. Well tell me what you think and I'll see if I can come up with a post Hogwarts story to continue this one.

Acknowledgments: Ok, here we go. Alybaby, I hope this answers at least one of your questions. Christine, I write the entire story, even the bits with the italics. To all the rest of you, a big thank you for all your lovely reviews. I'm glad you like this little story so much. This one for you!

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. Wish I did!

Chapter 10

They say that all good things must come to an end and it is true. Sometimes we discard them and only regret it once it is gone. Other times we have no choice in the matter. Fate it would seem has other things in mind. All you can do is try and clutch at the clouds…

'So…What do you want to do?'

This always seemed like the ultimate question to Draco. There were many things he wanted to do and most of them were probably illegal in one country or another. Taking a deep breath he pursed his lips together and thought about all the things he would like to have done at that exact moment in time. He would have liked to run his fingers through her chocolate brown wavy hair or maybe along the elegant curve of her jaw. Most of all though he wanted to kiss her. He couldn't help it; she in his eyes was the most irresistible thing in the world. Everything about her made him want to touch her, just to be able to feel something that wasn't his own pain.

'Draco…Draco!!'

He winced slightly as her elbow made contact with his ribs. Even with that he couldn't help but smile. He had realised that there was one thing she embodied for him and that was love. Draco Malfoy was in love with Hermione Granger and every moment with her felt like the world had stopped turning. This would never be revealed though. He couldn't let her know, it would make what was going to happen harder. The end of what would probably be the best journey he had ever happened to walk.

'Ouch! What the hell was that for?' Draco said indignantly.

'You're not listening to a word I'm saying are you? Then again I shouldn't have expected anything better from you,' Hermione said snidely.

Draco laughed softly and hung his head low. Even when they were as close to friendship they could ever get, they fought. It seemed to be the only way to stop the inevitable goodbye though. He felt like he was trying to stretch a minute into an hour and it was like dying.

'I'm willing to do whatever the lady wants to do,' he replied finally, 'see I was listening.'

'Fine.'

'Fine.'

The silence stretched between them as they sat side by side on the large four poster bed. After they had confronted their fears, Hermione had suggested that they went somewhere and talked. Draco had known it meant she wanted to say goodbye. He had been so angry with her, so angry he felt numb. Every time he closed his eyes all he could picture was the Weasley boy with his lips on the woman he loved. Somehow it seemed to help if he blamed Hermione for everything. Now though, sat on his bed alone, he felt sad. Almost depressed in fact because he knew how it was all going to end. Pain would defiantly be a main factor. All the colours of the world would have to be turned off and Draco would go back to living in the grey and blacks.

'Draco…'

He looked up at her soulfully. Tears were forming in the corner of her eye, and automatically he brushed them away with a light flick of his finger. She flinched slightly under his touch and quickly he withdrew his hand, cursing himself for bringing her up to his room. It had taken a lot of cunning to get her through the Common Room and up the stairs. She had been dubious like a typical Gryffindor, but he'd been able to tempt her. In all honesty, he couldn't really remember much of it. All he wanted to do was get them alone and with that he managed to succeed it. Now though it seemed like he had made yet another mistake.

'Look Hermione, maybe this was a bad idea…I mean won't Potty and Weasley be looking for you?' he managed to say coolly.

'Don't,' she whispered, looking down into her lap. 'Just this once forget them. Please.'

Draco frowned. He hadn't expected her to take such a weak front. He had expected anger or a snappy response. The last thing he would have thought she would have done was give up on an argument, even one that hadn't started yet. 'What's wrong?' he whispered gently.

'This. This is wrong. I've betrayed my friends, using one of them as a replacement for something that was never going to work. I'm wrong. You're wrong. The whole damn world is wrong right now,' she spoke softly, yet a hint of malice was there. 'Most of all what I feel is wrong. And you know what?'

'What?' he said with a look of concern. It wasn't like Hermione to talk like this. Maybe some of his negativity had rubbed off on her.

'It feels so right,' she stated simply. Slowly she tilted her head to look at him. 'Does it sound crazy?'

'No,' he said slowly, 'It sounds like the most reasonable thing I've ever heard.'

'Good…'

Again the silence seemed to consume the room whole. Draco sought his mind for something to say. Anything that would keep her in his room longer. The ending was drawing near and he desperately didn't want it to be now. Five more minutes after infinity wouldn't even begin to suffice his need to be near her. He doubted anytime would. She had been the only thing on his mind for months now in one form or another. Without her he was scared that he would never be able to think straight again.

'Will you do one last thing for me…before I go that is?' Hermione said in a voice that sounded like it might crack at any second.

'Anything,' he replied plainly.

'Kiss me…just one last time…' she whispered.

Biting his lips slightly, Draco considered the consequences of kissing Hermione for the last time. It would be like sealing their fate. It would mean having to admit he would never be able to kiss her again. Then again, if he didn't take the opportunity then and there, he wouldn't even have that to remember. Something about the way she had asked him made it sound like a plea. It felt like she was almost begging for him to finish it for her. Maybe it was just his male ego coming into play, but he wasn't sure. Dipping his head slightly, he cautiously let his lips brush against hers. The electricity that shot through him at the slightest contact was amazing and overpowering. Slowly he began to kiss her.

***

Bitter sweet was the soft, tame kiss that landed on Hermione's lips. When she had asked him to kiss her she had expected more. She thought he might intoxicate her with a wild kiss that made her feel like one in a million. Instead though, she got the impression he was restraining himself. Reducing their last kiss to something deeper then what it was. Something she would never forget. Slowly she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer to her, seeking solace in his embrace. One of his hands was on her knee and the other lay limp by his side.

After a minute or so of this slow kiss, Draco pulled back and began to gulp down air. His forehead leant against hers and his eyes were firmly closed. Licking her lips slightly she watched the boy in front of her slowly begin to break down. He seemed to be trembling from head to foot and his eyes were tightly shut as if he was denying what they would see. Lingeringly she withdrew her hands from around his neck and clasped at the hand that lay loosely on her knee. Bringing the hand up to her mouth she steadily began to kiss each finger in turn. His eyes slowly opened and gazed into her own.

'I thought you said "one last time"…?' he said with an air of mischief.

'I lied,' Hermione whispered with a giggle.

'Well Miss Granger I think you've spent to much time around Slytherin's. What would Po… those friends of yours say if they had any clue that you, Hermione Granger, had told a lie?' Draco shook his head in mock disgust.

Hermione laughed for what seemed the first time in ages. Everything seemed lighter now. More fluffy. That was when she came to the decision that for the time they spent together; she would forget who she was and be who she wanted to be. It didn't matter now that the end was nigh. All that mattered was enjoying the time they had left. Growling softly she leapt up from where she was sat and straddled Draco's lap. The look of shock on his face made her laugh again.

'What do you think your doing?' he asked so softly she could barely hear.

'I'm tired of hiding and pretending that I don't feel the way I feel. We have one last chance to do anything about it and I'll be damned if I'm going to let you just sit there out of respect for me. What happened to the Draco I knew and loved?' she quipped as she placed her hands on his shoulders gently.

'Loved?' Draco said with arched eyebrows.

'Shut up,' she whispered leaning in close to kiss his lips. He pulled back before she could reach them though, causing her to frown in confusion. Had she done something wrong? She had thought this was what he wanted.

'Your covered in mud though,' he said with a slight smile.

Hermione laughed gently and pushed him back so he was lying flat on his back. Looking down at him the smile slowly faded. Did she really want to take this huge leap into the unknown? He seemed to be sharing her concern, yet more willing to persuasion on her behalf. She didn't know what to do…or where things went…in reality she had never even considered doing the things she was thinking about until she was at least 28! 'We don't have to do this,' cut the voice through her thoughts, 'Not if your not ready. I understand if…' He was cut off by her lips pressing against his in a passionate kiss.

So began the unstoppable rollercoaster. Her hands seeked the tie to his robes and gently pulled as the kiss continued. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once; his breath was heavy at every break of the kiss they reached. The smile on her face seemed bigger then her actual face and she couldn't even turn it off. With a growl he had them flipped over so he was on top, again she couldn't help but giggle and cover her face with her hands. Carefully he pulled her hands away from her face and smiled devilishly down at her. Dipping his head slightly he kissed her once, and then his hands tugged at her mud covered robes. 'You are sure you want to do this aren't you?' he murmured softly into her ear.

Hermione shivered slightly. There had always been something about Draco that had that affect on her. Whether it was his voice or his mannerisms, she wasn't sure, but there was defiantly something. Now though it felt more raw then ever. He was on top of her, supporting his weight on his knees and elbows. Everything suddenly felt real and she was scared. 'Yes,' she said softly, as she kissed his nose.

Another famous Draco smile crossed his features and he clambered off her. Standing up by the side of the bed he offered his hand to her. Nervously she accepted it and he pulled her up into an embrace. She smiled slightly as she buried her head into the crook of his neck. He smelt so good after having been flying all day. It was a mix of pine and smoke, with a hint of spice. When she came out of her thoughts she realised her robes were magically pooled round her feet. She let out a little gap and frowned at Draco. 'I hope you're not going to cheat at this like you do with other things!' She said indignantly.

'Of course not,' he whispered with a sexy smile. 'I love you Hermione Granger, and nothing will ever stop that.'

Hermione couldn't help but grin from cheek to cheek. Her mother had defiantly been right. It was the most wondrous thing in the world. Words could mean so much in a world full of actions. 'I love you too.' Her hands went again to his shoulders and gently she pushed back his robes so that, like hers, they dropped round his feet. 'Now will you shut up?!'

He laughed and undid her tie as gently as he could, his eyes not moving from hers. Pulling it her closer by her tie he kissed her gently on the lips then whipped the tie out. She sighed softly, as his lips travelled slowly down her neck as he undid the buttons of her shirt. Feeling she was participating enough in the act of undressing, Hermione roughly removed his tie and undid the buttons, each on revealing more of the creamy white skin beneath. Drawing a finger across the gap she had created, he shivered as she once had. His skin didn't feel as cold as she had thought it would have. Maybe Draco Malfoy wasn't the ice King she had once imagined.

Meanwhile Draco seemed to be busying himself with tugging the offending shirt from her skirt. Hermione had managed to get the rest of his buttons undone when she realised that her own shirt had joined her robes and tie on the floor. She shuddered as she felt the cold hit her. He seemed to notice this and pulled the rest of his shirt off in one swift movement, picked her up, placed her neatly on his bed and covered her in a quilt. Hermione snuggled further into the warmth and looked up at Draco expectantly. 'What?' he said cautiously, while half undoing his belt.

'Nothing, just enjoying the view.'

Draco laughed jovially and let his trousers drop round his ankles then stepped out of them. She felt her jaw drop slightly at the sight of Draco standing only in his boxers. A gulp seemed to escape from her. She hadn't seen many men in this state of undress and she could feel herself blushing. Anything she really knew about men was from books and listening to Harry and Ron. Nothing this…physical. 'Close your mouth Hermione. You might catch flies,' he said in mock snide ness.

Quickly she closed her mouth and threw back part of the covers. 'Come on then! I'm not going to wait around in your bed all day you know!'

He laughed again and Hermione glared at him in frustration. Why did he have to keep laughing? This wasn't something she did everyday. Maybe he did… Another blush crept about her cheeks. This was her first time and she had a pretty good idea that it wasn't his. She had heard many rumours about him and Pansy Parkinson, but never had they been open about any relationship. A sudden presence was at her side and she found Draco had climbed in next to her. His eyes pierced through her and she tried to avoid eye contact. Fingers brushed against her skin making her eyes flutter close, her head was gently turned and a soft kiss was planted on her lips. Slowly she began to return it and it metamorphosis into a wild passionate kiss.

Hands went everywhere and Hermione found herself shivering and moaning at all the places he seemed to be touching. He too seemed to be enjoying the experience and soon Hermione found herself hanging on for dear life as the rest of the night slowly passed by. Each minute meaning more then the last. Her final night of ecstasy with the boy she loved.

…but they never become something real. Eventually they will fade and die. Fate will rule out all others. What matters most is that the journey to the inevitable is fulfilled to its best. Giving into the passions for just one moment might make things harder but in the end it will have been rewarding. You may never succeed the real thing but you will always have the bitter sweet memory. Slowly the curtains will close on the tale though. Adieu, adieu.

Author's Note 2: The end is nigh indeed. I'll be sad to see the end of this fiction. *sniff* Oh well… For all of you that didn't quite catch my drift, Draco and Hermione did do the dirty deed; I just didn't think I'd be able to give it justice by writing it. Hope it was alright. So review and tell me if you think there should be a sequel.