Title: Beauty and the Beast
Author: Mjade
Summary: Draco/Mione fic. One year after graduation. Ron and Harry go exploring and when they don't come back Hermione begins to worry. I know the title is corny but I named it that because the plot line is based on that.
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and Walt Disney own Beauty and the Beast, the animation.
Rating: PG/Romance Author's Note: Incredibly sorry for the long wait. I had exams but they weren't so hard as I expected. English though was something. I had to sit down and write an essay about this lame question, for two hours. Plus, I went through different scenarios on how to end this fic. Please I'm not in the mood to receive flames for this chapter! Here's to my reviewers : pocketgopher, Multiple Lilys, Vanillastar, valkyrie1689, Mouse, Star Jade, Yuliya, Icy Stormz, The Charmed One, Tara, malfoyslova15, X lil *hopeless* dreamer X, Elfin Warrior Maiden, Queenie, and draconas. You guys are the best!
READ THIS: There is no introduction in the beginning of this chapter. This time it's in the end. Thank you to the people who gave me information on the 'Avada Kedavra' curse. I know now that it kills instantly but in this fic something else happens, the person doesn't die instantly. Don't hate me. I had to think of different scenarios, but I came up with this one. The spell 'Tiempris Kedavra' belongs to me, you'll see what it does later.
Draco had to think of something fast. But there was no time to think. "TIEMPRIS KEDAVRA!" He shouted as he pointed the wand at himself and felt the spell coarse through his veins. He turned to Hermione and Lucius. His eyes slanted and flashed silver. He knew what he had to do next.
***
Hermione was helpless. There was absolutely no time to dodge the green blast, no time to reach for her wand, and no time to call for help. Suddenly, everything Hermione saw seem to happen in slow motion. There she was standing frozen, in a state where hope was slipping through her fingers, and where the green light was flashing before her enough to blind a Basilisk's eyes. She knew she would die; it was one curse that could not be stopped by anyone. If she had only known her life would end today, she would have told Draco everything, she would pour out everything in her heart . . . wait, no, that wasn't true. Regardless of what would happen, she would have told him anyway. A tear escaped her eye when she realized that that chance would be gone forever. The green light was raging closer. She closed her eyes and screamed.
Hermione felt herself hit the ground hard. If this was death, it still hurts. Her legs were aching and her left arm felt bruised. But she wouldn't know for sure until she opened her eyes-wait, OPEN MY EYES!?
"EXPELLIARMUS!"
Hermione's eyes shot open as she saw Lucius hanging on to the edge of the balcony's railing. "THIS IS NOT THE END!!! VOLDEMORT WILL STILL GET YOU ALL!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. He then lost his balance as the jet of red light hit him and he fell off the balcony as the black endless hole below devoured him.
Hermione forced her self up, despite the pain in her legs, and looked to where Lucius had just fallen. He was gone. One of Voldemort's most powerful Death Eaters is dead, Draco's father is dead-Draco! Hermione turned her head, afraid of what she might see.
Lying on the ground was Draco's lifeless body.
***
Harry stared wide-eyed at the balcony. He knew it all too well. Though it was a vague memory, he did remember a flash of green light and a cold cruel laugh the night his parents died. And during the Triwizard tournament in his fourth year, he had met Voldemort and he had tried to kill him with that same curse.
"Bloody hell," Ron breathed, hopelessness and fear unmistakably in his voice. "Harry, you don't think it hit-it just can't be Hermione, can it?"
"I don't know, Ron. I really don't know, " Harry answered.
He did see the flash of green light, the flare of red going the opposite direction, and Lucius falling. The question was: where did the jet of emerald fire hit?
***
The curse had hit him. Hermione was at his side shaking his shoulders, as if he would wake up. "Malfoy, come on! Oh god, Malfoy don't do this to me!"
"I'm not dead, Hermione. Not yet," Draco said, barely breathing.
Hermione shocked, looked at him and saw him open his eyes. "Malfoy? But how? The curse-it hit you-that's impossible!"
"Ever heard-heard of 'tiempris kedavra'?" Draco said.
"No."
"Well, only Death Eaters know of this spell. It's Lucius' fault for teaching me, I guess," Draco gave Hermione a faint smile. "But, it doesn't stop the curse. Nothing can. This spell only slows it down. It is painful I admit, but-but at least I got to see your face one last time."
Hermione looked so beautiful, to him. Her long curly hair, her brown eyes, her face, her scent. And her, just who she was. It was pure beauty. He loved her and it was all that really mattered. He had learned to really love a person, really love Hermione, and to him, he had never known a more beautiful person in his life.
"Malfoy, I came back because I-well, I couldn't let them-" Hermione tried to say. * What am I doing? This is pathetic. I can't be becoming shy now. *
"You don't have to explain. I knew my devilish charm would get to you someday," Malfoy said smirking, but it was easy to see he was in pain. The curse was spreading throughout his body. He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek.
"You're such a prat," Hermione said and put her hand over his and forced a smile. *How can he be like this? Still able to act arrogant and be a prick even when he's dy-even when he's in this situation? *
She didn't believe it. Actually, she didn't want to believe it. Here he was, someone she was waiting for her whole life-and he was already slipping away from her. How could she have not seen who Draco really was before? Wasn't she the perfect judge of people? And yet who was she to judge him? Draco cared for her and her for him, but it was too late.
"Oh, this is all my fault. If only I've gotten here sooner," Hermione said, a tear escaped her eye as she looked down at Draco.
"Hermione," Draco whispered to her, wiping her tear away. "Maybe it is better this way. At least now I can die, knowing you are safe."
"No, you'll be all right. We're together now. Everything is going to be fine!" Hermione cried, despite her knowing the truth. That's when she noticed his arm was bleeding. She rolled up his sleeve and saw the Dark Mark.
"Draco?"
"It was forced onto my arm. I'm not . . .not a Death Eater," Draco said, taking a deep breath. "I care for you too much to become that." Draco closed his eyes. It was too painful for him to keep open, but he ached to look at Hermione again.
"Malfoy, please not yet! Don't do this to me, open your damn eyes!" Hermione pleaded, as more tears flowed from her eyes, which were created by the pain in her heart. Draco was turning paler and paler and he put his hand from her cheek down.
"I'm losing my eyesight, Hermione. It would only be a matter of time before I lose the rest."
Hermione couldn't take it anymore. Why did this have to happen to her? She never asked for anything too extreme in her life, but why was she being punished?
"Malfoy its all your bloody fault!" Hermione shouted at him, more tears streaming down her face. She was so angry with him and she didn't know why. "I hate you Draco Malfoy! I hate you! In Hogwarts, you made rude remarks at me, insulted my family's background and called me Mudblood, made fun of my best friends! And now, that were all grown up, you never ceased to stop. You're still that same boy. A loyalist to the dark arts! A MALFOY!" She spat.
"And my freedom! Who gave you the right to take my freedom away from me? And believe me, I did not enjoy staying under the same roof with my archenemy! I have never met anyone so cruel, so overly self-absorbed, so thoughtless-"
"I get the point, Hermione, but I've changed. You should know that out of all the people." At that point, Draco lost his hearing and soon became deaf then mute. Hermione cried harder knowing that Draco could not see her, could not hear her, and could not talk to her. But he could still feel her.
Hermione moved closer to him and put her head on his chest, but now crying softly. "You are my loathed enemy. But-but. . ."
She looked at his face then closed her eyes. "I love you, Draco."
His heart stopped. And his hand fell out of Hermione's grasp.
***
Harry reached the balcony doors and stopped. Ron got to his side and saw that Hermione was crying, but just as he was about to run to her, Harry stretched his arm out to block him from going any further.
"Harry, we have to go to her," Ron said.
"I think she'd rather be alone now," Harry said.
"But-"
"She just lost somebody she cares about," Harry said.
"Him?"
Harry nodded.
"You know what Harry?" Ron said.
"What?"
"I thought I'd be glad that Malfoy's gone . . .but I'm not."
***
Several minutes of crying passed. It was only a matter of time before dawn would commence. The coldness of the wind would pass and the rays from the sun would warm the countryside, despite the softly falling snow that carpeted the ground. Then France, in all its beauty, would wake up. Would. Only would.
Sometimes you can predict what would happen next. That's because it's all in routine-because that's how the world works. It's no different from what people have seen, since the time they came to live on Earth.
But somehow, someway, there was something different that happened. Something you didn't see everyday, even in the wizarding world. It was nothing big or dramatic, but it felt exciting in a mysterious way.
It was a beam of light. No, not from the sun, dawn had not started quite yet. The beam shot through the sky then fell fast, like a shooting star. For a while, nothing happened. But then a second beam of light appeared in the sky, and then came another, then another. Finally, France's sky was drizzling with falling stars. Harry and Ron, who had gone down to the castle's front doors, gazed up from where they stood, Colin and Chip looked up from the castle's snow-covered garden.
Hermione, however, did not see the beams of light or the falling stars.
But she did hear a distant drumming . . . in pace with how a heart beats.
With her head on Draco's chest and her eyes shut, Hermione started to sink fast into her thoughts.
* It seemed like ages since Malfoy died, as if somehow I knew it would happen. Then again, why was I so surprised? For some reason, it feels like I've spent nights and nights crying myself to sleep and I feel like I've dreamt about Draco being here with me, very much alive. I feel like that's what I've been dreaming for the past weeks even though Draco just slipped away minutes ago. I've always had the reputation of being mentally and emotionally strong but sometimes people forget the difference between a public self and a private one-and they just cry. (a/n: Before I go on, I'm just wondering if I should shout yuck or yay for writing something depressing. If it's too dramatic for your taste, don't worry. It's almost over.)
Sometimes, when wishing hard enough, I can hear Draco whispering those three words and then say something else that makes me want to wipe that smirk of his face, because without an annoying remark it wouldn't be Draco Malfoy .*
When she was dropped back to reality she could still here that drumming. She tightened her arms around Draco.
"Like I said before," She heard a familiar voice say. Hermione didn't want to get her hopes up. No she didn't want them to be up so they just could be shut down again. She opened her eyes.
"Wow Granger, I know I'm irresistible, you needn't have to show it."
"Draco?" Hermione turned to look at him. She would have fainted if she weren't already on the ground.
"DRACO!!!" Even though Draco was happy that Hermione had said his first name, she hugged him so tightly that Draco found it hard to breathe. "Hermione, * cough * your cutting out my air supply. I can see that I'm hot and gorgeous but do you have to drool all over me?"
Hermione looked at him and said, "Oh, shut up. And wipe that smirk of your face!"
Draco grinned at her. Hermione smiled back at him but then frowned.
"What's wrong?" asked Draco.
"How did you survive?" Hermione asked. "I mean something must have happened. But that 'avada kedavra' curse, there's no way a person can live through that. I was even surprised you were able to delay it. But how?"
Draco's mouth formed back into a smirk. "Not everything's found in books, Hermione. Besides I should be asking you the same question. What did you say before I died?"
"What-what are you talking about?" Hermione said, her cheeks turning light pink. "I-I said nothing. I-I was just sad."
"Sure you were," Draco said. He touched Hermione's face then leaned in to kiss her briefly on the lips. When he broke it after two seconds he didn't expect what would happen next.
Hermione slapped him across the face. "How could you? What's the MATTER WITH YOU?"
Draco was so confused. "What?" He said and rubbed the part where Hermione's hand collided with his cheek.
"What's bloody wrong with YOU? How could you DO THAT?" She shouted at him. "And WHY'D YOU STOP?"
Draco got it and grinned. *God, I love her! * Hermione smiled back at him. This time it was going to be their first real kiss. (a/n: Yes, I know. Cliché.)
Draco's arms went around Hermione's waist, Hermione's arms went around Draco's neck. As they leaned closer to each other, they stopped a few inches from each other's faces.
"I love you too," Draco said. Hermione smiled and her eyes fluttered close and they were enveloped into a passionate kiss. And suddenly it was as if the world revolved around them. Hermione realized that what she dreamed off was right here and after all this time it finally came true. It seemed this was an eternal kiss, pure and unconditional love, for that was the way she had learned to love him and how she had fallen in love with him. Draco only pulled her closer, and she knew that whatever pain he had given her before was mended and whatever he had done to open her heart to him-she would treasure it.
Draco felt so indescribably good having Hermione Granger in his arms. In a lifetime, he never believed he'd have the chance to hold her like this and kiss her. He once again took in the sweet scent of her and Draco didn't dare let go of her, he wanted to hold her forever.
They pulled away and when Draco opened his eyes he found Hermione's still close. "Hermione?"
"Are you really Draco Malfoy?" She asked.
"In the flesh."
"It's just so strange, I never thought I'd say I love you."
Draco's smirk came back. "So you really did say that. You broke the spell!"
"What spell?" Hermione opened her eyes and gave him a quizzical glance.
"I'll tell you all about it later. But you know what, Granger?"
"What?"
"I love me too," Draco said.
"That's Draco Malfoy, all right," Hermione smiled. Just then, two wizards, one witch, and a younger wizard by her side were at the balcony doors.
"Master! You're alive! Look at us, Hermione has broken the spell," A man, rather tall and look somewhat familiar to Hermione, said.
"Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts!" Draco said. Then Hermione realized that these were those house-elves.
"It can't be! You're all wizards and witches?" Hermione said, surprised.
"Yes, dear. We're all Beauxbatons graduates. Chip here is supposed to start there next year," Mrs. Potts explained.
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Hermione said, then she saw Harry, Ron, and Colin come up.
"'Mione! Are you okay?" Ron said, as he rushed towards her and gave her a hug.
"I'm fine Ron," Hermione hugged him back.
"We were so scared when we saw the flash of green light. We'd thought we'd lose you," Harry said.
"Draco saved me," Hermione said.
"I'm telling you, he brainwashed her," Ron pretended to whisper to Harry. "She's calling him *cough* Draco instead of ferret boy."
"Oh, shut up!" Hermione said playfully punching Ron on the shoulder.
"So Malfoy, care to tell us how you survived?" Harry asked him.
Smirking, Draco nodded towards Hermione. Harry saw her face turn as red as Ron's hair, he sighed and said, "The answer can wait."
"Look Potter, do you mine dragging *that* to the Asylum d'loons, it's really messing up the scenery," Draco said, pointing to the petrified body of Gaston. "If he wakes up, he might start talking about some bloody sorcerer in the woods of France."
"Master, if you don't mind we'll be off to the kitchen preparing the feast," Mrs. Potts said, as she walked away with Chip.
Lumiere grinned. "It's great to be useful again!" And he walked away as Cogsworth followed behind him. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco watched them go.
"Oh, of course!" Hermione exclaimed. "It's Christmas day!"
***
"Harry, you sure about that?" Hermione asked him as they danced.
"It's fine, Hermione. When you're ready you can come back to Britain," Harry answered her as he spun her around.
"But my job, my work-"
"Hermione, don't worry. I'll explain it all to the ministry. You'll still be an auror when you come back and Malfoy will be cleared," Harry assured her.
"Harry, you're the best!" Hermione smiled and hugged him.
"May I cut in, golden boy?" Draco said as he took Hermione in his arms and they danced in the 'oh-so-familiar' ballroom.
"So are you staying?" Draco asked her.
"Yeah, I have time to convince you to come back to Britain with me," Hermione said.
"I'd like to be with you, but Azkaban isn't exactly beside your house," Draco said.
Hermione smiled, "Harry will explain everything. You'll be cleared, you're *ahem* innocent after all."
"What's with the emphasis, Granger?" Draco glared at her.
"Oh, do you have to be so suspicious, Malfoy?" Hermione said, teasing him.
***
"Its just like Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'," Colin said as he watched Draco and Hermione dance.
"Huh?" Ron asked.
"Muggle thing," Harry said then turned to the photographer. "I'm not so sure about that. If you ask me, Colin, I'd say its more like Shakespeare's 'Taming of the Shrew, Draco being the shrew of course."
"Are you still talking about this 'Muggle thing' or did you ask me if I wanted a milkshake?" Ron said.
"Do you have to talk with your stomach, right now, mate?" Harry asked Ron.
"It's just-I don't feel good leaving Hermione here, Harry."
"She's happy with Malfoy, might as well accept it," Harry said.
"I accept it but why does she get to have all the good food?" Ron said helping himself to another piece of apple pie.
Harry sighed.
"Harry, Harry!" A young boy with blonde hair and aged 10 ran over to him.
"Hi Chip, what's this?" Harry said looking at the object Chip put it in his hand.
"It was owned by Master Malfoy who then gave it to Hermione and she wants you to have it," Chip explained in one breath.
"The magic mirror, huh?" Harry said studying it. Harry laughed when he saw a piece of paper taped on the back.
It stated: Use only during APPROPRIATE hours. Love Hermione.
Harry knew she was only joking. But still, no wonder she gave the mirror to him instead of Ron. Ron wouldn't recognize a joke from Hermione if it bit him in the nose. Ron went off to dance with a young lady who used to be the feather duster house-elf. Colin was all around the ballroom clicking away with his camera. Harry smiled at the irony of their vacation in France, watching his best friend and his former rival dance the day away.
***
They watched the sunset. Hermione and Draco sat on the ballroom's balcony. Hermione's head lay on Draco's left shoulder and his arm was around her. She felt so safe and secure with him, a feeling she had never felt with him in the past. She had earned his trust and he had earned hers. It was still sort of strange that she decided to stay with a person she had loathed since 'day one' but, right now, it felt good.
"I'm going to miss them, again," Hermione said out of the blue.
"Who?" Draco asked.
"Harry and Ron," Hermione replied.
"You're thinking about them on a moment like this?"
"Well they just left for the Burrow," Hermione said. "With the magic mirror."
"You gave Weasley the magic mirror!?" Draco said, horrified.
"No, I gave it to Harry."
"And that makes it better!?" Draco said, now letting go of Hermione. She burst out laughing and Draco frowned. "What's so funny? They could be checking out what we're doing anytime, at any moment."
Hermione's laughter finally ceased. "You're so cute when you're worried."
"You mean drop-dead-gorgeous," Draco smirked.
"No, cute," Hermione insisted and lay her head on Draco's shoulder again. "So I hear you liked me in third year after I slapped you."
"Maybe," Draco said still smirking.
"I guess I should slap you more often," Hermione smiled.
"That would be unnecessary, besides it was sixth year when I-when I fell in love with you," Draco whispered.
"So it really was the slaps. I remember one time, in sixth year. It was during the Yule Ball. You, Crabbe, and Goyle, smuggled some alcoholic drinks inside school," Hermione recalled, trying her best to suppress a smirk.
"So I got drunk. Big deal-wait I didn't say anything to you did I," Draco said.
"Well, if I remember correctly, you walked up to me and Ron said I had a nice butt and asked me to dance. Then that's when I slapped you, again," Hermione said breaking once again into fits of laughter.
"Fine, Hermione Granger, laugh all you want," Draco said a mischievous smile creeping along his mouth. Hermione kept laughing until snow covered her face. Draco had conjured a snowball and threw it at her-he was now the one laughing his head off.
"I'm going to get you back, Draco Malfoy!!!" Hermione said, getting her wand out, she conjured her own snowball and let it fall on top of Draco's head. Needless to say, there was going to be another snowball battle between the two.
After Harry Potter had Draco Malfoy's name cleared from the Death Eater list, Hermione Granger and Draco returned back to Britain. Draco decided to become an auror, since he knew a lot about Death Eaters and how to disarm them. Ron Weasley decided to work in the Ministry and Colin Creevey became a full time journalist. Anyone wondering what happened to Gaston? He's either in the Asylum in his own little world or is auditioning for Girl, Interrupted 2. However, that's not the point-what we should learn from Hermione and Draco is that love conquers all, whether you are a Gryffindor, top of your class, valedictorian of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry or a sly, gorgeous, extraordinarily hot Slytherin.
~Tale as old as time, Song as old as rhyme. . .Beauty and the Beast~
~The End~
A/N: FINALLY DONE WITH THIS STORY!!! Oh well, sorry for the long wait but now my exams are done my scenario was chosen and I'm trying to stay awake. Well I'll be gone for X'mas vacay and don't worry I'll be back before you know it. I have another idea for another Draco/Mione fic with my own plot and I might write it-might. Or I might just take a break for a while from ff.net. I don't know. Anyway I wish all of my readers HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
Comments on the actors of Harry Potters and the Chamber of Secrets:
Daniel Radcliffe-Well at least he acted better than before. I like the matured Harry much better than the annoying one.
Rupert Grint-A little overacting but he still is adorable as Ron!
Emma Watson-For some reason, I felt she didn't act very much. I like her hair in the second movie, it is much better than before.
Tom Felton-Surprisingly, he didn't look so much like a kid anymore. I love the time when Harry and Ron changed into Crabbe and Goyle and Draco sat down on the couch. BTW, nice eyebrows.
Sean Biggerstaff-I practically strangled my cousin when he came on the scene. OH MY GOD!!! He is soooooooo HOT!!!
Author: Mjade
Summary: Draco/Mione fic. One year after graduation. Ron and Harry go exploring and when they don't come back Hermione begins to worry. I know the title is corny but I named it that because the plot line is based on that.
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and Walt Disney own Beauty and the Beast, the animation.
Rating: PG/Romance Author's Note: Incredibly sorry for the long wait. I had exams but they weren't so hard as I expected. English though was something. I had to sit down and write an essay about this lame question, for two hours. Plus, I went through different scenarios on how to end this fic. Please I'm not in the mood to receive flames for this chapter! Here's to my reviewers : pocketgopher, Multiple Lilys, Vanillastar, valkyrie1689, Mouse, Star Jade, Yuliya, Icy Stormz, The Charmed One, Tara, malfoyslova15, X lil *hopeless* dreamer X, Elfin Warrior Maiden, Queenie, and draconas. You guys are the best!
READ THIS: There is no introduction in the beginning of this chapter. This time it's in the end. Thank you to the people who gave me information on the 'Avada Kedavra' curse. I know now that it kills instantly but in this fic something else happens, the person doesn't die instantly. Don't hate me. I had to think of different scenarios, but I came up with this one. The spell 'Tiempris Kedavra' belongs to me, you'll see what it does later.
Draco had to think of something fast. But there was no time to think. "TIEMPRIS KEDAVRA!" He shouted as he pointed the wand at himself and felt the spell coarse through his veins. He turned to Hermione and Lucius. His eyes slanted and flashed silver. He knew what he had to do next.
***
Hermione was helpless. There was absolutely no time to dodge the green blast, no time to reach for her wand, and no time to call for help. Suddenly, everything Hermione saw seem to happen in slow motion. There she was standing frozen, in a state where hope was slipping through her fingers, and where the green light was flashing before her enough to blind a Basilisk's eyes. She knew she would die; it was one curse that could not be stopped by anyone. If she had only known her life would end today, she would have told Draco everything, she would pour out everything in her heart . . . wait, no, that wasn't true. Regardless of what would happen, she would have told him anyway. A tear escaped her eye when she realized that that chance would be gone forever. The green light was raging closer. She closed her eyes and screamed.
Hermione felt herself hit the ground hard. If this was death, it still hurts. Her legs were aching and her left arm felt bruised. But she wouldn't know for sure until she opened her eyes-wait, OPEN MY EYES!?
"EXPELLIARMUS!"
Hermione's eyes shot open as she saw Lucius hanging on to the edge of the balcony's railing. "THIS IS NOT THE END!!! VOLDEMORT WILL STILL GET YOU ALL!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. He then lost his balance as the jet of red light hit him and he fell off the balcony as the black endless hole below devoured him.
Hermione forced her self up, despite the pain in her legs, and looked to where Lucius had just fallen. He was gone. One of Voldemort's most powerful Death Eaters is dead, Draco's father is dead-Draco! Hermione turned her head, afraid of what she might see.
Lying on the ground was Draco's lifeless body.
***
Harry stared wide-eyed at the balcony. He knew it all too well. Though it was a vague memory, he did remember a flash of green light and a cold cruel laugh the night his parents died. And during the Triwizard tournament in his fourth year, he had met Voldemort and he had tried to kill him with that same curse.
"Bloody hell," Ron breathed, hopelessness and fear unmistakably in his voice. "Harry, you don't think it hit-it just can't be Hermione, can it?"
"I don't know, Ron. I really don't know, " Harry answered.
He did see the flash of green light, the flare of red going the opposite direction, and Lucius falling. The question was: where did the jet of emerald fire hit?
***
The curse had hit him. Hermione was at his side shaking his shoulders, as if he would wake up. "Malfoy, come on! Oh god, Malfoy don't do this to me!"
"I'm not dead, Hermione. Not yet," Draco said, barely breathing.
Hermione shocked, looked at him and saw him open his eyes. "Malfoy? But how? The curse-it hit you-that's impossible!"
"Ever heard-heard of 'tiempris kedavra'?" Draco said.
"No."
"Well, only Death Eaters know of this spell. It's Lucius' fault for teaching me, I guess," Draco gave Hermione a faint smile. "But, it doesn't stop the curse. Nothing can. This spell only slows it down. It is painful I admit, but-but at least I got to see your face one last time."
Hermione looked so beautiful, to him. Her long curly hair, her brown eyes, her face, her scent. And her, just who she was. It was pure beauty. He loved her and it was all that really mattered. He had learned to really love a person, really love Hermione, and to him, he had never known a more beautiful person in his life.
"Malfoy, I came back because I-well, I couldn't let them-" Hermione tried to say. * What am I doing? This is pathetic. I can't be becoming shy now. *
"You don't have to explain. I knew my devilish charm would get to you someday," Malfoy said smirking, but it was easy to see he was in pain. The curse was spreading throughout his body. He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek.
"You're such a prat," Hermione said and put her hand over his and forced a smile. *How can he be like this? Still able to act arrogant and be a prick even when he's dy-even when he's in this situation? *
She didn't believe it. Actually, she didn't want to believe it. Here he was, someone she was waiting for her whole life-and he was already slipping away from her. How could she have not seen who Draco really was before? Wasn't she the perfect judge of people? And yet who was she to judge him? Draco cared for her and her for him, but it was too late.
"Oh, this is all my fault. If only I've gotten here sooner," Hermione said, a tear escaped her eye as she looked down at Draco.
"Hermione," Draco whispered to her, wiping her tear away. "Maybe it is better this way. At least now I can die, knowing you are safe."
"No, you'll be all right. We're together now. Everything is going to be fine!" Hermione cried, despite her knowing the truth. That's when she noticed his arm was bleeding. She rolled up his sleeve and saw the Dark Mark.
"Draco?"
"It was forced onto my arm. I'm not . . .not a Death Eater," Draco said, taking a deep breath. "I care for you too much to become that." Draco closed his eyes. It was too painful for him to keep open, but he ached to look at Hermione again.
"Malfoy, please not yet! Don't do this to me, open your damn eyes!" Hermione pleaded, as more tears flowed from her eyes, which were created by the pain in her heart. Draco was turning paler and paler and he put his hand from her cheek down.
"I'm losing my eyesight, Hermione. It would only be a matter of time before I lose the rest."
Hermione couldn't take it anymore. Why did this have to happen to her? She never asked for anything too extreme in her life, but why was she being punished?
"Malfoy its all your bloody fault!" Hermione shouted at him, more tears streaming down her face. She was so angry with him and she didn't know why. "I hate you Draco Malfoy! I hate you! In Hogwarts, you made rude remarks at me, insulted my family's background and called me Mudblood, made fun of my best friends! And now, that were all grown up, you never ceased to stop. You're still that same boy. A loyalist to the dark arts! A MALFOY!" She spat.
"And my freedom! Who gave you the right to take my freedom away from me? And believe me, I did not enjoy staying under the same roof with my archenemy! I have never met anyone so cruel, so overly self-absorbed, so thoughtless-"
"I get the point, Hermione, but I've changed. You should know that out of all the people." At that point, Draco lost his hearing and soon became deaf then mute. Hermione cried harder knowing that Draco could not see her, could not hear her, and could not talk to her. But he could still feel her.
Hermione moved closer to him and put her head on his chest, but now crying softly. "You are my loathed enemy. But-but. . ."
She looked at his face then closed her eyes. "I love you, Draco."
His heart stopped. And his hand fell out of Hermione's grasp.
***
Harry reached the balcony doors and stopped. Ron got to his side and saw that Hermione was crying, but just as he was about to run to her, Harry stretched his arm out to block him from going any further.
"Harry, we have to go to her," Ron said.
"I think she'd rather be alone now," Harry said.
"But-"
"She just lost somebody she cares about," Harry said.
"Him?"
Harry nodded.
"You know what Harry?" Ron said.
"What?"
"I thought I'd be glad that Malfoy's gone . . .but I'm not."
***
Several minutes of crying passed. It was only a matter of time before dawn would commence. The coldness of the wind would pass and the rays from the sun would warm the countryside, despite the softly falling snow that carpeted the ground. Then France, in all its beauty, would wake up. Would. Only would.
Sometimes you can predict what would happen next. That's because it's all in routine-because that's how the world works. It's no different from what people have seen, since the time they came to live on Earth.
But somehow, someway, there was something different that happened. Something you didn't see everyday, even in the wizarding world. It was nothing big or dramatic, but it felt exciting in a mysterious way.
It was a beam of light. No, not from the sun, dawn had not started quite yet. The beam shot through the sky then fell fast, like a shooting star. For a while, nothing happened. But then a second beam of light appeared in the sky, and then came another, then another. Finally, France's sky was drizzling with falling stars. Harry and Ron, who had gone down to the castle's front doors, gazed up from where they stood, Colin and Chip looked up from the castle's snow-covered garden.
Hermione, however, did not see the beams of light or the falling stars.
But she did hear a distant drumming . . . in pace with how a heart beats.
With her head on Draco's chest and her eyes shut, Hermione started to sink fast into her thoughts.
* It seemed like ages since Malfoy died, as if somehow I knew it would happen. Then again, why was I so surprised? For some reason, it feels like I've spent nights and nights crying myself to sleep and I feel like I've dreamt about Draco being here with me, very much alive. I feel like that's what I've been dreaming for the past weeks even though Draco just slipped away minutes ago. I've always had the reputation of being mentally and emotionally strong but sometimes people forget the difference between a public self and a private one-and they just cry. (a/n: Before I go on, I'm just wondering if I should shout yuck or yay for writing something depressing. If it's too dramatic for your taste, don't worry. It's almost over.)
Sometimes, when wishing hard enough, I can hear Draco whispering those three words and then say something else that makes me want to wipe that smirk of his face, because without an annoying remark it wouldn't be Draco Malfoy .*
When she was dropped back to reality she could still here that drumming. She tightened her arms around Draco.
"Like I said before," She heard a familiar voice say. Hermione didn't want to get her hopes up. No she didn't want them to be up so they just could be shut down again. She opened her eyes.
"Wow Granger, I know I'm irresistible, you needn't have to show it."
"Draco?" Hermione turned to look at him. She would have fainted if she weren't already on the ground.
"DRACO!!!" Even though Draco was happy that Hermione had said his first name, she hugged him so tightly that Draco found it hard to breathe. "Hermione, * cough * your cutting out my air supply. I can see that I'm hot and gorgeous but do you have to drool all over me?"
Hermione looked at him and said, "Oh, shut up. And wipe that smirk of your face!"
Draco grinned at her. Hermione smiled back at him but then frowned.
"What's wrong?" asked Draco.
"How did you survive?" Hermione asked. "I mean something must have happened. But that 'avada kedavra' curse, there's no way a person can live through that. I was even surprised you were able to delay it. But how?"
Draco's mouth formed back into a smirk. "Not everything's found in books, Hermione. Besides I should be asking you the same question. What did you say before I died?"
"What-what are you talking about?" Hermione said, her cheeks turning light pink. "I-I said nothing. I-I was just sad."
"Sure you were," Draco said. He touched Hermione's face then leaned in to kiss her briefly on the lips. When he broke it after two seconds he didn't expect what would happen next.
Hermione slapped him across the face. "How could you? What's the MATTER WITH YOU?"
Draco was so confused. "What?" He said and rubbed the part where Hermione's hand collided with his cheek.
"What's bloody wrong with YOU? How could you DO THAT?" She shouted at him. "And WHY'D YOU STOP?"
Draco got it and grinned. *God, I love her! * Hermione smiled back at him. This time it was going to be their first real kiss. (a/n: Yes, I know. Cliché.)
Draco's arms went around Hermione's waist, Hermione's arms went around Draco's neck. As they leaned closer to each other, they stopped a few inches from each other's faces.
"I love you too," Draco said. Hermione smiled and her eyes fluttered close and they were enveloped into a passionate kiss. And suddenly it was as if the world revolved around them. Hermione realized that what she dreamed off was right here and after all this time it finally came true. It seemed this was an eternal kiss, pure and unconditional love, for that was the way she had learned to love him and how she had fallen in love with him. Draco only pulled her closer, and she knew that whatever pain he had given her before was mended and whatever he had done to open her heart to him-she would treasure it.
Draco felt so indescribably good having Hermione Granger in his arms. In a lifetime, he never believed he'd have the chance to hold her like this and kiss her. He once again took in the sweet scent of her and Draco didn't dare let go of her, he wanted to hold her forever.
They pulled away and when Draco opened his eyes he found Hermione's still close. "Hermione?"
"Are you really Draco Malfoy?" She asked.
"In the flesh."
"It's just so strange, I never thought I'd say I love you."
Draco's smirk came back. "So you really did say that. You broke the spell!"
"What spell?" Hermione opened her eyes and gave him a quizzical glance.
"I'll tell you all about it later. But you know what, Granger?"
"What?"
"I love me too," Draco said.
"That's Draco Malfoy, all right," Hermione smiled. Just then, two wizards, one witch, and a younger wizard by her side were at the balcony doors.
"Master! You're alive! Look at us, Hermione has broken the spell," A man, rather tall and look somewhat familiar to Hermione, said.
"Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts!" Draco said. Then Hermione realized that these were those house-elves.
"It can't be! You're all wizards and witches?" Hermione said, surprised.
"Yes, dear. We're all Beauxbatons graduates. Chip here is supposed to start there next year," Mrs. Potts explained.
"Oh, that's wonderful!" Hermione said, then she saw Harry, Ron, and Colin come up.
"'Mione! Are you okay?" Ron said, as he rushed towards her and gave her a hug.
"I'm fine Ron," Hermione hugged him back.
"We were so scared when we saw the flash of green light. We'd thought we'd lose you," Harry said.
"Draco saved me," Hermione said.
"I'm telling you, he brainwashed her," Ron pretended to whisper to Harry. "She's calling him *cough* Draco instead of ferret boy."
"Oh, shut up!" Hermione said playfully punching Ron on the shoulder.
"So Malfoy, care to tell us how you survived?" Harry asked him.
Smirking, Draco nodded towards Hermione. Harry saw her face turn as red as Ron's hair, he sighed and said, "The answer can wait."
"Look Potter, do you mine dragging *that* to the Asylum d'loons, it's really messing up the scenery," Draco said, pointing to the petrified body of Gaston. "If he wakes up, he might start talking about some bloody sorcerer in the woods of France."
"Master, if you don't mind we'll be off to the kitchen preparing the feast," Mrs. Potts said, as she walked away with Chip.
Lumiere grinned. "It's great to be useful again!" And he walked away as Cogsworth followed behind him. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco watched them go.
"Oh, of course!" Hermione exclaimed. "It's Christmas day!"
***
"Harry, you sure about that?" Hermione asked him as they danced.
"It's fine, Hermione. When you're ready you can come back to Britain," Harry answered her as he spun her around.
"But my job, my work-"
"Hermione, don't worry. I'll explain it all to the ministry. You'll still be an auror when you come back and Malfoy will be cleared," Harry assured her.
"Harry, you're the best!" Hermione smiled and hugged him.
"May I cut in, golden boy?" Draco said as he took Hermione in his arms and they danced in the 'oh-so-familiar' ballroom.
"So are you staying?" Draco asked her.
"Yeah, I have time to convince you to come back to Britain with me," Hermione said.
"I'd like to be with you, but Azkaban isn't exactly beside your house," Draco said.
Hermione smiled, "Harry will explain everything. You'll be cleared, you're *ahem* innocent after all."
"What's with the emphasis, Granger?" Draco glared at her.
"Oh, do you have to be so suspicious, Malfoy?" Hermione said, teasing him.
***
"Its just like Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'," Colin said as he watched Draco and Hermione dance.
"Huh?" Ron asked.
"Muggle thing," Harry said then turned to the photographer. "I'm not so sure about that. If you ask me, Colin, I'd say its more like Shakespeare's 'Taming of the Shrew, Draco being the shrew of course."
"Are you still talking about this 'Muggle thing' or did you ask me if I wanted a milkshake?" Ron said.
"Do you have to talk with your stomach, right now, mate?" Harry asked Ron.
"It's just-I don't feel good leaving Hermione here, Harry."
"She's happy with Malfoy, might as well accept it," Harry said.
"I accept it but why does she get to have all the good food?" Ron said helping himself to another piece of apple pie.
Harry sighed.
"Harry, Harry!" A young boy with blonde hair and aged 10 ran over to him.
"Hi Chip, what's this?" Harry said looking at the object Chip put it in his hand.
"It was owned by Master Malfoy who then gave it to Hermione and she wants you to have it," Chip explained in one breath.
"The magic mirror, huh?" Harry said studying it. Harry laughed when he saw a piece of paper taped on the back.
It stated: Use only during APPROPRIATE hours. Love Hermione.
Harry knew she was only joking. But still, no wonder she gave the mirror to him instead of Ron. Ron wouldn't recognize a joke from Hermione if it bit him in the nose. Ron went off to dance with a young lady who used to be the feather duster house-elf. Colin was all around the ballroom clicking away with his camera. Harry smiled at the irony of their vacation in France, watching his best friend and his former rival dance the day away.
***
They watched the sunset. Hermione and Draco sat on the ballroom's balcony. Hermione's head lay on Draco's left shoulder and his arm was around her. She felt so safe and secure with him, a feeling she had never felt with him in the past. She had earned his trust and he had earned hers. It was still sort of strange that she decided to stay with a person she had loathed since 'day one' but, right now, it felt good.
"I'm going to miss them, again," Hermione said out of the blue.
"Who?" Draco asked.
"Harry and Ron," Hermione replied.
"You're thinking about them on a moment like this?"
"Well they just left for the Burrow," Hermione said. "With the magic mirror."
"You gave Weasley the magic mirror!?" Draco said, horrified.
"No, I gave it to Harry."
"And that makes it better!?" Draco said, now letting go of Hermione. She burst out laughing and Draco frowned. "What's so funny? They could be checking out what we're doing anytime, at any moment."
Hermione's laughter finally ceased. "You're so cute when you're worried."
"You mean drop-dead-gorgeous," Draco smirked.
"No, cute," Hermione insisted and lay her head on Draco's shoulder again. "So I hear you liked me in third year after I slapped you."
"Maybe," Draco said still smirking.
"I guess I should slap you more often," Hermione smiled.
"That would be unnecessary, besides it was sixth year when I-when I fell in love with you," Draco whispered.
"So it really was the slaps. I remember one time, in sixth year. It was during the Yule Ball. You, Crabbe, and Goyle, smuggled some alcoholic drinks inside school," Hermione recalled, trying her best to suppress a smirk.
"So I got drunk. Big deal-wait I didn't say anything to you did I," Draco said.
"Well, if I remember correctly, you walked up to me and Ron said I had a nice butt and asked me to dance. Then that's when I slapped you, again," Hermione said breaking once again into fits of laughter.
"Fine, Hermione Granger, laugh all you want," Draco said a mischievous smile creeping along his mouth. Hermione kept laughing until snow covered her face. Draco had conjured a snowball and threw it at her-he was now the one laughing his head off.
"I'm going to get you back, Draco Malfoy!!!" Hermione said, getting her wand out, she conjured her own snowball and let it fall on top of Draco's head. Needless to say, there was going to be another snowball battle between the two.
After Harry Potter had Draco Malfoy's name cleared from the Death Eater list, Hermione Granger and Draco returned back to Britain. Draco decided to become an auror, since he knew a lot about Death Eaters and how to disarm them. Ron Weasley decided to work in the Ministry and Colin Creevey became a full time journalist. Anyone wondering what happened to Gaston? He's either in the Asylum in his own little world or is auditioning for Girl, Interrupted 2. However, that's not the point-what we should learn from Hermione and Draco is that love conquers all, whether you are a Gryffindor, top of your class, valedictorian of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry or a sly, gorgeous, extraordinarily hot Slytherin.
~Tale as old as time, Song as old as rhyme. . .Beauty and the Beast~
~The End~
A/N: FINALLY DONE WITH THIS STORY!!! Oh well, sorry for the long wait but now my exams are done my scenario was chosen and I'm trying to stay awake. Well I'll be gone for X'mas vacay and don't worry I'll be back before you know it. I have another idea for another Draco/Mione fic with my own plot and I might write it-might. Or I might just take a break for a while from ff.net. I don't know. Anyway I wish all of my readers HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
Comments on the actors of Harry Potters and the Chamber of Secrets:
Daniel Radcliffe-Well at least he acted better than before. I like the matured Harry much better than the annoying one.
Rupert Grint-A little overacting but he still is adorable as Ron!
Emma Watson-For some reason, I felt she didn't act very much. I like her hair in the second movie, it is much better than before.
Tom Felton-Surprisingly, he didn't look so much like a kid anymore. I love the time when Harry and Ron changed into Crabbe and Goyle and Draco sat down on the couch. BTW, nice eyebrows.
Sean Biggerstaff-I practically strangled my cousin when he came on the scene. OH MY GOD!!! He is soooooooo HOT!!!