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[A/N: For some reason, FF.net refuses to display this chapter correctly. If you see any oddities, please understand that I have no control over it.

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" Promise me Harry, that if anything happens to – if anything happens that you'll look out for him." Brown eyes were glittering into his Green. Harry let out a sigh of frustration, combing a tanned hand through his trademark raven locks. Just as unruly as ever.

" I wish you would just tell me what you're up to Herm, I don't like the sound of this." And he didn't. There was something in it he couldn't quite touch upon. It sounded a lot like desperation.

'But Hermione and the word desperation don't even belong in the same sentence, much less in my head.' He thought wearily. Hermione had turned away from him and was gazing out his window her face pensive and uneasy.

" Besides, Draco is a big boy… he can take care of himself-" Harry stopped mid-sentence when he saw the pained look on her face. She chewed on her thumbnail with eyes clenched shut, as if she was trying to block out his words. Harry stalked over to her quickly pulling her to face him.

" You're hiding something-" he paused when he saw the tears glittering unshed in her eyes. "And it's serious, isn't it?" Hermione closed her eyes and let the tears fall. Leaning into Harry's chest she felt comforted as his arms circled her shoulders. Harry swayed gently trying his best to calm his best friend of 10 years.

" Hermione, you know I hate seeing you like this… but this is all… all very suspicious." The brunette shook her head quietly, breaking her embrace slowly. Harry hadn't seen this side of her since that incident with the troll in their first year of Hogwarts. 

"It feels strange saying this Harry, but this is something that I can't tell you nor Ron." Her voice barely above a whisper. Despite the sadness the clung to her, Harry knew that her mind was made up. 

" Just promise me that you'll look after Draco should anything happen… He may put up a strong front… but he's led a hard life- I want to make sure that he's taken care of… with or without me being here." Harry shifted his oval glasses so that he could pinch his nose, trying to alleviate the slight headache that this situation was bringing on. He knew that living the life of an Auror was no easy task since the both of them had taken up the occupation.  But Hermione was a powerful witch in her own right as Draco a powerful wizard.

" Harry for the past10 years of us knowing each other, I've followed you blindly battle after battle… and over those years you've never heard me ask you for anything." Harry's shoulders began to sag; he could clearly see where she was taking this. Hermione was going to play the best friend card. For the first time since he had become a wizard, Harry was facing his defeat. 

" But I'm asking for this one thing…" Harry put his hand to her lips silencing her then nodded in defeat, she smiled for the first time since she'd step foot into his apartment.

Wrapping her arms around him she squeezed warmly whispering, "Thank you" repeatedly before breaking their embrace.

" I'm so glad you didn't turn me down." She breathed with rosy cheeks and Harry lifted an eyebrow.

" Yea, and why's that?"

" That would leave Ron as my last resort." Harry snorted with laughter.

" Ron is still having difficulty seeing you and Draco together, I doubt he want anything to do with Malfoy."

" Hey, maybe one day he'll come around" she winked with a small smile.

" Right Herm, and elephants fly."

" Some do actually, I remember back in Hogwarts reading up about a rare group of-"

" Hermione…"

" Yes Harry."

" Shut up." Harry smirked playfully when she punched him hard in the arm.

:::End Flashback:::

Harry's green eyes took in the sight before and felt pangs of pity and guilt beat into him. It reminded of him of how he felt when he looked into the faces of Cedric Diggory's parents, explaining that their son was in fact dead and that his echo begged for him to take his body back to them.  Only now Harry felt worse than he had ever did in all his years at Hogwarts.  Draco Malfoy was truly half the man he had been before. Sickly thin with pale translucent skin, his once silver blonde hair was looking very close to an elderly gray. Harry took a sip of tea trying not stare at the man any more than was necessary. The blonde had agreed to meet up with him so that they could "catch up" as Harry had put it over the phone. Draco snorted slightly bitter" More like, make sure I don't try to jump out a window, right Harry?" He recalled saying making the raven head 's eyebrows jump in slight shock.

" It was a joke, Potter." He mumbled tiredly. Harry blurted out a quick "Right." before hanging up and making sure that they would meet up at The Leaky Cauldron.

Draco was well aware of the stares and whispers that were directed at him in the dimly lit tavern. News of Hermione's death spread like wild fire throughout the wizarding world. It was all over the Daily Prophet in huge headlines that read:

Famous Auror Mysteriously Murdered

Witch Who Helped Defeat The Dark Lord Murdered

Mystery Surrounds The Death Of Heroine

Soon the fact that Draco's father was a loyal Deatheater was being splashed across the papers as well. Accusations flew left and right that Draco was directly responsibly for the downfall of his own fiancée in a plot to avenge The Dark Lord's demise.

Foul Play Suspected From Fiancé Malfoy Responsible?

Draco took another long drag on his cigarette, taking care not to blow it on Harry who was trying to stare at him discreetly, but failing miserably at doing so.  Draco was sure Harry picked up on the fact that his nerves were drawing increasingly thin from the accusing eyes and barely concealed whispers. The blonde may have lost many of his negative characteristics he possessed in childhood, but his temper was one thing that had remained fully intact.

"Draco, we can leave if you'd like-" Harry said carefully. "Maybe go to a Muggle shop instead?" But Draco wasn't listening; he was still catching snippets of the conversations. His gray blue eyes turning stormy as he exhaled smoke through his nose not unlike an angry bull ready to attack.

"- A bad egg that one, wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he delivered the curse himself"

" … Heard the Father was a death eater, second in command to You Know Who."

" Wonder how she ever got mixed up with a bloke with that…"

Harry didn't like where this was going at all, the last thing he needed was for Draco to lose his cool and possibly hurt someone in his rage. ' Harry you bloody git, you should've seen this coming' Harry berated himself for even suggesting the place.

" She was a true beauty that Hermione Granger, it's a pity her life had to end so violently… such potential." Draco's eyes glazed over with at the sound of the comment.

" Beautiful or not, it was her blind stupidity that killed her… but then again what can you expect from a mudblood." The voice rang out louder than the rest.

Harry gasped as the table he and Draco shared suddenly flipped over; the pub was filled with commotion as screams of terror filled the air. Harry looked up from his position on the worn floor slightly dazed. Coming to his senses his emerald eyes widened at the scene in front of him.

" Draco, no!" he yelled scrambling to the bar area. His protest went unheard and forgotten. Draco's eyes flamed with fury at his victim; despite his tired appearance it was obvious that his slim hand had not lost its strength where it stayed wrapped tightly around the wizard's throat obviously cutting off his air supply. The other hand held his wand tightly, aimed steadily at the wizard's heart.

Harry covered Draco's hands with his own, prying the fingers off the discolored wizard's throat. Harry grunted as he managed to pry Draco's hand from the throat of his victim, who was gasping for much needed air.

" Put your wand down Draco." He whispered evenly not wanting to anger him more by making demands of him. But the wand stayed put, Draco ready to curse the older wizard into oblivion.   The obviously stunned wizard was still gasping for air, fear plain in his watering eyes.

"For Hermione's sake Draco, put the wand down." Harry whispered softer, his usually strong steady voice pleading. The pale face crumpled slightly and sure enough the wand eased back to his side. The silence was almost unbearably loud. Draco rolled his shoulders and regained his attention at the task at hand.

" If anyone else has the audacity to drag her name through the mud like you kind sir-" Draco's voice was cool and condescending barely above audible, with his eyes were even slits looking turbulent.

" I'll have you all wishing that Voldemort was in power to save your souls from my wrath." Harry hoped that everyone inside could tell that Draco was not insincere; he didn't think that he could protect anyone who dared to challenge him.

" And you can all give that quote to the Daily Prophet, I'm sure they'll be glad to have a scoop such as this." His eyes were scanning the pub with contempt apparent in his cobalt gaze. He took another look at the wizard still pinned with fear between him and the bar.  "Have a nice day." He spat out with a smirk before leaving the tavern in a rush of robes.  Harry apologized to Tom the same owner from when he was a boy, leaving behind a sack full of galleons for the damages. Looking around the inn, he felt no need to apologize for the violence, Harry was sure that if he was in Draco's position he would've done the same. So instead he nodded curtly before following the same path as the pale excuse for a man did before him.

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