I return. Did you miss me? Of course you did. Actually you only missed the story but hey, I'll take it! ************************************************************************

Hermione knelt before a giant marble statue of The Virgin Mary, praying for Ron and Harry's understanding when she heard a loud thumb from the passageway behind her.

She rose and walked between the red velvet pews toward the curious sound.

She turned the corner and saw three of her church sisters attempting to restrain Draco Malfoy.

"Sir! You can't enter! This temple is for the sisters and their families only! Sir please!"

Malfoy broke the hold and stood still before the exhausted trio before his gaze rose to meet Hermione's. "Tell them who I am." Draco ordered.

Hermione sighed. "It's alright sisters, I know him. Uh, would you give us a moment alone?"

The three nuns shared a glance before they all nodded and shuffled away.

Hermione massaged her temples "What are you doing here Draco?"

He approached her slowly, giving her the full benefit of his mercury gaze "You know why I'm here."

"I'm not going back to Hogwarts. I'm... happy here." She defended lamely.

Draco released a short, humorless laugh. "No your not; you're miserable."

"You know nothing about it!" She snapped heatedly. She reentered the sanctuary and flopped down on one of the pews. Draco lowered himself beside her. He turned her face, forcing her to look at him.

"I just want to know one thing." He whispered.

"What?" She asked.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you doing this? There must be an explanation and I want it."

"Draco... I... I wanted to be a nun." She said shakily. Draco snorted "Yeah, and I want to be the Queen of England. Tell me the truth."

She could never deny anything of those silver eyes. "Your father." Her voice was a mere thread of sound.

Draco immediately jumped up, flames flashing in his steel eyes "What did he do to you? How did he know? Oh, God, this is all my fault."

"Draco."

Draco turned around at the soft whisper of his name. Hermione was gazing at him with moist eyes. She shook her head slowly "I can't love you."

She began to weep. Draco sat back down beside her and wrapped her in his embrace, gently rocking her small frame. "Come on Hermione, we'll get through this."

She shook her head more violently "No, we won't. I can't be with you, you can't be with me! It's just not meant to be!" She screamed before breaking into a fresh fit of tears.

Draco looked down at her soft chocolate curls cascading down her back as the muscles beneath it rippled with sorrow.

Draco sighed. She was right. He could see no way out of this. There were no options save one. They would have to live without each other. He squeezed her body lightly "I guess you're right."

She looked up at him as he stood "If you ever change your mind be sure to let me know."

Hermione nodded brushing the tears from her eyes.

He bowed slowly "Goodbye Hermione."

She watched his retreating back as he was removed from her line of vision. She broke into more tears at the threat of never seeing Draco Malfoy again.

Draco gazed out the window as the train he was occupying sped towards Kings Cross, his chrome eyes reflecting the twinkling stars winking at him from above.

A crystal tear rolled down his face. He reached up to catch the single droplet as it dove towards the carpet.

He stared at the speckle of liquid. He had never cried before. Never.

The train came to a halt and Draco removed himself from the vehicle silently. He weaved his way back to the castle and followed the labyrinth of corridors to his common room.

He entered through the blackened wall, completely ignored Pansy Parkinson sprawled on the emerald couch, and went to his dorm room.

Crabbe and Goyle were thoroughly unconscious as well as his other two room mates. Draco walked to his bed and froze about five feet away.

Someone was sleeping in his bed.

He crept to the blanket and yanked it away to reveal two large velvet cushions. Draco rolled his eyes. He was becoming paranoid.

He then decided that some water may help. He exited his quarters and came to a stand still as he beheld Hermione sitting in a deep green arm chair and gazing at the fire.

She turned her head to regard Draco "Hi."

"How'd you get in here?"

A small smile curved her lips "A password's not hard to figure out."

He chuckled "Was there something I could help you with?"

Hermione's eyes drifted downward "Well, yes."

He raised his eyebrows "And?"

"It's just that... the second you left I felt so...empty" Her gaze snapped up to meet his "I don't want to feel that."

Draco nodded "So you're willing to give this another chance even if it risks our lives?" He strolled over to her and knelt to be eye level with her.

She swallowed "I'd rather be dead then kept from you."

He pressed his lips to hers softly.

"Dammit!!!!" Lucius Malfoy hurled his crystal globe against the stone wall of his chamber. It shattered into thousands of tiny fragments coating his floor in glittering crystals.

He had been monitoring his son's activities all day. So the Mud Blood wasn't afraid of his threats? He'd have to take more drastic measures... immediately.

************************************************************************ There you go! The whole nun thing was kinda annoying me so I killed it. But don't worry, I created it so it's not murder. Till next time! Bye!