Never an Absolution

Disclaimer: We do not own in any way, shape or form, the characters or settings of J.K. Rowling and her novel, Harry Potter.  Also, none of these songs belong to us in any way.  We should thank the makers of the "A Walk to Remember" soundtrack for making such beautiful songs…that we get to manipulate!

Summary: In every song there is a story, but sometimes the tales go beyond the music.  A single love could inspire a thousand songs.  A Draco/Hermione story.

Author's note: ATTENTION! None of the stories you are about to read are connected in any way.  Each song is a totally different story, so please don't get confused! We don't want to have to explain this to every reader, so we're explaining it now.  Each chapter is a different plot based on the song in the CD.  By the way, if you have the Walk to Remember soundtrack, we highly recommend you turn it on repeat while you read this.  It just adds something! ::grin:: Enjoy!

I Dare You to Move

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Welcome to the planet

Welcome to existence

She shuddered.  This was no longer a dream.  Fantasy had vanished...and become reality.

Carefully, Hermione placed the plastic applicator on the counter, her fingers trembling in anticipation.  Her senses were numb as she waited.

"Would you hurry up, Hermione?  It's splendid outside!" She barely heard the muffled plea of Ron on the opposite side of the wall.  The pounding of the door barely even fazed her.

Hermione swallowed, barely managing to choke out, "I'll meet you there."  She heard him hesitate, before grumbling a quick "alright", and leaving her alone.

Minutes passed, and Hermione didn't dare look at the results.  The blood rushing through her ears was like the thoughts that were flashing through her mind.

She thought they could have pulled it off; meeting in secret didn't seem so bad at first, but then the feeling deepened.  They wanted more...more freedom, more opportunity, and more of each other.  But no one knew that Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger were in love.

She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling a tear slip down her pale cheek.  Clutching the counter, Hermione looked down at the applicator.  The last blue line faded into view.  Hermione was pregnant.

Everyone's here

Everybody's watching you now

Damn the summer days.  Everyone was always outside, playing muggle Frisbee or doing homework.  Usually it was just Hermione, and on occasion Draco as well.  Today wasn't a lonely day.

Hermione burst through the double doors of the castle, feeling the warm spring glow envelope her.  She let out a quiet sob as she noticed the many students wandering about.  Outside was where she went.

She let another tear slip down her cheek, feeling her eyes burn from crying as she stumbled out into the grass.  As she walked people's conversations faded, taking notice of the Gryffindor's puffy red eyes and her determined approach.  Hermione didn't notice any of it.  She had one goal in mind, and that was to find Draco.

One group sniggered as the distraught woman passed, a familiar response.  She glanced at them and noticed it was Pansy and her groupies, staring at her gleefully.  Hermione only walked on, barely noticing.

Everybody waits for you now

What happens next?

There he was.  Hermione halted, staring wide eyed at the Slytherin.  He was so beautiful.  She sobbed again, wondering how bad she would mangle his content expression when he found out.

Hermione was a good 50 feet away from Draco, standing like a deer in the spotlight in the middle of the grassy terrain.  She gazed at him sadly, willing him to notice her.

Everywhere around her students watched.  They'd forgotten any previous activity and halted, in awe at such a sight.  It was like watching an angel with wet wings.

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

I dare you to pick yourself up off the floor

She couldn't.  No matter how hard Hermione tried her feet wouldn't budge.  She'd gone as far as she was allowed.  Now it was up to Malfoy to come meet his surprise.

He glanced up, jumping at the onlookers before noticing Hermione standing, crying.  "What the..." The Slytherin stood, jogging to her and speeding up when she collapsed to the ground.

In a second Draco was by her, panic taking over him.  "Hermione, what's wrong?  Tell me what happened," He cupped her cheek with his hand, holding onto her arm with his other.  The Gryffindor sobbed, squeezing her cinnamon eyes shut.

"I'm pregnant, Draco," She whispered.

I dare you to move

I dare you to move

World disintegrated around them.  Draco's state of mind vanished.  That word rang through his ears, penetrating his thought like a needle.  Pregnant...He could feel his vision blurring, but quickly brushed away any trace of a tear.

"A-Are you sure?" Hermione nodded sadly, another tear trailing down her cheek.  Draco hesitated, closing his eyes and standing.  He clenched his fists together. 

When those gray orbs came back into view he was staring into the face of whom he loved.   Hermione had stood as well, and now she looked as though she were contemplating something.  He waited for her to decide.

Like today never happened

Today never happened before

Suddenly she threw her arms around Draco, engulfing him in a desperate and sincere hug.  That jogged him back into his senses, and he froze, noticing for what seemed the first time all the onlookers.  They were staring at him, wide eyed and daring him to throw her off him like the Malfoy they knew would.

But before he could make a decision he felt his own arms slip around her waist, pulling her closer to him slowly.  Draco gave in, ignoring the dumbfounded students.  He squeezed his eyes shut, tightening his grip on Hermione.  Any secret was forgotten.

Welcome to the fallout

Welcome to existence

Malfoy jumped as he felt a cold hand dig into his shoulder, ripping him away from Hermione.  He turned and came face to face with the last person on Earth he ever wanted to see...Pansy.

"What is this?" She demanded, raising a challenging eyebrow at the both of them.  "Draco, why are you letting that filth put its hands all over you?" She glared menacingly at Hermione, who stared back, calmly.

Draco tensed.  Damn, he thought.  I forgot about the secret.  He closed his eyes, willing himself to refrain from slapping the Slytherin.  She tightened her grip on his shoulder.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" She whispered.  It was a whisper that would mean the death to Draco, if he let it.  All during his and Granger's courtship, he'd made it seem that Pansy was the apple of his affection, to keep rumor from sprouting.  He'd totally forgotten that she still thought she was the only thing in Draco's life.

The tension is here

Between who you are and who you could be

He looked first at Pansy.  It was a match made in heaven, to his father.  Her long, thick dark brown hair and her olive complexion complimented two very high, very graceful cheekbones.  Anyone could have mistaken Pansy for the descendant of an Egyptian Goddess. Men dreamed of the day when she paid attention to them.  Draco smirked.  She was all looks, no person.

He looked back at Hermione.  She was petite, with much thicker, curlier brown hair, and a slightly bluish pigment to her skin.  Angel, Draco thought.  It was a match made in heaven, in his eyes.  Quite frankly, Draco could care less about his father.  He had learned from Hermione to live by what his heart told him, and his heart was screaming to forget stereotypes.

Pansy would drag Draco to the Dark Lord.  Malfoy would end up like his bastard father, sleeping around behind his wife's back.  She'd turn him evil.

Hermione...Draco could only imagine what life with Hermione would bring him.  He was already a father to be.  He could see himself teaching their child to ride a broom; showing her where the snitch was and laughing with her.  He could see himself spending the rest of his life with Hermione.

Between how it is and how it should be

I know how it should be.  Draco gazed at Pansy calmly, finding Hermione's hand and lacing it with his own.  She came to stand next to him, drying her eyes.  "I was never yours, Pansy.  We lived a lie." She narrowed her eyes threateningly.  Draco lowered his voice.  "And if you ever call Hermione filth again, I'll make sure your beauty doesn't cover up the fact that that's what you are.  That's what you always have been."

Maybe redemption has stories to tell

Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell

Where can you run to escape from yourself?

Hermione followed Draco into the outskirts of the Dark Forest, letting him pull her along.  He halted and turned, planting a firm, loving kiss to her lips.  Her eyes fluttered shut, recalling how wonderful it was.  He broke away and glanced at her stomach, tracing circles around it with his finger.

"These last months at Hogwarts are going to be Hell, you know that?" Hermione stated quietly, hooking her arm around Draco's neck.  He raised his eyes to meet hers, pecking her on the lips gently.

"Not for me," He whispered.  "I've got you." She smiled slightly, watching his eyes debate with himself.  "I'm so sorry, Hermione." He finally said.  "It should have never been this way.  You deserved so much better."

The Gryffindor smirked.  "If I'd deserved better, there wouldn't be many fish in the sea for me, now would there?" Her gaze sobered.  "I wouldn't change what we have for anything." She placed Draco's hand on her stomach.  "We have so much now."

Where you gonna go?

Where you gonna go?

Salvation is here

Draco kissed her.  It was a passionate, victorious kiss that lasted forever.  Hermione Granger had done the impossible.  She'd changed Draco Malfoy for the better, and it would take him a lifetime to thank her.

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Well, there's the first chapter! We now say this with the utmost sincerity: Review…or die. ::grin::