Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
A/N Sorry its been so long. I was having writerÕs block and therefore wrote another story. Please read it! IÕm quite proud if I do say so meeself. Anyway, oh, and perhaps you could read ÒDangerously in LoveÓ. The latest chapter? I got like barely any reviews for that and I worked pretty hard on it so yeah. . . Here it is! R/R!!!! BTW IÕm sorry itÕs kind of short, okay, like really short, but itÕs kind of a chapter that needs to be just this, and it was written this length so donÕt be mean about that. Sorry!
And please people, if you read it and like it, please drop me a line or two. You donÕt know how happy they make me feel and as wonderful as it is to see that some of you have added me to your favorites list, I also noticed that some of those wonderful people havenÕt once reviewed. I wish you would take the time to tell me what you appreciated about my story. IÕll love you forever. I promise.
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~0~*Chapter Eight- I Love You*~0~
~*~ I Love You~*~ We lay together amongst the trees
You have your arms wrapped around me
A smile is broadly displayed on my face
And the past years have been erased
I think I love you
I think I need you
I think I want you
Now more then ever
I think I love you
I think I need you
I think I want you
Always and forever
The blood I shed has long since been dried
As have all the tears IÕve cried
I want to breathe your life into me
WeÕll spread our wings and be free
I think I love you
I think I need you
I think I want you
Now more then ever
I think I love you
I think I need you
I think I want you
Always and forever
Now our breath is synchronized
At the same time our chests slowly rise
You take my hand firmly in yours
All is forgotten and now I want more
I think I love you
I think I need you
I think I want you
Now more then ever
I think I love you
I think I need you
I think I want you
Always and forever
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ÔThey smiled like idiots. The grins were evident from a mile away. The love was practically shining like an aura around the both of them. They didnÕt see to care that both of their lives were now in danger.Õ
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ÒThis is nice.Ó
ÒYeah, it is.Ó Draco replied. He smiled and stroked HermioneÕs hair. He was glad she was no longer trembling, her cheeks tear streaked. It broke his heart to see her in such a state. He felt her hand grip his tightly, almost as if it was her lifeline.
The birds chirped happily in the trees, oblivious to the word around them. The trees were slowly losing their gold leaves, and the ground was littered with the brown foliage, covering the ground like a layer of autumn snow.
ÒIÕm still scared, Draco. No matter how tightly I hold your hand, nothing will change my fate. I donÕt want to leave everyone behind.Ó He heard a familiar sniffle and tremble in her voice when she spoke. He sat up, jogging her slightly.
ÒWhy the fuck wonÕt you let me save you?Ó
ÒIÕm scared, Draco. DonÕt do this.Ó HermioneÕs bottom lip trembled again, and her hair fell in front of her face. She picked up a leaf, ÒLucky youÓ, she said to it, ÒYou donÕt have any problems. Your only worries are fall and someone stepping on you.Ó
ÒOh Merlin, Hermione. Now youÕre talking to a fucking leaf!Ó Draco yelled. Hermione looked up at his, her big doe eyes brimming with tears. She felt these weird things coming out all at once, her head filled with thought, her heart buzzing with emotion.
ÒWhatÕs happening to me?Ó Hermione said in a whisper. It was meant as a rhetorical question, but Draco saw fit to respond.
ÒI wish I knew. I guess youÕre just a lost soul.Ó
ÒI miss the way my life used to beÓ, Hermione stared off at the castle, ÒI miss the way my friends used to be. I miss Ron. I miss my old self, my old healthy self.Ó
ÒDo you miss hating me?Ó Draco asked seriously.
HermioneÕs head shot up, ÒHow could you possibly think that?Ó She brushed her skirt and then stood up, to face him. She wasnÕt as tall, but somehow she looked menacing all the same.
ÒI donÕt know.Ó Draco shrunk back. He turned around and faced the castle. He sighed deeply as he stared long and hard at the large building in front of him. He turned back towards the quivering girl. She wouldnÕt look at him. ÒIÕm sorry,Ó he whispered.
ÒI know.Ó She stood up again, putting her cold hand to his equally cold cheek. ÒYouÕre eyes. . . theyÕre like ice storms. And you donÕt let one emotion surpass the surface. Why is that?Ó
ÒI was taught not to my father. He taught me a lot of things.Ó
ÒAll of which were bad, am I right?Ó She saw his eyes grow slightly darker as he let her see the emotion of anger flicker in the iris, and then, as quickly as it came, the pain was gone, now merely just a wisp in HermioneÕs memory.
ÒDonÕt talk like you know him.Ó
ÒDonÕt do this Draco. You know very well what kind of man your father is. You told me so just a moment ago,Ó Hermione spoke loudly, her nostrils flared delicately, ÒWhat the hell is wrong with you? You have some sort of disorder, schizophrenia or something! WonÕt you just stay the way I like you for more then a second? Let your guard down. . . for me.Ó
Draco didnÕt say anything, and resumed looking at the castle. He heard her huff behind him. He could almost sense she was mentally tapping her foot, waiting for him to turn around and apologize. He was very stubborn.
He felt HermioneÕs arm snake around his waste and he smirked. ÒBack so soon?Ó he asked.
Hermione giggled awkwardly. She took his strong, large hand in hers and she began to walk away from their original spot. Draco followed her without protest. Suddenly, Hermione stopped. She turned back around to Draco. He saw her eyes flutter, and then she fell.
ÒHermione?Ó Her breath was becoming increasingly shallow. ÒHermione?Ó He slapped her cheek lightly. ÒHermione!Ó He took the limp girl in his arms and jogged up to the castle.
-+-+-+-+-
Draco stroked her forehead lovingly, cherishing the ragged, shallow breath that escaped her blue lips. He kissed her cheek; ÒDonÕt do this to me, Hermione.Ó He kissed her forehead, letting a silent tear seep out of his crystal clear eye. He swallowed thickly and rose. ÒI hope youÕre not dreaming.Ó
ÒIn a coma, you donÕt dream.Ó
Draco spun around, and saw Harry leaning against the doorframe. He blinked and swallowed again. ÒIÕm sorryÓ, Draco whispered, his head bent.
ÒItÕs not your fault.Ó Harry walked over to the bed. He sat on the side of HermioneÕs bed and put his hand against her cold forehead and then pushing a strand of stray hair away from her eye. Harry chuckled hollowly, ÒIt seems that everyoneÕs dying to get the disease.Ó
Draco looked puzzled, ÒWhat?Ó
ÒWell, Hermione is dying. Only true love can save her. IÕm only saying the disease in love.Ó Draco looked at him, his eyes growing wider. Harry kissed HermioneÕs forehead. He then walked over to Draco and patted his back, ÒGood luck, mate.Ó
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HermioneÕs eyes flickered open. She saw Draco pacing in front of the hospital bed she was occupying. She yawned slightly. A frown played on her features, but her lips were formed in a sad smile.
She was dying.
ÒDraco?Ó She whispered. He spun around and saw her, her eyes open. He could see the put on smile on her sad face. He walked over slowly.
ÒYouÕre awake.Ó
ÒLooks like itÓ, she said. She put her hand upon his cheek as he sat on the side of her bed.
ÒWhen Madam Pomfrey says youÕre free to go, I want to take you somewhere.Ó Draco smiled sadly. His eyes sparkled slightly, as he tried to keep a strait face.
ÒOh, where?Ó HermioneÕs voice had perked up a bit. Draco didnÕt say anything, but merely shook his head.
ÒTill next time.Ó And with that, he was gone.
It was now HermioneÕs alone time to cry.
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ÒWhere are you taking me?Ó Hermione halfheartedly giggled. Her eyes were covered with a black handkerchief supplied by Draco, and he was holding her waist and directing slowly.
ÒShhÓ, he whispered.
They came to a clearing not far from the edge of the forest. Hermione was plonked down by Draco, who in turn sat down opposite her.
ÒYouÕre everything I never knew I always wanted.Ó
ÒWhat are you talking about?Ó Hermione asked, her dancing eyes still hidden by the infamous black material.
ÒTo see myself in your eyes would change everything IÕve ever known.Ó
ÒDraco?Ó Hermione sounded a little nervous. A light rain began too fall and Hermione shivered subconsciously. ÒDraco, itÕs raining.Ó
Draco smiled and removed her blindfold. He stood her up and looked into her large eyes.
ÒI love you.Ó He whispered.
ÒDraco, I-Ò
ÒShh. . . DonÕt. Just kiss me in the rain.Ó
They shared their second real kiss in the rain.