Author's Note- This chapter is the last one! It is very short, but oh well. I wanted to thank every single one of my reviewers! Without you guys, this story would never have made it this far! Special thanks to Alenor, my 100th reviewer, for approving this chapter! THANKS TOALL OF YOU! I'm not sure if I am going to write a sequel, but I'll let you know!

Disclaimer- For the last time, I don't own it!

Chapter 13- All That Matters

Draco raised his wand and pointed it toward his forbidden lover. Hermione's eyes grew wide. This wasn't happening. This wasn't happening. This was happening. And there was nothing she could do to stop it. Hermione felt like everything was moving in slow motion.

She didn't realize she was voicing her innermost thoughts aloud. "I wish I could spend more time with you, Draco. I want to get to know you better, so I can understand exactly what you are going through. I guess I won't have any time. I love you, Draco. I really and truly do. I don't know why or how, but I do know that if I could, I would stand by you forever." Silent tears streamed down Hermione's face. She was going to die. She squeezed her eyes shut and waited for the end.

Draco stopped. Kill her! Kill her now! Draco's mind fought for control. No! I won't kill her! I love her! Kill her NOW! The Imperius curse raised his arm again, fighting Draco. Draco struggled to stop his mouth from saying the curse, but his lips were forming words. Hegave one final try.NO! I WILL NOT KILL HER! The strength of the Imperius curse crumbled, leaving Draco shaken and sore, but he was himself.

Draco whirled around to face Lucius, wand in hand. Lucius blanched. How could his son have fought off the curse? Lucius reached for his wand, only to find it gone. Where the hell had he put it? Oh Merlin, he had left it in Draco's room! Now he was at the mercy of his very angry son.

"You sick bastard," Draco started. "I am going to kill you! You think you can own me? You think you can make me a monster like you? Well, guess what, Father? I don't want to be like you!" Draco was breathing heavily, his face tinged red with rage. "I am going to kill you for everything you've ever done to me." His mouth open to say the curse, Draco stopped. I can't kill him. I won't become a killer for him! After a bit of internal struggle, Draco put down his wand.

"Get out of my sight. Don't ever come near me again, or I won't hesitate to kill you. Leave. Now." Draco watched as his father sneered at him. Hermione sighed in relief. Draco couldn't bring himself to kill a human being.

"This is why you would never be a good Death Eater. You were always too soft-" Draco interrupted him with a glare that left no question to its purpose. Get out of my sight or die.

Hermione gasped in relief as Lucius turned with a sneer and walked away. Draco, after watching his father leave, rushed to Hermione and kissed her. He didn't even have to say anything. His lips explained it all. He was so sorry, he could have killed her, he should have been more careful. He couldn't kill his own father even after all those things he had done to Draco. Lucius would still probably try to kill her. But for now, none of that mattered.

-

Hermione sighed in sheer contentment. She was here, under a willow tree, watching the sunset with Draco. For the moment, everything was perfect in her life. Her best friends Harry and Ron had come to terms with her relationship (only after weeks of persuasion that Draco was different.) The threat of Lucius was gone for now, and there was no one to bother them.

The sun at last sank below the horizon, leaving behind a rainbow of colors. Pink, yellow, purple, blue, and black painted the sky, making way for the magical night. The moon shone in the east, starlight began to glimmer down faintly upon the earth.

In this perfect moment, she didn't know anything. She wasn't sure of her future or how she would get through her life. She didn't know how she was going to be able to hide from Lucius when he attacked again. But, she was with Draco, and he loved her. No matter what opposed them, they would make it through. And that was all that mattered.