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 not copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Disclaimer in Layman's Terms: Harry Potter, the characters and the plot do NOT belong to me. Just this fanfic, and the original characters mentioned in it. Thank you.

On Borrowed Time

Chapter 10 - Brawling Suitors (Saturday - October 19, 1996 continued)

When Hermione woke up, she almost jumped up at the sight of the unfamiliar room around her. She certainly did not fall asleep in her own room. But when she realized that she was in Draco's room, she sighed in relief. He was sleeping right beside her but when she saw the clothing he was wearing, she realized that Draco was late for the Quidditch Game.

"Draco," she muttered as she shook him. "DRACO! The Quidditch Match starts in a few minutes. Wake up!"

Draco practically jumped off the bed when he opened his eyes. He then ran for his closet and started to rummage for his Quidditch uniform.

"Holy Fizzing Whizbees!"

Hermione turned away almost instantly, for he had started to take off his pants.

"Draco…Er---"

"Oh sorry!" he apologized. "Just, face that way. I am almost done changing. Ow!"

"My knee hurts like hell!" he said in between every gasp for air as they ran towards the Quidditch Pitch.

"I told you that I should have had a look at it."

"Like there was time! And I certainly would not want to pull my pants down so you can… oh stop giggling!"

Hermione giggled as they entered the Quidditch Arena.

"Good luck," she said as she gave him a hug.

"Thanks."

Hermione ran straight to the usual seat she watched the games from and watched as Draco fly out of the Slytherin Locker Room. She smiled as he flew her way but resisted waving for she feared the other Gryffindors would push her down the stands.

"That was a close call, Malfoy!" she heard Harry shouted from a few feet away. "They were planning to forfeit the game because you were absent. But it's not like it would have made a difference anyway since you can't even see the Snitch if it was between your eyes!"

"Shut up, Potter."

"You won't win this game or any other game against Gryffindor," scowled Harry.

"I might never have won a game, but you would never win the girl!"

Without a warning, out of anyone's expectations Harry flew straight towards his direction, practically knocking Draco and himself to the ground. As though they did not just dropped a hundred feet in the air, once they touched the ground, Draco lunged at Harry. They then both rolled on the ground as they punched each other silly.

Hermione did not know how fast she ran from the stands. The moment Harry headed straight for Draco, she had already sprinted towards the bottom of the stands. She was the first one to break them up.

Harry's lip was already bleeding and the area around Draco's right eye was now red as Hermione separated the fight.

"Draco! Harry!" she screamed as she tried to break them up. "Stop it, both of you!"

As the two boys separated, Harry threw one last good punch that sent Draco flying backwards and Hermione pointing her wand at Harry.

"I said stop it!" shouted Hermione before turning towards Draco and offering him a hand. "Are you alright?"

As Hermione pulled away her wand, Harry took a few steps back and started to laugh sinisterly.

"You know what, Malfoy? You can have her! You two are so perfect for each other! You see, you are Seeker who can't even ride the broom properly. And she is the broom that you ride on. You are both losers. You two are a perfect couple!"

Hermione held her chin in between her palms as she sat by the waiting area near the Infirmary. She had been waiting there patiently for more than half an hour for Madame Pomfrey to mend both boys' into proper health… or at least mend them with bandages. She was hoping that the two were placed under heavy sedation as to prevent them from getting at each other's throats but Madame Pomfrey would certainly not fulfill her wishes.

Hearing footsteps and thinking it was Draco. When she saw that it was Harry, she rolled her eyes and say back down

"I saw that," he said angrily.

"Harry… I was---"

"You thought I was Draco so you got all excited. But since it was just me, just go back to sitting down or whatever you were doing."

"Harry---"

He pointed a finger at her and continued.

"If you value your life, don't talk to me. I am resisting the urge to strangle you right now. Just leave me be."

Without saying another word, Harry walked away from her and turned back as he reached the corner.

"Just to let you know, I did love you."

When Harry was gone, Hermione took her seat again and slapped her forehead numerous times, wishing that she could get a concussion and be able to sleep for months without even thinking of the situation at hand.

"Harry says he loves me, Draco says he loves me. They both had to say it at almost the same time! Why me? Why did life suddenly get so complicated! What did I do to deserve this? I shouldn't have. I shouldn't have been with him!"

"It's because of me. I did this to you!"

It seemed that Draco had appeared in the middle of her mini-soliloquy and it seemed like he had misinterpreted what she just said for he ran straight towards the Slytherin Commons. Hermione followed him and though the portrait door almost closed in on her, she was lucky to squeeze herself in on time.

"Draco! Draco listen to me!"

As Draco pushed his bedroom door open, Hermione barged in the room with him.

"Why did you stop me from killing myself, Hermione?" he said as he wept. "Damn it, Hermione! If I only knew, I should have taken the chance when I could have and risked thinking that I am a dog than have you play with my heart like this!"

"Draco---"

"Just tell me. How did you know that I will be at that place at that certain time?"

"I---"

"TELL ME!"

"Please don't let me relive what happened to you. Anything but that!"

"I don't get it, Hermione."

"You died!" she shrieked. "I saw you die! Your attempt was not just attempt. It was real! You did succeed in killing yourself! When I got into that room you were in, you had already drank the poison and you had just slashed your wrists. It was… it was gruesome! I just can't imagine you like that, Draco. I can't."

"What? When did this happen?"

"The only reason you are alive now is because I turned back time and stopped you from doing what you were planning to do."

"You what?"

"I used the Time Turner, Draco. You died and I turned back to stop you from dying."

Draco just shook his head.

"Damn it! You made a mistake, Hermione. You shouldn't have!"

"I had to save your life."

"You shouldn't have!" Draco turned away from her and shouted, "Then turn back time, Hermione! Turn it back!"

"No!"

"Turn it back and just let things be the way they were before you stopped me! You should not have borrowed time like that! Now you have to pay for it. You are suffering now because of me. I ruined your life."

"No, Draco. You didn't."

"I caused it all to happen. If I did not exist, you and Harry would not be in the situation."

"No! It was not a mistake, Draco. I will not turn time back again!"

"Why not?"

"Because I can't bear living my life without you! I didn't know it then, I didn't know it yesterday, but I figured it out today. I love you and I loved you then! That was why I turned time back! I cared for you and I loved you."

It was as if the weight of the world was suddenly taken off her shoulder. She finally admitted it.

"You said that before and did not mean it!"

"This is for real, Draco."

"Then how come you said 'I shouldn't have'?"

"What made you think I was pertaining to you, huh? I was pertaining to Harry. I shouldn't have been with him to begin with! I liked him, but there was not much there besides the kisses. There was no passion. I got nothing from that relationship and I had him expect feelings that don't really exist. I love you, Draco. I care for Harry, but I love you."

"So… this is for real this time?"

"It's for real. This time, I am not taking it back. I was just… I was just too scared to admit it. I was too scared of how Harry would react. I was too scared of how my housemates would react. I was scared of how you would react."

"You are scared about how I would react? You already know how I feel for you."

"I do. But it scares me to think of what others might do when they find out a Gryffindor and a Slytherin, a pureblood and a Mudblood have feelings for each other."

"Don't call yourself that, Hermione. I made you think that. It was my fault. Everything that hurt you and will hurt you was and is going to be my fault! I treated you like dirt then and make you feel like scum. I try to undo my mistakes and I make you feel worse. Stay away from me, Hermione!"

He got up looked down at his feet.

"I am poison! Everyone around me is poisoned and slowly dying from it! My father is rotting in Azkaban, my mother is at home depressed as all hell for losing him… and there's you! You're every being is falling apart right in front of my eyes. I made Harry and everyone else detest you."

"It was not your fault, Draco."

"I am poison, Hermione! A jinx! If you value life, stay away from me! I care for you too much that I could not bear to see suffer like this. I would rather be as far away from you as possible knowing you are in good hands."

"No Draco," she said. Hermione held his face in his palms and looked directly into his grey eyes. He then touched the back of her hands lightly. "I am in good hands. Yours."

He placed his hands on her cheek before moving her hair away from his face and pulling her close.

"I can't believe that I have you in my arms and you are not resisting my hug?"

"Yes."

"Then this is the only reason why my life is worth saving."

Draco pulled her in for another fortunate kiss before leading her by the bed. Without pulling away from the kiss, Hermione managed to kick off her shoes while he pulled off the top layers of the sheets on his bed. He then carried her and placed her on top of his bed before kneeling by her feet to take off her shoes. At the same time, kicking his off. He pulled off his socks as his kisses forced Hermione down on the bed. She pulled herself to the middle of his bed as he himself slithered right on top of her.

"I love you, Hermione."

End of Chapter

AUTHOR NOTES:

Originally, there are twelve chapters to this fanfic. But the chapter that is in between this and the next (the last chapter in this story), I am NOT allowed to post here in because of it's adult ratings (It's NC-17). If you would like to read it, you have to email me for a link.

Don't worry, it's not a critical chapter or anything like that. Just an added bonus to you older folks out there.

Please review!!!