-Incendio-

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. Don't sue, I'm poor. EXCEPTION: I own the Witches of Trane, the Crystal Orb, the flying carpet idea for the story (kinda), the idea that the forests of Albania are next to the Dead Sea, the Door of Serenity, Fabrisia, home of the nymphs and Amethyst Cove.

-

CHAPTER 27: War of Wizards and the Diabolical (Chapter rated PG-13 )

-

Later that day, someone entered the small tent Hermione was sleeping in. They shook her awake, and she woke up instantly.

To her surprise, it was Draco. He was wearing a black sweatshirt with a hood, over jeans, and his blonde hair was covered entirely by the hood. Draco's steel gray eyes stood out from the darkness of under the shield.

Before Hermione could say anything, be swiftly kissed her with an intense passion and desire. Hermione moaned into his mouth, but before she could deepen the kiss, he pulled back just as abruptly as he started.

She slowly opened her eyes.

"Draco?" she whispered sexily.

He nodded, and then pulled the hood back, revealing his face.

He looked the same, except for a deep scar leading from the beginning of his chin, to right under his eye. He looked pained, like many horrible things had happened in Hermione's absence.

She gasped, and gently grazed the cut with her fingers, careful not to hurt him.

He didn't make any movement, just stared into her eyes, watching her every move.

She pulled her arm back to his side, and put it behind her to support herself sitting up.

"What happened?"

His eyes turned to fire. "Your friend," he spat the word out like a curse, "did this to me."

Hermione was confused, and make no movement to conceal her feelings from appearing on her face.

"Who?" she asked.

"Weasley." he said in an inaudible whisper. Hermione had to strain her ears to hear.

"What? Ron? Where is he?" she asked, afraid for her best friend. A million thoughts swam through her head. Thsi was all too sudden for her. She needed to lay down again, and sleep until it was all over.

"The genius, he went and tried to save his family all by himself. Didn't tell anyone. Just went. The black hooded creatures found us, again, and left me this." Draco gestured to his scar. Suddenly, his eyes became soft again, and the side of him Hermione was pretty sure only she knew, appeared.

She gasped, tears falling out of her eyes.

"What happened to Ron?" she asked, a chill forming in her heart and spreading throughout her body.

"We don't know. The nymphs sent a party to search for him. But it's already been a day." he sighed, and moved to lay down with Hermione on the bed.

She scooted over, to allow him room to lay, and put her head on his chest, listening to his steady, beautiful, heartbeat.

She kept silently crying, and he wrapped his arm around her back, holding her close to him protectively.

Hermione didn't know how long they were lying there, but she eventually fell asleep.

-

When Hermione awoke, she and Draco were in the same position that they were in when they fell asleep. The tent was dark now, but Hermione noticed that a small lantern had been lit.

As she lay there, perfectly comfortable against Draco's body, she heard the wind rustle tree leaves behind the tent, and the familiar chirp of crickets in the trees, as well. The sound comforted her, making her think that not everything was lost, and the world still had some innocence in it, like the innocence of crickets and their midnight chirping.

Draco's groaned, and shifted slightly under Hermione. She sat up, surprised at how much better her body felt. Her arm and leg no longer hurt. She silently stretched, then looked down at Draco.

He looked so peaceful, his hair was in his face, and the sweater was bunches up around his neck. There was a faint dark spot on the sweater. Hermione's guessed it was where she had been crying on him. His jeans were worn and faded, and Hermione wondered who they belonged to. He was wearing normal black sneakers.

Hermione's eyes flickered over to the cut on Draco's face, and put her fingers over it lightly.

Suddenly, Draco's arm shot to her wrist, and grabbed it in a tight squeeze. Hermione made a small noise, and his eyes flew open, staring at her.

Hermione wanted to cry, but couldn't. It felt like Draco was going to squeeze her hand off with the intensity of his grip.

His eyes focused on her face, and his hand stopped their horrible squeezing sensation. He pulled away, and Hermione brought her wrist up to her chest, holding it close. She was sure he had broken something.

Draco got up and put his legs over the side of the bed, holding his head in his hands. He quietly muttered, "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

Hermione crept over to him, and put her arm around his shoulder, bring him closer to her.

She whispered comforting words to him. "Its okay, Draco. You didn't mean it. It's okay. It's okay." He shook his head violently.

"It's NOT okay, Hermione!" he screamed suddenly, staring right into her eyes. "I love you so much, and look what I did to you. I practically broke your wrist." He said. "I don't know what I was thinking. I wasn't thinking." He paused.

"I love you, Hermione. I love you so so much." he said, earnestly. Hermione could tell he wanted her to love him back. And she did.

Hermione hugged him. "I love you too." she whispered into his ear.

He kissed her again. She kissed him back, hungrily, pressing herself against him. He slowly unbuttoned the blouse she was wearing, and slipped it off.

-

The next morning, Hermione and Draco woke up, side by side in the bed. Hermione was confused at first, and then remembered what had happened. She looked at herself under he covers. Yep. It certainly had happened.

She sat up, wrapping her part of the sheets around her chest, and slipping on the clothes that were carelessly discarded last night. She slipped them on, and saw out of the corner of her eye the lantern from last night, was still lit.

'Must have been lit with a special spell.' she thought, and got out of the bed. Her body was pleasantly sore.

Hermione recalled her and Draco talking last night. About Ron. She had a deep desire to talk to him, to ask how he was, but she knew she couldn't. She also knew that today would be the last day she would spend in Fabrisia. She had to find Ron, with Draco's help of course.

Someone snuck up behind her, and wrapped sturdy arms around her, kissing her neck.

"Speak of the devil." she said, turning around to face the one holding her captive.

It was Draco. His hair was matted down on his forehead, and he had a severe case of bed head. He had the sheet wrapped around his waist.

"The devil?" he asked, jokingly.

"Oh, nothing." she said, before kissing him quickly.

"Come on," she said, disentangling herself from Draco, "we have to save Ron."

Draco sighed and nodded. "I knew you'd make us." he said, grumbling, and slipping into his boxers.

After he was dressed, he ran a hand through his hair, making it stick up more then it already had. Hermione giggled and walked over towards him, hugging him.

"I love you, Malfoy." she joked, using the surnames of their past. Her mind was still on Ron, and his whereabouts, but she thought that if she was going to go off into some dangerous new adventure, she should at least tell the man of her dreams that she loved him.

His eyes twinkled as he replied, "I love you too, Hermione."

But even as they kissed again, Hermione swept off her feet by Draco's loving gestures and gentle touch, she couldn't help but let a part of her mind drift to Ron, her parents, and the possible upcoming war. So even locked in Draco's arms, she knew she would never feel entirely safe until it was all over.

-

Draco and Hermione love! I figured it was time for some of that. It was bound to happen. This chapter is very romance-y, kinda unlike me. I feel silly typing stuff like this, especially since I've never been kissed. Sob. Anyway. Next chapter. I PROMISE, back to the action and saving Ron, all the good stuff you guys love. I just had to get Draco and Hermione's love for eachother cleared up. Chapter 27 is the chapter of loove, and suspense.

XX-Dracos-Dark-Queen-XX - Thanks. Confusing? How so? I love Tom Riddle too, haha. Thanks!

random llama127 - Never heard of that... thanks.

random llama127 - Yay! Oh yeah, horny Draco.

Sh'ai Ytk'ein - Thanks so much!

Raven176 - Such a cute face. Thanks so much!

Cold-eyes-for-you - Thanks! Glad you like the story, and thanks for filling out the survey. :D