Chapter Four

You know the disclaimer. So suck it. :-P

All of a sudden, Hermione heard someone behind them, whispering frantically. She looked around, but didn't see them... And then she thought...

"Harry's invisibility cloak... He must have followed us!"

"What?" Draco asked her.

"Harry!" she called out. "Where are you? Take off the invisibility cloak, we know it's you..."

As if by magic A/N: badumbumchissss..., Harry appeared in front of her, embarrassed.

"I'm sorry Hermione... I just wanted to follow to make sure you were okay... I didn't mean anything by it, I promise..." Harry said, nervously.

"It's fine, Harry," Hermione sighed. "But... Please... Don't tell everyone about it, I can definitely live without everyone knowing I was macking Draco."

Draco got a hurt look on his face and turned away. He started thinking about his relationship with her and wondered if she meant it at all, after that comment.

"Draco, you know I didn't mean it that way," Hermione said, grabbing his hand. "I just... I don't think I'm ready to face what people will have to say about it. Besides, did it mean anything, anyway?"

"Not if you don't want it to, Hermione..."

Hermione became very confused about this. "What? You mean, you meant it?"

"Hermione, I can't help but want to make up for everything I've done to you and your friends for the last 6 years. And when I decided I wanted to make up for it, I also kind of... Fell for you... You know?"

Hermione gasped in disbelief. She deeply hurt him just now, and she didn't know what to do... Because she had kind of fallen for him too, what with him being so flipping sweet to her all of a sudden... But she was used to guys just wanting a "cheap feel" out of her, and figured the kiss meant nothing.

She turned him around to look at her, and stared directly into his eyes... His deep blue, yet silver, eyes... She melted in those eyes.

She just couldn't figure out what to do... Because she knew that no one would forgive her for dating him, if she were to date him right now. But she couldn't help it, she really liked him, and she mentally decided she would definitely date him.

"Um... Draco... Can we go back to the dorms to talk? Please? I'm getting quite chilly out here, and frankly, I'm not sure if I want an audience..." she said, looking over at Harry apologetically.

"Sure Hermione."

So Hermione bid farewell to Harry and received a hug and kiss on the cheek from him.

As soon as they were out of earshot from anyone who might want to "drop eaves" on them, Hermione apologized to Draco for being so curt with him back in Hogsmeade. She stopped him and took him into a meaningful hug, nuzzling his neck for a second and letting go.

"Hermione, I really do like you... I just want you to know that..." Draco said slowly.

"Draco, I really do like you too... But can we please wait for the dorms... I want to make what I say special to you. Believe me."

So they walked together, hand in hand, in complete silence until they were back at the castle. They traipsed up the stairs, ignoring the evil glares from their teachers for not being in class, and made their way to the dormitory they shared, still holding hands.

"Password," Draco said to the portrait... Their password was "password." But anyway... They walked in and found none other than Professor Dumbledore sitting on their couch.

"Professor?" Hermione spoke first. "What do you need?"

"Oh, nothing, Hermione dear. I just wanted to check on you two, make sure you made it back alright..."

"Are you sure that's all, Professor?" Draco asked.

"No, Draco... You're right, I do have other means in being here... You see, Hermione, I got a terrible letter last night. I hate to inform you of this, Hermione, but no one else is there to give you the news, so I have to... Your mother and stepfather were in a terrible car accident last night. I wish I could say otherwise, but there was nothing they could do for them; however, your mother did have a final wish that she told the nurses before she died... She wanted them to write a letter for her, to you, explaining some things to you, and I have it here with me, if you'd like to take it, and I'll be leaving, to give you some time to look over it."

Hermione burst into tears; no matter how terrible it was of her mother to run off for the summer and leave her to be alone, she loved her very much, and didn't know what to do. "Th-thank you, p-professor..." she stuttered.

And with that, Professor Dumbledore left their dormitory, handing Hermione the letter on his way out.

Hermione's knees buckled and she fell onto their couch, her face in her hands, silently sobbing. Draco, afraid of saying anything wrong, just went over to her, put his arms around her, and tried to relieve her pain.

"Shh... Hermione, it's going to be alright... Don't worry, I'm here..." he said, trying to shush her. "I won't let you go..."

Some time passed and Draco still had his arms around her, her face in his chest, and she was calming down a little. He kissed her cheek and laid her down, getting up to get himself and her something to eat. When he returned from their mini-kitchen with pizza in hand, he found her looking over the letter that Professor Dumbledore had left her.

"Baby, are you sure you want to read that now? You just calmed down... I mean, we could wait until later, if you want..." Draco said.

Hermione just held it out to him, having lost her voice, and he figured she wanted him to read it to him; he started it off as this:

My Dearest Hermione,

I'm sorry that I can't be here to tell you this myself, but I guessed that a letter would be the best I can do for now. If I don't make it out of this hospital alive, I just want you to know that I love you more than anyone can imagine, more than anyone can comprehend... You see, Hermione, I didn't leave you by choice for the summer... I didn't even get married by choice. Your father committed suicide because of his own little bouts of depression that we never wanted you to know about. He loved you as much as I did, but he couldn't stand to see some of the things that were going on around him. He didn't want you to be a witch, seeing as he came from a nice, well known Christian family, but he had no choice, because I am always on your side. After all of this happened, his brother, Charles, forced me into a marriage I never wanted. One thing I want you to remember is to never believe a word your paternal grandfather says, because he says nothing but lies about this family. If nothing else, he had a part in my forced marriage. Tonight, September twenty-fourth, your paternal grandfather and stepfather staged an "accident," one that they hoped would kill only me, so they could gain my family's riches, since I inherited all. But they mustn't know much about karma, because it killed them on impact. You'll be turning 18 this summer, after your last year of school, and so you won't have to worry about where to go, because it will be legal for you to live wherever you wish. You can have our mansion, or you can sell it, just do with it what you wish. You also have inherited my family's riches, which is close to four billion dollars in Muggle money. I love you, Hermione Blake, and I will forever, in death or life, no matter who steps in my way.

Love Forever,

your Mother.

sorry about the long wait, I promise I'll try to update faster; I've had a lot of school stuff/volunteer work to do. REVIEW!