CHAPTER 27

'You're beautiful,' Draco whispered.

Hermione looked up at him. Outside his room, the wind was whistling shrilly, and heavy rain was pattering against the panes. Oddly enough it made the heated room with the cozy comforter, and flickering candle seem even more comfortable.

Both were stark naked, and curled up together. Draco had wrapped his arms around Hermione, pulling her towards him. She smiled up at him.

'You realize that only now?' she asked, in mock outrage

He chuckled.

'That's not what I mean Sexy, gorgeous, wonderful –if I've been too thick to realize before, I definitely figured out tonight. I mean- well beautiful.'

'I don't get your meaning,' Hermione said, with a small smile.

Draco thought for a minute.

'Well,' he said, 'it's like this. There are loads of sexy girls out there, flaunting their assets to the whole world. But there's a difference in you. You're- well- sort of glowing, or whatever. Like its coming from inside, not outside. It's not like cookie-cutter blonde like Pansy or whatever.'

Hermione frowned a little.

'In one word?'

'Beautiful,' he leaned down and kissed her temple.

Hermione smiled. She pulled his face down to hers, and kissed him back.

'I love you,' she whispered.

'I love you too,' Draco replied.

Hermione sighed in her sleep.

And tender dreams flitted by her mind.

He forced himself to look away. There was work to be done.

Like butterflies lashing out with frail wings

'Stop it,' he muttered to himself. He found the silken hood in a drawer. He slipped it over his head, and waited for his eyes to get used to looking through the slits in the hood.

She will be mine for evermore.

He looked around for the familiar flash fo silver metal.

The deepness will cut her…she will bleed…over my dead body…

The words jolted him out of his revery.

'I will protect her!' he hissed. 'I love her!'

He pocketed the dagger, and left.

Hermione moaned softly in her sleep. Instinctively, she reached out with her fingers to touch Draco's warm chest.

To her surprise, she felt nothing.

Her eyes jolted wide open. She stared around. The bed was empty, except for herself and a few blankets strewn around.

This was the second time she had woken up a night and found him vanished. And she was not amused.

She paused for a minute, feeling the silken sheets slip off her bare legs. Pulling a dressing gown from the night stand, she slipped into it, and flicked on the light switch.

The room was absolutely empty. Not to mention again.

'Where is he?" she muttered.

She tiptoed to the door, and pulled it open. To her surprise, the manor wasn't as dark as it had been the night before. On the first floor landing, just out of sight, she caught sight of the glow of soft light shining. She checked to see if the coast was clear, and then walked towards the light. It transpired to be a table lamp, covered with soft netting, placed on top of a black coffee table.

She walked towards the coffee table. The light from the lamp was throwing itself into a wide arc. The arc lighted up a small gift from Draco- a blood-red rose, along with an envelope.

Hermione smiled to herself as she picked up the rose and twirled it childishly about in her fingers. She ran a finger over the velvety petals. She felt like a young teenager who was standing at the porch of a new boyfriend. After admiring the impeccable flower, with all its flawless beauty, she turned her attention to the thick envelope.

Pulling it out, she saw a parchment, with a brief note written in Draco's spidery hand-writing.

Dear Mya

They told me that one day I would feel,

The most powerful yearning, love, they said,

I didn't believe them, I passed it away,

Above these petty issues remained my head.

They told me it would give me a spontaneous kiss,

I said I didn't believe their lie,

But now I'll have to admit that this,

Only makes me want to put my head on your shoulder

And Cry.

I realize now what they said love was,

I can see it in everything I do,

I can see it in my fate and my dreams,

And I can see it in you.

I love you.

PS- This is just a little present for you.

Hermione felt her heart well up, and tears pricking her eyes. He was just so adorable! She read the poem one more time, quickly deciding she had never seen anything more romantic in her life.

This is just a little present for you.

'What is?' she wondered.

She glanced back at the envelope. There was something else in it.

Lifting it up, she tipped it over her palm.

A Death Repel fell out.