Chapter Eight: Present Day

Draco's features hardened as he listened to the woman trapped beneath him. How dare she say those things to him? What kind of monster did she believe him to be? The very worst kind, he reminded himself. After all, he had hurt her as she said all of those years ago. Then he left her to believe he had done the things she imagined. And after that… He couldn't bear to think of it now.

"Please," he heard her whisper. "Draco, if you ever loved me at all, even for just a moment, kill me quickly so I can finally be rid of you forever."

Draco's heart stilled in his chest at her words. Had it come to this – that she should think he meant to kill her? The gravity of his actions over the years filled him with their full weight. He focused on her pleading eyes and felt his anger at her words dissolve into bitter remorse for his own actions. Merlin, what have I done to her? A hollow ache snaked through him as he struggled to find the words to tell her everything he needed to say.

As Hermione waited for Draco to make his move, she watched the hard lines of his face stretch in surprise before twisting in bitterness and then softening in….was that sorrow? An eternity seemed to pass as she observed the storm rage again behind his eyes. They searched her own for answers she couldn't supply. She felt exposed to her soul by their probing depths and it was worse than any death for her. This was the ride she didn't want to accept. This tidal wave of emotion he always dragged from her. Damn him, but she wouldn't give him what he wanted. Not this time. "Draco," she began. But she was cut off as he whispered against her lips before covering them with his own.

So beautiful… The words echoed in her ears. Draco's lips were soft as a whisper as she lay shocked and unmoving beneath him. She remembered then, how it all began. That day in the library, the darkened hallway, the confession, the plan, the trust, the heat, the release, the betrayal, the pain. It had been sweet. It had been bitter. And she had been forever changed. Never again would she allow herself to be in that position where he was concerned. As she opened her mouth to protest, Draco took the opportunity to increase the intensity of his kiss.

Hermione ignored the feelings beginning to stir in her belly and focused instead on the pumping of her heart as the adrenaline kicked in. She tried not to laugh in triumph as she realized her moment of reprieve. Draco had always had a weakness for physical intimacy with her. She remembered how easy it had been in their school days to derail his rantings or dismiss his worries with a simple kiss that held the promise of things to come. Oh yes, he could be turned to putty in her hands. And she planned to use that fact to her advantage this time.

Emotionally she distanced herself and slowly began to return his kiss. Hesitantly, she touched her tongue to his and reveled in the moan he gave in return. When he deepened the kiss she did not fight. Rather, she engaged him whole-heartedly in the dual he had begun. As his arms left her sides to wander down her hips, she slowly inched her own hands up his arms to the front of his shoulders. And then she struck hard and fast.

Before Draco could register what had happened, Hermione sank her teeth into his lip and kneed him in the groin as hard as she could. Using her auror training to her advantage, she pushed him from her, rolled quickly and sprang to a crouched position before firmly shouting, "Accio, wand!" With great effort, Draco recovered himself and staggered to his feet. But before he could draw his wand, Hermione was in front of him pointing her own directly at his heart.

Draco stood in awe of the warrior goddess in front of him. Her eyes were wild with anger and his blood tinged her lips. Her hair whipped around her with the wind, which seemed to come from nowhere. She stood, feet spread, haughtier than any Death Eater he had ever known. Her wand arm did not waver, though her chest heaved from the energy flowing from within her. He found himself beginning to smile at the Fury who faced him and fancied he would enjoy a playful duel. But any musings he may have had about her were cut short when he reached for his wand. "Expelliarmus!" she cried, knocking him back a few feet and hurtling his wand in her direction.

Without his wand, Draco knew he was at a disadvantage. Worse, the look in her eye told him he was in real danger and he looked around for anything to use as a weapon in his defense. But he went rigid as he felt the tip of her wand under his chin. "Give me a reason, Malfoy," she breathed dangerously. "Any reason at all to end your miserable life here and now and I'll do it without a second thought!"