Chapter 17: fifteen years earlier
"The time has come, boy," Voldemort hissed into Draco's ear as he lay battered and broken on the forest floor. "The time when I will overthrow the so-called Light and again rule the world!" He cackled as the Death Eaters around him murmured in appreciation. "And you are going to help me," he ran a gnarled finger down Draco's bloody cheek.
"No," Draco whispered with the last of the strength in him.
"Aaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggghhh!" screamed Voldemort at the top of his lungs, frightening his followers to their knees. "I grow tired of your insolence, boy!" he turned his red eyes on Draco. "And I think it is high time I taught you a lesson."
Draco weakly laughed then, scandalizing the Death Eaters within earshot. "Go ahead," he said. "Torture me. Kill me. The first I can stand and the second I would welcome." He took the opportunity to spit at the feet of the Dark Lord for emphasis. "But nothing you could do to me now could get me to do what you want. Nothing."
Lord Voldemort stood still as stone as he regarded the boy on the ground in front of him. And then, slowly, his shoulders began to quake. And laughter – pure, unaffected laughter – bubbled from his throat. Never before had any in the assembly heard their leader laugh. But unlike the relief it should have brought to them, they felt only bone-chilling fear. "You're right, young Malfoy," he admitted as he continued to laugh…until the laugh turned to the cackle of triumph his pawns were used to hearing. "There is truly nothing I could do to you. But there is something I could do to your precious little whore, isn't there?" He smiled an evil, demented smile. "And just for a little insurance…Restituo!"
Draco didn't even have time to respond before the Dark Lord's voice and wand worked their magic to return his memories of past abductions. No! Draco screamed inside his head as he remembered each coerced confession. Merlin, no! Please don't let it be true! he begged in silent agony as he relived his betrayal of those who trusted him…of those he loved. And the tears began to fall.
"There, there, weak one," crooned Voldemort in a sickly sweet voice. "I'm sure it must be disappointing to find out you are no better than the rest of us. In fact, I'm surprised you can stand to live at this moment for the weakness you displayed before us all." He broke as he rose to his full height and levitated Draco to his knees. "Consider yourself lucky that I haven't disposed of you already, you piece of filth," he whispered in a deadly voice. "But I will…yes, I will – right after I kill that sorry excuse for a life you call a girlfriend – unless…" Voldemort watched as comprehension dawned in Draco's eyes.
"You will return to Hogwarts tonight and convince your whore to make you a part of Potter's team," Voldemort commanded. You will fight alongside the three of them until you reach the ridge just short of my station. You will post yourself there with the others while Potter comes to me. And then you will help your father to destroy Potter by taking care of your little friends while Lucius passes their guard."
Tears continued to course down Draco's cheeks as he realized he wouldn't be left with a choice. "Do this," Voldemort smirked, "and you will be allowed to live and to serve me. Who knows? Perhaps I will even allow you to keep the mudblood as a plaything – your reward, if you will – after the dust has settled and I am made true ruler of our world." He paused to turn his back on Draco in dismissal before turning back with a venomous glare. "However! Should you fail me in any way, the mudblood will be mine…mine to torture…mine to ravish…and mine to destroy…one piece at a time."
Draco couldn't fight the tremors that shook his body. "Renovo et Reverto!" Lord Voldemort's words rang in his head as he found himself once more, whole in body but forever damaged in spirit, returned to the darkened corner of the Astronomy Tower.
"No," he whispered to himself as he trembled. "How is this possible? How could I have done this to her? I love her too much to have let them… But I did. Now she will never forgive me. Oh, 'Mione I am so sorry! Merlin, how can I even explain? How?" Like a hot poker he sprang to his feet then as he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Hermione!" he cried as if he had just found her after looking for her forever. He crushed her to his chest and breathed deeply of her scent before, "I love you, Hermione. I love you so much. Merlin knows I love you."
"Draco, what's wrong?" Hermione asked fearfully into his chest. "I didn't see you in the Great Hall and I've been looking everywhere, and you were trembling just now and…oh, Draco, the war is to begin tomorrow!" She pulled back to look up into his eyes. Deeply, she felt the pull of his gaze in her soul. He needed. He searched. He found. And she felt him take her on an emotional ride she could not explain. "Draco?" she whispered.
"If only we had more time," he said with pain in his voice. "There is so much I want to say, so much I need to tell you." Quickly and deeply he kissed her then…so differently than before. Gone were the shy kisses of innocence. Gone were the playful kisses of flirting. These were the heated kisses of desire. These were the hard kisses of desperation.
Draco broke from her mouth to kiss along her chin, her ear, the column of her neck, and down the front of her collarbone. "Draco," Hermione managed to moan as her head swam and her blood heated. "Oh, Draco, I love you too."
"Please," Draco pleaded as they locked eyes once more. "Please let me love you tonight. Let me show you how much I love you. Just for tonight."
Without hesitation, Hermione gave herself over to him. "Tonight and every night, Draco," Hermione sighed as she felt his palm cup her breast gently. "For the rest of our lives."
Draco removed his cloak and spread it on the floor of the tower. Gently he removed Hermione's to use as a blanket to shield them from the world…if only for tonight. Hungrily he returned his lips to hers once more as his hands molded to her curves. The desperation of his breathing was matched by the same of his lover. Quickly, he divested Hermione of her clothing to stand in awe of the heavenly beauty in front of him. He smiled because she wore his necklace. "Draco?" she asked in mild embarrassment as he continued to stare.
He reached for her then, and gently laid her down on his cloak. "You are amazingly beautiful, Hermione," he breathed as his lips hovered over hers. "Inside and out, you are without compare. I'm not worthy of your love and I never will be."
"Draco, don't be silly," Hermione replied earnestly as she reached to gently touch his face. "I am yours now and forever…just as you are mine. Neither of us is worthy, but we are blessed to have found each other." A tear ran down Draco's cheek to drop silently onto Hermione's lips. "I love you Draco Malfoy. And I am never going to let you go. Never," she promised. And she pulled his head down to meet hers in a greedy kiss.
Draco's mind whirled as their spirits dueled and their hearts danced. His flesh tingled as Hermione clumsily undressed him and prickled as her fingers left electric sparks in their wake. Hotter and hotter the two young lovers burned as they touched and tasted, explored and discovered. And just when they thought they would burst from the magic building inside of them, he thrust into her and their love blocked out the world…and the war…and the deceit…and the pain…if only for the night.
"Tonight and every night, Draco," Hermione repeated as she nestled his head to her breast. "For the rest of our lives."