Enemy, Friend or Lover

..Farewell..

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Dictionary is at the bottom.

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Hermione closed her eyes, trying desperately to block out Draco's face from her mind. Her heart ached but she knew that she had done the right thing. Draco was having problems and he was in with the Dark Lord and he couldn't be near people when he was that great of a threat.

"Hermione, please. You have to get out of bed." Ron sat down beside her and the bed dipped. His hand stroked her spine as his other pushed hair from her face.

"I can't," Hermione sobbed and held the pillow closer to her face.

"Hermione, you know he needs the help. He isn't safe. He needs this help, Hermione!"

Hermione shook her head. "No, he needs love. That's all he needs."

"And you've been giving it to him, Hermione. He needs more that that. By keeping him here, it makes matter worse for him. He could go mad, Hermione. Don't you understand that?"

Hermione's sobs were vociferous and her body shook with emotions that were overwhelming.

"But I need him, Ron, I need him so bad."

Ron swallowed and winced at the pain of his dry throat. "Please, Hermione, you need to get up. I can't stand you like this."

"I don't care," she growled and sobbed even harder, her bawling going raucous.

Not able to take it anymore, Ron rolled Hermione over and stared down at her, his face almost incensed. "Hermione, he's leaving and you can't be up here bawling like this. Yes, he'll be gone. Yes, I understand that you'll miss him. But, Hermione, sweet, you can't do this to yourself."

Hermione held her eyes closed so tight, Ron thought that she would hurt from some sort of pain.

"Talk to me, Hermione," Ron commanded.

Hermione shook her head, limp and out of breath. "I-I can't."

"Why not?" Ron asked gingerly.

"I hurt, Ron."

"I know, sweet. Please explain to me."

Hermione whimpered. "I feel broken, beaten. I just want to go to sleep and never awake."

"No, Hermione," Ron declared sharply, it coming out almost cruel. "You need life, you have to keep going. Someday, he'll come back and he'll then need you. And if you're not their, he'll die as well. You have to stay strong for him and for you."

"I d-don't want him to go, Ron." Her teeth started to chatter and her body trembling.

"I know, Hermione, but he is. At least say goodbye to him, Hermione. He at least deserves that."

"I c-can't."

"Why not? Hermione, you both need this last goodbye or you'll both never live on."

"O-okay."

"Good," Ron said, nodding his head also. "Go to the lavatory and wash your face."

Hermione did as she was told, slowly but steadily. She came back out, her face pale, her hands clenched together and her body still shuddering.

Ron got up from the bed and wrapped a soft, baby blue blanket around her shoulders and had her cold hands keep the blanket closed around herself.

"Go say goodbye, Hermione. Tell him all you need to." Ron walked Hermione down the stairs and let her out of the common room.

Ron wrapped his arms tightly around her and gave her body a tight squeeze. Ron kissed her cheek and smiled down at her. "Take all the time you need."

With that, he turned her around and gave her a gently push away from him, towards the dark hall.

Hermione took a deep breath and made her way down the cold, dark corridors. Her hands started to get clammy and she was so scared that she almost missed the stairs.

Hermione slowly crept down them, soundlessly moving across the dark castle. She had found the great staircase but was frightened to go down, to confront Draco. Hermione was so scared to see him off, so petrified to be alone. She was also determined not to cry. Absolutely not.

Her feet hit the cold stone and she knew she had to go down there. So, vigilantly, Hermione made her way down. Draco's dark figure stood in the middle of the hall. He was wearing only a sweater and Hermione thought that he should be wearing something thicker. Her feet made no sound as she came up behind him.

"Draco?"

Draco spun around and started down at her. "I'm scared, Hermione. Why am I going?"

"I'm sorry, Draco. I will miss you."

His hand shot out and gripped her arm tightly.

"Please, Hermione, don't send me away."

Hermione closed her eyes, feeling the tears behind her eyes. She swallowed, it hurting because her throat was so parched.

"Do you not love me anymore?"

Hermione shook her head, and felt Draco's hand go slack on her arm. She knew that he now thought that she didn't love him. She want to tell him how much she did but her throat wouldn't allow words to come out.

Draco's hand fell away to his side and Hermione slowly opened her eyes. Draco was just standing there, his eyes hollow, emotionless as if he wasn't even human. Slowly, oh so slowly, tears appeared in his grey eyes, making them seem bluer than Hermione had ever seen them before.

Hermione's hand came out and she took Draco's hand to her lips and kissed his palm.

"Hermione . . . ?"

"I don't-" Hermione's voice cracked and she tried again. "I don't want you to go."

"Then why are you sending me away? I don't understand Hermione."

Hermione held his hand in both of hers, squeezing tightly, trying to make the tremble of his hands stop. "You're under the Glemm spell, Draco. You have to leave before someone gets hurt. Dumbledore is taking you someplace safe."

"You mean someplace away from you?"

"Yes, away from me."

Draco nodded and took a step back. "Then I guess I better go. Have a good live, Hermione."

Hermione felt the tears spill down her cheeks as she turned and watched Draco step away from her.

"Wait," she cried and Draco did. "That's it?" she whispered, her heart thumping so hard she thought it'd just right out of her chest

Draco shrugged. "What else do you want? You don't want me here and I have feeling it's not only this spell you're talking about."

"Of course it is! You think I want to send you away? You think that I wont miss you? You've got to be crazy. You're my husband and you think I don't love you even that much? What's up with that? Did you marry me for love, Draco? Or just for a lay?"

Draco's jaw clenched tight and Hermione suddenly was terrified, her body wanted to flop down and play dead. Nothing could hurt her then.

"How could you even ask that? Of course married you for love. I can't believe you asked me that. After all I told you, showed you, you still thought that? What have I been trying so hard to do?" He scowled at her and turned his back again, not bothering for a goodbye.

"I love you," Hermione whispered, it was almost reticent. Draco wasn't sure if he heard her or if he was imagining things.

Slowly, silently, but surely he turned around. "What?"

Tears swept down her cheek as she looked at the floor. "I love you."

Draco swept her into his arms and hugged her so tight, she might have snapped in half. But Hermione didn't care. She felt the tenderness and ardour Draco was giving her for the very last time. She would never see him again and she knew that, but in her heart, didn't want to acknowledge it.

"I love you so much," Draco breathed, his face was buried in her neck. "I will love and miss you forever, my love."

Hermione nodded even though Draco couldn't see her and started to weep. "I know."

Draco lifted his face and kissed her slowly, solemnly, sombrely. He leaned back and then tucked her into his body, her face going into his neck this time. Her tears went straight to his soul, her love straight to his heart.

"Forever and always," he whispered.

Repentantly, Draco backed away, Hermione's hoarse wails slowly disappearing as he turned away, his head hung low; his heart down to the bottom of his feet. Tears then came and he nodded to the headmaster and together they left, leaving nothing but a broken heart and lost memories.

..The End..

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Sorry about the spelling mistakes. Please tell me what you thought and I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. This is the end of the story.

But . . .

There is a PART TWO coming right up! After Draco's gone . . .

Chebetta

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. Vociferous- loud, noisy.

. Vigilantly- carefully.

. Raucous- rough, hoarse.

. Incensed- angry.

. Reticent- silent.

. Ardour- passion, love.

. Repentantly- regretfully.