Disclaimer: Yes. The fricking usual.

A/n:Yeah, I forgot I was supposed to pass two chapters a week.ü LOL!ü Anyways, up for another?

By: Aningme

Chapter 26

Dilemma

He stood alone on the café, paralyzed. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to think. He loves her. He loves her so much. He wanted to be with her forever. He wanted this to last.

But then, the bargain and his work. It was senseless. Two weeks would be short too. But then, two weeks would be worth it.

He shrugged his thoughts off and ran to the door. He couldn't lose her like this.

Running for her, he searched the sidewalks, the streets, some shops for her. He ran by every corner for her. She couldn't be too far.

Running past other café's, bakeries, shops, studios, restaurants, she wasn't there. He tried the laundrymat, everything, she wasn't there.He tried the ice cream parlor beside the park; she wasn't there too.

"Where could she be?" He thought. He was panting for breath already. He didn't know where else to go.

Stepping out of the parlor, with a strawberry ice cream in his hand, he decided to walk to the park. It was deserted there. It was quiet there. It would do him some good, perhaps.

Walking further, he thought of going by her house. But doing that, it would be asking too much from her. Tasting the ice cream, he smiled a little. He remembered when they ate ice cream together. He remembered her smile when she tastes its sweetness. He suddenly felt stupid.

He couldn't leave her like this.

He couldn't lose her like this.

Still walking further, he saw something by the bench. He narrowed his eyes at it and was somewhat startled.

There she was. Sitting on a bench, her knees tucked together, her arms shivering around it.

He stood there for a while. He couldn't help but watch her. There were tears on her face. He made her cry.

Stepping closer to her, he sat beside her and stared at the trees and deserted playground across them. She just sat there quietly, ignoring him.

He turned to her and handed her his ice cream.

She turned to look at it and sniffed. "I don't want it."

He smiled and insisted. He took her hand and placed the cone in her palms.

She stared at it for a while and fumed. Standing up from the bench, she staggered and threw it to the air, falling to the ground. She sat on the ground for a full minute, and then started crying again.

He stood up and knelt down beside her, accompanying her. He couldn't look at her like this. He didn't want to make her cry. He didn't want to make her feel this way.

"There are some things I couldn't tell you." He started.

She rubbed her palmsover her face, wiping the tears away. But then, more tears came.

"I couldn't tell them to you because I was scared. At first, I thought I should just keep it to myself. But I think I ought to say this to you." He muttered.

She didn't speak.

He handed her a small envelope. It was sealed.

She glanced at it. "What is this?"

"You should read it." He muttered. "Everything is in there."

She took it and studied it.

He stood up and sighed. "You better go home now. It's late."

She stared up at him and stood up too. "Why are you doing this?"

He looked at her, startled. "What?"

"Why are you doing all this? Why are you suddenly leaving? Why are you suddenly giving me this strange letter and just send me home?"

He couldn't answer her. "You don't know everything, Hermione." He answered.

She felt something lurch in her stomach, hearing him say her name again like that. "Don't call me Hermione." She spat. "I feel like I don't know you anymore."

"Perhaps you don't." He said. He turned away and walked off.

Hermione stared at him and watched him leave.

Hermione didn't know what to think. She lay down on her bed for hours and she couldn't sleep. All she thought about was the letter and him… They were haunting her.

Glancing at her side table, she could see the silhouette of the white envelope. She hesitated to read it, fearing it may contain things unpleasant. But then, her curiosity got the best out of her. Giving up, she opened the lights and grabbed the envelope, tearing it open. Finding a piece of parchment, she unfolded it and found a letter.

It was from him.

Granger,

I don't know when you'd be reading this. But if you are reading this, it means I'd be leaving.

You might be wondering why I have agreed easily in the bargain we had. To think, I'd easily agree to date you. Of all people, you. But then, I have to say some things. Things you may not have known.

I know how Harry Potter died.

I was there.

She gulped. Her hands started shaking.

She wasn't expecting the content of this letter to be this way.

You may not understand it, but I was there when he fought Voldemort. They held him captive, along with me. I had betrayed them, but they had plans for me. My father, Lucius Malfoy, was there too. Both of them killed Potter. But mostly, it is my doing.

Yes, I have killed Harry Potter…

Hermione threw the parchment away from her. She couldn't read them.

Yes, I have killed Harry Potter…

She couldn't understand what he was saying. She couldn't believe…

There must be some mistake. He couldn't have killed Harry. He couldn't.

Having that conclusion, she stumbled out of her bed and took the parchment from the floor. She continued reading.

Please don't tear this letter into pieces. I could explain.

I was under a curse that time. Potter was watching me suffer and bleed. He was there, watching me. I could still his voice screaming. But I couldn't save myself. Voldemort and my father had a great time watching both of us suffer. But then, because of my father almost killing me, Voldemort killed him.

Hermione closed her eyes for a moment. He was almost killed too.

Voldemort called me his key. I was the key. I didn't know what it meant. But having another curse on me, I couldn't move. It felt like someone was moving my body against my will. Someone was controlling me. Someone dominated me.

I was the one who stabbed Harry Potter with the poison. I had killed him slowly for six years. I have taken his life painfully. And it was in my hands that his blood dripped.

Hermione shook her head. This was all impossible. Tears were starting to sting her eyes again.

Voldemort used me to kill him. He couldn't go near Harry for his powers. He killed him slowly and painfully. And Potter knew that.

She couldn't believe it. Harry didn't tell her about this. Any of it.

After having Voldemort dead, after he fought him, he freed me of the curse. He saved me.

He knew he was dying. He knew I had done that to him. But he didn't do anything about it. He just saved me and brought both of ourselves home.

She was sobbing now. Everything was clear now.

I went to you because I wanted to tell you everything about this. I wanted to apologize and pay for my debts. I wanted to talk to Potter too and apologize to him, for all these years. But then, I was too late. I was damn too late. I couldn't gather enough guts for six years. And when he died, I ironically and finally gathered my guts.

I was just too late.

Please forgive me for all I have done. Please forgive me. You may not want to see me again for all of this. You may blame me for his death. All I want is to have the chance of telling you the truth and apologize.

I'm sorry.

Please forgive me, Hermione,

Draco Malfoy

Hermione dropped the parchment and wept.

A/n: So much sadness...

Anyways... Until next week...