Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters, only the story. Lyrics are by From Autumn to Ashes.

Oh why can't I be what you need? A new improved version of me. But I'm nothing so good, no, I'm nothing.
Just bones, a lonely ghost burning down songs of violence, of love, and of sorrow. I beg for just one more tomorrow. Where you'd hold me down, fold me in, deep deep deep in the heart of your sins. I'd break in two over you. I'd break in two and each piece of me dies, and only you can give the breath of life!
But you don't see me. You don't.

The rest of the evening went by so painfully slow, Draco thought he might just die before it was over. He didn't want these people here, didn't want them inquiring how he was, mourning their losses with him, or hugging him as if he was and had always been one of them. He wasn't. He had been the one they hated for so long, and now it was wrong to be accepted so easily. The only one that made it feel normal was Hermione. But she was with Harry now, sitting across the room talking in hushed tones. Draco watched her, feeling that twinge of jealousy rise up once more. He hated himself for that. She had been his enemy, his nemesis...and now she was the only one that he wanted to be near him. What was wrong with him?

Hermione sat against the stone wall, talking to Harry. She was not pleased, he had been talking about last night and he was starting to worry her. He was distant, and kept mentioning visiting Hagrid. But that would mean Harry would probably disappear into the mountains just like Hagrid and his brother had for so long. She feared that unlike Hagrid, Harry might never return. True, they had a wedge between them now, she had watched him kill their best friend. And even though she knew he had done it under Voldemort's control...she also knew she would never be able to erase that from her mind. Maybe it would be better if he left.
She glanced up from their conversation to see Draco quickly looking away; a little too quickly. He had been staring at her, she knew it. Now he was staring intently at his hand. A brow raised gently, and she quickly turned her attention back to Harry. But her cheeks had flushed a soft pink when she looked at him. And the memory of him kissing her suddenly made her smile.

As the sun rose the remaining Order members said their final goodbyes before parting ways. They would never lose touch, but now that Voldemort was dead, they were pretty much "unemployed" so to speak. They had to mourn before moving on. Ginny left with her brother, they had terrible news that was still to be delivered to a very anxious and soon to be heartbroken Weasley family. Lupin and Snape left to inform the Ministry of the success of the mission, and to begin the hunt for any remaining Death Eaters. As they each apparated home, Harry was the last to go. He lingered near Hermione, and Draco realized they wanted to be alone. He simply took a walk, going down a hall so they could have a moment. Not sure why he was doing that, why he would bother being nice for Potter's sake..or was he really doing it for Hermione?

He heard another pop, and with a sinking heart, headed back to the room he now assumed was empty. Standing there in the room he was met with a surprise. Hermione stood facing the fire, her fingers linked and her hands resting against her stomach. She tapped her thumb idly against the waist of her jeans. She had not yet realized Draco was watching her. He let his gaze travel up and down her body slowly. She had changed so much since he'd last seen her...but then so had he. He did miss the long hair, wondering briefly why she had cut most of it off. But the short curly locks flattered her face, matured much over the past year. She was tall and thin, and he thought she looked graceful as the fire danced against her face. A soft sigh slipped from his throat, and she looked up suddenly. Startled, she blushed, offering him a smile. He could not help but smile back. It was a melancholy smile at best.
"I thought you left"
"No, Harry left..." she paused and then finished her thought. "I have nowhere to go"
"Home"
"Draco...Voldemort killed my parents last summer." She choked on her words, before regaining her composure and turning to stare at the fire once more. He had nothing to say. His jaw dropped...he had never known.
It was as if she could read his mind. Never moving she began to speak again. Her voice was soft, almost cracking under the weight of her words. "You know they were Muggles. They never stood a chance. He got to the ones we loved most. You know that too. I found them. I found them and...that was when we found out he had Ron and the twins...always the ones you love." Her voice trailed off finally, and she hugged her arms tighter around herself. Draco felt himself moving towards her, and soon she was in his arms. He stood pressed against her back, his arms strong around her fragile body. He leaned closer, resting his cheek against hers, and whispered. "I'm sorry Hermione"
"Don't be. You didn't kill them. And you weren't the one off chasing a man that was right in your own house." He remained where he was, his arms unmoving. She did not push him away, but instead slipped her own hands up to rest them against his. Biting her lower lip, she stared off into the fire and a tear trickled down her cheek. Draco did not see, he was watching the fire and slowly breathing in her scent. How could be feel this way about Granger...no Hermione. But she was stirring something in his heart; something he didn't even know was there.
"So where did Harry go? And why didn't you go with him"
"He went somewhere I could never follow"
That was the only answer he needed. He leaned down some, and pressed a soft kiss to the curve of her neck before burying his face against her hair and sighing. He was afraid to let go of her now, afraid she might cease to exist. And for some incredible reason, that thought made his heart feel like it might break. So out of character for him...a Malfoy longing for a mudblood. But she was no ordinary mudblood, and right now she was no ordinary girl either.
Hermione felt him shift and press against her, and she turned her gaze to look sideways at him. Her fingers pressed gently to his arms, those strong comforting arms that enveloped her...and then she pushed him away slightly. He looked up in surprise and for a moment she thought she glimpsed fear. But that look faded and she met his lips with her own, melting into his arms once more. What was she doing?