Seeds of Seduction

Chapter 25: This is How a Heart Breaks

Hermione gaped in shock as the words left Harry's mouth.

"Avada Kedavra"

Hermione gaped as the thin stream of green light left Harry's wand. Ron's cackling disappeared as she saw Draco's shocked and helpless face.

Draco closed his eyes as he heard Harry say the two fateful words. It was all over; it was all going to end. He was going to die right then, right there. He heard a gasp and knew it was Hermione. Anger flooded his senses and his hands itched to place them around her throat. How could she have betrayed him like this? He had loved her with all his heart. She was the only person in his life that he could say he had legitimacy loved besides his mother. He would never be able to tell her that he loved her.

He stood awaiting the stream of light that would kill him. But it never came. Instead he felt a shoulder push him roughly aside. Then he was transported to an unknown place.

. & .

Harry gaped and Ron shouted as Hermione yelled and ran forward and pushed his out of the way of the jet of light. Sobbing, she grasped him by his collar.

"Diagon Alley," she shouted desperately needing to get Draco and herself out of their clasp.

The jet of light moved past them and hit…

Severus Snape.

The three stood in shock as the light hit the unaware Severus squarely in the back. He teetered on his limp legs for a moment and then crumpled to the floor. He fell forward, his dark hair a curtain of his face on the cold stone floor with a thud.

Shocked to silence, they stood there. Ginny ran forward and grasped Severus by his shoulders. Turning him over, she sat back and yanked him by his shoulder blades.

"Severus," yelled Ginny shaking him, "Severus."

Harry and Ron walked slowly towards Ginny who looked at them with a tearstained face. Harry bent down and lifted her up. Weeping, Ginny pressed her face to Harry's chest. Harry wrapped his arms around her and held her close while observing Severus' face. His face was peaceful and his black eyes, which had stared so piercingly at Harry only months ago, were dull and lifeless. His hands were in fists and lay upon his still chest.

Ron bent down and gently shut his eyes. He stood up and glared at Harry.

"Where is Hermione?" he growled.

"She went to Diagon Alley? Didn't you hear her?" asked Harry bitterly.

"I'm going to find her and when I do, I'll…" roared Ron waving his arms around.

. & .

Hermione pulled Draco behind a deserted alley in Diagon Alley. Garbage was lying on the cracked cement and the brick wall was faded. A wall was made with heavy boxes of cement and rubble. Draco growled and pushed Hermione into the brick wall.

"Granger," he yelled.

His tone and his calling her by her last name cut into her. Draco leapt forward and pinned Hermione to the wall.

"What was that?" yelled Draco.

Hermione simply cried and punched Draco. Draco grasped her fists and put them behind her back.

"I didn't want them to kill you," cried Hermione.

"How could you that to me?" bellowed Draco.

"You used me too," yelled Hermione pushing him away his eyes filling with tears," You never loved me. You talked to me so sweetly and took me on those dates! Was any of that real? Was anything you told me real? Was your love real? Were you real? You made me fall in love with you!"

Draco froze. His hand froze in midair from where he was going to grab Hermione. He suddenly felt weak as if all his energy had been drained from him.

"Did you….did you just say you loved me?" asked Draco quietly.

"I thought that maybe-" Hermione stopped ranting and paused. Her eyes were wide like a deer caught in the headlights. Her chest was heaving from the exertion and her mouth was open.

"Did you just say that you loved me?" asked Draco again closing the gap between them.

Hermione licked her lips as she stared at Draco. She could feel the familiar wooziness and helplessness when she was around Draco. His gray eyes were boring into her hazel ones. Quickly, she looked down but Draco harshly jerked it up. Pushing her to the wall, he placed her hands around her head. Hermione closed her eyes as she felt her knees go weak.

"Did you say you loved me?" he asked once more his mouth near her ear. Hermione shivered as his ran a finger across her cheek. She could feel his lips smirk as he kissed her neck. Hermione felt fury build through her. How dare he feel delighted as seeing her this way?

"Fine!" roared Hermione pushing Draco away abruptly shocking him, "I do. I'm hopelessly and completely in love with you! You have a Mudblood Gryffindor madly in love with you. You succeeded in breaking my heart ok? Now leave me alone!"

Draco's smirk vanished as his face softened. He reached out and grasped Hermione's bare waist and her arm. Tears fell down Hermione's cheek as she pressed at Draco's hands desperate to get out.

"Let me go," she yelled," Other-"

She was cut off by Draco's lips crashing down on hers. Immediately, her resistance melted and she was kissing him back. Oh, how she had missed the taste of his lips upon hers. His arms surrounded her waist. Her hands went around his neck as she caved in. His nimble fingers slid the coat off her shoulder leaving her in a spaghetti strap. The cold air on her skin woke her up.

Gasping, Hermione pushed Draco away.

"What are you doing?" she whispered horrified her eyes wide.

"I love you," responded Draco just as softly coming towards Hermione.

Hermione stared at him dumbstruck.

"Draco-" she started.

"Shh," said Draco cutting her off.

Hermione's face broke into a smile as he bent his face towards her. Fireworks were exploding throughout he body. Draco loved her back!

"Hermione," he whispered, "This won't work."

The smile vanished from her face as quickly as it had come.

"What do you mean?" she choked out.

"We won't work out," he said softly.

"Yes we can," said Hermione eagerly "We'll make it work we can I'm sure. Draco, you have to stay with me on this. It'll work I promise. I know it will"

"Hermione," repeated Draco his eyes full of sorrow, "There's nothing for us in this life. I'm a Death Eater. You're an Auror."

"So you can come over," cried Hermione,

'No I can't.' said Draco sorrowfully 'it's not that easy."

"Why did you have to..to join HIM," cried Hermione launching herself at Draco.

Draco caught her in his arms and held her trembling body to him. Hermione beat his chest with her fists as tears poured down her cheeks.

'You idiot. You stupid slytherin,"she choked out in his chest.

'I'm sorry Hermione,' he said sorrowfully,' but you can't be mine. Not in this life. It won't work."

'I'll make it work,' cried Hermione, "It'll work I promise you. Trust me."

"Hermione," said Draco pulling her back. He enclosed both of her hands with his hands. Gently he pushed her back so she was against the wall. Hermione sniffled and looked at Draco reproachfully. Draco sighed as he cupped her trembling face with his hands. His touch brought more tears to Hermione's watery eyes.

"Hermione, there's nothing that I want to do more than to be with you," started Draco, "But I can't Hermione…we can't keep meeting like this…it just isn't right…we aren't meant to be together…" Draco whispered breathlessly.

"Draco…I will not let 'what's not meant to be' get in the way of our being together…I care for you deeply and I know you feel the same. Otherwise you wouldn't have come to the Ministry …" said Hermione desperately holding Draco's shirt tightly as if she were afraid that she would turn around and walk out of his life…forever.

"No Hermione. Listen; don't wait for me after the war. Settle down with someone," said Draco his heart breaking even as he said it.

Hermione just stared somewhere in the middle of his shirt, tears falling down.

" I know, I'm hurting you aren't I," said Draco. He sighed, "You only hurt the ones you care about."

"It's over Hermione…it has to be…" And with that he bent down hesitantly and kissed Hermione. His lips explored hers. Hermione whimpered as the tears fells down her cheeks. Draco could taste the tears on her moist lips as he kissed her. Drawing back, he looked deeply into Hermione's eyes. His heart broke as he saw the pain and heartache. Hermione reached up and traced down his cheek and jaw with her finger. Taking her hand in his, Draco gently kissed it and then turned around.

"Draco," mumbled Hermione grasped his shirt with her hand. Tears poured down her cheek. Her throat was choked with sobs. Draco closed his eyes determined not to look at her. He knew that if he saw her, his resolve would break. Roughly, he tore his shirt and walked down the pathway, around the corner, and vanished.

Hermione stared after him, not believing he was gone. Tears coursed down her cheeks. He had to be there. He couldn't just go like that. Surely he didn't mean what he said. Just then she heard a small pop, and she knew. Draco had apparated. Hands over her mouth, Hermione ran around the corner. No one was there. Crying, Hermione beat the wall until her hands were cut and bruised. Sobbing, she slid down the wall into a heap on the drafty floor. Clutching her head in her arms, she wept.

A/N: Hey! Gosh, I'm so sorry it's been so long since I've updated! I was extremely busy with studying for finals, which are next week! Like usual, chemistry is the only subject that I'm worried about. I won't be able to update until next Friday which is when my finals end! Thanks so much for all the reviews. I was really very touched with the amount of support y'all have given me and it means a lot. I have a good idea of how I want to end this story. Thanks for all the feedback. I really appreciate them. Oh, there are a couple more minute details, which will affect the way my story will end, so if you could spare a few minutes please answer this detail because it affects if my ending will be happy or sad. I know what y'all were thinking but I hope that you'll read this chapter because what happens is not what you may have thought in the last chapter. So please continue reading. So have fun reading this chapter and please enjoy!