Seeds of Seduction

Chapter 28: Weeks Later (Draco Malfoy)

Draco blanched as he saw the brunette practically run down the hall towards him. Trying not to act too conspicuous he tried to pry Pansy's lips off his. Praying to whatever goodness there was, he hoped that Hermione would pass by without noticing him. Unfortunately, Hermione hit Pansy's elbow and Pansy being the cow that she is just had to curse Hermione. Ducking, he shielded his eyes from Hermione but it was too late. Whatever retort Hermione was going to throw at Pansy left her mouth when she heard him. Before he knew what he was doing, the harsh and bitter words left his mouth.

His heart broke when he saw her face. It was all he could not to hug her and kiss her senseless. She was looking so pretty in that strapless maroon dress and her hair was perfectly curled. She was looking at him with those huge hazel eyes. Hurt and betrayal was shining behind the thick layer of tears. His heart ached painfully. As a tear rolled down her cheek, he felt like the lowest person alive. But he forced himself to keep the smirk and condescending look that had given him his infamous reputation in Hogwarts.

"Please go Hermione," he begged internally. He knew that if he saw more tears slide down her pretty face, he would give away. The next second, Hermione turned around and ran out the door her sobs echoing in Draco's ears.

"….Her face," laughed Pansy.

Her smile vanished when she saw Draco staring in the direction of Hermione.

"Draco?"

"Oh yeah sorry," said Draco, "Yeah, she looked more pathetic than usual."

"Anyways," said Pansy softly coming closer to Draco and running a polished nail across his collar. "Forget about that Mudblood whore. Why don't we go back to your place?"

Draco felt a surge of anger when he heard the terms used to define Hermione. Forcing himself to grin callously, he kissed her sinfully.

"Ok," he said huskily.

Hermione ran outside the restaurant into the pouring rain. Her tears mingling with the rain, she sprinted. Where she didn't know. All she wanted to do was put as much space between herself and Draco. Images of Draco's lips covered in crimson lipstick flashed through her mind. His words echoed throughout her head causing the tears to fall harder.

Ignoring the looks from passerbys, she ran into the thicket of woods near Diagon Alley. She didn't stop running until she reached the edge of the stream. Gasping, she leaned against a tree and wept. Her hair hung limply around her shoulders and her beautiful maroon dress was now drenched in water.

The rain was falling heavily on the thin trail of water. Leaves broke off their delicate branches and were swept away down the river. The trees danced in the turbulent wind and branches fell off onto the wet and muddy ground. Raindrops fell into the water causing little circles to form.

Hermione shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. She was starting to feel rather woozy. Suddenly, she felt her shoulders being covered with a black coat. Could it be? Turning around her eyes wide and her heart beating rapidly, she came face to face with Ron.

"What the matter," said Ron forcing himself to laugh, "You didn't look too happy to see me."

"Oh," laughed Hermione uncomfortably, "You just scared me that's all."

"Are you OK?" asked Ron worriedly leading Hermione to a dry patch in the woods.

"Yeah," said Hermione waving her hands.

"What happened?" asked Ron seriously.

"Nothing, I'm fine," insisted Hermione.

"No Hermione," yelled Ron, "There is something wrong. You've changed over the past months. Don't think that I haven't realized that! Your attitude's changed; your personality's changed. There's something that's bothering you and I want to know. NOW!"

"No really," started Hermione.

"Hermione," cut in Ron wrapping his arms around her, "I've been your best friend for 7 years. You can tell me. Remember the way I helped save your life with the troll along with Harry?"

Hermione snorted. How could she have forgotten that incident?

"I can help you the right now," whispered Ron huskily leaning close to Hermione.

Hermione gulped as Ron's face came closer and closer. Her brain was screaming at her to run away. His brown eyes were boring into hers. All she could think about was the way Ron's lips were coming close. Too close.

The next moment all she felt were Ron's lips on hers.

Hermione stood frozen in shock as she felt Ron's lips on hers. Suddenly, it occurred to her just what she was doing. Gasping, she broke away.

"Hermione," whispered Ron confusion etched on his face. He held a hand out to her.

Covering her hand with her mouth, Hermione shook her head.

"No Ron," whispered Hermione, "No. This is impossible."

Turning around, she ran ignoring Ron's worried yell behind her.

. & .

Draco rolled over onto his side an hour later. Pansy lay asleep to his side with the blankets down to her waist. Wincing at the sight, he rolled out of bed and meandered to the sitting room in just his boxers. Seating himself at the sofa, he buried his head in his hands. He couldn't sleep. What was new? He hadn't had much sleep ever since the day at the Ministry. Hermione's face kept haunting him.

Her shocked tearstained face and her tear-filled eyes filled his mind. Immediately he was consumed with guilt. He hoped that she knew that he didn't mean a word that he had said. The look on her face had broken his heart. She looked so hurt and betrayed.

This had been the first time he had seen Hermione face to face since 7 weeks. He had tried to forget about Hermione, tried to follow the own words he had told her. He had attempted to move on. But it didn't work.

He'd started sleeping with other girls even former Gryffindors. He then sent them away without a word as if he couldn't bear looking at them. Only one girl stayed in his mind the whole time.

Like Hermione, he had been spending the days working for the Final Battle. Being Voldemort's right hand man, he was expected to lead the Death Eaters to the battle. He was given the responsibility of training the rookie Death Eaters into a fighting machine. A part of him couldn't bear doing it. He knew that by training these men, one of them could be the potential murderer of Hermione. He didn't think he could stand it if Hermione died and he lived. Forcing himself to adhere to Voldemort's plan, he effectively was transforming the mass of Death Eaters into a killing machine.

Leaning back onto the sofa, Draco stared at the black night sky. Emotions coursing through his body, he nodded to himself. He remembered the words his mother had told him long ago. Narcissa had loved her husband for 4 years before she had married Lucius. Soon after, he had changed into the cold dominating husband. Draco had always wondered how she could remain with a man who could treat her so. Narcissa always told him that four years was enough. She had loved and he had loved her. Very few people were given that gift, she had told him.

And he was one of those lucky few. He had loved Hermione and she had loved him. That was enough. Those few months would be the flame that would guide him through the 4 months that remained before the final confrontation. And when it came down to it, it was enough for Draco.

He knew that Hermione would never become his. He wouldn't walk out of that battlefield alive. Whether he survived the battle he would be hunted down as a prominent Death Eater and murdered. He knew what he wanted to do and what he had to do.

He knew they would meet again. On the field that would decide who would live and who would die.

Exactly 3 months and 16 days later.

. & .

Hermione yelled as she felt a curse hit her stomach. Roaring, she slashed her wand at the offending Death Eater. As the Death Eater fell, she ran to Ron who was fighting two Death Eaters simultaneously ignoring the profusely bleeding cut on her stomach.

They had been fighting for 5 hours now. Streams of blood crisscrossed the parch grass. The air smelled with the stench of the rotting and dead bodies. Disfigured and mutilated corpses lay upon the grass. The sky was gray and overcast. Death Eaters dressed in long black cloaks and silver masks fought the white dressed members of the Order.

Chaos reigned in the battlefield. Yells and curses shattered the air. Screams echoed as another fighter bit the dust as the victor ran to fight another member of the enemy. So far neither side had maintained leverage on the enemy. It was constantly changing as the seconds passed by.

"Hermione get Macnair," shouted Ron as Goyle fell to the ground.

"Ok," yelled Hermione as she ran to the Death Eater who was sneaking up on Harry.

"Stupefy," shouted Hermione.

Yelling, the Death Eater fell to the ground twitching in pain. Without waiting to see Macnair fall, she started fighting her next target; Vincent Goyle.

"Well if it isn't the Mudblood," sneered Goyle brandishing his wand.

"Is that the only insult you have?" shouted Hermione ducking the jet of red light his wand shot out, "Stupefy!"

"Protego," yelled Goyle causing Hermione to duck hastily before the rebounding spell hit her.

"Crucio," yelled Goyle catching Hermione unawares.

Her body felt like it was getting torn apart from the inside. Her intestines felt like they were in flame. But she kept her mouth shut as to not give Goyle any satisfaction of hurting her. Then abruptly it stopped.

Ron had thrown himself at Goyle breaking the spell. Goyle was lying on the ground his wand 40 feet away with Ron on top of him. Ron's fists were a mere blur as he repeatedly punched Goyle. Ignoring the aching pains in her legs and arms, Hermione hauled herself up.

"Come on Ron!" yelled Hermione pulling him away, 'Leave him. There are others that we need to take care of."

Meanwhile, Harry and Ginny had steadily demolished the Death Eaters who were determinedly protecting their Lord. Ginny and Harry were both fighting the Dark Lord in hopes of getting his weaker.

"Give up Potter," snarled the Dark Lord.

"Never," shouted Harry skillfully maneuvering around the Dark Lord's curses.

Slowly as the minutes passed the tide changed in favor of the Order. Few people remained in the field now. Hermione estimated that there were 25 people most of them members of the Order. Most had deserted or given their life up in the attempt.

Hermione hauled herself up and closed her eyes clutching her side for a breather. Looking around, she surveyed the area around her. The once immaculate green lush grass was now splattered with blood and covered with dead bodies. Hermione grimaced when she saw her bloody stomach and cut arms. Her shirt was ripped and her pants were covered in mud and blood. Hastily tying up her frazzled and sweaty hair, she could see Harry turning his gaze on the Dark Lord. Ignoring the cry of the Death Eater falling from Ginny's hex, she ran towards the mass of Death Eaters surrounding Harry and Ginny who were jointly fighting Voldemort.

Nodding to Ron, Hermione began fighting the remaining Death Eaters who were simply trying to prolong the victory for the members of the Order. Her hair escaped the tiny band and fell around her face. Yelling, she kicked out and hit his hand squarely in the hand. Cursing, the masked Death Eater raised his hand but Hermione lunged at him. Cursing, she pushed him tot eh ground and preceded to punch and kick him.

In the process her hand ripped off the mask. Reaching for the wand in her waistband, she hauled the Death Eater up and pushed him away from her. Pointing her wand at him, her face suddenly changed.

Standing in front her bloody and sweaty was Draco Malfoy.

Tears filled Hermione's eyes as she beheld him. Her cut hand went up to her mouth. Draco's lip was cut and a black eye was forming. His black robes were ripped and covered in dust. He looked beautiful.

Her mind went blank. The war around her vanished. Ginny's yell as she fell from a curse by the Dark Lord went unheard. Memories flashed in front of Hermione as she beheld him. Their first kiss, the first time she made love to him, their meeting in the bookstore all flashed through her brain. She had waited so long for this meeting.

"Draco," she whispered unable the grasp that he was in front of her.

He closed his eyes when he heard his name pass through her lips. Memories of the past 2 months passed through his mind. How he had waited and dreaded this moment.

Hermione walked up to him closely her body raking with sobs. Reaching up, she grasped his collar. She ran her hands over his shoulders and backs needing to make sure it was Draco. When she was sure, she fell against his shoulder sobbing.

"Draco," she cried.

Her wand hand fell to her side. Draco smiled sadly. Gently, he held her hand holding the wand and pointed it at his heart. Hermione pulled her back disbelief etched in her face. Wordlessly, her eyes pleading with him, she shook her head.

"Draco," she whispered. "No."

"Please," murmured Draco, "Better than you than Potter or the Weasleys. Hermione, I won't live through this. "

"Are you-"

"Listen to me!" said Draco forcing Hermione's face up. "Don't you know what happens if Death Eaters are caught? They get found and murdered! I'd much rather be killed at your hands than any other Auror."

Tears leaked out of Hermione's eyes as she stared into his beautiful eyes. Leaning down, her kissed her. Hermione collapsed against Draco and clutched him to her. Breaking apart, Draco held her hand tightly and closed his eyes.

"Please," said Draco, "Say it."

Hermione closed her eyes in resignation and opened her mouth slowly.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I hope everyone is having a wonderful vacation. Without further ado, here is the next chapter of the story! Please review!Please review! Last two chapters coming after this!