"You want a confession?" Hermione asked as she stared out the window.

The Minster nodded his head, "Ms. Granger you aren't getting away this time."

Hermione took in a deep breath and got up from her chair, making the ministry officials jump slightly. They still thought her a threat, even though seriously she really couldn't go on any longer. She was dying inside, and there wasn't a cure in the world that was going to fix her up and make her better once more. As she crossed her arms over her chest, she made her way to the other side of the room, and paced back and forth from corner to corner just thinking about things and trying to ignore the tension within the room that obviously she was causing.

"Ms. Granger?"

She stopped in her tracks and turned to face him slowly, "What do I have to confess? Okay yes I fucked Draco Malfoy, loved him, and want him to be here with me now. Did I want Harry dead? No, and if you think otherwise you're mad," She said, with her voice full of visible emotions.

The Mister tried to go towards her to place a comforting hand on her shoulder, but she quickly backed away, "Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?"

"Details, Hermione!" He shouted.

Hermione shook her head, "What more details could you want? Honestly tell me, because you already know everything. Draco went mad and killed them, but there were others involved."

"We want names, not stories," he said bluntly.

For a good long while she really thought about giving him the name of every deatheater she knew. Just name after name, but she couldn't. Betraying them would be like betraying Draco, and then she realized – she had gone to the dark side. She was a deatheater herself. Whether this frightened her or intrigued her about the new found feelings she possessed, she didn't know, instead she shrugged.

"I wasn't aware of anyone around me, I don't know."

"And in your time at the manor," the minister began, "You didn't see these people at all?"

Hermione smirked, "No. Draco kept me locked up in a tower so that I didn't come in contact with anyone around me."

They actually believed the brunette. She was lying for no reason; she was actually working against herself. Hermione though wasn't doing this for herself; she was doing it to save Draco. Her mind was in a state of no return, the knowledge she once possessed gone, and there was no saving her now.

But as time went on, and they questioned more, she broke down in a nervous collapse. Never before has she been helpless, so out of character. No one knew this brunette in front of them. This wasn't the same woman they had worked with and loved for being the intelligent, kind-hearted person she was. Now what was she? Was she this because she truly did love Draco? Or was it because of the trauma of what happened to her?

Finally though – everything was out.

"So this is your confession?" The minister asked her one more time.

She nodded.

"Then you Hermione Granger have been sentenced with treason, along with aiding Draco Malfoy. No sentencing needed, because you both have gotten yourself the dementors kiss."

Hermione's heart stopped. She didn't hear him correctly, "What?"

"Nothing more from you. Now take her away," The Minster gave her one last glance before exiting the room and traveling upstairs to write letters to everyone about the capture and confession, and to organize the date for when their punishments would take place. It pained him deeply to be doing this to her, but she had brought it all upon herself.

Hermione looked up to John who was left with her to take her away. His wand was ready, and he seemed not to be able to look her in the eye. They had known each other before this, when she was the woman she used to be, but now he didn't know her. He had no idea who she was, or why she was doing this. But in his heart he couldn't let her down, and it hurt him badly to watch her like this.

"Get up, Hermione," He said, emotionless.

She did as he asked, "John," she started. Taking in a deep breath she looked at him, "Where is Viktor? What happened to him?"

The question took him by surprise. Shrugging he looked up at her, "Well, last I heard he went off to some place like Egypt. A far away land – I don't know."

"Because of me?"

He really didn't know what to say, "Partly, I'm sure. Whenever we talked about you he always was worried. He wanted to you get out and to at least attempt to lead a normal life again, but – well Hermione you didn't want that for yourself."

There was a silence, and John tried to take her out a few times, but he let her gather her thoughts before he did so. Finally he knew she was ready, and that's when he let her drink a sleeping potion that the Minister gave him to give to her. Hermione fell into his arms. The sleeping potion was to prevent her from seeing the awfulness until she woke up.

For next time she woke up she'd be reunited, but not for long.

Hermione opened her eyes slowly. And unlike Malfoy manor, it was dark, and she was uncomfortable. But even in the dark her eyes saw his blonde hair first. She sat up slowly and resisted the urge to cry, both because of being so happy and she felt completely awful. Draco watched her solemnly and put a hand out as she tried to get off her bed to come to his.

"You can't. Or else they'll take you away."

She nodded.

Both of them were full of confusing, painful emotions and all they could do was sit and stare at one another. Draco was first to break the uncomfortable silence, but with hurtful words, "Why did you do this? Hermione why couldn't you have done like I asked, and been a good girl. This would have all been over, but now with your confession—"

"Draco I didn't mean to!"

"You didn't mean to?" He arched a curious brow, "You know, I have no idea why I ever wanted you, because right now you are nothing but a mudblood to me."

Hermione bit her lip to keep from crying.

Draco noticed.

He snarled, "Cry Hermione! That's all you do all the time, and you know maybe the dementors will feel sorry for you. After all you are the victim!"

"Stop, Draco."

"Or what?"

She didn't have an answer.

Draco turned away from here and lay on his back to face the ceiling. Hermione watched, wishing he would acknowledge that she was there before she went insane.

"Draco," She pleaded.

No answer.

Once more, "Draco!"

Not even a wince from him. Was he inhumane, what did he have that made him so cold? Hermione pulled her knees to her chest, and could feel the room just closing in on her. Her head was already spinning with terrible thoughts, thoughts of the ones she had betrayed, thoughts of just how she betrayed them –

"So you're telling me that while fucking me you're supposed to be at Ginny's party?" Draco asked, sitting up on his elbows, looking above at her.

She bit her lip.

"So it's true then? You have already fallen," He whispered, leaning up towards her, nipping at her ear.

He was fire to her skin. Her fingers ran down his arms as he continued to kiss her repeatedly. She would never forgive herself for doing this to Ginny, but she could also never forgive herself for not being with Draco. Even though he wouldn't admit it, she knew he was hurting after his father's death.

Hermione wouldn't have dreamed of not coming to him during this time.

When they were all cleaned up Hermione stepped inside her living room to find Draco glancing over the invitations for the wedding.


It pained her to see him look so miserable.

When he spoke though you would have never known that he was hurting, "Quite a list you have here, Granger. I assume all your friends and family since Harry has none."

She crossed over to the couch, "Don't be stupid."

"I'm not," he sighed, and when she turned he slipped someone's invitations into his back pocket, "But tell me, are you ready?"

"No."

Draco just continued to get angry at her, but he kept his voice calm, "Then why are you doing this? Hermione why, like I've asked you a million times, why are you going on?"

"Because I can't hurt Harry!"

"But you can hurt me." He sighed.

Her eyes averted up to him, and she shook her head in disbelief, "Is that what you really think? Draco the reason I'm here with you is because I don't' want you hurting. I –"

He looked up, "You what?"

She knew she couldn't lie to him, so she spoke what she was feeling, "I love you Draco Malfoy, alright? Happy?" It must've been the hardest thing she had ever done, admitting such feelings to him.

He shook his head and ran his eyes over her looking for something tot help him figure out what they were doing. But as usual there was nothing. Sure the fact she admitted to having feelings made him ecstatic with joy, but what did they mean? He already knew she loved him, and she knew he loved her, even though he'd never say it to her face.

"In the end you'll end up with me," He said coolly, "You and I know that."

As all his other comments, she ignored that one as well –

"Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy?"

They both stirred at the sound of the voice.

There stood the minister waiting with two dementors behind him, along with ministry officials.

Hermione grew frantic, grasping at the wall.

"No," She breathed, "it can't be! Not yet anyway—"

Draco sighed, and got up from the cot, not once looking towards the brunette.

"Well you don't have all day minister. Let's do this."

Gaping at him, Hermione stood from the cot, making her way towards him, "Are you insane?"

" Hold your tongue," The minister said forcefully.

She put her hands in her hand, standing behind Draco, unaware of what to do. He on the other hand knew exactly what to do. All of it was running in his mind. But Hermione had to stay calm or it would never work.

The officials opened the cell doors, and led the two out, apart from each other, quietly. Everyone, including the dementors followed until they reached a rather large space with no cells around. Hermione started to cry, but Draco could not let her get to him. He had to stay calm. He just had to…

The officials put Hermione and Draco, back to back in the middle of the room, and made sure they had nothing on them. The minister watched attentively, making sure everything was running smoothly. Then a figure walked in, and was greeted by the minister warmly. Hermione turned her head though to find Viktor Krum. Her mouth gaped slightly as he stared at her with emotions she couldn't match.

"Turn your head," An official hissed at her.

She did so, but could still feel Viktor's eyes upon her. Also she felt Draco standing silent and still behind her, and she broke.

"Draco!" She screamed aloud, "Stop this, talk to me."

He didn't move.

Not yet.

But as the minister started to walk forward, everything led to a series of events. Draco grabbed the wand from the minister's hand as he made a speech about indecency that was directed solely at Draco and Hermione. Pandemonium though was wreaking havoc as Draco started casting spells back and forth stopping all. Through all of this Hermione managed to get a wand and was helping him along. Everything seemed to be a big blur for her. She couldn't tell who she was killing, and then there were feelings she had never felt before. Killing had never been a factor for her – and now that she was the barer of blood shed she didn't know what to think.

As Draco grabbed her hand though, her thoughts sufficed. They ran as fast as they could, dodging spells and hearing voices behind them. Draco was talking, Hermione could see his mouth moving, but she couldn't process what he was saying.

Then in front of them Viktor appeared and Hermione panicked, holding onto Draco's hand tighter. And then she did the thing she never thought she would do. Looking into Viktor's panicked eyes she lifted her wand and stuttered until the words came out:

"Avada Kedavra!" As the green light came out of her wand and Viktor fell to the ground, Draco looked towards Hermione who was now crying hysterically. There was no time to comfort right now though. He grabbed her hand, continuing to lead her throughout the prison – Spells were being thrown all around them, and at one point Hermione had thought Draco had been hit. But he didn't stop, his hand held onto hers until they somehow had made it through the madness.

His yelling could be heard vaguely, but she knew their time was coming to an end. Every memory she ever had of him or Harry, Ron … they flashed through her head madly until she felt a rush of cold wind pierce her skin. It was done, finished …

---

Hermione only remembered Draco waking her up in a foreign place she had never been to or seen before. For a moment she didn't remember anything, and then everything hit her at once. Draco didn't hold her in his arms as she cried, he didn't even so much give her a comforting word, instead he stood up and headed towards the fire, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"You got your taste of what it feels like for me every single day, Granger," He said almost mocking her, "Now you see why I am this way? You killed one person, Hermione, one."

Gaping at him through the tears that wouldn't stop coming, she shook her head, and tried standing, but her body wouldn't allow her to.

Draco crossed to her, "You think I feel bad for you? Or that I'm going to forgive you for what you've done?"

Moments passed and then Hermione stopped.

Breathing, thinking, crying – feeling.

Never before had she felt empty like this. There wasn't a word for this state. Slowly she looked up at Draco who was now fiddling with knick-knacks on the wall. All of this was for the both of them. They wanted it, and they got it. Hermione had never thought of it that way, but now…

"I'm done," she muttered while getting up and crossing to the wooden shelf where she saw a glimmer of a bottle. Sure enough she was right – liquor. But she wasn't surprised the least bit. Draco needed it.

Brandy was her drink of choice.

He watched her curiously, interpreting her words, and finally he spoke as she put the rim to her lips.

"Done with what?"

Hermione took the glass away, placing it down, "You."

"Done with me?" He questioned. For a moment it took him by surprise, but she had always surprised him. It was expected, "Tell me then … what do you plan to do? You have no place to go – the ministry has a massive search on us. The man that could've saved you, is dead because of you. You really ruined any life you wanted to have."

A lump grew in her throat at the mention of Viktor.

As always he read her like a book. With one of his hands he grabbed her by the hair, bringing her close to him. His lips traced her ear, before he sighed, "I'm the only one left who loves you now."

And just like always, she gave in.

Time passed. Draco had grown to be even more distant than he had ever been, and Hermione just barely made it day to day. They were both spent, tired, weak. There were no visits to boost their moral. No one knew their location – even the deatheaters that hadn't been caught. They had each other but even then it was still lonely.

More than ever they fought, Draco always won, but Hermione didn't go down easily anymore. Sometimes it was because of a sound she made while he was working, or it could've been the way he didn't speak or make eye contact to her during dinner that night. This time it was at dinner, but it was Hermione's fault.

It started for no reason at all. Between bites of soup, the spoon fell to her lap and tears streamed down her cheeks. As much as she would've liked not to cry in front of him that night, no longer could she hide how empty she was inside.

"I told you to stop that crying, Granger! What's there to cry about? Tell me!"

His words didn't stop her. No. In fact they fueled her. Draco stood, crossing to the other side of the table and grabbed her arms, pulling her up forcefully, "Are you listening to me?"

Not wincing as his voice echoed in the room, she pulled away and turned her back to him. This is how it went every time, he knew it as well as she did, but this time Hermione couldn't stop.

"I can't do this anymore," She spat. Sharply, she turned to face him, "There's nothing to go on for. We're here in this house, where ever in the hell that is, and … Draco!"

"Draco what! Finish!"

She dropped her head to look at the floor. There were no words to even begin to describe the turmoil inside. For however long this had lasted, it had always been terrible, but never like this.

He watched as she fell to the ground, head buried in her hands as he had seen her so many times before. For a moment he closed his eyes to compose himself. No longer could he do this to her though. Everything they had been through, the things they said to one another, it was all in the past. All that mattered was that he loved her … and now he had to do what he should've done before any of this had happened.

Kneeling by her side, Draco placed his arm around her, and lifted her head. The moment she saw his face she knew something was off.

"What?"

Draco didn't stop himself.

"He's not dead."

A/N: Long time no … write? The wait was long, and that's because the ending just didn't want to reveal itself just yet. Surprises? A little abrupt? It'll all be revealed in the next chapter. Thank you for being so patient with me, and you guys truly are the best. :)