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An Unspokon Bond, Chapter 3

Two weeks had passed. Two blissful weeks in which no-one had bothered them and they had talked and laughed their way through the days. But it had to come to an end, they both knew that. Tomorrow Tonks was coming to escort Hermione back to Headquarters and Draco had to go and report back to his master. It was likely the last time they would see each other before the end.

Hermione lay on her side on the massive bed and was watching the gentle rise and fall of her bedmate's chest. He looked so innocent while he was sleeping; as though he could never have done the many things she knew he had. She smiled sadly, it had to end. The last big battle was coming. Everyone from both sides could feel it in the air. The next one would be the last. And there were still no promise of who would win, but it didn't matter, she would be hurt either way. What a situation, she thought, with Draco Malfoy of all people.

Shifting closer she laid her hand above his heart and felt it's steady beating. He shifted in his sleep, turning on his side and pulling her to him with pale, strong arms. Settling her head where her hand had been a minute ago she tried in vain to chase the thoughts from her mind. But they would not go away, too big and powerful to be ignored. She traced his side with her fingertips, she was always amazed at how soft his skin was; like a baby's. He made a sleepy sound and shifted slightly, trying to get away from the tickling fingers. She giggled and continued her efforts to wake him up. Draco opened one eyes and attempted to remove her fingers in vain. Groaning he turned his head fully into the pillow, "Go back to sleep woman,"

"Woman, Woman!" cried Hermione in a mock-angry voice, "How dare you, you...man!"

Spining around quickly, he nearly knocked her off the bed, he lay atop her and pinned her wrists above her head. A slow smile of satisfaction crossed his face "Yes, woman, my favourite one at that," he said laughingly.

Knowing full well she couldn't move, not that she wanted to, she replied," What, I beat Pansy to the top of Draco Malfoy's favourite people list? I am honoured"

"Pansy wouldn't even get on that list, as you know full well, she drives me mad with her constant talk. Oh Draco, doesn't this dress look nice? Oh Draco can you buy me those lovely pearls that only cost a hundred thousand? Oh Draco do you think I should have some breast-enhancing charms?"

Hermione burst into peals of laughter, his impression of Pansy' high, whiny voice was spot on. "Did she really ask you if you thought she should get breast-enhancing charms done?" she asked incredulously.

"I tell you no lies Mione, I nearly spat out the wine I was drinking at the time. Of course she wanted the money for those charms from yours truly," he replied though his laughter.

Hermione doubled laughed so hard she cried at the thought of perfect, polished Draco almost spitting out his wine. After their hilarity had died down they lay wrapped up in each others arms for a while. The little interlude had chased away her dark thoughts, but now they were back, and she knew she would have to tell him now or she would never do it.

Sitting up, she untangled herself from his arms and sat cross legged on the bed looking down at her pink pajamas nervously.

"Draco, we need to talk," she said seriously.

Sensing the suddden change in her mood he sat up as well and looked at her intently, taking in her fidgeting and panicky eyes. "About what?" he asked slowly.

Gathering up her courage she willed back the tears that treacherously welled in her eyes. This had to be done, for both of them. "We need to end this Draco, we can't see each other anymore, ever." she said softly. This time she had to close her eyes to keep the tears from spilling over as she waited for his reaction.

Draco was stunned. He couldn't find any words for a few minutes, which was unheard of from him. When he finally spoke it was with a underlying hint of anger, "What?"

She winced inwardly as she heard the anger in his voice. This was going to hurt him just as much as it was hurting her, but it had to happen. "We can't see each other anymore, this has to be the last time." she said, as strongly and steadly as she could manage.

Draco flew off the bed. How dare she do this to him. Didn't she know how much this hurt him. How he heard those words in his worst nightmares. That she no longer wanted him, no longer felt anything for him. "Why, why now, what have I done wrong?" he screamed at her. All he could see was that he was losing the only thing good and pure in his life. "After all we've shared, all we've done for each other, how can you just sit there and tell me cooly that you're abandoning me"

She felt her heart break at the sheer pain in his voice, "It has to be this way, don't you see?" she tried pleading with him.

"No, I don't," he hissed, before stalking to the window and turning his back to her. Leaning his head on the cool pane he tried to think what he had done to make her hurt him so badly. Surely after three years she couldn't just drop him like a piece of trash. He, Draco Malfoy, was dropped by no-one. Turning to face her he tried, and failed, to keep the pain out of his voice, "Why, until you give me an explaination as to why, you are not leaving."

Standing up she moved towards him and laid her hand on his arm, wincing when he jerked away. "Why can't you see I'm not trying to hurt you Draco," she started softly "I'm trying to protect you."

His head shot up and he spat, "Protect me, by breaking my heart?" Moving away from her he paced the room like a caged lion. "How can you possibly protect me by telling me I can never see you again?" he asked angrily.

She was crying softly as she started to explain, "Draco, why can't you see I don't want to hurt you? But you know as well as I do that the fate of our world will be decided in the next few weeks. We will be torn apart whoever wins. If my side wins you will be executed as a war criminal. If your side wins, then I will be tortured and killed as a Muggle-born and because I'm Harry's friend. We could both be killed in the final battle, us more than most, because we have people from each side gunning for us. If I don't have time to collect myself together, I'll never be able to let you go. I need time to steel myself for what is to come, and I know you do too,"

She reached out to him and placed her hand on his cheek, feeling the wetness that indicated he was crying, "Draco, if Voldemort ever finds out about me, he'll kill you as well as me. I've seen what he has done to you when he was even the slightest bit displeased with you. If he ever finds out that you see me regularly he'll use the worst torture he knows on you and I can't bear the thought of it. Before I was able to live with it because you were safer than the rest in his inner circle, but now is the time when everything will come out." she sobbed, tears now streaming thickly down her face, "I can't watch you die, Draco. It will kill me. If I don't die, you will. One of us won't come out of this alive, whoever wins." she ended softly covering her face with her hands and sinking to the floor.

Draco sank down beside her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her onto his lap and sobbing into her hair even as she sobbed into his chest. What she said was true. One of them, if not both would die in the final battle. They had both hid from it but it was finally here, and they couldn't ignore it. Why did it have to hurt so much. But he would do this, for her. If she needed space, he would give her it. If she needed time to steel herself, he would give her that as well. He knew if his side won she would die; and it was killing him inside.

"Hermione, you won't die, not if I can help it. Even if my side wins I'll protect you to my last breath, don't bother trying to dissuade me, it won't work. You've protected me over the years, if my side wins, I'll protect you. I'll find you somewhere they will never find you, I won't let them lay their hands on you." he said brokenly.

"Drac...", He cut her off by placing a finger over her lips, "Promise me, you must promise me that if you win you won't try and protect me from my punishment if I'm captured. You have already given me so much. You must not sabotage your own future by defending me. Please promise me, this one thing, promise", he had taken her by the shoulders as he made his speech and was shaking her slightly.

She shook her head mutely. How could she, it would kill her. "I already told you I can't watch you die," she replied, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding tightly. "You have no idea how much you mean to me, even I have only realised over these last weeks how much I really care for you, so don't ask me to stand by while they kill you, I won't."

"Hermione please, I care for you as much as you do for me, if you really care for me you will promise me this. Don't throw your life away for me, I'm not worth it," his strong voice was breaking as he spoke. He clung to her tightly, willing her to put his mind at rest.

Realising he was not about to give up she made a promise she knew she would never keep, "Alright, I promise."

Cradling her to his chest he carried her back to the bed. Cocconing them both in the covers he whispered to her, "One last night?"

"Yes, one last night," she said sadly as she snuggled into his warm body. "I love you, Draco," she whispered softly in his ear.

"I love you too, Mione," he whispered back. Closing his eyes he tried to imprint everything from this night on his memory. Her soft body against his, the smell of her hair, the way her breath tickeled his throat, the way she held him. This was the last time he would ever hold her, the first and only time he would be able to tell her he loved her. "I love you, no matter what happens, you are the only one who has been able to see me for who I really am, not what I have done"

"I'll never forget, just as you must never forget I love you," she stroked his hair as she said this. Closing her eyes she was content to lay in his arms for the last time. No matter that they had to part in the morning, now was for them.

A Spoken Bond had passed between them.