A/N: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters
Word count: 310
Warning: Canon character death, grieving
The war inside her raged, wanting too many things at the same time. She wanted to love Draco, wanted to let herself feel something like love again. She wanted to kiss him, to let him hold her, tell her everything would be alright.
But how could she? How could she when it felt like she was betraying him, betraying the memory of the man she'd promised to love forever. Death had come and claimed him too soon, death had come and taken him from her, leaving her with unresolved feelings, leaving her with grief so strong, so powerful, it kept her awake at night.
Draco was there, probably at his urging, probably at his request. He'd known he wasn't going to survive the war, knew was going to be end. He'd written her a letter, a letter telling her that she was free to move on, that he would never hold it against her if she sought out another, if she sought out love. He would always love her, even from the beyond, but he'd learned it was torture to live without love.
She was condemned to this mortal plane, and she needed to do what she could to stay safe, to stay whole. She was breaking now, two pieces, maybe more, she wasn't sure anymore. She knew Seveus wouldn't be mad, wouldn't be angry, if she did as he requested. Merlin, that was probably why Draco was there, to help her pick up the pieces Severus had left behind.
Her heart wanted to love again, wanted to feel close to someone again. Draco was there, either of his own accord or at Severus' and Hermione's lips finally found his, finally found comfort in his arms, in his body, wondering if she could ever fully give him her heart or if it would always be missing a Severus shaped piece?