When King Isadore returned home, he told his wife what happened. Queen Saskia pleaded with him to ignore the oracle's message. Unknown to them, Pansy and Ginny overheard their conversation and grew concerned. While their love for Hermione was great, they worried that the wrath of the Gods would come down on their homes and people if he did not do as the oracle said.

After talking to his family for some time, King Isadore requested an audience with Hermione. When she saw her father's face, Hermione threw her arms around him and asked what was wrong.

With a trembled voice, he told his daughter what happened. She was confused and asked why she was being punished. Her father told her it is the will of the Gods and without her sacrifice, all would perish. Hermione didn't want to do this, to be married away to some beast only to die after. How cruel were the Gods? What had she done to deserve such a fate? Hermione tried to protest but when her father began pleading with her, she agreed.

When Hermione woke the following morning, she saw a black dress draped across her chair. As she held it up, it faintly reminded her of the dress she wanted to wear at her wedding. Her hand slowly ran over the dark, black fabric and she reminded herself that this wasn't just her wedding but her funeral as well. Anger stirred in her and she threw the dress to the floor. She drew a bath and soaked, unsure what else to do with herself.

When she was finally calm, Hermione went back to her room. Her mother was sitting on her bed with the dress in her hands, crying. Hermione greeted her mother. They stared at each other for a while before Queen Saskia offered to help Hermione get ready. It pained her slightly, the tradition on a wedding day for mother and daughter, but she nodded.

Hermione sat on the floor with her back to her mother. Queen Saskia gently brushed Hermione's thick curls, starting from the ends moving up to the root. The anger she had towards her family about today grew into sorrow as she realised this was the last time she'd be with her mother.

The wind whipped hair around Hermione's face as they got closer to the summit. She wished her parents had let her walk, that way she could feel something, anything, before dying. Instead, she was carried in a litter filled with soft pillows and made of gold.

The higher she was carried up; the more panicked Hermione became. When they finally reached the top, she saw her family waiting for her. Her parents, sisters, and new brothers were all dressed in black. King Isadore helped her off the litter, unable to meet her eyes. The pair linked arms and as he guided Hermione, she closed her eyes.

Her father was not walking her to her death but walking her down the aisle to her future husband. It was her wedding day, the happiest day of her life.

He was tall and handsome, with a smile that made her melt.

Maybe he was a prince, maybe he was a baker. Hermione didn't care, all she knew was that he saw more than her physical self.

He saw her soul.

He was her love.

The king cleared his throat and pulled Hermione from her fantasy. When she opened her eyes, she was at the edge of the summit. The sound of large waves crashing below her was almost deafening. Hermione turned to her father and he kissed her cheek. He told her that he loved her and thanked her for being so selfless. Hermione bit her cheek, nodding but didn't say a word.

He squeezed her hands one last time, leaving a chilled feeling in one palm, and left. Hermione looked down and saw two coins. For the ferryman, she thought to herself. Hermione turned and watched as her family left. No one looked back or protested as she had hoped. And when she was finally all alone, Hermione sat on the cold ground and wrapped her arms around herself, listening to the waves.

The sun had long since set and Hermione was growing more restless. Once filled with anger and sorrow towards her family, she was now filled with dread. She wasn't looking forward to her death, but she was anxious to get it over with. Waiting for this end was torture.

Hermione shivered as the cold winds picked up and she curled into herself to hide from it. She closed her eyes as she waited for it to pass. Suddenly, it felt as if her body was being lifted from the ground. Is this it?, she thought to herself, eyes still squeezed shut. Am I to be taken by the cold, left here to die, and only fulfilling half of my alleged fate? All this fuss about a scaled, winged beast that was going to kill me but in the end, it was just being left for dead in the cold?

Hermione tried to calm her thoughts, struggling not to curse the Gods as death came. She wondered if the stories of the ferryman were true. The old, almost skeletal man used his boat to take the spirits of the dead to their end.

She tried not to be afraid as she felt her body get higher and higher. Hermione relaxed into this light feeling that took her, allowing her soul to be set free.

When Draco arrived at Hermione's home, he was shocked to see the site before him. Her parents, sisters, and their husbands were all consoling one another. Draco got a closer look and noticed the table setting, the making of a peridinin.

"Oh Hermione", he heard her mother cry out.

Panic set in with Draco. He flew up to her room and realised what happened when he didn't find her.

He had only been away a few days, trying to catch up on work he had missed while he was sorting out how or when to approach Hermione. How could she be gone?! Draco ran his hands through his hair, trying to come up with a plan.

Blaise was the ferryman and one of his best friends. If he could just get down before it was too late, ask Blaise to not take Hermione across Styx. Draco was pacing at this point. Would that even work? What would happen to her soul while she waited for him to come up with another plan? Would she even appreciate her soul's journey being halted by a stranger?

Ugh, he couldn't think! How could she be dead?!

Hermione's sisters came up to her room forcing Draco to quickly find a hiding space. He heard Ginny express her worry about them leaving Hermione on the summit. Pansy sighed, telling Ginny while it was difficult to do, it had to be done.

Draco watched from the shadows as Pansy held her crying sister. "The words of the Oracle cannot be ignored, Ginny. We will mourn Hermione every day, but we will live for her."

Hearing this, Draco knew Sirius was behind it and saw red. As much as he wanted to shield Hermione from the wrath of the Gods, Sirius still found out somehow. Now Hermione was suffering as payback from him and Sirius' difficult history.

Draco flew as fast as he could to the summit and found Hermione laying at its peak.

Draco called out to Snape in desperation.

He asked for Snape's help to carry Hermione to his home, one that sits between the mortal realm and theirs. Snape was hesitant, not wanting Narcissa to find out about what Draco was doing but agreed to help. Snape channelled the west winds to lift Hermione's body.

After Hermione was placed in his field, Draco thanked Snape for his help. Before departing, Snape urged Draco to be cautious moving forward. That he should not let Hermione know who he was as she was only mortal.

Hermione woke when a soft breeze gave her a sudden chill.

A grand manor stood before her. The sun shined brightly, bringing it to life for her. It was enclosed with flowers of all kinds. It looked random at first but the longer she took in the sight before her, the more she could see the pattern laid out. Hermione turned behind her only to find a flowing river. She could not tell where it began or where it ended as clouds seemed to surround the land but the sound of the water passing over the rocks gave her a wonderful sense of calm.

Stories of the afterlife seemed so dark and dreary compared to what she saw here.

The sound of a faint pop next to her pulled Hermione's attention. She looked down to see a small creature, no taller than a small child and clothes in soft, sand brown clothes. He introduced himself as Dobby and welcomed her, offering to show her to her new home.

Hermione was confused but went with him as she was coming to terms with her afterlife. She asks if he was taking her to the ferryman. Dobby laughed, telling Hermione that she had just woken from a long sleep and journey. Dobby was instructed not to disturb her until she woke.

She asked Dobby who told him to do this, and he stammered, unsure of how to answer. Hermione asked if it was her husband, the winged dragon. Dobby looked down and told Hermione that he cannot say. Dobby stated that this was her home now, that he and others like him were there to help her and provide her with anything she needed.

When they entered the mansion, Dobby fed Hermione and allowed her to bathe. When she emerged from her long bath, Hermione found a new dress waiting for her. It was made of the softest material she had ever felt and was a deep purple laced in golden details. And when she put it on, it was like she was wearing a soft cloud dipped in sweet berries.

Dobby showed Hermione around her home more and when night came, he showed her to her bedroom. She awoke later that night to a noise coming from the hall. She cracked open the door to the room across hers and saw the back of a retreating man before the door closed behind him. Unable to stop herself, Hermione went to the door and knocked.

When she received no answer, Hermione retreated to her room.

Days passed with no change. Dobby and others like him kept Hermione company and every night, she heard someone arrive before retreating to the room next to hers. After waiting too long for answers, she slipped into the bedroom when she knew it was empty and waited for the mysterious man to arrive.

Draco had a long night, or rather, a long week. Keeping up with his duties, avoiding his mother, sneaking around to avoid Hermione. All he could do at the end of the day was sleep. Draco talked to Dobby, asking how Hermione was adjusting. Dobby told him then asked why Draco never talked to Hermione himself. He wasn't sure how to answer. He wanted to talk to her from the rise of Lavender until Ron brightened the sky of the new day. But Draco didn't know how to explain anything to her: who he was, where she was, nothing at all.

Draco walked into his dark bedroom. Knowing where everything was, he didn't need the light. Too tired to soak his worries away, he opted to lay on top of his covers. He settled into the bed and closed his eyes, begging for sleep to come quickly. A voice next to him spoke.

"H-hello", Hermione says softly.

"Bloody h- What are you doing in here?!", Draco asks her, leaping from the bed.

"I haven't been able to get an audience with you. I have questions and Dobby won't give me the answers."

"So, you just decided to sneak into my bedroom?" Draco looked towards his closet where he sometimes kept his bow and arrow. "Did you go through my things?"

"What?! No, not at all. I just- I didn't know how else to get your attention."

Draco bit his tongue. She consumed every waking thought, that was the problem.

"I'm not used to people being in my home, let alone finding someone in my bed."

"Well, let me get the light and we can talk", she told him, already standing to find a candle.

"NO!", Draco shouted.

"What?"

Draco sighed, remembering the warning Snape gave him earlier that week. " You may ask any question you wish, and I will try to be as honest as I am able. My only rule is that you never see me in the light, you never see my face."

"I don't understand, why not?"

"This is the way it must be while you stay here."

Hermione took a deep breath before agreeing with his terms. "Fine, I guess I can do that if you want."

Draco relaxed at her words. He sat in a chair, in the shadows. "What are your questions?"

"Are you my… husband? The one the Oracle spoke of?"

"I don't believe so. I would never wish to place marriage on someone without their wanting it."

Hermione smiled and a weight slightly lifted off her shoulders. "Where am I? How did you get me here?"

Draco hesitated. "A... friend and I found you at the top of the summit and you looked as if you were dying. He helped me bring you here", he told her, happy that he was able to mostly tell her the truth. "As for where you are, this is… My family home, in a sort of way. It was originally my father's, but he's been away for some time now."

"It's a very nice home, you've done well with the land."

Draco chuckled. "Thank you, it means a lot to hear you say that."

Hermione leaned into her hand, trying to cover the growing smile she had. Though they were still in the dark, she feared he may see it.

"I have one more question then I'll leave you to sleep."

"I appreciate that. What is your final question?"

"Am I- Am I dead? I've never seen anything like your home, so high toward the heavens that clouds are surrounding it. Felt fabric so soft, eaten food so rich or seen any creature like Dobby. So, this must not be real."

Draco wasn't sure what to say. He didn't know how to explain that the food, wines, and fabrics were all from Mount Olympus. That Dobby was one of many eudaemons that kept him company. How could she, a mortal, wrap her mind around the notion? Would she laugh, believing it all to be a lie? Would she run away screaming in fear to be confronted with the truth?

"That is… Very difficult to explain. But no, you're not dead. I've just brought you here for shelter and warmth. If you wish to leave, you may, and I will provide your travels."

"I uh-", she stumbled over her thoughts. "I don't think I'm ready to leave just yet if that's okay?"

There was silence. "You don't want to go back to your family?"

"I don't know if I can look at them right now. I just need time."

"You have all the time you need."

"Thank you", she said in relief. "May I return tomorrow night?"

"If that is what you wish. But leave the door cracked so I won't be surprised again", he joked.

Hermione laughed in response. "Sorry about that."

She turned to walk to the door, taking small steps as her hand was reached out in front of her. She opened the door and paused before turning back to the figure still hidden in the shadows. "I never got your name."

"It's... Draak."

"Hermione", she told him with a small nod.

Hermione's schedule now centred around Draak's schedule. While she enjoyed and appreciated Dobby's company, it was nice to speak with someone else. Every night, Hermione went to his room and they talked. Books, stories of the Gods, his garden. The conversations between the two would go on for hours. Hermione told him about her family and life. And one night, after too much wine, she opened up about her feelings around the events that led her here. Her disdain towards the Gods, the distrust towards her family, and the disappointment in herself for not speaking up more to try and stop it. Draco asked Hermione if she liked being here, even with everything that led up to it. She told him the truth, that she did. Hermione knew deep down that while she only knew his name and his voice, she'd grown to enjoy her time spent here in his home.

One night, after a particularly long day, Draco found Hermione waiting for him as she did every night. But this time, she was asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he gently tucked her under the duvet and laid down on top of it, close to the edge of the bed.

Draco hadn't planned on falling asleep, but he suddenly woke with a fright when he felt a cold hand pressed against his back.

His wings threatened to appear as he was jolted awake, but he was able to keep them in. Draco whispered her name, asking if she was awake. Hermione shushed him, told him to sleep, then spooned him from behind. Draco was as stiff as a statue, he tried to move out from her arms but finally relaxed in her hold when she wouldn't let go.

As the months passed, the two grew closer. Sometimes they would stay awake and talk for hours. Draco stayed vague about his day, unsure how to explain what he did for a living. Hermione would tell Draak about her time in his home and how she kept herself entertained with his library. Other nights, Draco would find Hermione asleep. He worried about accidentally revealing his wings to her, so he had Dobby set up a spare bedroom for him to sleep in.

After sitting in a comfortable silence one night, Draco asked Hermione about the Oracle. He enjoyed getting to know her more, but he couldn't stop thinking about it. She expressed how she was unsure about it all. The Gods told her father her fate, but it didn't come true, so she was confused. Hermione told him she knew how much her father trusts the Oracle and the Gods.

"Even if I had gone home that night, my father would send me back. His faith is too strong and wouldn't allow me to stay."

Draco held Hermione as she began to cry and told her how selfless she was. How anyone else would have not allowed for the sacrifice she gave to keep the wrath from her family and her people. How he's sorry for the fate the Gods gave her. How he wished there was something more he could do to help her.

Overcome with his words, Hermione leaned forward and kissed him.

Draco was frozen at first. As much as he'd seen kissing among the mortals, and even more among the Gods, he had never done so himself. But as her hand touched his cheek, Draco melted into the softness of her lips. She tasted sweet from the wine she had with dinner.

He placed one hand on her waist while the other gripped his thigh. Was he doing it right? What should he do with his other hand?

Draco's thoughts raced when Hermione bit his bottom lip. Draco gasped, allowing Hermione to slide her tongue into his mouth. He deepened the kiss and mirrored her tongue as he pulled her closer. Draco felt Hermione's hands slide into his hair and his body shivered as a result. He thought about the softness of her hands, the fullness of her lips, and how gentle her touch was. He wondered how it would feel to have Hermione touch more of him.

His chest, his stomach, his-

"Wait, no", Draco mumbled against her lips. He pulled away from the kiss as guilt poured over him. Hermione was a lady and deserved respect, far more than where his thoughts were heading. "We- we need to stop." He sat up and turned away from Hermione before running his hands over his face.

"I'm sorry, I thought that we- I'm sorry."

"No, don't apologise. We just… we shouldn't. "

"Why not? Don't you want to?", she asked, her voice broken with hesitation.

Draco turned back to Hermione and found her in an instant. He cupped her face and touched her forehead with his. "I do", he exhaled. "But we shouldn't-"

"I'm so tired of people telling me what I should and shouldn't do." The words fell from her mouth before she even knew they were her thoughts. "I want to make the most of a life I didn't think I'd have. I'm supposed to be dead, killed by the hands of a beast. But you found me, you saved me."

"I didn't do that to get something from you."

"No, you're not understanding. I want to live; I want to breathe new life into every extra day you've given me." Hermione reached out in the darkness, finding his shoulder. "And I want to feel." Her hand slid up his shoulder to the nape of his neck and into his hair, using her nails against his scalp. He couldn't help but lean into it as a fire stirred in him. "I want to make the most of this new life I have… with you."

Hermione, now knowing where Draak's head was, pushed herself up and whispered in his ear, "Don't you want that too?"

Draco sighed. "There's so much I wish I could tell you. So much I want to say but can't." Or won't?

"I want to be with you. Now, as we are. And I think that's enough."

Draco closed his eyes and leaned into her. "Do you promise?", he pleaded.

"I promise", she whispered back.

And that, for Draco, was enough. He let the flames engulf him from inside as he kissed Hermione. He had never been filled with so much passion, so much desire, so much love for any person in all his time. How could he wield this power, grant it to hundreds of thousands of mortals, but have never felt this? Hermione consumed every corner of his mind since the moment he was sent to her but to finally have her in his arms was nothing he thought he would ever have.

Hermione held his face in her hands, trying to remember every angle of his jaw and the point of his nose. And when his mouth kissed and nipped gently at her neck, she wondered how red they'd look after hours of kissing. When his hand slid the strap of her dress from her shoulder, she wanted nothing more than to look at the passion she'd hope to see in his eyes, whatever colour they may be.

But this was enough.

When she lifted the shirt from his body, this was enough.

When the dress slid down her body and disappeared into the darkness of the room, this was enough.

When she finally removed his pants, once again equals, this was enough.

She didn't need more of him than what he gave her at that moment.

And when he warned her, before he entered-

When he stilled, allowing her a moment to adjust-

When he kissed her until she was ready for more-

It was all enough.

Draco shivered when Hermione touched his back, her fingers dancing where his wings would come out. She let out a sigh with every rhythm as they moved. When her hands lowered, Draco held one and laced their fingers together.

Passion crashed against them both with equal force like a giant wave in the deep sea. Their voices carried out into the night and all that was left was the sound of them breathing calmly in unison.

She had never thought it would be this way nor what would happen now, but Hermione was happy. She kissed his chest and said good night before closing her eyes to sleep.

Draco held Hermione closer that night. Their legs tangled together, her head on his chest. He played with her soft curls as she fell asleep. Draco never imagined he could be this happy.

Hermione woke like she did many mornings in Draak's room alone. She had hoped that today would be different. She looked to find a note from Draak promising to return to her that night. Hermione spent her day remaking Draak's face out of clay. She kept her eyes closed as she tried to remember the features on his face she traced the night before. Hermione knew her skills were limited but when she got the final result, she didn't think it was too bad and even seemed a bit familiar.

After spending another passion-filled night in the darkness, Hermione asked why she still couldn't see him after all this time. When Draak stayed silent, she expressed that she wanted to feel closer to him, to see his eyes before each kiss. To see the smile she could hear in his voice. And so he could see the happiness he brought her every night, no matter what they did.

But Draco remained unchanged. He knew that this was the only way they could be together until he could come up with a better plan. If she saw him right now, he wasn't sure what the consequences would be. He never thought they would get this close, not before he could figure out how to explain everything, so he knew they had to find an answer quickly.

Hermione tried to protest. "It's worth the risk Draak, after all this time."

"No!", he exclaimed. "I'm not going to lose you. Lose this. We can't risk it; you have to understand that."

Hearing the defeat in his voice, Hermione kissed him gently. Even if she didn't understand, Hermione promised she wouldn't ask again.

Days came and left, and with each passing night, Draco and Hermione grew closer. She was happy as she could feel herself falling more and more for Draak. But as happy as Hermione was, the days alone were becoming tedious, and she needed to see her family.

They laid in each other's arms one night and talked about their day. When he had finished, Hermione began kissing his chest before telling him she wanted to visit her family for a day. Draco wasn't sure, stating that the shock of seeing her alive after all this time might be too much for them. Hermione already had a story to tell them, the simplest version of her life while she's been away: she was found and stayed because she was afraid of the message from the Oracle.

Draco told her he wouldn't keep her in his home if she no longer wished to stay but Hermione protested, promising to be back that night. Draco asked her what she would do if they requested. Hermione hesitated, telling him that as much as she missed her family she wanted to come back to him. That she'd find a way to explain it to them.

"As much as I miss my family, I just want to visit." She held him tightly. "I want to come back and be with you. I'll- I'll figure something out with my family. They'll understand."

Draco hugged her back and kissed her temple. "What if you told them-" He took a deep breath. "What if you told them you were going back to be with... your husband?"

Hermione's breath hitched. "What?"

Draco slid his arms from her waist to cup her cheeks. "Gods' be damned, I want to be your husband, Hermione. I want to be with you, and no one else. Do you want the same?"

Hermione didn't realise she was crying until he wiped tears from her face.

"Yes", she whispered.

Draco knew he was still hiding things from him: his name and who he truly was. He wanted to tell her before it ever got this far but he didn't want to ruin this. He'd come up with a way to explain it all after Hermione got back from her family.

Draco just hoped she'd understand. He hoped that she'd still want to be with him.

Hermione journeyed from Draak's home for the first time. The jet-black horse pulled her carriage past the thick clouds and down the high hillside. When she finally arrived in front of her home, Hermione saw her mother first and greeted her. Queen Saskia dropped the vase she was holding, and it shattered at her feet. She raced to Hermione and hugged her.

She spent the day with all of her family, telling them what happened, including her recent proposal. She was vague but when anyone pushed for more, Queen Saskia hushed them. Her daughter was home.

The night quickly came, and Hermione spent her last moment with her sisters, asking about their lives as she's been away and telling them more about her time away. They couldn't believe what she was saying, confused by the entirety of it all. But as they looked at the fabrics and jewels she wore; they knew there had to be some truth to it.

Ginny brought up the oracle, telling Hermione she must have fallen in love with a beast.

When she tried to protest, Pansy pushed back. "How could you be sure if you've never seen his face?"

Hermione sighed. "I just know."

"You've been lied to, Hermione. You can't go back!"

"Bu-"

"Pansy's right, Hermione. You're engaged to this man- this thing, you don't know what."

"Ginny-"

"He tricked you and kept you from us!" Ginny's worry turned to anger the more she spoke.

Hermione looked between both her sisters. "It's not like that, you don't understand."

"The Oracle never lies." Pansy's voice was calm and even. "This… situation will be the death of you."

Pansy walked over to a chest and grabbed an item wrapped in cloth. She closed the chest and stood in front of Hermione. "Take this".

Hermione grabbed the item and removed the cloth, revealing a dagger. The shock of the dagger almost caused her to drop it.

Pansy grabbed Hermione's chin, forcing her to meet her eyes. "Tonight, when he falls asleep, you will use this dagger and slit his throat."

"No, I can't do it!" The dagger fell from her hands and clanged on the floor between them. "I love him! I can't kill him."

"Hermione, you have to!" Ginny came from behind her and stood next to Pansy. "You don't see what he's done to you. How he's changed you."

"Ginny's right. He's warped your mind into loving him. This is a lie. Do this for us, for the family."

Hermione's vision blurred as her eyes watered.

"Come back home to us Hermione", Ginny pleaded. "We miss you; we love you. He doesn't."

Hermione shook her head and ran from the room. She met with her parents, letting them know that it was time for her to leave. As they walked her out, she promised to visit again. Hugging Pansy last, she felt the weight of a bag on her shoulder and a kiss on the cheek as Pansy walked away.

On her journey home, Hermione looked in the bag and saw the dagger. As she held it in her hand, she thought more about what her sisters said.

Were they right? Had she been a fool this entire time?

If she could just see his face, see for herself that he wasn't a beast, a dragon… She could lay this all to rest.

The journey was long and when she finally arrived home, it felt as if the light of Padma would arrive in just a few short hours. When she got to her room, Hermione placed her bag down and took a breath.

Her sisters were right.

She had to know.

Hermione lit a candle before digging through her bag, finding the dagger. The light from the candle made the blade shine. She tightened her shaking hand around the hilt and walked to Draak's room.

She placed one foot gently in front of the other as she made her way to the bed. She sat down slowly, feeling her weight shift the bed slightly. Stretching her arm across the bed, Hermione placed the candle closer to his face.

His hair laid wild against the pillow under him. The light of the flame bounced off each strand of the lightest blonde she had ever seen, and she remembered how soft it was when she ran her hands through it. She saw the curve of his lips, almost wanting to touch hers in response.

He looked… familiar. So, so familiar.

As she leaned closer, trying to figure out where she saw his face, wax from the candle holder overflowed.

The sudden burn on his chest caused Draco to shoot up from the bed with a shout. He covered the spot with his hand and looked around for the source. When he looked up, he saw Hermione's face. Her eyes were not on him but around him. Draco could feel his wings out as they brushed gently against the bed curtain.

He panicked for a moment, unsure of what to tell her. His voice only then caught in his throat as light bounced from an object in Hermione's hand.

She pulled her gaze from his wings and stared into his grey eyes. They were filled with too many emotions for her to read at once.

"Wh- Why do you have a dagger?"

"You-", she paused to swallow. "I know you."

"Hermione", was all he could get out. Draco closed his eyes tightly as he tried to erase the nightmare before him. But when he opened them again, she was still there.

Candle in one hand, dagger in the other.

"You're Draco, I've seen your statue in the temple." She took in a shaky breath. "All this time?"

"What are you doing with that, Hermione?" he asked, his eyes filling with tears.

She looked down to find herself still gripping the hilt of the dagger firmly. She dropped it as if it had burned her.

Her sisters had been wrong. Was Draak, no Draco, what he claimed to be? No. Did they have a lot to talk about? Yes. But he wasn't a monster as they had claimed. He wasn't a beast like the Oracle had prophesied.

He was a God.

"Do you have so much hate for me that you would kill me in our bed?"

"I can explain-", she tried to approach him.

"You promised", he whispered, tears finally falling from his eyes.

With great speed, Draco ran to the doors of the balcony. He threw them open before taking flight.

Hermione called after him, wanting him to return. But all she could do was watch as he got farther and farther away.