April 16th

Knowing that they only had one more day together before Augustus returned to France, Hermione was determined not to waste a single moment of it engaged in further arguments about their future together. There was simply no point. Her decision had already been made. No matter how pretty he made his plans sound, she knew well enough that they would never come into fruition. In her personal opinion, it was better to spend a lifetime wondering about the "what-ifs" than it was to discover a disappointing, hard truth.

She was glad that their row in the kitchen didn't put her in a foul mood. Usually when they had a disagreement, she would stew in her anger for hours, if not days. Apparently all she needed was a kiss and a hot cup of tea to move forward. It would have been a true shame to spend their last few hours together in a petulant snit. Instead of dwelling on what could not be, they wrung all of the joy they could from their limited time together. Perhaps Augustus was finally understanding that this would truly be the end as well. A solemnity altered his usually carefree personality.

Hours after the sun had gone down, they both lay in their shared bed catching their breath. The time had to be getting on to two or three in the morning. Neither one of them wanted to go to sleep too early out of fear that they would waste the last bit of time they had. She wasn't sure where she was going to go next, but she knew that wherever it was, it couldn't be with him.

"I'm only going to ask one more time."

"Oh, Augie, please don't."

The wizard turned on his side to stare into her face. Only moonlight shining through the open window illuminated the room. She could just barely see the desperation in his face that she loathed. Didn't he understand that he was showing her a weakness that she could exploit? And she would if she didn't still love him so much. The world was too cruel of a place to not take every advantage when it was presented. He needed to learn to be more careful. Living in France so far away from the ugliness of their society was making him weak.

"Just one more time, love, and I promise I'll never ask you again for as long as I live."

She wanted to tell him 'no' again, but stopped herself. Augustus was a persistent man. One way or another he would be heard. Instead of encouraging him to continue, she sighed and said nothing.

"Are you absolutely certain that there is nothing I can do or say that will persuade you to come with me?"

For being such an intelligent man with a number of life experiences under his belt that few could boast of, he could be charmingly naïve and innocent. She longed for nothing more than to just kiss his expectant face and promise that whatever he desired, she would make a reality. How was it possible that he could just ignore all of the practical issues with even considering running away together? Maybe if Lord Voldemort was indeed dead they could take advantage of the chaos left behind to slip out undetected. It was true that Antonin was in danger of being assassinated almost immediately upon being named the new Dark Lord. To ensure his position, he would have to strike hard and fast at his enemies and even his potential enemies. In the midst of the bloodbath that ensued, he wouldn't have time to even think about his wayward wife. If he died, no one would come look for them. But, if he lived, once everything settled down, he would resume his search with the full might of the regime at his disposal. The ends of the Earth wouldn't be safe enough to hide.

Of course, that all depended on whether or not the rumors about the Dark Lord dying were even true. Hermione wasn't convinced. She wouldn't be until she could look upon her master's face to see for herself. There had been many times in the past when he was rumored to be dead. Even forgetting the years between the night he attacked the Potters until he was able regenerate a body in the cemetery in Little Hangleton, he was known for disappearing at times for his own personal reasons. If he hadn't been seen by anyone but the house-elves, it could possibly mean that he was out of the country and didn't want anyone to know. No one knew all of his secrets.

She knew she had to break Augustus' heart for the second time. It wasn't going to be easy for either of them, but she didn't know of any other way. Pretending that a future existed between them was foolish. No scenario existed where that would end in complete happiness. She would rather hold on to the memories she cherished of him than to have them forgotten and replaced with less special ones.

Reaching across the small space between their two bodies, she placed the palm of her hand on his stubbled cheek. His eyes closed at the touch. As his shoulders sagged, Hermione knew that she didn't have to say the words. It was already done. Whatever existed between them in those too-few days in his seaside home was over. She was afraid that she had been too cruel to the man. It would've been easier for both of them if she'd never apparated to Cornwall in the first place. She would take full responsibility for the false hope she planted in his heart.

Her lips didn't utter a single word. Simply brushed against his in response to the question he uttered. At first, he remained frozen, unwilling to give in to the offered affection. Perhaps he believed that if he didn't give in, the moment wouldn't end. She couldn't be certain what it was he thought. There was a time when she desired nothing more than to learn all of the intricacies of the man's brain. Now, she thought it best for both of them that they avoid each other for as long as humanly possible. They were no good for each other. She might love him until the end of time, but that didn't mean they were ever going to make it. Relationships were much more complicated than the silly romance novels and movies would have one believe.

When she pressed her lips harder against his, insistent that he not ignore her presence, Augustus finally gave in. His mouth opened just enough to allow him to move his tongue gently over hers. Emboldened by the assurance that he didn't hate her because of her choice, Hermione lost herself in his kiss. One more time that night they gave in to their primal urges. Each sought to memorize every touch, every kiss. It would be the last. She knew that no matter what the future brought, she couldn't allow herself to hurt this man again. Augustus deserved more than her devastating presence in his life. All she brought with her was pain and destruction. Not for the first time, she wished he'd never stationed himself outside of her broom cupboard. Her existence might have been easier to bear if she had never known love.

They fell asleep wrapped in each other's arms. Far from being a restful night, she woke up many times throughout the remaining hours of darkness to stare upon the wizard's sleeping face. She wanted more for him than she was able to offer. When the sun began to rise in the morning sky and he carefully slipped out of the sheets, she felt the urge to cry for the first time in longer than she could remember. The loss of his touch affected her more than she realized. As she lay in the empty bed listening to the sound of the water running in the shower next door, she utilized every last ounce of self-control she possessed to not run into the bathroom and beg him to take her with him.

"I'll only be gone a few days. Whatever it takes, I'll figure out a way to get back here. Will you promise me that you will stay here until I get back?"

She refused to promise him at the front door moments before he left. Only said that she would do what she could to try to stay a little bit longer. Without him in the house, Hermione didn't have the heart to linger long. If she was still there when he got back, it would be all that much harder for the break that needed to happen between them to happen. She kissed him once more.

Relief tinged with sadness filled her very soul when the front door closed behind him. A part of her life that she would cherish forever was finally over. It was only a matter of time before she would have to make the same exit. She couldn't bear to stay there alone.