Pieces

Hermione was sent home the next day, the healers saying it was probably for the best. She just needed rest, they said.

Draco agreed whole-heartedly, wanting to be alone with Hermione. He needed to know for sure she was okay - he'd had to live two days without knowing so.

But Hermione didn't talk when she met him in the lobby. She didn't talk when they Apparated back to the apartment - she went into her room and shut the door, and Draco understood she wanted to be alone.

He leaned against the wall and rubbed a hand over his face. It killed him to stay away from her after all this time, not make sure she was safe, but he knew he should just keep a distance for a while.

But only for a while.

XXX

At nearly three in the morning, Draco was mindlessly scrolling through television channels, not even paying attention to what was on the screen. Spot lay next to him on the couch, his head resting against Draco's leg as he snored lightly.

He had to make sure she was safe. She had to be safe. . . . The question was - was she safer with or without him? He had to put aside his own personal feelings and look at it that way. It was the only way he could make sure she was -

Then, he heard a door open, and he sat up stock-straight, his eyes wide. The gentle padding of feet told him it was just Hermione, and soon she appeared in the hallway doorway. She stopped at the sight of him.

"Draco," she said in surprise, "What are you doing up?"

She looked better, he realized. She must've been sleeping.

He stood hastily and flattened his shirt. "Er, I was just watching some TV."

She walked toward him slowly, frowning. "Are you alright? You wore those clothes when you came and got me at St. Mungo's."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," he assured her breezily, "How are you?"

She half-smiled. "I'll be fine. Get some rest."

He didn't move. He watched her become uneasy at his gaze and he finally spoke, "Hermione, what happened?"

"You know what happened, Draco. The healers told you." she said in a slightly icy tone. She didn't want to talk about it.

"Listen, I didn't want you involved in the first place," he murmured, running a hand through his hair. "Maybe I should just - "

"Don't say leave, Draco." she pleaded quietly.

"You'd be safer without me." he protested.

"I'm obviously already involved!" she laughed bitterly.

"All the more reason for me to leave," he said, "It's not you they want. It's me."

His stomach tightened when he saw tears welling up in her eyes, and she bit her trembling lip.

"Why are you doing this?" she finally asked, looking back up at him.

"Because I love you," he blurted automatically, "And I have to keep you safe. Your life is unimaginably more significant than mine will ever be."

"Stop it," she snapped, wiping her wet cheeks angrily, "Don't use that bullshit on me. If you love me, you'll stay with me."

"I can't," he whispered, his voice breaking, "Hermione, I can't."

She looked down as more tears fell and he forced his will not to crumble. It was for the best. Right?

"Fine," she exclaimed, looking back up at him. "Go, then."

"Hermione, please - "

"Just go, Draco!"

They held each others gazes for a moment before she sighed, going over to the couch. Spot stirred awake and looked up at them before he slid over to put his head in Hermione's lap. God, Draco was going to miss them. And to think he was leaving by choice.

He sighed and walked down the hallway to his room, to pack his things.

XXX

Hermione stood with her arms crossed, looking out the window of the living room, a hand lightly covering her mouth. She let the tears fall now, but she didn't make a sound. She should've seen it coming. No matter how much he denied it, Draco had a noble soul. Maybe she wasn't taking it as bad because she had put a barrier from the start. Or maybe it was because she'd been expecting something else to go wrong along with her hospitalization disaster.

But, of course, it still hurt. It hurt like hell. But she'd picked up the pieces once before, hadn't she? She could do it again. She had to do it again.

She heard his footsteps coming from the hallway and he soon appeared in the living room, a suitcase in hand. They faced each other for a moment, before Hermione finally decided to speak.

"I love you, too." she whispered.

He swallowed and looked down, locking his jaw. "I'm sorry, Hermione," she said, looking back up at her. "I'm doing this for you."

"I recovered after Ron," she said quietly, "I can do it again."

He paused, gazing at her. "After this is over . . . I'll be waiting," he said, shrugging lightly. "I'll always love you."

She shook her head quickly. "No, Draco, I think we should just - just keep as friends."

He locked his jaw again and shook his head slightly. "No, don't do that," he said quietly, "I want to be more than that."

She bit her lip and looked away. "I'm sorry."

She didn't look back up until he left.

The next night, Hermione sat in the bubbly bathtub with scented candles lit everywhere, Spot laying on the rug to keep her company. She stared blanky at her feet that were peeking up above the bubbles, her mind on other things. Well, on Draco. She swallowed and looked to Spot, unable to keep up the silence anymore.

"What do you think, Spot?" she asked, and he raised his head questioningly, cocking it to the side. "Do you think I did the right thing? Telling him we should just be friends?"

He whined and scooted closer to the tub, and she brought her hand out to pet him.

"Come on, Spot, you're going to make me cry again." she chuckled breathily.

She stared ahead again, realizing that it was just her and Spot now. Draco was off somewhere else, trying to avoid trouble. Probably at the Ministry urging the Aurors to get on the case, because he was convinced they weren't working hard enough. Of course, he was probably drowning in the case now, too. He only wanted what was best for her.

And look at her, moping in a sudsy bathtub while she pouted about her love life - while there was a secret war raging out in the streets.

She really was losing her Gryffindor spirit.

There was a knock at the front door. Spot's head shot up, and he bounded to the bathroom door, barking to get out. Hermione sighed and got out of the tub, quickly slipping a robe on. She dried out her hair as she padded out of the bathroom and to the front door.

She hesitated momentarily before she opened it. She sighed in relief when she saw Damon there, his hands in his pockets. He looked warm and familiar, with his jeans and button-down. She really did need company.

"Damon," she sighed, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm so sorry I didn't visit you in the hospital, I was out on business for the Ministry," he apologized quickly, "I just heard you got released last night, so I just wanted to check in."

"Sure, yeah, come in." she allowed, stepping aside.

He stepped in, giving her a small smile on the way into the living room.

"So, how are you feeling?" he asked as they sat on the couch.

"Erm, alright, I guess." she replied, shrugging.

"That doesn't sound promising," he joked lightly, then frowned, looking around. "Where's Draco?"

Her throat constricted. "He, er, he left. It's long story."

"I'm all ears." he said, giving her a small, encouraging smile.

She turned to him and studied his face. Could she trust Damon with this? He'd always been sweet, and for Merlin's sake, he worked in the Department of Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures.

So she told him about their Death Eater issues, and about her being attacked, and about Draco leaving. During her explanation, she'd become understandably distressed and she ended up with his arm around her, and her head in his shoulder. She didn't think there was anything romantic about it, but she wasn't so sure what he thought. His fingers lightly brushed her arm and she bit her lip, trying not to imagine him as Draco. That wouldn't lead to anything good.

"I'm so sorry." he murmured.

Hermione lifted her head and looked at him. His warm brown eyes looked at her sympathetically, and something else about him just radiated empathy, like he understood. He understood.

And so, call her crazy or stupid or whatever else - she kissed him.