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Chapter Three: 'Til I Die, XO

"So, you want to find Hermione, right?" asked Blaise as they walked along the street.

"Stupid question, mate. Did you really have to ask?" Draco replied looking at his feet.

"Well you need to start by getting her work address and sending her something simple, like a bunch of her favourite flower which, I assume, you still remember?"

"Of course I still remember," Draco stated, staring off into space, a glazed look coming over his eyes.

Flashback Begins

The room was full of frangipanis and deep red roses. It was their nine month anniversary and Draco was trying to do something special for Hermione. Tonight he was going to tell her about the significance of her ring.

"Draco, what on earth have you done?" cried Hermione as she walked into their common room, her face lighting up at the sight of so many of her favourite flowers, in one place.

"I did all this because I wanted to tell you the significance of the ring you're wearing, the sapphire one with the red ruby centre. Have you noticed anything strange about it?" Draco asked, while motioning for Hermione to join him on the couch.

"Yes, the uh, the ruby has been getting larger over the past few months," Hermione replied.

"That's because that ruby… well it basically represents my love for you. When the ring is completely red, it means that you occupy my every thought… that you are my entire life…"

"Draco… I promise, I'm going to love you until I die…" Hermione said smiling as she pushed Draco back onto the couch and kissed him.

Flashback Ends

"Blaise… you have to help me. You're connected with all he tops wizards. You HAVE to know where she is, Draco stated quietly.

"Well, to tell you the truth, I do."

With these words Draco's head shot up and he looked towards Blaise hopefully.

"She, uh, she just started work near me. I only saw her today, I was in complete shock," Blasie said quickly.

"Oh shit. Blaise, I-I have to go, I'll catch up with you later, mate."

And with that Draco disapparated back to his manor. He snapped his fingers and immediately a house elf appeared in the door way to his room.

"Shannara, please send a dozen red roses and a dozen frangipanis to Miss Hermione Granger. On the card write: 'Til I die XO. That is all"

The house elf vanished with a loud crack and Draco collapsed back onto his bed, thinking of all the things he did for her while they were going out. He could remember every memory as clearly as if they had happened yesterday. A single tear rolled down his cheek, leaving a light trail on his pale skin. He wiped it away as the memory of what she said that day came back to him, as well.

Flashback Begins

He had everything ready. The dinner, the music, the room and his one extra surprise. Nothing could ruin it.

Hermione walked through the portrait hole at that moment, so Draco was forced to stop thinking about it.

"Hey beautiful."

"Hi" Hermione replied, nonchalantly.

"What's wrong? Did you have a bad lesson? Did you want me to help you unwind?" Draco asked walking over to Hermione, ready to give her another of his massages and a warm embrace.

"My classes were fine and no I DON'T need YOU to help ME UNWIND!" Hermione said raising her voice a few decibels, whilst walking away from him.

"Hermione, there's something wrong. Tell me… please."

"NOTHING IS WRONG! I JUST NEED FOR YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE!" Hermione snapped.

"Do NOT lie to me Hermione. Something is wrong and I need you to tell me. Did Harry or Ron do something to you? Did they say something to hurt you? Please tell me, baby, I hate to see you like this," Draco pleaded.

"Draco ,who are we kidding? We don't belong together! A Slytherin and a Gryffindor? Its just not going to work anymore… I-I'm sorry," Hermione stammered, tears streaming down her face, "We aren't meant for each other. Go find some other girl that is better than me"

"There is no one better than you"

"Don't say that you're making this too hard"

"Making what too hard?"

"Breaking up with you. I shouldn't have let myself fall in love with you to begin with"

"The heart does what it thinks best. If it thought that it was best for you to fall in love with me then that's what is going to happen. You can't change it!"

"No it's not. I have to do this. It can't go on any longer"

"You can't do this unless you look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me anymore"

"I," she broke off and silently stifled a sob, "don't love you anymore"

"I know that you're lying. I also know that though we might not be together now, we will be together again. Whether it is tomorrow or in 10 years time, I know that it will happen, Hermione."

"No it won't, Draco. I don't love you anymore. Move on with your life because as of now, I'm not apart of it!"

With that Hermione ran out of the portrait hole, trying to stop the flow of tears that were threatening to fall.

Draco pulled a little velvet box out of his pocket and opened it. Sitting neatly inside was a small golden ring with a red ruby set in the centre. Engraved into the band was 'Til I die XO'. He snapped the box shut and threw it, as hard as he could, at the wall opposite him. He dropped to the floor and started to cry. Not caring if anyone heard him or walked in and saw him. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing left to care about because his one and only love had just walked away from him.

Flashback Ends

Draco walked over to his armoire and opened a draw. Inside was the box that he was had planned on giving her that night, with the ring still sitting neatly inside.

"I will give her this ring, if it's the last thing I ever do for her," Draco muttered to himself as he closed the draw. Walking over to, and collapsing, onto his bed, he was asleep before his head even reached the pillow.

5 days later…

"Have you got any information on her?" Draco asked Blaise as soon as he sat down. They had agreed to meet at the 'Three Broomsticks', to discuss 'Operation Mya' (A/N We've called it this because when it comes to this sort of thing, the typical guy has a thing for making it sound spyish and secretive. So we figure that we'll make Draco and Blaise sound like your typical guys… lol ).

"What sort of information were you after 'Detective Malfoy'?

"Things like where she lives, where she works, where she has been the past year, what she has been doing for the past year, if she is in a relationship… things like that. Merlin, haven't you ever watched a spy movie?"

"A spy whaaaa?"

"Movie… you know… they film a story that someone has written. Then people go to a cinema to watch it, or they wait until it comes out on DVD and watch it then."

"DVD? Cinema? What the fuck are you on about?" Blaise asked incredulously, wondering if Draco had drunk some bad coffee.

"Never mind. Back to 'Operation Mya'. What have you got for me?"

"This," Blaise replied as he handed a manila folder to draco, "It's a file that I complied from all the information I was able to get. Do you know how much it cost me??? $1,110,000 and extra hours for the next month. I also had to screw three chicks and ALMOST one guy!!! Do you know how traumatising it was for me?" Blaise cried, putting on a 'woe-is-me' act, 'you owe me BIG time!"

"I'm sure it was absolutely terrible. You only getting to screw three chicks… must have been a major blow to he ego! But, diddums will get over it!" Draco said as he opened the file. Inside was a photo of Hermione, a list of people that Blaise had spoken to, a description of her (Hair: Brown, Eyes: Brown, Birth Date: 10 September (A/N this is for Hannah, luvs ya), etc) and the information that he wanted.

"She is currently residing at 252 Winaveroe Drive, Godrics Hollow. She works for the Department of Mysteries as the Head of the Prophecies Department. She is currently in a relationship with Kristofor Lucas Barlow, Birth Date: 7 February (A/N This is for Simone, luvs ya), hair colour: black, eye colour: blue, current job: Manager of the 'Pure Magic' hotel. Hermione is sti- Heeeeeey that's my hotel!!! OH MY FUCKING GOD!!! I'm a genius… I have the perfect plan!!!" Draco declared.

"And what has Mr Brilliance decided this time?" asked Blaise, sarcasm dripping off his words.

"Well, it says here that he manages my hotel in Godrics Hollow."

"Yeah… so?!"

"So… I send you in here pretending to be a paying customer, a highly important paying customer. He starts acting all kiss arse-ish and you 'suddenly' decide to befriend him. Later on he invites you to meet his insanely gorgeous girlfriend, Hermione Granger. You then befriend Hermione and two weeks later you bring her to the hotel for a meeting of sorts. You say that you have decided that she would be a good attribute to your business and you want to make her your partner or something. When you get there you take her up to my personal quarters telling her that it's the penthouse, and I shall be waiting there. You leave her saying that you're going to get some champagne and I come out of the bathroom or something. I therefore get to find out why she left me and if she still loves me!"

"So, basically, I get to dress up and spend your money? I am seeing absolutely no issues with this plan. BUT, this does NOT mean that you won't owe me for getting the information. You still owe me big time!'

"Blaise if you do this I will owe you my life because she is my life and-"

"I know… you need her to feel complete again and yadda yadda yadda. I've heard the spiel a million times before," Blaise said in an exasperated voice.

"Will you help me Blaise old buddy, old pal, old friend of mine?"

"Yes, just don't call me old again unless I'm ninety, in a wheelchair and being looked after by SUPER HOT nurses!"