Disclaimer: I'm not J.K Rowling; therefore, Harry Potter isn't mine…

Gurlz: Okay...so I decided to post this today...no big deal! Fine! I admit...it was guilt that pushed me...and just to ease the guilt guess what I did? I FINISHED THE NEXT CHAPTER ALREADY! Now all it needs is to be sent to my co-writer(Nzomniac) to modify a bit and add bits here and there!

Nzomniac: Hi everybody This is my first published fic. If you liked it -- yay! If you didn't --- Gurlz made me do it!

Gurlz: (stuffs cotton in her ears hastily) What's that you were saying?

A Part of My Life

January 28th 2005

Draco Malfoy

I quietly opened my hotel room door. I couldn't help but feel guilty. I had hurt her badly, perhaps beyond repair. As I entered, I heard a small 'pop' echo gently from inside my room. Almost like the sound of someone apparating away. I looked into the room.

-- empty.

I can't say how I knew, but I just did. I could feel Hermione's essence still lingering in that empty space.

"I guess she's gone," I mumbled to myself.

'How sure are you it was her?' my mind berated me

Oh, there's a letter…

The letter ripped opened in my haste.

Dearest Draco,

By the time you read this letter, I shall likely be leaving this country with no intention of ever coming back.

There's always a part of us that wants love, craves it even. But love isn't just something you can pick up off the road. I know whatever happens, there'll still be a part of you in me. My future awaits me. I cannot hold on to this time, I cannot hold on to the time we were happy. Because I know the hole in my heart can never be repaired. There are not always happy endings. No matter how desperately we desire them. For in the end, we are the imperfect beings that we always were. You will always be you, I will always be in fear of the same things happening again.

You did not feel what I felt that day. You don't know how it feels for the person you love more than anything in this world to turn their back on you. You'll never understand why I'm afraid. Because of you, I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt. Because of you, I am afraid.

I 'm sorry.

My love will always be with you,

Hermione

I reread the note several times, letting the words sink in as a coldness crept over me. Crumpling the letter in my hands, I threw it into the fire, watching it turn to ashes. And watched the love between us -- the heir of Malfoy House and the brightest flame of Gryffindor... my Hermione... turn into dust.

"Hermione!" I shouted as I shoved my way through the crowded, cavernous boarding area.

I must have broken a dozen Muggles laws speeding to the airport. I couldn't just let her go without pleading my case.

Hermione's head whipped around at the sound of my voice. Uh oh, she had that desperate get-me-out-of-here look in her eyes as she broke into a run. I stepped on someone's foot, elbowed more than a few and nearly trampled three kids as I chased after her -- but failed to catch up before she made it to the doorway of the exit. She was just too fast. A stitch in my side, panting heavily, I dropped to my knees.

"I LOVE YOU HERMIONE! I NEED YOU!" I shouted across half the room.

Hermione stopped in her tracks. She looked back. She dropped her bags and turned towards me.

Well, that got everyone's attention.

Every head between Hermione and me turned and stared. I damned my fair skin and its tendency to color whether I wanted it to or not. But what the hell. I had better things to worry about than curious Muggles and public declarations of love. Hermione was seconds away from walking out of my life for good and something told me that would be the biggest mistake of our lives.

"Last boarding call for Flight 3659 to London." blared over the airport address system. A few of the startled onlookers to our little drama scrambled to make it through the gate as the security personnel began to rope off the boarding ramp in preparation for take-off.

Still she stood there. Not making a move toward the ramp.

One step. Then another.

The next moment her hands were enveloped by my own, clinched tightly, with no intention of ever to letting go. Drawing her cautiously forward, I kissed her with all the love gathered within me all these years. She leaned in, completing the contact of lips.

I kissed her like there was no tomorrow.

"For Merlin's sake -- marry me, Hermione. I'm no damned good without you," I whispered against petal-soft lips.

"Draco, -"

"Here, take this," I pressed into Hermione's palm a ring.

The ring had been passed down by my mother, from her mother, and her mother's mother and so on.

"It's beautiful," Hermione said, the brightness of unshed tears in her eyes.

"It's even more beautiful when you wear it," that little truth slipped out.

"You know" Hermione's voice trembled, "you'll have to pay for making me miss my flight. That was a first class ticket." she snapped.

"Oh really?" I joked.

I stroked her brown hair as I inhaled gently. It smelled faintly of something fruity and sweet.

"You're worth everything," I whispered into Hermione's ear.

Hermione giggled. I took advantage of the distraction and slipped the golden circlet onto her left ring finger. Suddenly her expression changed. Her smiled faded.

"No, I can't," she said, shaking her head and placing the ring back in my hands.

"Hermione," I called weakly.

Without another word, Hermione was running away from me. Out of the exit door and down to the parking deck, lined with waiting taxis. My mind screamed for me to chase after her, but I stood there frozen in place. My chest tighened, my heart stilled for a beat, maybe two, before resuming a sluggish tempo. I endured the sympathetic glances of my unwitting audience with all the dignity befitting a Malfoy. Then mustered all my strength and made my way back to the hotel.

I have to talk to her! I need her! Idiot! I'm sorry Hermione…I should probably write to her; but what am I going to say? That I'm sorry? She already knows I'm sorry! That I love her? Didn't work the last time!

I sighed and rested my head on the pillow.

I should at least try to find her!

I grabbed my coat and made my way to her room. I'd checked the hotel when I returned and was relieved to find Hermione had checked in again. I wouldn't have to search the town for her afterall. On my way there, I rehearsed what I was going to say to her.

"Hermione, I'm so sorry. I really am. Forgive me for all I've done to you," I chanted in my head.

I didn't even notice I was already in front of her door. I rapped three times. The door opened and revealed Hermione in a very thin nightgown. I raised my eyebrows.

"Draco, what do you want?" she sighed and wrapped her cloak around her a bit closer.

"To talk," I answered simply.

"Well, Ron wanted to talk too last time but I ended up on the rooftop of Piazza Navona, didn't I?" she snapped.

"Weasley's a lunatic. I'm not," I retorted.

"Fine," she said and turned on her heel.

I entered her room and looked around. Her room wasn't quite what I expected it to be. It was a complete mess. Knowing her for so long, this was a shocking experience. I made an audible cough and kicked a coke can out of my way. Hermione noticed my hint.

"I didn't force you to come in," she snapped.

"Of course you didn't," came out sharply, shooting her a nasty glare.

I sat down on her chair without looking and regretted it almost immediately. I'd accidentally sat on a wine-bottle opener. I withdrew the object and passed it to Hermione.

"I think this is yours," I said, scowling at her.

"Thanks, I've been looking all over for it," she replied innocently.

"Now, don't want to makes thing worse, do we?" I said, encircling her arms and pulling her close to me.

She was so close to me, I could feel her breathing.

"What do you want from me?" she spat, trying to get loose.

"Your attention," I answered menacingly.

"Draco, you're hurting me!" she pleaded me.

"I'm sorry," I said, regretting instantly what I had done.

Hermione backed away from me.

"Get out of here! Don't touch me!" she shouted.

"Please, I'm just trying to help!" I tried to convince her.

"By hurting me?" she said, close to tears.

"Hermione, I'm really sorry," I said, trying to draw closer to her.

"I know you're sorry Draco, I knew it from the start. But I never said I'd forgive you," she snapped.

"Just let me be a part of your life! Let me enter your heart, let me see your world!" I cried.

"Well, this is my life! Take a good look at my world! This is what you wanted to see, didn't you?" she replied, bursting into tears.

I drew her back into my arms and hugged her lightly.

"I'm sure there's something in your life you still want," I soothed her.

"Leave me alone! I'm a Mudblood, remember? I'm just some nobody who would contaminate your pure bloodline!" she shouted, pushing me away.

I was left speechless. Not only had I hurt her but I had truly, deeply insulted her. All these years, I'd called her Mudblood without thinking how it feels to be called such a foul name.

"I don't need your sympathy! We both know the only reason you're here is because of guilt! If you could just open those big silver eyes of yours and see that I don't need you back in my life! You'll see things aren't so perfect. So if you would just leave me alone, I'd really appreciate it," she yelled furiously through the tears streaming down her face.

I could see she wasn't so much sad, as she was hurt, angry and frustrated.

"I'm not leaving without you!" I shot back, determined not to lose what might be my last chance.

"Don't you get what I said in the letter? It's easy for you to move on! Do you know how long it took me to get my life back together? And did you have the decency to even leave me alone after I'd started to get over you? Nope. You just waltz back into my life as though nothing had happened!" she continued to yell.

"I'm really sorry -"

"I didn't hear you saying sorry during 5th year! I've had enough of you!" she said as she picked a coke can up from the floor and threw it toward me.

My years of Quidditch paid off as I dodged her can. After a few cans, she decided to use magic as Muggle ways weren't doing enough damage. She was cursing and yelling at me. Her tears stopped but the spells didn't. I apparated back to my room and realized one of her spells had scored a hit on me. My wrist was bleeding black blood.

"Colin!" I called.

"What?" Colin muttered irritably as he apparated beside me.

"Sorry mate. Could you could just heal this?" I said showing Colin my wrist.

"Blimey, who did it?" Colin said though knowing the answer.

"I did it," I muttered sarcastically.

"Granger being pretty tough on you, huh?" Colin muttered.

"Excuse me, but 'tough' just isn't the appropriate word. Maybe 'violent' will work," I said grumpily.

"Watch it, this might hurt," Colin warned.

"How painful can it be-OUCH! Easy there Colin!" I yelled.

"Told you so," Colin said smiling broadly.

"Colin, the bleeding's stopped. Why are you still poking me with the needle?" I said, eyeing Colin dangerously.

"Oops," Colin said innocently, his words at war with the devilish look in his eyes.