A/N: Gosh! I'm so so so sorry! I didn't realise it was that long since I've updated! I hope this chapter is enough for an apology. Well, you see, I was having my mid-year exams and I took a break from writing after that. I just sent Chapter 23 to my beta and I promise as soon as she send them back to me, I'll post it! School's out for two weeks and I'll try to catch up on my writing!

Playing What She's Playing

3rd March 2006

Draco Malfoy

I woke up in the wee hours of the morning. I glanced over to my right and there was my angel, sleeping soundly. Merlin she looks breathtaking when she's asleep. The peaceful feature in her face is so comforting. Unable to suppress a smile, I sat upright and stretched my arms, yawning. I walked over to the desk provided by the hotel. I saw a small black book. Curious, I opened the first page. It read:

Diary of Hermione Granger

Private & Confidential

I know it's bad to read other people's diary but still, I couldn't control my hands as they reached the book. I flipped open a page at random. There was a sketch of a girl and a boy. Their hands were entwined yet the boy was looking away from the girl and the girl was crying. Above their hands were written "We wanted to be together, and now we can't". At that moment, I saw how much Hermione must've suffered because of me. All this while, I knew that I had hurt her before, but I never thought it was that bad. Although she had forgiven me the guilt still remains with me. I closed the book with a sigh. I would never hurt her again, nor would I let anyone to do so. Hermione had had enough in the past and she didn't deserve being hurt again. I will always protect her from any harm. Then a scroll of parchment caught me eyes and my heart fell again. I picked it up and re-read the letter Hazel had sent a few days ago.

Draco,

Wherever you are, I need you to come home. Mom's been really sick and she wants to see you married before she – well you know what I mean. Draco this is not a joke, I need you to come home, with or without a girl as I've arranged you with someone. I'm sorry, I know mom promised you one year but circumstances doesn't allow. I'm sorry…

Hazel

I sighed and threw it into the fireplace nearby. I didn't want to go home but… I just don't know what to do. Maybe Hazel's just joking around to get me married but maybe she's not kidding. I felt Hermione stirred behind me and I turned around. She was already up and was getting out of bed. I smiled at her and gave her a small but loving kiss on her lips.

"You know, I was just thinking of going home. You know, with what's going on, I suddenly don't feel like vacationing anymore," Hermione said.

"Yeah, I need to go home too. Hazel sent me a message to go home," I replied.

"Gosh, why didn't you tell me?" Hermione asked, slightly concerned.

"It's no big deal. So how're we going to tell your parent we're going?" I asked.

"I was going to ask you that," Hermione replied sheepishly.

"Just tell them you feel really sick and there's no point staying here," I suggested.

"That's an idea. We'll tell them later," Hermione said as she seductively pulled me to the toilet with her.

"Really?" Mrs. Granger asked in disappointment.

"I don't feel really good," Hermione lied and pretended to cough.

"We really don't see the use of us staying if we're just going to stay at the hotel," I added, stroking Hermione's hair and smirking at Derek.

"But you'll miss one week of vacation," Kelly said.

"It's alright. We can do it sometime later," Hermione promised Kelly.

"We had fun though," I said, stating the obvious.

"Oh well…" Mrs. Granger said and Hermione looked at me, smiling.

Hermione and I packed our bags later that morning. We checked out at noon. By then, everyone had gone to the slopes again. Only Mr and Mrs Granger remained behind.

"Mom, we're just going to apparate away alright? It saves time," Hermione told her mother as she hugged her.

I shook Mr Granger's hands and look at Hermione questioningly.

"To the Ministry of Magic then," Hermione told as we apparated away from our hotel room.

We appeared instantly at the Ministry of Magic. Hermione took my hands as we walked out of the building. It is a custom for those who leave the country through apparation must check through the Ministry first. There's a certain area in the Ministry which is only for international apparation. Other places won't allow one to leave the country.

"Where to, Miss?" I asked.

"I dunno… maybe we can have dinner at the Weasleys? Then they can tell us everything that's happened," Hermione said.

"No, I need you to come to the Malfoy Manor for dinner," I told her.

"Well, then we'll just go to the Weasleys now," Hermione said, shrugging the matter off.

"Okay," I agreed. "As long as we make it back to the Manor by seven."

I didn't know where the Weasleys live so Hermione took me there through Side-Along Apparation. I was faced by a house – can you even call that a house? I know the Weasleys' Home was always bad but I never expected it to be this bad. Lucius always described it as "A place unworthy of living!"

"Draco, I know this isn't the best place in the world, considering where you grew up, but I –"

"I'll behave," I promised her.

"Hermione!" I heard a voice cry behind me.

Ginny Weasley was running towards her. And boy did she look like a wreck. Her hair was untidy, tears seemed to be unable to stop pouring from her eyes and by the looks of it, she had been like this for days!

"Oh Hermione!" Ginny cried as she flung herself on Hermione's shoulders.

Ginny began weeping and she didn't stop when they got inside the house.

"Hermione!" came Potter's voice.

"Harry," Hermione said, the eagerness in her voice unable to hide.

"Sit and I'll tell you everything. And you too Malfoy," he said to me.

At the mention of my names, I could feel heads turning towards my direction. Everyone looked at me as if they were ready to kill.

"Malfoy," Fred growled.

"He's here with me," Hermione said and just like that, everything was settled; although Fred and George kept throwing me nasty looks. Potter inhaled and exhaled sharply as if breaking the news was the hardest thing to do and considering where he stood, it was the hardest thing to do.

"Ron and Charlie, they – they're dead," Potter said in a final tone.

And it was there and then did Hermione break down. She remained strong before this but the walls she had built seemed to be torn down as she leaned on my shoulder and sobbed.

"And did you happen to – um – heard of Colin?" I dared to ask.

"He's at St. Mungo's; with his wife. He seemed to be attacked by Voldemort during his last seconds of life. Colin hasn't waked up since," Potter said mournfully.

Tears started to form in my eyes and I remained silent. So did everyone, with the exception of Ginny and Hermione, who seemed to express their grief through wailing and crying loudly. The friendly atmosphere at the Weasleys' Home Hermione had once described to me was definitely gone.

I rang the doorbell twice. About five seconds later, I could hear stirring behind the door and the door opened to reveal a gorgeous Hermione. Wearing an emerald halter top gown, she greeted Draco into her apartment. Draco caught her silently sniffing. She must've been crying when he had left her to see Colin just now.

"Hey, how's Colin doing?" Hermione asked.

I sighed and told her what had happened.

Flashback

"This is all your fault!" Draco shouted.

"Oh, now it's my fault?" Chris shot back with the same tone as Draco.

"If you would've stopped him from going, this wouldn't have to happen!"

"Did it occur to you for one second that this is what Colin would've chosen? He would've wanted to play his part in a combat!" Chris said loudly.

"Meaning that he would've chosen death?"

"In a combat, yes!"

"I'm his best friend! What makes you think I don't know what he wants?" Draco shouted.

"I'm his wife! And you're my best friend! Did you not think that I cared? Did it cross your mind that this is hurting me as much as it is to you?" Chris said in the verge of tears.

"But it seemed to me as if you were grateful he's in this situation!" Draco said stubbornly.

"Merlin, stop it! You're both not gods! You cannot stop what's going to happen!" Harry, who had been there all along, shouted and hoping the both of them come to sense.

"I've got to get going," Draco said as he stroked Colin's forehead. "You know Chris, the real heroes never come back."

"I do know," Chris said, bursting into tears finally and hugging Draco with all her might.

End of Flashback

"I'm really sorry, I know how much Colin means to you," Hermione whispered.

"Don't worry about it. The worst is over now," I said as I stood up.

Hermione grabbed my arm and we apparated to the Malfoy Manor. I stepped into the Manor's living room. Narcissa and Hazel were already seated with a blonde lady. Darn! I cursed in my thoughts. The blonde lady turned to look at me and the look in her eyes wasn't pleasing at all.

"Draco!" Hazel cried, looking flabbergasted that I brought a woman along with me.

"Hermione, this is Hazel my sister," I introduced with what interest I had left in me.

"Hello," Hazel greeted with the air of dignity around her.

Although Hazel was making and effort to befriend with Hermione, she wouldn't shake hands with her.

"Draco, this is Lynette, my old friend from Beauxbatons," Hazel said stiffly.

"Hello," I said, using the same tone Hazel used on Hermione.

I merely glanced at her and walk away without a word. I was being rude, I know, and I'm going to play the game Hazel's playing. Hazel shot me a glare and I narrowed my eyes.

"It's on," I mouthed to Hazel, smirking.

"Wasn't that a great night?" I asked Hermione.

The dinner was finally over. I was walking Hermione home, well, after we apparated from the Manor that is. She liked walking in the cold night.

"Getting stared at all night, you call that fun?" Hermione said sarcastically.

"You've got to admit the look in Hazel's face, torn between whining to mom and ruining my night, is totally hilarious!" I said grinning.

"You're not the one they're staring at. What do you know? You're a pureblood," Hermione sighed.

"Hey," I comforted, hugging her from behind and placing my chin on her shoulder. "Pureblood or not, I still love you. And I want to marry you," I whispered into the silent night.

I heard her sniffing and my heart instantly dropped.

"I know you do, it's just; I don't want you to leave your family for me. If I'm marrying you, I want to know your family too, I want their blessings," Hermione said softly.

"They'll come around somehow," I assured her. "In the meanwhile, would you care to take care of this for me?" I said, pulling a diamond ring out.

Hermione turned around and gasp. I held her hands and dropped to my knees.

"Hermione, I really love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can't live yet another day if you're not living it with me… Marry me," I proposed.

Tears finally spilled her cheeks as I anxiously waited for an answer.

"I – I –"

A/N: Where's the rest? Well, in the next chapter of course. Leave me a nice review and I'll probably be more motivated to update faster!