Chapter 20: I love you

I screamed out as pain shot through my body and the air was knocked out of me. I slumped to the floor and clutched my stomach as I felt the bile rise in my throat but it refused to come out. After a few moments of misery, the pain slowly died down and I fell to the floor, panting heavily, my eyes shut tight.

I heard a muffled voice which sounded like "Well done, Draco. It was actually strong enough to knock her out" before the sound of the door closing.

I continued to lie on the floor, too exhausted to even open my eyes.

Suddenly, I felt a pair of arms wrap around me. I opened my eyes the tiniest bit to find black silk. I could hear violent sobs above me as the arms pulled me close to a chest, fingers buried deep in my hair and my head buried deep into the chest, hiding my face.

"I'm s-so sorry, H-Hermione."

I didn't move an inch as Malfoy rocked me back and forth, crying out in agony and pain.

I was too shocked and confused.

"I never meant for you to get hurt! God, this is my entire fault!" He cried out, squeezing me to the point I almost couldn't breathe.

I felt his lips on the top of my head as he continued crying as hard as ever.

I had never seen Malfoy break down this much…

This was worse than when I found him crying in his room all that time ago, when he received the letter about his mother's death.

I was so tempted to push away, but I pretended to remain unconscious, wanting to see what more he had to say.

"It hurt so much to see you in pain the day Chad brought you in. It shattered me completely to see you…screaming out like that. It was like I could almost feel the physical pain you were going through. But what hurt more was when you looked at me. There was so much anger and betrayal in your eyes, I couldn't stand it at all, Hermione. And the worst part? Was when I had to raise my wand on you. Knowing that I was causing you those tears and screams, I literally crumbled inside."

Tears filled my eyes at the sincerity and honesty in his voice.

"But I can't blame anyone else but myself. I was so stupid, Hermione. I led you into this. I should have stayed away from you. I shouldn't have become close to you. I shouldn't have opened up to you. I should have kept my distance. But I didn't. I let myself be drawn to you. I let you into my life. I let my guard down with you. I…I fell in love with you, Hermione."

My heart literally stopped as he murmured the last line into my hair.

Did I hear right?

Did he actually say he fell in love with me?

No…

He must be lying…

But why would he lie?

He thinks I'm unconscious.

He thinks I can't hear him.

"I love you, Hermione. God I love you so much!" he whispered, still in sobs as he hugged me tightly to himself, kissing the top of my head.

He loves me.

He loves me.

He loves me.

That thought kept ringing in my mind.

Draco Malfoy loves me.

It was then that I felt this strange feeling in my heart and realization struck me like lightening. Before I knew it, I had opened my mouth.

"I love you too, Draco."

Draco's POV

"I love you, Hermione. God I love you so much!" I whispered into her hair as I held her tight to me.

Memories of her screaming and writhing in pain flooded and I cried harder.

Every cry and scream made a part of me die inside.

What was worse was that I couldn't even save her.

I wanted nothing more than to pull her into my arms and tell her again and again that I loved her, when she was conscious, but I couldn't or it would ruin the plan.

I continued crying out when I heard a soft, weak voice.

"I love you too, Draco."

My eyes widened and I looked down to see those warm chocolate eyes staring back at me.

"Hermione." I breathed as I pushed the hair out of her face and cupped her cheek. Even when she was pale and weak, she looked so beautiful.

But another thought hit me.

"H-How long have you…been awake?" I mumbled uncomfortably.

"Long enough." She whispered.

"Hermione…I…" I trailed off, not knowing what exactly to say.

I looked down for a minute before looking back her.

"Hermione. You need to know that I meant every word I said." I murmured, looking deep into her eyes, trying to pour out all the love I had for her in my gaze.

"I know. So did I." she whispered, touching my cheek lightly.

I grabbed her hand gently and kissed her palm, holding it to my cheek as I savored the warmth in her touch.

She loves me too.

Merlin, she loves me too.

"But that doesn't mean I'm not confused." She mumbled as she slowly got up, so that she was sitting on my lap as I sat against the wall on the floor.

"I know." I chuckled lightly, but she still stared at me with a straight face, silently demanding an answer. I sighed and gripped her hand tightly.

"First of all, I am so sorry for all that I did or said. I swear I never meant any of those horrible things. I love you, Hermione. So much." I whispered, running a thumb over her soft cheek.

"I love you too, Draco." She whispered, taking my hand and holding it tightly in her lap.

My heart fluttered as she spoke those beautiful words.

"But that doesn't make things any less confusing." She murmured, gazing at me deeply.

"Hermione, it's true that Chad and I had a bet, but that was only because I needed to show I was still loyal to the DeathEaters. Whatever I have said or done so far, was only because I needed to show them I was still trustworthy."

"But why? I thought you didn't want…"

"To be a DeathEater anymore. I still don't. I never wanted to in the first place. But when I heard of the Renatusis Spell, I was also told that I was the only one who could perform it as I was chosen to be…his…heir. So then I came up with a plan that would eliminate all the DeathEaters and their leader once and for all." I smirked as a glimmer of hope twinkled in her eyes.

"Which is?" she prodded, her hands on my shoulders as she shook them slightly.

"Which is…once all the DeathEaters have given their powers and lives into the cauldron we will use for the spell, I will destroy the cauldron, ridding him and the DeathEaters forever. But I can only do it once they have sacrificed themselves. Which means I have to pretend to be in support of the Spell until the perfect time to destroy the cauldron. That's why I need to keep up this act." I explained.

"That's a good plan. But what about yourself? And me?" she asked, her arms wrapping tighter around my shoulders.

"I don't have to give up my life, because I am the one who needs to perform the spell in the first place. And don't worry. They will sacrifice themselves before it's your turn. So by the time it comes to you, I would have destroyed the cauldron and we could be free." I smiled, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"So, when is the Renatusis Spell going to be performed?" she asked.

"Two days from now. Until then, we'll have to act like we still hate each other, just like how things were all this while." I choked out, despising the thought of still acting nasty towards Hermione when I loved her so much.

"It's alright, Draco." She cooed as she ran a hand through my hair, instantly calming me down.

"I can take it. If it means ridding us of all this evil forever, then it's alright. Besides, I know you won't mean any of it. You…won't mean any of it, right?" She hesitantly murmured the last line.

"Of course not!" I protested, my arms tightening around her waist. "Hermione I love you and I never want to intentionally hurt you or cause you grief. In fact, I'll try my best to make sure you won't go through any more pain for the next 2 days. I promise you, after all of this, we will be together, happy and safe." I whispered, placing my forehead to hers.

She smiled a bit but it disappeared as she mumbled worriedly.

"What about that potion I have been drinking all this while?"

My gaze dropped to the floor for a second as she continued looking at me expectantly. Finally, I looked up again.

"That potion is just a torture potion. It doesn't alter your blood. It simply causing you pain. They just said that to freak you out." I murmured my heart full of shame.

"Hey. It's not your fault." She whispered, cupping my cheek and lifting my face so that she could look me in the eyes.

"You're doing the right thing, Draco. And for that, I'm really proud of you. And I love you even more."

"I love you too, Hermione."

Before I could even think of anything, I felt her lips on mine. I didn't know if she leaned in first or me, but I didn't really care.

All that mattered was that she was here in my arms, with her warm, soft lips on mine. I kissed her softly, cradling her neck as I poured out all my love and sorry and passion.

Her lips moved gently against mine as she buried her hands in my hair, making me shiver in pleasure.

I had only kissed one other girl in my life, and that was Pansy. And it was only because she forced me to during the Yule Ball. And I absolutely hated it.

But this…

This was sweet and gentle and warm.

I could see fireworks as I deepened the kiss, and my head spun slightly from her vanilla scent i adored so much.

Finally, we pulled away and breathed heavily as we stared into each other's eyes.

"I love you, Hermione."

"I love you too, Draco."