A/N: So...this is kind of the last chapter. After this, there will be an epilogue. ;)

Chapter 26: In the Name of Love

Draco's POV

Time seemed to come to a standstill as I watched Hermione fall to the floor and twitch in pain.

"HERMIONE!"

Several people shouted out to her but my voice was the loudest. In a heartbeat, I dropped to my knees and lifted her shoulders, cradling her to my chest.

"Hermione? Hermione, can you hear me?" I choked out.

Her skin was extremely cold and her breathing was ragged. She was sweating profusely and her usual plump lips started cracking from dryness.

"It's hopeless Draco."

I glared up at the monster as he laughed at Hermione's still form.

"She's dying. Not a fast, painless one. But slowly, achingly slowly, she's dying." Chad chuckled.

Tears glazed over my eyes as I seethed at the ass and held Hermione tighter to me.

No.

No, she couldn't die.

She can't!

We were supposed to be together!

No!

"You know, I can let you be with her. You two can be together. Spend your dead lives together!" Chad chuckled as he raised his wand.

"AVADA KADAVRA!"

I shut my eyes as I waited for the hex to hit me but after a few seconds, nothing happened.

I blinked up only to find Chad lying on the floor before me, unmoving and eyes unblinking.

Confused, I turned behind to find Potter standing there, his wand slightly raised as he panted and stared at Chad's dead body.

Wow.

Potter saved my life.

This is the second time Potter saved my life.

Maybe he's not that bad after all.

Immediately, everyone rushed to Hermione as she was cold out by now.

"We need to get her to St. Mungo's as soon as possible." Professor McGonagall softly spoke.

I could hear some sniffs and sobs coming from the Weaseley's and Potter just stared at Hermione's face with unshed tears, shaking slightly.

"Everybody move back. Let Draco apparate her there. We'll join you at the Hospital." Professor Lupin said.

I nodded at him as everyone stepped back and in a flash, apparated Hermione to the Hospital.

"Oh dear. What's happened to her?" One of the Healers approached me as I lifted Hermione and walked towards one of the wards.

"She was hit by some curse. I…I don't know what is it, but it's pretty bad." I stuttered as they let me lay her down on one of the beds.

"Can you remember the curse?" The Healer asked as a few others entered the ward and attended to Hermione.

"I…I don't…I can't remember." I cried.

My mind was a mess and all I could see and think of was Hermione's pale, limp body. Her face was so white and whatever color that was left in her kept draining.

"Alright. Mr Malfoy, if you would please wait outside, we will see to her." The Healer calmly spoke as she guided me out of the ward.

"Will she be alright?" I murmured as I looked over the Healer's shoulder to see Hermione, motionless and broken.

"We'll need to see. Please wait here." The Healer said before walking back into the ward and closing the door.

I plopped down on one of the couches and ran a hand through my hair, letting the tears fall freely.

I couldn't lose Hermione.

After all of this, I couldn't lose her.

I loved her.

I wanted to be with her.

I wanted to marry her after we graduate.

Please…please don't let me lose her.

I sat there for a while, my hands buried in my face as I remembered her sweet smile and most pure laugh.

She didn't deserve to go through this.

She didn't deserve to just die like this.

She's already been through so much.

I heard some pop's followed by footsteps and I looked up to see Professor McGonagall, Potter and Professor Lupin approach me.

"Where is she? Where's Hermione?" Potter asked frantically.

"Inside there. They're attending to her." I mumbled, motioning to the ward.

"Draco. Are you alright?" Professor Lupin whispered as he placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Am I alright? The only girl I have ever loved is dying. I will only be alright when Hermione is alright." I snarled back, shrugging off his hand.

I didn't mean to come off as rude, but I really was not in the mood for these types of sympathetic and pitiful exchanges.

I sat back in the couch and felt the seat dip beside me to see Potter running his hand over his face, looking as frustrated and anxious as ever.

"Thanks." I whispered, staring at the ground instead of looking at him.

He didn't respond but merely nodded curtly.

"You really love Hermione, don't you?" I heard him murmur to me after some time.

I nodded and sighed.

"More than life itself."

There was a lapse before I felt him place a hand on my shoulder and I immediately stiffened.

"If…when she gets out of this, take care of her, alright?"

I was shocked completely as I stared at Potter in utter confusion. Noticing my look, he chuckled uncomfortably.

"She seems to really love you as well. And if you two are going to be together, then I think she would want her boyfriend and best friend to at least be on civil terms."

He stuck out his hand for me to shake and after a moment, I placed my hand in his and shook it firmly, nodding once with a small smile.

Ya, Potter was not that bad…

But there is no way he is hearing that from me.

I heard the door open and the Healer from earlier stepped out. I jumped up and looked at her expectantly.

Oh god, please tell me she's okay.

"Well, we were able to find out what the curse was. Venenatus Cruore, right?"

I nodded.

Yes, that was it. That was the hex that asshole threw at my Hermione.

"It's a very rare curse, in fact no one has used it to date. It's a blood poisoning curse. It sends a deadly poison through her body, killing her slowly." The Healer spoke softly and apologetically.

I felt my world shatter and my heart clenched painfully.

I couldn't speak.

I couldn't move.

I couldn't even blink.

There was a second of heavy, unbearable, painful silence before Potter spoke up.

"Is there any way to save her? A charm? A potion? A counter-curse?"

He sounded so desperate and broken, but I knew I was feeling hundred times the pain he was feeling at the moment.

"Well, there is one way…"

My head snapped up and the world seemed brighter for a moment as I looked at her hopefully.

"There is a potion. It will eradicate the poison from her blood system."

I gave a watery smile as I heard those words.

"Use that then." I exclaimed.

"There is one problem. The potion…doesn't only eradicate the poison. It eradicates her magical abilities as well. It is the only way to remove the poison since the poison only targets the magic in her blood. It is inevitable that though she will be saved, she will no longer have Wizarding powers. She will be a mere Muggle."

It took me a second to process her words before I responded.

"Do it."

The Healer looked intently at me for a while before nodding and heading back into the ward.

I sat back down again and heaved a sigh of relief.

At least Hermione won't die now.

"Mr Malfoy…you do realize if she drinks it, she'll become a Muggle. That means she won't be able to stay in the Wizarding World." Professor McGonagall spoke as she stood in front of me.

Before I could reply, the Healer stepped out of the room again.

"We've fed her the potion and it will take a few minutes to work."

I nodded and the Healer walked back into the ward to just run some tests on Hermione again.

"Malfoy…once she becomes a Muggle…you'd…still be willing to be with her?" Potter asked with a quirked eyebrow.

I stared at him as if he had grown two heads.

"Are you insane? Of course! Didn't we just establish that I love Hermione?" I snapped.

How could he even think that I would ever leave Hermione?

"Relax. It's just…unexpected. You're Draco Malfoy. You used to hate Muggles to the core." Potter mumbled.

"Ya, well I've changed. I would never leave Hermione." I firmly spoke, staring him right in the eye.

He nodded understandingly and looked away.

"You can see her now, Mr Malfoy." The Healer said as she stepped out of the room.

I darted inside and felt my heart flutter as my eyes landed on her.

She was sitting upright, her hair rather messy and frizzy but still beautiful as ever as they splayed around her shoulders. The color had returned to her face and she wore a small smile on her face as she looked at me.

"Oh Hermione!" I breathed as I sat beside her and pulled her into my chest, wrapping my arms tight around her in a big hug.

"I thought I lost you." I murmured into her hair, kissing her head softly.

I felt her gently place her arms around my waist as she nuzzled more into my chest.

"How you feeling?" I whispered as I pulled away and pushed back some of her wild hair.

"Better."

Her voice was so hoarse it nearly broke my heart but I was still ecstatic that she was alive.

I noticed her look down at her lap nervously as she wrung her hands together.

"What's wrong?" I mumbled as I cupped her chin and pulled her face up so that I could look into those gorgeous chocolate eyes.

"I…I'm a Muggle now." She whispered shamefully.

"So?" I prompted.

"So we can't be together anymore."

I let out a breath and wrapped my arms tight around her again.

"If you think I'm going to leave you because you're a Muggle now, you're dead wrong Hermione Granger." I chuckled.

Silly girl with her silly worries.

"It's not just that." She huffed as she pulled away.

"Draco…I can't live in the Wizarding World now that I don't have my magic.. I'm going to have to move back into my old home in London, in the Muggle World and start life afresh there. I'll have to leave my life behind here. I'll have to leave you." She whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek.

I brushed away her tear and placed a small kiss on her forehead.

"Do you love me, Hermione?"

"Of course. Draco, I…"

"Do you want to be with me?"

"Yes, but…"

"Then there's nothing to worry about."

"What? Draco, I'm a Muggle now. I'm going to be living in the Muggle World. You're a pureblood Wizard. How can this work out?" She sighed in frustration.

"Simple. I'll be with you in the Muggle World. I'll give up my wizard life here and be with you." I replied, looking right into her brown orbs.

She looked flabbergasted and took a second to speak again.

"You…you'd do that…for me?" She whispered, tears brimming her eyes.

"Hermione, I'd die for you." I replied, cupping her cheek tenderly.

It's true.

I would.

"Oh Draco!" She exclaimed and flung her arms around my neck. I chuckled and held her close to me, breathing in her amazing vanilla scent.

"You do know it won't be easy. Adjusting to Muggle life and all." She murmured into my neck.

"Nothing I can't handle." I shrugged.

"No magic. No apparating. No House-Elves. Muggle transport. Muggle clothes..."

"I get the picture Hermione. And I don't mind. I can learn slwoly. You can teach me." I chuckled as I buried my nose in the crook of her neck.

"You'd really give up your life as a wizard? Let go of your magical responsibilities and ties? Stop being a Wizard?" She whispered, a bit of uncertainty in her voice.

"If it means being with you for the rest of my life, then absolutely." I grinned, kissing her shoulder softly.

"Oh gosh I love you so much, Draco."

"And I love you more, Hermione."

A/N: EPILOGUE AFTER THIS!