[Draco]

Draco lay on the bed staring up at the ceiling. He had literally no sleep once again and his head was killing him. He turned his heavy head to look around at the clock on the bed side table. It was half past five in the morning. Flopping his head back against the pillowed, he sighed deeply and dragged his body out of bed and down the hall to the bathroom.

He closed the door quietly behind him and turned on the shower. After he had finished washing, Draco felt a burning sensation in his forearm. He looked at the Dark Mark, it was swollen as it if was brand new. Draco curled his hand in to a fist as he burning got worse. He took deep breaths and got out, wrapping a few towels around him and went back to the room. The sun was beginning to rise bleakly above the buildings outside the window and the morning fog made the city look empty.

He pulled on a pair of black trousers and socks before rooting in his bag for a while shirt and tie. He shrugged the shirt on to his shoulders and went to Hermione's room. Draco knocked but Hermione didn't respond. He opened the door a bit to see she was still sound asleep.

He crept over silently and glanced down. She was lying on her back with her arms resting either side of her, lips slightly parted. Draco reached to wake her when he saw the black stone resting on her chest. He carefully reached over and touched it slightly. Even though he could feel the heat radiating from Hermione, the stone was freezing to his skin and he pulled his hand away with a confused expression on his face, still trying to figure out where he had seen it before. Where...

He searched his mind desperately, staring hard at the stone. Hermione began to stir so Draco reached out and shook her slightly as if he had been doing so for a while.

"What's wrong?" She muttered rubbing her eyes. Draco stared in to her deep, chocolate eyes for a moment before shaking himself slightly and standing up. Hermione sat up and looked at Draco.

"...Do you want some breakfast?" He asked. For a moment he didn't know what to say. There was something about Hermione sitting there with her bed hair and baddy top. Even though she was a mess, she was still beautiful. Draco saw Hermione nod but he wasn't really paying attention to what she was saying. He swallowed when Hermione had finished and walked out, his hands balled in to fists slightly.

He walked to the kitchen and stood, leaning on the cold table top. He didn't understand what was happening. She made him feel so different. It wasn't a different that made him feel uneasy, as a matter of fact, it was the best feeling he ever had, he just didn't know what. Draco sighed and turned around to begin making breakfast when he realised, he had no idea what he was supposed to do. Everything was 'electrical'. He sighed and smiled to himself slightly, ah muggles.

He turned his head around as he heard Hermione come through in to the kitchen. She was wearing a white blouse and a black skirt with tights. Her hair was in the lose ringlets that Draco liked a lot and she had a slight frown on her face.

"What's wrong?" She asked, noticing Draco was just standing there.

"Well...I have no idea what I'm doing," he grinned slightly, facing her and scratched the back of his neck nervously, like he always did. Draco saw Hermione's eyes fall from his face down to his bare chest. He glanced down and remembered he forgot to do up the buttons.

"Don't worry, I'm not hungry anyway." She replied managing to drag her eyes from his body and turned to retrieve her cardigan from the back on the dining room chair. Draco smiled and began to button up his shirt. Draco watched her in thought, his head tilted to the side slightly. She looked so tired and Draco could tell she wasn't looking forward to today but they both knew it would take some weight off her shoulders. Even if it was just a little.

Hermione turned around and walked past Draco to get a drink of water. He took his tie out of his trouser pocket and began to do it up. All of a sudden, a searing pain seeped up his arm and began to throb at his forearm. Draco's right hand automatically clasped his left forearm as if it was a reaction. Hermione turned around and look confused.

"What's wrong?" She asked looking concerned. Draco bit his lip hard and he turned away and tried to do up his tie. His hands were shaking from how tightly he was tensed up. If he let go, he was afraid he would have yelled out. Hermione took the tie out of his hands gently and wrapped it around his neck. Draco let his hands fall to his sides stiffly and balled his hands in to tight fists.

Draco tried to focus on something else. The way Hermione's delicate fingers wound around the silk as she made the tie. The way her brow was furrowed slightly as she concentrated. Her eyes looked up to him with a small look of concern. "Is everything okay?" She asked gently.

"Yeah. I just haven't been to a funeral since..." Draco lied. What he said was the truth but, that wasn't why he was not okay. "She didn't even get a funeral. I just sent a few things off to sea." He whispered looked down at Hermione. She smiled softly and finished arranging his tie. Draco lifted his hand and stroked her cheek. "You'll be fine," He smiled. Another surge of pain shot through his arm but Draco continued to smile. He excused himself and went to get his jacket from the bedroom. Once he was out of her eyesight, he lifted up his sleeve. The dark mark was swollen against his skin and pulsed to his heart beat. Draco clenched his teeth together but didn't reach for his wand. He wouldn't leave Hermione. Last time he did, her parents died, who knows what might happen this time.

"Draco! Taxi's here," He heard Hermione call. He shrugged on his jacket and did the few buttons up. He hadn't worn his suit in a while and was surprised it still fit him reasonably well, except for a few adjustments on the sleeves. Draco walked out and Hermione was stood at the end of the corridor waiting for him. Her eyes were burdened with sadness and she was hunched over slightly. Draco wrapped his arm around her shoulder and they left for the funeral.

**

It broke my heart to lose you, But you didn't go alone
For part of me went with you, The day God took you home.

The autumn breeze blew the colourful leaves through the air around the cemetery. The service was small and there were no more than 20 people there including us. Hermione's Uncle was already there when we arrived. He too looked tired and his smile never reached his eyes. A few of their friends had managed to make it down and Draco knew Hermione was happy that some of them made it.

As there were no bodies to bury, there was a small slab that is used for people that are cremated. Draco stood next to Hermione at the front of the service and kept his eyes on the gravestone. He knew damn well that he shouldn't be there and not just because his Dark Mark was throbbing but because, it was wrong. He was the last one to hear their screams, he was involved with the man who killed them, it just wasn't right.

Draco heard Hermione sniff, he lifted his eyes to look at her. She was crying silently, shiny trails running down her cheeks. Despite the fact that his left arm was next to hers, he moved it stiffly and took Hermione's hand in his. Draco didn't look at her as he stroked her wrist gently.

The vicar brought the ceremony to an end. Hermione held the white rose in her hand but she couldn't bring herself to move. Draco saw Dave take her other hand out of the corner of his eye and pull her gently towards the grave, a white rose in his own hand. Draco loosened his fingers so Hermione could go but she gripped them tight, pulling their arms at full length as she laid the flower down. Her tears came more frequent and her sobs became a bit louder. Dave took her around the shoulders and they began to walk away to the side, away from the rest of the group, their fingers sliding apart. The rest of the group added their own roses one after the other and went to comfort Hermione.

Draco was left standing there by himself. He heard a few people whisper about the strange blonde boy. They wanted to know who he was and why Hermione had chosen him to be her boyfriend. It made Draco smile that these people instantly assumed they were together. But some part of him was annoyed that they weren't. He turned his head slowly to see Hermione talking to some of the people, the wind blew her hair gently and the weak sun shone on her face.

Draco gripped the rose that was in his own hand and looked back to the grave. He wouldn't let anything happen to Hermione. He was going to tell her everything, he thought as another sharp burst of pain seared through his left arm. He would do anything to stop Voldemort. He was going to protect her. "I promise" Draco whispered to the grave as he made the vow to her parents and laid down the rose.

**

"I am so sorry I have to go back to work," Dave said as he pulled Hermione in to a tight hug. "I'll make sure I get back either late tonight or before you go tomorrow. I'll be there to see you off," He said holding her face in his hands. "You've been so brave Hermione. I am so proud of you." Dave said with a soft smile.

"When is the next taxi coming?" Hermione asked.

"It should be here in about 10 minutes. Sorry for taking the last one, are you sure you don't want it?" Dave asked putting his scarf on.

"No, no. You'll be late if you wait for the next one," Hermione assured him with a smile. "We'll be okay," She said looking back at Draco with a smile. Dave gave Hermione one last hug and waved at Draco who was standing a bit further back before getting in the taxi and driving off.

Draco was stood on the step of the old church, leaning against the wall. He undid the top buttons of his shirt and loosened his tie. Hermione turned around, running her hands through her hair.

"How are you doing?" Draco asked.

Hermione's eyes started to shine and her brow started to crease. "I just can't believe they're really gone..." Draco heard her whisper. The thunder that banged around the sky blocked out her next words and rain began to fall heavy. Draco watched the tears mix with the rain as she stood out in the open. He took off his jacket under the cover of the church and went over to her. He draped his jacket over her head and lifted her chin up with his finger. Looking in to her deep brown eyes, he took the sleeve of his shirt and wiped each cheek only to have more rain fall on.

Hermione came forward closer to Draco and walked in to him gently, wrapping her arms around him, taking in his body heat. Draco pulled Hermione close, feeling the cold rain sink to his shirt, making it cling to him. His arm felt numb from the pain and stiff from tensing his muscle but he ignored it as the pain seemed to increase at Hermione's touch. Draco rested his head against hers and kissed her wet hair. He felt her sobs increase and held her tighter.

A/N The poem didn't have an author but it doesn't belong to me. Hope everyone likes the story so far :)