AN: Hi, everyone! I am sorry for being late again (it's actually been three weeks since the last update :( ) I really do need to learn to say no to people asking me to cover for them at work. Also, it didn't help that this is one of the chapters which needed a bit more attention in terms of content revision. It is nothing so drastic as to change the course of the story per se, but I do hope that when everything comes together in the end, this revision will help things make more sense.

Another thing I would like to say is concerned with the news I've been hearing lately that ff. net has been deleting stories that they deem inappropriate because of either smut, the use of profanity, or violence without any warnings to the authors at all. Although my stories don't contain smut, they do have the other two, so I'm a bit unsettled by this news.

Since I've started posting 7 First Kisses here already, I'll continue updating as usual (and trying to back up reviews at every turn because I can't bear to lose them). I will, however, temporarily stop cross-posting other stories of mine until more info about this issue is available. I must admit I've always had a soft spot for this site, not so much because of the admin or site format, but because of you guys and because I started my very first story here. If the problem turns out to be as bad as it sounds, though, I won't want to constantly live in fear of losing my stuff. In that case, I do post on other archives as well: my favourites are Hawthorn and Vine (dramione. org) for Dramione, and AO3 for multi-pairing, multi-fandom fics (you can download fics in ebook form from there, which I think is pretty cool). So, this is just a head-up so that you guys know where else to find me if anything happens.

Sorry for the long AN. Anyway, it's still business as usual for 7 First Kisses, so let's get back to the story, shall we? :D

7 First Kisses
by leopion

The Third

Draco leaned against one of the bookshelves, clutching his head as the high, cold voice of the Dark Lord threatened to drill through his eardrums. Apparently, the effect of this announcement was much worse when one was alone in an enormous room. Then again, perhaps it was also because the message failed to evoke in him the same emotions it once had.

'Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded,' the voice resonated through the aisle. 'You have until midnight.'

Draco felt disgusted, but then the gripping fear won over. He wouldn't have much longer past midnight. He would have to meet Granger in the Room of Hidden Things again. Before that, however, he needed to figure out what exactly was happening to them. He couldn't meekly follow the same pattern again. That was why when he'd woken up this morning in his dorm and realised that the day had repeated once more, the first thing he had done was to drag Crabbe and Goyle into an abandoned closet and lock them inside. Once they were out of the way, he'd headed for the library. He had mentally laughed at the idea, considering how Granger would have done the same, though he doubted that she had the chance with all of those Gringotts fiascos. Although no one seemed to go to the library these days, he had Stunned Madam Pince, locked the door, and added a 'Closed for rearrangement' sign for good measure. Then, he had also roused the librarian when Sprout's Patronus came to call for her, in case her absence at the battle would make a difference.

Draco quickly hitched himself to an upright position and Summoned the catalogue for the Restricted Section, hoping against hope that this new search would at least yield something. The remaining fifteen minutes hardly seemed enough. He had scoured all the titles on time-travel with little success. Travelling back without a Time-Turner was nearly impossible, never mind actually reversing time. There were allusions to magic beyond the powers of wizardkind to manipulate, of course, but none of those pointed to anything particularly helpful.

He managed to slip in just seconds before the door closed completely after Potter. Although Draco knew how to get into the room on his own, he would have had to open the door to do so. Since he couldn't come with Crabbe and Goyle, trying to simulate another confrontation with Potter would make no sense now. Hence, Draco's plan was simple: meet with Granger, then get out.

It was easier said than done, though. Already, several minutes had passed since they got into the room, but Granger still hadn't left the main aisle. Where the hell was she going? Didn't she know that he would want to hide as far from Potter as possible this time? Draco had no choice but to walk up and pull her into the maze of objects.

'Aaaa—'

Her yelp was muffled by his hand. He could feel her body stiffen.

'Shh, Granger, it's me,' he whispered before releasing her.

'Hermione, what's happened?' a voice echoed from behind the pile of junk, and Draco could hear footsteps coming nearer.

'Nothing, I just tripped on something.'

'You scared me,' said Potter.

'Sorry,' Granger called at her friend before pointing her wand in that same direction. 'Muffliato!'

Draco ventured a guess that it must have been some sort of sound-proofing spell because Granger immediately turned back to him and snapped, 'Don't ever do that again!'

'Well, I'm sorry that you have the mouth of a Banshee.'

Granger took a deep breath as though suppressing her anger.

'Where are Crabbe and Goyle?' she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

'Stunned and locked in a closet in the dungeons,' he replied.

'I swear if you're intending to change any—'

'I'm not! I went to the library to find out how we came back in time, but I just couldn't get back to them after exiting the library. Too many people in the way. And you know that I had to lock them there to make sure they didn't go around and change anything while I was researching.'

'Oh.' Granger's eyes softened. 'So, how is the research?'

Draco let out a long sigh. 'So far, I've come across numerous assertions that this is possible with some kind of advanced magic, but there has been no clue as to how it bloody happens.'

'Have you tried the books on time-travel?'

Draco rolled his eyes. 'Of course, I have. But most of them just go on about Time-Turners and their uses, and we both know that the Ministry's stock was destroyed two years ago.'

'And there's nothing else?'

'Well, actually there is one time-travel method that doesn't require a Time-Turner,' said Draco. 'Remember the spell you used for the countdown clock? It has something to do with it.'

'How so?'

'When you think about it, compared to a normal clock, the act of counting down seems almost like turning back time, doesn't it? If you can use this spell on a certain space using real physical clocks instead of a magically conjured one—'

'Then it will turn back time? But won't you have to turn back all the clocks for that to work?' asked Granger. 'I'm assuming that the spell only affects a limited expanse of physical space, then.'

'Basically, yes. If the spell is cast right, people and objects within that space alone will be sent back in time.'

'It sounds hard but not impossible,' said Granger, tapping one finger on her chin. 'Perhaps someone did the magic in the space around us back then. I don't think I would have noticed it at the time, given what was going on.'

Draco sighed. 'If it had been this spell, we would have reappeared at that same spot on the Hogwarts grounds, but we clearly did not.'

'So, our situation is a bit more similar to the use of Time-Turners because we returned to the locations we had been in the past. For me, it was Shell Cottage, and you, your dorm at Hogwarts, I presume?'

'Exactly. What makes it even more implausible is the motive. Suppose someone used this spell on us, what does he or she want?'

'Change the past?'

'Well, thank you, Miss Obvious. I meant, why didn't he—let's just call this person "he"—travel back himself? After all, he knew what was happening. Wouldn't it be easier for him to do the job? Not to mention that he had to trigger the spell twice for us to be here now.'

'You're right,' said Granger. 'Also, there was one thing that made me kind of rule out the possibility of a Time-Turner. Just want to see if it applies to this spell as well. When a person goes back in time with the spell, will his or her past self disappear?'

'No, the time-traveller will co-exist with his or her past self.'

'So, everything within the space will be duplicated when a person time-travels?'

'I should think so.' He paused for a second to contemplate his answer. 'Except for the clocks, maybe, since they represent the timeline.'

'Well, then there's no way that we travelled back by means of this spell,' she concluded, disappointment evident on her face.

'Yeah, otherwise, at least one of your past selves would have shown up and punched me in the face by now.'

'Like yours wouldn't have done something stupid as well?'

'Nah, I'm much too prudent and sneaky for that.'

'Brat!'

He smirked at Granger. At least that gloomy mood of hers was gone now, and they could go back to business. 'Anyway, why do you think the day repeated again?'

'Um, I've been thinking about that as well,' said Granger, returning to her solemn tone. 'My best guess is, who or whatever made the day repeat doesn't want Voldemort to win.'

'So, you think it'll keep repeating until the Dark Lord's defeated.'

'Most likely. And I don't think the magic has to be done twice. It's more like an automatic "If Voldemort wins, then repeat" kind of thing.'

'Any idea who or—as you put it—what that might be?'

'See, that's what baffles me. I, for one, want Harry to win more than anything else. But it can't be me.'

'It would make a lot of sense if it were you, though,' said Draco. 'That would explain why we are at the heart of this whole ordeal.'

Granger shook her head. 'I don't have that kind of power. I think we should focus on the how in—'

'Got it! Ron, Hermione, over here!' Granger stopped and tilted her head towards the direction of the call. Draco knew that she needed to return to Potter and Weasley.

'Same plan, then?' he asked.

She nodded. 'Meet me inside the castle this time. There's an empty classroom near the Great—'

'Hermione!'

Granger sighed and waved her wand. 'Finite Incantatem!'

'Coming!' she called out, running towards the direction of Potter's voice.

Draco re-cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself and followed the Trio outside. He stopped at the doorway for a moment, watching Granger and her friends run towards the battle, where curses were knitting together in the air. She's already been through this twice, he told himself before turning in the opposite direction. Researching would probably be the best use of his time until their rendezvous.

When Draco went back to the library, the place was just as deserted as it had been when he left. The Death Eaters hadn't been able to penetrate this far into the castle. In fact, Draco hardly encountered any obstacles on his way. However, the calmness unnerved him even more than the earlier chaos he had faced. Now, he had no way of knowing what was happening outside. Nonetheless, he decided to ignore the feeling and resume his search in the Restricted Section. He would know when the Dark Lord's next message came, that was certain.

Draco opened a book on ancient magic and began to read, but the letters seemed to run together in his vision without making any sense. He could not disregard the fact that the war was still raging outside even though there was no evidence of it here. What if his parents didn't wait in the forest but instead participated in the battle? No matter how unlikely that might be, Draco couldn't seem to get rid of the thought. His mother's life was already hanging by a thread as it was. For once, he wanted to go out there and do something. Then again, his very action might reduce his and Granger's plan to naught.

It didn't take long for Draco to abandon the book and head down to the meeting place. He would still be waiting there, unable to do anything until Granger arrived, but at the very least, he could be closer to the battle. The thought of his mother added more vigour to his steps.

The sight of the battle made his insides clench, but he was determined not to let his eyes linger on anything or anyone. As long as they were not his parents, he couldn't afford to care. Weaving through the fights was not an easy matter, but he managed until that throaty, hysterical laugh echoed through the hall.

Even through the Death Eater's mask and robes, Draco recognised Bellatrix's posture in the way she circled the pink-haired girl, sparks soaring between them. The unknown girl was putting up a good fight, but it was still apparent that she was no match for Bellatrix. The mad woman laughed again as another spell missed its mark. He could never mistake that cackle. Blood boiled in Draco's veins, his throat burning with hatred. It took all of his self-restraint not to barge towards them and join the fight. He could not interfere. But wouldn't it be better if Bellatrix died? That way, she wouldn't be able to reveal his mother's lie to the Dark Lord. Could he do it, though? Could he kill her? Or would he just make a mess with this fight? All reasoning pointed towards the latter. More importantly, even if Bellatrix was killed, what consequences would her death entail?

Draco inhaled deeply and closed his eyes as the cruel green beam brought down Bellatrix's opponent. He turned away quickly and was soon surrounded by other duellers. Ducking and dodging the flying spells was his perfect excuse to ignore the single tear that had managed to escape.

Greater proximity to the battle proved no better than staying in the library. Draco paced back and forth in the small classroom. Indeed, it was the only thing he'd been doing since he'd gotten there: first, anxious for the Dark Lord's voice to announce the armistice, and now, impatient for Granger's arrival. The relief that he hadn't spotted either of his parents in the battle seemed to be the only thing that helped keep his sanity.

The classroom door finally clicked open. Suppressing his annoyance at Granger's late appearance, Draco proceeded straight to business.

'Let's go,' he bellowed before raising his wand to make himself invisible once again. Granger stopped him.

'Hang on,' she said, grabbing Draco's free hand awkwardly. 'Let's stick together this time.'

He knew she was thinking of the Dementor incident. Did Granger really assume he was that weak?

'Just to save time finding each other in the wood,' she said, as though reading his mind. 'Look, we're running out of time.'

With this, Granger flicked her wand and vanished. However, he could still feel her hand firmly on his. Draco hesitated for a moment before casting the spell. Granger swiftly pulled him towards the door. They made their way down the corridor. When they walked past the doorway to the Great Hall, his hand was pulled back momentarily. It seemed that Granger needed one moment to look back at her friends, but soon, they were speeding across the grounds again.

In his vision, a mass of black cloaks stood out clearly against the forest trees—darker, smoother, and more frightening. Dementors. They were getting closer, with a thick grey veil of fog that threatened to eat him alive. Draco held his breath, blocking out the piercing cold, but he had to succumb at last. The icy air slithered through his nose, down his windpipe, and into his lungs, freezing him from the inside out. He clenched his wand but couldn't keep his hand from shaking. He was vaguely aware that his legs kept moving. A mixture of screams, pleas, and sobs resounded in his ears. They all belonged to his mother. His world was swaying now, but all the while, there was a constant that kept it from turning upside down. Granger gave his hand a small squeeze. Her hand was cold, but it sent a sliver of warmth to his heart. Draco felt an inexplicable urge to reciprocate and finally gave in to it. They were going to succeed.

The thought kept him going until, at long last, he could hear the rustle of forest leaves at his feet. It seemed as though the Dementors were forbidden from hovering too close to the Dark Lord's hiding place, for they didn't pursue beyond the border. As Draco and Granger got farther into the wood, the fog began to disperse and warm air returned.

Granger muttered her 'muffling' spell again. 'So, how do we plan to cover your mother's lie?'

'Turn it into the truth?' He could hear a gasp from Granger. 'We only make Potter appeardead to my mother, of course,' he added quickly.

'You mean to stop his heart and his breathing without actually killing him?' she asked.

'Well,' said Draco, 'do you know any way to accomplish that?' He knew the idea seemed rather unfeasible, but it was the safest bet for his mother. Maybe Granger would know something.

It took a moment before Granger replied to his question, her voice hesitant. 'Um, there is this spell that helps you separate the soul from the body—'

'Merlin, Granger, I didn't know you know Dark Magic!'

She huffed. 'Secret of the Darkest Art, remember? It wasn't as if I read it for fun.'

'All right.' He relented. 'I suppose you can do it?'

'Perhaps. I may risk killing him for real with it, though. I don't think—'

'Someone there,' came a harsh voice. Draco's breath caught in his throat. He could feel Granger's hand slightly dampening in his. They couldn't be found out now.

'He's got an Invisibility Cloak. Could it be—?' said Yaxley. He and Dolohov came out from behind a tree just a few feet away from Draco and Granger, but their wands were directed elsewhere.

'Harry,' whispered Granger. 'It's lucky we didn't bump into him.'

'We should follow them,' he murmured back as the two Death Eaters began to walk away.

A slight jerk of her hand told him that she'd started to carry out his instruction. Draco did the same.

'What should we do once we get there?' asked Granger as light appeared ahead of them. They were still walking invisibly, their fingers intertwined. 'Should we try distracting Bellatrix? It seems like a safer option.'

'How?'

'I was thinking Confundus Charm or ...' there was a pause, 'or the Imperius Curse.'

Draco was surprised at her idea of using an Unforgivable. Given their situation, the ends could justify the means, he supposed.

'I would say Imperio,' he replied. After all, it was she who suggested it first. 'The effect of a Confundus Charm would be too visible. We can't risk others suspecting, too.'

He didn't say anything else. They had arrived at the fringe of a clearing surrounded by dangling fragments of what seemed to have been an enormous spider web. While Dolohov and Yaxley went farther towards the clearing, Draco and Granger stopped where they were. He could see dark figures gathering in a circle around a crackling fire, their faces—some masked, some unmasked—illuminated by its light. He didn't dare look straight at the Dark Lord, so he started from the farthest point, letting his eyes dart from face to face to find his parents. They were both there, unharmed. Draco's last image of them flitted through his mind. His father could have looked worse. His heart twitched at the worry etched on his mother's face. If only there were a way to let her know that he was still alive. But if he did that, she might never lie about Potter's death, and the Dark Lord might triumph again.

Draco averted his eyes. As soon as they fell on the dishevelled witch sitting at the Dark Lord's side, an entirely different emotion snaked into his heart. He wanted revenge. For his mother. No, it was for something that hadn't even happened yet. Not in this timeline. He shouldn't lose his focus: to prevent it from ever happening again. Draco pulled Granger behind a bulky tree. He sat down on the damp roots with his back against the trunk and took off the Disillusionment.

'What—Why are you taking that off?' asked Granger as she also reappeared next to him. 'We can't be found out.'

'You've taken yours off as well,' he dryly pointed out. 'Now, redouble your sound-proofing spell. With that volume of yours, I doubt it will hold.'

Granger huffed but didn't argue. Once the spell had been reinforced, she turned to him. 'I did that just because you took yours off. It would be so damn uncomfortable if only one of us were invisible.'

'Oh, right,' said Draco, eyeing the hand that Granger was still holding. She dropped it with record speed. He had a hunch that she was blushing, but there was no way to tell in the dark.

'You disabled the charm just because of ... that?'

'No,' said Draco seriously. 'I need all the concentration I can get to perform the Imperius Curse on Bellatrix.'

'Why do you assume that you're the one who's going to do it?'

'I've cast the curse before—successfully,' he replied, none too comfortable with the admission, but it was a fact, anyway. Before Granger could protest, he continued, 'It'll be quite hard to do it from here, though, so we'll have to split up for me to get closer.'

'Without the concealment, that would be too dang—Wait, listen!'

Potter had just announced his presence at the top of his voice. Neither Draco nor Granger spoke, both realising that they would have to depend mostly on the voices to know what was happening. Unable to contain himself, Draco tilted his head to look around the tree trunk. The crowd around the fire had risen to their feet, some gasping in surprise, some cheering. He could not see his parents nor Potter in their midst.

'HARRY! NO!' someone shouted. Draco realised that it must be the half-giant.

'When?' he asked, turning back to Granger.

'I don't know. We don't know the exact details of the conversation, so it's quite hard to figure out.'

Damn it, how long did he have left? They hadn't even agreed on a plan. 'I'll take care of the curse, and that's final,' he told her. 'Also, you can put your concealment back on.'

She shook her head. Draco could still hear the ex-gamekeeper's voice in the background, but he concentrated solely on Granger. 'If things go ... wrong,' she said, 'we don't want to inadvertently hinder each other. It'll be better if you can see me as well.'

'Let's just hope it won't come to that,' he responded.

'Harry Potter,' the Dark Lord's silky voice alerted Draco again. 'The Boy Who Lived.'

There was complete silence.

'Avada Kedavra!'

The hiss sent a chill up his spine. Granger jumped, her hand clutching her heart. She swiftly turned to steal a glance at the scene, where the sounds of gasps, whispers, and footsteps blended in one discordant clamour.

'Voldemort fainted. They're gathering around him,' Granger informed him.

'My Lord, my Lord ...' cried Bellatrix. Draco's wand hand twitched. That bitch had to die.

'No, not now,' said Granger, holding out an arm to prevent him from moving away. 'You need to be patient, Malfoy.'

'She killed my mother,' he hissed in her ear.

'Will cause Voldemort to kill,' she corrected. 'You'll save your mother by not trying to interfere now. It's nearly time, though.'

'That will do,' said Voldemort's voice. The whispers and murmurs died at once. There were only hurried footsteps as the Death Eaters seemed to be retreating to their former positions. 'The boy… Is he dead?'

'I'll go now,' said Draco, brushing Granger's arm aside, but she grabbed at the hem of his robes.

'Don't do anything rash. Just prevent Bellatrix from realising that Harry's alive, then come back.'

'Do you think I'll jeopardise my mother's life?' he countered.

Granger reluctantly let go. Draco slipped out of their hiding place and crawled closer to the clearing. He stopped behind a thick bush, only sticking his head out slightly to see. The position allowed him a perfect view of what was going on. No one had yet volunteered to check on Potter.

'You,' said Voldemort, pointing his wand at his mother. His spell made her cry out in pain. Draco's jaw clenched. He clasped his hands together to prevent them from acting out of control. 'Examine him. Tell me whether he is dead.'

Every eye in the circle of Death Eaters followed his mother as she made her way towards Potter's prone body, but Draco's attention was fixed upon a pair of hooded, black eyes, his wand already directed at their owner. Draco still hadn't cast the Imperius Curse, knowing that he wouldn't be able to maintain it for long without Bellatrix beginning to resist. But if he was too late and she had discovered the truth, then she would reveal it once the curse was lifted. When would she begin to suspect? He would have to start then, but how could he know?

After a moment's hesitation, Draco tightened the grip on his mother's wand and muttered, 'Imperio!'

A tingling warmth shot through his arm, streaming into his mind. He allowed himself a small smile at his luck: Bellatrix wasn't keeping up the wall around her mind at that moment. Her eyes were still focussed on Potter's body, but they were now unseeing, thanks to Draco's curse.

'He is dead!' his mother announced to the onlookers. The Death Eaters roared triumphantly. Some started clapping, some shot red and silver sparks out from their wands to celebrate. Draco caused a torrent of bright silver light to burst out from Bellatrix's wand as well before relieving the curse. She shook her head slightly in bewilderment. Merlin, please don't let anyone realise. Don't let her realise.

'Harry Potter is dead by my hand,' shrieked the Dark Lord, and Bellatrix turned towards him, something akin to a smile playing on her lips. Draco felt like vomiting, but at the same time, relief flooded through him.

He crawled back to Granger and nodded in answer to her silent question. He didn't object as she took his hand again before they both made themselves invisible once more.

They had to wait until the procession of Death Eaters dissolved into the blackness of the forest before coming out of their hiding, following their circuitous route from earlier. The Dark Lord's call for surrender threw more urgency to their steps. Draco started to have a feeling that the leaves beneath their feet were crunching too loudly and the centaurs hiding behind the trees could see right through them, but Granger paid no heed to either fact.

'We have to get to the castle before the fight breaks out,' she responded to his demand to slow down. As soon as they were out of the forest, she broke into a run, dragging him along. The Death Eater's victory army had already reached the castle, it seemed.

Draco also wanted to get there as soon as possible, to prevent his parents from being caught up in the battle. The last time, with his mother gone, his father had been too heart-broken to fight, but who knew what could happen now that everything was different? However, Draco was well aware that he'd better act more prudently. His parents might get hurt in the battle, yes. But if he was caught in Granger's company, it would be pretty much a death warrant for both of them unless the Light side had already won by then.

The chaos broke out when they were only halfway to their destination. The centaurs stormed towards the castle. Roaring battle cries and thundering footsteps resounded from the direction of Hogsmeade. Draco swallowed hard. He and Granger were right in the path of the Light's support army, and they would be trampled in a matter of minutes.

'Remove the charm, Granger,' he called out while swiftly getting rid of his own Disillusionment, counting on the disorder to conceal him. The ground shook as the giants stomped their feet. Draco could feel Granger letting go of his hand. His chest momentarily filled with dread. He breathed a sigh of relief as she reappeared a few feet away.

'Go on with whatever you need to do. I have to go find my parents.'

She nodded before running towards the crowd at the main entrance. Having received the confirmation he needed, Draco wasted no time in plunging himself into the mass of centaurs and Death Eaters, adrenaline surging through his veins. He was sure that his parents were among them. He could only hope that they were safe.

Draco waited with bated breath as the only two remaining duels of the Hogwarts Battle unravelled in front of him: Bellatrix Lestrange versus Molly Weasley, and Lord Voldemort versus Harry Potter. Potter had revealed himself after casting a Shield Charm to protect Molly Weasley from one of Bellatrix's deadly curses, and since then, the two witches hadn't been able to defeat one another.

While he wanted to see Bellatrix killed, it was the outcome of the second duel that would determine Draco's fate and that of his parents. His mother and father were here by his side now, but how much longer would they be together? Everything that Draco cared about depended on this outcome. The two opponents were still circling each other, secrets and purposes revealed, though neither had cast a single spell. The deciding moment came at last.

'Avada Kedavra!'

'Expelliarmus!'

The two spells collided and exploded. Draco was momentarily blinded by the bright light, the deafening bang crushing his ribcage.

The explosion was followed by Bellatrix's scream resonating throughout the eerily silent hall. Her master was dead at Harry Potter's feet.

Everything seemed to play in slow motion as another green light soared through the air, slamming into Potter's chest. The Boy Who Lived crumpled to the floor just moments before Molly Weasley finished off his murderer, Bellatrix Lestrange.

'NO!' the watching crowd roared in unison. Draco told himself that it didn't matter to him, but Granger's cry as she rushed to Potter's side tore at his heartstrings.

He had no reason to seek her out. After all, every single member of the Light was still so grief-stricken by the loss of Potter that none of them paid any attention to Draco and his parents. There would be a time when he needed her testimony of their side-switching but not now.

Still, he found himself leaving his parents to look for a hint of curly brown hair among the mourning crowd. The cloud of fiery red mops made him feel hopeful, but it turned out that she was not with them. She had practically vanished from the Great Hall.

He had expected Granger to stick to her friends at times like this. What with all of that sharing crap! But of course, there was also certain knowledge that she could not share with them, knowledge that he knew was weighing down her heart. They could have done better. If only there were another chance.

Draco finally found her taking refuge under the shade of a tree near the lake, her chin resting on her knees. Granger looked up briefly as he sat down next to her. It was still too dark for him to discern whether there were tears on her face, but he knew as soon as she spoke up.

'There is no turning back.' Her voice cracked.

'How can you be sure?'

'How else could it be?' she asked. 'The purpose had been fulfilled.'

'Not entirely,' said Draco. 'Otherwise, you wouldn't be sitting here, crying your eyes out.'

'But we won,' murmured Granger. The word 'we' made Draco's heart do a funny little thing in his chest. He decided to ignore it.

'Look, Granger, what if we could turn back time again?'

She smiled ruefully. 'We don't even know how it happened in the first place.'

But we have a theory, he thought. How to say this without sounding ... sentimental? Then again, did his pride matter when she had to suffer so much pain, so much desperation? Besides, it was the truth. Nothing else remotely made sense.

'It was our kiss, Granger. I don't know how you felt at that moment. Hell, I don't even know how I felt. But there was something then, there was a ...' Draco broke off. He was going to say 'connection' but then thought better of it. 'Something triggered the magic,' he finished lamely.

Granger looked at him in surprise.

Draco looked down at his lap. 'You must think I'm a sap now.'

'No,' she protested at once. 'It's the truth, what you said. I just didn't expect ... Anyway, during my six years at Hogwarts, I've never come across anything about a magical kiss.'

'Me neither,' he agreed.

'But you know, in Muggle stories, a kiss can be very powerful. But it must be a true lo—a first kiss. There's nothing like a first kiss,' she whispered.

'If we kiss now, it'll still be our first,' he said, tilting her head so that their eyes met. 'The other kisses only happened in the memories in our heads.'

'It doesn't hurt to try,' she admitted.

There was no hesitation in their kiss this time, nothing but a curious warmth in his chest. He explored her lips with a gentle caress, and she responded to him with the same tenderness. But with time, that painful taste of her tears came back again, more and more powerful. Just a moment longer, a moment longer, and then the magic would occur. He knew they were both thinking the exact same thing. But then, the need for oxygen finally drove them apart. They were still here, under the tree overlooking the Hogwarts lake.

'It didn't hurt to try,' repeated Granger. The tremor in her voice was more evident now.

They sat there mutely, staring at the pale grey sky. But Draco never got to see the dawn break, for darkness engulfed him as soon as the first light shone.

AN: See you all soon!

Hugs,

Leo

References:

From Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Voldemort: I know that you are preparing to fight. Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood. Give me Harry Potter and they shall not be harmed. Give me Harry Potter and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight.
~Pg 490, Chapter 31: The Battle of Hogwarts

Either Yaxley or Dolohov: Someone there. He's got an Invisibility Cloak. Could it be -?
~Pg 562, Chapter 34: The Forest Again

At the clearing in the Forbidden Forest:
Voldemort: I was, it seems… mistaken.
Harry (takes off the Invisibility Cloak and announces his presence): You weren't.
Hagrid: HARRY! NO!
NO! NO! HARRY, WHAT'RE YEH -?
Rowle: QUIET!
Voldemort: Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived.
~Pg 563-564, Chapter 34: The Forest Again

Bellatrix: My Lord… my Lord…
My Lord…
Voldemort: That will do.
Bellatrix: My Lord, let me -
Voldemort: I do not require assistance. The boy… Is he dead?
You. Examine him. Tell me whether he is dead.
Narcissa: He is dead!
Voldemort: You see? Harry Potter is dead by my hand, and no man alive can threaten me now! Watch! Crucio!
~Pg 580-582, Chapter 36: The Flaw in the Plan

From 50 First Dates

Lucy (repeated line): There's nothing like a first kiss.