Chapter 14

Draco fell next to her, both of them breathing hard. He rolled over onto his back, and Hermione pulled the cloak over them and snuggled close to Draco. They had just woken up not long ago, before they had fled the mansion, but all she wanted to do was to lie with him beside the warm fire and fall asleep.

Draco stroked her hair. She felt so comfortable…

The wind outside the cabin was roaring again, and it seemed darker than it should have. Another storm, probably.

Just then Hermione realized something.

"I would rather not return to reality…" Hermione started, "But is there…food here?"

Draco laughed. "I'm pretty hungry, too. I think I left some things here last time…"

As he started to get up, Hermione stopped him with her palm on his chest. She leaned over until she was half on top of him and kissed him. He kissed her back, their eyes half closed.

"What was that for?" He asked.

"Because I don't know how many times I'll be able to kiss you; I want to get in as much as possible now."

Draco didn't answer at first. He thought about it, and said, "If your wondering if I want to keep up this relationship of ours, if I want to continue to learn about you….kiss you…" he kissed her, "…then of course I want to…but I can't just keep you locked up with me, can I? What with death eaters visiting. And who knows when I'll be called on to leave…"

"That's why? What about the fact that I have things I need to do? I need to fight and help to stop…"

Draco put his arms around her and flipped her under him. He had a serious look on his face. "Why do you keep insisting that you'll win?! You'll die! So, if I let you go, you'll just continue this suicide mission as back-up to the boy-wonder? The Dark Lord will kill you! No, he'll torture you, then kill you!"

Hermione gritted her teeth. She took a deep breath, calming herself. "I know your worried about me, and there is more than enough reason to, but there is no other choice." She looked him in the eyes. "If no one fights back, then there really is no chance we'll win. If no one was brave enough to risk themselves, nothing evil would ever change in the world."

"I just don't understand you…" He looked sad then, not quite looking in her eyes. She was still trapped beneath him.

"Draco…you're the one in danger." She realized. "But I can't change your mind any more than you can change mine, huh? I won't just hide away while other's fight for what's right…"

"And I won't join the losing side and get myself killed." Draco finished.

There. They had reached another agreement. It was one that left neither of them very happy.

***

After that conversation, the two of them got dressed quietly. Draco used some cleaning spells on them, explaining that there was, of course, no shower.

He searched the tiny cupboards and found some cans of this and that, and the two had a very quiet breakfast of beans and canned fruits.

Hermione didn't like this. She knew he didn't believe in Voldemort's cause, or else how could he possibly care about her? But if he joined them, and they lost, he was dead. If she stayed hidden and the death eaters won…she shivered at the thought. What did he think he could do to protect her then? Would he keep her around as some kind of servant? Honestly, it didn't look like there would be much else besides Azkaban in line for muggle-borns. Hermione didn't think she could make it in a world where Voldemort had won. As long as she was alive, she would have to fight. And as long as Harry was alive, they hadn't lost yet.

'I have to find that Horcrux.' Hermione thought. "Bellatrix's visit confirms it; it just has to be here! But where? And how the hell can I go back there, with her, when I don't have a wand?!'

Hermione was deep in thought, staring down her fruit cup, when Draco broke the silence. It made Hermione jump.

"Do you regret it, then?" He asked.

"What?" Her eyes grew wide, and she blushed as she said, "No. Draco, it was…wonderful." She fought back tears as she continued, "But I can't just stay here, and neither can you. When all of this is over…maybe then, we can…date, do normal things. When it's not just us alone, will you want me then?"

"Yes." Draco answered, quickly. He cleared his throat. "Yes, I will want you then. I want you now…but I guess tying you up and stopping you from leaving would be a bit on the evil side, huh?" He tried for a small smile.

"I need to take your broom…"

"My broom? You can't fly, I thought."

"I can't; but if it's between that and walking…"

"Dark Lord nothing, you'll be dead from hypothermia before he gets his hands on you!" He looked sad, his eyes cast down. "Why do you want to leave so quickly?"

She stood up and wrapped her arms around him, burying her head in his chest.

"I love you." She said, finally bursting into tears. "I have to leave now, before I change my mind and prolong the inevitable even longer. There are things I must do, things I've been putting off because I love you!"

It was at that inopportune moment that the door burst open. The two parties had the briefest of seconds to assess the situation. Draco reached for the wand in his back pocket just as Harry and Ron aimed their already drawn wands at his chest.