Hermione looked outside around the shack, half expecting Draco to be sitting on the steps, waiting for her to come out and apologize; and everything would be okay again. She half expected Draco to wrap her in his arms, and say he's never leaving her. That he'll be there...always. But Draco Malfoy was unpredictable. And that frightened her.

She looked up at the sky above her, as if hoping for a solution. As if the cottony white clouds in the robin egg's blue sky would bring Draco back. As if they had before.

But she knew, deep down, that none of that would ever be possible. After all she was Hermione Granger. Brightest witch of her age. She wasn't going to just sit around and wait for some guy to come around. Especially not the same guy who's been tormenting her for years. For Merlin's sake, she at least had some dignity! No, she was going to find him herself. And that was a guarantee.

'Where could he be?' she thought to herself, as she walked aimlessly around Hogsmeade. Hardly anyone was on the streets...not since the war started. It came almost as a shock to Hermione, Hogsmeade was almost always bustling with activity. But everything was changing. Change was inevitable. And one should always foresee the inevitable. Unfortunately, Hermione didn't fancy much prophesying. She was a straightforward girl—direct, honest, and open. Or at least she tried to be.

Yet, she found herself walking along an unknown road, no longer looking for Draco, but rather losing herself in her thoughts. It was getting dark, and she wished she'd brought a wand with her. Draco most likely had his mother's. 'Why am I becoming so reckless?' she admonished herself.

She began to walk at a faster pace, looking around every few seconds. She was a wandless woman. What else could go wrong?

And then she noticed a small shop, littered with cobwebs and strange objects peeking out the windows. Hermione stopped for a moment to peer inside. What was this place? She hadn't remembered coming here with Ron and Harry...this seemed to be much darker than Weasley's Wizard Wheezes or The Three Broomsticks...almost like the Knockturn Alley of Hogsmeade...

She turned quickly on her heel, preparing to Disapparate back to the Shrieking Shack. Then suddenly, she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Hermione." She turned back around, feeling an instant jolt of elation.

"Draco, you came back." She said.

He smirked. "I always have, haven't I?"

"I suppose so."

"Well, you've got to forgive me." He said, an almost smug look on his face.

She walked up to him. "And what makes you think I will?"

He grinned. "This." He pulled her in for a kiss, pushing her up against the brick wall.

"I love you, Hermione." He said, caressing the words against her lips.

She leaned against him, tangling her fingers in his hair. She didn't know what to say. Draco Malfoy? Love...her?

He pulled away, smiling. "Run away with me." He said, his voice gentle.

She stared in shock. "Draco...I don't think I can just..."

He kissed her again, his lips dueling hers in a matter of love and war.

"Don't you love me?" He seemed desperate...angry almost.

"Draco...I..." His lips found her neck, and he kissed his way up to her chin, and trailed them back down again. She could feel him smirking against her skin as she sighed with longing.

"Run away with me." He said again, his voice laced with an ultimatum unbeknownst to her. "Will you?"

She forced a smile. "Look, Draco...I don't think I can...Harry...the war..."

He grabbed her waist, and laid his forehead against hers affectionately, tracing circles on her back with his fingers. "It'll just be...us..."

"Don't you want me?" he teased. "Don't you want...us?"

She nodded feverishly as Draco joined their lips once again; she was beginning to lose self-control.

"Go with me..." he whispered against her lips.

She shuddered, feeling almost millions of senses at once. His touch was controlling, domineering. "I can't..." she murmured.

"What?" he asked, pretending not to hear.

She gulped. "I said, I can't!" Hermione pulled away, wrapping her arms around herself guiltily.

She felt strong hands pull her back roughly by the wrists. "Come on, Hermione!" he protested. "I want to be with you. We could go to the Manor..."

She felt a growing feeling in her stomach; an instinct of repentance. "No." she said firmly, pushing him away again.

"You filthy little Mudblood!" he yelled, slamming her against the wall. "I said-"

"No!" Hermione said, trying her hardest to push him off. "Please! Don't!" she cried, as his fist collided with her cheek, and she crumpled to the ground. Plans of action raced through her mind all at once. 'Harry...Ron...anyone...'

Tears were now streaming down her face, and she attempted to grab on to...anything...everything...trying her hardest to avoid his aimed kicks. But worst of all...she realized, Draco wasn't really who she thought he was...his rebuilt identity had just crumbled right in front of her, and she had no way to save herself. She could do a bit of wandless magic, but her focus wasn't enough...hardly anything cornered up against the wall. 'Help...anyone...what should I do...'

"STUPEFY!" a voice shouted behind her, the store door banging open. Draco fell at once, his mouth open in an 'O' before her eyes. She looked up at once to thank her rescuer, but...it couldn't be...She got up quickly and moved away from him. "Draco?" she asked tentatively.

"Hermione!" he shouted, gathering her in his arms. "Are you all right?"

She pushed him away roughly. "Get...get away from me...whoever you are..."

He looked at Hermione in shock. "Hermione! It's me! Rookwood..." he gasped. "He had Polyjuice Potion..."

She was unsure...she couldn't know if this was the real Draco Malfoy...yet she couldn't leave the real Draco, if it were true...

"I can produce a Patronus." He stated clearly, looking down at his feet as he spoke.

"Show me." She responded instantly, expecting him to look surprised, say he didn't have his wand at the ready...but he looked up suddenly, meeting her eyes, and he held his gaze as he pulled out a wand. She backed away instantly, preparing to Apparate out, if he tried anything else.

"Expecto Patronum!" he yelled, a wispy white smoke coming from the tip of his wand. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Relief washed over his face as the dragon appeared once again, this time circling around Hermione and breathing its silvery fire up towards the darkening sky.

"Draco." She said shakily, tears forming in her eyes; running to him. He wrapped his arms around her, breathing heavily as the dragon faded from sight. "I'll never hurt you." He said passively, pulling her closer.

"I'll never hurt you—I'm not like my father...and..." his voice broke. "I want you to feel safe with me, Hermione."

She rested his head on his shoulder. "What are we?" she asked suddenly, looking up at him.

He smirked, a sight she's grown used to seeing. He hugged her to him tighter. "We are—what we make of us."

Author's Note- So how was the thing? Please do tell me if the thing pleased you, or if the thing wasn't enough. ;) But seriously, thank you for following their adventures with me, and giving your feedback. I can't tell you how much it means to me...the only thing missing is my long overdue Hogwart's letter...*shemurr* lol