Short chapter today!

Summary: "I love you." "I love you, too." "Obliviate."

Rating: T


Hermione and I were sitting by the fireplace in a secret common room that I had found earlier this year. My head was in her lap and she was stroking my white-blond hair, while inside me, a raging internal battle occurred. I knew that Hermione was in trouble, I knew that the Dark Lord was coming close to finding out about our relationship. Then he would have her killed. I couldn't live with myself if that happened.

"Draco? Is there something wrong?" Bloody hell. I knew I should have changed the look on my face. She can read me too well.

"No, love. Nothing is wrong." I smiled up at her, my Adam's apple bobbing. I couldn't lie to her much longer. She grinned back down at me and then continued staring at the snow that was twirling outside. My heart felt like it was breaking into pieces, just staring up at her innocent face. I knew that if the Dark Lord found out about us, and I failed to kill Dumbledore, he would kill her. Or torture her. I ran my hands down her beautiful hair, bushy as always. To her face, where her hazelnut eyes looked down at me questionably. She had a right to know. But I couldn't tell her. I leaned in, kissed her. Pouring all my emotions out into that one kiss. Knowing it would be the last one I ever got.

When we finally broke away, I stood up, trying to keep the tears back that I knew were in the corners of my eyes. I walked a couple of paces, my back to hers, watching the ice outside, the evergreen trees that were so much like her, elegant and beautiful.

"Where are you going?" Hermione asked. With this one question, I let the tears go freely. She couldn't see them, but I knew she was worried.

"I'm sorry," I said as I pulled my wand out of my sleeve. I turned to face her, my wand at the ready. Realization dawned on her face.

"No," she whispered, standing up. "We can get through this together. I love you, Draco!" She was crying by the end, coming towards me. I held my wand up and she backed away, fear now etched on her face. "Isn't that enough?" She murmured.

"I love you. It's for you own good," I cried, tears pouring down my face. She shook her head and started to say something, but I cut her off. "I'm sorry," I repeated. And then I said the words that broke my heart, that killed me inside. Said the words that let her stay alive. "Obliviate."

I was remembering all of this as I stared out of a window, watching the rain beat down on the earth. Tears were trickling down my face again, but I ignored them. I was watching two figures, children, play in the mud and puddles. The red hair on the girl's head signified who her father was. I knew that I shouldn't be watching, but I couldn't take my eyes off of them. My manor was right next to the Weasley's humble house. I knew that Hermione Weasley could never love her husband with her whole heart. Not as much as she loved me.

She would never remember us. Never remember the nights we spent together in our secret common room or the beautiful kisses we shared. She would never remember her love for me. But I knew it was there. You could never stop loving a person. But I would love her for the rest of my life. I would endlessly pace my manor, watching my life go by, spying on the two children next door, wishing they were mine. My mother said that I should marry. But there is no one else I want to marry. But I am okay with all of this misery. Because I know that I saved her life, that she would be dead right now if she could remember her love for me when the Dark Lord captured her. But she didn't remember it. And so I am okay with this.

"Rosie! Hugo! Come out of the rain! You'll make yourself sick!" My eyes averted quickly. There she was. Her bushy hair just as it used to be on rainy days, her dainty hands clutching a sweater. And as her two children came bounding up the stairs, I swear she looked straight at me and smiled.