Hermione's eyes fluttered open slowly, dawning on the warm grey eyes she had grown so accustomed to. Draco stroked her hair calmingly, a look of almost boredom across his face, which Hermione knew better as his relaxed expression.
"Morning" he mumbled softly after a few moments
"Good morning" she corrected him seeing as the previous night had been very worthy of a 'good'. He smiled at her correction in agreement.
"What time is it?" he asked suddenly, a shade of tiredness washing over him as he relaxed further into his pillow. Hermione consulted the clock that hung on the wall in front of their bed
"Almost noon" she said as she sat up " we should probably head back to the castle" Draco nodded as he stood searching for his boxer shorts, yanking them on as he retrieved them on Hermione's side of the bed.
The girl sat perched on the side of the bed, gazing at the blonde's beautiful body. Not too muscular, and not too skinny, but perfect. He noticed her stares and leaned in close as he pulled on his trousers, placing a gentle kiss on her lips, pulling away before the two could be carried away. He tossed her clothing from the night before once he finished dressing himself, and she too stood and began to re-place her clothing, her cheeks flushing as she tried to cover her naked body. Draco arched his eyebrows and struggled to fight a smile at her embarrassment.
"You really think there is a point to covering yourself from me? Hermione. I've just been inside of you" Hermione flushed deeper at his statement
"N-no, I suppose there is no point" slowly she dropped her arms, but continued to dress herself. Draco grinned darkly at the girl, flashing a quick wink which made her insides turn and flip.
The two finished dressing and walked hand-in-hand to the front entrance. They shared a bright smile before Hermione disappeared under the invisibility cloak. Draco opened the door to reveal the brick wall, tapping the correct bricks to allow them passage. He waited for Hermione to step through first, she stuck out a finger to let him know when she had crossed, he then too walked through the door frame, closing it behind him and watching as the bricks re-assembled.
The two turned and began walking when they were cut short by a large group of people dressed in black, sporting skeleton masks rounding on them. The couple released a sharp gasp in unison. They had been cornered by a group of death eaters.
The group parted slightly as to allow someone access to the boy and invisible girl, and out walked Bellatrix Lestrange
"hello boy" she purred darkly, Draco stood silent. She tisked twice "naughty Draco, sneaking away from school. Where have you been going?" she asked in fake confusion, scanning the wall of bricks.
"I don't believe that's any of your concern" he spat harshly "now if you don't mind-" Draco attempted an exit but the death eaters only grew tighter together, leaving no opening for his and Hermione's escape.
Beneath the cloak, Hermione's heart hammered harshly, frightened for her life. She continuously scanned the crowd, looking for a way to escape, but there hadn't been one.
Slowly one of the death eaters emerged from the group, the long blonde hair beneath the hood and mask, unmistakable. The man grabbed for his cane, pulling out a shiny black wand, waving it over his face as to remove the mask.
"Hello Draco" Lucius said grinning at his son
"Father"
"You're not here alone, are you Draco?" the man asked in almost a whisper, cocking his head slightly to the side
"Of course I am. I don't see anyone else here, do you?" he asked coolly to his father. The man was struck by the cruelty in his son's voice.
"We shall see" slowly he reached forward to the left of Draco, waving his hand swiftly, but he felt nothing. Hermione had tiptoed silently to the opposite side of Draco, where unfortunately Bellatrix stood.
To the corner of her eye Bellatrix noticed a subtle movement. She looked down in time to see the tip of a sneaker appear, then disappear in a mear few seconds. Lucius grew skeptical as a horrific grin grew across Bellatrix's corpse pale face. Her hand shot out as a dagger, grabbing the cloak forcefully and ripping it from Hermione's body. Hermione winced backing up in terror, her eyes filling with frightened tears. Surely Draco would lie and say he didn't know she had been there, as to not be in trouble from his family, but he just stood his ground, staring weakly at Hermione his face a worried some mess.
"Oop!' shrieked Bellatrix "looky what I've fooound" she said in a sing song voice "filthy creature" she spat at Hermione, quite literally as a drop of saliva was shot to her chest. She flinched slightly but kept her gaze to the ground. She reached slowly to her side for her wand "uh, uh, uh" said Bellatrix dashing forward to snatch Hermione's wand from her pocket
"Give that back" fired Draco defensively without thought. Both her and Draco's father's gazes shot to him quickly.
"And why should I?" she asked talking slow strides towards him "filthy little mudblood doesn't deserve this" she went to snap the wand in two
"Don't!" he called through clenched teeth, again without thought, his facial muscles tensing in regret.
"Why defending her Draco?" asked his father scolding him threateningly. Slowly he analyzed both teens, and realization spread across his face. He sighed loudly. "Well, well, well. I should've known right away. Messy hair, wrinkled clothing, you both reek of sweat and disappointment" he shot his deep glare to Draco with the last word "you've gone and fucked the filthy little mudblood haven't you?" Hermione flinched harshly at Draco's father's words. Draco didn't answer, he only stood motionless "what a lovely ring you've got my dear" Lucius said plucking Hermione's hand from her side then slapping it back down harshly. Draco twitched with anger at his harshness "now don't try to lie to me boy" said Lucius referring to the previous statements. "You're dear friend ratted you out. Blaise was it? Yes, Blaise and that Parkinson girl" Lucius tisked "sad day when your own son turns on to the wrong side. Even sadder when his god awful child friends are the ones to tell him" a disgusted look grew across his face as he scowled his son. Draco flinched with anger as his hands grew to tight fists. "Grab them," snapped Lucius before either of the two could respond. And in one swift movement, two death eaters had cast a charm, raveling the pair in tight ropes and gages.
Soon they arrived at Malfoy manor, escorted by the group of dark followers, each of their wands had been taken, and there was no chance of escape. They were lead to the living courters, where Draco was released from his binds and gages, but still with Bellatrix holding her wand threatingly to his throat.
He looked to Hermione, who hadn't been released and was pushed to her knees, kneeling on the tiled floor. Tears rolled down her cheeks, she was terrified for her life. Draco looked her for a swift moment catching the terror in her eyes. His eyebrows knitted together as a flood of emotions filled him. Anger, fear, love, compassion, rage. Slowly his eyes too filled with light prickling tears, before he watched as a death eater held his wand close to her temple shouting 'stupefy' and within and instant, Hermione fell to the cold floor knocked out cold.
Draco blinked away harsh tears, scrunching his face in an attempt to keep from screaming in pain and anger.
"Good. Now that we have the mudblood out of the way…" said Lucius turning in the direction of his son. Draco kept his eyes locked on Hermione's motionless, limp body. "Draco" growled his father, tearing his stare from the girl and on to him. He still said nothing, and stood with his body tense and ready to punch the first thing he could reach. Lucius glanced down at his son's clenched fists "now now Draco. No need for violence, I believe we can come to an agreement" his father plastered a smile that was anything but kind and warming, like the smiles Hermione used to give him. "I will give you two options. One: you kill the girl and we can move on from this rubbish" Draco flinched aggressively, scowling his father "or two: I kill the girl and disown you and your childish, stupid, filthy choices" his father spat the last few words, scrunching his face to match Draco's. Draco blinked tight, as if he were asleep and only now waking up, his face muscles relaxing with anguish.
"You'd disown me father?" he asked almost softly. Lucius only nodded lightly with a devious grin.
"Unless of course, you are the one to kill the girl" Draco shook his head slowly
"She will not die"
"I don't believe you have a choice," he said with yet another menacing grin. Draco's face re-scrunched with disgust, his nails dug so deep into his palms, soft warm trickles of blood began to form in and around each nail.
Draco looked frantically about the room. Searching for something, anything that could possibly help him in saving Hermione. His mother stood in a small corner of the room by Draco's father, an almost worried and regretting look on her face, but she straightened her posture and lifted her chin when Draco's eyes met with hers. She smiled lightly, and he grinned tightly back.
He looked around again, this time his eyes landing on too bodies that lingered around the other death eaters. One body was short and curved, the other tall and skinny. His eyes widened as they adjusted and saw whom the two were. Blaise and Pansy.
"You two?" he squinted, his mouth open without words "you've become death eaters?" he asked finally bewildered, shaking his head and chuckling in betrayal, not that he didn't feel yet betrayed when he heard they had ratted on him and Hermione.
"Yeah, and it matters why? You're a death eater" Draco's left arm twitched as Blaise snarled, commenting on the marking that lay there.
"I just never took you for the type" he spat out in recovery.
"Drakie" Pansy took a cautious step forward as if he were a dog that had gone mad and she wished to not upset "all you have to do is kill the girl" she said with a smile as if it were as clear as drinking water. Draco snorted
"Oh yeah, all I have to do is kill someone" he shot at her.
"Just do it, and everything will be back to normal" she said through clenched teeth
"No!" he shouted wide-eyed. His gaze shot back at his father "please" he pleaded now not sure of what else to say "please, just… just let her go. I promise I will never speak to her again. Just don't hurt her" Lucius scanned his son with a look to show he was in deep thought.
"No" he said simply after a while "no, you will kill the girl. Unless you would rather me to do it" his father arched an eyebrow "all will be forgiven Draco, if you just cast one simple little curse"
Draco was now nearly in shock. He didn't know what to do. He truly didn't care much if his father disowned him, as long as he had Hermione, but he wouldn't, because she would be dead. The thought of Hermione in pain tugged harshly at his chest and he could feel a large lump form within his throat. He fidgeted with his collar as to release the lump.
A thought jumped to his mind. A conversation him and Hermione had once had in their secret room, of a certain spell. The spell would hurt him almost as much as killing her, but at least she would not be dead, Draco was willing to live in sorrow as long as Hermione lived on, and happy.
"Alright" he said finally, staring again at Hermione's limp body, then turning to face his father "alright, I'll kill her" his father grinned largely, but again the grin lacked any type of 'good' emotion.
"Here then" he said calmly handing his son back his wand. Then quickly pulling it away from his outreached hand "but I must warn you, you are surrounded by tens of death eaters, including myself and your mother. Try to escape, or harm anyone here other then the filth" he said nodding towards Hermione to clarify she was the filth "we will not hesitate to attack" Draco scowled
"Got it"
"Revive her" said Lucius to no one in particular, not breaking the eye contact between him and his son. Bellatrix strode forward swiftly, placing out her wand dangerously close to Hermione's fallen head.
"Enervate" she sneered in a whisper. Hermione groaned and Draco felt his stomach leap at the sound. His expression softened as he looked to her. Slowly she blinked away the tears that still lingered, rising with aching muscles to register the scene. Bellatrix, still standing by her side, kicked her forcefully to the ground, her pointed teeth shinning in a large grin gruesomely complimented with howling laughter "stupid mudblood" she strode back to Lucius' side to watch the scene play out.
"Ouch" whined Hermione rubbing her sides and head. She looked up and met eyes with Draco, his eyes softened and a crooked smile grew on his lips "Draco" breathed Hermione almost soundlessly. Her memory soon recovered as she shot to her feet, her mouth gapped open, unable to find the right words. Her eyes were large and red, her cheeks still stained with old tears, and she had rope burns visible on her wrists, which he assumed would match her ankles. He winced at the look of her, but he ignored it. In his eyes, she was still as beautiful as ever.
"Hermione" he said finally in relief striding towards her, and stopping only inches away
"What are you doing, stop it." His father attempted "Draco" he hissed through clenched teeth
"Just give me a bloody moment!" he snapped with more force then meant or necessary. Lucius was taken a back but kept calm and took an inpatient deep breath.
"Hermione…" he whispered gently, grabbing her hands "Hermione I'm sorry"
"Draco. What's going on?" she asked slowly, trying to sound calm, though her insides were in panic.
"It's going to be alright" he felt his heart scream and squirm in anguish, and he tried hard to ignore it. His thoughts filled with what would come of them after this night, and to him it certainly would not be alright. "I'm sorry I must do this" Hermione's eyebrows knitted together with deep confusion. Her eyes searched his for an answer, and Draco sensing her confusion drew a shaky breath, bending near her ear "my father has ordered me to… k-" he stopped closing his eyes tight with pain "to kill you" he said finally quick and almost harsh. Hermione shot from the side of his face staring frantically into his eyes.
"Draco" her eyes widened and he could see tears form in her eyes again. Surely she didn't believe he was really going to kill her? "I love you," she whispered, panting with heavy breaths. He could tell she didn't believe he was going to kill her, he had soothed his expressions and mindlessly massaged circles on the back side of her hands to calm her fright, ensuring her she would be okay. Though she could still sense something awful was going to happen. He wouldn't have apologized otherwise.
"I know," he finally whispered back. And he really did, she had given him her all the other night, it was more then just sex to him, it was her virginity and it was a strongly guarded gift in his eyes, she had given him more then just this gift, she had given him, her. And that had showed him how devoted she was, and how she truly did love him. "I love you too," he whispered after a few moments. The four words were so simple, yet so powerful, with so much meaning and emotion that Hermione's heart swelled and she smiled softly as tears pricked yet again. In that moment they were the only two in the room, a gang of you-know-who's followers did not surround them. It was just Hermione and Draco, Draco and Hermione, Dramione. "I always have. And I always will" he said widening his eyes as to insure her he was serious "and that is why… why I must do this. I'm sorry, please don't try to forget about us too much" Hermione grew confused again
"What?" she panted quickly as he placed a warm gentle kiss to her forehead. He backed up from her slowly; standing a few feet away he raised his wand to her
"Good Draco" said his father, drawing Hermione's attention back to the reality of the situation, and she noticed finally the tens of death eaters, including Draco's parents and- Blaise and Pansy? Hermione was only slightly shocked, she turned back to face Draco, the movement forcing two tears to fall from her eyes
"Try to understand why I am doing this" Draco spoke quickly, his father rolling his eyes at his son's, cheesy in his eyes, comment. "I'll miss you," he mouthed to her not wanting to say it aloud. More tears fell from her eyes, she was so confused, Draco's lips frowned harshly, slightly parted, a single tear rolled from his eye down his cheek.
Hermione went over Draco's words again and again in her mind "don't try to forget about us too much" a light bulb went off in her head as she recalled a previous discussion they had had. She opened her mouth to protest, her heart aching with anticipation "I don't want to forget you" she meant to say aloud but it was too late, Draco's words drowned out her own as he breathed them coolly I almost a whisper, twisting his wrist as he breathed the word that would change them, change everything, possibly forever.
"Obliviate"