2nd May 1999 – Nearly midnight – The Golden Cauldron Hotel

Draco looked around his - their room with a heavy sigh. There little pieces of her all over. He hated to think this would be the last time he would see it. Her shoes were discarded near the dresser, her dress thrown over the chair and the vanity filled with all her little bottles of perfume, make up and jewellery.

His fingers grazed over the jewellery she had taken off and left on the vanity. He could still hear the water running in the bathroom, meaning he still had time to work out what he was going to say. Draco had always known his time with Hermione would come to an end. It was never meant to be for the long run. He was after all, an ex – Death Eater and she had literally helped save the world. They were complete opposites and yet so alike.

Every part of her enthralled him; her smile, her laughter, that little frown she wore when she was trying to work out something. He had known for quite some time that he was madly, truly and deeply in love with Hermione. But he also knew she would never truly be his, he had been foolish to think otherwise; especially when it came to choosing between him and her family. That was not a decision he could ever ask her to make. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn't heard Hermione exiting the bathroom.

"You look awfully distracted," she said softly.

Draco turned to her and damn near growled at the sight of her in his shirt. In nothing but his quidditch shirt. It was long enough that it fell just past her buttom to graze her thighs. Her hair was slightly wet from her shower, and her cheeks tinged pink from the steam. In that moment she looked every bit like his witch.

"Draco," she called looking at him worriedly.

He simply shook his head, "Just thinking." He said.

She nodded, "Have you let the Wizard know we'll be back tomorrow?" she asked walking into the room.

Draco followed her movement, watching as she reached for her book before crawling into the massive bed.

"Draco?" she asked looking up at him when he didn't reply.

"Hmm… oh yes," he answered almost hesitantly. "I told him that I would be coming back tomorrow."

Hermione nodded and then froze as she thought over is words. "You didn't tell him I would be returning?" she asked frowning.

"No," He answered looking at her.

"Why not?"

"Because I don't think you should come back." he said simply.

"What?" she asked completely confused.

"Who were you kidding Hermione?" he asked and he recognised the anger slowly building in her, "You and I know both know you belong here."

Hermione growled in frustration throwing her book against the pillows, "That is not for you to decide!"

"Because there is nothing to decide about it!" Draco pressed. "Potter was right." He said and immediately he knew it was the wrong thing to say.

"And what exactly was Harry right about?" she seethed. "That I was making a mistake following my own heart, that I made a mistake trusting you? That you haven't really changed? That all I should amount to in this world is Hermione Granger, war – heroine, girlfriend and someday wife to Ron?" she threw at him.

Draco gritted his teeth at the last part, hating the mere sound of it. "Well Draco?" she asked looking at him with anger in her eyes. "Which is it?"

"Look Granger," he said slipping back to her last name, "We both knew this wasn't going anywhere. You have no future with me. It was just a bit of fun."

Her face fell at his words and he felt his heart drop into his stomach. "Just a bit of fun?" she repeated barely above a whisper. Her pain was quickly replaced with anger. "Right, because you couldn't have wanted anything more. I was merely a summer fling. Something to fill the time right?" she all but spat at him.

"Don't make assumptions Granger," he warned her. "I am simply telling you what we both know to be the truth. There is no other way this would end. You'll go back to Weasley eventually. I'm just saving you the time and trouble." He said dismissively as if it were no big deal.

"I am so tired of people telling me who I should be with!" she yelled. She got of the bed and marched towards him. "Let me tell you something Malfoy," she emphasized poking him in the chest, "Only I can make those decisions! So screw you and your self – preserving behaviour!"

Draco scowled, "This isn't about me saving my arse you daft woman!"

"Of course it!" She yelled. She had had enough of the men in her life telling her what was good for her. For once, she wanted them to just trust that she knew herself enough to know what she wanted. "You're saving your own arse because being with me is too much trouble!" she shouted.

Draco scoffed, "That's completely bullshit Granger," he said. He knew that in fact her being with him was going to cause her too much trouble. They had seen it first hand tonight. Merlin's balls, if Harry Potter, her own best friend and surrogate brother couldn't handle them being together what was everyone else going to say? Draco could handle the stares, and whispers, it had become his norm after his sixth year but he wouldn't dare put that on Hermione.

"Yes, it is!" she insisted. "You're taking the easy way out!"

Draco gritted his teeth, biting down on his tongue, because there was nothing easy about this. Why couldn't she see it for herself? He was only trying to do what was best for her. She would thank him in the long run.

"You're taking the easy way out!' she repeated.

"You'll thank me one day," Draco said ignoring her comment.

"For what exactly?" she cried angrily. "What could I possibly thank you for when all you're doing is turning your back on me!"

Her words flared his anger and he felt his tongue getting away from him. "You can't possibly be the cleverest witch of the century, Granger," he said scowling looking away.

Hermione fumed at this. "Why? Because I'm not doing what you think is right for me?" she spat. "Because that seems to be a running theme with all the men in my life and let me tell you I'm getting bloody tired of it."

"No," he answered rolling his eyes.

"Then what?" she demanded. "What am I missing? How am I not the cleverest witch?" she asked almost mocking him.

"Because you have no idea how much I love you!" he yelled turning to face her. She stared up at him with big eyes. He had never said that to her. Draco looked at her equally surprised he let that slip from his mouth.

"What?" she asked barely above a whisper. "Draco…. Wha ….what?"

"I love you," Draco said simply. There was no running from it now. Before she could object he grabbed her, pulling close till there was no space between them, capturing her lips in a searing kiss. Hermione gasped and allowed herself to be taken in. His fingers wove into her wet tresses and Hermione clutched to the front of the dress shirt he still wore. He ran his tongue along her lips begging for entrance and she happily obliged. The kiss seemed to awaken something in her and she drew him closer, running her fingers through his hair, drawing a deep growl from him. He pulled back only to rest his forehead against her, breathing heavily.

"You stupid witch," he whispered huskily, "Can't you see how much I love you?"

Hermione sighed, her heart still racing, "I can now," was all she could manage. "Say it again." She pleaded.

Draco smiled as he ran his thumbs across her blazing cheeks, "I love you." He said looking into her chocolate orbs.

"Then why are you pushing me away?" she asked a moment later. Draco sighed and tried to move away but Hermione was having none of that. "Draco, please." She asked.

"I can't ask you to choose between your family and me Hermione," he answered quietly. "Potter is right. This is where you belong, with your family."

Hermione frowned. "Don't I get a say in any of this?" she asked.

Draco almost rolled his eyes. "Of course love," he said. "But we both know what will be the wisest choice for you."

"Don't you dare tell me what is good for me Draco Malfoy! I will decide that on my own, thank you very much!" She scolded.

Draco looked chastised, "Hermione – " he begun but she interrupted him.

"I love you and that is my choice! I don't care whether you or Harry or anybody else thinks its wise or not! It's my bloody decision!" she ranted.

Draco looked down at her smirking slightly, obviously she had not realised what she had just said.

"What did you just say?" he asked.

"That it's my choice!" she continued in the same manner, "Only I get to decide and - "

"No, love. Before that," Draco clarified, hoping she would realise it soon.

"I don't care what people think," she said.

Draco nearly groaned in frustration. "Before that."

"That I love you and …oh," her eyes grew large and Draco grew worried that she might have regretted saying it.

"Love, it thrills me to hear you say this but I didn't tell you this so I could hear it back," he said quietly tucking a curl behind her ear. "I said it to make sure you know," Draco said simply brushing her cheek. She smiled leaning into his touch.

"I know that," she said her voice oddly calm. She sighed almost as if it set heavy on her soul, "By Harry and Ginny giving me this … ultimatum, they have helped me make this choice." She said and Draco felt his heart grow heavy.

There was a huge possibility that she would do exactly as Draco had suggested and choose Potter and leave him forever. Not that he could blame her. Potter was family to her and Draco …well he was not.

She placed her hand on his cheek, forcing him to look into her eyes, "I choose you Draco," she said quietly.

He stood completely shocked."Wha…What?" he stuttered. Hermione couldn't suppress her giggles. "But why?" he asked perplexed. "Potter is your family. Why would you choose me over your family?"

"Because family don't make you choose between two halves that make you happy," she answered.

"Hermione," he said seriously, "You will lose your family over this." He said hoping she knew the extent of her decision.

"I lost Harry the moment he refused to accept that this is what makes me happy." Hermione told him. "And you're wrong. I won't lose my family. I will have you right?" she asked looking at him sincerely.

He stared at her in wonder, perhaps for too long because she frowned in worry thinking that he was still going to push her away.

"You will always have me, Hermione," Draco whispered with all the sincerity in his heart. Hermione smiled and pulled him in for another searing kiss.

"Thank you Draco," she whispered when they pulled apart.

"For what?" he asked.

"For loving me so much that you knew it would kill me to choose," Hermione said.

"I know how much you love your family," He said softly.

"And I hope now you know how much I love you," she countered.

"I do," he said. "And I love you and will support whatever decision you make but I do hope you know this won't be easy Hermione."

"I know. But I choose you. Now and always," Hermione said resolutely.

"Always," he whispered against her lips. Hermione held him tightly knowing that whatever may come they would face it together.