Suddenly the four men were standing on the bridged breezeway. Months have now passed from Winter into Spring. Birds were singing their melodies, and flowers were in bloom.

"Oh Hermione looks pissed off at you." Young Draco assumed.

"When didn't she look pissed off at him?" The older Theodore retorted with a chuckle.

The elder Draco nodded, "Just one of our many, many fights."

"Merlin. The two of you fought like fucking Manticores." Theo tagged, shaking his head.

Draco stifled a laugh, "That is only because she is...err, was so bloody stubborn."

"No, Hermione! I have to do this. You don't understand." Draco said dourly.

"Then explain it to me! You know I am here for you. I will try to understand, if you'd just help me to!" Hermione demanded, biting back her lip to keep herself from crying.

"You have no idea what it is like to constantly try to prove yourself." Draco spouted.

Surprised, Hermione couldn't help but yell, "WHAT? WHAT? You can not be serious Draco Malfoy. Do you know who you're talking to? I have to work my arse off every single day of my life to prove that I am a good witch. You even said so yourself that I am a mudblood!"

"Oh, don't you fucking start that Hermione, I was twelve years old. I was a stupid, petulant boy." Draco sneered.

"But it's true, and you know it! So don't give me the whole 'you don't know what it's like' speech. Because I do." Hermione fought back.

"You're top of the class! What more do you have to prove? I don't want you to help me, don't you get that? So why don't you use those brains that I know you have, and get this through your head. This is not something that I want you to be apart of! Merlin's beard, Hermione."

"What?" Hermione bit in her cheeks. "You're really this mad because I want to help you?"

"No! Granger! Fuck!" Hermione stepped back from him.

"Granger, huh?" Her tears were now flowing. It had been so long since he had called her by her surname. It was little things like that, that made her heart ache.

Draco moved toward her, reaching out to pull her to him.

"No, Malfoy." She spat back. He was pushing her to the railing. If he could only his lips on hers, she'd forget about the whole thing.

However others didn't know this.

"Draco! No! Get off of me! Now!" She cried out as she was smacking his chest. He was much too strong for her escape.

"Oi! Malfoy!" The red headed man yelled as he was running toward them. "Take your hands off 'er!"

Draco didn't loosen his grip from Hermione's arms. "Shut up, Weasel. Mind your own business."

"Draco." Hermione said firmly. He turned back to her eyes, his softening. "You're hurting my arms." It came out so casually, as if she had been used to this gesture.

She knew exactly where he was taking it.

He muttered a quiet "sorry."

"I'm not done talking to you, ferret." Ron inched his wand toward Draco's face.

"You're wanting to duel, seriously? I have some of the best training." Draco chuckled.

"I...I can take you, Malfoy." Ron challenged.

Draco licked his lips, providing that he was quite humored. He pulled his own wand from his cloak pocket.

"Oh, stop it. Both of you." Hermione stated resolutely.

"What? You can't be serious?" Ron glanced sideways to Hermione. "He's an abusive wanker. He tosses you around like chum. And you're ok with that?"

Hermione defiantly stepped up beside Draco, taking his hand. "First of all, Ronald. Draco doesn't push me around. He wasn't trying to hurt me." She was still mad, and you could see it clearly in her eyes; Hermione Granger wasn't going to let someone, (whom she considered very close to her) disrespect their relationship.

"And secondly. It really isn't any of your business as to what is going on here." She pointed between her and Draco.

Ron crinkled his nose and rolled his eyes.

"You should really try to hide your jealousy, Weasley. It's very...ungainly, especially since you have a girlfriend. That Lavender Brown bint, right?"

"Sod off." Ron drew his wand once more.

"Seriously. Stop. Draco, that was stupid and Ron, just go."

"Huh. Whatever, Hermione." Ron stepped backwards from the pair, shaking his head, after a few steps, Ron stormed away, leaving the couple back to their roots.

Hermione removed her hand from Draco's, protectively crossing her arms across her chest.

Draco moved her fringe aside and very calmly said, "I'm mad because you won't get it inside of your pretty little head, how much I love and want to protect you. I just want to protect you."

Hermione froze her breathing, blinking repeatedly. Did he just say he loved her?

"You- you love me?"

Realizing what he had just said, a smile brimmed his lips. "Yeah. I do. I love you." He shrugged, not wanting to make a huge deal about it.

Placing her hands on his face, she pulled him close. "Good, because I love you too."

XXX

Before they knew it, the Hogwarts grounds re-appeared at their feet. Only this wasn't how Hogwarts usually looked. It was crumbling and covered in destruction, corpses slung across the disheveled planks of broken walls.

The four men cringed at the sight of Voldemort and as a crowd of Death Eaters approached with a half-giant in tow. What was in Hagrid's arms?

The younger Draco began to tremble despite the fact that he knew this was just a memory. Voldemort couldn't actually do anything to him. This was a part of history. However, this didn't stop the chill that ran down his spine when Voldemort's cold, red, eyes ran past the very spot he was standing.

Following the elder Draco's lead, the other three spun around to see a very battered group of Hogwarts professors, students, and Order members. Their expressions bore the look of defeat and their eyes reflected worry.

The four men's eyes settled finally upon Hermione in the crowd.

She nibbled on her bottom lip nervously. Her Draco silently appeared from behind and joined her at her side, clasping her hand firmly in his, standing defiantly.

She squeezed his hand tightly, fresh tears forming in her eyes once their fears were confirmed. Hagrid was cradling a very lifeless Harry Potter. Draco gently warned her with his own squeeze not to move.

Voldemort began what would be a lengthy monologue, seemingly unaware of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy hissing "Draco! Draco!" across the empty space while trying to coax their son to them as if he were a lost dog. Draco didn't move. He stood strongly.

The Dark Lord's eyes soon settled on Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, then down to their entwined fingers.

"Lucius" he slithered.

"Y-Yes, my Lord?" Lucius Malfoy sauntered forward, cowering at the sight of the ungodly man.

"How do you feel to know your son has betrayed you? Has betrayed us all?" he gestured around to his followers.

Lucius paused before shooting a scathing look at Draco. "The bloodtraitor is no son of mine, my Lord."

Voldemort released a creepy chuckle from his lungs before the Death Eaters joined him in laughter like sheep.

With the distraction, Harry Potter leapt up from mock-death as Draco Malfoy sprinted forward, tossing him a wand.

Quickly, Voldemort grasped hold of Bellatrix before whispering something hurriedly to her. She froze, a look stealing her face that was reminiscent of a young child being told by their mother that their sibling ate their last Chocolate Frog.

She nodded a solemn "Yes, my Lord." antecedently disapparating away.

Before young Draco could see what happened next, his vision was blocked and he was being shaken by the shoulders, looking into a sadder version of his own grey eyes.

"Do you understand?"

"Wha—"

"You mustn't stand on their side! When your mother calls, GO! You might think you are keeping Hermione safe but it is that very action that gets her killed." he took a deep breath before continuing "Hermione was my 'weakness'. To Bellatrix, if I had just remained loyal to him instead, he would have won the war."

The memory faded away closely followed by a new one taking roots around them.

Suddenly his voice became etched with heartache "By all means let Potter win. But stay away from Hermione."

"P-Potter wins?"

The question was ignored. "Am I being clear?"

"Crystal."