"You told me you wouldn't" Hermione's voice quivered as she desperately clutched onto his pale wrist. Her fingers trembled as she pushed his sleeve further up his arm to get a better look. "You promised." She cried, her heartache palpable in her words.

Draco's eyes darted away, his jaw clenched as he struggled to break free from her grip. "You thought I actually had a choice? When have I ever had a choice in any of this?!" He tried to pull away again but she firmly held on.

A surge of anger coursed through Hermione's veins as she refused to let go. "You have a choice Draco. You've always had a choice. You're just too much of a coward to make the right choice." She spat, violently releasing his wrist.

Desperate for some distance between them she turned away, but Draco couldn't bear to let her go. His fingers closed around her shoulder and he spun her back around to face him. Their eyes locked, piercing silver penetrating warm brown. A mix of pain and anger swimming between them. Tears silently trickled down Hermione's cheeks and without thinking Draco swiped his thumb across her smooth skin. His touch was delicate and caring. He hated seeing her cry. He hated being the cause of it even more. Hermione let out a whispered sob, leaning into his touch, her vulnerability laid bare.
"I can't lose you." She confessed. Draco's heart ached at her words and he struggled to hold back his own tears.

She looked down at his bare arm and gently lifted it once more, her touch a mixture of tenderness and curiosity. Her fingers quivered as she delicately touched the contours of the freshly-inked skull and snake that branded his pale skin.
A wave of terror and despair washed over her as she traced the sinister design. She couldn't ignore the darkness that pulsated from the mark. They watched in silence as a single tear fell heavy onto the blackened skin. A symbol of her love and fear for the man standing before her. She willed for her tears to wash away the stain that marred Draco's arm, but such a wish would never come true. It was too late.

Draco slowly pulled down his sleeve and Hermione watched as the mark disappeared under its white veil.

"I'm sorry." His voice was soft and laden with regret. Hermione could see the sincerity in his eyes. With a deep sigh, she curled into his chest, seeking comfort in his arms. Her curls brushed his face as she nestled against him, her body trembling with a mixture of relief and sorrow. Their bond was a rare and fragile sanctuary in the midst of a tumultuous world. Draco leaned into her, embracing her tightly.

"I didn't know what to do." He whispered into her hair. "I'm not as brave as you."

In that intimate moment, they clung to each other, unsure of the future but certain of where their hearts remained; with each other. Forever and always with each other.

-1 Year Earlier -

The cold, dimly lit dungeons of Hogwarts held an air of tension as the students filed into the first Potions class of the year. It was their sixth year, a time when the divide between the houses had grown sharper, and nowhere was more apparent than in Professor Snape's class. You'd think the Quidditch pitch would see more injuries between the rivaling houses, but the dungeons triumph above all. Last year 6 people were sent to the hospital wing and that was just in one class.

The one person who seemed to get out unscathed every time was Hermione Granger. She did not come to Hogward to act like primates in the wild, battling for the survival of the fittest. She came to learn and to learn is what she'll do.

She stood at her usual desk at the front of the room. It was an ideal vantage point for her diligent note-taking. She neatly arranged her books on the table and inspected the inside of her cauldron making sure there was no residue that could sabotage her new potions. Satisfied with her inspection she sat down, face determined, her chestnut hair pulled into a neat bun. Like every year before, she was ready to excel in the art of potion-making. Little did she know that someone had made it their mission to ruin her plans.

Draco Malfoy sauntered into the classroom, flanked by his loyal cronies. His sneer was ever-present and his icy glare found Hermione's eyes the moment he stepped through the door. A coy smile twitched at the edge of his mouth. She quickly averted her gaze down to a book in front of her. With her eyes looking away she didn't notice Draco making a beeline for the empty seat next to her.

"Afternoon Granger."

Her eyes shot up as she recognised his slimy voice.

"What do you think you're doing?" She sat up straight, trying to ignite some confidence within.

Malfoy merely smirked and slid into the seat beside her, ignoring her protests. "Taking a seat. Isn't that what we do in a classroom?"

"But that's Ron's seat. You know that's Ron's seat." She objected.

"Is it? I don't think it is, not this year anyway" She followed his gaze to the other side of the room. Her heart sank as she saw Ron seated next to Lavender Brown. Lavender was gazing at Ron with dreamy, lovestruck eyes.

Malfoy leaned in, his voice dripping with mock sympathy. "Looks like Weasley's got himself a new admirer. She could smell the toothpaste on his breath as he leaned in closer. "Thought you looked lonely up here all by yourself."

"Fuck off Malfoy." She spat and turned away facing the front of the class.

"Oh shit, who knew Granger had such a potty mouth." Her jaw clenched as she heard him cackle. Just as she was about to tell him to fuck off once more but this time with more grit Professor Snape glided past them. He swept to the front of the classroom, his dark robes billowing behind him.

He stood in front of the class, his eyes scanning the room stopping when he noticed Draco and Hermione sitting next to each other. His eyes narrowed at the unlikely pair. Draco shrugged back at him. Hermione scoffed, shaking her head.

"I expect everyone to be on their best behavior this year. I will not tolerate any misbehavior or petty rivalry between the houses. House pride is not an excuse for insolence or disruption," Snape declared, his voice growing sharper. "Those who choose to engage in such behavior will find themselves facing consequences far more severe than a mere detention."

With his point made and expectations crystal clear, Professor Snape moved seamlessly into the day's lesson. "Today," he announced, his voice now returning to its usual cadence, "we shall be brewing the Elixir of Silence, a potion of utmost importance in clandestine operations." His black eyes glinted with an unsettling mix of intrigue and challenge.

As Snape began to outline the complex process of brewing the Elixir Hermione vigorously scribbled down notes on a fresh piece of parchment.

"Calm down Granger, I can practically hear you buzzing from here," Malfoy taunted.

"Shut up, I'm trying to listen." She hissed back.

Moments later the room was filled with the sound of bubbling cauldrons and quiet cursing as the students tried to figure out their elixirs. Hermione was deep in thought over her cauldron.

Draco had no intention of partaking in today's class, he knew he'd pass with flying colours anyway. (With a little help from his Father's very persuasive tactics) Instead, he started ripping up tiny pieces of his textbook, deliberating taking his time with each tear. Hermione's eyes darted in Malfoy's direction, irritation evident on her face. She turned back to her potion, determined to ignore his antics. He continued watching her, delighted to see with each tear her shoulders grew more tense, until..."Stop it. It's so annoying."

Draco didn't respond. He carried on his venture but this time, he ripped out an entire page of the book. With a flick of his wand and a whispered incantation, he folded the paper into a small, intricate dragon. The miniature parchment creature sprang to life and began to flutter around Hermione's head, its wings beating with a soft rustling sound.

Hermione's eyes widened in surprise as the enchanted paper dragon circled her, its presence both distracting and annoying. She swatted at it with her hand, trying to shoo it away. "Malfoy, stop it! This is incredibly distracting."

Malfoy's lips curled into a sly smile as he watched the tiny dragon continue its aerial dance around Hermione. He flicked his wand once more and the dragon flapped his wings faster and faster, whizzing around Hermione's head. The edge of its wings knicked the side of her face, she felt a warm trickle of blood slide down her cheek.

"Oops papercut," Darco said reaching out to wipe the blood across her face, but she blocked him with her arm.

"Don't you dare touch me." Fed up, Hermione reached for a heavy textbook on her desk. She picked it up and swung at the little dragon but grossly misjudged her aim and sent the book careening toward her cauldron. With a deafening crash, the cauldron toppled off the table and clattered onto the stone floor, sending a splash of the bubbling potion in all directions.

The entire classroom fell silent, and Snape's cold gaze turned to Hermione. He spoke in a voice that could freeze molten lava, "Miss Granger, what, may I ask, is the meaning of this?"

Hermione's face flushed crimson as she stammered for an explanation. "I-I'm terribly sorry, Professor. It was an accident.

Snape's expression darkened further, and he reprimanded her with a scathing tone. "Accidents, Miss Granger, are not permitted in my classroom. You will clean this mess immediately. The Muggle way."

Hermione nodded, her embarrassment mounting as she attempted to salvage what remained of her potion. She couldn't bring herself to meet the eyes of her classmates, who were now openly gawking at her mishap. Malfoy, sitting beside her with a barely concealed smirk, struggled to suppress a laugh at her misfortune.

"Mr Malfoy, please assist Miss Granger."

"But Sir-"

"I'm sure you're not innocent in this. Go to Flich's cupboard down the corridor and get the mop and bucket"

Draco was about to object one more time but silenced himself as he met Snape's steely gaze.

Hermione watched Draco traipse out of the classroom. A small part of her warmed at the triumph of him not getting away with it. But it slowly disappeared as she looked down at her spoiled potion, she knew it would have been perfect.

Draco returned and they began to clean in a begrudging silence.

The classroom clock ticked relentlessly, Hermione and Draco had been at it for what felt like an eternity. With a pair of worn-out scrub brushes and a bucket of soapy water, they meticulously scrubbed the stone floor, attempting to remove every stubborn stain left behind by the spilled Elixir of Silence.

As the clock struck the next hour, the classroom slowly emptied. Professor Snape, his patience evidently exhausted, had left them with a stern warning to finish the task and lock up the classroom when they were done.

"Granger," he said, breaking the silence, "this is taking forever. Plus I'm starving, we're missing dinner."

"Well, this is your fault. If you hadn't been so bloody infuriating with that dragon we wouldn't be in this mess. Literally."

"Can't we just use a cleaning spell?"

Hermione shook her head, her expression determined. "No, Malfoy. We have to do it without magic, as Snape instructed. You know he'll find out if we do."

"Ridiculous, I'm not a..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden, sharp sensation at his throat silenced him. Draco's eyes widened as he found himself staring down the tip of Hermione's wand, which she had swiftly drawn and pressed against his skin.

"Go on," she challenged him, her brown eyes narrowing. "Say it. I dare you."

For a moment, Draco was taken aback by her audacity. The tension between them was palpable, and he could feel the cold tip of her wand pressing further into his skin. But then, to his own surprise, a small, genuine smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

He met Hermione's gaze with a glint of amusement in his eyes, and his voice, when he finally spoke, held a hint of genuine admiration. "You've got guts, Granger," he conceded the words almost a compliment.

Hermione's wand remained unwavering, but she couldn't hide a flicker of surprise at Draco's response. Their rivalry had always been marked by heated arguments and bitter insults, but in that moment, something new danced between them. What? Neither of them could tell.

With a sigh, she lowered her wand and they returned to scrubbing the floor.

Finally, as the daylight began to fade, Hermione and Draco stood back to survey their work. The classroom floor gleamed, free of any lingering potion residue, but they were both thoroughly exhausted and covered in grime. Draco's perfectly placed hair now hung loose from its holding gel. Hermione's had escaped the confines of her bun and stuck out wildly around her face.

Hermione triumphantly put her hands on her hips and let out a big sigh, "Well, it looks like we've finally finished."

Draco wiped his brow with the back of his hand, "Who would have thought we'd make such an efficient team? Perhaps we should consider a partnership for future endeavors."

Hermione, momentarily taken aback by Draco's charm, couldn't help but laugh. "Let not get carried away now. You're still a colossal arsehole."

He down at her, a hint of charm and playfulness in his gaze. "I know. I can't help it."

"Well try. I'd actually like to make at least one potion by the end of the year and maybe you should too."

They locked up the classroom, said a quick goodbye, and made their way to their respective common rooms. As she wandered back to the dorms Hermione found herself craving a spearmint tea.