Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Chapter 28

Hermione awoke the next morning, head pounded with her first hangover. Had she really drunk that much? She let out a quiet groan, slowly sitting up in her bed. She began to rub at her eyes, freezing when she felt the presence of another body next to her.

Draco.

She bit back another groan. She had to stop waking up like this. Next to him.

She snuck a glance to her left where he laid, sleeping soundly next to her. She took a moment to take in him in all his beauty. Her maroon sheets covered the lower half of his body, but the smooth, pale skin of his torso was exposed to her. Her eyes travelled up to his face and she found herself admiring his angelic features up close after so long.

Memories of the previous night slowly surfaced in her mind and she was suddenly very aware of the dull ache between her thighs. Surprisingly, she didn't feel the rush of regret she thought she might. She didn't feel angry with herself for giving herself to him, she didn't feel embarrassed or ashamed. She just felt… nothing.

The weeks following her parents death had been difficult for her. She had distanced herself from her friends, who thankfully understood her grief and had given her some space. She had taken to completing her school work in her room, avoiding meal times and the library. She was still keeping up with her classes and Head duties, which were a well enough distraction from her thoughts. Last night Ginny had managed to convince her to come out with some of the girls, and Hermione had finally given in, agreeing to spend the night away from the castle.

She sighed, pulling herself up from her bed and heading to the bathroom. She washed up, hoping Draco would wake up in her absence and leave. She didn't want to face him, not yet. She didn't know if last night changed anything. She didn't know what they were. She didn't know how she really felt. All she knew was that being with Draco made her forget… it made her feel good, at least temporarily while in the moment. And maybe that was worth it. Those few moments of pleasure… the ecstasy he made her feel. It was like a little getaway from her nightmare of a life.

Draco had expressed to her that he wanted her back. That he wanted them to be together again. She knew she couldn't give herself to him emotionally again, not after he had betrayed her trust so terribly. But physically… her body was all too willing to give in to him. She knew the physical attraction was still there for him, too. And for her, that was enough. For now.

She pulled her curls up into a bun as she made her way back to her room, stopping in her tracks when her eyes fell on his form as he pulled on his trousers at the foot of her bed. She cleared her throat, unsure of what to say.

Draco's head shot up at the sound and he slowly stood, buttoning up his shirt. "Morning." he said, a small smirk on his lips as his silver eyes skimmed over her form.

"Morning." she responded, heading towards her closet and busying herself with pulling out her clothes for the day.

She felt him come up behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle and tilting his head down to kiss along the side of her neck. Her eyes fluttered shut as she welcomed his touch.

"I missed you so fucking much, Hermione." he muttered into her ear.

She bit her lip. She didn't want to hear this. It sounded too loving… too emotional. She turned on the spot so they faced each other and lifted her arms, wrapping them around his neck. She closed the distance between them, pressing her lips to his.

If he was surprised by the gesture, he didn't show it. He immediately responded to the kiss, sliding his hands down her back until they cupped her bum. His tongue slid into her mouth and she gasped before sucking it between her lips.

Her hands slid down his front and she quickly began to make work of his belt and trousers, though was stopped when he pulled his head back slightly, staring at her in surprise. She stared at him in confusion, her hands faltering.

"Isn't this what you want?" she asked, finally speaking.

His brows furrowed, now matching her confusion. "What?"

"Sex. Isn't that what this is?" she asked, continuing what she had started as she unzipped his trousers.

He didn't respond nor did he move and Hermione didn't meet his eyes again, focusing solely on trying to get his trousers down. Just as she hooked her fingers under the waistband of his trousers, he suddenly wrapped his cool hands around her wrists, halting her movements.

"Isn't that what this is?" he repeated, using his hold on her wrists to shove her back and off of him. "What the fuck are you talking about?" he hissed, eyes flashing in anger.

She stumbled back slightly, catching herself before she could actually fall. She glared back at him. "What the hell is wrong with you, Draco?" she asked, growing angry.

"What's wrong with me?" he asked sarcastically, stepping towards her until he towered over her. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this is just sex? What the fuck has gotten into you?"

"Because it is!" she spat, staring up at him in irritation. "That's what last night was, it was sex!"

"You know it was more than that," he said weakly.

"Really? How? We haven't spoken in weeks before last night. What else would you call what happened?" she shot back.

"It just was! I… I told you I fucking love you. You said it back. What the fuck are you on about now?" he asked, fists clenched at his sides.

"What do you think, Draco?" she asked. "I told you I needed space. You know I can't trust you, not anymore. Everything you say, everything you do. I'd just be second guessing it all. You used me, you lied to me for months. I don't even know what was real and what wasn't anymore, I-"

"It was real!" he yelled, backing her into the wall and slamming his hand against the wall beside her head. "It was all real, alright? I don't know how else I can fucking show you that I'm sorry! That I fucked up, that I've beaten myself up everyday since that night. I hate myself, alright? I fucked hate myself for what I did to you, and I know you hate me too. I know that. But trust me, Hermione. You don't hate me more than I hate myself. I fucked up everything. I fucked up the only good thing in my life.. You. Us." his breathing was now coming out in short, quick breaths and his face was inches from her own.

She pressed herself flat against the wall, squeezing her eyes shut as she digested his words. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that he regretted it all, that it was in fact real for him too. But a voice in the back of her head told her she was getting tricked again. That he was using her again, for what she didn't know exactly. She heard Harry and Ron's voice in her head, telling her not to be stupid, not to fall for the snake.

"I want all of you, Hermione. Not just the sex, I want everything. You told me… you told me you couldn't get involved with me then. That you weren't ready yet. I've been waiting. I've been giving you your space like you asked. I've been watching you turn into a completely different person. I've been holding myself back, trying to show you that I'm here." he continued when she didn't respond, voice getting pleading.

She felt a tear slip from her eye as she finally looked at him, shaking her head slightly. "I can't give you that right now. I'm sorry, Draco but I can't. Can't you-"

"You're never going to forgive me," he said suddenly. "No matter what I say or do. No matter how much time passes. You're never going to forgive me. You're never going to give me another chance. You're never going to believe me when I say it was real, are you?" he asked, realization dawning on his face.

"I… I don't know." she said, unsure of what else to say. That was what she had told herself ever since the night of Dumbledore's death. She had told herself she would never forgive him. She would never fall for him again.

"I need to know," he said, stepping back. "No more 'I can't do this right now' and 'I don't know'. I need to know if I even have a chance with you again. I need to know, so I can stop fucking thinking about you every second of the day. I need to know so I can stop waiting around for you. I need to know so I can stop keeping my hopes up that one day you will give me the time of day. So what is it, Hermione? Do I have a chance? Ever?"

She stared at him and she felt her heart break all over again. "Don't ask me that, Draco… I don't know-"

"It's not that fucking hard, Hermione!" he yelled, clearly growing frustrated with her response. "Yes or no?"

Her lip quivered as she stared at him. If she said yes, she would be letting everyone she knew down. Her friends would all think she was a fool, a traitor. But if she said no… if she said no she would be letting go of her greatest love. The boy who she had given herself to like none other. The person who revealed a side of her that she didn't even know existed. Her greatest and worst memories involved Draco Malfoy. Could she let that all go?

"N-no." she said finally, voice cracking as she spoke. It wasn't fair to lead him on with false hope.

"Right," he said, letting out a dry laugh. "I don't know why the fuck I thought any different." he muttered, reaching down and buttoning up his trousers once more.

Without another word, he turned and left her room, door slamming shut behind him. Hermione let out a soft sob as she slid down the wall.


Draco sat on the edge of his own bed, head in his hands as he replayed what had just happened over in his head.

Although Hermione hated him, he had always hoped maybe he still had a chance... Somewhere in the future. But now that she had confirmed to him that this was not the case, he had to let her go.

He couldn't force her to be with him. He couldn't trick her again. He couldn't use her for sex. He had to let her go. He had to move on with his life, or at least try. Could he do it though? Could he ever really move on from her? The only girl he had ever loved… the only person who made the feel truly happy.

He had to. There was no other option. She had said it herself; he didn't have a chance. Not ever. It was time to leave Hermione Granger in his past.

A/N: Ahhh! Don't hate me for the late update! I'm sorry! Also don't hate me for the constant drama in my story, I'm a sucker for angsty, dramatic love stories! Hahahaha, what do we think is going to happen next?

Thank you guys for your reviews! I'm so so so happy that you guys are enjoying the story so far! I know this chapter is short but I promsie I wont make you wait this long for the next chapter!

Are you guys liking the drama? Or do you want Dramione to settle down once and for all? Let me know!