Hey guys!
Here's the next chapter in the story. We're kind of coming near the end of the story. I don't think there will be too many more chapters. But thank you all for reviewing I appreciate it so much.
Much love 3

Hermione's Point of View

It is in the aftermath of his words that I find myself here, alone in my dormitory. I had managed to squeeze past everyone in the common room rather successfully. Now I'm wondering whether I should have stopped and sat with Harry and Ron. My absence has been noted and avoiding them for another night is only going to cause more problems. Maybe their conversations could have proved as a useful distraction. My mind starts twisting and turning again as it begins going down one pathway before turning to another one.

I think of the severity of the situation we were just in. If Pansy or Blaise had come around that bookcase and seen us I don't know what would have happened. I can't begin to imagine what they might have said or what I would have said. Or even what Malfoy would have said to explain away the reason we were both in the same room.

But the panic I experienced had not come from the fact that Pansy and Blaise were making out on the table two feet away from us. It had come from his left arm pressed close to my chest and neck. His arm that bears the mark pressed so tightly against me, holding me still. The panic had come from being so close to it, having it so near my heart. I swore it felt cold pressed against me, like ice that sticks when you touch it.

But then I think of his other arm wrapped lower down, across my stomach and how when I had panicked his thumb had moved up and down, almost caressingly. I don't even know if he was aware he was doing it. But I could feel it because it was moving against skin that was visible because my jumper was somewhat pulled up.

I think of his lips, whispering low, close to my ear and how it tingled to have them brush against it. I roll over in the bed and pull the blanket up over my head, blocking out the glare from the light. I breathe deeply for a while until the panic in my chest settles down. What have I gotten myself involved with? How could I let all of this happen? It all feels like one giant mess and I like myself and my life to be together and prepared. It doesn't fit me but I can't seem to figure out a way to set it right. Malfoy isn't the type of person that you can just handle or organise. He's an enigma. One to be reckoned with and I don't know if I'm strong enough to fit against him anymore.

Draco's Point of View

"I didn't see you at the party last night?" Blaise says as we're walking to potions.

"Hmm, yeah not exactly my scene. Heard she invited third years," I comment. Blaise rolls his eyes.

"It wasn't too bad," he says, readjusting his bag strap.

"Do anything interesting afterwards?" I say, slyly, hoping to get a rise out him. He raises his eyebrow at me and I look the other way.

"No, the usual. Why?" he asks sceptically.

"No reason," I smirk. Blaise knows I know something but he doesn't have enough information to keep digging so he lets it go. I smile to myself.

It's probably not best to taunt him about last night incase he inquires how I might know. Sometimes I have a bad habit of talking myself into sticky situations. But I also manage to get out of them quite well so I think that's why I still dabble in them.

A force moves past me, shouldering me. Potter walks past and looks over his shoulder at me with a frown.

"Watch it, Potter. Do we all have to clear the halls and make room for the chosen one or something? Did I miss the memo?" I scowl. Potter turns on his heels to face me and the look on his face tells me he's more than willing to engage in this fight. I'm glad, I have some pent up anger to get out after last nights steamer than usual run-in with Granger.

"No, but maybe they should clear the halls for a scumbag Death Eater like you," he growls back at me. A few eyes turn our way.

"Watch your fucking mouth, Potter. Didn't your mother teach you better, oh, wait." Potter throws his forearm against my neck and pushes up. Sadly I'm a lot taller and stronger than he is. I grab his arm and twist, pushing him back against the stone wall. The air leaves his chest in a loud grunt.

"Don't ever fucking touch me," I snap, twisting his arm tighter. He recoils from the pain. Potter manages to untangle himself somehow and pushes back against my chest, hard.

"You think just because Dumbledore didn't believe me about what you did to Katie Bell that you're off the hook. I'm sure you'll fuck up again and when you do I'll make sure to have proof this time," Potter warns. I clench my teeth together as he speaks. The whole Katie Bell thing is something I don't give much thought to because of how badly I messed up the entire situation and what came after it.

"You'd want to be careful throwing around accusations like that without any proof. You haven't a God damn idea what you're talking about," I spit back.

"I know what you are, Malfoy. I'm not the only one either," he says. I think of Granger and I wonder has she told him about it. I doubt it because then she would have to explain her part of the situation.

"I bet your father is proud of your fuck up," Potter adds and this hits a nerve. I ball my hands into fists. My father had not been proud of my fuck up, he had only been proud of the fact that I had almost killed Granger in the process. My stomach churns. I'm ready for this to end. So it begins.

I begin.

"Yeah, do you think your mother is proud of you Potter? How many times have you failed now?" I ask and I can see from his eyes that this hits a nerve. So I continue even though a few students have started to notice the altercation and stopped on their way to their classes to watch. Maybe hoping this might escalate.

"I bet she screamed when she died like the traitor that she is."

His fist connects with my jaw and it's almost like he's struck a match against me. I light up and hit him back twice as hard. When he drops I watch him fall and wipe the blood away from my lips. I can feel one of my teeth come a little loose at the back from his punch. There is a loud gasp from the students standing around watching.

"Let's go Malfoy before a Professor comes. You don't want to get caught up in this," Blaise warns but I continue staring down at Potter waiting for him to stand.

"This isn't over," he says, standing up and walking back the way we came. I smirk and pick up my bag. I glare at a group of second years staring open-mouthed at us until they turn on their heels and start moving.

"Let's go," I say to Blaise. He follows beside me as we make our way into potions.

"Maybe you should go and get that cut looked at?" Blaise comments as we take our seats at our work station. I wipe my mouth again and see that my lip is still bleeding. I ignore it.

"It'll be fine," I say as I watch the door for Granger. I wonder what kind of face she'll make when she sees me. She eventually arrives with the weasel and hurries to her seat before she notices me. She stands still by her chair, dumping her bag on top as she takes in my bleeding lip. I wipe at it again, my sleeve covered it blotches of red. She furrows her brows together in confusion as she takes her seat, concern present in her eyes. I stare at her neck and remember how she smelt last night pressed against me.

"Look in a mirror recently Malfoy," the weasel comments.

"Have you?" I ask back quick enough to earn a snigger from Blaise. The weasel ignores my comment and I smirk. But Granger continues watching me, searching my face for the reason why I have a busted lip. I merely stare at her, watching her face change expressions and emotions. Something about being able to cause her face to change so much always gets a rise out of me. I loved it even when I was younger. To be able to cause a reaction in her was always my goal when I attacked the golden trio. She was always so stoic so it made the reward twice as good.

When Slughorn calls the class to attention he starts to ramble on about today's assignment. Talking us through the instructions and what ingredients are going to be necessary from the greenhouse today. Granger takes notes but it's not her usual fast-paced scribble as she stops several times to watch me from the corner of her eyes. As if I'm going to get into another fight if she doesn't keep an eye on me. I imagine what other kinds of expressions I can get her to make.

"Mr Malfoy," Slughorn calls and my eyes move to his in confusion. The whole class turns and gawks at me.

"Go to the bathroom at once, your lip is swelling up and bleeding," he orders and I put my hand to my mouth. Suddenly I can feel the heat coming off of it. I hadn't noticed it before. I roll my eyes at him as I swing around on the chair and stand up. I look at Granger once before leaving and her eyes are full of questions.

Hermione's Point of View.

I watch as he leaves the classroom with his usually nonchalant walk. I can't help but wonder at the cut on his lip and the marks starting to form on his right fist. Surely he had to have been in a fight but this early in the morning? And with who?

I turn to Ron in questioning but he just rolls his eyes at me. I reconstruct my face for him because of course I cannot be concerned about whatever activities Malfoy chooses to get himself involved in. For the next painfully slow ten minutes I try to focus on what Professor Slughorn is saying but I can't help listening out for the noise of the door opening to alert me that Malfoy is coming back. A small part of me wants to go to Slughorn after class and ask for Ron and me to be reassigned a different work station. Malfoy is far too distracting to be around during class. Knowing that he's just across the table from me makes it almost impossible to give my full attention to class. Sixty per cent of me is always watching and monitoring everything he does from the corner of my eye.

Ron jots down the list of ingredients we need from the greenhouse.

"You want to go? Or should I?" He asks, waving the piece of paper in his hand.

"No you go, I'll get set up here," I assure him, watching the door again. Something is off. It's been almost fifteen minutes now. Where could he be? I don't think Slughorn would even notice if he decided never to come back to class. I look over at Harry's work station and notice that he's not there either. My stomach starts to do flops. Solid realisation forms and doubt creeps into my mind. What if Malfoy and Harry got in a fight? Would he say anything about me just to get at him? Where could Harry be? He never misses potions. He's one of slughorns best students because of that stupid textbook he got. I gulp down some rising panic as I raise my hand.

"Yes, Miss Granger?"

"Sir, is it okay if I use the bathroom?" I ask.

"Hmm, I'd prefer if you would use the restroom during the break times, but if you must," he says motioning towards the door. I thank him with a shy smile and leave the room trying not to make eye contact with Blaise. Ron is going to be really confused when he gets back from the Greenhouse but I have to find Harry.

Once outside the room, I make my way quickly across the bridge and shiver. I couldn't exactly grab my jacket on the walk out of the classroom. Slughorn would find that far too suspicious. It's especially cold today. I pull open the double doors and head towards the common room. I'll check there first and then I'll check the quidditch pitch.

At the bottom of the hallway, I hear a strange noise as the door to the boy's bathroom swings open and Harry emerges, drenched in sweat. He stumbles out, clutching his wand in one hand. His eyes look far away and there's a horrible expression on his face.

"Harry! What's going on? Where were you?" I ask when I get close to him. Up close I can see his eyes look frozen still, unblinking.

"Hermione! What are you doing here?" He asks, shoving his wand back into the pocket of his robes.

"I was looking for you. You weren't in Slughorns class. Hey, wait!" I call after him as he tries to push past me.

"Harry whats going on?" I ask, pulling on his arm. He pulls it out of my grip.

"Go back to class Hermione. Nothing is wrong," he says as he turns and walks away. He passes the entrance to the bridge and I know he's not going to Slughorns class. An unpleasant panic rises inside me suddenly as I look towards the boy's bathroom feeling like I already know what's to come.

Outside the sun moves behind the clouds and I watch as it disappears in a long strip down the hallway as if zeroing in on the boy's bathroom. The closer I get to the door the more I hear the sound of rushing water. I knock on the door and call out to see if there's anyone in there first before I enter.

When I get inside I step down into a puddle of water that reaches up to the top of my shoes. I sigh inwardly as the water leaks in and drenches my socks. I shake my foot out as I lift it only to step into another deep puddle. Over by the large ornate mirrors, the main foundation area has been destroyed and the water is jutting upwards at an alarming speed. I look down at the pool gathering underneath and I notice the water coming from the right side looks a little redder than expected.

I call out again but the sound of rushing water seems the swallow the sound of my voice. I move over to the right side of the fountain as a pair of feet come into view. Panic rises again and I have to steady myself to keep upright.

I walk the whole way around the fountain and that's when I see him lying in the puddle on the ground, water almost up to his ears. His robe hangs across a broken washbasin above his head. Leaving him wearing only a shirt that is mostly drenched in blood. Two large cuts are swiped across his chest. They're bleeding but not that much which makes me realise that they must be deep. Most of the blood has come from the smaller cuts dotted around his chest and arms.

My legs shake terribly as I drop myself down in the puddle beside him, soaking all of my pants. I place my hand on his chest and I watch as it shakes. His breathing is slow and weak and the loss of blood swirling in the water between us has paled his face to the point he looks almost Blue. He looks almost dead.

"Malfoy," I whisper, shaking him by the shoulder. Before I notice it I'm in complete shock. My body parts barely reacting to my brain functions as I sit frozen staring down at his corpse-like appearance.

"Malfoy, please," I beg, shaking him harder this time. "Please," I say, starting to cry. "It's me."

I watch as his eyes open partly, flickering a little before opening fully. He grunts, clearing his throat. Tears stream down my face as he recognises me.

"Malfoy, what happened? What can I do?" I ask, taking his hand in mine and squeezing until my hand hurts from the force.

"Please, I don't know what to do. There's so much blood," I say my face shaking horribly as I plead for him to tell me what to do.

"Get snape," he murmurs, his eyes shut again. I stand, trembling as I will my legs to move. When I get outside of the bathroom I move as fast as my legs will allow me, thanking everything and anything that Snape's office is only around the corner. I burst in the door, dripping water all over the floor catching myself before I slip from the force.

"Miss Granger! How dare you just barge into my office like this! 50 points from Gryffindor-"

"It's Malfoy!" I scream, frantically, waving for him to follow me. All fear of him gone from my mind when Malfoy might be dying in the bathroom down the hall.

"Please, hurry!" I urge Professor Snape as he stares at me in bewilderment before eventually getting out of his chair. I practically sprint down the hallway back to the bathroom as Snape follows at his usual pace, clearing not noting the severity of the situation. I drop down beside Malfoy as I hear Snape enter the bathroom.

"It's okay, Malfoy. He's here," I whisper close to his ear but his eyes are still closed. Snape steps around the fountain awkwardly trying to lift his robe so it won't get wet. When he sees Malfoy on the ground he drops his robe.

"What happened here? Did you do this?" Snape demands.

"No of course not! I just found him like this," I say, trying to keep my tears back. "Can you please do something he's lost a lot of blood," I beg. Snape drops down beside me and notes the marks on Malfoys chest, recognition in his eyes.

Snape starts to chant a spell I haven't heard before. After a couple of seconds, the blood pooling in the water starts to slowly run back into Malfoy's body and I watch as the colour comes back into his cheek and his eyes flutter open a little. He gives my hand a squeeze. I sigh loudly in relief and wipe the tears off my cheeks as I drop my head down beside his, resting my cheek against his.

"I thought you were dead," I whisper into his ear as one of my tears drops onto his cheek. Malfoy lifts his head up as he sits upright and leans back against the broken water fountain. He looks down as his ripped shirt and fingers the large holes for a second before staring at me.

Suddenly the air in the room changes from life and death to a kind of awkward realisation. He looks at Snape and then back at me and I frantically wipe away the tears.

"Go back to class Granger," Malfoy says in a monotone and I look at Snape's stoic expression out of the corner of my eye.

"Yes, Miss Granger. Your services are no longer needed. Back to class at once," Professor Snape orders. I drop my eyes under Snape's heavy voice and stand.

I look at where the blood and cuts were just located on Malfoy's chest and no matter if they're not there anymore it's a sight I know that I will never forget.

As I make my way back to the dormitory to get a fresh set of uniform I can't help but feel the weight of what just happened. Had Harry done that to Malfoy? And for what reason? What had Malfoy said or done to provoke it? But it was not the fact that Malfoy and Harry had gotten in a fight, it was the fact that because of the situation we're in I imagine it won't be the only time Malfoy or Harry will find themselves in that situation. There is a war coming and there will be lives and blood lost until there is a victor. Whether it be Harry or Malfoy's side.

Seeing Malfoy like that has made me believe that this can no longer continue between us. It half killed me just now to see him cut up like that I can't imagine what would happen if I was on the other side of the battlefield and I saw him die on the opposite side. There would be no words to explain to anyone why his death would destroy me.

At what point had I reached this mindset. When had he gotten his claws this deep into me and how could I have allowed myself to let it happen. When had I fallen for him in return? It must have been so quick and easy because I didn't even feel it happening. Perhaps it had been there this entire time but seeing him lying almost dead on the bathroom floor had opened my eyes to it.

But I cannot allow this to continue. I can't be in this war and worry about two people who are on opposite sides. How can I fight alongside Harry and pray every day that we don't run into Malfoy out there? Because I know I wouldn't be able to hurt him if the time came. I can't go into war with this weakness. But am I too far gone now?

When McGonagall leaves her room at 10:15 pm I wait eagerly by the door for him, leaning against her desk. If he thinks he can avoid coming tonight I will personally go to the Slytherin common room and make a sceptical of myself.

I had avoided Harry for the rest of the day because I wasn't sure how I felt towards him after what he had done to Malfoy. There was no if or maybe about it. He had come from the same bathroom I had found Malfoy in so it only made sense that Harry had done it.

I exhale deeply, preparing myself for the war that's to come. I have to end this properly this time before it gets out of hand. It is time to really speak to him. I try to compartmentalise my thoughts and emotions but he pushes the door open and interrupts my thought process. My mind suddenly goes blank as he enters and stares at me. I can't remember what I was just trying to do.

"What were you doing in the boy's bathroom today, Granger? That the kind of thing you're into?" Malfoy starts with a deep smirk and my thoughts finally come back to me and settle.

"We need to talk," I start. Malfoy walks around McGonagall's table and sits in the chair staring up at me leaning against the table. His hand resting on the armrest touches my thigh.

"Getting right too it, huh?" he smiles. I brush my hair out of my face and tuck it behind each ear.

"I want to know what happened today?" I say, trying to keep my voice even. I don't want to play any more games right now.

"Don't worry about it," he says batting his hand at me.

"That's not the question I asked?" I repeat more sternly this time. He addresses my expression and smirks again.

"It was just some pent up shit with Potter. No big deal," he finally admits. I weigh this over in my head somewhat glad that it wasn't to do with me at least.

"Malfoy, you were bleeding to death on the ground when I found you. I thought you were going to die!" I exclaim.

"Were you worried about me?" he asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Cut the bullshit!"

"Were you?" He asks again dryly, staring at me so intently I have to look away.

"Of course I was," I mumble, meeting his eyes again. He stands up from the chair and cups my neck in his hands, caressing me. He brings his face down close to mine and kisses my neck. I push him back hard and his foot stumbles over the chair and he hits back into the stone wall. He starts to laugh as he rights himself.

"I forgot how strong you are," he says, still laughing.

"Malfoy, please. I want to talk properly. I don't want to play this game anymore. I need answers this time otherwise I'm walking out that door and I won't be coming back. I'm serious this time," I say as sharply as I can. He stares down at me questioningly but shrugs.

"Then ask the questions," he says.

"You said the other day that you wanted to save me as a way to make up for all the things you've been asked to do. What are they?" I ask, eyeing him.

"I can't answer that," he says honestly. I nod slowly unsure.

"Are they bad?"

"They're not good, Granger," he answers sharply.

"Are you in danger?" I ask, watching him run a hand through his hair.

"Always."

"Can you just not do it? Whatever it is?"

"He would kill me," he says quietly. Malfoy sits back into McGonagall's chair and cups his forehead. I want to comfort him but I don't know how to.

"Are you scared?" I ask, noticing how tense his shoulders are. He drops his hands from his forehead and looks up at me with a smug expression.

"Not when I'm around you," he says. "With you being so strong of course," he adds smugly and I push his arm. He laughs. I exhale some of the tension that conversation has brought, away.

"Granger come on," Malfoy comments.

"What?"

"You said you wanted to talk. So talk. Stop avoiding it."

"What do you mean?"

"Ask the real questions," he purposes.

"I want it to be over, Malfoy," I start. He smirks again and stands from the chair, glowering down at me. He leans down and presses his forehead to mine and I put my hands against the end of the desk to keep steady.

"No you don't," he says clearly.

"After seeing you lying half-dead there today I do. I can't go into this war worrying about the day that I see you on the other side. I could never face you," I explain.

"I can take care of myself pretty well Granger you don't have to worry about me," he says nonchalantly. He moves his hands slowly back up to my neck and lifts my head up so we're looking at each other eye to eye. I look deeply into his stormy grey eyes and try to imagine the pain of seeing him dead.

"I don't want this," I say but it comes out like a whisper against his face. He smiles down at me. His eyes moving from mine to my lips.

"Granger we both know the question and the answer. We both know the answer so why are you even saying that?" he asks, his lips so close to mine.

"Why me?" I blurt out. He half-smiles and touches his forehead against mine again.

"I love to make you angry," he chuckles and can't help but laugh a little at his response.

"You're very good at it," I say sarcastically.

"Are you going to ask the question?" he asks, looking down at me with raised eyebrows. I know exactly what he means but I can't bring myself to say the words. All of sudden I want to go back to playing the game I'm not ready for this to be real. I want to run away and pretend none of this ever happened. Back under my mothers old blanket where I feel safe.

"No," I murmur.

"Hmm, why not?" he says drawing circles with his nose against my cheek.

"I'm scared," I admit, unable to lie anymore. The wall between us is completely down now and I can't make myself lie anymore.

"Do you want me to say it?" he asks, meeting my eyes again and there's just conviction in them it makes me want to explode. I shake my head and he laughs.

"Why did you give in to this so easily?" I ask, instead and he smirks at my obvious aversion.

"I'm selfish Granger. I want what I want. Simple as," he says and this time his lips brush so close to mine I think I might actually explode. I can practically taste him and the warmth of them is so inviting. A tear escapes my eye and runs down my cheek.

"Don't cry," he whispers. "Nobody said it would be easy," he explains.

"Yeah," I say swallowing the lump forming in my throat. " But nobody said it would be this hard," I murmur back.

"Ask me the question, Granger. I'm ready to tell you now," he says, taking my hands in his, lacing his fingers through mine. I gulp and gather enough energy to speak.

"What did you see in my future?" I finally ask. He smiles.

"I didn't lie about the whole Ron thing. I did see you die if you stay with him," he says and I nod. Suddenly I feel embarrassed unsure if we had both been on the same page.

"But," he interjects and I hold my breath. "I saw two futures," he starts. I nod, beckoning him to continue.

"and you forgive me for all of this," he says with a smirk. "When I saw it I tried to fight so hard against what I saw because I didn't want my life to be dictated by it."

"And now?" I ask, unsure.

"Now, I want it all right this second. Because I would gladly die for just a taste of what I saw," he admits and my pulse starts to rise.

"What did you see, Malfoy?" I ask surer this time and he smiles in response, kissing my cheek.

"I saw us, Granger, as we are now. But years in the future," he says finally and my heart flops.

"You already knew that?" he asks and I nod slowly. I had known it. Somewhere deep inside I had known it. A part of my subconscious had put it together but had not let it come to the front of my mind for fear that it might make me shut down if I wasn't ready for the information. But everything from the moment he had walked into the room and I had first asked him what he saw, I just knew.

He encircles me in his arms and pulls me tight against him. I wrap my arms around his neck. He faces turns serious as he holds my cheek in his warm hand.

"Granger I'm sorry," he says so seriously it makes me feel as light as air. "For everything," he adds.

"It's okay," I assure him, pushing the hair out of his face.

"This won't be easy and I can't guarantee that we'll be able to be together now. It could be a few years after the war before there's even a possibility for us," Malfoy says and I nod. I had known that. I wasn't under the impression that we were suddenly going to start skipping down the hallway holding hands or anything.

"There are roles we have to play first. You know that" he says.

"Yeah, I know."

Malfoy draws a line with his nose up my neck and kisses behind my ear.

"Granger?"

"Hmm," I mumble, unable to think straight with his mouth against my neck.

"I will try but I can't promise you'll always like me as much as you do right now. There are things I have to do that you won't understand but maybe when we get to a different place and time I can explain them," Malfoy says against my neck. I know this is still a serious conversation but it's so hard to focus when he's holding me like this.

"Do you understand?"

"Hmm," I mumble again against his neck. He chuckles a little.

"Just try and remember this the next time we fight okay?"

"Okay," I murmur and it elicits another chuckle from him.

"So stubborn. I hope our son doesn't inherit that from you," Malfoy says against my neck and I freeze. Our son. I grab his face in my hands and search his eyes widely but I only see conviction.

"A son?" I ask. He nods. Tears stream down my face unrelenting now.

"Now," he smirks. "Do you still not want this?" he asks, tilting his head at me sarcastically. I laugh wiping away the tears with the back of my hand. Maybe in a few days or hours when we're fighting again I'll wish I would have said something different. But how could I?

"I want this," I say and finally his lips capture mine, pushing me against the wall. He kisses me so fiercely and passionately against the cold stone wall and all I can think of is how dangerous this whole situation has just become. I know what I thought was hard before is about to seem like child's play compared with the challenges to come. But I open my mouth wider and invite him in deeper. Because we are magnets and there's no force in the world that can stop them.