Chapter 35
Prompt: I wish I never met you
“I wish I’d never met you. Then I’d never be on the front lines of this damn war and maybe he...” Hermione choked out, turning away from her best friend.
Harry’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know what to say. You deserved so much better, Hermione, I am so sorry. I would change places with him if I could. Please believe that.”
Tears fell more freely as Hermione laid down next to the cold stone. Draco’s body had never been found, the death eaters had made sure there was nothing to find. All they had left of him was this place by the Quidditch pitch, a memorial of his sacrifice to the order.
Harry dropped to his knees and placed a soothing touch to her trembling shoulders. Both lost in their respective grief, neither noticed the tall, blonde figure watching from the pitch.
Prompt: I know that look
Hermione brushed her tears with the back of her hand and slowly rose, holding onto Harry for support. Pressing a kiss to the stone, Hermione turned to make her way across the pitch and froze.
It had been six months since Draco died and she was no stranger to hallucinating him in unexpected places, her subconscious was just not ready to let him go, but this was different.
The Draco Malfoy that stood before her wasn’t the one from her memories, this man was leaner, with a beard adorning his face, but it was the eyes that gave him away. Those grey stormy eyes that were locked on her own filled with an intensity she never thought she’d see again.
Hermione broke into a run and threw herself into his arms, her fingernails digging into his back as she breathed in his signature smell of eucalyptus.
“Forgive me, forgive me,” Draco chanted as he peppered her face with kisses, his embrace tight and reassuring.
“How -? How is this happening? Where-“ Hermione continued to ask half formed questions as she pressed herself further into his chest. She tipped her head back to look at him more clearly and saw the deep purple beneath his eyes and the lines etched in his face.
Pulling back to better meet her gaze, Draco took a deep breath and began, “We knew there would only be one chance to round up the remaining death eaters. By faking my death, I could find their safe houses and bring in the Aurors. I had to keep you safe Granger, you couldn’t know.”
His eyes were pleading her to understand, desperation rolling off of him in waves.
“I know that look,” Hermione began, “You just spent six months single handedly finishing this war and you somehow think I am going to walk away.," she paused a moment to grab his hands in hers. "I never have and never will go anywhere. For four years, I’ve stayed by your side, even when you got the dark mark. These past six months I have visited this stone every single day because I will not leave you. I didn’t leave you in life or in death, Draco, I only ask that now you do the same for me.”