Chapter 73
Prompt: I promise it won't hurt
Hermione shifted and drank in the man beside her. She memorized each contour of his face and the softness of his features. Like this, she could almost forget the world outside this room, almost forget the war. His role of a spy was one he took willingly.
Anything for the order, he had said, but Hermione knew what was unspoken.
Anything for her.
Draco would do anything to protect her and it would kill him. Every day he left the confines of their room, their sanctuary, she knew they were on borrowed time.
How many more days could he return to Voldemort, killing if he must, but saving who he could? A man could only occlude for so long and it had already been 2 years. Two years of strategy, two years of cleaning away the blood from his body, sometimes from others, often his own.
Hermione had begged the Order to allow Draco to join fully, not as a spy, but rather one of them, but it was always refused. The intel he could provide was too important; his life less so. A sob caught in Hermione's throat as she reached out to smooth a curl that had fallen across his forehead. Draco blinked his eyes open at her touch, a small smile growing across his face.
"This is my favorite sight to wake up to," he rasped, voice heavy from sleep, and he nuzzled into her.
Hermione's chest constricted at the feeling and she felt the tears pour.
Pulling back, Draco gazed at her puzzled.
"What is it?"
With a steadying breathe, Hermione took a moment to memorize the way he was looking at her, face open and filled with adoration.
"I love you. I love you more than I have ever loved anything and that's why..."
She paused, unsure how to go on.
A sudden understanding crossed Draco's features and his eyes widened.
"I will not leave you Granger. I won't. I don't give a fuck about anything, this war, the fucking Dark Lord, the Order. I only care about you and I am not leaving you."
He pulled her into his arms, possessively and Hermione allowed herself a moment to relish in the feeling of him.
Pulling back, she peered into his eyes, hand finding her wand.
"I know. And I love you, that's why I am doing this. You will not survive if we keep this up."
His eyes searched hers, confusion and fear etched across his features. Hermione brought her lips to his as she aimed her wand at his head.
"I promise it won't hurt and when this is over, I will bring you back to me."
Tears flowed as she kissed him once more.
Obliviate