The Vow of My Return

The haze of the early autumn day began to materialize about the treetops of solitary willows; the dew of sweet morning stilling upon the jade grass with a pleasant contentment in matching harmony. It seemed as though nature had gifted the world with the beginnings of a beautiful day, and the many dreamers who woke that morning to sit at their windows and admire the breath-taking view felt that surely the peace had meaning. The ill-fated lovers living at the regal Wiltshire Malfoy mansion, however, could not have had a more different opinion.

The russet-haired woman living in one of the intricate house's largest chambers had not moved from her stationery pose at the window for an eternity, it seemed, and what she was so dazedly thinking about went far beyond the weather. The maiden's unbroken trance was due solely to the heart-breaking thought of her lover leaving to go into hiding; the very knowledge that kept the temperature of the vast house an unwelcome 20 degrees colder that day. Behind her was the man she would shortly be bidding a bitter adieu to; his position on the king-sized bed where he sat as motionless as hers. After countless snatches of precious time had gone wasted, he rose gracefully to come to a silent stand by her side. His arrival near her went by unnoticed momentarily, but when he gently put a hand upon the dame's shoulder she could scarcely suppress a pained shudder.

Draco opened and closed his mouth thrice as he tried to summon the courage to speak. Finally, he broke the cold silence of the room; with brave eloquence addressing her. "I shall be leaving soon, my sweet. But do not look so glum. Would you rather I sit here and wait for Potter and his scoundrels to come for me? You must face them, Hermione, and be strong for both of us. When your heart yearns for me these coming nights, let the vow of my return and the promise of our reunion be your consolation. And no matter what barriers may separate us, never think that I shall not be back for you one day. I swear I shall with every fiber of my devoted heart and soul."

This was too much for the innocent woman to bear. She rose to face him, not bothering or perhaps not able to hold back the fresh torrents of tears that her auburn eyes leant. "Be it at the hands of Harry, the ministry, or of Voldemort, you shall surely be killed! Draco, what will we do if they find you? How will I know? What if you can't make it back and I am left waiting forever with no news of my beloved?"

He pulled her in a desperate hug, unable to face those glittering doe eyes that welled with tears whenever they caught sight of him.

"Hermione..." he said suddenly, pulling away so he could look into her eyes again. "Do you remember what I said after the first time we kissed? Do you doubt a promise this man makes?"

A smile mingled with tears lit her face as she heard this. Undoubtedly, the two lovers had delved into the reminiscence of more joyous times.

"M-malfoy, please stop this. I can't take anymore... I need a man to love me with sincerity, not to say he does through lustful actions as though it means nothing... I just can't do this." The desperate girl's ragged breaths made it hard to speak.

"Hermione," he countered, skillfully managing to call the girl by her first name for the first time ever. "You are the only person who has ever believed in me... The only one who believes I didn't want to kill her, the shard of my heart that completes my being... Don't ever doubt my sincerity to you, don't ever doubt the promises I make to you. I have never met anyone worth honesty until you... My affections are solely reserved for you, I swear."

"I just... I don't think-" He broke her frantic muse with another kiss; though this one the mark of chastity and truth.

"Don't you?" he asked as he pulled away, unable to hide the devilish smirk that tugged at his lips.

"I do," she corrected herself breathlessly, her eyes wide and dazed at the impulsive kisses. "I dare to believe you soulfully and passionately, Draco Malfoy, and should I ever doubt a promise coming from those tempting lips of yours, may you sentence me to a kiss."

The smirk noticeably widened and it was needless to say that Draco accepted this offer whole-heartedly. He made a mental note to himself that he would never forget their bargain...

"I do not doubt... I cannot doubt a promise that my only makes to me," Hermione uttered, bravely smiling still through her flowing tears.

"Then forget me not, and do not cry... I love you." This was one declaration whose only seal could've been the kiss the pained couple shared next. Two hours later, Draco and Hermione shared a second kiss as he mounted his faithful Aethonan... Possibly the last kiss they would ever experience.