A Chance is All One Needs

"That took longer than the battle did," exclaimed Draco Malfoy as he walked out of Dumbledore's office. After four hours of non-stop questions from the Ministry officials, he accounted for details on his duty for the Order and was allowed to leave. There was plenty of proof for his spy work for the past year; they came to the conclusion he had truly been on their side during the final year of the war. "You've thought the fact I killed ten Death Eaters, including my own father, would've been enough. But noooo, the bloody Ministry has to be 'thorough'. Thorough my arse."

A chuckle came from behind the ranting Slytherin. He stopped in his tracks to turn around. His Head of House followed close behind him and stated matter-factually, "After close to seventeen years of playing double-agent, I will not complain over the paperwork and red tape. Draco, just be glad the worst is over. You are a free man with no longer two puppet masters to pull your strings and no line to balance on."

As the Potions Master passed him, Draco thought he saw what looked close to be a smile on his face. Professor Snape never smiled; today would definitely go down in history book of Hogwarts. Not only was Voldemort defeated within in the castle, the snarky professor who was known for his nasty attitude came close to a real smile. The blonde Slytherin shook his head in disbelief; he needed to be pinched and he knew just the witch to do it. A sly smile crept across his thin lips.

Draco silently headed down to the dungeons with the professor to his office. The older man sat down at his large wooden desk while he pulled out two glass goblets and a bottle of red wine. Draco walked straight over to the stone fireplace across from the desk. As Snape was about to exit the room with his hands full and appeared ready to celebrate, he turned to watch his most prized pupil leave to celebrate in a similar manner. With a handful of floo powder, he huskily spoke, "Head Girl's bedroom."

He threw down the glittery powder and left the professor alone in the room with a full-blown smile on the mentor's face.

Draco entered Hermione's room to find it empty of her and quite on the chilly side. He pulled his black travel cloak tight around him and searched to find the reason why it was so cold. Above her desk, a large stain glass window appeared wide open. He strolled around her unmade bed and over to the window to shut out the offending cold air. Her window overlooked her favorite spot by the lake with the weeping willow tree. The half-full moon in the starry sky lit it up. His arm reached forward and pulled the window closed with a small squeak.

The doorway from her bedroom to the Head common room showed no sign of life within the room. He strode into the living area and noticed the fireplace was out also. The room was unoccupied except for her furry feline that remained asleep on her red lounge. The empty cloak hook by the room's entrance hinted she had gone out for a walk. Draco knew Hermione had an equally rough day compared to his; everyone within the castle walls had a mentally and physically rough day. She probably was unable to fall asleep. She probably needed him tonight when the dunderheads held him up from the Ministry with their bloody red tape. He let out a heavy sigh and advanced across the room to the portrait hole. He pushed it open and remarked, "The game is afoot."

Draco let the painting close behind him and turned to face the keeper of the room. He never entered the room this way... ok, he'd only been there just once before. The portrait was of a blonde girl at the age of sixteen dressed in eighteenth century burgundy robe with a French lace trim. Her curls were pulled back with a black ribbon to the left side of her head. She looked up from the simple cherry desk and addressed him, "Young man, you did not enter the dorm this way. What is your name, good sir?"

His shoulders straight back and held his head high. In his silkiest voice, he replied, "My name is Draco Malfoy. I was a Slytherin Prefect for the graduated class. I am looking for the Head Girl. Did she leave by this way?"

The girl within the painting rose from her desk and walked around it to have appraised the young man appearance with a smile of approval. "So, you're Draco Malfoy. I have heard Hermione mention your name when she read out of her journal, as she came and went from the dorm. Are you the reason she left here crying about an hour ago?"

Surprised by both the statement and the question, the fear started to build within his chest. Now, he was worried about her disappearance. Draco responded, "She was crying? I arrived in her room not even five minutes ago. Did she say anything as she left?"

"I asked her where she was heading to at this late hour with her cloak on. She muttered a word in between her sobs. I could not make it out clearly. It began with an "R"...something like Ro...or Rui ... I am sorry I could not be more of help than that. Do you have any idea where she could be? I am terribly worried about her," replied the portrait replied as she pulled out an ivory lace handkerchief out of her pocket.

His mind and heart started to race as he processed the little information he had about where she might be. She left her dormitory alone, about an hour ago and she was crying. The hour had to be close to ten o'clock in the evening. Her cloak meant she must've headed outside. The weather seemed to be clear but getting slightly colder as the night past. Hermione had not seen Draco since during the battle. He was certain she knew he was safe. What else could she have gone to? He began to think out loud. "Ro... Ro...Rose. Could the word have been rose, like the flower?"

The pretty girl looked thoughtfully toward the floor and then back at his troubled face. She nodded a little. "Possibly, but I can not say for certain. I did notice she wore a new necklace that she must have received sometime the night before. She was clutching at it as she hurried down the hall."

"Thank you, my dear lady. I think I do know where she is. I'll bring her back here to the comfort of the rooms. Please send for an elf to make her bed and start the fires. If she has been out there this long, she will need to get warmed up. Oh, if you wouldn't mind, have the elf bring her up some tea or cocoa with a small snack. She probably did not eat much tonight. She should be back here soon. Thank you for all your help," offered Draco as he turned to find Hermione.

He had not taken two steps when he heard the portrait exclaim, "Maybe you are worthy of her heart."

This statement made him stop dead in his tracks in the empty hallway.

Worthy of her heart? No, I shall never be that. His eyes closed as he lowered his head and felt his heart tighten as if it were it being squeezed hard. Draco forced his silver eyes to open and muttered loud enough for her to hear. "No, I am not worthy of such a precious gift. I will do everything and anything to one day be allowed to be worthy her heart. If I ever can, once she knows . . . "

He stopped himself. She had enough to deal with the today with all the sacrifices of the final battle. She did not need to remember the burden he created and carried for a year now. Tonight, he was going to do that all with in his power make her the happiest girl in the world. Sometimes ignorance was bliss.

Draco started his journey down to the front entrance of the castle. With the dull ache inside his chest, he recalled the pain the day had brought to her. The first time he saw Hermione was around nine in morning. The fighting began three hours earlier at dawn; he spent the morning fighting against the Death Eaters he arrived with. All he wanted was to find her and make sure she was unharmed. When he found Hermione, she leaned over a fallen classmate from Hufflepuff and preformed a few quick healing charms on him. Ron Weasley, Head Boy and one of her best friends, came into view on her left to cover her while she worked her magic.

Throwing off his Death Eater mask, Draco rushed to both of them and helped fight off the many enemies that surrounded them. Ron continued to hex back and forth with a small man. Peter Pettigrew backed against a high wall of the castle to fight off the much taller red head. The hatred in Ron's face was very evident by the red color in his entire head and the anger in his blue eyes. Draco had been told of the many betrayals of the silver-handed man.

Lupin approached their small group of allies as Hermione helped the Hufflepuff to his feet. Between the curses and hexes Draco threw and dodged from a masked Death Eater, he barely made out Pettigrew throw the Avada Kedavra at his opponent. Pettigrew must have missed because Draco heard Ron's voice scream the curse back at Wormtail with hatred dripped off every syllable of the same Unforgivable. Ron's curse worked and the man screamed as he was hit with it.

Draco knocked his own attacker off his feet and unconscious. With a quick binding spell on the Death Eater, he turned around to see Ron standing in front of the dead man. This must've been the first life he took.

The light side tried to avoid the Unforgivables unless absolutely necessary. It was in his case, but it still hurt deep within most the first time a person took another's life.

Without any warning, a similar green blast hit Ron directly to his back. Hermione screamed in utter horror to see her best friend killed before her eyes. Ron's dead body fell forward to reveal the person responsible for his death. There stood the killer in familiar Hogwarts robes with the left sleeve rolled up to show the Dark Mark on her forearm. With a triumphant smile, Luna Lovegood pointed her wand to the nearest student ready to strike them down. Within a second Hermione's wand reached past Draco to execute the Ravenclaw, who took her best friend's life. The girl flew backward straight into another Death Eater and knocked them to the ground.

Draco quickly turned his body to hold Hermione in his arms. Her knees gave at the feel of his embrace. She slowly crumbled to the ground, overwrought with her grief. He bent down and held her tightly as he tried to calm her down. Yet, it was not the time and the place to deal with the emotions that flowed within her soul. Lupin took a place between Draco and the next approaching Death Eater, the one who got knocked down by the cursed Lovegood. Hermione's cries started to slow and she wiped her eyes. With a slight nod, he helped her off the ground onto her feet. Lupin's Death Eater did not waste any time and his first curse for Lupin was sudden death.

Another black robed Death Eater came closer toward Draco from the left. He focused his effort on him. After he threw his first hex at his opponent, he heard Hermione throw a leg-locker curse toward Remus' killer. But she must have missed for Draco heard a familiar voice shout, "Crucio!"

Hermione's blood curdling scream came from beside him as she fell to the dark green grass. To end his battle with haste, he threw the killing curse to help his love. Draco saw Hermione on the ground with legs pulled against her chest and tears down her face from the pain of the curse. He stepped in between her and man who cursed her. The Death Eater raised his wand to cease the pain of the curse on Hermione and removed his mask. Draco already knew the man who placed so much pain on the fallen girl at his feet. He had done the same curse to Draco many months ago during his father-to-son chat.

Draco stood straight and defiant in front of his father with his wand pointed straight at his heart. Lucius Malfoy smirked at his son with the belief written all over his face that his son would step down to his father. With a loud shout of two words from Draco's mouth, the man's similar gray eyes went wide with disbelief, as his one and only son ended his life.

The younger Malfoy walked slowly to his father's dead body. He stared at the man who caused him so much grief and misery. The only things he taught his son were lies and how to hate. And hate he did, he hated the man he once looked up to. His father's eyes were still open from when the curse hit him. He knelt down and closed the eyes so very much like his own. Draco closed his eyes and said a quiet goodbye to the man he once was proud to call father. He felt a hand gently rub his shoulder. He opened his eyes to the deep chocolate eyes he had fallen in love with. A single tear rolled down her soft tan cheek, which he stopped with his warm hand. His voice came out very softly, "This is not the time for tears, love. We still have a snake-eyed bastard to send to his grave, but for keeps this time."

The corners of her lips tugged up to form a mischievous smile. She pulled him up close against her perfect body. Into his ear, she whispered, "A kiss for the first one to find and kill that sorry excuse for a dark lord."

"If it's Potter, I'll have to kill him. You realize that, don't you? So, I'll just take that kiss now," he hotly hissed in her ear and tried to turn her to capture her lovely lips. Her body against his made him ache for more of her touch. He needed to get a grip on himself and tried to tell himself to settle on a kiss ... for now, and collect more later on.

She pulled out of his grip with a smile on her face; she raised her wand and shook it at him. She saw another Death Eater about to attack a Gryffindor fifth year and threw a hex at him. Draco shook his head to get the boiling blood to cool that started to burn through his body the moment he felt her breath on his neck. He knew the feisty brunette could hold her own; since she temporarily dealt the worse blows possible already that day. He chuckled to himself and headed off toward the last place he saw Potter. Draco wanted to collect his kiss, the sooner the better in his mind.

The cold wind off the lake brought Draco out of his memory. The lake laid still about ten feet away but the slight breeze from the lake and the slight chill of the night air came right at him. The large gray stone and weeping willow lit by the partial moonlight cast upon them shown both places where uninhabited.

He paused in complete confusion and decided to go over the facts again. She left her dormitory about an hour and a half-ago crying while she held on to my gift. Where else could she have gone to that had to do with him that started with Ro or Rui? Maybe it also had to do with the deaths of her friends today. It was probably the first time she got hit with the Cruciatus curse ...

His eyes squeezed shut as the horror of the realization hit him with full force. He had known that today was not the first time she experienced that Unforgivable curse. Into the night air, he whispered, "No... she can't remember now... it had been a year.... Not a sign..." his eyes flew open, "rui... Ruins. Oh great, Merlin! She is at the Ruins. She remembers. Bloody hell."

His legs took off in a full-blown run toward his destination. He needed to refresh his own memory before faced her about the day that changed Draco's life forever.

Draco's sixth year was one like none other; to him it almost seemed as if it was someone else's life. After his father was sentenced to ten years in the Azkaban earlier that summer, his hatred had grown to new extremes for the boy-who-unfortunately-still-lived. The summer started with his father's quick trial. Draco was allowed one visit to his father's cell with his mother at his side. The furious man ordered him to get a hold of Potter and to hand him over to his master for vengeance. Draco had no problems with that order in any way. In fact, he personally offered his services to the Dark Lord with the promise to hand over the famous Harry Potter during the last week of school their sixth year. In return, his left forearm received the Dark Mark to remind him where his loyalties were to stay.

The sixth year was uneventful for Draco, for he was focused on the sense of purpose he had in life. Those propose was what kept him going day after day. He kept to himself and laid low to keep out of the light of suspicion. His grades improved to the point he was just under little-miss-know-it-all. In the privacy of his dorm room, he read all he could from his father's books on the Dark Arts that he brought with him. His known plan within the Inner circle of Death Eaters was to deliver Potter. But his personal agenda was to be the one to end the golden boy's so-called life. Draco found out Potter had received additional, private Defense Against the Dark Arts lessons a couple times a week. He also made a point to read the entire Defense Against the Dark Arts books he found inside the school. He figured it made sense to know what the enemy would do before they had a chance to do it.

All his hard work and patience lead up to the last day after exams. The Dark Lord modified the plans of capturing Potter. His master wanted Harry Potter to seek him out; and what better way of doing that than to capture the best friend, whose father was in the Ministry, to use as bait. A Hogsmeade trip was planned for that Saturday, as a relaxation day after the long week of exams. The strategy was to simply find the redhead and deliver him to a Death Eater, who would take him straight to his master. That was the plan, till he ran into an 'old friend' in the hallway to the Great Hall the night before.

Draco walked out of the hall with his loaded bag of books on his shoulder. He walked straight into a human wall, which caused him to fall back and land on the cold stone floor. As he hit the floor, Draco yelled, "Watch where you're going, you stupid... "

He quickly shut his mouth when he saw who the stupid git was. Viktor Krum was the human barrier that stood in front of him. He held out his hand and helped Draco to his feet. Krum had not changed much in the two years since he'd seen Krum last. Krum was still in excellent shape and appeared much older than the seventeen year old from two years ago. The Quidditch star began, "Sorry there, Draco. It was my fault entirely. I vasn't vatching vhere I vas going. "

"Don't worry about it. The bag just made the fall a little harder than usual. So, what brings you to Hogwarts again?" asked Draco as he pulled the heavy bag back on to his shoulder. It was not everyday a guy literally runs into the most famous Quidditch star at the moment while he exited the Great Hall.

Krum's faced seemed to beam at the question. He appeared dressed to impress with a navy dress shirt, nice black slacks, and his black traveling cloak with silver trim. His black leather boots were very expensive pair like Draco wore on special occasions. Even his dark silk hairs looked perfect. He looked past Draco into the Hall. "I asked Dumbledore if I could stay the night. I am surprising Hermione and taking her around Vogsmeade tomorrow. "

Draco turned to see where he was looking at. Granger stood near the door talking the Weasel's little sister. Neither girl had noticed the new arrival; but Ron, who stood and waited for the know-it-all, did and shot a death glare at the Quidditch star. It was well known the couple wrote each other often during the past two years; but also it was not serious... at least, yet. It was common knowledge that Ron liked the mudblood too. She was clueless on how her relationship with the rich and famous Quidditch star affected one of her 'best friends'.

At that moment, Draco altered his plan for a much more devious plan. He watched as Weasel gave up on the girl and left the Hall to avoid the little reunion about to occur. Just as Weasley got within listening distance, Draco turned back to Krum and said, "Well, that sounds like a wonderful idea. But the lunchtime crowd at the Three Broomsticks probably won't give you two any peace and quiet. There is a spot where you two can have a nice picnic without any interruptions. It is not well known except by us Prefects. It is called the Ruins. It is just past the Quidditch pitch. Just ask a house elf to pack a picnic for two and they will be able to direct you."

"That's a great idea. Plus, she vill consider it romantic. Perfect, I owe you one Draco. Next time you vant to catch a match, let me know and I'll get you great seats. Now, I need to surprise my lady. See you later, Draco," replied Krum with a wide smile on his face. He left Draco to head over to Granger.

Draco did not turn to watch him meet up with her. He enjoyed himself as he watched the Weasel debate with himself whether or not to come across the hallway and hit Draco. Not only, the fact that Draco talked one-on-one with the famous Quidditch star. He also set up the perfect romantic date for Krum with the girl Weasley was in love with. The whole plan got better by the minute.

Draco flashed the furious Gryffindor his best smirk and walked down towards the dungeons. The perfect game was set, with all the pieces in place. All he had to do was to wait for tomorrow to play out. The jealous Weasel was for sure to show up the next day during the couple's little picnic. Gryffindors were known for their bravery and to enter dangerous situations without much thought, especially that member of the 'Golden Trio'.

Everything seemed to be going right. He watched as Krum left with Hermione for Hogsmeade right after breakfast. The nineteen-year-old gave him a wink as they left the castle. The sun shined in the cloudless, bright blue sky. Draco reached the Ruins a half an hour before he figured they'd show for lunch. Hidden well by the edge of the Forbidden Forest, he patiently sat on a fallen oak tree and waited for the show to begin. Draco played out was about to happen in his mind. Weasley would make his 'surprise' appearance; Hermione would be outraged by her friend's action. Draco had observed enough fights between the two friends to know she would yell at Ron, walk away with Krum in a huff to leave, and Ron behind alone. That would be the moment Draco placed a quick body-bind on him and wait for the Death Eater to pick the lover-fool to deliver him to his master.

Krum and Hermione arrived with picnic basket in hand at one o'clock that afternoon. Krum picked out a clear grassy spot in the middle of the Ruins to lay the stripped blanket down. She kneeled on the multi-colored, stripped blanket and unpacked the basket full of goodies. Hermione wore a simple light blue, strapless summer dress with white leather sandals. Mudblood or not, she looked very beautiful with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Draco was not blind and knew she could look good when she put effort into it. She had been wearing her hair up a lot that year.

He shook his head and focused on the task of observation. Maybe she'd let some useful information slip about Harry; but Draco was not close enough to hear what they were talking about. Luckily, he brought his bag of tricks with him; for just such an occasion. Inside his leather school bag, he reached into a secret compartment to pull out a small black velvet bag. With a quick spell, the bag enlarged to the same size as his book bag. The bag and its contents belonged to his father but since his father sat in Azkaban. He figured he might have some use for it during the year. The open bag revealed his father's invisibility cloak that he used for his Death Eater missions.

The school bag he brought with him, he hid in a hole under the fallen tree he sat on. The light cloak sat on his wide shoulders and he snapped the silver clasp inside of it. He lifted the hood to over his face and left no trace he was there at all. He silently strode closer to the seated couple. They sat across from each other as they ate the lunch of sandwiches, fresh fruit, cheese, crackers, and cookies. Draco took a seat on a nearby a fallen stone pillar close enough to hear then. He was surprised how quiet the two were. They made idle talk about his last game that he won, of course. Also, some talk about him wanting to visit her at her house during the summer. She looked very uncomfortable and made up an excuse saying she would be staying with friends during the summer. Her parents planned a trip to Greece for their anniversary. She mentioned she might be able to meet him at Diagon Alley one or two times during the summer.

When the lunch ended for the two, there was still no sign of Ronald Weasley. Draco did not worry and knew the boy was too predictable with an appearance most likely in about thirty minutes. They packed up the remains of the lunch back into the basket. Hermione offered to tell him about the history of the Ruins around them. She walked around the circle of crumbled, white pillars and told the story of the founder's traditions. He knew she earned the term know-it-all for her knowledge on the many areas; her knowledge on the Ruins even surpassed his own.

He watched in amusement at the actions of the guy and girl. Krum gave her body many hungry looks when she was not looking. Draco could tell he was waiting for the moment to make a move on the lovely girl near him. Her date did not pay attention to a word she said. But unknown to him, she could tell he was not listening. She must've had plenty of practice with her two close friends who rarely listened to her over-abundance of knowledge.

Draco followed the two around the small area but made sure he could not be discovered. He listened to her recite the more recent history of the Ruins while throwing in a few nasty words toward Krum without a change in her tone, to prove he was not paying attention to her. Krum's attention was completely on her: on how her dress moved against her perfect arse, her long to-die-for legs, and the curves of her breast with small amount of cleavage showing. Of course, Draco noticed all of that too. But he was not the one on the date with her.

By the look on her face, he saw she was losing patience for her hormone-driven companion. By the look on Krum's face, it appeared he was planning to make an unwanted move very soon. Draco looked around for any sign of the red headed friend. Now, he started to worry for he could tell it must be close to three o'clock and the Death Eater due to arrive in an hour. As he scanned to edge of the forest, he heard a smack like a hand hitting flesh. He turned around to see Krum very close to Hermione and rubbed his newly redden cheek. Draco could not tell what he did but it was obvious it was something she didn't like. He had been at the same end of her hand from a similar slap during the third year. He had to give her credit that she had enough guts to slap him.

She quietly walked over to the basket on the ground and went back over to her date, who looked in complete shock. Hermione shoved the basket into his empty hand and yelled, "I think you know your way back. Get out of my sight and don't you dare write me ever again, you slimy bastard."

He moved forward and looked about to apologize. Before he took one step to bridge the three feet in between her and him, her wand was drawn and pointed at a more personal area on his body. Her voice was dangerously low and full of hate, "One more step and you won't be able to ride a broom for a month. Don't you even think I won't do it!"

Draco stood there torn between amazement and amusement. The girl had more nerves than he gave her credit for. He watched as she stood her ground while looking beautiful and painfully serious. Krum got the hint and wordlessly walked away from her and back to the castle. She did not lower her wand till he was out of sight.

Draco knew the show was over. He needed to go find Weasley and get his arse out there before the Death Eater showed up. He walked back to where he had hidden at the edge of the forest. Once safely hidden by the forest, he took off the cloak and packed it away as he thought of the places the red head might be brooding at. He walked out of the forest and noticed she still stood there. He could not make out her face as he continued to advance toward her. Hermione's arms hugged her stomach, as she did not move from the spot where she had threatened her date.

Just before he was not ten feet away from her, she suddenly turned and pointed her wand at him. With her reddened eyes and thin tear lines down her cheeks, it was an unexpected sight, for the girl who looked ready to maim. She hastily lowered her wand. Her face seemed to relax as she saw who the intruder was. She spoke to him, "Oh, it's you. Sorry, I thought it was someone else."

"I'd hate to be the person you did expect," commented Draco with a smile as he approached her with and acted like he had not seen everything that just happened.

Hermione laughed and brought her hand up to wipe away the evidence of tears. "Yeah, lets just say he would not have been able to walk away from here."

He couldn't move for that she had just laughed at something he said; just like she did when she was with her friends. He was absolutely stunned by the fact she let her guard down to him, of all people. He started to walk past her and then stopped about two feet away from her in the direction of the castle. Draco turned around and asked, "Are you going to be ok, Granger? Or do I actually get the chance of making the top marks next year with you out of the picture?"

Her hands landed on her hips and a smile on her face, "You think you got what it takes to top me?"

Before he could stop the words that popped in to his head, he answered, "In more ways than one?"

She looked taken back for just a second and then shook her head. Her eyes could not meet his and a slight blush came on her cheeks. He did not mean to say that, especially after he had just witnessed first hand of an unwanted act, let alone a sexual comment. She took two steps toward him with a hint of mischief in her deep brown eyes and a sly smile. Hermione unconsciously licked her lips. She said, "Really.... Well, we'll have to see about that later. Won't we?"

The emotion in her face changed quickly as if suddenly realized to whom she was reacting that way to. She closed her eyes briefly and then opened them again. He saw the pain was still there. The sight made his heart feel like it just got five pounds heavier. He remarked, "Yes, we will when the time and place are right, which is not right now. Enjoy the rest of day of this beautiful day, Granger."

Draco walked away from the Ruins and the girl who had seemed to melt his icy, cold heart. He got lost in his thoughts as he reached the Quidditch Pitch. He stopped and remembered what he was doing before she aimed her wand at him. He was going to find Ron to hand him over to the expected Death Eater.

"Bloody hell," cursed Draco and realized it was too late. He marched back to the Ruins to confront the expected Death Eater and explain how the plan failed. Draco knew he would be severely punished for it; but there was no time. Plus, the plan didn't seem so important to him now, for some reason. He tried to understand why as the Ruins came into view.

Draco froze immediately at the sight in front of him. Hermione sat on the same fallen stone pillar he had. He assumed she'd go back to the castle. This was the last place a muggleborn whose best friend was Harry Potter should be with a Death Eater due to apparate at any moment. True, he was a Death Eater too; but he didn't mean any harm to come to her. Then fear hit him as he realized what most Death Eaters would do if they found an attractive young lady alone. And that was about to happen at any moment. She had to get out of there, now.

"Granger," he shouted as he rushed to get into the Ruins. She turned her body toward him as she saw him a sly smile appeared on her soft lips. Then a sound came from behind her and she turned around to see a wand about an inch from her face. The blood in Draco's body felt as if the blood stopped moving. The black robed Death Eater pulled down the hood to reveal their identity. His steps slowed as he approached Hermione and Bellatrix Lestrange: the highest Death Eater of the inner circle, well trained in all ways of the Dark Arts, and the Dark Lord's most loyal servant.

She stood there with a pleased smile on her face. Draco knew it was a bad thing that it was she who came to collect the bait. He stood some chance of tricking the usual stupid Death Eater out of the kidnapping her. He spoke to woman, who he called aunt, a few times since her escape from the Azkaban. She was very intelligent; but her arrogance and sadist habits were her weak spots. Draco's only choice to attack her was when she was not looking. Without any warning, the lady Death Eater yelled, "Crucio."

Hermione's body fell backwards off the pillar. She landed onto the ground with a loud scream. Her lovely legs drew up against her chest. He had to stop himself from going to her side. If he had, Hermione would still be handed over to the Dark Lord and he would die instantly. Her body shook with the pain that coursed through her body. Bellatrix raised her wand to end the girl's agony. He knew what it was like to be feeling the pain of the Cruciatus curse. His father placed it on him many times since the Dark Lord came back. He demanded Draco to be prepared for his service to his master and to be one of the best.

His aunt strode over to the pillar where Hermione sat when she arrived. His legs carried him to the pillar as his eyes remained on Hermione. Bellatrix picked up Hermione's wand from the stone and handed it to Draco with an arrogant smile. He felt like slapping that smile off her evil face. He held her only defense she had in his hand. She moved around the stone obstacle between her and the Gryffindor. With the Death Eater's wand still pointed at her, Hermione slowly raised her body off the ground and stood before her. Draco saw the bravery in her face and she needed it, now more than ever.

Bellatrix Lestrange stood slightly taller than Hermione. She circled around the younger girl, who kept her head straightforward, as the female Death Eater was silently appraising her. Her eyes looked straight into Draco's but he could not read those eyes. His mind pleaded with the Merlin for her to be able to read the regret in his eyes.

Draco truly was scared by the whole situation. Not for himself, he was scared for the young lady he had just fallen in love with today. In love? Yes, or at least the start of it. Love was a new emotion for Draco. He never loved anyone or anything. He certainly never received any love either. The pain deep within his heart and soul he had never experienced before. He realized it must be love he felt for the first time. And he'd be damned to let the one person he did love be handed over to the merciless Dark Lord. He needed a cunning plan, as his house was known for to save this muggleborn.

"Well, it appears that you changed your plan without notice, Draco. Usually it is not wise to change a plan without our master's approval first. But I think he will forget that since she is obviously more valuable for our cause than the best friend Weasley," stated Lestrange as she stopped next to Hermione. Hermione's eyes never left Draco. He could see her face twitch a little when the Death Eater spoke of the plan. Her eyes turned a dark color with the hatred he used to always see in her eyes when she looked at him.

His aunt moved away from the girl and over to where Draco stood. She walked behind Draco while she watched Hermione. She began again, "I am not sure how he tricked you here, my dear. He promised to deliver Potter's best friend to the Dark Lord. It is even better he was able to get you. Well, not better for you, my little mudblood. With you as bait, Potter will immediately leave the safety of the castle to find you. Besides being the know-it-all close friend, are you also his girlfriend?"

Hermione did not answer the question immediately. Draco knew the answer and wished she would just answer the question. He knew the Death Eaters would be even rougher with her, if she was Harry Potter's girlfriend. Since she wasn't, she was slightly safer for the time being. After a few long moments, Hermione finally spoke, "Yes."

Draco closed his eyes, for that one wrong word meant only more trouble for her. His head shook as he opened his eyes to see into hers. The word of explanation was written within her lovely brown eyes - Protection. Her Gryffindor attitude was protecting the younger Weasley from the same situation she found herself in at the moment. His shoulder felt the pressure of the woman's cold left-hand rest there.

"How clever of you, Draco. Yes, I think this will guarantee you a position within the inner circle with your father. Before I deliver her, I think you should get a reward for all your hard work. How about a lesson on Unforgivables? Yes, I think it would be most appropriate; since you will not be able to join in on the fun later. I don't think the master will mind a little treat for you. You try it once without any instructions and let me see how you do." Draco felt the hard tip of Bellatrix's wand run slowly down his cheek as she spoke.

He swallowed hard for he knew this was a test. He saw Hermione intake a deep breathe and hold it with her eyes closed. Some how she understood he had to do it. Thank Merlin, she closed her eyes for it was hard enough on him without seeing the fear in her eyes. With a silent wish that she may one day forgive him, he slowly raised his wand. "Crucio."

With a flash of light, Hermione shrieked and flew backwards; for he had not done it as hard as Bellatrix had. Hermione's blue dress had grass stains from the falls to the ground. The woman behind walked around him and stood to the side in between her body on the ground and him. She glared down at the girl whose bushy brown hair escaped from the ponytail holder. Hermione rose to her feet and stood head held strong at the older woman. On her cheek, a cut had formed just under her eye from her last fall with some mud around it. A tiny single droplet of blood formed from the cut and rolled down her cheek to almost look like she cried a tear of blood. The sight broke Draco's heart and then the anger hit.

The woman criticized, "Now Draco, you can do better than that. It's not simple swish of the wand. You have to truly mean to hurt the person and want to watch them suffer. Watch me." The Death Eater raised her wand to Hermione again. Her eyes were wide open and her body tightened to ready herself for another.

Draco closed his eyes with a deep breath he mustered all his anger caused by the wretched woman in front of him. With every fiber in his body full of hate, his eyes that burned with the anger he felt. His wand rose to his aunt's back and yelled, "Avenda Kedavra!"

A flash of blinding green light flew out of his wand and hit her directly in the back. The strength he put into the curse caused Bellatrix's body to be thrown forward. She knocked into Hermione and they landed behind the next section of broken pillars. Draco's chest heaved as his breath raged. He threw both wands to the ground and ran to where they ended up. He shoved the dead body of his aunt off Hermione. Her eyes remained closed and her chest rose very slowly with her breath. His legs gave out from under him and caused him to land on his knees. He touched her muddy cheek and pleaded, "Merlin, I can't loose you now, Hermione. Even if it is only to hate me again, please wake. Please don't give up on me."

Draco lifted her motionless body into his strong arms. He did know the only place he could go. He was not sure if he'd be able to explain everything. He just needed her to be okay and didn't care if he ended up in Azkaban with his father.

Everyone seemed to still be down in Hogsmeade, for the grounds and the castle where empty of all students. He headed down to the dungeons without seeing any one. He hoped his Head of House might give him a chance to explain; before he called for Dumbledore and before the headmaster called for the Ministry officials. The Potions Master's office door was open but the room was empty. Draco laid Hermione's body on the stone floor so her body would be straight.

As he stood before her, the office door shut with the owner stared down at him. Professor Snape rushed to the girl's side and checked her pulse. The man gave Draco a confused look and pointed his wand at a wall within the office to reveal a secret hallway. He levitated her body onto a bed in the first room on the right. He turned on his heels to face his blonde Slytherin and stated, "I will give you a chance to explain what happened once I take care of her injuries. Till then go sit in the room across the hall and wait for me."

Draco entered the small room as the Potions Master directed. Once he took a seat to and a chance think out all that happened. He heard his Head of House place wards on his room to make sure he was not going anywhere. Everything in his life changed in the past two hours. He went from plotting to abduct Potter's red headed sidekick to killing a Death Eater to save his know-it-all he fell in love with. Draco rose to his feet and paced inside the small room and waited for the professor, who was also a Death Eater, to come back to ask some very hard questions.

Perhaps thirty minutes passed before Snape came into the room. He told Draco to tell him everything and that it better be the truth; for he was only giving him one chance to get a straight answer. The truth was exactly what he got. Draco explained everything from his father's demand for him to hand over Potter to the Dark Lord to his carrying her body into his office. He did not think about the words he used. He just had to tell the whole story ...the truth to someone he knew would listen to him.

Professor Snape only asked a few questions to clarify some details of his story. He silently sat in a small chair inside the room as he processed the information Draco's problem. He finally rose from his chair and stood face to face with the younger Slytherin. He then asked a question Draco never imagined he would ask, "After today's events, do you still want to be a Death Eater, Mr. Malfoy?"

After a short moment of shock, Draco looked straight at his professor and replied, "No. But I really don't have a choice at this point. The Dark Lord would kill me the instant I do not return back to him. Plus ..." His silver eyes moved away from the black eyes of the professor's. After a moment, his voice lowered and continued, "There is no way to make it up to her."

The last part came as a surprise to the Potions Master. With his trademark smirk and raised eyebrow, he responded, "True, you would be killed if you never returned to the Dark Lord. Yet, I may be able to help keep you alive and out of Azkaban for placing an Unforgivable on another student. And at the same time make it up to her. My solution will be extremely hard and will take complete trust in me. Wait here and consider it, while I check on a few things."

The Potions Master left him alone in the room again and replaced the wards back on the room to ensure he stayed there. Draco paced the room and took into consideration what the professor might be able to do to help him. After about twenty minutes, the sound of the wards being lowered and the Headmaster entered the room with a very serious look on his face. Draco closed his eyes shut and rubbed his temple, he mumbled, "Just when I thought this day could not get any worse."

Dumbledore took the seat across from Draco and started, "Well, young Mr. Malfoy, you could be dead at the hand of Voldemort from killing his most loyal servant. So, yes the day could have gone a whole lot worse... but the day is still young. So, the fact you and with a much more forgiving old man should make the world a slightly better place for you all things considering."

Draco looked up from his hands. His voice rose, "Forgiving? I plotted to have a fellow prefect abducted so the savior of the light side will go to meet his death. I stood by and let a Death Eater place the Cruicatas curse on a different prefect. Then I did it myself to Hermione. I say that should earn a few years in Azkaban with my oh-so-loving father. The man, who will kill me the moment I get out; if she doesn't beat him to it."

He walked away from the Headmaster and stared at a large painting of the ocean on the opposite wall.

Dumbledore pulled out a small box of candy and began, "I have said nothing about Azkaban, Mr. Malfoy. Would you like a lemon drop? They are quite good, not too sweet and not too sour." Draco turned for a brief moment back to the Headmaster and shook his head and returned to the painting. Dumbledore chuckled and continued, "Actually, I cam here to offer you a job, of sorts, to work toward repayment of the acts you have committed. It will not be easy by any stretch of the imagination. I offer a job of reporting and working with another to spy against Voldemort to help our side in this war. In return, I am sure a realistic story can be created on to why a high-ranking Death Eater was killed and your plan failed. We can leave Miss Granger out of this completely."

"I am not so sure Miss Granger will not agree with your payment method. I am sure she will want me shipped off to Azkaban the moment she wakes."

"She was already awakened and I assure you she has said nothing about shipping you anywhere. When she hit her head, it had caused memory loss of the whole situation. The last thing she remembers is you walking away after she slapped Mr. Krum for his unwelcome advancement."

Draco let out a heavy sigh that he was holding. He turned to the man seated in the chair in the middle of the room and asked," Do you think it is a permanent memory loss?"

"The brain is a very complicated thing. But no, I do believe at some point her memory will be triggered and come back to her. The time frame when that will happen can be a few hours to many years with a very slight possibility of never. She could be told a partially altered version of what has happened with taking you out of the picture completely. I would advise you should tell her one day. For if she was to remember on her own, she most likely would not react well to it. You will always remember what has happened and I think that is punishment enough. Be friend her and help the Order of the Phoenix, you will be well on the way to repair and repay the damage you have done against her and the acts against our side. What do you say?"

After a few minutes of turning over all the possibilities, he walked over to the Headmaster and offered his hand with his services. Snape entered the room to witness the Headmaster taking Draco Malfoy's hand. The Headmaster spoke, "Wise choice young man. Your training in your new role in this war starts now and he will be your instructor. He will teach you everything you will need to stay alive and safe under two masters. I offered him a similar offer a little over fifteen years. Hopefully, your service will be for a much shorter time."

Dumbledore turned to walk out the door. " Oh Mr. Malfoy, Please keep in mind, I could've easily taken away your Prefect badge for your crimes. But you will keep that title. You were also to be named Head Boy for the coming year because of your dedication to your grades and your leadership qualities. Unfortunately, you have lost that title. That will be my punishment for you. The other punishment is the fact that this day will stay with you forever. One day she will remember. How she will handle the information, I do not know. But that will be something else you will have to deal with when it happens."

Draco slowed his pace as he reached the Ruins. He had not been there since that day a year ago. It felt like twenty years ago. He had been through so much since then. It was time to face the past he so carefully avoided for all these many months. Hermione came into his view on the same pillar as she did before Bellatrix showed up. Her black cloak flapped in the light breeze. Her knees were pulled up to her chest with her arms and chin rested on them. His heart pulled tightly as he saw the tears run down her soft cheek. For he knew he was the reason for those tears.

She had every reason to hate him; even without the memory. He tormented her friends and her for the first five years at Hogwarts. Yet, she had given him a chance. Last summer when he saw her in the halls of Hogwarts, she almost looked happy to see him. The son of a Death Eater, Draco Malfoy who willingly received the Dark Mark the summer before that. True, she knew he worked on the side of the light along side Professor Snape; even if she did not know the reason why he switched sides. The beautiful Gryffindor know-it-all passed him in the hallways.

She even nursed him back to health after his father paid a visit to him. Lucius Malfoy's temper had a very short fuse; especially when it came to failures by his one and only son. He yelled, cursed, and hit him for not being the top of his class, for not being named Head boy, and failing in his first mission for the Dark Lord. Hermione sat by his bed all that night with the task of lowering his temperature. It was almost like a dream to him and he lay there very still as he took it all in. He remember everything she did and said; from the comment on his hot body to the light tracing of his Dark Mark with her finger. All her actions made him love her more and more.

His foot stepped toward his love that sat on the fallen stone. As he stepped closer, his shoe broke a wooden twig and alerted her that she was not alone anymore. Her small hands wiped away the wet lines on her face and stood up to face him. Hermione looked so gorgeous at that moment; even with her puffy eyes and slightly red little nose. Under her cloak, she wore a snug red tee shirt with black letters that spelled WICKED. The black jean hip huggers made his breaths become deeper and full of want. He shook away those thoughts and focused on the reason for her tears.

Her voice came out raspy as she spoke, "As much as I hate to say it, it good to see you're alive and for the most part unharmed. I guess you've figured it out that I have regained my memory... of that day."

A long thick silence followed, he could not find the words to state how he felt. She walked past him to head back to castle. He shoved his cold hands into the pockets of his black pants. What could he say? He had all year to tell her himself; but he kept putting it off. Now, it was too late. He made all the pain she had to deal with that day five times worse. All of it was his fault.

Her voice came from behind him. "I do not remember everything. I do not know how I ended up in back at the castle. I guess I can assume you brought me back."

Draco turned to face her. The moonlight against her back made her presence glow. The sight of her at that moment was breathtaking. All he could manage was a nod of the head in agreement. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. After a minute of quiet thought, she released the breath with a sigh while her eyes reopened and looked into his. The feelings of grief, confusion, and betrayal swirled in her brown eyes.

She seemed to have found the strength within her. "At first, I thought it was just a dream I awoke from tonight. Or more like a nightmare about you and that evil woman. My body remembers the pain in body receiving those curses. But something told me to come back out here tonight; that I'd know the truth. Yet, I do not know how I could've forgotten it. Or why you did not tell me. The last thing I remember is hearing you shout the death curse at her back, as she was about to place her own on me. Before she apparated here, you came back to warn me, didn't you?"

Draco lowered his eyes for he could not meet hers. "Yes."

He heard her cloak's movement against the grass and her footsteps approach him. She stopped about two steps in between them. Anger was placed in her every word. "Did you set it up; like she said you did?"

"Yes, the plan was to lure Ron out here with his jealously of Krum. You were to walk away with Krum leaving him alone. I was to secure him and wait for a Death Eater's arrival. I was to hand over the best friend of Potter to be used as bait to get Potter out of the protection of the castle and the Headmaster."

Hermione took a step back away from him. She started to piece it all together. "So, when Ron did not show up, why didn't you just let her take me as bait? Why did you decide to put yourself at risk by coming back here to warn me? When you could've pleased you master by handing over Potter's best friend, the mudblood know-it-all. What made you decide to change your evil plan; you worked so hard to develop?"

Draco raised his head and met her gaze. He saw the furry that boiled in her eyes. He died a little more inside with each minute that passed. It was time to come completely clean to the woman he loved. He answered, "You."

She looked taken back by his answer as if it was not what she had expected him to say.

He continued, "I waited under my father's invisibility cloak for Weasley to arrive and I watched you. I finally was able to see past your Miss little-perfect-act," he took a step closer to her.

"There was a beautiful girl who was more than the brains of the 'golden trio'. More than the little know-it-all who raised her hand at every question in class. The moment you slapped him I started to respect you. You didn't give into his wants and you didn't go get your little friends to stand up for you either. I saw the fire in your eyes as you told him to leave. I knew that if I'd hand you over to the Death Eaters... they'd take away more than... just your fire. I could not allow that to happen. I did my best to get you out of there alive, which you are."

Hermione's face went through many emotions as he told his explanation. Then her face settled into a cold mask like face. She spoke very matter of factually," I see. I cannot thank you for saving my life; since you're the reason it was in danger to begin with. I cannot also hex you for placing the Cruciatus curse since you were basically forced to do it at wand point. However, I can thank you for choosing to join the light side after that day. The reasons why you did I am not sure of. But we could not have fought against the dark side without your help and that is what really matters. Goodbye Draco."

Hermione walked away from the Ruins and Draco, with her head held tall. She remained a strong, brave young woman. She and her Gryffindorish even thanked him for joining their side. It would've been so much easier on him if she would've hit, screamed, hexed him... anything. Yet, she didn't; she simply walked away from him and left him alone with his guilt.

When he had left the Headmaster's office an hour ago, he planned on telling her all the words he never told her. The words of love he knew she needed to hear. He had planned on showing her all the ways her loved her. But the words still remained unsaid and his one chance had passed.

The next morning he headed for the hospital wing. The battle ended at noon in the Chamber of Secrets the day before. The chamber was the furthest Voldemort got within Hogwarts. He went to open the chamber through a secret entrance from the outside of the castle and to let the Death Eaters in. It was a brilliant plan because no one thought to set wards on Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.

At the point where Harry had lost track of Voldemort, Harry took one look at Ginny Weasley, who was holding her own against a Death Eater. He turned to Draco, who came and offered his assistance. Harry said to him, "I know where Voldemort is. I have to beat him to the Chamber of Secrets. If you do not see me come out in a half-hour, have Snape help you seal the Chamber for good. Oh by the way, you break Hermione's heart, I'll come back to haunt you." He turned with a smile on his face and ran back into the school.

What happened down in the chamber was still unknown. There was an explosion beneath the castle after he had been gone for twenty minutes. The explosion did not harm the castle or the grounds but a shook the ground slightly. At that moment, all the remaining Death Eaters felt the pain of the Dark Mark disappear forever. All knew Lord Voldemort was dead; but were not sure about the boy-who-might-not-still-live.

Professor Snape and Draco entered the bathroom to find a huge hole in the floor. They found Harry's body covered in rocks and levitated him to the hospital wing. The lightening bolt scar on his head still emitted a slight green glow as Harry was on the brink of death.

Draco entered the hospital after a rough night's sleep and without any breakfast. Students of different years and houses occupied many of the beds. Two beds lay at the very back of the room across from each other. Both were closed off with white curtains around them. As he approached the one on the left, Snape came out with a sad look on his face. He put his strong hand on Draco's shoulder as he passed him. The Headmaster had died in the middle of the night. His body was found in the Chamber an hour after Harry was brought to the hospital. It seemed he helped Harry to defeat the Dark Lord up to the very the end.

Draco turned to the curtains on his right. Harry Potter had still not awakened yet and there was nothing else anyone could do but wait. He pulled aside the curtain to enter it but stopped immediately. He could make out Potter was not alone. Next to his body on the bed, a familiar bushy head laid upon the young man's hand. Hermione had finally fallen asleep; but not leave her last, best friend's side. He closed the white curtains back to let her get her sleep. He knew the only thing to bring Potter out of his unconscious state was already there. And he'd leave her alone to work her own, special magic on the Boy-Who-Still-Lived.

A week passed and Draco had all his business with the Order finalized. He would still be there if they needed his help. Nothing else needed to be done, for the Ministry had cleaned and wrote all the reports.

Draco's things were all packed and sent to his manor that morning. He had one thing left to do before he left the castle. He mounted his expensive broom and headed for his destination.

Draco had good odds that Hermione would be in her room at the moment. Potter awoke the day before and she needed to catch up on her sleep. He arrived at the Head girl's window and found it closed. He took a pebble he brought with him for just such an occasion and hit her window lightly. The change in the colors behind the glass showed movement in the room. Hermione opened with window and stuck out her head to see what the noise was.

With a smirk on his face, he maneuvered the broom in arm's distance to her. He stayed there with a slight smile on her face. Draco knew he won points with her on originality. His hand reached into his cloak and pulled out a single, long-stem white rose with a rolled up piece of paper attached.

She accepted the rose. "What this for?"

Draco moved closer to her. Into her ear, he whispered, "For an apology and the reason."

Before she could question him, he reached into her curly soft hair and tugged at the black ribbon that held her hair up. The ribbon fluttered in the wind and her long hair fell down onto her back. With a sexy smirk, he stated, "I seemed to have misplaced my favorite green ribbon almost a year ago. I need one to hold my hair back for the trip back to the manor. I am sure you do not mind."

He let his other hand let go of his grip the broom. Draco sat there and pulled his hands behind his head to tie the long ribbon around his hair. He knew the movement showed his well-defined body in the tight, gray short-sleeved shirt he wore.

Her eyes took in the sight of him and her cheeks turned a slight red hue. The eyes filled with desire. Then Draco saw within her eyes something different. He placed his hands on his broom. Draco gave Hermione a slight nod of the head as he turned to leave. A smile crept over both their lips as he left. He felt incredibly happy at the sight of love still there in her eyes. Maybe there was enough love there. Enough love for another chance.

THE END

...Who am I kidding, To Be Continued.