How It All Began

They were complete opposites of course: Draco and Hermione, light and dark, good and evil. He was the son of the most powerful Death Eater, Lord Voldemort's right-hand man. She was the daughter of a dentist, born to Muggles. He was in Slytherin. She was in Gryffindor. It would never work.

"This will never work," Hermione whispered to him as he closed the space between them. They were alone in one of the fourth floor corridors. No one, not even Mrs. Norris, would be anywhere near them anytime soon.

He nodded sadly. "I know, but can't we at least try?"

She pulled away suddenly, slinking back into the shadows to get away from him and his mesmerizing eyes and scent. "I don't know."

"Have some faith, 'Mione. Don't you trust me?" he said, reaching out for her.

She averted his grasp. "I don't know," she admitted, looking away to avoid his eyes. "I don't know if I can. I don't know if this isn't just some sordid, sick, twisted deception. It'd be really funny, don't you think? Use the Gryffindor Mudblood, then lose her. Embarrass her in front of the whole school."

Draco winced at the insult, feeling sorry that he had been the one to bring it up fourth year. "'Mione...I..."

"Don't call me that!"

He shut his mouth. Hermione shook her head and began pacing. "Everything's too perfect, too right. You've always hated me. How can I believe that all of a sudden you fell head over heels for me?" Draco opened his mouth to say something again, but she cut him off with a flick of her wrist. "You have me under your spell. When I'm with you, I can't think straight. I'm lost in you."

"It's not my intention..." he objected.

"I don't care if you're doing it intentionally or not, Draco. I just don't know whether or not to believe you. I don't know whether or not to believe myself."

They fell into a strange silence. Suddenly, they heard footsteps coming up from the main stairwell. "I need to get this message to Mr. Malfoy as soon as possible." It was Professor Snape. He was walking with a man cloaked all in black. "It is imperative that he reads it immediately."

"Yes, master." The hooded figure bowed his head and apparated away.

Draco coughed. Snape spun around toward the direction of the sound, but Draco fell into the shadows with Hermione. He didn't see anyone. Finally, he walked away, his cape billowing out behind him and his shoes clicking on the stone floor.

Draco was standing in front of Hermione, breathing heavily. He was so close, in fact, that she could feel his breath on her cheek. "You need to trust me," he urged, leaning down to capture her lips in his. She succumbed to his kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck and allowing him to back her into the castle wall.

***

Goyle looked around the Great Hall, not seeing his best friend and his dance partner anywhere. "I don't know. They were there a second ago, weren't they?"

Harry wrapped his arm around Ginny's waist and pulled her against him. "I think I saw them running off that way," he responded, pointing toward the door. Ginny looked up at him and smiled.

Goyle looked away.

"Students, students, is there a problem here?" Professor Dumbledore pushed his way through the crowd and into the center of the circle where Goyle, Ron, Harry, and Ginny stood.

Ron shook his head. "There's no problem at all, Professor. We were just looking for Malfoy and Hermione."

Everyone else agreed. "I was a little worried when the circle closed in," Dumbledore commented. "I could no longer see or hear what was going on."

"We're alright, Professor." Ginny smiled. "Gregory was just informing us that Draco has liked Hermione for a while now. We were just a little concerned about his intentions."

Goyle looked up at her use of his first name. She smiled shyly at him. Harry pulled her closer.

Dumbledore nodded. "I see. I think now would be a good time to return to your dormitories. Prefects, please lead everyone back to your houses. I trust you all had a good time. Classes will begin, per the usual, Monday morning."

***

Draco and Hermione were too busy with each other to notice another person looming in the shadows. He had slipped his hands underneath her robe, and then her blouse, to caress the skin at the small of her back. Her hands were running through his silky blond hair, massaging his scalp seductively.

"We really should stop," Draco murmured, pulling his lips away from hers for just a second before replacing them right at the sensitive spot under her ear.

She nodded. "Why? We could just - ah! Oh my, Draco..." Hermione's head fell back against the stone wall to give him better access to her neck.

He suckled on her skin teasingly, his tongue flicking across it softly.

"Draco..." She moaned when one of his hands slid higher along her side, coming to rest just under her bra.

"If we don't stop now, I don't think I'll be able to later," he managed to get out in between caresses.

She mumbled something incoherently, pulling his head up to meet her gaze. Without another word, she pulled his mouth down to hers. His robe fell off his shoulders into a puddle at his feet. "'Mione." He groaned, pressing further against her.

Suddenly, there was a blast of white light as a misfired curse slammed into the wall beside the couple. Hermione would have screamed had Draco's mouth not been covering her own. They broke apart immediately, Draco shielding her from whatever it had been.

"Move away from her, Draco. I don't want to hurt you."

He narrowed his eyes in the direction of the sound and found Pansy standing just a few feet away, wand at attention, in a dueling pose. "What are you doing, Pansy?"

"Ridding myself of the competition." She smirked, preparing herself to cast another spell. "Move away, Draco."

"No!" he objected. "Pansy, what makes you think I even like you? I can't stand you. I never could stand you."

"But the ball...tonight...you said..."

"I said nothing, Pansy," Draco continued. "You made false assumptions. The only reason I went to the ball with you tonight was because 'Mione and I weren't sure if we wanted anything made public. And fourth year? My father threatened my life. Why else would I even consider going with you?"

Hermione even flinched at the harshness of Draco's words. She placed a hand on his arm.

Tears were filling Pansy's eyes. "Fine. If that's the way you want it, that's the way you'll have it." She turned away suddenly and began walking in the opposite direction.

Draco immediately spun around to Hermione. "Are you okay? Did she hurt you?"

She shook her head. "No. Draco, that was terrible of you to say."

"It was all true."

"It was still terrible." She pulled away from him, building that wall up around herself by crossing her arms over her chest. He reached out to her. "Don't touch me."

"'Mione, I..." He realized he didn't have anything to say about it. "I'm sorry. I'll talk to Pansy later and apologize." He frowned at her. "Okay?"

A small smile broke out on her face. "Okay." Draco leaned down and pressed a small kiss on her already swollen lips.

Pansy listened in from around the corner. She couldn't take it anymore. Draco was hers. She would make sure of that. Finally, she jumped out in front of them, her wand raised.

"Avada Kedavra."

A bright green light blinded the corridor, shooting out from the end of Pansy's wand. It headed straight for Hermione. She turned toward it and screamed, her eyes wide. Almost in slow motion, Draco jumped in front of her, and the curse hit him square in the chest. He fell to the ground with a thud. His head rolled back, and he stared up at the stone wall lifelessly.

Pansy gasped. "NO!" she screamed, running over to Draco's motionless body.

Hermione pushed her out of the way, poking at her with the end of her wand. "Get away from him, Parkinson! You've done enough as it is." When Pansy didn't make any move to leave, she poked her again. "Get help, Pansy." Hermione stressed each word - each syllable. "Now!"

Unable to make a sound, and scared for her life, Pansy spun on her heel and ran down the hallway.

Choking back a sob, Hermione fell to the ground next to Draco. "Draco?!" She sobbed, pulling his body close to hers. She couldn't feel his heartbeat against her chest when she gathered him into her arms. The killing curse must have done what it set out to do. "Please don't do this."

She leaned down to kiss him. His lips were already cold as she put hers against his. Tears fell down her face freely, staining her cheeks with wetness. "Please, Draco." She begged.

Hermione heard a groan. She looked up suddenly, searching for the source. Another groan. When she couldn't make out anyone through her blurry, tear-filled eyes, she looked down at Draco. His own eyes were fluttering, and he seemed to be stirring. "Draco?" she asked, laying him down softly on the stones and leaning over him. "Draco, can you hear me?"

He groaned again.

Before anything else could be said or done, a stampede of Hogwarts professors came pounding down the hall. "Over here, Professor! Please, come quick!" Hermione called out the moment she recognized the shadow of Professor McGonagall.

McGonagall, Snape, and the Headmaster came into view, standing over Hermione and Draco. "What happened here?" the first demanded.

"Pansy - she just went insane and she..." Hermione lost control again and began to cry. Professor Dumbledore pulled her to her feet and gathered her into his arms.

"It's okay, child. He is not dead." Dumbledore waved his wand over Draco, calmly putting him into a deep slumber. "Minerva, Severus, please see to it that Mr. Malfoy gets to the Hospital Wing at once. I need to talk to Miss Granger."

Snape whipped out his wand and muttered a spell, causing Draco's body to levitate off the ground weightlessly. He pulled him down the hall, Professor McGonagall following a few feet behind in case the spell broke.

Hermione tried to break away from the Headmaster. "No! Let me go to him."

"Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, his voice soothing. "I need you to relax." He waved his wand over a painting on the wall, and it opened into a cozy sitting room. In an instant, a fire was blazing in the fireplace, instantly warming the room. He led Hermione to the nearest chair and allowed her to sink into it, curling up into a ball. "Now, please tell me exactly what happened."

Hermione, who was still crying, fought back the tears. She swallowed hard, blinking back that wetness in her eyes. "Draco and I - Draco and I -" She hiccoughed. "We snuck off to be alone." Her face reddened in embarrassment.

Dumbledore gave her an encouraging smile and nodded to her to continue.

"We were...talking...when Pansy showed up. She threatened me. Draco said some very awful things to her then. She took them well." Hermione sniffled. "We thought she was okay when she left, but then..." She sobbed again. "But then she just cursed him! I know the curse was meant for me. I feel terrible about it." Hermione broke down again, burying her face in her hands and crying.

"What curse, Miss Granger?"

Hermione hiccoughed again. "The killing curse." She whispered. "Avada Kedavra."

Headmaster Dumbledore had expected it. Still, his expression betrayed him, and he could not hide his shock. Hermione, at seeing his concern and disbelief, started to cry again, unable to hold the tears back any longer.

"There, there, my child," Dumbledore offered, his voice calming and soothing. "What's done is done. Madam Pomfrey will do everything she can. I'm sure the young Mr. Malfoy will be quite alright."

"He better be." A cold voice resounded from the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

Neither Hermione nor the Headmaster had heard anyone approach. The former turned in her seat, meeting the evil sneer of one Lucius Malfoy. He was standing only a few feet away, calm, cool, and collected. His long white blond hair was tied back neatly at the base of his neck. His black-gloved hands rested on the serpent's head at the end of his walking stick, always at a ready for drawing his wand. His piercing gray eyes stared at Hermione, and she looked away.

"I would hate to have to remove you from your position, Headmaster." He spat the title. "I'm quite sure the other governors could be persuaded to cooperate if my son were to die."

Three more people approached him from behind. The first, a short, balding man with round, wire glasses, was accompanied by a witch, who was holding onto his arm, as though to keep from falling. They resembled a certain Slytherin Hermione loathed.

"I'm sure you know Quentin and Rosemary Parkinson," Malfoy stated. A tall, leggy, thin woman with long, flowing blond hair and the same cold gray eyes took Malfoy's offered hand. He smiled at her. Hermione shuddered. "My wife, Narcissa."

Greetings were murmured. Hermione stayed seated, growing a little uncomfortable. Finally, Dumbledore noticed. "Miss Granger, please go to infirmary. I'm sure Mr. Malfoy will be asking for you when he regains consciousness."

A look of horror crossed the elder Malfoy's pointed face. "I will not have that mudblood anywhere near my son."

The Headmaster's blue eyes darkened. "Language, Mr. Malfoy, language," he warned. Malfoy was unmoved. "Miss Granger, as it happens, is the only witness to the events which occurred in the third floor corridor this evening."

"I wouldn't be surprised if she was the one who had cursed him," Malfoy scoffed.

Hermione, who had been silent all the while, leapt to her feet, turning on the elder Malfoy. "How dare you!" she accused. "I would never do anything to hurt Draco."

When Lucius visibly shuddered, Dumbledore silenced her, hoping to interrupt prior to Hermione saying something regretful. "The infirmary, Miss Granger. Please."

Her cheeks flushed, she nodded resolutely. "Yes, sir." Hermione was halfway to the door when it flew open, the Potions Master, Deputy Headmistress, and Pansy Parkinson swept in. Hermione cast a glare at the Slytherin girl, her hand reaching for her wand. "Excuse me," she spat, pushing past the three and practically running down the steps.

There was silence in Dumbledore's office, which had grown quite crowded. It was broken by Mrs. Parkinson who, choking back a sob, reached out and crushed her daughter against her. Pansy's face was pale and tear-stained, and she was shaking, muttering "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," over and over again.

"Madam Pomfrey is doing everything she can, Albus," Professor McGonagall explained. "I'm afraid that Miss Parkinson's curse was strong, and there's no telling what will happen. Poppy is worried that nothing can be done."

"What curse did she use?" Narcissa Malfoy asked quietly, her voice shaking slightly.

All eyes turned to Dumbledore. He answered the question solemnly. "Avada Kedavra."

***

Hermione stopped just inside the infirmary door. Madam Pomfrey was bustling around in the far corner, mixing potions and cleaning up and such. All of the beds were empty, save one. Hermione's gaze wandered toward the middle of the room, where Draco was lying, motionless.

Sucking in a deep breath, Hermione willed herself to walk forward. She stopped next to Draco's bed. He was on his back, his arms at his side. His face was pale, and his lips were pink and pursed ever so slightly. His blond hair had fallen over his forehead, almost covering one of his eyes. Somehow, Hermione thought ironically, Draco looked at peace and almost angelic laying there. She allowed herself a small smile.

Hermione sat on the edge of the bed and picked up Draco's hand. She brought it up to her mouth and kissed it softly. "Oh, Draco, I'm so sorry." She looked down at his hand clasped in hers. "I should never have doubted you. And now - I really do love you, Draco." She felt another tear slip down her face. Hermione bent down and kissed his cheek.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the infirmary doors. Madam Pomfrey abandoned her doings, hurried past Hermione and Draco, and blocked the doorway. "I'm afraid I cannot allow any of you to come in. Mr. Malfoy is not allowed any visitors."

"But Hermione's in there!" Ginny pointed, squeezing past the mediwitch. Hermione met her halfway, and the younger girl pulled her into her arms. "Hermione, are you okay?"

Once Ginny was past her, Madam Pomfrey could do nothing to stop everyone else. Soon, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, Greg Goyle, and Vincent Crabbe were all crowded around Draco's bed, talking at once.

Hermione was sobbing into Ginny's shoulder. Harry was rubbing her back comfortingly. Ron and Goyle were discussing the upcoming Quidditch match - Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff, and Crabbe was swaying back and forth on the balls of his feet, looking adorably confused. Finally, he spoke. "Granger, what happened?"

Hermione pulled away from Ginny and looked at the shorter, fatter of the two goons Draco normally hung around. "It was Pansy," she said. "She - Draco and I -" Hermione started to cry again. "I'm sorry."

She buried her face in Ginny's shoulder again. The redhead looked to the four boys standing around her for help. "What do I do?" she mouthed.

Ron hid a snicker behind his hand, and Harry shrugged helplessly. Crabbe looked in the other direction, anywhere but at Ginny. Only Goyle made a move to help. He took a step forward. "Granger - eh - Hermione, look, I'm sure Draco'll be alright."

Hermione looked up at him. "You really think so?"

Goyle nodded. "Yeah, I mean, he's gone through worse at home." At Hermione's shocked expression, he quickly covered. "I - I bet, knowing Mr. Malfoy, that is."

Hermione's mouth formed a small smile. Then she wrapped her arms around Goyle and cried into his chest for a while. Harry slipped his arm around Ginny. Ron and Crabbe just looked at each other.

Then, in the midst of all that silence, there was a groan which originated from Draco's still form, on the bed.