With Every Inch of Me

How can something so wrong be so right?

That's what I ask myself at every stolen moment with you. I don't understand how we got to this point. I only know that we did, and that I wouldn't have it any other way.

But what future can we possibly have together? I try not to think of it whenever I kiss your lips, red and swollen from the heat of our passion. It's not something I like to dwell on, for I have you right in front of me. Why should I think of the future?

Because I cannot see myself without you, yet I know there is no way we can be together. How can we? There are things bigger than the both of us that hold us back from going for what we really want; each other.

So we continue with these sweet, stolen moments, taking affection whenever possible. But I can't seem to figure out if it's best to have you and lose you, or to not have you at all.

I can see the sadness in your eyes when we pass each other in the hallway. I can see that you want to acknowledge me, even if it's just a simple hello, but you can't. I can't. We can't.

So when our eyes meet, we smile and then quickly look away, for fear that someone will notice. But that may not even be our biggest problem, for I fear my friends are getting suspicious. When we have Potions together, I sneer and insult you, but not as harshly as I would have done before we got wrapped into this mess. I do it to keep appearances, yes, but I also do it just to look into your eyes, and to hear your voice. No one can read my eyes when I look into yours. They think they see malice, but you know better. You understand the act I must put up, and you play along. You want more, though, I can tell. You want more than I can give you. However, you stay silent, agreeing to meet me whenever I can spare a few minutes.

I wish we could have more. We deserve more than this. We deserve each other. Well, maybe that's only the half truth. You deserve more than me, it's true. But yet, you tell me incessantly that you don't care what I think you deserve; you want me, and that's all there is to it.

And that's what I love about you. You go for what you want, no matter what anyone thinks. You could care less if the world sneered upon you, as long as you stood up for what you believe in. Bravery. Gryffindor bravery. As much as it kills me to say it, I wish I had that.

For I'm afraid. I will admit it; I'm terrified. I'm terrified of people finding out the truth, but not for the reasons one may think. I'm not afraid of being disowned, or being shunned, no. As hard as it may be to believe, as much as it may seem to be, I am not. Money means nothing to me, as long as you are by my side.

It's things like that that scare me the most. If someone had told me that months ago, I would have laughed in their face. But you have changed me so much. My morals, my beliefs, my world. You have pulled out the foundation on which my world lay. But I thank you for it. Really, I do.

So what is it that I'm afraid of? What stops me from yelling to the world from the highest mountain top that you are mine? Your own safety. I am afraid for you. My people, us Slytherin's, are cunning, ruthless, and sadistic. They will not take what they will consider my treachery lightly. They will not go after me, though. They will make me suffer by making you suffer. The worst pain of all; watching your loved one being pained because of you.

You insist that you can take care of yourself. Of that, I have no doubt. But I still fear you being captured. I could not live with myself if I let that happen to you, for it would be my fault. It would be my fault that I let this happen, that I let you see who I was. I took down my walls, and you loved me like I've never been loved before.

Because I haven't. I've never known what it was like to truly be loved. I've known respect, fear, and contempt. I've never learned what it was like to wake up with one person on your mind, go to bed with that person on your mind, and sleep with that person on your mind. You invade each and every one of my visions at night. Sometimes, they are good, but sometimes, they scare me. I can't bear to have you tortured in reality like you are in my dreams.

But would we really be that bad off if the world were to find out? The only ones I've left to fear are family and friends. My friends would love to hurt the both of us, as well as my father, and your friends would kill me.

Either way, the outcome is bleak. For who has ever heard of a pureblood Slytherin, let alone a Malfoy, being with a Muggle-born Gryffindor, let alone one of Harry Potter's best friends? Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger. It's almost an oxymoron.

But faith. I must have faith.

I sigh and try to control myself, for my hands are shaking so much I can barely do up my tie. The dance will be starting soon, and you'll have to endure me being with Pansy Parkinson. And I'll have to endure you being in Weasley's arms.

I look into the mirror for what felt like the first time in weeks. My sad, steely gray eyes stare back at me. My silky blonde hair, falling into my eyes, and my lips, pulled into a weak smile. But wait, something's different. A purple mark stands out on my skin, a dark contrast to my milky complexion. It's a mark of what happened just hours ago. My glamour must have worn off. I grab my wand to replace it, but hesitate.

No, I won't cover it up. I'll wear it proudly. I've made up my mind.

I finish getting ready in a daze-like state. I hardly notice as Pansy latches onto my arm, and we head from the common room.

Thoughts are spinning in my head so quickly I can hardly make the heads and tails of them. But I know what I'm going to do. No more waiting. No more contemplating. No more fear.

No more fear, for it is time. The world will bring to us what it will. It is better to face it together than alone. And I don't want to be alone again. Not when I've learned what it's like to be with you.

I sigh, wondering if I'm doing the right thing. And then I think, how could I be wrong? Was it not you who told me it would be wrong to deny ourselves of such completion? Yes, it was you, with words so wise. You have intelligence beyond anything I could have ever hoped for in a girl. In a woman.

As we enter the Great Hall, Pansy says something to me, but I don't hear her over the pounding music. It's not like I was paying attention anyway- my full attention was on finding you as my eyes scanned the hall.

And there you were.

It was as if you felt my eyes upon you, for you immediately looked up and your eyes met mine.

You took my breath away.

In a modest yet sexy gown, the pale gold color of your dress matched you perfectly. Soft corkscrew tendrils framed your face, and your warm, full, inviting, tempting lips were pulling into a smile. Then the contact was broken as Weasley whispered something in your ear, and you nodded. You sent me another smile before allowing him to take you into his arms and lead you to the dance floor.

I set my jaw and straightened my shoulders in firm determination. I began my walk straight towards you, not even noticing as I unconsciously shook Pansy's grasping hand off my shoulder as she tried to pull me back.

Nothing was going to stop me. I'd made up my mind, and I was going to do what I wanted. For us.

It seemed to take an eternity to reach you, but finally, I did. Your back was to me, and Weasley sent me a questioning, suspicious glare. I reached out a hand and laid it on your shoulder, and you curiously turned around. Your eyes met mine, and in that instant, you understood.

You took yourself from Weasley's embrace, stepping into my outstretched arms. Weasley's eyes widened and I heard sharp intakes of breath from many surrounding dancers. Whispers filled throughout the hall, and it seemed as if everyone stepped back, giving us a wide birth of the center of the floor. The center of attention. The center of the world.

My eyes never left your face, nor your, mine. You had a sweet smile on your lips, almost thankful.

"Are you sure, Draco?" you whispered.

I responded with no words, but instead pressed my lips to yours. More gasps were heard, but I couldn't care less. Your arms were wrapping around my neck, and we both pulled each other closer. The world stopped, everything melted away. I felt your knees give out, the way they usually do when we kiss. I love it, because it shows me how strongly you feel for me. I hold you up and pull you closer, feeling your body trembling.

And finally, we pull away simultaneously. Your eyes are alight with something akin to wonder, and they are shining with unshed tears. My vision blurs, and I know mine are the same.

"I love you, Draco Malfoy," you whisper.

Before I pull you in for another kiss, I huskily respond, "And I love you, Hermione Granger. With every inch of me."