Places of Silence - Beginning of the End

He allowed her to tease his lips open and felt her soft tongue enter his mouth. All thoughts left his head as she wrapped her arms around his neck again, willing him to continue what he had started.

The next morning they woke together with the sunlight streaming through Hermione's bedroom window. She turned and looked into Draco's eyes as she lay there in his arms. It was obvious from the dark shadows under his eyes that he had slept little that night. She wanted more than anything, to ask him how she could make it better, but before she could speak, he smiled and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

He loved these mornings the most out of all the time he had spent at Hogwarts these mornings were the ones that he treasured. In these moments, he could pretend that what went on outside this room was nothing more than one of his nightmares. He knew that the next week would bring him closer to his destiny, but in these moments he could pretend that everything was going to be OK.

As he kissed her softly, he felt her heart beating beneath his chest and he knew that this was what he wanted more than life itself. He wanted to take her away from the fighting and spend every morning like this with her in the bed that they shared. Not wanting to admit his true feelings, he allowed himself to melt into her as they always did on these sunny Sunday mornings.

He ran his hand slowly along her leg and pulled her in tighter to him as they kissed. He closed his eyes and imagined what she looked like as they kissed. He did that often when he was alone or in class. He knew her features so intimately that he could sketch her with his eyes closed and get every line, every shadow and every freckle in the perfect place. He could feel her warm breath on his neck as she kissed him there, and he felt his pulse beat faster as she kissed him across his chest and stomach. He smirked as she pounced on top of him, and with one of her passionate kisses his thoughts flew out their open window.

When they had finished, they rested silently in each other's arms thinking about the world outside the four walls that surrounded them. Sundays were the best day of the week. On Sunday's they would wake late, eat even later and spend the day quietly studying together in the common room.

This day was going to be different though. After they had showered and changed, Draco had an uneasy feeling that something was going to change the day from perfect to disastrous. As he had studied in the quiet room, the feeling got worse until he was unable to take it anymore. He abruptly got up from his chair and disappeared out of the door into the halls. Hermione, who was too busy studying, did not notice as he left. So when she looked up she was shocked to see it was not Draco who sat in the chair in front of her. Now Draco had been replaced by an opposing black owl, which was staring menacingly at her, while perched on the armrest.

After ten minutes of an uncomfortable staring competition between the owl and herself, Draco entered the room. He was obviously expecting this arrival and with head bowed, quietly took the letter from the outstretched leg. Hermione knew something was wrong as soon as he walked into the room, and now she saw Draco transformed. Gone was the relaxed nature that she was used to in their space. Now it was replaced by the fear and trepidation that she felt when they were in class together. Again she wanted to reach out, but she knew that by doing that, she would change what little peace they afforded themselves in their shared chambers. So, silently, she watched as he pulled on his cloak. With a squeeze on her shoulder, he walked silently out of their common room.

Hours later, he returned steely faced and cold. She had waited up for him to return, trying to busy herself with study but the hours had gone by so slowly that she had found herself pacing the floor many times throughout the afternoon. When he finally did return, she was anxious for him. With his head bowed, he walked across the space and dropped the letter at her feet. Without pausing, he then disappeared into his room.

With shaking hands, Hermione picked up the letter and read what she had been afraid of all day.

Draco,

Your application for delay to your initiation has been denied. Punishment will take place this afternoon and your initiation will proceed as planned on the full moon a week from today.

To state my disappointment at this action is unnecessary as you will be dealt with today.

I will not accept the disobeying of orders again.

Lucius

It was, as she had feared. Unknown to her, Draco had tried to delay the initiation and this was retribution for his act. He had obviously received his punishment this afternoon, which explained his slumped shoulders and shuffled steps. Tears slipped down her face as she realised the enormity of the situation. She had always thought that the path of a Death Eater was not one he wanted to take, and now it had been confirmed by receipt of the letter. She knew that she couldn't change his destiny, but she wanted so much to make this injustice better. Slowly she stood up from her chair, and walked towards his door.

Never in the time that they had been living in these rooms had she needed to enter his bedroom but the tension she felt was now overcome by the grief that she was experiencing. She knew that his father was an evil man, and he would have wanted to make an example of his son. She could barely imagine the rage that Draco had been made to endure. If his nightmares were anything to go by, he would have endured tortures far worse than the ones she had read about in the library.

Softly, she pushed the door open. The room was no different to hers, except the Malfoy family crest decorated everything. No wonder he couldn't sleep, it was like being in a snake pit at the bottom of the sea. She took a hesitant step inside the room, and walked towards the bathroom.

There in front of the mirror stood the man she now knew she loved. Standing there naked in front of the weeping mirror was the man she spent her nights with, who never asked anything of her except for comfort and security. He was weeping silently as he traced the wounds on his arms and chest. Hermione stood in the doorway watching him silently as he looked over the punishment his father had dealt for Voldermort. No doubt, these were only the wounds, which had been given as a reminder of his disloyalty. She knew what spells they used on Death Eaters who went against Voldermort's wishes. When she could bare it no longer, she walked silently over to him and took his hand.

He looked at her with his pained silver eyes and motioned to his face. It was (as always) perfect. His father had punished him terribly, but had left his perfect Malfoy face so that the world would see him, as he should be.

Hermione led him gently to the bathroom where she filled the bath for him. Undressing quickly, she led him into the warm water. He winced, but said nothing as she tended to his wounds. Her first year of medi-wizard training had served her well and slowly one by one she healed the wounds. The only wound she could not heal was a deep cut directly above his heart. In this wound she found a line of silver, which had been placed so that it would not allow the wound to heal properly, until the owner of the silver blade retrieved it. It was a reminder of the pain that must be endured in the name of Voldermort. It was only then that she allowed him to see her cry.

He held her as she cried, wrapped around his damaged body, she cried. Now she couldn't rest her head on his chest and listen to his heart beating strongly, beating defiantly.

He cupped her face in his hands and drew her lips towards his and they kissed. It was the most sensual tender kiss she had ever experienced and with it, came the pain of knowledge. She now realised that this last week was all they would have together. She had stupidly believed that he would be with her on graduation night and they would finally be able to put into words what their hearts had felt for so long. She knew their time would eventually come to an end, but she had not planned on it being so soon. She looked at him with sad longing eyes and took his hand.

They walked out of the bathroom, through his bedroom and into the common room. Still dripping wet they entered her bedroom. This was their place and she was going to make this week memorable. Something for him to think back on in the dark times to come.

He smiled softly at her as she wrapped him in her arms and held him. She then led him to her bed where she lay down with him. She smiled and kissed his nose as she usually did just before they went to sleep. She then proceeded to kiss each wound site that she had healed, softly and slowly. She kissed each wound to make it better, just like her mother used to when she was a child. She knew that there was nothing she could do to change their destiny, but while she still had him, she was going to make sure he was happier and safer than he had ever been. So, she kissed all of the wounds, with the love she felt for him. She held him and kissed him like that until he finally drifted off to a deep sleep.