Dramione Drabbles

"I wouldn't mind if you ruined my life."

"Quit following me, Malfoy."

Hermione walked to the back wall of the Manor's library. She heard the door close behind her and presumed that Malfoy hadn't listened to her demand.

"Why did you run away from the party?"

She had - quite literally - run from the room, but after what she'd overheard, she was no longer in the mood to be surrounded by any more of Lucius Malfoy's cronies.

"According to your father, I'm just some silly girl out to ruin your life."

She turned to see him strolling towards her. Even in her angered state, she couldn't help but admire how good he looked in his suit. Bespoke and fit to the black tie occasion, he'd garnered stares from nearly every woman he passed tonight. It was the same at every party his parents threw. He was always the star.

Malfoy didn't stop walking until he had her back pinned to the wall of books behind her.

"I wouldn't mind if you ruined my life, Granger."

This wasn't the reaction she had expected. She searched his eyes for their usual twinge of mockery, but it was absent. On the contrary, his look was pleading, silently asking her to understand the position he was in.

Pitted between his father and his secret girlfriend must be a tough spot.

"I'm not in the business of converting ex-Death Eaters to the good side, but you might want to go let your father know that. He seems concerned."

Malfoy sighed, running a hand through his neatly styled hair. He started to pace in front of her.

"Look, I don't know what you heard but -"

"I'll tell you exactly what I heard. I heard Lucius telling you to start distancing yourself from me. 'She's bad for your image'. Something along those lines, if I remember correctly."

He stopped his stride and began to remove the cufflinks of his shirt.

"I'm begging you to understand. From my father's perspective, you and I are not supposed to be together - you go against everything my family believes in. To be associated with you romantically would completely ruin me and everything I've worked so hard to build -"

"Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I'm reminded of that at every. single. one. of these parties I attend?" She wanted to yell it, scream at the top of her lungs how much those truths hurt to hear, but she despised the thought of any more Malfoys listening in to this conversation.

He shook his head, clearly frustrated at the direction their conversation was headed.

"You didn't let me finish. Those are his opinions, Granger, not mine. I couldn't give a damn about any of those things -"

He reached to touch her face, grazing his hand across her cheek. Without thinking, she leaned her head into his palm, habitually, her eyes closed. She wanted to believe that what he was telling her was true.

"I want to be ruined by you."

His voice was music to her ears, but his words were music to her heart.

"I'm done trying to be someone my parents want me to be. I'm not that person. I'll - I'll burn every bridge I've built if it means that you'll be with me." He let his finger slide lazily against her skin. She reveled in his touch. "Ruin me. If it means you'll belong to me, I'll destroy every part of my life that doesn't accept you in it."

She could feel his suspense as he waited to hear her thoughts, but she kept her eyes closed. Could it be that the future that she'd wanted for so long was finally achievable? It felt as though, if she were to open her eyes, reality would come and force their love back into hiding.

"Hermione."

The use of her given name caused her to meet his gaze. If looks could burn, she would have been an inferno.

"Please, tell me what you're thinking. I'm begging you." He removed his hand from her cheek and found her arm. He brought her hand to his lips, placing chaste kisses along the tender skin of her wrist.

"It's become exhausting," she said.

"What has?" he asked between kisses.

"Pretending to hate you."

Draco paused for what felt like an eternity. Hermione felt the weight of the moment - like the fate of their relationship hung in the balance of his next words.

"Then let's stop pretending."

She let out a sigh she hadn't realized she'd been holding in.

"You're serious? You're willing to risk - everything?"

He grabbed her hand, pulling her into him. His hold felt sure and strong, like no matter what they were about to face, they would face it together.

"It's time we let everyone know that you're mine."