Save Me

RING

Draco looked down at his arm. He could feel the dark magic flowing through his veins. He would bear the Mark forever. Or at least until he died, which might come sooner than he wished.

Malfoy never really thought about an alternative life besides assuming the role his father expected him to fill. Sure, he wanted to be an Auror, but he entertained that as more of a fantasy than a real opportunity. He never considered if he wanted a wife or a family, never imagined living to an old age, or reading the newspaper by a Sunday morning fire. His Mark would solidify that none of those things were a possibility. Fine.

But he still wouldn't give in.

He was expected to kill Dumbledore, and he had to do something. He would go back to school, find Hermione, and explain everything. But Draco wasn't as headstrong and impulsive as Potter and Weasley were, he would go to Hermione with a plan. He looked down at his signet ring she gave him for Christmas. Maybe. Maybe that would work.

–

Draco returned to school that fall. It was a cold day in August, just two days after the students had re-settled into their houses. Malfoy figured she would be in the library after classes. He spent an unusual amount of time getting ready that afternoon. He didn't know why he cared, like he was going to say "Hello Hermione, nice summer? Forgot to mention that I'm a Death Eater now but hope you still consider me.." what did she consider him? A friend, yes. A companion, maybe. Something more, probably not. Draco thought what little chance he had would be squashed after she learned of his new body art. That, and the fact that she didn't write.

He had wrote to her over the summer almost everyday and remained a little resentful after he received no reply, despite asking the house elves constantly. Draco wasn't sure why and decided not to ask, she probably realized the degree of delusion it must take to think they could ever be anything. Maybe he would save the conversation for a rainy day.

He headed to the library with a sense of nervous jitters, carefully masked by his cool demeanor. When he spotted her, she was hunched over thoughtfully examining a book called "All About Love- How to Avoid Miscommunication and Tragic Disasters." Okay, not what he was expecting from Granger. Her book seemed more like it came out of a Muggle self-help section that of Hogwarts' world renowned library. Maybe it did. He sent a charm to quickly close her book, and her head snapped up.

"Malfoy," she said hiding the book in her satchel. "Didn't realize you would be seeking me out this term." She said it with a bitter and hurt tone.

"And why would I not?"

She scoffed. "Given that you have failed to return any of my letters, I assumed that you-"

"Failed to return your letters? YOU failed to return mine. I sent one everyday picked up by my house elf at 9am Granger." Okay so they were having this conversation today.

She stared. "I never received any letters. I checked everyday like a fool."

He returned her look of shock, "Neither did I."

"Your father I presume?"

"Likelye."

"In that case, I extend my apologies for plotting to rip your face off by reading this stupid book. My mum bought it for me when she realized I couldn't seem to get over a certain wizard not replying."

"Glad to hear you were so affected by our lack of interaction. Apology accepted. Permission to extend my own on behalf of my father? Although I'm not sure that he deserves it."

"Permission granted and apology accepted," she replied with a grin. She glanced at his ring, unfortunately reminding him of the conversation that they were really supposed to be having.