you are my other half - dramione

"[...] or just, take a break."

-Snape's Office, last week of the year-

"You wanted me?" Draco closed the large metal door behind him.

"Your mother, father, and aunt wanted to talk to you." Snape put his feet up on the wooden desk.

Draco eyes turned to the three people sitting in front of him.

"Mum, father? Aunt Bella?"

"Have a seat Draco." His mom said.

Draco had a feeling he knew what this was about.

Draco sat down on a tall black chair and faced his family.

"I am sure you've heard about the Dark lord?" Bella mused.

Draco nodded.

"I'm sure you know you are to be initiated as a Death Eater."

Draco reluctantly nodded.

"You know you will be initiated tomorrow, right?" His father said.

Draco was aghast, not only did he have to leave Hogwarts early, but he had to leave Hermione. He couldn't bare to stand up to his father, so he instead agreed.

"Yes father."

"Good, we will pick you up at 6 tomorrow morning, I'm very proud of you Draco."

That was the first time his father had ever been proud of him, he was just sad that this is what he was proud of him for.

"Yes father, may I be excused?"

"Go on."

---

-That night-

Draco wasn't sure what to do. Of course he expected this news sooner or later, he just wanted it to be later. How would he even tell Hermione? How could they possibly stay together? His mother and father would eventually find out about them.

"Draco?" Hermione looked up from her spot on Dracos lap. "Are you ok?"

"We need to talk."

Her face went from sympathetic to confused.

"Are you ok?"

"No, that's why I need you to listen to me and hear me fully out."

She stood up and moved to the seat across from him.

"So, uh. I don't know how to tell you this but, Voldemort's coming back, and when he does, my father is forcing me to be initiated as a Death Eater, tomorrow."

Hermione gasped. "It, Harry was right! What does this mean for us?"

Hermione knelt down on the floor and put her forehead to his, their noses touching. She knew Draco liked it when she did this.

"I don't know what it means. I means we need to be more careful, or just, take a break."

Hermiones breath shortened. She understood why Draco needed to do this, she just didn't want it to happen.

"Dra, there must be another option."

"There isn't. Hermione I love you," He pulled his head away and looked her in the eyes. "I love you to the edge of the universe and back, but I can't risk my parents finding out. There will be another war, I guarantee it. If I survive-"

"Don't say that!"

"-then we will live happily ever after. Hermione I love you, I want you to know that. This is not out of my best interests."

He waited for a response. Hermione finally said something.

"Draco, I love you too. I don't want to leave you, I don't want you to leave-"

"I'll never leave you. Whenever you're feeling down or something, think about me and hold that necklace."

She nodded and then continued. "-but I understand. Once this war is over we can live happily ever after."

Draco picked Hermione up and sat her on his lap. He grabbed her lips and pressed them to his. She kissed back and it was a wonderful feeling. Even though they were leaving each other, they still had each other in that moment, and they had the whole night just themselves.

---

After hours of walks, stargazing, and sitting by the fire, the painful goodbye came. Both in tears, they gave each other one last kiss and hug, but that wasn't quite their final goodbye.

"Stay with me." Draco said.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Stay, just the rest of the night, in here, with me. Just us." He kissed her again.

"Ok, yes." Hermione said.

And that's how their night went.

The next morning, Draco woke Hermione before he left, leaving her somehow cold under the warmth of the comforter.

Draco kissed her goodbye one last time, they would not share another kiss for several months, although Hermione believed it to be the last time they'd ever kiss.