"Don't go," he muttered, his forehead resting against hers and his hand wrapped in her hair. "Please."

"I have to," she shook her head slowly, holding his face in her own hands, stroking his cheek softly.

"It's too dangerous. What if you're caught? What if you're-" he couldn't bring himself to finish the thought, the words catching in his throat.

"It'll be okay," she promised. "I'll be fine, and when it's all over we'll finally be together. Everything will be okay."

"Your optimism is infuriating," he laughed harshly.

"I know," she smiled softly, leaning back so she could see his face properly. "But it's all we have."

They had only minutes before she would have to leave and Draco couldn't bear the thought of letting her go, of watching her disapparate for what could be the last time.

"Promise me," she grabbed his face, forcing him to look at her. "Promise me that you'll be safe. No matter what happens, I need you to take care of yourself."

"I promise, as long as you do," he met her eyes.

"I mean it, Draco. No matter what happens," she repeated.

"You mean no matter what happens to you," he realized, pulling away from her angrily.

"Yes. Draco, please, promise me."

There were tears in her eyes as she watched him pace, his fists clenching and unclenching as he fought back the urge to lash out at her.

"Draco," the pleading tone in her voice made him stop and look at her, studying her as though he was going to be tested- and maybe he was, who knew how long he would have to live off nothing but the memory of her.

"Please," she whispered, her gaze dropping from him to her lap, where she twisted a ring nervously.

"I promise," he sighed, kneeling in front of her and taking her hands in his. "I promise."

"Thank you," she rested her forehead against his again, breathing in the moments they had left together. "Promise me the same, though," he took her face in his hands, his thumb stroking her cheek. "No matter what happens to me, you keep yourself safe."

She nodded, unable to actually say the words.

"I love you, Hermione Granger," Draco wiped a tear from her cheek.

"I love you, too," she whispered.

"It's time to go," Kingsley Shacklebolt suddenly appeared in the doorway, his voice startling the couple from their reverie.

"Right," Hermione nodded quickly, wiping the remaining tears from her face. "I'll be there in a minute."

Kingsley nodded and stepped out of the doorway to give them a final minute of privacy.

"I love you," Hermione repeated, wrapping her arms around her boyfriend tightly.

"I love you too," Draco held her tightly, trying to memorize every inch of her.

They shared one last kiss, trying desperately to make it say everything that they couldn't, and then Kingsley was in the doorway again insisting that they had to go now.

"We'll be together again," Draco promised as she pulled away.

"Now who's the optimist," she smiled wryly.

That was the last thing he saw, that infuriatingly sexy smile of hers, and then she was gone and he was alone.

"We'll be together again," he repeated to himself quietly. "We have to be."