Draco/Hermione : Day before the Final Battle.

Hermione walked along the bitterly cold corridor, no longer bothering to wipe the tears from her eyes. She was allowed to feel broken - everyone was a little broken.

She stared at the blank wall ahead, knowing that she could make the Room of Requirement appear in a matter of seconds if she wanted to, but not really wanting to go inside because no one would have the right words to say - they would probably offer no words at all, actually. The only thing they would feel was awkward, and Hermione didn't want that.

They all needed her to be their rock, but little did they know how much she needed a rock of her own. Her inner turmoil was tearing her apart, with Ron and Harry horcrux hunting without her, the fact she'll probably never see her parents again, and then there was Draco.

The mere thought of Draco made her insides turn and a fresh batch of tears flow from her raw eyes. Their last conversation was constantly running through her mind and it was slowly killing her.

"Draco please… you don't have to do this. You don't have to be this - I know that side isn't what you want."

"How do you know what I want? This side is what I want, it's what I have to want!"

"Please, don't be like this."

"How can you expect me to choose? If I choose them I loose you, but if I choose you I loose myself."

"It's not like that. I can help you - the order can help you!"

"We can't keep doing this."

"Doing what?"

"You know what. You know what I have to choose, and that it's not you."

"So that's it? After everything we've been through? Just like that?"

"You knew deep down that it was always going to end like this."

And that conversation may have been five months ago, but it was engrained into her heart because they hadn't spoken since. They had shared a few awkward glares, but she could always feel his searing gaze on the back of her head and it was driving her absolutely crazy.

She viciously wiped at her eyes and told herself to man up right this instant, and as she stepped towards the stone wall she felt a hand grab at her wrist in a strong grip. She found herself being pulled into a corner that was hidden behind a huge column, and reflexively she whipped around and trained her wand on the persons neck.

Then she realized who it was.

"Granger, they are coming here tomorrow and they plan to kill anyone who protects Potter. You need to tell him, now!" He whispered heatedly in a flurry of words.

"Oh, so it's Granger now? Why are you telling me this, and why should I believe you?" She replied, her chest heaving and the heat rising to her cheeks.

"Because I choose you." He grabbed her wrist again, tugging lightly.

"What if I don't want you to choose me? What are you doing?" She hissed, struggling in his grip and battling the tears that were prickling her eyes.

And he pushed her against the wall, pressing a bruising kiss to her lips. "I had to do that - I haven't in so long and we could be dead this time tomorrow. Now go! I'll find you, whatever happens, I'll find you."

A/N- As you guys can probably tell, this is going to be kind of AU. This will follow twelve various pairings on the day before the final battle, the day of the final battle, and the day after (four pairings for each day in total). I hope you like, my updates should be quite fast. Please don't forget to review! :)

Written for The Speed of Lightning Competition