The primal instinct took over his body. Wrenching and clawing at his insides. He was beyond redemption now and everyone knew it.

No religion, no holy man, no kind words could save him. All he could do was scoff at their attempts.

The darkness had consumed him completely, for the fire that had once warmed his soul had been put out, much like an ember being stomped beneath a boot.

So painfully. Unrelentlessly.

"What are you doing here?"

He didn't spit the words like he used to. They came out in an exasperated whisper. He cradled his head in his hands.

She could smell the liquor lingering about the room. He had started drinking again. Hermione Granger made her way across the dim room towards the hunched over figure. She picked up the discarded bottle of firewhiskey, sighing.

"This stuff is gonna kill you one of these days."

Her words lingered in the air for a few moments. He smirked.

"Isn't that what you want Granger?" Her face contorted with disgust.

"How could you say something like that?"

"Spare me your sanctimonious bullshit and Get the fuck out." His voice was now lined with the once familiar malice. She stood her ground not knowing what she could say or do.

"Didn't you hear me you filthy mudblood?! Get the fuck out of here, you make me sick to my stomach."

"I'm not going anywhere until you hear what I came here to say," she whispered.

Her hands were shaking and she inhaled deeply.

"What's there left to say." He smiled at her sadly and it pulled at her heart strings.

She had done this to him. She had broken the dragon inside of him reducing him to nothing more than a mere has been.

"Are you gonna tell me that you've grown weary of me? Or maybe that you've fallen in love with Weasley." He laughed bitterly.

"But that wouldn't be necessary. I already know all of those things. So if that's what you've come here to tell me, you're just wasting your time."

Hermione's heart felt as if it had been twisted and tugged from within. She carefully placed her hand onto his shoulder, holding her breath, expecting it to be shrugged off.

But it wasn't.

He inhaled sharply, taking in her scent. In a way he knew why she was here, but refused to believe it.

It wasn't the firewhiskey that was killing him, it was her. He felt the coolness of metal make contact with his skin and he closed his eyes.

He placed his own hand upon hers, feeling the distinct shape of a small, circular object. He brought it before him, the gold band shined fiercely in the dimly lit room. It radiated something foreign. Happiness.

"He asked me to marry him."

"And?"

"I said yes."

"Then why are you here? Come for one last fuck have you? I'd comply Ms. Granger But you're practically a married woman and I have a strong policy against sleeping with brides to be."

He chuckled halfheartedly, but it didn't reach his eyes. She placed her hand softly

against his cheek causing him to wince. It had become a habit of his and he couldn't help it.

"Mione, please go."

His self-control was slipping. How could she stand before him like this and not expect those animal instincts to take over? His eyes bore into her own and this time she didn't look away. She held his gaze defiantly, almost begging him to understand.

Quietly, she slipped an envelope into his robes and smiled. He felt as if his world were crashing around him once more.

"Draco, I…"

Before she could say anything else, he brushed his lips against her own in a chaste kiss.

It was uncharacteristic of him. His kisses had always been heated and passionate.

Tears jerked from her eyes. This kiss was his goodbye because Malfoys had never been one for words, and it hurt so fucking bad.

He watched her leave and this time he couldn't stop her. Once she was gone, and he could no longer feel her on his skin, he dug into his pocket and wrapped his fingers around a small satin box.

He could also feel the papery texture of the envelope. He pulled it out and read the gold letters without emotion. He already knew what they would read.

'Hermione Jane Granger weds Ronald Weasley.'