Living in Darkness

Hey guys, this chapter is very short along with the epilogue. I'm very sorry it took so long, but I have had a rather tough week.

My husband is gone now. Probably in Kuwait by now... He is strong though and so am I so we will get through it just like everybody else. I was waiting until he was gone to finish this because I didn't want to spend my final hours with him typing.

So now that I am done, I realize I now have 15 months of living alone. Well, I have two dogs. :) But really, it's going to suck. My first six hours alone were very unpleasant. I had him spray a stuffed white tiger he gave me with his cologne. He gave me the tiger four years ago.

My poor tiger is still drying out.

I guess what I am trying to say, is to keep your loved ones close... because it really hurts when they are gone.

I hope everyone enjoyed the story, I really appreciate you taking your time to read it, even if you don't review! Reviews are very nice though. And to all you guys who talk to me anf review often, thank you so much!

It is like a breath of fresh air to be able to say all of this. I now have a ticker on my desktop, 456 days left.

I think I'm going to be writing a lot of fanfiction between now and then!

Chase if you ever read this (I doubt he will) I love you soooo much. Please be careful... I really miss you coming home from work...

XXX

Chapter 23: The Final Ray of Hope

The handle was hot in Draco's hand as he twisted. He looked to the ground as he pushed it open to enter his Venetian flat. The first thing he noticed was the cool air from the open window which he had not touched.

He shifted his gaze upward slightly.

Hermione.

He closed his eyes for a moment as if they were playing tricks on him.

But when he opened them again, she was still there.

Hermione... wearing his mother's clothes and designer cloak. Her long dark curls fell gracefully around her shoulders as she watched him, unsure of how he would react to her being there.

Draco felt his heartbeat quicken tenfold as he read her expression. She wasn't angry, she wasn't sad, she was expectant. She was waiting for a reaction. But Draco was still in shock at the sight of her.

He looked past her at the open window, letting the cool night air in, blowing his bangs out of his eyes. As if a tidal wave crashed down onto him, Draco realized with tremendous force where he was...

He was here... in Venice... at his flat...

He looked at Hermione with a new ray of hope...

"Hermione, how did you know I was here?" he said, his voice low and painfully hopeful.

After trying to hold them back for several long moments, Hermione let the tears fall. She pushed her body into Draco's arms, forcing him to take hold of her. She pressed her forehead into the crook of his neck.

"I'm so sorry Draco... I... I couldn't remember. Bu... but I do now. You fixed everything... you changed it... I don't know how you did it..."

Draco held onto her tightly, her body shaking in his arms... he could barely hear her over the intensity he felt at her being so close...

She remembered...

"Draco, I'm sorry... I love you," she whimpered, looking at him with tear filled eyes.

Draco stared at her, unable to tear his eyes from hers. Without thinking, he kissed her.

He had never felt a more glorious sensation in his life than her kiss at this moment. Her soft lips responded with the urgency that he felt as his tongue caressed her mouth.

Draco pushed her against the wall and kissed her more forcefully, a small moan emitting from her mouth. He gripped her waist and ran his other hand into her thick, luxurious hair.

He pulled away from the kiss gently and looked into her eyes, "I love you too... Hermione." She smiled at him, his silver eyes pouring into hers. She ran her delicate hands across his chest and pulled off his robes.

"I've gone too long without you," Hermione whispered. Draco smiled... a real smile and proceeded to let her undress him.

Behind them, the dark clouds were moving... moving elsewhere, so finally the moonlight could shine in, casting shimmering rays of light across the room.

Against the odds, the darkness within had finally been conquered and the dragon survived.

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Epilogue: One Year Later

Bright rays of moonlight shone from the sky over Malfoy Manor. Stars twinkled brightly in the dark sky as Draco stared into their depths peacefully.

One whole year had passed since Hermione had come back to him and he was still getting use to this life. Everything was so perfect...

Hermione was completely in love with him without doubt. They had their son, Ladon, resting peacefully in his crib.

And yet...

Draco feared the loss of this perfection... The loss of Hermione's sweet lips on his, the soft caress of her hand on his skin... The exuberant giggle of his son.

He couldn't lose them... He couldn't let something penetrate the warm air of the early evening...

Draco felt a gentle touch on his back and knew it was her. The one he would give his life for in a heartbeat.

"What are you doing out here?" she asked quietly, as to not disturb the sweet silence of the night.

"Just thinking," Draco replied distantly. He turned around to face her, looking into her deep, luscious eyes.

"Draco... I am worried for you... You have never really got used to the war being over like the rest of us... is everything alright?"

Draco let out a breathe he didn't realize he was holding. He glanced over her small frame...

She was so beautiful... the moonlight hitting her just right...

"I don't know how to live this kind of life Hermione... I worry all the time... I feel like I can't let you or Ladon out of my sight..." Draco looked down to the ground, avoiding her worried expression.

Hermione lifted her hands to his face and brought his gaze back to hers.

"Draco, we won... The war is over... and you have been cleared of any charges... " her eyes flicked to the scar on his left forearm, "Draco, we can finally be happy together and lead a life that was so very close to being destroyed... Don't waste what so many have died for... I love you. I know you love me, so please... Let go of the darkness..."

Draco looked at her, soft tears glistening like diamonds threatening to fall from her eyes. How could he bare to let her feel this way because of him.

It was true though... Draco didn't know how to live and to love. It was something he was trying very hard at, but it seemed he hadn't fully grasped it.

His soul was darkened, but the outline was shimmering. Hermione had kept that part of him alive for so long... It determined his actions, the good in him was only brought out because of her and it was determined to overtake the evil and the sight of her distress due to nothing more than him was all it took.

Draco swept her into his arms and kissed her passionately.

"Think we can get Potter and Ginny to watch Ladon?" Draco grinned mischievously.

"Harry."

Hermione smiled despite her tears and nodded as Draco carried her in his arms back to the Manor.

"Yeah, whatever," Draco mumbled, still grinning.

XXX

Hope you guys liked it!

There may or may not be an alternate ending. If there is one, it won't be long. It will just be very angsty...

I'm thinking dark here, so somebody turn on a light!

Muwhahaha

Review please!!!

I love you guys!!!! PM me in the future if you feel like it, I'm always here for help or advice or just someone to talk to. God knows I need someone like that to talk to, lol.

Vote for a candidate to get our troops home and out of this insane war!!!! (If you disagree, I do not wish to debate, just ignore it, because I am tired of proving my points all the time. People need to realize what is happening on their own.)