Nothing Like You and I

ALERT: TISSUE ALERT!!!!

A/N: Ok, so I was listening to the Verve and writing this chapter. I bawled. I bawled like a baby. So I’m just warning you to get a few hankies ready. This is the last chapter of the story….Just kidding. Hah, I’m so funny. Not. This isn’t the end…maybe…we’ll see. Lol. But yes, sad sad chapter.

All of my reviewers and raters are awesome! You guys totally give me the stamina to continue! Just wanted to thank you all!

Songs

We Found Him, Find Him We Did
The Verve – Sonnet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiQgEn5ibYg

It Might Not Be Me, It Might Not Be Me
The Verve – History
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtNDbEKh_nw



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We Found Him, Find Him We Did
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Hermione’s face scrunched against the weeping sunlight filling her living room to the hilt. She rolled over, expecting to drape her arm over the warm body of Draco but she felt emptiness. The space next to her hadn’t been warm for hours. Her eyes shot open instantly as fear racked her thoughts and she jolted from her makeshift bed.

“Draco?” Hermione called, looking around for any signs of him. “No. No. No.”

She threw her covers from her and rose, feeling that particular yummy soreness between her thighs, and looked around more fervently. The room was still from the morning glow and it looked a bit unearthly. She spun around and sat back onto the couch with her hands holding her head. Her body began shaking terribly and, with wide eyes, Hermione tried to rationalize what was happening. What had happened.

“Fuck. Filthy fucking Muggle….” came a harsh coarse voice from the kitchen.

Hermione looked up from her hands and frowned. Lucius was up and laying waste to her kitchen. Rubbing her eyes hard, Hermione rose from the couch and made her way to the kitchen where she was privy to seeing Lucius Malfoy, the Lucius Malfoy trying to strangle her coffee machine.

“He’s in one of those moods. I’d be careful,” Hermione spun around too eagerly and laid her eyes on Draco, who was standing behind her with his hands snaking around her waist. “I don’t want to have to put my foot in his fat head if he touches you.”

“I…I thought you were gone,” Hermione whispered, leaning back into him. He was still warm, smelled like cinnamon, and she could hear his heart beating behind her.

“Can’t get rid of me that easily, and after last night why would I want to?” Her cheeks flushed when she felt his lips trace her earlobe and travel to her neck.

“Granger!” Lucius snarled, having caught sight of her finally.

Hermione jumped and pulled away from Draco, “You’re awake.”

“Obvious observation,” Lucius grumbled, “How do you work this contraption? I assume you do not have any potions for my aching head and I find caffeine helps dull the sensations.”

“I don’t, sorry but I do have a lot of coffee,” Hermione said, awfully cheerful as she entered the kitchen. “Here, let me.”

She moved to push Lucius to the side but he remained firmly in his place.

“I can do it myself,” Lucius growled, “I am not incompetent. Tell me what to do.”

“I thought you just said….” Hermione began her face a picture of smugness.

“Watch it, Hermione,” Draco said from behind her, “He’s about to go into his tirade.”

Hermione rolled her eyes and cleared his throat, “Press the button. It is normally timed to start at seven but being that it’s six fifty….”

“Another astute observation, now move,” Lucius said, pushing her back with the back of his forearm.

He looked down at the buttons and flared his nostrils, pressing the button. Hermione had to stifle a laugh when Lucius jumped back a little, rummaging for his wand as the coffee machine began bubbling.

“It does that,” Hermione shrugged, “Why don’t you sit down? I’ll make breakfast.”

“Eggs and toast,” Lucius sounded as if he were demanding it, but when he caught sight of Hermione’s lack of an ardent glare, he added, “Please.”

“Go,” Hermione said, shooing him into the small kitchen dining table.

She watched his turn on his heels and move slowly to the table where he looked around, running his finger over the chairs and table before deeming it safe enough for him to sit. Hermione glanced up at Draco, who was clenching and unclenching his jaw, but giggled. Draco’s eyes snapped down to hers and his face softened.

“He looks so out of place, doesn’t he?” Hermione asked, opening her fridge to get a few eggs and the bread.

“He knows he’s out of place,” Draco answered, leaning back against the counter, “He spent the better part of the morning rutting around in your bed. You should change your sheets….if you know what I mean.”

“W-what? You…he..did…what?” Hermione nearly dropped the eggs in her hand as her eyes widened at the thought of Lucius doing unholy things to her poor mattress in a way that should only be reserved for his home.

She shuddered, causing Draco to laugh. Hermione moved to the stone and began cooking breakfast like she had done every day for the past several years, with the exception that she had Lucius Malfoy sitting in her kitchen dining room and she was making eggs on toast. Draco propped himself up on the counter top and watched her with fervor. His eyes followed her hands as she cracked the eggs, her scrunched brow when she figured out the correct precise time to flip the eggs, changing the dials on the Muggle toaster, and couldn’t help but smirk when her tongue poked out as she flipped the hot toast onto a plate.

“What?” Hermione asked, having taken notice of Draco’s attention on her.

“Nothing,” Draco said quietly, “I just like watching you.”

“Creepy,” she replied, causing him to chortle lightly.

Hermione carried out a mug of coffee and two plates strategically placed on her arm to the table. Lucius watched her carefully as she set the plate and mug in front of him. She took a seat across from him where Draco sat beside them, his eyes on the elder Malfoy. Hermione sipped her own mug and averted her eyes when Lucius began picking at his breakfast.

“It’s not poisoned,” Hermione said quickly, noting the way he sniffed the bread.

“Forgive me,” Lucius replied, taking a bite. He chewed slowly before wiping his mouth with the edge of a napkin, “How did you sleep?”

It was an awkward question considering she slept on the couch with a ghost…man…imaginary friend…Draco, while his father rutted against her bed in a drunken stupor. She wondered if she should answer it truthfully, or just give the usual white lie and hope he hadn’t noticed the strain in her voice.

“Fine,” Hermione replied, absentmindedly rubbing the handle of her mug, “You?”

Stupid question. He probably hardly remembered what he was doing and woke up with a raging headache. Who knew, maybe he body was used to copious amounts of alcohol and thus this was a normal thing?

“Splendid,” Lucius answered, “As much as one could when he was blasted into a wall.”

“I…Uh…” Hermione’s eyes darted to Draco, who was now looking at Lucius with wider eyes.

“I remember that much, wandless magic can be quite powerful,” Lucius continued, taking another bite.

“Wandless magic?” Draco repeated, looking a little sadly, “So much for ‘oh my boy just rammed me into the wall because I was trying to shag his girl’.”

Hermione wanted to reach out and touch his hand but knew it’d raise eyebrows with the elder Malfoy. She was content with running her foot to his leg. Draco looked at her and noticed the small look she gave him, instantly feeling better. He smirked and pushed his own foot against hers, tickling the sole of her own. Hermione tried to stifle a giggle when their toes interlocked a little and stiffened in her seat after receiving a small glare from Lucius.

“Then you remember…what else happened?” Hermione asked with a quirked eyebrow, biting her bottom lip as Draco ran his foot up her leg, poking and prodding at her skin.

“Yes, unfortunately,” Lucius grunted, “If you think I am willing to leave my wife for a filthy…”

“Whoa,” Hermione pulled her leg back from Draco instantly and sat up, “What are you talking about?”

“Let’s be honest with one another, Ms. Granger,” Lucius began, resting his hands on the top of the table, “While you are physically appealing, what occurred last night shall remain between us. I do not wish to dilute your mind into believing we have more in common then what is…”

“I didn’t bloody shag you!” Hermione snarled, coming to a stand, “You were pissed and came at me like a drunken sailor! You tried to force yourself on me!”

“I most certainly did not” Lucius replied angrily, rising as well, “Even if I surpassed the most dangerous states of inebriation I would never force myself on a filthy little mudblood!”

“Oh really?” Hermione asked, catching Draco stand as well from the corner of her eye.

“Hermione, don’t. You’re only making it worse,” Draco tried to plead to her but it was too late.

“What do you call this? It’s hardly a love bite and I’m sure you’re not up to strangling your lovers!” Hermione snarled, pushing back her hair to show his deep finger marks bruised onto her throat.

Lucius’ eyes widened and Draco groaned, plopping back into his seat. “If you are implying that I…I did that…”

“Oh, I’m not implying, Mr. Malfoy,” Hermione snapped, “I’m telling you. Now if you get off your bloody high horse you’d realize that I’d never in my right mind, even if I was a mental idiot, sleep with you! You’re pompous, arrogant and you reek of alcohol all day!”

“Watch your tongue, witch!” Lucius growled, bracing his hands on the table, “I am your superior in every facet of your pathetic little life. Furthermore…”

“Get the fuck out of my house,” Hermione said through clenched teeth.

She had been hospitable to every degree, even after she was almost violated but she will not let him talk to her that way. It wouldn’t kill him to be a little nice to her, would it? Probably, but he’d deserve it in her opinion. Losing Draco or not, he had no right to make assumptions and the like. Hermione pointed at the door and glared at him, only to receive a glare back.

“Granger,” Draco said softly, running his fingers through her hair, “Just give it a rest, he’s irritable.”

“No!” Hermione snarled at Draco, “He has no right! No right!”

“Who has no right?” Lucius asked, quirking an eyebrow and for once, Hermione was speechless.

“Uh…I meant…” Hermione’s eyes darted from Lucius to Draco several times before parting her lips to speak again.

“Hermione Granger?” A voice interrupted whatever lie she was going to tell from the living room. “Ms. Granger? Hermione?”

“Nott,” Draco growled, rising to his feet, “Just bloody brilliant.”

Hermione shot a look to Lucius and moved into the living room, combing her fingers through her hair. She found the floating head of Theodore Nott in her fireplace. Smiling lightly, Hermione stood at the back of the sofa with her hands resting lightly on it.

“Good morning, Theo,” Hermione said sweetly, trying to hide all irritation she had bubbling under her skin.

“Good morning, Hermione,” Theo replied just as sweetly, smiling at her brightly, “I need to speak with you. It’s about Nimue’s Hill.”

“What about it?” came the voice of Lucius from the kitchen as he appeared beside her.

Theo’s face fell and his eyes darted from Hermione to Lucius and back again. Hermione took a step away from Lucius and gave Theo an encouraging smile.

“Well?” Lucius asked, “Don’t just sit there with your tongue wagging out!”

Theo frowned but cleared his throat, “We found him.”

“What?” Lucius, Hermione and Draco said in unison, their eyes wide.

“We found Draco Malfoy’s body.”

Silence.

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It Might Not Be Me, It Might Not Be Me
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Nimue’s Hill was still vibrant green despite the season being in autumn. It sat just outside of Scotland surrounded by the sea. Hermione and Lucius instantly Apparated to the hill, once both had gathered themselves together. Her hair pulled back into a tight pony tail wearing her usual tawny brown office robes, Hermione strode up the hill quickly and was followed by Lucius. He brought his hand to her elbow when they met the slope and helped push her upward – to which she shot him a thanking glance. He merely nodded but his face had turned pale and a little greenish.

There was a group of people surrounding several bodies that had been fished successfully from the bottom of the hill. Harry and Ron stood side by side in their crimson Auror garb, talking to Theodore Nott. When Theodore noticed Hermione and Lucius, both Ron and Harry spun around. Harry was the first to move, coming to Hermione where he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

“Hermione,” he breathed into her hair sadly.

Hermione didn’t say anything but eyed the lumps of bodies covered in black tarps on the ground. The stench was overwhelming but she let the feeling of vomit slithering up her throat be pushed back down.

“When did you find them?” Hermione asked in a small whisper as Ron approached and slung his arms around her.

“Just this morning. They were able to reach a ledge about four hundred meters down. Who knows how far Nimue’s Hill extends but from what we could tell…we were lucky to find them there,” Harry said quietly, prying Ron from Hermione.

“You don’t have to see this, ‘Mione,” Ron said tenderly, stroking her head absentmindedly.

“It’s…it’s my job,” Hermione replied, taking a much needed breath.

Lucius was already there, on his knees with his head in his hands. Theodore looked on in confusion, unable to really grasp what he should or shouldn’t do. Hermione walked slowly, feeling Draco’s fingers intertwine with her own.

“It might not be me,” Draco replied quietly, hoping to quell the tears that had begun to sink into her eyes, “It might not be me, Hermione. Other Death Eaters fell over the cliff. They….”

Draco grew quiet when they rounded the still body in front of Lucius. Decomposed and blackened there was no mistake. This was Draco Malfoy. He felt his heart lurch and slumped to his knees, eyes wide.

“No,” he whispered, “No! That isn’t me! THAT ISN’T ME! I’M NOT DEAD!” his voice went unnoticed, even after he let out a loud wail and slumped forward, pounding the grass beside him.

Hermione was like a statue, her eyes swimming with the ghosts of the past. Draco Malfoy was dead. His body lay there contorted into a gruesome form but she could still see his eyes – not quite rotten out but the cobalt in them were unmistakable. Blond hair fell across his burnt face, eyes wide and staring up at the sky. His left forearm had some skin left and she could make out the Dark Mark printed on it. In his right hand, his wand. Draco’s wand. It was charred and the unicorn hair poking out from the sides.

“Draccoo,” Lucius sobbed, his hands reaching out for his son’s body but not quite touching him, “Oh gods…”

“Mr. Malfoy, we need to claim the body,” Ron said quietly, resting his hand on his shoulder.

“C’mon sir,” Harry replied, helping Lucius to his feet.

Mr. Malfoy slumped against Ron, holding onto him tightly as he sobbed into his chest. Ron’s ears went pink but he said nothing but patted Lucius’ back. Harry and Ron led him away, toward the tent at the bottom of the hill. Hermione heard the shriek of Narcissa Malfoy from the distance and could only imagine that she had fallen to her knees. Lucius would rush to her and grasp onto her fallen form as well, trying to soothe her screams and his own tears.

Hermione said nothing, even after she was pulled away from the body. Draco sat beside his form, staring daggers into it as if he couldn’t comprehend that he was really, truly dead. His lip quivered slightly but he was unable to bring his eyes to Hermione. She didn’t want to see them. She had seen them, lifeless and dead, to see them alive but not really would break her.

“Hermione,” Theo said quietly, running his hand through her hair, “I know this is shocking and all…”

“No,’ Hermione whispered, turning to look at Theo, “It’s not. We saw him go over the cliff…I saw him. It was inevitable.”

“If you need a few days to rest, I would encourage it,” Theo continued, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, “You need some time for yourself.”

“I’ve had time for myself,” Hermione said, “Five years. It’s…it’s not a big deal. I’ll be fine.”

Hermione rose and shrugged Theo’s arm from around her. She didn’t look as the body had been lifted and carried away by wizards from the medical ward in the Ministry. There’d be an autopsy of course, followed by an announcement. She had to fill out forms, file paperwork, and…she needed to do something. Anything but think about this.

Draco moved to Hermione after watching his body being carried away. His charred hand slipped and dangled freely as they carried the stretcher to the large tent. His mother tried to rush to the body but Lucius pulled her back and swung his arms around her, holding her tight. Draco wanted to soothe her as well but he…he didn’t know what he could or should do. This was unreal. He was…really dead…wasn’t he?

“Hermione,” Draco rounded on the curly-haired witch, “Maybe there’s another explanation?”

He wanted to hope that there was something else out there but…he knew. He just knew there wasn’t. The workers began zipping up other bodies, including a much decomposed Voldemort. Harry had gone there to make sure it was him and that he was truly dead. He was, they all were. Hermione took a breath and moved across the hill, Draco following her closely.

“It doesn’t make sense,” Draco tried to think, “I mean, if I were dead then why am I aging?”

“Nimue’s Hill is ancient magic,” Hermione mumbled, more to herself than to him, “Spirits, demons, light, it all ages especially with Dark Magic.”

“What are you saying?” Draco asked, rounding in front of her, “You don’t believe I’m really dead do you?”

“No,” Hermione whispered, “I know it. And you…you are not real...not real at all. My subconscious projecting…I…I have to go.”
She Disapparated on the very spot Draco had covered her body with his own. The very spot where he threw her out of the way to protect her from Voldemort. The spot where she lost her heart, her Draco.

“Hermione,” Draco called, striding after her as she slammed the door of her cottage. “Hermione!”

“No,” Hermione cried, visibly shaking, “No more, Draco!”

“Calm…” Draco began, extending his hand to her.

“Down? How can I calm down?” Tears were streaming down her face at this point, her eyes had turn red and irritated, “I…I can’t do this…I can’t. You’re dead. I saw your body. YOU’RE NOT REAL.”

“Hermione!” Draco growled, pulling her to him as he lowered his lips to hers.

Hermione stood on her toes, grasping onto the back of his neck as he pushed her against the back of the sofa. Their hands tore at one another, Draco ripping the buttons of her blouse causing them to scatter around them while Hermione’s hands fumbled with his belt buckle, prying it from around his waist quickly. He lifted her, resting her on the edge of the sofa’s back and pooled her skirt around her waist. His hands ripped at her knickers and tossed them to the floor, feeling the slick heat of her centre pulsating against him. Draco lifted his arms as she tugged his shirt, only to crash his mouth onto hers again.

He jerked forward, sheathing his entire length into her tight quim with a loud grunt. Hermione cried out as she felt his length stretch her walls. Without waiting for adjustment, Draco began thrusting hard powerful strokes. Their pants, groans, moans and whimpers were swallowed by their own lips, chests heaving against one another. Draco brought his hands to her taut backside, grasping onto the swell of her bottom tightly as he pounded inside her. With every thrust, Hermione let out an explosive cry, gnawing at his bottom lip while her fingers traced red marks down his back.

Draco pulled his lips from her with a pop, traveling downward to her neck all while pumping into her tight slick heat rapidly. Hermione brought her legs around his waist, grasping onto his back for dear life feeling his engorged length fill her to her hilt. She cried out as an orgasm shook through her body but Draco didn’t relent. He grunted hard and wrapped one arm around her waist, leaning back only slightly to hitch his hips against her. His cobalt blue eyes gazed hazily into Hermione’s tearful orbs, biting back a loud growl; Draco pushed his lips back against hers. His tongue sought her outs and pulled it into her mouth – sucking heavily.

Hermione moaned into the kiss, rocking her hips wantonly as he tore inside her. Their lips parted, teeth gnashed against one another until Draco grunted and thrust swiftly several times shaking as his seed filled her tight womb. She tilted her head back as another rippling orgasm shot through her, sucking his length in greedily into her body. They stood in silence, well Hermione teetering on the edge of the sofa while Draco brought his hands to the edge to prop himself up. Hermione brought her head to his chest, right under his chin and panted heavily.

She closed her eyes as tears began slipping back her lashes. Why could she hear his heart beating? Why could she feel his breath on her, is warm seed inside her body, his hands wrapped tightly around her? He wasn’t coming back and she…she was losing her mind. Hermione sobbed, her chest lurching after each heart breaking cry exploded from her throat.

Draco stood against her, his chest heaving, as he listened to her weep into his chest. He closed his own eyes and held her tighter against him. She was right after all, wasn’t she? Maybe this was his punishment for all the things he had done in his life. He was stuck in limbo while everyone else around him finds love and happiness. He couldn’t torture Hermione anymore that was for certain, he couldn’t bear to see her slip away from her friends and family because of him. Because she could only see him, feel him, love him.

Hermione pushed him back slowly, feeling him relinquish his grasp around her. She didn’t look at him, she couldn’t, not anymore. Grasping onto the torn ends of her blouse and shoving her skirt down, Hermione retreated into the bathroom. She closed and locked the door before sinking down against it, sobbing heavily. Draco stood at the edge of the sofa – already dressed like magic – yet his eyes were trained on the spot she once sat while they made love. For the last time.

He heard her sobs echo from the bathroom and walked slowly to the door. His hand hovered over the knob, preparing to open it and comfort her but he hesitated. He leaned his head against the door, his eyes closed as a few tears slipped past his lashes, traveling to the wooden floor where they splashed upward in small minuscule puddles. He held his breath and stepped away from the door, his hands falling to his sides. Staring holes into the wooden door, Draco parted his lips to say something but nothing came.

He shook his head and sank against the door, resting opposite from where Hermione was. What was he doing? Was he willing to let her suffer because he wanted to be with her? Did he really want to prevent her from having a life because he couldn’t? He wanted her to be happy, happy with him but that would never happen. Not after today. He stood slowly and shoved his hands into his pocket, striding out of the cottage and out of her life. He had scorned and hurt her too much and now…now he was going to let her have a life. Her life. Without him.

Hermione wiped her nose with her hand, trying to stop the tears from coming but they didn’t. She crawled to her bathtub and turned the water on. Sitting at the edge of the tub, Hermione pried her clothes off and sank into the water, wrapping her arms around her legs as the tub magically stopped once they reached under her arms. She grew quiet although tears still flowed from her eyes, her heart thumping madly against her chest. Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would go to St. Mungos and get checked in. Indefinitely.