Hello, readers that stuck till the end of this (horrible :D) book. Here you have it, the very last chapter of Heartache. As I said before, please don't assassinate me for this ending. I'll link the sequel at the end! Shout out to @Skyevans0906 and @-vintagepeach- for the votes, comments, and follows. For my first story, it really means a lot! I wanted to say to all of you, thank you for reading!

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RARE POV: HARRY POTTER, 3RD PERSON

Harry sat in shock inside the Hospital Wing along with Tonks, Lupin, McGongall, Ron, and Hermione. They were discussing the series of horrible events that had happened before the murder. 

"I just can't believe it," McGongall said weakly. "Snape!"

A moment of silence fell upon them, and Madam Pomfrey let out a tiny sob. 

"It was all my fault!" said McGonagall and Hermione at the same time. 

"I'm the one that sent Filius to fetch Snape tonight, I actually sent for him to come and help us!"

"It's not your fault Minerva," Lupin cut in sharply. 

"I was so stupid, Harry!" said Hermione in a high pitched whisper. "I just realized, Snape must have stunned Flitwick, and then told Luna and I to watch after him. We saw Flitwick lying on the floor-"

'It's not your fault Hermione," Harry said firmly. "Snape would have killed you and Luna if you had refused."

She didn't reply, but squeezed Ginny's hand, sporting a look of unbelievable distress. Harry tuned out the shocked, angry whispers of the others in the Hospital Wing, and observed Hermione closely. 

For Harry had not only witnessed the awful murder of Dumbledore tonight, but also a heart-aching tragedy that made him want to scratch his head in confusion and yell out loud all the same. Every time someone in the Order mentioned Malfoy, Harry surveyed Hermione for a small flinch, or perhaps a sharp inhalation. But all her eyes showed was a dull grief. 

Harry thought back to earlier in the night, where he had witnessed a jaw dropping incident between Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, and Blaise Zabini. A time in the night where everything had not gone so horribly wrong. A time in the night where Dumbledore was still alive. 

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"Fetch Professor Snape, Harry!" said Dumbledore in an urgent voice. "Quickly!"

Harry looked at Dumbledore in shock, and scurried off, tripping over his muddy robes. Dumbledore's words were still ringing through his head; Harry ran faster. 

But when he reached the bottom of the Astronomy Tower, a very familiar voice made him stop in his tracks. 

"Draco, wait!" 

It was Hermione. Harry didn't even dare to breathe as he slowly tip-toed behind a pillar, so he could get a clearer view of her. Hermione and Malfoy were staring at each other, identical looks of agony on their faces. 

Harry wanted to move, to go get Snape as Dumbledore had ordered, but he stayed glued in place, staring at this impossible coupling.

A couple of Death Eaters came sprinting towards Hermione. Harry whipped out his wand, ready to protect her, but someone else got there first. 

"Don't touch her! Don't fucking touch her!" yelled Malfoy, stowing his wand in his pocket and throwing strong punches at the two men. 

They crumpled to the ground in a bloody mess. 

Harry could not believe what he had just seen; Malfoy had just beaten up his very own Death Eater buddies to protect Hermione. Hermione, who Harry was sure, until now, Malfoy loathed. What was going on?

 "Draco, we agreed," said Hermione softly, brushing an imaginary speck of dust off of Malfoy's shoulder. "We agreed that we would forget about each other. But I can't do it. I tried, I tried for hours, and I can't. I nearly got my eye taken out dueling because I was thinking about you!"

Malfoy looked around; he seemed to be checking for anymore Death Eaters. Harry was sure that Malfoy was going to jinx Hermione, so Harry kept a firm grip on his wand. But on the contrary, Malfoy gently took Hermione's hand off his shoulder, and grasped it tightly. 

"You shouldn't talk to me," Malfoy rasped. "We're both in danger. You have to stay away!"

"You idiot, don't you understand?" snapped Hermione. 

Malfoy looked at her sadly, shaking his head, and then turned, heading straight towards Harry. Harry tensed, but his jaw dropped open when he heard Hermione's words.

"I can't stay away, because I love you," said Hermione, so softly that Harry wasn't sure that Malfoy had heard.

Malfoy stopped immediately, stiffening, and then turned back around. 

"What did you just say?" he whispered, looking scared. 

"I love you," said Hermione, louder and less uncertain. 

"After- after everything?"

"You don't deserve it," Hermione pointed out, frowning. "But it's not really my choice, is it? Evil or good, gentle or rough, I fell hard a while ago Draco. I just didn't realize."

Malfoy made a sound, gravelly at first. Then, it turned into a quick bark of laughter, laced with disbelief. A smile unfolded slowly across his face. 

Harry stared. 

He had never, ever seen Malfoy smile; it had seemed impossible for someone like him. Then, Malfoy laughed, the warm sound seeming out of place in the castle that was now filled with dueling witches and wizards. 

"I love you too, Hermione," Malfoy grinned, pulling Hermione into him. 

"Draco?" another voice sounded through the pillars. "What are you doing?" 

"Blaise," Hermione said, smiling. 

"You look happy," Zabini scowled. "You should be angry at Draco for what he's done!"

"You wouldn't understand Blaise," Hermione said. 

Harry, however, thought that Zabini was being much more sensible in this situation than Hermione. 

"What are we going to do now?" Malfoy asked softly, looking down at Hermione. 

"I don't know," said Hermione softly. "But forgetting each other isn't an option." 

Zabini let out a groan of exasperation. "You are running out of time!"

"Damn, Hermione, this wasn't supposed to happen!" Malfoy yelled. 

"What wasn't supposed to happen?"

"This!" said Malfoy, waving his hands between them frantically. "You were supposed to hate me, and be safe!"

"Well, we can't change anything now, can we?" huffed Hermione in annoyance, pulling away from him. 

"Whatever you two decide, do it quickly!" Zabini said, leaning against a pillar, and looking at them uncomfortably. 

Malfoy was muttering under his breath, running a hand through his sleek blond hair. 

"The more I think of it, the more I'm sure. We aren't meant to be together!"

"How can you say that?" asked Hermione, the hurt in her voice evident. 

"Because look at us! You're fighting on the good side, and I'm fighting on the dark! It's dangerous!" 

"How?"

"Because if they find out how much I care about you, they'll go after you!" Malfoy said in frustration. "We were supposed to break apart tonight!"

But at those words, Hermione had gone pale, and she tugged at Malfoy's arm in fear. 

"Remember? Remember Trelawney's warning?" she asked nervously. "She said we would fall apart on the night of the Lightening Struck Tower!"

With a jolt, Harry remembered running into Professor Trelawney earlier, hearing similar rubbish of the so called "lightening struck tower." He thought that Hermione was being very foolish in believing what the old fraud said. 

"It's just a coincidence; she's crazy, Granger," Malfoy said, but he didn't look as convinced as he sounded. 

Hermione didn't answer, but she twirled a tendril of her hair around her finger nervously. Malfoy looked at her in anguish. 

"There's no way to keep you safe," he whispered sadly. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault Draco," said Hermione, resting a hand on Malfoy's cheek. 

Harry still found it very odd to see Malfoy and Hermione having a civil conversation without going at each other's throats. 

Suddenly, her behavior throughout the year made much more sense. The sudden trips to the library, the inexplicable grin on her face throughout the week, and the times that she had stuck up for Malfoy whenever Harry had brought him up. 

"But you said it yourself, didn't you?" Malfoy asked. "You couldn't concentrate because of me. You got hurt dueling because of me!"

"It was once!"

"It could happen again!" Malfoy snapped. "You're in danger!"

"Quickly!" Zabini growled. 

"Would you give us some privacy, Blaise?" Hermione asked pointedly. 

"No."

Hermione rolled her eyes. 

"Focus Granger!" said Malfoy, putting his hands on Hermione's shoulders. "Potter is going to try to defeat the Dark Lord, so-"

"What does that have to do with anything-"

"Granger, we all know that he can't do shit without you," Malfoy pointed out. "If you're with him, and you're thinking about me, it would ruin everything!"

"Hold on, why are you standing up for Harry?" Hermione asked curiously. "Aren't you supposed to be on Voldemort's side?"

"The only way we can be together is if The Dark Lord is destroyed," Malfoy says simply.

Hermione smiled. Malfoy, however, sighed heavily. 

"I have a plan," he whispered sadly. 

"Finally!" Zabini cut in. "Make it quick-"

"Shut up," Malfoy and Hermione told him at the same time. 

"What are you thinking of Draco?" Hermione asked. 

"You won't like it," said Malfoy grimly. "But I know that this is the only option."

"What- you can only do it if I agree!"

"Memory modification," Malfoy said, looking a little proud at the brilliance of his plan. 

Hermione gasped in horror.

Harry, however, was not as sharp as Hermione, and he didn't quite understand what Malfoy was hinting at. Despite the situation, Harry was drawn in, as if he were watching a particularly interesting television show. He found himself hoping that Malfoy would explain. 

Fortunately, Zabini didn't seem to have a clue what was going on either. 

"I don't get it," Zabini said flatly. 

"The memory modification spell," Hermione said softly. "Draco, no, you can't!"

"You mean, er, what's it called?" Zabini asked. "Obliviate?"

"Exactly," Malfoy said unhappily. 

Hermione let out a sob. "I didn't mean it when I said I wanted to forget about you!"

"There's no other goddamn choice Granger!" Malfoy yelled. 

"We can work out something! We can keep our relationship a secret! Like we did this year!" Hermione said desperately. 

"Look how that worked out," said Malfoy dryly, pointing at Zabini. 

"I don't want this," Hermione breathed, looking sick. 

"Hermione, it's the only way!"

"What if I just forget about you forever?" Hermione demanded. "Then what?"

"I know the spell," Zabini cut in. "To bring back memory. My mother taught it to me."

"See?" Malfoy coaxed. "It'll be fine!"

"No, no, NO!" screamed Hermione. "You both can't be serious!"

"Just until the Dark Lord has been killed," Draco said. "I promise I'll bring it back then!"

"NO! Remember, in the beginning of the year, when I won that bet about the Firewhiskey?" Hermione asked in denial. "You both have to listen to me!"

"This is for your safety!" groaned Draco. "I told you, I'll bring it back!"

"What if it takes years?" Hermione demanded. "Or what if one of us is . . . dea-"

"DON'T SAY THAT!" Malfoy yelled. "Nothing like that will happen!"

"Hermione, if you don't believe it, we can do the Unbreakable Vow," Zabini offered. 

Hermione sighed. "No, no, I trust Draco."

"Look, Granger," Malfoy started. "If you really, really don't want this, then we won't do it. But I don't see any other options!"

"Draco," Hermione countered, looking pale once again. "What if, in that gap, I fall in love with Ron? Because I'll have forgotten about you!"

Malfoy didn't look worried at all. On the contrary, a ghost of a grin flitted across his face. 

"You really think I can't steal you back?" he smirked. 

"I don't have a good feeling about this," said Hermione, the despair evident in her tone. "But it looks like we don't have any other choice."

Malfoy and Hermione looked at each other in anguish. 

"Get it over with then," said Hermione, not looking at Malfoy. 

Malfoy pulled out his wand, his hand shaking very badly. 

"I'll do it," Zabini offered. 

"No," said Hermione. "I want Draco to."

Malfoy slid a hand into Hermione's hair and pulled her into him. Cupping her face with his hands, he smashed his lips into hers. Hermione glided her hands up Malfoy's chest, kissing him back passionately.

Harry gawked at the pair of them. This was perhaps the strangest scene he had ever laid his eyes upon. 

Malfoy stepped back, and pointed his wand at Hermione. Were those tears on his cheeks?

"Potter," Malfoy barked suddenly. "I know you're lurking here somewhere, listening in on all of this!"

Harry tensed. 

"I really, really hate you Potter," continued Malfoy. "But whatever shit you do with the Dark Lord, finish it off quickly. And look after Granger for me!"

First of all, Hermione doesn't need 'looking after,' you asshole! And second of all, if she did, I've been 'looking after' her for nearly five years now! 

Harry bit back the retort. 

Then, Malfoy pointed his wand back at Hermione. 

"I'll miss you," he said, his voice wavering. "Once it's done, you'll remember me, but only as the dick I was before."

Harry felt a mixture of pity and resentment at the bottom of his stomach.

"Just do it," Hermione muttered. "And don't swear-"

"OBLIVIATE!" Malfoy roared.

This time, Harry could definitely see tears streaming down his cheeks. 

Then, as if a charm had been broken, Harry sprinted away, back up to the stairs that led to the Astronomy Tower, where Dumbledore was. 

"Expelliarmus!" he heard Malfoy's voice cry. 

But Harry was frozen in place, and he understood that Dumbledore himself had cast the freezing charm on Harry. 

"Good evening Draco," said Dumbledore pleasantly. 

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Harry looked at Hermione again, the muffled voices jerking him out of his thoughts. 

"Harry?" she asked in confusion. "What's wrong?"

Harry gave a bitter smile. It was just him, Hermione, and Ron left in the Hospital Wing now. 

"Too many things," said Harry quietly. "So much has gone wrong."

"I feel weird," said Hermione thoughtfully. "Like I'm missing something."

"It's probably just the shock," Harry said hastily. 

They all looked at each other. In the early morning, with the clouds dark and the Hospital Wing as clean as ever, Harry felt a strange tendency to laugh. Dumbledore was not dead. Surely he was in the Headmaster's office, with Fawkes on his shoulder and a lemon drop in his mouth. 

But then, Hermione sought out Ron's hand, grasping it tightly. In that small movement, the reality came crashing back down on him. Dumbledore was as dead as his own parents, and Hermione was in love with Draco Malfoy. 

Even the thought of it made Harry recoil, and his insides sizzled with anger. How dare she betray the Order, and fall in love with a Death Eater? How dare she even think of the possibility of someone who was on the side of their enemy? 

Harry glared through the corner of his eyes at Hermione, an outraged roar threatening to rip out of his throat. His chest ached with her betrayal, and he longed to shake some sense into her. Did she not have the faintest clue about all that could go wrong?

Hermione caught Harry's eye, and he immediately tried to un-wrinkle his face. She smiled at him tiredly, and his anger slowly faded away. 

It was pointless to get angry at her now, she didn't remember a single thing. Harry could tell that keeping this secret was going to gnaw at his insides, and make him squirm with guilt. But what other choice did he have? 

Ron slung an arm around Hermione's shoulder.

Malfoy's words rang through Harry's head; You really think I can't steal you back?

Someone was going to get hurt from all of this in the near future. And Voldemort's bare existence would cause devastation already.

Oh Hermione, thought Harry sadly. What have you and Malfoy done?

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That's it for Heartache! It's my birthday today, so I finished my first book on my birthday!
Here's the link to the sequel: 

It's called Heartbeat, and I haven't started it yet. 

https://www.wattpad.com/story/273638663-heartbeat?utm_source=web&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share_myworks  

If that doesn't work, try this:

https://www.wattpad.com/myworks/273638663-heartbeat