Draco yawned and slowly opened his eyes. His hand was entwined in Hermione's. He thought she must've been really uncomfortable, sleeping on the hard oak that supported the mattress.

Draco sighed and watched her sleep. She looked so peaceful and beautiful. Her hair was sprawled out and her hand was warm in his.

"Mm..." moaned Hermione, she opened her eyes and looked around.

Alarm set in her face as her eyes gazed over the cabin. Finally her eyes found Draco's and she smiled, sitting up.

"Ow!" she yelled and a hand flew to her neck.

"You shouldn't have slept there!" Draco said, he sat up and felt the blood rush to his head causing him to fall onto the bed again.

"Don't get up!" said Hermione.

She got up in her knees and felt Draco's forehead, aware of his eyes following her. She also felt his cheek and his neck, just to make sure.

"You're getting better," muttered Hermione, she could hear the relief in her words.

"Thank you," said Draco.

"I didn't... I should be the one saying thanks. You saved me," Hermione whispered and leaned down, "Thank you so much."

"I promised you, didn't I?" asked Draco, taking her hand in his, "I don't break my promises."

Hermione nodded and watched his eyes. They seemed lighter and softer. A more reassuring grey than ever.

"I'm leaving soon," said Draco, looking down at their hands, "I want you to stay here with James and-"

"Draco, you're still weak," Hermione said.

"I need to leave. I got you out. My job is done now James will keep you safe," Draco sighed.

"James... He... Draco, you can't leave," Hermione felt the tears prick the back of her eyes.

She wished she could just tell him how she really felt about him. How worried she was when he didn't get up, when he was shivering uncontrollably. She really liked him. Even after everything they had been through, after being kept hostage. She still had feelings deep down inside her. Feelings she couldn't express because they couldn't and wouldn't be together. She would have to keep her feelings hidden.

"Did James say anything to you? Or do anything to you? Why won't you stay with him?" asked Draco, frowning at her reaction.

"James... He didn't do anything or say anything. I just..." Hermione looked down, figuring how to make him stay, "I... need you to stay with me. I feel safe with you, Draco."

"Listen," Draco's hands came to her face, making her look at him, "I promise you no one will harm you anymore. James will take care of you when I leave."

"You're not leaving. If you are, I'm coming with you. Sure, I'll be safe but what about you?" Hermione couldn't help the tear that escaped her eye.

Draco opened his mouth to say smetjing but changed his mind, closing his mouth. He sighed and sat up slowly, clutching his head. Hermione helped him and say beside him.

"You're worried about me? Hermione, I'll be fine. If something happens to me-"

"I'll be there to help you, if something happens. James will be there. You stand up for me and I - I mean, us. Myself and James - stand up for you. We take care of each other," Hermione said.

"No," Draco shook his head and stood up, "We'll talk about this later."

"There's nothing to talk about. You're not leaving without me," Hermione said, watching as he made his way to the bathroom..

"I'm going to freshen up," said Draco and he closed the door.

Hermione sighed and walked out of the cabin. She spotted James, sitting and reading a book. She noticed that the sea was stretching out in every direction. Not even one bit of land. Truly it was beautiful. The sun shone, making the day hotter and prettier.

"Hey," Hermione said and took a seat next to James, glancing at the title of the book, "I've read that. It has a good ending."

"I bought it here for you," James said, glancing at her, "You could do with some sort of entertainment on a boring boat with only me for company, right?"

"I guess so. Draco's fine. He's up and walking," said Hermione, glancing at the oak of the cabin hatch door.

"He'll be leaving soon," muttered James, watching her.

"About that..." Hermione looked back at him and took his hand, "We need to persuade him to stay."

"Why?" asked James, putting the book down.

"He's still weak and needs rest. He needs us to take care of him," Hermione said, shrugging.

"He can take care of himself," muttered James.

"But James-"

"It's beautiful," said James, interrupting her, "the ocean."

"Yes it is but-"

"You're beautiful too, Hermione," he muttered, turning to her.

"James," whispered Hermione as he leaned forward, "Not now!"

"Why is it that when I want to spend time with you, your always talking about him or stop me?" asked James, frowning at her angrily.

"Because we need to persuade him to stay here with us," said Hermione, sighing, already frustrated.

"You love him and I know it," he said and stopped her from interuppting, "Don't lie to me. You love him!"

"I... James, you can't possible think..." Hermione trailed off, "Just leave me alone!"

Hermione stood up and stalked over to the door. She opened the cabin door when James spoke.

"Don't be so immature!" he yelled.

"Me? Being immature?!" yelled Hermione, leaving the door open, "How dare you! I'm sure there are more important thing to discuss than you wanting to spend time with me!"

"He wants to leave! Why don't you just bloody let him go?!" shouted James, showing his true anger, he walked towards her.

"What's going on?" Draco was coming out of th cabin, shading his eyes from the sun.

James and Hermione ignored Draco as they stared at each other furiously.

"You're just... unbelievably stubborn," James said, frowning at her.

"No, I just hate how you don't listen to me!" Hermione said, shoving James away from her. She turned to Draco, "I want to go home!"

"You can't go home!" shouted James, grabbing her wrist to turn her around, "after everything we've been through, you're just going to let it go to waste?!"

"Let go of me!" Hermione shouted, feelings his fingers dig into her, "James!"

"Let her go!" shouted Draco, coming up to James. He shoved him away and glared at him, "you said you would take care of her, not hurt her!"

"She doesn't like me," shouted James.

"Story of my life," whispered Draco, making sure Hermione couldn't hear him.

"No! Can't you... Are you... She loves you!" shouted James, shoving Draco away.

Hermione closed her eyes, willing for Draco not to belive him. She couldn't let Draco think she liked him. What was the point when they couldn't be together? She opened her eyes to see James glaring at him while Draco looked at James like he was crazy.

"You're being stupid. We've cleared this up!" Draco said, losing his confidence.

"No-"

"Stop! I've had enough!" Draco held up a hand, "Will you take care of her after I leave or not?"

Hermione felt her heart twist. He was going to leave? James stared at Hermione before answering.

"Course I will," he muttered and looked back to Draco.

"I need you to promise me she won't get hurt," said Draco.

"I promise," said James.

"Draco-" Hermione said, coming forward but stopped when Draco held up a hand.

"Please don't Hermione," he muttered and looked at James, "Head for the Isle of Man near England. I'll meet you there in a week."

"Sure," said James.

"I'm trusting you to keep her safe," said Draco, James looked down to the floor and Draco nearly growled. He grabbed James' shirt and forced him to look up, "If she's harmed, I'll..."

"I got it!" James said and shoved Draco's hand away.

Draco sighed and moved away. He closed his eyes and opened them, bracing himself for Hermione, he turned to face her.

"Hermione-"

"Just go, Draco," Hermione said, giving up, "Bye."

"Wait," Draco stopped her from walking away.

He turned her around and grabbed her face in his hands.

"I..." He looked back to James and sighed. James glared a him, walking forward.

"If you're going to say what I think you are... just don't!" James said, walking to stand beside Draco.

"I have to," Draco muttered.

"Tell her in a week," James said, "You're just hurting her even more."

Draco's eyes turned darker as he thought it over. Hermione crossed her arms against her chest and waited. She memorised every feature of Draco's face. The crease in his forehead a he thought, the way his eyes turned darker as he thought.

"Get out of here," muttered James, he came to stand beside Hermione, he wrapped an arm around her waist. Hermione didn't bother to remove his arm.

Draco's eyes flashed to his arm and he looked up to Hermione.

"I'll see you in a week, I promise," said Draco, his hand reluctantly came up to her head.

He nearly dropped his hand before touching her hair but Hermione took his hand and pulled him in for a hug.

"Take care of yourself," she muttered.

"I will," muttered Draco.

Hermione thought he was going to say something else but he didn't. He pulled back and sighed, walking a few steps backwards.

"See you," he muttered.

Hermione had an urge to shout out to him to not leave but she swallowed her shout and watched as his eyes connected with her's. Draco turned on the spot and disappeared like a shadow vanishing into the darkness of the night.