"Thanks," muttered Hermione as James helped her off the boat.

She looked around the Isle of Man. Travelling for a whole week with various different weather was really tiring Hermione out. Also she hadn't slept the whole night due to excitement. She would see Draco!

The sky was a dull grey, the clouds hid the entire blue of the sky but Hermione didn't mind. She was still smiling. They were at a sort of beach with trees lining it. She spotted a gate further down and had an urge to sprint to it and find Draco. But of course James knew where he was.

"Ready?" asked James, looking around him.

Hermione nodded and James took her hand. Instinctively Hermione pulled her hand out of his grasp but James sighed.

"I think I deserve some trust, Hermione, I did, after all, keep you alive," said James, "We need to apparate."

Hermione turned red at her own stupidity and James chuckled. He took her hand and after a short glance around, he splatter. They were once again sucked into oblivion and James' grip was tighter on her's.

Hermione's feet landed on grass. She nearly fell over but James grip kept her straight. Her head hurt, her eyes felt weird but she looked up and around. Draco? Where was he?

"Guess he's not here yet," muttered James.

Hermione frowned and watched as he went to sit by the tree. There was only one tree and a whole load of grass. A few minutes later, James stood up, clutching some parchment in his hand.

"Hermione, I'll be back. I need to... um... personal stuff," muttered James, nodding towards the woods far away from them, "I'll be back in five minutes."

"Sure," Hermione said, her thoughts were occupied by Draco.

James took off down to the woods and Hermione waited for him. She sat down and leaned against the tree. Closing her eyes, she rested. A couple of minutes later, James came back. Hermione stood up ad started pacing way hung as James took her place, leaning against the tree.

"When is he coming?" asked Hermione, worry lined every part f her.

James stood up and stopped her by grabbing he waist. She turned around to look into his blue eyes and he sighed.

"Calm down. He'll be here soon," he said.

Hermione, surprising even herself, pulled him in for a hug. His body tensed around her's but finally his arms snaked around her waist and pulled her closer.

"Thank you so much for everything," muttered Hermione, feeling as though she could hug him all day.

"No problem..." muttered James.

Hermione sensed that he wanted to say something else. She waited, her head rested on his shoulder and she felt his breath on her neck. He didn't speak.

"What is it?" she muttered, "What do you want to tell me?"

"How do you know I want to tell you something?" asked James, surprised.

Hermione shrugged and James sighed. She felt his chest rise up as he figured out how to say it. She waited patiently, comfortable in his arms.

"I know," started James, after a while, "you love Draco. I know that but... I have to make my feelings clear..."

Suddenly Hermione pulled back, sensing what he was about to say. She braced herself as he looked her in the eyes, his hands held onto her waist.

"I love you, Hermione. I really do. I want you to think... do you reay love Draco? Do you think he's right for you? Do you feel anything towards me?" asked James.

Hermione knew it took him a lot to say the first three words but she didn't feel anything for him. She knew she loved Draco. There was no doubt about that but could she really break James' heart.

"I'm sorry, James, I-"

Hermione was cut off by James. He closed his eyes for a fraction of a second before crashing his lips to her's. Hermione's eyes opened wider, watching as James had clenched his eyes tight shut. She didn't move back or anything because she was so shocked. The kiss became gentler and James' mouth explored her's. He finally pulled back to see Hermione's expression.

"I'm sorry but I needed you to think about it more before making your decision," muttered James, turning red.

"I still choose Draco," said Hermione, her voice cracking a little.

James nodded, defeated and moved away from her to stand at the tree again.

---

Draco's POV

Pain was all Draco could think of at the moment. Pain in his face, arms, legs, his whole body. Blow after blow sent another breath out and he had trouble breathing in again.

"TAKE ME TO HER RIGHT NOW!" Lucius' voice thundered in his ears.

Her? Her. Hermione. Of course. He wanted Hermione. Draco glared at his father. He wouldn't get her.

"Let's finish this, Lucius. Take him to the girl. Make sure she's dead and bring James home," Robert's vice sounded distant.

"I need to figure out where the bloody girl is!" shouted Lucius.

Draco laughed as best as he could but it hurt his ribs. He laughed again, wheezing slightly and caught his father's attention.

"What's so funny?!" shouted Lucius, grabbing Draco's hair and making him look up.

Draco flinched as his father pulled on his hair but he laughed again.

"You... won't find... them," he managed to get out.

A weeping figure caught his eye and he barely managed to turn to his mother. For the first time in 

Draco's life he had to admit his mother looked old. She hadn't bothered to take care of herself. Draco shook his head at his mother.

"Don't... cry..." he wheezed, "Go... Go out."

"Get out of here, Narcissa," muttered Robert.

Narcissa left the room after a glance at Draco. Her eyes shone with some emotion that Draco couldn't place. He looked back to his father who was in deep thought.

"We found them!" shouted Coal, entering the room.

"They're in the Isle of Man," said Amadeus, grinning from ear to ear.

"No..." muttered Draco.

Lucius smiled a twisted smile and waved his wand at Draco. He was lifted to his feet and Lucius grabbed his neck and whispered.

"You're girlfriend is dead now," he whispered.

Draco turned his head and spat in his father's face. Lucius wiped it away and anger and hatred appeared on his face like never before. His father got angry all the time but Draco had never seen him like this. Lucius aimed a kick at Draco's stomach and the last of his breath wheezed out of him as he fell to the ground.

"Let's apparate and bring him with us," said Lucius.

A hand grabbed onto Draco's arm and they apparated. Dread and fear built in Draco's mouth. He had the urge to be sick. They landed on some grass and the hand on Draco's arm threw him to the side. Draco vomited on the grass and felt his stomach flip.

"James..." muttered Lucius.

Draco looked up to see James casually leaning against the tree. He looked around and couldn't see Hermione. He didn't know if that was a good thing or bad. Good because she would be saved from Lucius and bad because... what if something had happened to her.

"Where is she?!" thundered Lucius as Draco got to his feet trying to breath evenly.

"She's gone," said James, pushing himself off the tree.

"Gone..." muttered Draco, even speaking made his stomach turn but he ignored it, "where... is..."

"She left," said James simply.

Lucius glanced at Coal suggestively. Coal moved forward and grabbed James by the neck.

"Tell me the whole story," said Lucius.

Coal let him go and James glared at him.

"We escaped and got on a boat. For a whole week we stayed on the boat. Draco left and she got depressed. We came here and Draco wasn't here so..." James hesitated, then continued, "She ran off into the woods and I ran after her-"

"Is... she-" Draco stopped as his ribs screamed but he managed to choke out a word, "safe?"

James paused for a second. Lucius leaned in closer, frown lines appearing on his forehead. Draco's stomach flipped as Jame looked at him apologetically.

"This isn't... funny... James..." muttered Draco as he didn't speak.

"I'm sorry, Draco. She died in the woods..." muttered James looking down, "An animal caught her... I tried to help but..."

Draco heard no more. His stomach flipped but he ignored it. He ran up to James and punched him on his face. Staggering backwards, Draco held his stomach and puked again.