Title: Impasse Rating: PG-13 Word Count: 802 Notes/Warning: Writen for dramione27 at hp_secretsanta It had been three

months. Three months since she had discovered that her and Draco's entire relationship was built around a scheme of his to restore the Malfoy family's prestige and status in wizarding society. From the moment he had read about Ron's death in an Auror accident, he had been planning on squirming

his way first into Hermiones life and then into her heart. It infuriated her, especially because he had been so successful. She had bought his act, never doubting for more than a few seconds the sincerity of his compassion, friendship, and love. She was such a fool. Harry had warned her, Neville had warned her, Pansy-fucking-Parkinson had warned her, but Hermione had ignored them all and allowed herself to be swept up in the emotions Draco had made her feel. Emotions that she had thought had died along with Ron.

When Hermione confronted him, he claimed that in spite of his initial motivation for courting her, he had quickly fallen in love with her bravery, her intelligence, and her beauty. He told her that he would give up being a Malfoy entirely as long as he could be with her. Nothing, he had professed, was more important to him that than having Hermione in his life. His family name, his money, his magic, was all meaningless without her. Hermione, however, had rejected his explanation. Her anger was too raw, too recent, to be

moved by his pain. Now they stood facing each other for the first time in weeks. There was nothing more to say. They were talked out. Hermione had railed, berated, and criticized until she had gone hoarse. Draco had apologized, explained, and justified until his words sounded phony even to his own ears. Yet, nothing had been resolved. They had gone from being one of the happiest, most contented couples in Wizarding London to addressing each other like strangers.

The saddest aspect of their situation was that both Hermione and Draco were miserable and wanted nothing more than to be together again. Hermione didnt know, however, how to forgive him. What he had done was barely believable and she couldnt imagine trusting him again. For his part, Draco had trodden over his pride and wallowed in remorse that hadnt changed a thing. He would go to any length to change their situation if he knew it would lead to a reconciliation, but he would no longer clutch at straws that didnt alter their state

of affairs. She went to move past him, to head back toward the pitch, when her shoulder accidentally brushed up against his. Draco felt like he was on fire. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her down an empty corridor, shoving her into the first unlocked room they passed. Hermiones heart was beating furiously. Despite her anger and strength of mind, she could not control her bodys reaction to his nearness. Her entire being seemed to lean toward him, her lips parted, her eyes wide. With a deep groan,

Draco smashed his lips on to hers. The fingers of his right hand tangled into her hair, while his left hand dug into her hip, holding her tight against the wall. If he thought she would struggle out of his grasp or hex him into oblivion, he couldnt have been more wrong. Instead, Hermione held on to him tightly, gripping his upper arms, wrapping one of her legs around his thigh. Draco deepened their kiss, pushing his tongue roughly into her mouth. She tasted the same and it sent his

senses reeling. She was beautiful, she was desirable, and she was his. Their separation had not lessened his feelings for the witch at all, if anything, the parting had renewed and refocused his need for her. He would have her again. Hermione was drowning. Her mind and her memory of his treachery, which had controlled her actions for so long, were now being overthrown by her heart and her emotions. Pulling her mouth away from Dracos, she buried her head in his chest and began to sob, uncertain whether it was from

stubbornness or weakness. He wrapped his arms gently around her, stroking her back, rubbing his chin against the top of her head. He wanted to beg her to take him back, beg her once again for forgiveness, but most of all he wanted to comfort her. Despite his misery, regardless of his unhappiness, he focused on Hermiones pain first and doing whatever was required to ease her ache. Shush, baby, he whispered. It will be al right. Tell me what you want, tell me what to do.

She tightened her arms around his waist, just breathing him in. His nearness was her comfort. Stay here with me, just for a bit. Draco kissed the top of her head and nodded.