Hermione wakes to find Draco’s side of the bed empty. Searching their home she finds light from a fire in their study. Upon entering she finds books about spell removals scattered everywhere with pages torn out of them, notes of spell theories scribbled in Draco’s writing, and Draco’s wand laying in the middle of it all. Sitting with his back against the dest is Draco, his head on his right arm resting on his bent knees, and his left arm at his side. Hermione swiftly makes her way to him.
Hermione: *gently touching his head* Draco?
Draco: *slowly lifts his head, tears in his eyes and streaks down his face. Exhaustion and shame written all over his face*
Hermione: *hugs his head to her chest, holding back tears* What’s the matter? What happened? Peddles!
Peddles (house elf): *pops into room* Yes Madame Malfoy?
Hermione: *still holding Draco* What’s going on here? Did someone break in?
Peddles: *sad look* No Madame, the Master demanded solitude, Peddles could not do anything, Master said so.
Hermione: Thank you Peddles that will be all.
*Peddles disappears*
Hermione: *turning back to Draco, and whispered* Please my love talk to me.
Draco: *looks at Hermione as she releases him* How can you love me knowing what I am. *He looks at his left arm*
Hermione: Does that mark define you?
Draco: It shows the world what I am.
Hermione: So you’re saying that a mark determines what you are for the rest of your life.
*Receives no response from Draco. Hermione turns his head to face her, and sits facing him. She pulls up her sleeve on her housecoat*.
Hermione: Then I guess I am defined for all eternity as a Mudblood.
Draco: *expression changes from horrified to anger* That mark is not what or who you are, you are better than any witch or wizard including Merlyn. Never call yourself that word again.
Hermione: *small smile* The same goes for you, and that mark.
Draco: It’s different, you didn’t deserve that mark, and it was forced on you as a torture.
Hermione: The same goes for you, and that mark. Shh no its true. You were a young boy, forced into a dark world, fearing for the life of your family, and had no other option. For you, it is a mark of bravery and sacrifice for the safety and love of your family. These are our battle scars that led us to the greater good. *looking around* You were trying to remove it.
Draco: I wanted to remove my shame. I couldn’t.
Hermione: *moves closer, bringing his arm to her lap, and pushing up his sleeve, she gasps seeing the results of his attempts and the mark, faded, but still present. She brings his arm to her lips.*
Hermione: *with honest raw emotion, she whispers.* Draco I love you. Draco I love who you have become. Draco I love you for your bravery. Draco I love you despite everything from our pasts. Draco I love you.
*Hermione curls her arm to lay her mark against his. Her eyes never leaving Draco’s face as his eyes widen in awe feeling the power of her words flow into him.*
Draco: *looks at Hermione with understanding and belief in her words* I love you.
*Hermione untangles their arms to reveal Draco’s arm healed of the wounds from his failed attempts. Draco hugs Hermione, and with a sense of pride in his wife, and a sense of peace and acceptance, they walked out of their study hand-in-hand, their marks exposed proudly for all to see.*
