Hermione tossed and turned. Life was weighing heavy on her conscious. The war was over. They won. It was time to live happily ever after. But that's not how real life works. There is the aftermath, that time between the end and the epilogue where feelings are faced, and reality is harsh. Over the past year, she had been Harry and Ron's rock, the one with a plan, the one keeping it all together, but not now. She had spent the past three months going through the motions. Between the funerals and the press appearances and the meeting with the Ministry, Hermione barely had time for sleep. And when she did, she laid awake. Ron's snoring was only partly to blame.

Hermione had been staying at the Burrow since the war ended, and had been sharing a bed with Ron. It had seemed like the logical choice. They had shared a kiss during the Battle of Hogwarts in the heat of the moment. While she loved Ron, and had always thought they two would end up together, she wasn't so sure their future was as obvious. Since the war, the two sort of fell into this relationship. They hadn't talked about it, but when Hermione couldn't sleep she found herself crawling into bed with Ron, not for anything nefarious; just for the comfort of another person. It worked at first, she slept much better for a few weeks. Molly had discovered them one morning, and, much to Hermione's surprise, she didn't object. Infact, when she mentioned it at breakfast, it was the first time she had seen a hint of a smile one the woman's face since… well, since the war. Ron took his mother's lack of objection, and her continual nightly visits as a relationship. Hermione didn't have the energy to disagree, even when things took a turn for the nefarious at night. She honestly didn't mind. It wasn't an unenjoyable experience, but it wasn't totally memorable either. She took comfort in the closeness, and she did love Ron.

The clock downstairs quietly chimed. Ring….. Ring….. Hermione waited for another. Two AM. She slid out of bed being careful not to disturb Ron. She chuckled at the thought. Disturb sleeping Ron. That was a near impossibility. That's when it hit her. The reason she slid out of bed. Her unconscious had taken over, and made the choice for her. Only when she laughed did she realise what she was setting out to do. Her bag was still mostly full of her belongings, space at the Burrow was tight, and the bag was convenient. She grabbed a few more things of hers from around the room then grabbed a quill and bit of parchment. She scribbled a note to Ron, she couldn't just leave without any word. Ron, I'm sorry. I need some time. I'm safe, I'll be back soon. I promise. Hermione x. She snuck down the stairs, careful to avoid the left side of the 4th step and the 9th step entirely. She headed to the kitchen, the heart of this home. Glancing around one last time just to take it all in, one of the only places on this earth that is filled with almost nothing but good memories.

Ahem. The sound of someone clearing their throat startled Hermione

"Ginny." Hermione whispered.

"Going to Australia?" Ginny asked pointedly, arms crossed.

"I… no. I'm just… um, going for a walk" fumbling over her words, Hermione tried to keep her bag behind her.

"With that?" Ginny gestured to the bag Hermione was surreptitiously holding.

Hermione sighed. There was no getting out of this. "Ginny, please. I need to do this."

"I know." Hermione stared at her best friend. Ginny continued, "Just… be careful. I can't handle the boys without you."

Hermione smiled at Ginny's attempt to lighten the mood. She threw her arms around Ginny. "Thank you. Please don't tell them you spoke to me. And don't tell them where I'm going. I left a note for Ron. He'll find it in the morning."

Ginny nodded, "You honestly think I'd risk Harry or my mother knowing I could have stopped you? They love me and all, but they would still kill me." She pushed Hermione out of the embrace, "Go. Before they wake up. It's now or never, love."

And with that, Hermione headed out.

Hermione Apparated herself to Diagon Alley. It wasn't the best place to go because she couldn't stay there long, but it was the only place she felt she could Apparate to safely. When she arrived a the Apparation point, she began to sob. Was this all really the right choice? She needed to find her parents. She had done something unspeakable to them, and she had to put it right. But did she really need to do this alone? Harry would have gone with her in a heartbeat. "Auror training can wait." She could hear his voice in her mind. Ron would have just come along. "Sure thing 'Mione."

Hermione dragged herself towards the exit of Diagon Alley to Muggle London. Unfortunately for her, dragging feet, blurry tear-filled eyes, and cobblestone streets were not a good combination. Ankles twist she quickly found out. She braced herself for the inevitable crash into the ground, but instead she found herself propped up by arms.

She started to untangle herself from the arms of her savior, "I'm so sorry, Thank…MALFOY!" Hermione pushed him off, and regained her balance. "What are you doing?" She spoke harshly despite being actually thankful he kept her from hitting the ground.

"It seemed like a good idea to catch you." Draco responded, "But if that's the thanks I get…"

"What are you doing out?" Hermione thought that Draco had been on house arrest following the events of the war, but perhaps she was mistaken.

Draco giggled, "I could ask you the same thing, missy." He poked her shoulder, perhaps a little too forcefully.

Hermione let out a harumph and pushed his hand away before he could land another painful poke on her shoulder. "Are you drunk?"

"No. Not at all. Okay I lied. I a firewhiskey. Okay I liked again, I had a bottle." Draco leaned forward, breathing heavily in Hermione's face.

"I think you need to take a step back, Malfoy." She was firm, but not impolite. She didn't think she was in any real danger from him, not in the middle of Diagon Alley, and especially not with him in his current state. Still, his breath was awful and she didn't exactly want to be near him either.

"Why should I?" He challenged her with a twinkle of humour in his eyes.

She noticed the twinkle, but was not amused. "Because I don't want you near me, Malfoy."

"Of course you don't. Why would you? Why would anyone?" Draco seemed truly sorrowful. "Did you know I was supposed to marry Astoria Greengrass this summer? No of course you didn't. She didn't want me. I didn't want her either. She's a bit daft."

"That's unfortunate." Hermione was trying to figure out how to get out of this conversation. Walking away was her preferred option, but she wasn't completely sure he wouldn't try something. So instead she was trying to figure how to trick him into ending the conversation. Perhaps if he got a chance to say whatever was on his drunken mind he'd leave of his own volition.

"Unfortunate? That's all you can say Granger?" Draco's temper flared slightly, just enough to send him slightly off balance. This time Hermione reflexively put her arm out to steady blonde man. He didn't even seem to notice he was no longer balancing himself. "What are you running from, anyway?" Hermione stared at him in disbelief. "Oh don't look at me like that, Granger." He continued, "It's obvious. Not to mention, takes one to know one."

"I don't think that is any of your business, Malfoy."

"'Course not, but apparently you don't think it's anyone's business. Otherwise, you wouldn't be out at 3 in the morning alone."

"You should go home"

Draco snorted. It was rather unbecoming. "Home. That's a funny concept. Tell me where you're going, Hermione."

The use of her first name did not go unnoticed. It sounded strange coming from him. She couldn't recall him ever using it. "If I tell you, will you go home?"

"No, but I'll leave you alone."

"Australia"

"Why?"

"That wasn't part of the deal"

"So."

"Go home, Malfoy."

"I'll come with you."

"What?"

"I'll come with you," Draco repeated himself.

"No." Hermione stared at the wizard, this time with a touch of curiosity. It had to be the alcohol talking.

"Why not?" Draco challenged her.

She sighed, "Because you are Draco Malfoy and I'm Hermione Granger."

"So." He said again. She stayed silent. "Let me guess. Because I'm a Death Eater, and you're a mudblood." He spoke pragmatically and without malice. She still punched him. He barely flinched. "I deserve that. And more." He rubbed his jaw gently.

"Don't. You. Dare." She said each word with as much hostility as she could. Her hand was on her wand, ready to fight, middle of Diagon Alley be damned.

Draco didn't tense, he didn't scream, or cry, or try to fight her in anyway. "I'm sorry." Hermione twitched slightly, she wasn't sure she heard him correctly. "What, you've never heard someone apologise before?" There was a hint of… teasing in his voice.

"Not a Death Eater." She responded. The resentment hadn't completely left her voice, but it was dissipating. Quicker than she expected it to.

"Now I should punch you," Draco smirked. She tensed. "I'm kidding. It's a joke, Granger."

"I... " She started.

"Just let me talk for a minute." Draco interrupted. "I'm going to lay it out. Take it or leave it." Hermione glanced at the one of the clocks along Diagon Alley. The motion did not go unnoticed. "I know, Your precious Ron will be here soon to open up the joke store."

"He's not…"

"I said let me talk. We are both running. You seem to take the running part a little more literally than I do, but firewhiskey clearly isn't running far enough. I need some time. I don't know why you are going to Australia, and I don't really care. But it's not here. And not alone. That is all I'm concerned with."

I need some time. His words rang in her ears. The same words she wrote to Ron. "How do I know you won't hurt me?"

"I don't want to hurt you. Not anymore."

His words were raw. Unfiltered. Brutally honest. She didn't need Veristum to know he was telling the truth.

"Let's go." Already walking away, she hoped that she wasn't making a mistake. Or that he wasn't already following her.

He was, "Where?"

"Muggle London." He gulped at her words. What had he gotten himself into?

A/N: Aww yisss I got me a beta. Thanks WickedArcher08 3