Disclaimer: I own the plot.

A/N: Inspiration for this chapter came from the song 24 by Jem. Listen to it!

2. Tonight

Hermione was tired of looking up at the same stupid ceiling. She swung her legs over the couch and looked around to see the same thing as always. Hermione ran her hand through her hair. She always did the same thing. She never did anything new. Well, she was sick of it now.

Standing up and kicking her shoe out of the way as she went into her bedroom Hermione changed clothes. Putting on a black shirt with sleeves that went to her elbow, dark gray pants, a thin shimmering burgundy scarf and black sneakers over her white socks. Throwing on her fluffy brown coat as she headed off into the dark cold night.

Entering a dark dingy pub Hermione sat down on a bar stool.

"Firewhiskey please." Hermione told the bartender. She turned her attention to some guy on a platform singing what was supposedly the blues.

"Here you go Miss." the bartender said as he placed her drink in front of her. Hermione nodded in thanks and took a sip. She wasn't sure what she was doing here, she wasn't sure how she wanted the night to end. Slapping a stranger? Waking up with a headache? Being so drunk she couldn't even remember her name or perhaps, possibly, a regretful night?

Gulping the last of her drink Hermione ordered another one, then another one, and another one. It was just good to be forgetful. Hermione wasn't much of a drinker, but that rule was being broken, apparently, tonight.

"You drink much Miss?" the bartender asked as she ordered another glass of whiskey.

"Tonight, yes." she replied as he handed her a new glass.

"'Ello." some guy said as he sat down in the seat next to her. "Wonderin' if you'd like to dance?"

"This music sucks and if you think you're getting lucky, you better move on." Hermione retorted.

"Hey, I wasn't-"

"Wasn't thinking that? I'm not daft," Hermione shrugged. "Just a little drunk."

"A little? Right." the guy nodded in sarcasm. Hermione responded with a look that could kill, making him get up and move to a spot next to his mates.

"'Nother one." Hermione said to the bartender.

"Alright then." he said shaking his head as he poured her another drink.

"Wha? Think I have too much to drink?" Hermione asked, the effects of the strong drink beginning to kick in.

"I don't care if you get drunk as long as you pay." he shrugged.

"Smar' boy." Hermione said as she passed him some money. "Here's my down payment."

He chuckled "Thanks for that." he said as he took the money.

"Smart, no?" Hermione said as she pressed the cup against her lips, drinking in the liquid.

"Yeah, I should start doing that." he nodded as he went and took someone else's order.

An hour later Hermione put her final empty cup down.

"Another one?" the bartender, who's name apparently was Charlie, asked.

"Uh, no." Hermione said as she blinked. Why was the room spinning! It wasn't supposed to be spinning, it's supposed to be stable! Reaching into her pocket Hermione took out a random amount of gold and handed it to him.

"That 'nough?" she asked.

"Just a little over." he said. Hermione knew he was holding his hand out with the extra money but she knew if she tried to take it, she would miss.

"No, that's 'lright, keep it."

"Thank you."

"Don't-" Hermione inhaled deeply "Don't mention... mention... mention--"

Her world went blank.

A/N: Thank you everybody for your kind reviews! I'll post the next chap up soon, possibly Friday... if people REVIEW!