Hey Guys,

So not sure what happened when I posted this chapter but it decided to spaz out and was a mess. So very sorry. Thank you to Moonsong78 and RalysKunoichi for letting me know. Fingers crossed it works this time!

Also wanted to say thank you to the reviewers from the first chapter, it's very appreciated!

I forgot to mention in the first chapter that this story is inspired by the Great Big World song 'Say Something'.

I hope you enjoy this chapter!

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of the Harry Potter universe and owe all these amazing characters to the Incredible J.K Rowling.

Chapter Two: I'm Giving Up On You.

The ride to the castle was a silent one, awkwardly so. Hermione allowed herself to become lost within her thoughts, many of which revolved around the platinum blonde sitting across from her. Where were the other Slytherin's and why weren't they returning? Did he see or talk to any of them? Surely the little snake prince wouldn't return to Hogwarts without the entire slithering army. Not that she could understand his return anyway. He had always acted as though he was well above the school so why would he want to return? Hermione snuck a quick glance at the boy sitting across from her. He wasn't such a boy anymore. He had a healthier look about him; having filled in the weight he had so drastically lost during their sixth year and height of the war. His skin was still incredibly pale but had lost the waxy quality he had sported the last time she had seen him. His hair had grown longer and was combed back but not drowned in product as was the way during their younger years. His eyes, heated silver in color, were sad however and the bags under them gave him the appearance of a man who hadn't slept in months, which, when thinking of her own nocturnal habits post war, may not have been such a stretch. Hermione was thrown from her inner dialogue as the carriage came to a halt. She quickly moved out of the doors and towards the castle, leaving Draco Malfoy and her questions about him behind.

Hermione made her way into the restructured castle. As she entered the grand foyer she noticed the wall, that had once held Umbridge's ridiculous ministry mandates, had undertaken a remodel. It was now covered in portraits, hundreds of which, showing the many lost wizards and witches of the most recent wizarding war. In the centre of the many portraits were the words ~

"Now they sleep together side by side & to them we have a solemn obligation."

Hermione took a step towards the portraits and felt her heart constrict at the many faces she recognized. Some looked down at her and waved, some gave her but a small sad smile. The portrait of Lupin, so closely placed next to his wife, caught her eye and her breath. Before she caught their attentions she turned away from the memorial wall and made her way into the great hall. The Professors table sat in its usual place at the head of the hall facing four long, grand and food laden tables. Hermione noticed that while the students had taken their places at the separate house tables the banners raised above them was not of the individual houses but of the Hogwarts crest. She walked over to what had always been the Gryffindor table and took a seat; away from all others and with her eyes downcast, avoiding the prying eyes and nosey whispers that were following her, she quickly became lost in her memories.

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Draco watched Hermione move swiftly from the carriage, making her escape from him as quick as she possibly could. He stared after her retreating figure, acknowledging the lump that had formed in his throat. How on earth could he have thought it would be a good idea to return to this place? Did he truly believe that he would be given a second chance? The Slytherin Prince, Dumbledore's Assassin, the Dark Lords Apprentice, Death Eater; he had been called them all and he was realizing very quickly that those labels, no matter how accurate, weren't going to disappear any time soon. Draco took a deep breath, ensuring that any hint of self doubt was wiped from his face, and the emotionless indifference was regained. He stepped out of the carriage with the arrogant grace that was expected of the Malfoy name, at least the Malfoy name of the past.

"Malfoy's are inherently better then others Draco remember that. Always hold yourself with dignity and poise. We are a family of leaders. We don't require looking at the floor because there is no one to have come before us." The words of Draco's grandfather, Abraxas, echoed in his mind. He walked into the castle before too much of his attention was caught by the portraits of the fallen. It did not go unnoticed by Draco that many of the occupants stopped to glare at him, or fix him with untrusting stares. He continued to walk past the watching portraits, barely allowing a pause in his step despite the uncomfortable lump that felt to grow within his chest. He stepped into the great hall, quickly taking a seat at the Slytherin table and ignoring all the students around him; well almost all the students. As he sat down it did not escape his notice that a certain lioness had removed herself from the pride and was isolated at the end of the table, head down and seemingly distracted from the goings on around her.

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"I'm going to leave the two of you to talk alone for a minute." Harry said before backing from the room, leaving Hermione with an apologetic smile. Hermione stood in front of Ron, her arms folded across her chest, feeling already defensive despite the lack of conversation. She noticed Ron was fidgeting, running his hand through the back of his hair the way he was prone to do when he was nervous. He seemed to be looking anywhere but at her and she was finding his elusive behavior incredibly frustrating. Hermione took it upon herself to begin what she was sure would be an uncomfortable and fruitless discussion.

"Well?" She asked him. He looked up at her, his blue eyes already pleading forgiveness for a wrong she wasn't aware of. "Just tell me Ron."

"I'mnotcomingwithyou." He rushed out the words, stringing them all together.

"English please Ronald?" She asked, feeling her exasperation grow.

"I'm not… Well I got offered… I'm going to stay here and go to auror training with Harry. I'm not returning to Hogwarts… with you." He mumbled. Hermione felt the rage bubble. It was hard enough when she had first confronted both boys with the letter to hear that Harry had no intention of returning. The only reaction that surpassed her own disappointment was that of Ginny, who through a fit when she discovered Harry would not be returning with them. Still Hermione couldn't help but admit that she had been a little smug, after months of hearing Ginny's subtle remarks that she had caught herself the Chosen One, the savior of the wizarding world, that she would be returning to Hogwarts without his fame and celebrity and Hermione would be with Ron. He had for the last few weeks agreed with her of how wonderful returning and enjoying a relaxing, drama free year would be. Now he had the gall to stand in front of her, spilling his confession all over the place after weeks of lies. Hermione was unable to hold back the anger that was boiling at the surface.

"Weeks." She said to him quietly. Dangerously quiet.

"Huh?" He asked her, one eyebrow raised and a look of confusion across his face. And with that single look of confusion crossing his face Hermione lost all self control.

"I said, Ronald," she began her voice still at a precariously hushed tone, "That it has been weeks. Weeks of you telling me you were excited, that you were looking forward to this year with me, weeks of lies!" Her voice raised on the last word.

"I know… I just…" He attempted to reason with her, only encouraging her fury.

"No, you have no idea Ron. None and you never have. You're selfish and spoilt and I am tired of it. I'm tired of letting it go every single time. You just don't care that you do it anymore because you just know I will give in. Well I'm done giving in and you will never change. You will always let me down. You will always put your own self centered needs ahead of everyone else. You will always be the one who…" She cut off knowing that once she said the words that were on the tip of her tongue things would never be the same. She watched the realization flash through his eyes and knew that it was too late, they were too far gone.

"Say it Hermione." He spat at her. Ordinarily Hermione would stop herself, back track, apologize and avoid allowing this argument to progress but she could feel it inside her body, it was too late. So instead she let the words slip from her mouth.

"You will always be the one who left. You left and even though you came back, even though you tried to make it right, we both know it's always there. You will always be the boy who left." Upon finishing these words she felt as though a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, as though there was an instant relief. She could see the pain in Ron's eyes and, while there was absolutely a part of her that was devastated that it had come to this, she knew it needed to be said. It was much better to be said now before they had gone any further.

"I knew there was always something." Ron muttered, his voice breaking with emotion. "Every time we were together, every time I held you, every kiss, I could feel it. It was like I was trying to push my way through a curtain but there was a solid door behind it. Why did you ever kiss me back then Mione? Why bother with it all if you felt this way." He asked, his voice laced with pain. Hermione couldn't help the sarcastic chuckle from escaping her throat and before she gave the words a second thought she allowed them to escape her mouth.

"C'mon Ron, you know I always did what I was expected. Perfect bookworm Hermione always following what the paper says. You and I, we were the perfect cliché, what everyone expected to happen. And you know I hate to fail." She watched her words register within Ron and as the hurt and anger flashed through his eyes.

"So that's that then?" He spat at her. "That can't be it Hermione. Just stop, stay with us, come to the ministry and even if you're not an Auror you can be with me and Harry and we will work it all out. C'mon Hermione." She was shocked at how quickly he had moved from anger to pleading with her and she was also surprised at how little she cared for his pleas.

"You're not listening to me Ron. I don't want to keep following a path I don't want because that is what other people are expecting of me. I need to do what is right for me. Everyone expects me to follow you and Harry. For the Golden Trio to remain glued to each others side, but I don't want that. I don't want a ministry job that I just take to be close to you. I want the time and space to discover who I am outside of my history, outside of our trio and outside of you. So I am going back to Hogwarts." She said, feeling more of the weight that had been resting on top of her shoulders lift. She turned and made her way to the fire place. Before she entered and threw the floo powder down she turned back to the man who used to be her best friend and added,

"Ron, don't contact me ok? I will contact you when I am ready but I really need this space." She heard his voice, full of emotion.

"Mione, please."

"I'm sorry Ron." She said as the green flames roared to life around her. "I'm giving up on you."

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