Disclaimer: JK proudly owns HP, I merely altered their futures for the sake of the story.

Chapter Nine

Hermione didn't want to deliberately go to Draco's room and knock on his door. She had hoped that fate would intervene and have them talk somehow indirectly, so she decided on getting a quick drink at the lounge. It was already late so she hadn't expected many people to be in the room, but there were a few faces. Gabrielle was there talking to Derek, Mark, Luke, and Pansy at a table.

Hermione quickly went straight to the bar and made small talk with Charles.

"What can I get for you tonight?" he asked.

"Do you think I could just have a water?" Hermione asked.

Charles looked at her, quite startled, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Hermione nodded. She didn't want liquor to affect her tonight. If she were trying to heal and be completely honest, she needed to do it sober.

Charles began spraying water into a glass, "So…I'm sorry about what happened earlier."

Hermione gave him a questioning look, "Pertaining to….?"

"Adrienne and Victoria," he said.

"Oh, you knew about that the whole time?"

"No, but words gotta get around in the mansion, you know, we did just lose a host," he smiled kindly.

"Oh, right," Hermione said, feeling a little stupid.

"Hermione," Gabrielle called, "Come join us!"

Hermione thought it couldn't hurt. She gave Charles a nod, glanced at the door, and went to go take a seat at the table with the group. She ended up next to Derek.

"So, what have you been up to these past few days?" Gabrielle asked.

Everyone seemed to be composed, for the most part, but she saw that everyone was on their second drink, except Pansy. She, too, had been drinking water. She wanted to smile at the memory of Draco explaining how she acted when she was drunk, but thought against it for fear of possibly looking like an idiot.

"Just enjoying the house…not much really. You guys?"

"I was just telling them about Ariadne," Derek began, sipping his drink. "Everyone seems to be under the impression that she and I are dating or something, but we're not. I like her, she's great, but she's taking things way out of line."

Gabrielle gave a flirtacious giggle. "It's more than that!"

"She thinks they're together," Luke said.

"I think she's just used to getting what she wants, since she's a princess and all," Mark said.

"I've been trying to let her down easy, but she's persistent. I'm surprised she decided to sleep early tonight," Derek laughed.

Hermione noticed the little looks Gabrielle and Derek kept giving each other from across the table and had no doubt that they would be leaving together at the end of the night.

"So tell us about what just happened!" Gabrielle said to Hermione.

"With?"

"Adrienne and Arrol. They left the mansion in a hurry and she looked pretty banged up. They didn't want to explain, they just said they needed to leave ASAP," Mark said, drinking more. "Jet was talking about it in the hallway, but he just shrugged it off and went back in the room with Cho."

Hermione felt uncomfortable about explaining since it involved a lot of personal information but just gave the summary of what happened, "Yeah, they did something illegal involving Harry and Ginny and I wasn't too happy about it so I threatened them and they left."

Pansy nodded, "Stern woman, you are."

"Must have been serious," Derek said.

It didn't seem like the group cared much for whatever happened with the hosts and Harry, but Hermione wanted to get out of there now before more interrogations could be made.

"Well, I better get to bed. It was nice chatting with you guys," Hermione said, getting up.

Pansy got up too, "Yeah, I'm going to bed too. Good night."

Hermione didn't know what made her do it, but instead of going upstairs she took the stairs down. Maybe she didn't want to walk with Pansy for too long. She found herself passing by the game room, where she caught a glance of Theodore playing pool and talking to someone. She instinctively kept walking until she reached the pool.

No one was in the room, which was just what Hermione expected. She sat at the edge of the pool and dipped her feet in the water. This felt nice and calming. Since the room showed what the outside looked like, the pool reflected the white light of the stars and moon. The sound of the waterfalls wasn't loud, but rather calm as if she were in the middle of a quiet forest. She sat for several moments, just deep in a spiral of thoughts.

Suddenly most of the lights went out in the mansion. There was nothing but the moonlight in the pool and a few candles lit down the halls. Hermione figured it must have been really late if the lights went out. She didn't think they actually went out, but she supposed it had to sometime in the night.

Feeling there was no use in being in the room anymore, she got up. She walked out the doors and even though some candles were lit, it was difficult to see. She passed the game room and noticed it, too, was engulfed in darkness save one candle. And she just somehow felt she wasn't alone in that hallway…

That's when she bumped into somebody and nearly screamed her head off, but instead did the logical thing and grabbed her wand, muttering, "Lumos."

"Malfoy! What the hell?" Hermione said.

Draco just looked at her, surprised as ever. She couldn't help how beautiful he looked under the dim light.

"Granger? What are you doing here by yourself?"

"What? I can't walk around the mansion by myself?" Hermione snapped, then remembered that she was actually hoping to bump into him in the first place and the last thing she had planned to do was start arguing with him.

Draco just sighed, "I was just asking." He shook his head and turned around.

Hermione immediately called after him, "Malfoy! Wait! Actually, it's you that I've been wanting to see," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. He stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at her.

"Listen – no, please don't interrupt, I want to get this out before I change my mind – I'm sorry for saying that I felt nothing. I don't know what I feel about you, but it's definitely not nothing. I don't know where I expect it to go, but I'm not going to shut it down." Hermione wanted to smack herself in the head. It sounded all wrong! It sounded so practiced and cold and fake. It was like she was giving a class a really unconvincing motivational speech.

Draco looked at her and frowned. He hadn't at all expected that at all from her. He could see the determination on her face and despite the fact that she sounded like she was dealing with a business transaction, he knew she meant it and knew it must have been hard for her to say. He thought she'd still be stubborn about whatever she felt towards him and that he could avoid this conversation all together. With her finally being so honest, this was not going to be easy.

His face looked so grieved. Hermione really thought she'd blown it then.

"Look, Malfoy, I don't really know how to express myself…about this. I didn't mean for it to come out like that…" Hermione said, fidgeting with her hands and wand.

"No," Draco said, now fidgeting uncomfortably too. When she gave him a questioning look, he said, "I think that's good. I don't feel nothing either, but…"

Hermione could feel her heart breaking before the cat was even out of the bag. She knew a negative tone when she heard it. She held her breath and hoped what he had to say wasn't that bad. But, just in case, she had racked her brain for any excuse for what she said.

"Astoria and I talked about it… and we decided that divorce isn't the best course of action right now. We have Scorpius, and there's a lot more to lose than gain by divorcing," Draco said.

They both knew that if they weren't sober, this wouldn't be coming out so awkwardly. Draco wanted nothing more than to offer her a drink so they could talk for hours again, and maybe do more. But he knew it would be a waste and wouldn't be fair.

Hermione cringed at the last line, though she didn't know why.

"Of course," she said mechanically, "I didn't expect any less from you."

"Thanks," Draco mumbled.

"I just wanted you to know, that last night wasn't just a nothing, but that's it," Hermione said, trying to sound as formal as possible, because she couldn't go back on her words now. "I meant to apologize for being so rash this morning."

"Yeah, I'm sorry as well," Draco said.

There was a really uncomfortable silence and they both wished that they could say more because there was so much more to it than that. But there really was nothing more they could say, at least nothing to make either of them feel better or change the situation. Some things were better left unsaid.

"Well, I'm going to bed now," Hermione said, and added as cordially as possible, "Have a good night, Malfoy."

Draco stared at her as she walked off into the darkness. He wanted to call out and ask if she wanted to hang out for the night, but he knew this was the most logical thing to do – what else was there? Still, he felt really bad and he didn't know why. Maybe it's because he would never truly know what exactly it was he was letting go of.

Hermione walked off without looking back. She was glad she didn't drink any liquor that night. She didn't think it would help the fact that she'd be going back to bed alone again. This is exactly why she didn't let her walls down. She wished she hadn't said anything.

ooo

Harry felt Ginny starting move the next morning. He had been awake nearly the whole night waiting for her to wake up. If he slept he might wake up to a lot of yelling from her part.

"Ginny, sweetie," Harry said softly.

Ginny opened her eyes, "Harry?"

"I love you," Harry said softly.

Ginny's eyes widened and she tried to break free from his hold. "Damn you, Harry! I can't believe you said those things to me! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Ginny!" Harry said, letting her go, "It was out of my control!"

Ginny got up and started throwing pillows at Harry, who had got up from the bed and started defending himself at this point.

"Do you know how much that hurt?" Ginny said, turning to pillows from the couch now.

"Ginny, I drank a love potion!" Harry yelled.

Ginny wasn't paying attention to him. "You tell me those things and tell me you love me in the morning!"

Harry was running around, unable to grab his wand from the nightstand.

"I should kill you!" Ginny screamed. She began throwing articles of clothing at him. One of her bras landed on his head.

Harry threw it off his head messily and tried to make a run for the bathroom but Ginny flicked her wand and it was closed.

"You listen to me, Harry Potter!"

"You sound crazy! I was poisoned! I didn't know what I was saying!" Harry said desperately.

Ginny finally realized she was rambling on and didn't even stop to listen to what Harry had been trying to say this whole time. She narrowed her eyes and then sighed in relief. "Geez, it hurt me so bad that I couldn't even bother to think of why you were acting like that. Gosh, Harry, I felt like I was going to die."

Harry looked so guilty. "I'm sorry…I guess we should start conjuring up our own food and drinks then, eh?"

Ginny ran to him and for a second Harry thought she was attacking but she threw her arms around him and they embraced tightly.

"Worrying about Voldemort was easier than this! Now I have to worry about girls trying to steal my husband away from me!"

Harry smiled and kissed her on the forehead.

"So who was behind it exactly?" Ginny asked.

Harry replied thoughtfully, "Hey, that's a good question."

ooo

Hermione woke up early that morning and was nearly done packing an hour later. She knew they had one more day at the mansion, but she saw no reason to be there anymore. She didn't think it right for her to be there anyway since she did just use the Cruciatus Curse on their former host.

She was sitting on her bed thinking of what exactly the vacation had done for her. For one, it actually somehow made her feel worse, if that was possible. But at the same time it also helped her discover a lot about herself. Being around Ron and Lavender had made her realize that she didn't completely hate them because of what they did anymore and was only holding on to it because she felt like it was all she had to feel for.

Then there was Harry and Ginny, her best friends, who had brought her in hopes to make her feel better and revealed that they were expecting a baby, which made her feel good and bad at the same time. Then she finds out Ron and Lavender are also expecting. She sighed. She was happy for all of them, a baby was always a blessing, but it made her feel bad to know she wasn't going to be a part of that with them. She remembered a conversation with her and Ginny years back in which they discussed how great it would be to have a baby at the same time. No chance now, Hermione thought. Then there was Draco, who she had truly enjoyed being around, even if she was drunk at the time. Even if he didn't know it, he helped her let go of her anger towards Ron and Lavender and being single, because she had some silver lining in her cloud about him. They had so much fun together and she couldn't help but think they could've had more times like that together. It would have been nice. She didn't know what their friendship, or whatever it was, would turn into, but she was willing to risk a lot to see. But of course it was all just wishful thinking. She would never know, and she should've known better than to have any hope with that. It was just a fling, after all.

The good thing about the trip was that she realized she needed to work on herself. She used to be so cool-headed and now she was hot-tempered. She had been through so much and attempted to run away from her problems by drinking. It backfired when her anger got the better of her and she ended up using Crucio on someone – Crucio, for Merlin's sake. She needed to believe there was still some good out there or she would always act out in a rage. She had to give people a chance. She needed happiness in her life if she wanted to heal.

But she tried and it left her back at square one.

So there was no reason to stay. She learned all she needed to. She just needed to get back home and get back to reality now.

There was no point in pretending.

ooo

Harry and Ginny heard a knock on their door.

"Come in," Harry said.

Hermione came in. The two didn't miss that she looked pretty tired. Normally Ginny would have something to tease her about, but the look on Hermione's face was a distant one and Ginny didn't feel it was exactly appropriate to be joking.

"Hey, guys," Hermione said, closing the door.

"Oh, we've been needing to talk to someone about last night," Harry piped up. "You never told me who was behind the whole love potion thing."

Hermione explained what happened to them and even went so far as to tell them what she did to make Adrienne and Arrol listen to her. If she was going to tell anyone the truth about that, it was Harry and Ginny.

"Oh, wow…" Ginny said uncertainly.

"It really made me angry that they would use Harry to get back at some innocent girl," Hermione said.

"It's so unlike you to use the Cruciatus curse, though," Harry said.

Hermione looked down, "I know… there's just been so much I've had to deal with throughout this trip and I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't stop myself." Tell them how you feel about everything, you need to tell someone… a voice in her head told her. She ignored it.

"Are you okay?" Ginny asked.

Hermione felt overwhelmed, but she fought the burning sensation that was going through her whole body and eyes.

She looked up at them, with the most sober face she could muster. "I'm fine. But I'm actually leaving today."

"Why?" Ginny asked.

Hermione replied, "You know, I have a lot of work. I have a lot to think about, and yeah…It's nothing personal. I really appreciate you taking me here. I had a good time. But after last night I think I should probably just get home now."

"But the car?" Harry said. "We have to return it to the rental. How are you going to get back?"

"Oh, I'm going to Apparate from outside the gates," Hermione said.

"Are you sure?" Ginny said in a tiny voice.

"You don't want to have breakfast with us first?" Harry said, in hopes that he would be able to convince her to stay during their breakfast talk.

Hermione just shook her head, "No, I really should be getting back now."

There was just something about the whole situation that told Ginny and Harry not to argue.

"Well, okay…" Ginny said.

"Thanks, guys," Hermione said and went over to them and hugged them. "I'll see you back at home? We'll have dinner or lunch sometime."

Hermione didn't see them as often since she technically wasn't part of the Weasley family anymore, and she really didn't bother to come around often. She came around and had private dinners with them for their birthdays, refusing to go to family or party functions because she didn't want to see Ron. Her promise to have lunch or dinner just seemed empty, though, but Harry and Ginny let it go, too.

Hermione walked out the room and Harry and Ginny gave each other knowing looks.

"Harry, there's something wrong," Ginny said.

"There's been something wrong with Hermione for two years," Harry pointed out.

"That's true, but I don't know. I feel like we should be there for her or something."

"We are," Harry assured, "But like I said, she'll come to us when she needs us."

Ginny nodded. She hoped he was right.

ooo

Hermione made her way outside careful to avoid anyone she saw in the halls, but it wasn't hard as no one was really there.

"Leaving so soon, Granger?" a voice asked from the sitting area in the entrance hall.

Hermione glanced over and saw Theodore seated comfortably on one of the chairs. She rolled her eyes.

"Have a nice life, Nott," Hermione said indifferently.

"You too, Granger," he said in an amused tone.

Without another word she walked out the doors and finally out the gate. With a pop, she Apparated back home.

ooo

Sleeping in the same bed as Astoria felt strange, even if they were at opposite ends of the bed. It just didn't feel right anymore. It stopped feeling right months ago. They hadn't even had sex since… well Draco couldn't even remember. All he knew was it didn't feel right at all. He tried to tell himself that maybe it would feel better if they were in their own bed at home. The foreign bed they were sleeping in didn't hold any memories.

Well Draco remembered one memory: sleeping in it with Hermione in his arms.

But of course that didn't mean anything. Or rather, couldn't mean anything anymore, at least.

"Draco, are you ready to go down to breakfast?" Astoria said, coming out of the bathroom fully dressed for the day.

"I'll just stay up. I'll follow you in a bit," Draco said, getting up from the bed and walking towards the bathroom now.

Astoria frowned, "I'll wait for you. I think we should spend time together."

Draco was irritated with her positive attitude, mainly because he knew it wasn't because she exactly wanted to, but more because she had to try and make it work now.

"What exactly did you and Blaise agree to?" he asked.

"Draco, I'm not going to see him anymore. I really want us to work on our marriage. No more excuses this time," she smiled in an attempt at comforting him.

Draco hated it. He wasn't convinced and it didn't really matter if he was. He would never feel the same way. But he was going to try. He had to pretend.

"Wait for me then," Draco said and entered the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Before he did, he caught a glimpse of a worn-out and sad smile on Astoria's face.

ooo

A/N: This was originally the chapter it is now, then I split it into two, then I decided oh what the hell put it back together! That does mean next chapter's a bit shorter, but that's alright as it will be the last night in the mansion! Then we move on to more bizarre scenarios (okay maybe not too bizarre, but other things do happen)!

So Hermione decides to stop pretending she's fine and Draco goes back to pretending everything's fine...tsk tsk. Let me know what you think will happen next! Thanks for the reviews.

PS. I thought The Deathly Hallows Part 1 was amazing! I saw it twice already heh.. there are of course minor things but I was really impressed for the most part (trust me it's saying a lot coming from me. I complained throughout all of OotP and thought HBP was horrible the first time I saw it, though I did learn to like it after the second time around.)

PPS. I read a HHr story last night and I felt so awkward reading it! Not because I bash on HHr shippers, I just wanted to see what one would be like and I just could not grasp the idea, lol. Don't get me wrong, I've written a story where Harry liked Hermione back in the day, but that's before I got into being a DrHr fan...lol. Just a random thought!