Chapter 21
Goodbyes and Realizations

Soon enough it was Friday and I found myself walking Draco to the gates of Hogwarts. I was nervous about Draco leaving. It was going to be so strange for him to not be there every day. I had become used to living with him. He was always the first person I saw when I woke up and the last person I saw before I went to bed. I couldn't imagine him not being there for ten days. At that thought I inwardly cringed. I couldn't believe I was turning into one of those kind of girls. You know the kind who are joined to their boyfriend at the hip and all they ever want to talk about is him even when you want to talk about your guy problems. God forbid Lavender and Parvati ever find out.

As the gates neared I shook those thoughts away in order to savor the last few minutes that we had together. Soon we were standing in front of the gates and the Head's carriage pulled up. I turned and smiled up at him and he pulled me to him.

"I'm going to miss you." I whispered into his shoulder.

I felt his hands running through my hair and over my back before he laid a kiss on the crown of my head. "I know. I'll miss you too."

I pulled back to look up at him again and forced a smile onto my face. "It won't be the same around here without you."

He smiled and I watched his eyes turn to the darkest blue I had ever seen. They looked like the sea after a storm and I couldn't place the emotion swimming in them. "Don't worry, luv. I'll be back before you know it and we'll have Christmas together." That thought made me smile. "Go ahead and have a good time with your Uncle Severus and I'll be back soon."

I nodded and snuggled back into him. I knew that we were both drawing this out because we didn't really want to say goodbye. So, swallowing the pain and sadness I pulled back and smiled another plastic smile.

"If you don't go now you're going to miss the train." He nodded, laid a kiss on my forehead, and climbed into the waiting carriage. With the door closed it immediately began to move. I was surprised when he stuck his upper body out of the window to look back at me. "Tell me you love me. I need to hear it."

I smiled and whispered the words that I had been holding in for far too long. "I love you." I knew that there was no way he had heard me but it still felt amazing just to finally say those three little words that meant the world to me.

I watched until the carriage left my sight and then turned to head back up to the castle. About half way up the path I noticed someone sitting by the lake. I couldn't imagine who was still here. Almost everyone had decided to leave for the week and a half before the Yule Ball. They were all expected back the da after Christmas. So who was this poor sap who had ended up stuck here?

As I drew closer I realized that it was Blaise. That shocked me more than anything else could have. I figured on a few Gryffindors staying, a hand full of Ravenclaws, a Hufflepuff or two, but I had been positive that I was the only Slytherin left at Hogwarts. Well, it seemed that there would be two of us.

At the last second I decided I might as well have someone to talk to during hols and turned from the path to join him by the water.

"Hello, Blaise." His head snapped up with such violence that I was certain it should have popped off. "Why are you still here?" I asked as I took the patch of grass next to him for my seat.

"My parents are on vacation in Bermuda and couldn't get home in time for Christmas so here I am." He sighed and leaned back on his arms. "What about you?" He turned to face me. "Why didn't you go home for Christmas?"

I didn't have to fake the pain in my eyes at that question. No matter who I was, Hermione or Mya, the answer was the same. "This is my home, Blaise. I don't have anywhere else to go." I watched his eyes widen as he realized just what he had asked and who he had asked it.

Blaise looked back out across the water. "Sorry, Mya. I wasn't thinking." He chanced a glance at me. "So are you spending the hols with Professor Snape then?"

"Yeah." I whispered, staring down at my hands.

"I figured you would have gone to stay with Draco and his family." He stated, finally turning to face me.

"He did invite me, but I just couldn't leave Uncle Severus alone. We've both recently suffered such a loss. It wouldn't be right to leave him alone at such a time." He nodded his understanding.

The silence seemed to stretch on forever before a thought struck me. "Won't you be lonely being the only one in the Slytherin common room for hols?"

He shrugged. "I won't mind too much. The only one i ever really got on with as Draco and he hasn't been in the common room all year." He grinned at me, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Well," I glanced at him, considering what I was about to offer, "If you want you can bunk in mine and Draco's common room." His eyes widened and he looked at me as though I had just grown another head. I decided to clarify my thought proccess. "I just figured that since we're the only two Slytherins left..." I trailed off and rethought how to say what I was thinking. "I mean, just for company. You could bunk on the couch." At his incredulous look I hurried on. "I'll transfigure it into a bed. I just am used to having someone else around. It'll be awkward having that big common room all to myself." Blaise held up a hand to stop my rambling.

"Don't worry about it, Mya. I get it." He grinned at me again and gave a little half shrug. "I wouldn't mind a little company, if that's what you want." I smiled at his attempt to do the chivalrous thing.

At his answer I nodded my appreciation. I quickly stood and dusted the non-existant dirt from my jeans. I turned to Blaise and offered him and hand up, surprised when he took it.

"Come on." I began as he dropped my hand. "I'll show you around the common room properly."

Instead of answering me he just headed up the path. After about twenty feet he turned and looked at me expectantly. Realizing what he was waiting for I smiled and hurried to join him.

Little did I know that someone had been watching me since Draco and I left the castle.

(Ron's P.O.V.)

I stormed through the halls of Hogwarts. I could not believe what I had just seen Hermione do. It was all supposed to be a big joke! How could this have happened?! Now, I found myself wishing that Harry, Ginny, and I had simply gotten on the train with everyone else. But NO! Mum had insisted on coming and getting us all after the Order meeting.

I snapped out the password as I neared the Fat Lady. She made a rather rude gesture but swung open anyways.

"HARRY!" I shouted as soon as I was in the common room. Everyone who had stayed behind snapped around to stare at me, but I couldn't care less. After what seemed like forever (but was probably only a few miliseconds) Harry came galloping down the dormitory stairs. He rushed over, wand drawn, eyes pannicked.

"Did you know?!" I shouted at him even though he was standing right in front of me. He looked at me as if I were some undiscovered magical creature which only fueled my rage. "Did you know about Hermione and..." I was shocked when, in the middle of the tirade, Harry pointed his wand at me and cast a quick silencing spell.

When I realized what he had done I could practically feel the steam billowing from my ears and nose. Before I had the chance to reverse the spell Harry had grabbed my arm and dragged me from the common room. Instead of stopping outside he kept right on going.

"I'll let you talk when we get to the Room of Requirement, you bloody fool!" Harry hissed in my ear as he dragged me back and forth in front of the wall. As soon as the door appeared he jerked it open and shoved me through.

When I stumbled to a stop I realized that I could speak again, but instead of yelling i lunged forward and hit Harry square on the jaw. I watched as his head snapped to the side and a small amount of blood trickled from the side of his mouth. In that moment nothing could have satisfied me more. That was until he turned back to face me and I saw his eyes. It looked like a Floo fire had been lit behind his eyes the were so bright. i had always thought that it was an exaggeration when someone said that they could see murder in another's eyes, but in that moment I knew that it was true. I could see the desire, the genuine want, to murder me shining through his eyes.

As the haze of anger disappeared from me Harry began to slowly advance on me and I found myself backing up every time he took a step forward. I felt the back of my knees hit the edge of a chair and I fell backwards into it. Fear began to take over as I realized that one of the strongest wizards alive had me well and truly trapped.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" He growled as he slapped his hands down on the arms of the chair. "Coming into the common room screaming as if Voldemort," I winced at the name, "Was on your heels. You almost revealed where Hermione really is in front of everyone in Gryffindor Tower. To top it all off, when I have the common sense to stop you, you have the nerve to PUNCH ME IN THE JAW!" His voice had risen with every word until he was finally screaming.

I watched, terrified, as Harry took a deep breath and backed away about a foot. After a few more deep breaths he stepped back farther and sat in the arm chair across from me. Thankfully, for once, my mouth cooperated with my brain and stayed quiet.

When I was almost certain that I wouldn't be able to stay quiet any longer, Harry began to speak. "So..." He looked me dead in the eyes before he continued. "Would you care to explain your little tirade earlier?" He leaned back and folded his hands under his chin. I had never before heard a professorial tone from Harry, but the way he had sounded when he asked me that question caused a knee jerk reaction in me to answer.

I took a deep breath to calm myself so that I didn't go off the handle again. After all I had already almost gotten myself killed once today. I didn't want to make it twice.

"Did. You. Know?"

The look he gave me just screamed for me to explain my damn self before he lost his cool. "Did you know about Hermione and Malfoy?"

"What about Hermione and Malfoy, Ron? Be specific." He obviously wasn't planning on making this any easier for me.

"Did you know that Hermione and Malfoy were really romantically involved? That this wasn't all just some prank?" I asked slowly, trying desperately to keep my cool at the thought of it all.

"What are you talking about, Ron? What happened?" Harry assked leaning forward.

So I began the long messed up tale. "OK. I noticed Hermione walking Malfoy out to the carriages to say goodbye so I just impulsively decided to follow them, figuring that once Malfoy was gone I could catch up with Mione and maybe arrange some time for me, you, her, and Gin to get together." Harry raised his eyebrows and looked at me expectantly. "Anyways... I followed them down, staying out of sight. When they got to the carriages they were saying goodbye and the two of them kept drawing things out. It seemed like she was really reluctant to see him go. All I could think was: Wow. She is plaiying her part so well. I didn't know what an amazing actress she was. After a while she told him he'd be late and he leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"After he got into the carriage and it pulled away, he leaned out of the window and told her that he needed to hear her say that she loved him. She smiled and kept waving, but she did. She said it. There was no way that he could have possibly heard her but she still whispered: I love you.

"At first I assumed that she was saying it in case there were any Slytherins that had stayed behind. So I followed her back up the path figuring I could catch her in the Entrance Hall. By the lake she saw Zabini though and she stopped to talk to him. She said that she had no idea there were any Slytherins left for the hols. After a good half an hour chat she invited him to stay with her in the Head's common room because she would be lonely without Malfoy. He accepted and they left so she could show him the common room properly.

"But, Harry it was the way she looked when she said 'I love you' to him. She meant it. She meant it with everything in her. How is that possible?" I asked myself as I finished the story. Then I looked back up at Harry. "So, I'll ask you one more time. Did you know?"

I watched Harry take a deep breath and look considering for a moment.

"Well, Ron.'' Harry began. ''You see, it's like this."

A/N: Ok. I told you that I would be updating faster. I'm almost done with the next chapter. About half way through it now so expect that soon. I am starting a new job on Monday and will be kind of tied up so I'll be updating on weekends or whenever I get the chance. Just wanted to let ya'll know. So... acknowledgements anyone?

Obsessed.Otaku.of.America-- I'm glad that you like it so far. I'm sorry to say that she won't be revealed for a few chapters yet, but we are definitely getting closer.

Skay-- LOL! Thanks so much for the review. I kind of figured that a lot of people forgot about Hermione/Mya's parents and were maybe wondering why she was staying. I wanted to kind of give everyone a little reality check. lol. I am glad that you liked the way I portrayed Lucius. I was extremely nervous about doinf his character as he is one of the hardest people to write in my opinion.

InLoveWithDraco13-- Thanks so much for the review. I am glad that you are enjoying it so much. I can't tell you how it ends because I don't even know. I'm just kind of letting the characters tell me where to go with this. Hope it's a happy ending though. :)

sugar n spice 522-- Thanks!

Painelust-- I am glad that you are liking it. Hermione is not changing her personality when she is Mya. Just like she told Blaise it's all her. She just wasn't quite as confident or sneaky before. Hope you continue to read and let me know what you think.

DracoxHermioneztrueluv4eva-- I know it was a little short but I am trying to keep everything over 2000 words a chapter and under 5000. This one is close to 3000 so it's a little longer than the last one. Hope you like it.

GetThePointe-- Wow. I am so flattered. I love reviews like this one. I am always happy to know that my story makes my readers feel good. Thank you so much! I really hope that you stick with me and continue to let me know what you think.

AshleeSlytherinPrincess-- Hope that the update was fast enough.

xcheerios-- Glad you like it.

no.1dracolover-- I know what you mean about forgetting who she really is sometimes. lol. I am glad that you enjoyed it so much though. Hope you continue to like it as much.

LadyKnightSusan-- I am so happy that you seem to enjoy it so much this far. I really hope that you like the future chapters just as much.

To all of my faithful readers, reviewers or not, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Knowing that you enjoy sharing my chaotic thoughts with me keeps me going. As always, constructive criticism is welcome as long as it is not a direct attack on the author or the story. After all everyone has room to improve. If you don't like it then you know where the door to this rabbit hole is. Simple as that: If you don't like it don't read it.
Til Next Time,
Bria/ gemimni69