A/N: I'm kind of thinking of writing a sort of prologue of this chapter. Like, what happened between Draco and Hermione leading up to this event. Please Review!

Written For:

Gringotts Wizarding Prompt Bank Prompt's Galore:

All Colour Prompts- Blizzard Blue

Dialogue- "Life sucks. Get a helmet."-The Vampire Diaries, "Do you ever hear yourself sometimes? Like, when you speak?"-Orange is the New BlackFriends Vocabulary-Lover

The Restricted Collection: 14. No Happy Ending

Hogwarts Open Day, A Competition: Divination-Third Year: Write about the Trio Era.

Word count: 2,013

"How could you possibly think I'll ever like a mud-blood like you? Don't you understand? It was all a lie. I have never liked you to begin with. Miss Bloody Know-It -All Granger was played like a fool."

Hermione nodded, tears burning to be released. This was all some elaborate joke. She had the honor of being the could hear the giggles of Millicent Bulstrode, the high-pitched laughter of Pansy Parkinson, the thundering roar of Vincent and Crabbe. Blaise looked unreadable as he stared at her disgrace. Astoria Greengrass lavishly winked and wrapped her arms around Draco. Worst of all was the pity in Daphne Greengrass' eyes. She couldn't believe she had been such a fool.

"Stupid mud-blood." Astoria spat near her shoes.

"Life sucks. Get a helmet. I'm sure your muggle father could get one for you," sneered Pansy.

"Draco loves me! He's mine! Not some filthy mud-blood like you!" Astoria snarled, clutching her lover's arm.

Hermione lifted her chin a fraction. She would not let them see her cry. She was a bloody Gryffindor and she would be brave, for Merlin's sake! "Do you hear yourself sometimes? Like, when you speak? Because that's borderline obsessive. I suggest you see a healer and check out your head."

Millicent laughed. "She got you there, Stori."

Astoria's blizzard blue eyes flashed menacingly. She swatted at Millicent's thick arm. "Shut up Millicent!"

"Don't you understand? You were used for our entertainment!" Pansy cackled. "He never liked you!"

"I understand," Hermione responded, trying to appear dignified.

"If you do, get lost," Draco snarled. She thought she saw something that resembled pain flash in his eyes but she brushed it off as her imagination.

Hermione quickly picked up her gift and turned to leave. She looked at Pansy with pity. "He didn't love you either, it seems." She walked away, hearing Pansy scream obscenities behind her.

Hermione wanted to scream and shout in outrage but she couldn't trust her own voice that moment. The reality hit her tremendously hard that very second. She was sure that if she spoke, her voice would break. She would not let the Slytherin's see how much she truly hurt.

She was sure they were watching her leave. She made an effort not to run or stumble. She couldn't or wouldn't let them see her cry. She walked to the Gryffindor Tower, not caring if Filch spotted her this late in the night. As soon as she was in the Tower, she collapsed on a nearby chair. She cried silently in the darkness.

""Where am I? " She asked sleepily to herself. Last night's memories came flooding back to her. Her eyes began to sting as she realized what happened. She wiped her eyes and walked to her dorm. She checked to see if anyone was up first before entering the room. She knew Parvati and Lavender would immediately question her. She quietly closed the door behind her and walked straight to the bathroom. She took a deep breath, watering her face. It was a good thing magic existed because her face looked horrid. She took a shower and made sure she looked presentable. You could not tell she had been crying at all.

"Mione!" Ginny screamed. "Hurry up!"

Hermione forced herself to smile before opening the door. "I'm coming, hold up."

Ginny looked taken aback to see Hermione already dressed. "Whoa, where are you going?"

Hermione smiled cheerfully. "Library, of course."

Ginny shook her head in disbelief. "Already?"

"Sorry," Hermione answered, looking the least bit apologetic. "But I've got to go search something up."

Ginny laughed and entered the restroom. "Okay, okay. See you in the Great Hall."

Hermione had no intention whatsoever to go to the Great Hall at all. But Ginny couldn't possible know that. She hated to lie but she wasn't really lying. "Maybe. We'll see."

Hermione waved good morning to Parvati and Lavender who had just woken up. She got her school bag ready and headed to the library. Whenever she felt sad, she would head to the library. It was her peaceful place in the whole school. She spotted her usual table open but decided not to sit there. It was in that spot that Draco, no, Malfoy began talking to her. She should have known it was all a joke. Why would Malfoy make a truce with her in the first place? Why would she ever think he liked her? It was all her fault that she was played. Her damn naiveté and obliviousness brought her pain.

She went to the back of the library where no one could see her. She sighed and began reading her copy of Pride and Prejudice. She was a few pages in when a figure loomed over her. She looked up.

"Nott?"

Theodore Nott looked equally surprised to see her there. "Sorry, I didn't think anyone would be at the library this early."

She nodded sheepishly. She was kind of hoping no one would be there. "Neither did I."

The corner of his lips pulled up. "It's just that I usually sit there."

Hermione nodded. She would have to move now. "Do you want me to move? Because I can."

"No," he said quickly, "I'm just used to sitting there. I don't think I've ever seen you sit in the back."

"I wanted to try something new," she shrugged. It's also because you want to avoid Draco, her mind chimed in. She scolded her mind. No, she wanted to never speak to Malfoy again. "So, you don't mind if I sit here?"

He smiled. "No, not all. Do you mind if I sit here?" He motioned to the chair in front of her. Hermione shook her head. "Thanks."

She looked at him puzzled. She was positive he was going to make her move. Any other Slytherin would have made her. "You aren't like most Slytherin's, are you?"

Nott laughed. "No, I try not to be as vicious like the rest. However, that doesn't mean I'm Mr. Nice guy. I am in Slytherin for a reason."

Hermione felt her face heat up. "Of course not!"

"You aren't like most Gryffindor's either," He stated.

Hermione tilted her head and frowned. She thought she was exactly like most Gryffindor's. Except for the fact that she believed and trusted a rotten snake. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you're sitting here talking to me," he replied, as if it was the most obvious thing. "Most Gryffindor's would hex me or think I'm playing a joke on them."

Hermione pondered that statement. It was because she wasn't acting like a Gryffindor that Malfoy humiliated her. That was the reason she let herself be led into the prank. She stood up and grabbed her things. Theo looked surprised when she did so. "I'm sorry. You are right. I'm not acting like a Gryffindor but I should be. Snake's are rotten liars. I am sorry you thought I was alright because I'm not. I am just like every other Gryffindor."

Theo smiled knowingly. It was then she knew that he was aware of the prank. "I understand. Should I hex you or should you hex me?"

Hermione smiled feebly. She raised her wand straight at him. "Stupefy."

She bit her cheek, as the expression on his face was still the knowing smile. She walked out of the library after she made sure Nott wasn't completely uncomfortable. She took a deep breath and headed towards the Great Hall.

"Oi, Hermione. We wondering where you went," Ron said, laughing boisterously. "Library, right?"

She frowned then plastered a sheepish expression on her face. "You know me too well."

Harry and the rest of the Gryffindor's laughed. She sat down next to Ginny and pretended to engage herself in the conversation. She could see the Slytherin's snickering as they looked pointedly in her direction. Hermione laughed when everyone else laughed. She scolded them when they thought she would. She acted as if everything was okay.

"So 'Mione, coming to Quidditch Tryouts?" Harry asked. Ron stopped eating to await her answer. They knew Ron was trying out for Keeper this year.

She laughed. "Of course I am. I wouldn't miss it."

Ginny smiled and elbowed Hermione. She whispered, "Seeing my brother, eh?"

Hermione laughed and hushed to the other girl so it would appear she was shy. She knew everyone around her thought Ron and her had something going on. But the truth was that they didn't. She suspected Ron had slight feelings for her but she didn't have any. "Not so loud, Ginny. I don't want him to know."

"Better hurry," Ginny whispered. "I think Lavender's after him!"

Hermione pretended to care. "I know! Don't worry I'll make a move soon."

She continued smiling even when they had exited the Great Hall and passed by the Slytherins. They snickered and pointed at her. She ignored them and didn't scold Ron when he sent a jinx their way. She would be what everyone else wanted her to be.

The Gryffindor Princess.

She cried and cried. She mourned the deaths of everyone they had lost in the Battle of Hogwarts. She couldn't believe Fred was gone. She loved him like a brother and now he was gone. Seeing George so devastated was heartbreaking for her. Looking at Remus and Tonks' bodies was the most saddening thing of all. Tonks had just given birth to a beautiful boy. She couldn't handle all these deaths around her.

The War was over.

They had won but she didn't feel happy. A small part of her was relieved. Relieved that she wasn't going to suffer persecution anymore because of something she couldn't control. But she was mostly sad. She was sad. While others had family to mourn with, she had nobody.

"Are you okay?" Draco asked quietly, walking up behind her.

She looked up and flinched visibly. She averted her eyes and nodded. Her scarred arm began to burn. He reminded her of that awful Malfoy Manor. She shivered and squeezed her eyes shut.

"I just wanted to say…." he began, his voice straining. He seemed unable to continue. She lifted her head slightly and opened her eyes. His face contorted to pain as he saw how fragile she looked. "I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything."

Hermione nodded and looked away once more. It was too late for sorry but she could still forgive him. She wasn't going to hold him accountable for his family. But just looking at him brought her back to the place.

"Malfoy," Harry greeted as he walked up to them. She looked at Harry. His eyes were red and watery. He looked exhausted. "For your mother, I will testify for you."

Draco looked surprised. He shook his head. "I deserve to go to Azkaban."

"No, you don't."

Hermione surprised herself when she spoke. Both Harry and Draco's head whipped around to meet her. She cleared her throat uncomfortably.

"Hermione's right," Harry continued. "I'll see you at the trial."

Harry walked away leaving them alone once more. They weren't truly alone. They were in the Great Hall with everybody else but it felt as if they were only the only two there.

"I'll testify for you, too," Hermione said, her head still down. She took a deep breath and lifted it up. Her chocolate brown eyes meet his grey, stormy ones. "Never talk to me after your trial. I-I can't. Y-Your family either. All I see is B-Bellatrix." She hugged herself tight.

"My aunt was crazy," he whispered. "I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "It wasn't your fault."

"How can I make it up to you?" he pleaded. If she had the courage to look at him, she would have seen the intensity of his gaze.

She shook her head again. Harder and faster this time. "You can't."

There was a long silence. She could still hear the wails and cries of all the living around them. She took a deep breath and met his eyes once more. "Goodbye Draco."

He nodded sadly. "Goodbye Hermione."

She smiled weakly and walked away.