AN: OMGOSH y'all I'm TERRIBLY sorry for the delay in updates. See, I sent this chapter to my beta like a long while ago, but sadly, she hasn't emailed me the edited version, or her opinion if I should even use this chapter at all! So I'm horribly sorry if you guys don't like it...

Disclaimer: It's not mine, and I can't think of a rhyme! ((wow, there's one for yah!))

Hermione awakened the following morning with a splitting migraine, puffy cheeks and red, sore eyes. Her back haunch, she sulkily walked to the shower, turning on the cold water all the way, putting on only a little bit of warm water.

"It's what I deserve," Hermione muttered to herself as she climbed in, the cold water bringing back the painful memories of what she had done the previous night. Her foolishness, the feeling of guilt that burrowed so deep inside she felt she could never dig it out. And the letter. That was the worst part. Hermione's eyes started filling up with salty tears, blending into the running water. Her body wracking in sobs, she fell to the floor of her shower and cried. Never before had a guy hurt this much.

"How are you doing this morning?" Ginny asked from the kitchen table, a hot mug of hot chocolate cradled in her hands.

"Horrible, but I'd prefer not to talk about it. Maybe later," Hermione said, whipping up her own mug of hot chocolate and apparating to work, her eyes blood shot and hair damp.

"Good morning...Hermione? Is something wrong?" Savannah said, her blonde hair in a very small ponytail.

Hermione took a deep breath and straightened her back. "No, I'm perfectly fine. How did Timothy turn out? Is he doing well? Did it work?" Hermione asked, quickly changing the subject as she sipped at her hot chocolate.

Savannah nodded. "Yes, he left just last night. His mom and dad said that they'd drop by today to thank you."

"Great," Hermione said, giving her a feeble smile. Savannah raised an inquisitive eyebrow, but said nothing. "Erm, I...uh, I'm going to go check on...stuff. I'll be right back," Hermione said, quickly leaving her office. She knew she had to apologize to Draco. She nodded brief hellos to co-workers as she rounded the corner towards Draco's office. Finally reaching her destination, and a bit winded, she stood in front of the closed wooden door leading to Draco's office. Hermione placed a gentle hand on the cold steel knob, anticipating the encounter she was about to embark upon. Taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, she stepped into his office. Squeezing her eyes shut as if to warrant the shouts that would be emitted by Draco, she waited. And waited. Finally, after twenty seconds of standing there, she peeked open one eye, and the other flew up in shock. His office was emptied out with only a single roll of parchment on the ground.

Hermione-

I knew that you would come here and offer peace between us, but Quidditch season has started early, and as you know, I play Quidditch professionally. I'm sorry, but forgiveness from me doesn't come easy. You might think that I'm a hypocrite, seeing as to all the horrible things I did to you during school, but that was the old me. Sorry things didn't work out, I thought we were...different. Watch for my team in the headlines.

-Draco Malfoy

Hermione felt hot tears spring into her eyes and crumpled up the paper, sinking to her knees in his emptied office.

"Uh, Hermione?" Savannah said from the open office door. Hermione brushed the tears away angrily and sniffled.

"Yes?" She said, standing up quickly and blinking in attempts to get rid of the redness of her eyes.

Savannah blushed and looked down. "Madame Yates wants to speak with you. Now."

Hermione's eyes flew wide open, and audible gasp escaping her lips. "Th-thank you, Savannah." She said hurriedly, dashing out the door in a whirl of midnight blue robes.

Hermione didn't think to knock as she swung the door open to her boss's office and slammed it shut behind her, causing her boss to scream out in surprise.

"Dear Hermione, that scared the trolls out of me!" She said, putting a manicured hand, with three-inch neon orange nails, to her chest. "Anyway, please be seated," She said, indicating the chair in front of her desk. Hermione nodded and sat, smoothing any wrinkles in her robe while she waited for her boss to speak. "How are you doing, Hermione?"

"Fine."

"Lovely weather..."

"Yes."

Madame Yates huffed in defeat. "You never were one for small talk," she mumbled, straightening in her chair, her eyes boring into Hermione's forehead. "So I guess you're wondering why I brought you here. Well, as you know, next month is the annual St. Mungo's Talented Healers talent show to raise money for the children's fund. Every year I ask one person to perform a musical number of their choosing that relates to their lives at the moment. I've nearly chosen all the high-rated healers, except you. So, you're chosen. Will you do it?" She asked, lifting a carefully drawn brow.

Hermione's jaw dropped, then quickly regained composure. "But Madame, I have no musical training—"

"Oh pish posh, I've done some digging, Miss Granger, and you had voice lessons from when you were five to the summer after your first year at Hogwarts. Now don't you lie to me. I know you've got a voice, and if you have perfected it like everything else, I'm sure you'll be the star of the show!" Madame said excitedly, her chin fat jiggling at the words spoken.

Hermione frowned. "That was long ago, and I haven't performed since that summer. Nor do I plan on doing so!"

Madame Yates' face tightened up, her eyes cold as steel as she lowered her voice. "You listen, Miss Granger. I've been known for my spectacular talent shows and the talent my staff holds. You will perform, and you will do it well. I give you the week before the performance off. You have a month. Now get to work," She said, waving her wand so the door opened. Hermione opened her mouth to protest when she was cut off. "There is no room for discussion," she hissed. Hermione gulped and nodded, dashing out of the office and to her own.

"What was that all about?" Savannah asked from her pile of papers. Hermione sighed.

"You really don't want to know," She said, slumping in her chair and looking at the letters on her desk. Opening the first one, she found it was from Ron.

Hermione-

I know that Draco has hurt you, and if you would like, I'll hex him all the way to his bloo—

Hermione smirked and tossed it aside, knowing that it was a good thing her best friend hadn't changed a bit. She glanced at the next one to see it was from Harry.

Hermione-

I'm very sorry about what happened with Draco. If there is anything I can do to ease the pain, I'll be happy to oblige. I guess it would help if my team were to beat his, right? Owl me if you need anything,

Harry

Hermione smiled and placed it atop of Ron's.

Hermione went through every piece of mail, except one. Hermione eyed it curiously. Slowly she opened it, to find neatly written handwriting.

Hermione-

I know this has been a tragic week for you, but I thought that I'd let you know what really went on with Haley and Draco.

Haley, being the spoiled brat she is, went and told her daddy, Draco's boss, that she was lonely and hadn't had a boyfriend in so long. She went on to complain that she was ugly and how she only wanted the attention of one man: Draco Malfoy. So, he pulled some strings and pushed some buttons, and convinced Draco that his job depended on him taking Haley out and kissing her on the cheek publicly. Draco knew that if he lost his job, you would lose your funding, so he took the risk, hoping that you wouldn't find out until he gave you an explanation. Obviously that didn't work.

But, for your benefit, I know he'll be at the talent show in a month, seeing that he's the money provider for medical research. So sing to him, Hermione. I know you can sing, girl, so go for it.

Oh, and don't worry that you don't know who I am. I'm just a friendly bystander who doesn't want to see this love dwindle on miscalculations and jealousy.

-Fan of Love

Hermione looked at the letter puzzled, then read it again, and again. Nothing clicked about who the person was, but everything else did. Draco did it for her, and yet she had been selfish enough to want revenge. She slammed the letter down and stood up abruptly.

"Where are you going, Hermione?" Savannah asked, tucking her blonde hair behind her ears.

"Looking for my song. If Madame Yates asks, it's for the talent show. I'll see you tomorrow." And with a muted pop, she was gone.

The days went by quickly as Hermione set in a daily routine: wake up, work out, shower, sing, eat, work, sing, eat, sing, and sleep. Everyday she did that, until the week before her performance.

"Hermione, do you mind if I write an article on this for the paper?" Ginny asked from the breakfast table as Hermione finished working on her song.

"Sure, why not?" Hermione said, sitting down and peeling a banana.

"Perfect! That means I get this week off...er, I mean, I get to interview you and take notes and such. Not only that, but I can help you get a new outfit! You know you have to look good for when Draco sees you again. It's almost been a month since you've spoken."

Hermione sighed. "I know. I'm anxious to see if he'll forgive me after I perform. I carefully chose this song after I got a fortune out of a fortune cookie from that Chinese place we ate at a while ago," Hermione explained, taking a bite of banana.

"And what did that say?" Ginny asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

"Well, it's not the typical fortune. Actually, I don't know how it got in the cookie in the first place, since it's talking to a girl specifically. Perhaps it was the greater being," Hermione said, digging in her pink hoodie pocket for the piece of paper.

"You take it everywhere you go?" Ginny asked in shock. Hermione simply nodded and handed it over. Ginny cleared her throat and read aloud, "' Wait for the boy who pursues you, the one who will make an ordinary moment seem magical, wait for the boy who makes you smile like no other boy makes you smile and when he smiles you know he needs you...wait for the boy who wants to show you off to the world when you're in sweats and have no makeup on. Most of all wait for the boy who will put you at the center of his universe, b/c obviously he's at the center of yours...' geez, Hermione, you're right. That's the most odd fortune I've ever read. Cute, though, very cute."

Hermione smiled. "And that is why I'm still going through with this. If Draco doesn't forgive me, I know I won't be able to love again. I didn't even know I was in love until he was gone, and that horrible hole in my heart was unsheathed. I know it sounds irrational, and very unlike me, but I'm jumping into this without fully knowing what I'm getting myself into."

"Well, I know what I can help get you in to..."

"What would that be?" Hermione asked, raising her eyebrow slightly.

Ginny grinned wickedly. "A new outfit!" She said, grabbing Hermione's arms and dashing to the fireplace. "Let's go!" She said, lighting a fire and throwing in a handful of floo powder and shoved Hermione in, shouting a name of a store Hermione couldn't quite hear. "I'll catch up with you after I grab my jacket!" Hermione heard as she tucked in her elbows tight and tried to remain calm. She had to save every ounce of patience for next Saturday.

Ok, you guys, I'm sorry, but this chapter is horribly disappointing to me, especially since there's probably going to be only two more ((at the most, I think!)) If you guys really want me to, I'll re-write this chapter and yeah, but I can't promise it would be better, because everything that needed to happen happened, so...yeah. Uhm, also, another thing. I'd REALLY love to post thank-yous again, but I got like 2 million reviews ((ok, not really, but you know!)) and there's WAY too many people to thank. But I PROMISE ((cross my heart, I don't really want to die, or stick a needle in my eye)) that I will have a huge thank you list at the end of my last chapter!!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

--VBC--

wow i really like that new feature! REVIEW PLEASE!!!

OH WAIT! SOMEONE ASKED HOW OFTEN I UPDATE! I USUALLY UPDATE ONCE A WEEK, BUT NOW THAT SCHOOL'S IN PROBABLY ONCE EVERY WEEK AND 1/2!!! YES! OK I'M REALLY DONE NOW! REVIEW!!!