A/N: Sorry it took so long. Bit thanks to Victoria! Hope this story brings some relief. I personally think this chapter stinks but yeah.

Disclaimer:Don't own squat :)

Hermione's Point of View

What happened to me last night?

Maybe I was a little carried away by the entire idea of the Yule Ball, but the words that left my mouth, it was almost like they weren't mine. Like it was someone's intention for me to say it. Almost like I was watching the entire scene from outside a box.

I got out of my bed and made my way to the bathroom. My eyes were bloodshot.

"What happened?" I asked my reflection and washed out my face. I knew I had to ask McGonagal.

After a quick shower I managed to somehow reach my professor before the train ride.

"What can I do for you Miss Granger?" She pushed pack her spectacles.

"I want to ask you something about," I thought about what I was about to say and felt foolish. "I'm quite embarrassed about it."

"What is it?" She asked firmly.

"I don't think it is anything to be worried about but I think last night, at the Yule Ball" My breathing suddenly became uneven. "It was like I had an out of body experience."

"An out of body experience?" The older woman creased her brow.

I placed my hand on the side of my face and pushed my temples slightly. "Like I know what happened but I can't really explain myself. It was like I wasn't me."

"You weren't you?"

"Exactly." I nodded. This was the first McGonagal had ever made me feel, well, stupid. "Like I was just watching myself be, uhm,"

"Possessed?" The Professor offered.

"No, not really. Like my inner most feelings were getting the better of me." I bit my lip. "Honestly, I didn't want to forgive Cho but I did and that is so unfair. And Harry, he's a prat, excuse my language professor. And now they both think I'm friends with them when deep down I'm still really hurt."

"I doubt you're not the only one who thinks that." McGonagal nodded towards the door where Cho and Harry were standing. They seemed to be avoiding any form of eye contact with me.

"Professor," I said in a serious tone. "What happened to us last night?"

"Your anger is only what your mind feels yet your soul has no say."

"I don't understand." I was beginning to get frustrated with all these little riddles she was giving, even if that comment was only the first.

"Last night, the atmosphere of the Yule Ball, there was something different, no?"

"Yes." I nodded my head and suddenly everything seemed to make sense. "You put a spell over the entire hall."

"Not I but Dumbledore. Every year a spell is put in order to resolve arguments even just for the night."

"That's cruel!" My voice was shrill. Every nerve in my brain was trying to explain what had happened.

"It has been done every year." McGonagal looked at me sternly.

"But," I was curious to find out why I had only heard about it now, or why I had only felt it now.

"This was the only time you came to the ball with a feeling that is trapped in your heart."

I crossed my arms. I felt stupid for falling under the spell that Dumbledore had placed. "It just doesn't make any sense. Why would Dumbledore tamper with people's feelings like that?"

"Because, sometimes people's feelings have to be tampered with, for them to be able to overcome their pride." She eyed me knowingly.

"My pride was taken and stepped on." I told her calmly. "But I suppose that it doesn't matter now because what happened has happened and personally I think it was the most illogical thing Dumbledore could do but knowing that he does have his reasons for, well, sometimes acting foolish I am going to try to understand why he did this when I know that I will never really be able to. I just thought that I would express that I really don't think it is right to tamper with people's feelings like that. It is just, wrong." I took in all the air my lungs could possibly handle and forced a smile on my face. "With all due respect professor, this is the lowest thing I've ever seen Dumbledore do."

"Perhaps it is because it was done to you."

My eyes shot open with the comment my professor had just made and suddenly I felt ashamed because she was right. "Perhaps," I nodded. "But then we'll never know. Have a Happy Christmas."

"Happy Christmas, Miss Granger." She nodded.

I closed my eyes and bit my lower lip before going up to gather last of my belongings and the little pride I had left.

I hid myself in the head's cart. I refused to speak to anyone because I felt so, exposed.

"Hermione?" I could see Lavender's shadow.

"Not now." My voice cracked.

"I just wanted to say Happy Christmas just in case I wouldn't be able to see you at the platform." She said calmly. "My mother sent me an owl right before we left the school. I won't be able to make the London trip. We're going to China for the holidays."

I opened the door and threw my arms around her. "I wish you weren't."

"Me too." She whispered and wrapped her arms around me. "What's the matter Hermione?"

I led her to sit and told her the entire story.

"It is so hard to believe that they would do that to us." Lavender rubbed my shoulder. "I know you're hurting Hermione and I'm sure your furious because this has just complicated things even more but I'm sure they only had the best intentions at heart."

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions." I looked at her. "How am I going to be able to get through this trip without you?"

"Because you've managed without me, forever." She laughed.

"No," I shook my head. "I can't give them the satisfaction of knowing that I would forgive them in an instant. Especially Cho, she doesn't deserve that."

"She's just as human as we are. I'm pretty sure I would've done the same thing especially if I saw the way Harry looks at you."

"I hate that people keep saying that!" My voice shook.

"Calm down." Lavender nudged me back to reality. "There are only two things that can happen; it can work out or you'll slowly drift apart."

"I'm afraid it looks like the latter." I said darkly. "I just can't forgive him. What he did was just, ugh!"

"Calm down." Lavender comforted.

The train pulled to a halt.

"We're here already?" My eyes opened.

"Yeah." Lavender stood up.

"Happy Christmas." I wrapped my arms around my friend one last time. "I'll see you in a couple of weeks."

"You too." Lavender walked out of the cart.

I carefully got my things together and headed for the wall. I knew my parents were already waiting on the other side. I made my way through the crowd as quickly as possible not really wanting to say goodbye to anyone.

"Hermione!" A voice boomed through the noise. I pretended to ignore it and kept walking. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Justin!" I forced a smile on my face; I was only two steps from the wall.

"Happy Christmas!" He wrapped his arms around me.

"Happy Christmas, Justin." I nodded. "I really have to go."

"I'll see you." His voice was barely audible.

"You too." I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and smiled. "Don't go break anyone's heart, you hear?"

"Will do." He smiled. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"Justin!" A woman who seemed to be in her mid-forty's called him.

"That's my mom, I've got to go." He nodded. "Take care of yourself."

"Bye." I shrugged and walked through. "Ouch!" I screeched when I bumped someone's back.

"Hermione?" Ron turned around. "I'm sorry."

"Hermione!" Molly Weasley's voice rang as my head was still spinning.

"I have to go." I thought; I hadn't realized I said it out loud.

"Why so soon? Not even a hug for old Molly?" She wrapped her arms around me.

"Happy Christmas!" I greeted.

"Hermione?"

"Oh no," I mumbled under my breath as I turned around to see who decided to talk to me this time.

"Hermione!" The person was still a little far from me.

Tall and a little lanky with muscles here and there, curly dark brown hair, his thick eyebrows, and a dimpled smile. He stood there wearing a white shirt with the words, "Sorry, girls, I'm taken," written in bold italics.

"Adam?" I dropped my things. I completely forgot that he was going to pick me up. My heart raced as I ran to him. "Adam!" I squealed my voice a lot higher than usual. "Adam! Adam! Adam!" I jumped on him and wrapped him into a big bear hug.

"I missed you, baby." He ran his hands through my hair. I leaned back a little to see his face, my vision was a bit blurred. "Why are you crying? What happened?" He put me down.

"I'm just so happy to see you." I wrapped my arms around his again. "That's all."

"Come on Hermione, I know better than that." He lowered his face and gave me a kiss.

"You do, huh?" I bit my lip and kissed him again. "I'll tell you all about it later. You with mom and dad?"

"Nope, they sent me to pick you. Let's go?"

"I've got to go get my stuff." I nodded towards no direction in particular.

We made our way back to the group of red heads then I noticed that Harry.

"Adam, this is Ron, Ginny and Harry." I mumbled the last name. "That's Ginny and Ron's Mom, Molly, the twins Fred and George. Everyone meet Adam."

"Its nice to meet all of you." He smiled and shook each of their hands.

"Hermione, he's adorable." Ginny winked at him.

"Harry!" A voice called. I turned to see Cho calling her boyfriend.

"That's Cho." I point to the Chinese girl who's running towards us.

"I'd love to meet her but we've got a tight schedule." He placed his forehead on mine and kissed my nose.

"Oh, I'll see you all next week, right?" I ask Ginny.

"Definitely." She nodded.

"Well, bye!" I waved.

"Bye." They all waved and Adam wrapped his arm around my waist.

A week to think.

A week to forget.

A week to be with the ones I love.

A/N: I know it took so long but I am thinking about stopping this story. Its just that I got so many ideas for a new story and this isn't going as well as I planned. What do you guys think? I'll take a tally. If you don't think I should start my new story tell me. But if you think otherwise I'll delete this one since I'm getting bored.

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