Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or most of his friends; they're J.K. Rowling's, but I do own this story.

A/N: Hello, once again. Thank me for not taking too long to upload this chapter, but it did take a shockingly long time to write and I'm afraid it might not be as good as the previous. If it isn't, please don't slaughter me; I'm young, I deserve to live! I'll work on it! But seriously, it's gonna get interesting, you'll see. This one basically highlights all of Hermione's problems and it's working them out that's gonna be interesting. Thanks to all who reviewed for their lovely, very encouraging comments and a special thanks to my dear friend who does not wish to be named, for all her help. Next chappie might take a little time, so I'm giving you all a lot of time to R & R this one. Here goes...

P.S. - Thought I'd put in the disclaimer just to be on the safe side. After all, I am truly young and I truly do deserve to live!

Chapter 4 – Too Much

As Hermione left Plusha's Café, she felt sad and disappointed, though she didn't know why, since Harry was great company and he was also so happy. She tried to focus on all the things he was saying, but only managed to listen with half an ear. She kept dwelling on her visit to the Café. She was trying to figure out exactly who Marissa was and what effect she had on Draco. He had been so refined, so classy, all of a sudden...why? Why couldn't he behave normally around her? She also felt that the barrier that had come up between them on the train still persisted. Why?

"You seem far away."

"Huh? Oh, I'm so sorry, Harry, just the head ache. Are we there yet?" asked Hermione.

"Almost. Is your headache very bad?" he asked, concerned.

Hermione smiled. Ron and Harry were really like big brothers. "I'm fine. Do go on."

So he went on and soon they came to the place. It was a medium-sized building, not exactly to Hermione's taste, but she supposed Harry would find it quite all right. The apartment itself was not very large, with two bedrooms, one quite small and the other not too big either, a kitchen-cum-dining area and a drawing room. It seemed quite stark, as all the furniture hadn't been set up yet.

"Do you like it?" Harry asked Hermione.

"It's great," she replied, smiling. "You're so lucky to have a place of your own."

"Yeah, I guess so," said Harry, looking pleased. "It's not really set up yet, so I won't invite you to stay right now. Instead, let's go to Plusha's and have our coffee."

"All right," replied Hermione, though she wished with all her might that Draco and his 'friend' had left.

Her wish was granted, but it didn't make her quite as happy as she had expected. As soon as they entered Plusha's, she glanced around the entire Café to see if the two were there and felt a pang of disappointment when she saw they weren't. She wondered where they could have gone to, but brushed the thought aside. You're here with Harry! Focus on Harry's life!

She sat down at a table near the counter with Harry and he ordered two cappuccinos. Hermione wasn't paying too much attention, or else she wouldn't have had yet another coffee, since she didn't sleep too well anyway.

"So, what's been happening?" Harry asked her.

"Well, nothing much since yesterday!" she teased.

"Hmmm, true. Couldn't possibly have. I hope you haven't been spending all your time thinking about Hogwarts," he said.

She looked a little guilty. Under normal circumstances, Hermione would've been thinking about Hogwarts all the time, but a certain blonde had been occupying her thoughts more than she liked to admit. "Well, I've been trying to distract myself and have been quite successful."

"Great, I'm glad," said Harry, stirring his coffee. He always stirred it too much.

"So when does your Auror training start?" she asked him.

"In two weeks. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. The weeklong stay at Diagon has been cancelled, 'cause Ginny couldn't come for so long. She hasn't finished school yet, lucky thing, so Mrs Weasley wouldn't allow it and Ron didn't feel good about going on without her, and so we decided to cancel."

"Oh, poor Ginny, she must feel terrible."

"Ron said she was pretty upset, throwing a tantrum and all."
"Hmmm," said Hermione, sipping her coffee.

"And what news from the Prophet?" asked Harry.

They went on talking about their lives, their goals and their aspirations. Hermione was temporarily able to put her troubles, including Draco, aside and talk freely and openly to Harry. They lost track of time until Harry looked at his watch and exclaimed, "It's nine-thirty! We better leave. I'll get the cheque."

He paid the bill and they went out of the Café. He was going to drop her till the entrance to Diagon Alley and get her a taxi. They walked slowly, still talking, but not so freely and animatedly as they had in the Café. Each felt the distance that was forming between them. At Hogwarts, they had virtually lived together and had talked with and seen each other everyday. It was going to be very strange not to have that now and, though they might go for holidays together, it would never be quite the same. Memories came flooding back and Hermione choked a little, determined not to cry. Harry noticed and put his arm around her.

"Hey, Herms, c'mon, it's not that bad," he said gently.

"I know, I know. I just need time; I'll get over it. It's just...oh, I think I'm making too big a deal out of this," she said.

"Of course not. Of course you're going to be upset, but we'll meet, we'll get together," he said.

"It won't be the same," said Hermione.

"True, it won't, but we have other things to look forward to," he replied.

She said nothing and they walked on in silence. Suddenly, an all-too-familiar figure in a grey overcoat came out of a closing store. He saw the two walking towards him, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Well, hello again, Hermione. Potter."

"Again? Have you two met here before?" asked Harry.

"Draco was in the Café with a friend while I was waiting for you," replied Hermione.

"Yes and I'm glad you finally turned up, Potter," said Draco.

"I got delayed," said Harry, clenching his fists.

Suddenly Hermione said loudly, "Stop! Can't you two ever stop? When will this end? Even now..." But she didn't finish her sentence. "I'm going now. You two are welcome to fight this out when I'm gone. I'll see you later."

She walked off, a few tears streaming down her face and new ones welling up in her sad eyes. The combination of everything that day – first brooding over leaving Hogwarts, then obsessing about Draco, then having a great time with Harry and realising it was all over, like waking up from a dream to the harsh reality, and then seeing Draco again and him and Harry starting up their old rivalry...it was too much. She was already getting a headache; as she always did when she got too stressed out and cried and she just wanted to get home, get into bed and sleep.

As she stormed off, Draco and Harry stared after her with open mouths. She rarely blew her fuse over such trivial, virtually accepted matters and even more rare were the times when she cried. It took them a moment to compose themselves and run after her. But though they followed the path she had taken, they couldn't find her.

"Where is she?" asked Harry.

"I don't know, maybe she apparated," replied Draco.

"But she never apparates!" exclaimed Harry.

"I know, but she was pretty upset..." Draco trailed off, looking guilty.

"I know..." Harry followed.

"I hope she's okay, I've never seen her like that," said Draco, as they walked.

"Yeah, it's not like her to get so upset. I'm wondering if there's something else bothering her, but I'll only speak to her tomorrow; I don't think she wants to be disturbed tonight," said Harry.

"Yeah, me, too," said Draco. "But I really wish I knew what was wrong."

"Hmmm...anyway, I better go home now," said Harry, a little awkwardly, as he realised that he had been walking and talking with his biggest rival. "I'll, uh, see you around."

"Yeah, er, same here," said Draco, also realising.

They parted ways, Draco going one way and Harry the other. Each thought about Hermione. Draco was more concerned than he cared to let on and he spent a good deal of time wondering if he had done something to make her upset, while lying in bed, trying to sleep.

"If only..." were his last words before sleep overtook him.

Harry, too, racked his brains to figure out why she had been so upset, but since he knew Hermione better than Draco, he consoled himself with the thought that she probably bounce back. He decided to visit her the next day and cheer her up and, if possible, find out what was bothering her. With this plan in mind he was satisfied and went to sleep.

Hermione had, indeed, apparated home and on the spur of the moment, when she had just wanted to get away from everyone and everything. She regretted it much later, when she realised that her anger was unjustified and she wished she had waited and let Harry and Draco talk her out of it. She knew they would be worried, but she also felt that they shouldn't have started squabbling, especially Harry, who knew she was upset anyway. She went on thinking about everything and fell asleep much later than any of them.