Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. Just this fanfiction.

"Are you going to tell me what happened now?" Harry asked while sitting beside Hermione in his bed. He wrapped his arms around her and she curled into his chest.

"He cheated on me", she answered with trembling voice

The brunette started sobbing again, and Harry clenched his hands into fists as he tried to contain the anger he felt towards Draco at that moment.

"But it's my fault you know? For being such an idiot and believing in all that romantic bullshit he used to tell me", Hermione muttered when she managed to calm down

Harry took her face in his hands and looked her straight in the eyes. "None of this is your fault, Draco is the one to blame"

Hermione shook her head, "He told me back then. Draco told me that he had approached me as a game and with the intention of annoying you. And what did I do? I gave him a chance," she laughed hysterically, "I deserve everything that happened to me for being a fool and for never being enough for anyone"

"Nonsense," Harry clicked his tongue, "You're more than enough, and I've always told you that. He is the one who never appreciated the amazing woman that you are. He's a dickhead"

Hermione sobbed again for a while and Harry patted her back, feeling helpless as he didn't know what to say or do to calm her down.

"Wait, there's something else", she said suddenly remembering

"What is it? Did he do something to you?" Harry looked at her, with concern in his emerald eyes

"I also found out that Draco and Ginny had had a much more intimate relationship than I thought," the tears fell back down her face, "Apparently they were "friends with benefits" for a long time"

Harry moved uncomfortably, "Hermione, you… didn't you know about that?"

"You did?" Hermione raised her sad face towards him

"Mione, I'm sorry, I always thought you were aware of the nature of their relationship. I mean... you seemed to be," he had gotten very nervous, "I'm sorry, I should have told you"

"No, you don't have to apologize Harry, you haven't done anything wrong", she wiped her tears, "The one who should apologize is Ginny. She has done nothing but lie to me since we met," Harry's gaze darkened at the mention of the redhead, "But I'm tired of her, you know? I'm sick of being hurt by her, putting up with her comments and nonsense," she took a deep breath and continued. "I'll quite the sorority and get out of that damn house once and for all"

Hermione's aggressive tone surprised Harry a lot, but he took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"You were right about the sorority", she looked at him, "That place is full of hypocritical and malicious people"

"I'm sorry you had to go through all this Hermione", he hugged her again

"But I'm done with all of them", she assured with a firm voice

"And what about Draco?" He asked

"I'm done with him too," her voice sounded cold, "I don't want to hear from him again. I don't want to see him, and I won't even mention his name", she said more to herself than to Harry

"Well, you know you have my full support no matter what you decide" he said and Hermione nodded

"I am going to need your help Harry", she comment after a while of silence, "I still need to take all my belongings out of the house"

"When do you want to go?" The boy asked

"Tomorrow", she answered after considering it for a few moments, "Early in the morning"

"Then it's probably best if you get some sleep," he said after looking at the time on her phone, "I'll wake you up"

"Six o'clock", she asked

"Six o'clock it is", he nodded and after giving her a tender kiss on the forehead, he wrapped her up with a blanket and lay down on the other bed.

Hermione felt only minutes had passed when she heard Harry's soft voice trying to wake her up.

She sat on the bed, groggy for a moment, wondering what she was doing in Harry's bedroom, until she remembered everything that had happened the night before.

"Hermione, it's time" he whispered, sitting next to her.

She nodded and, after taking a deep breath, rose from the bed, "Give me a couple of minutes," asked, and left the bedroom

Hermione went to the floor bathroom and washed her face until she was fully awake. She tied her hair into a braid and returned to Harry, who was carrying several unassembled boxes in his hands, "It is good I kept this", he said, "Are you ready to go?"

"I am", Hermione took some of the boxes and left the bedroom

They got into Harry's car and he drove in the direction of the sorority. As they got closer, Hermione's heart raced. When the car finally stopped in front of the house, a chill ran through her body. Harry noticed, so he gently took Hermione's hand and squeezed it in support. She smiled weakly at him, and after a moment's hesitation, they got out of the car.

As Hermione had assumed, they didn't meet anyone inside the house, since it was so early the girls were either completely asleep or had spent the night outside the house after the party.

Hermione headed for her bedroom without wasting any time and Harry followed her. To both relief, Ginny wasn't in the room, although this didn't surprise Hermione, who had learned to wait for Ginny well into the morning on nights she was out partying.

Hermione put the boxes together and put away the things she hadn't managed to pack the night before. Harry instead stood watching for a few seconds everything around him, overwhelmed by the strong presence of Ginny that exuded in that place and with a distant expression in his green eyes. Hermione was about to call him, but he seemed to come back to reality and rushed to help her.

It took them about half an hour to put everything away and, once they finished, they took the boxes to the car. When everything was settled Harry got in the car, but Hermione turned to the house and asked him to wait for her for a couple of minutes.

The girl pushed open the front door and walked into her -now moderately empty- bedroom. She tried to remember the joyous moments she had spent in that place, the emotion she felt when she was assigned as Ginny's roommate or the countless nights they both spent watching movies or talking about boys, but all those memories were now clouded by the fight of the night before.

Hermione retraced her steps and she walked into the living room. She took an envelope and paper from the shelf and wrote a resignation note for Angelina. She knew it wasn't the procedure to follow, but the girl would surely understand the situation.

Once the note was finished, she removed the badge she still wore on her clothing and put it in the envelope next to the note. Hermione walked to the glass bowl where her former sisters left the important notes, put down the envelope, and then abandoned the house without looking back.

Draco woke up with a throbbing pain in his head.

The night before after hitting the wall of Hermione's sorority, Draco had locked himself in his room, accompanied by several bottles of whiskey.

He sat on the bed and massaged his head for a few moments while inwardly cursing for having drunk so much. When he felt better he stood up and took a quick bath. Once out of the shower he was determined to fix everything in his life, starting with the stupidity he had done to Hermione. He had to, by any means, regain her trust and love.

Draco dressed, took his keys, and left his room. When he went down he met several of his brothers, but they stare at him with a strange expression on their faces, surely because of the news about his fight with Hermione as a result of what he had done the night before had spread. Draco ignored them and left the house, crossed the street and entered the sorority.

The girls he came across looked at him with a mixture of indignation and amusement, but just like his brothers he ignored them, and walked up to Hermione's room. He knew she wouldn't be there, that she was probably still with Harry but maybe Ginny had some new information on her.

He realized, once in the room, that it was much emptier than the night before. Actually there was nothing of Hermione left in that place. And then he was afraid of all that this fact entailed. Hermione had been very angry and had taken out some of her belongings but he hadn't expected her to move completely. He actually believed that she would return to the sorority after a couple of days, because she couldn't get away from it all, could she?

"It is forbidden for the boys to enter the bedrooms", the voice came from behind Draco

He turned around and found Angelina looking at him angrily and with her arms crossed on her chest, "Seriously? Because I have seen my brothers come in here and spend the night many times," he was in no mood to bear her reprimands.

Angelina was offended and opened her mouth to answer his comment, but he interrupted her, "Angelina, please, I don't want to fight," his voice sounded less harsh, "I just want to know if you have any news from Hermione, she left the house quite upset last night and I'm worried about her"

Angelina raised one of her eyebrows and looked at him sarcastically

"Please", he asked, "I know I screwed up yesterday, but I need to know where she is. Please"

The girl didn't say anything for a few seconds, but in the end she sighed and pulled a letter from the pocket of the shorts she was wearing, "I found this a while ago," she handed him the envelope, "She's not coming back, Draco"

He took the letter instantly and read it quickly. By the time he finished, his heart was beating violently. Draco crumpled up the note Hermione had left and turned to Angelina, "She can't just leave," he said feeling scared

"She has the right to quit if she wants to," she shrugged.

"But there are rules, procedures, she can't just abandon everything like that," his voice sounded pleading, "Surely there is something you can do Angelina"

"Yes, there is, but I won't Draco", she looked him straight in the eyes, "I am not going to force Hermione to continue in this place knowing that she would not feel comfortable"

"You mean comfortable being near me?" His voice sounded harsh again

She didn't answer him, but turned the way she had come and left him alone in the room.

Draco left the house a moment later and went back to his room as he had forgotten his phone in there. He tried to contact Hermione but she didn't answer, so he left her many voice and text messages, but Hermione never answered.

He had thought about giving her time and space so that she could calm down, but now he was getting impatient and felt that he should go find her immediately. Draco grabbed his jacket, his car keys, and drove to Harry's building.

He parked the car carelessly and took the stairs two at a time until he reached Harry's floor. He was about to knock on the door when it opened and Harry suddenly appeared, "What the hell are you doing here Malfoy?" He asked, glaring at him

Draco had arrived without the intention of fighting because he didn't want to upset Hermione even more, but Harry's smug attitude angered him greatly, "Potter stay out of this and please tell Hermione I'm here", he said clenching his fists and trying to speak slowly

"She is not here", Harry answered instantly

"Do not lie to me. I know she's staying here with you", the blond tried to force his way into the room, "Hermione! Hermione! Please I must talk to you"

Harry pushed him, halting his advance, and stood in the doorway, "I already told you that Hermione is not here," now he also sounded angry

"I told you to stay out of this"

Draco tried to hit Harry but he was faster and dodged the blow, grabbed Draco's arm and in a deft maneuver pinned him against the wall, "If I meddle in this matter it's because Hermione is my friend and I care about her," he said in a soft but full of anger voice, "I don't know how you have the nerve to come here after what you did to her Draco, but I swear to you, that if you continue to hurt or discomfort her, I will have no worries about treating you the same way", and after saying that he released the blonde from his grip.

Harry turned to enter his room, but Draco managed to react quickly and grabbed him by the shoulder, "Wait" He said trying to remain calm, "At least tell her I was here, and tell her I need to talk to her"

Harry turned to him and looked directly into his gray eyes for a few moments, "Let her go Draco, you've already hurt her enough"

"I'm not going to let her go, I can't let her go" Draco's voice sounded desperate. "I know you probably don't believe me but I love her. I really love her"

Harry smirked and this reignited Draco's anger, "You love her? You dare to say you love her after she saw you snogging other woman?" Harry's voice was increasing in intensity, "If you really loved her you wouldn't have betrayed her, you wouldn't have been disloyal to her"

Draco took a step closer to him, "I'm confused now. Are you talking about my relationship with Hermione or about yours and Ginny's?" He spat mockingly, "Potter, just because your relationship got frustrated doesn't mean the same will happen to mine".

Harry's eyes widened, not believing what he had just said, so he took Draco's jacket around his neck, "If I don't hit you right here it's because I know Hermione still cares about you, and I don't want to make her suffer," he replied furiously, "But don't ever mention my relationship with Ginny or I won't control myself anymore"

Harry released him and Draco stumbled, but he regained his balance instantly and moved closer to him again, "Then stop meddling into my relationship with Hermione", he demanded

"Your relationship?" Harry smirked, "Do you think Hermione will forgive you after what you did to her?"

"I know she will. I know her, she loves me", he said trying to sound sure, although he felt full of internal doubts

Harry snapped, "You don't know her at all Malfoy! You've always treated her like a doll whose only purpose was to please you in everything you wanted; you treated her like everyone else treats her, like an object. Do you really think you know her? Have you ever talked to her about how she felt in the sorority? About her relationship with her "sisters"? Has she told you about her doubts, her insecurities? You don't know anything about Hermione, Malfoy, anything!"

His words stabbed him immediately and a chill ran through his body as he realized that Harry was absolutely right, but he wouldn't give him the pleasure of looking affected, "And what about you? Did you know Ginevra? Did you know everything about her?" Draco pushed him and made him lose his balance too, "Potter you don't know the things she went through when she was a child, you never took the trouble to get to really know her because, deep inside of you, you thought that everything in her life had been perfect and that there was no point in asking questions. You always say you hate frivolous types of people like her, but the truth is that the first thing that attracted you to Ginny was her frivolous and silly personality."

Harry couldn't hold it anymore and threw a punch that Draco responded promptly. They both attacked each other hard and ended up rolling on the ground. They would have continued punching each other, if not for a couple of guys who come out of the other rooms and separate them.

"Get out of here Draco! Get out!" Harry yelled trying to get out of the grip of the guy who was holding him

Malfoy didn't respond, but instead slipped out of the grip of the random guy, and strode down the corridor and out of the building.

He drove aimlessly for a long time, until he finally stopped in front of a bar, and again drowned his sorrows in alcohol.

Hermione leaned against the elevator wall and closed her eyes, feeling suddenly exhausted from the bustle of that afternoon. The ascent lasted only an instant and soon she was in front of Harry's door. Hermione knocked and he opened her an instant later

"I'm back..." she gasped, "Harry, what happened to you?" She asked when looking at his full of bruises face

"Draco happened," he replied watching Hermione's reaction. She didn't say anything, but he noticed that her expression changed and her gaze filled with anxiety, "He was here a few hours ago demanding to speak to you"

Hermione nodded after hearing his explanation, she said taking his hand and leading him to the bed, "Come, let's examine those wounds."

"It's nothing serious," he commented as she delicately placed her hands on the cut on his upper lip. Hermione also checked his eye that was starting to swelling

"You're right, is not serious." She sighed and leaned back on the bed. Harry settled next to her and she noticed the peeling red skin on his knuckles. Unable to restrain, she asked, "Draco… he… was he very hurt?"

"No more than me," Harry replied and squeezed her hand, "I'm sorry Hermione, I tried not to let him provoke me with his comments but…"

"It's ok, I know," she calmed him down and snuggled into his chest

"By the way, did you manage to get a room on campus?" Harry asked trying to divert her attention.

"Yes, although I had to wait for a long time before the manager attended me", she smiled weakly, "I had to insist a lot but she was able to find a place for me to stay"

"That's great. So which building you will stay in?"

"The one near the Arts faculty, it's not so close to my classrooms but it was the only building available", she shrugged

He smiled, "Well those buildings are not so far from here"

"I know", She smiled as well, "Harry I think I'll get some sleep. I'm very tired"

"Don't you want to eat something first?" Harry asked

"No, not really," Hermione stood up and grabbed her bag with her toiletries and a clean pajama, "I'll be right back"

Hermione went to the bathroom and washed herself, put on her pajamas and untied the braid she was wearing in her hair. When she was done she put everything in her toiletry bag and stood staring at herself in the mirror, feeling very silly for worrying about Draco despite everything he had done to her. Her eyes quickly became watery and she let a couple of tears flow before wiping her face and returning to Harry's bedroom

"You don't mind the noise of the television, right?" Harry asked before eagerly biting into a piece of pizza

"You know I don't" she smiled at him and lay down on Seamus' bed, "Harry", he turned to see her, "Thanks for everything"

His friend smiled at her, "Rest Mione. Tomorrow will be a better day"

Hermione nodded and settled onto the bed, wrapped herself in the soft dark blue sheet, and fell asleep in a few moments.

Harry, for his part, tried to distract himself by watching and old movie on television, but the truth is that Draco's words were still floating in his head. He hated having to agree with Malfoy, but Harry had to admit that the blonde had a good point. Despite the intense relationship he shared with Ginny, he didn't really know anything about her that wasn't related to college.

Harry wondered if he had really been indifferent to his ex-girlfriend's life or if they just never had the right opportunity to talk about those issues, but couldn't find an answer. Frustrated, he pushed aside the pizza he had just eat and opened a beer can trying to make the least noise so as not to wake Hermione.

He had spent several months unsuccessfully trying to get Ginny out of his head. And although at the beginning it had been very difficult to get used to not being by her side, he had manage to adjust to his life without the redhead, although if he was honest with himself, he still loved her.

Harry turned off the television and took a pack of beers out of the fridge. He drank one by one as he remembered Ginny and her smile, her cheerful and lively personality, her caresses when they were alone and all that fire that was once their relationship. When he finished drinking the last can, he squeezed it flat in his hand and tossed it carelessly to the other end of the room. And after that brief outburst he lay down on his bed, ready to dream one last time about Ginny.

Hermione woke up early the next morning. She got out of bed, took a quick shower and decided to clean up the mess Harry had left the room in. By the time the boy got up, everything looked pretty clean and perfumed around him.

"Hello Harry", she greeted sitting next to him

"What time is it? Is it after eight?" He asked

"It's almost ten o'clock", Hermione answered showing him the screen of her phone

"Damn it! I missed my first class", he lay back on the bed

Hermione smiled and lay down on the next bed

"You don't have class on Mondays, do you?"

"No", she shook her head, "But I still have a lot of work today. I have to move to my new bedroom"

Harry jumped to his feet, "That's true. We better start with that so you have enough time to settle all your belongings"

"There's no rush Harry. Everything is still in the boxes and I have the suitcases ready, I think we have time for breakfast"

"You're amazing Mione, thank you!" He said with fervor for he was starving.

They walked to a nearby cafeteria and Harry ordered a huge sandwich and an iced coffee. Hermione just ordered a cold chocolate and they sat inside the premises, "I hope my roommate is nice", Hermione commented while sipping her drink

"You can always go back to my bedroom if she's a complete lunatic", he smiled at her after taking a big bite of his sandwich.

Hermione just smiled and watched the people passing by outside the cafeteria. Harry put his breakfast aside and looked at her, although she had woken up in high spirits, Hermione looked melancholy and had deep dark circles under her chocolate eyes. The girl hadn't even ordered anything to eat, when she always ordered waffles at this place. Harry let out a deep sigh and the sound made Hermione react, "What is it?" She asked, turning her gaze to Harry.

"I don't like to see you so discouraged. I feel frustrated for not being able to do something for you"

"You're already doing a lot Harry", she grabbed his hand and smiled at the boy, "Now it's my turn to try to move on"

"What are you going to do once you're settled in your new room?"

"Well I need a new job. I'll have expenses living in the dorms", she replied thoughtfully, "Of course I will save the monthly fee of the sorority but anyway I need a job"

"I'm sure you'll find a job pretty soon", he encouraged her and gave her a bright smile

"Ah! I also need to change my phone number", she added

"Why would you need..? Ah…Has he been calling you?"

"Way too many times", Hermione nodded, "Angelina has called as well, so I think I should stop using this number", Hermione pointed to the small device that remained turned off next to her

"You're quite determined to leave everything behind, right?" Asked Harry

Hermione looked him straight in the eyes as she nodded. Harry realized that he had never seen Hermione's eyes so resolute on an idea, yet so empty and lifeless, "Well, I know a friend in an electronic store. He sure can take care of what you need", Harry shrugged and she smiled at him in gratitude.

After that they paid the bill and went to Harry's friend's shop. Once there Hermione decided to buy a new device and threw the old one in a garbage can. Harry was about to stop her, but decided that he shouldn't meddle in her decisions.

They returned to the boy's bedroom and, with Seamus's help, carried the boxes and suitcases back to the car. Once everything was ready, Hermione guided Harry to her new building and they had to unload everything again. However Hermione's bedroom was on the first floor, so they didn't have to go the extra mile.

With the help of the boys, Hermione managed to accommodate everything in the space designated for her. The room was smaller than the one she had in the sorority, but that didn't really matter to her.

Two hours later, her bedroom looked cozy and pretty neat.

"Well, I'll see you tonight Mione", said a panting Harry after drinking a can of coke in one sip

"I'll stop by at eight", she smiled, "Seamus, thank you very much for your help"

"It wasn't a big deal Hermione, I'm glad I was able to help you", Seamus also smiled at her.

After that brief exchange the boys left. Once Hermione was alone, she observed the other half of the room.

Her roommate's side was also neat and clean, and you could tell that it belonged to an artist, as there were watercolors, sprays, and canvases hanging on the walls, most of them showing beautiful landscapes. Hermione smiled at the sight of a particularly compelling one of a lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The brunette reached out her hand trying to touch the canvas and at that moment someone spoke behind her

"That is one of my favorite places in my country"

Hermione turned, startled, and found a small girl with dark hair and golden skin, "Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," she said with a lovely accent.

"It's ok", Hermione smiled at her, "I'm the one who feel sorry for being spying on your things, but I love your paintings"

"Thanks. I'm Alicia, by the way", she held out her hand and Hermione took it

"Hermione Granger"

Alicia smiled at her, "Hello Hermione", she smiled broadly and threw her woven bag on her bed, "Well, I don't know if the janitor already informed you but I'm an exchange student and I'm studying Arts"

"My major is in creative writing"

"Great", Alicia took a soda from the mini fridge she had, "Do you want one?"

"Yes, thanks" Hermione took the can she offered and open it

"I like you Hermione Granger, you have a good vibe and I think we'll get along just fine" Alicia said after observing Hermione's side of the room, "I mean, if you have no problem with me having music playing all the time, that is"

"I don't", Hermione replied.

Hermione spent the rest of the afternoon talking to Alicia. The brunette realized that she was a cheerful girl with a rather relaxed outlook on life, just what she needed right now. When it got dark she said goodbye to her new roommate and went to meet Harry.

"I'm here", she said entering the boy's bedroom

"Hi Mione", Harry smiled at her from his bed, "Are we going out for dinner or are we staying here?"

"I prefer to stay here tonight", she answered sitting next to him

They ordered Chinese food and lay on the bed as they watched a movie.

"By the way, have you already met your new roommate?" He asked

"Yes. Her name is Alicia and she seems pretty nice", Hermione bite her egg roll

"So she's not a lunatic, that's good" he put his arm around Hermione's shoulders and she approached him, "Everything will change for the better Mione"

She gave him a weak smile and then took a can of beer and raised it in the air, "Let's toast to a new beginning"

"For a new beginning," Harry agreed imitating her action

Draco eagerly watched the time on his phone. 9:30 PM. His damn class was taking much longer than expected, and he was desperate to get out of that place. And not because the class bored him, but because he had to find a way to talk with Hermione, but of course Professor Simmons was oblivious to that as he recited his lesson on biochemistry.

When the class was finally over, Draco ran to his car and drove to Harry's building. Last night, after walking into the bar and getting drunk again, he had lost the opportunity to see Hermione, but now he would talk to her at any cost.

Draco settled into his car and waited. He knew Hermione didn't have class on Mondays, so he hoped she was out with Harry for dinner and they were about to return to his room. He waited until after midnight but they never showed up. In the end, frustrated and angry, he gave up and drove back to the house.

The following days were basically the same.

Draco tried to meet with Hermione, he patrolled her faculty building and stood guard at Harry's bedroom, but he didn't get any result. One afternoon he asked the janitor if there was a girl living with Harry, but the man told him that Hermione had moved into another building a few days ago, which explained why he never saw her near Harry's bedroom.

The desperate blonde even spoke to Angelina to get her class schedule, but she flatly refused to give him the information. Draco was about to call Hermione's parents, but decided it was preferable not to; it would be very embarrassing to tell them what he had done to the girl.

Guilt had taken hold of Draco and besides, he couldn't stop thinking about Harry's words. The green-eyed had stated that he didn't really know Hermione, and now more than ever, he had to give Potter the reason, because when Draco wondered where he could find Hermione, apart from Harry's bedroom, he couldn't think of any other place. He also didn't know Hermione's classmates or the sisters she had a closer relationship than with Ginny.

The truth is that, in addition to that date at the planetarium that never happened, it was Draco who always decided the places to go on their dates. Hermione never gave him details about her classes and he didn't asked either. Besides, if he hadn't listened to everything Hermione claimed from Ginny that night, he would have said that the girls had a good relationship.

Draco furiously hit the wall of his room and vented all his frustration for a long time before knocking all his objects off the dresser. Now he hated his room because it reminded him of the stupidity he had done with a girl whose name he didn't even remember. An instant of hesitation and the best thing on his life was gone. And it was all his fault. What the hell was wrong with him? Why had he been so upset by a couple of comments from his father and brothers?

He ended up with bruised and injured knuckles, so he sat up on his bed and let the tears flow down his face.

When he felt much calmer, he took his phone and dialed Hermione's number. The line had been off-duty for several days, but he hadn't stopped clinging to the possibility that she might answer. "Come back to me Hermione, please, I miss you. Please" he whispered into the phone as he listened to the endless annoying tone.

Draco lay down on his bed and listened to excited voices of his brothers. It was Saturday, so they were going out to have fun and meet women in the pubs and discos on campus.

"And to think that I screwed up my relationship with Hermione for that kind of life" he thought as he rubbed his eyes. What was the point if nothing provoked him without Hermione by his side? He had fallen in love with the best person he had ever known, and although he had promised himself never to hurt her at first, he had ended up breaking her heart.

Draco shifted on the bed, hating himself for being so weak, as he stared at the photo he had as screensaver: he and Hermione were cuddling outside a fair in Chicago.

At some point in his lamentations he must have fallen asleep because he woke up the next morning with the sun streaming through the curtains of his room. After having a quick breakfast, Draco prepared to return to Harry's bedroom, this time determined to knock on the door and demand to talk to Hermione; but a call from his father interrupted his plans.

"What do you want Father?" he asked

"Draco let's have lunch together today. I will wait for you in the usual place"

Lucius cut the call before he could answer. Of course the man hadn't even given the boy the option to choose, it was just another of his orders, another attempt to control his son.

But Draco didn't feel like seeing his father, he couldn't bear the smug face that Lucius would surely have, as most likely he was already aware of his breakup with Hermione.

And he wouldn't give him a chance to gloat over Draco's weakness. No, it was better to avoid the old man and to focus his energy into something that did matter, like getting Hermione back.

And so he tried for several more days but he didn't get any results. On Friday morning, a depressed Draco woke up with the certainty that it would be best to get away from it all for a while. He knew that his father would not allow him to just abandon the university so leaving everything behind was a perfect opportunity to also screw him up.

The boy booked a plane ticket to France and informed Marcus of his decision to leave the fraternity. If Flint was surprised, he didn't point it out, but instead helped Draco with what was necessary and wished him luck.

Hermione lay down on her bed with a huge sigh of relief, "My paper is finished," announced aloud with a huge smile.

"Good for you", Alicia gave her the thumb signal from the other end

"How are you doing?" Hermione asked as she settled into her bed

"Trying for inspiration to overtake me", Alicia shrugged and applied turquoise to the canvas she was painting.

Hermione grabbed a bottle of water from her nightstand and took a long sip until she was satiated. At that precise moment Harry appeared at the door, "Hello Mione, hello Alicia", he greeted them both and entered the room.

"Hi Harry", Alicia smiled at him and returned to focus on her painting

"Did you finished you paper?" he asked as he sat on Hermione's bed.

"Thankfully I did, although I thought I would never finish with all the corrections that the professor asked me"

Harry laughed and handed Hermione the sandwich she had asked him to buy for her.

"Thank you," Hermione said. She was starving.

"Okay, I'll leave now", Alicia suddenly stood up, put the easel aside and took off the apron she used to wear when she was painting

"Oh Ali, I'm sorry if we're pestering you." Hermione bit her lips

"Is not about you guys" she hastened to reassure the brunette, "It's just that I don't like what I'm doing, so it's time to go out, take a walk and get some inspiration"

And without saying more she took the woven bag she always used and left the bedroom

"I like her", said Harry once Alicia was out

"Me too", Hermione smiled at him and finished her sandwich

She stood up to throw away the packaging and when she returned to bed she notice Harry looking anxiously at her, "What is it?" She asked, taking a seat again.

"Nothing", he tried to put on a poker face

"Speak Harry", Hermione watched him narrowing her eyes

"The truth is that I don't know if I should tell you this", Harry admitted

"You already started, so tell me what is it Potter"

He sighed, "I heard that Draco is leaving, that is, leaving the university"

Hermione felt her heart skip a beat.

"I think he'll go abroad", Harry observed her friend's reaction but the truth is that Hermione didn't reveal anything, "Maybe I should have shut up"

"The truth is that it is no longer something that concerns me", Hermione commented in a low voice

"I know, I'm sorry Hermione"

She gave a reassuring smile and tried to change the subject, but the atmosphere had become tense and although they tried to keep the conversation going, in the end Harry excused himself and they agreed to see each other the next day.

When Hermione was left alone her mind automatically thought of Draco and the news of him leaving the country. She had spent the two weeks since their breakup telling herself that she shouldn't care about Draco anymore that she shouldn't think about him and forget all the feelings she had for him; but it had not been so easy to do so.

Hermione walked to the shelf and took the little black velvet box that contained the initials Draco had once given her. She hadn't spent a day without wearing them, but the morning after their breakup she had put them back in the box. An involuntary tear ran down her cheek and Hermione put the box in her purse, took her keys and left the building.

Her feet carried her to the Greek neighborhood. There was a lot of buzz at Draco's fraternity, and a large moving truck parked there. Everything indicated that he was leaving today. At the thought of that her heart went wild and Hermione, completely flustered, turned around and left the street.

She walked until she stopped near one of the largest parks on campus, the same park that Draco had asked her for a chance several months ago. Hermione went to the fountain where they had met that day and sat on it.

"I knew it was you I saw!" She didn't have to turn to recognize that voice. "Hermione," Draco repeated.

She stood up, slowly, and faced him.

He watched her for a long time without saying anything. Hermione looked thinner and a haggard but despite that, she looked as beautiful as ever. Hermione thought that he looked pretty dejected and that he didn't have that particular funny glow on his eyes.

And both had to contain their desire to run towards each other and lose themselves in their arms.

"I thought I would never see you again", Draco's voice came out full of sadness and melancholy

Hermione said nothing, just took a few steps towards him, "I heard you were leaving"

"That's the plan", he gave her a sad smile. She didn't reply so he continued, "Nothing is holding me here anymore Hermione but if you..."

"I want to give you this", she cut him off and took the box out of her bag

Draco instantly recognized the velvet box and his heart pounded

"Your initials", she explained thinking that he didn't know what it the box was, "I don't think I should have them anymore", she stretched out the hand that held the box towards him

"Don't do this Hermione, please", he took a step towards her, "If you don't have them, then it doesn't make sense for me to have them either. There is no other woman I want to give my initials to"

Hermione felt the tears welling up in her eyes at his words, but she forced herself not to let them fall, "I don't care about that, I don't want them"

"Please Hermione, don't do this", he pleaded again

He took two more steps toward her so now they were very close.

"Stop Draco", Hermione managed to say, "We're not together anymore, it's pointless for me to keep your initials"

The rage in Hermione's voice hit Draco. The blonde couldn't hold back his tears at her distant demeanor, so he let them fall. Hermione couldn't bear to see him cry and turned around, "I'd better go," she said in a muffled voice and took a step in the opposite direction before Draco took her gently but firmly by the wrist and turned her towards him.

"Please," he whispered, slapping their foreheads, "At least kiss me goodbye Hermione. Give me at least one final kiss"

Hermione wanted to say no, that he didn't deserve anything from her, but they were so close and she had longed for his touch so much that she did nothing but close her eyes and get closer to him. Draco gently took her by the waist, pulled her closer to him and kissed her.

It was a soft and tender kiss, a dance so well known to both that it became deeper and passionate as they hugged and tried to express their longing, but Hermione couldn't get carried away, so she broke the kiss and ran in the opposite direction before he could react and say anything else.