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Cure for the Depressed

Chapter 2

Hermione felt like the world was perfect at the moment. She still had yet to open her eyes. One foot was sticking out of the comforter and when she pulled it back in the warmth quickly spread and she had a sweet release from the nippy cold. It wouldn't be impossible to get out of bed though because the sun was peaking through the window. Hermione thanked it for not flooding the room, that would have woken her up as effectively as an angry, loud parent barging through a room; which anyone who ever had parents experienced this at one point.

But the moment didn't last. It never did. The sun went behind the shadows and she realized that it was the first day of a new month. Meaning that her parents would send her a letter. Individually of course. They never did anything together anymore. They couldn't even bear to go to the divorce office on the same day. Hermione rolled over to stop the process of thinking about the situation her parents had put themselves, and her, in. Her wand read September 21, 6:48. She did the math in her head, it was about one month until the anniversary of Dominic's death. She felt like her chest caved in with the grief. It's never going to feel any different. How long can I continue like this before I give up?

At the moment the only think that could do anything close to helping is a shower. So she grudgingly pulled herself out of the warm haven of her bed. After she had applied her facade she headed downstairs. It's weird how when you don't want to smile, and you do it doesn't feel like smiling, it feels like you are stretching your face in an unpleasant way.

It didn't surprise her when Ron and Harry didn't look at her when she sat down. It wasn't like they were ignoring her, she told herself, they were just in the middle of a conversation. She wished that she believed that. OK, it's not like I'm not being reasonable they've been busy. Soon they'll ask me to hangout again. It's not like I've been the most open person.

"Hello." Hermione went back to using more formal terms because of the awkward stage in their friendship at the moment. Ron waved his hand at her as a reply and Harry looked at her and gave her a small smile. They continued on their conversation, Hermione wasn't really sure what they were talking about. She just tuned them out and focused on making a piece of toast for herself. She had put some strawberry jam on, and was about to put it in her mouth when she realized that she didn't want it at all. The more she debated wither or not she should eat the toast, the more nauseated she felt; resulting in her just putting the piece of toast on the white place and pushing it away. This act went unnoticed by Ron and Harry. At the moment, she was glad that they didn't notice it because they might have asked about it.

"Oh hey Hermione, you missed the announcement this morning." Ron stated

"Oh. What was it?"

"Because of the war last year, and with everyone being affected by it, they've started a group sessions for the students. It's mandatory for all fifth years and above and optional for fourth years and under." Harry chimed in.

"You have got to be kidding me." She groaned. Some of her previous attitude was coming out. For a moment, she felt like herself; just complaining like a normal teenage girl with her friends. "Are they really going to make us do this? I'm sure some people don't need it."

"Actually, I think it's a really great idea." Snapped Harry. "Some people could use it. One of those people is you, Hermione. Look we are going through the same thing so it's disrespectful for you to be trying so hard to get attention when some other people actually lost something. You lost no one in the war! I'm tired of seeing you try to get everyone to feel sorry for you. Stop acting like a bitch." Harry had started yelling at the end of his rant. People from across the tables were looking at the trio. Who would have thought that those three would ever have any problems with each other.

Tears started building up in her eyes and were now falling down her face. But they quickly turned into tears of anger as she processed all the things he had said. Harry hadn't yelled loud enough so that the whole room had noticed, but he had definitely caught the attention of the surrounding people. The incident would surely be all over the school by the end of the day. That was one of the reasons that she strained to contain her anger and not let the whole school know what was going on.

She leaned forward and looked him straight in his eyes. And very clearly said "do NOT act like you know everything, Harry Potter. Because you have no idea what is going on around you. When you open your eyes and see anybody beside yourself, come talk to me. Until then," She raised her voice, letting the rush of anger build in her. She hadn't felt this alive in awhile and she was on a roll, "stay the hell away from me!" She snatched her bag and stormed out.

She was racing up the stairs, not because she was just trying to get away but also because she still had adrenaline in her system making her blood pound through her veins, when someone called out to her.

"That was quiet a scene. Who knew you could pull it off."

Hermione almost wanted to keep her blood pounding because she loved feeling alive. She was afraid that once the rush was over that she would curl back into her depression. The liberation from her feelings was intoxicating, even if it did mean that she probably just lost her two best friends. Oh God what have I done? They aren't going to talk to me again. Even if they do, it will never be the same. All the sudden, she remembered her knife that she carried around for safety reasons. Well, that's what she told people. It served another purpose for her.

"What do you want. Malfoy?" He started walking up the stairs. His platinum blond hair was catching rays of sunlight coming through the windows giving it a more gold tone. His skin was like a porcelain doll's, a creamy white color. His white shirt looked like it was made out of clouds, probably pure cotton that git, she thought.

"I wanted to let you know that I don't want to listen to any kind of whiny crap. No body cares about your odd threesome feelings about Potty Head and the Weasel King or how you miss ol' mummy's perfect home baked cookies. So just keep it to yourself." Threesome feelings? What the hell?

"Malfoy, what are you going on about?"

"Hah, so you don't know. This is rich. I would think a teacher's pet like you would have put the fliers up. Go look at the board, pet." Hermione glared at him as if she could burn his disgustingly perfect skin off.

"I am no ones pet. Least of all yours. So pick a new name."

Draco leaned in close to her. He had stopped climbing the stairs when he was on the step under hers, making their eyes level. She didn't move, not knowing what he was going to do.

He leaned in right next to face, and whispered in her ear. "Has anyone ever told you that you're cheeks flush when you're mad." He pulled back and walked down the stairs, and disappeared through the hallways that lead to the Slytherin's common room.

Hermione thought about two things from what had just happened. One, he had watched her enough to notice what happens when she gets mad. It wouldn't take much to notice that though. Almost all of interactions, provoke me to anger...But he still noticed. Two was that his cologne smelled amazing. This just made her mad. She didn't have to remind herself of all the things that he had done to her or how he had used other people. She chalked it off to him just messing with her head.

Suddenly remembering what he had said about the board, Hermione started making her way to her common room. On her way up there, she thought about how Harry had just exploded on her. Maybe he was paying more attention to her than she thought. That made her think that he had noticed that something was wrong with her and he had ignored it. Now she was really as alone as she felt. The only difference is that everyone would know about it now. Lovely.

"Amicitia" Hermione stepped through the door to the comforting familiarity of the room. She crossed the room and immediatly saw the new piece of paper magically stuck to the board.

Therapy Group Room Assignments

Room 1 Room 2 Room 3

Ginny Weasley Dean Thomas Cho Chang

Pansy Parkinson Padma Patil Seamus Finnigan

Luna Lovegood Ernie Macmillan Mary Ann Smith

Lavendar Brown Hannah Abbott Cormac McLagggen

Andrew Kirke Rebecca Harrison Susan Bones

Neville Longbottom Ron Weasley Vincent Crabbe

Gregory Goyle Astoria Greengrass Hermione Granger

Harry Potter Blaise Zabini Draco Malfoy

All students meet at the Quidditch Pitch, Wednesday 10 AM.

Hermione closed her eyes and banged her head against the wall. Not only did she have McLaggen but she also had Malfoy. She was never going to be able to say anything in the "safe haven of trust". Hermione had gone to two different therapist and had been in four different groups. Therapists always zoned in on her. They could tell by her attitude that she had something to hide. Even when she had tried, they were never able to help; so she gave up.

Well At least I have five days to prepare myself, she thought bitterly.

Btdubs, "Amicitia" means friendship in Latin. I thought it fit for the Gryffindors.

As said last chapter, I do not have an editor and I hate rereading stuff (Don't ask why because I don't know) so if you find anything politely let me know in a review or private message. Ok!

Review and let me know what you think =)

Lovies,

My-Room-Is-My-Retreat