Sorry it's been so long guys! Hopefully I'll get back on track.

I had forgotten some of the details, so I had to go back and reread my chapters. If there is anything that I looked... Sorry! And enjoy.

The five days had passed with nothing of importance. Hermione was getting into a routine. Wake up, five minute shower, stare at breakfast, classes, skip lunch for studying time in the library, classes, eat til she was nauseous at dinner, studying until she fell asleep. She would read books in between walks too, leaving it impossible to think about anything personal at all. Especially her brother.

It was the morning of the first therapy session. She actually stalled walking down. Partly because she didn't want to go to the session and partly because she didn't want to have to walk with anyone. She had five minutes to walk all the way down to the Quidditch pitch from the castle. She quickened her speed so that she would only be a little late. She could see that most everyone was already there.

Hearing the soles of shoes behind her, she sneaked a glace behind her to see a flash of fluorescent blond hair and a green tie. She only let her eyes linger for a split moment until she recognized that it was Malfoy behind her. Not wanting to engage in conversation, least of all Malfoy, she hurried along, trying to pretend that she hadn't seen him. He seemed to not want to talk too because usually he teased her when she was in his vicinity. If she knew better she would have guessed that he had had another late night with another conquest, or girl as most people called them. She only figured that because of a conversation she over heard in the library between two Slytherin gossips.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the field to find that they were the last two. Also that everyone had been waiting on them, so trying to just slip in unnoticed was impossible. Headmaster McGonagall was standing in the middle with a few other people, she noticed they were adults, talking on the side. The rest of the students were all packed together on the stadium facing the teachers.

"Nice of you to join us, Ms. Granger and Mr. Malfoy. It would do you well to arrive on time next time. Take a seat." She knew that she should feel guilty... but she didn't. She found a seat on the end next to a random Hufflepuff who was busy writing in what looked like a diary.

"Attention students, as you know the battle last year was tragic." Headmaster McGonagall was trying not let the emotion be evident in her voice; but as someone who had experienced the same event, she could tell. Flashes of the memories she had tried to suppress bubbled up to the surface again. The whispered fears that she had tried to forget flashed back across her thoughts; spreading through her body like a plague. Feeling the affects of the normal panic that would arise at the mention of the battle, she started counting. Counting the chairs, the people she could see, how many students of each house that was there, how many clouds that she could see. This was another one of the ways that she handled the panic attacks. She continued this while she McGonagall went on listing the reasons for the forced shrink sessions.

"I will call out the group leader, who will identify themselves, then the students who will be in that group. As I call your name, please stand next to your group leader and await further instructions.

"Group one. Group leader is Megan Buckner..." McGonagall continued, listing everyone that was in the group. Slowly, more and more students left their seats to find their groups. Hermione noted all the leaders, group two had Marcus Brookes and her group had Daisy Sweeten. Hermione smirked inside about her name. She must have had hippie parents, because honestly out of all the flower names, Daisy? Really?

As she got closer to her "Group Leader" her suspicions were confirmed about the hippie parents. Just in the way that she dressed, Hermione could tell that she was going to be going on and on about the energy of life and balancing the inner and hidden emotions. There was a "Circle of Trust" speech coming up in the near future.

Daisy had dirty blond hair that was delicately braided around her head that combined to the traditional braid down her back. Her blue eyes twinkled as if already getting excited about the sessions. She had on a soft gray tank top on with a tan skirt that had a flower design on it, all of that under a lavender cloak. All soft colors, Hermione noted. I am not going to listen what Miss Sweeten had to say, she scoffed in her head, But if I'm was going to make it through the rest of the year , and the inevitable requirements that were going to be coming, I better be prepared.

"Hello everyone." Daisy's voice was sickly soft. "I'm Daisy Sweeten. You may call me Daisy. No need for formalities. To start off today, I would like to find at least one thing that you enjoy, appreciate, or love about nature on our walk back." She paused, waiting to see if everyone was paying attention. "When we get to our room, we'll go around the circle and share what it is."

Quietly, they followed their leader out of the stadium. Daisy had talked the longest of the leaders, so the other groups had already gone. Lucky them, she thought.

Everyone was shuffling quietly after Daisy. Usually they would have all been chatting but the idea of a shrink had apparently spooked them. When she looked up briefly from the ground, she saw that McLaggen was developing one of his famous stupid grins.

"Hey Ms. Daisy. I have something that I'm really appreciating from back here."

"Oh really?" She had one of those annoying voices that would go up an octave when she asked a question. Hermione had to suppress a cringe. "And what would that be?"

"That nice little butt of yours." Him and his friends started to laugh and snigger, while the rest of the class' eyebrows shot up. Hermione started laughing in her head. He did NOT just say that. No one is ever going to let him forget this one.

Miss Sweeten started to blush. "Mr. McLaggen that is completely inappropriate. 50 points from Gryffindor. I will be talking to your Head about punishment."

Since it was only the first day of the "group help", their "team leader" didn't try to go into all of the emotional stuff. The whole time was really spent in going around the circle that they had been instructed to sit in, and introduce themselves and say their piece of nature that they had "loved".

Hermione could tell that most of these kids were bluffing. The surprising part was Malfoy's turn. After stating his name, age, and House, he said that he liked the clouds. For some reason that comment stuck with Hermione. The look on his face had shocked her too. She was still analyzing what emotion was behind that face when her turn came; she was completely unprepared. Continuing with her plan though, she pretended to take the assignment seriously.

" Hi, I'm Hermione Granger. Eighteen years old. Gryffindor. As for what I really love (she could help but make her voice turn towards a more whiny vapid sound), it's probably the flowers. There are so many flowers and they can express so many different things. I just love to see them. It brightens my day."

Hermione remembered thinking that she probably over did it a little bit. Especially because Cho Chang, Susan Bones, and Seamus Finnigan were all discretely giving her strange looks. While Malfoy was actually trying to hold in a laugh.

She shared a smile with herself at the ridiculousness of their team leader. It made her think of a game that her and Dominic had played once.

Before her parents divorced, they tried therapy. After two months of that, the therapist (third one that her parents had tried.) suggested bringing the kids in. Later in the meeting Hermione and Dominic were told that they were brought because their parents were having a hard time admitting that they had a problem. And that if their kids were there, it would make the situation more real.

Dominic had whispered in her ear halfway through the session that Mrs. Stacey, the therapist, sounded like a mix between a commercial for Dr. Phil and the back of a cereal box. So every time she said something that they had heard on Dr. Phil or said any food related words, they would try to secretly pinch each other. That was the last day the Grangers went to her office.

For just a millisecond, Hermione thought to herself that she should ask Dominic if he remembered that day. Horror set in as she realized what she had thought. The air in her lungs evaporated. She started choking as her was trying to breathe and cry at the same time. It didn't matter how many times she cried about him, there was always more tears.

She had taken the long route to the Common Room; the one that went through all the back hallways. Suddenly glad of the fact that no one went that way, she slumped down against the wall. Hugging herself, Hemione bawled.

Finally, once the tears began to stop, Hermione started to stand up. She didn't know what to do next. Every one else was at lunch. Wanting to avoid everyone, not only because her face was all red and puffy, but because she wasn't talking to Harry and Ron. Going to lunch would have been completely awkward. Also she wasn't hungry.

Grabbing her messenger bag, she slung it over her shoulder. Thinking that no one would be there, she headed towards the Quidditch Pitch.

She was proven to be wrong when she actually arrived at the Pitch. There was a solitary figure flying around and around. Disappointed that she would have to find somewhere else, Hermione tried to walk away without being seen. It didn't work.

She felt the air stir and looked up from her book. Of course it's Malfoy. Because the universe hates me.

"Come to spy on me, Granger?"

"Yeah right. Like I give a damn about you." He laughed.

"That's true. Tell me Granger, what flower would express that?"

"You can't talk Mr. I-Love-The-Clouds."

"You and I know that we were both BS-ing in there."

"I don't think you were." She lost her haughty tone. What in Heaven's name possessed me to say that?"

He just looked at her. Not denying or affirming her statement. Feeling uncomfortable with him staring at her, she continued the conversation. "Where's the rest of your team?"

"I'm not on the team anymore." She was shocked. So shocked that she forgot who she was talking to.

"What? Why?"

He shrugged "Didn't want too. Besides, I think to win a game, the whole team would have to be talking to each other. You know what they say, communication is key."

"That's a muggle quote." She shook her head. "Why are you not talking to the team?"

"Why would you assume that it's me who's not talking to the team?" His eyes sparkled with amusement. Her face started to heat up. Her defenses kicked in.

"Because you generally are a prick."

"Well according to Potter you're a bitch."

She tensed up. "I was stupid to think that we could actually have a normal conversation. You know what? You can just stay out of my personal life. It's none of your business." She started to turn to walk away. Wishing that she had said something that would have stung more.

"I think when you're shouting about your personal life in the Great Hall, it is my business."

"At least I'm not dealing with my life in court." She was referring to the day in court. Draco's Hearing actually. He was giving his testament, when his father had started shouting at him that he was worthless. After a whole string of adjectives that a parent should never use while talking about their child, the attorney had managed to subdue Lucius. Draco had stood up and calmly told him that he didn't need his approval on his life anymore and that he never wanted to see him again.

Malfoy recoiled. No matter how mad she was, Hermione immediately felt guilty. She had no right to bring that up. She was only there that day because she was asked to make sure Draco told the truth about his time in Hogwarts. Hermione could see the effect her statement made on him. His fists clenched and he began to breathe heavily. He opened his mouth to make a retort, but she cut him off.

"I'm sorry. That was uncalled for." If it had been any other person, she would have gone on and on about how sorry she was.

"Thank you." He spoke quietly but strongly. Hermione felt that no matter what she said, the damage was already done and that talking would just make it worse. Instead, she nodded her head in acknowledgment and left.

She was almost out of the Pitch when he called out to her. "Granger!" She turned around.

"Don't believe Potter." The words had to sink in for a minute before she responded. All she gave him was a small sad smile that didn't reach her eyes.

Yet again. Sorry that took so long. I had some of this chapter written for awhile and just finished it today. I tried to not make Malfoy and Granger OOC. The reason they had that conversation was because it was after the war and they are kinda both loners. Finding comfort in whatever they can. Thanks. Let me know what you think. :)

MRIMR

(My Room Is My Retreat.)