Chapter Seven – Coming Back (Hermione's POV)

A year later, I returned back home. Things seemed to be back to normal. Draco was very happy that I was back, and seemed determined to help me stay on the right path and not go back into drinking. With my newfound sobriety and the skills I learned to cope with stress, I returned back to working at St. Mungo's. When I got home, Draco was always willing to talk to me and listen to what was wrong.

Everything was going wonderful, until Draco left for Hogwarts. I had become used to it in my first year with Draco, but eventually the stress of work had gotten to the point where it was difficult to deal with and not having someone around to talk to, it was even harder. Even though I knew I could owl Draco about anything that was bothering me, it just wasn't the same as having a person to talk to, someone who was actually there. That's when I began to look for an escape, and I found it in alcohol. I began drinking daily, as soon as I got home from work. I don't even know how many I usually had. It was probably more than five or six, judging that the night Draco found me I had already drank six bottles of butterbeer (according to Draco), and it was only 11:30pm. Usually I stayed up until about 12:30, I think.

Now, I know that part of the reason why I became an alcoholic was because of of the fact that during the school year Draco wasn't around to talk to. This was out of no fault of his own and I don't blame him at all.

When Draco left for Hogwarts the year I came home from treatment at the wizard's center, I knew that it might not be the best thing for us to stay together. No matter how much I loved him, I needed someone who actually was there most of the time, and Draco just wasn't that person. I knew it would be better if we were just friends. I knew that Draco would understand since he only wanted the best for me.

The next weekend that the students went to Hogsmeade, Draco and I met there as usual. I figured that it would be the best time to tell him my thoughts on our relationship. I didn't want to be one of those girls who break up over the phone or in a letter. I wanted to break up with him in person.

"Hey honey," said Draco as I entered Madam Puddifoot's.

"Hey," I said sitting down across from him. "How's teaching been?"

"It's been good. How's working at St. Mungo's been?"

"Ok, I said. "I've missed you a lot!" I wondered if that was when I should tell him my thoughts on our relationship.

"Yeah, I've missed you too! How have you been? Are you okay? I feel bad I'm not around for you to talk to."

"I've been fine, Draco!"

"You haven't gone into a relapse?"

"I haven't!"

"That's good, because it's easy to that! I almost did."

"What do you mean?"

"When I returned back to college after rehab, it was stressful and it almost got me. I went to a bar and almost ordered a butterbeer, but didn't. I got a Shirley Temple instead."

"Ok. What stopped you from getting one?"

"Knowing that I most likely wouldn't just order one. I knew one drink leads to two which leads to three which leads to ten and a reformation of the habit I had spent three years getting treatment for. I didn't want to let myself down, by ruining the two years I had stayed sober and ruining all I had worked towards. All I had achieved in treatment and out. All I had achieved being back in Wizard's college. That's what stopped me."

"That's good."

Just then a waitress came and took our order. I must have shown my confusion about when to tell him, because Draco said to me, "Hermione, you've seeming a bit more quiet than usual. Are you sure there is nothing wrong, nothing you need to talk to me about?"

"No... well... yes... there is something I need to tell you, but it's hard to tell you," I replied.

"Ok. What is it?"

"Draco, you know I love you a lot, and I wouldn't be telling you this unless I absolutely thought it was necessary for it to happen, right?"

"Yes, and I love you too. What are you trying to say?"

"Draco, I don't think we should be together anymore."

"What?" he asked me with a shocked expression on his face. "Why? What reasons do you have?"

"Draco, It's not your fault, and I know that you love me very much, but it's hard for me that you're not at home during the school year."

"I know, but you can always owl me if you need to talk to me."

"I know, but it's not enough. I need someone who's there for me to talk to in person and isn't gone for months at a time."

"I understand."

"I'm really sorry."

"I know. I understand that you don't want a romantic relationship with someone who's not there for most of the year and I understand that this is for the best."

"Thank you for understanding. I hope we can still remain friends?"

"You bet. You're too good of a person to lose as a friend," he said giving me a friendly hug.

Just then, our food and tea came. We ate and drank, talking happily. It seemed as if nothing had changed.

Nearing the end of the meal, Draco asked me about where I would be living now that we had decided to be just friends and had broken up. I replied that I would be looking for a new place in Chamleigh and that I would tell him where it is when I found it.

After we left, I went home and began looking through the Daily Prophet for apartment listings. I didn't find any that day that interested me, so I read for a while and fell asleep.

The next day was Sunday, so I didn't have to work. I started looking through the Daily Prophet again and didn't find anything that interested me in the way of apartments. I did, however, find these two pieces of information in the marriage announcement section:

'Ron Weasley and Mara Hardy announce their recent engagement and the date of their wedding, which is scheduled for May 17 of next year. We congratulate them on their engagement and wish them well as they begin a new life together.'

'Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley announce their recent engagement. The date of their wedding is unknown, but will appear in the Daily Prophet when the couple announces it. We congratulate them on their engagement and wish them well as they begin a new life together.'

I smiled as I read about Ginny and Harry, for back at Hogwarts they had both liked each other, but never told each other during their years there. I smiled, thinking of Ron and the times we shared so many years ago when we were dating. I remembered when he broke up with me and how much it hurt me, but despite that I was very happy for Ron and Mara.

I kept looking through the Daily Prophet for apartment listings, but didn't find any that interested me that week.