An update! This is definitely the longest chapter I have written for this fic! It's also the most different chapter in the whole fic, and I'm really wondering whether you guys will like this. It was suppose to be *gasp* even longer, with a very funny part of the meeting at the Venus statue, but I didn't write it in the end, because it would have made the chapter weird. In my opinion anyway! ^_^

   I would like to dedicate this chapter to:

Chocolat Elf, Chris, Jen Drake, Kerbi, Ericasmiles, Christa, JMS, Tabitha, Belle, Slim-Shady's-Modelling-Baby, Sweet Misery, Krissy, tateskates, Jocelyn Pagoda, angel-kisses, iris, Deimos, Tracy-Lou, Fire Soul, gothendergirl666,Wyrm, Hanna-chan, Ezmerelda, hpdancer92, Souless one, Stormy Phoenix, Rei Chan, Pampers and angel-kiss!

  Thank you so much. Your comments make me smile and laugh. Oh and thanks to Rei Chan for spotting my major boo of calling the Great Hall dining hall! Haha, I will change that from now on!

  Hope you like this chapter… ^_^

Chapter nine: The Strangest Things

  When the tears finally stop flowing and everything felt numb, I realized something. I was crying, and I was crying in Draco's arms.

  I had tried so hard and so long, to find a place, a sanctuary I could be in. A place that could finally hold me. A place where I could just - be me.

  I never thought that I would find this place in someone's arms. Someone who for the past years had been one of my sworn enemies. Someone who I thought despicable, malicious, incorrigible, and just basically a total scumbag.

  It was so strange, so unbelievable. But Draco's arms seemed to be the safest place in the world, and for one moment I really thought everything was alright. I was ok. Free from harm forever.

  "Somebody pinch me. I'm crying in Malfoy's arms!" I cried, breaking the long silence in the room.

  "No, somebody pinch me. I'm actually letting Granger cry in my arms!" Draco laughed.

  "I'm sorry. I got your robe all wet." I wiped my face and smiled.

  "I know you're sorrier you couldn't get it slimy as well." Draco smiled.

 I smiled, pausing for a moment. "Thanks. Really."

  "It's alright. I'm just too much of a gentlemen to let a lady cry by herself." Draco grinned.

  "It's time you put your big manly shoulders to use too." I laughed.

We laughed.

  Then we fell silent. Draco looked at me – seriously.

  I guessed it was time to tell a story. Not a story I liked, but strangely a story I wanted to share. And even stranger, a story I wanted to share with Draco.

  "Summer was horrible. Period." I began. "It started normally enough, I went home, delighted, just dying to show my parents my, not to be proud of anything, good examinations results."

  "I never really noticed something strange was happening to my family. We couldn't be around together much except for the summer vacation. I did feel like maybe there was some awkwardness, some changes, but nothing drastic or horrible or anything."

  "I was the only child. And I like to think they were proud of me, they always said I was so smart, so sensible. Well I went home during the summer, and to celebrate the family went for this wonderful dinner, and we had a whole lot of fun. I still remembered that feeling, after my parents kissed me goodnight and tucked me into bed. That feeling that I was the luckiest girl in the whole world, that it couldn't get better than this, and I was so blessed to have my family and friends. So blessed."

  "The next day, was the start of it all. Everything fell apart the next day. All that feeling, all the warmth inside me was destroyed that very day, and I couldn't remember a time when I felt so hollow and empty. I try not to think of that morning, but it just keeps coming back to me. I keep replaying it in my head, and tell myself, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I heard wrongly. But it just keeps coming back, over and over again."

  "My mother was in the kitchen. My father was reading the newspaper. Everything seemed normal, it felt normal, but I could never be more wrong. My father put down the newspaper, looked at me and smiled. He looked nervous, and I just smiled and said good morning. He said good morning back, and then called me my pet name Rookie. I never knew why he called me Rookie, he just did."

  "Rookie, you are a sensible child right? Well, Mum and I love you, we love you very much, and don't you ever doubt that. But Mummy and I, it's not that we don't love each other anymore, it's just that things have changed. We have changed. And we need to move on."

  "I was trembling inside, because I felt like something was very wrong. This scene was horribly wrong, father was not suppose to talk like that. Talk like there was something wrong with the family, because there wasn't!"

  "I asked him, what he meant. Father told me I was a sensible child again, and I couldn't hated a word more. Sensible. That word still revolts me now, and anyone who describes me as sensible shall be on my blacklist of people to exterminate from the world."

  Draco grinned. "Now, I'm not on that blacklist am I?"

 I gave Draco a mock glare. "Don't interrupt my story!"

  I never thought sharing my story would be so easy. But it was like Draco understood. Or maybe because Draco wasn't like Harry or Ron, who was as close to me as brothers, maybe that made it easier to tell.

  "My father said calmly, he and mum were going to have a divorce. Again, not because they didn't love me or because they didn't love each other. But because their love has changed for each other, and it would be better for both of them. He asked me a question, and didn't wait for my answer. I wanted he and mum to be happy right? And they would be happier if they could lead their own lives."

  "I just shook my head. Because this couldn't be true. Dad and Mum were meant to be together. They didn't exist separately, they existed as one unit. I started crying. I was so weak, because I felt like the only one true thing in my life was breaking apart. I begged Dad, I begged him, I told him I would be a good girl. I would be better, I would do anything they wanted. I would even quit Hogwarts."

  "I knew it wasn't my fault. Yet, I felt deep inside of me, maybe if I had done this or that, it would have made them happier, and if they were happier, they would still be in love and they wouldn't want to divorce. Father looked at me, like I wasn't Hermione. Now Hermione, he said, don't be like this. We have come to a decision, and we wouldn't change it. We wouldn't pressure you or anything, but we are letting you choose who you want to be with."

  "Now that was a double-edged sword. How could I choose who I want to be with? That was so unfair. I started hating my parents as much as I loved them so much I wished they didn't have to be apart. My heart broke, and I went into the kitchen to find Mum, to ask her to tell me it wasn't true. There Mum was - crying. Tears like shards of broken glass, fell down her face. Her eyes were filled with such sadness, helplessness, that I knew it was hurting her more than it hurt me."

  "I locked myself in my room. Maybe I over-acted or something. But I really ached. It was like, if I didn't have my family, what did I have? What was truly mine in this world? I felt so lonely, because I felt like I only had my dad, my mum. And suddenly, they didn't seem mine anymore."

 I smiled wickedly at Draco. "I did something truly drastic. I cut my hair." I pointed to my jagged locks, it had grown a little and more feminine since I came to Hogwarts. "My parents were crazy. I love long hair. They couldn't believe I cut my hair! But frankly, I felt so comfortable after that. I felt stronger."

  "Dad came to talk to me again. I think maybe I was truly turning slightly insane. I asked him why he wanted to divorce mum. And he started all that moving on sentimental stuff again, I was annoyed. I asked him why, why, why. Give me a definite answer, don't leave me hanging in the air, I'm your daughter, I deserve better!"

  "So it was really partly my fault. Mum missed me, because I went to Hogwarts and was never around, she started getting really sensitive and paranoid. She stuck to Dad a lot and always called on him, and it seemed to stressed him out. She needed to love, feel love. And Dad said, he failed at that. He loved mum, and still do, but it was different. Mum wanted something he couldn't give, like something she couldn't give him. And he found it in his assistant."

  "I felt disgusted. Dad fell in love with another woman. I moved away from him. I hated him so. He was the one breaking up the family! Dad pleaded with me, he needed freedom, he really didn't want to fall for someone else. But he did. I didn't understand anything then, but I knew then I would choose to live with Mum. I felt like Dad betrayed me, betrayed mum and me."

  "I slept with Mum that night. I slept in her arms, and she hugged me like a baby. It was so soothing, yet so scary at the same time. I didn't know what was happening, but I could see that the divorce was literally killing Mum. She was a pale copy of her former self, emaciated, shrunken, sad – really sad."

  "I tried to do everything I could to make Mum happy, that seemed to have become my next aim. I would have done anything and everything just to see Mum smile."

 "Dad left the house. He left a number I could call, and said he would come and bring me out every week. I told him not to bother. I was still angry with him. I felt like he was deserting Mum and me."

 "Mum acted normally. But she was always so sad, so down, it made me feel horrible. I felt so useless, it was as if I could do nothing right. And I was contemplating then, whether I should go back to Hogwarts. Hogwarts was my life before this summer, all my friends were there, and it seemed then to be my last joy in my life."

  "I couldn't bear the thought of leaving Hogwarts, it was all I had left. But I couldn't leave Mum."

  "Vacation was ending. And I had decided to go back to Hogwarts, Aunt Jane, Mum's younger sister, persuaded me to go back. She had come to the house to take care of Mum and me. She said I needed it, it was a chance for me to "brighten" up."

  "I was a normal child, and I need a life, she said at that time. I was so thankful to her, because secretly and guiltily I really wanted to just get away from Mum, so I could feel less depressed. But then Mum committed suicide."

  "Aunt Jane and I had gone to buy groceries, and when we came back Mum was there. Unconscious on the floor, with some kind of white substance flowing from her mouth. Aunt Jane said she had taken an overdose of sleeping pills."

 "I was paralyzed. If mum died, I had nothing left. Nothing. I hated myself so much then, I wished I could die to exchange my life for my mum's. I felt so selfish, how could I leave for Hogwarts and have fun? And leave my mum here?"

  "I prayed so hard, Mum would be better. I prayed so hard, that we sent Mum in time to the hospital. Thank god, Mum made it. But I was still trembling, because I had almost lost my mother. And at that moment, I was so vulnerable. Because if I had really did lose Mum, I would be almost an orphan. And I felt like nobody would love me. And I didn't deserve to be loved."

  "I really didn't think I would come back to Hogwarts, it was over. But still, as you can see, I did. When mum was better, she talked to me. Really the first time since Dad told me about the divorce. She told me she was sorry, and begged for my forgiveness. Of course, I gave it to her immediately. She said she was so sorry for even thinking of taking her own life, she was so selfish, because she still had me. She wanted to take care of me, and she loved me very very much. And she was so sorry for causing so much hurt and pain towards me, and she promised to take care of herself so that she could take care of me. And she swore then she would never leave me again, she would never desert me again. Because she had already passed the darkest of storms, and seen the light."

  "Mum and I hugged. And we fell asleep in each others' arms."

 "Before I came to Hogwarts, Mum and Aunt Jane brought me ear-piercing. They were pretty shocked, because I was scared to death of needles. But I wanted to, not because I felt strong, but because I realized the only way to conquer fear, is to meet it head on. Also, I really wanted to make a mark to myself. To become the best person I could be. Mum and Aunt Jane pierced another hole into their ears too. And I felt that moment was really special to me."

  I paused. I had rambled on far too long. "On second thought, summer wasn't really that bad. It was horrible, but it had its moments."

  Draco smiled at me. "You're like a weed, you know. Strong and unyielding. You keep growing, even though everybody wants to pluck you out."

  "Is that a compliment?" I arched one of my eyebrows up ala the Rock. Me a weed?

   "I usually call a girl a rose." Draco said. "But Granger, you're a weed. And you should be proud of it."

  I laughed. Draco could make me laugh, anytime, anywhere.

  I picked up the letter on the floor. "Although, I know Mum's strong now. She's healing and all. But still, when I received the letter, I felt as if a panic button had been pressed. Did mum commit suicide again? I was so scared. And I couldn't stop crying, and then when I read the letter and realized, she was ok. I couldn't stop crying either, because I needed to just let out all my emotions."

  I looked at Draco, "You know sometimes, I don't know whether you hear, I cry myself to sleep. Praying in my heart that Mum would be alright. And one day, we would be a family again."

  "Ok, I don't know why I just told you that." I grimaced. "You are not going to blackmail me right?"

  "You're too poor for that." Draco laughed.

  "You're alright now, right?" Draco asked, concern in his voice.

  I paused. Then smiled. "You know, I really think I am."

   "I wished I could just wave my wand, and whoosh everything would be alright. But I know real life is not like that. But I know that you would pull through all of this." Draco smiled. "You're a weed, remember that."

  I yawned. "If I'm a weed, what are you?"

  "Now let's not reveal too many secrets tonight," Draco smiled, he got up and pulled me up.

  He didn't need to tell me anyway. Because I knew exactly what Draco was.

   "Well then we have to get together again some time, for Malfoy's show and tell." I winked at Draco.

  "Sure, sure." Draco gave me a malicious look. "I would have to kill you afterwards though."

  "Nah. You can try, but no one can ever really exterminate weed." I grinned at Draco.

  "Right." Draco rolled his eyes, smiling "It's pretty late now, you better sleep early."

  "Night." I tried to stifle another yawn.

  As Draco walked out of the room, I paused for a moment then cried. "Wait."

  "Yes? Any last minute requests? I sing a mean tune." Draco arched his head back.

  "No thanks, all villains are tone deaf." I smiled. "I just wanted to say, well, what I said yesterday was not true."

  Draco looked mildly surprised. "Oh, which one of your lies are you admitting is not true?"

  "That you can't muster a look of concern." I smiled. Is it me or is Draco's face reddening?

  "Because you can."

   "Er… night." Draco turned away and went out of the room quickly.

  Definitely wasn't me.

  I looked at the letter in my hand.

  "Dear Hermione,

                                       How's my favourite niece in the world wide world? I can just imagine your face when you read this, total shock and maybe horror right? I'm sorry if I scared you, but THERE'S NOTHING WRONG! So you can relax now, mione, seat down in a nice corner and continue reading this letter. Your mum's ok, Annie's really getting better. She is talking to a friend of mine, a psychiatrist whose really getting her in touch of her feelings and herself. Your mum is even smiling and joking again, and I wanted to share with you this good news!

     Now, I'm also writing to you this letter because I know what a worry wart you are! You don't admit it, but you are a very paranoid girl! You always think the worse of things, especially yourself. I was worried, you wouldn't have a good time at Hogwarts, always thinking of your mum and me. Don't worry about your mum, she's really really fine. Sometimes Annie and I talk, and she says thoughts of dying still come to her. But she's strong, and she would never, how do I say this, act on her thoughts. 

At first, I thought it would be better to have Annie write the letter to you herself. But Annie wouldn't, she say she doesn't know what to write. I tell you, when your mum gets better, she owes me a whole lot of favors! Mione, I know school work may be a little busy in Hogwarts and all, but try to take some time out every week to write us a letter ok? I think it would help all of us.

  So tell us about Hogwarts and your school life! Scarily, I hardly know about my sweetest niece's friends and teachers! Ok, so maybe I don't really want to know about your teachers. But write to us, and we'll write back, you will be amazed at the fuzzy warm feeling inside.

  Ok, I'm going to end this letter now. Your dad visited your mother a few times, she refused at first but did talk to your father for a few minutes last week. Your mother says she has forgiven your dad, and all they care about now is you. Maybe, you could write a letter to your father too, but it's purely your choice.

       Ok, it's the end. I know your fingers are just itching to write back to your most favourite (and only) aunt in the world. Your mum's waiting anxiously too, Annie really doesn't know how to hide her feelings. I really hope this gets to you, since well I'm not good at all this wizard mailing.

  Love,

       Aunt Jane"

  I smiled. I think I knew just what to write. About a new friend of mine, a silver-eyed boy who had a heart of gold.

  I told you this chapter was long! ^_^ Hope it didn't bore you. It's not like the other chapters, and sadly I couldn't write my most favourite parts of Draco and Hermione squabbling with each other. Haha, and another wacky book title. Oh, I'm sure you guys are happy that this time the ending is not a cliffie! I just hope this chapter puts a smile on your face… ^_^ k I gotta go now. Remember to come back 4 the next chapter… the meeting at the Venus statue! ^_^ heehee… Thanks for reading!!!