Look! One month! hahs! I know it's hard for people to believe, but I REALLY plan to finish the story. Really! I definitely will! And for readers of my other fic, 7 Days of Hell, I'm going to complete that too. But you see, it's very hard to update sometimes… you have to have THAT feeling. I can't describe it. Anyway, thank you guys so so much for the nice feedback! It makes me feel better, since my writing is kind of rusty. Also I feel very happy when I hear about people reading the 22 chapters all in one go, I wonder what's the feeling like?

Chapter 23: Uprooting

It all seems to be like a dream, a sort of music rhapsody that ended. Perhaps quite abruptly, but it was inevitable… the ending.

All traces all it seems to have left, except the stained tears on my cheeks and my crack in my heart.

I looked into the mirror; I was trying to find the girl before Draco.

Hermione BD (Before Draco), who was she?

I touched the ends of my hair. It has grown long, much longer than the jagged ends at the start of the year.

Slowly, my lips began to edge upwards. I was forming a smile.

No, I don't want to become the Hermione before Draco.

I took the hairbrush from the table and started brushing my hair in front of the mirror. Anybody who saw me would be spooked since I would look like a female ghost.

I can't express what I'm feeling right now. Limbo?

Yes, I feel like a phantom. I'm substanceless.

I'm aching… I'm aching…

I'm in love with Draco, who thinks he cares for me.

The hairbrush reached a knot in my hair.

I tugged at it, but it wouldn't come loose.

It looks like I have to cut it.

Then it hit me, split-second.

Maybe the only way is to uproot Draco completely from my heart.

Only t hen, will I be able to grow again.

I stared at the knot in my hair.

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I winced slightly, the sunlight coming through the small window was almost blinding.

So it was morning.

I winced even more, at the thought of last night.

God, I'm an idiot.

My fingers touch my lips.

The lips that kissed Hermione's forehead.

I remember the look!

The way she looked at me, she begged me to leave her because I caused her to ache so much.

She doesn't believe I care for her.

I look into her eyes, and I saw that she felt for me. Maybe she even loved me.

It hurt her so much that someone she cared so much could care for her and yet still hurt her.

The fact that Hermione doesn't trust me anymore hurt, hurt a lot.

Hermione thinks she sees everything and knows everything.

But then how can she miss the pained look in my eyes?

The equally pleading look I gave her when I told her I cared?

There was a sudden knock on my door.

I was astonished. Who could it be?

Although the beating of my heart, was telling me maybe it was Hermione.

I opened the door to find myself face to face with Professor McGonagall.

She beamed at me, "Miss Granger has informed me this morning that the two of you have become friends and broken the spell! Congratulations."

I looked blank.

"You may choose to continue living here or return to the Slytherin dorms. Ms Granger has returned to her Gryffindor dorms," Professor McGonagall said, "Now you better get ready for classes. Although classes start later today due to the ball last night, you don't want to be late!"

I nodded weakly as McGonagall walked off.

I waited until she was out of sight before I ran to Hermione's room.

She was gone.

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I smiled as Ron ran towards me. He has heard about me returning to the Gryffindor dorms. Almost the whole school has heard that the punishment between Draco and me was over.

I looked around, Harry was not around. So I presume Harry has not spoken to Ron?

I felt a pang of sadness in my heart.

Then, another person pounced on me.

It was Parry, right next to her was Neville.

I felt another stab in my heart. I was being silly, I shook my head.

"That's awesome, Hermione! You finally got rid of that twit!" Ron chirped happily as he took my bags for me.

"Yeah," I said, trying to squeeze a smile.

"Stupid Harry disappeared to nowhere! I haven't seen him since last night before the ball when he went to pick you up!" Ron continued, as he started regaling me about his date.

Parry on the other hand, was observing me from head to toe; it was as if she sensed something wrong.

She touched my hair. "Hey, there's a knot! Do you want me to cut it for you later?"

For a moment, my eyes were slightly alarmed. "No!"

"No," I smiled embarrassed as I touched the knot. "I'll…er… do it myself."

Ron shrugged and continued talking about his wonderful date while Parry messed with Neville's hair.

I'll do it myself, slowly, step by step.