Author's Note: I totally took a break while writing this and wrote the ending of the story. I got kind of upset with how OOC Hermione was but in the next few chapters you'll see why she's feeling the way she is. And in the end, she's going to go back to the fiery Hermione we all know and love! I promise.

Please R&R =) Thanks to those who have and put me on alerts! You make my day!

Chapter Six: Utter Failure

-Hermione's POV-

He doesn't even know why he's with me. How can you be with someone if you don't even know why you're with them. We've been together for three years now. Granted, one of those years we didn't tell anyone about, but still, to be romantically involved with someone for that long and not be able to list out why you're with someone at a moment's notice is quite ridiculous. I mean, I don't even need a list, I would have been happy if he just said "Hermione, you're silly, I love you, that's all the reason I need."

I've asked him this question once before, two years ago, right before we let everyone know we were dating, that was his answer then. Granted, I didn't let it end there, while making love that night, he proceeded to list out every little thing he loved about me that made him want to stay. He could have done that again. Well, not make love to me at the restaurant, all though, that might have put those bigoted cockroaches and the trollop of a server in their place.

Wow, I can't believe I just left. I didn't say anything to him. I just walked out of the restaurant and apparated to the first place I could think of. I'm sitting on the swing in my parents yard, staring at the tree house I use to play in. My parents made it for me because they thought it'd help me make friends. Boy, were they wrong!

I climb up into it and just sit in the small room. My book shelves are still there. They're full of my children's books. Dr. Seuess and Roald Dahl. The BFG, ha! Giants are real and for the most part just like the ones described in the book! The Hobbit. Their version of elves are far different than ours that's for sure! The goblins are kind of the same though.

I remember when I didn't know magic was real. I'd read these books and imagine about this whole other world. Even when I was young, I didn't belong. I know my parents never said it, but I know they didn't like that I would do things with no explanation – I just had to have that book on the top shelf and next thing you know it's in my hands without me asking or getting a step ladder. And then after what I did to them during the war – I can understand why they don't want me to be with a wizard or anything to do with magic, for that matter.

I climb down the ladder and stare at the back of my childhood home. There's a light in my parents' room. They don't know I'm here, or that I come here almost every other night. I don't belong here. I don't belong there. Where do I belong?

-Draco's POV-

She left me. She just walked out. I'm sitting here at the table and I just don't know what to do. I realize now I did take my sweet time to answer. I know the answer to her question, and I thought she knew the answer. Why does she questioning my love for her?

As I get up to leave, a couple from another table stop me from my chase. They look up at me with sympathy

"A girl like that doesn't deserve you." The audacity of this man. How can he say something like that? I don't deserve her!

"She must've realized this and walked away. You're better off." The woman adds. The nerve! Other people in the restaurant are nodding. Is this why she asked me? Were these people getting in her head somehow and I didn't notice. Granted, the whole night I was focused on just her and not our surroundings. How could I be so stupid!

"Well, it's a good thing that your opinion is as good as the dirt under my shoe. If you'll excuse me, I need to show the woman that I love that I'm the one who doesn't deserve her but she should be with me anyway." I respond with such malice and loud enough that the whole restaurant could hear me. There are a few people near the entrance who are quietly applauding me. The couple and those nearest to wear I once sat are looking at me like I'm crazy. They must be the pureblood idiots Hermione has mentioned to me in the past.

I go back to our apartment. There's no sign of life. I check our room just to be sure she isn't in bed yet. The bed is still made from this morning. Where is she?

I immediately apparate to Grimmauld Place.

-Hermione's POV-

I hear the pop! of apparition when I walk into the apartment. Draco must have just left to look for me. I should probably let him know I'm home. I send a missive using Draco's owl to Ginny. That's going to be the first place he looks, I know it. I crawl into bed and just cry myself to sleep.

-Draco's POV-

I bang at the door. It's only 7:30. Who in the hell goes to bed at this hour? "Potter! Open the door!" I keep knocking at the door like my life depends on it, and in many ways, it does. If Hermione is here, I need to fix this or my life will be over as I know it.

"Uncle Dragon! You're loud!" James opens the door and looks at me like I'm crazy. I guess I am.

"I'm sorry James, but this is important. Is Auntie Minnie here?" I'm pleading to a four year old. I can't believe this is where my life is right now.

"No Auntie Minnie. I no see her since the time I saw you today." Great, just great. She's not here. She must have gone off somewhere to think. I need to do something. Objective one clearly backfired on me. I guess objective two should be convincing her I love her. Oh, I know what to do.

"Draco! I just got a letter from Hermione saying that she's home now and she's going to bed. What happened?" Ginny walks in from the sitting room and Harry is glaring at me when he picks up James.

"Did it say anything else? Can I see it?"

"Oh yes, she tells me to give it to you. What did you do?" I don't have time for this. I grab the letter and scan it as quickly as I can.

Gin,

When Draco gets there please give him this letter. I'm fine by the way. – Draco, you're sleeping on the couch. I don't really want to talk tonight. I have breakfast plans so don't worry about making me anything in the morning. I'll see you tomorrow night.

"I'll explain later but objective one didn't work. I need to fix things. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

Objective Two: Convincing Hermione I love her. First things first, I need to get something.

-Iris's POV-

I'm quietly sitting outside of Florean Fortescue's eating my ice cream, when low and behold the Draco Malfoy is quickly walking past. No mudblood in sight; just him. I wonder where he's off in a hurry. I quickly get up and tail him. He walks into a jewelry store and while I try to discreetly look through the window I can clearly see he's looking at rings. Not just any old ring, but engagement rings! Oh no. This isn't good. Not at all.

I rush to the Leaky Cauldron as quickly as possible so I can floo home. When I get there I knock into my mother whose on her knees at the other fireplace.

"Mother! We have to change our tactics, or do something quickly!"

"Iris, how rude, I'm in the middle of a floo call here."

"Mother, he's buying an engagement ring! He's going to propose! I don't care who you're talking to but we have to fix this. We have to fix this!" I'm pacing the room now, not paying attention to whomever my mother is speaking to.

"Oh my. I'm sorry Astoria, but as you can see, I'm busy. I'll see you and your sister for tea at the end of this week, yes?"

"Oh yes Violet. I'll see you then. Good luck with whatever you're doing." And the connection closes.

"All right Iris, what do you know about Amorentia?"

Author's Note: Oooo, I'm sorry to end it like that. I was going to keep going with this chapter but I decided to break it up at that point because cliffy's are evil hehehe. I have the next chapter already written and it'll be posted sometime tomorrow. I'm going to try and just finish the whole story tonight so it can be fully published mid-next week. Because I split this chapter, it should be at 10 chapters now. Again, those who review get all the internets!