DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything but the laptop I'm typing this on :P haha Seriously though, I own nothing of Harry Potter.

For the next two weeks I hid from everyone. I hid from my friends and the letters I sent to my parents became shorter so they could tell that I was upset over something but I just wasn't ready for my Dad to come storming in to the castle to murder my ex. I spent most of my time in my room or in the Head dorms when Malfoy wasn't out there. I avoided talking to my friends as much as I possibly could.

The nightmares that were finally decreasing to one or two nightmares every week had come back full force. A nightmare a night had made sure I looked like hell because of lack of sleep.

I was lying in my bed when Malfoy knocked on the door "Granger, your friends are kicking up a fuss outside the portrait shall I let them in?"

I sighed and buried my head under my pillow, not wanting to reply.

I heard him sighed loudly and mumble something to some one who was with him before they shuffled away. Minutes later I heard more footsteps come closer to the door I was shocked at the person who spoke.

"Miss Granger may I come in?" Professor McGonagall spoke unsurely for once, the sternness gone from her voice "I'm alone, I promise I managed to get Mr Potter and your friends to go to breakfast, it's just about to start if you wish to join them".

I bit my lip and pushed back the covers so I could get out of bed. I walked slowly towards the door and opened it slightly so I could see the Professor. I opened it wider when I saw that she was truly alone.

"Come in please Professor" my voice was quiet and I didn't wait for a reply as I entered the room and sat at the window seat looking over the fields near the black lake.

I heard the door softly click as Professor McGonagall came in "it saddens me to see you like this Miss Granger".

I turned to look at her "please call me Hermione, you've become a family member to me Professor whether you know it or not".

I watched as he gaze softened even more and she smiled "well then Hermione please call me Minerva and you're right you are like a daughter to me which is why I asked your friends all about what was bothering you" I glanced at her sharply but she held up her hand so I wouldn't speak "please don't blame them, they're just worried for you, we all are Hermione".

I glanced down at my hands "I know Minerva, I'm worried for myself some days. I can't sleep and I've lost my appetite" I laughed slightly "Harry makes sure that Dobby brings me my food though".

I sighed and moved over so she could sit next to me "I'm scared" I whispered making sure not to look at her "I . . . I was just getting over it, well I was at least able to move on with my life so that I wouldn't think about it every minute" I took a shuddering breath as I felt tears rise "I'm so sick of crying! I'm sick of the nightmares. They won't go away, I've been to Madam Pomfrey for the dreamless sleep potion but they don't seem to work anymore".

I nearly jumped when Minerva McGonagall the usually stern Transfiguration Professor pulled me into a hug "Hermione, I'm going to tell you this because I know you will never tell anyone" she spoke into my hair "when I was eighteen, I didn't have a job, my parents were dead and I had no one else to help me. One night when I was on my way to the home I was staying in I was attacked" I pulled back slightly so I could stare at her wide eyed "yes, he stole from me. He stole everything I had that night" her eyes glazed over and I knew she was reliving that night "I mean everything, he stole my virginity that night and I know what you're going through. Rape isn't something you can easily get over and to be honest you will never get over it, but you can move on. It took a while but I finally stopped thinking about it and I stopped having the nightmares".

I stared at her in horror as a tear escaped from the corner of my eye. I pulled her into a hug "I'm so sorry, I don't want to be like this. I'm a Gryffindor I shouldn't be running, I should be facing it head on".

She gave me a quick squeeze before she let go and stood up "you don't have to fight it alone, I was told your parents don't know but maybe you should tell them" I stared at her in horror before shaking my head quickly.

"I couldn't Professor they would make sure I never entered the magical world ever again" she thought this over before nodding slowly.

"Well then you have Remus and Sirius both of them think of you as a daughter, their cub. Then theirs Tonks and Teddy who are always there for you and of course you have Mr Potter and your friends" she smiled and put a hand on my shoulder "and then there's me, I will always be hear if you need to talk Hermione. This war may have done terrible things to you but you have so many people who care".

I smiled for the first time this week and stood up "I think I'm ready to go to breakfast" I glanced at the mirror and flinched at the me that was looking back "erm, do you think you could send Luna and Ginny up please".

She chuckled slightly making me smiled embarrassed "of course I can Miss Granger" she walked to the door and just as she was about to shut it behind her she turned to me "show him how beautiful you truly are Hermione, just because you have the brains doesn't mean you don't have the looks to match" she nodded once as I grinned and laughed slightly shocked.

I sat on my bed and contemplated what she had told me, I would never have thought something like that had happened to my composed, stern, mother like Transfiguration Professor. I smiled as I remembered her saying that I was like a daughter to her. It wasn't long before a knock at the door shook me from my thoughts.

I opened the door and smiled widely at the three girls on the other side they looked shocked at my sudden change in mood or maybe they were shocked because I looked so bad. I gestured for them to come in and when they had sat on my bed and Luna on the window seat and looked at them all.

"It's time to show the world that Hermione Granger can be hot!" this had them all up and squealing and jumping around whilst I stood shocked that those words could make these girls so excited.

They hugged me and let go looking me up and down. Pansy glanced at my wardrobe and looked at Ginny "right Ginny you're in charge or clothes, we'll have to make everything fit perfectly so we have to shrink all of your clothes Hermione" I nodded and she carried on "Luna you do make and I'll do the hair" right people we have an hour that will give us another hour for breakfast. She can go to breakfast and show the whole of Hogwarts that breaking up with Weasley hasn't made her the depressed person they all think she is" she glanced at Ginny with an apologetic face "no offence against the other Weasley's".

Ginny grinned and shook her head "none taken now come on, let's hurry". She ran off to my wardrobe and started searching through my clothes I blinked in shock as Pansy made me sit in front of the mirror.

"What day is it?"

"It's a Saturday, we're going Hogsmeade today" Luna smiled as she gently applied mascara and eye liner, she then applied lip gloss and stepped back "my job is done, you have natural beauty 'Mione you don't need so much make up just some to make your eyes stand out, I would save putting on eye shadow for special occasions as you will want to look different for them". She then wondered off to the wardrobe to join Ginny.

I shook my head and noticed Pansy waving her wand at my hair, I stared in shock as my hair de-frizzed and fell in silky curls down my back. She pouted slightly "I thought this would take longer but you really don't need that much done".

I jumped up and hugged her "you have so got to teach me that spell!" she laughed and spent the next ten minutes teaching me spells on different hair styles.

Ginny finally came over with a pair of black skinny jeans, a dark blue shirt that was tight and hugged my body shape and a long black cardigan. She had knee length black boots and black dolly shoes. She placed both shoes on the floor and said "change first so I can see which shoes will go best".

After a short debate on shoes she handed me the black boots saying "they have a three inch heel" she grinned as she said this and pointed to her own boots and Pansy's high heel shoes "they make your legs look better".

After finding some socks and placing my shoes on, I stood back so they could look me over. Luna took out her wand and checked the time before saying "that only took us about forty minutes, we have plenty of time for breakfast now" she jumped up off the bed and practically floated over to me "come on" she grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the door whilst I glared at her.

"You're lucky I grabbed my wand earlier".

Ginny ran to catch up as Pansy walked purposefully behind us. Just as we stepped out of the Portrait Pansy handed me a bag and I looked at it.

She smiled "I know you have that purple back that you always carry around with you but well this black shoulder back goes with every colour so you'll have to use this one instead". I sighed and took it from her silently casting the spells I had on my other bag so that this one could fit anything and everything in it and it was as light as a feather.

I watched as Ginny pouted and handed me my purple bag "I know you don't go anywhere without it so I grabbed it for you" she then frowned "it feels as if there's nothing in there though". I grinned and pushed the purple bag into my black one as we walked down the many stair cases to the Great Hall.

"I have a few spells cast on it" the others shared a knowing smile.

"Always the know-it-all Hermione" Pansy was smiled and saying it teasingly so it took out the bite from her words.

I just grinned and laughed "you wouldn't have me any other way".

We all laughed as we walked to the Great Hall before Pansy stopped in front of us and Luna who still had her arm through mine finally let go "Are you ready for this 'Mione?"

I just smiled at them all "I'm Hermione Granger, the know-it-all bookworm, female of the Golden Trio and I'm a Gryffindor to boot. Of course I'm ready" I grinned and said "are you sure they're all ready for me though".

Ginny burst out laughing before she finally got her self under control whilst Pansy and Luna were giggling slightly.

I smiled fondly at them all "listen guys, thanks for doing all of this for me. You're the greatest friends I could ever ask for".

Pansy looked slightly shocked at me mentioning her in the same category as Luna and Ginny but we all hugged each other.

"I'm going to have to sit at the Slytherin table with Draco and Blaise but I shall be looking to see how you are doing and I will meet you in the Three Broomsticks later" we all nodded and agreed on a time before Luna dreamily said "I believe I will join you at the Gryffindor table I want to see what the Wrackspurts do to Ronald's mind".

We all laughed and that was how we entered the hall making all of the residents suddenly stop talking as they noticed me enter the hall for the first time in two weeks. When I noticed Harry I turned to Ginny "oh, yeah why didn't you tell me you had split from Harry" I frowned when she blushed.

"Well, it was mutual and he said he was going to talk to you about it but I'm guessing you didn't have the full conversation" I frowned in confusion but she just shook her head "anyway he was the one who wanted to split up first and I just agreed because well . . . I fancy some one else and I've agreed to go to Hogsmeade with them".

I brightened and grinned at her "who?"

She mumbled a reply a I stared in shock at her and repeated "who?"

"Blaise Zabini" she finally said louder making Luna and Pansy giggle at her flustered look.

I grinned and laughed "Well done Gin, he's quite a catch" she nodded dreamily and smiled.

"I know".

I shook my head and looked towards the staff table when my eyes fell on Professor McGonagall I smiled widely and she smiled back making all the other Professors stare at her in shock and any of the students who noticed because honestly the usual stern teacher smiling would make anyone go in to shock.

I waved bye to Pansy as she walked to the Slytherin table and ignored all the looks we were getting "when do you think everyone will stop staring and talk to each other".

Ginny shrugged "about ten more minutes or so" I stared at her in disbelief but she just laughed "come on 'Mione let's go find your best friend!"

As soon as I noticed Harry sitting next to Neville in his Muggle clothes I brightened and happily skipped towards him dragging a laughing Luna and Ginny with me.

"Hey Harry" I chirped as I sat next to him and opposite the twins. They were all looking in shock and I sighed whilst shaking my head "you're all dribbling you know that". Harry blushed and turned back to his plate whilst Neville stared at Luna who had sat next to him.

The twins just grinned and shook their heads,

"This is great"

"I can't wait to see"

"Ickle Ronnie's face"

"when he sees this"

"little beauty sitting"

"next to the famous"

"Harry Potter!"

I glanced from one to the other like I was watching a tennis match and shook my head "I hate it when you guys do that, it totally confuses me".

They just laughed and I pouted before smiling "Thanks though for the vote of confidence and the complement". They were about to reply when I frowned "woah wait a minute! You've finished school so why are you here?"

They shared a quick grin with each other before turning to look at Harry "Harry here just asked the same thing when you came in and took everyone's attentions away" Fred said with a smirk.

George nodded and grinned "never seen a boy look so dazed before" Harry blushed and I tried not to.

"That's not answering my question"

Fred turned to me and leaned closer "well Little Mia, we have bought Zonko's the owner passed away during the war and he has no family to take it over and everyone wants it to stay a joke shop so me and my wonderful twin have decided to buy it".

George nodded and carried on when Fred bit into his toast "we're here to check out the lay out and see what needs to be done".

Another half hour of talking about new jokes and me finally giving up and agreeing that I would help them with some they both left to head to Hogsmeade leaving us behind.

I turned to Harry who was finishing his bacon "so any plans for Hogsmeade?"

He smiled and shook his head "Luna and Neville are going to wonder off somewhere for an unofficial date and Ginny's meeting Zabini at the Three Broomsticks as soon as we get there, I agreed to walk her there if you would like to join me for the day?" he looked hopeful and I laughed.

"Of course Harry, I wouldn't have it any other way" I tried not to think how mesmerising his eyes were as he stared back at me with a smile. A smile that seemed to push every thought from my mind. I was shocked at my own thoughts, since when did I find Harry so attractive, I mean I knew he was good looking but when did I become attracted?

I blinked away that train of thought and took a sip of orange juice as I tried to think of something else. I noticed Ron and Lavender at the end of the Gryffindor table, they were alone with each other because no one was sitting near them and lots of people from all four houses to the Professors were sending them glares every now and then. I pulled my gaze away from Ron's hateful gaze when he glanced at me.

I shuddered and shook my head before jumping when I felt Harry take my hand "come on 'Mione, lets get out of here".

I nodded and let him help me out of my seat and then not taking my hand out of his we walked out of the Great Hall with our friends all joking around us. I stared down at our joined hands before looking up at him in confusion. He was talking to Neville and Luna about something and smiling at the same time. My heart filled with so much warmth at seeing him happy that it confused me so much.

I, Hermione Granger was confused about my feelings towards my best friend Harry Potter.

I turned to look at Ginny who must have been watching all my thoughts spread across my face in amusement.

She shook her head and held back a laugh as I glanced at her helpless. She looped her arm through mine "don't worry 'Mione you'll figure things out".

I watched after her in shock as she ran up to a girl who was in her year. I glanced down at Harry's and my joined hands again before glancing up at him as he squeezed my hand. He was looking at me and hadn't even stopped his conversation with Neville but he seemed to know I was feeling a little distressed.

I smiled when I saw his emerald eyes sparkle with laughter behind his glasses as laughed with Neville and Luna. I happily entered the carriage to go to Hogsmeade with my Best Friend and the people I trusted my life with.

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