A/N: Hello!! It is me! I'm back after so long and for that, I'll say again, I'm sorry. Well, here it is: the next installement of Timeless. I hope you guys like it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please don't expect the next too soon either -lol- it might take a while too - as horrible as it may sound. But for now, you guys can enjoy this chapter and this is a very important chapter...why? well, keep reading! Ok, I think that's about it. Enjoy...

Disclaimer: Own plot - nothing else.

"Are you ok, Hermione?" Silence. "Hermione? Hello? Is something the matter?"

Little by little, Hannah's concerned voice made its way through Hermione's mind.

"What?" Hermione asked, sounding a little lost. "Sorry, what did you say?"

Hannah huffed impatiently. "Is there something wrong? All day you've been acting..." She trailed off. The reason for Hermione's odd behavior suddenly dawned on her. "Oh, have you guys not solved your problem yet?"

Hermione shook her head.

"Well, don't give up." Hannah encouraged, putting a supportive arm around her friend. "They'll come around, I'm sure of it. The three of you just won't die."

Hermione looked sideways at her friend, the only one besides Draco she could talk to. "You really think so?" and then she added, "And please be honest."

Hannah smiled, "Trust me, they will"

Two weeks later, the rest of the school returned from the holiday. It was like a new start for the students, coming back with happy expressions and a fresh feeling inside after receiving their gifts and eating all the holiday food. It felt like a new start for everyone except for Hermione. It was Thursday night and she was sitting in the common room, the last one still awake. It'd been too long since she'd last spoken to Harry and Ron, when was this all going to end?, she asked no one in particular. When you end it with Draco, that's when, a voice inside her head suggested. Groaning with misery, Hermione closed her book. She'd been reading the same sentence for the past hour, unable to concentrate. Her mind, which before was filled with schoolwork, was now occupied with Draco and her friendship with the Harry and Ron.

In all honesty, Hermione was beginning to feel frustrated and simply tired of the fight. Ever since they'd gotten mad at her and stopped talking, her grades began to fall. How could she keep up with the load when all she can think about was them? When Professor McGonagall or any other teacher settles back to lecturing them, standing there with a book in hand and doing nothing else that might keep Hermione's mind active, that's when her thoughts involuntarily go back to their problem. It's gotten so bad, yet unavoidable that she sometimes wishes she could just wipe them off her mind. Simply wipe them out so she could go back to her work.

But it was impossible. Thinking about her depressing and hopeless predicament, her heart began to feel hollow. She was aching so much at the thought of losing them that she couldn't help the tears from flowing. They were falling in their own accord, staining her soft cheeks on their way. As time passed, her cries began to get louder; she was now heaving and sobbing so loudly she was almost positive that the school could hear her. And there was nothing she could do about it.

Harry and Ron were walking silently through the portrait hall. They were under the invisibility cloak, something that has proved itself useful at times like these.

"I am never eating another tart Hagrid makes." Ron stated resolutely, "And I don't care if it hurts his feelings. It isn't worth my mouth being all sticky and thick for hours."

In response Harry laughed, felling a bit sad and sorry for Hagrid. He was their greatest friend but someone had to tell that big oaf that his cooking abilities weren't as good as his ability to attract monstrous and foul creatures into his den. He was about to open his mouth when he suddenly stopped. Ron bumped into him abruptly from behind and was about to make a rude remark when the sight of Hermione silenced him, too.

They were both invisible and Hermione's weeping was so overt that it was likely she hadn't heard them come in. She was sitting there, crying as though the world was about to end.

Harry and Ron stood there, frozen, completely dumbfounded as to what to do. Should they tip toe to their dormitory or should they reveal themselves and finally talk to her. It has been long enough and they knew that it hadn't been easy for her, or for any of them. But the question still stands: Are they ready? Are they ready to confront the issue and resolve it while the risk of changing everything between them still stood? Could they handle when Hermione decides to side with Malfoy instead of them?

Ron was still battling with his decision when Harry made it for him. He slowly took off the invisibility cloak from their bodies and stepped forward. Harry walked cautiously to Hermione with only one backward glance to Ron, egging him to join Harry. With a sigh and a wave of deep nerves and anxiety, Ron followed.

Hermione was sitting looking like a frightened child, sitting curled on the chair, with her arms around her knees and her face hidden underneath her arms. Carefully, Harry lightly touched her arm.

"Hermione?" he said softly, as if he was facing a dream instead of reality.

The sobbing stopped; they both heard a deep intake of breath and a sudden stillness in her body. Ever so slowly, Hermione lifted her head from her arms, gazing up at them with tear stained cheeks and a red nose. But the most obvious was her expression.

Her eyes were projecting such sadness and hopelessness that Ron immediately felt shame and regret. How could he have done such a thing? This was Hermione, his best friend, his adopted sister. He loved her and knew that whatever reason she had for her actions, he could forgive her. He knew in his heart of hearts that she never anticipated or intended any of this. She was just caught up in the moment, and she was probably just as confused as they are. The only thing that really drove him to the point of insanity was the anger. The anger and betrayal he felt from her. But looking at it now, after a long time's worth of reflection and 'rational thinking', how could he blame her? How could you blame someone for liking another person? For wanting to be with them? You can't hold a grudge against someone based on their feelings. No one has control over their desires do they? You can't help who you love. You're not supposed to.

Looking at her, Ron's heart felt like something had grabbed hold of it and suddenly squeezed real tight. With a rush of emotions he sat next to her and wrapped his arms around her frail body. Trying to infuse his love and apology into his embrace, wanting her to know how sorry he was for being the most idiotic person on the face of the earth.

Hermione's body froze. She was most definitely not expecting anyone to see her like this, especially the two people standing before her. Why were they always catching each other in the most intimate places and moments? But she didn't care. Now they know how much I'm suffering and maybe they'll finally let me talk to them. Explain everything. And maybe things could go back to normal. Hermione was about open her mouth, to begin the conversation before they decided to run off again when something unexpected and incredible at the same time happened. Ronald Weasley, her hot tempered friend, the one who refused to speak to her sat down and hugged her body tight against him. And it was the most wonderful feeling in the world. Her body froze in shock before her mind and heart raced back to reality and she reacted with a returning embrace.

"I'm so sorry..." she confessed in a weak voice. "Please, I'm so sorry."

Ron smoothed out her hair and kissed the crown of her forehead. "I'm sorry, too, Hermione. I've been the stupidest person for the past few weeks."

She shook her head. "No, you haven't. You were angry and I understand. You were just acting out your feelings." She said as tears began to flow down her face again. But this time, they weren't sad tears. "You don't have to apologize for that."

Ron heaved a sigh and gently took hold of her shoulders and leaned back, so he could look into her eyes. "I think I should. What I've done wasn't reasonable; I should've talked to you from the very beginning. I didn't mean to put you through hell."

Hermione smiled a half smile. Finally, she'd been waiting for this for ages. And she knew that Ron meant every word. You could see it in his eyes. "Well, I won't deny that I did go through a lot but maybe it was a better thing that we didn't talk in the beginning, no matter how hard it was. I think it would've been a disaster."

"Well, I think we've all cooled down a bit now." Ron said, looking at Harry who was watching this dramatic moment from just a few feet away. "Haven't we, Harry?"

Harry took a while to answer. He was looking intently at Hermione, who turned and returned his restless gaze. Slowly, Harry nodded and said without looking away, "Maybe now is the time to talk about this."

Hermione looked down, her cheeks coloring and her breathe getting heavier. "Yes, I think we should."

"Ok," Ron said, getting ready. All three of them sat down on the couch, near the fire. Ron and Harry sitting on the singe chairs on either side and Hermione sitting in the middle of the large sofa. Hermione started.

"I just want to say I'm really sorry." Taking a deep breath she continued in a small serious voice. "That was not at all the way I was planning to tell you."

"We know that." Ron said.

"Um..." this was the hard part, Hermione thought. Turning around, she asked, "What did you see?"

Harry's mind went blank. He wasn't exactly prepared for that question. Racing through his memories, he was brought back to that night, that moment of shock and anger, but most of all, jealousy. Clearing his throat, he was stalling, thinking about what he was going to say. "I saw...you... together."

That was it. That was all he could manage. Hermione took a deep breath, knowing this was a critical moment for all of them but at the same time, wanting to be elsewhere. This was much too hard for even her.

There was a momentary pause, all of them falling into silence, letting the words linger in the air for all of them to absorb, until Hermione couldn't help it and confessed her deepest feelings.

"These past few weeks have been the worst weeks of my life. And that doesn't count when I was attacked by a mountain troll, or petrified or being surrounded by dementors or unconscious underwater for Merlin knows how long. I'd never been more miserable in my life." She took a deep breath before continuing, "I know an apology isn't enough, I could never be but it's all I've got. You'll never know just how sorry I am for hurting you and I don't blame you one bit for treating like filth. I deserved it." Hermione hadn't expected to feel the wave of relief she felt at the instant those words left her mouth. It was like suddenly being freed a burden or a gigantic load off your shoulders.

Hermione took a glance at the two boys and saw them looking at each other with sad expressions in their eyes. "We don't think you deserved all of it." Ron inquired. "Maybe we were a little hard on you, we were just...unbelieving."

She looked down at her folded hands on her lap. "I know," she responded with a small laugh. "I mean, you would have imagined, right?"

"Well, we certainly didn't. We-" Ron started then changed his sentence when he heard a snort from Harry. "I," he corrected himself, "was almost sure that he was using some spell on you of some sort."

"Is it that bad?"

"We were enemies, Hermione. He made our lives here a living hell remember?" That was the first time Harry had spoken after his answer earlier. "He was the root of all evil for the three of us," then he added, "up until you two seem to find your way to each other, of course."

He didn't say it rudely or with any hint of hate, it was simply a statement but it made Hermione feel a funny feeling inside.

"How did it start anyway, Hermione? I mean, how did you two suddenly...well, you know." Ron asked. He'd been dying with curiosity as to how this whole mess had started in the first place. Why did Hermione even let him get near her?

She took another deep breath; seem to do that a lot tonight. Hermione recalled the fateful beginning of everything. Her mind went back to that day in the Hogwarts Express. That unidentified stranger. That electrifying feeling when he caught her in his arms. And all the rest.

"How it all started?" she repeated his question, more to herself that to them. "I don't think there was a particular moment that really started it. I suppose it was more like a slow and natural progression. Little by little we saw glimpses of each other that the other didn't know...and then we started to talk about little things."

Ron snorted. "Malfoy, talk in a civilized manner? I don't think so."

"Ron, he really isn't that bad. In fact...he's quite great."

"Great?" Ron said in an even louder volume. "The boy is scum, 'Mione!"

"No," she challenged in an equal tone of voice. "He isn't. I thought he was before, I didn't there was anything there but a cold and empty heart. But then I got to know him, little by little and then I realized that he really isn't what he seems to be."

Harry almost threw up. She was talking about him like he was worthy to be talked about by someone as wonderful as her. Harry couldn't understand it. How can they get to 'know each other' when just last year they couldn't stand in the same room without having some severe verbal brawl arise at some period in time. But the worst thing about listening to her was hearing the softness in her voice and the light smile that tried to hide itself from him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, stop doubting me already, please Ron."

"I'm sorry, I just can't believe that anyone, especially him, could change so drastically to actually change someone so smart's opinion."

Hermione laughed. "Thank you, Ron. At least, now I know that you don't think I've gone completely bonkers."

"Oh, believe me, I do. But I can't deny your grades even now."

"So," Harry cut in with a small voice, one that didn't go unnoticed by the other two. "You're really convinced that Malfoy changed. That he isn't the same...guy as before."

"Well, I don't know if he changed into this person. I think he'd always been like this, just he's a bit...misunderstood." Hermione answered. She chose her words carefully so she wouldn't make Draco sound like a completely different being to them, because after all the dramatic differences she'd learned about him, there were still glimpses of that hot-tempered, bad mouthing and quick witty person. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

"Misunderstood?" Ron repeated indignantly, "People only perceive you from what you show people. How can he be misunderstood?"

"I don't know, Ron. But I know he has some reason. Please believe me, if you only give the chance to get to know him, you guys will see that you aren't so different."

"Different! Hermione, I understand that, for some inexplicable reason, you like this guy but I refuse to believe he and I have anything in common." Ron bellowed.

"Be quiet, Ron!" Hermione hissed, then with a calmer voice said, "Look, I didn't mean that you should suddenly be friends, I only meant that you three are teenage boys and I've already seen him do and say things that reminded me of the two of you."

"Gee, thanks Hermione, that sure was a compliment." Ron answered with sarcasm dripping off his tongue.

"Ron! You aren't even trying to listen to me!" Hermione stood up and moved towards the fire, hoping to get warm and lose some of the goose bumps she felt all over. Everyone fell silent again.

"Look Hermione," Harry started, "We don't really care about the past or what happened between the two of you, that's your personal business. All we want to know is, what's going to happen now?" Harry knew exactly what he wanted to hear but as much of a dreamer he was, he was still full of common sense and knew his chances were pretty slim.

Slowly Hermione turned from the fire to face them. They could see moist forming in her amber eyes and her lips quavering in the slightest. "I don't know. You tell me."

Ron stood up. "Well," Here it is, he thought. "For the first thing, how do you feel about him? I mean to say, how are things between you two, are you still together?"

She closed her eyes, knowing what to say but not knowing how or if she should say it.

Harry felt her hesitance and tried to comfort her as much as he could, even though he knew that what he was going to hear would hurt him more than he could ever anticipate. "Just tell us the truth, Hermione. It's alright."

Hermione took another deep breath before opening her mouth. "We're still together."

"And how do you want us to handle this?"

"I'm not asking for you to be friends, believe me. But I was hoping that you might at least be civilized towards each other." She said hopefully.

"Civilized? Why are you telling us to be civilized? We're the good guys, Hermione."

"I'm not telling just you, Ron. I've already told him and he said he'd try to do the same."

"Oh, so he wasn't as up to this idea as we are. Yes, Hermione, I can understand how you might think we'd have anything in common."

Hermione glared at Ron. "Stop making jokes. This is important to me."

Her voice had such a plea in it that it hurt both Ron and Harry and it was at this moment that they realized that perhaps this was truly more than a crush for Hermione – maybe she really cared for Malfoy. Something, which neither boy could easily comprehend.

"I don't know," Ron sad, sounding 'unconvinced'. "I still think he's using some charm on you."

Rolling her eyes, Hermione answered. "Ron, give that up. You know he isn't. This is something real. You know me, I'm not that kind of girl who giggles about boys."

"Exactly, why are you suddenly oh-so-interested in him? Of all people, him." And then an idea invaded his mind. "Or maybe he's blackmailing you. Is he, Hermione?"

"Ron, I am not some lab rat for him,"

"What?"

"And since when have I ever been made to do something that I don't want to? Remember me, the most solid of the three."

"Look, 'Mione. I'm just saying that I don't really understand how all this could happen."

"I already told you..."

"We know, we know, we know."

"So," Hermione said slowly, looking at both Harry and Ron meaningly in the eyes. "Will you guys try to be civil with each other?"

After a serious mental battle, Harry and Ron agreed. One with real dislike, the other with a real broken heart. But the answer delighted Hermione more than she thought. Her mind felt clear and her heart felt lighter than ever. She smiled broadly, not being to contain her relief and happiness. With a sudden rush of excitement, Hermione jumped ad threw herself on her two best friends, hugging them both so tightly they had to gasp for air. But Harry didn't care. This was the first time he was holding Hermione while being aware of his feelings for her – and it felt good.

"Oh my gosh," Hermione gushed with enthusiasm. "You have no idea how good I feel. I'm so glad we're okay. I've missed you guys so much."

"So have we, Hermione but if you don't let us go, you'll definitely miss us." Ron said, choking for air.

Hermione let them go with reluctance and a blush that Harry thought so irresistible. "Sorry, can't help it."

"So," Ron clapped his hands together and sat down on a comfy chair getting comfortable. "What have you been up to? We sort of need to be updated."

Hermione laughed out loud and followed suit. "Well..." she began.

"Oh, and please, leave out any detail that might be inappropriate."

"Don't worry, Ron. I'll try not to be too girly on you." Then with a glance at hurry said, "Is something wrong, Harry?"

He'd been standing there, just watching her, unaware of his own actions. But Ron, of course caught everything and knew exactly what had captivated his friend's mind – or shall he say heart. "Yeah, mate. You look like you'd swallowed a treacle tart and it went down the wrong tube." He offered as a comic relief and to divert any suspicion Hermione might conjure up in her mind. He didn't think Harry was ready to tell her yet.

Harry shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. There was just something in my mind for just a second." He said.

Hermione looked concerned. Was he still angry with her? Her heart thudded violently in her rib cage. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Harry seated himself near Hermione. "No, really it was nothing. I just want to know what you've been doing this past month." He said, relieving her anxiety, then taking her hand in his, he added, "C'mon, tell us everything."

And so they spent the entire night filling each other in with what's happened. Hermione talking for most of the time, Ron nodding and murmuring 'uh-huh's and Harry listening intently while trying to battle his inner feelings with her every smile, every frown, every laugh and every blush.

Yay. Ok, right now I just want to thank each and everyone of you for being so faithful to me and the story. I can't believe anyone was even still waiting for this but you all are and I'm so happy its crazyy. Well there ya go... the trio has at last found a way to reconcile...what will happen next...you'll just have to wait. Thank you again, I hope I did not disappoint. Please review as always...I want to know what you think and your suggestions. You know, I've been on this story for almost a year now! - well, kinda...-lol- OK...later dayz.