Now, she thought to herself, she had to rebuild her life. Practically all she could remember, was filled with Harry and Ron and now suddenly there was a gap. It didn't feel bad though, it wasn't a deep dark empty hole, it was a space which could and would be filled. But she couldn't move on until she had sorted out the past. And to do that she had to speak to Draco Malfoy. She had to find out why he, who had always seemed to despise her, had held her while she cried. Comforted her in her grief. Every time she thought about it she got more confused. Eventually, one Saturday afternoon in Spring she made up her mind. As she strolled up to the gates of Malfoy Manor she was surprised by her apparent lack of fear. The house no longer seemed to overshadow everything, rather it welcomed the afternoon sun. The garden was well-tended and the flowers were blossoming. He stood in the garden, and, when hearing her tentative footsteps turned around with a smile on his face.

"I thought you'd come."

"That's a shame. I do hate to be predictable" She said laughing.

Both of their smiles suddenly dropped as they realised how strange this was. Malfoy and Granger. Talking. Laughing. Something was definitely off.

"I need to ask you something, about the other day..." She said slowly

"I know. You're gonna ask why I stayed." He replied

Hermione nodded, "Why did you?"

"I guess it was because, I don't even know. Just... I've known that feeling when you feel like nobody appreciates you or cares about you and you've got no one to turn to. I've felt that way my whole life. I guess that's why I was so horrible to everyone. I wanted everyone else to feel as lonely as I did. It didn't work though. I just made everyone hate me more."

"I hated you. For so many years I hated the way you made me feel. Do you even remember how many times you called me Mudblood? Because I do."

"I know, I'm sorry. I know I don't deserve to be forgiven. But I need to be. By someone, anyone. Especially you." He beseeched her.

There were too many parallels between this scene and the one with Ron which was still so fresh and sore to the touch.

"I'm going away. I don't know how long for. But I can't stay here like this. Ron loves and hates me and the same time. Harry will always take Ron's side over mine. Ginny can't forgive me for leaving Ron. Everyone expects me to return to him and help him." She told him, not sure why.

"I thought you hated to be predictable?" He said with a small smile.

Hermione looked back at him and in the split second Malfoy saw all the pain and anger that rested in her, preventing her from ever being at peace again, like a river in constant flood.

"I think you're right about going away. And I know you don't want or need my opinion, but anyone that makes you feel like that deserves nothing from you. I had to learn that. And I'm better off, now I'm on my own." He said strongly.

She looked at him with tears running slowly down her face.

"How are you not lonely? I feel so alone right now."

"I learnt that until I found that special person who would care about me for me then I could take care of myself. You realise ones enough."

The two stood together squinting at the brightness of the sunshine.

"Thank you. For this." She said turning to face him. "Its good to know if I come back I'll have someone to count on."

"I wouldn't recommend you come back. I'm betting they'll suck you back in. Gold is never fully tarnished and I don't think the golden trio will be an exception. You should get out while you still can."

At that Hermione slowly walked away. Turning back to look at him. Somehow positions in her life had been reversed. She never thought that she would call Malfoy a friend and yet he had been there for her when They hadn't. She apparated to her and Ron's flat, picked up her bag, and apparated away again. Ron, hearing a crack, leapt up in hope, thinking she had come back to her. Dashing to the hallway he prepared himself to graciously take her back. Realising she had gone he gave a hell of anger and disbelief. He picked up the nearest thing and threw it against the wall where it shattered. He stood on it as he stomped out the flat. The broken object, a picture of Hermione and him in Hogwarts when they started dating, lay broken in tiny pieces on the floor