Hey all! Been awhile. I was busy with a Senior Thesis animation as well as graduating from my university! I hope you don't all hate me by now. My chapters have been sort of depressing and enraging lately. This one might not be too much better, but TRUST ME the next chapter will be full of happier feels. Everything takes time. :) Enjoy!

Every night for the next three months, Hermione would continue to cry herself to sleep. Harry and Ginny had told her many times that Draco would come around to talking again if she just gave him space, but by the end of the second month the encouragement stopped. If Draco hadn't spoken to Hermione by this point, then there was a chance he would never do it. Rather than give Hermione false hope, Harry and Ginny found it best to avoid talking about Draco all together.

With a new baby in the house, James Sirius, Hermione was able to distract herself. Harry and Ginny requested that Hermione be James' Godmother and she happily accepted. However, James was only a temporary fix. In her loneliness and despair, Hermione convinced herself that the only way she would be happy again is if she moved on. She knew there was nothing between her and Draco in the romantic sense so his leaving shouldn't really matter as much as she was letting it. Almost completely convinced that she was happier in the middle of the third month, Hermione started seeing Ron again. Many of her friends questioned if this was the best decision, but she was positive Ron was a changed man. Ron had finally sought out help for his drinking and anger problems and was learning to have better self control. Everything was going great between them and Hermione felt like she was back in her school days where everything was perfect in the world.

Perfection still has its flaws though. Perfection is simply the shell that hides the truth. Hidden deep within the shell, there is hurt. There is confusion. There is the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. The perfection that others see, the happiness that others believe… it's all just a mask, a lie. Hermione's eagerness to show how happy she is and how perfect her life has become is nothing more than a plea for help. It is not a plea for her friends so much as a plea for herself. She cannot be the person she was. She is broken. Draco Malfoy broke her. The boy she felt such hatred for in school. The boy she vowed to outshine in everything just to spite him. The man she learned to trust and care for. He broke her.

Hermione secretly hoped that Ron would be the glue that could fix her. She knew Ron was a good man at heart and he always cared for her, so it only made sense that he would be the best at fixing her. Unfortunately, when she would go home she still felt incomplete. Hermione longed for more. She loved Ron, but he wasn't providing her with what she needed most. Ron would never want to hear about her sorrows over Draco, but that's what she needed most. If only someone would listen to her then she would feel better. Deep down, however, Hermione knew that she couldn't have just anyone listen. Ginny, Harry, Luna, and anyone she could corner would listen to her as the tears fell from her face. They all wanted her to be happy, and the genuinely cared about her. It wasn't enough though. The one person she needed to have listening to her wasn't around. The only person she wanted to cry to was the person ignoring her. Draco was the person she needed most. He was her best friend and she wanted to cry into his arms, but if he were there for her to cry to then she would have no reason to cry. It was a cruel, evil cycle that made her break more every day.

At the end of the third month, Hermione finally decided that she had to do something. Draco still hadn't spoken to her more than a simple "hey" and everyone else was tired of seeing her depressed. Despite her failed attempt at talking before, she knew she had to force him to talk. Hermione was determined to corner Draco and force him to talk.

"Gin, I'm going out. Tell Ronald I'll be back around later… there's something I need to do. Draco can't avoid me forever," Hermione called out to Ginny.

Ginny looked up only to see that Hermione had already apparated. A soft smile grew on Ginny's face as she realized what Hermione was going to do.

Hermione appeared in front of the Parlour. Draco Malfoy, you WILL talk to me this time. You can't keep avoiding me, thought Hermione. Just as she was about to walk into the Parlour she heard someone call out her name.

"Hermione! Long time no see, eh?"

She turned around to see who the voice belonged to. Although the timing was awful, she was pleased to see the man before her.

A grin spread across her face as she said, "Ah! Hello Ne- er… Professor Longbottom." Hermione winked at Neville, proud of his achievements.

"I can't tell you how many times people have done that to me lately! It's crazy, but yeah I'm a professor now! I teach Herbology at Hogwarts! Isn't it wicked?" Neville asked.

Hermione's excitement grew as she shouted, "Yes! It's wonderful, Neville! I heard about it a few weeks ago. I always knew you'd do well. Okay fine, maybe I didn't back in our first year but you grew on me. You're going to be an amazing professor."

"Thanks, Hermione! So what are you doing over here? Running errands? If you're not busy, we could go over to Hogsmeade and visit the Three Broomsticks like old times. Catch up, you know?"

Sighing, Hermione smiled back at Neville and replied, "Oh, well, I was sort of busy." Neville began to frown. "But you know what? I'll just do it some other time. What could be better than catching up with an old friend?"

The smiled at each other and prepared to apparate. Hermione knew she was just stalling, but something in her gut told her to wait to talk to Draco. With a blink of an eye, Neville and Hermione were gone.

The pair now sat in the Three Broomsticks drinking their Butterbeers. Neville was telling Hermione about his amazing planet discoveries as well as the story of how he got involved with Hannah Abbott. After he finally stopped to catch his breath, Neville asked Hermione how her life had been.

"Master any new spells, Hermione? You always seemed to have a knack for learning. Well, that's obvious I know but I still have a hard time conjuring a patronus sometimes!"

Hermione burst out laughing, "Oh Neville, the only one who was able to immediately conjure a full blown patronus in our age group was Harry. It was difficult for the rest of us too. However, I'm flattered that you think I'm such a wonderful witch!"

"Hey now, I didn't say that. I just said you had a knack for learning," Neville said, winking at Hermione.

She giggled. "Neville Longbottom that is the harshest thing I've heard you say! Alright though, I know what you mean. I've actually been working with the Ministry to develop updated spells. It's sort of a side job. I seem to have a lot of those."

Remembering Hermione's schooldays with S.P.E.W Neville decided to inquire further, "Still trying to save the house elves and other magical creatures?"

"Oh, that's right… S.P.E.W. I completely forgot about that! I've been so busy I haven't had much time. I do still like to help when I can though."

Neville smiled at the memories of their school days. The conversation reached a silent point where neither of them really knew what to say. Finally Neville decided to ask a more personal question.

"Hermione… if you don't mind me asking… how are things with you? In your personal life?"

Unsure of what Neville meant Hermione just stared at him.

Neville thought for a moment then said, "Luna has been telling me some things. I know you've been hanging out with Malfoy a lot. Well, you were anyway. How are you holding up? Everyone says you're better now. Everyone seems to think you've moved on and that you're happy finally. I don't believe it though. If you were truly happy then you wouldn't keep giving me fake smiles when I know you're not listening. Who are you trying to fool? When I ran into you in Diagon Alley you looked anxious and scared. That's why I invited you out. You're not happy, are you?"

Hermione's jaw dropped slightly. She wanted to tell him that she was happy and not to worry, but he had seen right through her. She accepted her defeat and hung her head as she responded, "No. No, Neville, I'm really not. I try to be. I really do. Sometimes I even feel happy. It never lasts long though. I think I'm broken, Neville."

Tears began to flood Hermione's eyes. She tried to hold them back but there were too many. Hermione cried out to herself more than to Neville asking, "Why? Why? I don't understand why. Is nothing sacred? It's just not fair!"

Neville reached out to hug her and comfort her. After a few minutes, Hermione regained her composure, took another sip of her Butterbeer. Neville and Hermione continued to chat for another hour or so until finally Neville had to leave.

"It's been great seeing you again, Hermione. We should do this more often. I hope things work out for you. They always seem to have a way of fixing themselves, you know? Luna has taught me a lot about stuff like that. I'm sure your answer is just around the corner."

With that, Neville left and Hermione was alone once more. Little did she know just how true Neville's words were. Someone else was there in the Three Broomsticks with them, sitting just around the corner.