Chapter 10

Disclaimer: Yep, you guessed it. Still not mine.

"You have your schedule?"

"Yes, Harry."

"Good. And you have all of your bags? Money that you have already exchanged?"

"Yes, Harry. Yes. I have everything I need."

Harry stood in the waiting lobby for portkey transport with Hermione and Draco, fists on his hips and biting his lip. He looked around, focusing on Hermione and then Draco, before hanging his head.

Hermione put her hand on his tense bicep and squeezed. Her heart broke for him, and she pulled him into a bone-crushing hug.

"Harry Potter, listen to me. I want you to write to me. If you have a good day, write to me. If you have a complete shit day, write to me," Hermione pleaded.

"Or to me, Harry. You know I love to hear you bitch," Draco added, his sarcastic tone not enough to mask the honest concern and affection in his eyes. "We both have these marvelous objects called floos, I believe you've heard of them? You have one as well. Use it. You will be our only real contact anyway, seeing how my father can't exactly write to me all the time. And Severus writes in riddles. We need you as much as you need us."

Harry just nodded.

An attendant stood up and amplified her voice, saying, "The portkey for the states will be leaving in exactly three minutes!"

Hermione brought a few fingers under Harry's chin and convinced him to look up at her.

"I love you, Harry Potter. And I'll be home for the hols before you know it."

Harry just nodded some more, and then cleared his throat.

"I'm going to miss you, Hermione."

"Less than two minutes! Less than two minutes, please! Make your way over here, if you would!"

Harry's eyes went wide and he gripped Hermione's biceps, shaking her slightly.

"Be safe, Hermione. Please. For once, for me, ignore all Gryffindor instincts and stay safe," harry said, still shaking her lightly.

"Okay, Harry. I will. No playing the hero for me. But the same goes for you, yeah? Stick to your training and don't go gallivanting off on your own."

Harry seemed to relax minutely and let her arms go.

"Okay. I love you, Hermione. Good luck and have fun."

"One minute!"

"Bye Harry! Come on, Draco!" Hermione called, rushing over to the designated spot, and looking back to where the blonde still stood next to Harry. They seemed to be saying a few words softly and surprised Hermione when Draco grabbed Harry and pulled him into a hug. She saw him whisper in Harry's ear as they hugged and turned away slightly to give them as much privacy as the public space could allow, knowing that neither man would appreciate gawking at their touching moment.

Finally, Draco ran over and took his spot.

Hermione looked back at Harry and waved, her finger touching the old coffee can.

"Be careful, please!" Harry shouted once more.

"Harry, I'm going to be fine. I won't be alone," she called back, laughing, before the portkey tugged her and the group away.

"But I will be," he whispered, and stood staring at the empty spot where his last friend in the world just stood.

XXXXX

"Oh my god, I'm exhausted!" Hermione complained, throwing herself backwards onto her bed. Draco stood leaning on her door frame looking tired enough to drop.

Hermione and Draco had been in the States for two weeks, and just completed their first week of school.

Draco walked over and flopped himself rather inelegantly onto the bed next to her, face down. He mumbled into the comforter.

"Sorry, what?" she laughed.

Groaning, Draco rolled over.

"I said, have you heard from Harry?"

Hermione sobered up and shook her head.

"I wrote to him three times already, and I've yet to get a reply. I have half a mind to go back just to kick him. But I know he's probably just wallowing. He did this the summer after Sirius died. He ignored all letters for months."

They lay in silence for a minute before Draco spoke again.

"We should go out tonight."

"What?" Hermione said, laughing again.

"I'm serious. I heard about some great little clubs if we go into town. Muggle, obviously, but still dance-worthy, from what I hear."

Hermione just kept laughing. The idea of going clubbing with Draco Malfoy to muggle bars was so outrageous that she couldn't stop laughing.

"When you're finished doing a hyena impression, I'm serious. Come on, Granger. We deserve this after how crazy it's been."

"Okay, okay. You've convinced me. Let me finish writing my two letters I put off and then I'll get dressed."

When Draco wandered out of her room, Hermione grabbed up a pen and paper (oh how she'd missed these!) and sat at her desk.

HARRY JAMES POTTER,

YOU REPLY TO MY LETTER BY TONIGHT OR I SWEAR ON MY PARENTS' GRAVES THAT I WILL FIND A WAY BACK TO YOU AND KICK YOUR SCRAWNY LITTLE ARSE!

WHEN I GET HOME TONIGHT I EXPECT TO SEE A DELIGHTFUL REPLY TELLING ME OF YOUR LAST TWO WEEKS.

OR ELSE.

-Hermione

XXXXXX

Severus,

Well, my first week at Salem is over. Things here are insane, of course. The first week we arrived we had to decorate the flat (which was surprisingly much more difficult than it should have been. Draco is so picky!) and learn our surroundings.

Then we started our classes. It's insane! Good thing that almost everyone from my year at Hogwarts didn't continue on at Uni, because they bitched enough when you assigned them a three-foot essay. Already this week, I have one that's equal to a seven-foot essay, and that's the shortest I'll get for the semester! It's so crazy.

But it's me, so you know that deep down I love it.

Harry hasn't answered me, but I just sent him a threatening letter so that should hopefully change soon.

How about you? How are classes?

I miss you all terribly.

I have to stop writing now; Draco is yelling at me to hurry. He wants to go out dancing at a muggle club tonight.

Merlin save me.

All my love,

Hermione

XXXXXXXXX

Hermione tapped the letter meant for Harry with her wand, making it turn the tell-tale red of a howler, before sending it through her floo right after the one bound for Snape.

Getting up to rummage in her closet, Hermione decided that she really didn't have dancing clothes. Having never needed them in the past, Hermione had not ever gone shopping for fun garments.

Looking in the mirror, she scrutinized her appearance. Still fairly flat on top, she had long ago lost any hope of developing the ample chests that men seemed drawn to. She was thin, but not with the allure of curves. And she never had figured out how to tame her hair. Normally, it was pulled back into a bun or elastic. But at least her teeth were nice.

Rolling her eyes, she turned away from the mirror and grabbed up a simple black dress that fell to just above her knees.

Was she a witch or not?

With a wicked grin, Hermione picked up her wand.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Merlin, Hermione! How long does it take for you to get ready?" Draco yelled, sprawled across the couch in comfortable black slacks and a deep green button up shirt.

"What do you think?" she asked, coming down the stairs.

His head popped up over the couch to take in his roommate.

"Nice. Where'd you pick that number up?"

"It's modified with a lot of spells. Here's to hoping I'm at good at charms as I think I am," she laughed. "If I can't make an outfit hold for a night, I have no business majoring in the subject."

"Very true," he agreed, watching her apply some quick eyeliner in the reflection of the microwave.

Hermione had completely redesigned the plain black dress to flatter her a bit better. It was now a chic looking strapless sweetheart bustier dress that stopped near the bottom of her thighs. The waist cinched in, and then fell in ruffles to the end. It was simple, but more beautiful because of it. She paired the dress with some nice strappy heels (complete with cushioning charms, of course) and gave up with her hair and had just thrown it up. They messy appearance of it almost looked good with the dress.

At least, that's what she was telling herself.

"Want me to add some fortifying charms on top of yours to seal them in?" Draco offered, standing up and running his wand down his clothes, smoothing the wrinkles.

"No, thank you. Although, keep an eye on me in case you see trouble with them. Then you have my permission to step in and help. But this is a good experiment," she said, stowing her wand in the hidden zip-up pocket she had added to the side of the dress. "And look at you. Very nice. The men will swarm."

"Cheers. That's the idea. We could always look for a man for you. We have separate rooms for a reason, you know," he said, waggling his eyebrows.

Hermione laughed and grabbed her clutch. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass. I'm going to concentrate on not looking like a complete idiot out there on the floor. Did you look up clubs?"

"Yeah, and the guy at school told me where most people apparate to. We'll pop up right down the street."

Less than ten minutes later, Hermione stood looking up at the sign to her very first club, even if it was a gay club.

"The Machine?" she laughed.

"Yeah. But I hear great things about them," Draco said, looking almost as nervous.

Grabbing his hand, (he was getting better at not flinching when she touched him), she dragged him to the door and paid the cover charge for them both.

She saw the man behind the counter give Draco the once over and stifled a laugh when she realized he was oblivious. He was busy staring around in awe to notice anyone checking him out. The cashier seemed a bit disappointed, but stamped their hands and waved them forward.

"He was totally checking you out, and you didn't even notice!" Hermione laughed, leading him to the bar.

"What? Who?"

"The man that was stamping our hands."

Draco looked back at the man, then to Hermione to check if she was joking, then smiled. It was his cocky smile, but softened a bit.

"Let's get this going!" he yelled, and brought out his wallet.

XXXXX

Hermione groaned and threw her covers over her head. Why did the sun have to find its way into every crack? What she wouldn't give for some Instant Darkness Powder. And why did the bird chirps seem magnified? This must be hell.

She finally forced herself to sit up, if only to find her wand and shut the birds up once and for all. Moving caused her stomach to lurch, though, so she slowly lay back down and started scooting herself to the edge of her bed.

Finally making it, she started the process of sitting up, but slowly. She caught sight of her clock and groaned again. She couldn't remember ever sleeping in until noon in her life.

She made it into a sitting position and looked around, proud of herself for making it this far. Looking down, she saw she had apparently shimmied out of her dress and into one of her old t-shirts she liked to sleep in, at least.

Convincing herself that she had to get up eventually, Hermione was distracted by something shining in her eye. Looking for the offensive object, she saw what looked to be a glass vial in her inbox next to her small floo.

Walking seemed to be a Herculean effort that she wasn't willing to tackle today, so she slid down onto the floor and crawled over. Reaching up, she grabbed everything in the tray and propped herself up next to her desk.

There were two letters, and two small glass bottles attached to the letter addressed with a familiar spiky scrawl.

Hermione

Classes are the same. I have the usual crop of students who have no respect for Potions, and not enough students who do.

I bet Mr. Potter is trembling with fear over your letter.

Minerva speaks of how much she misses you often, so write the woman, for Merlin's sake.

Draco wants to go…dancing? I don't believe even Merlin can help you with that one. Good luck.

I am glad to hear you are enjoying your classes. Try not to overwhelm yourself.

-Severus

P.S.- If my guess is correct, you both probably have massive hangovers right now. Whilst I should let you suffer, I suppose I can remember being young.

Here are two Hangover cures, one for each of you. Do yourselves a favor and learn to make them.

XXXXXX

Hermione uncorked one of the vials and drained its contents in record time. Leaning her head back against her desk, she closed her eyes and waited for the potion to kick in. Already she could feel her headache start to fade, although she knew it wouldn't fully leave until she hydrated again.

While she waited for her body to feel up to getting off the floor, she opened the other letter, which she was happy to see was from Harry.

Hermione,

I highly doubt the howler was necessary.

I'm sorry I haven't written to you Hermione. Seriously, I am. I know that you needed to go, but I'm just so angry. I'm angry that Ron abandoned me. I'm angry that my best friend was forced to go to uni in a different continent. I'm angry that I'm supposed to be some hero when I don't even know how to take care of myself.

Anyway, I hope you and Draco are doing well. How are classes?

All my love, even if I don't show it,

Harry

XXXXX

Hermione ached to see her best friend again. She was happy he wrote back to her, but crushed by his words.

Finally feeling like she wouldn't decorate her floor with the contents of her stomach, Hermione go up to bring the second hangover cure to Draco, who she assumed was just as bad off as she was.

Opening her door, she heard groaning coming from his room and smiled evilly, feeling better knowing that she wasn't the only one hungover.

His door was slightly ajar, so Hermione briskly knocked before pushing it open.

"Draco, Severus sent us some oh God! Sorry!"

Hermione turned and slammed the door behind her before sprinting down the stairs.

She had definitely not expected to see the back of some man's head bobbing on Draco's crotch, with Draco's hand fisted in his hair. And although the naked man's head blocked all incriminating parts of Draco's anatomy, Hermione had a good idea what had been happening.

She heard footsteps thumping quickly down the stairs so she busied herself making a pot of tea.

She heard the front door slam and then Draco rounded the corner and they both stared at each other before simultaneously breaking into laughter.

"Oh my God, Draco, I'm so sorry," Hermione laughed. "I really am. I heard you groaning and I assumed you had a hangover like I did. Although, to be fair, your door wasn't properly shut, you know."

Draco had sat himself down on a stool at the bar and laid his head down, forehead first, on the cold surface. His arms were crossed over the top of his head and he was still laughing.

"It's fine. I should have warded the door, but I don't even remember coming home last night," he said. "And I do have a bloody terrible hangover. I think the adrenaline from you walking in was the only thing that propelled me downstairs. I had only woken up about ten minutes before you walked in."

"Here, this will set you right. It's a gift from our esteemed former Potions Master. Where is your guest, anyway?" she said, setting the second potion bottle in front of her roommate and laughing some more as she got mugs out.

Draco grimaced at the taste, but drank down the potion almost as quickly as she had.

"He left as soon as we got down the stairs. I don't even know his name," he said, groaning again. "I think it starts with a 'D' though. Dylan? Daniel? It's something to that effect."

"Muggle?"

"Well, he didn't apparate out like a wizard would have, so there's a possibility. Merlin, been in the states for two weeks and I've already succumbed to savagery. Sleeping with muggles, I tell you."

She brandished her stirring spoon at him with a stern look. "Any more talk like that around me and you can bloody well make your own tea." She set the teapot down in front of him with a bit more force than necessary.

Draco actually had the decency to look abashed and quickly nodded before grabbing for some sugar.

After some silence where they both attempted to drown themselves in their tea, Draco cleared his throat.

"So, did Potter write you back? Or will you be making a visit there?"

"No, he wrote me back. I was right; he was just brooding. But it still hurts knowing he's going through this alone. But he promised to continue to write me. Are you okay?" she asked, noticing how still Draco had gone.

"Hmm? Oh, yes. I'm fine. Just going in and out of a daze, I suppose. I think I'm going to write to Severus and thank him and ask if there's any word on my father. Then maybe go into a self-induced coma for a bit," he said, standing up. "Thanks for the tea."

After he had run back upstairs, Hermione got out her paper and pen.

Harry,

Thank you for finally replying. I really would have found a way back to you to kick your scrawny arse, you know. And I can understand how you would be angry. And tired. And just sick of it all. I felt that way after I heard that I needed to leave to come here. I was so tired of being scared, and tired of war. And if it felt that bad for me, I can only try to imagine what it must be like for you. The feelings are probably magnified exponentially. Just remember I love you. And write to me when you start feeling like that, even if it's just to bitch. Just so you can get it out.

Classes are good so far. I'm so busy. You would absolutely hate university, Harry. It's almost too much work for me. Draco and I went out dancing last night to unwind from all the madness, and luckily our former Potions Master had the foresight to send us some hangover remedies. We definitely needed it.

It's so weird knowing that Draco and I are getting along. No one could have told me this would happen at the beginning of last year, but now it all seems so normal. He's still an arse, though. Like this morning, he was talking about this bloke that he slept with last night, and started saying how he's gone "savage" in such a short amount of time because this guy was a muggle.

He didn't seem to care about bloodlines when I caught him with the guy's face in his crotch this morning.

Sorry. You probably wanted that visual about as much as I did.

I love you, Harry. Continue writing me.

Or else.

-Hermione

XXXXX

Severus,

How can I ever thank you? Your potions have saved us. I remember now why I don't normally drink. That was horrible. Absolutely horrible.

And what of this talk about remembering being young? I thought we had the discussion about you being in your prime! Although, I have to say, the thought of you at a night club is extremely bizarre.

I bet Harry did tremble in fear, which is why he wrote me back. Lucky for him.

I'm not overwhelming myself. I learned my lesson during my third year with the time turner. I wouldn't be able to survive that again. The work here is definitely keeping me busy, though, I'll tell you that. And it's nice to share space with someone who actually studies, for a change. Not that I don't love Harry, but he wasn't exactly on top of homework, if you recall. I had to force him and Ron most of the time.

I will definitely write Minerva. When I finish with your letter, I will start on hers. Although, it makes me smile knowing she's bugging you.

I feel the love.

Going out with Draco was just as ridiculous as it sounds, but I actually had a great time. It was nice to finally get out and unwind.

In all seriousness, Severus, thank you.

-Hermione

XXXXXXXXXX

Author's note: I feel like I'm forever apologizing to you guys. I wish I could say it will never happen again, but I'm sure it will. Although, the gratitude I feel for everyone who has stuck with me, those who have favorite me or the story, those who have put an alert for every time I post a new chapter…it's amazing.

I have been going through some difficult patches in my life and there have been times when I've just sat and stared at my laptop until the battery died, waiting to write something, knowing that I promised to keep the chapters coming in a timely manner. Then the next day, I hype myself up to write, and I stare at the screen again.

So, if you have stuck with me this far, thank you.

-Elissa