Author's Note: Okay, so, if you haven't read the blog, I strongly suggest you do. Reminder, it's " spicysugar368 dot tumblr dot com " .. the reason I say this is because even though I announced on the blog that this story is, indeed, loosely based off of the Sound Of Music, I still had a billion reviews letting me know of the stark resemblances and asking if I aware that it was so close. So, yes, indeed, I am aware guys, haha. I said at the beginning of chapter one that this whole story was loosely based off of "one of my favorite musicals" and that musical is the Sound of Music. Enjoy Chapter 11!

Chapter 11

Crash Here Tonight

Hermione arrived with a pop inside her mother's living room. In the kitchen, her mother heard the sound and came into the room to investigate.

"Hermione?" she asked incredulously, her hands wet with soapsuds. She'd been doing the dishes. Such a mundane thing… Hermione had forgotten about the need to do dishes…

"Hello, Mother," she said quietly. "I'm back."

"To stay?" her mother asked, still not believing it.

"Yes. To stay."

Her mother stared for a moment.

"Not that I'm not happy to see you of course but… why?"

Hermione sighed.

"I'd rather not talk about it. Maybe tomorrow."

Her mother bit her lip, then rushed forward and enveloped Hermione in a hug. Hermione held her mother tightly, with all the remaining strength she had, and she felt tears begin to fall from her eyes.

No, Hermione, no! He is NOT worth crying over… Stop it…

But the more she tried to talk herself out of it, the faster the tears flowed.

"Hermione!" cried her mother, seeing she was upset. "Hermione, please, just tell me what's wrong…"

Hermione sniffled, cursing herself for acting like a child.

"I can't, Mother. Not right now. I think I'm just going to go to bed…"

"All right, Hermione," her mother conceded. "You know I'm here if you need me."

"Yes, Mother, I know," Hermione replied. She then levitated her trunk up the stairs, following closely behind it. When she got into her old room she was almost shocked at how plain it was. It had ordinary white walls and her bed was a simple double with a red coverlet. Pictures of she, Harry, Ron, and her family adorned the furniture in frames – some moving, others not. It seemed so small that Hermione was almost claustrophobic in it, even though it was the second largest bedroom in the house. She let her trunk drop in the center of the floor and she collapsed onto her bed.

She missed Malfoy Manor already and she'd been gone five minutes.

But was it really just the manor that she missed?

No, she decided. It was much more than that. That was why she'd left in the first place, and why she hadn't told Draco the truth about why she was leaving. She'd lied – blatantly lied – in her note that she'd left to him. She only hoped that he didn't pick up on it and didn't come to check on her.

Draco had just finished a foxtrot with Michelle and he suddenly realized that it had been an hour since he'd sent Hermione upstairs to change and join the party. Knowing Hermione's aptitude with magic, he was sure it wouldn't have taken her that long to get ready.

"I'm going to go upstairs and check on Scorpius," Draco said to Michelle. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to lie.

"Oh, Draco, don't worry yourself with that, I'll go…" Michelle started.

"No," Draco said firmly. Michelle seemed startled. "I mean…" Draco continued, softening his voice. "This may be a party in my house, but it's for you. Stay here. Mingle. Talk. I'll be down shortly."

"As you wish," she said, and gracefully stepped away from him into the crowd, grabbing a glass of champagne off of a table as she went.

Draco, meanwhile, was already halfway up the grand staircase. He did pass by Scorpius's room on the way and peeked inside to see that he was sleeping soundly, but did not linger and continued down the west corridor until reaching Hermione's room. The door was closed, so he knocked lightly.

"Hermione?" he called softly.

No answer.

Thinking that she was possibly in the bathroom and couldn't hear him, he gently opened the door.

The room was totally dark except for the slight glow from the twilight sun outside. Her dress for the evening – which, he realized, he hadn't seen before and looked positively stunning – was hanging by the door. Her wardrobe stood open and revealed only two suits.

"Hermione?" he called, louder this time.

No answer again.

The room, under the spell Hermione had put on it, sensed Draco's presence. He noticed a yellow glow coming from Hermione's desk. Curiously, he walked over to it and found the source to be an envelope with his name on it in Hermione's tidy script. Fifteen galleons sat in a neat pile next to it.

The fifteen galleons he'd added on to her last paycheck from Scorpius's birthday.

Not wasting any time, he quickly slit open the letter and read:

Draco,

I am sure you are wondering where I went. Please rest easy. I am safe and left of my own volition and am back with my mother again. She has taken a turn for the worse with her mental health and I feel it is my duty as her daughter to be with her in such a troublesome time for her.

I have truly and sincerely enjoyed my time at Malfoy Manor. I do not know if I will ever be able to return. I greatly apologize for having to leave so suddenly but my mother's need was pressing. Please send my apologies to Scorpius and tell him that I will miss him very much.

I'll miss you, as well. My employer and my friend.

Yours always,

Hermione

Draco stared at the letter, not comprehending, before he read it over a second and then a third time.

She was gone.

Hermione was gone.

She'd just… left without a word.

For a brief moment he felt extremely angry. How could she do that to him? To Scorpius? But as he read the letter over a fourth time he could read the desperation in her words, could sense how she was feeling, could almost hear her speaking to him.

Her mother needed her. Who was he to take that from her? Her mother was the only family she had left. He sighed, then carefully folded the letter and put it in his jacket pocket. As he walked back down the stairs and joined the party, he almost didn't want to admit how much he would miss her.

"Everything in order with Scorpius?" Michelle asked as she joined his side again when he entered the foyer.

"With Scorpius, yes," Draco began hesitantly. "Otherwise… no."

"What do you mean by that, Draco?" Michelle asked him, smiling easily.

"It appears that my governess has left," he answered simply. Michelle gasped.

"Hermione? She's left? Where has she gone?" she asked.

"Back to her mother," he explained. "She is in ill health."

Michelle frowned very dramatically. "How dreadfully awful… I do hope everything is all right… How terrible for her to leave us so suddenly…"

"How terrible, indeed," Draco said.

Michelle gave a small sigh.

"But do not let it worry you, darling," she said to Draco, taking his hand and leading him into the thick of the party. "Just because she has chosen to leave us does not mean you cannot enjoy yourself tonight!"

Draco hadn't wanted the party in the first place, but after such an upset with Hermione he only wanted to be alone. Knowing that he could not possibly get away with such a feat, he forced himself into social interaction and eventually was acting so convincingly that he thought he might actually be halfway enjoying himself.

The last of the guests left just after midnight and he and Michelle retired up to his room.

"I had a great deal of fun tonight," Michelle said, sitting gracefully down on Draco's bed to remove her elegant heels.

Draco was silent as he removed his tuxedo jacket.

"Draco?"

"Yes, I enjoyed myself as well," he finally said.

"Are you all right?"

"Worried."

"About?"

Draco sighed. "Hermione. It just seems so strange that she would leave so suddenly. It's very unlike her."

Michelle sighed and, having rid herself of her shoes, stood up and walked over to him – several inches shorter, now.

"Draco, you said yourself that her mother was in ill health… you cannot fault her for leaving under such circumstances. Would you not do the same for your own mother?"

Draco wondered about that for a second considering how well he got along with his mother – which was not at all – but then decided he saw Michelle's point anyway and decided to agree.

"Hermione cares about those close to her very dearly. I think she is closer to no one than her mother. So yes, I can understand."

Michelle smiled.

"I am sure she will keep us updated on her progress, dear," she said sweetly.

She was beginning to unfasten his tie and unbutton his shirt.

"Yes I… I'm sure…" Draco said, faltering as Michelle began kissing his neck.

"Mmhmm…" Michelle said. "Now…" she whispered in his ear, "how about you let me help you forget all about Hermione tonight…"

As conflicted as Draco's emotions may have been at that moment, he was still a man, and he took Michelle up on that offer quite readily.

Hermione awoke the following morning in her own room and for a moment wondered why she was there.

It didn't take long for the memories to come rushing back.

She fought tears as she slowly got up and got ready and then met her mother for breakfast.

"Would you like to talk this morning, dear?" her mother offered. Hermione's stomach wrenched.

"No, I… no. I think not," Hermione replied, sipping at her coffee. "I think I'm going to go over to Harry's today."

"Harry's?" her mother asked. "Harry from school?"

Hermione smiled inwardly at how juvenile the question sounded… like she was running along to a friend's house after primary school.

"Yes, Mother. That Harry."

"Well, I'm sure he will be just delighted to see you since you've been gone so long… How long will you be out?"

Hermione paused.

"I'm not entirely sure. I'm sure Harry will have lots of questions for me." She finished the last of her coffee and stood up from the table.

"Well, just don't be gone too long… you've only just come home, I'd like some time with you too, you know…"

Hermione felt guilty for running away from the house but it was too painful for her to experience the stark contrast between the manor and her home.

"I know, Mother. I promise I won't be late."

Her mother smiled and gave Hermione another hug.

"Regardless of why… I'm glad you're home."

Hermione hesitated before answering. "Me too, Mother. I'll be back later."

"Goodbye, dear," her mother said, and Hermione turned on her heel and was gone.

She appeared outside of Harry's house – a stately little place he'd set up in Godric's Hollow - a moment later. As Harry was independently wealthy thanks to his parents, he didn't have financial troubles. It was ten in the morning, she was sure he'd be up by now. She opened the front gate and walked up to his front door, ringing the doorbell.

She waited a minute and he didn't come to the door. She tried again.

"I'm coming, I'm coming, hold your hippogriffs…" she heard his muffled voice from inside. She smiled. A moment later he opened the door dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt that he'd clearly just thrown on to get to the door. His hair was messier than usual and his eyes were a little bleary.

Damn, she'd woken him.

"Hermione?" he said, blinking at her.

"Hello, Harry," she smiled.

"Blimey, so I'm not dreaming…"

"Nope."

"What are you doing here? I mean, not to be rude or anything, but I thought…"

"I've left Malfoy Manor," she answered. Harry blinked again.

"Well thank Merlin, it's about time…" he said. "Come in, don't just stand there on the doorstep…"

Hermione giggled a little. She should have known Harry would be relieved and not upset that she'd had to leave the manor. She stepped inside and he led her into the living room.

"Tea?" he offered.

"No, I've just had coffee, I'm fine."

"Good, because I didn't feel like making it anyway…" Harry smiled, and he sat down across from her.

"So. What happened?"

Hermione sighed.

"It wasn't easy…"

"To be there or to leave?" Harry asked.

"Toward the end… both," she said. Harry raised an eyebrow.

"That's cryptic."

She sighed again.

"I know. But it's… complicated…"

"I've got all day."

She gave him a sad smile and knew that was exactly why she loved him. Even if he didn't understand, he was always there to listen.

By the time she finished her story, Harry was speechless.

"Well?" she asked.

Harry seemed to be struggling with himself mentally.

"So… he was a right old prick at first… no surprise…"

"Yes."

"But then he got nicer and started treating you and his son better."

"Yes."

"And then you… dear Merlin… slept with him?"

Hermione sighed heavily before replying, "Yes."

Harry shook his head. "And then he disappears for over a week… and brings home a girlfriend he's had for a year?"

Hermione nodded.

"What a slimy git…" Harry said.

"Yes, you've said that already… several times…" Hermione reminded him.

"Right. Anyway. So this girl is apparently gorgeous, and madly in love with him…"

"Right."

"Sure she's not just in love with his money?"

"Unless she's looking to expand her own plenteous fortune, I'd think not…"

"Yeah, well, we'll see… but then Malfoy has this party in her honor…"

"Uh huh," Hermione affirmed.

"And she comes to you out of nowhere, claims Malfoy is in love with you and that you're in love with him and basically tells you to sod off?"

"It was a little better worded than that but essentially… yes."

Harry stared.

"Hermione, that lady is off her rocker."

Hermione bit her lip.

"Right before she left my room… she told me that I was really self-sacrificing for leaving the way I was… and that I was obviously a very powerful witch… 'even though I was muggle-born,'" she quoted.

"Wait."

"What?"

"She made a snide remark about your bloodline?"

"I wouldn't call it snide really… more like an observation…"

"But a remark nonetheless," Harry pressed.

Hermione nodded.

"Don't you find that an odd comment?"

"Not really, not after growing up with far worse… many wizards and witches are still prejudiced against the 'lesser' bloodlines, Harry, you know that…"

"But do you think she just wanted you out of the house because she didn't want a muggle-born teaching her potential future son?"

Hermione considered this for a moment.

"Harry, that's ridiculous…"

"Is it?"

Hermione was silent again.

"She made it very clear that she wanted me out because of mine and Draco's apparent love for each other."

Harry looked calculating.

"Hermione."

"Yes, Harry."

"How do you feel about Malfoy?"

She answered with pensive silence.

"Hermione?"

"I… Harry, I just don't know…"

"Well. Do you honestly think he does love you?"

"No," she answered quickly. Too quickly.

"Really, Hermione? Honestly?"

She thought for a moment. In the last two months he'd treated her better than he ever had in the first seven years she'd known him. He'd given her money to buy herself nice things, even though he was paying her a salary. He'd kissed her and slept with her that night, even though he certainly wasn't lonely because he had a girlfriend away in France. He'd told her she was his friend, that she had made the manor a home. He said she had been the best thing to happen to Scorpius. He'd invited her to join the ball even though she was only a governess. He'd danced with her. He'd kissed her almost under Michelle's nose.

What had happened when she'd left?

"Hermione?"

"I… think it might be possible… that perhaps, there might be something there beyond friendship… though I do not know if it is anything close to love…"

Harry looked at her for a moment.

"And you? How do you feel?"

Hermione was quiet again. Could she honestly say she loved Draco?

Why else would she be in tears over the fact that she'd left, that she'd felt she had to leave, that she'd been trapped and had no choice?

She looked at Harry. He gazed back calmly.

"I… Harry… I don't…"

"If you love him, you certainly can't stay here."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that it's doing you no good here running away from it. You have to go back. You have to face it. Face him. You can't just run away. That's not the Hermione I know."

"But Harry… Michelle… Scorpius…"

"Michelle can go throw herself off of Big Ben for all I care. She's a no good slimy witch of a woman and clearly not a good option for a mother for Scorpius. Even you can see that."

Hermione was quiet.

"Hermione Granger doesn't run away from her problems. She never has, and she never will," Harry finished.

Hermione stood up and began pacing.

"Harry, what on earth could I do? What could I say? 'Hello Draco, I'm madly in love with you and I've come back to see if you feel the same?' He wouldn't dare do anything that would jeopardize his relationship with Michelle. She's a perfect match for him. High class, beautiful, wealthy… to admit he loved me would be admitting he was attracted to someone beneath him."

"You said yourself that Malfoy lives in the country because he hates his social status and responsibility. What makes you think he'd care about loving someone of a lesser class?"

"But Harry, I'm a muggle-born!"

Harry stood up.

"Haven't you realized by now that that clearly doesn't matter to him? Hermione, why would he even have hired you if he cared about your blood?"

Hermione was taken aback by this outburst. Why did Harry care so much?

He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Hermoine. I just hate seeing you be so down on yourself. You're an amazing witch, you know that."

"Intelligent and powerful, perhaps…"

"No, Hermione. Amazing. As your best friend, I can say that I've watched you turn from a bossy know-it-all to an amazing woman. You're more than just a witch. You're a human. A human with human wants, needs, and desires. With human feelings and emotions."

He paused.

"And as much as we'd all like to think that Malfoy is just a pretty prick of a robot, he's a human, too," Harry finished. Hermione could tell that saying that had been a little painful for him.

The weight of what he'd just said made Hermione sink back down onto the sofa.

"Harry…"

He sat down next to her and took her hands in his.

"Hermione Granger, I love you. Probably way more than Malfoy does. But unfortunately, the kind of love I've got is different."

She gazed at him curiously.

"You're my best friend. If it weren't for you I can honestly say I'd probably be dead. I love you dearly, Hermione, with everything I've got… but as a friend. Draco doesn't have a whole lot of emotion to give, but from what you've told me, I'd bet all the galleons in Gringotts that whatever emotion he has, he's got invested in a love for you, and not as just a friend. He loves you, not that pathetic woman that's living in his house."

Hermione's breath caught. This was one of the most emotional things Harry had ever said to her. After the emotional hell she'd been through in the last few weeks… it was relieving to be able to fall back to Harry's loyalty.

"Harry… Oh, Harry…" she said, then buried her head in his shoulder... and cried.