Breaking the Habit

Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter characters.

Memories consume

Like opening the wound

I'm picking me apart again

You all assume

I'm safe here in my room

Unless I try to start again

I don't want to be the one

The battles always choose

'Cause inside I realize

That I'm the one confused

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

I don't know why I instigate

And say what I don't mean

I don't know how I got this way

I know it's not alright

So I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

Tonight

Clutching my cure

I tightly lock the door

I try to catch my breath again

I hurt much more

Than anytime before

I had no options left again

I don't want to be the one

The battles always choose

'Cause inside I realize

That I'm the one confused

I don't know what's worth fighting for

Or why I have to scream

I don't know why I instigate

And say what I don't mean

I don't know how I got this way

I'll never be alright so, I'm breaking the habit

I'm breaking the habit

Tonight

He was holding the letter she had left behind for him. It looked like he had read it more than once.

"What was the meaning of this?" he asked.

"It was nothing. I didn't go through with it. It was a slip of the moment." Hermione said.

She just walked through the door and shut the door when he smacked her face. All she did was look at him as if nothing happened.

"I am sorry that your dinner isn't ready I will go make it right now." Hermione told him.

For some reason he didn't seem to like that idea at all. He showed her that by grabbing her arm and twisting it back until it snapped.

Hermione cried out in pain. Out of everything that he ever did to her breaking her arms were the worst.

"I don't want any dinner now. I am just going to go out." Lucas told her.

Good if he was going out then she would have time to get out of there. She wasn't going to have to deal with him fighting her all the way out the door.

"But before I go out I think I need to teach you a lesson for not having my dinner ready when I get home and for leaving me that letter." Lucas told her.

She was in for it. She had the feeling that this time was going to be worse then last time. She couldn't keep doing this. She had to get out before he started again.

Hermione got up from where she fell after he broke her arm and ran for the door.

She didn't make it to the door. Lucas threw a glass vase at the back of her head. It shattered to pieces. Small shards embedded themselves into her head and neck. The impact made her go face first the ground. Tears were fiercely running down her face now.

When she had hit the ground she had broken her nose. Blood was going everywhere. She pulled her self off the ground and reached for the door again. He grabbed her from behind and threw her over the couch. She landed on the glass table breaking. The glass went into her arm, legs and stomach. The landing caused a few ribs to break. She was going to be in a lot of pain in the morning. She had to get out of there.

She could barley move. She needed help.

Help never came of course. Who would have thought to come save her from sweet innocent Lucas?

Hermione just laid there motionless in pain. She couldn't move. There was blood everywhere. She didn't even know from where it was coming from anymore. There were too many cuts to figure out which ones where worse.

Lucas seemed to have had enough because he walked into the bathroom slamming the door.

Now was going to be the one chance she had to get out. Forget all of her stuff she could come back and get it some other time or just replace everything. She wasn't just going to sit back and taking it anymore. She had to get out. She was going to break the habit.

She got up winching and moaning. She slowly started making her way to the door and noticed that she her left ankle was either really sprained or fractured. She had to try and ignore the pain. She made it to the door before she had to take a breath. One of her lungs must be punctured or bruised.

This was going to be extremely difficult. She needed help. There was no way she was going to make it to the hospital on her own. Since she lived in Wizarding London there weren't any cabs. The only way to get around was to walk, floo or apparate.

Hermione at least needed to make out of the building and out of sight incase Lucas came looking for her. She made it to the front of the building and walked to the ally way that was there. She checked her pockets to see if she still had her cell phone on her still.

Thank god it didn't fall out of her pocket during the fight. She pulled out the card Malfoy have given her and dialed his office number. When it kept ringing she thought that no one was going to answer.

On what had to be the 10th ring Malfoy answered. Weird wasn't his secretary supposed to answer that.

"Malfoy Enterprises, this is Mr. Malfoy speaking." Draco said.

"Malfoy….I need your help." Hermione muttered.

She was having trouble breathing. Her chest felt like it was collapsing in on her.

"Granger? You sound like you're out of breath. What do you need help with?" Draco asked.

He had just seen her a couple of hours ago what trouble couldn't have gotten into trouble already could she?

"I need to…….go to the hospital. I can't make it there on my own. Please, you're the only that I could call." Hermione muttered out.

She had attention now. What could have possibly happened for her to need to go to the hospital and why call him?

That was important was important was that she called him and need his help. He told her to do just that whenever.

"Where are you?" Draco asked.

"I am in the ally way by my apartment." Hermione told him.

She explained to him how to get there. Since he had never been there he had to walk since flooing would have caused a problem.

Draco ran the whole way there. She sounded like she couldn't breath and she sounded scared. Once he got to her apartment building he walked around to the ally way. At first he thought no one was there then he heard someone whimper.

"Granger?" He asked.

"Over here. I had to sit down. My ankle is killing me." Hermione said.

As she struggled to get up Draco walked towards her. He saw the mess she was in. There was blood all over her. She was holding her arm close to her side. There was what looked like glass shards everywhere on her clothes.

"What in the bloody hell happened to you Granger?" Malfoy asked as he went to help her stand.

"It's a long story. I will explain everything later but at this moment in time I would really appreciate it if you could take me to St. Mungos." Hermione said with difficulty.

Hermione looked on the verge of collapsing. Draco went up to her didn't even ask her he just picked her up and started carrying her. She didn't seem to mind at all. In fact she leaned her head on his shoulder.

At first he thought that she was just resting her head but then he noticed she wasn't breathing very well. She must have passed out. He went down the street then went into the first building he saw. People who were working stopped what they were doing to look at them.

"Where is the floo?" Draco asked.

"Up the stairs to the right. What happened to her?" A woman said.

Draco found the fireplace and flooed them to St. Mungos. It didn't take long at all to get some notice. The doctors took her into a room and shut the door in his face.

It seemed like it took forever for anyone to tell him what was going on. When he finally flagged one of the nurses down that was working on Hermione he asked her what was happening.

"Is she going to be ok?" Draco asked.

"She is getting patched up and being given medication to help with the pain. She went through quite on ordeal. Do you know exactly what happened to her?" Patty asked.

"No that's how I found her. She called me about ten minutes ago asked me to help her. I got to her apartment and that's what she looked like. She passed out when I started walking to find somewhere to floo." Draco told her.

"Why didn't you just floo from her apartment?" Patty asked.

"She told me to find her in the ally near where she lived. I don't even know if that building is where she lived or not." Draco said.

"Ok then, that's a bit odd we will have to ask her what happened once she wakes up. Would you be able to fill out some paper work for me?" Patty asked

"I will fill out as much of it as I can. After I do that can I go in and see her?" Draco asked.

"Once the doctor is sure that there isn't anymore injuries yes you may." Patty told him.

Draco sat down in one of the waiting room chairs and started filling out the papers. It was much easier to do then he thought it would be. He knew more about her than he thought. Then again they did spend a lot of time in the same common room 7th year. He just didn't realize how much they did get to know each other.

Draco had changed a lot by the time 7th year came around. The war had ended the summer before. His father had died in the last battle and he didn't shed one tear or have any sorrow about that. He was actually relived. He had switched sides when he had started his 6th year. He didn't want the Dark Lord around anymore. He didn't believe that all muggles were bad. They weren't doing anything wrong to the world. They all lived in peace. After Snape killed Dumbledore for him he couldn't fight for the Dark Lord anymore. That summer he went to Harry and told him everything he knew. He became their informant. He was the one that killed his father that day.

When he was named Head Boy the next year he was surprised. He didn't think that it was possible for him after what he had done in the past. He actually liked the idea of having his own room. He knew that Hermione was going to be Head Girl there was never a doubt about that. He actually didn't mind that fact at all.

While he had been living at Grimmwauld Place he got to see a different side to her. He at first was his old rude self until she had saved his neck when they were attacked one night. He started needing help with training she was the only one willing to help. Her excuse was that even he didn't deserve to be defenseless against the Death Eaters.

They got to know each other through out the school year. They would help each other with homework when one of them didn't understand something. They split the Heads duties evenly. He actually started to like her that year. He started noticing how pretty she really was. He never realized how beautiful her eyes were. They were a rich honey brown. They would light up when she was really happy about getting an A on a paper. He also started realizing how well endued she was. Draco also started noticing how her hair flowed in the wind. How soft it looked. He never acted on it though. He wouldn't dare not with her being friends with Pothead and Weasel.

He rarely talked to her outside of the common room, but he was never rude or mean to her when passing in the hall or in the classroom. He only was that way to her two buffoons of friends.

"Mr. Malfoy you may go in and see her now." Patty said interrupting his trip down memory lane.

Draco handed her back the paperwork and walked into Hermione's room. She was awake now and looked much better then she had when he brought her in. Her arm was bandaged up as well as her foot. She still had cuts on her face and arms though. When that much damage is done to a person they only heal the worse wounds and your body has to heal the rest.

"How are you feeling?" Draco asked.

She jumped a little at the sound of his voice but smiled when she looked at him.

"A whole hell of a lot better then before. Thank you for coming and getting me. I never would have made it here on my own." Hermione said.

"I gave you my number to call me if you ever needed anything remember? You don't need to thank me. I was happy to help." He said.

"I am surprised your still here. I know you must be busy with work. You didn't have to stick around." Hermione told him.

"You told me that you would tell me what happened later. Plus who would have filled out your information for the doctors for you. Don't give me that look I still remember things about you. I also wanted to make sure you were ok. I found you in a poor state their Granger." Draco said.

Hermione was shocked that he cared that much. She forgot how nice he could be.

"Well thank you. Really, you saved my life Draco." She told him.

"You know that's the second time today that I did that and you call me Draco every time." Draco told her.

"Well I owe you big time now don't I?" She asked.

"Yeah you do and you can start by telling me what is going on. I want to know what landed you in this position." Draco said.

Should she tell him? He had a right to know I mean after all he did save her more than once. She looked at him. For some reason she wanted to tell him. She knew deep down that he would see her side of it and actually care.

So she began her story of how she met Lucas and their relationship. She told him about how her family acted now. She told him about how her friends never came around, called or owled her anymore. She told him about how Lucas started abusing her. Hermione explained why she didn't leave him.

Draco sat there taking it all in. When Hermione told him about the abuse he got mad but he didn't show it because he was afraid that she would get scared if he did. He waited for her to finish before he commented.

"So why didn't you sneak away when he was at work one day?" Draco asked.

"Because I tried that one time and he came home early. It was one of the worse night I have ever had. He told me that I didn't matter. That no one cared at all. I believed him because of the way my friends and family are acting towards me. That's what caused me to be on the top of your building earlier." She muttered.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? I could have helped you." Draco told her.

"I planned on going home and packing my stuff up. It was still early so I thought that he wouldn't be home yet. He had been working late this whole week so I thought that I would have had time to pack my things and be out of there by the time he got back. I was wrong so very wrong. I don't know what I am going to do anymore." Hermione started crying.

Draco was watching her as she cried. He couldn't stand to see her like this. It made him realize that he was still attracted to her.

"Granger….Hermione I can help you. You aren't alone in all of this." Draco said.

"What can I do? I can't go back to that apartment. I actually just planned on buying all the things that I needed but I don't have that much money. Plus I don't want him to be able to find me so I planned on leaving England." Hermione told him.

"I can help you. I will help you get settled wherever you want to go. I will get you new clothes and anything else you will need." Draco said.

"I don't want to just take your money Draco. You have already done enough. I need to just find a job and save. I will just have to make sure that I find an apartment that is hard to find with lots of wards around it." She said.

Draco sat there for a few minutes and came up with an idea.

"Ok since you won't just take my money why don't you work for me? I mean I need a new secretary. I fired mine earlier. At least I know that if you work for me things will get done and will actually get my messages." Draco said.

Hermione sat there and thought about it for a minute. It was a good offer. I mean she would get a good steady paycheck. She would be able to afford a good apartment that would have protection around it. There also was the plus of having Draco around. He seemed to be the only one in her life that cared at the moment. He seemed to understand her.

"Ok. I will work for you. At least until I get enough saved up to leave here. When do I start?" Hermione asked.

"Fair enough. You can start Monday if you're going to be feeling up to it but first you need to get out of here and get a place to live. I will help you with that and it will just come out of you paycheck deal?" Draco asked.

"Deal. Do you think that there would be anyway to get my stuff out of Lucas's apartment? There are some photos and other things that I would like to get." Hermione said.

"How about we go do that tomorrow after you are released from here?" Draco asked.

"Sounds good to me. It will be a comfort knowing that you will be with me. I didn't want to go back there alone." She told him.

"No problem. Are you hungry at all because I am starving and I refuse to eat hospital food. It's disgusting." Draco said.

She smiled. He really did know how to make her cheer up. Odd she had forgotten how much they actually got along. It had been so long since they last saw and spoke to each other. It was actually graduation that was the last time.

"I am actually hungry and your right hospital food is dreadful. I never liked the stuff. I remember when I was younger and I was in the hospital. They made me eat this chicken soup but I have to tell you it didn't taste like chicken soup." She said.

"So what would you like? I will go pick it up and bring it back here." He said.

"Doesn't matter to me. You're paying so whatever you want." Hermione told him.

"Ok how about Chinese?" He asked

"Sounds good." She told him.

"What is your favorite?" Draco asked.

"Teriyaki chicken and steamed rice." Hermione told him.

"Ok so teriyaki chicken it is. I will be back in thirty minutes." Draco told her.

While he was gone Hermione went into the bathroom to clean up. She looked at herself in the mirror and grimaced. He really had done a number on her this time hadn't he? She just realized that she hadn't called her parents or her friends to come get her. She called Draco. Funny how things change. She didn't know what was going to happen now that she had finally walked out on Lucas. Her friends would probably see his side of the story as would her parents. She was going to have a hell of a time coming up. At least she had a job now. It was also a plus that she seemed to be able to talk to Draco about anything. Maybe she would actually get to have a friend again.

When Hermione had gotten resettled into her bed Draco came walking back in with the food. The smell was so wonderful.

She hadn't had Chinese food in so long. She had to always cook dinner. Lucas never took her out or cooked for her.

They ate their food and had a pleasant conversation. They talked about school memories and talked about what she would be doing as his secretary. They talked about childhood memories.

"Well I guess I should head home and get some sleep. I expect that any minute now a nurse is going to come in here and tell me to get out. I will be back tomorrow so we can go get your things. Sleep well." Draco said.

"Thank you Draco for everything. It nice to not feel completely alone." Hermione said.

"No problem. Get some rest or I have a feeling you will be kept here longer. Good night." Draco said as he walked out the door.

Hermione lay down but had trouble going to sleep. She was worried about what was going to happen once Lucas realized that she wasn't going to be coming back. That she was gone for good. She was also worried about her family and friends. She didn't want to lose them but knew it was going to happen they just didn't want to see what was right in front of them. It was going to take her a long time before she really trusted anyone again, even Draco. Yeah she appreciated what he had done but she really didn't trust him totally yet. It was going to take time. It was going to take her a long time, probably years for her to date again. Hermione was in for one hell of a time coming.

Draco didn't go straight home after leaving the hospital. Instead he went to his office to use his computer. He wanted to look up information on Lucas. He wanted to know who the sick bastard was.

He found out that he had graduated two years before them and had been working for the Ministry for four years. He had two younger sisters. One worked for Flourish and Blotts then other was a barmaid at the Hogshead. His mother had died when he was young but from what it didn't say. His father died during the last battle. There was nothing here to indicate why he would beat anyone. He wanted more than anything to go and find the bastard and give him a taste of his own medicine but he didn't want to be arrested. Plus he knew Hermione wouldn't want him to do anything.

Draco turned off his computer and went home to get some sleep before he was to go pick Hermione up from the hospital. How funny your life can change in one day he thought. Life just took a new path.

Don't forget to tell me what band sings the song that is in the beginning of the story.

Read and Review please.