A/N: Such a quick update! I do not support alcohol/drug abuse and it is extremely bad for your health. If you are doing it, be safe and be smart.

Thank you to: Alexybath, Jade2099, AbsolutelyEmpty, tfobmv18, and mangokake for reviewing.

If any of you were interested in the dream world part of this story – that will come into play very soon. I hope you get the reference (from the prophecy mentioned in chapter 14) in this chapter.

Chapter 21: On Hallows' Eve

On the last day of October, I realized that I'd finally snapped because of the miserable existence I'd been living. I realization hit me when I opened my eyes in the early dawn light and felt absolutely nothing but sorrow. So the first thing I did when I got out of my pathetic bed all alone in my drafty apartment was to down three shots of fire whisky, one after the other.

I'd regret it for the rest of my life.

It was astonishing. I walked into the ministry building hidden in the bustling streets of Manhattan partially tipsy. That's right. War hero, celebrity arm candy, know-it-all, pristine Hermione Granger came to work inebriated. The end of the world had come and if there was a hell it would surely be freezing over.

It wasn't as if anyone at the ministry had the bollocks to call me out on the self medicating. So, throughout the day, I would take a few gulps of the putrid tasting whisky when I thought no one was looking. I wasn't completely irresponsible, of course. I still was aware that I had some semblance of a reputation to maintain. I only drank enough to stay blissfully unaware of the constant pain I was in.

Besides. No one really knew the difference because I really had no job here that they could see me flail at in my depressed, drunk state. My job was to be a poster child, really. One Harry would have shunned me away for if he had any idea that this was what my life was like. I was "Sebastian Dominique's" A.K.A Draco Malfoy's precious girlfriend. I was practically public relations- just not.

By the end of the day, all I'd done was meet several flashy people, supervised some Halloween event that was taking place later at the ministry for the workers and made sure everyone did their work with a huge fucking smile. My job was to slack around and promote the ministry's actions.

I was doing it superbly.

At one point in my life, I'd have been disgusted with my actions, my career and really, anything to do with myself. But really, who gives a fuck? It pays the rent, doesn't it?

When I left the office that day, I couldn't feel any more pain. Whether it was the festive Halloween decorations or the alcohol, I didn't know. In fact, I was almost giddy if my grin was anything to go by. I didn't need a Malfoy to shag. I didn't need anything but another fire whisky and I would climb over a pile of smelly trolls to get to it!

How I managed to get to a pub in one piece, I really have no idea. All I knew is that once my arse met the bar stool, there were men lining up to buy me drinks. Was it the gauzy white dress I'd worn to work that day or the fact that I was Draco Malfoy's girlfriend that made me so attractive to the leeches? Whatever it was, after being rejected on a daily basis by the man I loved made me feel almost elated with all the attention they were showering on me.

Well, being drunk helped too.

By the time midnight rolled around, I was hammered. It was probably because of this that I was not able to understand that letting Zara's ex-husband, who was a complete bastard, buy me a drink.

"You son of a-! Wait, is that fire whisky?" He only nodded to my slurred question, smirked and pushed it towards me. "Well, I guess I shouldn't look a free drink in the mouth then, yeah?"

"It's not free. You'll have to give me your company," he said, in his annoyingly greasy sounding voice. He lookd me up and down, pausing to leer at my chest. "I'm sure...we will have a lovely night together." I cringed and turned away from him to the guy on my other side, but he yanked me roughly back by my arm.

"Ouch! Get off of me!"

Immediately, as if sensing the opportunity to save a damsel in distress and to get into another girls pants, three or four men came to my defence. When the arsehole didn't let go of my arm – which was really starting to get painful even in my drunken state – they voiced their discontent.

"Hey buddy, the girl said to let go."

"Yeah, she's not interested-"

"You lot mind your own business," the ex responded to them, his grip on my arm only increasing in pressure. If I hadn't been so drunk I'd have probably cried in pain. "I work at the Ministry of Magic." Like I gave a fuck he was a ministry official! I was a ministry official! He probably wasn't expecting my knee to collide solidly with his groin. Hell, even I was surprise I'd managed to do it so soundly. His hand flung out and hit some bulky man's nose.

It wasn't going to be a pretty sight.

What followed afterwards was like a series of chain reactions that I couldn't comprehend. Rather than take a part in the flailing limbs and yelps of pain, I nicked a bottle of fire whisky and snuck out as best as I could. The amount of attention that the brawl was now receiving allowed me to do this effortlessly.

I skipped drunkenly down the street in my white dress, the bottle of fire whisky dangling from my hand, laughing. All too soon, I stopped. First, because I'd grown dizzy and secondly, because the scene felt like a serious case of déjà vu.

Had I done this before?

I really tried to think back, wondering what it was about this scene that rang off strong warning bells even in this drunken condition my mind was in. But I was too confused, too saturated in alcohol to place such a vague reference. It was as if I'd seen this before...perhaps in a dream, long ago...

Maybe I had dreamed it!

I was celebrating my revelation with another swig of fire whisky when I was startled with a push to my back. I stumbled but whoever had rudely shoved me caught me and pulled me close against their torso.

"There you are, you little bint!" I heard, roughly whispered into my ear. The fucking bastard had found me! How had he managed to get away from all those people in the fight? He pulled me flush against him and I felt a tingle of foreboding, which promptly disappeared when his lips found their way along my neck.

I stiffened. There was something wrong with this picture...very, very wrong. I knew it. But what? Hmm...

"H-Hermione?" I heard my name called out, disbelievingly. I turned and looked to find Zara staring at me, shocked and her eyes mysteriously shining.

"Zara!" I pulled myself away from the stalkerish arse and stumbled towards her. "Hi!"

"How could you do this to me?" she whispered when I was close enough to hear. She looked over my shoulder at the monster. "With him? Why?"

"Hello, Zara," I heard the smarmy voice from somewhere behind me. He was closer when he spoke again. "Doing well?"

Zara didn't say anything, not that I could remember. She glared at the man, grabbed my arm and apparated us away. Apparating hadn't been the best option. Thank god there was no one in sight, because once she had let go of my arm I promptly bent over double and hurled the content of my stomach on the pavement in front of me. The action sobered me up quite a bit.

I looked up, realizing we were at Draco's home. It took me a few long moments to realize that I'd told her all about "happily" living in Draco's fabulous home. I'd done it to cover my miserable life and lead her off the trail of my misery.

"How could you, Hermione? After everything I've told you!" I just stared at her blankly. What was she talking about?

"I didn't do any-"

"Don't! I was there, I saw you with him! I was worried about you, when I heard what was going on – I came to look for you! And...Were you going to go home with him?" Before I could say anything, she turned away and started to walk away. Before I could call her back to stupidly defend myself, she turned around and glared at me. "I thought you were my friend! I trusted you!" she shouted.

"Zara-" I started, but she wouldn't let me have a word in. It was a good thing, I suppose. I didn't know what I would have said.

"Never talk to me again," she stated, coldly, before apparating away.

When she was gone all I could think of was that another person had rejected me. My life was a farce, my boyfriend despised my guts and now I had no friends. I was a horrible, terrible person. No one wanted me.

I was all alone.

I couldn't help the tears that came this time, even if I had wanted to. At that point, I was too low and broken to be strong for anyone. I was shattered and a little on the helpless side. There was nothing more to it.

I sobbed it all out.

And that was how Dobby found me, sobbing and sitting in a puddle of my own vomit.

Draco:

The little faithful creature brought my angel in to lie in bed. She lay there sobbing and suddenly, I was afraid. They did not know I was there. Perhaps the creature did. The creature knew many things. I watched on from the shadows, regardless. It was a horrid sight to see.

The angel lay sprawled over my bed with the creature coaxing her to take a vial of blue liquid. It seemed familiar, it did, as if from a distant memory. A father drinking it the morning after a drunken rage? Perhaps it was so. It would not be safe to show myself until the creature had left.

When it finally did, I slowly inched my way forward. She must have heard me for she turned, spotted me watching and sobbed all the harder for it. Red, blotchy eyes, tear tracks and tangled hair... she looked as if she were in agony.

I choked back a cry. I had seen too much agony for my angel to be in it too.

"What do you want from me now?" she finally spoke up, just barely. I was confused. Want? "Just take it and leave."

The angel wanted me to leave.

I started to shiver, frozen to my spot. She looked too miserable to leave. Who would protect her if she was so indisposed? It was not safe for her and it was definitely not safe for me. I should not have wanted to stay to protect her. It could have killed me, but I could not let another's blood fall on my conscience.

I shook my head at her and she cried all the harder. My heart began to ache. Had I made the angel cry? Was this my fault? "Why are you here now? It isn't as if you want me anyways," she said. And that was what shocked me to the core. Not want the angel? What an absurd notion.

Did she not know that if I touched something so pure it would burn? It would turn to ash! And then there would be no angel. Who would guard my dreams? If I had had a heart, it would have burst, surely. She turned away from the sight of me, and for a second I was relieved.

It was not my dreams that needed guarding tonight.

So, I did not move. Against all odds, against every red siren, against my very instinct, I stood vigil in the darkness. I would defend the angel's life in fear that if I did not, the fragile being would wither away. When she had drifted off into a fitful sleep, I stood guard just outside the heavy wooden door that I'd left ajar, so I could keep an eye on the pitiful thing.

And soon, darkness was driven away by the light of the sun but still I stood faithfully in my spot. She did not stir, but even from here I could see the colour of cheeks and the slight raising and falling of her petite form. She was breathing. I had done it. I had kept away the beasts that swallow such beautiful things in the night.

I knew she was safe when the sun had crested the horizon. But when the golden orb had risen enough to light the entirety of the city, I knew no more.

November 1st, 3 PM.

When my eyes snapped open, I awoke to a huge blinding headache. It was a headache that screamed fuck me, I need a fucking potion NOW. Scrambling out of bed, I realized I was fully dressed. Now that was odd. It felt like I'd been asleep for an eternity. I heard my joints cracking as I stretched haphazardly while also trying to untangle myself from the blankets that had been draped over me. When I looked around I realized I was in my own house, in my room, all by myself.

Well, shit.

I almost ran to the door, stumbled over the blankets that I'd dropped the floor and crashed into an ill-placed chair. The resounding crash of both the chair and I shook the room. "Fuck!" I exclaimed. No sooner than I had screeched every profanity that I could remember in the haze of pain that I heard the door creak open.

"Draco?" I heard the tentative voice.

When I saw her meekly enter my room, I felt relief rush through me. So I hadn't just dreamed that I had Hermione Granger as a girlfriend. That was good news. "Hi, love... did I startle you?"

She just stared at me blankly. "Hermione?" I asked, slowly getting up and wincing at the pain in my now throbbing knee. Rubbing it gingerly, I stared back at her and was startled to find she was crying. Concerned, I made my way towards her quickly, and held her. "What's wrong?" I asked, stroking her back.

"You're..." but instead of finishing, she just shook her head and sobbed.

I knew I'd hit my knee, but it hadn't been bad enough for it to make her cry about it. And then, as I held her, the realization hit me that she was a lot skinnier than she was supposed to be. Her hair was far more unruly and much longer. Her skin was far too pale...

Soon, little memories began to worm their way back to my consciousness as they always did and I stood there, holding the love of my life, shocked silly. It's not every day that you wake up from a coma-like dream and not even realize it.

"I'm so sorry..." I whispered into her hair. "I..."

And then she practically jumped into my arms, nearly crushing me with the force of her bear hug. "We're going to fix this," she said. I could tell immediately that she was putting up a brave face for me and I held her all the tighter. This was an issue that had stuck with me long enough. I owed it to her. I would never do this to her again... never.

"It's okay, baby... it's all going to be okay."

A/N: See you all soon (I think by next week I should have the next chapter done). We are now moving on with the plot!

Unsigned Reviews:

Alexybath: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you're so supportive. I hope this chapter wasn't too scary for you... it does have a happy ending. To answer your question, yes, that was Bellatrix at the end of the last chapter and that little quote does have some significance latter on in the story. Enjoy!

Jade2099: You make a very astute observation. You're right. You can't avoid reality for too long without everything crashing down eventually. But, now (hopefully) they will learn from their mistakes. Thank you for reviewing!