Author's Note: This came about through a dream I had and the song "Human" by Christina Perri. If you haven't listened to the song, I would highly encourage it. I hope you guys enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the song "Human".

Her heart was broken. She knew it. There was just no feeling anymore. She knew she shouldn't have grown so close to him. Shouldn't have let him in. Shouldn't have let him be a friend. But, it felt like it went further. Their long days at work, the spontaneous lunches, those stimulating conversations.

She shook her head as tears formed in her eyes. She felt something for him, and truly believed that he felt something for her. All of her friends said that he was actually interested in her. Their past was a hinder at the beginning, but she forgave him for his horrid behavior when he was younger. So, she let her feelings blossom. She grew so fond of him that she felt like she was close to…no. That just wasn't possible anymore.

She sighed as she wiped the tears that freely fell down her cheeks. She remembered reading that when memorable life events occurred, vivid images would be imprinted on the mind. She hated that she remembered everything. It was only a couple days ago.

Hermione was walking with a spring in her step. Draco finally asked her dinner…a private dinner, just the two of them. She felt so giddy that he seemed to be returning the same feelings she had for him. Two years working with him helped to erase his pureblood attitude and to give him an ease around all types of wizards and witches. She just had to drop off one file and then she was home free to get ready for her…dinner. Date just seemed odd to say, even if it did feel like it was going to be one.

She placed the file on the minister's desk when she heard a noise in the next room. Curious, she went into the hall and glanced through the door where the noise occurred. Her heart stopped.

There, in an intimate embrace with a beautiful blond, was Draco. And, they were kissing as if the world was going to stop. She heard shattering, which at the time she thought was the sound of her heart. (She later found out that her magic went a little wonky and destroyed all the windows on this floor of the Ministry.) Her vision blurred. Her breath shortened. And she ran.

She remembered hearing someone call her name, but she didn't stop for anyone. She somehow managed to apparate back to her flat without splinching herself. She remembered dropping to the floor, feeling as if knives were cutting into her heart. Somehow, his words kept echoing in her heard.

"You do realize that you are still the smartest witch of this age?"

"You're cute when you're angry."

"Hermione, seriously, call me Draco."

"Hey…um…would you like to go out with me tonight? I mean, just the two of us…like a date or something."

She didn't really recall what happened the rest of the weekend. She set up her most powerful wards around her flat, since she didn't want any unwanted visitors. She knew her answering machine had loads of messages. She thought that she heard Ginny and Harry's voices, but she honestly didn't move much from her spot on the floor.

She never remembered feeling this horrible when she and Ron broke up, and he decided to date Lavender only a few days after. She was currently staring at herself in the mirror, for some reason deciding that a shower sounded like a great idea. Lifeless auburn eyes gazed back, surrounded by a main of chestnut hair. She mentally compared herself to the woman with Draco and felt even worse, if that was possible.

Yes, she might have the brains, but beauty wasn't exactly a strong point. Maybe that's why Draco chose that other woman. Beauty over brains, just like he would have done in the past.

Tomorrow was Monday, the start of the week, and too many questions than she could handle. She was only human, after all. So she decided to take an impromptu vacation. Her department head did encourage her to take some time to herself. She assumed that they would figure it out tomorrow when she didn't show up for work. She busied herself by brushing her hair.

A few days later and she still hadn't had any contact with her friends. She managed to find a nice cottage to rent by the beach for a short holiday. She was seated on the gritty sand as the sun beamed down on her bare shoulders. The salty air helped to give her clarity on a few matters, even if she still felt empty inside. Communal meals were common at this particular rental company, and she managed to go to a few of them. However, the guests were a little too eager to talk to her, and there were only so many fake smiles and forced laughs that she could do. It also didn't help that they were Muggles; she had to bite her tongue a few times.

She stretched briefly before standing. Since she missed her morning interview with the other residents, she figured she might be able to find some leftovers in the refrigerator. Glancing at the crashing waves one last time, she turned and headed back to her cottage. But something made her stop.

Draco stood about ten feet away from her. She couldn't read anything on his face, but she was trying desperately to calm her racing heart. She instinctively tried to apparate but cursed herself for leaving her wand back in her room.

"Hermione…"

"I can't do this, Draco," she replied, dropping her gaze. "I'm only, human. I can't take this back and forth, stringing me along."

"Hermione, listen-"

"I will never be like her. I saw you with her, by the way. She's beautiful, and I'm not."

"Hermione, please-"

"It's fine. I'll move my office. Kingsley has been begging me to relocate anyways-"

"Hermione, shut up!"

She swallowed as her gaze flew up to his. Somehow he was a lot closer than she was expecting him to be. She blinked back the tears as best as she could, but some fell anyways.

"I don't want her. I never have. I don't even know who she is. She just stumbled into my office and threw herself at me. She was spouting off some pureblood nonsense." She flinched as he brushed his hand across her cheek. "Merlin, how can you think that about yourself? I told you that you were beautiful."

"You only said that I was cute when I was mad."

"You're beautiful to me, Hermione."

Tears started flowing freely down her face. She ignored them as her brain went into overdrive. "What are you doing here, Draco? How did you even find me?"

He sighed. "You weren't easy to find, let me tell you. I tried going over to your flat after I got rid of that bint. I figured it was you who saw, due to all the windows on the floor being broken. You're really good with magic, you know. I couldn't get past your wards. So then I went to the Potters to see if you were with them." He ran a hand through his pale hair. "Ginny is terribly cross with you right now. They were pretty frantic. You should probably see them when we get back."

Her tears began to slow as guilt slowly crept into her conscious. "I guess I should have told them I was going on holiday. How did you even find me?"

"You've been talking about the beach for weeks now. You've mentioned this place a couple times too. I do listen, Hermione." She chuckled a little. "I was actually planning on taking you here. You know, after we had been going steady for a while." He held out his hand to her, his silvery gaze burrowing into hers. "Will you come back with me? We still have a date to go on. And, just a clue, but I'll be asking you something later tonight."

Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as she glanced at his open hand back to his twinkling eyes. The past few days, the heartbreak, the feeling of nothingness, it all trickled away as she looked into his eyes. She found what she was looking for in his warm gaze and carefully placed her hand in his. "I can do that."

Author's Note: Draco's question to Hermione is whether or not she would want to become his girlfriend. Maybe later he'll ask the really important question.