It had been two weeks since Hermione blurted her true feelings out to Draco, and she regretted it with every fiber of her being. It's not that it had been a lie…because it wasn't. She was desperately in love with Draco Malfoy and had been since they were 15 years old, but she knew he didn't feel the same.

He seemed so happy with Astoria Greengrass and sadly Hermione would witness their loving behavior firsthand that evening when the group got together once again at Blaise's townhouse.

She felt grateful that Viktor was coming. At least she wouldn't be alone while there.

She and Viktor Krum reconnected after she graduated from Hogwarts. She did feel bad about being in love with Draco while being in a relationship with Viktor, but the idea of being alone…sometimes it was too much to take.

As the brunette got dressed after her shower, she heard Viktor call out for her from the lounge where he had just entered via floo.

"I'll be right there." She called back.

She felt physically ill as the image of Draco holding Astoria close crossed her mind. A knock on her bedroom door broke through her intrusive thoughts.

"Hermione?" Viktor said. "Can I come in?"

She sighed quietly before answering, "Sure. Come on in."

The Bulgarian Seeker stepped inside and smiled at her. "You look lovely, Hermione." he said as his eyes traveled over her body.

She was wearing dark blue jean trousers with a blue tee and a lightweight black jacket.

"Thank you, Viktor." She replied quietly.

"Are you all right?" He ked with concern in his voice.

She immediately nodded, "Yes. I'm fine."

Krum furrowed his brow, "Why don't I believe you?" he asked.

She bit her bottom lip and shook her head, "I'm fine, Viktor."

"Hermione…" He sighed, "are you upset with me?"

"No! Why would you think that?" She asked, confused.

The wizard stepped closer, "You seem…upset and I'm here so that leads me to believe that I have something to do with it."

With a sad smile, she shook her head, "It doesn't have anything to do with you. I promise, Viktor. I just…" she sighed.

"Is it Malfoy then?"

His words took her completely by surprise.

"How? How did you know?"

He smiled sadly at her, "You say his name in your sleep."

The brunette swallowed, unsure of how to respond, "I…I'm so sorry." She breathed.

He shook his head, "It's okay, Hermione. You love him. We both know you can't help who you love. I know that I can't."

She couldn't meet his eyes.

"Because…" He continued, "if I could help it…I would stop. I wouldn't be the person who loves a woman that loves another man. I hate that that is who I am."

Hermione's heart clenched painfully, "Viktor, I am truly, so very sorry."

"Like I said…you can't help it." He shrugged with a sad smile that broke her heart.

"You don't have to come tonight."

"Do you want me to come with you?" He asked.

She nodded, "I do, but I'm not a heartless bitch. At least, I don't mean to be."

Shaking his head, Krum whispered, "You, Hermione Granger, are not a heartless bitch."

"Thank you." She breathed.

"I'll come with you tonight." He said. "I don't want you to go through this alone."

She nodded, "Thank you."

Krum pulled her into a hug, "I need to know…do you want them to still see us as a couple?"

She pulled back from the hug, "So…we're not?"

"I think…I think it would be best for us to end it." He answered. "I'm not sure it's healthy for it to continue, but I'll always be here for you."

Hermione nodded, "You're right." She whispered.

He nodded, "Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

As they walked toward the lounge, she responded to his earlier question.

"We can tell them that we broke up but explain that we're still friends." She said.

Krum nodded, "That works for me."

Hermione Apparated them to Blaise's townhouse. Once there, they found a large group of people gathered in his lounge, chatting and sipping drinks.

"You two are late." Ginny said with a smirk.

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Well, we're here now." She replied.

"What can I get you two to drink?" Blaise asked in a hosting manner.

"I'll have a Firewhisky." Viktor answered.

"Some red wine, please, Blaise." Hermione added.

The host nodded and began to get their drinks.

Pansy, Daphne, and Astoria were chatting in the back corner of the lounge while Draco and Neville talked with Harry, Ron, and Theo.

Hermione could feel Draco's eyes on her. She swallowed, feeling how dry her mouth and throat had become.

Luna strolled over to the brunette and the Bulgarian. "Viktor, you're welcome to join the blokes." She said.

Blaise nodded as he walked over with their drinks hovering beside him, "Yeah, come with me, Krum." He said.

Hermione took a sip of her wine, feeling Viktor glance at her. She felt dreadful that he was about to be stuck chatting with Draco…the last person in the world Krum wanted to talk to right then.

Luna looked at her with concern, "Are you okay?"

Hermione nodded, glancing over at the blokes. She caught Draco's eyes and quickly looked away.

"Excuse me for a moment." She muttered and set her drink down before going down the hall to the washroom.

She stood in front of the mirror and inhaled, trying to calm herself. In all honesty, Viktor had been filling a void in her life that had been there since her breakup with Draco. And now, that covid was so prominent and painful.

She still struggled to remember why she and Draco had ended their 4-year long relationship. They were 19 years old and all she knew was that one day they were as happy as could be and the next, they were shouting, and he was moving out.

There was a soft knock on the door, and she looked away from the mirror. When she opened the door to step out, she was pushed further into the washroom by Draco. He quickly shut the door and waved his wand, placing a Silencing Charm on the small room.

"Draco what are you…" She began to hiss.

"We need to talk." He cut her off with a hint of desperation in his voice.

She furrowed her brow, "Why?" she asked with a shrug. "What's there to say?"

He huffed and rubbed his jaw frustratedly.

Hermione sighed and crossed her arms.

"You and Krum aren't together anymore." He stated.

She inhaled deeply through her nose and nodded, "I'm aware."

"Why?"

The brunette huffed a laugh, "Because he knows, Draco! He's not dim. And he's a good man so he still wants to be my friend despite the dishonesty."

Draco clenched his jaw and sighed, looking down with a slight shrug, "You know, Granger…nothing makes sense."

She swallowed, "What do you mean?"

Meeting her amber eyes, he shook his head, "This may sound barmy, but I can't even remember why we started fighting or why I moved out." He muttered, "I thought we'd make it all the way, you know?" He sighed, "I'll see you out there."

After he left the washroom, Hermione furrowed her brow and thought about his words. She didn't understand how neither of them could remember their reasoning for ending such a serious relationship.

She cleared her throat and walked back out to the lounge where everyone was chatting.

Ginny looked over at her with concern and a hint of determination. She walked over to the brunette and quietly spoke, "Okay, Mione, I'm worried about you. You have been acting utterly odd over the past two weeks. What's going on?"

Hermione inhaled deeply. She needed someone to talk to…it may as well be Ginny. She grabbed the redhead's hand and pulled her down the hall to the spare bedroom.

They shut the door, sat on the bed, and placed a Silencing Charm on the room.

"I still love Draco." She blurted out.

Ginny inhaled sharply and nodded, "Oh. Okay. What about Krum?"

"We broke up. He knows. He loves me but understands that I don't love him. He's a good man." Hermione explained.

Ginny nodded before asking, "Does Draco know that you still love him?"

"Oh…well, I sort of blurted it out two weeks ago when the two of us were out on the terrace."

"How did he react?"

Hermione huffed, "He didn't really get the chance to react before his girlfriend showed up. I am such a fucking bitch for telling him about my feelings while he's with her."

"Hermione, you are not a bitch. Listen, erm…I think there's something you should know…"

"What?" the brunette asked.

Ginny sighed, and looked down with what Hermione thought appeared to be shame, "Look, about a year ago, after you and Krum got together, and Draco had been with Astoria for a while…" She sighed, "Ron told me something when he was extremely drunk."

"Okay…" Hermione said, confused, "What did he say?"

Ginny stood up and turned away, "I should have told you, but you seemed happy with Krum. Draco and Astoria seemed happy as well, so I figured everything worked out." she said with a shrug.

"Ginny!" Hermione hissed, "What is it?!"

"Ron…he erm…well, you know how he's in charge of the joking potions and treats at the joke shop?" She asked and Hermione nodded before Ginny continued, "He had always been so jealous of Draco, Hermione. You had broken up with Ron after just a couple months and then gotten together with Draco, whom Ron has hated for years." Ginny paused and swallowed. "Ron's jealousy got the best of him, and he created these…these treats that charm people into hating the first person they see after eating them."

She paused before continuing, "He snuck them into your Valentines gift that Draco gave you and that night…well, you and Draco…"

Hermione eyes widened and everything came flooding back. She and Draco had gotten into a massive argument on Valentine's Day, and he had moved out of their flat that night. It had taken four months for Ginny, Blaise, Harry, and Theo to get them into the same room again and another month for them to talk to one another.

Hermione stood up; hands clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

She looked at Ginny and shook her head before storming out of the room and down the hall; her amber eyes held such fury in them that Ginny didn't dare try to stop her for fear that the brunette might take it out on her.

Hermione stepped into the lounge and looked around, spotting the blokes all chatting in the far corner while all the girls were sitting down, conversing.

Her energy must have been obvious because almost every person in the room looked over at her when she entered, yet her eyes remained on the red-haired wizard in the corner beside Harry.

"You!" She seethed.