Harry and Ginny rush to Hermione's side, missing the elegant box that had dropped on the corner.

"Hermione, here you need to take this," said Ginny gently as she slowly opened Hermione's mouth and poured the potion in. Hermione swallowed and a few minutes later started waking.

Hermione groaned as she slowly opened her eyes and looked around her. "What are you guys doing here?"

"Draco called and asked if we'd heard from you. I thought it was a bit unusual and so I brought Harry and Ron since they were with me. I hope that's ok."

"Draco? Did he say anything else? Have you seen him?" Hermione fiddled with her nails as she asked Ginny.

"No, that was all he said. Do you want to talk about what happened?"

Hermione looked around, unsure if she should tell everyone, especially with Ron around. She didn't know how he was going to take it considering his last outburst. It was surprising that he was even here with them.

"We really don't have to if you're not ready, Mione." Harry reassured her, sensing that Ron's presence might be making her uncomfortable.

She smiled at Harry and sighed, "It's alright. I should probably get it off my chest so I don't embarrass myself further by drowning myself in booze. Thank you guys again for being here, and looking out for me."

"Always, we're your friends," smiled Harry as Ginny gently squeezed Hermione's hand.


After Hermione had finished recapping the events at Malfoy Chateau, everyone was silent. Harry was wide eyed with his mouth open, Ron's jaws were slacked but somewhat entertained by the idea, Ginny looked thoughtful.

Ron was the first to speak. "So is that it, then? You and Malfoy are over?"

Ginny hit his arm, "Ron, some tact please."

Hermione stared at a pulled thread in her sock and mumbled, "I don't know. I suppose so."

More silence followed then Hermione started sobbing, "I haven't heard from him. I thought he would follow me here, or at least try to fight. He promised."

"Promised what?" Asked Harry?

Hermione thought back to an autumn day when they sat and vowed to love each other.

"... although people change like the leaves in autumn, I vow to love and choose you, every time the sun rises."

She continued to cry harder. What a load of tosh, Hermione thought. He didn't choose her, didn't even try. Hermione couldn't make him choose her over his own mother which is why she left on her own accord, but, she was hoping he'd fight. Or show her that he wants to fight. He didn't try to find an alternative, try to keep them both. He just gave up and let her go.

"We should go, and give Hermione space," suggested Harry.

Hermione looked up at her friends and managed to pause from crying to say, "I-I think I'd like that. Thanks everyone."

Ron retreated from her bedroom first. Ginny gave Hermione a long hug and reassured her that everything will be ok. Harry waited for her and they walked out together.

"Ron, ready?" Ginny looked over to her brother who suddenly seemed very still and distracted.

"Oh, yea- yeah I was just looking out the window, just thought I saw something," he scratched his head and gave them an awkward laugh.

Harry and Ginny just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

The three Gryffindors apparated out of Hermione's apartment.

Hermione sat in her bedroom and summoned a piece of parchment and a quill. She was trying to write a letter to Draco but couldn't seem to find words. She merely kept fitting the parchment and changing her mind.

She sighed and collapsed in bed and decided to play some of her Muggle music.

You said it was a great love

One for the ages

But if the story's over

Why am I still writing pages?

Cause saying goodbye is death by a thousand cuts

Flashbacks waking me up

She thought about the box she kept with letter and notes from her Draco. She got up and retrieved the box and opened the lid.

I get drunk, but it's not enough

'Cause the morning comes and you're not my baby

I look through the windows of this love

Even though we boarded them up

She pulled out a photo of them together. Draco had his arm wrapped around her and she was rolling her eyes and smiling. Draco was looking at her and had a wide grin, like he had just told her some silly joke. His hair fell perfectly, just how she used to like it. She could almost remember touching it.

Chandelier still flickering here

'Cause I can't pretend it's okay when it's not

It's death by a thousand cuts

She pulled out a note that he wrote her after her lost to her in chess: I love you, my intelligent ruthless lover, you have broken my chess winning streak. I look forward to many more streaks and records being broken by the smartest witch of our age. My lover. Always yours, Draco

My heart, my hips, my body, my love

Trying to find a part of me that you didn't touch

Gave up on me like I was a bad drug

Now I'm searching for signs in a haunted club

More letters, and notes pulled out.

Our songs, our films, united we stand Our country, guess it was a lawless land

Quiet my fears with the touch of your hand Paper cut stings from our paper thin plans

My time, my wine, my spirit, my trust

Trying to find a part of me you didn't take up

Gave you too much but it wasn't enough But I'll be all right, it's just a thousand cuts

Hermione was sobbing so hard she was hyperventilating again and so she summoned some more water and tried to sleep it off. She decided that tomorrow, everything would change.