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Breaking Out, Breaking Down	By : Draconis Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 6611 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, and I don't make money from writing this.

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Draco watched her walk off with a look of slight disappointment. He was curious as to what had happened to the young woman that had her so unhinged. He quietly stood there, making a mental note of which direction she had went. He had lived here for a month and hadn't realized that they lived so close.

The sight of her in her current state had saddened him. She looked almost sick. Her eyes were so sunken in and dull, no life shone in them anymore. Her figure was so frail that it was obvious she hadn't eaten properly in weeks. Malfoy made a point to plan a trip to the local grocer and drop some groceries at her flat since he had watched where she went. He wasn't about to disclose her exact location to the buffoons she called friends. She obviously needed space.

Draco let out a sigh and continued walking in the direction he had been going originally. He wondered if she really would owl them, if they would leave him alone, or if it would even do her any good. He could continue his life just the way he liked it, quiet and alone.

Hermione stormed up the stairs to her flat, hastily opened her door and let out a groan of frustration. The brunette whirled around her kitchen, flinging open cupboards and drawers, looking for anything to consume. She felt like a scavenger in her own apartment, digging through cupboards looking for something that hadn't expired or looked slightly appetizing.

"Shit." She said it out loud. She had to get groceries. There was a store down the street, however she wasn't sure if she wanted to go. Her encounter with Malfoy had been emotionally draining. That stupid ferret was always sticking his pointed nose in places that it wasn't welcome.

Hermione sat on the floor, picking up the most recent edition of Hogwarts: A History, a personal favorite of hers, and read in complete silence, about the war and the damages that the school had endured. She read about how the school had been repaired by the teachers, hundreds of volunteers to include Harry and Ron, and the new headmistress Minerva McGonagall.

She hadn't realized she had been crying until she felt a sob bubble up from her throat. Everything revolved around the war. What heroes the "golden trio", which everyone referred to them as, were. She looked at the fireplace and took a shaky breath. She stood up and walked over to the never used piece of her house and took a handful of floo powder, which she kept in case she needed a quick escape without the sound of apparition, stepped into the fireplace. She threw the powder down and felt the green flames engulf her as she said "The Burrow".

Molly Weasley was cooking dinner in a busy fashion, as always. She had to keep herself busy, otherwise she would dwell on the past. She stopped as she heard the fireplace ignite. She shook her head thinking she must be imagining things. Harry and Ron weren't due for another couple hours, and nobody else visited. Ginny was at Hogwarts for her final year at the wizarding school. George hardly ever came round anymore. All he did was work.

"Hello? Mrs. Weasley?" Hermione called, peeking her head into the kitchen. Molly jumped about a foot in the air and turned to see the emaciated and worn out girl.

"Oh, my dear!" She exclaimed and bustled over to the girl that had become her second daughter and wrapped her into a bear hug. "We've all been so worried about you!"

"I'm ok, Mrs. Weasley." She said, with a hint of sadness in her voice as the woman burst into tears with Hermione in her arms. Hermione wrapped her arms around her. "I'm ok." She wasn't sure if she was reassuring the crying woman in her arms, or herself.

"Ron and Harry are at Grimmauld, but they'll be here in a few hours. However, I'm sure they would be ecstatic to see you before they got here!" Molly said, wiping the tears from her eyes and looking at the younger woman, holding her shoulders. She then frowned, seeing the condition that Hermione was in. Taking in the sunken face, baggy clothes, dark circles under her eyes, she tutted and tsked at each revelation of how Hermione had let herself go.

She guided her over to the fireplace, not giving her the option to protest, and flooed her to Grimmauld herself. Hermione cried out in protest as she was transported to the other familiar house. She stood there shaking. She was shaking from frustration, fear, and anger. She wasn't sure if she was ready to handle Harry and Ron yet, especially together. Luckily, it didn't seem that they heard her come in.

She stepped out of the nook that the fireplace was in, and looked around. The furniture was newer than when she had been here last. Harry had finally gotten to redecorating, that or he transfigured everything into more modern decor.

She looked into the dining area to see them sitting there. Harry was reading The Daily Prophet. Ron was mulling over some paperwork, muttering to himself about how hard it was to be an Auror.

"Why do I get all the hard cases, Harry?" Ron whined, looking up at the man reading the paper. Hermione just stood there, watching them. Nothing had changed between the two of them.

"Because you're a Weasley so you have to prove your worth." A familiar voice came from the den. Hermione couldn't help but scowl. What was he doing here? What business could he possibly have here?

"Shut it Malfoy. Not everyone is born into being as talented as you!" Ron spoke in a joking manner. "Speaking of talents, Mr. Consulting Auror Detective...have you seen Hermione again?"

Her breath hitched, wondering if he'd tell him about their meeting earlier that day. Then she stood up straight and stepped into the dining room.

"I'm right here, so you don't need to be asking the ferret if he's seen me lately." Hermione snapped, her arms crossing over her chest protectively. Both heads turned in her direction, eyes as wide as the rims of the tea cups in front of them.

"What are you gawking at? Is there a ghost?" She put her hands on her hips.

"You may as well be one Granger. You look like you had a run in with death once or twice." Draco said, walking nonchalantly into the dining room. He pulled out the chair that sat beside Ron, and elegantly folded himself into it.

Feeling like somewhat of an outsider in a place that had once felt home, Hermione confidently crossed the room to sit beside Harry. The chairs felt so much bigger now, and the thought caused the bright witch to cringe inwardly. Trying to feel apart of the conversation, Hermione pointed out the heading of the paper.

"So, they are doing a dedication at the school?" her voice held steady.

"Yeah, didn't you get the invite? Hang on, didn't it get sent to your mom Ron?" Harry turned to the red head that had taken a very sudden interest in the papers spread before him. He glanced up quickly, nodded, and looked back down. His confusion and pain was plastered across his face, and Hermione felt her heart plummet.

Had she done that to him? Truly? She shook her gently and looked over to Harry.

"So, I hear that Molly is making dinner tonight. Think it would be too much a problem if me and Malfoy over there join?" Harry set the paper onto the wooden table, his green eyes flashing from her, to Ron, to Malfoy.

"Uh, sure..... Wanna head home and clean up then?"

Hermione nodded and stood. Malfoy stood as well, and rounded the table to escort Hermione out. "Well boys, see you around the Burrow around 6pm." The bright blonde haired boy grabbed her by the elbow and Apparated them to her flat.

"Are you out of your mind completely Granger?!" Malfoy had spun her to look at him. She smiled and pulled her arm from his grip.

"I suppose. Be back at my flat at 5:55, and not a second later. We have a dinner to attend. Remember though, it's casual."

A/N:

Review replies are up on the forum at http://www2.adult-fanfiction.org/forum/index.php/topic/51699-breaking-out-breaking-down-review-thread/

also I'd like to thank my beta, again. :3 you're amazing! And to my readers, I love you! you keep this story alive! please don't forget to review! And if not then a rating would rock too. till next time...

~Draconis
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Breaking Out, Breaking Down