Fractures and Fault Lines
The illusion of control was slipping.
Draco could feel it—the way the world was shifting around them, the way every choice seemed to carry more weight than the last. The political maneuvering, the scrutiny, the quiet yet persistent expectations pressing down on them. It was a game he had been born into, but for the first time, he wasn’t sure how to win.
And worse—he wasn’t sure he wanted to.
Hermione
Returning to the Ministry had been an adjustment, but the real challenge wasn’t the work itself—it was the constant presence of scrutiny. She could feel it in every glance, every half-concealed whisper as she passed through the halls.
Today, however, the weight of it all felt especially heavy.
"You look like you’re two seconds from hexing someone," Blaise commented, falling into step beside her as she exited a meeting. "Do I need to start preparing your alibi?"
Hermione exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Just another exhausting morning of people thinking they know my intentions better than I do."
"Ah," Blaise smirked. "The joys of politics."
She shot him a sidelong glance. "How do you deal with it?"
Blaise shrugged. "By pretending I don’t care. And when that fails, by drinking. Heavily."
Hermione snorted despite herself. "Helpful."
"What can I say? I live to serve."
They reached her office door, and Hermione hesitated before turning to him. "Blaise, do you think—"
"Yes."
She arched a brow. "I didn’t even finish the question."
Blaise smirked. "I didn’t need you to. You’re wondering if Draco is feeling the same pressure you are." He leaned against the doorframe, expression turning contemplative. "And the answer is yes. He just won’t admit it."
Hermione exhaled slowly. "Of course he won’t."
Blaise’s smirk returned. "You do realize you’re probably the only person who could get him to, right?"
She swallowed, glancing away. "I doubt that."
"I don’t." Blaise gave her a pointed look before pushing off the doorframe. "See you at lunch, Malfoy."
Hermione didn’t correct him.
Draco
Draco barely made it through his morning meetings before he was summoned—again.
The request had come from the Minister himself, and as he walked into Shacklebolt’s office, he was met with an all-too-familiar sight.
Lucius.
Draco clenched his jaw. "Twice in two days? People might start to think you miss me, Father."
Lucius didn’t react, his cool gaze settling on him with quiet scrutiny. "Kingsley has concerns."
Draco flicked his eyes toward the Minister, who stood beside the window, arms crossed. "And yet, I suspect I’m about to hear yours first."
Kingsley sighed. "Draco, I need to know where you stand."
Draco narrowed his eyes. "And if I refuse to play into this ridiculous notion that I owe anyone an explanation?"
Lucius tsked. "Then you’ll be making enemies on all sides."
"As if I don’t already have enough of those," Draco muttered.
Shacklebolt stepped forward. "You don’t have to prove anything to me, Draco. But there are people who want to use your marriage as an excuse to destabilize what we’ve built here."
Draco ran a hand through his hair, irritation simmering just beneath the surface. "So what do you expect me to do? Publicly swear allegiance? Carve my loyalties into stone?"
Lucius tilted his head slightly. "Something like that."
Draco scoffed. "You mean, you want me to declare my alliance—to you."
Lucius didn’t deny it. "I want you to remember where you come from."
Draco’s fists clenched at his sides. "And what if I don’t?"
Lucius’ expression didn’t flicker. "Then you had better be certain that wherever you stand is strong enough to withstand the storm."
The warning was clear.
Draco stood, shoulders tense. "If that’s all, I have work to do."
Lucius inclined his head, the ghost of something unreadable in his gaze. "Of course."
Draco left without another word, his father’s presence lingering like a stain on his thoughts.
Hermione & Draco: The Breaking Point
By the time Draco arrived home, he was already bracing himself.
He knew Hermione would sense something was off—she always did—but he hadn’t yet decided how much he was willing to tell her.
Unfortunately for him, Hermione had already made that decision.
"I saw Blaise today," she said casually as he stepped into the sitting room, his tie already loosened, exhaustion etched into his features. "He seems to think you’re not handling the pressure well."
Draco exhaled sharply. "Blaise needs to mind his own business."
Hermione set her book down. "So he’s right, then?"
Draco ran a hand through his hair. "I don’t have time for this conversation, Hermione."
"Make time."
His gaze snapped to hers, a flicker of irritation crossing his features. "Why does it matter so much to you?"
Hermione’s jaw tightened. "Because it’s not just your life being scrutinized, Draco. It’s mine too. And I deserve to know where you stand in all of this."
His fingers curled into fists. "You think I don’t know that?"
"Then act like it!" Hermione shot up from her chair, her voice sharp. "Because from where I’m standing, it feels like I’m the only one willing to face what’s happening."
Draco’s temper flared. "And what exactly do you want me to say, Hermione? That I feel trapped? That every decision I make feels like walking a knife’s edge? That no matter what I do, someone is going to see it as betrayal?"
Hermione stared at him, chest rising and falling with deep, steadying breaths. "Yes. That’s exactly what I want you to say."
Draco froze.
Because suddenly, he realized—she didn’t want him to be invincible.
She just wanted the truth.
The weight of it all came crashing down, and for the first time, Draco allowed himself to acknowledge it.
His voice was quiet when he finally spoke. "I don’t know where I stand, Hermione. And I hate that."
She stepped closer, searching his face. "Then let’s figure it out. Together."
Draco swallowed hard, the tightness in his chest unfamiliar, foreign.
But as he looked at her—at the woman who had somehow become both his greatest challenge and his only ally—he found himself nodding.
"Okay."
The battle wasn’t over.
But at least, this time, he wasn’t fighting it alone.
End of Chapter 14