"Golden Trio Heartbreak"
March 13th 2008
Three months after Minister of Magic and Order of Merlin recipient Hermione Granger announced her divorce from fellow Order of Merlin recipient Ronald Weasley we've yet to catch either out publicly. We're sure our Minister must be heartbroken after having lost her life-long love. An anonymous source close to the minister stated "She's surely working herself to death over this. That's why we've not seen her. Always keeps herself busy instead of dealing with problems head on." Ms. Granger is clearly avoiding the problem which multiple Medi-witches have advised me is unhealthy. While we've yet to receive word from their party of the reason for their split we wish them both the best.
By: Rita Skeeter
Draco rolled his eyes and tossed the prophet down on the table he and Blaise were sharing. It was a quiet, moody type of place they visited together often. Blaise and Theo were his only real friends from school left and while Theo was off chasing tails of all kinds in Europe, Blaise had stayed by Draco's side helping him manage the various Malfoy businesses. Draco dealt with the people, the meetings, the big decisions and Blaise dealt with everything behind the scenes that kept Malfoy Inc. afloat. Draco was exceedingly grateful to have such an exceedingly loyal friend.
Blaise squinted at Draco over the tea he was sipping across from him. The Café, conveniently located near the Malfoy Inc headquarters, was their favorite haunt for a spot of breakfast in the morning before heading to their offices. Draco also had a soft spot in his heart for their bakery menu. Being the heads of the company gave them some liberties that they often took advantage of. For Blaise, it was the short skirted secretaries and for Draco it was simply an ability to be flexible with his time. Freedom.
Blaise glanced down at the copy of today's Daily Prophet that Draco had just stopped reading and put down his tea cup. He wasn't one for reading the gossip columns but after skimming the article he understood the morose face now ruining his friend's handsome face. He stared at Draco, eyebrow quirked, with a knowing look until Draco looked up from his brooding.
As Draco reached for his coffee he saw his friend watching him.
"What?" Draco asked a bit too aggressively for the occasion.
Blaise rolled his eyes and put his elbows on the table, clasping his hands under his chin.
"You know very well what" Blaise said, not at all affected by Draco's grouchiness. He eyed the article and looked back at Draco expectantly.
Knowing his jig was up Draco sighed and leaned back in his chair. He sucked in a breath and began his rant. "I can't stand that they paint her as some heartbroken, lovesick fool – as if she'd be anything like that – Surely Weasel is the one who ought to be moping around and probably is - heartbroken that is... Honestly. And if he’s not spiraling in his sadness then he’s the stupid bastard I always knew him to be! It's as if they don't know her at all. She's not some .. some.. teenage girl. She's the Minister of Magic for Merlin's sake. I hardly believe she's curled up in her office crying her eyes out." Still scowling
Draco appeared to be catching his breath so Blaise interjected.
"Of course not – Although whoever said she's working herself to death is probably correct. I saw her in the atrium at the ministry a few weeks ago and she did look a bit .. haggard. I'm sure she's just avoiding the firestorm of media. Anyone who knows how Rita operates as well as we all do would do the same. Her only choice is to either hide, or rush around to avoid them. Unless she faces the beatle head on-”
“Which she’d never do, not yet anyway. And she shouldnt have to!” Draco interrupted.”
Blaise raised his hands in defense. “Calm down Mate, If I didn't know any better I'd say that you were worried about Granger. Why has this got your wand in such a knot?"
Blaise of course knew exactly why this had Draco's wand in knot.
Draco Spluttered. "I could care less. I'm just sick of this.. trifle they call news.. Surely more important things are happening.." Draco stated huffily.
Blaise gave him another knowing look. "Look Draco, I know you care for her." He placed a hand in the air to stop Draco's renewed spluttering. "Perhaps send her a note or pop by the office and just check in on her. It's not as if you couldn't say that you're friendly. You and Potter are decently close now.. There's no reason you can't just stop by to catch up”
"I don't know Blaise.." he said deflating at the idea. "I doubt she'd want to see me. Just because we were a bit close at one point doesn't mean she still counts me a friend. I'm sure the last thing she wants is an unannounced meeting at her office. I'm not my father Blaise. I won't just storm into the Minister's office."
Blaise laughed. "of course you're not your father Draco. You've proved that to the entire bloody Wizarding World. This is completely different and you know it. I'm just saying. Reach out. See how she's doing. Maybe she'll appreciate that someone cares enough to do so instead of reading into this.. Trifle as you call it" He said nodding to the article.
Draco sighed again and Blaise rolled his eyes and mumbled "You know, anyone else seeing you so worked up over her would suggest you had feelings for her.." Blaise knew this was true. He also knew that Draco would probably never act on it. Hermione had treated him, well both of them really, with such tenderness when their small group had returned to Hogwarts after the war. Even after all they had done, all the horrid things they had said to her over the years. She forgave them in what felt like an instant in the name of inter-house unity after the war. Mcgonagall was tickled pink when, after assigning the three of them as a work group, a friendship formed. It was a perfect example for the younger students of how to move forward - together - after the war that had ripped them all apart. It also helped Draco have hope that he could make a new life for himself despite the stigma his name now held. Directly after the war Draco was in such a state that Blaise, Theo and Narcissa were all so worried he may do something drastic... Hermione had pulled him out of that fog of self-hatred somehow and helped him begin to grow into the man sitting before him. Just by associating with them, Granger had helped them both in ways he could never thank her enough for. He decided at some point soon he’d take his own advice and stop by, maybe take the time to thank her.
Draco looked right at Blaise and said "I've said it before.. I've been saying it for years... I do not have feelings for Hermione Granger."
Blaise chuckled and shook his head as a flustered Draco tried to finish his coffee. "Mhmmm" he mumbled.
🖤
Hermione rolled her eyes as she read the prophet article about her. She was leaning casually against the Potters kitchen counter sipping her tea with her ankles crossed. Lately she had taken to stopping at the Potters for tea before flooing to the ministry with Harry. It was nice to see Ginny more often and she had to admit she enjoyed walking to her office with Harry each morning. People tended to avoid them if they were together and walking swiftly. They probably assumed they were doing something important and wouldn't want to interrupt. She liked it that way for now..
She tossed down the paper onto the kitchen table and put down her cup and saucer in the sink none too gently.
Harry glanced at the headline and scoffed. "You know not to read this crap, right?"
"I know, I try not to but it's nice to know when to expect covert glances from my subordinates. Every time a new article comes out they either can't look me in the eye or make shifty eyes at each other when I walk past. Bloody annoying." Hermione huffed. She was rather sick of people wanting to know her personal business and acting as if she couldn't tell they're all looking at her differently. I'm not blind, obviously.
Harry laughed "You do realize we're all your subordinates, Minister.."
Hermione let out an un-minister-like giggle "I know.. my point exactly." She sighed "I know I'm exaggerating. I'm just a bit sick of all this. I thought it'd blow over by now.."
Harry smiled kindly. "I know, but being the Minister does tend to lead to a public life.." Harry sighed. “But i do remember what it was like when all of Hogwarts was whispering about me.”
She gave him a tight lipped smile. “You are probably the only person i know who would understand. Thank you for saying that.”
“For what it’s worth I'm sorry you have to deal with this.” Harry said giving her a soft smile.
Hermione sighed again. "I did get a note from Mrs. Weasley. She sent her love and annoyance at her son. It's nice to know that our divorce hasn't changed too much... I'm lucky to have you all in my life." she said, her voice trailing off.
"Of course you are" Harry said, chuckling. He smiled warmly at her. "Hermione, you're family. Whether you and Ron are together or not we're all here and we ALL love you.” he paused and winced before tentatively asking “Have you spoken to Ron?"
"Yes, it took a while for us both to cool down but we spoke a few days ago and agreed this is probably just for the best. I dont think we can ever be friends again though..” her voice trailed off and she said quietly “the things he said..”
At that moment Ginny walked in looking sleepy and grabbed for a coffee mug." nor should the prat expect to remain friends with you." She said huffily "he goes off on you for the hundredth time, suggests you two get divorced, then gets madder when you agree. What. An. Idiot. His loss, girl" she said as she poured her coffee.
Harry shook his head. Such a pistol, my wife...he thought.
Hermione smiled at her friend. "Oh Ginny don't be so hard on him. I'm sure it was difficult not having me there for him as often as he'd like.."
Ginny scoffed. "Oh please. Because being the husband of the Minster is so hard. A beautiful flat, plenty of money. Perhaps if he hadn't left his job he wouldn't have had so much time on his hands to feel so lonely. Of course you don't have time to dote on him hand and foot! Nor should you have had to. He's a Man-baby. Please don't blame yourself." Ginny said reaching out to place a comforting hand on Hermione’s shoulder.
Hermione felt that it was, actually, a rather accurate observation. After Ron had left his job as an Auror he became more and more sulky, complaining when Hermione would work one minute of overtime. It was rather like having a child at home and she was inwardly thankful they had not reached that stage yet. She wasn't sure how she'd deal with having a kid between them during all this, despite her longing for a child. She also felt a stab in her gut as she remembered some of Ron's words in their last fight.
"You’re right, thank goodness we dont, You'd be a terrible mother! You can't even be here for ME when I want you! Thank Merlin we lost that first one!"
She thought about it often and was quite worried it would be true. Or that she'd never find out..
As Hermione stared off into space Harry watched her. They had had a similar conversation last week and he knew she wasn't sad, per se, just disappointed that their relationship was now over. All of that time wasted. He also knew that deep down, she was just afraid she'd end up alone when all she wanted was a family.
Harry cleared his throat looking at his watch. "Should probably get going, yeah?"
Hermione nodded and headed for the Floo, pushing her feelings down to make it through another work day.