When Hermione Granger fell in love with Draco Malfoy during their 8th year at Hogwarts she never thought that one day she would be calling him her husband, or the father of her child, much less in a much distant future, her ex-husband.
And as she stared at him sitting across from her, his hand intertwined with another woman's hand during one of the dinners that they had agreed upon having right after their divorce for the sake of prevailing a healthy relationship with each other for their son, she could say it still hurt like hell to think of him that way.
Things had been perfect between them for years, despite every hateful comment they had received once their relationship was made public, they had managed to come out of it all unscathed, with their relationship stronger than ever.
They had gotten married right after graduating Hogwarts. Hermione was a stubborn witch, and she wanted Draco, therefore there was nothing that could have taken her away from him. Not their past, not the present, and certainly, or at least that's what she'd thought... not the future.
Seems like it's too late to think that now.
They were elated when Hermione realized only a year into their marriage that she was pregnant and expecting a beautiful baby boy. Scorpius, the light of her life and the only thing that has kept her sane ever since the divorce. It wasn't until Scorpius's first year at Hogwarts finally arrived that everything started to really downfall between Hermione and Draco.
Hermione loved her son, the smaller version of his father was the only constant in her life nowadays. But back then, even if Hermione was happy about the news of her pregnancy and would no doubt love her child with every part of her being, she had been a bit disappointed with the timing. Hermione had barely started her career in the Ministry, working and doing the thing she loved the most by changing and improving the Wizarding World that she knew what having a newborn baby so soon would mean for her.
The title of the Golden Girl guaranteed her absolutely nothing. So, of course, it would all take a toll on her career and it had, indeed, pulled her back on all her progress. She had barely started when she was in not-so-subtle manners told to quit her job rather than take a break from her pregnancy. Hermione had been devastated, but she convinced herself it would all be worth it. Her child was more important that anything else, even if it pained her to make aside her goals for later.
Draco had been there every step of the way to help her, he was undoubtedly a doting father for their son, even when he'd been initially dying of nerves and in constant doubt of himself and his ability to be a good father.
Things became better when Scorpius was born, he was the most beautiful baby Hermione had ever seen. Perfect, chubby, pink cheeks, the gray eyes of his father, and the same platinum blond hair with Hermione's curls.
Hermione had been able to go back to work a few months later, as Draco had decided to quit his job to take care of Scorpius, considering that he never really needed a job it felt like an obvious decision for him to keep himself busy raising their son instead of working a dead-end job at the Ministry– despite of Narcissa's inherent disapproval.
They had lived their first years in a bubble of happy and endless bliss, watching their son grow up, saying his first word, giving his first steps, everything.
It wasn't until the night of Scorpius's 3rd birthday party that Draco first brought up the subject to Hermione of having another child. It wasn't that she didn't want more children, she did, just not at the time. Hermione had been 20 years old when they had Scorpius. She was 23 now and had only recently gotten a promotion in the Ministry. Going from being practically an intern to having a more important role in her department. She wouldn't just give it up now, she couldn't. Hermione didn't want to get distracted, she needed all of the available time she had between attending to Scorpius's needs and being there for him to do her own thing.
There will be more time for babies, she'd said to her husband, planting a kiss on his cheek and making love slowly afterward, making sure to cast a contraceptive spell on herself.
The subject didn't come up again after that.
Not for a while at least.
"I just want to give Scorpius a sibling, Hermione. I never liked growing up as an only child, I always wished for a brother or a sister, and I want Scorp to have what I didn't." Draco had breached the subject again after they had picked up a crying Scorpius from Grimmauld after having spent the night with little Albus. They became fast friends when they had their first playdate those two and now every time it was time to go their separate ways Scorp would throw a fit and cry because he didn't want to leave his friend's side.
"You forget I am an only child too, Draco, and I was perfectly fine growing up like that. If anything, I loved having my parent's attention fully for me."
"Yes well, your experience is not the collective one and as you can see, our son clearly is showing signs of attachment with little Albus! he feels alone Granger, he has no one to play with the way kids play with kids!" Draco raised his voice, obviously exasperated with her.
"Oh, did he tell you that himself?" Hermione mocked in amusement.
"Of course not but he's my son Granger, I spend every day with him, I know him!" Hermione winced at his words, anger flooding through her veins.
"And just what the fuck is that supposed to mean? Are you implying I don't know my child because I don't spend every waking moment with him?" Hermione was enraged now, how dare he! She was his mum! she carried him for 9 months inside of her! Hermione spent as much time as she possibly could with Scorpius.
She didn't notice she'd started crying until Draco's hands came around her and he soothed her against his chest. "I wasn't trying to say that, love. I promise. You're the best mummy Scorp could've asked for, okay? I just– fuck, I'm sorry."
He apologized profusely to her after that, with makeup sex, cuddles, and kisses. Hermione was nothing if not madly in love with Draco, after all. It had become quite easy to forgive him for any misgivings over the years. Especially compared to all the hell he'd put her through when they were kids. It was simply incomparable.
On her 25th Birthday Hermione received news that she would be made head of her department. Finally after years of hard work, many late nights, and plenty of sacrifices, she had reached one of her goals.
Draco was pumping his cock, going deeply in and out of her later that night when he said, "Give me a baby, Granger." Hermione had been so happy, all for it to go to hell the moment after Draco muttered those words. Couldn't he understand? Hermione had just gotten the promotion of her fucking dreams and he had to ruin it for her. They had celebrated early with Scorp present and taken him later to the Grimmauld so they could have a perfect night all to themselves only to have him bring up the shite that had caused them more problems over the years than anything else had.
Draco didn't understand because he had nothing to look forward to other than being a stay-at-home dad, and Hermione had no problem with that. It didn't bother her in the least, but it did bother Hermione that Draco couldn't respect that she had other goals, she had a life out of her family. She had come to depend solely on her parents only to lose them forever. Hermione couldn't allow herself to do the same thing now. She was too scared, too afraid to give her all into her family when the risk of losing it all would always exist.
There were still dark wizards lurking around Wizarding Britain, hiding in the shadows, looking for revenge in the name of their Dark Lord. Draco and Hermione were one their biggest targets and their son consequently a bystander. Hermione was fighting every day to rid the Wizarding World of the threats that still existed in their lives and she couldn't stop or take a break. Not until they were all behind bars. Not while the lives of her son and her husband were on the line.
Hermione had quickly pushed Draco away from her and his expression had immediately changed sensing her anger.
Hermione was so fucking angry, the tips of her fingers sparking with magic. She had always been known for being impulsive and explosive, so she said the first thing that she could think of. "If I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom with multiple brats I would've married a Weasley, Malfoy!" and she stormed out of their bedroom.
They didn't talk to each other for a week after that, and that's when things started getting worse and worse every time. Their relationship was stranded. Hermione could tell, that they both knew things were falling apart. That their relationship had become a time-ticking bomb that they didn't know how to stop.
They made up every time, but the arguments became more recurrent as a consequence. Instead of doing something to fix it, they seemed to be looking for ways to make it all worse.
One day, Hermione decided, that she very much preferred giving Draco what he so much wanted rather than losing him.
"I'll give you a baby." She told him on his birthday. Scorp was about to turn seven, and now even he had started to ask for a baby brother. Hermione thought it was safe enough now, the DMLE had just raided a small town near Birmingham that was being used as a safe house for the Death Eaters that had managed to escape the final battle and Azkaban when Voldemort was finally killed by Harry.
Draco's eyes had sparkled with happiness and he'd been quick to take Hermione to their room and undress her, appreciating her matching green lingerie and fucking her hard into the mattress.
Her overeager and full-of-stamina husband had come back more ready than ever and happy to oblige with his part on her statement. Not that Hermione and Draco hadn't been shagging frequently, but certainly not like before when they would do it multiple times a day.
Their happy family seemed to mend the moment she told him she was ready to have another child, and for some reason, Hermione felt hurt about it, because why was it necessary to add another member to the family for them to be happy? But everything she felt she kept to herself.
Everything was perfect again, Scorp seemed happier, and more lively, like the gray cloud that had been on his parent's heads had been clouding over him too. He had been going to a primary school before it was his time to go to Hogwarts and he was just as bright as both Draco and Hermione. He was a kind, witty, smart child and she was so completely enamored with her little boy that the prospect of having a mini version of her with brown hair and brown eyes didn't fill her with the same dread as it used to.
But then there were complications, because every month, without fail, Hermione got her period, and she didn't know why. And although it wasn't her fault, she wondered if suddenly there was something wrong with her.
Draco was always supportive, they went to St. Mungos, had tests done on Hermione, went to a Muggle gynecologist, tried potions, tried medicines, and fertility spells, fertility potions, ate foods that helped rise her ovulation levels.
But nothing. Nothing happened. Nothing worked.
Hermione cried a lot, because what if this was her karma? She had never fallen under the pretense that there was such a thing, she didn't believe in bad omens, fortune, luck, or stupid theories related to divination. But what if for once she'd been wrong?
What if this was her way of paying for making Draco suffer? For not giving him another baby sooner? For not giving Scorp a sibling when he was still a toddler?
Suddenly things took a turn again, Draco kept to himself, he talked more to Scorpius than he did to her. He avoided her, and Hermione stayed late in the office so she could spend less time in his presence. She hated it because she wanted to be with her son and find comfort in hugging him and talking to him, but it seemed like Draco had beaten her to it and she couldn't stand to be in the same room as him without the guilt eating at her. Hermione blamed herself for the status of their relationship, for their problems, because maybe she had been selfish, and she had made him feel guilty for wanting another child. But what could she really do now?
He didn't want to be with her, he didn't want to talk to her, what was she supposed to say? or do? if not let them enjoy each other. Let Draco be happy with their son, distracting himself from the pain while she watches.
They had just gotten back from another visit to the OBGYN empty-handed, Scorp was still at school, Hermione was silently crying, and Draco... Draco was destroyed, angry, and sad.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Malfoy, there's really nothing we can do as we don't know the nature of your condition. We've run multiple tests but there's nothing that tells us the reason for your infertility. We're very sorry."
A loud crash behind her stopped her on her shoes, Hermione turned around, Draco had thrown a vase at the fireplace and shattered it. She'd always thought that throwing things and hitting the wall was the behavior of a petulant child, but she could understand Draco now.
She said nothing, just stared at him.
"I'm sorry," she told him.
He ignored her. Not, "It's not your fault," "We don't need another child to be happy," or "Everything will be fine, I love you."
How long has it been since he last said "I love you" to her? Since they last said it to each other? She couldn't even remember. At least he still wore his wedding band, she thought.
"Draco..."
"I don't want to hear it, Hermione," he growled.
"It's not my fucking fault that I can't get pregnant."
"Isn't it?"
Hermione gasps, how could he say something like that? She has come to want it just as much as he does. Tears start streaming faster from her eyes.
"I mean you didn't want it for so long that now I can't help but think..." He laughs and shakes his head. Not finishing the sentence.
"If you have something to say, just say it now." Her voice trembles, so she doesn't sound nearly as strong as she wishes she did.
"I asked my mother, you know. If maybe it was something in the Malfoy lineage, or possibly hers, but no. My parents simply didn't have any more children because they didn't want to." She understood why he was saying this. The Malfoy family hadn't had more than a single child in generations but it was only because they'd gotten a male heir on their first try, always. Hence, no need for more children.
"I didn't do anything Draco,"
"Well, I don't fucking believe you, Granger! it's been years and you had no problem getting pregnant with Scorp! At this point, I wouldn't put it past you to have done something to yourself behind my back!" He snaps at her, the words echoing in the tall ceilings and walls of the house that was no longer a home. Hermione can't believe what she just heard, and while she processes this, Draco's realization of the depth of his words hit him as fast as lightning strikes.
He runs to her immediately, muttering words of comfort and apology. But this isn't the first time that he's hurt her with his words, the irony of it all is not lost on Hermione, she feels like laughing about it.
Hermione lets him cry while he holds her, but she never reciprocates the embrace. She lets him until he's a sobbing mess, laying at her feet, on his knees, his hair in need of a haircut falling down his bloodshot eyes. Hermione feels the pieces left of her heartbreak until there's nothing but dust. She knows what this means, what they held unto for so long refusing to let go has finally slipped just out of reach.
And fallen and fallen and fallen.
They are not good for one another anymore, Hermione feels guilty and Draco blames her. They might still love each other but sometimes love isn't enough. It's a good thing Scorpius is old enough to understand, but there's no doubt in her mind that it'll crush him. Scorp is a sensitive kid but he's leaving for his first year at Hogwarts in only two months, he'll make new friends, and he'll have Albus every day. He won't have time to think about this and she'll keep a decent, polite relationship with his dad, she will, only for him.
And so as she stares at their hands, more so at hers, Astoria Greengrass's, with her newest addition of an engagement ring, Hermione feels the tight tugging at her heart that she hadn't felt in years.
It had just been all over the news, Draco Malfoy's recent engagement to Astoria Greengrass. The proper pureblood wife his family had always encouraged him to have. The complete opposite of Hermione, Astoria was the epitome of elegance, kindness, and beauty. Hermione was chaos, wit, and stubbornness. It didn't do any good to compare herself to her ex-husband's future wife but Hermione couldn't help it.
Even as her hand sat clasped with Theodore Nott's, her first and only boyfriend after her divorce. But Theo and Hermione had only been dating for three months, they were not even close to being on the same page as Draco and Astoria.
It hadn't taken Draco long to start dating again, their relationship's body had barely turned cold when he was already seeing Astoria. It had been a heart-wrenching pain to see it all over the profet. Hermione had gone out that night and drunk herself to oblivion.
It had taken Draco a while to bring Astoria to their dinner with Scorpius, but of course, he would eventually. The woman was as polite as expected from a pureblood socialite. Never really talked much or offered anything. The conversation was almost always between Draco, Hermione, and Scorp. Hermione could assume that she was there if only so she felt included, to make sure sue didn't feel insecure, as if Draco was using their dinners as an excuse to see Hermione.
Hermione had felt the same way with Theo, she really liked him and she felt like it was a good time to introduce him to her fourteen-year-old son that was every day more and more of a carbon copy of her ex-husband.
Hermione and Draco had agreed that Scorp would stay with him on the weekdays and with her during the weekends for the Summer breaks, Easter, and Christmas when he came home. It was Friday when they'd decided to have their dinner and Hermione was horrified for Theo when she realized both her son and ex-husband had the exact same scowl plastered on their faces when they saw her walking into the restaurant with her hand clasped with Theo's.
Merlin, was it frightening how much Scorp resembled his dad.
Theo had been nothing if not polite during the entire exchange, asking Scorp questions about Hogwarts, Quidditch–which to Hermione's utter dismay her son had taken quite a liking from a young age–and even about his interest in witches or wizards. Which Hermione wanted to know nothing about. Scorpius was still her baby, it didn't matter his age.
And Draco... Draco had been glaring daggers at Theo every time he wasn't looking. Hermione had given him a look when he realized he'd been caught staring. Astoria said nothing, but then again she had come off a little spineless to her, but of course, Hermione couldn't really know.
In the end, Scorp's initial dislike for Theo had diminished and Hermione was quite content with it, momentarily forgetting about Draco's new status. It wasn't until they were saying their goodbyes before taking off that Theo was shaking hands with Draco and said, "Congrats on your engagement, mate." that Hermione recoiled. Hermione snapped her gaze to them and made eye contact with Draco, something passed before his eyes but Hermione quickly looked away. She couldn't think about it. Any of it.
Before Scorpius left for his 4th year at Hogwarts they had dinner twice again. Draco and Hermione had gone alone to drop him off at King's Cross, and Hermione was about to disappearate when Draco's voice stopped her.
"Granger," she didn't want to turn around, she really didn't. They hadn't been alone in person for more than a few minutes, where there was total silence from both ends since their divorce was finalized. Everything that needed to be discussed was always via owl. Never in person. So, Hermione hesitated. What could he possibly want? She didn't need this. She wouldn't be able to stand it.
"Hermione," Her resolve evaporated at his use of her given name and slowly, she turned around.
"Yes?"
"Can we– Could we talk?" He passes his hand through his hair and tugs at it. Disheveling it all in the process. Hermione hates to know exactly what that little gesture does. She hates to know everything about him. Three years and she hasn't forgotten a thing.
Hermione knew everything about Draco, now that she doesn't have him, what is she supposed to do with all of that?
"I don't think there's anything to talk about." It took a great deal of strength to say those words out loud because all the while she was trying to say yes, to say she wanted to talk to him and know how he was, and what was going on in his life, and if he still thinks about her as much as she does about him.
"Hermione, please."
"I can't."
Hermione disappearated before she did something she would regret.
The last time Hermione had heard the word please coming from his mouth Draco was begging her to forgive him. He didn't know there was nothing to forgive. Yes, his words felt like she'd been stabbed, but Hermione thought that she deserved them. But she left him under the pretense that that was the reason why she decided to end things for good. But it wasn't, of course, it wasn't.
Hermione couldn't live with herself if she didn't allow Draco to have the opportunity of having more children, even if it wasn't with her.
Denial, Hermione had been in denial for a few months and that's why she hadn't told Draco the truth. Because she knew he would leave her, he wanted it so badly that he. Would. Leave. Her. and he would hate her.
Hermione had started her research when she kept receiving more and more bad news regarding her condition, and during those sleepless, late nights, she had finally discovered why she couldn't get pregnant as Draco had pointed out, it had been, essentially, her fault.
Draco knew nothing of this, she had kept it a secret from him because he was overprotective of her, and she knew what he would say, how he would react if she ever were to tell him the truth.
It was during a work trip out of town right before she'd gotten her first promotion, Hermione was a curse breaker, she had chosen the profession for the closeness to the dark places where she knew she could find leads to the Death Eaters that were in hiding. Hermione's savior complex had never disappeared. She, along with one of her colleagues was at this particular Manor that had been used as an alternative for Head Quarters to Malfoy Manor that the DMLE had just discovered, when they were raided, Hermione was shot with an unfamiliar curse, but thanks to the DMLE's wards around the property they got there within seconds and were able to take Hermione to St. Mungos. Hermione had made Harry promise not to tell Draco and he'd kept his word. It hadn't been fatal or caused much damage so Hermione saw no reason to alert her husband.
Little did she know that the damage had run deeper to cause stronger repercussions. The abnormality of the curse had been so great and so slow that the Mediwitches hadn't even detected the real damage that wasn't at a surface level. It took hours on end of research for Hermione to finally get her answer. It didn't come as a surprise to her that she had needed to take matters into her own hands to know what was going on.
She had discovered that the spell she had been hit with was centuries old, and used for 'anomalies' like her, a muggle-born witch, by pureblood society so that muggle-born witches wouldn't be able to reproduce when pureblood men had their way with the 'lesser class'. It was a way to ensure that no muggle-born mistress would carry a bastard, an illegitimate child. It was archaic and it was awful to think that society had gone to that extent.
The attack had been targeted, premeditated.
And so Hermione never told Draco, she couldn't. It would've devastated her to see every emotion in his eyes. She couldn't fathom the thought of seeing how he would go from loving her to hating her, she much rather have what little she does now. The knowledge that he doesn't hate her is enough.
The visit to the OBGYN the night when she had finally decided to ask Draco for a divorce had been a ruse, Hermione already knew what was wrong with her and what happened once they got home, the awful things he said, it was the last drop. A trigger. What Hermioned needed to make her decision final and end things with him for good.
Talking to him was a step too far, because every time she saw him she lived with the fear of blurting the truth out. It still kept her up at night, it still haunted her, and it still ate her alive. But it was for the better. They couldn't do anything about it anyway. But she hoped that if he ever found out, Draco would find it in his heart to forgive her.
Draco was happier now, he would get married again, to a perfect pureblood fertile heiress, have a pureblood kid, or more, he would have a wife that will willingly accompany him to social functions and galas. He would have the life he was destined to have from the beginning and hopefully he wouldn't have the time to think about it if he ever did find out the truth.
Hermione is sitting in her office when her secretary Amanda comes in holding a letter in her hand. "Ms. Granger, this was dropped off for you, I think it's important."
"Thanks, Amanda." Hermione grabs the letter and immediately frowns when she sees the Hogwarts crest on the wax seal.
She rips it open and reads it wide-eyed. They have never had problems with Scorpius, he's always been calm and collected, but what she's reading now astonishes her.
Dear Ms. Granger,
We reach out to you to inform you that your son Scorpius Malfoy has been sanctioned for a month in detention for being caught in a physical fight with a fellow Gryffindor classmate. As this is the first and only occurrence of any misadventures during your son's years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry the faculty would appreciate it if you could get in contact via owl at your earliest convenience to schedule a meeting to discuss your son's behavior and the repercussions. Given that the other boy involved was hurt badly and the family members have made a complaint with the faculty against Mr. Malfoy, we have no choice but to take action.
Sincerely,
Headmistress Minerva McGonagall
Not a minute later her door flies open and her ex-husband marches into her office. "Granger,"
"Let's go." She collects her things and then they're gone.
When they arrive at Hogwarts, Hermione is hit with a wave of nostalgia, the place holds so much history and events that completely changed her life it's honestly overwhelming but Hermione doesn't ponder a lot about it, as she has other much more important matters to attend to.
Hermione and Draco march side by side in the Headmistress office's direction and her old Head of House stares at them in awe once they get there, probably not expecting them to be quite so quick.
"Headmistress," They nod in unison at her.
"Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Granger." she nods back at them in greeting. A sympathetic smile takes over her expression, Minerva had been at their wedding after all and she had caught them a few times together after curfew during their 8th year. Hermione swallows at the memory. "Professor Slughorn will be here with Mr. Malfoy shortly," she says and motions for them to take a seat.
"Tea?" she offers and they both shake their heads, probably too on edge with the situation. Scorp has never, ever in his life turned to physical matters for anything and Hermione has absolutely no idea what could've caused this reaction in her son, but she knows it must've been something quite despicable.
Draco grabs her hand in his and gives it a reassuring squeeze, his touch is so familiar to her, sending tingles down her spine, but she's quick to remember the man next to her is no longer hers, he's engaged, set to marry someone else. Hermione snatches her hand away, and Draco sighs beside her.
Minutes later their son is walking into the office, and to Hermione's relief, he doesn't have a scratch on him. Scorpius's gray eyes widen once he catches sight of his parents, realizing he's probably in a lot more trouble than he initially thought.
Hermione is more worried than anything though, not angry. She wants to know what happened that had her son beating another kid so badly his parents had to intervene.
"Mum? Dad?" He switches between watching Hermione to Draco.
"Scorp what happened, son?" Draco asks beside her. Hermione says nothing, and Minerva seems to want to let him explain first to them. Hermione gives her a grateful look, the older woman doesn't look annoyed or angry either, she looks thoughtful and not by her son's situation but by something else.
Scorpius looks the other way, refusing to make eye contact with either of them. "This kid, McLaggen was talking shi–"
"Language," says Draco.
Scorpius huffs, "He was bad-mouthing you, and mum, straight to my face. I warned him to stop talking multiple times but he had it coming. He kept talking and talking until well, I lost it. And I hit him in the face, multiple times."
"Scorpius,"
"I know, alright? I'm not daft, but I wouldn't just let him get away with it, no one's going to talk like that about either of you while I stand and do nothing."
"You could've told a professor," says Hermione, but knowing her son, he has too much pride to do that. He would rather solve things himself, but Hermione felt the need to say something.
He scowls, "I'm no snitch, and that's for pansies."
"Don't talk like that, Scorpius." Draco again.
"Sorry," He offers.
"What did the kid say that made you so angry?" Draco finally inquires what they are both so desperate to know. Of course, their curiosity had spiked. Hermione didn't know for sure what the kid had said but she had an idea. It was McLaggens's spawn after all.
"I rather not say." He shied away again.
"Scorp, you can tell us. It's better if we know so the other boy can be sanctioned too, don't you think? I don't think he's fully innocent as much as you're probably not fully guilty." Hermione says just as her son turns to look at her, a face of both pain and adoration crashes on him. She smiles at her little boy.
He swallows before he begins to speak, "He said, 'No wonder your death eater scum of a father left your mudblood mother, now that he finally found a pureblood perfect wife he didn't need your mudblood mummy to open her legs for him anymore'."
McGonagall gasps behind them, probably the first time she's heard this too.
Hermione says nothing, neither does Draco. She simply looks away and puts her lips on a thin line.
"You understand now?" Scorp asks, anger making his pale cheeks redden.
"Scorpius, it's still not an excuse to punch someone–"
"The bloody hell it's not mum!" Hermione winces at her son's outburst. "Besides, it's true, isn't it? except you're not a mudblood. But daddy dearest here left you for her perfect pureblood wife."
"Scorpius that's not–" Hermione tries to interrupt but her son doesn't deter.
"You think I didn't hear you crying after we left dinner when dad first showed up with Astoria wearing her brand-new diamond? I know you're not happy and that dad pretends to be! I don't need to see you every day to know it. So yes! it enraged me more because it is the bloody truth and you two refuse to stop the torture that is having a forced awkward dinner every time I'm home with dad's pureblood fiancée who doesn't even try to talk to me and you trying to save face with your brand new fucking boyfriend!" and with that, in a similar fashion as she did so many times, her son leaves the office.
McGonagall speaks behind them, "I'll go after Mr. Malfoy and bring him back, we still need to discuss his detention terms and you two can have some... space." Hermione doesn't know if she wants to curse the woman for leaving or thank her.
"Granger," Draco is the first to say something after the Headmistress vanishes from sight.
"We don't need to discuss it, we both know that's not what happened and there's no need to clarify it," Hermione says before he can try to say something.
"What was that about you crying? why were you?" He asks tentatively, and it makes her angry because he clearly knows why yet he still asks for purposes unknown to her. Is he trying to fucking brag?
"Is your ego in that much need of a stroking that you need me to say it, Malfoy?"
He sighs, "Why can't we have a decent conversation, Granger?"
"I can't."
"Yes you can, I know you have the capabilities of having any sort of conversation with anyone." He says, pointing out the obvious. Is he being dense on purpose?
"That's not what I mean Malfoy, I can't. I can't talk to you, it hurts too much. Satisfied?" Hermione hates admitting but she knows him, she knows Draco Malfoy is just as stubborn as she is, and he won't let it go unless he's pleased with the answers he receives.
"You say that as if you weren't the one who left me." He says gently.
"You didn't give me a choice."
"I didn't give you a choice?"
"You hated me Malfoy, you resented me! You were never going to get past our problems because it seems like I was never good enough for you to settle with along with Scorpius!"
That does it for him.
"Why were you crying, Granger?"
"As if you fucking cared." She huffs, shaking her head. What good does it do to say it now? he's. Still. Fucking. Engaged.
"I asked why, Granger." He says now with an edge on his tone and it unnerves Hermione so badly. She just wants him to stop, to stop asking shit that he doesn't really want to know. But she might as well just tell him now, so he can make fun of her and brag in her face about how he wins and she loses.
"Because it fucking kills me! alright? because I love you and I never fucking stopped! and you moved on so fucking fast it made me think that you never even loved me in the first place!"
"How can you think that?"
"How can I think that?!" She asks him in disbelief. "Malfoy you were only ever focused on having another kid and what it meant for you not to have it that you never asked what it felt like for me!"
"Hermione..." Draco says with a pained look in his beautiful gray eyes that still manages to captivate her to this day.
"Look, let's just forget it shall we? We have a son that needs us and we still need to figure this mess out. I can't do this with you anymore. I can't see you, I don't want to see you, I need to move on just as you so quickly did."
"What does that mean?"
"No more dinners, we don't talk about anything that's not Scorpius related and that's that." It's the easiest way and it's the best for the three of them. Scorpius is clearly uncomfortable and the sole reason why they were doing it in the first place was because of him, so there's no point keeping that up.
"What if I don't want that?" He retorts with a smirk. What is there to even smirk about?
"It's not up to you to decide. Scorpius is more important than your feelings on the matter." And right on cue before he can say anything else, Minerva re-emerges followed by their son.
After they discuss the terms of Scorp's detention and the extent of his punishment along with the other kid both parents are dismissed. They embrace their son in separate hugs and finally depart from him. Minerva informs them that they can use her floo to land on Diagon Alley and they do. Once emerging in the familiar place with a full crowd, Hermione is ready to apparate when Draco stops her one more time.
"Hermione," His voice sounds tired but full of emotion, it sends dread to her stomach.
"What, Malfoy? I really need to go," she turns to leave but this time he grabs her elbow to stop her, yanking her carefully back.
"I need to tell you something before you leave, please."
She's not looking at him, she thinks it would hurt too much. "Can you look at me? Please." it's so strange hearing that word repeatedly coming out of his mouth but Hermione finally turns to look at him and she doesn't like what she sees. There are many things there, but she doesn't want to study any of them.
"I never once stopped loving you either, Hermione Granger."
Her breath hitches, and her lower lip wobbles. She feels the tears prick in her eyes.
"Don't say that to me. Don't say things you don't mean, Draco."
"Hermione," he breathes her name, his forehead pressed against hers.
"If you knew the truth you would never say that to me again."
"What truth? what are you talking about?" He frowns, searching for a truth he'll never find in her eyes.
"Draco, let me go. I'm begging you, please. Don't make this harder than it already is." with that, he lets her go reluctantly. But Hermione sees the face of determination taking over his expression before she's gone.
One week later...
Draco Malfoy and Astoria Greengrass officially announce the breaking of their long-awaited engagement.
Hermione has barely set the paper down to process what she just read when there's a loud knock on her door. For some reason, she knows exactly who's at the door.
"Draco,"
"Hermione."