It had been a long day for Hermione. The department had sent her out on a really long and tiring mission with her partner. They had been run ragged chasing after a renegade Death Eater. The day had been productive, but now she was not ready to go home and deal with cooking dinner for her two children- Rose and Hugo. She loved her son and daughter with all her heart, but having to come home and do all the work around the house without any help was just too demanding. Up until a year ago she had been somewhat helped by a Mr. Ronald Weasley when it came to household chores and taking care of the children. Up until a year ago, she had been in a happy marriage, or so she had assumed until the divorce papers had shown up on her desk one day. The only explanation he had given her that day was that he just wasn't feeling the love between them anymore. Now he was off gallivanting around with different girls each week while she was taking care of their two children and holding down a very high stress job!

Hermione thought about this while she walked to the grates in the Ministry of Magic atrium. She knew that the minute she walked through that fireplace she had to put on her "big girl panties" and deal with the lot that she had been dealt in this life. She gave out a big sigh and braced herself as she grabbed some flew powder and through it down into the fire saying her address clearly.

Hermione walked out of the grate the next morning exhausted, but ready for a productive work day. As she walked on the lift to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, a familiar head of blond hair caught her attention. She scooted in closer to him as other passengers boarded the lift and gave a soft smile as his greeting of morning.

"Ready for a fierce day at work, Granger?"

"Only if you are, Malfoy. It's been a long night and I could use a criminal to take all my frustration out on…I'm feeling particularly perturbed at my ex-husband this morning," she replied.

Malfoy laughed at her statement as the lift came to a stop on their level. The two started down the hallway in an amicable silence until they reached the Auror department. Upon opening the door and giving the usual, "hellos," in greetings, they made their way to the back of the bull pen where their desks sat facing each other. As they approached, Hermione noticed an ordinary Ministry owl sitting on her desk with a decent sized envelope attached to its leg.

Curiously, Hermione took the offered missive from the owl and slowly broke the seal. As she began to open the letter and scan the continents, Draco began to riffle through the Daily Prophet that had been placed on his desk. When he flipped the newspaper to the society section, he allowed a low whistle to escape his lips. This jester, however, went unnoticed by the rest of the department as Hermione let out a shrill cry at the same moment.

Tears of anger and disbelief began to run down Hermione's face as Draco took the paper out of her hand and began to silently read the attorney letter telling Hermione that due to Ron's recent marriage and his increase in joint income, he could and would appeal to gain full custody of their children. Draco's fist began to shake in anger as he threw the paper down and stormed to the Head Auror's office.

Red in the face, Draco spoke before the director could speak. "Hermione needs to take the day off. She isn't feeling her best today and will not perform well. I'm taking her home. I think it also might be a good idea for me to stay and take care of her."

"Well, if she isn't doing well then go ahead and take her home, Malfoy. Just make sure she will be able to work tomorrow."

"If you say so, Potter. But I'm taking my leave now." With that Draco promptly left the office and walked back out to his desk where Hermione had not moved at all. She was still quivering over her desk from the tears. Draco grabbed her hand and, without any struggle from her, walked out of the Auror office, down the hall to the lift. Once in the lift and after pushing the button for the first floor, he pulled Hermione into his arms to comfort her. His comforting didn't last long though. He looked down at the crying woman in his arms at the same time that she looked up at him. They slowly let each other go and Hermione slowly stopped crying.

"Why did you do that?" Hermione questioned Draco.

"Why do you think I did it? Not for you, obviously." A sneer was on his face as he continued, "If you were in a bad way today, then you would have put me in a dangerous situation. I was saving my own neck."

Hermione's face fell a little as she replied, "Well for whatever reason, thank you. You can enjoy your day off now I guess. I'm about to go home a try to figure out what to do now. There has got to be a way that the Ministry will give me my children!"

"Well that's your problem Granger, not mine." It was obvious to Draco that in the moment that their eyes' had meet, he knew that he had to be his old self or something bad would happen. Something bad meaning that he would actually start carrying for her and her life. He was just about to get off the lift and head to his manor when he looked over his shoulder to Hermione. Her face looked like she was going to simply die from the crisis her life had become. Against his better judgment, Draco turned around and walked over to her.

"Why aren't you getting in your own grate? I thought you didn't care about me," said Hermione, not really looking at him while she waited.

"Well, I told Potter that I was taking you home and I need something to put as a good deed on my taxes. So I will listen to you whine about your situation today so that I have my partner back tomorrow." With that he walked into the fireplace, said her address and with a flare of green flames he was gone.

When Hermione has finally walked through the fireplace and into her simple three bedroom flat, she was no less amazed to find Malfoy sitting on her armchair. She ignored his presence for the time being and walked into her modest kitchen to make herself a strong brew of tea to calm her nerves.

What was she going to do? What could she possibly do to keep her children? Yes, she could go to court and try to expose Ron's past and show how wrong it would be to place her children permanently with him, but that would do no good. He was the man, he had a higher salary; he was the married one so he could now fully supply a mother and father figure to the children. As a single mother with a dangerous career, Hermione knew she didn't stand a chance

With these depressing thoughts racing through her head, Hermione poured herself a cup of tea and stalked into the living room. She was surprised to still find Malfoy there. He seemed to just be staring into space, completely comfortable within her home. He didn't really concern her though-she could ignore him as long as he kept his mouth shut. She prayed he would as sat down with her tea on the oversized couch as she picked up one of Hugo's toys.

She held the toy in her hand, just starring at it with glazed over eyes. How could he take away her children? What made it come to this- whose idea was this? She put him up to this, she thought, or at least she believed so until Malfoy answered her.

"She wants children along with money. That's why she left me. I had the money, just not the children to provide her. She doesn't want to birth them her own."

Hermione was shocked by this statement. "Wow, I can't believe that Astoria would do this! But that information helps me none. Even if I take that to the court, they will still give the children to Ronald. He is married, even if his new wife is psycho."

"Well not that I'm trying to help you, but you should get married. Then you will be the one who receives the children, especially after you tell them about her. But now I'm becoming bored with this so I think I will leave." He began to get up and walk to the fire. However when he put his hand in the floo powder pot, Hermione spoke.

"When am I supposed to find a husband on such a short notice? My court date is in a fortnight. No one can fall in love that quickly."

"Granger, you don't need to fall in love with someone. You just need a man. Where you find one is your problem."

"Would it have to be permanent?"

"I would assume not unless the court just wants to say they were wrong, which never happens, you should be fine with a divorce after a month." Draco said this with his bored sounding drawl. In all honesty, he was in a rush to get out there. Earlier he had realized she could very well come to the decision to ask him for help. He could say no, but when it came to getting the children away from Astoria, he would say yes. He had one foot in the fireplace and was about to say his address when she said it.

"Will you marry me?"