Hermione Granger slammed the door behind her back in anger. No. She was not angry. She was furious. Ron's guilty expression and reddened ears lingered behind her eyelids as she was walking away from their home. The home where they had made a beautiful family out of their friendship, where she had been happy. Well, mostly happy. Actually, she wasn't even angry at him, but at herself. She should have known. All the signs were sudden change of habits, the bad excuses, the boosted ego. She had let her logical thinking and analytical abilities be clouded by wishful thinking. By denial. Of course he was cheating on her with his new blond curvaceous colleague. She even looked a bit like Lavender. Definitely acted like Lavender in regard to making him feel good about himself - adored, desired. Hermione had always undermined him, he said. And what he needed was appreciation.

She almost knocked down an aged muggle man with a cane as she was blowing her nose, so she stopped to rethink her destination. Didn't feel like apparating out of London. Didn't have anywhere to go, really. Her only true friend was Ginny and she was his sister after all. Plus, she didn't feel like bumping into Harry. He must have known. This strengthened her decision to stay in muggle London and just look for a place to cool down. Actually, maybe it was the appropriate place for her considering...No. One thing at a time.

She headed toward The Raven and the Serpent, where she wouldn't stand out too much in her austere black skirt and white shirt. Clothes for wearing underneath her mantle in the Ministry, not for a night out. At least she was in heels and had some makeup on. The walk to Chelsea took her twenty minutes. Enough for some of the swelling around her eyes to soften. She let her hair down to lessen the "lawyer" image she was probably projecting and entered. The bar was crowded with chattering people and dimly lit. There was an elegant young man with glasses playing the piano in the corner. A small female crowd had gathered around looking at him transfixed. Some of them eyed Hermione when she walked in but probably thought that a 30 something woman who had borne two children wasn't much of a competition, so they returned their attention to the musician. Hermione briefly wondered if she had remembered to put the time specifications on her laundry spell but quickly dismissed the notion. Really, the cleanness of Ron's clothes should be the last thing on her mind right now. So she made her way to the bar and ordered a Jamison on the rocks. She pondered Rose and Hugo's reaction when they eventually found out of their parent's separation. Was she really going to leave him though? The children would be devastated. But could she continue living with him after the affair on top of his constant looks of pity and disgust towards her and her.. issues.

She was on her second glass when she heard a disturbingly familiar voice behind her.

'Well, well, this place should really be called The Lioness and The Serpent'.

She turned around to find Draco Malfoy grinning behind her. Stunningly, he was dressed in muggle clothes - black jeans and a slim fitting black shirt. His hair was longer than last time she saw him, not that she crossed paths with him much in the ministry. He was definitely aging better than Ron who had slowly been growing bold and fat.

'Bugger off, Malfoy'

'Hey, what happened to polite coldness between ex-enemies.' He sneered. 'I didn't take you for an alone-in-a-bar type of girl. Or whiskey type of girl for that matter. You might attract unwanted attention'. His eyes darted suggestively to the edge of her skirt where the hem of her stocking was slightly showing. She readjusted on her chair to cover it.

'I think I already have'.

'Ouch. Sharp as usual. But I guess I had that coming.' Suddenly, Malfoy shifted his gaze to the man sitting on the chair next to Hermione who had been throwing him nervous glances for some time. To Hermione's utter dismay the man sorta shrinked and left the chair, which was soon occupied by Malfoy's lean body. He didn't even look smug, as if strangers habitually discomforted themselves in his favor. Which was probably the case. Rich and famous was a magical combination even in the muggle world. She suddenly felt deeply uncomfortable and blurted:

'So, you come here quite often, right?'

'Indeed. How did you know?'

'The bartender and a few other girls have been throwing me stares that range from confused to downright jealous so I figured I am not your usual pick of the litter'. He seemed perplexed for a moment and she laughed. Bitterly. 'So, you've been preying on innocent muggle women. Of course you would. I only hope you're not dosing anyone with love potion, cause that is enough to get even you in trouble with the ministry'.

'Well. Thank you for your high opinion. How easily you convicted me of being an adulterer and a rapist. Typical Griffindor heuristics.'

'Are they correct?'

'Only the adulterer part. But I don't usually have to use magic to get laid. For some reason women trip over each other to get their hands on me'. He said it matter-of-factly, without a hint of bragging, yet she found it necessary to roll her eyes at him.

'And how does your wife feel about it?'

'Astoria can shove her thoughts up her pure-blood arse if you ask me. Whenever she can find space considering it's usually occupied by some high-born wizard's prick. And I don't seem to qualify anymore.' He must have seen the horror in Hermione's eyes, cause his expression quickly went cold and spiteful.

'Don't you dare feel sorry for me, Granger. How are things going with your weasel? Potter seems pleased with his particular breed, but you've looked unsatisfied for years. I've always pictured the long nosed morron as a lousy fuck. You being here tonight, the smeared mascara... Everything screams thunder in paradise.'

'Fuck you, Malfoy' was all she managed.

'That can be arranged'. He stood up and casually threw 50 quid on the bar. Hermione decisively averted her gaze from his right hand so close to her own but then he moved it to play with a strand of her hair and leaned in even closer.

'You are obviously upset. Find yourself a nice hotel and sleep it over. And try not to stir a shitload of trouble with those endless legs of yours'. His left hand swiftly grazed her thigh and then she was left alone with her whiskey and her misery.

Author's note: This is my first attempt at fan fiction. It's intended as a gift for my best friend - a dedicated Dramione fan. I must warn you that English is not my first language and there are inevitably going to be mistakes. I hope they are not Unforgivable.

Core Strings is probably going to be around 10 chapters and I plan to update twice a week, Tuesday and Thursday. Enjoy!