Draco Malfoy (or Derik Cristof, as he was known now) reveled in the simple life now. Before the war, he loved everything to have a aura of complication. Now, he prefered spending his days in his pub, serving the patrons butterbeers, firewhiskeys, and everything in between. When he closed the pub for the night, he retreated to his flat above the pub.
When he aquired the small pub, he was perplexed as to what to call the establishment. He rather hated the names of the other pubs in Diagon Alley, and the ones in Hogsmeade. He chose a one-word moniker that suited his new lifestyle. SIMPLICITY.
Hermione Granger Weasley, on the other hand, still craved the simpleness of schoolwork, combating with Ron and Harry, and gossiping with Ginny. Oh, how she wished life was simple again; between getting her marriage to Ron afloat (having just married three months ago), and trying to hide just how far along in her pregnancy she was, she found herself wishing she were sixteen again.
Hermione Jean Granger and Ronald Bilius Weasley were married in a quiet ceremony at the Burrow, joined by only the Weasley family (Molly, Arthur, Charlie, Bill, Fleur, Percy, Audrey, George, Angelina, and Ginny), Harry, and the new Minister of Magic, Kingsley Shacklebolt, who officiated the ceremony.) No one knew that Hermione and Ron had a short engagement because Hermione was six weeks pregnant. The bridesmaids glowed, literally; they were all expecting their first child. Fleur was nine months pregnant with Victoire, Audrey was four days past her due date with Molly II, Angelina was 6 months pregnant with Roxanne, and Ginny was five months pregnant with James. Unbeknownst to Hermione, as she didn't know the sex at the time, she was pregnant with Rose.
After a quick ceremony, and a short reception, Ron and Hermione left on their honeymoon to Wales. When they returned three weeks later, they announced they were expecting.
Draco was surprised he had never gotten anyone pregnant. Hell, he was surprised he wasn't married yet. He was twenty. All of his mates, including the Slytherin Playboy, Blaise Zabini were married and either expecting their first baby, or were suffering sleepless nights caring for a newborn. He wanted a family - he was just unsure of who he could trust enough to have that kind of relationship with. Not many people trusted, or even liked the Malfoys after they defected to the Light. Everyone expected him to turn against his mother for lying to Voldemort about Harry dying. He didn't, and he loved his mother even more because of her decision.
He knew why he wasn't married, as much as he didn't want to admit it. He loved someone, a married woman. He never stood a chance, not after the was he treated her in school.
The months seemed to fly to Hermione, and all too soon, she was approaching her due date. She had been unhappy in her marriage for quite some time, probably since she uttered "I do.". Ron was always drinking, coming home all hours of the night drunk. Too many times, Hermione found herself sleeping on a bed she conjured in the front room to get away from the putrid stench of Firewhiskey.
"Just a few more weeks to go," she often told herself. "Ron has to get better once Rose is here."
A mere week before her approximate due date, Ron came home drunk yet again. This time at four in the morning.
Hermione had, by that time, had enough.
"Ronald! Must you insist on drinking yourself stupid every night? Our daughter will be here in less than a week! How are you going to be any kind of father when you're always drinking that damned Firewhiskey?"
"Yer sexy when yer pissed Mione. C'mon, les shag before the runt gets 'ere," he slurred.
"RUNT?" she screamed. "How DARE you call OUR child a RUNT! Ronald, this is the final straw, I'm leaving!"
His shoulders slumped and he stalked away.
"Cobble!" she cried, calling the house-elf. She hated using her, but the young elf was Dobby's niece, and was a gift from Draco on her wedding day.
"Yes, missus?" the elf said as she appeared.
"I'd like you to pack all of my belongings: my clothing, books, trinkets, pictures, and the like, as well as the items I have purchased for the baby. Put an undetectable extending charm on my old Hogwarts trunk and use that, put all of those things in the trunk, and put shrinking and lightening charms on it as well."
"Yes missus! I will do that now, missus!" And the elf was gone.
Where was she going to go? She had no one to go to. When the elf returned, Hermione got an idea. "Cobble? I need a favor."
"What is missus needing?"
"At eight a.m, I would like for you to apparate to Malfoy Manor and make a request of the Lady of the house."
"Missus! Surely you is not talking about Missus Narcissa!" Cobble was shocked.
"Yes, Cobble. I am. I would like for you to ask Missus Malfoy if she would like to join me for tea."
An owl sat perched on Draco's windowsill. It was his mother's tawny owl, gorgeous really.
He started a kettle of tea with a wave of his hand and sat down to read the letter.
In his mother's neat scrawl, it read:
Darling Draco,
I'm sorry, dear, but I must reschedule our lunch arrangements. Something very important has come up and it must have my full attention.
I look forward to seeing you this Saturday.
Love Always,
Mother
What could have come up in that past twenty-four hours that garnered her full attention? Draco didn't think about it anymore until his house-elf, Dobby (named in honor of the elf that saved Harry, Hermione, Weasel, Ollivander, Luna, and Griphook when he could not) delivered his Prophet to him. On the front page read:
Two-thirds of the Famed Golden Trio are Splitting, Sources Confirm! Details on Page Three.
He looked at the author's name: Lavendar Finnegan. What, Finnegan? Make that two more people in his year that were married...
He pursued the article, knowing that it didn't involve Harry and Ginny. They were just in the pub the other night to say hello.
Hermione Weasley will soon again be Hermione Granger. Sources close to the couple have disclosed to the Prophet that the soon-to-be Miss Granger initiated the split after Mister Weasley continually came home at all hours of the night reeking of Firewhiskey and perfume that did not belong to his wife. Mister Weasley's supposed beloved has contacted this author personally and gave this statement:
"I am taking the time to confirm to you, Lavendar, and to your readers that yes, Ronald and I will be ending our marriage. We have already discussed custody arrangements for our unborn daughter. Lanendar, I know you have personal experience with Mister Weasley, and know how he is first-hand. (At this, I nodded and gave her my condolences.) I'm asking for our privacy as we go through this. However, I will be contacting you when my child is born. You will be the one and only reporter getting into my room at Saint Mungo's."
Drinking. Hanging off of any girl he can get his hands on. Yes, my dear readers, that is the real Ronald Weasley. I was also contacted by Ronald's older brother, George. He gave me this statement:
"Hullo, Lavendar. As you know, my git of a brother has hurt Hermione. I will never forgive him. Ron is my brother, but I'm closer to Hermione then I am to him. She's the one who pulled me out of the darkness after Fred...after Fred died. Hermione is an angel. I'm disgusted in my brother for hurting her. I'm sorry, I can't talk about this anymore. I have to get back to the shop. By the way, pregnancy looks good on you. Tell Seamus I said hullo."
Please check back in with the Prophet tomorrow for more details on this and other news stories in the Wizarding World.
Is this why his mother cancelled lunch? He immediately stood up and walked into the small library. He pulled out a quill, ink, and six inches of parchment and wrote his mother a note:
Mother,
Am I correct in assuming your cancellation has something to do with the article on page three of the Prophet?
No need to reply if I am correct.
Your son,
Draco
He walked over to the window, where his owl, Hyperion stood. The owl was a graduation gift from his father. He was going to give his first born son Hyperion as a middle name...if he ever had a son.
Hermione was surprised Narcissa Malfoy accepted her invitation and joined her for tea. The afternoon was going well until Narciss said, "Hermione, dear, I know this is a little soon, but I just want you to know your options. Draco's single and available. Give him a visit. He owns a pub in Diagon Alley called Simplicity."