Disclaimer: None of this is mine…sadly…all J.K. Rowling's…except the plot and perhaps some random characters I might add in.

A/N: I love reviews please please review! This is my first fanfic posted though and I'm nervous. O well all flames are good for BBQing so if you intend to insult me it will only amuse me. Much love!

Chapter 1 – Happily Ever After…is Apparently not Today

Hermione sat at her kitchen table gazing out the window. She was oblivious to everything out there however, because she was caught up in her own head. What had happened? Voldemort had been defeated three years ago and the Ministry had been restored to people with at least moderate intelligence. She sighed deeply and looked at the dregs of tea in her cup. She wasn't unhappy, no, how could Hermione, the world renown witch, married to Harry Potter, living the easy life with no job and no responsibilities be unhappy?

"Miss want some more tea?" said a squeaky voice from somewhere near her elbow.

"Oh!" said Hermione startled from her reverie. "No, no. I'm fine I can get everything for myself as I constantly tell you. Go do something that interests you Neeby." She said exasperatedly.

"Neeby likes to clean though Misses. That's what house elves is for!" the little thing chirped.

Hermione was generally patient with her house elves trying to teach them to be independent and find hobbies but today was not one of her more patient days. Admittedly the squeaky little voice was actually grating on her nerves and her ever present headache.

"Fine, fine. If you must, go clean up the mess I'm sure Harry made last night."

Hermione hadn't checked his 'study' yet but was sure it was littered with empty booze bottles and pieces of any hapless objects that got in the way of his rampage. She hadn't been awake when he came in to bed or awake before he left but she wouldn't have asked him anyways. There was no point, she knew the answer and a confrontation would only ensue a fight. The tiny elf looked abashed and her big brown eyes looked at the floor.

"Neeby hears Master last night Misses. He is very loud and scares poor Wibble when he is throwing around the last good china we have Miss. Would Miss like Neeby to order some more too?"

Hermione sighed again, even more deeply. She doubted Harry would miss any money from their vault but this was just another complication to add to the list. At least looking at a catalogue would occupy her mind for a bit.

"No Neeby, thank you though. I will do it. I might as well go into Diagon Alley today, it seems we have a bunch of broken things that needs replacing. What is the good of magic if you can't replace 'Reparo' the items you buy from wizard's shops. It's all a money scam I'm sure and it seems to be working well with this…family."

She had almost stumbled over the word 'family' as it seemed more like she was alone in this pairing. If at least she had a child to occupy her time, but Harry hadn't come near her since they were married. Not a kiss… Her thoughts trailed off as she tried to hold off tears. What had happened to the independent, obstinate Hermione she remembered from school years. The one who had fought through the war, fixed injuries and saw people dying around her without shedding a tear. It all seemed like a hazy dream that had nothing to do with her current reality.

"I guess I will owl Ginny and see if she'll join me if she's not too busy at the Ministry…" she trailed off realizing Neeby had long since left and she was talking to herself in an empty kitchen. "Typical…" she muttered.

Hermione exited the kitchen passing the study where she heard the pitter patter of tiny feet cleaning and smelt the unmistakable smell of spilt vodka that she had grown ever more accustomed to. She tried to ignore it and continued upstairs to the room next to hers to find Cleo, the owl Ginny had given her for her previous birthday. The room itself almost brought Hermione to her knees. When they were picking out houses she had wanted one with a bunch of rooms for all the children she planned to have in their fairytale little house, with her perfect husband and perfect little children. Immediately when they had first entered this room when they were looking at houses Hermione had been mentally picking out colour schemes and deciding where to put the crib and rocking chair. The room had a balcony with huge double doors so she could gaze out at the water as she rocked her child to sleep. She shuddered and walked swiftly to the balcony where Cleo was perched haughtily on the railing. As soon as she saw Hermione however she immediately flapped over to sit on her outstretched arm.

Hermione set her gently on the desk inside the room and rummaged around for a quill and some parchment. She quickly scribbled a little note to Ginny and tied it around Cleo's ankle.

"Send this to Ginny please Cleo." She patted the owl affectionately then strode out of the room as Cleo took out the open doors.

Hermione quickly pulled on some random robes from her closet and started brushing her teeth. Her hair was unruly and there were dark circles under her eyes. She looked on the outside exactly as she felt on the inside. She gave it up as a bad job and turned away from the mirror. She supposed she could have done some spells to make her appearance better but what was the point? She had no one to impress, she doubted her husband would notice the difference, and doubted even more she would see him tonight.

She scooped up her wand from off of her dresser and threw it into her purse along with an assortment of galleons and sickles she had stashed in a floorboard in their room, much like Harry's old hiding spot at his Aunt and Uncle's place. Cleo flew into the room through and open window and landed on her bedpost hooting softly. Hermione untied the letter from her leg and told her to head to the kitchen for a snack before promptly perching on her bed to read Ginny's practically illegible scrawl.

Hey Hermione darling!

I'm so sorry but things are hectic here at the Ministry today, there's a trial for Nott and as one of the Auror's who captured him I have to testify today. So sorry hun, can I take a rain check? Maybe we can meet up for lunch this weekend. Floo over to the Burrow tomorrow night and we'll talk it out. Send my love to Harry.

Toodles,

Gin

"Ah, o well. I'm a big girl I'm sure I can handle a shopping trip myself." Hermione chuckled and tossed the used parchment into the fire.

She ran down the flight of stairs and poked her head into Harry's study when she didn't hear any movement. She found three little house elves apparently passed out from the alcohol fumes on the ground. She quickly preformed 'Evanesco' on them and nodded hurriedly at their squeaky words of thanks. She hurried out of the room nauseated by the smell, not the alcohol part, she didn't mind a nice cocktail every once in a while, but the emotions that came with the overpowering scent. She walked into their living room and grappled around on the huge fireplace mantel until her fingers touched a pot and she pulled it down. Tossing some of the dust from the pot into the flames she restored the pot to it's place, climbed into the fireplace and clearly enunciated "Diagon Alley".

Even though she was accustomed to the spinning sick feeling she still fell out of the fireplace in a fluster and banged into someone on the other side.

"What the –" exclaimed a familiar voice.

"Oh! I'm sor…" her voice tapered off as she recognized the person she had bumped into.

Recognition flashed across the face in front of her and the gray eyes peered at her inquisitively. Hermione flushed under their piercing gaze.

"Granger. I should have known you always were somewhat of a klutz. It's a surprise to see you here. I wondered why no one had seen you in forever, I figured you were dead. Ooo, but you're not Granger anymore are you? You're a Potter now from what I hear. I'm sad to say I must have missed my invitation while I was in Azkaban under false charges."

The voice came from Hermione's ex-nemesis Draco Malfoy. After he had reformed his Death Eater ways and became a spy for the Order she had rarely seen him but knew him and Harry were on friendly terms. It registered for a minute that he had implied he had been wondering about her but she dismissed that idea as thinking he probably used it as a figure of speech. As these thoughts passed through her mind he was still looking at her intently and also gripping her elbow. She finally noticed that at least and extricated her arm from his grasp.

"Nice to see you too Malfoy." She said coolly and registered his slight flinch of the use of his surname before his emotions were closed to her again.

She continued on feeling unrepentant due to her sour mood, "I am here doing some shopping to replace some things that have…er…been damaged accidentally…" she trailed off at his curious look and fumbled for an excuse, "Like you said, I'm quite the klutz…" she trailed off again knowing she hadn't fooled him for a moment.

"Yes, I'm sure Potter's habit of inhaling enough alcohol a night to make a 70's rock band proud has nothing to do with that of course." He said smoothly.

Hermione made a mental effort not to gasp. Did everyone in the wizarding world know about this?

"Not that this is any of my business I'm sure but-" he started

"You took the words right out of my mouth Malfoy, now I must be going." She snapped haughtily.

"Well, I see Mrs. Potter has the same temper as her husband now. However, don't worry your 'secret' is safe with me. I just happen to know much about it since Harry and I have established a sort of friendship over the years, enough at least for me to notice he is constantly drunk out of his tree. Don't worry everyone else still thinks he is the Golden Boy of the century. Now, since you are obviously busy I will let you get back to whatever it was you were going to do, buy new crockery, or furniture, although I would say it seems like a hefty task for you to be doing by yourself."

With that he turned on his heel and seemed to be fully immersed in a display of dress robes immediately. Hermione felt very dismissed and took a step backwards from shock. It was true she did probably need help carrying things and she had been extremely lonely lately. She warred with herself for a couple minutes as she took her time slowly walking to the door.

Finally, she turned and snapped angrily, more at herself than him, "Fine, do you want to come shopping with me Malfoy?" she spat out, practically spraying him with spittle even from the opposite side of the room.

"Well," he wiped his face off in a posh manner, "since you asked me so nicely, I don't see how I could politely refuse."

Hermione flushed again struck by the truth behind his words and feeling very immature. She had always prided herself in remaining more composed than him. Except, perhaps, for the time she had hit him across he face, but he had deserved that. Draco strode imperiously over to the door where she stood and gallantly offered her his arm which she took warily.

'Well then…where to first?" he asked.

A/N: Yay, first chapter up, I know it's kind of boring at first but it gets much better. Next chapter you learn more about the war and see Harry's perspective! Maybe a little Draco perspective too we'll see how it goes. Review please please please!

Much Love!

CiCi 3