Hermione crept out of bed at the crack of dawn and grabbed everything she would need for her 'extended' day at work. Ron had said he wasn't mad at her but she could tell he was disappointed and that made her mad at herself. She took one last look around the room to make sure she had everything before scooting out the door and down the stairs. She walked into the kitchen and saw Rose sitting on a stool and her elbows resting on the counter top.

"Morning honey," Hermione said gently, she fully intended to make it up to her daughter for how uncaring she was the night before.

"Morning," Rose replied softly.

"What are you doing up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep, every time I closed my eyes I could see him looking over his shoulder and smirking at me as he escorted a girl up the stairs."

"Why don't you stop by my office this afternoon and we can have a girls night, pizza and ice cream. How does that sound?"

"Thanks Mom, when should I come?"

"Whenever you want sweetheart. I have to go now but I'll see you later."

Hermione leaned over and gave her daughter a hug and for the first time in a very long time she didn't squirm away.

"Mom?"

"What?"

"Why were you and dad fighting last night?"

"Something happened at work and he didn't like how I handled it."

"Okay, bye."

"I love you."

"Love you to mom."

Hermione picked her briefcase and her purse, made sure her wand was in her cloak and then apparated to the Ministry.

She usually got to work early but this was a record for her. The only person in the atrium was the guard at the far end by the lifts. She walked by him and said a quick but polite hello and then hurried to a lift. As soon as she reached her office she closed the door and sat down behind her desk. She sank into the soft leather chair and sighed. It felt good to be back in the safety of familiarity. She kicked off her shoes and drew her legs up underneath her and got to work. She had two reports that had to be filed before noon and numerous letters to write and reply to.

She worked without taking a break until there was a knock on her door, "Come in," she called out.

The door opened and in walked her secretary Mandy.

"What do you need?" she asked rather impatiently. Realizing that Mandy was not part of the mess she called her life she continued on a bit nicer, "Sorry, I'm just tired, what time is it?"

"8:30, how long have you been here for Ms. Granger?"

"I think it was about 5:30."

"You're crazy, well these were dropped off after you left yesterday," she handed Hermione a stack of files and then walked out of the room.

"Thanks," she didn't know how she was going to have time to see Rose later but she knew she would have to fit it in.

She was just about to go back to work when her door flew open and in marched Draco and Scorpius, Mandy was in the background saying, "I tried to stop them."

Draco slammed the door closed and Hermione jumped up from her chair. She put her hands on her desk to support herself as she searched around with her foot to find her shoes, "What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Scorpius wants to talk to you," Draco said roughly.

"Father," Scorpius moaned.

"Talk or she will tear a strip off of you right now like she did to me last night."

Scorpius started to pace back and forth in front of the desk and Draco sat down in a chair beside the fireplace. Hermione taking that as her queue also sat down but Scorpius didn't sit nor did he take his eyes off the rug.

"What do you want me to say Father?"

"An apology I think would be in order," Draco said calmly.

"I am not apologizing to her, what have I done wrong?"

Hermione stood up quickly, knocking a stack of parchment off the edge of her desk. She didn't bother pick it up she just said, "He's right Malfoy."

Draco looked up shocked.

"He shouldn't have to apologize to me, he should have to apologize to Rose."

"I am not apologizing to that bitch. To apologize you have to feel remorse and that's the least of my feelings."

Hermione practically flew across the room she was moving so fast. Draco didn't even have time to jump out of his seat to try and stop her. Hermione had drawn her wand and had it pointed at Scorpius, "Sit in the damn chair or I will do it for you," she snarled.

Scorpius slowly sank into the chair, fear etched all over his face.

"Now stay there."

If she could breathe fire the whole room would have been alight but thankfully she couldn't.

She walked over to the fireplace and threw in some floo powder and stuck her head into the emerald flames. No more than thirty seconds later she withdrew her head and walked back over to her desk. She rested her butt on the edge of it and placed her wand on the wooden surface. The room was dead silent for what felt like hours but was really only minutes and then Hermione said, "Do you do that to every girl you fuck?"

"Lady I don't have a clue what you're talking about."

"Do you always forget a contraception charm or was it just this once?"

Scorpius didn't say anything he just did the Malfoy trademark smirk.

"Damn it, answer her Scorpius," Draco bellowed.

"Don't mind if I don't Father."

There was a soft knock on the door and Hermione quickly straightened herself and picked up her wand. She held it in a death grip and said to Scorpius, "You are to apologize to her and make everything better. I don't care if you have to get on you're knees and beg you will make things right. And no funny business, do you understand me?"

"Yes ma'am," he said meekly because he didn't want to see what she could do with her wand that was pointed at his heart.

"Come in," Hermione called.

The door was slowly pushed open and in walked Rose. Her eyes quickly scanned the room and came to rest on Scorpius.

"Scorpius wanted to talk to you Rose," Hermione said.

"Why should I talk to that slime ball?" Rose said angrily. She had gone from confusion and depression to anger.

"He's come to apologize to you."

"I know what he's like, he would never apologize."

"We'll leave you two to your chat," Draco said and he stood up and walked out the door, Hermione quickly followed him.

As soon as they were out of the office Hermione turned on Draco and was about to start yelling at him when she saw everyone had stopped what they were doing and were staring at them. Hermione quickly turned and walked over to talk to Mandy.

Ten minutes later the door opened and Rose walked out. She was trying to hide her tears but it wasn't working so well. Hermione walked over to her and enveloped her in hug.

"He apologized and said that he never meant it to happen like it did and he's sorry he hurt me."

"What did you do?"

"I told him to get lost," she laughed through her tears, "Imagine that after how much of a wreck I was over losing him I had no problem telling him that."

"You did the right thing," Hermione said softly.

"I know but why does it feel so hard?"

"The right things are never easy," she left it at that.

Rose nodded and turned in the direction of the lifts.

Hermione looked over to where Draco had been standing but he was gone. She walked back to her office and closed the door quietly, now she had some work to do.

She was just about to read through some of the files Mandy had given her before they were interrupted when she spotted a piece of parchment sticking out of her draw that hadn't been there before. She read through it quickly and shook her head. With a smile she crumpled up the note and tossed it into the fire. She watched it dance around and then finally settle down as a pile of ash.

They would meet again tonight.

xxx.:.x.:.xxx

a/n if it doesn't seem like it's the same type of chapter as the last ones I'm sorry, I was writing it and trying to keep it on what I had planned to happen but I guess the other part of my brain thought otherwise. Hope you enjoyed anyways. Thanks for reading.