Malfoy Manor

Wiltshire

27rd July 2010

Draco poured the last of the of the bottle into his glass. He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair, as he tumbled the glass in his hand, watching the amber liquid ebb and flow against the sides of the glass before knocking it back in one go, slamming the glass down on his oak desk. He glanced at his wrist watch. She had gone over to the Burrow straight from work to see Scorpius and check Molly was alright keeping him over the weekend. It was now ten to midnight and he wondered what was keeping her.

Scratching at his chin, roughened by his 5 O'Clock stubble, he picked up the papers. He wondered, not for the first time since he had come home and found them on his desk, what he wanted to do. Was he really ready to give up and throw away the last decade? He paced the room, slightly unsteady from the effects of the bottle of Ogden's he had drunk, his mind as much in turmoil as his heart. Chucking the papers on the desk, he grabbed his wand, anger rising in his chest and started throwing hexes at the book shelves.

He checked his watch once more and his rage boiled over as he blasted a hex so hard at the case opposite that it came crashing down. Spinning round he threw another hex, smashing his desk into splinters, the framed pictures falling to the ground, the glass smashing. His anger turned to remorse as he placed his wand on the couch, stooping down to pick up the photos, running his fingers over the picture of Hermione smiling up at him on their wedding day. He caught his hand on the glass, crimson dripping on the floor as he picked up the picture of her holding Scorpius in their bed, upstairs in their room where she had given birth.

Pools of clear liquid appeared on the photos as he looked at them and he blinked, his vision blurring. It was only then that he realised he was crying.

Malfoy Manor

Wiltshire

27th July 2010

Green flames ignited in the fireplace, the glow of the light reflecting off the marble floors, giving the room an eerie glow. She stepped into the atrium as the roar died down leaving her in the silence of the night. It was just after midnight and she presumed he would have gone to bed. Crossing the hallway, she placed her foot on the first step before she heard the noise. Confused, she turned and listened, before heading towards Draco's study. Pausing to knock, she had her knuckle raised when she heard the muffled sob again. Changing her mind, she reached for the door knob, turning it with a soft click as she opened the door. The devastation caught her by surprise and she gasped before rushing to his side. He was sat in the middle of what had once been his desk, splinted now into a thousand pieces, shards of glass surrounding him as he clutched at the pictures that had once lined his desk in their silver frames. He looked a mess in his pyjama bottoms, his cheeks stained from his desperate tears, and his fingers crimson with blood.

"Merlin! What have you done? Where is the blood from, Draco?" she murmured, cupping his face with her hand, drawing his eyes up to look at hers as she bent over him.

"I...what….." he started, his speech slurring slightly. She caught the faint whiff of Firewhiskey on his breath.

"Have you been drinking, love?" she asked him, concern in her eyes as she looked into his grey pools that swam with unwept tears.

He clutched at her, pulling her to him, his body wracking with sobs.

This wasn't the first time they had held each other desperately amongst the debris of broken furniture, mingled in tears and blood.

It made her heart clench every time.

.

Screaming pierced through his subconscious and with practiced reflexes he made a grab for his wand. The last thing he remembered was drinking in his study and he momentarily wondered how he had ended up in his bed. Untangling himself from the bed covers, he lept out of bed, his heckles raised. She screamed again, and he spun round, watching her thrash on the sofa. He was at her side immediately, stroking her face, trying to coax her with soothing words from her nightmares. As she regained consciousness, she clutched at him, eyes darting about.

He cupped her face with his hands and held her gaze "Hermione" he whispered "Its ok, you're home, you're safe."

"Not Rabastan" she rasped, turning away to hide the tears.

"Bella?" he whispered as she pulled her legs up.

She shook her head and the sobs turned to an almost inhumane howl as his heart broke once again. He knew then what had tormented her in her sleep. Hands reaching for hers, he entwined their fingers as she clutched her abdomen tightly.

.

Early dawn light seeped in through the window before her breathing steadied. Coaxing her into his arms, he carried her over to what had once been their bed and placed her gently on her side, tucking her into the covers. He stroked her hair, dropping a kiss to her forehead, grabbing his pillow and chucking it on the sofa. She watched him as he settled down on his back, his forearm across his forehead, staring up at the ceiling.

He turned to her, remembering he hadn't asked.

"Why were you on the sofa? I'd have given you the bed" he murmured softly.

"You were drunk" she stated simply.

He turned away. It wasn't the first time she had found him in a state and helped him get into bed. It was the first time she had slept on the sofa because of it, however.

"Sorry."

12 Grimauld Place

London

28th July 2010

"He wrecked the study?" Ginny asked her, eyes wide with surprise.

Hermione sipped her tea before nodding her confirmation.

"Fuck" Ginny hissed, staring out the kitchen window as Draco and Harry chased James and Scorpius around the garden.

"What set him off?" she asked, suspecting she already knew the answer.

Hermione looked away. "The divorce papers are ready to be signed."

.

"I need to do something this afternoon and I need you to cover for me" Hermione whispered.

Ginny spun round to face her.

"I need to collect some things from my flat. I have nothing at the Manor. Not anymore" she began. Ginny opened her mouth to protest. "I won't be more than an hour" she told her, setting down her cup.

"Hermione….?" Ginny looked at her, uncertain whether to ask "are you sure this is what you want?

Hermione looked away.

Ginny pressed on. "He still loves you."

A sad smile played out across her lips "I know. He never stopped. Neither did I. But we we're never able to get past what happened. He blames himself. He doesn't see it was no one's fault, that these things happen. He can't cope with my nightmares and I can't handle watching him destroy himself and our home because of his guilt. Sometimes these things are just not meant to be" she sighed sadly.

Ginny opened her mouth but Hermione cut her off "Cover for me?" Ginny nodded.

182 Richmond Avenue

28th July 2010

Filling the gym back with a few essentials from her closet, she rushed about, determined to get back before Draco noticed she had gone. She reached up on tip toes to pull a pair of shoes down from the top shelf in the closet. Stumbling as she lost her footing, she grasped at the closet in an effort to stop herself tumbling to the ground, knocking a book down in the process. Reaching for it, she realised it was their wedding album and sat down on the floor, peeling it open. Tracing the pictures, she smiled to herself. He always looked handsome and she admired his chiseled features, especially when his t-shirt rode up, exposing the V of his abs. It had been a private joke that she would surreptitiously ogle him thinking he was unaware, and he, knowing full well she was eyeing him up, would stretch at any given opportunity, just to have her look.

.

She glanced at her watch, gasping as she realised she had been due back at Harry's 20 minutes ago. Hurriedly stashing the album under her bed, she scrambled to her feet, grabbing her bag. Stopping to grab the bag of trash, she opened the front door, skipping down the steps, tossing it in the bin, knowing the refuse would be collected the following morning.

Turning on her heal, she put her foot on the first step and froze, sensing him there behind her.

"Hello mudblood."

.