Hey everyone :) I hope you enjoy the latest installment of my other AU fic. Like I mentioned in my other update yesterday, I apologize for updating delays in general, but I will be using my profile as a way to update you all instead of creating A/N chapters because let's be honest - all those do is get people's hopes up which I don't want to do.

Thanks to everyone who has read and commented on this new story of mine. I really wasn't sure how it would be received but so far, I've been excited by everyone's reaction.

A few days later, Hermione found herself buried deep in paperwork on her desk. Making that promise to Astoria meant that she had to have her affairs at work in order at all times. Of course, Hermione was always efficient, but her new goal was to always be three weeks ahead of the curve at the very least. This way, if she had to, she could take leave and have a temp fill in for her when she was away. Busily scribing away at her roll of parchment, Hermione didn't notice that she had a guest in her office until she heard him clear his throat.

"Merlin!" she screeched, clapping a hand to her chest as she dropped her quill. "You scared me, Draco."

"Obviously," he replied, leaning against the doorway of her office as he stood in his black wool coat. "Have you had lunch yet?"

She motioned over to a bag sitting on her bookcase. "I brought mine today." Draco rolled his eyes as he pulled his wand out, levitating her bagged lunch to his hands. "Hey!" she exclaimed. "What do you think you're doing?"

Peering into the contents of the bag with an obvious cooling charm in place, he made a face before levitating her lunch back to the bookcase. "Carrots and celery hardly constitute lunch, Granger."

"There was dip in there too," she added.

"Again - not exactly what one would call lunch. A snack maybe, but not lunch."

Sighing, she leaned back in her chair and gave him a look. "I haven't gone to the market this week. I've been a bit busy, you know."

He rolled his eyes again. "Get up - we're going to lunch."

She laughed. "You're not the boss of me, Draco."

"Hermione Granger," he said, exhaling slowly as if it was keeping his temper in check. "Would you please get your bony ass up from your chair and accompany me to lunch?"

She knew it was pointless to argue with him when he was in this sort of mood. Acco'ing her jacket from the couch in her office, Hermione snatched it out of the air and stood up, staring at him as she slid her arms through the grey sleeves of her pea coat. "You're positively charming today," she snarked.

"Everyday," he corrected with a smirk, watching as she rounded her desk, buttoning each button as she walked. He reached for her red scarf hanging on the coat rack near him and handed it to her, watching as she hastily looped it around her neck while untangling the bushy mane of hair from underneath. Leading Hermione down the hall, they walked past the desk of the assistant they shared, a nosey busy body named Lucille. "If anyone is looking for us, we're going out for a bit," he stated with a snippy tone.

Lucille stared at the two through her glasses. She was an older lady who had worked in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for many years. Despite her odd quirks and horrendous apparel she donned to work on a regular basis, Draco and Hermione both could acknowledge that she was good at her job, despite the fact that the gossip-owls that floated around the Ministry usually originated from her desk. "Out?" Lucille questioned.

"Did I stutter?" Draco sneered.

Hermione smacked him in the arm and shot him a look. "Don't mind him, Lucille - he's being more of an ass than usual today."

Lucille peered over her glasses at the two of them. "This is more than usual?"

"For the moment, yes," Hermione replied. "We're going to lunch. Please take a message if anyone needs us."

"Of course, Miss Granger."

With a hand shoving into his back, Hermione pushed him out of the office and into the hallway, scowling the entire time. "Honestly, Draco - do you have to be so rude to her?" Hermione asked as she fished her mittens out of her pocket. "Because if you keep it up, she'll end up quitting and then I will have to break in someone new."

Offering her to walk in front of them as they entered the lift lobby on their floor, he held the door open as she walked into the lift and grabbed ahold of one of the hanging straps. "She's practically as old as the Ministry itself - she isn't going anywhere."

"She isn't that old," Hermione countered with a look.

"She still isn't going anywhere," Draco replied, reaching for a handle just before the lift lurched backwards before plummeting towards the lobby.

Hermione would never get used to the lifts in the Ministry, no matter how many times she found herself on them. Apparating made her less queasy than the inconsistent jolts and jerks of the service lifts, and what made matters worse was that no two rides were alike – regardless of it being a regular destination. As the service lift lurched into an abrupt stop, Draco grabbed ahold of her elbow as she steadied herself for a moment before the gate opened for them to exit.

Walking into the bustling lobby, Hermione spotted Harry across the way and gave him a smile as he walked towards them. "Hey," Harry said, leaning in as he kissed Hermione on the cheek. "I heard from your parents last night - they're worried about you."

She kissed his cheek in return. "Sorry - I haven't returned their calls this week, which is probably why they're bothering you."

"Your parents don't bother me, Hermione," Harry sincerely replied. "I did tell them, however, not to worry, and that you've just been busy with work." He turned his gaze to Draco, and extended a hand. "Malfoy."

"Potter," Draco replied, accepting the gesture. "How is the family?"

"Good," Harry replied. "Al and Lily are enjoying having James home for the holiday break. Teddy's here for this last week...you should come over and say hello. That is of course, if my daughter lets go of him long enough for you to do so.

Draco chuckled slightly as he returned his hands to the pockets of his coat. "Claire says Lily's a bit bossy."

"Indeed," Harry agreed with a smirk. "Of course, it's not hard to do when the boys give in to most of her demands." He took note of their outwear and lightly pulled on Hermione's scarf. "Where are you two headed?"

"Lunch," Draco replied, somewhat shortly. Catching the glare from Granger, he sighed and clicked his tongue up against the roof of his mouth. "What I meant to say was that I am taking Granger to lunch so we can discuss…things."

Nodding, Harry held his hands up and took a step back. He could have been offered two guesses to decipher what 'things' meant, but Harry would have only needed one. "Stay warm," he replied. "It's a bit nippy outside."

"Bye Harry," Hermione replied as Draco placed a faint hand against her lower back as they walked towards the floo chambers.

Grabbing ahold of his hand, she closed her eyes as they stood inside one of the glossy granite floo chambers and disapparated out of the Ministry and into the heart of downtown London. Grabbing ahold of her scarf, she tightened the warm fabric around her neck as the two of them hastily walked down the street before ducking into a cafe right off of Tottenham Court Road. She shivered as she walked inside the cafe, a blast of warm air hitting them both as they walked over to the counter.

"Ah, Miss Granger!" an older, balding man exclaimed. "I haven't seen you here in a bit! What can I do for you? Your usual toasted ham and cheese on rye?"

She smiled at the man. "Yes, Mister Kirkland. That would be wonderful. Could I get a Diet Coke with that as well?"

"Certainly. And for your gentleman friend?"

"The same," Draco replied, figuring he'd more than likely eat whatever she ordered.

"Actually - he'll have a turkey and swiss sandwich on sourdough," Hermione corrected.

Draco looked at her with a glare. "I don't need you to order for me, Granger."

"Apparently, you do," Hermione retorted. "You don't like rye bread, or ham for that matter."

"And how would you know?"

"Because you stole my sandwich two weeks ago and said, if I'm recalling correctly, this tastes like shit, Granger."

He was going to argue, but given the fact that he was so preoccupied that he couldn't remember yesterday, let alone two weeks ago, he went ahead and assumed she was telling the truth. Especially since what she recanted sounded an awful lot like something he would say. "Fine. But I want one of those fizzy drinks like you have at your house," he muttered in her ear.

Hermione looked over at Mister Kirkland and smiled. "He'll take a Diet Coke as well."

Draco handed the man his muggle credit card while Hermione retrieved their lunches at the other end of the counter. "You be nice to that girl," Mister Kirkland warned with a fatherly shake of his finger. "I've known her since she was a little one."

"In all honesty," Draco said, leaning across the cashier counter a bit. "It's she that needs to be told to be nice."

The old man laughed as he returned Draco's credit card. "She is a feisty one. Always has been."

"What are you two talking about?" Hermione demanded to know as she stood at the end, holding their tray of sandwiches, chips, and drinks.

"Nothing," the two men replied in unison.

Draco followed Hermione back and around the corner to a small booth in the back of the cafe. Outside, the bitter wind became mixed with large fluffy flakes of snow, whipping around the cars and passersby. Hermione removed her scarf and unbuttoned her coat as Draco took a seat across from her, picking up his sandwich and chip plate and placing it in front of him. Popping the cap off of his Diet Coke bottle, he put the bottle to his lips and took a sip of his 'fizzy' drink.

"You know - they sell this at the store," she told him. "You can pick it up when you pick up hot dogs for Scorp."

"I never remember it," Draco replied while unwrapping his sandwich. "You're sure I'm going to like this?"

"Just take a bite," she said with slight exasperation. "Honestly - you're worse than the children sometimes."

Smirking, Draco took a bite of the sandwich, and found himself pleasantly surprised. "Hey…this isn't bad!" he said with a mouthful.

Hermione rolled her eyes as she opened her sandwich from its wrapper and took a bite. She and her family had been coming to this soup and sandwich cafe shop for years, and it was the first place she thought of when Draco mentioned lunch. She assumed he wanted her to pick a place since he didn't disapparate them immediately to Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade. Once she found the two of them in downtown London, she remembered the cafe, and how much she loved their sandwiches.

"How did you know I'd like this?" Draco asked.

"I didn't become the 'Brightest Witch of our Age' without learning to be somewhat perceptive," she retorted.

"Rub it in," Draco said with a snort.

Lunch between the two of them was relatively quiet, aside from the sounds of closed mouths chomping chips and the carbonation spurt every time one of their Diet Cokes was uncapped. Neither of them had really said much to the other since the weekend - since Astoria's request. While Draco understood his wife's intentions, he felt guilty about what his wife requested of her. Guilt wasn't a standard emotion found in any Malfoy wheelhouse, and the feeling wasn't settling well with Draco.

He watched as she wiped her hands on the stiff white napkin before folding it back up into a straight, neat, square - pressing each edge into the table with her thumbnail - once she had finished her sandwich and chips. "That's where she gets it," Draco said, pointing to her napkin and he let out a laugh.

"Who?" Hermione asked, somewhat confused. "What thing?"

"Anya," Draco said. "She does that little neurotic thing you do with your napkin right there. Drives her mother insane."

Hermione awkwardly laughed as she pushed the napkin away from her reach. "Oh…well, sorry I guess?"

"Don't be," Draco replied. "When Astoria and I were at each other's throats, I often found great humor in it. She does it without even realizing it, much like yourself."

Blushing slightly, Hermione chewed on the inside of her cheek for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh. "Well, I'd apologize for that as well, but you know what I'd say."

"That it's what I get for leaving my children in your care for extended periods of time?"

"Precisely."

An awkward silence fell between them - the first awkward silence between them in what felt like ages. The elephant in the room was thick and broad, unavoidable as it stared at them from every angle. It's why they were sitting in a muggle establishment eating lunch. Draco didn't need more rumors floating around about him, or Hermione for that matter, and he certainly didn't need anyone knowing his wife's latest devastating blow with her health. Scratching the back of his head, he glanced out at the poor souls meandering through the bitter London air as he sat inside the warm cafe before speaking.

"Listen, I know what my wife has asked of you, but I need…I need you to know that I don't, nor do I expect…what I mean to say is that I just, I know how you…fuck. This isn't going right." He wrenched his drink off of the table and nearly snapped the cap off with a twist of his wrist to take a drink as Hermione watched him, not saying a word until he finished. "Look," he finally said, quite hastily as he drummed his hand against the table. "I get that the woman appealed to your inner most Gryffindor like qualities because she's can be quite cunning when she wants to be. But I want you to know that I expect nothing, and I don't want you to go and throw your life away because my wife gave you the world's worst guilt trip and used my children as bait."

Tucking her long brown curls back behind her ears, she looked over at Draco and ceased his drumming by placing her hand on top of his. "Draco…when I said I would help, I meant it. But you have to tell me if you want it because ultimately, you're the parent that's left and I don't want to overstep my bounds with the children or more importantly, be a nuisance to you."

He laughed as he sandwiched her hand between his. "Granger - I hardly find you a nuisance. At least not anymore."

"I'm serious, Draco," Hermione replied with a slight smirk. "Because while I've grown, dare I say fond of you at times, I don't want whatever this is between us to retreat back to the way it used to be."

"Whatever this is?"

"I uh…I don't know what to really call it," she admitted as she pulled her hand back towards her, nervously tucking her hair back behind her ears once more.

Shrugging, Draco's thumb began to tap against the table once more. "I'd say we're friends, wouldn't you?"

Nodding, Hermione held her hands in her lap. "I would. I mean, yes. You're my friend."

"You're my best friend," Draco said, not missing a beat as the words tumbled from his mouth.

"Wow…" she said, looking down for a moment.

"What?" Draco asked.

"Nothing…I just…I mean, I don't think I've ever even heard you refer to me as a 'friend' before, let alone your 'best friend.' Should I be worried?"

Draco laughed as Hermione looked up at him, biting her lips to keep from breaking out into a complete smile. "Let's not get all doe-eyed about it or anything," he mocked. "You know we're friends."

"But I'm your best friend," she said with an arched eyebrow. "You just said so yourself."

"My only friend, really, so I may as well give you the top spot," Draco added. "So don't go and think you're all special."

Hermione rolled her eyes as a laugh escaped her lips. "Of course not. You only come to me for advice and toss me your children when you can't care for them because of your job…I don't know how anyone could even come to the conclusion that they could be considered special when you put it that way."

Draco crumpled up his napkin with his hand and tossed it Hermione. "Wench."

"Git," she shot right back, along with the crumpled napkin.

Laughing a bit, the unusual pair regained their composure as the awkwardness between them shank slightly. "In all seriousness, Granger, I just wanted you to know that I didn't put my wife up to this, and I don't expect you to give me anything. Of course I am and will be appreciative of everything you do for Anya, Claire, and Scorpius, but I don't need…" He dragged a hand over his face as his words began to fail him once more.

Sitting back in her chair, Hermione tilted her head to the side and read more into the look on his face than what he was saying aloud. "This won't work if you don't need me," Hermione spoke softly.

"I always need you, Granger," he said quickly. "I just don't…I don't want you to think I need you."

"I'm not trying to replace her," Hermione said quietly. "I don't want to replace her."

"But you are," Draco replied. "For the children, of course."

"Of course," she repeated.

"I don't need a replacement wife. Especially considering that I was in the process of eliminating the one I had."

Hermione snorted. "Well, believe me when I say that I've done the marriage thing before, and I'm not in a hurry to try it out again - least of all with someone as irritating as you."

"Please. No one is as irritating as the Weasel."

"You're both irritating in your own right," Hermione retorted, glancing at her watch. "Do you think we have time to stop by Diagon Alley before we go back? There's a book I've been meaning to pick up for Anya to help her with Divination of all subjects."

Draco made a face as he collected their trash from lunch and placed it onto the tray. "I hated that class."

"As did I - but she wants to do well and my copy of this particular book is in storage," Hermione replied. "She's going to have enough of a time trying to focus with everything that is going on, so I figure an extra book can't hurt."

"Very well," Draco replied as he tossed their trash away. Thanking Mister Kirkland as the two of them left, Hermione followed Draco to the first alley they found and reached for each other's hand, disapparating out of the muggle London and into Diagon Alley.

Landing near Weasleys Wizard Wheezes, Hermione let go of Draco's hand promptly and went to tighten her scarf as the two walked side by side down the alley. Hearing her teeth chatter, Draco pulled his wand from his pocket and cast a warming charm around the two of them, just enough so that it took the bite out of the air. Hermione kept her head down somewhat as they walked, while Draco shot a menacing glare at anyone he considered to be gawking. He didn't know if they were staring because they couldn't comprehend the idea of a former Death Eater and Gryffindor's Princess as friends or if it was because they knew his wife was dying, but he didn't appreciate the stares no matter what the reason.

Nearing Flourish and Botts, Draco reached for the door handle and pulled it open as Hermione walked inside, muttering finite so the warming charm could cease. Inhaling the comforting scent of fresh parchment and books, she couldn't help but smile as she turned around, only instead of finding Draco she ran directly into Ron, who had Lavender hanging on his arm while she held onto the hand of their three year old daughter, Rosie. She went to speak, but suddenly found her voice stuck in her throat as Lavender gave her a smarmy smirk while batting her eyes at Ron.

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her back and heard the voice she was looking. "Funny seeing you in a bookstore, Weasel," Draco spat. "Considering the fact that I wasn't aware you could read at all."

"Sod off, Malfoy," Ron retorted, the tips of his ears turning red as he stared at his ex-wife. "Hermione…how, how are you? How have you um, how have you been?"

"Fine," she managed to speak, her heart pulling at places she thought had been mended together, stealing glances at the little girl who looked so much like her father.

"Should we tell them the good news, Won-Won?" Lavender asked in an obnoxiously dreamy voice.

"Eh…Lav, maybe we shouldn't -"

"I'm pregnant again - with twins!" Lavender squealed as she showed off her slightly protruding belly that had been hidden by the basket of books she carried. "Little Rosie here is going to be a big sister! We just found out this morning!"

Swallowing the lump in her throat, unable to tell if it was made up of unadulterated emotion or her lunch, Draco sneered at them both over his shoulder as he led her away. "Because that's just what the world needs - more ratty redheads running amuck. You think you would have learned how to prevent it from happening after the first one, Weasley."

"You know what, Malfoy," Ron groused, grabbing ahold of Draco's shoulder and turning him around.

"No, I do not know what," Draco snapped as removed Ron's hand from his shoulder with a look of sheer disgust. "But what I do know is that if you come near Granger again, or allow that horrendous wife of yours to rub your 'perfect' family in her face again, you will regret it."

Ron gave Malfoy a shove. "Because you two are so innocent. I've seen you two together. I hear things. Everyone hears things."

Closing the gap between the two of them, Draco's nose was nearly touching Ron's as his voice turned grave. "I have never cheated on my wife. Malfoys are many things, but being unfaithful isn't one of them. Now I suggest you do yourself a favor and disappear before I show you one of the things that Malfoys do well - myself in particular."

He caught Ron swallowing hard and couldn't quite catch what he was mumbling under his breath as he retreated back to Lavender and his daughter. Turning back around, he didn't see Hermione anywhere, but as he remembered their reason for being in the store, he walked towards the section of Divination books in the back and found her standing in front of a bookcase, bracing her hands against a shelf right above her forehead as she stared at the ground.

"Care to share what's so intriguing about these creaky old floors?" he asked, keeping a safe amount of distance between them.

"No, just trying not to vomit on them," she replied as she stifled a sniffle.

"Granger, he isn't worth it. Really - the fact that you hung in there as long as you did only proves just how -"

Hermione choked on a sob. "What? Pathetic? Oblivious? I mean, he was with her for years while we were married. Years, Draco. How stupid can one possibly be?"

Draco took a step closer. "I was going to say patient, because he clearly never deserved anyone like you."

She used the end of her scarf to wipe the tears from her eyes, doing her best to salvage what was left of the eye makeup she put on that morning. "He turned me into such a fool."

"He turned himself into a fool," Draco corrected. "Trust me - when that whole thing unraveled, no one was looking at you. Everyone was gawking at him."

Regaining her composure, Hermione refocused herself on the task at hand, and in a few moments, found the divination book she was looking for - written by someone who was actually a seer instead of the crackpot book written by Professor Trelawney. Professor Trelawney's book merely contained more doodles and random remarks than it did actual information about the art of divination itself. Using the pad of her thumb as she wiped the underneaths of her eyes for a final time, she turned and faced Draco, handing him the book. "This should help Anya."

"Granger…"

"Please?" she asked, her voice scratchy as she swallowed hard. "While I don't usually condone what you said to him, and whatever you did when I left…well, thanks. I know it's been three years, but I rarely see him and when I do, I feel like I'm being punched or something."

Draco smirked, reaching out as he gave a slight tug on her scarf so she'd look up at him. "Seriously, Granger - he isn't worth your tears."

"Funny, that's what Harry says."

"Well, as much as it pains me to say this – Potter's right."

Giving him a weak smile, Hermione dropped her shoulders and exhaled slowly. Before she knew it, she felt Draco giving her a hug, resting his chin on top of her head while her arms hung at her sides. Closing her eyes, Hermione squeezed the tears threatening to form away for the few moments she stood in his embrace.

As he let go, she shoved her hands into her coat pockets and sighed. "Thanks."

"Just don't go advertising it," he teased as they walked towards the front. "I don't normally make it a habit of hugging people on my own free will - unlike you who just willingly launches yourself onto anything that you feel needs comfort."

Hermione let out a laugh as she nudged his arm with her elbow. "You know, I didn't see you complaining the other day when I 'launched' myself onto you."

"Extenuating circumstances," he noted, knowing she was referring to the day he came to her house with the news about Astoria. "Therefore it doesn't count."

"Of course it doesn't," Hermione mocked as they approached the cashier.

Draco handed the owner a couple of galleons and accepted the change as he placed the book in his coat pocket. "You coming over this evening for dinner?" he asked as they walked towards the door.

She shook her head no. "I should probably go and see my parents so they quit bugging Harry about me."

"Are you going to tell them what my wife asked of you?"

"Probably," she replied with a sigh. "I don't make it a habit of keeping things from my parents."

Nodding, Draco reached for her hand so they could disapparate back to the Ministry. "Just…do me a favor when you tell them?"

"What?"

"Make sure they know it's my wife's idea," he replied, his voice almost pleading. "It took your parents a year to get over the fact that I was the asshole that made you miserable in school. I don't want them to think I'm trying to trap you into something, and I rather enjoy that they like me more than they like the Weasel."

Rolling her eyes, Hermione gave him her hand and sighed. "Because at the end of the day, it's all about you."

"Nice to see you finally catching on," he said with a laugh, before disapparating them both back to the Ministry for the remainder of the work day.