Well, after loosing 3 family members and 2 friends to untimely demises as well as fighting through some depression I am back. It's taken months to get back into writing but I've survived and have more free time than ever. (My husband got a large promotion so now I am not working and instead maintaining the house and trying to publish my books!) From now on there will be a chapter published every Friday -with some in between if I have time to write more- until all 30 chapters are finished. Hope you are here still with me. Also, welcome to those of you who are new. I cant wait to share this story with you.

Draco POV

Ladies and the Drinks. (Song: Shots (Acoustic) by Imagine Dragons www. youtube watch?v=Tni74ocFxtQ ) (Also on Spotify)

Spring had flown by. In fact, I didn't remember much of it. My life had started slipping and after seeing Hermione in January had taken a turn for the worse. It had become a hobby of mine to date beautiful woman until I was bored then, without breaking up with them, find someone new. That game eventually got old too before a friend realized I had dated girls with the first four letters in the alphabet since January. I dated Allie, (who went to the Winter showcase with me) Brianna, (who I met at the showcase but didn't call back for a week or two after) Candy, (Brianna's best friend) Dianne (A bartender at my favorite strip club.) and Daphne Greengrass (Who was more like an ever present side dish as I had also spent a few nights with her between and during all the other relationships.) all before March. It was after boredom with Giselle and flirting with Hannah (It took me a record of three weeks as a single gent to get over that fact that Hermione started with an H.) that my mother confronted me on my public image and destroying the Malfoy name.

To call it a fight would be to put it mildly... I noticed her first and swaggered in that direction until she started yelling and I turned to scuttle off.

"DRACO MALFOY! YOU GET YOUR BLOND, INEBRIATED ASS TO ME THIS INSTANT! I WILL NOT HAVE YOU DRINKING AND SMOKING YOURSELF INTO OBLIVION! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO THE FAMILY NAME? MALFOY'S WERE RESPECTED UNTIL YOU AND YOUR FATHER SET FIRE TO OUR REPUTATION. I DID NOT SAVE YOU FROM THE DEATH EATERS TO WATCH YOU VOMIT YOURSELF INTO AN EARLY GRAVE! YOU ARE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE PUREBLOOD WORLD, YOUR WASTED IMAGE IS PLASTERED ON EVERY MAGAZINE AND I'M SICK OF FEELING EMBARASSED FOR YOU. COME WITH ME NOW OR FACE ME BY FORCE LATER. IF YOU AREN'T IN MY CAR IN TWO MINUTES YOUR NAME WILL NO LONGER BE IN THE WILL OR IN THE MANOR'S WARDS. DO I MAKE MYSELF...CLEAR?"

That phrase, "Don't mess with your matriarch" never made more sense and without once glancing back at my date (I think her name was Sara..Sierra…Kara…something ending with an 'A') I stumbled into the passenger seat of that oh-so-familiar magically altered automobile. Without stopping my mother sped towards the country and I realized moments too late where we were. Rehab. There had been a subtle sticking charm on the seat and armrest. I was trapped.

Now, here I found myself October 20th, just remembering my Spring, Summer, and Autumn activities. My private suite would have been comfortable if not for all the magazines placed on the side and coffee tables. Each one showed 'yours truly' high, drunk, or otherwise altered. Not one of them looked flattering or showed a sliver of the model I had briefly become before the hardcore partying and craze took over. Brokes and Co had put my shoots and opportunities on hold when my mother told them of her plan. They knew I was still worth something, even if I didn't feel it currently. Outside of the people who worked here I was only allowed visits from my mother and Eddy Brokes (though Daphne sent me letters every so often. She still wanted to date me and wanted to make sure I wanted that as well. I was glad to keep her around.) From April to August I dealt with a Mind Healer -a therapist in the Muggle world- and in August Ed found me a mentor. Her job was to guide me back safely into the modeling world's cream of the crop. I did not envy her position; fallen angels were closer to the top than I.

Her name was Coco Roco and she came into my suite in a burst of fluorescents and neon hues. She dragged her Asymetrical manicure across my face and called me "dearie". Eddy had asked what I thought of her after our first meeting. When I told him we had nothing in common he laughed and left without another word. In "Eddish" it was as good as saying "Just you wait and see". She came every day and always at different times. Sometimes we talked about the magazines scattered around here and the fashion in them. Other times we spoke about my involvement in the war, relationships that had left scars, and how I perceived the world around me. Her outfits were always garish and bright, exact opposites to my established look. Her hair was charmed white like powdered sugar and worn in a messy bun. In September her visits slowed to once a week and became more intense. Gone were the days of discussing satin versus silk or which bold moves so-and-so had made. They were hard. Why had I spun out of control? What were the steps to controlling the urges that pulled me down? Who was trying to use me and who actually cared? When did I see myself leaving rehab and how was I getting closer to that goal? Where had I gone wrong? Despite the more intense topics I wished she visited more than once a week. It was getting lonely in here.

Soon after our meetings dropped to once a week magazines started showing up with rising stars and inspirational stories. (They had been collecting these my whole stay. Some of them hit the shelves the week I came here.) Apparently they were meant to help me fill in the blanks and get me back on track. In reality each one cut me. Dean Thomas had done a spread for Bombarda Baroque with a beautiful blond at Hermione's request and became an instant star. He had won the "up and up" award Eddy was certain I would have won if I hadn't landed myself in rehab as well as a few other awards we were competing for. Sven Serpionov had continued climbing and was now lead Baroque Boy this year. Seeing him with Hermione always made my stomach lurch at first glance: I thought it was our secret -revealed and in the open. We looked so similar. Daphne Greengrass was accepting awards too. These were people I had worked above, people I had thought would fail, people who I had abandoned. Above all else I hated the magazines when they showed Hermione on someone else's arm. Always the same someone. I finally picked one up (It was a September edition) and flipped to the page featuring the front page story. "Hermione Granger, creator of the stunning and emotional Bombarda Baroque fashion label, seen with Muggle/Magical movie star Alexander Moore at his premiere last Saturday night. Rumor has it that the couple met each other in July after Miss Granger's first successful runway show where she caught the eye of said celebrity. Whether this relationship is exclusive has not been confirmed as of yet but we will keep you posted as this romance blooms."

I threw the magazine just as Coco came in with Ed. Both looked at the front of the cover and looked back to me. Coco was going to ask me about it and force a conversation about why Miss Granger and Moore's friendship bothered me. Eddy looked extremely pleased with himself, like he had figured out a secret, and puffed his chest a bit. Oh, if only he knew. They had come to let me know some good news. As a sort of between house to reacquaint me with the world I was to stay with parents but Eddy had stepped in and my mother signed forms allowing Coco to house me instead.

That is where I woke to find myself in October. I rolled out of the king size bed and pulled back the drapes blocking the view of the pool and sunlight from the room. Coco lived in a huge loft house -it seemed more glass than wood or steel- which we shared for the time being. I had wondered if there was anyone else living with her but quickly came to the realization that she lived alone and had for some time. It was technically still a rehab stop for me but I was growing close to her and was glad to keep her company. Outside Coco was scanning a fashion magazine near the pool; it's water refracted light waves across her face. Ten minutes later I had dressed, showered, and joined her with some toast.

"Part of this rehab is to get the difficult stuff out in the open. I've been trying to put it off until you were ready. This conversation was supposed to happen weeks ago, before you moved here, but I couldn't allow it to set back progress. Draco, do you know what set you off and encouraged this party phase?"

I looked at her then back to the pool and was tempted to glance at her again but felt it was too melodramatic. With eyes glued to the pool I felt my head shake side to side. It was too soon. I couldn't talk about her. I couldn't tell Coco, who had become so close so fast, about Hermione. Eddy was right to let her be my guide but in this situation she was a bit too close to the root of the problem. She was a Brokes designer and was in the office across from Hermione. Too close was a bit of an understatement. "Draco I already figured it out. I was seeing if you could stand bringing her up. I don't know who she is or if she was the one to end it but this reaction is too violent to be anything else. What you had together must have been really special to cause such an upheaval to your life. I know..."

She had triggered a flood. "She didn't dump me. I left her. I modified her memory and left her but she knows. She knows it was me who buried those memories. They all came back to her much quicker than I expected. Now I have to face her and see it in her eyes. We were a perfect couple and amazing together and I didn't want my Malfoy reputation to destroy the chances she had and now I wonder if I made the right choice by deceiving her. It obviously didn't go according to plan."

"First, breathe. Pause to breathe while you speak. Hyperventilating will hardly help us. You should probably do your best not to be informed on her whereabouts and life. Separating yourself would help you both heal at this point, perhaps."

Air whooshed out of me and I felt the shaking start. It was like withdrawals but from a presence not a substance. There was no way to avoid her and still model. Those paths crossed daily. I felt Coco's arms surround me and she led me into the house. We went into the middle area which consisted of walls of glass and ornate art. (My slipping control on my magic made this a bad room to be in. One wrong thought or slip of control could destroy this room.) Her stairs here were translucent as well. I liked the room but it felt rather ethereal for a panic attack like the one I was slipping into. We went into a room I thought to be a walk in coat closet and at the back-left side there was a door that hid a concrete staircase. At the bottom of that there was an open space divided into two areas. One was full of tulle and neon, Coco's older lines in display cases and photographs of the best of her runway lines. Behind that was another dark looking door. We went through that one. It was a long hallway and at the end was a single red chair in front of a portrait of an older gentleman. Directly to my right was an archway leading to yet another door. With this maze of underground passages my panic attack was held at bay but slowly starting to gain speed and crush me. Coco led me through the arch and doorway at its end into a dark stoned room with dim lighting full of junk. In a straight line there was ugly pottery, floral printed china, warped glass, and a muggle hammer. Near the sides was horrid fabric and rugs as well as a blade.

"This is my "Dark Room". When I feel myself frustrated or slipping into old mannerism I come down here and slash, shatter, rip, break, and destroy things. There is a Reparo charm on the room so after you have broken everything or say the word everything corrects itself. You may start again or if it has done it's job leave it be. I'll be outside near the portrait when you have gotten it out of your system." With that Coco stepped out and my curious rage took over. Throwing the plates and cups against the wall made a most satisfying shatter and after destroying and repairing most everything in the room a few times my breathing settled and arms grew leaden.

Coco sat in the red chair in front of the old man and spoke softly to him. He had a twinkle in his eye and greeted me by name as I neared them. I was handed a photo album and a chair was conjured for me. It was full of a very young Coco. There were pictures of very elegant Coco on magazine fronts receiving awards and rocking the runway. She was a star of my caliber! Those were followed by images of pregnant Coco and her baby, then toddler, then child, then mid-aged teen. Her daughter had dark hair, marble-white skin, large sculpted lips, and dangerous "come-hither" eyes. She was stunning. One flip of the page, it was made of a thicker paper and harder to turn, represented the kaleidescope of her world. It was a front page headline. Her daughter had been killed in a Muggle car accident outside of London. The Muggle had been drunk and knocked both his own car and the one her daughter and her friends were in into the river. No one survived and medical specialists speculated that half of the occupants had been knocked out in the initial impact. Only her daughter had been magical and she was one of those unconscious. After those there was an article announcing her separation from her husband. Pages after were filled with depressed, intoxicated, and out-of-it images of Coco in magazines. It looked as though she aged overnight. There were dates written under the pictures and they spanned about a year and a half. Towards the end she was brought to rehab after being found on the streets. Her ex-husband started showing up again and there were articles about her release into his care. They were remarried and the gentleman in the images started to look more and more like the portrait in front of me now. Coco and her husband had recovered and gone on to live fabulously.

"When I saw your pictures all over the magazines I knew it was my turn to give back. I called Edward and told him I wanted to pull you out of this and set you back on track. He thought I was just the person to do it. I know you are hurting Draco. I know the allure of alcohol and partying. I also know you can get back out there and prove that it was a set back not a career breaker. This girl could easily see that and come back to you. My husband came and pulled me out of rehab. He had done therapy after loosing our Aurora and had realized this exact thing. He wanted me back and fought to get it. You can get her back. It's not over Draco; it's just beginning."

She was right. It was a pitfall, not the end. It's not like I didn't have chances to improve visibly. Every day was a new chance and I was lucky in that regard. "I'm not going to be able to avoid seeing her." It was quiet for a moment and when I looked up I was met by concerned but strong eyes.

"May I ask her name, Dearie. It will be just between us but as your mentor I want to be able to help you through this and I need to know who to keep and eye on if I am to do it."

"Hermione Granger of Bombarda Baroque."

She raised her eyebrows, nodded, then chuckled and asked if I would like lunch now, or in a few hours when Daphne came to spend the night. It was October and soon I would be back in my own flat. Coco liked having me here and, what I thought was a clever attempt to keep me here longer, allowed Daphne to spend the night if she wanted to.

Hermione POV

Livin' the Life (Song: Whistle (while you work it) by: Katy Tiz www. youtube watch?v=G9k2f6VAB7c ) (Also on Spotify)

After the success of the winter showcase Eddy had made me a focus. It was nice to know he was invested in me but it also meant I saw a lot more of him, which wasn't bad, per say, but I certainly got less work done with him around. Most of his endless talking was for show. I realized this shortly after the showcase and thought back on how often I had seen him one on one before my breakout line. I could count the times on one hand! In the past week Eddy had stopped by my office about twice a day -in hour or so blocks each time- to discuss what I thought about certain people or how I thought my next line was going. There were quite a few deep conversations mixed in as well though. He worried over Draco's sudden decline and tried to get me to brainstorm reasons/triggers with him but I couldn't. The guesses would be too close for comfort. What could I say? "I think Draco is having a rough time because we were dating and we were in love and he shattered it and left me alone and now has to watch as I succeed alone where we could have done this together?" Nope. Instead Eddy got vague answers from me. "Fame does weird things to people" and "Anything could have set Malfoy off." He seemed to realize we had some sort of past and really it made sense to assume. We had been in the same school year at the same school and obviously avoided each other. A past was one thing and a secret love child was another. No. Eddy wouldn't get my help on this one. Though he tried endlessly and sneakily to get in.

About a week after the showcase Eddy showed up at my office with a disgruntled Marcella MacMillan. She was to show me around the company and make sure I was well informed on office placements and different departments in it. We stopped by her office first so she could "readjust her schedule to fit this intrusion." Her office was just beside mine and a fair bit larger. She made a show of puttering around and huffing every so often. It was melodrama to the extreme. After that she introduced me to the other designers on the floor. Apparently it was normal to be rude to each other. It was cut-throat and grim eat grim in this industry.

April 2nd when I got to work Eddy was walking towards the atrium steps with Narcissa Malfoy in a low murmuring conversation. I heard the words "done standing idly by" and "by force" and "hold his career" and "save him from himself" as I passed. Judging from those phrases there was to be an intervention soon. While picking up my coffee a week later Draco was splashed across the front page (Narcissa dragging him into a Muggle convertible plastered across it.) it didn't cause more than vague interest. Good. Now Draco would be gone for a while and I could focus. I could work without worrying he was going to show up and panic me. Also, it was probably better that he was cut off now before life completely blew up on him. I didn't really care about him anymore. It was only a half lie. Really, it was. It was his life and he made his choice and could live with it. If he ever wanted to get to know Ryuu he had to fix his act and if it took rehab to do it, so be it.

May crept up on me and along with it came crazy changes. In the first few days award nominations for Amateur designer of the Year, Next Top Designer, Innovative Fashion Favorite, and Most Eligible Bachelorette were dropped off on my desk by puffed up owls. Eddy was extremely pleased when I asked him what the specifics of these awards were and spent the next few days talking about it with any employee within ear shot. I was also offered employment opportunities by two other agencies but couldn't find it in myself to abandon Eddy after he gave so much to launch my career. One offer was very tempting too. It was for an agency in Paris and would pay 15,000 more per year and paid for some living expenses. It was that offer and someone nearly realizing Ryuu's parentage that made me realize London was too close to my past for comfort. I had been biting my lip and thinking it over when Eddy came in and recognized the emblem on the glossy parchment.

"Mione, please tell me you aren't considering that invitation! I can't loose you so soon. You aren't my shining star yet but we are so close."

"Well Ed, it has some serious selling points. I would love a bigger office plus they are offering a large raise and paying a portion of my living. London has too many ghosts for me. I'd love to move out and start over in a new home."

He tutted and told me not to make any decisions yet so he could meddle and adjust things to my liking. Two weeks later I stopped just outside of the Floo to look up at the new banner in the atrium. All three models images had been raised a few feet. Prior to today there had only been models on the banners. Now there were two more images. Designers. More specifically Brokes and Co's lead designers. Normally this wouldn't stop me in my tracks but anytime one sees themselves on a 30 foot banner unexpectedly it is bound to happen. The image was from a recent show. I wore a lace and feather mini dress with a red flower near the left shoulder. It had been one of my favorite outfits because of the lace flowers, all interconnected with thin bands and sheer spaces, and the sexy yet classy feel of it. Also, the skirt was entirely composed of raven-like black/green feathers. The contrast of the textures had won me over the second I lay eyes on it. (I had learned how to admire someones work and not desire to claim or own it in the past few months. I knew who was better than me and wanted to follow them around and learn from them.) I had felt radiant in the dress that night and it showed. All 30 feet of radiance shown down on the lobby as my bewitched image faced the camera with a smirk and spun to pose in a hand-on-waist side shot. Next to me stood one of the male designers I had just met earlier in the week. His name sounded Italian but I had forgotten it already.

"I see you noticed the new additions. We decided it was time to spotlight our designers as well as models. Talent is talent after all! Anyway, we thought about putting our most experienced up there but then the idea to put our up and coming, best and brightest in my opinion, on instead arose. Naturally, you were our top choice. Also, in an effort to keep Paris off your mind I've been speaking to our sister office in France to arrange a Floo connection from their office to ours. We can discuss a portion of money to help with housing if you wanted to move to France. You can live there and still work here if you'd like to. It would actually increase your privacy as you would be arriving like everyone else but living internationally. Who would guess you didn't live nearby? Just think on it! No need to answer right away, of course!" Eddy had followed me all the way to my office as he chattered and only made to cut off and escape once my hand was on the door nob. It swung open and I quickly realized it had been expanded. A swift glance told me Eddy had vanished (It was the fastest I had seen -or not seen- him leave.) I knew it was bigger than any of the other offices and the added balcony overlooking Wizarding London was an exclusive perk. Only one advantage now remained with the job in Paris: a pay raise. Though that was quickly solved too. There was a contract on my desk renegotiating my wages. It was an 17,000 a year raise in exchange for being named Brokes and Co top designer and doing occasional promotions for them as well as attending events in their stead. Everything had been solved for me. I really hadn't wanted to leave the company so soon and they had made it very possible to stay.

"Mione Granger, I couldn't help but notice your new poster on my way in today. It is well earned." Sven leaned on the door frame and angled his chin at the floor while his eyes searched mine. Sometimes he looked so much like Draco it made me jump, though the Russian accent distinguished him. "Thank you Sven. Is there something I can help you with?" He shifted his weight and his angled gaze intensified. Dinner. He had asked for dinner and wine tonight. He was absolutely stunning and his charming personality only made the offer more tempting.

"Oh. I'm sorry Sven, I can't. I find it unprofessional to date my models. That is the only thing that keeps us professional. I'm sure we would have a lovely time together and I would love to wine and dine with you, but only as friends. Otherwise it would put me in a horrid situation." His lips had puckered as I spoke and that smoldering expression slipped into a darker one. In the end he nodded and said he would ask once we were no longer working on the same projects. With a twist of his hand he went back to the model's hallway. Whew! The last person I wanted to be compared to was Marcella, who notoriously dated all the models and assistants. It really was a shame. Sven was an amazing person. With him on my mind I reorganized my office into the larger space and set to work.

On Saturday July 22nd I enlisted Harry and Ginny to help me move. I had found an old chateau in France that needed serious repairs and was being sold for an amazing price in early June. It almost felt wrong buying it from the Muggles selling it because of what a deal it was but I had fallen in love and couldn't resist. Plus, I had let Eddy suffer enough wondering if I was going to stay or leave. When I signed for the home and grounds I sent him an owl with my decision. (Brokes and Co had become a type of aggressive family to me over the past year.) With the roof and plumbing repairs finished it was comfortable enough by mid July. Ginny watched Ryuu the day before so I could go charm the walls the colors I wanted and rearrange furniture to my liking. It was around noon when Harry and Ginny saw the house for the first time. It was a bit ragged right now but the potential was easily seen. All the climbing roses were blooming and the grounds had been fixed up magically yesterday and seemed to have held. They loved it as much as I did. Harry took to cleaning up the living room, kitchen, and both master bedroom and Ryuu's room next door. Ginny took Ryuu outside and she revived the lawns, fountains, and gazebo. (He loved her so much and she was ecstatic to spend as much time with him as possible.) I worked on unpacking everything into the proper places. After a few hours of working separately we worked together in the dining hall to dust, drape, and organize before dinner. We sat in contented silence and ate our rosemary game hens and gravy-coated potatoes. Once we had cleaned up and all sat in the living room I turned to Ginny.

"So I have a proposition for you. I need to find a nanny for Ryuu and somehow swear them to secrecy or mind charm them into forgetting what they do here. You mentioned last week wanting a part time job and I was wondering if you'd help with Ryuu when I can't find someone. I'd be willing to pay above average and..."

"Hermione don't worry about a nanny, I'd love to spend my days with Ry. I can watch him while you are at work. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I brought Teddy by with me sometimes as well. I have a feeling they are going to be great friends as they get older. It's not like Harry will miss me at home seeing as he works more than you do. I may need an occasional day off but I'm sure George wouldn't mind covering for me or Ron and if they are all busy you know my mum wouldn't let an opportunity to watch him pass her by. Watching him is much better than anything part time I can think about. I'd rather spend my days here with him than work anywhere else. Eight hours with my favorite nephew is nothing!" She tickled him and blew raspberries on his tummy as he giggled and smiled.

I couldn't express how relieved I was. Having family watch Ryuu was the surest way to keep the outside world...out. No one would find our secret and spread it through the tabloids. Draco wouldn't "hear through the grapevine" and come looking for us. For now, we were safe. No negative exposure, no seeing Draco on bus advertisements in the streets, no bothersome neighbors who see resemblance, no talkative nannies or fame hunters. I hadn't felt so relieved or at peace in a while.