Hermione plastered a smile on her face and took a deep breath as she approached her front door. She was already having a bad day, and now she needed to deal with her parents with a smile and an 'everything is perfect' approach.

She knew exactly how the day would go. Draco would, as usual, sit engrossed in a book whilst she ran around playing with Artemis and pleasing her parents, her father would make snide remarks about his absorption, and would say that she was as bad. Her mother would critique her house keeping, and at some point there was bound to be a comment about how it would be lovely for them to have another child.

Hermione had let Draco take the early morning shift with her son, and had then allowed him to retire. She had gone past the door to their bedroom whilst collecting a toy that was wanted and had seen him. He'd failed to shut the door entirely and was sprawled on the bed looking at floating images of witches in a variety of positions, doing a range of wanton tasks to wizards. He had been vigorously pumping his fist around his cock, staring at the images that were before him. She'd looked down at herself dressed simply in jeans and jumper and thought through her options of trying to lure her husband back into wanting her.

####

Opening the door, she grinned at her father and gave him a hug, welcoming him in. Draco and Artemis were heading towards them, her son shouting and running in order to get a cuddle from his grandparents. Turning around she walked past her husband placed a tiny kiss on his cheek and then went to prepare drinks. As she boiled the water and organised the tea and coffee pots she grabbed her wine bottle and took a long gulp from it. She had been drinking like this increasingly, it numbed her pain. Once the drinks were ready she braced herself and then ventured towards the others.

As Hermione had predicted the day was pleasant though emotionally draining. Her father had made the usual jibes about Draco, who she couldn't be bothered to defend, and he also remarked on her slipping into a book whilst Artemis played independently on the floor, not in the slightest bit concerned with anything other than his toy cars.

Once they'd left with the parting remark of "it would be lovely if Artemis had a brother or sister to play with instead of being alone", Draco put Artemis to bed. She took this as an opportunity and finished off the wine, before beginning on some dreadful spirit she'd found in the cupboard. When Draco came down he grumbled something at her that she didn't quite catch and she couldn't decide whether to ask or to ignore him.

"I'm going to go out for a walk, clear my head."

"Good idea, it might sober you up too," he snarled.

Ignoring his jibe, she asked, "will you be alright with Artie?" He nodded and she left without saying another word.

Hermione walked and walked until she found a bench, she sat slumped over debating her options. She had no-one to talk to. Ginny would tell Harry, who would try to intervene, which could result in any number of curses or hexes being thrown. Ron really wasn't an option, he'd possibly take it as an excuse to try to jump into her knickers. Then who was there? Parvati? Lavender? No chance. Saira from work? No, too loved up and innocent. Bobbie, also from work? No, she had to just deal with it herself.

Rain began to fall, a water repellent charm was in order, but not really appropriate to do in a muggle area, even a quiet one. She could apperate home, but he'd be there. The house in Spinners End was an option, Draco had inherited it from Snape but it was never used. Hermione wanted to rent it out but Draco wouldn't hear of it. She knew she could go there and be alone to compose herself and come up with a plan, with a pop she was gone.

The house in Spinners End was in a terrace, it was simple, conventional and very muggle. Hermione assumed that the house had been Snape's fathers, his mother was probably disowned when she made her choice of partner. Hermione often thought that if she'd just been some muggle-born Gryffindor Draco would have been removed from the Malfoy family tree, as it was being friends with Harry Potter and helping to depose the Dark Lord made her rise in Malfoy estimation.

She felt the wards acquiesce to her presence as she entered and she relaxed. Knowing now that at least she had a safe haven to retreat to whenever she couldn't face Draco. Being Snape's old home also had the advantage of a lab, so she could escape here to work as well. The room was dark, though the smell of a recently burning fire was permeating the air along with a spicy herbal scent. A sly thought jumped in 'what about if this is his love nest for whatever bint he's shagging?' Dismissing this idea almost as quickly as it appeared, she began to look around in the dim light. She had barely moved from the door when she felt a hand grab her across her mouth and a wand press into her neck.