SO. I was going to post about an hour ago, but when I got home from work, my parents were watching The Order of the Phoenix. So naturally I've been a bit preoccupied, hah.
Anyway, you guys are seriously the greatest! And I'm so, incredibly sad to say that this is officially the second-last part to this series. I'm looking forward to bringing it to an end, but at the same time I'm not…
With that being said, whereas the last part was also incredibly sad, this one is a little more…light.
Enjoy
[Ten: One Ending]
January 27
To say Hermione was surprised when Astoria Malfoy walked into her office was quite the understatement. First, pure panic washed through her at the thought of speaking to her ex-lover's wife – did she know? What if she wanted a confrontation? Should she admit to it, or deny everything? But then, as she considered the woman standing in her doorway, looking soft and timid – and absolutely spectacular, nothing at all like Draco had previously described – the panic was replaced by confusion. And then curiousity - what wasshe doing here? They've never spoken more than a few words to one another. Perhaps she's lost.
No, she was not surprised. She was shocked, flabbergasted and, quite frankly, a little bit scared. So, needless to say, when Astoria wondered if they speak in private, Hermione couldn't help but to say yes.
"How are you?" Hermione asks cautiously, motioning for the woman before her to sit.
Astoria smiles softly, sitting in the chair across from her. "I'm well, thank you."
"I-I'm sorry. For your loss. I can't even imagine how hard it must be."
The witch nods, looking down at her lap briefly before looking back up. "It's getting easier, I think. Better," she shrugs.
"I'm glad," Hermione smiles. "So...what brings you here?"
"I wanted to talk about Draco."
Her heart stops, skipping several beats before finding its rhythm. Her throat runs dry, her stomach flips and her mind runs through a hundred different variations of how this could end. "W-um...what about him?"
"I'm filing for divorce."
She closes her eyes the moment the other witch opens her mouth, waiting for the insult that is sure to come – and then her eyes snap open and she stares, wide-eyed, ahead of her. "What?"
"It's a little bit more complicated than filing for a muggle divorce, what with the legalities of a Pureblood marriage, but I've already spoken to my father – he's a lawyer - and he says it's doable, given the circumstances," Astoria tells her flippantly.
Hermione blinks, still reeling from her initial announcement. "Wait, I'm sorry, I... Why do you want a divorce?" she asks, her brow furrowing in confusion. She ignores the way her heart beats with the knowledge that Draco will be single.
Astoria smiles weakly, her head tilting to the side as she draws in a breath. "I might never be able to have a child. One of the pretenses of our marriage was to produce an heir for the Malfoy family and if I cannot bear him a child then..." she trails off, her hand instinctively falling to her stomach. "Besides, it just isn't working anymore. He didn't even want that baby. I mean, he put on smiles and pretended to be happy but...his heart wasn't in it-"
"He was afraid," Hermione blurts out. And suddenly she feels defensive, like she has to stick up for him. "He was just as upset as you when you lost the baby, Astoria."
"I know he was. I know that he was afraid and I know that in the end he had wanted the baby after all," she admits, looking down at the name plate on the edge of the desk. "It isn't about the baby."
"But then why?"
Astoria smiles softly, but it doesn't quite reach her sad eyes. "He loves me, I know he does. But he isn't in love with me because his heart belongs to someone else."
Hermione blinks, her breath catching in her throat.
"He isn't happy with me."
"It's over, Astoria," she whispers sheepishly, her cheeks turning pink. "It's been over for a while."
"I know," Astoria laughs. "I knew the moment it ended because he was miserable." Hermione opens her mouth to reply, but Astoria shakes her head, silencing her. "I'm not trying to make you feel bad or anything, I just... I just need to do this. I think we both just need to start fresh – all of us," she says pointedly.
"Why are you telling me this?" Hermione asks.
"I wanted you to hear it from me. And I wanted you to know that there are no hard feelings. I know what it's like to lose your head – and your heart – to Draco Malfoy," she giggles.
Hermione can't help smile and roll her eyes.
"Also, I wanted to tell you I'm leaving England."
She blinks, staring at her incredulously.
"After I file for divorce and speak with Draco, I'll be traveling the world."
"Why?"
"I need to...find myself again," Astoria breathes. "I need to find my purpose. I need to figure out who I am without Draco and without...the possibility of having a child. You understand, don't you?"
Hermione nods, and it feels like whatever's been sitting on her chest and clouding her judgment for last several months has been lifted. "I do."
X
February 2
Hermione is startled when she returns home from the grocery store to find Draco sitting in her living room. He's sitting on her couch, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped together and his head hung low. He looks up at her when the door opens, and she freezes in the doorway, and smiles softly.
"I would've waited, but the wards were still open for me," he tells her, pushing himself to his feet. There's a confident, playful undertone to his voice, hidden behind the hesitancy.
She nods, kicking the door shut with her foot before walking past him into the kitchen. He follows at her heels. She puts the grocery bags on the counter and turns away from him to take off her coat. When she returns, adjusting her sweater, he's already unpacking the bags and putting things away. Without a single spoken thought, she joins him.
"Astoria and I have filed for divorce," he announces, placing three cans of vegetables in a cupboard next to the window. "But you already knew that."
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me she went to see you? Why didn't you tell me she planned to divorce me?"
"She asked me not to," Hermione replies, shrugging her shoulders casually as she places a bag of apples in the fridge.
"What is she, your best friend now?" he sneers.
She spins around, glaring at him. "She's a woman who confidedin me, knowing I'd fucked her husband," she snaps. "So it was the least I could do." She'll never admit it to him, but that very revelation has haunted her ever since. When he doesn't reply, she turns back around to dispose of the bags.
"She's fond of you," he says softly. "Says you're a good woman and that even though she should hate you, she doesn't. She's sympathetic, I think, because apparentlyI have a tendency to make women do crazy things."
She stifles a giggle before collecting herself. "What are you doing here?" she demands, putting her hands on her hips as she turns back to face him once more.
"I was hoping we could start over," he murmurs.
She raises her eyes brows in awe. "Less than 24 hours and you're already moving on. I feel so special. Come to think of it, that's a nice message to send your wife – because she is still your wife."
He rolls his eyes. "It's not like that-"
"I won't be your second choice, Draco," she mutters, looking down at the ground.
He blinks, staring at her incredulously. "Second choi-Granger-" he cuts himself off, breathing through his nose to control some of his temper. "I would've chosen you if Astoria hadn't-"
"But she did get pregnant, because you were still sleeping with her," she snaps, her gaze snapping up to meet his. She regrets the harshness behind her tone immediately.
He frowns. "Granger-"
She sighs, shaking her head slightly. "Look, I'm not mad, I'm just... You're getting a divorce. You just lost a baby. Astoria is traveling the world to get away from you so she can figure out who she is. Maybe you need to do something of the same – maybe we both do," she whispers.
X
February 14
Her heartflutters when she sees the small, silver box waiting for her on her desk. She hangs her coat on the hanger and places her briefcase next to the box before picking it up. She knows who it's from before she even opens it.
Her breath catches in her throat and her stomach drops when her gaze lands on what's inside. And despite the fact that she's alone, the colour rises in her cheeks. Sitting amongst white cotton acting as a cushion, is small, white gold otter pendant attached to a thin chain. A necklace. Everyone knows that her Patronus is an otter, but only one person knows why. She smiles fondly, tears prickling the her eyes as a regretful happiness fills her chest.
A rustling noise at her door pulls her out of her thoughts. She looks up, not at all surprised to find him standing in her doorway.
He grins, pushing himself away from the wall with his hands in his pockets. "Before you say anything, don't. I know it seems like it's for Valentine's Day, seeing as it isValentine's Day, but it's not. It's just...to say thank you. For everything," he says softly. "You've been...wonderful – even when you shouldn't have been. Hell, even when you were pissed at me."
She laughs softly, sniffing back tears. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Here," he murmurs, taking the box out of her small hands. He holds it in his left, lifting the necklace out with his right. "I'll put it on, turn around."
She does as she's told, holding her breath as she stands with her back to him.
He gulps back a small lump in his throat, his gaze traveling from her nice, round bum, up her sides, across her back and to her creamy white neck. He can still taste her sweat on his tongue and feel her skin on his lips. He's all thumbs as he unclips the clasp. He brings his arms around her shoulders, settling the chain over her collar bones and clasping it around her neck. His fingers brush against her skin, sending shivers through his entire body.
She turns back around, cheeks flushed.
He grins, pulling his hands back. "Beautiful." He lifts his right hand, brushing his knuckles against her cheek.
She takes a deep breath, pulling away from him just when he starts to lean down. "You should know...I'm leaving England for a little while," she whispers.
He blinks, taken aback. "Y-you are?"
She nods. "For six months. I'm going to live my parents with Australia."
"Wow, that's..."
"Stupid?" she laughs nervously.
He chuckles, shaking his head. "I was gonna say brilliant, actually. I think this is the least stupid and reckless and completely awful decision you've made in a long time," he teases.
"Gee, thanks," she mutters playfully, rolling her eyes.
"When do you leave?"
"Next week."
X
February 20
"So thisis it, huh?" Draco asks glumly, sitting on the edge of her bed as she walks to and from her closet, packing the rest of her clothes. He watches her, running his thumb over the soft fabric of her suit case – which she's charmed to carry, well, everything. His stomach has been knots for the last 24 hours.
"Yeah. This is it," she breathes, tossing her last shirt into her suit case before zipping it closed.
"Excited?"
She smiles, nodding her head. "And completely terrified."
He smiles back sadly. "I'm gonna miss you, Granger. I dunno what I'm gonna do to occupy my time while you're gone. Who the hell am I supposed to annoy?" he teases.
"I'm sure you'll find someone," she giggles.
He laughs, rolling his eyes.
"Besides, it's only six months."
"Yeah, only," he mutters, looking down his shoes.
She frowns, sitting next to him on the bed. "I'm gonna miss you too, Draco," she whispers softly. And she will, more than anything.
He looks sideways at her, lifting his hand to cup her cheek. Her eyelids flutter closed, leaning into his touch as he leans forward, pressing his forehead against here. "Don't go," he pleads. "I...I don't want you to go."
She opens her eyes, looking at him tenderly. "I'll be back-"
"Six months is a long time, Hermione. Just...stay. The divorce is being finalized as we speak – we can figure this out."
She pulls back, smiling softly. "Tell you what," she starts. He looks hopeful. "If you're still interested in six months from now, then yes, I'll figure this out with you. If you're not, then-"
"It isn't meant to be," he finishes.
She nods.
"Okay," he nods. "Deal."
To be continued, just one more time...