June 28 12:00 am

The storm was in full swing, crashing down in manor's windows forcing them to crack at the beat. The roll of thunder could be heard in further lands as well, the crash between stormy clouds creating an epic sound with thunder.

But Draco Malfoy's frustration was deeper than this thunderstorm. His storm was much greater than any storm combined, the seas might be rolling and sinking the boats but draco already was sunk deep.

He just witnessed his ex friend and his wife kissing in the break room when he visited her this afternoon, he went to her to seek apology and try to make it up by politely asking to have a lunch with him when the nurses from the hospital directed him to head for the healer's break room.

And their was his ex mate smooching his lips on his wife's and yelling that how she should leave draco and be with him.

He downed another glass of whiskey in one go and looked at the rest of bottles. He had been drinking ever since he came, trying to burn out the memory but to his disgust it just stayed more.

He wasn't sure he would right to be angry, after all he did cheat on granger .

But why did it hurt so much? Why did it felt that thousand sharp knives seared through his chest again and again? Did she felt like this when he did the same? True he did not do same , he did more than that but granger never reflected on her emotions expect that one time when she asked for divorce.

Maybe it will be good that they are apart, they had lived apart for several years, freeing her would be the best for both of them , she will able to live happily and he would never show his misery for her company.

But the idea of Theodore Nott being a father to his children and husband to granger disgusted him , he knew in his hearts of hearts that he will be an amazing father , much much better than draco for he doesn't deserve to be loved.

But why doesn't draco deserved to be loved? All his life he searched for that one thing, that love which just stops you from your realities and the fondness the friendship the comfort he tried finding in that , he tried finding it from his parents than his friends then his girlfriend .

But the answer lied with his wife.

He would never admit this fact but somewhere along the way draco felt that he liked having her around. Sure they didn't match in best circumstances but he did feel that if not her , he would not be the man he is now.

Since his sixth year , draco also tried finding himself, his beliefs and morals were crushed ever since he got the damned mark, and there was one reason Hermione Granger.

She confused him , angered him, upset him , she revoked all emotions which draco started to hate to feel . he was too glad that after the war they never talked.

But then this happened and now they are man and wife , having her near irked him to no end, her brilliance, her ideas , her smile everything beginning to repulse and fascinate him.

Even after he left for new York living with Astoria ,Granger still constantly came to his mind , sometimes too much that he didn't sleep at night , the guilt kept creeping on him , and one day it was too much to handle.

There was soft click and draco turned around to see Granger appearing from the floo.

Dark thoughts emerged in his mind but draco kept his face impassive for her not to notice.

" where is your boyfriend?" he asked meekly.

Granger opened her mouth , her eyes widened but said nothing she just shrugged and moved forward.

" What no goodbye kiss granger? Go on I don't mind , don't the leave poor sod hanging". He chuckled darkly.

At this granger turned around , her eyes were confused .

" what are you talking about?" she asked while crossing her arms within her body.

Draco laughed loudly , it was haunting and terrified himself.

" As if you would like to know?" he whispered while his anger became the best of him.

" I honestly don't know what the hell you are on about!" she said calmly.

" I SAW YOU!" draco screamed.

" what?" granger asked again sensing if he had gone mad , maybe he was, maybe he wasn't.

" I SAID I SAW YOU ! AND HIM ! KISSING!" draco's face turned into nasty shade of red.

Granger did not meet his eyes but asked softly " how did you know?"

"I just happen to visit when he and you were there snogging your wits out!" draco cried.

" draco , what you saw was not -

" ENOUGH! JUST TELL ME GRANGER DO YOU LOVE HIM ? DO YOU WANT TO BE WITH HIM?" draco kicked an old vase which shattered into thousand pieces.

Granger winced.

" draco you have no position to yell at me , calm down and talk to me humanly " she said.

Draco clutched his hair and paced, he was so bloody confused , why did he did this? why did he leave his family and made another? It was all his fault!

Finally he stopped , he looked at granger who was looking at her hands and tears spilling from her eyes to her cheeks.

I did this, its me who should be blamed not her, I have given her hard time its my fault!

He then stopped and faced granger , he had to ask this even he will not like this but he has to ask.

"are you in love with him Hermione?"

At the use of her given name from his lips surprised her, he never called her by her name just granger.

"I , …..I don't know" she said softly.

At this draco who should be rejoicing felt irritation at that, Hermione granger must know that if she loves her friend or not.

He sat down in front of her, he took her hands and caressed her fingers.

" Hermione you should know, you should know how you feel about him" he said softly while looking at her wedding ring.

Hermione still didn't say anything, instead she looked into their locked hands.

" does he makes you happy?" draco asked while somewhere he heard his heart break.

" I…..yes…yes he does ….he makes me very happy " she replied as softly .

Draco closed his eyes and tightened his grip around her hands this could be first and last time that they have been this intimate .

"so you must know what do you feel about him" he stated.

Their wedding bands glowed in the dark room, the rain kept crashing down the windows, draco thanked for the low light of candles because granger would never notice how shiny his eyes are at that moment.

They stayed quiet for a long time.

But then draco spoke something he never thought he ever would.

" he will keep you very happy" he whispered.

Hermione's eyes blinked , she was trying to register the fact how draco became this selfless .

" why are you doing this?" she asked him, her eyes burning with curiosity , which was something he loved about her.

" because ….i ….don't deserve you" he spoke brokenly.

Draco's eyes stinged with tears, so this is what it feels likes when someone dies , he didn't feel this at his father's funeral but he felt it right now.

" you don't have to be hard on yourself" she spoke.

Typical granger always seeking best for others even if its her no good lieing cheating husband.

He smiled darkly because this was the moment when he would do the most selfless of all deed . this is where he will let Hermione granger go.

" you don't have to be nice on me granger, everybody knows I am no good sod who cheated on his wife and had a son who isn't ours". He spoke while caressing her wedding band.

" he is good as ours" she spoke.

Draco's neck snapped. This was first time granger ever admitted this kind of thing to him, sure she cared for scorpious but she never voiced her affection, draco thought she felt obliged.

" but I, I ….cheated on you!" he cried.

Granger could only shook her head , draco thought she was going bonkers.

" draco I never hated him , I set you at fault but I never hated the baby in my eyes he is as good as lyra and cassieopia " she said

Draco was flabbergasted.

His grip even tightened more on her hands, granger gave him gentle squeeze.

" I am sorry for ….everything" he spoke.

Hands trembled and shook when he uttered those words, their worlds were now crashing the barriers they built was now falling leaving them exposed.

Draco thought he liked this, the comfort , the friendship , the love was coming this way at last. But sadly this moment had to end. He promised her happiness and he will give it to her.

" Theo has been in love with you since hogwarts" he spoke quietly.

At this granger's face turned into surprise , clearly she never suspected that she was point of admiration of theo since school days.

" since hogwarts?" she asked softly.

Draco could only nod.

" he didn't tell you because there wasn't a right moment, with war hanging and you becoming my wife , he never got his chance , I took his only chance away". Draco gazed at the carpet.

Granger blushed, she never knew , theo never told her until now .

" you two will be really happy" he reached for her wedding band.

Granger snatched her hand away. She covered her hand from him.

"what the hell you are doing?" she asked while gritting her teeth.

Draco sighed and reached for hand, he gently squeezed it and caressed the ring again.

" I am freeing you, its like you said you and I are miserable with each other, I cheated on you , you remained faithful , I lied to you , you covered truth for me , you deserve to be loved and worshiped , I know even if I could , I would never get place at your heart , so I am doing what you ask from me , let you go" he spoke while few tears made his way to his cheeks.

Soft fingers brushed his tears , Draco noticed that Hermione was crying too , they both held each other for a long time just gazing at each other, each on their own thoughts , their eyes were locked , they never did this before it felt too good to be true.

" you don't want me to go" she stated.

Draco's heart sank, could this not be more torture , he felt he was ripped apart again and again.

" it doesn't matter what I think" he answered.

" but the children -

"will learn to live with it, lot of kids live with divorced parents, they will understand when they are old enough" he spoke.

" I don't want you to leave you alone with scorpious" she said.

Draco laughed darkly , he knew whatever granger thinks about him , she will always have best for scorpious in her heart.

" don't worry he will be fine, I won't let him forget you" he spoke while he caressed her cheek.

Granger closed her eyes and in that moment draco realized what he should have been for a long time.

He was in love with his wife Hermione granger.

But it was a such a wrong time to love her now. She was already gone.

" i….i don't know what to say" she said as her voice was breaking.

Draco smiled at his wife, he would never tell what to actually say but he could tell her everything will allright even that is lie.

" you don't have to" he whispered.

" draco"

" you are brilliant do you know that? you will be brilliant and amazing, you amazed me and you amazed theo he loves you for that". he said while she smiled at him for first time.

" what about you? do you hate me?" she asked while gazing into his grey orbs.

" I think my hate went away the day you accepted me in this house and didn't chuck me out" he said.

They both laughed heartily.

" the divorce papers will be ready in a week , all we need is your signature then you are free woman" he spoke.

Granger didn't speak , but instead she frowned if she didn't like what she said.

Draco kissed her softly on her forehead , his tears spilling into her hair , this was a goodbye , this was farewell, this was losing all over again.

But he want her to be happy and he was sure theo will make her very happy .

" goodbye granger" he softly whispered in her ear and left.

Hermione was left alone with her tears and wedding band imprint on her finger.

As rain crashed, wet mud collided with black boots, this stranger's steps were foreign to land, the plants crushed beneath on those shoes, the hem of the coat kissed the ground as the view of manor came in the sight.

And green eyes smirked with ambition and pleasure.

a/n : here you go another chapter folks! Hope you all like this , its very sad true, but I wonder who might this green eyes stranger might be? Its certainly not envy lol! Thankyou for reviews and follows chapter I hope you all enjoy this as I am enjoying writing this, one good news I have already thought of epilogue and its clear as the sky in head who gets the hand of our Hermione! So stay tuned guys a lot more has to come , till then enjoy this chapter and please review!