Disclaimer: I own nothing, all credit to J.K Rowling for the creation of the Harry Potter universe. I just found a plot for this ship.

Warning: There is an M rating for a reason. The story will NOT contain rape or sexual violence. Lemons and fluff expected. Basically what you would expect from most romance novels nowadays.
There will also be the use of profanity.

Music speaks to my muse.
This chapters song was: Why They Call It Falling, Lee Ann Womack
Lyric of choice: Why they call it falling, now I know.

Grammarly is my beta: 7-17

Charmed to You

Chapter 25
Why They Call It Falling

Ginny sat on her bed as she watched Hermione cry as if her heart was breaking. Hermione had gone to Ginny's' new home as soon as she had left Dracos' office. Ginny had taken one look at her friend and rushed her into her room.

Gregory Goyle walked in took one look at the two women in his bed and frowned backing out slowly.

Ginny gave him a sad smile and a reassuring nod and then stood up. "I will be right back." She said softly to the still weeping Hermione.

Her husband was waiting for her in the hallway his face tense. "Did someone die?" He asked in a hushed tone.

Ginny shook her head. "I don't think so. I mean she said everyone was fine. I can't really get her to talk and she won't take a calming drought. She's going to make herself sick though. I thought about sending an owl or elf to Draco, but-" She paused looking at the closed door where they could both hear Hermione still sobbing.

Greg nodded. "I will go talk to him." He said firmly.

Ginny grabbed his arm. "No, baby don't. If she's crying over him and then he shows up it could turn ugly, Hermione isn't known to really see reason when she is in a temper and I haven't honestly seen her this upset before. It's really odd. I would rather she calm down if she is upset at him. She won't forgive herself is she says something regrettable."

They shared a significant look, they both knew what Hermione was capable of when angered or upset, and then Greg nodded. "Well he can't apparate in here, Gin, the wards. I will close down the floo network and have a quick word with him. He might be worried about her. I would be about you. He should at least know she is here and safe."

Ginny bit her lip considering what he was saying and then she nodded slowly. "Okay." Then she leaned up on tip toes and kissed him tenderly. "Thank you."

She watched him blink and then smile at her softly. "Of course." He said turning and striding off.

Ginny took a deep breath and went back inside to try and comfort her friend, who was crying as if half her soul had been ripped out of her body. To say it was heartbreaking was an understatement.

OooOooOoOoOO

Draco was sitting in his office when his fire lit up. He was staring at the damn ring he had finally had to take off because he couldn't handle her crippling grief anymore. Dammit, this was why he didn't like emotions, they made you physically ill. His stomach was still turning and he felt sweaty as he sat at his desk. Mostly he felt like a total and complete ass. Why had he said that to Dean? It wasn't true, and then he had just stood there and not defended himself to Hermione and just let her walk away. He was a bloody coward, plain and simple. A total and complete coward.

Goyle's head popped into the fire his face worried. "What happened with Hermione?" He asked in his deep voice.

Draco glared at him and bit out. "Why the fuck do you want to know?" Before he could think better of it.

Goyle nodded. "So it was you then?" He said in a tired tone.

Draco stood up pacing. "Possibly. Why are you asking? Is she there?" Draco looked at him frozen. "She is there? Isn't she?"

Goyle seemed to hesitate and then he shook his head. "I am not sure I should say anymore. We just wanted to make sure no one had died."

Draco felt his heart drop to his stomach, he had known she was upset, but they had thought someone had died? He strode over to the fire. "Get out, I am coming through. Is she there?"

Goyle didn't budge though and he just stared at Draco a frown on his face looking like he was trying to puzzle out what to say.

"Oh just spit it out, man!" Draco said impatiently knowing that he wouldn't get through to see his wife until Goyle had said his peace. He needed to see her, assure himself she was okay, her pain had been crippling and he was now deeply worried.

Goyle nodded and in his slow voice said firmly. "Hermione is with us, I will make sure she is safe. Ginny doesn't think you should talk to her until she calms down."

And then the bastard left and Draco threw himself down on his chair as anger, resentment, and guilt washed over him. But overwhelming all of that was his own pain. This was his fault, and Ginny was right until Hermione calmed down he couldn't fix anything. He dropped his head in his hands and sat there until he couldn't stand his own company anymore and slammed out of his office to take a walk.

She would have to come home to pack for Australia, he would be waiting for her and he would talk to her then. She wouldn't leave the country without talking to him. She was a Gryffindor, they didn't run from a problem, it wasn't their style.

OoOOoOoOooOoO

Hermione fell asleep still in Ginny and Greg's bed. Ginny gave her husband an apologetic look when he came back to check on them carrying a large tray with dinner for the two women.

"She cried herself out." Ginny said softly.

Greg nodded setting down the tray and then frowned as he looked at the pale woman in his bed with the tear streaked cheeks. "She looks so sad." He said finally.

Ginny nodded and walked over to her husband who sat down and pulled her into his lap. They sat there for what seemed like hours just watching her friend sleep; she kept making rather pitiful sobs even though she didn't wake up.

Greg looked rather ill when he finally shifted. "I spoke to Malfoy."

Ginny nodded. "He said something, she told me a little bit, she is going to Australia with her parents but she doesn't want to go home and pack."

Greg seemed to puzzle that out for a moment and then shrugged. "You could try calling her elf, Niffy is her name. I liked her when I was a kid."

Ginny raised an eyebrow curiously. "Will she come if I call her?"

Greg shrugged. "She will if you say Hermione needs her."

Ginny nodded and then said softly. "Um, Niffy? Can you come to Hermione please?"

There was a pop and a very old elf was gazing at them her eyes wide and her face troubled. She let out a little gasp as she saw her mistress and then wrung her hands sadly.

Ginny got off Greg's lap and bent down to talk to the elf softly. "She is very upset and is going away with her parents to Australia. Could you please pack for her? I don't wish to wake her. She will need clothes for warm weather, Muggle clothes, and they have to be in her Muggle cases."

The elf nodded and then left.

Ginny sighed and looked up as her husband walked over to help her up from where she had knelt to speak with the elf.

"Please eat something." He said softly leaning down to kiss her neck.

Ginny nodded and then smiled at him. "Sorry, you lost your spot in the bed."

Her husband grinned at her and then shook his head. "You don't want to put her in a spare room?"

Ginny hesitated and then frowned. "Can she just stay here, with me? Please? I just don't feel right leaving her; I haven't seen her this upset since she obliviated her parents' memory of her during the war."

Greg's eyes went wide and he swallowed looking over at the other woman his eyes kind and worried, and then he nodded slowly and left the room pausing at the door. "I will have Jebb grab my things. Come and say goodnight, I will be in my study working."

Ginny gave him a wide thankful smile and nodded blowing him a kiss. He caught it and then left.

Ginny tried to eat and then giving that up she changed into pajamas and climbed into bed with her friend, laying and listening to her pitiful cries. Hermione had woken up again and was back to crying. Ginny rubbed her friends back and cursed Draco Malfoy's name to the deepest darkest recess of hell. But she also wished she knew what was going on with her friend, Hermione was acting very out of character. She simply couldn't imagine what had happened that would cause Hermione running away with her tail tucked between her legs.

If Draco really had done something so terrible, shouldn't he be recovering in St. Mungos from curse damage? It took all her restraint to not track him down and hex him to within an inch of his life.

OooOOooOOOooOOooOooO

Five days later…

"Where is your wife?"

Draco looked up as his mother walked into his study a week later. It was gone past midnight but he was still working. He looked down at the ring sitting next to his paperwork. The mood ring he hadn't had the guts to put back on since that day in his office.

"Australia, with her parents doing some work for the Ministry," Draco said evenly going back to his report.

He had waited all night for her to come back after she had overheard his comment to Dean, when she hadn't he had assumed she was staying with the Goyle's and would return in the morning to speak with him. He had waited the entire morning for her to appear so they could fight and he could apologize, try to explain to her why he was so emotionally reserved, explain that he hadn't meant to hurt her, that he really was trying to understand all that she made him feel but it scared the hell out of him. Instead she had not arrived, he had been forced to contact Kingsley to learn that his wife was indeed in Australia and was conducting her business there for the ministry. If Kingsley had found it odd that Draco had wanted to check on his wife he hadn't said so, Draco had left feeling dejected and enraged. She had fled the damn country! After he got over those two emotions he had simply been depressed. He had caused her to flee the damn country.

Instead, she had not arrived, he had been forced to contact Kingsley to learn that his wife was indeed in Australia and was conducting her business there for the ministry. If Kingsley had found it odd that Draco had wanted to check on his wife he hadn't said so, Draco had left feeling dejected and enraged. She had fled the damn country! After he got over those two emotions he had simply been depressed. He had caused her to flee the damn country. He shook his head as he waited for his mother to retort.

His mother let out a soft snort. "And why didn't you go with her?"

Draco looked up and said rudely. "I have a company to run mother, I can't just go to Australia on a whim." Silently he thought: 'And she didn't ask me and probably hates me.'

Narcissa Malfoy's eyes narrowed angrily. "What did you do, Draco," She said in a low angry tone.

Draco tossed down his quill angrily. "I didn't do a bloody thing, mother." He was lying of course but he had no desire to tell his mother how much he had screwed up. She would probably hex him, her temper was as bad as his wife's.

She raised an eyebrow and said softly. "Watch your tone with me, young man."

Draco inclined his head in apology and then sighed. "She overheard a conversation that upset her," he said finally flinching as he waited for the blow up.

His mother took a seat and waited, not saying anything. Draco glared at her and then repeated what had happened that day in the office.

His mother frowned and then sighed leaning back in the chair looking weary. "Draco, I understand why you would be hesitant to trust anyone; but she is your wife, your soul match, you two are bound-"

Draco stood up angrily. "And so that just means I love her? Just like that? Really mother? Because growing up in this house made trusting someone very easy?"

She flinched and then said evenly. "I love your father very much, Draco. And I know you cannot doubt my love for you. Is this because of her blood-"

Draco growled at her his face a study of fury. "Do not even suggest that."

His mother nodded but looked suddenly very old. "Son, if you cannot love her, life will be very hard for both of you."

Draco grunted and threw himself down in his chair. "I wouldn't have been expected to love a pureblood witch if I had entered into an arranged marriage with one."

His mother paused and then nodded. "That is true; you would not have been expected to love another in such a situation."

Draco narrowed his eyes at his mother. "But?"

She stood up. "But she would have been a pureblood, probably just as distrusting as you are. Your father and I are a rarity in our circle, we understand that. But Draco, you didn't marry a woman who wants just your name, or your galleons, or your social status, did you?" Draco didn't speak as his mother gave him a rather sad smile. "You married a muggle born who grew up thinking she would marry for love and you married a Gryffindor, dear. They love fiercely and are notoriously loyal."

He grunted in disdain. "Stupid too, with their infernal bravery. It's a wonder she is alive after what Potter and Weasel got into with her."

His mother nodded and now she smiled a bit fondly. "Actually, yes, I am amazed she lived as well. It's a testament to her powers, intelligence, and loyalty that she did."

Draco sank back down into his seat and said slowly. "I think I broke her heart, mother," he wasn't aware that his eyes showed his fear, his complete disquiet that this had happened.

She looked at him, considering his words carefully, and then shrugged. "Well, fix it then. You're a very bright wizard, Draco. She's not going anywhere, you two are bound. So for all of our sake stop being a complete tosser and figure this out."

Draco frowned at his mother. A complete tosser? Really? But she was right so he gave a curt nod and picked up the ring on his desk turning it in his hand carefully as his mother saw herself out. Knowing that he would want to be alone with his thoughts.

OoOOooOO

First thing the next morning Draco walked into Dean's office without even bothering to knock. The man looked up at him with interest.

"Help you Malfoy?"

Draco grimaced. "I need your help with something."

Dean went utterly still. "Pardon me? Could you repeat that?"

Draco bit back his desire to punch the man and said slowly and clearly. "I need your help, Thomas."

Dean put down the paper he had been reading and said with a wide grin. "Well, happy to oblige. What can I help you with?"

Draco clinched his fist. "I need one of the mobile things."

Dean frowned in confusion. "A mobile phone?"

Draco nodded; Hermione had one that she used to contact her parents. He had seen it in her bag. "My wife has one, and we are working on starting to offer those to wizards. You have one." His tone was a bit defensive.

Dean reached into his pocket and pulled out a slender metallic object. "Well, I have a few extra for company use, I would be happy to assign one to you."

Draco paused as he considered that. "You told me that they are a service that you must pay for continuously?"

Dean nodded setting his mobile down. "Yes, once a month. They offer family plans and discounts for companies. I ordered fifty lines outright, knowing we would eventually all be required to carry them."

Draco nodded and then shrugged. "I would like to get my family a 'plan' then."

Dean stared at him for a moment, clearly surprised. "You'd have to have Muggle identification to do that, Draco, and a Muggle account."

Draco shrugged. "I realize that, but as you pointed out last year we really should have such things now with the way the muggles are advancing. Their paper money is becoming outdated. I was just being stubborn before but am ready to make sure my family has what we need."

Dean nodded and stood up. "Well, Gringotts has a Muggle representative now. A wizard who sets you up with all the documents you need and an account in their sister bank."

Draco frowned as he digested this information. "Gringotts has a muggle branch now?"

Dean smirked. "Yes, it's in downtown London. We meet with them there."

Draco nodded and then glared at Dean. "If you don't keep the snide remarks to yourself."

Dean held up his hands. "What? I didn't say anything."

Draco grimaced and followed his business partner out.

OoOOOoooOooOOooOoO

Hermione looked down as her mobile rang in her purse and sighed. Who could be calling her? She just about ignored it but then at the last moment she decided to find the silly thing and at least check who it was.

She frowned at the unknown number however. London, obviously. Some Muggle dialing the wrong number she supposed.

"Hello."

For moment there was silence and then quietly. "Hello?"

Hermione froze. "Draco?"

"Oh, yes, good you can hear me," he said in a bit of a relieved voice.

Hermione almost dropped her mobile. She looked over at her mother who had raised an eyebrow and gave what she knew was a rather forced smile and then walked out of the store she had been shopping in with her mother and her mother's friend.

"Yes, I can hear you," she said a bit stupidly. Obviously he knew she could hear him, he had said as such. She stood in the warm afternoon sun and felt foolish. What should she say? Why was he calling? HOW was he calling?

The last question won. "How are you calling me?"

She heard him clear his throat and then say tentatively. "Dean helped me secure a contract on a mobile and got me the sequence of numbers I needed to reach you."

"My mobile number," she said softly.

A brief pause and then. "Yes," he said a bit awkwardly.

Hermione felt a smile curl up her lips, rather amused at him. "Well then I will save your number."

His reply amused her even more because it was so typically Draco. "Good," he said in a bossy voice.

That had pleased him, but he wouldn't say so, she chuckled. "Well, how can I help you, Draco? I am out shopping with my mother."

There was a brief silence and then he said. "You are well?"

She sighed, well now that was a tough question to reply to. She was grateful he couldn't see her as she scrunched up her face in response to it. No, she bloody well wasn't well. But she had no intention of telling him that she had spent the last week crying herself to sleep and she assumed since he didn't know his ring didn't work when she was so far away.

"I am fine," she said her tone a bit reserved. "It's very pretty here." She added as an afterthought.

He seemed to hesitate, because she got the impression he had almost said something and then there was a long sigh. "When will you be home, Hermione?"

And there went her heart, splitting in two again. He had injected just enough tenderness in his voice to make her let out a small little gasp of hope that he might miss her. But then she bit down on her cheek, hard, reminding herself that Draco didn't want to miss her. He didn't want to care about her. He would never love her. Those feelings, that path, made him weak. She had heard him, his tone, the revulsion on his face, it all played back for her in a little mini film every night when she slept.

She sighed a bit disgusted with herself and then said in a small voice that was unable to mask all of her pain. "Sunday, we arrive back this Sunday."

Draco let out a long breath and then said. "Will you be home in time for dinner?"

Hermione cringed, dinner with him? No, she wouldn't be strong enough to do that, not after the long flight and just everything. She needed a bit of time. "No, I will be rather exhausted from the trip and I have a meeting first thing Monday morning at the Ministry, so I will be staying with my parents in London."

She could feel his anger, as if he was in the room with her. "You cannot avoid me forever, wife."

She flinched but nodded, because he was right, she couldn't keep avoiding him. "I know, husband," she said but her tone wasn't as firm and nowhere near as angry. She sounded a bit dejected, tired.

He let out a long weary sigh. "Hermione, we need to talk."

Hermione's heart broke a bit at his tone, he sounded as sad as she felt, and she didn't have a good answer to that question. He was absolutely right, they needed to talk. "I need to get back; I will see you Monday night."

She rang off before he could say anything else and then leaned back against the wall of the shop taking deep breaths to calm herself. Once she was sure she was not going to break into tears she turned and went back into the shop. Her mother gave her a knowing look and then shook her head.

She hadn't told her parents that she was upset with Draco; it had seemed like a break of trust somehow. But, her mother suspected all was not right, and in a fit of despair one night Hermione had admitted that they had quarreled.

She attempted now to give her mother a firm and reassuring smile, but she knew she had failed when her mother shook her head looking a bit disappointed.

"I never pegged you as someone who avoided problems, Hermione," she said softly.

Hermione flinched and then shook her head, right, well neither had she to be honest and she was a bit disgusted with herself. "More preparing to confront them," she said angry at herself, liking that idea more than being a coward.

But she knew that wasn't the truth, and by the sad look her mother was giving her, so did her mom.

Notes:

Up Next:
Our two stubborn lovers meet again and we get well deserved lemons.