Sorry this update was a couple hours late. I got behind in my writing (Like three chapters behind my ten chapter block so I had to write more chapters before I could post anything.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Enjoy!

Chapter 36

A Month Later

Draco had arrived day after day after day. Hermione felt like she would break through the wards by shear physical force just to get to him. Narcissa was intelligent in her wards, only she could take them down or Hermione would have been in his arms by the third day. Scorpius was off for his Christmas holidays but he had yet to come and visit her. He was staying at the Manor with his father. Hermione sat on the parlour couch looking at her hands.

"Hullo." She looked up and gave a small smile at the blonde boy. He frowned. "You look like crap, mum." He walked over and sat beside her. Hermione pulled him to her without a sound and smoothed down his hair. She held him carefully and slowly he wrapped his arms around her too. They sat like that for close to five minutes.

"Dad told me they have you locked up here, that they are keeping you away from him." Scorpius pulled away from her and Hermione looked at him.

"Basically. It's a form of punishment. I can't tell if it is for me or your father sometimes." She blinked slowly and released him. "Two weeks more and they will let me see him. But even then that will be goodbye." She buried her face in her hands with a sigh.

"You could always stay." It was a simple solution but Hermione knew that this situation wasn't that simple.

"I can't. I have to fulfill the Life Debt. It was one year that I had to stay married to him for. Just one year. I have to abide the contract too. I would love to stay with you and your father, Scorpius, but I can't." She looked at the boy with a deep sorrow and he carefully gave her a hug.

"I can understand how much that this hurts you. I can see it. I forgive you." Scorpius rested his head on her shoulder and Hermione closed her eyes. Shouting filled the hallway and Hermione pushed Scorpius away slightly.

"Your father is here." She looked at the door with longing, wishing it would be thrown open and she would be drawn into his warm embrace. She wanted him to bury his face in the crook of her neck and just breathe. She wanted to run her hands through his hair and hold him close but the door remained firmly shut.

"Let me see her! Why won't you give me that one fucking thing? Its been a month and a half! I want to see her! You have punished me enough!" Draco was shouting but he didn't care. His mother just shook her head.

"No, I know this is hard for you, it's hard for her but until we can get the paperwork drawn up for the annulment, I don't want you to see her. Your punishment is far from over, Draco. She needs this punishment just as badly as you do. Until you both become intelligent about this than we will keep you apart." Narcissa put her hands on her hip and pointed to the door. "Out, Draco. Your shouting will wake up your father." Draco whipped out his wand and threw a spell that destroyed a rather ugly vase. It made him feel a bit better. He was just so angry at them both.

"I don't care if I wake up father! I don't care if I wake up the entire world. I want to see my wife!" Draco clutched his wand tightly and Narcissa casually swished hers and repaired the vase.

"No. You don't understand, this will be good for you both. This will make you stronger in the end. It worked with your father and I. This exact same thing happened with my parents." At the words Draco bristled.

"We aren't you and father! We are Draco and Hermione! We will never be like you! Now let me see her!" He gave a yell of frustration and Narcissa remained firm.

"No. We have the paperwork ready to be signed and sent. You can see her in two weeks." Her blue eyes showed no moving her in her position. She handed an envelope to him. "Sign these, then send them to the Ministry." Draco snatched the envelope away from her and stormed out. This was bloody well stupid. He had every right to see Hermione. A frantic tapping on the window caught his attention and Draco looked at the parlour window. Hermione looked at him with wide eyes. He rushed over and looked at her. His hand pressed against the glass and hers did the same. He could not hear her speak but he could read what she said.

I miss you so much.

Draco blinked back tears and leaned his forehead against the glass.

"I miss you too." He knew she wouldn't be able to hear him and after a few moments he pulled back. "I'll be back tomorrow." After a moment's pause she looked back into the room and nodded before quickly closing the curtains. Draco found himself back on the path to the gates his mind whirling. She missed him, perhaps she could love him too. Perhaps she missed him because of her love. He shook the thought away. She missed him as a friend. That was all it was.

Hermione sat on the couch as Narcissa came in with Scorpius. The boy had noticed Draco leaving and then told her he would keep Narcissa busy so she could try and talk with him. Draco had looked so sad and it nearly broke Hermione's heart. This was just stupid. She had no idea why Narcissa and Lucius were doing this.

"Are you alright, dear?" Narcissa smiled at her and Hermione bolted to her feet.

"Not exactly." She then left the room in search of her father-in law. He was in the dining room looking over some papers. Glasses perched on the tip of his nose and Hermione crossed her arms over her chest.

"Why?" Her voice cracked on the word and Lucius sighed and took off his glasses.

"It is the proper pureblood procedure for the situation. Usually the parents of the wife will take her away but seeing as yours have passed, Narcissa and I are standing in for them. I wasn't lying when I said this was a punishment. Draco needs to learn what it means to be a proper husband." He put the papers in a neat stack and motioned to the seat next to him. His grey eyes were curiously soft as they followed her around the table and to her seat.

"But we are getting an annulment. He doesn't need to be a proper husband." She fiddled with her fingers.

"I know and even if you two were in love, you would need to still get the annulment to fulfill the Life Debt and the contract." He frowned. "It is a terrible situation, Hermione. I know. I went through this just as you are. I had taken Narcissa for granted. I paid more attention to my work than I had to her. I came home one day and she had been taken away. Her parents had taken her away from me. I was just as angry as Draco had been and I didn't understand why they would take away my wife and her father told me what I have told Draco. When you learn to treat her right you can have her back. She had been kept away from me for three months." Lucius patted her hand and Hermione looked at him carefully.

"How did you manage?" Her voice was quiet as she gauged for his reaction.

"At first I told myself I didn't need her. That I could get along just fine without her but three weeks in and my work wasn't enough of a distraction. She had invaded every one of my thoughts. She was everywhere in the Manor. After four weeks I started invading into the Black household, demanding to see her. Each day I was refused but I wouldn't give up and I kept coming back. For three months I did this until one day I came to the house and told her father that, no matter how long he kept her away from me I would continue to fight for her every single day." He smiled slightly. "She arrived at the Manor later that day. I had to prove to her family that I was worthy of her." Hermione gave a wistful smile.

"It sounds romantic." To her surprise Lucius gave a rusty chuckle. She had gotten used to his rough sounding voice but she had never heard him chuckle before.

"It was painful." He squeezed her hand gently. "Believe me when I say that Narcissa and I are doing this for your benefit. We are doing this because you deserve to be treated right. Now sign these." He let her hand go and pushed a few papers towards her. Hermione picked up a quill and carefully signed them and felt like a burden had literally slid from her shoulders. She frowned.

"What was that?" She looked at Lucius carefully as he blew on the ink and folded the paper.

"That was the Life Debt being fulfilled." He carefully put his oxygen mask on and slid the papers into an envelope. "After the Ministry processes these you will be no longer married. You may do what you will with your life but please be a good girl and visit once and a while." He patted her shoulder again with a small smile. Hermione returned it.

"Alright, Master Malfoy." She went to stand up and he stopped her.

"It is Lucius in private and Master Malfoy in public. And I shall call you Hermione in private and Lady Malfoy in public." He gave a nod and Hermione smiled at him brightly.

"Alright. I shall do that… Lucius." She turned and left the room happier than she had come in.

Draco looked through the papers and signed where he needed too despite him wanting to do nothing more than rip them to shreds. He slipped in the papers he had drawn up. He made sure she would be supported after she left. Draco, for the first time since Scorpius was born, felt tears burn his eyes. He would miss her. He would miss her smile and her laugh. He would miss her humour, her attitude. He would miss her passion for life and even her insecurities. He would miss her blushing and her sparkling chocolate brown eyes and the silky honey brown strands of her hair. Draco buried his face in his hands. When did this become so complicated? When did he fall in love with her? Why in the world did he? Well, actually, the last one was easy to answer. He did because she was perfect for him in every way. How could he have not fallen in love with her?

"My life is so fucked up." He rubbed his eyes trying to get rid of the feeling of the tears.

"You've got that right." At Blaise's voice Draco's head jerked up in surprise. Blaise glared at him. "You are an idiot. Completely and totally. What in the world possessed you to ignore her like that?" Draco blinked slowly.

"Why are you here?" He spoke slowly as if he could form out a reason why Blaise had come back to London. The dark skinned man rolled his eyes.

"Because I honestly want to beat the shit out of you but I will refrain. Come with me, let's get your papers sent to where ever they need to go and then we will go get a drink." Blaise crossed his arms over his chest and Draco thought the offer over.

"You know, that sounds good right about now." He gathered up the papers and slipped them back into the envelope. "Let's head through the floo." Blaise gestured to the fireplace.

"You go through first. By the way you look like shit." He smirked and Draco looked at himself.

"Like I give a shit about how I look right now." He rolled up his sleeves and looked at his friend. Blaise chuckled.

"I guess. Now let's go." He gestured to the fireplace again and Draco stood up before grabbing the envelope. He held it carefully before walking over to the fireplace.

"See you on the other side, Blaise." He smirked at his friend before stepping into the fireplace with a handful of floo powder. "Department of Human Relations and Bindings." He felt himself twisting and turning before landing in the Department. He stepped out of the floo and heard it whoosh up behind him. He headed to the drop off office and the rather board looking person behind the counter glared at him.

"Purpose for being here?" He put his feet on his desk and Draco grimaced.

"I am requesting an annulment from my wife Hermione Jean Granger." He put the envelope on the desk and the man looked at him as if he were stupid.

"An annulment means you can't have had sexual relations for the duration of the marriage and it says you have been married nearly a year. I highly doubt-"

"I'm positive we haven't had any sexual relations. So I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself and file my request." He gave the man a glare that made him lean away.

"Fine. The request will take two weeks to process. Once you have everything signed and ready for processing that is." He glared at him and Draco was about to retort something when another envelope popped onto his desk. He threw another glare and opened it. Draco smirked at him as his face fell slightly. "Your request will be filed immediately, Master Malfoy. We will contact you in two weeks." He stamped both sets of papers and put them in the out file and went back to ignoring him.

"Ready to go, Draco?" Blaise touched his shoulder and in all honesty Draco had forgotten he was there.

"Yah. Where did you have in mind?" Draco stuck his hand in his pockets and looked at his friend.

"The Hog's Head actually. I've heard it is under new management and is quite the bar now." He stepped back into the fireplace and after he disappeared Draco followed quickly.

The bar was dark but well cleaned and Draco followed Blaise to the bar. They both sat down and Blaise ordered two firewhiskey on the rocks and the bartender nodded before mixing the drinks.

"So, how are you feeling about this?" Dark eyes gazed at him and Draco gave him a look.

"I feel how I look." He looked at the bar and Blaise chuckled.

"I guess that makes sense." Their drinks arrived and Draco lifted his glass slightly.

"To my shitty fucking freedom." He sipped at the drink and Blaise slapped him on the back.

"Now why would you say that?" His friend took a drink as well and Draco grimaced before taking a large swallow of the harsh amber liquid.

"Because I love my soon to be ex-wife, that's why." Draco smirked as he friend choked on his drink. After he was done coughing he used a napkin to clean himself up before looking at Draco.

"I can't say I was expecting that." He smiled slightly and Draco shrugged.

"Neither was I. I finally figured it out and now that I have, it is too late. She's already thinking about finding someone else to be with." Draco finished off his drink with a rasping sigh.

"I'm not sure that, that is what she is wanting, Draco." Blaise gave him a look and Draco shook his head.

"She said, and I quote, 'I'll find someone new that I can be with. Draco's great and all but this hasn't been easy on me. He hasn't been easy on me. I just need to sort things out and figure out where I stand.' Yes, that sounds like a complete and total misunderstanding to me." He rolled his eyes and Blaise frowned in concentration.

"That doesn't sound like the Hermione I know." He took another drink and Draco shrugged.

"She said it, not me. She's clearly not happy in the marriage. How does that muggle saying go? If you love something, set it free? Something like that but same basic principle. I love her so I should let her go to be happy. Even if it means without me." He motioned for a refill of his glass and the bartender nodded.

"Where in the world did that come from? The Draco Malfoy I know would take the selfish way. Where did this caring person come from?" Blaise raised an eyebrow and the bartender set Draco's drink on the counter.

"I honestly don't know. All I know is I would do anything to make sure she is happy." He took a rather large swallow of the firewhiskey and Blaise sighed.

"I would do the same for Luna in all honesty. She is the love of my life. I don't know much about unrequited love but I hear it sucks." He slapped Draco on the back. "I feel sorry for you in all honesty."

"It does suck. Hence my appearance. I feel like shit, I look like shit. I don't think I've been to the office in two weeks. I've been at the Manor working and invading my mother's villa trying to see my wife. As you can see, it has worked oh so well." He looked into his glass and swirled the ice and firewhiskey around.

"I can't help you there. All I know is that this is proper pureblood procedure with some families. It is usually the wife's parents that take her away but if the wife has lost her parent's, then the husband's parents take the responsibility in hand. It was too ensure there would be no divorce in arranged marriages. Apparently this rather strange practice worked well and 95% of the people it was used on had healthy relationships. My parents are one of them." Blaise nudged him with his shoulder. "Its no hard feelings on your part. They are doing this to teach you a lesson. It will strengthen your relationship with Hermione." Draco snorted into his glass.

"What relationship? All we have is an unraveling fake marriage. I doubt we can even be called friends." He drank the rest of the amber liquid without a sound and Blaise looked at him.

"It looked pretty real to me. You guys looked happy." He finally finished off his drink and he ordered another round.

"We weren't happy. We were forced into a marriage because of something ridiculous." Draco ruffled his hair with a scowl.

"I didn't realize that helping keep Scorpius was ridiculous." Blaise smirked at him and Draco punched his arm.

"You know what I mean." The bartender put down their drinks and Draco quickly took a drink from his.

"You should slow down. You are throwing those back like a pro." Blaise's eyes narrowed and Draco smirked.

"What do you think has kept me sane through this farce? Alcohol is a great numbing agent." He swallowed the rest of his drink in one go and set the glass tumbler on the table. "I was under the impression we were to come here to get drunk like old times. Or was I mistaken?" It was a clear challenge and Blaise gave him a small salute with his glass and then downed the contents.

"And so it begins." Draco waved the bartender down and ordered another round.

Isn't their torment so sad? Angst angst angst! I'm terrible I know.