I'm not feeling the greatest and I actually contemplated not uploading a chapter tonight because I want to sleep.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Enjoy!

Chapter 37

Hermione had sent Scorpius off to bed after a rather interesting day. Lucius had gotten to meet his grandson and surprisingly he was very kind to the boy despite his constant need for reassurance. Actually afterwards Lucius had stated, 'Considering the circumstances, he is doing quite well for himself.' She rolled onto her side and stared into the darkness. This was difficult. Lucius said he had sent the papers in and that they would be contacted in two weeks for the notice of separation. It hurt, of course it did, she was forced to give up her marriage to the man she loved. It was a painful thing to do, anyone in her position would agree. She tried closing her eyes but was assaulted by images of grey eyes and a smirking smile. She let out a sigh. She wondered what he was doing. If he was missing her as much as she missed him. She sighed again and fluffed up her pillow a few times.

"This is ridiculous." Hermione rolled over to stare at the ceiling. This was just stupid. She should be exhausted, she should be drop dead tired but she couldn't fall asleep. She was being assaulted by phantom images of her husband. She could hear his voice and feel his lips on hers and it was driving her insane. How was she to endure two more weeks of it? She covered her face with her pillow and screamed in frustration. She slowly removed the pillow from her face and sat up. The moonlight glinted off of the snow on the ground and she got out of bed before pulling on her house robe.

Hermione slowly made her way out to the snow covered garden. The snow burned her bare feet but she ignored it and dusted off the bench to sit down. One seated she looked up at the sky and took in the pin points of lights while her breath fogged in front of her. She felt so insignificant while looking up at the sky. They were just a small bit of carbon in the middle of a giant universe. They were tiny and insignificant in the middle of so much space. She felt prickling on her feet and she pulled out her wand and cast a warming spell on them before crossing her arms and watching the sky once again. Her love for Draco was just one of those things that made her stand out amid all the other specs of carbon floating around out there. Love was a powerful force that could change the tides of war and the way the world worked. It was the only thing on the planet that wasn't as insignificant as it looked.

Hermione looked back at her feet and reapplied the warming charm. Two weeks and she would be gone from Draco's life. She shook her head and rubbed her arms. No need to think about that now. The time would come and they would be separated but that time wasn't there yet.

"This is for the greatest man I know!" Blaise wrapped his arm around his shoulder and leaned most of his weight against him and Draco snorted back laughter. "He survived a war, married a skank and came out with an awesome little son. Married his childhood enemy and now loves her. To Draco Malfoy!" He tipped back his beer bottle and Draco followed suit nearly sending them both backwards. People laughed and also threw back drinks. They had run into a few old friends from Hogwarts and all of them decided to start drinking to reminisce about the good ole' time they had in Slytherin.

"Well if it isn't the ferret and his little posse. Feels just like old times." Draco tried to focus on the speaker sitting at the bar. Red hair was all he could make out in his hazy, alcohol fuzzed mind.

"Is that weasel?" Draco stumbled over to the bar finally focusing on the face. "Hey it is Weasel! How are you doing? Cheat on your girlfriend lately?" Draco leaned against the bar and flipped his hair out of his face with a rather nasty smirk.

"She's my wife and no I haven't." The red haired man glared at him and Draco snorted back laughter nearly falling down in the process.

"Oh? Cause I thought you chased anything with two breasts and a pulse. I mean didn't you manage to fuck almost every girl in our year at Hogwarts after the Final Battle? I could have sworn I heard you bragging about it one day." Draco's eyes narrowed. "And you did it all while dating Granger. So I don't see why you wouldn't cheat on your substandard wife when you cheated on that grade A piece of woman I married." Draco snickered and took a drink of his beer. They had given up on the firewhiskey in glasses and just decided to go for bottled beer. That was a few hours ago. Or was it? Draco couldn't quite remember the time they had started on the bottles. Actually he couldn't remember much at all. He liked the feeling.

"As I recall, Granger was never 'Grade A', subpar at best. She was cold and a bitch, plus she had all these nasty scars. She just isn't attractive." He smirked as if in triumph and Draco shrugged.

"I guess its not your fault you were born stupid. We all have scars from the war, Weasel. Those who don't are cowards. It shows they never did anything for anyone, just like your wife." He hissed the words at the now red faced Ronald before smirking. "The way I see it, Granger's scars are the perfect map for me to travel all over that pert little body of hers."

"You take that back, Malfoy!" He had jumped from his seat at the bar and Draco leaned back further, putting his elbows on the bar top.

"Why should I? It's the truth." He sniggered and Blaise stumbled over.

"Draco! Adrian had challenged me to a drink off! Cheer for me!" His friend laughed loudly and Draco joined in.

"Hello? I was going to kick your ass." At the voice Draco looked up.

"You don't have the balls in all honesty. Why are you even here? Its two in the morning, you are married and have kids." He pushed Blaise away and swayed on his feet. He was completely smashed.

"So do you! Or did you decide you needed to escape the overbearing presence of your wife?" The words were nasty, no doubt about it but Draco honestly didn't care what the little cretin said. It was just jealousy on his part. Draco got the girl he had wanted and he was stuck with his fat cow of a wife. Draco thought for a few moments. Five pregnancies hadn't done anything for her figure, she was a shapeless blob in his opinion. Not like the hourglass of a trophy wife Draco had landed. He had no idea why he hadn't wanted her sooner, Hermione was a real looker. Gorgeous long legs, perfectly flaring hips, nice trim waist, and a bust that would make a priest recant his vows. Where was he? Oh, yah, Weasel was jealous.

"Ah ha! There it is. The jealousy. You are jealous that after all these years she picked me over you. I don't blame her. Look at you. You're a mess. You never deserved her." Draco nearly fell over as he tried to sit on one of the barstools.

"Jealous of you? I'm not jealous of you! If anything you are jealous of me!" At the words Draco smiled maliciously.

"No, I had Lavender once. She was a complete let down to tell you the truth, laid there and took it like a dead fish. It was a very big turn off. I prefer my woman with fire and passion. Like that little wife of mine." He gave a low whistle. "When she gets angry, it takes quite a bit of self-control for me not to haul her off to the nearest bedroom. She embodies passion and fire." Apparently he was quite blunt when he was drunk. Honesty was double edged sword that Draco managed to wield expertly when drunk. Weasley shook his finger in his face.

"You are lying! Lavender would never sleep with you!" His face was a wonderful shade of red and Draco rather liked the game. Weasley baiting was a rather fun drinking game. He sniggered before he took another drink of his beer.

"She did. She slept with anyone back then. Come on, you honestly didn't think you were the only cheater did you? She cheated on you loads of times while at Hogwarts. I do believe Blaise had a go at her, so did Adrian. Goyle and Crabbe I believe tag-teamed her. Marcus Flint quite a few times, Nott, MacNair. The entire Ravenclaw Quidditch teams, both men and women. Shall I go on?" Draco didn't have any time to duck as Weasley punched him square in the face. He went flying backwards and sobered up slightly. He got to his feet with the help of Blaise who stumbled back after Draco was to his feet. "That wasn't very nice." Draco retaliated rather quickly and pulled back his fist before knocking Weasley over with a single punch.

"Come on, Weasel. Get up. I've been waiting to do this for a long time." Draco pushed up his sleeves slightly and Blaise stumbled forward.

"Fight!" He leaned against Draco who nearly tumbled over. He looked at the bartender.

"Do you happen to have a sober-up potion?" He watched as the bartender smirked and set a small vial on the bar that Draco took with a nod. "Thank you." He popped the top and downed the contents. It was bitter tasting and Draco made a face but it sobered him up quickly. Weasley scurried to his feet and turned to him.

"Now that was twice I managed to knock you down. Want to go for three?" He rolled his shoulders.

"Take this outside if you are going to be fighting. I don't want you scaring the customers." The bartender looked at them both and Draco nodded in agreement. He gave a pointed look at Weasley who scowled before heading out the door. Blaise stumbled after him followed by the group of childhood friends. Draco took the back and realized it was freezing out. His breath fogged up in front of him.

"I've watched you treat her like shit throughout our time at Hogwarts and even though I hated her, I knew she didn't deserve the treatment you bestowed upon her." Draco stretched his arms out and Weasley sneered at him.

"She was never good enough. She always had her face in a book, always took more care with her essays than her appearance. I couldn't handle being near her when she looked like shit and believe me, even now, she still looks like shit." His blue eyes were angry and Draco smugly noted the bruising starting on his cheek.

"Well then, you are obviously blind. My ex-wife Astoria can't even hold a candle to Hermione. You haven't seen her at her best, Weasel. Let's just say that when she flashes those long legs of hers, a man isn't thinking about product reviews or eating." He smirked. "You don't know the Hermione I know. You know the school girl, I know the woman. The incredibly sexy woman that has skin like satin and hair like silk. You can deny it all you want, Weasel. We all know you would give everything to be in my shoes." He was goading him to retaliate and Draco looked at him with lazy eyes. Apparently it was working because his face had gone bright red. Blaise snickered and pushed at Draco.

"Stop bragging about your wife. We all know she is a fine piece of witch and although we like the imagery, we would like to see some action. Fight already." The words were slurred and Draco chuckled.

"I'm just showing Weasley that he lost the woman he loved to me, Draco Malfoy. It has to burn." Draco stepped to the side quickly as Weasley jumped at him. He threw a punch that slammed into his stomach and the red head doubled over coughing and retching. "Hurts doesn't it? To know you can never have her because I took her away." He smiled as Weasley tried his best to launch himself at him again. Draco chuckled.

"You are drunk, Weasel. I took a sober-up potion so I have an advantage." He watched as Weasley stood up and he gave a vicious grin before backhanding him. Weasley stumbled backwards and Draco repeated the gesture. This wasn't a fight for Draco, this was a chance to humiliate the man. "Just think about all you have lost. She was a friend, an ally, perfect wife material and you threw her away only to realize after you got married that she was the best you ever had." He backhanded him again and Weasley tripped backwards and landed in the snow.

"Now she is all of those things to me. Believe me when I say I won't give her up easy, especially if you think you have a chance. I'm not going to make the mistake you did. I'm not going to just throw her away." He stopped advancing and glared down at the red faced Weasley. "She's not anyone's trash. In fact she is throwing me away. Two weeks our marriage ends and she will be walking away from me as if we were never married but believe me when I say, if you try and pursue her, I will find you and will finish what I started here. Think of this as your first and only warning, Weasley."

"Wow… that was quite the humiliation. That reminds me why I don't get on your bad side." Blaise looked at them with wide eyes. "Careful humiliation executed in calculated precision in front of all his enemies." Draco smirked.

"Nothing less for the trash one finds in a bar." He turned his back on the red head and headed back into the bar. "Come on Blaise. I need to get my buzz back."

Christmas Eve

"You're telling me I can't see him for Christmas?" Hermione looked at Narcissa with horror. "We are still a family despite the separation!" Narcissa sighed in irritation.

"I never said that. I said you will not be able to touch him. No hugs, no chaste kisses. You will be in the same room for Scorpius's sake but other than that, nothing else is allowed." Her blue eyes were irritated and Hermione scowled at her.

"This is torture! What kind of people are you?" She stuck out her bottom lip and crossed her arms over her chest. Narcissa put her hands on her hips, shaking her finger at Hermione.

"There will be none of that, young lady! No pouting, you are thirty three years old, start acting like it." Narcissa looked down at her with a stern glare and Hermione felt like she was eight years old and was caught eating cookies before supper.

"Then stop treating me like a child." She resisted the urge to stomp her foot on the ground. Narcissa glare softened and smoothed down Hermione's hair.

"We are only doing this because we love you, Hermione. You are in all sense of the word my daughter. I just want you to be treated right and if Draco is anything like Lucius we must keep you apart till we receive the notice of annulment." She smiled at Hermione's puzzled look.

"Why?" Her brown eyes were confused and she watched as Narcissa smirked slightly.

"Because I'm pretty sure the night after I returned was when Draco was conceived." Her eyebrow rose and Hermione's eyes went wide and she felt her face burn in embarrassment.

"Oh. Ohhhkayyy. I didn't need to hear that." She covered her face in her hands and Narcissa laughed. It was a tinkling sound that hadn't been heard often.

"You asked besides we are both adults, sex is just sex, Hermione. It would be foolish to think Lucius and I have never had sex or that we don't have sex." She gave a full smirk and Hermione shook her head with a groan.

"I don't think I can ever look at you or Lucius ever again." She groaned again and Narcissa patted her shoulder.

"Sex is an enjoyable experience, Hermione. There is no need to be embarrassed." She chuckled and Hermione grimaced as she looked at her.

"This is so awkward. Please, please, please just change the subject!" She knew she was practically begging and Narcissa nodded.

"Alright. I won't talk about sex right now. Now let's get supper planned for tomorrow." Narcissa walked out of the room and Hermione sighed but followed her out of the room.

Christmas Day

Draco looked at the villa with a grimace. He had been informed by his mother that he was invited to the villa for Christmas but there was a catch. He wasn't allowed to touch Hermione. She wasn't allowed to touch him either and he scowled. In just under a week she would be leaving his life for good and he wasn't even allowed to touch her. He still came by every day, it seemed like it was the only thing he did during the day sometimes. He stuck his hands in his coat pockets feeling the miniature presents he had stuck in there before he left and walked towards the villa with a scowl firmly etched on his face. This was worse than them not allowing him to see her. He was allowed to see her just not touch her. That was cruel and unusual torture in his opinion.

The door opened and his mother smiled at him brightly. She stepped back and Draco shuffled inside.

"Hello, dear. We are in the parlour opening gifts. Scorpius is quite happy that you agreed to be here for Christmas morning." The smile hadn't left her face and Draco scowled at her.

"I'll have you know this is cruel and unusual punishment." His silver eyes narrowed as she rolled her eyes.

"You both whine too much. Can't you just enjoy the fact that you are allowed to talk to her?" She placed her hands on her hips and Draco grimaced.

"Talking isn't enough. I want to give my wife one hug for Christmas and you guys are acting like eighteenth century prudish purebloods." He winced as she smacked the back of his head.

"I will not have you insulting your father or I." She pushed him towards the parlour door. "Your son would like to see you." Draco opened the door slowly. His first look landed on Scorpius who was helping Lucius Malfoy figure out how to use a strange cuff like object. His gaze then slid to Hermione who was sitting on the couch looking pale. Her head turned quickly to look at him and a radiant smile lit up her face. Draco felt the breath leave his body at it.

"Draco, it is good to see that you made it. I would get up to give you a hug but Narcissa saw fit to rectify that and spelled me to the couch." Her face fell into a scowl as she looked at her mother-in-law, who pretended to be innocent.

"Draco, please sit on the chair over there." She grabbed his hand and pulled him across the room before shoving him into the chair where he felt a spell attach to him.

"This is unacceptable, mother." He glared at her and the woman just smirked.

"This is perfectly acceptable. Now, gifts." She walked away and Draco stared at Hermione. She was dressed in lounge pants and a tank top but she never looked more beautiful to him. She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes and he pulled out the gifts he had brought. After enlarging them he called Scorpius over to give him his present. The boy smiled brightly and took it with a large smile.

"Thank you, dad." He opened it and laughed in joy. Draco had given him the book he had been asking for since last Christmas. It was a rare book about magical animals and it had taken Draco quite a bit of time and patience to find it. "I love it, dad! I can't believe you actually found it." He hugged the book to his chest and Draco smiled at him.

"It took a bit but I figured it was for you so I would try my best." He smirked and Scorpius walked over and gave him a hug. Draco hugged him back, closing his eyes. "I need you to give this to, Hermione." He slipped the little present into Scorpius's hands and the boy nodded before hurrying over to the curly haired witch. Draco's eyes were glued on her face as she opened the present. Her face went soft and a smile danced on her lips. She looked at him with a smile.

"The Human Mind: How it processes thoughts, emotions, and memories. This is an old book that I have been wanting to read. Thank you." Her voice was soft and Draco nodded. Narcissa returned with presents levitating around her. She quickly dispersed them to the rightful people with a large smile. Draco frowned. She was happy that her 'family' was together. Lucius was watching her with his oxygen mask on his face and Draco found he could barely look at him. He was still the man who handed him over to Voldemort. He had betrayed him and had ruled Draco's life with an iron wand. He shook the thoughts away. This was a time for his family, not for his memories. Several presents landed in his lap and Draco quickly moved the gifts he brought to avoid mixing them up. He would enjoy being able to see Hermione, to be able to talk to her despite the no touching allowed rule. He looked at her smiling face and felt his heart twist. Gods he would miss her when she left.

Sorry for all the angsty stuff but it gets better. I'm going to go to bed becuase I feel terrible.