A/N so after reading the comments made in regards to more possible flashbacks to Fred and Hermione I have rewritten my outline. Somewhere along the line I had pretty much abandoned the original anyways. Originally 'Learning to let go ' was supposed to be Fred and Hermione's story as told to Draco by Hermione and him telling her his and Astoria's as well. Obviously that hasn't happened. There will still be the occasional flashbacks because they help show how far they each have come. I might do some as stand alone one shots because I really liked the idea behind them but they aren't necessary to our Dramione.
Thank you for all the reviews, favorites and follows, they mean so much to me! Keep 'em coming.
"I'm telling you its not going to help the way you think it will." Malfoy says the following Tuesday. Granger was being exasperating, almost as bad as their Hogwarts days. They were having what should have been a polite conversation about a new law she was pushing to get passed by the Wizengamot. However she would not listen to his voice of reason. "Just because it makes discrimination against werewolves illegal isn't going to stop the discrimination. Employers will just get creative. Instead of firing them for missing to much time during the full moon they will find other reasons. And by having them be honest about their condition to the employers, it will just open the door to the discrimination."
"Thats the beauty of this law, all they have to say is they are out for medical reasons and they can't be fired. They don't have to tell the employer that its because they are a werewolf."
She obviously wasn't getting the point he was trying to make and he was getting frustrated, "Any one with a brain will notice within the first 3 months that they only get sick at the full moon. Then the employer will find a reason to get rid of them."
"But they can't just fire them because they're a werewolf."
"So the employer will find a reason. Most places now have a 90 day period where they can fire for ANY reason. The employer figures it out before that 90 days is up and all they have to do is say they aren't compatible and poof they are done."
"I know you think I'm being stubborn and not listening to reason but I am. I know this law isn't perfect, there will be ways to get around it just like you pointed out. This is just meant to be a first step. It overturns a lot of the awful laws Umbitch " malfoy interrupts her "Did you just cuss? I never thought I'd see the day." He shakes his head as she gives him a side eye glare.
"It happens, just shows you how much I hate that awful bitch. This law will undo a lot of what she passed and allow us to push through other more effective laws to protect them and grant them rights."
"You really are passionate about werewolves rights." He had brought up all of this to make a point but he was waiting for the right moment.
"Of course I am! Did you know people treat Bill differently since his attack? He's not even a full werewolf. He literally just likes his meat rare and has heightened senses. He dosen't transform, he can't infect anyone and yet at least once a year he gets someone at Gringotts that refuses to work with him even though he is one of the best curse breakers they have. And even you can't deny Remus Lupin was the best DADA professor we ever had. His status as a werewolf should not have mattered."
"So we have established that the passion is there, here is my next question. Why aren't you running the department yet? Why are you still some low level bill writer when you should be the one standing in front of the Wizengamot getting it passed?" Finally he was asking a question he'd had since the first night they met.
Hermione looked to be considering her answer when she surprised him by saying, "you been just dieing to ask me that haven't you?" The guilty look he gave her reminded her of a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Truthfully, its part of the reason I even walked up to you that first night. After the war I expected you to become this huge name in the Ministry. Potter and the Weasel became hotshot Arours and you would be the champion of the underdog, bringing the bigoted, prejudiced Ministry to its knees and rebuilding it. Not just because you were a war hero but because of the whole 'brightest witch of our age' persona . The annoying Granger I remembered from Hogwarts wouldn't rest until everyone was treated equally. Now of course I have more information and understand why you didn't do it right away but why not now? I thought you would be the one to change the magical world and yet your still writing laws. You should be head of the department and on the way to Minister for Magic. Why?"
"After the war I was so broken I couldn't function. Ron was honestly afraid to leave me alone. Anytime they would go on a mission Ginny would come stay with me. Once she joined the Harpies and started traveling our friends would take turns coming to stay with me. I finally joined the Ministry because I needed something to do but my heart wasn't in it. Kingsley owls me every 6 months or so to see if I want to move up but im comfortable where I'm at."
"You might be comfortable but you can't tell me your happy. You won't be happy until you know your doing all you can to make the world a better place." Malfoy said with such convection it made Hermione stop and think. What really was her reason for holding back?
"Night daddy, I love you!" Bryony called as she walked back to her room with her mother. That little girl was Ron's whole world, he would do anything for her. He never thought of her as a step daughter, she was his and always would be. He was remembering the way he felt the first time he ever held her but he knew he needed to focus.
Hermione walked back into the room a few minutes later and sat down in her favorite spot on the sofa. Ron was trying to stay calm and cool, he had something to talk to Hermione about and tonight was the night. He just really hoped it was the right time. He knew everything was about to change and he was ready, he just hoped she was as well.
"Ok Ronald, whats going on?" Hermione asked him after a minute.
"What do you mean?" Ron asked on the defensive right away.
"I have known you for almost 15 years, living with for for most of them, I know when somethings bothering you. Just spill it already."
Ron got up and went to the small bar at the side wall. He poured himself a small measure of Firewhiskey then poured a second one for Hermione. As he handed it to her he took a sip of his own then sat down on the coffee able in front of her.
"Now your worrying me, whats going on?" She asked as she took a sip of her own drink. Neither really drank, usually only on special occasions so the fact he poured them both one worried her more than anything else he could have done.
"I dont mean to worry you, I'm just unsure how to start this conversation..."
At the look on his face and the sound of his voice all of a sudden something clicked and she knew the one thing that would cause him so much stress. "Its time isn't it? Your ready for the divorce arent you? "
He had dropped his head but as soon as she said the word divorce his head shot up to look at her. He was trying to gage her reaction efore he confirmed but she gave nothing away. If he didn't know better he would have thought she was using occlumacy her face was so blank.
For a few minutes they just stared at each other waiting to see if the other would speak first.
"Yes." She said it so soft he wasnt sure if he heard it or just read her lips.
"Hermione, please don't just say yes. I need to know we are ready for this."
"We always knew this day would come. The agreement was that if one of us said it was time then it was time." She paused then smiled as she grabbed his hand, "your in love with Katie arent you?"
"I am. She has been amazing through all of this. Anyone else would have taken one look at our situation and run the other way. But"
"But its not fair to ask her to keep this up. I understand completely. And I want you to be happy. If she makes you happy then you need to do whatever it takes to be with her. Honestly I figured this was coming for some time now. Once we divorce you can openly date, I'll be fine I promise."
"Let's give it a few days before we decide anything. I want you to be 100%. "
"If you say so." Hermione shrugs, "But I'm not going to change my mind. Its time."
Saturday nights were always fun. Molly Weasley wanted time alone with all her grandchildren and had a standing offer to keep the kids Saturday nights. It was quite brilliant on her part, she gets the kids to herself and then the parents have to pick them up Sunday ensuring they are present for Sunday brunch. So far it was just Bryony and Bill's daughters but Molly already told George and Angelina and Ginny and Harry that the offer was extended to them when the time comes.
So Saturday night had become date night. Ron and Hermione would join Harry and Ginny and sometimes George and Angelina as well and they would go out dancing or something. Since Angelina was due any day they didn't join this week. Instead of going out they met at Ginny and Harry's place and had a fun game night in.
Hermione and Ron had just creamed Harry and Ginny at wizards Battleship (same theory as muggle Battleship but the ships have little charmed men who taunt the opposing team and scream when their ship goes down) for the second time in a row when Hermione looks at Ron and says, "its time. Do we want to go ahead and tell them?"
Ron stutters, "What right now?" She nods, "ok fine, you get the honor then." And he leans back on the sofa they were sharing.
"Tell us what?" Ginny asks as she puts the game away with a bit more force than necessary. Her competitive nature dosen't take loss well.
"We are getting a divorce. " Hermione says simply and waits for the reaction that was sure to come.
Both looked blankly at them then each other finally Harry says, "Well let us know what we can do to help. You know we will always be here for you guys."
"Thats it, no blow up , nothing?" Ron says in disbelief.
"You will get that from the Burrow, you don't need that from us. You always said it was the plan. If you say you are ready for this step its not up to us to be anything less than supportive. Whatever you need just let us know." Harry said.
"When?" Was all Ginny asked. Hermione was actually surprised she was taking this so well.
"I don't see a reason to draw this out so as soon as possible. We do have a few things to figure out first but as soon as its all taken care of." Hermione answered before Ron could try and say they needed to take this slow. Now that the decision was made she just wanted it done. She knew she would miss having Ron in the same house but also knew realistically this would be best for both of them.
"Once we work out a schedule for Bryony the only real obstacle will be me finding a place to rent. I will start looking first thing Monday morning. "
A hour or so later Ron excused himself to go home (or so he said but they knew better, he was going to Katies) and Ginny went to bed leaving Harry and Hermione to talk. Both being only children and basically orphans they had grown to think of each other as brother/sister rather than just friends over the years. Now they sat together on the sofa watching the flames dance in the fireplace.
"Thank you." Hermione said quietly finally looking away from the flames.
"For?"
"For understanding, for supporting us, for just being you. For everything really."
"Are you ok?"
"I'm going to be. Everything is going to change. I feel like everything up until this point was just biding time. I will always be so very thankful to Ron for everything he's done for us. He put his life on hold to give me the opportunity to heal. Now I can take on the world. And so can he."
-‐-
"Well, that could've gone better." Ron said as they walked out of the floo into their house after Sunday brunch at the Burrow. Upon announcing their decision to divorce the entire table erupted at once with questions. All except Molly that is. She waited til later to have her say and made her disapproval very clear. Somehow after all these years she still thought they should be a real couple. It wasn't until Ron admitted he was in love with someone else and Hermione said she was talking to someone that Molly finally gave up. She then spent 30 minutes lecturing them on the sanctity of marriage before Arthur reminded her that they had an open marriage and it wasn't her place to say anything against it.
"Honestly it went about as I expected. Though it was great of George to offer you the flat above the store. That's going to make this go much faster than I anticipated. We can do it this week even. When would work for you?" Hermione asks as she puts Bryony in bed. They had stayed much later than usual and she had fallen asleep over a hour ago.
"Wednesday? I can take Monday and Tuesday off and clean the flat up and get to moving in. Then we can make an appointment for the signing of the paperwork and have the unbinding ceremony done."
"Wednesday it is."
"So, Draco Malfoy eh? Seriously?" Ron asks as they go back into the living room. Once Molly finally calmed down George asked who Hermione was talking to. With a little reluctance on her part she finally admitted who. She told them how they met and a little about their conversations. In the end George put it best. He said, "he isn't my favorite person and he isn't who I would have pictured you with but I trust you. If you say he has changed for the better then I believe you."
"Same. But I'm still calling him ferret." Ron added.
"He still calls you Weasel so I guess thats fair. But seriously guys it isn't anything right now. We really are just talking." She replied. She was ever so thankful when Ginny came to her rescue and changed the subject.
"Hey, you dated Vane, you haven't room to judge!" Hermione said throwing a pillow from off the sofa at him. She knew she was going to miss just joking around with him at night like this but she knew divorce papers won't change their true relationship. It all started with a troll on Halloween but between that and taking down the darkest wizard of their time and everything in-between, nothing could change the love they had for each other. They would always be best friends.