Dark 'n Stormy

Previous dislaimers apply. Anything you recognise, sadly, I do not own

Feeling miserable, tired, and lonely, Hermione got up from her desk and began pacing, desperately trying to pull herself together again. She fought back the tears that began to form behind her eyes once again. It was about two o'clock in the afternoon and business at the Ministry of Magic was at an extraordinary dull halt.

Thoughts and memories drifting through her head, Hermione struggled to think clearly. She had to figure out what she was going to do.

Firstly, she had to get her stuff together and go to her new home. But being in the house she had shared with Ron for the past six years
would bring back painful memories.

Scattered around the one-story, modern home were countless photos of the couple with smiling faces. Times before they had started fighting, times when they had loved each other.
There were also photos of the three of them, carefree and enjoying themselves, from when they were still at Hogwarts.
Just the three of them: Ron, Harry and Hermione. Hermione let out a muffled sob.
Just the three of them.
She really needed to get out of her office into fresh air.


Bonnie was always frightened whenever he entered the room. It was almost as if he brought a cold chill with him everywhere he went. The man who belonged in shadows gazed at her with piercing gray eyes seeing straight through her very soul.

"Mr. Malfoy," she managed to say without shaking, her movements becoming flustered.

"Bonnie, where is Ms. Granger?" he questioned, as if interrogating her.
What did he want with Hermione? She thought curiously.
Draco Malfoy was known for solitude. If he had a wife and family, you would never know because he never spoke of them. At least not during work.

"Ah, umm…" she stuttered, losing her confidence. All the while Malfoy loomed over her, a menacing look in his gray eyes.
"She left about an hour ago. Went home, I think, to pack." With raised brows, the blonde devil left the room, his black robes swirling after him.


Hermione stumbled blindly around her house, ignoring the objects that used to comfort her. They said that home was where the heart is but now it seemed her heart no longer lived here.

The place, which was painted in whites, baby blues and soft lilacs, used to give off a light and carefree tone but as Hermione walked to her bedroom, they taunted and mocked her now.

Padding quietly onto soft, white carpet she pulled out suitcases and bags, magically packing all her things into them with a swish of her wand. Everything around the room flew and packed itself neatly into the bags, ready to be packed away into Hermione's yellow Mini Cooper.

Checking to see that she had packed everything that belonged to her, she peeked into the wardrobe to find a flat box at the very top shelf. Standing on tiptoes, she reached for the box and pulled it down. She sat on the bed, and as she opened it, she felt the tears burning again. In a mix of white lace and silk, Hermione uncovered her wedding dress. She looked at it for ages deciding what to do with it. Maybe she could wear it just once more. Who was going to care?

She stood staring at her reflection in the mirror surprised that the dress still hugged her figure perfectly. It was plain and simple; figure hugging down to her waist, flowing out in masses of silk just past her hips. Spinning around, Hermione felt like a princess. She whirled and twirled around the room, falling dizzily onto the bed.

It was then that she heard a knock at the door.

"Crap," she swore quietly to herself, knowing that there was no time for her to change. Looking around room for something to put over the top of the dress, she heard the knock again. Sighing, she ran to the front door.

"Coming!" she called. When she reached the door, she hesitated for a moment before opening it. When she did, she was shocked to see the person standing in front of her.

"Planning another wedding Hermione?" The voice mocked her, his gray eyes clearly amused.

"Hello to you too Draco," she muttered while turning around and walking to the kitchen. Draco followed her, a twisted smile on his face. She quickly made him a cup of coffee before excusing herself to get changed. When she walked back into the kitchen again, Draco was gone.

"Draco?" She called but to avail. Where had he gone? She poured herself a mug of coffee and sat, curled up, on the sofa.

"Hey," Draco murmured, sitting next to her. When she threw him a questioning glare, he told her he had gone to the bathroom.
"Are you okay Hermione?"
He took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. Draco was her right-hand man. He basically snooped around and reported feed back to her, advising her on any decisions that she was to make for the Ministry. Since the defeat of Voldemort and the death of his father, it seemed Draco had grown up and the seven years that they had worked together and had made them good friends.

She was one of the few that had an insight on his personal life. She knew that he was married to a beautiful muggle woman, Celicia, who was due to give birth to their first child any time now.

Hermione felt proud knowing that she had been there when Draco and Celicia had first met.

A mutual friend of Hermione and Draco's invited them to a New Year's party seven years ago. It just so happened that Celicia worked for their friend and was invited as well. Hermione smiled as she remembered Draco's face when he spotted the dark-haired woman.
It was love at first sight.

"Hermione… Hello?" Draco loudly interrupted her thoughts.

"Huh… Oh…Yeah, I'm fine," she muttered unconvincingly.
"Look I don't mean to be rude Draco, but I really want to get going before Ron gets home," she said softly. Draco nodded understandingly and hugged her tightly.

"I'll see you on Monday then." It was more of a statement than a question and Hermione knew that he expected to see her at work. Or else.

After Draco left, Hermione lugged her bags to the front of the house and stuffed them into the small boot of her car. With much irritated muttering, she enchanted the boot so the dozen or so bags were able to fit, and then drove off to her apartment.


Harry watched from the balcony of his apartment, gazing at the small dot that was Hermione, as she made her way towards the building. He frowned, knowing that Hermione rarely visited the building. Even more unusual was the fact that she trailed behind her a dozen, heavy looking suitcases. Downing the rest of his wine, he went back inside and listened as he heard someone walking through the hallway outside and entering the apartment next door. Something bad had happened between Ron and Hermione. Something really bad.

Filling a decanter with Dark and Stormy, he walked back out onto his balcony and jumped the divider that separated his balcony from Hermione's. Just as he expected, she stood outside gazing at the moon, tears trailing down her cheeks. He held the glass out to her and she took it gratefully, swallowing the alcohol in one gulp. Placing the glass on a table behind her, she faced Harry and flew into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.