Disclaimer: I own nothing, and nothing owns me.

A/N: This chapter is longer to make up for the shortness of the previous one.

Hermione cried when no one watched, and slumped back into her old life, the life she hated before she met Lucius and the life she now abhorred with all her being after losing him. With every breath she took she hated it even more. There was no longer someone there to root her to the ground, to make her feel like life was worth living. Her only compensation was her friends' happiness.

Every few weeks she would still find herself in the middle of the dance floor, hoping against all odds she would feel those strong arms embrace her again, those warm lips press against hers and his body mold in with hers. But it never happened. No amount of wishing would make him show up.

On the occassion she would have to fend off some overzealous boy that assumed she wanted to dance with him, but most of the time her night went on without event.

And every night she would go home and dream of him. She would dream he was with her, whispering to her, caressing her, making love to her. She would always wake up in a cold sweat and not be able to sleep for the rest of the night.

It took Hermione four years to find something else in the world that would make her happy, make her take her mind off Lucius. That small salvation was in the form of a baby girl, Harry and Ginny's first child.

Lily Ann Potter was her name and she was a blessing. Hermione would spend her evenings with Ginny, helping out any way she could. When Ginny was finally to get out and about Hermione was the first one to volunteer for babysitting duty. Although a lot of the time Lily was taken to Molly and Arthur's, Hermione got the child at least once a week.

Hermione clung to Lily like her own child. The little girl grew up so fast, walking just before her first birthday and learning to call Hermione 'Hermy'.

Lily had begun staying at Hermione's house so much since Ginny got pregnant again that Hermione had her study changed into a room just for the little angel.

And tonight Hermione was pleasantly surprised when Harry and a very hyper Lily apparated into her living room. Harry set the girl down and watched as she ran over to hug Hermione's leg, almost knocking her to the ground. Hermione bent down and picked her up, swinging her around in a circle before setting Lily on her hip.

"How's Ginny?" Hemione asked.

Harry ran his fingers through his hair and grinned. "She hates me."

Hermione laughed. "She'll be fine soon."

"I hope so, I was instructed to bring you to the hospital now."

"Now?"

"Now."

Lucius squinted his eyes in protest as they saw the sunlight for the first time in almost 6 years. He walked up to his doorstep, sighing deeply before his house elf opened the door for him. Without a word he walked up the stairs and into his bedrrom that looked like he had just left it this morning.

He fell onto the bed, closing his eyes as he let the silk sheets caress his skin. Skin that had felt nothing that soft since the day he was taken to Azkaban. Oh the Ministry would be paying him back for that even after he was dead and resting in the ground.

The evidence that had been brought before the Wizengamot had been planted by a young and upcoming Auror, hoping to make a name for himself. And under the truth potion, he was sent to Azkaban in Lucius' place.

He sat up in bed, walking over to his bureau to pull out a fresh set of clothes and to take a shower before he visited the only person that would rejoice in his new found freedom-Hermione.

Lucius apparated to Hermione's apartment, straight into her bedroom. He stood there for a moment, his eyes closing to revel in the memories that flashed through his mind. Quietly he made his way toward her living room. As he opened the door to her bedroom he stopped. There were voices, one of them being the distinct sound of a child screaming in delight.

He looked out the door and the floor felt like it was falling out from underneath his feet. There was Hermione, beautiful as ever, dancing and spinning across the living room floor with a little girl. He looked at the child, her black hair falling down her back and her bright green eyes lit up with happiness.

Lucius slipped back into the shadows as he saw none other than Harry Potter walk out of the kitchen. He watched with narrowed eyes as Harry reached to take the child from Hermione. This was obviously a bad idea as the laughter turned into cries.

"Don't you want to go to Daddy?" Hermione asked the crying girl. Lucius let her words sink into his skin, loving the sound and hating the words.

"No!" came the cry of the girl.

Hermione laughed, sending a tremor through Lucuis' body. "Ok sweetie, I'll carry you."

With that, Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist and held his daughter's hand as they apparated out of the apartment.

Lucius sank back against the wall, not believing what he'd just seen. The only thing he had asked of Hermione had fallen to pieces. She was his and she was now the wife of Harry Potter and the mother of his daughter. He felt his breath come out in shallow pants, the rage in his veins trying to take over.

She was HIS! Nothing hurt more than to see her happy in the arms of another man. And it was only worse that it was the one person that hated him more than anyone else-Harry Potter.

With a sudden burst of anger, he walked out of her bedroom and into her study to floo home like he had always done. He remembered, with a sneer, he would always floo to avoid waking her up by apparating.

Lucius stopped in his tracks when he saw her study turned into a bedroom for her daughter. Bitter tears stung his eyes as he pictured this room belonging to his daughter that he could give Hermione. Mentally berating himself for being so foolish as to believe she would have honored her promise he moved behind the dresser that was hiding the fireplace and floo'd to his cold and empty house.

Hermione had taken the day off, the first day off in her career. She was exhausted as she fell onto her bed around dawn. Ginny had been in labor until 3 in the morning. And since Harry was the cause of it, everyone thought it safest if he kept his distance. So Hermione and Molly stayed by her side the entire time. Hermione hadn't been able to feel three fingers on her hand for at least 2 hours after.

Ginny had given birth to Harry's son. The first son, as Harry called him. The string of curses that flew out of Ginny's mouth indicated it would be the only son if he tried to touch her again.

She didn't even bother to undress as she fell unceremoniously onto her couch and closed her eyes to sleep. Her dream was of Lucius, like it always was on Fridays. And it left her feeling empty inside.

Hermione woke up at almost 6 that evening. She rubbed her eyes, not believing she had actually slept that long. She half rolled off the couch, her muscles groaning in protest. She stretched out before heading into the bathroom for a shower.

After her shower she made a fast dinner and picked at it for a full 45 minutes before she realized she really wasn't that hungry. She stared off into space, spinning her fork absentmindedly on her tablecloth.

It wasn't until her clock chimed 8 that she realized she'd been lost in thought. Her fork dropped from her fingers as she stood up, a longing to visit memories overtaking her.

Slipping on a pair of jeans and the off the shoulder shirt Lucius had loved so much, she apparated to the Leaky Cauldron and walked the short distance to the familiar alley and stairs, and the friendly glow of 'Lost' written on a nondescript door.

It was time to drown herself in memories, she thought to herself. And a lot of alcohol.

Author Babble:

DRAMA!