A/N: Thankyou for your reviews for chapter one. As you know it was to basically inform you all of what has been happening in their lives. I know not much focus was on Draco but he will be involved more as the plot for this part develops. Thanks to my bestie Amy for the chapter name. You are the best!
DISCLAIMER: NOT MINE… ONLY THE CHARACTERS NOT MENTIONED IN THE BOOK AND THE PLOT.
Chapter Two: Dangerous Flirtation's
Ginny walked into her mother's kitchen leading James and carrying Rianna in. Molly smiled at her daughter and motioned James to sit down. Ginny handed Rianna and a bag of baby gear to Molly, who also briefly hugged her daughter and whispered a good luck to her. With a wave goodbye to her children Ginny apperated back home.
Ginny sighed and opened her eyes. The kitchen was empty, breakfast plates scattered the table, as well as Rianna's dirty bib. Ginny sighed once more and walked out to the lounge room, and there he stood.
Still half dressed for work and looking worried. When he saw Ginny he rushed over to her and hugged her. But Ginny pushed him away.
"A hug won't fix our problems Harry," spoke Ginny calmly, "These issues stem deeper then I think you realize."
"Right. Well I don't see anything wrong between us," replied Harry truthfully.
Ginny's eyes narrowed and her hands went to her hips. When she took this pose, Harry knew, Ginny was angry.
"That's because you are never home to notice anything wrong, Harry!"
"Maybe the problems are something you are creating in your mind, Ginevra."
Ginny took a deep breath, "If I were happy, Harry, why would I create these things? Would you like me to list them for you?"
"Go ahead. I'd like to see if any of them are truthful."
"Fine then. I'm not happy – I'm sure you can notice that – I have been fired from a job I love, stuck at home trying to tame our son who holds a lot of anger towards you. Rianna hasn't been well, not that you would notice. Did you know she can nearly speak in sentences? Have you actually spoken to our daughter – oh wait. How can you speak to her when you barely speak to me? When was the last time we had a civil conversation, Harry?"
Harry stood stunned, not knowing what to say. It was true, all of it and he bet there was more problems that Ginny hadn't said. He had been so caught up with work and capturing the wizard whom had been harming elderly magic folk that he had forgotten he had a family, a wife who he loved and needed him when she got fired, a son who looked up to a father that never was there, a daughter who was learning new things everyday. He'd literally abandoned them.
Ginny on the other hand took Harry's silence as him not having excuses or real answers. She shook her head as tears filled her brown eyes and turned to storm off to the bedroom. Harry ran after her, stopping the bedroom door from slamming in his face. Ginny sat on the bed, leant down and cried to her hands, rocking back and forth slowly. Harry stepped forward and knelt to the ground in front of her.
"You don't care about us anymore Harry," sobbed Ginny looking up at him, "If this is how you act towards the children and myself… what are you going to do to our third child? Will it even see you at all?"
"Oh Ginny," whispered Harry completely ashamed of himself, "I'm so sorry… I am really. I feel like a terrible husband and father. I wish I could turn back time and change everything. I promised on our wedding day to make you happy till the day we die… and I have failed."
Ginny reached a hand out and brushed a lock of Harry's hair from his green eyes. He looked up at her and saw her tears, breaking his heart in two.
"I'm sorry," whispered Harry.
"I know," replied Ginny sliding off the bed and onto Harry's lap to let him hold her for the first time in months.
O
The night had passed uneventfully for Hermione. Dakota went to bed at 7:30pm and Merle had gone out to a nightclub with some friends from work. Hermione glanced at her watch and sighed. A few more minutes to go. She walked over to her fireplace and made sure it was well lit. It seemed stupid that she had the air conditioning going, as well as a fireplace. But in four minutes or so, it would make sense. She walked away from the fire and into the kitchen to make pour her self an icy cold glass of mango and orange juice. After doing so and taking a sip she walked back to the lounge room and sat on the mat watching the fire crackle and change shape with every flame. She took another sip of her drink just as the flames began shifting to the colour of green. Hermione's eyes widened with anticipation as Ron's smiling face appeared in the flames.
"Hello Hermione," beamed Ron, "How are you going?"
"Ron! Hi, I am great, yourself?" replied Hermione wishing she could hug her best friend.
"Alright. So what has been happening here? Work going good?"
"Work is great. Profits rise more and more everyday. How is work going for you?"
"Just wrapped up another case. I am hoping Harry will let us have a week of rest, but he's kind of become a workaholic."
"Really? Ginny wouldn't be two impressed."
"She isn't. I think her and Harry have some issues… but Harry is never home to deal with them. I visited Ginny and the kids last week and James… I can't believe how he behaved. Poor Ginny looked close to tears by the time he went to sleep."
Hermione sighed, "Poor thing."
Ron's head bopped in the fire, symbolling he was nodding, "How is Dakota?"
"Well she asked about her father earlier tonight. I only told her simple things she would understand, like he loves us both… it was a shock. But I knew she would ask someday… but not so soon."
"Hermione, she is a smart girl like her mother. Be glad that she asked at a young age and you told her some things. If she were older when she asked, she could be very angry with you."
"I guess so… so how is the dating scene going?"
"It sucks. So far all the woman want is me in bed."
Hermione laughed and smiled slyly, "Well Ron you are devilishly sexy. Women would fight over you."
Ron chuckled, "That wouldn't be so bad, if I were younger but I want a life long companion now. I'm sick of the one night things."
Hermione nodded, "Merle is just getting past that stage. I made her swear the guy is gone before Dakota wakes up – and he always is."
"How is Merle?"
"Out tonight at some nightclub with friends from work. She normally walks in about midnight. Only on weekends she stays out till 3am."
Ron's head bopped some more, "In a way I think Ginny and Harry regret getting married and having kids in their early twenties."
"I had Dakota in mine."
"But you never got married."
Hermione looked away from Ron at the mat, "Sometimes I wish I fought for him and did."
"I'm sure Draco wishes the same Herms."
"H-how is he?"
Ron paled, not that Hermione noticed. He knew about Draco being fired and drunk all the time. But every time he would tell Hermione the same thing, "He's fine."
Hermione nodded, "Do you know if he is seeing anyone?"
"I can ask around for you."
Hermione nodded, "That would be good. I should go. I have work again tomorrow. I miss you!"
"Miss you too Herms. I'll speak to you next Monday."
"Same time as always."
Ron's head bopped, "Bye."
"Bye," mumbled Hermione as Ron's head disappeared and the flames turned a golden orange again. Hermione stood and pointed her wand at the fire, simmering it into smouldering ashes. She walked to the kitchen and placed her half empty cup on the sink before leaving and heading for the staircase to head to her room. On the second floor she checked her sleeping daughter and smiled at her soft facial features as she slept. If anyone looked at her now they would never know when she got mad or frustrated her eyes would narrow and look shockingly more like her fathers.
Hermione sighed and left the room, shutting the door so it was open only a little. She walked to her bedroom and changed into her pyjama's and slid under the summer blankets of her bed. With a wave of her wand the lights went out but Hermione didn't roll onto her side like normal to fall asleep. Instead she starred out the window across from her bed at the moon. She really did miss her home country. It was where she belonged, not here in Australia. Sure Australia was a lovely place, no freezing snowy cold winter's unless you lived further south. Sunny days nearly all year round, friendly people always willing for a chat. But her heart longed for London, to be with the one person who after four years still had hold of it.
She also missed her bestfriend's terribly. Yes, Merle was a bestfriend but she still classed Harry, Ron and Ginny as bestfriend's. It was still hard, not being able to just pop over to their place whenever she needed a chat. But she couldn't go back. That was out of the question. If he saw Dakota he would know and probably hate her. Beside's Ron said he was doing fine. Her returning would ruin all of that.
Leaning upwards a bit she punched her pillow and laid back down and closed her eyes. It was not time to dwell on the past and think of what could've been.
O
Draco groaned and sat up. He glanced at his watch beside his bed and sighed. 2pm and the pub he normally went to didn't open until 4pm. Two hours to wander around the Manor trying to avoid his mother. What fun… not. Draco sat up and clutched his head. He really must have drank a lot last night after visiting her old work. He stood up and stumbled into his bathroom grabbing the hang over relief potion and sculled what was left down. Without really caring, Draco threw it into the bin beside his sink, opened the bathroom cabinet and pulled out another bottle of the potion and sat it beside his toothbrush.
Staring at his reflection, he took in his messy hair in need of a cut, the dark circles under his eyes and the stubble on his chin. He'd looked this way for four years and never cared, and today was not a caring day. With a sigh, Draco turned and pulled back the shower door and turned the taps on, filling the bathroom with steam. A shower would do him good and take up some time before the pub opened in two hours.
O
Narcissa sighed as she walked away from the son's bedroom door once hearing the shower turn on. She'd been avoiding Lucius all day. She did know he'd remained in his office all day, the door closed. Never had she heard him speak of Draco in such a manner. It shocked her beyond reality. Her son did not have a drinking problem. It was too hard to think that.
Narcissa walked down the stairs into the entrance foyer and stood in the centre, staring at the front door. She could still remember the day Lucius had kicked Hermione's dress out of the door way and slammed it shut, how Draco had held back a glare and gone after her to see if she was alright. It was at that moment that Narcissa suspected something happening between them. Why didn't she put a stop to it then? Perhaps life wouldn't be this way, with her son not speaking to her and avoiding her at all costs, Lucius being mad with her and accusing their own flesh and blood of being an alcoholic. He would be married to Pansy and little Samantha would be her grand daughter.
Narcissa jumped as behind her she heard a tap hit the ground. She spun around to see Draco entering the foyer. Both starred at each other, neither moving.
Then Narcissa watched as Draco reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver flask and took a long sip from it, then put it away.
Narcissa swallowed a lump in her throat before asking, "What are you drinking?"
"Fire whiskey. Good stuff. Keep's me going throughout the day. Want some?" replied Draco holding the flask out to Narcissa.
Behind Draco, Narcissa saw Lucius walking down the staircase watching his son.
"No thankyou. I don't drink it."
Draco shrugged his shoulders, "If you say so. Do we have anything else to drink? Like Vickzen's Vodka?"
Narcissa shook her head no and took a deep breath, "Perhaps you would prefer coffee."
"Not strong enough for the start of the day."
"Draco, it's the afternoon."
Again Draco shrugged his shoulders and glanced at his watch, "See you later."
With a crack Draco was gone, leaving Narcissa standing in the foyer shocked whilst Lucius walked towards her slowly. She looked up at her husband expecting him to say I told you so. Instead he held his arms out and allowed her to walk towards him to be held close while she allowed the realization to sink in. Her son had a problem that may possibly one day lead to him being killed one way or another.
O
Draco walked through Knockturn Alley, ignoring the people starring at him. He reached the store he was looking for and walked in, towards the shelf he knew better then the back of his hand. He grabbed a large bottle of Vickzen's Vodka and walked to the counter, paid for it and apperated away.
When he opened his eyes he was sitting on a bench in the suburb of Albus, staring at the house that was now occupied by Ron Weasley.
He starred at it, remembering the night he broke her heart. All of it played through his mind perfectly. How could he forget the look of her face? He remembered the exact word's he'd said to her and how much he now regretted them.
"We have to break up. Hermione… for three months I have known about my next arranged marriage… her name is Destinee Forest and she lives in France."
How she looked at him with eyes full of tears, her mouth open in shock and disbelief. How she backed away from him. It was too painful for him to continue remembering. He pulled the bottle out of the paper bag he had and pulled the cork off and began drinking his sorrows away. She left him in the end right? She was the one who ran away, not him. He went back to her… but then again, why would she take him back after they fell in love and all along he'd known about his next wife who ended up being cursed and died on him? Life to Draco was seriously messed up. Whenever something good came his way, something or someone would take it away from him. Draco took another swig of his drink and glared at the house as though it were to blame for all his problems.
"Draco?"
Draco looked up in surprise. Standing beside him was Anne Granger. He didn't bother standing up, instead he looked at her curiously. What was she doing in a magical community where her daughter no longer lived?
"Drinking at this hour?" she asked smiling a little.
Draco noticed the paleness of her skin and how much thinner she was from the last time he saw her four years ago.
"Nothing better to do," he replied taking a sip, "Want a sip?"
Anne shook her head and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "This is a nice place."
Draco shrugged his shoulders, "I don't see anything special. Just a place to live."
"I remember a few years back you saying how you loved it and wanted to build a bigger house for you and Hermione."
Draco looked at the small house again and shrugged his shoulder's, "That'll never happen."
Anne sighed and sat beside him, folding her arms to hug her self, "Draco I know it must be hard for you to know that I know where my daughter is and you don't. But I can tell you one thing… she still loves you and hasn't moved on. She left… because she felt she had no other choice but too. I know the two reason's why and you are not to blame. I know she want's to come back but won't."
"Why? Why won't she come back? I need her!"
Anne nodded and took a deep breath, "She is ashamed of herself."
"Why?"
"I can't say. But drinking yourself to death isn't the answer. Stop it before it's too late," said Anne before standing and continuing her way down the street slowly, leaving Draco to sit alone and think.
But before Anne had even turned the corner Draco took another long swig of his drink.
O
Ginny smiled at Harry as he handed her a glass of orange juice. After crying and a lot of talking a decision had been made. Harry wouldn't leave for work until 8am and would be home by 6pm at the latest. He truly did feel bad for letting things get as bad as they did.
"We should go pick up the children soon," said Ginny leaning against Harry on the lounge, "You need to spend time with them as well."
Harry nodded, "True. I have missed them a lot, you know?"
Ginny smiled, "They've missed you. Me too. I'm glad to finally have the Harry I love back."
Harry smiled and kissed Ginny on the forehead, "How about we go get the kids now and take them to Digion Alley for some ice cream?"
"I like that idea."
O
Hermione rolled over and stretched. She sat up frowning a little, her stomach felt a bit queasy as though something bad was going to happen. She sighed and put it as being hungry and sat up, hearing footsteps running through the hall towards her door. Hermione watched, smiling as the door burst open with the arrival of a giggling Dakota. The little girl ran over to her mother and jumped up, being caught mid air by Hermione.
"Good morning my little princess," grinned Hermione holding her daughter on her lap, "Did you sleep well?"
Dakota nodded, "I dreamt I was flying on a broom and all these fairies were flying around me!"
"Wow! That would be fun!"
Dakota nodded again and yawned, "Do you have to go to work today?"
Hermione sighed. The down point of running a business was working all the time and hardly finding any time for her daughter, except for the weekends. She nodded and Dakota pouted.
"But, how about you come to work with me today?"
Dakota clapped her hands together excitedly and nodded, "Yeah!"
"You can dress up like I do, does that sound like fun?"
Dakota nodded and giggled hugging her mother tightly.
Hermione smiled as she hugged her daughter wondering why women wait till they were in their late thirties these days' to have children. To her Dakota was heaven sent. At least something good came from hers and Draco's short-lived romance.
"Come on, let's go have breakfast. Would you like some wheat-bix?" asked Hermione as they both stood and walked down the hallway to the staircase.
Once in the kitchen Dakota got the bottle of milk while Hermione grabbed to bowls from the cupboard above the sink and the wheat-bix box out of the pantry beside the fridge. She placed two wheat-bix in Dakota's bowl and three in hers before adding milk and a bit of sugar. Together they sat at the table and ate, with Dakota telling her mother about a boy called Billy who kept annoying her and Penny.
"Morning Aunty Mel!" greeted Dakota seeing Merle enter the kitchen looking half asleep.
"Morning Dakota, morning Herms," replied Merle before yawning.
"Morning Merle. What time did you get home last night?" asked Hermione
"Later then I wanted. My watch broke and I naturally lost track of time… and there was this guy," Merle stopped allowing Hermione to get rest of the picture.
Hermione nodded and stood up and walked to the sink and placed her bowl in it, "Dakota is coming to work with me today."
"Really?" smiled Merle at Dakota who grinned back before spooning some more wheat-bix into her mouth, "Well then. She will be boss in training today I gather?"
"Yep!" Dakota said, "I get to wear my good shoes!"
"Oh… the shiny black ones?"
Dakota nodded sliding off her chair and handing her empty plate to her mother, "Come on Mummy. Time to get dressed."
"How about we go brush your teeth or you will have wheat-bix breath all day?" suggested Hermione picking her daughter up smiling.
Dakota nodded and Hermione carried her out of the kitchen to the bathroom upstairs.
Merle smiled and realized how lucky Hermione was. She mightn't have everything she wants deep down in her heart, but Dakota brought her happiness no one else could.
O
Draco glanced at his watch as he slammed his empty glass on the bar. It was only 9:17pm. Damn tonight was going slow. Perhaps someone could speed it up for him. He glanced around the bar and saw three very fine looking women standing in a corner alone. One in particular caught his eye. She had brown curling hair with smoky brown eyes. As he stood up she glanced his way and gave him a flirtatious smile. Draco grinned back and made his way across the room towards her. The closer he got, the more she turned his way showing how her breasts were nearly falling out of her tight low cut robe. In the back of Draco's more sensible mind, the one he'd lost four years ago, he knew Hermione would never dress that way. But what did she matter?
"Hey there," smiled Draco leaning on the pole beside her, "What would a pretty lady like you be doing in a dump like this?"
"Depends on why you're here," she replied leaning towards him seductively.
"Well my reason wouldn't interest you they way you interest me."
The woman smiled and licked her lower lip, "I'm here with my boyfriend."
"Is that so? Well he doesn't matter to me the way you do."
The woman's two friend's giggled and stepped away to leave the two alone. Draco stepped closer towards the woman and smiled sweetly.
"May I say that you are looking mighty fine this evening," said Draco huskily.
"So are you… perhaps we should seek a more secluded place?"
Draco smiled and was about to nod when he was spun around roughly and found himself face to face with three angry looking men, all two sizes bigger then Draco.
"What the hell do you think you are doing with my girlfriend?" snarled the men directly in front of him.
Draco stepped back and smirked, "I was about to go and screw her brains out."
"I don't think so. In fact I think you are about to get your brains kicked in!"
The two guys beside him grabbed Draco and dragged him outside. Draco struggled with all his might but found the alcohol had made him dizzy and unable to defend him self. Once outside and down a deserted alleyway the biggest man, the woman's boyfriend reached into his robe and pulled Draco's wand out, snapping it in half. Again Draco tried to struggle free, but had a petrifying spell performed on him.
There he lay in the alleyway, unable to do anything as the men began punching him on the face, chest and gut. They knocked him to the ground then all three began kicking him senseless, until he lost consciousness and welcomed the blackness.
O
Hermione clutched her stomach as the urge to vomit took over her. She smiled at Dakota as she placed her toothbrush in the cup and took a deep breath. Dakota looked at her mother with concern and ran out of the bathroom calling for Merle. Hermione looked at her reflection and saw she was pale. She turned the cold tap on and splashed her face and took another deep breath. The last time she felt this way, she was pregnant with Dakota and she knew she wasn't pregnant considering she hadn't had sex in four years.
Merle ran into the bathroom holding Dakota's hand looked at Hermione worriedly, "Are you okay?"
"I don't know. I woke this morning feeling as if something bad was going to happen and just then I felt like vomiting," replied Hermione, "Nothing bad has happened has it?"
"Not that I know of. Maybe you should stay home."
"No, no I can't. I have appointments and I really can't afford to avoid work."
"Hermione the business is bringing in over 20 million galleons a working week. That's 4 million a day. You can afford it."
Hermione sighed, her stomach had begun to settle now, "I'm fine. If I feel any worse throughout the day I'll go home."
Merle sighed, "There is no winning with you."
Hermione smiled weakly, "Come on Dakota. Let's get you dressed."
A/N: Okay, with Draco I know 4 years seems a long time, but it does happen in real life. No lie. I have seen people go through it and it is heart breaking. Anyway, the chapter's name, as you all know refers to what happened to Draco. Thanks for the reviews last chapter, I couldn't believe it, 16 of them! Wow!
Bye for now!
Love yas!
Love Coz!