This Pain is Nothing

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Author's Note: This story is pre HBP, since Dumbledore (I also don't own him) is obviously still alive. I might work in some horcruxes though; we'll see!

Chapter Five: Breaking the News Part II

Stumbling down the steps from 12 Grimmauld Place, Hermione shivered as she realized that she didn't have a jacket on and the night was quickly getting colder. Hermione laughed bitterly to herself as the tears started flowing again. My fiancée has just broken off our engagement because he slept with my best friend and knocked her up, and all I can think about is that I should have worn a coat? Now I know that I'm losing it.

Walking more quickly, Hermione was so blinded by her tears that she didn't realize that she wasn't walking in a straight line at all. The next thing she knew, she was being pulled back on to the sidewalk as a car honked noisily at her.

"Hermione, are you alright? You almost walked right into the evening traffic!" Neville Longbottom pulled Hermione back around and was shocked to see her trembling and with a tear-stricken face.

Hermione managed a small smile. "Neville, yes, thank you. I've been lost in my thoughts all evening and didn't even notice where I was going, I'm so sorry." With this she started sobbing into Neville's shoulder.

"Hermione, you're not alright. I'm taking you back to my place; Luna and I have been sharing a flat and have an extra room, you are not in any condition to be out on your own tonight." Hermione merely nodded and allowed herself to be pulled along, glad that someone cared enough to take her in; she could have really cared less if she had walked right into traffic that night or not.

In Wiltshire, Draco was again pacing in one of the rooms at the Manor. Hermione will never forgive me now. Although, I can't say that I blame her. Honestly, give me Voldemort any day; nothing could be worse than this. Potter better make this worth it. Not only is my life ruined, but I have to take care of his kid so that it won't be a target. He's just lucky that I'm on his side. Draco walked towards the drawing room while deciding what to tell his parents. Mother will never forgive me if she hears this from the Daily Prophet first. Father should be somewhat pleased, knowing him. At least someone will be happy.

Narcissa looked up briefly as Bianca the house-elf announced Draco's entrance. "Draco, good you're here. Now, as you know, Hermione was pressing for gold bride's maids dresses, but I really do think that a more champagne color would flatter the girls she chose more, don't you think so dear?" Frowning at Draco's pallor and apparent inability to speak, she turned to Bianca, "Do go floo Dr. Philip; I don't think that Draco is well at all!"

Draco grimaced and motioned for the elf to stop; this caused her to tremble with the conflicting orders she had been given. "Mother, please call her off, I'm alright really, I've just had a bit of news that I think I should share with you and Father, if that's alright."

"Fine. Bianca, go get something to drink for us then while you're up." Narcissa smiled at Draco and motioned for him to sit on the duvet across from her. "Now, tell me this news you have while we wait for your father, he should be in at any moment. Is something wrong with the wedding plans I sent up to you, because you know Draco, roses would do so much more for the scenery than violets."

Draco stood as Lucius Malfoy entered the room. "Good, you're just in time Father. I was just to relate some news to Mother that I think you both need to hear from me and not from some half-truth paper." Lucius nodded and sat down. "Well, get on with it then, it's been a long day, and I still have to sort out a mess that some of our…associates…have created south of here earlier today."

Draco sat back down and took a deep breath. "Right, ok then. Well, Mother, I suppose that there is no need to cancel the wedding plans at the moment, although there is one rather large change that is absolutely necessary to make."

Narcissa's eyebrows rose alarmingly high as she heard this. "Draco, you know that it would be very hard to make any serious changes at the moment, almost everything has already been booked in advance. Now, what is so drastic that you had to sit us down in here to discuss it?" Draco sighed and took another breath.

"Well, this won't be hard to do as far as reservations and bookings go, but it might be a bit of a shock to everyone." Lucius rolled his eyes, "Just get on with it, won't you? No need to drag it out all night, is there? Some of us have been busy doing the Dark Lord's work all day!" Draco glared, then quickly brought back a passive face and continued.

"Since we seem to be on a time-table, I'll get to it then. I'm marrying Ginny Weasley, not Hermione after all." Draco paused. Silence was the only thing that could be heard for a moment before Narcissa burst into tears and Lucius started laughing simultaneously. Narcissa stopped sobbing and sent a heated glare towards Lucius. "How can you be happy about this? Do you know what people will say about this? They'll think that you've gotten her pregnant or—

Draco jumped in at this opportunity, "Well, they would be right then, I suppose. Ginny is pregnant, I'm the father, and I've decided to be a man about it and do her honor." At this Narcissa fainted and Lucius laughed even harder. "Good job, my boy, you've finally made a good decision. Of course, Ginevra Weasley is only a small step up from the mudblood, but all the same, she is a step up!" Still laughing, Lucius ordered Bianca to get some smelling salts and walked off towards his study with a spring in his step. Draco sighed heavily, and walked upstairs towards his room. When he got there, an owl he did not recognize was tapping on the window. Opening it, he found a letter with Hermione's handwriting addressing it to him. Shaking slightly, he opened the letter.

Draco,

I'm at Neville and Luna's flat at the time. Not that you seem to care, or should. Please send my things to the return address on the front of the envelope, as I will never be coming back to the Malfoy Manor ever again. Do not respond to this letter; maybe in time I will be able to write to you or see you again, although I doubt it highly. I have no words for what you have done to me, and I never wish think of you or Ginny again. I wish you all the luck in life; I hope you treat Ginny better than you have me.

Goodbye

Hermione Granger

Shaking even more now, Draco put the letter aside when he realized that there was more in the envelope. Re-opening it, he pulled out what was inside. Hermione had sent him her diamond ring that he had had specially made for her. Finally breaking down into tears, Draco flung the ring across his room and went to bed.

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