When I opened The Daily Prophet, I planned to skim the advertisements and see if any pressing stories had been published, wanting to stay up to date on what potential cases Draco could be assigned to. As I turned the pages, I had a strange foreboding feeling in my chest, and I wasn't sure why.

However, when I reached page nine, my heart stopped.

I watched as Draco walked through Falmouth with Hermione Granger, his arm wrapping around her shoulders and squeezing her tightly. I watched as she tripped and he caught her, her eyes darting to his lips like they probably had thousands of times before. I watched as she examined a rune carved into a building and he stood close beside her, his eyes on her face, not the symbol.

It felt exactly the same as looking at the photos my private investigator had given me the first time around.

They were there in full color, completely attuned to each other's movements, the desire blooming between them the same way it had years ago. Once again, they were in their own little world together, and Blaise and I were on the outside looking in.

My life was on course to repeat itself, the issues I'd faced two years ago resurfacing. I looked to Scorpius — my innocent son — sitting on the floor playing with his toys. He wasn't even two years old yet, and I was already losing his father to Hermione Granger again.

My thoughts from Christmas resurfaced — I would either be enough, or I wouldn't.

I had never been enough for him.

I would never be enough.

The self-blame started over. I should've put my foot down and told him that I would leave if he went back to the DMLE. If he hadn't been there, he wouldn't have been working alongside her. And that's what was causing these feelings — forced proximity. He wasn't thinking of her during the months he was home with me, save the rare occasion she turned up in the paper or at a function.

However, it seemed she was now constantly on his mind.

As much as I didn't want to admit that I was losing control of the situation again, I knew I couldn't handle this on my own. Just like I had two years ago, I decided to go to Lucius. I needed his help. I needed his advice.

How could I hold on to Draco without repeating what I'd done in the past? He didn't want more children, and if I got pregnant again, he'd know it was intentional. I'd been begging for it for almost a year.

Quickly, I grabbed Scorpius and went upstairs to get ready for the day. I wasn't sure how long Draco would be at work, and I needed time to speak with Lucius and Narcissa.

"Scorp, you and Mummy have a lot to figure out today," I said, and he looked up at me, his grey-blue eyes wide. "We're going to see your grandparents and I'm sure some of the house-elves will be so excited to see you."

As I reached for him, he smiled and laughed, melting away some of my bad mood. I couldn't imagine Draco finding some torrid affair with Hermione more important than his son this time around, but I didn't want to wait and find out if he would choose us or not.

When I stepped through the Floo at Malfoy Manor, Lucius and Narcissa came down the stairs to greet me. I didn't even know what to say to them, but fortunately, they already knew why I was there.

"They're finding their way back together," Lucius began. "How is this happening all over again?"

I felt the tears in my eyes, but when I looked to Narcissa, she was unfazed, like she'd been expecting this to happen all along.

Shrugging my shoulders, I said, "I don't know. I've been doing everything I can to keep his focus on me. But he's in the Ministry with her every single day. I can't control that."

Narcissa looked like she was going to say something, but remained quiet.

"We need to get her out of there," Lucius mused aloud. "We need her to take a job in a different department at the very least, if not somewhere outside of the Ministry."

I knew he was grasping at straws. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger had worked together since the end of the war. I couldn't see them willingly splitting up, and even if they did, I wasn't sure it would matter. Draco seemed to be inexplicably drawn to her, a moth to the flame. And her flame appeared to be everlasting, continuously brighter than any other.

"You will not force that woman to uproot her life again, Lucius," Narcissa stated firmly. "You've meddled with them enough, don't you think?"

"Narcissa, if he finds out about the first time—"

"Then he finds out, Lucius. Enough is enough!" Turning towards me, she said, "Do you really want to keep doing this, Astoria? Do you really want to hold him hostage?"

When I didn't answer, she continued. "You're young, darling. There are still plenty of opportunities for you to fall in love properly. Draco wouldn't keep Scorpius from you. The world is changing, and divorce—"

"There has never been a divorce in the Malfoy line!" Lucius shouted.

Narcissa whipped around, facing him again. "If you meddle with Draco's mind or force Hermione to quit her job, there will likely be TWO divorces in the Malfoy line. Don't even think about testing me. You will not like the outcome."

As I watched Lucius cower at the thought of losing his wife, I realised that I wanted a man like that, one who loved me so much he couldn't bear the thought of losing me. A husband that would choose me above all other things.

Draco would never be that man, not for me. Hell, I wasn't even sure if he would be that man for Hermione since he'd stayed married to me even after he had her.

Maybe it wasn't me at all. Maybe he just couldn't commit to anyone. While I felt mildly better if that was the case, it still didn't salvage the marriage. I just had to decide if I wanted to fight for Draco or not. Did I really want to spend my life constantly worrying about whether or not he'd remain faithful?

"Can we get an elf to take Scorpius for a bit? I… need to get out. I need to think about all of this."

Narcissa gave me a sympathetic smile. "Do you want company?"

I shook my head. "No. I think I need to be alone for a while."

"Then I'll take him. It's not a bother to care for my grandson."

Holding back the tears that were still building in my eyes, I handed Scorpius over. He was ecstatic, knowing that his grandmother would spoil him rotten and he'd be able to get away with everything. Lucius watched me, his eyes narrowing as if he was trying to figure me out.

"I'll be back in a few hours," I said, turning towards the Floo.

"Astoria," Lucius called, making me look back at him. "Decide what you want. If you want Draco, then fight for him. If you don't, then let him go."

"And if I let him go?" I asked. "Will you tell him everything?"

Lucius shook his head. "I won't, but I can't guarantee that Hermione won't if he takes up with her again. I'm sure the guilt is eating her alive, just like it is for me."

As I walked through Diagon Alley, I mindlessly looked in the shop windows, never seeing anything that made me want to go in. My mind was spinning, considering what I wanted for my life. I knew I wanted Scorpius to have two loving parents, but did they have to be married, loving parents?

I wasn't sure. It certainly seemed to make things easier.

And if Draco found out about the Obliviation, would he try to keep Scorpius away from me?

What I'd done was wrong. I knew Narcissa said he wouldn't, but he might react drastically if he knew the whole story.

Especially about the fertility potion, about how I'd planned to trap him. And how when that hadn't worked, I'd gone to Lucius and everything had escalated from there.

Draco had lost his memories and his freewill. He'd lost the woman he'd loved since he was a teenager.

And I'd gained everything — my son, the attention of my husband, and kept my access to the Malfoy fortune.

I sighed, running my fingers along the buildings I was walking beside. As I started to think about what Narcissa had said — that I was young and had plenty of time to fall in love properly — someone called my name.

My head snapped up and I saw Theo Nott coming my way.

"Mrs. Malfoy," he greeted, a charming smile on his face. "It's been years. How are you?"

Theo and Draco hadn't been close after the war, but they'd spent time together at Hogwarts. I'd noticed him when I was keeping my eyes on Draco in my younger years.

"Yes, it's been quite a while. I'm doing well, Theo," I began. "How have you been?"

His smile never faltered. "I've been great. Did you hear I opened a nightclub last fall? It's become quite the place."

His words struck me as odd, but I shrugged it off. "I did. I saw an article in the paper. Congratulations."

"Thank you," he replied. "I was surprised that you and Draco haven't come by at all."

Unable to figure out where this conversation was going, I stated the obvious. "We have a baby. We haven't really been going out anywhere."

Waving my weak excuse off, he said, "Plenty of couples who come in have babies. Everyone needs a night off once in a while."

"I don't think it would really be Draco's scene."

Not that I knew what Draco's scene was; we'd not dated long enough for me to learn those little nuances, and he'd spent all his free time with Hermione after we were married.

Theo laughed. "Then get dressed up and have a girl's night out. Bring Daph, I'm sure Michael won't mind it. I haven't seen her in an age, either. Not since Pansy shacked up with the Chosen One."

My sister and Pansy had been thick as thieves before Harry Potter had whisked her away into wedded bliss. They'd been out on the town every weekend, and I was sure that Theo had hung around with them.

"You know, that sounds like a great idea, and I'm sure I can persuade a few others," I replied, smiling at him brightly. "Can I assume you'll see to it that we're well taken care of?"

He stepped closer. "I will personally make sure you want for nothing."

I wasn't sure if his words were meant to be innuendo, but I felt my cheeks heat.

"I'll see about next weekend, then."

When he opened his arms to me, I tentatively approached him and hugged him.

"I hope to see you soon, Astoria."

As he walked away, I watched him, his movements so confident and fluid. Before he disappeared around the corner, he looked back at me and grinned again.

Was this what Narcissa had meant? That if I actually left the house and tried to meet someone, it would be easy for me?

I doubted she had a man like Theo Nott in mind, but he could be a bit of fun if I left Draco, someone to pass the time with before I tried to find something serious again.

Checking my watch, I knew Daphne would still be at work. She hadn't given up her job after meeting Michael. In fact, she'd taken a promotion heading up international relations with Spain, and my parents had forgiven her for breaking her marriage contract long ago.

They were proud to have such a successful daughter.

The very thought made me roll my eyes. After the way they'd treated her, I didn't ever question whether I'd marry Draco or not. I didn't want to be disowned by them or treated like I was nothing but a burden.

Deciding I'd try to bring Daphne lunch, I headed to The Leaky Cauldron, my heels clicking along the stone walkway.

When I walked through the door, Hannah Abbott — or Longbottom — looked at me and smiled. "Mrs. Malfoy. How are you today?"

"I'm well, thank you. I was wondering if I could get some takeaway lunch for Daphne and myself?"

She nodded. "Any special requests?"

"No, we're not all that fussy. Whatever your special is, I'll take two." Pausing, I thought for a moment. If Draco knew about the photos in the paper already, this would be the perfect opportunity for me to visit him and remain calm. "And something to take to Draco, as well, if I'm going to the Ministry."

If Hermione saw me unaffected by whatever their little walk through Falmouth was, I was sure it would drive her crazy.

"Fine by me. I'll get something together for him," Hannah replied. "Want a glass of wine or anything while you wait?"

"Actually, that would be wonderful. I'll just take a seat here at the bar and have a glass of your preferred red."

"Coming right up," she said, summoning a glass with her hand. Once she'd filled it, she handed it to me. "I'm going to pop into the kitchens. I'll be back with your food in just a moment."

"Thank you."

As I sipped my wine, a few scenarios played out in my mind. Draco would come up to me, completely apologetic, and I'd wave it off like it hadn't bothered me at all. I'd run into Hermione and just smile and move past her, seemingly unaffected. Or, when I walked into the DMLE, I might find them holed up in her office together.

I sighed, spinning my wine glass, twirling the stem between my fingers.

Or it wouldn't matter at all because Hermione was with Blaise. Maybe she loved him and I was overreacting. There could be nothing but friendship and professional camaraderie between her and Draco.

All of my senses doubted it, though. He'd been different since he went back to work. While we were still having regular sex, he seemed more distant than before, and I always wondered if he was thinking of her when he was inside of me.

Seeing a copy of the newspaper sitting on the bar, I summoned it and opened it up to the page with the photos again. I tried to forget about their history when I looked at it, tried to disconnect my emotions from it, but that was nearly impossible.

I knew I wasn't crazy — she was staring at Draco's lips in one, his eyes were hungrily taking in her face in another, and when he gave her that side hug, she leaned into him.

I could imagine them doing it a thousand times before, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Simple touches like those still felt uncomfortable between Draco and I sometimes, and I didn't know why. If it was so easy for him to touch her that way, what made him hesitate with me? Yes, he'd fuck me whatever way he liked once we got started, but that was the only time that the physical contact didn't feel… forced between us.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't even hear Hannah come back. When she saw what I was looking at, she bit her lip, like she was debating telling me something. I was embarrassed that she caught me ogling my husband out with another woman, but I couldn't help myself.

Looking up at her, I asked, "Why don't you say whatever it is that's on your mind?"

"They were here before they went to Falmouth," she began. "It's really not what it looks like—"

"It is," I replied. "He's in love with her. Has been for years. There's no need to lie about it."

When she looked away, I realised she already knew that. She had just been trying to comfort me. As I gulped down the final ounce of my wine, I reached into my handbag, withdrawing my coin purse. I took several Galleons out and laid them on the bar.

"Does that cover what I owe you?"

Hannah nodded. "Of course. That's more than enough."

Holding out my hand for the bag, I looked her in the eyes. "Whatever it is you know, I already know about it. I knew about it for over a year before his accident. No need to feel awkward, Mrs. Longbottom." She handed me the bag and my eyes flicked down to her baby bump. "And congratulations to you and the professor. Being a parent has been the best thing in my life."

"Mrs. Malfoy—"

I shook my head. "It's fine. I'm not concerned about it. Just keep your silence. He doesn't know about their relationship before."

"Right. Well, I was only going to say that he's mentioned that he loves being a parent, too," she said meekly. "I would never say anything else."

"Do have a good day," I replied, walking towards the Floo and heading to the Ministry.

Deciding to tackle Draco first, I headed to the DMLE. As I was walking in, Blaise was walking out, a young female Auror at his side. He stopped and pulled me aside, murmuring a Muffliato.

"Are you here because you saw the photos this morning?"

I shook my head. "Not really. I was coming to have lunch with Daphne, so I figured I'd bring Draco something, as well."

"Cut the shit, Astoria. You haven't been here since he came back to work. Awfully funny that today would be the first time," he said. "I don't understand why the fuck you let him come back here in the first place."

"I didn't have much of a choice, did I? He went to Potter behind my back, Blaise," I answered, offended.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "They're going to end up together again. I can feel her pulling away from me."

"Did you act like a jerk? Berate her for Draco's… infatuation with her?"

Shrugging, he replied, "I wasn't happy when I saw the paper this morning. I could've handled it better."

"I suggest you swallow your pride and buy her one hell of an apology gift. As far as Draco goes, I don't know what to do anymore. I've done all I can to try to make him happy, and I won't get pregnant again when he doesn't want me to."

"You're giving up?"

Shaking my head, I looked him in the eyes. "I don't think so, but I'm done clinging to the hope that he'll someday love me like he loves her. He doesn't even know what they were, and yet he still wants her."

"I've been competing with his ghost since the beginning, and I don't know how to fight for her without pissing her off," he admitted. "I'm jealous of him. It doesn't matter that he doesn't know what they were. She does, and she'll never forget him."

"You need to let go of the jealousy," I said. "If you don't, it's going to eat your relationship alive. She doesn't want to be caught in a tug of war, I'm sure."

"Did you see the way they were looking at each other?" he asked, pain lacing his voice. "I know that look, the one she was giving him when she'd fallen."

"Everyone knows what that kind of look means. She didn't kiss him, though. I don't think your situation is as hopeless as you believe it is."

"Blaise?" the female Auror said. "We really need to get to Falmouth. Are you ready?"

He looked at me. "Please, try to get him to do anything but stay here."

I gave a noncommittal shrug and turned away, heading in to see Draco. His blond head was clearly visible at his desk, so I started walking towards him. I knew Hermione had an office, but all the doors lining the edge of the department were closed.

When Draco noticed my approach, he blanched, likely thinking along the lines that Blaise had been — that I was there to talk to him about the photos in The Daily Prophet. At my smile, he looked almost relieved.

He stood and made his way over to me. "What are you doing here, Stori?"

"I'm having lunch with Daphne, so I figured I'd bring you something, as well," I replied, holding the takeaway bag up. "I know it's a bit of a surprise, but you'll need to eat, right?"

"Of course," he said, shocked. "Thank you for thinking of me."

He looked over my shoulder and I knew that she was there, that she'd spotted us. However, much to my surprise, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on my lips.

It was surprisingly natural, and I wondered if it was simply a show, if he was trying to make her jealous.

"Let me walk you to Daphne's office."

Nodding, I took his takeaway container out of the bag. "This one's yours. Shall I just leave it here?"

"That's fine," he answered.

When we'd walked out into the hallway, Draco asked, "You're not upset with me?"

I feigned ignorance. "Why would I be upset?"

He sighed. "Did you see the photos in the paper today?"

"I did," I replied. "I wasn't really happy about it, but it was all innocent, right?"

"Of course. I would never cheat, Astoria," he answered, and I nearly laughed aloud.

"Right. Well, it doesn't matter then."

Stopping in the hallway, he grabbed my arm. "Granger and I were friends before my accident. I've pieced that much together. What I don't understand"—he pushed a hand through his fringe—"is why everyone has acted like we weren't. You and I talked about it when I was still healing, and she told me that you've confronted her about our friendship before."

"I haven't—"

"Either she's lying, or you're lying, Astoria," Draco said. "I tend to think it's you, though, because Blaise's actions seem to line up closer to Granger's take on things\, and a few others saw us out together before the accident. I haven't talked to Pansy or Potter yet, but I have a feeling they also know something I don't."

The moment had arrived; I had to decide. Did I lie to him? Or did I confess?

Somewhere in the middle seemed about right.

"I was jealous, okay?" I huffed, and it wasn't a lie. "I knew that you'd always fancied her when we were younger and I've already told you we didn't have the best relationship before."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "So that's a reason to be dishonest with me? I'd just woken up, Astoria. I didn't know anything about my life before the accident. I was relying on you and my parents to tell me the truth."

Hearing the anger and angst lacing his voice, I said, "I'm sorry. I know it was wrong, Draco, but—"

"I need to get back to my case. I trust you can find your way to Daphne's office."

"Draco—"

"I need time to think, Astoria. I suggest you do the same."

As he turned and walked away, I felt tears threatening and I was no longer in the mood for lunch. But I needed to see Daphne. I'd never told her the whole story, but I felt like I was ready to now. She was an objective party, and I hoped she would be able to give me some advice.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed my emotions down.

After all, Draco was mad about the way I'd lied to him, and that was entirely my fault.

I couldn't even begin to imagine how he'd react if he found out the whole truth.

Author's Note: Give all the love to BreathOfThePhoenix. She's been betaing her brains out so I could give you an extra chapter this week.

As always, thank you so much for reading!