AN: Thank you so much for the comments on the last chapter! Only six more chapters left in book 2! Hard to believe we started it in March of 2019. We NEVER intended it to take this long. We might not have a chapter ready to post next Monday. We will do our best. If it doesn't post on Monday, hopefully it will still post during that week.

Many readers have expressed frustration that Hermione, Severus, and Lucius haven't just formed a triad by now. In the story, Hermione and Snape have only been dating (without interference from her submission to Lucius) for 4 months. I think it would take time for three people, who each have no history of poly relationships, to come to that conclusion. Especially, when two of the grouping are dominants. Lissa and I are not disclosing the end game of this story. It might end in a triad, but it might not. We will tell you that the reason there are three books is because there is much more to come. We hope you are with us for the long haul. We appreciate you reading, and we've loved the comments and reviews from those of you who have been inclined to leave them. We hope you enjoy this chapter! - Snow

Beta LOVE: thebeebeegun, what_the_fawkes, dracoswhore17, Ladysnape89

Sunday Evening - August 12th

"You look pretty," Snape offered as he walked into the room. He liked it when Hermione wore dresses and the one she was wearing now was a navy sundress with white polka dots. "Are you ready?" he asked as she was dabbing a pink stain on her lips.

"When you are," she responded, looking at him through the mirror and not missing how tired he looked. "You realize we don't have to go? Draco would understand."

"No, he arranged to get coverage at the club for us tonight specifically. He's been wanting to do this ever since Lucius left."

Hermione turned to face her lover with a soft smile as she stroked his cheek with the back of her hand. "Well then, let's be off to the Manor. I'm putting you to bed as soon as we get home, though," she declared with a stern eye.

He leaned in and kissed her tenderly before whispering with a playful lift to his lips, "Yes, Mistress."

Hermione smirked, surprised by the hint of arousal of having been addressed as such. "Hmm, that's a first," she mused.

"Don't get used to it," he proclaimed as he took her hand and led her toward the hearth.

The minute they came through the floo, Hermione instantly felt off. Snape peered down at her, his own disquiet evident in his onyx stare.

Lucius wasn't here. He was still off to God knows where and here she was in his mansion feeling completely flat-footed without his presence. She had not been here since the night of their Carnival role play and it just didn't feel right being in his home without him.

"Well, if you're both going to look so miserable, you'll have to eat in the stables with Mony. Make sure you take green apples."

Hermione snorted at the teasing look on Draco's face. Were we that obvious? she wondered.

The younger Malfoy was elegantly leaning against the door frame that led from this entry-floo vestibule to the rest of the house. He had obviously been waiting for them. While Draco always bore a strong resemblance to his father, there were times - like this one - where it was uncanny. It wasn't just the signature silky, platinum locks and the beautiful grey eyes. It was the casual grace that came so easily. The confidence that oozed from their pores. The way they looked at her like they knew her. Because they did. Both of them.

"Not miserable, Draco...merely tired," Severus challenged with a weariness to his voice as he took Hermione's hand and followed his Godson into a study she had not seen before. Much like Lucius' study, it held a massive stone hearth fireplace, a leather chesterfield sofa as well as a loveseat and two wingback chairs. Several bookshelves lined the walls, and intricate stained glass double doors led out to a patio. It was smaller than Lucius' study by half but it was equally masculine, and far cozier.

"You have your own study?" she asked, rhetorically.

"Naturally," he responded, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Hermione could only shake her head. The man didn't even live here anymore, yet he still had his own study. Then again, she had a suite here that she never used and she wasn't even Lucius' relative.

Hermione did a double take when she noticed what looked like a small bit of hay near Draco's desk. Catching her glance, Draco waved his wand toward the sheddings and they disappeared, all evidence of what had clearly been a visit from Mony gone. He ignored the small knowing smile she gave him.

"Ahh, Miss Priss and Severus," M's sultry voice rang out as she entered the room with Theo behind her. Hermione had become used to M's teasing and alluring tone by now, but she still found the witch to be incredibly sexy, especially since their foursome and the production of the potion, Witch's Delight. Which reminded her, they still hadn't tried out their sample. She wondered if M had tried hers yet.

"Hi, M," Hermione responded. "It's good to see you." She glanced at the tall man behind her and beamed. "And Theo! My favorite Slytherin from my year!"

Theo's smile grew wide at his playful victory. He walked over to her and took her hand before placing a light kiss on the back of it. "A woman of great beauty and taste."

Draco scoffed, "She's only saying that so you'll give her unlimited access to the Wizarding Library, Theo, ol' pal. Don't fall for it."

"A Slytherin quality that makes me like her even more," Theo countered with a smirk.

"Oh, stop it," Hermione playfully scolded.

Tinny popped into the room and handed out glasses of Prosecco.

"Thanks for coming, everyone," Draco offered simply as he tilted his glass toward the others. The drink was crisp and tingled deliciously on Hermione's tongue. "I felt like it was silly not to continue having our dinners just because Father isn't here."

"Where's Blaise?" Theo asked.

Draco shrugged. "I'm not sure. I haven't seen much of him lately. He moved back but he may as well still be living abroad. He always has plans in the evenings." He took a sip. "Father mentioned that he had been to visit him in Italy for an afternoon about a week ago."

"Maybe he's found himself a witch," Theo offered.

"Or a wizard," M added.

Hermione could not even bring herself to pretend she was disappointed by Blaise's absence. The man made her uncomfortable, plain and simple. She still wasn't used to the notion that Blaise and Lucius were so close.

The group settled into chairs and Hermione made a point to sit near Theo, wanting to hear more about his work at the Library and the upgrades and renovations that he was spearheading. When she asked him, his eyes lit with passion as he explained the new processes that were in place. When he mentioned the crypts below the library that were closed off to the public, her eyes practically glazed over with lust. Centuries ago, the library had been a Monastery, and it was rumored the monks had stored many ancient tomes and scrolls in those underground dwellings. She would give her first-born to get down there! Well...maybe not. But something equally as valuable.

"Merlin Granger, look at you. Only you would find a discussion about crypts full of rotting old books to be an aphrodisiac," Draco teased with a roll of his eyes. "Perhaps that should be the next fetish room, Severus," he added with a wink as he cut the man a playful smirk.

For his part, Severus was nearly as intrigued as Hermione. Ignoring Draco, he asked Theo, "Have you been down there? Are you allowed to explore?"

Trying as he might to maintain the calm of any respectable Slytherin, Theo failed miserably. He spoke with excitement and pride as he explained that he was one of only three people who were allowed access. One being a witch who was an anthropologist and the other was the head librarian.

"How incredibly exciting, Theo!" Hermione gushed.

Theo's eyes were fervent with sincerity when he gave her a conspiratorial wink and whispered, "I'll get you down there at some point. I promise." Hermione couldn't help but believe him and offered him a wide smile in return.

The rest of the evening was enjoyable, but Hermione couldn't get past the unfamiliarity of Lucius' absence. It just wasn't the same and she found she was missing him now more than ever. The man needed to come home. She could sense the same regret from Severus beside her. He was quieter than normal. Which, for him, was saying something and she knew his thoughts were preoccupied with his best friend.

She also noticed a slight tension between Draco and M. It wasn't blatant and the two were glued at the hip, but there was just something that was off. Perhaps it was merely that they were missing Lucius as well. Or perhaps her intuition was skewed and she was seeing her own discomfiture in others.

"So, Hermione, I was visiting my cousin, Penny, a few days ago and she said the Muggle papers reported you are representing some victims who were raped? How awful! She said it's all over the news."

"Penny?" Hermione asked, unsure who M was talking about.

"Oh, you would know her as Penelope. She was a few years ahead of us."

Hermione nodded, "Oh, yes, Penelope Clearwater. I remember she and Percy Weasley had a thing." She also recalled the witch had a Muggle father, which would explain her knowledge of Muggle news.

"Yeah, it's… well, these poor women. I can't really say too much for confidentiality reasons, but suffice it to say, they have been through hell." She took a sip of her drink. "Thankfully, they are all alive, though."

It was quiet for a minute.

"I've been following the news about the Muggleborn witches. Weren't they raped as well?" Theo asked quietly.

Hermione could feel his eyes watching her closely as she responded "Yes, some were, but the MOs are a little different, so I don't think they are connected, if that's what you're asking? I actually talked to Harry about it."

"I'll confess to having always had a morbid curiosity about these types of things... you know, serial killers and whatnot," Theo admitted, somewhat abashedly.

Hermione shrugged. "You aren't alone. It's a common fascination. Many are guilty of it," she added, giving him a reassuring smile.

"Well, count me among the guilty, then," he responded with a wink that made her chuckle.

Severus piped in, "Because of the killings, Miss Granger has agreed not to go out alone. Haven't you, pet?"

She offered him a small smile as she took his hand. "Yes." She met the eyes of the others in the room as she clarified, "Severus is concerned for my well being, so I have promised that until this perpetrator is caught, I will travel via floo or in the company of Harry, Ron, Severus, Lucius, or Draco."

M snorted, "Oh, how very sexist, Snape! Seriously? Only men?"

Severus cut her a glare but Hermione had to hand it to the woman, she didn't bat an eye as he explained, "It's not because they are male, it is because Potter and Weasley are Aurors, and I am confident in my own skills, as well as Lucius and Draco's, in having the skill and wherewithal to help protect her should a need arise." He held his hand up as if to head her off when he added, "That is not to say she can't protect herself, because she can, but I would feel better knowing she is accompanied by strong duelers, should the need arise."

M was quiet and without a response, but she seemed to relax back into her seat, as though satisfied by his response.

Just then, Bilby popped into the room. "Master, dinner is ready."

When the meal was over, Hermione and Severus thanked their host graciously and made their way back to Snape's flat with few words. The absence of Lucius at the table had been glaring. Draco had sat in the host seat, but it didn't fill the void that Lucius' enormous presence usually occupied.

They were both lost in their own thoughts as they completed their nighttime ablutions robotically. When they climbed into bed, it was an unspoken need that pulled them into each other's arms. It was an unvoiced craving that caused their mouths to meld hungrily. But no matter how much their hands caressed and their bodies pounded into each other, it couldn't erase the void they both felt.

When they had ravished each other to a point of sheer exhaustion, Hermione curled into Severus' side. His arm slithered around her and he pressed a kiss to her temple. "Sleep well, Mine," he whispered.

Hermione lay, catching her breath still, as she listened to Snape's heartbeat. As its rate gradually slowed to its usual strong and steady pace of about 62 beats per minute, (she knew this because she had laid like this and listened to it so many times before) her thoughts wandered back to Lucius.

She was too preoccupied to sleep. Perhaps Lucius was right. Perhaps she was selfish, she mused mutinously. Perhaps it was unfair of her to miss him so much that she literally ached. It didn't mean she cared any less for the wizard lying next to her, however. She adored this man. Her fingers gently trailed the pale, smooth skin of his chest. She wanted this wizard forever. There was no point in hiding it. Suddenly feeling bold, she whispered, "I love you, Severus."

She waited, her heart now pounding from her admission, but there was nothing but the continued thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump of his steady pulse. His breathing was even and slow.

She let out a heavy sigh as she rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling.

The problem was, and it simply could no longer be denied, she loved someone else, too

Wednesday, August 15

"This one," Severus said lightly as he gestured toward a ring with a marquise shaped diamond that was flanked by three small emeralds on either side.

"It's nice," Draco responded, trying to sound encouraging, while inside he was a bundle of confusion. Snape had taken him off guard when he had shown up at Malfoy Enterprises saying he wanted to show Draco something. And now here they were, in a jewelry store, looking at engagement rings. Severus wasn't aware that Draco already knew the man had been looking at rings, but the fact that Snape was sharing this with Draco meant the wizard was very serious about it. "So, you're going to ask her then?"

Severus cut Draco an impatient glare as he slowly drawled out, "Obviously."

Fuck.

Draco knew in his heart this was a mistake. It's not that he didn't see Severus and Hermione being happy. In truth, he did. They were actually very compatible. But so were his father and Hermione. Draco was so sick of this. He was so tired of trying to convince Hermione and his dad that they belonged together. He could be wrong, after all. In truth, no one knew because the two of them hadn't even tried.

He hated himself for doing this, but Snape was the one person he had not spoken to. Maybe he should. Now. Before it was too late.

"Oh, well that's great, Severus. You know, being ready to make such a huge commitment and all." He paused. "I guess it's good that Father left, then," he added as though it was an afterthought while looking in the case at the other rings. A swell of guilt almost took his breath away as he pretended not to notice the intense, dark eyes that had just landed on him.

"And why do you say that?" Severus asked in a low and cautious voice.

Draco sighed. "Look, I need to be honest with you." He blew out a hard breath. "I think you and Hermione are great together, I really do."

"But?"

He paused and, losing his nerve at the last minute, he hedged, "Just that, well, I'm glad the waters are more clear now that it's just you and Hermione. I mean...I'm not blind, I know that there was something unresolved between Father and her, and I'm just glad that everything is more...settled. I'm glad that everything has turned out so well for you." With complete sincerity, Draco met Severus' eyes as he added, "You deserve to be happy. You both do."

There. That was the best he could do, Draco determined. He would say no more on the subject. To anyone.

Severus stared at the ring in the case. When the salesman walked over, Snape gestured toward his choice. "That one."

Friday afternoon, August 17th

"Okay, you've got the hang of keeping your balance. Really, that is the hardest part."

Hermione's hands gripped on the handle with such determination that her fingers were turning white. She nodded vigorously as she stared at the broom underneath her, her breaths coming in quick, short puffs.

"Granger, you aren't about to give birth for Salazar's sake, just breathe normally," Draco added with a barely controlled chuckle as he stood two feet away. "Now, all you have to do is lean forward a bit and give a light push of your feet against the ground. The broom is intuitive, it will help you."

"Okay," she responded, her eyes darting to him and back to the broom again.

He watched her for a full minute and when she still hadn't moved, he let out a heavy sigh. "Okay, let's try a different approach." He scratched his chin and thought for a few seconds. "What is it exactly you are afraid of?'

"Crashing and dying," she responded succinctly.

"Beaves, do you honestly think I would let any harm come to you? You are not going to fall and you are not going to crash. But if something happens and you do fall or lose your balance, I'll cast a slow fall charm on you and guide you down."

"Okay, that works," she responded. Suddenly, a confused look marred her chocolate irises. She turned her head back towards him. "Wait, what's a slow fall charm?"

Draco shrugged. "No idea, but it sounded good."

"Draco!"

He rolled his eyes, "Look, you aren't going to fall! Severus would kill me if anything happened to you and my self-preservation skills are far too superior to let that happen."

"Why is this so important to you?" Hermione pleaded. "Why do you want me to fly so badly? Wouldn't you rather go inside and beat me at chess, like you always do?"

Draco thought about it. After a few seconds, he raked his fingers through his hair and let out a low growl of frustration before dropping to his haunches. He ran his fingers across his mouth and chin before meeting her eyes with a narrowed gaze. "I'll tell you why," he said with a sharp edge of conviction, "Because you are Hermione Granger, damnit. Because I've never seen you cower from anything in all the years I've known you. You escaped the bowels of Gringotts on the back of a crazed dragon for Merlin's sake and I won't let a Cleansweep 2006 be what defeats you!" He stood, gesturing toward the broom with a smirk as he added, "It's practically a broom for toddlers."

Hermione swallowed heavily. She wanted to do this. She really did. She might not want to join in on the Sunday Quidditch matches at The Burrow, but she would love to see Harry and Ron's faces if she hopped up on a broom and flew up next to them, carefree and confident.

She blew out a puff of hair causing a few of her fallen curly strands to billow out before falling rebelliously back against her cheek. The rest of her hair was piled on the top of her head in a bun so thick and high it would make Marge Simpson proud.

Looking back down at the broom with a look of concentration, she confidently agreed, "Okay, you're right. I've got this. I'm a Gryffindor. I'm in control. It's just flying. It's not like I've never ridden a broom before. I can do this. I'm just gonna kick off and fly. Okay. I've got this."

"Granger! Less talking, more flyi…" His words fell off when suddenly she was in the air. Not only was she in the air, but she was flying a decent and steady pace and at a reasonable height. Draco grabbed his Lightning Bolt 2008 and kicked off after her. Not that Hermione knew his broom was the latest special edition Firebolt, named after her best friend. Draco would never admit that he owned it, after all. But he insisted on the best in everything, and right now, this was the best to be had. The only etching on the elusive and limited edition racing broom was a tiny firebolt, engraved on the underside of the handle.

When he came up next to her, he couldn't hold back his smile when he saw the sheer joy on her face. Her eyes were wide with their excitement. "Draco!" she practically shrieked. It wasn't a shriek of panic. It was the same voice he had yelled to Lucius all those years ago when he himself had learned to fly. "Father," he had yelled, amazed by his own accomplishment. He could still remember Lucius smiling at him from below, clapping and cheering him on...In this same spot, an open field near the stables.

"Beaves! You're flying!" He yelled over the wind, which had just picked up. Looking over his shoulder, he was disappointed to see dark clouds rolling in from the opposite side of the Manor. They didn't have a lot of time.

"Looking good, Granger!" he called out from beside her. She cut him a sly smile and then jetted off in front of him.

"You brat," he mumbled through laughter when she suddenly sped up and left him behind.

Her Cleansweep was no match for his Lightning Bolt, however, and he made quick and easy work of catching up and passing her within a couple of seconds. Looking back over his shoulder, he checked to make sure she was still behind him. When he didn't see her, he slowed and spun around, only to find she had somehow gotten in front of him again. He was beginning to realize that the witch was going to excel at this as much as she did with everything else she ever attempted.

After a few minutes of them zipping around each other, the wind was really picking up and it had turned cold. It would start raining any minute. He gestured to the ground. Hermione nodded as if to follow but when Draco landed, he turned to look for her and was surprised to see she was still ten feet in the air. Her eyes were panicked as she bellowed, "How do I land?" Before he could answer, a loud boom of thunder was accompanied by a sudden deluge of hard rain. He shielded his eyes as he yelled, "Slow down and just ease your way until your feet can touch. Then pull up on the broom slightly."

"What?" she called out, her eyes squinting to avoid the large and vicious drops of water that Mother Nature was so rudely subjecting them to. He was about to remount his broom and fly to her to lead her, when she got a determined look on her face and pointed the nose of her broom down as she leaned forward dramatically. Seeing her mistake for what it was, Draco yelled for her to pull up, but it was too late. Her broom accelerated at a quick speed and he was barely able to cast a cushioning charm on the ground beneath her before she barrelled into it.

She tumbled and rolled, her body going left and the broom going right. He ran to her side and once he determined she wasn't injured, but was actually laughing, he blew out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. "Fucking hell, Granger," he scolded, irritated by his own utter panic. She, on the other hand, was rolling in the grass in her folly. He stood over her for a minute, stunned by her behavior. "You realize you are now covered in mud and grass," he informed her, certain that she would snap out of her madness with this obvious bit of intel. When she only laughed harder, he shook his head in bemusement before transfiguring her broom into a giant umbrella. After casting a quick drying charm on himself, he picked up his own broom and reached down to take her hand. Pulling her to her feet, he cast a drying charm on her before spinning on his heel and Apparating them to his study.

"Don't you dare sit! That's italian leather," he said as he gestured toward the sofa and chairs.

"I'm dry," she pointed out.

"You're filthy," he countered.

"Yes, that's true," she conceded, "I guess I should head home."

"What?! You can't leave!"

"I can't? Whyever not?"

"Because, I am a genius and after several weeks and attempts, I finally got you to fly on your own...and more than three feet off the ground! I feel some congratulations are due my way. Let's have a drink." He looked her up and down. "After you change."

Ignoring his self-congratulation, Hermione pointed out, "Well, I need to go home to change, so…"

"You have a full wardrobe here and no need to go home, or have you forgotten?"

Hermione's breath caught. "Wardrobe?"

Draco gave her an exasperated stare. "Have you ever looked in the closet of your suite? Father saw to your selection himself."

Her jaw fell. Had she? A frisson of guilt caused her heart to flutter. Lucius. She was missing him so much.

"I don't know if I can find it," she said quietly. "This house is such a maze."

Draco took her hand. "C'mon, I'll take you."

Draco sat on her chaise lounge chair as Hermione stood agog at the amount of clothes in her walk in closet. A closet that was almost bigger than her apartment. It was clearly charmed.

Regaining her senses, she flipped through the hanging robes and dresses until she found a pair of sensible looking blue slacks and pulled them down. Then she realized they were crotchless. "Mother of Nimue," she said with a shake of her head as she promptly put them back. Tired of searching, she grabbed a green linen mini dress off the rack.

"You alright in there, Beaves? Need me to dress you?"

"I'm fine, Ferret," she responded as she shrugged out of her denims and shirt and slid the dress over her head.

"I can't wait 'til Potty and Weasel find out that I got you to fly. And that I am the one who helped you conquer your fear. There's just something so poetic about that."

Hermione stepped out of the closet to a nod of approval from the blond. "So, don't I get a little bit of the credit for flying today?"

"Not really," he said simply, as he stood and started to walk out of her suite.

"Why is that, exactly?" she asked with disbelief.

When they entered his study, he walked to the side bar where a chilled bottle of champagne was sitting next to two glasses. "You flew on your own because of me. Go ahead, deny it!"

He poured their drinks as she pondered.

"While it's true you were the catalyst for me getting in the air, you can hardly claim credit for me flying well once I was in the air."

"Granger, you did not fly well," he said simply as he handed her a flute.

"Yes, I did! I even snuck by you without you seeing me one time. I went fast, I flew at a reasonable height, I turned well. Admit it, I'm a good flyer!"

"Your landing is for shit." He tapped her glass with his and took a sip. "I'll say it again, yay me!"

"I can NOT and will not drink to that. You have to give me some of the credit," she demanded with exasperation.

He sighed, "Alright, I'll give you….ten percent of the credit for today's success."

"Seventy-five," she countered.

"Hardly," he sniggered. "Twenty-five precent," he reluctantly conceded.

"Make it fifty and I'll let you be the one to tell Harry and Ron that I flew today." His eyes lit up and his mouth opened to speak- "But," she interrupted, "you also have to tell them that I flew well."

"You almost died on your landing," he pointed out.

"Yes, that's a good point," she conceded with mock agreement before adding, "I'll have to get them to teach me how to land. I need a superior teacher for that, I'm sure."

"You will not beat me with Slytherin tactics, Beaves."

Her brow cocked with determination. "Fifty percent credit and you will tell them that I flew well today, or I am heading to Grimmauld Place when I leave here."

"Fine," he conceded as he collapsed into one of the wingback chairs, "you still suck at chess, though."

She stuck her tongue out at him. "Prat."

"Swot."

It was then that Tinny popped in with a tray of sandwiches and crisps.

"Oh good, I'm famished," Draco claimed as he grabbed two halves and stuffed half of one into his mouth.

"Thank you, Tinny," Hermione said to the elf just before she popped out.

She took a bite of the ham sandwich and then asked, tentatively, "How are things going with M?"

She immediately regretted the question when his shoulders seemed to fall. "She still hasn't decided if she's going to take that job in New York. It's been weeks! She needs to make a decision." He took another bite, chewed and swallowed, "Maybe if I go ahead and ask her to marry me, she'll stay."

"Do you think that will sway her? A permanent commitment from you?"

Draco leaned back after tossing his napkin on the table. "I don't know. I don't understand why she is even entertaining the idea of leaving. Her family is here, I'm here...all that's in New York is a stupid job….and her ex, of course. There's that, I suppose."

"Didn't her ex leave her for a man?"

"Yeah, but maybe she's not over the witch and that's why she wants to leave?"

"Oh, Draco. You need to just ask her! Ask her what she really wants. In a perfect world."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Fine." She picked at the crust on her sandwich. "Have you..uhh, have you heard from Lucius?"

He gave her a knowing look. "Yes, he's fine."

"That's good." She took a nibble of her sandwich. "Is he still in Italy?"

"Russia, I think."

"Oh." Her thoughts immediately went to Natalia. Perhaps he was visiting her. Which meant he was probably sleeping with her. Ugh.

"I wonder how his blondes are doing without him."

"I think he corresponds with them through journals or something," Draco responded, missing the fleeting stricken look on Hermione's face.

Of course, she thought to herself, trying to dispel the hint of betrayal she felt.

You are being selfish, Hermione.

She suddenly wanted to be anywhere but in the Manor. "I should go," she said as she stood up. She smiled playfully as she asked, "How long are you waiting to tell Harry and Ron that I was a good flyer today?"

He rubbed his hands together. "That is a good question. Maybe I'll ask them out for a pint at the Leaky. Or maybe I'll pop in on their usual Sunday pick-up game at The Burrow."

She laughed.

"Next time, I'll teach you to land."

"That would probably be wise," she agreed as he led her to the floo.

After Hermione left, Draco headed to his flat via the floo as well. He was due to be at Mill's in a couple of hours but wanted to get a shower and relax a bit.

He was not as oblivious to Hermione's misery as she thought he was. He wasn't going to try to spare her feelings, though. If she and Snape were going to marry, and she was going to walk away from Lucius without giving him a chance, then she deserved what she was feeling, in his opinion. He had known the mention of Natalia would rattle her cage. He had known Hermione likely secretly hoped that Lexie and Lizzie would have moved on since Lucius had left.

She made her bed and was going to have to sleep in it as far as he was concerned.