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Second-year as divorcees

November 2000 – Hermione

She could feel her wards being breached before the knock on the bedroom door sounded. Ron was away and she couldn't think of any reason why Harry would knock at this time. The times when he had urgent needs in the middle of the night died with Voldemort. Her finger unnecessarily straightened her pajamas as she walked to the door to open it.

"He asked me." There was a hand pushed into Hermione's face, before she could even greet her friend.

"He asked me to marry him." There was bouncing and suddenly she was in the middle of that all. Red hair blurring her vision as Ginny's arms were wrapped around her.

"Do you want to see the ring?" The bouncing stopped and once more there was Ginny's hand being pushed into her vision once more.

"Congratulations." She was finally able to speak, her hands carefully taking her friends to study the ring. "It's gorgeous."

"Obviously you are the maid of honor and Ron will be best man." The redhead pushed past her into her bedroom. "Be assured I will hex the bouquet so that you will catch it. Ron sometimes needs hints." She winked.

Hermione's breathing stopped.

December 2000 – Draco

"Just hear me out, please." He stood beside his mother in the room she had forbidden him to change. She seemed reluctant but finally nodded.

"I developed a spell that will make it like you are already in my design."

She turned trying to protest, but finally just nodded.

"This is not me agreeing to the remodel, I'm simply agreeing to you showing me."

He had to stop himself from rolling his eyes, that would be counterproductive. So he cast the charm instead. He proceeded to turn his mother around herself, hoping she would like what she saw enough that she would allow the changes.

"There are a lot of bookshelves." Now he did roll his eyes.

"You are the one insisting that this is still Grangers room." He could see his mother's smile out of the corner of his eyes.

"The new furniture will be made in the style of the current furniture and the color scheme will be accordingly as well. The interior designer Bianchi is working with assured me of that."

"It's larger."

"I took out some walls." She laughed at that and startled briefly as he carefully walked her towards the spot where he knew a new wall and door were in his animation.

"There is a large bathroom and closet right here. It should also match the style you so very much value." She was quiet for a long time, moving her head to see the details he had put into his plan of the rooms.

"You may go ahead."

January 2001 – Hermione

To claim she had no idea how she ended up in this dress shop would have been a lie. After all, she did accept to be the maid of honor. Her group was rather small: Molly and Fleur, along with Victorie and Dominique, were the only ones sitting on the fluffy couch beside Hermione. While Angelina had officially been a Weasley for a few months now, she had woken up feeling rather unwell and had excused herself. If Hermione were to guess there was another Weasley on the way.

"Mione, what do you think of this dress?" She glanced over and had to keep from rolling her eyes as she noticed that they were no longer talking about wedding dresses. Instead, there was a blush pink dress in Ginny's arms, which was clearly intended for her maid of honor.

"Pink with all the red hair around?" It was Fleur that spoke before Hermione had a chance to find a nice way of turning the dress down. Thankfully the French girl did have good taste and wouldn't allow this. Ginny shrugged before she hung the dress back up.

"Well what do you think of your dress, dear?" The youngest Weasley had been walking around in this particular model for quite a while now, claiming she needed to make sure that she could move the way she wanted at her wedding.

"It feels good. Mum, what was Ron's favorite color?" Now Hermione did roll her eyes, sure that Ginny was wearing her wedding dress, and now simply stalled to get her to buy a dress that would get Ron to propose on her wedding day.

February 2001 – Hermione

Per her request they weren't in one of the many restaurants, but in a park, secluded from any muggles. There was a canopy over them and they had spread warming charms around their blanket, before starting their meal. It was a great thing to be a wizard or witch at times like this because really their meal wasn't any different from a restaurant bought one.

"Thanks for not wanting to be a big shot." She smiled up at him as she snuggled in his arms after they had cleared the blanket of any food and drinks.

"Well, to be honest I think this will work in my favor with any girl hearing about it, thinking I'm this marvelous romantic." He gave her a sheepish grin, which caused her to roll her eyes. They fell silent, only communicating through the touch of their hands, as they kept entwining their fingers in different ways.

"I was going to ask you something." Ron's soft voice interrupted her thoughts as she abruptly set up. He choked on his laugh as he saw the fear in her eyes.

"Please don't." He stared at her more than confused, as he proceeded to sit up. He caught her hand in his, but she pulled it back. "I can't say yes, please don't make this awkward."

"You can't say yes to moving into my room and leaving your library in your room for good?" He tried to sound light, but his concern was still there.

"Oh." A deep blush tainted her cheeks.

"What were you thinking I was going to ask?"

"Well, Ginny really wants us to get engaged." She turned, so she could stare off to the trees some ways from them, rather than look at him.

"And that would be terrible?"

There was hurt in his voice, she could hear it and she forced herself to meet his eyes.

"Of course not, I'm just not ready. It's not that I don't want you to ask, just not now. Or tomorrow, or maybe even this year at all. Even if I catch the bouquet at the wedding."

He stared at her, until he felt his hand being taken by hers. She could tell that this could go both ways, either they made a joke about Ginny or they started to fight as they had so often right after the war.

"So January 1st, 2002 would be fair game?"

March 2001 – Draco

Once his mother gave the approval the renovations of her beloved room had gone rather fast and finished earlier in the month. Unfortunately, that left Draco with the two wings of the Manor that he had absolutely no idea what to do with. His parent's wing, which he had originally drafted out, but would now be abandoned since his mother wanted to spend her time in the new rooms upstairs, since Lucius wouldn't be returning for a while and of course his own wing.

He was pushing his breakfast around his place, mulling over a few ideas that Bianchi had given him on an early morning floo conversation. He liked them, but not for himself.

"It might help, if you went out to meet the woman you are going to share these rooms with."

"And how do you suggest I do that, without having Potter and his army show up since I violated my house arrest?"

"There are families, I could invite as friends. From what I hear both Daphne and Astoria are still available. I could invite them alongside their mother for some tea and scones."

He didn't even try to soften the glare he sent her. How had it only taken a year and a half for her to go back to trying and marrying him off to some pure-blood witch?

"Marrying Daphne would be like marrying my own sister." Well as far as he could tell, as he didn't have one. "And Astoria…" he trailed off. Well in all honesty a few years ago, he would have considered her a very suitable option. She was kind, raised to be the lady of a house, smart enough to raise their children well educated and of course, she was attractive. "I think she is looking for something different."

His mother gave him a look that told him she didn't believe him but remained silent.

April 2001 – Hermione

She stumbled forward rather clumsily, when her eyes caught a set of gray ones. It would be natural to expect someone with six months of house arrest left in his house, but somehow she hadn't thought of it when she agreed to accompany Narcissa back to the Manor. The witch had invited her for lunch in a nice café and had told her about her son's remodeling efforts and how she was hoping to move into the new rooms herself.

Hermione had reminded her that she hadn't used the room in a long time and it wasn't a problem for Narcissa to move into them as she obviously wanted, but the witch didn't seem satisfied.

"She wanted me to see your masterpiece." She looked away from him, catching sight of the room she was currently standing in. Another carefully remodeled room, and if one hadn't known she wouldn't have suspected to have entered Malfoy Manor now as she stepped out of the fireplace.

"This is beautiful."

"Well Bianchi is considered the best in his field." Her eyes swung back to him. His tone reminding her a little too much of the Draco Malfoy from school. Suddenly swallowing became harder and she closed her lips, forgetting that her teeth were no longer a reason to be teased.

"He did the main rooms that will be used for entertaining, once neither of us is under house arrest."

"Oh." She scolded herself for the unintelligent answer and tried to line up something more educated, as he seemed to give her a conversation piece and his tone had become less hostile.

"Darlings, I'm so very sorry, there was a hold up at the café. Draco, I trust you welcomed our guest." Narcissa's arrival saved her from a response. "This way my dear. Draco, why don't you come along and explain the architecture?"

"Not this time mother, I have work to turn in by the end of the day." Once again Hermione caught his eyes, just to look away. While she didn't believe a word he said, she was glad for the lie. No need of continuing this conversation she was clearly not able to have.

"That's too bad, maybe you can join us another time. I'm sure Hermione would be glad to hear your advice on putting together her new apartment." As Narcissa was already out the door, he simply raised an eyebrow at her. She blushed, before cursing herself for that and hurrying after the older witch.

May 2001 - Hermione

Being seated in the middle of boxes that were unpacking themselves, cuddling her cat tightly to her chest, while she was trying to keep the tears at bay was certainly not how she had imagined moving into her first apartment. Back when Ron asked, she had moved her personal things into his room, leaving her room as a sort of study. With Ginny moving into Grimmauld Place after the wedding though, Hermione had begun looking for her own place. It had been a sort of weird feeling, she knew Ron didn't mind living with the married couple and so she figured she could just hear his opinion when she found a place.

Only the problem had been that the decent places in her price range were highly competitive. It hadn't occurred to her until Ron had accompanied her to this last listing and been waved in by a very happy owner, what the real problem had been. Her ex-husband. After they had left, Ron had surprised her with the idea of moving in together. He made a joke about not wanting to hear what Harry did to his sister, before adding that he liked sharing his space with her. He had even promised she could have the spare room for her library and work supplies just like she would want. He would use space at Georges's store now that he started developing more for his brother's label.

Her eyes went back on the parchment. An owl had arrived with their renting contract. "My name is not even on the contract, Crooks." She weaved her hand through the cat's hair as the tears push past the barrier. "This never ends."

June 2001 – Draco

"Malfoy, how fine of you to host us today."

Draco stood with his eyebrows raised as he turned to his mother. She shrugged before he glanced back at what would have been his friends in the past. There was a lot he might have expected from his birthday, but not Blaise Zabini, Theo Nott and Gregory Goyle occupying what appeared to be new furniture behind his house.

Blaise waved him over, offering one of his cigars. Draco turned, but his mother had already disappeared back into the house and one could only hope she wouldn't return with a group of girls, she seemed fit for him.

"Don't be a grouch. She got special permission from the ministry. Something about getting you reintegrated into society." That was Blaise.

"Not sure if we are the best choice for that, but surely Auror Potter will show up eventually to check up on this gathering." He couldn't help himself, he smirked at Theo's last comment. This could do.

July 2001 - Hermione

Just as the doorknob burned her hand, she remembered. She still stared at the blister as the door finally opened and a guilty-looking Harry stood in front of her.

"Drew the short straw?" Her voice was angry.

"Ron's out." She eyed him for a moment, before drawing her wand and healing the blisters.

"Take me to Shaklebolt."

"Hermione, he is the minister, we can't just waltz in there."

She shrugged: "I can't. But the boy who lived certainly is always welcome."

He stared at her and if at all possible he looked even more guilty now than a few minutes ago.

"You don't have the security clearing to go up there without an appointment."

"Then bring him down here."

"I can't." He looked like he'd prefer to go back into hiding behind the door that she couldn't breach.

August 2001 - Hermione

"How did that make you feel?"

She glared at the healer. Well, that was a good question she hadn't thought of before, and yet here she was paying money to hear it.

"Angry, frustrated, betrayed." She watched the quilt going fast on the pages of parchment. It had been three weeks since her encounter with the door to the Aurors office. Not only had she had a fight with Harry that day, no instead of leaving she had carefully tried each door to each department. A mistake as she could tell as finally Harry had caught up with her and asked her to lunch. Clearly, he had been sent by someone to remove her without actually having to remove her.

"Hurt." She finally mumbled. "Nobody trusts me and it hurts."

September 2001 - Draco

"So two months. Do you feel you are ready for the world opening up again?"

Why did he pay this healer again? Draco put on his best glare, however, the healer seemed to be immune.

"I'm ready to be allowed to do my own shopping and do my job outside of my house."

"That's a relieve I'm sure." He rolled his eyes and grabbed the obligatory water glass.

"Any plans to date?"

All he could do was not spit the water in the healer's face.

"Excuse me?"

"Dating, I'm assuming you are still expected to be married again. How does that make you feel?"

"THIS is none of your business."

October 2001 – Hermione

"I really should have ventured out sooner." She used the napkin to remove imaginary residue of her chin, before smiling at Hermione. "I suppose it is my lost to sticking to the same few restaurants for most of my life."

"Well, there are many more."

"We should make this a more regular thing, my dear. I know you have a life, but I do miss our conversations." She sighed. "And with the two years running out next month, I know Draco will be gone a lot. He wants to study some of Bianchi's buildings in Italy." She gave a soft smile: "Then again, I would want to escape the Manor too. He was a lot more restricted than I had been."

Hermione put a small smile on her lips. Narcissa had just found the reason why these meetings didn't happen more often. While she really liked the older witch, she still wasn't too fond of her son, who also happened to be her ex-husband. And caused feelings deep down that she didn't want to think about. Of course, one was not to forget the memory of a certain night.

"I'm sure he will enjoy that."

"I believe he would have flown to Italy on a broomstick if it wasn't for the temperature." Hermione's smile became a little bit more genuine as she watched Narcissa. Maybe all three of them could finally go back to a normal life.