Sobs racked over her petite form as Ron held her in a tight embrace, the powerful hug filling the empty gap of missed embraces.

Hermione refused to break the embrace, for she felt that if she let go he would evaporate into thin air before her eyes, never to return. Even if the possibility of that happening was nil, she wasn't going to take that chance.

"Oh Ron." She sobbed, a teary smile appearing on her face. "I missed you s-so much! I-I just..." Her words broke off, interrupted by a sob that pushed past her lips.

Ron chuckled despite him quite apparently losing the battle against his tears as they seeped through the cracks of his crumbling bravado. "Bloody hell I missed you so much!"

It was baffling how much Ron had changed. His once unruly red curls looked to be about as long as her own feral brown mane, which fell just above her waist. Auburn stubble dotted his chiselled chin and his arms were canvases displaying bright, vibrant and colourful pictures. She was certain that Molly wouldn't approve of his new look.

As she pulled away Hermione noticed the steady stream of tears that slid down his freckled face, congregating underneath his chin into one fat teardrop.

So the night Hermione had meant to spend on herself ended up being a night filled with tears and reminiscing, and at that particular moment, a strange thought crossed her mind.

"I guess sometimes it is nice to cry."


Hermione heaved a sigh as her gaze swept across the vacant living room. Beams of sunlight seeped through the blinds and streaked over the cardboard boxes that sat on the wooden floor, specks of dust dancing in the air.

No one knew that Hermione was relocating and Hermione felt that it was better that way. Maybe making the move to the Malfoy home was the best for her. It could prove to be the perfect getaway from her troubles, that is if Malfoy doesn't end up become another thorn in her side.

She wrapped her hand around the cool steel handle of her suitcase, and disappeared with the loud crack of apparition.

She reappeared in front of the familiar gates of the Malfoy family home, her stomach in knots. Almost immediately, she spotted the house elf, Atty, standing in front of the gates with her long, nimble fingers clasped together as she patiently waited for the anticipated arrival of Hermione.

"Miss Granger!" A squeaky voice exclaimed, as she caught sight of the frizzy haired witch. Today she wore a pink dress paired with a large pink sunhat, her bat like ears peeking out through two makeshift earholes. Although Hermione thought she looked stunning in her ensemble, she couldn't help but free a bit of her mirth.

"Miss Granger, Master Malfoy is sending me here to show yous to your room in the manor." She squeaked, before extending her long hand to Hermione. "Take Atty hand, Atty will take yous there!"

Hermione took the house elf's hand, and was immediately sucked into the powerful vortex of elf apparition.

"Here we is!" Hermione leaned against the threshold as she tried to shake of the spell of nausea that engulfed her, much to the obliviousness of the house elf. Her gaze flickered over the room, her breath hitched in awe.

Just like Scorpius' room, her bedroom had been done in a house theme, in this case, Gryffindor. The bed, which trumped her old bed tenfold, had been adorned in a silky gold bedspread, with a thick burgundy blanket covering the bottom half of the bed. Two large, maroon pillows were propped against the headboard followed by two gold euro pillows centred in front of them. A maroon accent pillow with a gold lace bow on the face was placed on the forefront of the arrangement. The mahogany headboard had been etched with intricately detailed vines and flowers.

The burgundy curtains, which looked to be of a see through satin material, were lined with golden seams, and from across the bed was a large vanity unit built with an oval mirror and a stool. Next to it was a door that Hermione assumed belonged to the walk in closet, but upon inspection actually led to the ensuite bathroom.

The bathroom, although not Gryffindor themed (as humiliating as it was for her to admit, she had the same expectation for the bathroom) looked just as opulent as her new bedroom.

A large, claw foot tub big enough to accommodate two people sat at the middle of the room, it's surfaces gleaming invitingly. On the far corner was a large shower with a stained glass door. Hermione walked over to the shower, her hands running over the magnificent designs etched into the glass door. The colour scheme of the bathroom was white and peach, with the tub being peach and the tiling for the floor and shower being a checkered peach and white. The mirror, which was rectangular shaped unlike the one in her bedroom, had been sandwiched between two bathroom cabinets and underneath it was the bathroom sink.

Hermione was so enthralled by her new living space that she didn't notice Atty standing behind her. "Do you like it Miss Granger! Atty thinks this place is looking nice but if you don't like it Atty can prepare a new room for yous in no t-" "Atty!" Hermione cut the elf from her rambling. She giggled. For such a small creature she sure was verbose.

"Don't worry yourself. I love it. It's perfect!" At Hermione's acclamation Atty blushed.

"Figured that you'd like it Granger." Startled by the voice that resonated from behind them, both Atty and Hermione jumped. They turned to the source of the voice, where Draco Malfoy stood, hands crossed over his chest and a lazy smirk plastered on his face. "Hello Malfoy. Lovely to see you." Hermione said sarcastically.

"Admiring your living quarters I see?" He asked.

"Yes Malfoy. It is quite lovely. I just figured that you'd put me in one of the dungeon considering how you feel about people of my status."

"I thought I made it clear that blood purity doesn't matter to me any more." He said with a frown, annoyance flashing in his eyes for a brief moment. He sighed, shaking his head as a small smile of resignation crossed his face. "It doesn't matter. Even if I change my views you still won't change your view towards me. Anyway, at the end of the day it isn't about me and you becoming friends. It's about my son becoming the best like his father."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Yeah whatever. Can we go over what I'm supposed to be tutoring Scorpius in?"

"Right, follow me."

The walk to Draco's office was as tense as ever, as their previous conversation, if you could call it that, hung over them.

"Anyway, at the end of the day it isn't about me and you becoming friends." It was strange that she was genuinely hurt by that comment. There was a chance that she could be tutoring Scorpius full time, albeit being a sliver of a chance, and if that was the case then they could at least be a little amicable towards each other.

Once they were inside his study, he took a thin booklet from atop the table and handed it to Hermione. "Everything you need to know is in here." He said curtly. His cold façade was pitched up once again. "You start tomorrow and dinner is at six. In this house we value punctuality so I will not have you coming late. The lady-" He stopped himself with an intake of breath. Hermione raised her eyebrow at his faux par. Was he about to say 'Lady of the House'?

No you're being preposterous. Why would he consider you the Lady of the House?

Shaking it off, Hermione turned and left the room just as Draco had taken a seat behind his desk. As soon as he was sure that Hermione had left the vicinity of his office, Draco allowed himself to unwind. He placed his face in his hands, a huff leaving his lips. "That was close..."

Once inside her new bedroom, Hermione threw herself on the bed, sighing in ecstasy at how soft the bedding was. She kicked off her shoes and snuggled into the pillows, a wistful sigh plastered across her face. Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine that she would be have such a luxurious space to herself, what with her appalling salary from the ministry.

Speaking of which... she still needed to write her letter of resignation. She huffed.

Could she just not wrote it and not turn up for work? She shook her head. No... people would think that she went missing. The last thing she needed was another scandal. She could imagine the headlines already: Golden Girl Hermione Granger Goes AWOL.

It was decided... She would write it after a nice, warm shower.