A/N:Chapter 2! Here it is hope you enjoy!

Chapter 2 Bad Thoughts

A week had passed since her visit to Malfoy Manor and her strange encounter with Malfoy. Hermione had shoved it to the back of her mind and thrown herself into work and her family. After their argument over the family dinner, Hermione took the next afternoon off and spent it in Diagon Alley with Ron and Hugo. She even visited Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, pretending to be interested in their new line of love potions for sale. Since then Ron and Hermione had fallen back into their usual brushing the arguments aside for another day and making an effort to be nicer to each other. All thoughts of Draco Malfoy were out of her head until she was reminded by Ethel. It was the following Thursday and she was sat in her office having lunch with Ron and Ethel decided to buzz through on the speaker.

"Minister. Mr Malfoy still hasn't been in contact. Today is his deadline. Would you like me to send him an Owl?"

Ron let out an aggravated sigh as Hermione quickly mouthed an apology, before replying through the speaker.

"No thank you Ethel. Give him till the end of the day and if he still hasn't replied I will deal with it then."

Picking back up her cheese sandwich Hermione took a bite as she smiled sweetly at Ron.

"So have you given it any more thought?." Ron finally said as he looked at her effectively.

"To what?" She asked with a puzzled expression.

"Having another baby Hermione. What else have we been arguing about for weeks?"

Hermione threw down her sandwich as she leaned back in her chair and took a deep breath in an attempt to keep calm.

"Not this again Ron. We've been through this a million times."

"Yes and we still haven't reached any conclusion." Ron told her. "Hermione I really want us to have another baby. This last week has been great. You've spent more time at home and with Hugo. I thought maybe you were coming round to the idea."

"No. I was just trying to spend less time at work and show you that I care." Hermione complained. "Honestly Ronald. You can't think that another baby is the answer to our problems."

"What do you mean Hermione?"

Hermione let out a sad sigh. "Things aren't good Ron. We're always arguing and I work too much I know. But at the same time you need to understand that my job is important to me."

"Well how do you expect things to be good when you're hardly ever home?" Ron said, raising his voice slightly.

"There you go again. You don't get it at all. This is an important job. I'm minister for christ sake!"

"So what being a wife and a mother takes a back seat?!" Ron yelled.

Hermione hushed him. "Keep your voice down Ron! People will hear you."

"Oh would hate for people to know what a shambles the Minister for Magic's marriage is!" Ron remarked cruelly.

Hermione felt a lump form in her throat as she desperately tried not to cry. "Is that really what you think of me?"

Ron stared down at his shoes awkwardly as he avoided her gaze. It was at that moment there was a knock at the door. They both stared at each other sadly.

"Please don't answer that." Ron begged her.

Feeling hurt and annoyed, Hermione ignored his pleas and called for the person to enter. She was very surprised to see Draco enter her office. Only this version of Draco was much different to the one she had seen the previous week. His luminous silver hair was combed neatly behind his ears, his face was clean shaven revealing a more youthful appearance and he was dressed smartly in black robes. Hermione couldn't help but admire his transformation.

"Sorry I'm not interrupting anything am I?" He asked looking questioningly from Ron to Hermione.

Hermione looked at Ron searching his face for an answer.

"No." He abruptly announced as he grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair. "I was just leaving."

"Ron, wait." Hermione halfheartedly called out after him. But it was no use he had already pushed his way past Draco and was walking down the hall.

"Is everything OK?" Draco asked lingering in the doorway.

Hermione took a deep breath as she composed herself.

"Yes please come in. Take a seat."

Malfoy shut the door behind him as she motioned him to take a seat opposite.

"Are you sure now is alright? Because I heard yelling from…"

"I said it's fine." Hermione insisted once more.

Ignoring her tone Malfoy continued.

"So as you can see I'm here. After much consideration I have decided that I would like to return to work. Part time to begin with."

"That's brilliant." Hermione said enthusiastically. "I'm so pleased that you decided to come back. As for your hours we can hash that out another time. The main thing is that you've returned."

"Yes well you were right. " Malfoy admitted with a painful smile. "Astoria wouldn't want this. Also I want Scorpius to feel like he can come home on the holiday and not be worried about what state his father is in."

Hermione nodded sympathetically. "It's the best decision you could have made. Now if there isn't anything else I have a few deadlines I need to get back to…"

" Actually there was something." Malfoy said cutting her off. "Last week you left my house in rather a hurry. I was just wondering why?"

"I was busy. I had to get back to the office."Hermione lied feebly.

"I see." Draco said, looking thoughtful. "It's just. You looked rather flustered and uncomfortable."

Hormone blushed slightly at the memory touch on her skin.

"Anyway. I'll leave you to it." Draco said as he rose from his chair. "See you later Hermione."

She watched as he confidently marched his way out of her office. Hermione was relieved to have less contact with Draco in the coming weeks after his return. In fact the only communication she received was his daily owls to report his attendance at work. The less contact she had the less she was reminded of their encounter at Malfoy Manor. Work went on steadily during this time and Hermione was making great progress with her bill to abolish the law to have house elf's working in wizarding homes. Her home life was not as successful. Since there argument in her office, Ron had moved into the spare bedroom and they only spoke when Hugo was around. Things were worse than ever and Hermione was unsure how to resolve the problem. She couldn't speak to Ginny, her best friend, because it was her brother. Hermione even considered seeking marriage counselling but that would mean having to accept that there was actually a problem. She hoped for a distraction from her problems and sure enough one presented itself to her. It was a drizzly day in November and as Hermione was getting ready to leave the office and mentally preparing herself for another tense evening at home, there was a knock on her office door.

She looked up to see Draco standing in her

doorway with an uncharacteristically welcoming smile spread across his face.

"Good evening Draco. Can I help you?"

" Yes I was going to ask you a favor. But you look as if you're on your way home. So never mind."

"No. It's fine I'm in no rush." Hermione said far too keenly causing Draco to raise his eyes slightly. "What is it you were going to ask?"

"Well. Scorpius has agreed to come home for Christmas. But the house is kind of crawling with reminders of Astoria everywhere so I thought I would go through some of her things. I don't want it to feel like we're leaving everything out as if she's coming back one day. But I'm not sure I can do it alone. I know this is highly inappropriate and we aren't exactly friends. But I don't really have anyone I can ask and well. Honestly, you're the only person who has shown me the slightest bit of kindness."

Hermione looked at him with a faint smile.

"Blast what's appropriate. I will happily help you."

"Thank you. Honestly I am really grateful. I'll see you there well any moment after me?"

Hermione nodded with a smile as she watched him leave. As she watched him leave she wandered to herself why she had agreed to be alone with him. Brushing the thoughts aside and preposterous she prepared to leave the office and apparate to Malfoy Manor.

An hour or so later, Hermione found herself sat in the kitchen of Malfoy Manor. It was as equally dark as the rest of the house despite the various collections of rustic wall lights hanging from the walls. Hermioned wondered if the Malfoys had ever considered brighter colors as the entire house seemed to be etched in dull shades of black and grey. Hermione had assumed that herself and Draco would get straight to sorting through Astoria's things, not that she was looking forward to the task, but it was her sole reason for being there. However, on arrival Malfoy had took her coat and presented her with a large glass of red wine and ordered her into the kitchen where she currently sat watching him cook. Hermione had insisted she wasn't hungry but Draco was adamant on providing her with food.

"You didn't have to go to so much trouble." Hermione stated for the umpteenth time.

" Well knowing how busy you are I presumed you hadn't had time for food. Also I am hungry so I might as well."

" Speaking of food. What are you making?" Hermione asked peeing over to the boiling pot on the stove that was currently emitting pleasant aromas of meat.

" It's a chicken stew with dumplings recipe. I started it last night. So it should be done soon."

Hermione paused for a moment to give him a puzzled look.

"So what. Did you have this whole thing planned? "

"When you put it that way you make it sound so sordid? '' Draco remarked. "Honestly Granger did you think I was using my dead wife's belongings as an excuse to be alone with you?"

"Oh Draco. No. I'm so sorry…"

" Relax." Draco said with a cool laugh. "I'm winding you up."

Hermione smiled pleasantly. Surprised at how at ease she felt in his company.

" Speaking of the other half's. Was Ron OK with you coming here?"

Hermione winced slightly. Draco raised his eyebrows at her in shock.

" Don't tell me the honest Hermione Granger lied to her husband?"

"Please don't make me feel worse than I already do. I hate lying to Ron." Hermione groaned.

"Why did you lie?" Draco asked.

"Because he wouldn't understand. So I told him I was working. Not that he even really cared. "

The playful smile faded from Draco's mouth slightly as he noted a tone of sadness as she spoke. Alluding to something else. But he wasn't sure what it was.

"Well. I think dinner may be ready." Draco announced as he swiftly changed the subject.

Reaching his wand into the air he wordlessly enchanted the cutlery and plates as they began to serve steaming bowls of stew. The two of them sat down to dinner and ate in understanding but not awkward silence. Hermione relished in a tasty home cooked meal as it wasn't something she was accustomed to these days. She felt that she should tell Draco how delicious his cooking was but she faltered to find the right words. Eventually when the food was done,she thanked him and this time she set about using her magic to clear up the mess. Draco had noticed Hermione's glass was empty so he went about refilling it to the brim.

She took the glass from him and waited for him to indicate something. Eventually when he had gulped half his own glass and refilled it once more, he motioned to upstairs. Hermioned followed him as he led them to the long winding staircase, down a long hallway until they stopped outside a bedroom.

" I thought I should go through her clothes first. That seemed to make sense."

Hermione nodded. "Whatever is best for you."

Following into the bedroom Hermione felt a wave of sadness wash over her. The room although as equally dark as the rest of the house held an instant warmth. It was decorated so delicately and perfectly in a way only somebody with taste could achieve. That someone clearly being Astoria. A king sized four poster bed stood centre to the room, draped with black silk curtains and sheets and the bed was delicately carved from dark mahogany wood. Hermione trailed her fingers across the elegant wood as she struggled to face the task they had ahead, but as she turned to see Malfoy cowering in the threshold of the doorway she knew he wasn't ready to face this.

"Come on." She said kindly as she held up her glass of wine. "Let's go back to the kitchen."

"No." Draco snapped. "We're going to sort this stuff out."

Hermione came to stand in front of Malfoy so she could look into his eyes sympathetically.

"You don't have to do this. You're not ready and that's OK."

"But then you came here for nothing Granger."

Hermione shook her head. "Not nothing. We're going to go have a drink and continue the nice conversation we're having."

As Hermione flounced out of the room, Draco breathed a thankful sigh as he hastily shut the door and followed Hermione back down the hall.

Half an hour later they were once again sitting comfortably in the kitchen sharing a second bottle of wine. As the evening had progressed Hermione felt more at ease in his company, and as the wine was being drunk she found herself shuffling closer and closer to Draco. The company was nice and Hermione couldn't remember the last time she had laughed and smiled this much. She was so relaxed that she hadn't even noticed the time until Draco suddenly looked at his watch.

"Wow. It's nearly 9:30pm. Do you usually work this late Hermione?"

He raised his eyebrows suspiciously as he said it.

"Yes actually." Hermione said defensively. "There's times when I don't even get home till eleven. It's so late that everyone's in bed already and I always have to bash my way through the dark to the spare bedroom. Trust me that's a task in itself!"

"Spare bedroom?" Draco said with a puzzled look. "What's that all about?"

Hermione grimaced as she realised the impact her words had. There was silence until Draco suddenly apologised.

" I'm sorry. That's really inappropriate isn't it?"

Hermione didn't know if it was the alcohol or the constant battle of pretending everything was perfect. But suddenly she was letting her guard down.

"Actually I sleep in the spare room most of the time these days."

"So do my study" Draco admitted with a shrug. "But that's because my wife is dead and I can't bear to sleep in our bed without her. Why can't you sleep in your marital bed?"

"I don't know." Hermione said honestly as she nervously clutched her glass close to her chest. "I can't remember the last time we slept in the same bed let alone did anything else in it. I'm always at work and even when I am home we're always arguing. We've always been so happy. Then this last year we've just drifted. I'm not sure we want the same things anymore."

Draco said nothing, he just sat staring at her intently listening.

She tried to compose herself as she realised just how much she had let slip.

"I'm so sorry Draco. Please ignore me. I'm just a bit tipsy."

"Hermione. Did you know that apart from my wife you are the only other woman I ever had feelings for."

Draco spoke so out of character that Hermione was stunned into silence.

"It's true." Draco informed her. "Throughout the whole of my time at Hogwarts I was so infatuated with you. But it was so complicated. I was taught to hate people like you. It was all so wrong and confusing. That's why I dated Pansy. I thought it was what I was supposed to do. I thought it would help. It didn't."

"Draco. What on earth are you saying? You made my life hell!" Hermione gasped. "Why?"

Draco took a hold of her hand at this moment. Hermione knew she should have batted it away, but the feeling of his fingers touching hers was so inviting. She instinctively felt her fingers entwine themselves with his.

"I was only horrible to you because I couldn't have you and it was confusing. So I wanted to hurt you because I thought it would make me feel better. But it didn't. I am so sorry I made you feel that way."

Draco drew his lips just inches away from Hermione's, they were so close that Hermione could feel the warmth of his breath on her face. It was all so new and alluring and she was ashamed to admit that she liked the way it made her feel.

"I've always wondered what it would be like to kiss you. Even if it was just once." Draco whispered to her seductively.

Just as Hermione felt her lips edge dangerously close to his, the booming chimes of the grandfather clock made her jump causing them to break apart.

"Look at the time." Hermione shrieked as she pointed to the clock that had struck 9:30pm."I really should get going."

Draco was watching Hermione grab her stuff in a frenzy, he tried to reach out for her hand to offer her some reassurance. However, this time she flinched at his touch.

"I really should go." Hermione repeated ignoring his advances.

Without another word she marched her way out of the kitchen and the only noise that followed was the loud clang of the door slamming shut. Draco slumped down in a pitiful mess, rubbing his eyes frantically as he wandered why he had tried to kiss Hermione Granger.

A/N: Things are going to get more interesting Chapter 3! Thanks for reading so far hope you keep reading!