Author's Note:

More bad news... (Or: I like making Draco suffer) And Astoria does offer an olive branch in this chapter.

Again, many thanks to MusicLover19 for beta-reading!

And lots of love to everyone who leaves a comment on my story! I treasure every single one of them... :-)

Officially History

It took Draco a full week to agree to take Hermione out on a walk through Diagon Alley, meeting up with the Potters. Having the Head Auror join them did ease his conscience as he was worried about Hermione's safety more than ever now.

It had been the worst week of his adult life.

The bad news had kept coming in, with more and more countries forcing them to pull their devices off the market as well as withdraw their investments in local companies. Their financial situation was a complete shamble—sale numbers at a record low, and the fine from the court verdict eating up their reserves.

"A Sickle for your thoughts," Hermione whispered as they left the Leaky Cauldron for the Alley; with a worried expression, she pulled him into a corner. "Are you still thinking about yesterday?"

He nodded, putting up a smile to appease her, and maybe the knot forming in his throat as well. "I never thought I had to tell my employees that I'm forced to lay them off. It's just... It's a nightmare. Everything I ever achieved is slipping through my hands."

"I know, I know," she said with a sad smile as she pulled him down for a soothing kiss on his lips. "Thanks for coming with me today... Maybe, it'll distract you a bit."

"At least you'd still take me even if I lost everything." Eager to prolong the feel of her lips on his, he gently framed her head with his hands, his fingers digging into the hair on the sides. For all he cared, they could stay in the corner all afternoon and keep sharing kisses.

They could take everything away from him, he would not give her back. He'd gladly give his fortune and rather live in infamy as long as she stayed with him. No one else made his soul feel at peace, even now; and no one else made him feel as much at home as she did.

She was all he needed.

So, he deepened the kiss, soaking up the warmth the touch of her lips provided and relishing in every swirl of their tongues. He let a small moan vibrate in his chest when she expanded her magic to wrap them in it; it always felt like a breeze blowing away his sorrows, something he craved a lot these days.

"There you are."

Startled by the interruption, they pulled apart, only to find Ginny smiling at them, hands on her hips. Hermione even took a step back, although she reached for Draco's hand to twine their fingers. "Sorry."

Ginny's smile only widened in response before she had a quick look back. "Don't worry. It's nice to see that things still seem to work out between you... Harry was held up in the Leaky Cauldron, as usual. He should be here any moment."

"How's the family doing?" Draco asked; he still felt a little elevated from the kissing just moments before, but he was glad for Ginny's presence. Two sets of eyes saw more than one.

"Mum's still pissed at the Prophet, how they could dare to treat her family like this. My dear brother refused to speak about it the last time I saw him, but–"

"He's livid." Harry finally joined them, pushing his glasses back up as he stepped next to his wife. "Although, I think he's more worried about Pansy. That bad?"

"Harry, please," Hermione said, throwing him a warning glare just as she squeezed Draco's hand in comfort. "Not today."

"Even worse," Draco said with a sigh, immediately covering with a tired smile. He wished he could Apparate back to his place and just spend the rest of the day in bed, with Hermione in his arms. But at least she was holding his hand—it had to be enough for the next hour, he had promised her.

Harry nodded in acknowledgement and then turned around to the street, ready to start their little stroll. "Let's go."

..

Draco let the others lead the way through the street, barely keeping up with the conversations they shared, but keeping a tight hold on Hermione's hand as she walked beside him. Her touch was the grounding that kept his thoughts from straying too far.

He had worked so hard to build up the company, to do it the right way, and now everything had been taken from him, and he felt like being pushed back into the hole he had thought to have escaped. So, it was one of his worst moments to see the sad and disappointed faces of his employees when he had to tell them the bad news the day before.

"Oh my goodness! They have restocked on Broom Polish!" Ginny squealed as they reached the Quidditch Supplies shop a few minutes later. She added another squeal when she discovered the broom showcased in the window. "The new Firebolt Supreme XII! Damn, I wish I was still an active player... Imagine riding this broom on the Quidditch field!"

They all joined Ginny in front of the window, with Draco standing behind them all, one of his arms around Hermione's waist.

"It is a fine broom," he admitted with a weak smile in response to Ginny's excitement. "But it looks like you can only preorder them at the moment."

"Hey, isn't that...?" a young witch said behind them, with an excited giggle following her words; it made the friends all turn around to her mortification.

"It is her!" her friend said, holding the other from running away, only to finally notice the questioning looks on them all. "Oh by Merlin! We're sorry to disturb you! It's just...It's just, we're big fans of the Holyhead Harpies, and we–"

"We think you were the best Chaser they ever had!"

Draco couldn't help but smirk at Ginny's deep red cheeks in response to the praise she had just received. For once, he was glad he wasn't the one being recognised, and from what he saw, it seemed the same for Harry, who was still well-known enough to be recognised even by those who had only been born after the blasted War.

"Thank you," Ginny finally said, stepping up to the young witches. "Nice to know I still have some fans."

"Oh, we still totally have Harpies jerseys on our walls with your name on it!"

"Would you... Would you give us an autograph?" the second young witch said, her face brightened up with a happy grin as she tried to fumble through her pockets and her bag. "I mean, only if you are okay with it, of course."

"Must be nice to be recognised for an achievement like this," Draco whispered so that only Hermione could hear him; in response she squeezed his hand that was still on her stomach.

She tilted her head to look at him before placing a soft, comforting kiss on his cheek. "I'm sure that people still think similarly about you and what you did..."

Harry joined them as they all watched Ginny exchange a few more words with her fans and finally scribble her signature on a set of parchments. "She sometimes teases me that I still get recognised more often than her. But usually, it's just the odd look and pointing."

Straightening up without letting go of Hermione in front of him, Draco nodded. "Yes, used to be the same for me. These days, I hear some of the old insults returning whenever I'm walking alone. It's nice to be ignored, to be honest."

Harry nodded, pushing his glasses up again, before hiding his hands in the pockets of his coat and taking a look around, checking every passing person. "I heard rumours–"

"Harry, please, not tonight," Hermione intervened with a stern look before Draco could even say something. "The week's been hard enough!"

"It's okay," Draco said as he tried to appease her with a kiss on her temple. For a moment, he wasn't so sure any longer who protected whom exactly: however, her protectiveness was endearing.

"It's not," she whispered, worry shining through in her voice as she leaned against him; she kept glaring warningly at Harry to shush him. But then she turned around to face Draco, wrapping her arms around him for a hug. "I just want you to forget your sorrows for a little while, okay? Tomorrow's going to be tough enough."

Ginny came back, her cheeks still tainted with red but smiling happily which changed into a more worried expression as she joined them again. "Hermione, you okay?"

Hermione chuckled as she turned back into her previous position with her back leaning against Draco. "Thanks, I'm fine. Only had to stop the boys from talking business."

Ginny clicked her tongue before letting out an exasperated sigh as she stepped in front of her husband. "Harry, you promised."

"I'm not going to win this one, am I?" Harry asked with a rather sheepish grin, only to appease her with a quick kiss on her lips. "Now, let's go on. I think the book store is having a sale."

Draco mocked a groan when he saw Hermione's face light up at the prospect of a book sale, but then kissed her cheek before taking her hand to join the others who were a few steps ahead. "I see, I get to play your book mule–"

"Tz." She couldn't hide her laugh and nudged him in the side.

"Happily so, though."

..

"Looks like I wasn't imagining things."

"Kerr! What are you doing here?" Ginny hissed as she stepped out of the shop behind Hermione, eager to get a hand on her colleague. She was only stopped by Harry being fast enough to catch her arm, even though he struggled to keep his hold on her.

Kerr didn't budge an inch when Draco approached him in the hopes of intimidating the reporter. "I just wanted to make sure that I really saw what I saw. And I wasn't disappointed. So, you are back to dating as it seems? Is Ms Granger helping you get through the loss of your company?"

Hermione joined them, demonstratively grabbing Draco's hand. "Yes, we are dating again. Print it on the front page for what I care."

Draco tried to get out of Hermione's grip; however, her tight hold only fed into his growing irritation about being so shamelessly followed. Kerr certainly had the knack of showing up at the most inappropriate moments. "Yes, as Ms Granger said, we are dating again. The rest is private."

Kerr let out a short laugh, glancing over to Ginny behind them as he cocked his eyebrow. "Well, I have to say, it is curious after so many years. And then there are those rumours–"

"Rumours?" Draco demanded to know, taking a menacing step forward, invading Kerr's space, just as Hermione tried to pull him back. The fingers of his still free hand ran over the wood of his wand that was still hidden in his pocket. "You mean those saying that me and my friends never changed our ways? Utter crap! You just love riling people up–"

"I wouldn't have given Mr Malfoy a chance in the first place if that had been the case all those years ago, and we wouldn't be dating now. Make sure to quote me correctly." Hermione finally managed to pull him back a step, only to threaten Kerr with a warning glare herself. "Now, leave us in peace, or you'll regret it."

"Let go of me!" Draco hissed at Hermione as she repeatedly caught his hand again to pull him back. "I gave this idiot an interview only a few weeks ago, and now he and his friends call me a Death Eater again–"

"I know. But it's a waste of energy to argue with them; they won't listen–"

"Oh, I know, Hermione!" Gripping his wand tighter in its pocket, Draco glared at her for a second before he took a deep breath. "I'm just tired of being called things I am not, okay?"

"Just because your Dark Mark might have faded, doesn't mean you are now above suspicion," Kerr said with a challenging grin before turning to Hermione. "And to be honest, it's simply appalling to see you cuddling up to Mr Malfoy. No need to spread your legs out of gratitude–"

Kerr didn't get any further as Hermione stopped him with a vicious slap, hard enough to let his jaw joints pop. She was at his throat before the others even had the chance to catch her. "You piece of crap! You have no idea what I've been through!"

"Hermione! Stop it!"

It took the joint effort of both men to finally pull her off Kerr, struggling against the sheer force of her anger. Kerr let out gurgling sounds just before they managed to pry her hands off his throat, and he kept struggling to breathe; his neck showed several scratches that suspiciously looked like talon marks. It fell to Draco to calm her down enough while Harry dealt with Kerr.

Only his clenched jaw showed that Harry was just as angry about the vicious remark, yet he managed to keep his presence collected. "Leave now, or I'll have you arrested for harassment–"

"She attacked me!"

"You provoked her. I have enough witnesses who would say that it was self-defense." Harry took a deep breath after a quick glance over to Hermione who was watching him with a fire in her eyes he had barely ever seen. "Leave now."

"You lot will have enough chance to gloat tomorrow at the press conference," Draco added with a small growl.

Kerr lifted his hands in an appeasing gesture, before he took a step to the side to leave the spot. "Oh, I'll be there, Mr Malfoy. And it will be my pleasure to watch your fall."

Draco only let go of Hermione when Kerr was finally out of sight, glad that she had regained control over herself. However, now that he was relaxing, the exhaustion came crushing back, until all he wanted was to crawl back into his bed and just hide.

"Can we leave now?" Hermione asked, her voice sounding just as tired.

"Sure," Ginny replied with an appeasing smile, looking up from exchanging a few words with Harry. "The next Apparition point isn't far away..."

..

The following day, the press conference took place in the small press conference room at Draco's company.

Of course, Hermione was there as well, and she watched from behind the curtain at the sides of the small stage area. Her heart was heavy and full of worry because Draco had not slept at all the night before, troubled by what he was about to tell the world.

His old insecurities had come back, and it had taken all her patience and compassion to calm him; it had brought her to her own limits, trying not to get triggered.

And now, he stood on that damn stage waiting for Blaise to finish his introduction, looking as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders, his face blank yet his jaws clenched.

She caught Blaise throwing a glance in her direction and nodding towards Draco before he returned his attention to the audience. Then moments later, Pansy reached for her hand to pull her on stage as well.

"They are going to ask about you anyway since you made the headlines this morning..."

The murmuring noise amongst the reporters in the audience grew as soon as they saw her, and then the first reporters started asking about their relationship, whether it was true that they were dating again. Hermione felt an unease creep up in her; but then she focused on Draco next to her. She wished she could just tell him that everything was going to be okay, but that would be a lie.

He sighed when she twined her hand with his, and he relaxed momentarily. "I... Thanks."

""Ladies and Gentlemen, we aren't here to discuss the private lives of Mr Malfoy and Ms Granger… So I request you keep your questions strictly business-related." After a scowl into the horde of reporters, Blaise turned around with a questioning look. "You ready?"

Reluctantly, Draco nodded, his jaw clenching once more. After one last squeeze of her hand, he stepped forward to take Blaise's place, pulling out a piece of parchment that had a few words scribbled on it.

Just as Draco cleared his throat, Hermione's attention was drawn to the other side of the stage, where Blaise was just in time to catch Astoria who was about to collapse. To her relief, Astoria seemed stable enough with the support of her husband.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Draco started with a strained voice. "As of today, Malfoy Company is history. We're officially out of business–"

The rest of his words were drowned in the ensuing flood of questions.

..

"Where...? Where am I?"

Startled, Hermione looked up from her book she had found in the depths of her bag, only to take a deep breath in relief as she uncurled her legs and leaned forward on her chair; she cautiously reached out to offer some comfort. "You're at the hospital, Astoria. You broke down at the press conference, but everything is fine."

Astoria groaned as she tried to open her eyes, covering them with her hands before she sighed deeply. "Nothing is fine. We lost the company, Hermione—it was our life, damn it... And you heard all the questions and the rumours about still being Death Eaters and such; how is that fine? And why are you even here? Where's Blaise?"

"Look, I know how hard it is to lose everything you work hard for; I-I lost everything too once. And it was all Draco could talk of last night..."

Astoria took a deep breath and nodded, her hands still covering her face. "It's... It's hard. We all barely slept."

Hermione nodded. "I tried my best to help him calm down enough."

"You really try to take care of him..." Astoria finally turned her head to look at Hermione, her pale lips pressed into the thinnest of smiles.

"Yes. I owe it to him," Hermione said with a quiet voice. "He–He saved me from a hell, you know? And I will always be grateful for that. I did make a mistake all those years ago, yes, and maybe I can never really make amends for it. All I can do is try..."

The moment of heavy silence in the room weighed heavily on Hermione; a deep sigh escaped, even though it didn't help at all to relieve her. "And I'm really sorry for hurting you all."

Astoria nodded, closing her eyes again, her hands on her belly, stroking it gently.

"Blaise is resting in another room; the Healer gave him a Draught to get some sleep. He was exhausted."

"They gave me some too, didn't they?"

"No, I don't think so..." Her lips curled into an apologetic smile, Hermione shook her head. "But the baby is fine, from what I could hear. Probably going to be as headstrong as its mother."

"Thanks."

Hermione leaned back, glad that Astoria seemed to do well enough, despite still looking a little pale. "Believe me when I say that I'll do anything to protect you all, but especially Draco..."

Her hands still on her belly, Astoria once more turned her head to look at Hermione; however, this time, her eyes were slightly narrowed in confusion. "Anything? I don't like the sound of that word..."

"I mean it–"

"Don't tell me you have a plan!"

Hermione nodded hesitantly, but then sprang up when Astoria tried to sit up. "Please, you should rest–"

"For Merlin's bloody sake! Draco tries to keep you safe, and you think it's a good idea to play hero." Astoria pushed her hands away and managed to prop herself up in a sitting position, albeit groaning from the effort. "Hermione, please–"

"Look, I know that I am the reason why this is happening, that the company was targeted to make him give me back to those people. I know there is a way to stop them once and for all–"

"You Gryffs really never give up hope, do you?"

Hermione shook her head adamantly. "No. Not if we try to save those we love." With a defeated sigh, she returned to her chair, rearranging her hair in another bun to keep them out of her face. "If there is something I've learned in the War, then it's that everyone has a weak point. And they have one too. I feel like it's in front of my eyes, I just haven't seen it yet."

"Does he know about it?"

Again, Hermione shook her head, although much more hesitantly than before. "I wanted to tell him when I had it figured out. I-I didn't want him to worry... Besides, he didn't tell me either that he received a threat."

Astoria rearranged her pillow carefully for more support in her back. "It wasn't the first he received, and it probably won't be the last."

"But you've seen what they can do–"

"Yes, we did. Or why do you think I'm in here? All that stress isn't exactly helpful when you're pregnant..."

Hermione didn't know what to say in response, running her hands over her hair and showing a faint smile. The guilt returned with a pang; it had been a small nagging reminder in the back of her mind ever since the trial, the day she understood what was going on.

The creature in her head screeched for revenge, to make them pay for what they had done to her friends. The anger lowkey throbbing through her veins was tempting, even more so the urge to hunt them down and destroy everything in her path.

One of these days, she might just do exactly that, seek revenge.

"Hermione? Are you okay?"

Astoria's concerned voice pulled Hermione from her short musings; she covered her state of mind with a smile. "I'm fine. Was just distracted by... Ugh." She tapped her temple because she couldn't get the words out in front of Astoria.

Astoria started to comb her fingers through the ends of her hair in an attempt to bring back some order. Her eyes ever so slightly narrowed, she studied Hermione for seemingly endless seconds before she curled her lips into a soft smile. "I remember the memories. Is it...? I mean, is it like a second voice in your head?"

"Sort of," Hermione replied, returning the smile. "It's not exactly like a voice, more like a growing feeling demanding attention. These days, it's angry a lot."

"Anger, that's something I can relate to..." Braiding her hair loosely, Astoria nodded in acknowledgement. "I was angry a lot while you were gone, and to some extent I still am. But Daphne said something that stuck with me, you know?"

"I'm sorry for hurting you–"

"I know, I know." Astoria sighed. "All I mean is that my sister said is... We all suffered enough. You too. She is right, you know?"

Hermione nodded, her heart beating faster, although she tried to contain her nervousness; it was still a sore point between them. "Thanks."

"You better make him smile again, because Merlin knows he deserves it!"

"Astoria, I am willing to do a lot of things," Hermione replied fiercely, finally letting her nervousness take over. "And I promise, I'll make them pay for what they are doing to all of you."

Just as Astoria wanted to respond, the door opened and a Healer came inside. The missing stripes on her shoulder indicated that she was a trainee, tasked to keep an eye on patients like Astoria. "Oh, you finally woke up, Mrs Zabini."

"Yes, and I feel fine." Paying only the barest of attention to the trainee, Astoria shot Hermione a glare and shook her head; meanwhile, the trainee sent a quick note out of the room with the swish of her wand before returning her attention to her patient.

"Glad to hear. Healer Shing will be here in a moment to have a look."

"At least bring me some water, will you?" Astoria sighed, but added a tired smile as a faint attempt to excuse her rather rude tone. "And wake my husband."

Just as the Healer-in-training left the room, her superior entered. "I'm Healer Shing, and I'm glad to see you awake and alert, Mrs Zabini. Now, we do need to run a few checks; just routine spells, nothing to worry about."

"As long as you tell me that I can go home..."

Hermione rose to her feet and made to leave the room, but a touch on her hand stopped her. She turned around to see that Astoria had reached out to her. "I thought you might want some privacy for those checks."

Astoria shook her head and lay back down on her bed. "Stay. It would be nice to have you with me."