September 15th

The feeling of being absolutely useless was getting to Hermione. There was a time when she was active and productive and actually felt like she was contributing to their society. Of course, her contributions were generally fairly bloody and a lot of people died because of them, but at least she was doing something. Sitting each day in the cottage owned by the brother-in-law she loathed with every fiber of her being unsure how to even fill up the hours was no way to continue to live. As much as she wasn't looking forward to the violence that she was knew was coming, at least then maybe she wouldn't feel like all she did was waste her time. Fighting against Rodolphus and the cretins he'd managed to seduce to his side would at least be somewhat satisfying.

Approaching Kingsley had obviously been for nothing. She didn't know why she thought he might've been willing to help. What sort of incentive could she even offer? It had been foolish to try, a complete waste of her time. She didn't even know what the plan was, what exactly they were fighting for beyond simple survival. No wonder Kingsley turned her down before she could even get the question out.

Every time she asked Antonin what he was doing, he found some way to brush her off. It was beginning to get annoying. At least she could appreciate him shielding her from what was happening. She didn't have enough energy to fight or strategize. Yes, he was patronizing, but in a way, she didn't mind. It was exhausting always being the one to make plans and decisions. She did so with Harry and Ron because if she didn't, they might've been terribly lost and defeated. That didn't mean she always wanted to play the same role. If she trusted Antonin, which she did, she could prove that by believing him when he said he was working to ensure they had a future worth living for. What sort of marriage could they hope to have if she didn't trust him even when he frustrated her?

She got the impression, even though he wouldn't admit if she confronted him, that Antonin was dealing with people she didn't much care for. What other reason could he have for not telling her at least the names of his potential compatriots? Unfortunately, suspecting he was reaching out with her enemies didn't narrow down the list much. She'd made a large number of them over the years. The most likely would seem to be the Resistance. None of them wanted anything to do with her and if he suggested working with them, Hermione would discourage him without question. They were apt to demand a price they couldn't pay for their help.

Speculating made her tired. Planning a war made her exhausted. What used to excite her no longer did. When she was a mere child searching the country for horcruxes, she took charge because she had to. There was no one else. For the immediate future, she was going to do as little as possible. Her endeavors with both Draco and Kingsley failed. Evidently, she no longer possessed what was required to do the dirty work their present situation required. Maybe Antonin was right.

Sitting around the hated cottage waiting for Antonin to come back from wherever he'd run off to was only going to drive her mad. Determined to remain as sane as possible, Hermione decided it had been too long since she wandered aimlessly through Diagon Alley by herself. In the middle of a Saturday afternoon she could feel comforted by the fact that the wizarding shopping district would be crowded. Maybe she would get strange looks from those who actually believed the drivel the Daily Prophet printed, but at least there would be enough witnesses to discourage any physical attacks. She hoped so anyway. Scribbling off a short note to her husband, she left before she could talk herself out of going.

Just as she suspected, the Alley was crowded with shoppers enjoying a relatively pleasant afternoon. So unlike how the area ended up when the Dark Lord was first in power, there was a happiness and an excitement in the air. Average citizens didn't seem to even be aware that at any moment their peace and tranquility could come crashing down around them. If the wrong person rose to power, they would learn quickly they were fools to be so complacent. For the most part, her presence was ignored. Unlike at the height of her power and influence, Madam Dolohov was no longer feared. Her behavior at the Dark Lord's funeral ensured that. And if she ever had the misfortune to see Albert Runcorn again, she had a few choice words to share with him.

For reasons she couldn't fathom, Hermione ended up in The Junk Shop. Her fascination with Andromeda's shop didn't make any sense nor did the strange pull she felt towards it. Teddy Lupin wasn't overtly rude when she entered, but neither was he overly polite. She was an annoyance, certainly. Just not one that he was determined to kick out. If she had galleons to spend, he would accept them. Of course, if he knew what she did to his beloved grandmother, he wouldn't be so quick to allow her through the front door.

Wandering the cramped aisles of the store, some of the anxiety that pestered Hermione on a daily basis began to lessen. Maybe seeing the happy, smiling faces outside helped her to feel the tiniest bit of optimism about the future. Wouldn't it be nice to feel like a normal person without so many worries and concerns for once? It was almost enough of an incentive to seek out her favorite potion in a dark shop in Knockturn Alley. Almost. She knew that would only be a false serenity, over as soon as the potion wore off to be replaced only by self-loathing.

Maybe she shouldn't have been surprised to turn a corner and almost run straight into Draco, but she was. It had been awhile since he last randomly popped up exactly where she was. Although he did not appear angry, she felt nervous being so close to him again. Would he be reckless enough to try to kiss her even in public? Or was he done trying to be "nice"? There wasn't a smile on his face after all.

"What are you doing here, Draco?"

"Am I not allowed to shop in my cousin's shop just like anyone else?"

She didn't appreciate him being snarky nor evasive. There was only one reason why he would track her down again. Perhaps he already tried to track her to Aubin's dreadful cottage. He was not a wizard that was apt to give up easily. Hermione wanted to end the conversation before it really even began.

"I'm not going to do what you asked. Not even for the list you claim you can get for me."

"Why not? We can both tell there's still chemistry between us. And… I know you want me after our recent kisses."

A smile spread across his lips for the first time. She couldn't deny the truth. There was no need. Feeling a blush to her cheeks, Hermione tried to calm herself before she spoke again. If she wasn't careful, she would reveal more than she wanted to.

"Maybe, but that doesn't mean I appreciate you asking me to whore myself out for the damned list."

The slightest hint of shame colored his features.

"You're right. It was wrong. I just miss you."

Though he sounded sincere, she knew she couldn't trust him. Not until she understood his endgame.

"Did you mean it the other day when you said you were trying to make your marriage work?"

Unlike their previous visit, he wasn't laughing at the very idea that she might have found some reason to remain faithful to her husband. Unsure how to answer him, she sighed and took a few moments to gather her thoughts before speaking.

"I've been learning a lot about Antonin that I didn't know before. Because of what Rodolphus made me believe, he was a stranger. Now… now, yes, I am trying to make my marriage work."

Her answer annoyed him. For the briefest of moments, she almost felt like they were transformed over twenty years into the past when he was still an obnoxious student at Hogwarts strutting around the castle warning everyone that his father would hear about whatever it was they managed to do to disappoint him. It almost made her smile.

"He's still an old man."

She didn't expect his answer. A burst of loud laughter came out of her mouth before she could stop it.

"You seem to have forgotten I'm not some teenager and you're not my lovesick bully fancying me from afar. Grow up, Draco. With the exception of the insanity that was my short-lived romance with Ron, if you could even call it that, I've always been attracted to older men. And Antonin's not even that old. He's a wizard. If he takes care of himself and stops being so dangerous, he'll live at least another hundred years."

"It's still ridiculous."

"No, it's not. Just because you wish to keep fantasizing that we are still young and back in Hogwarts in some sort of forbidden romance doesn't mean I have to. I live in reality. Can't afford to do otherwise."

It wasn't the first time she'd heard the argument that the man she was with was too old for her. Nor did she expect it to be the last. Age didn't mean much to her. Especially not when they had wizarding genes that could allow them live up to two hundred years if they were careful. What did a decade or two here or there matter? Draco reached across the distance between them to gently cup her cheek with his palm.

"You can't deny that we work together. What do you have with Dolohov?"

"A son."

Hermione stepped back from him, knocking his hand from her face in the process. She needed to get away from him. He was too confusing. Every moment she spent in his presence just made her more and more confused. When she spun around on her heel to head for the exit, Draco gently grasped her elbow, heeding her progress.

"I know you, Hermione. He's not going to make you happy."

"And you think you will?"

Not even bothering to wait for his answer, she shrugged out of his grip. She didn't stop moving until she was out of Diagon Alley and standing back in front of the cottage she hated. Before she entered, she took a series of deep breaths, willing her heart rate to return to normal. Why did she allow Draco to have such an effect on her? It was wrong. She was stronger than that.

When she stepped inside the cottage, Antonin was there to greet her with a smile and a kiss. As much as she hated to admit it, even just to herself, she couldn't stop thinking about Draco's statement that she would never find happiness inside her current marriage. Was that true? Did he truly believe that or was he just trying to mess with her head?