Monday, May 13th, 2003.

Hermione groaned at her alarm clock that morning. After spending her Saturday sleeping and recovering from the worst hangover of her life, she'd spent her Sunday buried in self depreciating thoughts, and loneliness. The only way she'd found to forget had been to work her mind off and it had worked to some extent. But it hadn't been enough, and she'd had to refrain herself from going back to Hog's Head to drink her sodding mind into oblivion. She'd decidedly chosen to work all night instead, so that now she had to get up quickly, after having slept only three hours, if she didn't want to face a crowded atrium.

She walked quickly down the street, the early sun hurting her eyes. The reflection on the shops windows reminded her that they were in may. She'd have to stop wearing cloaks if she didn't want to suffocate. She arrived at work a bit later than she'd wished to, but got lucky as she didn't encounter anyone willing to speak to her.

Tracey arrived just after her and seemed to see right away that Hermione wouldn't speak much. She just said good morning and went straight to work. And it was a relief.

At eleven o'clock she received a note, labelled personal. Thank Merlin for Tracey Davis.

Would you join me for lunch? I have a few questions about a regulation and I'd also enjoy a chat.

Err. Hermione didn't feel like having a chat, at all. She sighed, she'd spent a lonely and pathetic week-end, and she liked Astoria. Her company would be better than depressing thoughts.

Agreed.

Blaise was in a good mood. He'd ended up in bed with Astoria Greengrass on Friday night, and had stayed this time. Saturday morning shags were his new favourites. The only thing that had wronged the rest of his week-end had been Astoria insisting that she needed to work. On a bloody Saturday.

He'd found the address of an ex on the coffee table once he'd apparated back home, and had spent a very pleasant Saturday night and Sunday morning as well though. A tiny voice at the back of his mind, strangely resembling Draco's, had warned him that it could very well blow up in his face to stay over, but he'd ignored it.

This morning he'd found new staff members, and had received a call from his reasoning but ignored voice. So, late as always, he arrived at the Leaky Cauldron to meet Draco for lunch.

"Hermione!" At the call Hermione went to sit facing Astoria at the far end of the almost empty cafeteria. She smiled as the witch started with work right away.

"My head of department, McMillan, I believe you know him …"

"Ernie yes."

"Right, he asked me to see if it would be possible for you to review one of our new regulations. He found inconsistencies in it." Hermione opened her mouth to answer but Astoria cut her:

"I know, the Foster trial is approaching you must be in over your head. That's why he's offered that I helped. If you'd grant me access to your archives I must be able to work on it by myself. You'd only have to review any report I make."

"You'd handle it?"

"Of course. I heard you sorted through your archives with Davis it has to be accessible."

"It is. Alright then."

"Good I'll start tomorrow if that's okay. Now, onto serious matters." She smirked. Hermione frowned questioningly and she continued, smirking the more. "I've got a few gossips I'm sure you'll find interesting." Hermione's frown only deepened, doubtfully this time. Astoria grimaced and added, blushing a bit: "Blaise is really talkative when he stays over …"

"I knew you'd give up." Hermione smiled, shaking her head.

"I was really drunk."

"I sense a pattern here."

"Oh shut up. Do you want to know who they met before they decided to go to Hog's Head too?"

"I suppose I do."

"What's wrong with you?" Blaise looked smug, an expression Draco wasn't used to see on him. It was unpleasant.

"Nothing." The lad lied openly.

"Liar." Draco didn't wait to point out.

"All right, but don't lecture me."

"I can't promise that. Spit it out."

"I stayed over at Greengrass' Friday night. And then I stayed over at Sherry's Saturday …"

"You're screwed Blaise. Two women? Two breakfasts?" Draco shook his head in disapproval. This would definitely blow up in his face. Especially when they knew Greengrass.

"I knew you'd say that. But see, I made myself clear that it was nothing serious."

"Since when do women take that into account? Remember Pansy?"

"Err … right. But Greengrass is smarter. She's friends with the book-worm."

"Weasley was friends with Granger too."

"All right, invalid argument. But don't worry."

"Oh but I don't. I can't wait to see it all blow up in your face." Draco smirked, truthfully.

"Oh, shut up."

They resumed drinking for a moment and when their lunch was served, Blaise startled:

"Man you're right it's going to blow up in my face."

"Told you."

"No you don't get it. I told Greengrass we met the weasel and Potter."

"Stupid thing to do. She'll tell Granger."

"Shit."

Draco had to smirk: "She's going to think you like her now."

"Err … great." The face Blaise made then … Draco had to mock him:

"Oh don't pretend Blaise, you like Granger beaver."

"I don't like her. But you have to admit we had a good time." Alright now he had to grimace.

"Err …" Until he screwed it up, yes.

"Why would he defend me?" Hermione startled, disbelieving.

"Just what I asked. He said that he knew that his grandmother liked you and that it was enough for him."

"Err … "

"He said that the past was the past." Hermione snorted:

"Zabini may think like that but Malfoy sure doesn't."

"What makes you think that? You got along just fine …" Astoria started.

"He expressed his disgust at the very idea of spending an evening with me when we went to take the floo."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"That bastard! I thought … You know …"

"Me too. I was wrong apparently."

"Would you, I don't know, insult her on my behalf when you go there? So she doesn't fall in love with my pretty face."

Draco snorted. With the way he'd spoken to her there was no way he'd even see her. She'd avoid him for sure.

"No and she won't talk to me anyway." He grimaced.

"Sure she will. She joked around with you all evening."

"And I was insulting right after." Draco cringed.

"What? Why?"

"I have no idea."

"What did you say?"

"That I couldn't believe that I'd spent an evening with her."

"With that face?" Blaise asked, his disapproving frown as surprising as ugly.

"Pretty much."

"What's wrong with you?"

"I don't know. I was drunk and … I guess it's true, I couldn't believe we got along and it felt wrong. I mean, she joked …"

"And you laughed at her jokes."

"Yes."

"You're a prat. We're not in school any more."

"I know."

"Apologise." Blaise ordered.

"Why would I? Who cares?"

"Well, I care, Greengrass cares, and because it's the grown-up thing to do."

"I don't care." Draco shrugged but Blaise wasn't one to be fooled:

"You're a bad liar mate. Apologise."

"No."

"Too proud?"

"No. It's Granger. I can't apologise to her."

"Why?"

"Because I've insulted her my entire life. If I apologise for this I'll have to for all I've said or done to her over the years."

"And?"

"I still can't believe Harry would insinuate that I would go around the laws. Imagine what would happen if Zabini and Malfoy decided to call the press?"

Astoria shrugged:

"Don't worry about that, they won't. Blaise was outraged …"

"That's … hard to believe. Don't you think he was trying to have you …"

"He already had what he wanted Hermione, I don't see why he would lie. He was so drunk anyway I don't think he would have been able to."

"Right. Thanks for telling me though." Hermione couldn't believe it. After his speech at commemoration, having Harry be insulting and risk her career, made her so angry she was likely to go see him right after this lunch, and end the months of silence.

"Don't make another scene in the Ministry …" Astoria had apparently seen her anger, she was smirking amusedly though. Hermione chuckled:

"Caroline was an exception. I'll write to him though. I mean … I can't believe Zabini had to defend me to him. He's supposed to be my best friend …"

"I haven't seen you around him a lot for a best friend." Hermione lowered her face to her full plate of … salad. Even Astoria had noticed. When they'd been seeing each other for what? A week? Harry hadn't even bothered writing to her since the divorce. The only one to come around and owl had been Ginny but since their argument …

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry." Astoria frowned in an apologetic manner, though it looked like she didn't really care. Hermione sighed and spoke flatly, she didn't really care either anyway:

"He didn't even write. And then he gives a speech about friendship at commemoration …" Astoria seemed suddenly pensive. Then she frowned:

"Yes, I remember thinking it was directed at you."

"Everyone did apparently, since Zabini mentioned it too."

"It was not very subtle."

"I know."

Blaise had let go of the matter quickly. Thank Salazar. There was no way in hell Draco would apologise to the little know-it-all. The annoying thing was that he had to go the Ministry right now. He only had this day and the next to check her archives before his next meeting and couldn't postpone. He walked very slowly down the main street and took the visitor's entrance. The red telephone booth led him down and he walked as slowly to the lift. Hopefully the book-worm would be locked in her office.

Well, she was, but what he found was happening at law enforcement that afternoon completely bewildered him.

He heard the shouting from the lift. Davis arboured an apologetic cringing smile as she greeted him:

"Sorry Malfoy you're going to have to wait a moment before accessing the archives."

"What the hell is going on here?"

"Err … The golden trio is breaking apart." She proclaimed dramatically. "If I wanted to make money I'd call a journalist right now." She then mumbled, as if resigned.

"What?" He walked past her desk and listened. Granger's door was closed but who she was arguing with was not mistakable.

"I still can't believe you'd risk my career this way!" She was shrieking.

"I didn't mean it! Come on Mione …"

"NO! Don't Mione me!"

"Look I wasn't trying to discredit you or anything I was just trying to shut him up! He made Ron boil!"

"I don't care! You're supposed to be my best friend!"

"Oh so now I'm your best friend? You didn't even answered Ginny's owls!"

"Maybe I was waiting for YOU to owl me! Not your wife!"

"You shut us out of your life! Not me! What was I supposed to do? Beg?" She had a laugh then. A short laugh that strangely resembled Blaise's when he was beyond pissed off.

"Right. I pushed you away. If that's what you think then fuck off Harry." She hissed.

"Are you serious?"

"YES! I didn't push you away all those years! You disappeared every time! I needed a friend and you just listened to Ron's bullshit and stayed away from me!"

"I tried to give you space! I didn't mean to …"

"I called you! I owled!"

"I … I didn't know what to say …"

"So you said nothing."

"I'm sorry."

"It's too late to be sorry Harry." Draco had to prick his ears to hear. Her voice was broken.

"So what? It's over now? After all we've been through?" Potter's was definitely defeated.

"Yes. I can't face you all now."

"You can't? Why?"

"Because everyone thinks I am some kind of coward for ending things with Ron. I've seen the looks Harry don't lie to me! I know that it's what the Weasleys think! Ginny said so herself!" Granger a coward? Even Draco could see the foolishness of that statement.

"Because we don't understand. You abruptly ended your marriage after five years! It looked like you were running away from the situation."

"I wasn't! And you'd known if you'd bothered speaking to me!"

"Why did you then? Why did you leave him?" Because he was a temperamental wanker? A red idiot? How was that any of Potter's business anyway? Draco should probably stop listening too, but in all honesty, his curiosity had the better of him, and the trembling in her voice froze him on the spot anyway.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. Explain yourself." Potter commanded.

"I … I couldn't …" She stuttered.

"What Hermione? You couldn't what?" He barked.

"Keep trying. I couldn't keep trying." A sob. He'd heard a sob, right? What the hell was Potter doing?

"You gave up then. And you don't understand why the Weasleys think you ran away?" His voice was venomous, as if he were disappointed, or more disgusted with the idea. Draco wondered if he'd spoken to her the same way the other night. He probably had.

"How dare you! You have no idea what it's been like!" Yes it had definitely been a sob before.

"Yes I do! You think it was easy for Ron? It broke his heart! And then you left him overnight! He came back from work and you were gone! Do you know in which state we found him?" Who cared about that? What the fuck had happened to them anyway?

"And in which state do you think I was? Three Harry! Three times and he kept pushing me! I didn't want this! I was doing it only for him and he kept pressuring me everyday!" That Draco didn't understand. Three what?

"And instead of telling him you kept pretending and then you cowardly left." Heinous, he was heinous, and clearly stupid.

"Cowardly? YOU ARE CALLING ME A COWARD TOO?" Yelling, good, at least she wasn't crying any more.

"YES!"

"Fuck you!" Oh. Harsh.

"Right. I think we're done anyway."

"Oh that we are." She spat.

Potter strode out of her office then, banging the door after him. Then, he spotted Draco.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Draco had no control over his answer:

"I came to see Granger of course. But seeing the state she must be in right now I might come back later."

"You listened?!"

"Your argument could be heard from the atrium Potter." The head auror seemed so angry it wouldn't be surprising to see him explode.

"I swear to Merlin Malfoy that if you say a word about this I'll kill you." Empty threat. Draco snorted:

"Like you swore you'd call Granger and close Blaise's business?"

"Fuck you!"

"Smart comeback." Blaise's game played itself out of Draco's mouth. Now he understood how his best friend had gotten carried away.

"You shut the fuck up Malfoy! Or you'll regret it!"

"What … Malfoy?" Granger had come out of her office and her eyes were still red. It tore something apart in Draco. He'd seen her cry before.

"Well, I will certainly not. What would people think, if they were to learn that their golden hero threatens people around on a daily basis? Or if they knew that he made their most famous heroin cry?"

"THAT is none of your business!"

"Well I think it is. I was there both time you insulted her."

"This is beyond ridiculous! You spent your life insulting her!" He countered.

"And I am regretful! You're just a stupid hero complexed prat who makes women cry!"

"You made her cry too!"

"No he never did." Granger cut. Potter startled and Draco realised he'd followed.

"Are you taking his side?" The head auror asked incredulously.

"He's taking mine. You're not. You made me cry, he never did."

"What … What the hell is going on here? Are you … Are you hanging out with them?" Potter seemed under shock. Draco would have laughed the situation were different.

"What if I were? It's not like I'm hanging out with you any more." Granger was definitely not crying any longer. She used that almost friendly tone she'd used to fire the two idiots the other day. Draco stood rooted to the spot, his mouth slightly open.

"Right. I see. Wait until I tell Ron …"

"I don't care what Ron thinks. He never cared about my feelings." Draco closed his mouth. He remembered something then. Potter was not the only to have made her cry.

"That's a lie!" Potter barked.

"No it's not!" She pushed. And she was right.

"The weasel is a stupid prat Potter. He already made her cry at school." Damn. Why would he say that?

"He …"

"Go away Harry."

Potter gave up and walked away then.

The silence that followed was awkward. Hermione felt like she should say something but couldn't bring herself to. She didn't understand why Malfoy had taken her defence. Especially after the way they'd left things on Friday night. He wore a tight mask of indifference and Hermione couldn't figure out what he was thinking. So she spoke the truth:

"I don't know what to say."

"Me neither." He shrugged. She chuckled.

"I'm sorry you had to listen to that."

"I'm sorry I was insulting Friday." Had he just apologised?

"Wh … Really?" She startled.

"Err …" He grimaced, rubbing the back of his neck a second before explaining: "Well, it was the truth. I can't believe we got along. But I didn't mean to say it like that. It was ... uncalled-for."

"It was. You're forgiven." He lifted an eyebrow suspiciously:

"That easily?" He asked and Hermione shrugged:

"You made the effort to apologise. And you defended me. Though I don't understand why."

"I'm not a monster Granger." He said. "He made you cry." She nodded, not knowing what to say.

"Can I go to the archives room now?" He asked after a moment.

"You can." He nodded and turned around but Hermione had just gathered the courage to say something:

"Malfoy?" She called. He turned around slowly:

"Yes?"

"Thank you for taking my side. Can you thank Zabini for me too?"

"I will." He started to go again but she wasn't finished. She had something to ask.

"Malfoy?"

"What now? I'd like to actually work." He was smirking. She'd almost believed in his angry tone. She rolled her eyes before asking worriedly:

"What did you hear?" His face went serious then, and his jaw clenched.

"Nothing." He said quietly.

"Thanks." He nodded and she let him go this time.