Here's the next chapter, please enjoy.

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Nacrissa Malfoy's manor was not as large as Malfoy Manor, but was still large enough to get lost in. Hermione got the elves to clean up the numerous rooms and settled in. She had tried to ignore the throbbing in her heart or the loneliness that made the grand home less magnificent.

Words from her argument floated back into the quiet that surrounded her. All you did was shut me out! He had told her so reverently. Was that true?

You know I would never abandon you.

I thought I knew but you never came

Now she was here, living in his mother's home and totally separated from him. At the thought of the press she groaned out loud. The baby, the separation…they would have a field day but Hermione didn't know how much she could take without Draco at her side. At least she had him last time.

"Your bed has been prepared Miss." An elf appeared at her side, bowing deeply.

"Thank you." She said softly, "That will be all." And the elf left quietly.

Hermione made her way down the thickly carpeted hallway and into a small room. The bed sheets were fresh and set to one side so she could easily slip into the bed. Long crème drapes were drawn over the window and a wardrobe stood proudly opposite the bed. Upon opening the door, she saw the shelves had been filled with her own clothes that she had packed from the manor.

In the door was a mirror, her reflection showed clearly how she had changed. She knew she had lost weight and also knew it wasn't normal for pregnant woman to be doing so. "You need a good nights sleep." Her reflection told her.

She sighed, "I know; it's easier said than done." She shut the door after changing into a nightgown. The quiet, empty space was daunting, making her feel all the more relieved she had chosen and smaller room.

The curtains could be opened with a pull rope on one side and the view was peaceful. Stars glittered in the late night sky. The grounds didn't stretch out quite as far as they did in her room at the Manor. Further into the distance, she could make out the lights of another house. Sitting on the carpet, hugging her knees, she couldn't help but think of Draco.

He was shocked by her leaving, there was no doubt about it. But he didn't stop her and he wasn't here. It was proof enough, along with the gradual breakdown of their marriage over the past couple of months, that she was right to come here.

Draco had no need for her there and she found avoiding his presence tiring. Did she still love him? She asked herself. It wasn't a difficult question to answer; of course she did. Buy why? And then it got to tricky and painful.

The baby that was growing inside her knew nothing of the arguments it had caused, the heard breaking weeks and months. As a future mother, she knew that no matter what, her baby would always be her baby. She didn't blame it in any way.

There were some issues in terms of whether Draco will acknowledge the baby as a true Malfoy and therefore heir to everything he owns. She didn't know how he felt for her anymore which scared her.

She left the curtains open as she lay in bed, looking beautiful from a distance and yet were really just giant balls of burning gas.

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Draco Malfoy was pacing the large ballroom. He threw glances at the portrait, I rather like this portrait, can I have it? He clenched his fists and tried to keep from breaking something valuable.

Eventually, the clicking of his shoes became too irritating so he went to his room. It was a mistake however, he immediately saw Hermione's dressing table and her wardrobe – empty. The door was slightly open, as if to mock him; she really left.

At this confirmation he felt a part of him had died, or disappeared, or was just gone somehow. An emptiness grew inside him even though he tried to dispel it. He stood as if in a trance, staring at the empty wardrobe and dresser. Even when Gabrielle swept in to drop an envelope on his desk, he stood there. Nothing else could possibly matter any more could it? His wife had left him.

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"What time did you ask them to arrive?" Cho asked Harry as he checked his watch for the hundredth time. They were sitting in a cosy café waiting for the Malfoy's to arrive for the lunch.

"An hour ago." Harry replied, ruffled and a little concerned.

Cho smiled, "perhaps we should go home and owl them?"

"I'm worried something has happened." He told her, glancing at the door as yet another group of people arrived that weren't the infamous Malfoy couple.

"Maybe something urgent came up; I'm sure things are fine." Cho reassured, taking his hand which he squeezed softly.

They waited for another ten minutes before Draco came in, the door opening with a gust of wind that whipped through the café. Harry perked up upon seeing the blonde haired man and soon after him, Hermione. They took off their cloaks and shook them off before looking around to find Harry and Cho.

Cho gasped when she saw Hermione, she had changed so much! She could tell by Harry's sudden stiffening that he had also noticed Hermione's shallow appearance and oddly pale skin.

Hermione smiled at them across the room, not missing their concerned expression, and made her way through the tables to them. Behind her Draco was also weaving through the tables and chairs, giving a brief polite smile in greeting.

"Harry, it's good to see you." Hermione said upon reaching their table. "We're sorry we're so late."

Harry smiled, "it's alright, I just hope everything is alright." There was some stress placed on his words as he gazed carefully at both of them.

"Potter," Draco slid in smoothly, "everything is fine."

Harry didn't seem all that convinced but said nothing more, "I hear things are going exceptionally well in fact."

"Hasn't everyone?" Hermione added laughing.

Cho smiled, "I hope you get some peace soon."

Draco looked around them, "it has been rather peaceful lately."

Harry nodded, "that's good to hear."

There was silence as everyone realised there was nothing to say. Hermione rose to get drinks but Draco stopped her with a hand on her arm. She looked at him, her gaze intense and it was not missed by Cho or Harry. "I'll get them." Draco said quietly, rising and leaving the table.

Harry frowned, "Hermione, are you sure everything is alright?"

She nodded, "of course."

"It seems a little…" Cho began, "tense."

"Tense?" Hermione said a little too offhand.

"You can tell me anything you know that don't you Hermione?" Harry insisted earnestly, leaning closer to her.

"Harry I know," Hermione smiled, "and really, everything is fine."

"I don't want you to feel that you don't have anyone to lean on." Harry continued.

"We're all here for you Hermione." Cho added, glancing meaningfully at Draco as he began to make his way back to their table.

Hermione took the drink from him without meeting his eyes which only heightened Harry's suspicions. "Thank you." Hermione said to them softly.

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"It's not natural." Harry insisted to Ron.

"Maybe they just had a fight or something." Ron countered, sounding a lot more reasonable than Harry ever thought him to be.

Cho shook her head slightly, "it just seemed so weird for them."

"Weird?"

"She looked….sick." Cho whispered, speaking aloud what Harry had been thinking all day.

"Sick?" Ron frowned, "like a cold?"

"No Ron," Harry sighed, "like unhealthy."

"I wonder how long she's been like that." Cho whispered.

Ron frowned, "I can go see her at the Manor."

"Maybe you should, and see how things are." Harry said with a nod.

"Why can't we just ask her?" Ron replied sitting up from their huddled circle in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place.

Cho shook her head again, "we tried Ron, but she didn't say anything."

"I'll owl her and see her tomorrow or something." He told them, not liking how uneasy Harry was with the situation.

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Well I wonder how Ron and the others will react if they find out that Hermione isn't even living with Draco any more! (If they even find out!) Please review.