Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 13

Hermione
-Present-

"Sadie? Do you think you could help me on this Jensen file?" Hermione asked as she walked out of her office, her hair falling out of its makeshift restraint and into her eyes once more and she really wished she had taken Narcissa up on the offer to cast a charm to keep it in place before she ran into the floo this morning. It hadn't been a particularly good morning with Draco being called away and Hermione being clueless as to how her children were used to getting ready in the morning and she had never been more grateful for her mother-in-law (it still felt odd to say that) than she had been as the woman had pulled Leo from her legs and soothed the still crying toddler who hadn't wanted blueberries in her yogurt but had asked for them repeatedly.

"Of course Mrs. Mal- Ms. Granger." Sadie said as she jumped from where she was sitting just as Ron appeared around the corner.

"Hermione, you look awful." He said and the witch rolled her eyes at him as she slid the case files into Sadie's waiting arms. "Good morning Sadie."

"Mr. Weasley," the witch blushed and Hermione repressed a chuckle as she motioned for Ron to follow her back into her office, shutting the door behind them.

"You torment that poor girl," she reprimanded once they were behind closed doors.

He sniggered but his expression showed he knew she was right as he flopped down into her office chair, "I can't help it that I'm so famous."

"Yes, well I'm famous too and you don't see her acting like that when I call her name."

He smirked, "Oh, I see, forget everything else but remember that you're famous."

"Shut up," she laughed, "What did you come here for anyway if not just to bother me?"

"I came to see about dinner."

She repressed a groan, "Ron…"

"Dinner Hermione. That's it," he held his hands up in surrender and she warred with herself before finally, she nodded.

He seemed satisfied with that as he picked at the box of Bertie Bott's on her desk and she reached out to swat at his hand as he popped a few into his mouth before quickly making a face.

"You deserved that," she muttered as she picked up the box and moved them out of the way while Ron chewed.

"It's about Malfoy isn't it?" he seethed, his face red with anger and she felt her head shake as much as her hands.

"It's not," she argued hotly, "It's about you and what you've done."

"I didn't do anything you wouldn't have done Hermione. Look at what they did. To your mom. To you."

"No," she shook her head, and he took a step forward his hand reaching out and she took another step back. "You don't get to do that Ron."

"Then who does?" He bellowed, his voice thick and rough and full of emotion as she finally stepped into the floo, ignoring his question as she grabbed the handful of powder. "You'll regret this 'Mione. Maybe not now but one day, you will."

And with that, she was gone.

"'Mione?" Ron was leaning up, leaning over the desk, his head near to hers, a worried expression on his face and she pushed away from him.

"Sorry, what did you say?" she blinked.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly, his hand reaching out to tuck back a stray curl and she flinched away from his hand before she could stop herself, trying to ignore the guilt as a hurt look settled upon his features.

She nodded finally, moving to stand up, "Yes, sorry just… got thinking about work." The lie came easily and she ignored his lingering look as she plastered a smile on her face. "What were you saying?"

"Tonight? Meet me in the Leaky?"

"Sounds great!" she spouted off, ignoring his questioning glance as she saw him out and, closing the door behind him, she rested her head on the door, her heart steadily beating a path through her chest as she tried to hold onto the memory that had presented itself. Because she was sure that she had just seen the moment of the fracture in her and Ron's relationship, she just couldn't figure out what it was.

DRACO
-PAST-

Draco Malfoy forgot many things. He forgot to do his homework lessons, he forgot to return his mother's owls and one particularly painful time he forgot Pansy Parkinson's birthday. One thing he never forgot, however, was what it felt like to be on the receiving end of Hermione Granger's anger.

Of course he had never admitted it to anyone and the only people who had witnessed the event that had meant anything to him had been sworn, by an unbreakable vow, to secrecy. That wasn't to say that he ever could forget however because if there was one thing he was sure of it was that Hermione Granger was not one to be messed with.

Which was why he was currently smirking like the cat that ate the cannoli, or something like that, as he watched the witch in question pace in his bedroom.

He had been discharged from St. Mungo's earlier that week, with the strict instructions to stay in bed and rest. While his younger self would have relished in the fact that he had yet to lift a finger the entire time he had been home, his current self was missing being able to do, well, anything.

Hermione had left promptly after their last conversation to figure out what the Weasel was hiding and while he hadn't been privy to the more intricate details of her plan, he was sure it was less than virtuous. He ignored the unfamiliar tightening in his gut at the thought of her unsavory tactics and continued watching the witch pace. She had shown up in a huff, tossing her bag down on his chair and had swiftly launched into a tirade that currently had her cursing the weasel's last breath.

He could watch it all day.

"Are you even listening to me?" she rounded on him and he felt his eyes widen before he nodded.

"Of course I am… mostly," he amended at the end, ignoring her glare as he had become so used to doing as of late.

If anyone had told him years before that he would be here, he would have laughed in their faces. Instead, he smiled to himself and settled back down amongst his pillow.

"Anyway," Hermione continued as she flopped down on the edge of his bed and curled her ankles up underneath her, "I haven't been able to find out anything because suddenly Ronald is so busy in the field and I just, know something is going on."

They were interrupted by the sound of the elf appearing in the bedroom, a tea tray in their hands with Draco's breakfast balanced.

"Hello Mistress Granger," the elf said with a bow before he brought the tray to Draco's bed and settled it upon the duvet.

"Hello Topsy, how are you this morning?" she smiled at the elf and Draco rolled his eyes as he sat up and started buttering his bread, ignoring the conversation that was happening at the foot of his bed before the elf gave one last bow and disappeared loudly and Hermione stood up, grabbing her things from the chair. "I'll be back over this evening with those files if you feel up to it and-"

Draco was nodding, not really listening as he picked up his Daily and unfolded it, his toast clattering to the tray as he took in the moving picture on the front page, "Granger-"

"Maybe we could order in from that takeaway place you like so much-"

"Granger-"

"I know I could use it, but I do have to be at the burrow tomorrow for-"

"Hermione!" He bellowed finally, her mouth hanging open as she met his gaze and he turned the paper to show her the picture on the front, "I think I've figured out what's going on in the auror department."

She crossed the room quickly, her belongings forgotten as she dropped them hastily in the chair and ripped the paper from his grip, tearing the back page as she took it in, her cheeks flushing brightly before she finally growled, "That son of a bitch."

HERMIONE
-Present-

Working Late, Don't wait up.

-H

She sighed as she finished the letter and blew on it to dry the ink before she rolled it up. She told herself she wasn't lying to him but she knew how he felt about Ron and she knew telling him she was meeting him for dinner could not possibly end well; even if it was just for dinner. She warred with herself for fifteen more minutes before she finally tied the parchment to the owl and sent it on its way.

The owl returned quickly and she slipped off the parchment hesitantly, unrolling it slowly but smiling to herself as she read what was written there.

Thank you for letting me know.
-D

LOVE YU MUMMY
-LEO

She tucked the parchment into her desk, smiling at the photos of her children that adorned her desk before she ducked her head and got back to work.

The day passed quickly after that and before she realized it, it was time to leave to meet Ron in Diagon Alley. She floo'd to the iconic meeting place, ignoring the glances that people shot her way as she appeared in the grate before stepping out and looking around until she spotted the familiar telltale shock of red hair.

"Hey, there you are." Ron said as she approached, finishing his glass of butterbeer with one last swallow before holding his arm out to her, "Ready to go?"

She steeled herself but finally nodded, "As ready as I'll ever be, I guess."

They walked out of the pub and down the cobbled streets, Ron telling her about his day at work and asking about hers as they approached the wizarding restaurant that had taken up prime residence in Diagon Alley.

"You love this place, though you probably don't remember it. Ernie McMillan runs it, best food around," he smiled as he walked up, opening the door for her and letting her walk in.

The place really was grand, as if the name alone, Château de la Magie, weren't enough. Chandeliers adorned the ceilings, their twinkling lights suspended by magic above the diners and Hermione felt nostalgic as she realized that the ceiling had also been charmed to reflect the sky above and she thought back to Hogwarts and her first home away from home.

"Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Malfoy, how wonderful to see you." The maître d' said with a broad smile and Hermione felt herself step away from the man beside her slightly.

They were led to their table without any fanfare and Hermione was grateful when Ron didn't try to pull her chair out for her before she slid down into it, noting for the first time the eyes turned upon them.

"So," Ron started, once they were seated and had ordered their drinks, "how are you doing? With all of this?"

She shrugged as their drinks appeared before them and she reached out to grasp the stem of the wine glass, running her finger along the edge, "It's difficult. Probably the most difficult thing I've ever done."

Ron nodded, "I'm surprised you were back at work already. I mean, not that I don't think you could do it but you seemed so disoriented in St. Mungo's."

She gave him a wry smile and drank generously from her glass, "The children make it easier."

"They're cute kids," Ron offered, "Leo is bloody brilliant, no question as to where that came from."

She chuckled then, her shoulders relaxing slightly against the chair, "He is and he's such a sweet child. Calm. Lyra is the complete opposite. Sometimes it's hard to believe they're brother and sister. But she must take after Draco-"

She trailed off when she met Ron's gaze, his furrowed brow and his pinched expression. Obviously her husband was still a sore subject for the man, which reminded her-

"You said before, that you would tell me about what happened."

Ron nodded, leaning back in his chair and studying her face intently before he began, "Look, what you have to understand is that not everything is as it seems."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that-"

"What are you doing Weasel?" They both turned at the sound of Draco's voice filtering through the air as they saw him approach their table.

Hermione frowned as she took stock of his appearance. He was dressed nicely in black muggle slacks and a grey button up, his jaw clenched tightly and his lips pulled into the sneer Hermione hadn't seen for so long. The same sneer that he used to use when looking down his nose at her. Despite everything she felt the anger bubble up inside of her at how her husband was looking at Ron Weasley, as though he were beneath him. She pushed her chair back from the table, tossing her napkin down on her plate, anticipating an argument as Ron did the same.

"We're having dinner ferret," the redhead man supplied, "So if you wouldn't mind leaving us alone."

"I do bloody well mind Weasley, you know what they said and I know your sister warned you." Malfoy growled and Hermione suddenly felt more inquisitive than angry.

"She deserves to know Malfoy." Ron said, his voice tight.

"No-"

"Yes," it was Hermione that interrupted this time and she was sure that they had the attention of the entire restaurant at this point. "I do deserve to know. In case you haven't noticed, my entire life has been ripped out from under me and for once all I want is some damned answers."

Malfoy turned then and his grey eyes mirrored a stormy sky but there was something else there, something just below the surface and for a moment she could see it. The pain, loss, and anger he felt shone brightly through his stare before it vanished just as quickly. "You're right but I refuse to let you get it from him."

"Draco-" they all turned once more as Astoria appeared behind him, winded from what Hermione could only assume was a quick jog to keep up and her hand tightened into a fist.

"Tell your father the meeting will have to wait, I have business to attend to with my wife." Draco snapped, not even bothering to look at the woman as he reached out and grabbed Hermione's hand and before she could so much as pull away, he had apparated them away.

A/N: I don't know French. Translation app helped me with Ernie McMillan's restaurant. Also, I'm a Hufflepuff and I like food AND the dormitories were by the kitchen so I'm using that to draw on as my Ernie is a wizard chef idea. I hope that doesn't upset my fellow Hufflepuffs!