Chapter Two

Draco's New Life

A week after Hermione finished her Hogwarts schooling she was hired as a lawyer for the Ministry. She was going to be changing pro-Pureblood laws, and then she would work to help magical creatures learn their voices, change the laws for them too. Everyone would finally be equal.

While she earned her degree Harry and Ron were in Auror training. She was cooking a huge congratulatory meal for them, and everyone in their soon-to-be department. She just knew they passed, they had never worked so hard for anything. Other than defeating Voldemort of course, that went without saying.

It would be a small dinner compared to the one Mrs. Weasley had planned the next day for all of them. As for that night, it was hers with her pseudo brothers.

Hermione levitated the food outside to the garden to the huge table. It was the perfect night for dinner outside, the air soft, and warm bearing no wind. It was perfect timing too since at that moment Ron, Harry, five other Wizards, and a Witch Hermione didn't recognize flooded through the gate.

"Congratulations," she yelled happily running to hug her friends. She instantly became worried as she caught Ron's disgruntled regard. "Oh, no, Ron! You worked so hard, but there's another chance. You can take the tests again."

Ron shook his red head. "Always think the worse, don't you, Hermione?"

She was confused. What else could have him so upset? Then it dawned on her, and Harry caught her eye. He grinned but it was strained. She chuckled. "Malfoy passed?"

"Yes he did, Granger," a voice drawled behind her.

She turned plastering a smile on her face. He must have been the last one through the gate. "Congratulations, Malfoy."

"Thank you, and thanks for hosting what I'm sure is a delicious dinner. Potter told me you're a lawyer now. Congratulations goes to you as well."

If she thought her breath wasn't lost before, he made sure of it by seizing her hand kissing her knuckles lightly. She could hear Ron behind her moan loudly, "thanks for inviting him, Harry. Already the improved Malfoy has her in his clutches." She chose to pay him no mind as her heart was fluttering itself out of her chest. Momentarily she forgot where she was captivated by his stormy eyes.

Malfoy leaned into her ear, his hot breath caressing her lobe. "You're more beautiful than ever, Hermione." Then he turned to greet the other guests properly.

She staggered.

Hermione woke slowly. Silk covers... She didn't own silk. An over-sizedshirt for a nightgown... She didn't own anything with so many buttons. Brightness of the sunlight... She didn't have a window in her bedroom.

She covered her face not letting it shine through her fingertips. She didn't have an awful hangover, not like she always did on that particular day, but at the same time she couldn't remember last night. She wished she would. Why did she feel... Normal? She never felt normal that day, and her mouth never tasted minty fresh either, she usually woke with stained breath.

Then the light was gone. She opened her eyes and saw a dark figure closing the unrecognizable black drapes. She gasped when she saw the trademark blond hair. She wasn't home. In fact she was in the last place with the last person she ever thought she would see again, and the pain that sent through her left her breathless.

"What the -"

"Oh, I see that you're awake," he sneered, another trademark.

She threw the covers off standing easily to her feet. "What am I don't here?"

"You know, a nice thank you would suffice."

"Why would I be thanking you?"

"For not hitting you with my car!" He seemed truly irritated then, his smugness ebbing.

She huffed. "You don't drive."

"In eight years people change."

She felt like exploding. She could handle the sickening dizziness, and sensitivity to everything in the morning after the anniversary (that wasn't present then), but she couldn't handle being left in the dark. She had to know what was going on. "What happened?!"

"You were drunk," he spat in disgust. "You were just standing there in the street! I swerved and you fell. I had a doctor visit while you slept. You're fine. Nothing a couple of pills and sleep didn't help."

"Pills?" Did Draco even know what those were?

"Look, Hermione -" The doorbell cut him off. He cursed. "Get dressed. I got you some clothes last night. You still wear the same size right?" He didn't wait for the answer, he left.

Hermione scowled at the slammed door, and at the black decor of the room. It was certainly Draco's, even the carpet was black. She rolled her eyes at it all, and turned to the pile of clothing on the side of the bed, her wand on top of them.

They fit. What bothered her more than Draco remembering her size was that he still knew what she liked. Plain jeans, and a white eyelet blouse. Simple, but nice.

She was far from fighting with Draco though. Once she was dressed her wand in her back pocket she stormed out of the bedroom padding through the short hallway to the lounge. From behind the overstuffed velvet couch she stopped, her mouth gaped open in shock.

"Hermione," Theodore Nott, a rabbit faced man exclaimed. "It's been... Wow... A long time." He glanced over to Draco. "So this is why you needed me, eh?"

Draco gave him a warning glare, his hand on the shoulder of a girl with blond curls and rosy cheeks. The little girl in a turquoise sweater and jeans smiled wistfully at Hermione. "Who are you?"

Hermione gathered herself enough to respond. "I'm Hermione Granger. What's your name?"

"Joanne Malfoy."

"Nice to meet you," she choked out meeting Draco's intent gaze. "I've got to go," she declared pushing past Theo on her way out the door.

"No, Hermione wait."

Hermione didn't wait. She went down the hallway of a high-scale flat. She could tell that it was expensive for it was well-lit, brass numbers on the passing doors gleaming, the brown carpet plush.

She heard Draco calling after her, but she ignored him. All she could think was, "he has a child!" She switched emotions like a click of a Muggle remote. She went from sadness and shock, to anger in a second and she rounded on Draco.

"How could you not tell me?!"

His furious expression was still there. "When?! After I hit you with my car? After you woke up and began yelling at me? When, Hermione? Tell me when would've been a good time for you?!"

She didn't answer his questions. "How old is she?'

He seemed reluctant to tell her at first. "Seven."

Tears flowed over her cheeks, her anger building, and spilling. "You begged me to stay. You said you couldn't make it without me. Congratulations. You did."

"What did you expect? That I would never move on?"

"Excuse me for thinking you had feelings for me."

"I did -"

"Thank you, Malfoy. You did a kind gesture not killing me." She turned walking again.

"Don't leave me."

"Or what," she asked not stopping. "You'll have another child?"

"You left! You left me!"

"Looks like it did you good." She jerked back, her arm in his grip, his livid face too close to hers, she could feel the heat emitting from it.

"Admit it, you hate me for what happened."

"You're an arrogant -"

"You can't even say it?"

"Go back to your wife," she snapped.

"I never married."

"Then who is the mother?"

"She didn't want Joanne," he whispered.

"Daddy?"

Draco let Hermione go spinning on his heels. Past his arm she saw Joanne standing outside of the door, Theo beside her. By their expressions she could tell that they hadn't heard what they discussing. It sent an enormous relief through her.

"I'll be there in a moment, sweetie. Theo, mate, start breakfast will you?"

Theo nodded, but not without giving them curious glances. He pulled Joanne back into the flat, and Draco faced Hermione. "Have breakfast with us?"

"That's not a good idea." She shoved her hands in her pockets awkwardly. "Your daughter is there, and she shouldn't get the wrong impression. Or do you normally bring strange women around?" She chuckled hoping for him to take it lightly, but she was serious.

"You'd be the first."

She smiled, glad for some reason. "Thank you, for everything. I'll send you money for the clothes - "

"Keep them."

She touched his arm, but wished she hadn't. The burning electricity was still there. "Thank you. Again."

Hermione hurried out of the hallway down the elevator, and out of the complex. The insufferable image of his daughter and the resemblance there was between her and Draco was fresh in her mind. It physically hurt, like the emotional pain was too much to bear so it put pessure on her heart.

What was ironic? She was happy there. She was glad to see Draco and his daughter didn't bother her, not in the way that she should. It was what Draco did that was disturbing. His daughter... She was quite lovely. She had to stop thinking about that though. One night didn't change eight years of solitude.

Nearby, not even a block away was a dark ally. She disapparted there to a similar one by her house. When she came in front of it she froze.

A gasp escaped her as the heat scorched her. She watched the flames lick the white brick burning the roof in. Black smoke rose to the clouds. By completely stupid instinct she ran forward thinking only of the photographs inside. She knew that they were gone, but that didn't stop her. No, a fireman did, one of many trying to salvage her property.

"No Ms.," he yelled muffled through his helmet grabbing her shoulder pulling her from the blaze. She saw the spurting jets of water aimed at her lost home, and heard the wailing sirens. Her own wailing was deaf to her as she thought of what was inside.

Her only links to Harry and Ron were gone. Harry's wand. Ron's chess set. Their pictures. It was all gone. Just like them.