A/N: Thank you for the feed back and follows guys! Glad you're enjoying it thus far :) A lot of dialog coming up where they divulge way more than they would sober…enjoy!

Chapter 2

Idle Chit-chat

"No, you're at it Granger! You're winding me up!" Draco said doubled over with laughter, his eyes watering. They'd been laughing at her pathetic Ron stories for a good four glasses each now. Hermione had gone from indifference to anger and now to hysterical laughter and Malfoy had joined her.

"I swear it's true! He actually fainted!" Hermione answered in between her own giggles. "H-Harry had to, he h-had t-to…" She had to stop to catch her breath because she was laughing so hard. "Harry had to practically carry the fucker up the isle!"

They both dissolved into hysterics again. Draco was hyperventilating and Hermione's cheeks had gone rosy. The barman who was half-heartedly wiping down his nut jars threw them a warning glance.

"And you still married him!" He said wiping a tear from his eye.

"I still married him." She said both of them catching their breath. "I should have known then we were doomed. I mean if someone has to drag your soon to be husband up the alter then its probably not going to work out right?"

Draco poured them another drink from the three quarters empty bottle.

"Well I would take it as a blessing Granger, even back in school when you were little miss book worm I knew you could do better than that idiot." He remarked for the second time that night and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I know somewhere in there was a compliment." She said sardonically.

"Don't get used to it."

"I wont." She assured him.

There was another silence between them but this time it was more comfortable. A part of Hermione hated to admit it but she was actually having a good time with the ferret.

"So we've covered the fainting at the alter, the idiocy, the rudeness and I'm going to hazard a guess here and say that the sex wasn't that great either…"Hermione glared at him "but tell me what was the straw that broke the camels back? What made you see sense?" He asked.

A flood of emotions came over Hermione unexpectedly. She'd been over the details of her marriage with a fine-tooth comb over and over in her head but now faced with the question no one had ever really asked her before she felt like she may vomit. She gulped back a lump in her throat. Unexpectedly Draco placed a soft hand her forearm. He touched her so lightly she had to look at it to make sure it was really there.

"Forget it." He said almost gently "You don't have to ta-"

"He cheated on me." She practically spat out. "Twice."

"Oh… I'm sorry." Said Draco quietly, then after a beat."What a cunt."

Despite herself Hermione laughed at his profanity.

"Thanks." She said with a weak smile "I just find it hard to make sense of it sometimes. We'd all been through so much together; there were a lot of scars from the war that still bound everyone to each other. I think really that's why Ron and I stayed together after the juvenile romance passed and at first it was wonderful but then… I mean the first time he cheated I was devastated. It'd been a tough couple of years for us we were…" She paused debating her words. She couldn't tell him everything, could she? No. She would give him the edited version. Although why she was rabbiting on like this in the first place she'd never know. "Let's just say we went through a lot in those first years of marriage and we lost each other a long the way I think. We fought all the time; I even conjured some birds on him once like I did in 6th year. He hated that. We tried to work it…to put aside…all the things we were fighting about. And we were doing better, I thought I'd found the boy I fell in love with again. I realised I was wrong when I caught him in our bed fucking Lavender Brown."

"Ouch..." Draco interjected. Giving Hermione time to drain another tequila.

"I was so broken but he begged me to take him back…literally begged on his hands and knees and everything. I suppose I was wrong to give it another go when I hadn't really forgiven him but I was just so desperate for it not to be over. I tried to be perfect for him but there was no way to fix what was fundamentally wrong. I got so wrapped up in being what he wanted I didn't realise how much I was pushing the real me aside and when I caught him again tonight I couldn't believe I'd sacrificed so much of myself for this bastard. Here I was, me Hermione Granger who was going to conquer the world, who was going to do great things, dying a little each day for a guy who didn't even care enough to keep it in his trousers." She let out a long sigh "All I said was I want a divorce, took off my ring and tried not to let the door hit me on the ass on the way out. I didn't even throw a lamp…the first time I threw a lamp."

Draco was stunned and Hermione knew it. She hadn't meant to spill her guts to this former enemy but it was like word vomit. Once she started she couldn't stop and the countless glasses of tequila didn't help.

"Pfffft." He said finally, picking up the bottle in front of him. "You need this a lot more than I do, geeze Granger he really did a number on you."

He poured the last of the bottle into her glass and when she moved to object glared at her.

"The problem is Granger… you're just an awful lot." He said and she nearly spat out her drink.

"Thanks that makes me feel a whole lot better." She said sharply.

"Wait that came out wrong, bare with me I've had a lot to drink." He assured her "What I mean is there's a lot to you, always has been which is why it baffled me that you hung around with those two idiots in the first place…"

"Do you have a point in this?" She said huffily.

"I'm getting there, I think. I mean ok Potter had the whole boy saviour thing going but Weasley was just an insecure prick who was probably intimidated by the fact that you were always saving his arse. It's a lot for most guys to handle but especially Weasley. He's just so desperate to be the best at something he couldn't appreciate what he had. I mean whether I like to admit it, and I don't, you were the smartest and best witch that school had seen in years –I never said that by the way if anyone asks-" Hermione let out a wry laugh "You were also witty and brave and wanted to see the best in people all the fucking time. Which is such a goody good quality it makes you just seem like you've got this fucking ray of sunshine following you about. Being a good person can really make other people feel like shit. People don't like it because it makes them hold up a mirror to themselves. Added to this is the fact that even at seventeen you were at least an eight and he was lucky to be a four-"

"A what?" She said baffled.

"Hotness Granger keep up. Every boy in school agreed by the time you sorted your hair out you were definite wankbank material – again I'm never admitting to saying this – so Weasley must have known you were out of his league."

"Shut up that's not true…" She said in disbelief.

"Think about it, you had Viktor Krum on a leash at what fourteen? Fifteen? Then there was Cormic Mclaren who practically stalked you and believe me he wasn't the only one interested!" Hermione flushed a deep red and Malfoy smirked at irritating smirk at her. "And as a bonus to all that, if I remember correctly you throw a pretty good right hook. No wonder it didn't work out."

"Are you saying you think I was too good for him?" she said slowly.

"And the penny drops." He said playfully clapping his hands "Can I still take that smartest witch comment back?"

"Wow…" She said a little stunned. "I didn't think you paid any attention to me in school apart from to call me mudblood."

"You were kind of hard not to notice." He said wryly "In that 'I'm a Gryffindor everyone pay attention to how perfect I am' kind of way of course."

"Of course." She repeated rolling her eyes.

The silence crept over them once again. Hermione knew she should leave: it was well past midnight. She should definitely go but go where? Ignoring her rational brain a sudden question sprang in her mind instead.

"So we know that my depressing love life is the reason I'm sat here in this god awful pub but we've yet to uncover the woeful tale as to why Draco Malfoy eligible bachelor is here all by himself drowning his sorrows? Care to hazard a guess?"

"Eligible bachelor eh?" He said with a snort "How do you know I'm not here drinking my life away over my failed marriage?"

"Well smart arse you're not the only one who reads the Prophet. Details of your sordid affairs have made headlines from time to time and I see no ring or hint of a ring on your finger either…" She said smugly he grunted in reply.

"Very perceptive."

"I try."

"Well Granger if you must know, today is my 30th birthday and you have rather rudely interrupted my celebrations." He teased.

"Oh yes because this is definitely the social event of the season Malfoy." She quipped back at him.

"It was until you showed up."

Hermione hit him playfully on the arm a move that took them both by surprise. After a beat Draco grabbed his arm and played out an over dramatic wince.

"Alright no need to be so sensitive…" He drawled. "Anyway as I was saying before you so rudely assaulted me, I had a few quiet drinks here with friends they had to leave because they have what's that word? Oh yes: responsibilities," he said with mock disgust "where as I am a free agent so stayed to finish my whiskey, then all of a sudden the cat drags you in and well here we are."

"So no tale of woe?" She said almost hopefully.

"Nope, unless you count the bar tab." He joked and she gave a halfhearted laugh. Suddenly her head swam and that sudden lump appeared back in her throat. Maybe it was the half bottle of tequila or maybe it was the fact that Draco Malfoy's life inexplicably seemed to have worked out better than hers but she had to bite back tears.

"Well I-I'm glad." She said her eyes brimming.

"Hey you ok?" He asked almost sounding concerned. She tried to blink the tears away but it was no use. Despite her efforts to keep it in she collapsed into waterworks. To her surprise she felt an arm around her shoulder. Hermione stiffened for a moment, this was weird, Malfoy had his arm around her and wasn't threatening to hex her. She was sure he felt her recoil but didn't move his arm and that brought on a fresh wave of tears.

"I-I'm sorry." She choked out.

"It's alright Granger you can cry if you want, you're getting a divorce." He said placing a hand on her back.

"I-it's n-not that." She continued with a slight hiccup"I'm just a t-terrible person. Here you a-are being so nice to m-me and I'm g-g-getting upset because…because m-my l-life's turned out so much…so much worse than yours!"

To her surprise Draco didn't remove his arm but continued to stand beside her. He let out a laugh and softly with his other hand tilted her chin so she met his eyes.

"Is that really what you think?" He asked and she nodded her skin tingling from his touch.

"Merlin Granger for someone so smart you really can be an idiot." Her eyes questioned him "Ok your lifes not perfect at the minute but at least you've gave it a go. At least you've been brave enough to try. You've actually done something. You're one of the best healers in St. Mungos for god's sake! And yes ok you're marriage hasn't worked out like you thought but you're not dead yet Granger, you'll find someone else. But besides all that you've actually achieved things in the last decade and what have I done? Fuck all. Absolutely fuck all. I'm still doing the same stupid things with the same stupid people that I did on my 20th birthday. Ten years of Quidditch, partying and meaningless sex aren't all they're cracked up to be but that's just me I guess. That's my lot, that's who I am but believe me I'd much rather be you."

She looked at him stunned for a moment. She must be hammered, he couldn't really be saying he'd rather be her - bushy haired,mudblood, blubbering mess extraordinaire. Hermione searched those grey orbs in front of her for some sort of depict but found none. They were ablaze with passion, screaming at her to believe him but underneath lay a tenderness she couldn't have imagined.

"Really?" She said softly and he gave her a small nod. Still locked in his gaze, his arm, which had moved to her waist during his speech, was still firmly around her. Hermione's head swam and her heart thudded in her chest. This was one of those life-changing moments; she could feel it even through the haze of alcohol. There was electricity in the air and a heat growing in the small space between them. He was looking at her now, really looking and a rosy colour grew on her cheeks. The inches between them grew smaller and smaller and Hermione desperately want to close the gap from her lips to his. He was only a hairs breadth away now she could feel his shallow breath on her skin, their noses touching, the waiting getting too much to bare-

"Las' orders!" The Barman called ringing a large bell way louder than was necessary.

They broke apart, the bell bringing them back to reality. Hermione flushed redder than she ever had before in her life, Draco kept his eyes on his drink. Hermione stood up from her stool abruptly and he moved to say something but she cut him off.

"I better go to the Ladies before he throws us out." She said trying and failing to sound calm. Draco merely nodded in response. Gathering herself Hermione practically ran towards small door marked toilets in the corner.

-

"Stupid fucking idiot." Draco bitterly thought to himself. What the hell was he doing? What the hell was he thinking? What the hell had happened to his senses tonight? This was Hermione know-it-all mudblood goody good uptight bitch Granger. Had he completely lost his mind? Angrily he slammed down his now empty glass, a crack appearing in the side. He couldn't believe he'd just tried to kiss her. For one she was someone he spent seven years of his school life cultivating an entire jungle of hatred for, two she was definitely married and three there had been many a time when he'd woken up from a nightmare in a cold sweat where he'd been listening to her screams of agony. Even after a decade the ghosts of the war sometimes still invaded his dreams – a terrifying snake, his bloodied muggle studies teacher floating above his dining room table, Grangers screams and ghostly white face at the hands of his merciless aunt. He doubted these images would ever leave him completely so kissing the face of his night terrors was probably not the best idea in the world. How could have he been so stupid?

And yet he couldn't ignore the part of his brain telling him that he'd had one of the best nights of his life. From the minute she walked in his world has seemed to brighten and he was mentally slapping himself for it. Before he even realised who she was he knew he was attracted to her. Those cinnamon orbs and rosy cheek bones, the perfect silky chestnut curls that he'd watched cascade down her back as she pulled out her ponytail, that fresh flowery delicate smell he'd caught as she sat down – they had all captured him in an instant. Added to that was flawless skin almost unmarked by time and dress that accentuated her slight but curvaceous in all the right places body had left him totally and utterly floored. He just wished he'd been able to put aside his first reaction of venom to find something better to say than 'isnt this an unpleasant surprise.' Still after initial sparring it had turned into quite a pleasant evening. He couldn't believe he actually enjoyed Hermione Grangers company. He openly saw good traits he'd pretended weren't there before – she was witty and charming and he hated to admit it but when she complained about Weasley she was actually funny. More and more he found himself questioning why that idiot let her get away. He also inexplicably found himself listening to her explanation of their break up. Draco didn't usually listen to any woman about any problem –except for maybe Pansy. Sure he could fake listening to get them into bed or to appease them but to actually care? This was definitely new. Even highly intoxicated he was shocked to find himself console her when she was crying in his arms. He'd always found a woman's tears to be so unseemly. He was usually at a loss of what to do but the fact that here she was crying over how bad she felt that for a moment she was upset that his life seemed better was the final straw. She was just so pure so good. She was everything he wasn't and he had felt this overwhelming need to protect her. To show her that it was ok for one second not to be perfect. That it was perfectly acceptable to want your life to have worked out that way you wanted it too. Yes all that was why he'd leaned in. All those reasons. That and the fact that he was steaming drunk helped.

"What a mess Draco…" he muttered to himself as the barman lay out his bill for him. Without a second look he laid the amount and a bit extra out onto the bar. The room swam before him as he stood up from the bar stool. He really had had a lot to drink. Feeling slightly nauseous he saw Hermione emerge from the bathroom finding it difficult to walk in a straight line.

"That tequila's hit me harder than I thought." She slurred awkwardly. She blinked at him through those long lashes a few times and put a hand on the bar to steady herself.

"Me too…" He said picking her coat from the bar stool and holding it for her to step into. She gave him polite nod and blushing put her arms into it.

"Well…I'd b-best be off." She hiccupped.

"Where will you go?" Draco asked quickly. "Not home surely…"

"Leaky Cauldron. I think I'll go see if they have any rooms left."

"Not at this hour." He interjected.

"I'll think of something…" She said haphazardly fiddling with her scarf.

"Why don't you come home with me?" He asked, his mouth seemed to be moving of it's accord. "I have a very nice guest room." He added pointedly.

"It'd be too much of an imposition-"

"Nonsene!" He cut her off.

"Really, you've already done too much, I'd be taking advantage of your hospitality-"

"Granger you're too drunk to make it home, not that you'd want to go there anyway and I doubt the Leaky Cauldron would appreciate you at this hour. Plus after seven years of being a bastard at school I think giving you a bed in your time of need is the least I can do." He ranted and she sighed. He realised he'd won and a little voice in the back of his head gave a very unmanly squeal of delight. He promptly told it to shut up.

"Fine." She said eventually swaying as she did. "I guess one night couldn't hurt?"

"Excellent." He said more cheerfully than he meant to. "Who'd have thought it'd be this easy to get Hermione Granger to come home with me?" He added with a sly wink.

"One m-more comment like that and I'll h-hex your balls off Malfoy." She said through more hiccups as they moved towards the little fireplace in the corner of the room.

"Duly noted." Said Draco with a laugh. They both stepped into the sooty hearth and he took her arm firmly. She looked up at him shyly and gave another little hiccup. He grabbed a handful of Floo power

"Apartment A, Wizcot Gardens" He called and the last thing he saw was an enchanting pair of cinnamon eyes before they were both engulfed in green flames.

A/n: Well there we are...a few revelations about whats supposed to be happy ever after. What do you guys think? Reviews are very much welcome! x