A/N: Rainy Days + No Cable = Quick Updates
You can thank Mother Nature for this one ;-)
So, just to be clear, the book Draco reads to Teddy is not a movie plug. I actually chose it because that's what my dad used to read to my brother when he was a kid. I thought it seemed like a good male-bonding book. And it's just awesome :-)
Okay, non-SOTD readers - The conversation between Draco and Narcissa, where he goes "I once told you blah, blah, blah" happened when he was leaving Goyle's wedding to go and win back Hermione. He was referring to how she could not compare her love for Ethan with his for Hermione since she never looked for him after her went missing.
That is all.
Draco arrived at work on Monday feeling better than he had in a while. Over the weekend, Andromeda had asked if Teddy could stay with him more regularly, basically meaning all of the time. She would still take him during the day, of course, but Draco jumped at the opportunity to have the kid spend nights with him. He really livened up the place.
Draco had barely put his stuff down on his desk when an owl swooped in and dropped off his mail. He went over and started shuffling through it. The company newsletter, a monthly status report, a letter from Dorian Dubois wanting an update, a letter from his mother (that slipped quickly to the back of the pile), a copy of the most current Witch Weekly …
Draco gasped and dropped the magazine. There, right on the cover, was a photo of him and Sophie kissing. When the hell …? He gasped again. That flash. That flash that made him see Hermione's face. That was a bloody fucking camera?
But no one was around! They had been alone. How the hell …?
The shrill sound of Sophie screaming echoed through the building. She must have just received her copy, as well. Draco Apparated to her office.
Sophie had the magazine clutched tightly in her hands and was staring at the cover with the widest eyes he had ever seen. She looked up as he appeared and threw the cover in front of his face.
"Yes, I saw."
Sophie had no words. She just kept making sounds and gestures to try and get her point across. The first seemed to be her way of asking how.
"I don't know," he answered. "I saw a flash but I thought it was in my head. Still, I didn't see anyone out there. Did you?"
She shook her head, her mouth still hitting the floor. Then she began to sniffle.
Pop!
They both looked over to see Phillip had Apparated into the office. Sophie moved the magazine so it was hidden behind her back.
"Sorry," Phillip said, looking at Draco. "I didn't know you were here."
"That is quite all right," said Draco, taking several steps back. "She is your wife and I respect that. Very, very much. Please, carry on. I was just leaving."
Phillip eyed him curiously. "No, you don't have to." He looked at Sophie. "I just wanted to remind you about our lunch meeting with Mr. Quartz."
Sophie nodded very enthusiastically. Her mouth still had not closed.
"Okay then," he said, scanning each of them with interest before slowly walking towards the door connecting their offices. He reached it. His door was on the handle.
Pop!
"WHAT DID YOU DO?" Caroline demanded in a deep, accusing voice.
Phillip whipped back around and saw she was staring at Sophie with a horrible glower on her face and a magazine in her hands.
"What did you do?" he asked.
Caroline froze. She turned slowly and gasped when she saw him standing there.
"Nothing," she squeaked.
"I was talking to my wife, Caroline," Phillip said. He took several steps back into the room and looked at Sophie. "You're acting funny. What has happened?"
"Nozing!" Now she squeaked.
Phillip moved his eyes to Draco, who was looking anywhere but at him. "Something you want to tell me, Draco?"
"No," he squeaked. Definitely not.
Phillip's gaze now drew to the magazine in Caroline's hands. The same one Sophie had hidden behind her back the moment he had Apparated into her office. He yanked it from her hands and looked at it.
"Phillipe, no!" shouted Sophie, jumping onto his back and tackling him while Caroline grabbed back the magazine. Draco picked up the one Sophie had dropped and used his wand to scorch it to dust.
But it was too late. Phillip had already seen the cover and the damage had been done. He slowly pulled Sophie off of his back.
"That is not what it looks like," said Draco, pointing at the magazine still in Caroline's hands.
"Really?" said Phillip. "Because it looks like my wife was kissing you."
"A common misconception. Clearly, the people of this magazine -"
Phillip clenched his fist and punched Draco in the eye. Sophie and Caroline squealed. After that was done, he cracked his knuckles and looked at his wife. Sophie whimpered. She wasn't sure if he looked more angry or sorrowful but, either way, she didn't like it.
"What the fuck?" Phillip asked.
"Phillipe, eet was an accident," she said. "I deed not mean -"
"Let me see it." He held out his hand to Caroline. She didn't move. "Let me bloody see it!"
Her eyes darting all around, Caroline started to panic and ended up scorching her copy of the magazine like Draco had.
Phillip's nostrils flared. "Fine."
He marched to the door and out of the office. The others all ran after him, Draco still rubbing at his aching eye.
"Phillipe, where are you going?" Sophie asked. She had caught up with him but still remained a step behind.
"To find another copy."
"Why?"
"Because I want to bloody see!" he shouted.
Phillip headed down the hall and towards Seth's lab. It was still early and very few workers had arrived, but the ones that had were clearly already gossiping. He walked right past them and into Seth's office, only to come face to face with his best mate snogging his ex-wife. They both turned and gasped. There seemed to be a lot of that going on today.
Phillip gaped at them. "Are you fucking kidding me right now?"
Sophie and Caroline hadn't seen the kiss, but Seth and Chastity were close enough together that they got the gist of what was going on.
"Oh, hell no!" shouted Caroline, storming into the office and yanking Seth away from the other witch. "What the fuck is this?" she demanded, smacking him on the back of the head.
"Ah! Nothing!" Seth shouted. What are you all -"
"Why the hell did you kiss Draco?" Phillip suddenly demanded while glaring at Sophie.
Looking back and noticing several people were watching them, Draco pushed from the back until they were all in the office and shut the door. Seth looked over at him and raised his eyebrows. Draco shrugged.
"I … I do not know," answered Sophie after a short pause. "I was very drunk and -"
"Is that your bloody excuse?"
Sophie blushed. "No, I … Zere ees no excuse. I know zat. But I was upset and 'e was zere … 'E deed not kiss me back, Phillipe. Please, do not be angry wiz 'im. Eet was all me. I was stupid and weak … Eet was a mistake and I am sorry."
"You're sorry?"
Sophie nodded.
"You're sorry?" he repeated again, this time much harsher. "You fucking cheated on me! With Draco! The last guy you shagged before we got married! One of my fucking groomsmen! I mean, are you kidding me? Are you fucking kidding me?"
Everyone was looking around uncomfortably. This really seemed like a conversation they should not all be present for. Only Caroline was brave enough to stare at the arguing couple with a fixed fascination.
"You could not have chosen a worse person to do this with! And his bloody wife is kidnapped … He's fucking vulnerable! I can't believe I'm even saying this sentence, but you actually took advantage of Draco! Draco!"
Draco wished he was anywhere but here right now.
Until that moment, Sophie had kept pretty calm, but it was these last words that finally pushed her over the edge. She literally turned red in the face. Her fists clenched as she tried to hold herself together, but then, without any notice, her mouth shot open and she began shouting anything and everything that had been on her mind in French.
Phillip stared at her blankly for a moment before leaning towards Draco and asking, "What is she saying?"
Draco took a deep breath and looked at Sophie as she yelled. He really did not feel like playing translator right now.
"She says you're never there for her, and you haven't looked at her the same since she lost the baby."
Sophie continued to scream, gesturing with her hands and grabbing at her hair animatedly as everyone watched with dropped jaws.
"She thinks you blame her even more than you blame yourself, and that's not fair. She did everything she could, but her body couldn't take it and she hates herself every day for not being strong enough."
Phillip began to tear as his wife paused and glared at him. Then she began to scream again.
"Now she's saying how you never even bothered to learn her native language. She always has to cater to you and your feelings but you never do the same for her."
Sophie paused again and crossed her arms, waiting for Phillip to say something.
Phillip took several deep breaths and sucked in his lips. He looked to the floor for a second before moving his eyes back to Sophie.
"Je me suis essayé, mais je ne peux pas apprendre trop vite."
Sophie was taken aback. Roughly translated, it meant that he'd been trying but he just didn't pick things up that quickly. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.
"Phillipe, I … I 'ad no idea."
"I had always planned on it being a surprise. I can understand it a bit, but you just speak so bloody fast, I can't keep up." Phillip headed for the door. With his hand on the knob, he turned back and looked at Chastity. "Cancel all of my meetings for the day. Tell everyone I'm sick or something."
Phillip opened the door and walked out.
"Phillipe, wait!" Sophie ran after him with tears in her eyes.
Everyone else stayed put. They didn't want to be in the middle of that again.
"Ow!"
Draco turned to see Caroline had smacked Seth in the head again.
"Fucking idiot."
XXX
Hermione sat straight up on her bed while Theo Nott sat in an armchair opposite her. To anyone else, it would just look like they were in the middle of a staring contest, but what they were actually doing was using Occlumency and Legilimency to communicate. Hermione laughed as he showed her a memory of an eight-year-old Draco getting chased by one of the albino peacocks in his garden after pulling its tail feathers one too many times.
This had all started a couple of days ago when the purebloods had finally decided to bring Theo in on this. He and Quinn were instructed to watch her and use the two-way mirror while Arron Greengrass made that stupid vow with Ron.
Sometime in the middle of it, she was able to somehow use her wandless, and nonverbal, magic to undo her binds and attack them. She took the Silencing Charm off of her and got Theo's wand from him. Only, she didn't do much with it before Quinn cast another one on her.
Theo snatched back his wand, but Hermione resisted and grabbed onto his wrist. Somehow, she still wasn't sure how, but somehow she used Legilimency on him and entered his mind. It was a complete accident, but a lucky one. It was during this connection that she was able to witness Theo talking to Kingsley about how his father wanted to share something very important with him that weekend, and he would be reporting back to him the first chance he got. Theo Nott was a double agent.
Looking a little horrified at being discovered, Hermione gave Theo a slight nod and he slapped her, just to keep up appearances. When he and Quinn left the room after the deal was made, he slyly used his wand to cast a Healing Spell on her face.
Now, two days later, he had not been allowed to leave the premises and, therefore, report back to Kingsley, but he had been using his spare time to come into Hermione's room and help her work on her wandless magic. She had obviously learned she was able to use it without that threat of her baby's life, but it only ever came sporadically. She needed to find a way to use it when she actually had a plan. All of these random spurts weren't helping.
The door to her room flew open, and she and Theo blinked their eyes to focus back on the real world. Blaise was standing in the doorway and holding something with a huge grin on his face.
"Check out my awesome photography skills, Mudblood," he said, tossing a copy of Witch Weekly onto her bed.
Hermione picked it up and looked at it. She was able to control her gasp, but her eyes were another story. There, on the cover, was a photo of Sophie leaning in and kissing Draco. The angle made it impossible to tell if he was kissing back.
"Looks like your husband has found another Mudblood to keep him company." Blaise chuckled. "Feel free to keep that copy. I have loads more." He looked down at Theo. "Hurry up in here, will you Nott? Poker starts in ten minutes and Quinn wants to place bets on what form of torture we're going to put Parkinson through today." He smirked and winked at Hermione.
She just rolled her eyes. "I might believe you if I hadn't seen your face when you had to carry her down to the basement. While you couldn't care less about me, Pansy is another story."
Blaise's smirk faded. "What the hell do you know, filthy Mud -"
"They do not want her left alone during the day anymore, Zabini," interrupted Theo. "So, I'm afraid, I must decline poker."
"Oh, come on. Who bloody cares? She's not going anywhere."
"My father cares, actually. Very much. And I would prefer not to be on the receiving end of his rage this week. You understand."
Blaise looked at Hermione and sneered before opening the door. "Enjoy the magazine, Mudblood." He walked out and slammed it.
The moment he was gone, Hermione lifted the magazine and gazed at the photo. Sophie going in for the kiss, Draco not pushing her away. And again. And again.
She opened it and began thumbing through the pages for the article, but Theo stood up and tore it out of her hands before she could.
"Don't read that garbage. You know it has no real merit."
"Yes, but -"
"I was there that night, you know? Your friend was completely drunk off her arse. I doubt she even knew what she was doing."
"Was Draco drunk?" she asked, moving her head so she could get a better look at the cover of the magazine in his hands.
Theo turned it so she couldn't see. "No. But that doesn't mean anything. You'd have to be a fucking idiot to not see that he's crazy about you. He's not going to cheat on you."
Hermione nodded, but she still wasn't fully convinced and could not help tearing up. Her lips were not the last to touch his. She hated that.
Theo sighed and tossed the magazine back on her lap. "Torch it. It'll be good practice for you."
Hermione stared at Theo for a moment before looking back at the magazine. She lifted it and narrowed her eyes, trying to imagine a hole burning through the center of it. Nothing happened. She let out a frustrated sigh.
"I'm never going to get this."
"Not with that attitude." Theo returned to his seat and began picking at his nails. "If rage fueled it before, then perhaps you should focus on that instead of how upset you are."
"But I don't feel rage," she said, looking back at the photo. "I just feel … sad."
"Okay … Well, what do you feel when you use Legilimency on me? Since you can do that without feeling angry."
Hermione thought about this. "I think of how I want to learn how to control this magic so I can use it to get out of here."
"So you feel … calm maybe? Or serene?"
"I guess so." She shrugged. "But I can't look at this photo and feel calm. How the hell did Blaise take it without them noticing, anyway?"
"Mr. Greengrass gave him an invisibility cloak. He brings that bloody thing everywhere, and when he saw them head outside he thought it would be funny to follow and mess with them. I guess it was just luck that he had a camera."
"Oh, yes. Just fantastic." Hermione rolled her eyes.
She looked back down at the magazine and tried to channel that rage she felt towards Blaise for spying on Sophie and Draco. Hadn't he done enough to them already? Unfortunately, her rage wasn't strong enough, and nothing happened.
Hermione sighed and used her hand to cover Sophie so she could only see Draco. He definitely looked surprised during the initial impact. But then his eyes closed. Hermione felt sick. She was just about to look away when she swore she saw something. A small glimmer.
The photo started from the beginning again and Hermione held it closer, focusing completely on Draco's eyes. They were surprised, they closed, then … a tear. He was crying. Oh thank Merlin!
"Wah!"
The moment Hermione felt that relief, the magazine had gone up in flames. She tossed it to the floor and Theo used his wand to put the fire out before it burned the whole place down.
He looked over at her and cocked an eyebrow. "Rage?" he asked.
Hermione shook her head and smiled. "No. Relief. And happiness. He still loves me."
"Well, I could've told you that," said Theo, returning to his seat. "Now … wanna see the time our families went on holiday together and Draco got chased by a flock of geese?"
Hermione laughed and nodded. Wow, birds really hated him. She looked deeply into Theo's eyes. "Legilimens!"
Never in a million years would she have thought she'd enjoy the company of Theo Nott.
XXX
After the horrible and loud fiasco at work regarding Sophie and Phillip, the Thinx office was in chaos. It took the entire day just to get everyone focused again and, by then, no work had gotten done.
Sometime towards the end of the day, Draco received an emergency text from Kingsley. Apparently, the purebloods were recruiting. What for, he did not know, but several people had already come to him and explained how they were asked to keep a very important secret. Unfortunately, none of them had been told the secret. The only one brave enough to accept the invitation hadn't gotten back to him yet.
But what was most important was that if the purebloods were recruiting, then it was time for them to recruit as well. To have a plethora of people on standby just in case the war in the prophecy wasn't metaphorical. It certainly seemed like the purebloods didn't think so. Recruiting would start immediately.
By the time Draco got home, Andromeda and Teddy were already waiting for him. She said a quick goodbye and left the boys together.
Teddy really wanted to help him make dinner, so Draco taught him how to grate cheese while he did the more difficult tasks. Of course, Teddy wanted to help with the seasoning and ended up putting far too much oregano in their pasta sauce, but Draco played it off like it was great.
After dinner, Teddy wanted Draco to read him a book. Hermione didn't have much fiction in their bookcase but, luckily, Andromeda had brought over some of Teddy's favorites.
Draco was surprised at how into this Muggle book he got, called The Hobbit. Teddy said the books used to belong to his grandpa, and he used to read them to his mom when she was a kid like him. Draco suddenly found himself longing to have had a father like that. If he ever became one, he would have to make sure to read his children this book.
The two of them were only a couple of chapters in when there was a knock at the door.
"Stay here," Draco said to Teddy before handing him the book and going to answer it.
His eyes widened a bit when he saw Phillip standing on his doorstep with a suitcase in hand.
"Phil, wha -"
"I left Sophie," he said suddenly. "And, well, I've kind of found myself at a loss of where to go."
"So you came here?" asked Draco. "Aren't you furious with me?"
Phillip sighed. "No. I'm not furious with anyone. Least of all you. I … I understand you're going through something very emotional right now, and I have no doubt that you love Hermione."
"All that aside, I would really prefer it if you were furious with me."
"Look, Draco, I'm not furious. I can't go home. I can't go to the Leaky Cauldron for the same bloody reason you can't. I sure as hell am not going to Seth's, especially since I found out Chastity is more or less shacking up with him, and Caroline and her boyfriend are as irritating as ever. I … I don't have anywhere else. As sad as that is."
Draco sighed and stepped aside. "I was never going to say no," he said as Phillip walked inside. "But the only guestroom with a bed in it is taken, so you're going to have to transfigure the sofa or something."
"That's fine," said Phillip, putting his suitcase down in the corner.
Draco led him into the drawing room, where Teddy was currently trying to read the book on his own. He looked up as they entered.
"Teddy, you remember Phil, don't you?"
Teddy smiled and said, "Uhuh. You're married to the really pwetty lady."
Phillip went white. "Umm … yes."
"Phil's going to be staying with us for a little while. Is that all right?"
Teddy nodded. "He can wead The Hobbit with us!"
Draco smiled and turned to Phillip. "It is really quite a delightful Muggle book. I think you'll enjoy it."
Phillip took a seat on the sofa and listened as Draco continued to read the book to Teddy, who was curled up in his lap with LD on his shoulder. Crookshanks came over and nuzzled against Phillip, who started petting him.
They read until Teddy fell asleep. Then Draco closed the book and looked at Phillip.
"You're good with him," said Phillip, motioning to Teddy. "You and Hermione ever consider becoming parents?"
Draco shrugged. "We never really talked about it, but I always assumed we one day would. Have to make sure the Malfoy name lives on." He winked.
Phillip tried to smile, but just ended up looking at Teddy with sorrowful eyes.
"Phil, what are you doing?" Draco asked.
"What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean. You have a beautiful wife who loves you, so what are you hanging around with me for? If Hermione was here, you can bet your arse that I sure as hell wouldn't be wasting my time with you."
"It's a little different." Phillip sighed. "I honestly don't know what I'm doing. It … it isn't that I don't want to be with Sophie anymore, because I do. I love her just as much today as I did the day I married her. Probably even more."
"Then what's the problem?"
Phillip shrugged. "I don't know. I just … can't stop thinking about what happened. About how I failed her."
"She doesn't see it that way."
"I know. She blames herself. Which she shouldn't. There was nothing she could have done."
"Now, if you could just tell her that -"
"I can't. I can't talk to her anymore, Draco. That's the problem. We just end up yelling, and that's not us. We never used to yell. Everything was always so easy before. And now … it just bloody pisses me off that I'm actually letting those fucking bastards break us. I can't even believe it myself. I thought I was stronger than this. I thought …" Phillip lifted his hands and began to sob into them. "I'm sorry, Draco. I know you don't need this right now."
"It's fine," said Draco, stroking Teddy's hair as he began to stir against him. He then gave LD a little poke in what he assumed was the belly, but it was hard to tell through all of that fluff. "So … tell me. How do you feel about Seth" He smirked.
"Oh Merlin." Phillip chuckled and wiped his eyes. "Way to add insult to injury. How long has that been going on?"
"I caught them snogging about a month ago," said Draco. "Seth told me it had only been going on for a month but I think he was lying. He told me he was going to end it but, clearly, that didn't happen."
"He liked her, you know? Back around the time we first met."
Draco raised his eyebrows. "You knew that?"
"Well, it was bloody obvious. But I barely knew him at the time, and when she showed interest I just kind of went with it. Then Seth and I started to become good friends. I mean, I did feel guilty, but, by that point, I was already too invested to just up and leave her."
"So you up and married her?"
"Well, I'm not proud of it." Phillip paused and then scrunched his face. "Oh Merlin, I have to let this happen, don't I?
"After that story …"
"I know, I know. I'm a horrible person."
"I wouldn't say horrible."
"It was something the old Draco Malfoy would have done."
Draco wanted to be offended but, unfortunately, he was right. In fact, he had done that. On many occasions. Normally to Blaise. He suddenly felt great satisfaction.
Teddy, who had been leaning against Draco's shoulder, all of a sudden collapsed onto his lap. He kicked around and almost squashed LD before settling.
"I guess I better get him to bed," said Draco. He scooped Teddy and the Pygmy Puff into his arms and carried them towards the stairs. "You're welcome to stay here as long as you want, Phil, but I really hope you don't take me up on that offer. Sophie loves you, but she's not going to wait around for you forever."
Draco headed up the stairs and put Teddy in the guestroom bed. As always, he debated going to sleep in his own room and, as always, he decided against it. All of his stuff was down here anyway. So, after changing in the washroom, Draco climbed into the bed with Teddy and let the child cling to him. It was really the only way he could ever sleep anymore.
XXX
Ron sat in his cubicle at the Auror office on Friday, trying really hard to hold it together. He still hadn't broken it off with Astoria and tomorrow marked one week since her father had come to him. He had written down everything that was said and researched Unbreakable Vows, hoping to find some sort of loophole.
He thought he had discovered something brilliant when he realized Mr. Greengrass had only said he couldn't speak what was said between them, but when he tried to write it down he could literally feel his heart begin to slow. So that was out. Still, he had not given up.
Ron knew it was stupid to agree to that vow but, in the moment, it really seemed like the only option. Besides, what were they going to do to him if he said no? Simply erase his memory? He doubted it. They were out for blood.
After hours of research, the only thing he had found out was that the only way to break an Unbreakable Vow was if one of the players involved dies, and not by the others hand. He had sort of taken care of that when reciting the terms of his own vow, but that didn't mean someone else wouldn't plan his demise behind Mr. Greengrass's back to get what they wanted, which was Hermione dead.
"Three months. Three months," he whispered to himself. Why three months?
"Ron?"
He looked up to see Astoria standing over his desk.
"Are you ready?"
Ron looked at the clock and realized he had accidentally pondered the day away. Crap.
"Yeah. Just give me a minute."
He shuffled the parchment on his desk together and stuck it in a drawer, making sure his research on the Unbreakable Vow was not on top.
When he stood up, Astoria leaned in to kiss him on his lips, but he turned his head so she missed and got his cheek.
"Is everything all right?" she asked.
"Yes, of course. Let's go." Ron grabbed her hand and guided her towards the lift.
They were supposed to meet his father and then Floo to the Burrow for dinner. As soon as they got home he was going to end it. He just wanted to hold on for a little bit longer.
XXX
Ron could not focus throughout all of dinner. He tried to play it off like everything was all right, but that was really hard when he saw how well Astoria got on with his family now. His mum let her help her in the kitchen, his dad loved to show her all of his Muggle contraptions, she and Ginny seemed to share everything with each other, she and Charlie could talk about dragons together and evenly matched, Bill saw her as another little sister, Fleur thought she was darling, Angelina finally found someone as informed on Quidditch facts as she was, and George would sit around with her and brainstorm ideas for his store for hours. Her mind was almost as wacky and absurd as his was. Even Percy got on with her, and that was a rare find. She really was the whole package.
When they left, he knew it wasn't only going to be Astoria who would hate him. His entire family would. For being daft enough to let her get away. But he had to do it. For that rare chance that Hermione really would be kept safe.
As soon as he and Astoria got home, he went straight into the bedroom to change into his nightclothes. She didn't follow him. Once he was changed, he didn't go back into the front room of their flat right away. He sat on the bed and rubbed at his face. Merlin, how was he going to do this? He didn't want to send Astoria back to those people. They were awful. Especially her father. She deserved better than them. But she also deserved better than him. Someone who would be clever enough to come up with a better plan when approached with something like this.
After taking several deep breaths, Ron stood back up and walked out to the front room. Astoria was sitting on the sofa. She wiped her eyes when she saw him. He went over and sat down beside her, not even bothering to ask what was wrong. He already knew.
There was a long moment of silence.
"Ron … what's going on?" she finally asked. "Why are you acting so distant?"
Because I made a deal with the devil and I regret it horribly, he thought.
"I don't know. I just … I've been thinking a lot this past week and …" He took a deep breath. He couldn't do this. He couldn't …
"And?" Astoria asked, leaning closer. She tried to grab his hand but he pulled it away.
"And I don't think this is working."
"What's not working?"
"You and me," he lied. They actually worked very well. "I haven't been happy in a long time." A bigger lie. She always made him happy. Her smile was addictive.
"I … I don't understand," she said, tears falling from her eyes. "Everything seemed fine just last week. Something must have changed. Please … please, Ron. Tell me what's changed?"
"Nothing," he said, standing up so she would stop trying to grab his hand. "It's just me. It's just the way I feel."
There was a horrible, deafening silence as she sat there, staring at him with pained eyes. She whimpered.
"Is this about Hermione?" Astoria asked.
Ron sighed. If only she knew. "Yes." It was the first truth he had said all night.
"But … but you promised. You promised you were over her."
"I thought I was." Back to lying. He knew he was. He wanted to marry Astoria and had been certain of that for quite some time now. "But, with everything that's been happening, I realize now that I was wrong. I …" He gulped. "I still love her." That was the hardest lie of all. It wasn't that he didn't still love Hermione, because he definitely did and always would, but not in the way he was implying.
Astoria had at least been attempting to hold herself together, but she couldn't do it any longer. She began crying hysterically, all the while keeping her eyes fixed on him.
"Why?" she asked in a strained voice. "Why do you keep doing this to me? It isn't fair! It isn't …"
It took everything Ron had to stop himself from running to her and taking her in his arms. He wanted to tell her he took it all back. That it was a lie and he loved her. Only her. But he knew he couldn't do that. Not now. Not until he was certain Hermione was safe. Mr. Greengrass loved his daughter. He wouldn't … he wouldn't let any harm come to her. Would he?
"I … I think you should leave." Ron was trying really hard to hold back his tears but a few still escaped his eyes. He wiped them away.
"What?" If at all possible, Astoria looked even more hurt than before.
"I think you should leave," he repeated. "Go home to your family. I'm sure once you tell them it's over they'll have you back." Ron only said this in hopes that she would take the hint and realize that something was wrong. He didn't want her to go back to those people. And he was sure she didn't either.
"But … but they're not good people, Ron. I'll never go back there! I cannot believe you're even suggesting -"
"Well, then go somewhere else. I don't bloody care. Just, please, get out of here."
Astoria's mouth fell open. It wasn't long before her eyes went from hurt to rage. She practically jumped off of the sofa and marched into the bedroom. She took a suitcase out of their closet and began throwing everything she could find inside of it.
Demand that she leaves does he? Well, fine! She would bloody do it! And she wouldn't come back this time either! No matter how much he begged!
Once her bag was packed, she went back into the front room. Ron had sunken into a chair and was wiping at his eyes. Astoria went over and threw her keys at him.
"I hate you, Ronald Weasley! I wish I'd never met you! All you've done this past year is make me miserable! All you bloody care about is yourself!" Her nostrils flared and her chest heaved. "You're going to regret this."
And with that, Astoria went to the door, opened it, and slammed it behind her.
The moment she was gone, Ron whispered, "I already do."
XXX
After crying outside of their building for a good hour, Astoria knew she had to come up with some sort of plan. Where the hell was she supposed to go? Her only real friends anymore were Ginny and Draco, and Ginny was Ron's sister. That meant she'd lost her too.
Astoria wiped her eyes and picked up her suitcase, which she had been sitting on. She Apparated to Draco's street, walked up his stoop, and knocked.
Draco answered a minute later. He looked her over. "Stori, what's wrong?"
"Umm … Ron just broke up with me," she said, her voice sounding dry and raw. She gulped, but it did not help anything.
"What? Why?" asked Draco, stepping outside and shutting the door.
She shrugged. "I don't know. He says he's been unhappy for a while. I … I didn't know."
Draco stepped forward to give her a hug but, the moment he did, someone came out of nowhere and snapped a photo of them.
"Merlin dammit!" he shouted. "I told you to get off my fucking street!"
"You don't own the street!" The photographer smirked. "So tell me, Mr. Malfoy, just how many women are you cheating on your kidnapped wife with?"
"Zero, you fucking prick! Now, get out of here!"
The photographer snapped one more photo before laughing and Disapparating.
"Sorry," said Draco. "They've been following me all week."
"Is that why you haven't invited me in?" asked Astoria, already feeling a new set of tears coming on.
Draco sighed. "You know I would. Any other time."
"But … but I don't have anywhere else to go. I … I have no one," she cried.
"I'm sorry, Stori. But I just … I can't have a girl staying with me right now. Not after that bloody photo in Witch Weekly. I am positive Hermione has seen it and I won't give her any more reason to doubt me."
Astoria cried harder.
"You know, Phil moved out of Sophie's. He's staying here and she's been pretty upset ever since. Maybe you could try there. I'm sure both of you could really use the company."
Astoria nodded. Draco held out his arms and tried to hug her again but, as soon as he did, the photographer was back and snapping a photo.
"I'm going to rip that fucking thing from your hands if you don't stop!"
The photographer laughed and Disapparated.
XXX
Astoria had waited outside of Sophie's house for two hours, but she never came home. Eventually, a neighbor had come out and told her that she hadn't seen either Mr. or Mrs. Prior in days. She was pretty sure they had gone on vacation.
After hearing that, Astoria really only saw one other option, which was why she was at the Leaky Cauldron now, drinking away her sorrows.
Hannah came over during her break and had a drink with her. She sure was here a lot for someone who supposedly only worked at the Leaky Cauldron part-time.
Astoria liked Hannah. She was one of those genuinely nice people who always wanted to help. And, while she and Neville only lived in a small studio so they could not offer her a place to stay, she did have an available room upstairs that was Astoria's if she wanted it. Free of charge.
While Astoria dreaded the idea of staying at a place Ron frequented, she was sort of running out of options. Unless she could somehow find Sophie.
Astoria thanked Hannah for the offer and said she might take her up on it. After that, Hannah had to return to work and Astoria was left to drink alone.
She was mindlessly twirling her finger around the rim of her glass when someone called her name. She looked up to see her father standing there.
"What do you want?" she asked before taking a sip of her drink.
"I was just wondering if there was any particular reason my daughter was here drinking alone on a Friday evening."
"That's funny, I don't see Daphne anywhere. But I hope, for her baby's sake, that that's not true. I heard you're not supposed to drink while pregnant."
"Astoria, you know what I mean. I spoke out of anger last year, but there has never been a time when I haven't considered you my daughter."
"How sweet." She took another sip.
Arron sighed and sat down. "So do you care to tell me why you're here?"
"No."
Astoria stared across the table at her father. How incredibly convenient that he was here. He normally tried to avoid places like this. Said they were dodgy and unsophisticated. And something else was bothering her too. When Ron was breaking up with her, why the hell had he told her to go back to her family? He would never say something like that. Unless …
"Why are you here?" she asked, suddenly feeling very suspicious.
Arron looked over his shoulder and pointed at a table. Sitting at it was Gorden Goyle, Orson Crabbe, Quincy Nott, and Stuart Parkinson. They all raised their glasses to her. She did the same.
"I didn't know you all came to places like this."
"We did in our youth. Sometimes we like to relieve those days by having a drink at 'places like this'."
A likely story. "Well, I'm here because Ron kicked me out, so it looks like I'm living at an inn for a while. At least until I can find a place of my own."
"He's an idiot, Astoria," said Arron after a short pause. "Any wizard would be lucky to have you."
"Uhuh." She took another sip of her drink, keeping her eyes fixed on her father the entire time.
"I don't understand why you're staying here, when you have a perfectly good room still made up for you at home."
"I don't have a home, Father."
"That sounds so formal. Don't you want to call me 'Dad' again?"
"No."
Arron sighed. "Well, if you change your mind, the offer stands." He got up and started to walk back to his table.
Astoria stared after him. She was completely convinced that he had anything and everything to do with Ron breaking up with her tonight, but she was also convinced that he wouldn't have been able to do that without some sort of bargaining chip.
Astoria gasped. Hermione. Her father really did know where she was. She hadn't fully believed it until this moment, but it just had to be true. It was definitely better than the alternative that Ron really didn't want to be with her.
"Wait!" she called.
Arron turned around.
Astoria gulped. She had been looking for a way back in through Daphne, but that had been the wrong route. Her real way back in was her father. And if she was living at home again … She could finally help in the way she'd always wanted to.
"I … I accept your offer."
"You do?" Arron said, raising his eyebrows.
Astoria shrugged. "It's better than my other option." She pointed up at the inn.
Arron smiled. "Wonderful. I'll go tell my table I have to duck out early."
"And I'll go settle my bill," said Astoria, getting to her feet. She picked up her suitcase and walked towards Hannah, who was behind the bar. "Can you get a message to Draco for me?" she asked. "I get the feeling I'm going to be kept on a tight leash."
"Umm … all right," said Hannah, looking skeptical.
"Tell him I'm moving back in with my father. And that he definitely knows something. I'll keep him informed as best I can." Astoria reached into her pocket, pulled out several Galleons and put them on the bar.
"Isn't that a little dangerous?" asked Hannah, trying really hard not to look over at Arron.
"I suppose, but Hermione and Draco are my friends, and if I have the chance to do something I have to take it."
Hannah nodded and took the Galleons. "Be careful."
"I will."
Astoria looked over and saw that her father was already waiting by the door for her. She took a deep breath and walked over to him, trying to look confident as she followed him out of the pub. Only, she really wasn't.
XXX
The following morning, Phillip was making Draco and Teddy breakfast while they watched when a knock came at the door.
Draco rolled his eyes and reluctantly got up to answer it. What was with all the bloody visitors lately?
He opened the door and nearly gasped when he saw his mother standing there.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
Narcissa raised her eyebrows. "Now, Draco, is that any way to greet your mother? I know I raised you better than that."
"Well, forgive me for not being polite to someone I've barely seen over the past three months. You know, ever since my wife was kidnapped. Or have you forgotten?"
"No, I haven't forgotten, Draco," she said, pushing inside and heading for the drawing room. He followed her. "I sent you an owl earlier this week saying I wanted to speak with you. I trust you got it."
"I did," he said, "but I didn't read it."
"Preoccupied with your new lover?"
Draco's whole body went red.
"You know, I must say, I thought I would be happier when you moved on, but did you have to choose another Mudblood?"
"How dare you," Draco said in a harsh whisper. "How dare you use that word on people I care about! And how dare you even assume that I would cheat on my wife!"
"You mean you didn't?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow. The Malfoy trademark.
"Of course not! A friend of mine was upset and she made a mistake! I love Hermione! After everything, how could you even doubt that?"
"Well, perhaps you should move on. It's been three months, Draco. She has been gone for more than half the time you have been married."
"I'm not like you," Draco spat. "I cannot just forget about the people I love because I don't know where they are. Out of sight does not mean out of mind."
Narcissa sighed. "Draco, I -"
"I once told you that if Hermione ever went missing I would never, ever stop searching for her! And I meant it!"
"Yes, yes, I recall. You said you would go to the ends of the earth if you had to. Have you been there yet? I hear it's lovely this time of year."
Draco was just about to yell and curse at her, when a faint little voice called his name. He looked over at the hallway. Teddy was standing in it.
"Bweakfast is ready," he said, looking nervously at Narcissa.
"I'll be there in a minute," Draco said, trying to smile.
Teddy smiled back before skeptically walking towards the kitchen.
"Is Andromeda here?" Narcissa asked.
"No. Teddy is living here now. Just temporarily," Draco added. "Until this whole mess is over and done with."
"Why?"
"He keeps me sane." Draco took a deep breath. "Why are you here?"
"I … wanted to see you," Narcissa said almost nervously. "To make sure you were all right."
"Well, I'm not. I don't know if I'll ever be all right again," said Draco, casting his eyes to the floor. "It's the not knowing that's killing me. Why are they keeping her for so long? What are they planning?"
"I don't know." Narcissa sighed. "But you really should at least try and move on from this. There's a very good chance she's never coming back."
Draco lifted his eyes and stared at her, looking almost dead. "I never truly believed you would be this cold."
"I'm not being cold, I'm being practical, Drac -"
"Get. Out."
Narcissa furrowed her brow. "You cannot kick me out! I'm your mother!"
"And a bloody horrible one at that," he spat. "Even your sister, someone I was raised to hate, someone I only met six months ago, has been here for me more than you ever have! Now, get out."
Narcissa did not move.
"Get out!" he shouted, pointing at the door.
She took one last look at her son before heading for it. She left it open and walked down the steps, turning just in time to see Draco glaring down at her before slamming it.
Narcissa took several deep breaths. She pulled up the hood on her cloak and Apparated far away from there. She ended up on a cobbled road and walked across it, the sound of rocks crunching beneath her boots.
A tall, wrought-iron gate stood in front of her. It opened upon the announcement of her name. Narcissa headed up the pathway to a Victorian house. It was large but it was no Malfoy Manor.
Narcissa knocked. A house-elf answered and led her inside. They entered the drawing room, where Mila Parkinson was currently reading a book by the fire. She turned and looked. Narcissa pulled off her hood.
"Narcissa. I was not expecting -"
"Remember what you were telling me before?"
Mila nodded.
"Well, I want in."
Mila practically jumped out of her chair and walked hurriedly over to her. "You mean … on everything?"
Narcissa nodded confidently. "Yes. On the whole messy affair. I'm in."
Mila beamed and embraced her.
"What's going on?"
They both looked over as Stuart Parkinson entered the room.
"Narcissa has agreed, Darling. She wants in. I told you we could trust her."
"Oh, wonderful," said Stuart, beaming even brighter than his wife. "I don't suppose Lucius -"
"No, Stuart. Just me. But I do have one request."
"And what's that?" he asked.
Narcissa took a deep breath. "I want to see her. That way, when this is all over, I'll have something to tell my son."
"I'm sure that can be arranged," said Mila, eyeing her husband.
But Stuart looked skeptical. "A decision like that cannot be made overnight. They will want to test your loyalty first."
"That's fine," said Narcissa. "Just make it happen."
And with that, she turned and left, not wanting to overstay her welcome. She still couldn't believe she was doing this, but she needed to help her son move on. And, it seemed, this was the only way.