Thank you so, so much for the positive response to the first chapter. It took me an hour to do my read-through on this chapter. It's Friday; why do people insist I do work on Fridays?

Chapter 2
It was hours before she left her office. Her eyes hurt, back ached from leaning over her books and files, and her hand had begun to cramp from her diligent note taking. After four hours, she needed a break. She wandered through the lab until she reached the hallway. Malfoy's office was at the far end, and she could see the light that illuminated his small corner of the floor.

As she weighed the pros and cons of going to his office, he extinguished the lamps and exited. Turning left, he seemed to spot her, smiled, and continued toward her. "So you've finally emerged," he remarked. "You look a bit peaky. Have you eaten?"

Hermione shook her head, suddenly unable to speak. He continued toward the exit, looking once over his shoulder to check that she followed. When she didn't, he informed her that she needed to hurry up or else she would miss lunch. Silently, she followed, wondering why he was suddenly so nice.

The war, and time, had clearly changed Draco Malfoy. He could still be cold and ruthless, and almost merciless in his pursuit to change the perception of his family's name. But there was another side to him that Hermione hadn't seen until that day. For years, she heard his bigoted insults and petty remarks, saw the sneer he wore whenever she passed by, and felt the pain of being cursed by his wand. Perhaps, she decided, he was lulling her into a false sense of security before pulling the rug from under her feet.

They reached the small cafe a few doors down from their office, and he held the door open for her before entering. After being seated, Hermione finally spoke. "This really isn't necessary, Malfoy."

"Nonsense," he retorted. "You need to eat. What's it been, a week, since your last meal?"

Hermione blushed. It had been awhile since her last decent meal, thanks to the stress and long hours of mediation brought about by her divorce. She couldn't remember the last time she had used anything in her kitchen but the microwave. But with a baby on the way, she knew she would need to start taking better care of herself.

"Besides, isn't it my job to look after my employees?" he asked.

She shook her head to clear her thoughts, and felt the temperature in her cheeks rise. That's all it was, she realized. A boss looking after his employee. Lunch was no indication of a friendship beginning. Given the history they shared, friendship would be a long way down the road.

"Honestly, Malfoy, if you fed every single one of your employees, you'd be bankrupt by now," she teased.

A smile crested briefly on his lips before he shrugged. "You clearly underestimate the Malfoy wealth," he replied. Ten years earlier, the comment would have sounded snide and superior, but now Draco spoke with a small laugh in his voice. She couldn't remember ever having heard him make a joke, much less about his family.

They placed their orders, Draco frowning when she ordered a small salad. She blanched when he ordered her an extra entree and sent the waiter on his way. "Don't fight me on this," he warned. Lunch magically appeared in front of them, but the smell of Draco's tuna fillet turned her stomach. A hand covering her mouth, she ran to the back of the cafe. Signalling the waiter, he exchanged his meal for something less potent. The new dish arrived at the same moment Hermione returned.

"Must be that stomach flu going around," she commented cheerfully, taking her seat once more. He eyed her suspiciously, but said nothing else as she started to eat. Conversation flowed pleasantly as they ate, but they steered away from more personal matters.

It wasn't until the plates were cleared and the check was paid that Draco could no longer restrain his curiosity. "What happened? Between you and Weasley, I mean. You don't have to answer if you aren't comfortable though. It really isn't my place to ask."

They strolled down the block away from the office, but Hermione didn't question their direction. She rather enjoyed the time they spent together, and going back to work would mean the end of it. "We married too young, I suppose," she replied. She pulled her coat tighter around herself to ward off February's chill. "We got so caught up in the war and helping Harry that when normalcy finally came along we didn't quite know how to be around each other. As hard as we tried to make things work, we just couldn't."

They rounded the corner and continued their walk. "Ya know, when Astoria told me she was pregnant it was just after we had drawn up our divorce papers," he commented. "I wondered if I should tear them up and give it another go with her."

"What changed your mind?" Hermione asked.

Draco shrugged. "I couldn't justify it," he said. "I didn't want my child to grow up with parents who stayed together even though they didn't love each other. I didn't him to hear us fight, or worse, never speak to one another. Raising Scorpius on my own is just...easier."

Hermione stopped walking, shocked by what he had said. Never, in a million years, would she expect Draco Malfoy to take over sole parenting responsibility of his child. A few paces ahead, Draco stopped and turned to look at her curiously. "I'm sorry," she responded, moving again. "I didn't know."

They continued down the block, rounding another corner. One more and they would be back at work. Draco found he didn't want to return, and so slowed down his pace to make the most of their time. But, all too soon, they were back inside the warmth of the Malfoy Group's offices. "Thanks for letting me treat you to lunch," he told her as he walked her back to her office.

"Thanks for not being the Malfoy I remembered," she replied, feeling a blush rise up her neck.

Draco shrugged as he leaned against the door frame. He watched as she removed her coat, then hung up her work robes. "I figured you could use a friend," he replied. Expecting her to draw her wand, he continued to offer her an explanation. "When Astoria and I divorced, most of our friends refused to take sides. A lot of the people I considered close no longer spoke to me. Forgive me for assuming that you might be going through something similar."

Shaking her head, Hermione sat down behind her desk. "It's almost exactly like that," she murmured. "Most of my friends were the Weasleys, and we both know who they sided with. I promise, I took no offense."

"I'll see you around, Granger," he said, sensing her desire to get back to work.

"Yeah, bye, Draco," she murmured.