Since I updated so late last time I decided to make up for it by updating early this time. Thanks for the reviews/favorites/alerts. Enjoy Chapter 18.

The next day couldn't have come fast enough for Hermione. Today she was going to forget about yesterday's events. She had something to take her mind off everything. The Ministry was holding a formal party for all its employees, affiliates, and guests tonight and she couldn't wait. Not only would it take her mind off of things but ever since she had Draco she really didn't go out. Molly Weasley had been kind enough to babysit for her tonight seeing as Harry worked in the Auror department and Ginny was his date they obviously couldn't sit with their nephew. And George was unable to do so either for he was Hermione's date for the evening as a friend.

Hermione walked in the kitchen holding Draco in her arms, "Okay I'm going to drop Draco off with your mum. Do you wanna come?" She asked Ginny.

Ginny giggled when Harry walked into the room, "Um no I think we're going to stay here."

Hermione squinted at her friend and then finally realized why she wanted to stay. "Wow ok. I got it. I'm gonna go now." Her cheeks turned pink.

Once she was gone, Harry cleared the table with one swish of his arm, knocking everything to the floor and practically throwing Ginny on top of it. He shed his shirt and she laughed. He crawled on top of her and started kissing her passionately. Their clothes came off fairly quickly and pretty soon the table was consummated much like everything else in the house.

They roamed the kitchen naked and completely fine with themselves. Harry looked up and down at Ginny, "You are gorgeous."

He handed her some chocolate syrup which she licked off her finger, "Yeah you're not so bad yourself."

The giggled. "I think we nailed it that time."

"Ha why are you ready to stop?"

"Psh hell no." Harry and Ginny had been trying to have a baby ever since they spent so much time with young Draco.

She laughed and kissed him again.

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"Thank you so much for doing this Molly." Hermione passed her son over to his grandmother.

"Oh honey it's no problem at all. You know I love this little guy." She gave Hermione a weak smile.

"Hermione?" George came down the stairs.

She instantly smiled. "Hey, I didn't know you would be here."

When he reached her he gave her a huge hug like he normally did when he saw her. "Yeah I came over for lunch with Mum and Dad. Are you ready for tonight?"

"You have no idea. I've been waiting for this for weeks now." He laughed at her desperation.

"I can't wait either. I'm gonna look good you know. It's gonna be hard for you to resist me." He joked.

She giggled and he couldn't help but admire her smile. "I'll try my best."

He hugged her again and kissed the top of her head. "I'll pick you up at seven. I have to get back to the shop."

She nodded. Most times George felt like the older brother she never had and she enjoyed their relationship.

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"Hermione, George is here let's go!" Harry called from downstairs of Grimmauld Place.

"Almost ready!" She called back.

Ginny, Harry, and George were all waiting downstairs. Harry and George were dressed in their normal dress robes and Ginny was wearing a simple, a-line gown that was a deep purple and her hair was pulled back into a straight, elegant ponytail.

They finally heard Hermione coming down the stairs and they all turned. When she came around the corner they all gasped at how beautiful she looked. She was wearing a green gown with a sweetheart neckline. The top layer of the dress was made of a sheer material and the bottom layer was silk. There was a slit up the right leg that went to her mid-thigh. Her hair was pulled up as well but to the side, framing her face perfectly.

"Hermione you look beautiful." George said and offered her his hand as he kissed her cheek.

"Thank you." Hermione said slightly embarrassed.

"Ok then. Let's go have some fun." Ginny declared.

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They walked up the stairs to the building where the party was being held. Two doormen opened the large doors as Harry and Ginny stepped in first. George and Hermione followed shortly behind.

"Oh my." Hermione looked around the room which was filled with hundreds of people and the ceiling was enchanted to look like the night sky just like at Hogwarts.

"Champagne?" A man with a tray full of glasses offered.

They each took a glass and sipped accordingly. A man made his way to the front of the ballroom and held his wand to his neck. "Thank you all for coming this evening. It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 498th Annual Ministry Ball. Tonight we will be giving awards to certain Ministry employees throughout the night. I hope you all enjoy yourselves with the fine champagne, food, and dancing. Let the festivities begin!" He threw his wand into the air and sparks came from the end as everyone clapped.

Music began playing and George bowed, "May I have this dance?"

Hermione laughed at his mockery, "Why of course you can." She took his hand and he led her out to the dance floor with many other people.

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"You don't have to come with me if you don't want to. I understand." Draco said to his glowing wife who was dressed in a royal blue ball gown, very Astoria.

"Draco its fine, I promised I would and besides I look gorgeous." She laughed trying to ease the tension.

"Thank you." He took her arm.

"Not a problem. It'll be like one last hoorah." She tried to sound optimistic.

He nodded and within seconds they were walking through the grand doors.

"Wow this is so beautiful." Astoria exclaimed.

He looked down at her looking at the room, amazed. She was his best friend and he wanted to let her know that, "Astoria,"

But she cut him off. "Don't," she looked back at him, "don't ruin it." He nodded. "We are here to celebrate your highly successful Quidditch team and socialize with our friends."

He smiled at her, "Would you like to dance?"

"I'd like that." He led her to the dance floor.

As they danced he looked down at her, "You look beautiful, Astoria."

She looked down at the floor and then back up but she didn't say anything and she wasn't looking at him. Instead she was looking past him. He creased his brow at her dumbfounded expression. She looked as though she was in awe of something. He turned around slowly and quickly gained the same expression his wife was holding.

"Good evening all." Hermione said from the stage, holding an envelope. Draco could tell she was nervous but she still looked amazing to him. "I'm here to present the first award of the night for Most Successful and by that we mean richest," everyone laughed at her joke and she was glad that it had landed, "Business Wizard or Witch," she added and again everyone laughed.

Draco's heart was racing. He wasn't listening to a word she said, he was only looking at her.

She opened the envelope and her mouth fell open. She looked around like she was lost or something, her gaze going to Ginny and Harry who looked at her, confused. She cleared her throat, "Draco Malfoy."

Draco became attentive as he heard his name. Everyone clapped for him.

"Draco, you won. Go." Astoria said clapping and smiling.

He nodded and made his way up to the stage, nervous which was rare for him.

Hermione looked like she was going to throw up again but she threw on a weak smile as Draco came her way. She handed him his plaque and was obligated to give him a hug.

It was what he had been waiting for for what seemed like years because it was. His hands went to her lower back and hers wrapped around his neck. He inhaled and his knees went slightly weak at her scent. He noted that she smelt like roses, sweet, and very fitting.

He whispered, "You look stunning." She pulled away quickly, smiling and took a few steps back in order for him to give his speech. He cleared his throat, "Thank you. I'm glad you all are so supportive of the Ebadon Eagles. I'd like to thank the team of course for being so talented," everyone laughed. As much as Hermione hated to admit it, he was a very good public speaker, "the coach and one of my best friends Mr. Hardin Bordin, and finally to Mrs. Astoria Malfoy," Astoria looked shocked, "you have been my everything for the past two years, my wife, my parent, my supporter, my life, and most importantly my best friend." He nodded towards her then looked up to everyone else, "Thank you again." Then he walked off stage but when he went to find Astoria she wasn't where he left her and as the music played again, she was nowhere to be found.

"That was some speech."

He turned around quickly at her voice. "Um thanks."

"So where is Mrs. Malfoy?" Hermione smiled at him for the first time in two years.

He laughed. "I well I don't know, really. She was here when I went on stage and when I came back she was gone. I can't find her anywhere." He sounded slightly worried.

She tried to sound hopeful, "I'm sure she's around here somewhere."

"You don't have to act nice. We both know she was a bitch to you." He was still looking around. He didn't really want Astoria to see him with Hermione. This was supposed to be their night, their last night together.

She opened her mouth to say something but someone called her name, "Hermione!"

It was Harry and he didn't sound very happy. She smiled and nodded then walked away. It was hard for him to be like that to her but he felt like he owed just this one night to Astoria considering what he had done to her. It took all the self-control he had not to jump her and start kissing her wildly.

"Hermione, I don't want you going anywhere near him." Harry stated clearly. He sounded slightly demanding.

"Harry it's really not up to you." Hermione was offended. Harry was supposed to be supportive of whatever decision she made.

Ginny spoke quietly, standing behind Harry, "Hermione we just don't want to see you get hurt again."

"We? You two are against me together? That's great."

"We aren't against you Hermione," it was Harry who spoke this time, "We're against him."

"I'm not even saying I want to be with him." Hermione defended.

Harry sighed. "You don't have to say it."

George came up behind Hermione, "Hey you did great up there." He gave her a side hug.

She smiled, "Thanks George." She knew she could always count on him.

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Once Draco realized that Astoria was no longer there, he immediately apparated back home. He just knew she would be there, she had to be there.

"Astoria? Astoria?" He called throughout the house, worried.

He made his way up the stairs to their bedroom where he found her blue dress draped over their bed. He walked over to it running his hand over the material. There was a letter placed over the dress in his name. He started reading it.

My dear Draco,

By the time you read this I will have already left, taking everything I own which wasn't much. I'm obviously leaving you the house and everything in it. You've earned it. I'm so proud of you. Thank you for giving me the best two years of my life. I never told you this but I've loved you since school and I always will, but I understand that I have to let you go. I deserve better. I know you'll do great in whatever you choose to do and whomever you choose to do it with. Just know that you will always be my best friend no matter what. I know that you won't try to find me and I don't want you to. With this letter you'll find the signed divorce papers. Just sign them yourself and send them back to the Ministry. Tell Hermione I'm sorry for the way I treated her. Good luck.

Love always,

Astoria

He sat down on the bed not knowing what to think. He looked behind the letter and sure enough there were the divorce papers. He ran his hand over her signature, a tear falling on the paper.

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