Disclaimer: I own nothing, all credit to J.K Rowling for the creation of the Harry Potter universe. I just found a plot for this ship.

Warning: There is an M rating for a reason. The story will NOT contain rape or sexual violence. Lemons and fluff expected. Basically what you would expect from most romance novels nowadays.
There will also be the use of profanity.

Music speaks to my muse.
This chapters song was: The Scientist, Coldplay
Lyric of choice: Nobody said it was easy. No one ever said it would be so hard.

Charmed to You

Chapter 24
Cold, Cold, Cold

Draco looked up as Dean Thomas walked in and threw the latest addition of the Prophet down on his desk.

Draco raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

Dean gave him a long look. "You not reading the paper anymore?"

Draco pushed it aside. "I read what pertains to me."

Dean snorted. "So the business section and then not a bit more."

Draco shrugged and Dean growled. "Is that a problem?"

Dean shook his head looking put upon. "You know she's my friend too."

This had Draco looking back up from the computer program he was working on. "Who is?"

Dean glared at him. "Your wife. Hermione, remember her?"

Draco frowned at him and looked away as his stomach did a small flip. Yes, he remembered his damn wife! They just hadn't really been able to connect lately. In fact, he hadn't seen her since that double date with Potter and his fiancé. He was struggling to figure out what to do at this point in his marriage, to be honest. The ease with which she had fit into his life was causing him all kinds of emotions that made him rather uncomfortable.

It was one thing to be mushy in bed, but another thing when he found himself daydreaming about her all throughout the day. So, he had backed off, left her alone. Tried to create some distance between them. He had been miserable for days now, he was tired of being this way but didn't know how to change anything.

Every morning he knew when she woke up because his ring burned with her sadness. The rest of the day she was just tired and stressed. He was waiting for her to be in a better mood before he approached her. So far, that hadn't happened. Sure, that was rather cowardly, but Slytherins had never been sorted for their bravery, now had they? No, they were the cunning ones, and Draco knew that you never wanted to approach someone, especially a woman, when they were tired, stressed, and cranky already. Not when you were about to have to grovel, which he was sure he needed to do.

"What does this have to do with the paper?" Draco asked fiddling with the ring on his right hand.

Dean was sighing and then picked up the paper reading.

"It would appear that there is trouble in the Malfoy marriage. Sources report that the two barely see each other anymore. In fact, this reporter can tell you, dear readers, that the newlyweds haven't been sighted out together since the Weasley/Avery wedding, where if you remember they had an altercation with the new Mrs. Malfoy's former flame.

Draco Malfoy has been seen on three occasions in Dagon Alley at some of its most prestigious restaurants in the company of numerous unidentified witches, all around his age and rather attractive.

Hermione Malfoy is spotted around the ministry where she works as an advisor and undersecretary to the Minister. Interestingly she attended a dinner this week with the Minister without her handsome husband by her side. When she was asked where Mr. Malfoy was she gave a polite smile and said he was working very hard and was sorry he could not attend. It didn't go unnoticed though that Harry Potter, one of her rumored old flames from Hogwarts was at the dinner and never left Mrs. Malfoy's side.

Harry Potter, you remember registered to be matched by the ministry in the first round and is now engaged to Miss Magnolia Flint, who was nowhere in attendance that night."

Draco snorted and Dean stopped reading glaring at him. "Why didn't you go to the dinner with her?"

Draco shrugged not wanting to admit she had never mentioned it, something that had him more than a little annoyed. Had she told him and he forgot? "I was actually rather busy. And you know who the witches are I was spotted with."

Dean shrugged looking both annoyed and angry. "Yes, I know who they are but no one else does."

Draco gave him a condescending look. "They also failed to mention that there was always at least three other men at the table with us."

Dean nodded. "Well of course they did! And Harry talked to me about the dinner. He was only there for about ten minutes to speak with Kingsley about something and then he had to rush off on an assignment. So, of course, he wouldn't have invited Magnolia to pop in with him when he was actually working."

Draco didn't say anything as Dean glared at the paper. "And Harry and Hermione never dated," he sat up suddenly very angry. "But they are still going to print that trash and they found out about the situation with Ron now, that is the only thing that will probably really upset her."

Draco sat back folding his arms, a bit incensed that Dean would dare to presume that he knew what Hermione did or did not care about.

Dean flushed a bit and then said slowly. "Look, she loves Ron, maybe if you go talk to him about being a total wanker-"

Draco cut him off his tone colder than it had ever been with his partner since they had formed their company. "My wife is not in love with Ronald Weasley."

Dean sat back clearly shocked. "I didn't say she was. I said she loved him, has since they were kids. Jesus, Draco, he's been her best friend for the better part of a decade! And her lover-"

Draco cut him off with a look and said menacingly. "They were never lovers, Thomas."

Dean blanched looking like he had swallowed stink sap. "Wait? What? They dated for – they never?" He sat back frowning. "Oh, well, okay, so they were friends and dated, she's pretty torn up over how he is acting though."

Draco tossed down the manual he had been reading and gave Dean a superior look. "She'll need to get over that. The man doesn't deserve the effort."

Dean glared at him. "Well not everyone is like you Draco. Most of us give a shite if our best friends act like total prats to us," Dean stood up rather upset. "You know you're a real bastard sometimes, usually it works in my favor, but right now it's just pissing me off. You don't give a crap about anyone, do you? I mean do you even love?"

Draco sneered. "Love is for the weak," he repeated what he had learned from childhood. "It leaves you open to exploitation."

There was a gasp and he looked up just as his ring burned and crippling sorrow over took him. Hermione was standing in the doorway her face far too pale and her hands gripping her abdomen as if she was trying to hold herself together.

Dean took a step back looking horrified and Draco sat there, his face impassive as he waited for her to speak.

She looked at him and her eyes glazed over before they cleared and again he was crushed by total and utter sorrow. She shook her head and then straightened her spine, her hands falling to her sides and clenching into fists, her face so beautiful and filled with pain.

Dean quickly excused himself and rushed out; Hermione didn't even glance his way. Her eyes were caught by her husband's cool grey gaze. Very slowly and carefully she spoke her tone regal. "You're never going to love me. You won't allow yourself to do something so indecent, will you?"

Draco considered her, rolling her question around in his head. Before he could find a reply that would not give too much away and be satisfactory for her however she blinked and shook her head and then her eyes shuttered, although the ring kept burning with her pain.

"My parents are going to Australia to stay with old friends of theirs and they asked me to go with them. As the Minister had wanted me to head out to speak with their Muggle and Magical Ministry anyways, I am going to go."

Draco swallowed. "With your parents?"

Hermione nodded, again regally. "Yes. We will be flying."

Draco frowned not understanding but she clarified.

"On a Muggle airplane. It takes time but it would be nice to visit with my parents."

He shook his head. "Is that safe? Australia is rather far."

She raised an eyebrow. "Yes, it is," she said firmly and he knew not to bring it up again. "I will be staying with muggles; please don't send any owls or have Niffy pop in on me."

Draco wanted to growl at her for telling him what to do but he gave a short nod. She sighed and then turned without another word.

She sighed and then turned without another word.

"Wait! How long will you be gone?"

Hermione turned and gave him a cool look as if he was a potion ingredient she didn't like. "A week. I will get word to you if it is longer. Dean has a phone, a mobile I mean, I will call him."

Before Draco could contradict her she turned on her heel and left.

Notes:

Yeah, Draco is a tool. We all knew this.

Up Next:
Hermione runs to Ginny...and then Australia...