A/N: Thank you all so much for the reviews, follows and favorites! It means so much to me that y'all are enjoying it so much. If you follow me on tumblr (nauticalparamour), you can keep up to date with stories and occasionally catch a sneak peak of future chapters! I have to be honest, I am incredibly nervous about posting this chapter! It's been on my mind all weekend. The shoe is about to drop...
Please let me know what you think of chapter seventeen, and be on the lookout for chapter eighteen soon!
December 31, 1999
For once, Hermione was excited to attend a ministry party. She had a gorgeous silver dress that fit like a dream, and she actually had someone she could spend the night chatting away with. If things went well, she'd sneak a kiss at midnight, and then drag him home to her flat to ring in the New Year properly.
She went to the party with Daphne and Theo. It was fun to share a couple of cocktails with them at Daphne's flat before they left, so Hermione was already feeling a bit tingly all over. The pair was so cute together, it made Hermione's heart tighten. She wanted what they had.
When they first got to the party, they got a few drinks and stood around talking - more like shouting - over the loud music. A few people came up to chat with them, mostly Slytherins, but a few Ravenclaws too. They were all surprised to see Hermione Granger standing there, but none of them were hostile to her. The joy of a party washed away all the negative thoughts.
Astoria eventually came up to the table, and Hermione saw the change in Daphne's mood immediately, but couldn't contemplate it for long because she was soon distracted by Luna. "Hello Hermione Granger." Luna said serenely. "Have you met Rolf?"
"Rolf Scamander." The man put forth his hand, eager to shake it. Hermione didn't think that she had ever met the man before, but she wasn't opposed to meeting new people.
"Hermione Granger." She replied with a smile.
"Rolf and I have just been traveling through Sweden looking for crumple horned snorkacks." Luna said in that dreamy voice she always had. "And he's asked me to marry him." She added, almost has an after thought.
"Oh my goodness, Luna! Congratulations!" She said wrapping the younger girl in her arms tightly. "That's so wonderful." Hermione was happy that her friend was able to find happiness with someone who obviously shared similar interests. And, as a pair, they looked very well together. "It seems as though everyone is getting married now."
"Yes, I suppose it's the natural progression of things." Luna said, tilting her head to the side. "Though, I see that you have finally disentangled yourself from Ron. That was a good idea I think." Hermione knew that Ron and Romilda were at the party, so she was just hoping on avoiding a meeting with him.
Hermione gave Luna a tight smile. "Yes, though, I wish he and I could have parted on better terms." A beat of awkward silence passed between them. "Oh, I think I see Neville over there, Luna. We should get dinner and catch up soon." Hermione promised before leaving the couple.
She looked around the room and quickly found Daphne and Theo out on the dance floor, but they looked like they were having such a good time that she didn't want to intrude on their moment. Instead, she was really looking for one man in particular.
She knew that she would recognize that white blond hair anywhere, but so far she'd just had one false alarm when she caught sight of Draco out of the corner of her eye. She just knew that her night would be so much better once he would show up.
Spinning around once more in a circle, Hermione finally found him. She was positive it was him, dressed in resplendent green robes, hair pulled back tightly at his neck. But instead of sauntering over to where her lover was standing, Hermione remained rooted at the spot.
Horrified, Hermione couldn't help but notice the way his arm was wrapped tightly around Narcissa's waist, the way she was leaning against him, the way that they seemed so very much together. It was like a stab in the chest to see how well they matched one another, and just how close they really were to one another.
A sinking feeling filled Hermione's stomach, all of Lucius's promises and platitudes that he was going to divorce Narcissa coming up at once. She thought she might throw up when she realize...He'd been lying to her all of this time! And she'd been stupid enough to believe him. God, how could she have forgotten that this was Malfoy she was dealing with, evil, conniving Malfoy!
Needing to get out of there as quickly as possible so that she didn't make a scene, Hermione strode past him on the way out. She felt his blue gray eyes soaking in her silver clad form, but only sent him a hurt glare.
When she strode out of the room, powerfully, she'd hoped that he might come after her, try to stop her, but instead she was just left standing alone at the apparition point. The tears were flowing freely now, and Hermione just wanted to get home.
January 1, 2000
It was sometime after midnight when Daphne firecalled Hermione's flat, her blonde head sticking through the fireplace. "Hermione? Are you okay?"
Hermione hadn't even made it to her bedroom to change out of her dress, preferring to just flop down on her couch in defeat when she made it home. She sat up, giving Daphne a clear view of her tear stained cheeks. "Yes, Daph, I'm alright."
Daphne gasped at the sight of her. "You most certainly are not alright! I am coming through." Hermione heard her speaking to Theo, letting him know that she would be back later, but not to wait up for her. When she came through the fire place, she immediately sat next to Hermione on the couch. "What happened to you? We looked all over for you during the countdown, but couldn't find you."
The thought of her failed countdown kiss only brought around a fresh round of tears. "I was long gone before that. I did something stupid Daphne." Hermione whispered, looking down at her hands in her lap. "I've been carrying on with Lucius, and well, he said he was going to divorce Narcissa and I believed him. But then I saw them tonight and they looked so happy together. It was all a lie."
"Oh Hermione." Daphne wrapped her arm around Hermione's shoulders, letting her cry. Hermione was waiting for the inevitable I-told-you-so, which would come from Ginny, but it never left Daphne's mouth. "I'm so sorry you had to find out this way. Tell me what happened from the beginning."
"It started when we went to Paris. And it never stopped, even when you warned me." Hermione said miserably, before filling Daphne in on each detail. All their dates, all the gifts, the way he'd consoled her about her parents, and even the vacation that they just spent together in Bruges. "He told me he cared for me. But it was obviously a lie."
Daphne held back from telling Hermione that it was logical that Lucius might care for both Narcissa and her. It wasn't worth the argument. "It will be fine Hermione, I promise." Daphne said, running her fingers through Hermione's "You will move on from Lucius. There are other wizards out there."
Hermione nodded, glad to have Daphne with her. It seemed that the other witch knew just what to say to make her feel better. Right now she was crushed, but she knew that she could get over him, eventually.
"You could even take a vacation if you wanted...that way, the next time you see Lucius, things won't be so raw." Hermione thought that that actually sounded like a pretty logical idea, but she was still too hurt to think logically.
"No, I don't want to seem like a scorned woman." Hermione said resolutely.
"No one but Lucius and I will know the reason why you are on vacation." Daphne promised. Lots of people took vacations in the winter to warm beaches. "I know a great place off the coast of Italy, and Blaise could recommend all kinds of sightseeing."
The offer was tempting, Hermione thought, but she still couldn't concede. "No, I don't want to give him that power over me." She insisted. "I don't want him to think that he can toy with my feelings like this."
Daphne smiled at the brave Gryffindor girl. This was when her house sensibilities really shined through. "Alright, well, let's get you tucked in bed." The taller girl shooed her heartbroken friend into the bathroom so she could take off her makeup and brush her teeth. Once Hermione was in some sensible flannel pajamas, Daphne tucked her into bed. "Sleep well, Hermione."
Hermione nodded, thankful that she had made friends with Daphne Greengrass. She couldn't remember a single time when Harry, Ron or Ginny had been there for her like this. Harry was okay, but he was much too awkward with female emotions to offer much support.
After she heard Daphne leave through the fireplace, Hermione picked up her wand, changing the wards so that no one could get through. She didn't want any unexpected visitors tomorrow, and she especially didn't want Lucius to show up.
No, Hermione wouldn't let him have her any power over her any longer.
A loud pounding on the door to her flat woke Hermione up the next morning. Rolling over, she saw that the clock read half past eight. Looking at herself in the mirror, she was glad Daphne had made her wash her face. At least now she didn't look like she'd been up all night crying. She opened the door a crack, spying silver blond hair.
"Lucius." She said without emotion, "What are you doing here?"
"What am I...Hermione we need to talk about last night." He said imperiously. "Won't you please let me in so that we do not need to share this conversation with your neighbors?"
Hermione bit her lower lip, considering his words before letting him in, reluctantly. He sat on her couch as though he owned the place, but Hermione didn't offer him tea. "What do you want?" She asked, trying to remain as unemotional as possible.
"Why did you adjust your wards? I tried to get in this morning, but couldn't make it through." He explained.
The question made Hermione's anger begin to bubble up under the surface. "You know why, Lucius. We both know that I saw you last night with Narcissa. And I don't appreciate being lied to." She was deadly serious.
"What you saw is only an act, put on to show that our marriage is still what it once was. We were only there together because it is expected of us." Lucius explained, desperately, his hand reaching out to touch Hermione's. She knocked it away.
"But your marriage isn't what it once was. You told me that you were getting a divorce." Hermione hissed. "And you and Narcissa seemed a little bit too close for it just to be an act. I know what I saw." She crossed her arms over her chest like armor.
"Hermione." Lucius said softly, cupping her cheek. "You know it's more difficult than that. But...I love you, I want to be with you."
His words shocked her to the core. If he'd said them to her twelve hours prior, she would have been over the moon excited. She would have told him that she loved him too. But, that love was choked out like a plant with a weed as soon as she saw his hand resting just above Narcissa's arse. She didn't know why he insisted that his divorce was in any way difficult.
"Don't say that." Hermione choked back some tears. "You don't love me, because if you did, you wouldn't be doing this to me. I want a real boyfriend that I can tell my friends about. I want someone who could be my husband. I want a family, Lucius. And you can't give me that if I'm your mistress." Finally putting that word on her position in their relationship struck her to the core. She was the other woman this whole time. It was a difficult thought to face.
"I want that with you, too, Hermione." He said, but it wasn't very convincing to her ears. "But it's a bit more difficult than all that. If it was in my power, I would do it for you."
"Why can't you just get a divorce, Lucius? What have you been doing all these months when you told me that you were working on it?" Hermione had to know, how he'd been stringing her along for weeks.
His voice failed him, momentarily, but then he spoke again, unable to meet her unwavering gaze. "I've asked Narcissa for the divorce, but she won't agree to it." He said finally.
"Why can't you just begin the proceedings? She will have to respond, and the Wizengamot would dissolve your bond." Hermione didn't understand why this was so difficult. She knew that other divorces were obtained all the time.
"Well, I can't be the one who begins the proceedings. Only Narcissa can begin the proceedings, or it would ruin her reputation. You see, the requesting party is typically the wronged party, and it would cause unpleasant questions if I were to file." Lucius said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Hermione closed her eyes, feeling tears begin to form. She was annoyed with herself. She thought that she would have better control over her emotions. That she could act strong in front of him. "What about my reputation, Lucius? What about my life? Did you give me any consideration in your dealings?"
The surprised look on his face lead Hermione to believe that he had not actually thought about her reputation at all. It was only a matter of time before they were caught by someone. Really, they were lucky that they hadn't been caught so far.
Shaking her head in disbelief at the man who claimed to love her, Hermione wanted him to leave. "We can't continue this. I am only going to get hurt. There is no point in continuing on if you are unwilling to give me the future that I want."
Lucius looked like he wanted to say something else, but one look at her glare had him changing his tune. He stood, reluctantly, and made his way to the door of her flat. Unable to say goodbye to her, he slammed the door on his way out, leaving Hermione alone with her thoughts.
She was proud that she'd stood her ground with him, but she still felt that she'd lost.