Spellbound

Chapter Four

When Hermione appeared in her kitchen, Ron almost had a heart attack. "Hermione! Where the hell have you been? I've been worried sick!"

"I am so sorry, Ronald. When I got to Mum and Dad's last night, they wanted me to go through a bunch of my old things so they could get rid of things I didn't want anymore. And it just got really late, so I stayed and didn't have any way to get ahold of you. I am so sorry."

Ron wrapped his arms around his wife. He could tell she really felt bad about it. "It's alright. Let's just not let it happen again." She returned his embrace with her head shoved in his neck. "How was your chat with Malfoy?"

Hermione shook her head and kissed Ron full on the mouth. It was a hot, passionate kiss and when she pulled back Ron looked confused. It had been a while since she had kissed him like that. "I love you. You know that, right?"

"Yeah. I love you, too. What's the matter?"

"Nothing. Just had a rough night last night." Well, she technically wasn't lying... She sat her bag down and went to find something to eat in the kitchen. "Malfoy was... Okay, I guess. He just needed a shoulder to lean on. He really doesn't have anyone to talk to, you know. And what he wanted to talk about, he really couldn't say to his wife since it was mostly about her. He's pretty much the same troubled kid he was at school. The only difference is he's married and a father. And probably has to shave his face now." Hermione added the last part to see if she could get a laugh out of Ron and laughed herself when she had succeeded.

"Yeah, you're probably right."

"Where are the kids at? Malfoy sent presents for them."

"Really?" Ron thought he had misheard her.

"Yeah. Apparently, he's a big softy when it comes to kids, or something." Not a complete lie. But she sure as Hell wasn't going to tell Ron that he bought the toys to soften her up a bit.

"Uhm, they're at Mum's. Listen, I was thinking we could spend the day together. Mum's okay with watching the little rugrats and we haven't had just 'us time' in ages."

Hermione nodded in agreement. Maybe time with her husband would take her thoughts away from Draco and they happenings of the previous night. "Yes, that sounds like a good idea, Ronald. I would love to spend the day with you. Just the two of us." She smiled at Ron and winked.

"We should probably stop by The Burrow before we go anywhere. Everyone's worried sick about you."

Hermione stopped smiling. "I really am sorry, darling. I feel terrible."

"It's alright. They'll understand." Ron grabbed her hand, gave it a squeeze, and they disapparated to The Burrow together.

x x x

It was a couple hours after Hermione left that Draco finally decided to stop moping around the streets of Paris and go home. And when he got there, he decided straight away to tell his wife of his indiscretion. When he found her, she was sitting in the library, mindlessly thumbing through a book.

"Astoria? I need to talk to you about something."

"Oh. You're home. Well, I need to tell you something, as well." She put down the book she was holding and crossed her hands in her lap.

"Oh. Uhm, okay. You first, then, I guess."

Astoria took a deep breath. "Last night, while you were gone, I took Scorpius to your parent's house, and I went out with a man. I met him in town one day and we've been corresponding for a while. And we, well, we slept together."

Draco felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off of him. He thought he should feel some sort of jealousy or something, but he just felt relieved. "Well, that completely steals the thunder away from me, then."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, the reason I wasn't home last night is because I took an old classmate of mine to Paris. We ran into each other in Diagon Alley the other day and met up yesterday. Unless you want details, I'm sure you can figure out what happened."

"Paris? Well... That's... Paris... Huh." Astoria didn't know what to think. He had never taken her to Paris before.

"So... What do we do now?"

"What do you think we should do?"

Draco thought for a minute. "Are you going to see him again?"

"I had planned on it... Are you going to see her again?"

"I actually don't know. That's up to her. We didn't get a chance to discuss it." Which wasn't totally a lie. They really hadn't discussed it. Although, Draco had assumed that her leaving the way she did was conversation enough.

"Well, if you want to keep seeing her, I fully support you, I guess."

"You're only supporting me so you can keep seeing whoever you're seeing." Draco sneered.

"Maybe I am. But is that really a bad thing? Think about it, Draco. When was the last time we had a civil conversation?" She watched as Draco tried to remember. "Now, we both have someone who makes us happy. And look, civility returns."

Draco thought for a moment. "I guess I see your point. But what about us? Yes, we have these other people, but do we stay married? What about our parents finding out?"

"Screw our parents, Draco. We're fucking adults. But, I think, yes, for the time being and for Scorpius' sake, we stay married. And if the time comes where a divorce is necessary, we can always get one. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, I guess."

"Okay... Sounds good. I guess." Draco was hesitant to agree, but felt that Astoria was right in thinking that this was the first civil conversation they had had since they had gotten married. "I've got some stuff I need to do up in my office."

"Okay, dinner will be ready at 7:30 sharp. And I'll go get Scorpius from your mum and dad's."

"Thanks..." Draco left the room, slightly confused as to what had happened. He hadn't expected it to end the way it did.

He spent the next few hours, with the exception of going down for dinner, in his study writing and rewriting a letter to Hermione. He had to get the wording just right, and nothing sounded good enough. He wanted a chance plead his case; to make her see him the way he saw her. Finally, in the early hours of the morning, he felt he had gotten it kind of right and gave up. He tied the letter to the leg of his owl, who kept nipping at his fingers because she had been woken up rather rudely, and sent her on the way to Hermione's office at the Ministry. As he watched the great big owl fade into the distance, he hoped and prayed that she'd meet him and just consider what he had to say.

x x x

"Mornin', Mrs. Weasley." said a plump, little blonde witch to Hermione after she entered her department the next morning. "You have a letter on your desk. It's sproutin' lilacs everywhere."

"Do you know who it's from?" Hermione asked, digging around in a pile of papers.

"No, ma'am. There wasn't a sender on the envelope. And you almost didn't get it. It was addressed to a Ms. Granger and we almost forgot that was you! Whoever sent it might not know you're married, Miss." interjected a tall, skinny brunette witch with a very large nose. Which, coincidentally, was always in someone's business. "Mind telling us what it says after you've read it?"

Hermione figured she knew who the letter was from and turned hastily towards her office. "I'd rather I didn't, but thank you ladies. I appreciate you letting me know I have a letter and a lilac infested office." She quickly walked into her office, slammed the door (on accident), and tore into the envelope (quickly noting that as soon as she did, the lilac's stopped flying everywhere).

Hermione, she read. If you could please write me back and let me know what time you could possibly take a lunch break and meet me in Room 13 at The Leaky Cauldron, I'd appreciate it. I really need to talk to you about the other night. P.S. If you could, also write Scorp a note back. He's absolutely dying because you haven't responded. Thank you, Draco.

Hermione thought for a moment. "Bastard." she swore before scribbling a note back and sending it off to the owlery.

When a big, fluffy brown Ministry owl flew into Draco's window, he knew immediately who it was from.

Draco, I can meet you at 11:30 but can't stay longer than an hour. An hour and a half, at the most. Hermione.

Short, sweet, and full of emotion. Draco thought. But, hey, at least she had agreed to meet him.

At 11 o'clock, Draco apparated into The Leaky Cauldron to rent Room 13 and waited.

X X X