Hermione lay in her bed, staring up at the ceiling above her. She could still feel his touch; still smell his scent, even though hours had passed. Was it cheating? She couldn't answer her own question. She knew she was separated from her husband, but technically she was still married. She idly rubbed her finger, skin meeting skin where a cold metal ring should have been. She never wore the ring anymore. To be honest, she wouldn't exactly know where to find it. And she was glad she didn't know where it was. The thought of the cheap metal ring tainting her life again made her shudder in the dark.

She turned her thoughts back to the blond man who was supposedly sleeping. I kissed him. I KISSED him, I can't take that back! She began to panic, and struggled to find a way to get herself out of the situation.

Draco also lay in his bed, wide awake. His lips burned from the ghost of her kiss. He longed to do it again, to claim her as his own, but he knew he shouldn't. He decided he would try to be mature in all of this. Waiting, he would have to be patient until she got a divorce. Until then, he would not make any advances on her.

But how long would he have to wait? Waiting was like a form of torture; sitting in silence unable to say anything hurt him. He wasn't the fondest of waiting for things; Malfoy's don't wait for what they want. But for now, he would have to try.

Maybe if I start by going to get the divorce papers in the morning. Then maybe start looking for my own place. She smiled, happy with her conclusion. She had quite a bit of money; after all, she was part of the Golden Trio who helped save the world. She had also done a lot of work on various policies, even going so far as considering a book about the work she had done. She began thinking about the future and what it held for her and her children. Of course she would keep custody of their children; there was nothing in the world that would make her give them up. She loved them more than anything, more than she ever loved Ron. More than she could love anyone else, they were her world.

Maybe if I talk to...Ginny...Potter...He struggled over the names in his head. He may be civil toward them but he wouldn't claim to like them. Divorce is only the start, and if her friends are supporting that option, she might give in. He knew in reality even pressure from her friends wouldn't make Hermione change her mind unless she wanted. How could she not have tried for divorce already? That was the question that confused him the most. When he split with Astoria that was one of the first things he done, followed closely by making sure she couldn't get even a knut from him. But for Hermione to delay it so long...he just didn't understand.

Sleep didn't come easily for both Hermione and Draco. Too much time was spent thinking about, or trying to avoid thinking about, the other person. Draco was the first to rise. As the sun began its slow climb in the sky he threw his blankets back in annoyance and took a long, cold shower, trying to purge Hermione from his thoughts.

He sat alone in his conservatory at the back of the house. He figured no one would find him there, at least for a little while. The warm room abundant with various plants growing in every possible direction was rarely used. Hiding. He knew he was doing it, and he didn't care. He had no intentions of seeing Hermione and feeling those butterflies flittering through his stomach again. So, until he was over it, he resolved to sit in silence and watch the end of the sunrise.

Hermione sat up in her bed. She wanted to get up, get out of the house. But she did not, under any circumstance, want to bump into Draco and relieve the awkwardness that had sprung up between them. She didn't know if it was nerves or cabin fever settling in, but she found herself unable to sit still. She practically bounded out of bed, eager to get out of the house.

Hermione had just managed to get the kids through the fire to the Potters when she paused for a moment. It was nearly lunch and she had yet to see any sign of life coming from Draco's room. His son had shown up at breakfast with her children, so on a whim she decided to take him with her. But had yet to explain that to Draco and had no idea how to talk to him.

Feeling like a teenager, she slunk up the stairs as quietly as possible. Knocking softly, she pushed the door open and was stunned to see the room was empty. Unsure of what to do, she pulled out her wand.

Point me, Draco Malfoy.

Sunlight filled the room that Hermione found herself being directed to. She was surprised to see all the various plants filling the room, especially as she recalled what Draco was like in herbology back in school. She was about to retry the spell, thinking it led her astray when she finally spotted him. Sitting on a wooden bench under an emerald tree, light illuminating the platinum streaks in his hair, she couldn't deny he wasn't beautiful. Slowly, almost dramatically, he turned to look at her.

She wanted to panic, she wanted to back away. But she forced herself to remain where she stood. He gave her a crooked smile, albeit a shy one at that. One that made her heart beat pick up instantly.

"Uh..."

He waited patiently while internally laughing at her awkward discomfort.

"The uh, the kids are at the Potter's." She managed to stutter and then inwardly cursed at herself for acting like a fool.

"I know." His tone so casual she nearly blushed.

"I'm..." She inched backward slowly, "I'm going out for a bit."

"Okay." Still casual. He watched as she blushed deeply then began hurrying away. "We are going to have to talk sometime, Hermione."

She heard his words as he called out to her. I know...

At the fire she hesitated, torn between what to do. She knew she had to go to the ministry, that day. But part of her wanted to go to her best girl friend and confess everything about the previous night.

Deciding on the first option, she forced herself to throw in the powder and then to not say she wanted to go to the Potter's, but the Ministry instead. She had to end it, once and for all.