A/N: I still do not own Harry Potter
Sorry for the long wait! This chapter has been planned for a long time and it took a while for it to feel "right". I knew what I wanted to convey but nothing was coming out correctly. I finally forced myself to just push through and I'm pretty happy with the results. Let me know what you think!
Also, Chapter Ten is nearly finished. It will be a short one but I plan to post it within the next few days to make up for the long wait for this chapter.
Hermione was seeing red. She didn't remember rushing out of the classroom, leaving Malfoy calling after her. She didn't remember flooing out of the school and into the Ministry. She didn't remember taking the lift up to the Auror Department. Hermione wasn't completely aware of her actions until she stormed into her husband's office to find him sitting at his desk flipping through a case file.
She had the door locked, silenced, and the file out of his hands before he even looked up.
"Hermione! What-?" Rom stammered, a baffled look on his face.
Hermione held up her hand. "No. You do not speak. You sit. And listen."
"But-" he tried again.
"Say one more syllable and I will oppugno your ass so fast you won't be able to throw up a shield charm." She waved her wand to emphasize her statement.
Ron's eyes widened and Hermione saw a flash of fear in them as she stood over him.
Good, she thought.
"Did you, or did you not, face an inquiry at work last year?"
Ron let out a breath and visibly relaxed. His reaction told her that choosing to confront him about the inquiry first was the right move. He had just proven his guilt by looking so relieved. Obviously, he was expecting her to confront him about something else. But still, she pushed on with her line of questioning.
"Something about you were supposed to be Blaise's back up, but instead you were distracted and he was almost killed? They had a full investigation, you were almost fired, you were placed on a two week suspension. Without pay. Is any of this ringing a bell up in that thick skull of yours?" Hermione took three deep breaths to calm herself.
She cocked an eyebrow. "Well, Ronald? You can speak now." She crossed her arms and stared down at him, still sitting frozen at his desk.
Ron fidgeted with an invisible thread on his robes for a moment before hesitantly looking up at Hermione. "I was still questioning the front desk attendant. Blaise was supposed to go upstairs and wait for me to join him."
He started picking at his nails, no longer meeting her eyes. "But, er, it was taking a bit longer than I expected to interview the front desk attendant. So as Blaise was waiting upstairs, the suspect exited his room. Blaise didn't have time to disillusion himself. The suspect imperiused Blaise and had him about to jump out the third story window when I got upstairs. I full-body-binded the suspect, removed the imperius from Blaise, and that was that."
"'That was that'? Blaise could have died. What on Earth was so important about that employee's statement that you kept Blaise waiting in that hallway for well over half an hour?"
Ron looked up towards Hermione, but his eyes were looking past her at a point on the wall. "She was afraid, you see. Bad divination session earlier in the week of the incident or something. She was convinced she was going to be injured or killed. I had to calm her down and convince her she was safe before she would even start telling me what I needed to know."
"So Lavender Brown saw the grim in her tea cup and you were too busy being a therapist to back up your partner?" Hermione rolled her eyes and laughed at shock on Ron's face. "Yes. I know who the front desk attendant was. Even though you have tried so hard to not say her name."
Ron paled. "What all do you know, Hermione?"
"Wow, just jumping right into this aren't you? How long have you wanted to tell me? Have you lost sleep over it? Were you getting tired of scourgifying your clothes and asking Harry to cover for you?" Hermione ran a hand roughly through her hair. It always grew frizzy and took on a life of its own when she was angry.
"Gods, I was so stupid!" Hermione shook her head, angry at Ron and angry at herself. Brightest witch of her age but she couldn't spot an unfaithful husband living under the same roof as her. Pathetic.
Ron just sat at the desk, nervously observing his wife pacing in front of his desk, glaring at him. Her hair framing her face like a lion's mane, there was no doubt she was seething mad. The hair plus the fact that her anger made the very air around her spark with magic made him slightly afraid to say anything for fear of angering her more.
"You're really just going to sit there and let me scream at you? You won't deny it?" She looked over at him and he put his head in his hands. She chuckled darkly. "Typical. So typical. Ok, so were you sleeping with her? Or were you just her shoulder to cry on when the crystal ball and tea leaves were unkind to her?"
The audacity of the entire situation was just making her more angry. Her voice rose as she continued. "You do realize you almost killed your partner because of a bad tea leaf reading? Do you understand how truly idiotic that is? You are a highly-trained Auror and you completely forgot all of your training because of some airheaded bimbo who was probably faking her 'terror' because she's been carrying a torch for you since Hogwarts!"
"That's enough!" Ron shouted and rose from his chair. His sheer height made her take an instinctive step back. She was so used to living with him that sometimes she forgot how much he towered over her.
"You can insult me all you want. You're right, Hermione. I fucked up, okay?! With my job and with lying to you. Call me a scum bag arsehole all you want but you will not insult Lavender! Do you hear me?" His voice boomed and echoed off the cluttered walls of his office.
The silence was deafening.
Hermione felt like she had been slapped. Tears stung at her eyes as she drew herself up as tall as she could and looked at her husband, waiting. Finally, finally, he met her eyes. "I want you out, Ronald. I don't care how, I don't care where you will go. But I want you out."
Ron started to speak but she raised her wand just slightly. The sight of it made him think twice.
"Since I'm sure you never bothered to research marriage laws, I can inform you. There is an infidelity clause that states that the adulterer gets nothing. You are entitled to absolutely nothing."
The meaning of those words struck him and forced Ron back into his chair.
"Not the house, not the furniture. Not even our owl. You get what I decide I want to give you. And if I decide to give you nothing, then so be it."
Ron gulped and his Adam's Apple bobbed in his throat. "But what about Rosie?"
Hermione sighed. "Visitation will be discussed. I would never keep her from you. As for now, we act as though nothing has happened. She's already used to us basically avoiding each other. Get through the rest of the year. So, weekends plus Christmas break. I will encourage her to spend time with Ginny and see if she wants to visit with any other friends during her break so she isn't around us together any more than absolutely necessary."
Ron nodded. "So...when do we tell her?"
Hermione finally allowed herself to sink into the chair in front of Ron's desk. She felt thoroughly exhausted and worn down. She ran her fingers through her hair. Most of the frizz had dyed down along with Hermione temper and now her curls were hanging limply about her shoulders. Even her hair had given up.
"Second weekend in January. We will tell her together. You have until then to get your own place, Ron. If you want visitation with your daughter then you will not move in with Lavender."
"Yes, yes, of course. I wouldn't do that to her."
"Well," Hermione smiled sadly and rose out of the chair, heading to the door. "You did it to me. What am I supposed to think?"
And with that she unlocked the door, removed the silencing charm, and made her way home.
She was halfway home when she realized she was not prepared to go back there yet. She loved her cottage, but it was her marital home and she just wasn't prepared to go back there after what had occurred in Ron's office.
She didn't know Fiona well enough to vent to her about this. She couldn't go to The Dragon's Nest because she couldn't bear the thought of seeing Malfoy. After practically accusing him of stalking her and then being informed of her husband's infidelity by him of all people, facing him in her current state would be a nightmare. So she let her feet take her up the small hill to the white cottage of her best friend and his wife.
She had a bone to pick with Harry anyway about the inquiry at work. Surely he knew about it, yet he had never mentioned it to her. She knew Ginny was not the best person to vent to about Ron, but she was her only option. And dammit, she needed their support right now.
She felt the wards allow her entrance through the fence and she made her way to the red front door. She took a deep breath and contemplated turning around and leaving. She didn't have to do this. She could go home, hide under the cover and pretend none of this ever happened.
"No" she chastised herself. "You have run from this long enough. The truth is out now, so face it like a true Gryffindor."
With those thoughts still echoing in her head she knocked on the door. She heard footsteps and could hear Ginny talking to Albus as she fumbled with the door knob.
"Who could it be, Al? We aren't expecting anyone. Maybe it's Gramma. Or Luna." Ginny opened the door and saw Hermione. "Ooh look, Al! It's Auntie Hermione!" Albus smiled at Hermione and then ran back down the hallway to play.
Ginny pulled Hermione into the house. "Long time, no see, you! How are you? What brings you by at this time of day?"
"Hey, Gin. I just-I needed to talk to someone."
Ginny pulled back from Hermione and observed her sister-in-law. She saw how her eyes were red and slightly puffy. Her hair was loose and limp. There were bags under her eyes and it looked like a strong wind would blow her over. Ginny put her arm around Hermione and led her down the hall and into the living room.
"What is it, Mione? Is everything ok?" She gasped. "Gods, is Rose ok? She had a game today, didn't she? She didn't fall off her broom or anything, did she?" Ginny's voice grew higher and she looked slightly crazed.
Hermione shook her head. "No, no Gin. Nothing like that."
"Oh, good. Sorry, I've just seen so many Quidditch injuries with my job and with Harry. I got a little carried away." She looked away sheepishly.
"No, it's ok. I understand. It's- Well- I don't even know where to begin."
Ginny smiled slightly and rubbed Hermione's shoulder comfortingly. "Just start where it feels natural and we will go from there." Ginny patted Hermione's shoulder and rose from the couch. "But first, tea," and she breezed out of the room.
Hermione took the time Ginny spent in the kitchen to compose herself and get her thoughts in order. When Ginny came back into the room with two steaming mugs of tea, Hermione was ready to begin.
Ginny handed Hermione her mug and then took her seat on the couch and waited for Hermione to speak.
"So, to start at the beginning, I go to this pub. The Dragon's Nest in Hogsmeade. When Ron isn't home, I'll go there to drink and people-watch and just forget life for a little bit. Well, about six months ago, Draco Malfoy came into the pub."
Ginny raised her eyebrows but said nothing, just sipped her tea and waited.
"We started talking, and next thing I know, he starts to frequent the pub. He caught me at a really vulnerable moment a few months ago and I almost did something I shouldn't have. So I've been avoiding the pub, and therefore avoiding Malfoy, since then."
Hermione sipped her tea and fiddled with the cup, stirring the tea uselessly, searching for the words. "Well, today at Rose's game I ran into Malfoy. I freaked out, to be honest. I accused him of stalking me. Turns out he was there for a meeting with one of the professors about a side project."
Albus came wandering into the room and crawled into Ginny's lap.
Hermione smiled down at him and continued. "One thing led to another and we started talking. I mentioned how Ron has been spending a lot of time with Blaise. And Draco told me that Blaise hates Ron. Has for over a year. Apparently, there was an incident at work last year and Ron faced an inquiry over it."
Hermione watched Ginny's face and when she didn't react, Hermione again felt like she had been slapped.
"So you knew?" Hermione accused angrily. She kept her voice low to avoid upsetting Albus but still, the anger was obvious. "You knew about the inquiry and said nothing to me about it? Let me guess, you know all about Lavender too. Unbelievable." Hermione set her cup down and made to rise from the couch but Ginny reached out to stop her.
"I didn't say anything about the inquiry because I thought you knew. Really, Mione. Ron told me that you knew about it and you were really upset about it and that it was best to just not mention it."
Relief flooded through Hermione. So Ginny wasn't betraying her.
"Of course. Gods, Gin. I'm sorry. Of course you weren't trying to keep things from me."
Ginny scooted closer to Hermione. "What's this about Lavender? Lavender Brown? From Hogwarts?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes. Her. I'm getting to that."
"All right. Just, can you put this on hold for one moment? It's Al's nap time and he's about to pass out on me. If I let him fall asleep out here he'll never agree to go to sleep in his bed again."
Hermione smiled and remembered those days. "Yes, of course Gin. Do what you need to. I know I'm probably interrupting your whole day."
Ginny stood slowly from the couch, steadied Albus on his feet, and led him from the room.
"Oh yes," she called over her shoulder. "If you mean putting him down for a nap and then getting embarrassingly wrapped up in Muggle daytime stories, then yes, you are definitely upsetting my whole day!"
Hermione grinned and shook her head. It was just like Ginny to get absorbed into trashy Muggle soaps.
As she waited for Ginny, Hermione cast a warming spell on her tea, which had gone cold on her. She sipped from the freshly reheated mug and felt herself relax. Being here, talking to Ginny, she could almost pretend that her life hadn't just totally fallen apart.
A few minutes passed and then Ginny came back into the room with a plate of sandwiches and a kettle for more tea.
Hermione felt her stomach growl. "Bless you, Ginny. I didn't even realize how hungry I was." Hermione reached for a sandwich and bit into it, savoring the first bite of food she'd had since her breakfast tea that morning.
The lapsed into silence as they ate their sandwiches. After finishing and setting her plate aside, Ginny looked expectantly at Hermione.
"I know you well enough to know the inquiry alone doesn't have you this upset."
Hermione hesitated. This was Ron's sister. Did she really want to put her in the middle of this? She could back out, claim that the inquiry was the only thing and apologize for overreacting. But Hermione was bursting at the seems to talk to someone about it so, instead, she took a deep breath.
"Ron's been cheating on me."
Ginny choked on her tea. "Excuse me, what?!"
"He admitted it. I confronted him about the inquiry and it all came spilling out."
"Wait. Start at the beginning. What does the inquiry have to do with him cheating on you?"
Hermione rubbed her temples. "How much do you know about the inquiry? Do you know why he had it?"
Slowly, Ginny nodded. "Something about he took too long interviewing a witness and Blaise was put in danger."
"Well," Hermione began, eyeing Ginny carefully, "that witness was Lavender Brown."
Ginny's eyes grew wide. "From Hogwarts?! Ron never mentioned her!" Realization dawned on her. "No! He's surely not cheating with her!"
Hermione nodded. "He admitted to it. They reconnected the day of the incident and apparently stayed in contact. I don't have the whole story. But he has been using Blaise as a cover, as well as you and Harry."
"What do you mean he's using me and Harry as a cover? When I get my hands on him…" Ginny's hands flexed reflexively.
Hermione reached for her tea and reheated it, taking a careful sip. "To be honest, I'm kind of numb to it. I felt so angry but now… I just... I don't know. I want to protect Rose. If I let myself get consumed by anger and hatred then it will affect her."
The redhead nodded. "I get that. It's a mother's instinct to hold themselves together." She hesitated. "Don't hate me for saying this, but do you kind of think it's for the best?"
"Excuse me," Hermione said, more harshly than she meant to.
"Well, it's just… you and Ron have been over for a while. Everyone could see it. But you stayed together, for whatever reason. For Rose or because it was easiest, whatever. But you both weren't doing yourselves any favors by staying with someone you didn't love anymore."
Hermione sighed. "No, we weren't happy. We've lived more as roommates for the past few years. Still, it doesn't give him the right to turn to someone else and hide it from me."
"Oh no!" Ginny protested, shaking her head, "I'm not saying what he did was right. I'm just saying. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise."
Hermione nodded slightly. They sat in silence for a few more moments, sipping their tea, each of them processing the day's events.
Finally Ginny spoke again. "What are you going to do about Rose?" she asked gently.
"Ronald and I talked about it. After I blew up on him I calmed down enough to come up with a plan. We will put on a good solid front for Christmas through the end of the year. Second week of January we will sit her down and talk to her. Wizarding law states I get everything. So Rose and I will stay at the cottage. As long as Ron doesn't move in with Lavender, I really don't care where he goes."
"Do you think you guys can do that? Keep it together until after the holidays?"
Hermione shrugged. "I don't know, Ginny. I guess we'll find out soon enough."
Hermione stayed at Ginny's for a few more minutes. She told Ginny it was all right for her to tell Harry. She knew regardless that Harry would find out. Ginny wasn't good at keeping secrets from him. They made plans to have dinner in a few days and then Hermione grabbed her things and left, stopping in to kiss a still sleeping Albus before she departed.
She couldn't avoid her cottage any longer.
She followed the cobblestoned streets down the hill and to the outskirts of town. Thanks to the previous owners of her cottage, who were avid herbologists, the flowers were still in full bloom even in the cold December air.
Hermione entered her marital home and took in the stillness of the air. Ron hadn't come home to grab any belongings. She was sure if she were to go upstairs and check his drawers she would realize that there were less clothes than there should be.
She was sure, in fact, if she searched through most of his belongings she would find items missing. She knew he probably had a stash of things at Lavender's for all the nights when an argument caused Ron to walk out and not return until morning. Hermione had always assumed he had gone to the Burrow or to one of his sibling's houses. Now, though, she realized that he had somewhere better he would rather be.
As Hermione removed her traveling cloak and levitated it to a coat hook and kicked her shoes off, she allowed the silence of the cottage wash over her. Soon enough the silence would be her new normal. And in the stillness of the cottage, still standing at the threshold that Ron had carried her over a decade ago, Hermione slid her back down the door to the floor and finally, she let herself cry.
After crying herself until her tears were no more, Hermione stood and brushed herself off. It was about dinner time but she wasn't hungry. Instead she climbed the stairs and headed into the bedroom her and Ron had shared for so many years.
First, she changed into comfortable clothes. Then she crossed the room to his set of drawers and started piling his clothes on the floor. When she had finished emptying the dresser, she transfigured the drawers into boxes and put his belongings inside of them. Sure enough, she realized that about a quarter of his clothing was missing.
She padded into the bathroom to pack up his toiletries and found that his shaving cream was gone, as well as his body wash. He had a different toothbrush than the one she had purchased for him, so she assumed he had the other one at Lavender's. She gathered up his things and threw them into the box with his clothing. She levitated the box down the stairs and set it by the front door. Next, she grabbed his broom and quidditch gear from the closet and set it by the box.
She continued that way, wandering the house and picking up random bits of Ron's belongings, until she was sure she had most everything he would want. When she was finished, she stood in the entryway and observed the box, overflowing with bits of a man whom she had given most of her adult life to.
She couldn't take it anymore. Hermione turned her back on the box and strode out of the cottage and without a second thought, apparated to The Dragon's Nest.
It wasn't until landing on the street in front of the pub that she realized she wasn't wearing a coat. Her hair was a complete mess, she was in sweatpants and a threadbare muggle t shirt she'd had since she was teenager that fit her extremely snugly. Any other time she would apparate straight back home, but on this occasion not a single fuck was given.
She pushed open the familiar oak door and felt like she was coming home. The pub was warm, both in temperature and atmosphere. Fiona was behind the bar and other than a quirked eyebrow said nothing as Hermione all but collapsed onto the bar stool.
"I'm just not going to ask." Fiona said soberly. "You look like you could use a drink." Hermione watched as Fiona grabbed a bottle of Fire and Ice Whiskey and poured her a glass.
"Or ten." Hermione said as she downed the drink in one gulp. The whiskey was cool going down thanks to Fiona's special formula but the taste still made her wince. She pushed the glass back to Fiona. "Another please." She thought about it. "Or just bring the bottle. Would save you a lot of back and forth trips."
"Are you sure, Hermione? I mean, you're a grown woman and all, but in all the time you've been coming here I've never seen you have more than one glass an hour."
"Look, Fiona. I love you and all. But in this one instance I urge you to please, please fuck off. In the nicest way possible."
Fiona observed Hermione for a few seconds before giving her a short nod and walking away. She returned and placed the bottle of whiskey in front of her.
For the next hour, Hermione got well and truly sloshed.
"Fiona!" she shouted, reaching across the bar and grabbing Fiona's hand. "Have I ever told you that I think you are just amazing? I do. Just so smart. And… and… in-de-PEN-dent!" She reached to touch the French woman's hair. "And such pretty hair!"
Fiona watched Hermione with amused yet concerned eyes. She grabbed Hermione's hands. "Yes, Cheri. You've told me about six times tonight."
Hermione looked puzzled. "I have? Oh…" she pulled her hands from Fiona so forcefully she stumbled back and almost fell from the barstool. "Well, it's true. And your accent. So much better than Fleur's accent. She always talked like she smelled something bad." Hermione covered her mouth and giggled.
Fiona's eyes drifted over to the door briefly and Hermione followed her gaze. "Malfoy!" Hermione rose from her stool and nearly hit the floor. She gripped the bartop and steadied herself before stumbling over to him and throwing her arms around his shoulders.
Malfoy stood there, stunned, and looked at Fiona who shrugged and held up the empty whiskey bottle. Draco nodded in understanding as he awkwardly patted Hermione's back.
"I owe you Draco," she slurred into his coat. "You saw what I couldn't see. And now I see. And now it's better. Well, it's not. But it will be. So thank you." she grabbed his hand and dragged him to the bar.
"Fiona!" Hermione shouted. Fiona, who was standing right in front on the pair, winced and turned to Hermione.
"Cheri, I'm right here. No need to yell."
"I'm not yelling!" Hermione said loudly. "Who's yelling? Not me! Shhhhh."
Fiona just shook her head, which Hermione found extremely funny. She fell into a fit of giggles again, slumping into Malfoy, who shifted awkwardly to support the sudden weight.
Once she stopped giggling, she slammed her hand onto the bar. "Fiona! Bring Malfoy a drink! If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here tonight!"
She turned to Draco. "Drink, drink!" she shouted at him. "You saved my life today. Telling me the things you told me. Oh and I'm sorry for saying you were stalking me. That was dumb. Sooooo dumb!"
Draco raised a hand to Fiona and shook his head before placing his hands on Hermione's shoulders. "Hermione? Come on," he put an arm around her. "You've had enough. Let's get you home."
"Home? I don't want to go home. Nothing for me there. I want to stay right here." She leaned back against the stool and nearly knocked it over.
"Hermione? It's almost closing time. " Draco bluffed, meeting Fiona's eye.
Fiona nodded and reached for Hermione's arm. "Yes, Hermione. Time for you to get home now. Where do you live? We'll make sure you get home safely."
Hermione crossed her arms and glared at them. "Not going home. Closing time. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here! It's in a song so it has to be true. I don't have to go home! I'll just go" she rose from the stool and stumbled before steadying herself, "...somewhere," she threw her bag over her shoulder, "...else." She drew her wand and started to wave it to apparate before Draco grabbed her hand to stop her.
"No! Hermione! You can't apparate in this condition! Come on. You don't have to go home. It's ok," he put his arm around her and led her to the door. "That's right. You can come to my place. It's ok. Come on now." And Draco led her out of the pub and down the streets of Hogsmeade until they arrived at his townhouse.
Hermione let out an undignified snort. "You live here? Where's the green and silver? Where's the snake motif?" she asked as she crossed the threshold. She stood in the entry way and did a clumsy little spin. "It's...cozy, somehow."
It was true. It was all warm colors and plush materials. The walls were painted a soft grey. The couch was yellow and looked like you would just sink right in. To the left were the stairs.
Hermione ignored them and stumbled instead into the kitchen. She burst out laughing.
"You have a muggle kitchen! Draco "Death Eater" Malfoy has a muggle kitchen. Gods, who would have thought."
Draco stood silently in the doorway, observing Hermione as she stumbled through the kitchen, opening cabinets and even lighting the stove. At that point he intervened, stepping between her and the stove before she hurt herself.
"It works! You have a working muggle stove!" she was crying now from laughing so hard. She wiped at her eyes. "Never thought I would see the day," she said as she drifted from the kitchen to the stairs, which she proceeded to awkwardly climb, Draco following behind her.
She reached the top of the stairs and saw a set of French doors. She ran towards them and threw them open. "This must be your room!" she entered the master bedroom and immediately ran and jumped on the bed.
Well, she thought she was running.
From Draco's perspective, she more stumble tripped her way to the bed. Draco eyed her warily as she threw herself back and sank into the plush comforter. "I could stay here forever!" she closed her eyes.
He thought she had passed out before she suddenly jumped back up. "But I can't! More to explore! More to see! More to do!" she ran to a door opposite the bed. "What's in here?" she asked loudly, yanking the door open and letting out a squeal. "Master bathroom! Ooh, a tub!"
And that was how Hermione Granger ended up fully clothed, submerged in Draco Malfoy's bathtub.
Draco wasn't sure what to do. He knew he should owl Harry, but he got the impression that she just needed to let off some steam so he left her alone.
Draco transfigured a chair and sat, observing her as she grabbed her beaded bag from the floor next to the tub and pulled out a wine bottle and a glass. He made to reach for it to take it from her but she glared at him and yanked it out of reach. "If you take this wine bottle from my hands so help me, Malfoy. I happen to be skilled in wandless magic and even drunk I will make you regret ever doing so."
So he sat back in his chair and watched as she clumsily poured herself a glass of wine, getting more into the tub than into the glass before she shrugged, threw the glass over the side of the tub, and drank straight from the bottle.
She laid her head back and closed her eyes. Again, Draco thought she was asleep. He stood to retrieve a quill and some parchment so he could owl Harry but he heard her suddenly start to speak.
"Would be your house I end up drunk in. Fitting that it has to be the gorgeous guy from Hogwarts that tells me my husband's a cheater and then now I'm in your bathtub."
Draco stilled at the word gorgeous. He didn't know what to say but sat back down, afraid she would try to hex him if she figured out he was about to owl someone to come get her.
"I never thought he was good enough for me, you know? Ron? Too dumb. Too dull. But I got pregnant so I stayed."
Hermione's eyes were still closed and she was talking in such a calm voice, it was like she wasn't even drunk anymore.
"I was ok being stuck with him, too, until you came along. You and your silver eyes and sexy hair and mysteriousness. I should have just kissed you that day. I've thought about it so many times since then. Dreamed of it too. If I had known then what I know now, I never would have run from you."
Draco crossed the room and knelt by the tub. "Hermione? You ok?"
She reached out a wet arm and gripped his hand and pulled him to her, resting her hands on the sides of his neck. "Mmm, you smell nice. Just like I dreamed. Like wood smoke and citrus. Don't know where the citrus is from, though."
Draco pulled back a bit. "Hermione. You're drunk. You don't know what you're doing right now," he said softly, prying her hands from his shoulders but she just held tighter and wrapped her arms around his shoulders now, pulling him down to her.
"I do, though. I'm doing what I've wanted to do for months." she tilted her head up and kissed him. She tasted of whiskey and something fruity he couldn't identify. Her lips were soft and she pulled him closer to her, moaning slightly as she coaxed his mouth open and slipped her tongue inside.
He was returning the kiss before he knew what he was doing. She felt so good and tasted so good and it wasn't until he remembered how drunk she was that he pulled away.
She looked at him with disappointment in her eyes.
"I want to do that again. You taste just like I thought you would. Don't you want me, Draco? I see the way you watch me. I know you've thought about it."
He looked into her eyes and the burning heat behind the chocolate brown nearly made him lose his willpower. He leaned in to kiss her again but fortunately came to his senses.
One kiss was bad enough when she was in the state she was in. But two? Two would be unforgivable. He pulled back and rested on his heels. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the lust that was building inside him. He heard a splash and his eyes flew open.
As Draco was pulling himself together, Hermione had finished falling apart. She had passed out and sunk beneath the water. At the sight of her submerged form, he sprang into action. Draco vanished the water from the tub, dried her with a spell, and levitated her to his bed.
He then returned to his bathroom to take a cold shower, carefully avoiding the pieces of glass scattered across the floor. After he had calmed his raging hormones, he changed into his pajamas and set about cleaning up the mess she had made with the broken wine glass. He repaired the glass and picked up the bottle of wine, flipping it over to read the unfamiliar label.
Veritas Wine
The all new formula from Dragon's Nest Distillery
That explained the way she had acted after drinking the wine. The fact that everything she had said was the truth made him close his eyes to calm himself. She had said she thought about kissing him. About how he would smell. How he would taste. He could feel himself harden in his silk pajama bottoms at the thought.
Shaking his head, he finished tidying his bathroom. He felt exhausted from the events of the day and as he walked into his room to prepare to turn in for the evening he faced the dilemma of where to sleep. He supposed he could sleep on the sofa for the evening but that meant leaving her alone in his room and he didn't know how she would react when she woke. Then again, she may want privacy when she woke. He settled on shrinking the sofa from the sun room at the back of the townhouse that he rarely used and levitating it to his bedroom, where he returned it to the normal size and set it awkwardly in the corner of the room. It definitely looked out of place, but it would do for tonight.
He looked at Hermione passed out in his bed and ran a hand down his face. Draco never would have thought his day would take this kind of turn. What should have been a simple business meeting turned into being accused of stalking Hermione Granger, accidentally revealing her husband's apparent infidelity, getting an owl from the barkeep at The Dragon's Nest to come assist a very drunk Hermione, and now ending with her passed out in his bed.
He didn't know what the morning would hold. Would she wake in the middle of the night and apparate home? Would she make light of the situation and laugh it all off? And more importantly, would she remember that kiss?
Draco rolled over and closed his eyes, falling into a restless sleep, still with the taste of her on his lips.