The next week flies by with everything going on at work. Even though I'm working with Draco everyday things seem good. The work is a distraction. Our lingering tension seems to have abated a little. It makes working together easier. Maybe sleeping with him was a good idea after all.

The department, my department should I say, is coming along better with Draco at my side than I thought possible. When I brought him on I was only going to have him as an agent. But he's been such a help, such an asset I've decided to promote him so to speak.

"Draco?" I say for some reason I'm nervous about asking him.

"Hermione?" He answers not even looking up from his papers.

"Have you found a suitable person to be my deputy?" He looks up then.

"I haven't looked properly yet. I thought you wanted to leave that till we'd filled the other positions. Which is actually going better now. I have a number of people I think will be good." He says. "Why have you?"

"Yes." I clear my throat and look at him. "You."

"Me?" He's shocked. He doesn't hide it. "Why me?"

"Oh please Draco. I couldn't have come this far without you." I sigh. "You've been here from the beginning you know everything I do. There can't be anyone better."

"Are you sure about this?" He asks but I see a small twitch in the corner of his mouth like he's trying to hide a smile. "What will Kingsley say?"

"Leave him to me. He said I can hire anyone I want. If he has a problem I will handle it."

"Hermione." His face splits into a grin. "This is amazing. Thank you."

"You've earnt it Draco." I laugh. "You've basically done the job since you started anyway."

"You want to celebrate with me tonight?" He asks and I feel like there's an underlying question there.

"I would, but I can't." I slump into my chair. "I'm so tired. I need to get some sleep."

"You haven't been sleeping?" He asks suddenly concerned.

"Everything that has happened here has been playing on my mind." It's true I'm worried were not going to be ready in time.

"I know you don't like them but I still have that sleeping draught at home."

I sigh. "I might have to take you up on that."

"I'll tell you what, why don't you go home early? Grab a bath relax take the draught?" He grins then. "Let your deputy take over for the rest of the day."

I laugh. "That sounds too good to turn down." I close my eyes and slump a little more in my chair.

"Maybe you should go now before you fall asleep in that chair. I'm not carrying you home through the ministry. Imagine the rumors."

I laugh again. Pushing myself up with a groan I stretch. "Thank you Draco."

"No worries. I'll just think about how I'm going to decorate my new office." He laughs. "Plus we have the next few days off for wedding stuff." Oh right I'd forgotten about that.

"Have fun." I say as I grab my bag and make my way to the Ministry's floo network.

The first think I do when I get home is pour myself a glass of wine. I take a sip and sigh. It tastes good. I take another sip and I can already feel it start to relax me. I take off my shoes and start to make my way to the bathroom to take up Draco's suggestion of a bath when there's a knock at the door. In a moment of weakness I stamp my foot like a toddler. Who the hell is this?

I debate for a second whether to answer it then my curiosity kicks in. I pull the door open.

"Ron!" I was not expecting this.

"Hey Hermione." He seems nervous, standing there with his hands in his pockets.

It takes me a moment for my manners to kick in. "Come in." I step aside. "Harry and Ginny aren't home yet."

"That's ok. I came to see you anyway." He walks past me and into the living room.

"Are you ok?" I ask. I have no idea why he would want to see me. I see his gaze flit to my hand and I realize I'm still holding my wine. "Oh Shit, sorry. I'll just put this away."

"No, no it's fine Hermione." He holds out his hand to stop me. "I'm stronger than I used to be. Honest."

"Ok." I shift on the spot. "You want a tea or coffee?"

"Sure. A tea please." He smiles.

I make my way to the kitchen taking a deep calming breath. Ron stays in the living room and when I head back I leave my wine, I've made myself a coffee.

"Here." I hand him his tea. He's still standing.

"Thanks." He says. "I'm sorry to barge in like this and I'm sorry I haven't been to see you sooner. It's just everyone treats me like a baby and is expecting me to go on some bender if I see you."

"Why?" I ask.

"Because they think I only started drinking after you left." He's looking at his tea.

"And did you?"

"No I started before that." He looks at me. "It kinda started when I left you and Harry that time."

"What? How?" I sit, I'm shocked.

"The place I ended up in." He sits himself taking a deep breath. "I've never told anyone this. There were these lads. They were running too. They partied like every night I travelled with them a while. After a while I started drinking in the day too. It wasn't long before it was an everyday thing and before I left I stole a few bottles of their fire whiskey. I used to sneak a drink while I was on look out or while you and Harry were asleep."

"Oh my God Ron." I can't believe this. "How did we not see this?"

"I hid it well." He shrugs. "I hid it well for a long time."

"I'm sorry Ron."

"It's ok." He smiles. "At least now you know it's not your fault."

"Why don't you tell everyone this?"

"They already look at me like I'm about to break. What would they be like if they knew it was happening a year before they even knew about it?"

"They would be supportive." I say.

"No, they'd be even more judgmental than they already are." His tone was getting angry. "I'm sorry. It's not your fault."

"It's ok." I smile. "It's good to see you anyway."

"It's good to see you too." He smiles. "I would have come earlier but this is the first time I've been left alone."

"They are really that bad?"

"You have no idea. I'm surprised my mum even allows butterbeer in the house." He laughs. "You know how over the top she can be."

"I do."

We fall into am easy conversation. We talk about my travel and he talks about the happier times he's had after the drinking stopped.

After a while the fire blazes green and Harry steps out looking hassled.

"Ron there you are." He sags in relief.

"See I told you." Ron says looking at me with a sad smile. "I guess that's my queue to go and calm my mother."

I stand with him. Then I hug him. "We'll talk again soon."

"Too right I expect a dance at the wedding." He laughs hugging me back. "I'll see you later Harry." Then he steps into the fire and he's gone.

"What was all that about?" I turn to Harry.

"Molly came home and he wasn't there she thought he'd gone drinking again." He sighed. "I only came home to change."

"You do know at some point you are all going to have to give him a bit of room soon right?" I pick up the empty cups and head back to the kitchen.

"I know." He follows me. "Molly is just so paranoid. The last time we thought he was better he was far from it."

"I get that Harry." I pick up the wine again. "But for him to get truly better he needs a little space."

"You should tell Molly that." He sounds angry.

"Why are you angry at me?"

"Because you don't know what it's been like with him." He's raising his voice.

"I knew you felt this way." My voice raising to match his.

"And what way is that Hermione?"

"That I should have been here. That I should never have left." I feel myself getting chocked up.

"I don't think that Hermione." I give him a disbelieving look. "It's just been difficult with him. He deceived us all at some point."

"If you had told me I would have come straight home." I almost sob. "You should have told me."

"I couldn't do that to you Hermione." I see his shoulders sag. "Especially since I know he is one of the reasons you left."

"He's not the only one who needed me." I feel a tear slide down my cheek.

"Hermione none of this is your fault." He comes over and hugs me. I squeeze him back.

"It feels like it." I let a few tears fall. "Everything has changed so much. I know I keep saying it but it's hard."

"I know Hermione." He still doesn't let me go.

"Was it stupid of me to think everything would be the same when I got back?"

"Maybe a little." He laughs. "But I can't blame you."

I pull back. "Listen I'm so tired, I haven't slept properly for a few nights. I'm going to get a bath and then take the sleeping draught Draco said I can have."

"Ok" He's smiling at me weird.

"What?" I say.

"You called him Draco."

"I guess I did." I think back. "I have for a while I think." Ever since he told me to right here in this kitchen.

"Well that's a step in the right direction." I playfully hit his arm. "Go get your bath and some sleep."

"Thanks Harry."

I refill my wine glass before I make my way to the bathroom. I magically fill the tub and add some relaxing oils. I strip and step in. As I lie back I immediately feel the heat seep into my muscles and I relax.

I think about my day. Work however stressful, had been a productive day. We were still knee deep in application forms but we had managed to sort out the good from bad. We had even gone through a few cases. Then there was my telling Draco I wanted him as my deputy. It's a good decision. I know it is. I just hope it doesn't backfire somehow.

Then there was Ron. That was enlightening. Maybe I should tell Harry or someone about what he had told me about his drinking. No I can't do that it would be betraying his confidence in me. Plus Harry already feels guilty enough about that time. I don't need to add to it.

I can't believe Harry and Ginny are finally getting married in just a few days. I smile to myself. They really are perfect together. I wish I could find someone like that for me. I finish my wine and soak for a while longer.

I dry myself off with a towel and head to my room. I throw on an old t-shirt then head to Draco's room. When I step in I smell his familiar scent. I breathe it in then shake myself out of it. That's over now. I suddenly realize he hasn't told me where the draught is. I think for a moment. I have two options. I could whip out my wand and summon it or I could take the opportunity and snoop.

He's very neat. I stand there for a moment. I kind of want to take the opportunity to snoop. How bad is that? But his room is so tidy I think he would know so I take out my wand and summon it. It flies into my hand from his bedside draws.

The draw stays open and I hesitate a moment before I walk over to it. I take quick glance inside before I close the door and I gasp. Inside is a picture of me. It's a magical picture and I'm laughing. I recognize it from The Burrow before I left. I pick it up and look at it. Why does he have this?

I hear someone coming up the stairs and I quickly put the picture back before I leave closing the door behind me almost walking into Harry.

"Night 'Mione." He says.

"Night Harry."

I run to bed and take the potion quickly. If I don't I know I will be up all night thinking about why Draco has a picture of me in his draw. It works fast and I'm out before I can even begin to think about it.