AN: Okay so last chapter was really heavy and this probably but I promise my next one will be light and happy. This chapter was slightly inspired by a scene from The Back Up Plan, if you've never seen it, go watch it, because it is amazing!

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Song suggestion: Losing you memory, Ryan Star.

Chapter Twenty Three: Cutting Ties.

Malfoy woke up to find his arms empty and the sheets cold. Instantly he was on the defence, grabbing his wand he slipped out of the bed sheets and carefully made his way downstairs. Using his awareness of her he followed the invisible rope of their slight bond which had yet to be solidified. Upon finding her in the kitchen he lowered his wand and watched as she flipped a pancake.

"Malfoy!" She squeaked and jumped a little, "You scared me."

"What are you doing?" He questioned as she continued her cooking.

"Making breakfast." She glanced at the clock, "Okay dinner."

"Why didn't you wake me?" He asked eyeing her. He noticed the red, puffiness of her eyes and the slight trembling of her bottom lip while her body was tightly coiled. Having seen his analysis she rolled her eyes and confronted him.

"Like what you see?" She tried to joke as she placed the pancake on a plate which was full enough to feed both of them plus half the Professors.

"Are you okay?" He hesitantly approached her.

"Yes." She said quickly, too quickly.

"Granger…"

"I'm fine Malfoy." She huffed as she emptied the bowl of batter into the pan, "Shoot no more batter." She mumbled before frantically searching the cupboards batter mix ingredients. Then it hit Malfoy.

"Granger, stop." He looked at her sternly as she looked up at him as she combed through the items in one of the bottom cupboards.

"I'm fine Malfoy; I just can't find the flour." She chewed her lip. He noted the flour was already on the side near the rest of the ingredients.

"Granger, look at me."

"What?" She snapped and instantly softened, "Sorry, I'm just…"

"Granger calm down, the flour's there." He pointed to it.

"Thank you." She offered him a smile before starting the mix. Sighing he went to the forgotten the pancake and flipped it, saving it from turning black, "Oops." She frowned at seeing this, "Thanks." She muttered before busying herself with the next mix. Malfoy waited until the pancake was done before dumping it on the plate and grabbing Hermione's arms to stop her near hysteric version of keeping busy.

"Stop." He said simply.

"I…I…I can't." She admitted in defeat and leaned into him, "I have to keep busy, otherwise…"

"I know." He rubbed her back as she tried to prevent tears pouring.

"I can't do this." She whimpered, "It hurts."

"Ssshhh…" He hushed her, "Come on." Flicking his wand to put the kitchen back to it's usual state of cleanliness and storing the pancakes in the cupboard he led her into the common room and sat with her until she finally stopped her tears.

"What's that?" She asked a while later and pointed to the letter on the coffee table.

"Beats me." Granger grasped it and read the contents.

"It's from McGonagall…she says as I'm not eighteen she'll deal with the arrangements and I can see her anytime to organise things." Hermione swallowed hard.

"It's okay; you don't have to deal with this now."

"No, I want it over with." She said resolutely.

"Okay…"

"Come with me?"

"Of course." With that they got dressed and headed to McGonagall's room.

One week later Hermione stood in the doorway of her house staring at the empty walls. It screamed loneliness and sadness. The pain nearly crippled Hermione but she had to do this. After this she would no longer return to the Muggle World-she would have no need to.

"I love you." She whispered before stepping out and shutting the door, locking it for the last time, "I'm ready." She told Malfoy who stood at the end of the drive with Dumbledore and McGonagall.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She sighed and walked to them, "I want to go."

"Okay then." He held his hand out and she ignored the electric touch as she took it in her own.

"One, two, three." Dumbledore said as they grabbed the slipper portkey and they disappeared from the Muggle World with no one the wiser.

"Did you get everything?" Malfoy asked as the Veela and Mate walked back to their room a while later.

"Yep." She gripped the little black bag marked 'Granger Household Items' in white marker.

"It was a pleasant service." Malfoy remarked on the Funeral which they had been at before they went to Hermione's old house.

"Mmm…" She nodded absently, "It's odd. I feel lighter. Is that wrong?"

"Maybe it's because you only have one world to deal with now, or the relief that the whole business of your parents arrangements is over, or you finally have said goodbye and are ready to face the world better now."

"Maybe." She shrugged it off.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She smiled at him.

"Good, it's nice to have you back." He smiled back and held the common room door open for her.

"I'm hungry." She said subconsciously.

"What do you want?" He asked detouring to the kitchenette as she settled herself on the couch.

"Anything but pancakes." Hermione laughed. They'd spent three days eating those bloody pancakes she made in her desperation to keep busy and while they were good they promised not to eat any for at least a week.

"Okay." He chuckled, "This okay?" He walked in with a plate of cookies.

"Mmm…" She smiled at him as offered her one, "These are good!"

"Malfoy secret recipe." He winked.

"You made these?" Her jaw hanging unattractively open.

"Of course not, I'm not allowed the recipe."

"Then who?"

"Mother."

"Your mum?"

"Yeah, she got into baking after my Father died-"

"He died!"

"Yeah, last year. I get my Veela side off my Mother and one day he caught us discussing it and had a heart attack."

"He didn't know?"

"No, after Mother Marked him she obliviated him so he wouldn't know. He was furious when he found out."

"I'm so sorry…he may not have been the nicest man but he was still your Father."

"It's fine. And not the nicest man, Granger, that's an understatement, he was a bloody git."

"You used to respect your Father so much, what happened?"

"He tried to disown me when he found but as he didn't have time for legal action I got everything."

"What about your Mother?"

"The man of the house, which is me as his heir, gets everything and is responsible for the Malfoy family. Mother gets nothing but she is still a Malfoy so can live in the Manor and use the money."

"Okay, so back on subject, you don't get the recipe?"

"No, it's passed through all Malfoy women and my Mother is by marriage. When we get married you'll get the recipe."

"Oh." More than a little disorientated by the whole marriage thing.

"Come on, bedtime." He sighed and looked at the clock.

"Okay." Hermione huffed, "So what about the house elves?"

"They're still there but certain things she does herself."

"Like?"

"Her garden."

"That's a pleasant surprise." Hermione smiled. Maybe Narcissa Malfoy isn't that bad?