QL, Wanderers, Beater 1, Round 1.

Prompts:

Write a writing style you've never written before - Letter Fic.

Divorce (word), Homemade (word), Knife (object).

Word count: 1013

Betas: Aya

Dear, Hermione,

I know we left things in a bad place, most of the blame is on me. There is no point in apologising as I know it was for the right reason. It would have been wrong for me to not intervene, after all, prejudices exist against Purebloods just as much against Muggleborns now.

The prospect of a divorce is making me want to apologise regardless and join your side in believing I acted irrationally and only sided with the witch because of her blood status. However, it is not something I am planning on doing – I'm going to stand my ground, just like you are.

My stubbornness wasn't going to get in the way of me making the first contact, one of us needed to and I'd happily be seen as the one who cracked first to have communication with my wife again.

I've returned to our home. It's a lot colder without you. Even the homemade pieces of furniture doesn't feel the same without you. After all, you were the mastermind behind them, and I'm still hesitant around electricity.

Love, Draco.

Hermione had held back the tears reading his letter. A few chuckles developed in her throat – she had hoped he'd apologise, then she could simply forgive him and everything would go back to normal. However, him making the first move put a reluctant smile on her face; she really had missed him.

Out of pure stubbornness, she picked up a knife and finished cutting up her vegetables for dinner before picking up her quill to reply.

Dear, Draco.

The fight may have emerged from your decision to side with Parkinson during the fight, but it evolved into much more than that. There is a lot of history which was never fully resolved between us two. I've noticed that it peaks up to the surface at random intervals. The overall problem was your unwillingness to discuss the past at all with me. Not even our time at Hogwarts before the war. I know the memories aren't the happiest, but it does matter. At the end of the day, our pasts brought us to where we are now.

My mind never even considered divorce. I'm shocked it crossed your mind though… I know we both Apparated out, but I hope a fight over something like this isn't going to be our tipping point.

Our home did seem way too cold without you. I only recently left it again when you didn't return. Unlike you, I found comfort in our homemade furniture, especially the stool in our bedroom. Though I wouldn't recommend using it as a stool right now, it looked unstable under Crookshanks weight. We'll have to reinforce it at some point.

Speaking of Crookshanks, is he doing okay?

With love, Hermione.

Hermione's eyes scanned over her letter before tying it to Draco's owl and watching it fly off.

Hearing a noise behind her, she quickly grabbed the knife and chopping board and put them in the sink.

"'Evening, 'Mione."

"Hey, Harry," she replied with a smile before turning away. She didn't know why she felt she should hide the fact she was communicating with her husband, but there was a lot going on with him and Ginny right now, and it didn't feel right to openly repair her relationship when one of her best friends was currently having trouble as well.

It was barely two hours later when the next letter came back.

Dear, Hermione.

We should be looking at the present, or even the future, not the past. The past is irrelevant.

Divorce did not cross my mind, I bumped into Ginny Weasley who reminded me that divorce was a more openly acceptable concept in the muggle world. I would never dream of ending things between us unless that is what you truly wanted. I will do what it takes to make our marriage work.

Unfortunately, the stool does not appear to be salvageable unless I intervene with magic. Crookshanks is very healthy – the automatic food dispenser is still working, I refilled it this morning – and may have jumped on our creation one too many times. Perhaps a second try at that particular object would be more successful. Unless you wanted to go shopping, of course.

Yours, Draco.

Hermione stopped after the second paragraph. Why would divorce be on Ginny's mind? Perhaps she should intervene with her friend's relationship.

With her friends in the forefront of her mind, she pocketed the letter without getting to the end: Her relationship could wait an evening.

It wasn't until the following morning, right after having homemade pancakes did Hermione return to the letter. She was feeling uncertain about Harry and Ginny's relationship, and her fears were now transferring onto her and Draco's. It was clear to see her insecurities in the letter.

Dearest, Draco.

Divorce will always be the last option on my mind, even after murder. I am not the type of person to give up on somebody I love. We both have lost too much and too many friends to willingly step away from one another without at least giving it everything we have.

Neither of us should have Apparated away out of anger. I am ashamed to admit that I had even forgotten about Crookshanks for the majority of our separation this last week.

I don't want you to ever trouble your mind with thoughts of divorce. I don't see us ever following that path. Even though we're apart right now, I still have a lot of hope for us and don't want you to ever think otherwise.

Only yours, Hermione.

Hermione wasn't shocked when his reply came back within 45 minutes. She felt bad for the poor owl who obviously didn't get a rest.

Hermione,

We'll talk about our past. Just please come home.

Forever yours, Draco.

Hermione glanced towards where she knew Harry and Ginny were currently talking, and not wanting to interrupt them – or get in the middle of things – so she Apparated back home and back to her husband.