Song: She's Always a Woman To Me by Billy Joel
It was a Tuesday, things were finally starting to become 'normal,' or at least the closest to normal they can achieve. With this whole Merlin thing going on things were still kind of hectic around the Malfoy - Granger household.
On the couch, Hermione sat reading a book and biting her nails, a terrible habit she had fallen into recently. The book was just a mere distraction from the bold move she had made that day. Inside her head, her thoughts were miles away from the words on the paper in front of her.
Only a couple minutes later the front door swung open, Draco had come home a little early.
"Hey," he greeted with a smile, "How was your day?"
She hesitated for a moment before saying, "I-quit-my-job," really fast.
Slowly Draco looked up and asked, a bit confused, "You did what?"
"I quit my job."
Draco made his way over to the couch and sat next to Hermione. He put one of his arms around her for comfort. The way she held herself gave away that she had a rough day. Her eyes were a little puffy and nails were bitten down to the beds. "Hermione, what's wrong?"
"I" she began, her voice a little shaky, "- I just want to do something with my life that is worthwhile. Being an Auror was great and all, but that's not what I want to do with the rest of my life. I want to make a difference and change people's lives, and I don't feel like I was able to do that with being an Auror. I thought that the promotion I got would make me feel like I was actually was doing something, but in reality I just felt more trapped."
She slid down into his chest and wrapped an arm around his middle, as though she was holding onto him. Not knowing what exactly what you want out of life can be scary and it sure was scaring Hermione. she always walked into situations prepared, knowing exactly what she was going to do next. Now she doesn't know where to turn.
"it's going to be okay," Draco said soothingly, "We'll figure this out."
We'll, Hermione thought. Not you'll, but we'll; the two will get through this together. Hermione looked up at Draco, "I love you."
"I love you too," and with that, he leaned down and gave her a peck on the lips.
* * * * *
"Dude, that's so cool!" Exclaimed Blaise, excitement plastered all over his face. "Merlin? Wow. This is all super cool, but confusing as hell. Who have you told about all this? If I were you I'd make sure the whole world knew." he paused for a moment, "Damn."
"Now, Blaise, you can't go around telling people about this or even discuss it in public. This just stays between you, me, Hermione, the Potters, Pansy, and Theo. Okay?" Draco said this slowly so it could process with Blaise.
Still, a bit taken back Blaise managed an, "okay."
"Now," began Draco, taking the topic off of himself, "How's Pansy coming along with her pregnancy?"
"Eh, she's doing pretty good. She has her good and bad days." Commented Blaise, on his very pregnant wife. "There's her random food cravings, having to pee every five minutes, and the mood swings. The mood swings are the worst, oh Merlin, it's like one moment she's happy and then the next she's sitting on the couch crying eating mint chocolate chip ice cream. Pregnant women are very hard to understand, Draco." He paused to look up at his ceiling, "If you and Hermione ever have a kid make sure you never and I mean never try to get on her bad side while the cookies are still in the oven, a hormonal pregnant woman is the last thing you will ever want to deal with."
"Duly noted," responded Draco.
From the other room they could hear Pansy call out, "Blaise, Draco, time for dinner!"
Pansy and Blaise had invited Draco and Hermione over to have dinner. It had been awhile since they had all seen each other.
"This is just like old times, except Blaise isn't the one who cooked." Remarked Draco, underneath his breath only loud enough for Blaise to hear, he said, "Thank Merlin, no one likes burnt things."
He only just glared at him.
"Tell me, do you like this place better or the apartment?" Asked Draco as he sat down at the table beside Hermione.
Pansy took a seat and started on her chicken Parmesan. "Oh, I don't know... here probably. We got a lot more room, a backyard, and we don't have worry about anyone accidentally walking in on us." She narrowed her eyes at Draco as she said the last part.
Draco sat his fork down and locked eyes with Pansy, "Once. That happened once, and it was an accident."
"Okay." Said Pansy, acting like she believed him.
The four of them dug into their food and reminisced in old times. After dinner they all stayed seated around the table and talked for awhile.
"Oh my!" exclaimed Pansy out of no where. "The baby she kicked! Blaise, come here."
Blaise practically jumped out of his chair and knelt down next to his wife. He placed his hand gently on her stomach and just a moment later he felt a little kick himself.
Hermione and Draco couldn't help but just watch in amazement, a smile spread across their faces they couldn't help but feel happy for their friends. A happiness they would one day get, but just not quite yet.
* * * * *
Later that night when Hermione sunk into bed next to Draco she let out a long sigh. Draco could tell that she was still bothered by what had happened earlier that day, who wouldn't be?
"Hermione." He mumbled as he turned around to face her.
"Yeah."
He rested his head against his hand and looked down at his girlfriend, "What do you like doing the most? What are you the most passionate about?"
Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but Draco stopped her. "I can't be the answer... continue."
She rolled his eyes at his previous comment, "learning, reading, writing... I don't know Draco, just go to bed."
Ignoring that last part he said, "You should be a writer, it would suit you."
Hermione sat up straight in the bed.
"Hermione, are you alright?"
She got out of the bed and proceeded out of the room.
"What are you doing?"
She sat down at the kitchen table and used her wand to summon an old looking contraption with a bunch of buttons on it.
"What the Hell is that?" Asked Draco.
"My Mother's typewriter." Responded Hermione as she put a new ribbon in it.
"What does it do?" He further questioned.
"Type stuff out."
"Interesting," Draco moved closer to Hermione to see exactly what it did.
Hermione started to type, stopped, turned around and said, "Draco, go away I'm writing."
A bit taken back, Draco stepped away, "Okay, I'll be sleeping if you need me." He walked to the bedroom door turned around and stood there for a moment just to admire Hermione hard at work.
Author's Note:
Don't yell at me, I know it's been a long while since I've updated. I knew what I wanted to write out, but I didn't know how I wanted it said. I hope y'all can understand why I made Hermione a writer and not some ministry worker. Personally, I can't really picture Hermione working in the ministry her whole life. In my eyes, she would seem happier doing something she loves like writing and reading. Just wait for what I have in store for her in the next chapter.
-MC