Three Broomsticks

"Bloody Hell will this rain ever stop." thought Hermione as she walked into the Three Broomsticks. A week of rain was enough to upset anyone. I just need a drink maybe it will help me tonight before I go home. Then as Hermione flopped down and ordered a non-virgin Butterbeer a familiar voice cut thru her lonely musings.

"Well well if it isn’t Mrs. Weasley?” Draco Malfoy said with his signature grin.

“Actually its Headmistress Granger now. What do you want Draco?” Hermione replied half-heartedly. Draco unmoved by her obvious dismissal flopped down in the stool next to her.

“So what happened to Weasley and you? And when did you become the Headmistress? Last I heard in the Quibbler was that you were working in the Ministry of Magic. Also where is Weasley thought you guys got married what 14 years ago now?” Draco asked in a rush.

“Its along story Draco and not one I’m really wanting to talk about tonight.” All Hermione could think about was how much she wanted to tell him but yet a small part of her was embarrassed by what had happened. She was also not pleased to see the guy she had spent nearly 17 years ignoring. She could still remember clearly the night Draco, her, Ron, Harry, and a bunch of other students had played spin the bottle in the Room of Requirement. The kiss her and Draco had shared that night still sent shivers down her back.

“Barkeep I need another drink.” Hermione said. “Well I quit working at the Ministry after I had the kids. Ron didn’t like me working so much and him having to take care of the kids. So I quit and became a stay at home mom .” Hermione started telling Draco and the words flowed easily. She told him everything how Ron started drinking and staying out late after work. How their marriage started having problems because of that and the stress of having only one paycheck. The final straw was when she found the box of pictures.

“What kind of pictures?” Draco asked this was the only interruption had said thru the whole long drawn out story except when he ordered them more drinks.

"They were pictures of nude guys and gay porn magazines. He had them hidden under a floorboard in our room.” Hermione whispered.

“WEASLEY IS GAY?????” shouted Draco.

“Shhh yes apparently he is. It didn’t even come out in our divorce papers. We didn’t want the kids to find out that way. We just stated irreconcilable differences.”

“Wow I totally didn’t see that coming I thought you guys were like glue.”

“Yea I didn’t see it either I thought we had the whole world. Now tell me what have you been doing for the past 14 years?” Draco thought for a minute. Do I tell her I have spent the last 14 years trying to run from the feelings he had for a married woman or does he skip that part?

“Well I have been traveling haven’t really done much of anything.” Draco replied. ” I actually recently accepted a teaching job at Illovermory. I will be the new Herbology professor.....” He didn’t bother finishing because at this Hermione was dying in laughter. The was the side he loved of hers. He first realized that when he heard her laugh across the Great Hall. Then everything changed he thought pestering her and teasing her would get her attention. Alas it didn’t work. He’d spent the last 14 years traveling after finding out her and Weasley were getting married. He had thought the traveling would ease his heart and his mind from thoughts of her. But here they were spilling their tales of woe and how awful the last 14 years had been. Draco realized as they sat and talked about different shenanigans from school that he had to tell her. No matter if she was still heartbroken over Ron or not. The bartender finally told them it was closing time. Hermione said to Draco as he helped her with her coat

“Thanks for the laughs tonight it was very much needed after everything.” As they started to walk out into the starry night Draco leaned down and kissed her. He whispered in her ear “I’ve been waiting a long time to do that.” Then he turned and walked away from the girl he had loved ever since he first met her. In that split second moment Hermione made the first impulse decision of her life and ran after him.