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The Affair	By : snowblind12 & Lissa Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Draco/Hermione Views: 55609 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: This fanfic is based off the Harry Potter books which are owned by JKR. I make no money from this fanfic and these characters as well as the Harry Potter books and world belong to JKR!

Chapter List
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AN: Hard to believe but this story is almost finished. A chapter or two left plus an epilogue. Thanks to my co-writer, LissaDream! She's amazing!
Please check out our latest story, Runaway. Our stories can also be found on Archive of Our Own, fanfiction and Wattpad.
Thanks for all reviews! Please forgive our lack of review responses. We read and relish every single one of them!
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Tumblr: LissaDream AND SnowBlind12
Hermione sipped her coffee as she glanced over her notes. "Ugh, this is revolting," she muttered, setting the coffee down. "Did you buy a different brand?"
"No," Theo looked at her quizzically. "Same old brand. Is it burnt?" He sniffed his own cup of coffee before taking a tentative sip. "Mine's fine."
"Huh," Hermione muttered dismissively. "I'll grab a latte from the coffee cart when I get to the Ministry."
"Thought you hated latte's?" Theo snorted.
"I know!" Hermione wrinkled her nose distractedly while crossing a few lines out on her notes. "I guess I changed my mind." It was silent a few moments before Theo spoke again.
"You really should eat something, you know," Theo admonished. "You've barely eaten anything all week."
Looking up at him, she shrugged and responded, "it's my nerves. I'll eat after I get through the case today."
Glancing back down at her notes, she willed herself to relax. Today was the day. All the preparation and work would come down to her presentation. She felt her arguments and facts were well thought out and proved the need for her proposed legislation but unfortunately it wasn't up to her. While the Wizengamot had a small infusion of new blood amongst it ranks over the past few years, for the most part it was comprised of the same members since before Voldemort's return. The group was quite conservative and not as forward thinking as the people for which they governed. She appreciated the position they were in, however. They had the daunting task of allowing change without causing chaos. While they had been slow to succumb to much needed changes, they had not shunned them altogether. They were just very cautious and were not typically quick to approve changes.
The past few weeks Hermione and Draco had managed to work together without too much drama. It had been difficult at first as he seemed to want to hijack her case and take the lead. Both Hermione and Draco were used to being in charge in the work place. As their work together progressed and Draco saw her in action, he quickly backed down and conceded the witch had it all under control. If Hermione had been more susceptible to fun distractions while working, Draco would have been at her office daily. However, the witch was rather steadfast, and Draco knew a lost cause when he saw one. Their meetings became less frequent, and sometimes he sent his head of Human Resources, George Flinton, in his stead. Once Draco had given George the leave to be forthcoming, the man had provided a wealth of useful information. Hermione came to like him and regretted the confrontational start they had experienced those months back when she first went to ME on Moxie's behalf.
As her thoughts wandered back to the offensive coffee in front of her, she peeked up at Theo to find him watching her with undisguised concern. He had continued to be supportive of her, but she appreciated that he had been less hovering the past couple weeks. He had expressed his concern about her working with Draco, but ultimately had backed down and had not said anything while they had developed their case further. He knew it was a losing battle. It was largely because of Theo that Hermione had resisted Draco's advances. The blond had pushed the issue at first, alternating between attempted seduction and Dominance, but she had not given in. Except for an occasional passionate snog, they had kept their hands off each other.
Ultimately, Draco admitted he understood her need to respect her husband's wishes. She didn't want to have to lie to Theo and she didn't want to complicate things. As much as it bothered Draco, and as hard as it was, he respected her all that much more for her integrity. Even though he didn't trust Theo, he did trust Hermione, and in truth, as twisted as it was, he still cared about Theo. When it came down to it, he would walk through fire for the man who had been his best friend since they learned the word Quidditch. Of course, he was no fool. He knew that Theo did not feel the same way. Theo would likely light the match to destroy Draco if he had it in his power, but Draco could afford to be the bigger man. After all, he had gotten the girl.
"What time is your presentation?"
"Ten." She looked up from her cup where she was fingering the rim, lost in her thoughts. "You don't need to come, Theo."
"No, this is important to you, and I will absolutely be there. I'm your friend, if nothing more, and friends support each other."
Hermione smiled at him and didn't pull away when he reached across the table and took her hand in his. Draco would call her a fool, but Hermione believed Theo when he said such words. She needed all the support she could get right now and was grateful for her soon-to-be ex-husband's friendship.
"Hermione, you really look pale. Please eat."
"I can't. I feel nauseated from nerves and my head is hurting again." She shook her head dismissively. "It's this case. I haven't worked on a case that meant this much to me since…" She looked up at him. No more words needed to be said. They both knew what case she was referring to. The case which had been the catalyst for his affair with Daphne over five years ago.
"You'll be great, kitten. You are worrying for nothing."
Hermione and Draco met at the Ministry at just before nine o'clock. Hermione couldn't help but smile. He was dressed in exquisite, traditional wizarding robes in a gorgeous shade of deep purple. "Well, don't you look handsome. I'm not used to seeing you in such…traditional attire." When she stepped closer, she noticed what she had thought was simply black and silver intricate stitching over his shoulders was actually an embroidered design of a dragon on each shoulder. It was quite impressive and looked like something Draco's father would wear. "You look quite formidable actually," she added, just stopping herself from running her hands over the fabric.
"Yeah, well I wasn't about to wear a muggle Armani suit. It would be wasted on the Wizengamot." His hair was a little longer and his steely gaze brought back flashes from Diagon Alley before her second year.
"Gah, you remind me of your father right now. It's freaking me out a little bit."
"Hmmm, you have a thing for my father, Granger?" He teased, cocking a brow.
"Ha! Uhh, no. But he is quite handsome and strikes quite a presence when he wants to."
Their attention was pulled to the lift as Lizzy and Nelba arrived followed by George Flinton close behind. Hermione would be the one presenting but having the backing of Draco Malfoy would give her more credibility. Hermione hated to admit it, but just having Draco supporting the case could be enough to push it through. While outright bribery was a practice of the past thanks to Minister Shacklebolt, it was simple logic that the Malfoy's deep and vast coffers still held tremendous influence. Supporting legislation in which Draco felt strongly about could only lead to more generosity from the billionaire. She had come to be grateful he was standing beside her and not opposing her from the other side of the room.
It wasn't long before Rita Skeeter showed up. Draco and Hermione had given her an exclusive interview discussing the case that had been published in that mornings edition of the paper. They would continue to give her exclusives as long as the case continued. Of course, Rita had been quick to remind Hermione she still owed her a juicy exclusive unrelated to the case. Hermione assured her she had not forgotten. What Hermione didn't know was whether that exclusive would be the public announcement of her divorce or an interview in response to certain photos that would likely be released. Either way, Hermione was dreading it. A deal was a deal, however, and Hermione would not go back on her word.
It was twenty minutes before ten when Theo arrived. Hermione could feel Draco tense next to her when Theo approached, but her husband remained calm and friendly. He addressed everyone and was particularly warm towards Lizzy, whom he had always liked. While Theo and Draco were cool towards each other, they did offer proper salutations and avoided saying anything incendiary to each other. As the group stood together and watched the clock, Hermione suddenly began to feel sick.
"Oh my goodness," she gagged and her fingers moved down to clutch her belly. "Please excuse me!" She gagged a second time and, ignoring the startled and concerned looks from the group surrounding her, made a mad dash for the nearest loo.
There was no way she was going to make it to a toilet and, knowing there was nothing in her stomach but latte, she instead headed for the nearest receptacle – which happened to be a sink.
She gagged horrifically a few more times before the contents of her stomach made a forceful reappearance. Fumbling with one hand while she retched, she turned the spigots of the sink to wash the sick down even as it spewed from her lips. When it stopped the first time she gasped deeply, her abdomen convexing with the force of the breath. Unfortunately, the fluctuation of fresh air caused her to gag again and she was retching a second time before she knew it. It felt like it was coming from her toes and her stomach cramped so forcefully that she had to combat the pain by gripping the edges of the porcelain sink so hard her knuckles turned white.
When it was over, Hermione felt completely wrung out and had to lean onto the counter while she carefully filled her lungs with fresh air. After a moment she rinsed her mouth and spat a few times before looking up to meet her reflection's gaze. She was dismayed to find herself looking sweaty and pale. Was it a million degrees in here, or was it just her?
Quickly she pulled her wand out of her robe pockets and shot a cooling spell at her clothing. She used a piece of paper towel to dab her face before reapplying a few subtle makeup charms to give herself some color. All the while, she was berating herself, What is wrong with you? Get it together! and then something sprung to the forefront of her mind. A new panic, completely unrelated to her case overcame her.
Grabbing her planner out of her briefcase, she counted back the weeks. "Oh, Merlin." Has it really been that long?
"Hermione? Are you alright? They've opened the door for us to enter."
Hermione looked at Nelba and nodded. "I'm fine. Nerves are just wreaking havoc on me." She tossed the paper towel into the bin and ran her hands over her blouse and skirt as she walked towards the exit of the loo. There was nothing she could do now except proceed with the case. She would worry about everything else later. Sounding more confident than she truly felt, she smiled. "Let's do this."
Two hours later, Hermione had presented her case. Each member of the large panel had received an outline and attached had been case studies of the individuals whom had been discriminated against. She had presented each case thoroughly and spoke with confidence. She pointed out the vast differences in the cultures of various magical beings. She discussed the many ways those differences could lead to misunderstandings. She discussed the opportunities to learn from each other's strengths and how working together would lead to more comfort and comradery outside of the work place. Goblins, house elves, humans, Veela, and werewolves were all intelligent beings that had much to offer to society, to the work place and to each other. She touched lightly on the fact that discrimination was more blatant towards females than males.
For the most part the members of the Wizengamot were silent and read through the material as Hermione spoke. She tried to inject some humor and presented a few anecdotes of harmless and funny misunderstandings that she had learned of in her research. Interspersed were more serious examples of cruelty that might have been avoidable if there was simply more knowledge and understanding.
When she had finished talking and the floor was opened for questions, Hermione tried not to become resentful when many of the questions were directed toward Draco. How much was the culture sensitivity training costing the company? Had he seen a change in working relationships? How long ago did Draco implement changes? Draco answered each question calmly and made it clear he was in full support of Hermione's legislation. He embellished and implied he had been concerned about this issue for quite a while. Hermione could only shake her head at the cunning way the man twisted the facts to his advantage, Malfoy Enterprises smelling like a freshly bloomed rose in spring.
There had been some dissension and a few business owners from the community had come out opposed. They claimed it was unfair to dictate their hiring practices. They had the right to hire whomever they wished for whatever reason they wished. They felt they shouldn't have to pay for sensitivity training. The community should offer the classes instead. It pleased Hermione that the brunt of the discourse was over who would provide the training, not that it wasn't necessary. It seemed everyone agreed there was a need for education.
When all the questions had been asked and answered, the secretary of the council, Elspeth Irmadine, called for an adjournment after thanking Hermione for her well thought out and presented case. Hermione assembled her notes and documents and placed them in her folio feeling she had done the best she could. It was now out of her hands and they would just have to wait for a verdict. It was likely the Wizengamot would want to question some of the individuals from her case studies and Hermione had arranged for them each to be available that afternoon. It would not be necessary for her to be present. This was not a civil or criminal court case and she was not their lawyer. It was merely information gathering. Hermione would make herself available for further questioning should they need her, however.
Theo had been sitting in an observation booth and was quick to rush down and congratulate his wife on a job well done. Draco tried not to react to the way Theo placed his hand on her back as she stepped towards the exit; he tried not to become angered when she didn't seem to mind.
After they exited the hall, Nelba excused herself to return to her office and George dashed off to Malfoy Enterprises for a one o'clock meeting. Lizzy had errands to run on her lunch break and therefore Hermione, Draco and Theo found themselves in an awkward grouping. Theo looked at Draco and then at Hermione and shrugged. "How about lunch? My treat."
"Actually, I'm starved," Hermione interjected as she looked at Draco for his response.
Draco was silent for a pause; not sure he was understanding. In a dismayed voice he asked, "The three of us…lunch…together?"
Theo smiled without humor. "Well, I for one am hungry and Hermione has barely consumed anything in a week. I know you don't want her to have lunch with me and I don't particularly relish the idea of her having lunch with just you, so I suggest we dine together." He looked at Hermione and smiled. "I think for her sake and in celebration of her presentation being behind her, we should put our differences aside for one meal." He looked at Draco, who gave a sharp nod of reluctant agreement.
A few minutes later the trio arrived at bustling French bistro around the corner from the Ministry. They were seated promptly at a small round table near the window and an awkward silence descended.
After a beat Draco quipped with a roll of his eyes, "I can't believe the three of us are having lunch."
"It's just lunch, Draco. We can go back to hating each other in an hour." There was a mix of bitterness and sadness in Theo's subtle taunt.
Draco smirked. "I don't hate you, Theo. I just know you and I don't trust you. This act you are putting on is so obvious."
Theo shook his head in dismay, his face collapsing into a mask of controlled anger. "Oh, that's rich! You don't trust me? Who stole whose wife, Drake?!"
Draco leaned closer to Theo, his posture threatening but his words quiet. "I didn't steal her, Theo. I rescued her. You abandoned her, in more ways than one, long before I came along."
"No! Every marriage has problems, Draco! Friends help their friends work through them. You were my best friend for over twenty years and the minute the opportunity came you chose her over me. You knew what…"
"Guys," Hermione whispered, looking around the room cautiously. She could see they were drawing attention.
"You are so delusional, Theo! The minute? The minute?! Are you kidding me?! You cheated on her for five years!"
Hermione closed her eyes in mortification. There most likely wasn't a soul in the entire restaurant who hadn't heard Draco's declaration that she had been duped by her own husband for five years. She felt a flush of heat overcome her and her heart started racing. Picking up her water, she held the cool glass against her forehead for a moment. "Please, guys. I don't feel so good. Let's just be…" she started in a quiet, but firm voice.
Neither of them were listening or paying her any mind as they continued to voice pent up frustration with each other. "I was miserable, Draco! I was with a completely unstable woman who I only wanted to get away from, but I was trapped. C'mon, you were married to a Greengrass! You know how bat shit crazy they all are. Astoria was…"
Draco stood and grabbed the front of Theo's robes, lifting and pushing him against the window. His voice was low and menacing, "Don't you talk about my wife like that! Don't you fucking dare!"
"Oh! So now she's your wife again?" Theo looked smugly over Draco's shoulder at Hermione. "You hear that, kitten? Still calls her his wife! Are you sure about this g…?" Theo didn't finish his sentence however, his jaw fell, and he struggled to get out of Draco's grasp. "Let me go, Draco!" He yelled out, "Hermione!"
"What? You need a little witch to fight your battles?" Draco jeered.
"No, you asshole! Hermione! Look at her!"
Draco glanced back over his shoulder to see Hermione pale as a sheet and looking like she was about to pass out, her eyes were closed as she held her water glass to her forehead with a trembling hand. Draco released Theo and was upon her instantly with Theo right behind him. He crouched down next to her chair. "Hermione! What is it?" Draco's voice was panicked.
Her voice was shaky and she spoke softly. "I'm fine. I'm just hungry and tired and would appreciate if you would both stop acting like cavemen." Theo and Draco cut looks at each other as they slid back into their seats.
A gentleman approached their table. "Is there a problem? We have a strict no fighting rule and should it be necessary we will call the Aurors."
"Apologies, you won't hear another peep out of us." Theo was looking at the man apologetically. Draco only had eyes on Hermione.
"You're sure you are ok?" Draco asked as the gentleman walked away from their table.
She wanted to reply in the affirmative, but in reality, Hermione felt anything but ok. Her head was screaming, her stomach was roiling, and her mind was panicked with worry over her symptoms – not to mention the anxiety over her case. She felt relief yet a sense of dread as well. If her suspicions were correct, her condition would either trap her or free her. Relief came from the potential freeing, dread came that she would be trapped. There was no way to know which sentence she would have pronounced on her until she had herself checked out.
She looked from the concerned face of Draco to the matching one of Theo and felt her eyes begin to well, her emotions getting the better of her.
Both men froze, neither understanding what was going on.
"Well now look what you've done," Theo spat at Draco. "Why couldn't you just be civil for one meal?"
"Me? You're the one who…"
"Stop it, please!" Hermione begged softly as tears slipped free from the confines of her lower lashes. Draco stopped speaking and looked at her with obvious concern. She shook her head. "I need to get away – from both of you. I can't think straight." The minute she pushed herself up to stand, she swayed.
"Whoa, whoa, kitten. Sit back down," Theo commanded gently.
She shook her head as more tears slid down her cheeks. "No." She looked around the room. "I need to go." She whispered to herself. She turned away from them and took a step. She wasn't able to take another before she felt herself slipping to the floor.
While Hermione didn't fully lose consciousness, she was so dizzy that she did lose motor control. She never hit the floor, however, Theo scooped her into his arms as Draco dashed in front of them, making a path through the tables and patrons, neither of them noticing the continued clicks of the camera that had been shuddering since the start of their fight.
The minute they were at the Apparition point, Theo spun and disappeared, Draco right behind them. Hermione felt the pull of the spell and the suffocation. The landing jarred her whole body, she couldn't open her eyes. That was disconcerting.
Theo's voice was panicked as he called out. "Help! My wife!"
Hermione eyelids were heavy. She felt a large, warm hand holding her own and could hear the sound of a frantically tapping foot. Smaller, cool hands were smoothing over her forehead. "Her initial diagnostics comes back that she's a little dehydrated and her iron levels are quite low. I'd like to run some more tests."
This unfamiliar female voice made Hermione realize that she must have passed out for a time. She was in a lumpy bed and the air was crisp and smelled of disinfectant. She willed her eyes to open as Theo's voice agreed. "Anything you think, Healer Jacobson."
Hermione's voice was raspy, and all three people in the room jumped when she spoke. "I think only one test is necessary, but if it comes back positive – a second will be needed."
"Thank the Gods." Draco's voice was rough with unshed tears as she made eye contact with him across the room. "You scared us, Hermione."
"I'm fine," she assured him quietly with a soft smile before turning her eyes to Theo. "Really," she continued firmly before removing her hand from his. Theo looked as though he wished to protest the loss of her fingers in his, but he didn't.
"Can I please sit up?" she asked the Healer. The witch gave Hermione a small nod and flicked her wand at the bed to raise it into a seated position.
"What test is it that you think you need, Mrs. Nott?" Healer Jacobson asked curiously.
"A pregnancy test." She looked the doctor straight in the eyes as she said it, forcing herself not to watch either wizard's reactions.
"Ah, that could definitely explain things, yes?" Healer Johnson's smile was kind. "You wish me to perform it now? Would you like your husband and Mr. Malfoy to step out?"
"Now is fine," Hermione answered, her voice shaking a bit. "Neither man needs to leave."
The witch twirled her wand, muttering the simple charm to detect pregnancy. The white light that glowed caused both Theo and Draco to let out surprised exclamations as Hermione's shoulders tensed.
It was welcomed news to her either way, she had always wanted children someday, and now was as good a time as any. The only thing that really mattered to her was… "Paternity can be determined with a charm as well?"
The Healer looked startled for a minute, but as she glanced between the wizards in the room their concern for the witch and animosity for each other finally made perfect sense. "Of course, all potential father's must be present, however."
"They're both here," Hermione said, lifting her chin as if daring the Healer to comment. Healer Jacobson was a professional, however. Who was she to judge?
"Lay back, raise your gown to reveal your abdomen, please. Gentlemen, you will need to cup your hands in front of you. The spell will settle in the hands of whoever is the father." Another twist and twirl of the healer's wand and Hermione's low stomach brightened to a pretty amber color before dancing away from her body. Both men raised their hands, cupping them as instructed. The light spun around all three other people in the room before marking the baby's father by resting gently into the palms of his hands before sinking in to make his skin glow.
Healer Johnson left the room discreetly as Hermione's eyes filled with tears and a gasped sob left her body. Her eyes locked with Draco's stunned ones as relief filled her entire being. They shared a sweet moment before a soft curse caused them both to look at Theo.
If Hermione ever felt she had seen true despair and disappointment on her husband's face before, it was nothing compared to what she was witnessing in this moment. He looked as though the breath had left him. He was pale and looked lost. The fight had left him. It was the defeat in his eyes that proved how much hope he had obviously been harboring. His words were whispered and raw with his own choked emotion. A tear escaped, and he quietly wiped it away as he looked in his wife's eyes. "I'll just…leave you two alone." He turned and as he walked out of the room Hermione was desperate to somehow comfort him. But she knew there were no words. Nothing she could say would make it all better. He needed to lick his wounds. The door closed with a quiet click.
Feeling the bed dip beside her and a warm palm rest over her lower abdomen, Hermione's attention was pulled back to the moist, steel-grey eyes of her lover. Draco crawled into the bed and pulled her close as she rolled onto her side, spooning back into him. Neither said anything as the gravity of the situation settled over them.
Her words were almost monotone. There were no histrionics or sobs of panic. She merely laid out the truth as it was. "There will be no stopping those photographs now. I'm not only an adulteress, I'm pregnant with another man's child. Ezmirelda will do her best to destroy me."
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The Affair