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It was already past one am when Hermione sent yet another letter responding to Ron’s rattling about trying to dissolve her Ministry-mandated marriage to Draco again.
Hermione held her head as her migraine returned.
Why couldn't he just accept it and move on? She was doing her part by fighting with her husband and giving him a hard time 24x7, letting him know she was not happy with this stupid, forceful marriage for Godric’s sake!
It had been four months already and all her friends respected her acceptance of the marriage but Ron. He still thought she was under some Imperius Curse and Draco was somehow holding her hostage in his Manor (not the Malfoy Manor, he had moved out years ago. This was a smaller one called the Granger Malfoy Manor). Although some part of her was grateful for Ron’s protectiveness, she had been scared their friendship wouldn’t survive after the break-up five years ago, but sometimes he just grated her nerves.
Why was he irritating her like this? Didn't he know how much it annoyed her to see him accusing-
"Love me like you do...mm...touch me like you do!" Draco's sudden voice surprised her and she looked up to see him walk into the bedroom with a hidden smile. She frowned as she heard him croon the muggle song from Fifty Shades of Grey as he unbuttoned his coat.
"You're late." She said and he turned towards her, his smile intact.
"Yes, I had a... meeting." He said and she could swear she saw his grey eyes twinkle. She had never seen his eyes twinkle. Weird.
"What meeting?" She asked, closing her book and getting up but he just shrugged. "Was it important?"
"Hmm." He nodded and went to his closet, shuffling about and coming out in a bathrobe.
"You're going to shower now?" She shook her head and pointed at the clock which read 1:10 am.
"I'm exhausted." He said or yet, mumbled. "I need a hot shower. My body feels...spent."
"Uh." Was the only word that slipped from her mouth as he walked into the bath.
Hermione gulped as an uneasy feeling made home in her stomach. He was never this late. He was always home on time for dinner. Which he wasn’t today.
Where did he go?
She bit her lower lip and walked to the bathroom door to knock when she heard him again.
"You're the light, you're the night
You're the color of my blood
You're the cure, you're the pain
You're the only thing I wanna touch
Never knew that it could mean so much!"
Why in the damn world was he singing this song? Was he, by the grace of God, happy ? How?
"Malfoy." She knocked and he hummed in response, making her feel agitated. "Dinner?"
"I've had my dinner, it was amazing. Thank you." He replied and Hermione, could not for anything, understand what was happening.
Shaking her head, she walked to the bed and settled in. It was late and she had to get up early to meet Ginny for breakfast anyway.
Ten minutes later, the shower was still running and she could not sleep. His voice was still coming from the other side of the door, he was still singing and she felt her migraine taking hold inside her head.
"Can you stop singing?" She mumbled and got up when his phone rang on the coffee table.
Yes, Draco Malfoy (and many other magical folks) had started using the genius devices a few years ago. Hermione had been extremely proud of her friends and a bit smug as she had taught them how to use them. She still chuckled as she remembered Draco discovering the game of PUBG and roping in Blaise and Theo immediately. That was before the Ministry had set them all up in pairings and almost ordered them to get married to help with the Wizarding population.
Back to the present, she picked up his phone but her frustrated expression soon changed into a surprise.
Queen
It read and before she could pick up the call, it ended. Hermione frowned again as she saw a few messages pop on the screen.
It was a good meeting today, I'm so glad we could catch up ;)
By the way, I still feel so tired. Who knew you had so much energy?
My body feels f*cking sore. You Malfoy, are something else. This woman could not keep up!
Anyways, goodnight! See you tomorrow!
A weird bubbling in her chest made Hermione gulp. Surely, whoever this woman was, didn't mean what she thought she meant?
Draco would never... never what?
What did she know about her husband? One, he was a redeemed wizard, and two, a ruthless businessman. That's all she knew! She knew about his professional life, she knew about his personal life but she had no idea what went on in his private life.
She couldn't believe it! Anger made her head hurt as she grit her teeth, He was... doing stuff ...with another woman while his wife waited till after sodding midnight for him to come home so he could have his damn steak and peas? And what does he do? He spends his precious time and freaking body on some stranger, who could be his girlfrie-
"Oh God, I feel sick." She whispered to herself and sat down, feeling squirmish.
The bathroom door clicked open and she quickly hid under the sheets as he sauntered inside, wiping his gorgeous hair. Water dripped from his leg and into the plush green carpet underneath him. He looked towards her and she closed her eyes before moving towards the closet.
A few seconds later, she opened her eyes again and gulped as she saw him dress himself. His broad shoulders, his muscled back, his long arms, his tattoos flexing and there was a long, red line on his back, like a...fingernail had moved along his skin and she shut her eyes again.
Wrong move.
Visions filled her eyes as she saw her shirtless husband with a faceless woman, smiling, kissing, licking, sucking, fuc-
"Ugh!" She got up and removed the sheets as he looked back at her.
"Is everything okay Hermione?" He frowned and quickly put on his T-shirt. She ignored the flutter in her stomach at his use of her first name.
"Why were you so late tonight?" She asked and hated herself for asking this question.
"Why do you care?" He shrugged and moved to the dressing table.
"Because...I was waiting for you-
"Have I ever implied that I care whether you wait for me or not?" He put on some moisturizer on his arms. Hermione gulped as his arms flexed and shone.
"You could have sent me a word-
"Right. Because you care so much about my late comings and goings." He smiled and she could smell the sarcasm.
"I do...care about it-
"Why don't you go and lie to someone else?" He said and stared at his reflection. "Don't bother me tonight, I'm in a great mood."
"Of course you will be." She crossed her arms. "I know you were with someone tonight. A woman to be precise."
"Really?" He chuckled and looked at her, his- silver gaze scrutinizing her. "And you are upset because...why? Because I was late or because I was with a lady?"
"Because you were late. I don't care if you are with a lady or not." She shrugged but it bothered her that he didn't deny that he was indeed with someone. "I never asked for your loyalty."
"Good." He smiled before turning towards the door and she curled her toes in agitation.
Unbothered asshole.
"But you should be." She said and he stopped. "Loyal. You are married."
"You know sweetheart, pieces of advice don't sound good when they come from you ." He pressured the word you and she knew the atmosphere had turned serious.
"What...do you mean...by that?" She asked and crossed her arms to look defensive, and he shook his head.
"Nothing. Just that... before asking me to be loyal, which was not in the deal, you should refrain from sending letters to your beloved Weasley at one am." He said and all the colour drained from her face.
"I don't...I wasn't-
"Please, as I said, go lie to someone else. You're an open book and I'm an avid reader." He said and turned. "Also, I'll be late for the next five days. Don't bother to wait up. I'm going to meet the same client every night until then. Good night."
He left her seething and confused, unbothered to clear the fact that his meeting was a strenuous tennis round with his old friend from Paris called Alice Queen, whom he affectionately called Queen.
FIN