Winds of Abomination

Melody of Life

The morning after the most recent fight between Draco and Hermione about her never being there for him and their daughter and how she's always at work, her mind is not focused on work today because her husband's accusations rattled her to the core. Is she being a good mother? Is Draco thinking about leaving her? Would she rather be at work directing the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures instead of being a mother and wife? Is she putting work above her family?

"I was just wondering if you wanted to go to lunch," whispers a masculine voice from the doorway of Hermione's Head of Department office, interrupting her corrupt, spinning mind. 

"Sorry, I'm bus- oh Ron? What are you doing here?" Hermione wonders, looking up in shock from her six inch pile of parchment she hasn't touched at a man whose red beard has grown longer than should be acceptable in the past week since she has last seen him in passing. She takes off her reading glasses and is lost for words at this new thing her ex-fiancé has grown on his face. Oddly, it makes him look more mature, more handsome. She remembers nagging him to shave it off each time it grew when they were together.

"I was just coming to see if an old friend fancies a lunch with me in the cafeteria, that's all. If you don't desire to join me, I understand."  Ron mumbles in a nervous voice as he stands awkwardly against Hermione's door-frame and looks at her.

"Where's Lavender?" Questions Hermione, her eyebrows rising as she mentally wonders if they broke up again. She hasn't been personally in touch with Ron for literally years since she last saw him at Draco's and her wedding, so Ron suddenly turning up in her office is both surprising and suspicious. She hears the drama about Ron's on again off again relationship from Ginny when she visits her. I mean, come on, it's been five years! Either let go of each other or stay together for good.

"She's on holiday at her mother's. Her father is very sick," says Ron, stroking his beard with his right hand as he looks away and out Hermione's fake Ministry window which is currently showing gray clouds. The question Hermione asked him has made him uncomfortable, Hermione can sense it.

"So, why aren't you going to lunch with Harry?"

"Damnit Hermione, never mind. This was obviously a mistake. I'll just go by myself," huffs Ron, rolling his eyes and turning to leave. 

"Wait! I'll come." Hermione almost yells as she watches his back nearing the door to leave her Department. She can't deny going to lunch with Ron or she will never know his intentions of suddenly asking her to lunch out of the blue. What if it's important?

"Well hurry up then!" Ron beckons, his mood changing from nervous to irritated very quickly. He hasn't changed in the last five years that is for sure. Hermione hurries behind him in her high heels, something she never wore before her promotion to Head of her Department.

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(Ara & Draco's POV)

Five year old Arabella Malfoy sits by herself on the creek bed atop a large rock. Always to be a child enchanted by nature, her ten small toes are planted in the cold water as it rushes by to form a small waterfall ten feet away from her. She wondered outside alone after she arrived home from Primary school for the day while her father fell asleep reading The Daily Prophet.

She sits with a small stick in her hand, muttering made up spells she has never heard Mother or Father use in her short five years of life. She decides to give one a try she swears she has heard her mum say and to her amazement, the tiny stone which she is pointing at starts to levitate in the air. In sheer concentration, she lifts her arm up higher and the stone follows the stick into the direction it points in the air. Excited at the small magic she just produced, Arabella drops the stick and runs up the hill to the large country home she shares with her mum and dad.