Smirks, Books and, Dirty Looks

Floor Boards and Rings

'Dearest Ronald,

I cannot stay chained to you anymore. We have just grown apart...' Two sentences thats all I have been able to look at for the past thirty minutes. Hermione Weasley-Granger, that's my name now, has been for at least four years. I have learned to really resent it. 'How can I stay with him? I mean I love him...Right?' Hermione was shaken from her thoughts when a loud crack sounded through the cold dark parlor room.

The house elf Fay, had appeared in front of her. Her little mint green dress flowing around her feet. "Mistress looks as if Fay has interrupted her thoughts." Smiling slightly at the little creature in front of me I sighed. "No Fay, it's quite alright. What did you need?" The elf quickly came up to her and whispered "Master is coming." Shivers ran along Hermiones' body. 'He's home early.'

With another deafening crack Fay was gone. Hermione sprung into action. Hiding away the long forgotten letter under the creaky floorboards of her tattered bright red seat. She tried racing to the bedroom, but was too late.
- - - -

'It's dark.' Or at least I thought it was. "Draco?" A soft voice made its way to my sweat covered bed making me open my eyes. "You mustn't hide in here any longer. What will your guest think?" Mother.  She's always insisting I entertain people even though we both know I'm not ready to be societies busybody of the year. At least not anymore.

It's been four years since that time, I closed my eyes once more and tried to block it out. Mother's voice, the memories of that night. It's still so fresh, embedded in my very soul. "Draco!" I opened my eyes and looked at the woman in front of me, worry etched in her every feature.

"Yes mother, I'll be out in a while. I need a shower." I tiredly respond. She closed in on my face pressing her forehead against mine. "My sweet boy, you're shaking." I closed my eyes not wanting to see the look of worry on her face. After a while she sighed,"Very well. Be out and downstairs in no more than fifteen minutes, or I'm sending up help." She smirked and with that pulled away. "Yes mother."

I stood up and followed her to the door. 'Can't I ever get a break?' I heard laughter coming from down stairs. Even in this ginormous manor I couldn't get peace. 'Looks like another sorry attempt at playing host.' With that I walked to my bathroom to shower.
- - - - -

"Ronald!" I nearly shrieked. "How was your day love?" Ron asked calmly never breaking eye contact. "Oh you know, uneventful." I tried to move towards the staircase leading to our bedroom, but he moved closer. "Why are you lying?" Looking at the man I used to know as my best friend I gave a little chuckle trying to lighten the mood. "Why would you say that dear?" He inched closer. The smell of alcohol rolling off of him in waves. How I didn't notice it before was astounding. The smell told me all I needed to know. Ron wasn't here, at least not anymore.

Looking him in the eyes I quietly and carefully gave him a kiss and awaited to see what would come next, just like I have done for the last four years of my sorry life. Every time he drank Ron would come to the conclusion that I had done something wrong. We always ended up bickering. At the start of our second year of marriage the arguments escalated to assaulting each other, him more than me.

His next words shook my very core. "You should get upstairs before I find out whatever it is you were so desperately trying to hide. Now go on and don't make a sound you wretched bookworm." His words cold and menacing. I did as I was told not wanting to fight tonight. In my frazzled state I misjudged the first step and stumbled. A faint shrill noise radiated against the tall walls of our two story home. 'Merlin help me,' I thought. I felt my heart give out when I saw those cold hands reach up my arm.
- - - - -

Draco walked out of his bleak bedroom and made his way to the banister. Wearing his usual attire, a black long sleeve shirt with a black and emerald green tie. He combined that with black slacks and black dress shoes. He looked good even with the dark bags under his eyes. Walking down the stairs he blew out an exasperated sigh as he heard a shrill cry. "Daaarling!" He didn't even bother looking up.

He reached the last step and was immediately met with a slightly tipsy young lady. 'Great, she's been drinking.' Pansy Parkinson was standing in front of him with a half empty martini glass in her right hand. I nodded in her direction. "Pansy." She grimaced, "Oh don't be so cold Draco. Call me, Love." The word left her mouth in a way that rubbed him the wrong way making him sneer at her. She pouted noticing his face.

"Love? Why in Merlin's name would I do that?" I snapped. I've been doing that more frequently these days. "Because, of this." She raised her left hand displaying her engagement ring for him to see. The taunting emerald green ring reminding him of his commitment. His father's parting gift to him. That bastard. "Oh, right." I sighed heavily. "Love, was it?" She smiled and came to caress him. This was going to be a LONG evening.