The Hardest Things (tentative title)

The Walls of My Life: Like Shattering Glass

Chapter Four

A Troubling Breakup

“So, how was it?” A certain blonde-haired, former Slytherin asked his girlfriend.

“How was what?” Hermione asked, absently twirling spaghetti around her fork. Ever since she found out it was Draco who had gotten Ginny pregnant, her heart shattered.

Even though they had only been going out for roughly two and a half months, it was something both anticipated since seventh year.

You see, it was seventh year when it was revealed that Draco Malfoy was, like Professor Snape, a spy. A spy for the good side.

Draco was tired of taking his father's orders. The Malfoy in him—the Malfoy that his father no longer possessed—refused to be told any longer how he should live his life. When he finally met Voldemort summer before seventh year, afterwards he had thought him pathetic and petty. This led to Draco questioning his life and who he had become. And the thing was, he didn't like who he was, and, with the determination of a Gryffindor, he set out to change himself, the first thing being switching sides.

He became a vital part of the Order, and Hermione developed respect for him. For even though outwardly he still insulted her, one look in his apologetic gray eyes and she knew he was sorry he had to.

Although they never admitted it aloud, it was obvious that both wanted to be more than friends—it was then the final battle happened and it was revealed to all that Draco Malfoy was on the light side.

Luckily, he had survived the final battle but was immediately taken into hiding. Though Voldemort was defeated, there were still many death eaters around, all hunting for either the Boy-Who-Lived, his sidekicks, or Draco Malfoy for betraying them.

Only now was it safe to come out of hiding. Most of Voldemort's inner circle was now in Azkaban. That and Draco pleaded with Dumbledore to finally let him live his life after 5—5! years in hiding.

It was then that Draco learned that his mother had gone insane. The imperious curse had been placed on her for a good ten years—a mere year before the final battle—and her brain could no longer function by itself. When it was finally taken off of her, she started to babble about nothing and do other insane things.

It killed him inside and that was how Ginny Weasley found him—in a bar, drinking his heart out.

Now, he knew full well about the little Weasley's crush on Potter from his second year, and he knew of their relationship, but at that moment, he didn't give a shit.

Before he joined the Order, he was rather infatuated with the youngest Weasley. She was fiery, independent… and she had red hair. He was always a sucker for redheads.

Once he met Hermione though, his little crush took a backseat but when he saw Ginny again… all of that resurfaced.

So, with quite a bit of alcohol in his system and a broken heart, he slept with Ginny.

The next day though, his heart was in for another nasty shock: Ginny told him that she was deeply involved with Harry (though he already knew that, it still hurt,) and the night before had been a mistake. That was one big blow to Draco's ego and pride.

He was furious with himself—stooping so low as to having sex with another man's girl.

One day, while wandering around Diagon Alley, looking for a place to live, he came across Hermione—in a bookshop, respectively.

From there they immediately bonded, and his thoughts and anger about the liaison with Ginny were nearly obliviated.

He never told Hermione about Ginny though, as he told her what he had been up to the past five years because 1) it didn't matter 2) he didn't want his arse kicked by Potter and 3) he really really didn't want to think about it.

Of course, sitting at the little Italian restaurant, he had no idea that Hermione knew about him and Ginny.

“Something on your mind love?” He asked affectionately. He finally felt that his life was turning around. When he was with her, he felt different—he felt like he was a better person. Perhaps that was why Potter and Weasley always hung around her.

“No,” Hermione lied. “Just thinking about the party.”

“Something happen there?” He frowned.

Hermione sighed. She was going to have to break up with him. He obviously didn't know about Ginny being pregnant otherwise he would've initiated it, but since he didn't, Hermione felt that it was up to her.

Too bad it was breaking her heart.

Draco Malfoy had changed for the better—physically and emotionally. He was very handsome—especially now that he didn't gel his hair, instead letting it grow so it nearly was in his eyes. He was also a nicer person, finally free of his father's clutches. Although he never had an imperious curse on him, he still lived his life in fear when his father was alive.

“Well…” she said slowly, “it made me… realize something.”

“Realize what?” He said patiently.

Damn it, she couldn't do this! Not when he was being so patient and gentle with her!

“I realized,” she took a deep breath. “That we should break up.”

“What?!” To say Draco was surprised would be an understatement. “Why?!”

Hermione remained as calm and impassive as ever—a trait she learned from him. “I think that our lives are going to go… in different directions, and that it's better if we separate now.”

Draco frowned, incredulous and unbelieving. “You don't really believe what you're saying, do you?”

Hermione did believe it; in fact, she knew it was true. “I do believe what I'm saying.” Hermione stood up, wanting to get out of there as fast as she could. “It was wonderful while it lasted, but I really don't see us going anywhere in the future.” She looked at him and her face softened a little at his heartbroken face. “I really am sorry. I wish…” she said very softly, “I wish I could be with you.”

And she apparated, leaving Draco heartbroken… again.

But as if on cue, a dark brown owl flew in, leaving a note on his table. As if in a daze, Draco picked it up and read it.

Draco,

We need to talk. It's extremely important and I would like to meet with you ASAP. Please reply with a date, place, and time that would be reasonable with you.

--Ginny

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Author's Note: All right, so I made a bit of a cliché by having Draco “suddenly” turn good. But, I guess he isn't so good if he knowingly slept with another man's girl, eh? Although, he technically wasn't cheating on Hermione, so don't get too upset.

Anyway, thanks for all of the reviews!!