The doorbell went.

Draco's eyes flew to mine. Neither of us moved.

"Well, aren't you going to answer it?" he spat.

We were still stood face to face, glaring furiously at one another.

"You shouldn't be here, Draco," I snarled.

The doorbell went again.

"MUM!"

Albus's voice bellowed up the hallway. I gave a resigned sigh and went to step around Draco.

However, before I could get very far, fingers snapped tightly around my wrist, halting me in my tracks.

I blinked up at him, the anger in his face had gone, replaced by a look of naked desperation.

"Etta," he implored, his voice strangled. And, for a split second, as I looked into his pleading eyes, I faltered.

And then, almost immediately, I gave myself a mental shake and snatched my arm out of his grip.

"Help yourself to food and drink," I muttered, before I swept from the kitchen.

*****

I opened the door to a huge bouquet of flowers.

"Tony?"

A handsome face popped round the side of the bouquet, grinning. "I know I'm slightly early, but I was just so eager to give you these."

Tony Tripp was as smooth in his looks as he was with his words. His mop of dark hair was sleeked back in a style reminiscent of eleven-year-old Draco. He was dressed smartly in a sharp grey suit and teeth that had clearly been clearly whitened. He was evidently a guy who liked to spend time and gold on self grooming.

"Oh! Thank you. They're gorgeous." I gushed, taking the flowers from him as I swept my eyes appreciatively over the vast array of roses and lilies.

"Can I just say, you are looking marvellous tonight, Miss Potter," Tony said, his brown eyes sparkling up at mine as he dipped his head to kiss my hand.

"What time are you bringing her home? She has a kid, you know."

I whirled around to see Draco standing furiously behind me, acting like some kind of bodyguard. His arms were crossed, and he didn't even attempt to hide the scowl etched deeply on his face.

"Uh... I- I guess that's up to her," he stammered, his eyes darting nervously over my shoulder, clearly shocked at the sudden appearance of Draco.

"Don't mind him," I muttered, looking back to shoot Draco a furious glare, "he's just the babysitter."

"Draco Malfoy is your babysitter?" Tony whispered, his eyes widening in astonishment as he glanced back anxiously to the imposing figure looming behind me in the hallway.

"Well, I would have preferred the Minister for Magic, but sadly she was busy tonight," I snarked. "So, he'll just have to do."

Turning around, I slammed the bouquet against Draco's chest. "Put these in water would you."

He took them from me, spluttering mutely as his face began to turn pink with rage. Ignoring him, I reached around him and grabbed my bag off the coat hooks.

"Oh," I added, pausing at the door, "and don't wait up."

"At least put a jacket on!" I heard him bellow as I closed the door on his furious face.

*****

"I'm sorry about him," I mumbled quietly once we had Apparated to a restaurant. "Our boys are close friends you see, so I have to put up with him on occasion."

"He's a bit... intense, isn't he?" Tony frowned, delicately sipping his Butterbeer.

"That's one word to describe him," I muttered, taking a large gulp of my wine.

God, I was pissed off. I was on a date with a perfectly nice man and all I could think about was Draco Malfoy and how sodding angry he made me feel.

"So... Henrietta Potter," Tony smiled, looking across at me from our little table for two. "How come nobody has snapped you up, already? I must admit, I couldn't believe my good fortune when Hermione Granger gave me your number."

"I've just been too busy with work and my son," I sighed. "Being head of department takes up so much of my time. But now Albus is at Hogwarts, I've found myself feeling somewhat... lost when I get home from work."

"So... you're looking for someone to share the long, lonely evenings with?" Tony smiled, his expression coy.

"Uh... yeah, I guess." Christ, this guy was keen.

"You know, I remember you from school, of course," his grin widened, showing off all his sparkling white teeth at once. "I used to watch you on your broom - you were on fire back then."

I smiled uncomfortably. I mean really, I had been like twelve years old.

"You still ride the broom?" He asked smoothly, raising his eyebrows ever so slightly. "I bet you're still a little cracker on it."

"Occasional," I said eyeing him warily. "But usually only when Auror duties call for it."

I refused to participate in this weird, lewd banter he was trying to encourage.

I noticed his eyes linger on my scar, as people's eyes so often did when they wanted to ask me a question about being the world's most awesome witch.

"I suppose you find your job a doddle," he said, taking a swig of his beer. "You know, compared to defeating You-Know-Who."

I simply shrugged, trying desperately to think of how to steer this topic of conversation away. I didn't want to get into how I heroically saved the world. It gets boring after a while.

"It's certainly nothing compared to being a parent." I muttered. Tony's eyes glazed over. It was clear he had been hoping to talk about Voldemort. Not my son.

"I wouldn't really know much about that," he said in a bored sort of voice. "But you said your kid's at Hogwarts, right?"

"Second year after the summer."

"Well, then. Surely he's not your problem for the majority of the time?"

I looked at him, utterly aghast. "I don't stop being a parent just because my son's in school, you know."

"I just meant with him not being around and all, then surely there's not much to... do." He faltered slightly upon seeing my thunderous expression.

"Let's just order, shall we?" I snapped, haughtily picking up the menu in front of me.

Ugh. What the fuck was Hermione on?

*****

Crack!

Tony and I appeared out of nowhere on my front doorstep.

"Well, thank you for dinner." I said, keen to get inside and see what chaos greeted me.

Tony took my hand, his eyes twinkling in the moonlight as he smiled at me.

"I'd like to do this again," he murmured softly, "maybe next time we could have a night in?"

Oh, good god.

"Er, maybe," I cringed, not knowing what to say. I didn't feel ready for this. This man was just making me feel uncomfortable. "I'd invite you in but... babysitter and all."

I was suddenly really grateful that Draco had stayed.

"Do you think I could kiss you goodnight?"

Ugh. I wanted to say no and just go inside. But then I remembered the reason why I was doing this in the first place. I needed to move on. I needed to put myself out there. Draco had married another woman and I needed to finally get over that.

Perhaps if I allowed Tony to kiss me it would help me change my mind about him? He seemed to like me after all. Perhaps if I could just learn to like him too.

Without waiting for an answer, Tony leaned in. His cologne was quite overpowering, making my nose tickle. And all I could think was that he did not smell like Draco. I found myself twisting my head away before his lips could reach mine.

Suddenly, we were flooded in bright light as the front door swung open.

"You know your son is only asleep upstairs."

Draco stood at the threshold, a cold, thunderous expression on his face as he glared down at where Tony and I were still stood in close proximity.

"I'm aware of where my son sleeps, thank you, Draco." I snapped as I gratefully moved away from Tony and stomped up beside him in the doorway.

I turned my face, smiling at Tony who was still standing awkwardly on the bottom step. Draco made no attempt to move away and allow us some privacy to say goodbye.

"I look forward to doing this again," I said sweetly to Tony, determined to piss Draco off, which clearly worked from the audible hiss which passed his lips and tickled my ear.

"Oh! Okay - I'll call you," Tony said eagerly, his eyes widening in delight at my sudden keenness. "Maybe next time we should do this when you don't need a babysitter."

"Okay, you've said goodnight now." Draco snapped, pulling me roughly inside with him and slamming the door shut on Tony's startled face.

"What the fuck was that?" I hissed vehemently, glaring furiously at Draco. "You have no right, Draco. No right!"

"I have every right when you start sticking your tongue down the throats of random men on our son's doorstep!"

"Stop making this about Albus when really it is about your fucking jealousy and stupid pride!"

"It has nothing to do with-"

"You married another woman, Draco! You left me to be with her and have a family! And where the fuck did that leave me? God forbid another man might want to be with me, to give me the love and companionship I deserve! Maybe now you have a small, tiny inkling of the hurt you have put me through throughout the years. You fucking selfish bastard!"

Draco just looked at me, breathing deeply. He seemed at a loss for words.

"Are you really going to see him again?"

"Yes."

"Don't, please don't."

"Why? Give me one single fucking reason why."

He hesitated. He opened his mouth as though he was going to say something, but then something flickered in his eyes and he closed it again, his tongue sweeping across his lips.

I looked away, my heart aching.

"Go back to your wife, Draco." I said dully. "Go back and leave me alone to live my life."

"If that's what you want."

Despite the horrific lump in my throat, I nodded.

But of course, it wasn't what I wanted. It never fucking was.

******