Astoria died a few months after Hermione and Draco spoke at Kings Cross. Hermione had tried all she could to help, becoming one of Astoria's main caregivers during her brief illness. When Astoria died, Hermione had comforted Draco the best she could.

The funeral was set for a week after Astoria's passing. The Greengrasses lived in Wiltshire like the Malfoys, and so a graveyard close to their house was chosen as Astoria's final resting place, next to many previous generations of Greengrasses.

It was a chilly day, but not unpleasant. When Draco placed a single white rose on Astoria's coffin, the clouds parted and the sun shone, making the dew on the grass sparkle. Draco liked to think it was Astoria's way of saying goodbye. 

*

After the funeral, Hermione and Draco found a quiet spot away from the departing mourners to finally talk.

"I filed for divorce from Ron," Hermione said suddenly.

Draco gaped at her.

"When I saw you on Platform 9 3/4, I knew," Hermione admitted. "I knew Ron was the wrong choice for me. I knew it wouldn't work out. It dwelt on my mind, and I finally acted on it."

"If you think it was the right choice, then it probably was," Draco reassured her. "I won't tell you what I thought."

She laughed bitterly.

"I know what you thought. You thought he was a prat."

"That's a mild way of putting it," Draco muttered.

They looked out at the graveyard, peaceful and quiet now the mourners had all left. Only Astoria's parents and sister remained, standing still by the undertakers as they shovelled dirt on Astoria's coffin.

"We should leave them to it," Hermione said. "Coffee?"

*

They Apparated to Portobello Road in London. Hermione was very glad there was no longer a Taboo on Voldemort's name, although she did not plan on speaking it. Voldemort was, thankfully, dead. There were no Death Eaters in disguise here.  Just a lot of tired, working Muggles. Some looked briefly at their black attire, assumed correctly that they were funeral-goers, and stayed out of their way.

"I do wonder if I would have married Astoria, had she survived," Draco admitted himself. "She was a wonderful woman."

"It's probably not a good thing to dwell on that," Hermione advised. "Don't think of a possible future you've lost. It isn't worth the pain. I think that with Ron, and it's only been a week."

"Did you really see a future with him?" he asked.

"Somehow," Hermione replied. "I looked past the issues with him. I looked past his jealousy and self-esteem issues. He wasn't confident. That's why he failed in becoming an Auror."

"He was no match for you when it came to duelling anyway," Draco pointed out.

"True," Hermione said with a slight smile. "I'm very ambitious and Ron... just isn't. He was a good father but I don't see him ever being a good husband."

"I'm impressed you even ended up with two children," Draco laughed.

"They were all I could think about, when it came to signing those papers."

"How did he react?" Draco asked suddenly. "You haven't actually said."

Hermione quietened.

"He shouted at me," she whispered. "He shouted for hours. I thought it would never end."

"Did he get violent?" Draco questioned, feeling a strange compulsion to ask.

"No," Hermione shook her head, "but I've never seen him that angry. I thought... I did think he might, and that was when I felt relieved I was leaving him. You shouldn't ever think something could get angry or violent. He didn't listen to a single thing I said."

"He might find someone for him," Draco pointed out, "if he sorts out his issues."

"If he were a Muggle, I'd point him to therapy," Hermione laughed.

"Therapy?" 

Draco looked confused. Hermione simply laughed louder.

"The wizarding world has a lot to learn."

*****

A.N. Thank you for reading and please comment!