I don't own any of the characters nor do I make any money from this work. I'm just playing in JK Rowling's sandbox.

Untenable

Seven years after the war, Hermione Granger was still fighting because, two years after Harry vanquished Tom Riddle, Gringotts Wizarding Bank launched a civil suit against Hermione Granger, Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Gringotts accused the Golden Trio of being responsible for the damages to the bank when they allegedly broke in and stole Hufflepuff's cup from Bellatrix Lestrange's vault. The Ministry of Magic chose not to lay criminal charges and the families affected (Blacks, Lestranges and Malfoys), believed the damage and alleged theft was for the greater good. The Goblins however, took a vastly different view to the assault on their business. Harry and Ron chose to settle with Gringotts in the very early stages but Hermione chose to fight. To her great dismay and five years into the fight, it looked like she was going to have to pay almost nearly half a million galleons to the Goblins or have her wand broken as a symbol of banishment from England's Wizarding society.

Such was the final finding of the civil division of the Wizengamot. The damages, plus legal fees and other costs amounted to nearly three quarters of a million galleons. This was far more money than Hermione could ever dream of accruing. Her bank balance (with another wizarding financial institution), held a couple hundred thousand galleons. The result of various awards and her savings. She had published two books and both were top sellers world wide but writing in the wizarding world was not lucrative.

Hermione had two weeks to make payment to Gringotts and she had no idea how she was going to pay her advocate fees and stay solvent; let alone pay Gringotts their awarded settlement.

Hermione rarely associated with Harry and Ron these days. Hermione was not privy to the details but long suspected that Harry brokered a deal with Gringotts that settled Ron's portion of the suit. When the lawsuit was first launched Harry had just proposed to Ginny. Hermione's suspicion was that Harry took Ron's portion as part of his responsibility to his future family; his future in-laws. Hermione didn't begrudge Harry's ability to settle the tab, what she did resent was the fact that he did it without consulting her. By paying his alleged portion of the tab, he basically admitted fault and that made it very hard for her to defend her position. In the end, it made it impossible.

Harry thought her anger and frustration was about the money and it wasn't that at all, it was about principal. It was about sticking together; fighting together. She had stood by him through thick and thin. She was always his greatest, most loyal ally but when she needed him the most, he abandoned her. She felt very, very alone and very betrayed.

The rift between Hermione and the two boys also caused her to become somewhat estranged from the other Gryffindors and D.A. members. No one wanted to take sides but in the end, Harry was The-Boy-Who-Lived. It just made sense that most people would choose to stand with him.

Hermione did receive an invitation to Harry's wedding but she politely declined and sent a gift. She no longer lived in Wizarding London. She had resumed living in her childhood home. Her parents remained in Australia, memories still Obliviated. Her actions prior to departing on the Horcrux hunt could not be reversed. Now, she only ventured into the Wizarding world for business and for private lunches or dinners with Luna or Neville or sometimes Padma. Occasionally, she ran into other classmates but the encounters were usually awkward and strained. Hermione felt she had fought very hard to belong to the Wizarding world and was now a virtual outsider.

So, would it be so bad to have her wand confiscated? It wasn't like she would miss much or that many would miss her. Hermione just couldn't face that idea. She had fought for her right to be an equal in the Magical world. She had risked her life and changed her parents' lives forever, in order to help The Light concur The Dark. She deserved to have the choice, to be free to come and go from Muggle to Magical as she pleased! She had earned it!

The day after the verdict, Hermione was going over her accounts. She had paid her advocates' fees and other disbursements and she was trying to negotiate a repayment plan with Gringotts. Several owls had been sent back and forth between the Granger residence and Gringotts but Hermione felt she was getting nowhere. She had just sent off a response and was startled when another owl that quite obviously was not a Gringotts' messenger, flew through her window. The owl landed in a royal fashion, like it owned the room and made itself comfortable on the perch near her desk. The owl gave her a very imperial "hoot" and shook its foot in her direction.

Hermione unlaced the missive from the owl's foot and gave it a treat. Rather than fly away the owl remained on the perch, awaiting a reply. Curiosity piqued, she unravelled the note and read:

"Dear Ms Granger,

It feels strange addressing you that way but I feel it would be rude to call you, "Granger". We are well into our twenties now, our childhood long passed. I am trying to put my childish ways behind me…

That said, I will get to the point of this note. I have been following your case and offer you my sympathies. You have more fortitude than I, (Although, that has never been in question, has it?) and wouldn't want to have to face the types of decisions you are facing right now. Therefore, I offer my assistance. I have a solution and I would like to discuss it with you. Could we meet at Thyme for Tea, tomorrow at 4:00p.m.?

Please send your reply with Sally; she should be waiting patiently for your response.

Yours very truly,

Draco Malfoy"

This was a most strange piece of correspondence. Draco Malfoy was rarely seen in public. After the end of the Second Wizarding War, Draco was fined tens of thousands of galleons for his actions in sixth year. He paid the fines and then took up his father's mantle as head of the family's businesses. His father was made to return to the newly renovated Azkaban to finish his original sentence for the shenanigans during fifth year. Eighteen months later Lucius Malfoy was released and rarely, if ever, was he seen in public. As far as Hermione knew, the Malfoys led very quiet lives. Draco and his mother were known to contribute to charities and helped to rebuild Hogwarts. Together, they attended a scattering of charity functions each year and their appearances were always brief. Just recently she had read that Draco was elected to Hogwarts' board of governors. Occasionally, he was seen with one of the Greengrass girls on his arm. Slowly, the Malfoys were rebuilding their reputation.

What could Draco Malfoy possibly want with her? There was only one way to find out.

"Dear Malfoy,

Putting a Mr. in front of Malfoy only makes me think I'm writing to your father. That is a weird and icky thought.

I will accept your invitation however; may I suggest we meet in Muggle London? I'm not keen on being spotted in public right now. The last thing I need is another Daily Profit headline. May I suggest, "The Spout"? It is a five minute walk from The Leaky – directions on the reverse of this note.

If I do not hear from you, I will take that as acceptance.

See you tomorrow.

~HG"

Hermione arrived at The Spout ten minutes before four with the intent to settle into her favourite spot and wait for Malfoy to show. Only to her consternation, Malfoy was already seated! In her spot!

Draco saw her approach the table and rose to greet her and pulled out a chair. "Hello, Ms Granger. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me today."

Rolling her eyes, she said, "Oh please Malfoy, you can dispense with the Ms nonsense. Call me Granger. We may not be children but we aren't best mates either."

"Very well, Granger it is." Clearing his throat he asked, "What would you like? Do they serve a full tea here?"

Hermione explained that yes, this establishment did serve a full tea but all she wanted was a pot of Earl Grey and chicken salad sandwich. Malfoy, waved to the server and ordered for them both.

Hermione placed her napkin on her lap and looked across the table to her host. "So, what is it you wanted to talk about, Malfoy?"

An uncharacteristic smile graced his face and he said, "Not one for small talk then, eh? You want to get right to the point?"

Hermione shrugged her shoulders and said, "I don't see the point of polite banter. We're not old friends catching up over tea. You said you had a solution and I'm pressed for time to find one."

"Quite. Well, why don't we have our nosh and then we'll talk business, yeah?"

The waitress carried a tray over to their table and set down a large pot of Earl Grey along with sugar, milk and lemon to dress. She placed a croissant split in half and stuff with chicken salad in front of Hermione and a vegetable filled wrap in front of Draco. Draco offered to pour the tea and while doing so he asked, "So, other than trying to win the lawsuit, what have you doing? Do you work?"

Hermione dressed her tea with a splash of milk and one scoop of sugar. Stirring her concoction she told Draco about the two books she had published. The first he was well aware of as it had been released just before the lawsuit was launched too much fanfare. The book detailed her life at Hogwarts and all the little skirmishes that she, Harry and Ron had participated in throughout their Hogwarts' career and beyond, including the year on the run and the final battle. It was a biography. But as Hermione explained to Draco, it was also therapy for her as the war took an awful toll on her physically, mentally and emotionally. Writing about all the disappointments, losses, trauma, and ultimately the victory, helped her put the majority of the pain behind her. When she'd finished explaining, she looked directly at Malfoy and blushed. "I don't normally tell people that kind of information and I'm quite surprised that I've given you that kind of ammunition against me. Please don't repeat what I've said. It is really rather personal and you've caught me at a time when I'm not at best."

"Your secret is safe with me", Draco said in a serious tone.

Hermione snorted.

Draco reached for her hand and uncharacteristically patted it as if to reassure her. "No really, I mean it Granger. As hard as it is to believe, I have grown up. I've had my losses and grief. The war left me with scars both physical and otherwise; scars that I try to keep hidden from prying eyes, too."

Hermione was caught off guard by Malfoy's display of empathy and mumbled in to her tea cup, "Yes, I suppose you do." She thought about his mark and the scars that Harry gave him in sixth year. Who knew what else he'd been through when Voldemort lived in his home.

"So now that we've had some refreshments, I'll get right to the point of this meeting." Draco's tone was upbeat. It almost sounded hopeful.

"That would be nice." Hermione's tone was no nonsense, almost wary.

"Yes. Well….This isn't easy, so bear with me. I have been following your situation with the hope that you would be able to get yourself past this lawsuit. However, it looks like the Goblins have pinned you in a corner."

Hermione noticed that Draco was nervous. He was uncharacteristically fiddling with this teaspoon. "Yes. My situation is very precarious," she said.

"Well. I have a proposition for you." He was bending the spoon now, without even noticing.

"Go on, I'm listening."

"Over the past 7 years I've been trying to rehabilitate the Malfoy businesses and name. I've had a lot of success. However, there is a lot of work left to do. That is where you fit in. If you come on board it would be an endorsement to our firms; our family. Your backing would open more doors for the company and really show the world that Malfoy Industries and the Malfoy family are truly committed to equality and acceptance."

"Really? Are you truly committed to equality and acceptance?" Hermione scoffed.

Draco looked almost hurt, "Please, don't make fun. I know I was a right arse when we were children and for that I am deeply ashamed and forever sorry. I'm not playing lip service here; it is what I truly believe."

Hermione was unconvinced, "I see, so what is it you want from me? Do you want me to be a brand ambassador? Provide product endorsements?"

"No, nothing like that," He paused and then looked directly into her eyes, "I'd like you to become my wife."

A/N Part of the inspiration for this part of my tale come from Vera Rozalsky's work and her examination of Hermione, Ron and Harry's actions – legal and illegal, throughout the series. I have borrowed her idea of Gringott's demanding reparation, but have proceeded on with my own story from there. If you're interested in her work, I highly recommend them. Her work can be found on this site.

Vera Rozalsky informed me that she was inspired by the work of Arsinoe de Blessenville's Golden Age. So kudos to that fanfiction as well.