::Prologue::
"Mistress, there is a guest at door for you." Mipsy called. Hermione smiled politely as she made her way towards the door.
"Thank you Mipsy, that will be all. How can I help you," Hermione felt her heart fall through the floor as she looked at the man on the doorstep. He had yet to raise his eyes as he was shuffling the parchment in his hands. She gulped, "Sir"
"Mia, your husband has left a letter for you. He will be busy for the next month on a mission, with no contact allowed, it was urgent and he had to leave without any notice." The man with jet black hair scratched his head. "On behalf of the Auror's office and myself," He raised his eyes slowly, "we apolo-Merlins beard! Hermione!?"
"Um… hello Harry" Her voice was shaking, "Would you like to come in for some tea?"
"You're supposed to be dead! Draco is… he's been the one heading the case… What the bloody hell is going on?"
"It's a funny story..."
"I see no humor in the fact that you are believed to be dead. That Draco Malfoy is supposedly heading your case, but here you are, his WIFE, very much alive." He was having trouble breathing. Hermione felt her heart break as she watched him.
"Come in, I'll tell you everything…"
"Does everything include why the sodding hell your married to the devil?"
"Harry, he's your best friend!"
"Best friends don't lie to each other!"
"He did it to keep you safe! He's a good man-"
"Good men don't lie to their best friends face for 7 years about his other best friend being dead! Why did he do that? What the hell did you two have to hide?"
"Everything Harry, we had everything to hide… please just come in and sit down. I'll tell you everything, I swear. Don't hate Draco, this wasn't his idea, it was all mine." Hermione was wringing her hands, staring at her best friend whom she had not laid eyes on in so long. Well… it's been 7 years since she laid eyes on him as Hermione.
"I have to be back at the office in two hours. You have two hours, Hermione" He said, pushing his shoulder against hers and walking in through the door. She shut her eyes and shook her head, fighting the tears. Closing the door, she turned into the entrance of Malfoy Manor. Her home, she eyed Harry warily.
"It's going to take a lot longer than two hours. I'll start the story, and if you want to know more... perhaps you can come visit me again?"
"That's what I don't get Hermione. I have been here to visit. Draco's wife is a black haired woman with hazel eyes and her name is… her name is Mia… Mia? I am a fucking idiot."
Hermione sighed as she led him into the sitting room. She set down in her favorite chair beside the fire, and Harry sat in the chair across from her. It was Harry's self-proclaimed chair, every time he came over to have drinks with Draco. "Mipsy" She whispered. Mipsy, her house elf, appeared suddenly beside her, "would you please bring Mr. Potter a Fire whiskey and I would like some brandy."
Harry stared in shock. Then he shook his head as he sat down mumbling to himself. Hermione swore she heard the words: "House elf wearing clothes, I'm an absolute moron! Malfoy! With a house-elf with clothes, of course she had to be Hermione. Mia? What a fucking joke." Mipsy returned shortly and handed Hermione a glass of brandy and turned to pour Harry a glass of Fire whiskey, before setting the glass down and just handing Harry the bottle, "Thank you, Mipsy"
"Mr. Potter is welcome, sir. Will you be needing anything else, Misstress?"
"No, Mipsy, thank you," with a troubled look towards her mistress and Harry, Mipsy disapparated.
"I should have known you would teach a house elf proper English." Harry sighed.
"Yes, well, Draco refused to free the house-elves and they started throwing a fit when they saw me knitting hats. So I compromised, and educated them." Hermione smiled. Harry almost cracked a grin, until he looked up at her. His eyes hardened again and Hermione felt her heart break.
They stared at each other. She cleared her throat and took a sip of the brandy. She met his eyes again, and looked down at her left hand, where her beautiful wedding ring lay. She began to fiddle with it. She sighed, squared her shoulders and met his eyes, "I don't know where to start."
He was silent. Giving her a cold and calculating look, it made her shudder to see her husband's look of indifference on her best friends face. Was he still her best friend? Draco and Harry were far closer than Hermione and Harry had ever been.
"How about the beginning Hermione? Why you went missing, why you were presumed dead? Why is your case considered a cold case, when the detective on the case is your husband? That would be wonderful to know."
"Please don't be angry, Harry. I never meant to hurt anyone… life just became so complicated."
"Just tell me the truth."
Hermione looked into his pleading eyes. Her heart began to beat fast; she knew this day would come. Was she prepared for this? No. Her blasted husband was supposed to be by her side, he was supposed to help her through this. It figures when he has to disappear for a month her best friend would show up when she forgot to put her glamour on. 'How could I have been so stupid?' she thinks. It could have been anyone; she put so much at risk by forgetting. She'd never forgot, not one time in 7 years did she forget to put her glamour on.
She sighed, shaking her head, glancing at the fire place and looking into Harry's eyes, she emptied the glass of brandy in one shot. Grabbing the bottle, she poured herself another glass. Harry's eyebrows shot upwards.
"Okay, I'll tell the truth. But you're not going to like it…"