Silence and Tears

Desperate for money, Ron Weasley approaches billionaire philanthropist Draco Malfoy for a few spare galleons but Draco is not willing to part with a single knut. Beyond distraught Ron offers the Billionaire blond anything he has in return for the money Ron's life depends on. Draco coldly dismisses the offer telling the other man that he has nothing to offer. Forced to beg Malfoy finally appears to take pity on the red head for the sake of the man's wife and children but what price does Draco demand and should Ron pay it?

Prologue

October 1997

Draco toed the body with the tip of his boot, his lip curling in distaste.

"You know the drill Malfoy, no prisoners."

Draco felt sick to his stomach, the 'battlefield' was littered with damaged and deformed corpses, some decapitated, all disheveled and he had been given the job of putting those who 'lived' out of their misery.

"What's the matter Malfoy? Does it offend your delicate sensibilities," a faceless figure laughed.

"I just don't see why we have to waste our time," Draco sneered, the stench roiling his gut.

"Well perhaps we needn't except now you've revealed my nephew's identity you bloody idiot," Bellatrix railed against the nameless figure. "Now we will need to search them all."

Draco surveyed the scene again in despair; so many of them. That was when he saw what he had been dreading. Face down in front of an old ash tree a petite figure with brunette curls lay spread-eagled.

He only knew he had to get to her first before the others reached her if there was any chance she was still alive.

"Aveda kerdva," the first survivor was summarily executed by his aunt.

Draco stood paralyzed, NO! he screamed inwardly.

He stormed towards the prone figure, casting random curses as he walked, heedless of whether they hit their target.

"Fucking waste of time," he ranted to cover for his confusion trying to make it appear, to those who were detailed with him, that he was having a fit of pique.

He reached the body of the brunette and toed it over as gently as he could.

It wasn't her, it wasn't Granger. Draco heaved a sigh of relief.

Chapter one-Immaterial

Six years later.

Ron Weasley thought this might be the most humiliating day of his life. He had been a fool, taken risks he should not have and now the vultures were circling. This was his last and final hope and it was a desperate one.

"Mr Malfoy will see you now," the receptionist announced breaking into Ron's reverie.

Ron walked into Malfoy's office as if he was about to receive the dementor's kiss. How low had he gotten that it had come to this, that he should be forced to beg his former enemy for help.

"Weasley," Draco Malfoy acknowledged, fighting the curl of his lip and the temptation to spit out the name. "How can Malfoy Industries be of assistance?"

"I need your help,"

After a moment's shocked pause Malfoy laughed, "Sorry did I hear you correctly you want my help!"

"Yes, Malfoy I'm desp…"

"No! Good day Mr. Weasley," Malfoy said turning his back and returning to his desk.

"Please," Ron begged, "she will never forgive me,"

Shocked beyond measure that Weasley would beg and a little curious as to what the former Gryffindor had done, Draco retraced his steps.

"What have you done Weasley?" Malfoy commanded.

"I need some money," Ron said not answering the question.

"Why?" Malfoy persisted.

"I have lost some money, my creditors are circling, Hermione doesn't know."

"Then go to Gringotts get a loan, your wife earns enough to stand surety." Malfoy suggested as if it was both that obvious and that easy.

"They turned me down,"

Malfoy's brows furrowed at that news, the goblins of Gringotts were greedy and rarely turned down a loan, "How much?" he asked cautiously taking a sip of the tea his assistant had delivered.

Malfoy watched the red head swallow with nerves;

"A million galleons,"

Draco spat out his tea, "How much? Are you insane? Not a knut Weasley."

"They'll throw us on the streets, Hermione doesn't even know, we'll be homeless, they'll kill me, please Malfoy for my wife and children."

Malfoy sat back in his seat and steepled his fingers, "Granger doesn't know?"

Weasley shook his head. Resisting the urge to remind Malfoy that Hermione was not a Granger anymore.

"So you wife has slaved away at the Ministry, to pay for a roof over your head and that of your children, and she doesn't know you have squandered it all?" Draco asked demanding clarification.

Weasley looked completely broken and down trodden as he shook his head to confirm that his wife was ignorant of what he had done. Draco almost felt sorry for the bloke, he was sure Granger would hex his bits off.

"I'm sorry Weasley, but from what I can tell you have nothing to offer me as surety and you cannot expect me to gift you a million galleons."

"Please Malfoy, I will do anything, give you anything."

"I don't think you have anything that I want, I am sorry Weasley, and perhaps you should go and tell your wife." At least you still have one, Draco thought bitterly.

"She'll kill me!" Ron stated, panicked now his last hope, slim though it was, seemed shot.

"I don't doubt it." Draco agreed as he made his way back behind his large executive desk.

"I have shares in the Chudley Cannons, they're yours if…" Draco interrupted;

"You know I am a Falcons fan Weasley, what use would those be to me?" Draco said dismissively.

"Anything, just ask it, I can't see Hermione on the street." Ron was virtually begging now.

Draco secretly determined he would ensure that Granger and her children found suitable shelter, but he had not yet had enough pleasure from seeing the ginger portion of the Golden Trio beg. He would not tell Weasley this.

"I will kneel and kiss your feet if I must!" Ron was beyond desperate now. Draco cringed inwardly at that, how desperate the man must be to be prepared to debase himself to this extent. He must love Granger deeply or perhaps he just loves his own neck, the cynic in Draco concluded.

"That won't be necessary Weasley," Draco told him in a clipped tone, "As I said you have nothing material to offer me."

Picking up on Draco's strange choice of words Ron asked;

"Then is there something immaterial I can offer? Some service I can do?" Ron asked the blond a slight glimmer of hope sparking in his chest.

"You would never pay that price Weasley," Draco told him silently concluding; I never would if it were I.

"Name it!" Ron asked desperately.

Draco sat behind his desk and looked as the red head like some ancient despot deciding a man's fate. Did he dare? Draco wondered, he would have to risk trampling his own heart if he did. Draco looked at Ron Weasley, outwardly dispassionate, while he considered the risk. Would Granger forgive her husband for what he had done? Would Weasley's betrayal of her trust weaken the bonds of love and trust enough for his plan to work? Was it worth it?

It was only a few days ago since he had last seen Weasley's wife. The petite brunette had entered the lift at the Ministry as he travel to the 5th flour. She had remained standing in front of the doors as Draco leaned nonchalantly against the back wall; her back was to him leaving Draco free to admire the witch with impunity. The black form hugging pencil skirt she had worn had a long zipper. It stretched the full length of the garment. Draco had fantasised about using his wand and pulling the zip up to reveal the black lace knickers that she was surely wearing underneath. As Draco slipped further into his reverie, wishing he could take her up against the lift wall, Hermione had turned to look at him, if she had used legimency on him he would have known but somehow the feisty witch seemed to sense what he was thinking.

"Try it and I'll hex your balls off Malfoy." She had told him as she exited the lift. Draco smirked now as he recalled the feisty witch. Oh! It would be worth it he concluded.

Author's Note

Would love your thoughts. Please review.

The very brief prologue is to establish the idea that Draco's feelings for Hermione are deeper than they might at first appear.