Disclaimer: I own nothing except the plot. All characters belong to JK Rowling. This applies to all following chapters posted.

Distance Does Nothing

oo0 – Prologue

"I'll ruin you," he hissed into her ear. Hermione resisted the urge to shiver. "I'll ruin you, any chance you have at Pledging the Order and any ministry job you could ever hope for."

"Go ahead," Hermione said spinning around. "You think I care anymore? I'll never have to lift a finger the rest of my life and my children will still have an inheritance. I've got more money than the Malfoys Harry. And my families older than time itself."

Harry turned and walked away and Hermione realized half the school was staring at her. Blushing profusely, she lifted her skirts and tried to walk dignified to the doors outside. As soon as she was in the gardens she felt her blush fade, but her hands were shaking.

She felt someone watching her, watching her walk with an evil smile on their face. Plotting…Plotting what. She could feel it; she could feel their emotions washing over her in waves. They were plotting more than her demise. They were plotting her death.

Hermione woke up with a start and looked around trying to figure out where she was. She sat up, and remembered, she was home from school at her Manor…Yes…Her manor.

"It's still hard to remember that I own this place…" She muttered softly. She ran her hands over the thick comforter and lay back in bed. She spent the rest of the night staring at the ceiling unable to sleep. Finally, at dawn, she gave up and got out of bed. Pulling on a pair of riding breeches and a loose t-shirt she wandered downstairs to the kitchen. Maria, one of her two house elves, was busy brewing the morning tea. She looked up as Hermione entered and curtsied; Hermione nodded her good morning and sighed.

"Maria do we have any bread?" Hermione had only been home for a week and had tried to eat mainly what her farm produced. Unfortunately she hadn't quite made it food shopping yet, thus the refrigerator was pretty empty.

"Fresh out of the oven ma'am," Maria replied snapping her fingers. The bread appeared in front of Hermione who smiled.

"Thanks Maria," Hermione summoned a knife and cut off two slices. Waving her wand over it she toasted it and summoned jam. She used her wand to spread the jam and then sent the jar back to its place. Biting into the toast she climbed onto a stool.

"We're going to need food soon," Hermione said to Maria. Maria nodded, pouring Hermione a cup of tea and placing it in front of her.

"You had an owl today…Several actually," Maria stated. She snapped her fingers and placed the letters and the paper in front of Hermione. "Shall I pack your saddle bags?"

"Not yet…I have some business to attend to first. Thank you though." Maria nodded and wandered off into the house. Hermione watched her go with a shrug and took another bite of her toast. One of the letters was from Hogwart's. Hermione tossed it into her letter bin without a second though. After last year, the last thing she wanted to think about was going back to that hell hole. The second was from the Ministry. She eyed it warily and then slit it open.

Hermione Rowena Ravenclaw,

This is to notify you that you are to appear before the Wizengamot on Monday the 27th of July for crimes against the Ministry. You are allowed one person to speak in your defense. The time of the hearing is set at 2:00.

Amelia Bones

Head of the Department of Magical Enforcement

Hermione stared at the letter in disbelief and finally placed it on the counter reaching for the third letter. It was sealed with a dragon and she eagerly broke the seal.

Hermione,

I hope this finds you well. I want to apologize for not excepting your invitation earlier but I have been running errands most of the summer and putting affairs into order. I have also been wasting money from the trust fund – haha don't have a heart attack I didn't spend too much – I'm hoping to make it to the Manor by noon today. Can you please unlock your floo network so I can get through?

Draco

Hermione put the letter down and called out softly.

"Isabella?" With a pop her second house elf, Isabella, appeared.

"Yes Mistress?"

"Can you disable the wards on the floo network until midnight tonight. I'm expecting company."

"Yes Mistress." Isabella disappeared and Hermione finished her toast, all the while glaring at the letter from the Ministry. Crimes against the Ministry her ass…More like crimes against the all powerful Harry Potter.

In the six months since the Yule Ball Fudge had become more of a puppet than anything else. Everything the "Golden Boy" wanted, the "Golden Boy" got. The Malfoy estate had been searched a dozen times since Yule, all with Fudge's signature on the warrant. Moody and Arthur Weasley had been head of the different search teams. Hermione was surprised her own estate hadn't been searched. But then, she'd only been there for two weeks.

July 27th was nearly a month away, she would have plenty of time to plan her defense. Until then, she was going to enjoy Draco's company. She had barely had any alone time with him in the six months following the loss of her virginity. And in the two weeks since school had ended she had visited all three of her female friends; even venturing to Paris to see Ginny modeling.

Ginny didn't recognize her though, Hermione knew that. And if Ginny had, she hadn't paid any attention. Hermione didn't blame her though, with Harry pulling Fudge's strings everyone had little choice but to walk on egg shells. Sighing Hermione stood and made a slow trip to her study still debating the Wizengamot summons…At any rate she had taxes to pay and horses to look at. She had a busy month planned for her, with or without Draco's visit.