After a week of waiting for information and practically stalking Daphne and her little brother Pallas (their little brother? Hermione had wondered) she was no closer to an answer than when she had found her adoption papers.
That evening, after a night of studying in the library, Draco and Pansy entered the Head common room.
Draco draped a garment bag over the couch arm and told her "Get dressed, Pansy is doing your makeup and hair.
Pansy grinned like the cat that ate the canary and nodded.
"Do I dare ask what I am getting dressed and made up for?" Hermione ran her hand over the garment bag. Just the bag whatever was contained in was worth more than any ten pieces of clothing she owned. What did that say about what was inside?
"We are attending a Ministry Charity Ball tonight." Draco told her shoving the bag in to her arms.
"Oh that." Hermione had been invited but had begged off due to homework. A flimsy excuse, but she hated these events.
"Yes, that. And we are going." Draco started pushing her towards Pansy.
"WHY are we going and WHY did you buy me something to where and WHY are you telling me this last minute." She stood her ground.
"What would you have said if I just came up days ago and said 'buy yourself something nice, Granger, we are going to a Ministry function?" Draco smirked at her.
I would have reminded you we are supposed to be on first name terms." He rolled his eyes "And that I have plenty of clothes already."
That was actually a relief, she had not said "I would have told you it will be a snow fight in hell before I attend a function with you."
"Yeah, well, now you have more clothes, come on, do you think I have all night to watch you two debate who would have said what and when?" Pansy dragged her upstairs, forcefully pushed herf in to a chair and started on her hair and makeup.
Inside the bag was a beautiful red floor length backless gown. There were shoes and even… "No way, Pansy. I cannot borrow these from you, they must cost a fortune!" Inside were a matched bracelet necklace and earring set beautiful gold ruby and diamonds.
"They did, and you are damned right you couldn't borrow them from me! As if I would be caught dead in Gryffindor colors!" Pansy looked horrified at the very idea.
"Then who…" Hermione started.
"Draco bought them for you, now put them on and GO!" Pansy shoved her right back down the stairs she had dragged her up.
Draco was ready. Hermione had to admit he looked striking in his dress robes and diamond cufflinks. He no longer wore his hair in that stupid slicked back style.
"We are sending this jewelry set right back where it came from Malfoy!" Hermione told him sternly.
"I will remind you, we are on a first name basis now." Hermione rolled her eyes.
Using the headmistresses fireplace, the two flooed directly to the Ministry. Both ignored the flashes of photography.
"Hermione! Hermione!" One overly enthusiastic young reporter gushed "Why are you here with Mr. Malfoy? Are you two a couple?" Hermione could not help but notice she got "Hermione" and Draco was afforded "Mr. Malfoy"
She also could not help but notice the way the reporter was eyeing Draco. Now why should that bother her?
"Does it matter why we are here together? Grow up, we have. I will remind you, we are no longer on opposite sides of a war." Hermione snapped at her.
Draco grinned as he led her away "Pansy is going to be thrilled to see you quoted her in tomorrow's Daily Prophet."
"Oh why would they put something so trivial in the paper?" And why was she annoyed at him? Was it because he smiled back at that daft little dimbo?
Her blatant jealousy was not lost on Draco. He was as pleased as he was surprised by it.
It took about an hour of mingling, and telling more than one person it was none of their business why she was here with Draco, including Harry and Ginny, who just stared at her in stunned surprise, before they saw the Greengrasses.
Draco inspected the older couple and could not deny that Hermione looked like a cross between the two. She had the texture of Alastor Greengrasses hair but the color of Antheia's. Her facial features were a combination of the two. Thshape of Antheia's eyes mixed with the whisley brown of Alastor's.
Of course brown eyes and wavy hair did not a long lost pureblood princess make. Pulling a suddenly shy and reluctant Hermione behind him, Draco approached the Greengrasses.
"Mr. Greengrass, Mrs. Greengrass." He began politely "May I present Miss Hermione Granger?"
Both politely greeted her. Mrs. Greengrass noticed her jewelry "Oh what exquisite taste you have!"
"Thank you, but Draco actually purchased them for me." She said, without thinking about how that would sound.
"It is lovely, when you are finished with it, we are always looking for war orphan donation items." Mrs. Greengrass smiled "Unless of course it was for a special occasion…?"
"You are collecting for war orphans? Oh you must let me know how to donate!" Draco watched Hermione suddenly bloom in to her element.
"Oh yes, it is so important that those of us more fortunate remember all that was lost in that dreadful war." Hermione could actually see the sincerity of the older woman. "if you would like, you may join us at our table, we can discuss it further, if you have a genuine interest?"
"Oh, I do! Draco, do you mind terribly?" Hermione was uncertain, he had not told her where they would be sitting.
"Your wish is my command." He smiled at her.
As they started walking towards the Greengrass table Draco happened to notice a small birthmark on Antheia Greengrass's back. It perfectly matched the one on Hermione's. He placed his hand on that spot to hide it from other prying eyes. His heart skipped a beat when Hermione smiled up at him. He realized suddenly he actually had his hand on her bare back. He smiled down at her.
The two women spent the night discussing current political and charity events they were both interested in. Draco and Alastor merely smiled indulgently at the two.
"Oh it is so lovely to meet a young woman so interested in current affairs! I wish my Daphne would take an interest."
Hermione felt the need to defend her (maybe sister) classmate "I am certain she just needs a cause to be passionate about!"
At the end of the evening Draco took Hermione home. She could not stop enthusing about the new projects she had discovered through Antheia.
Draco could not stop wondering about the birthmark.