The seedy bar wasn't his normal hangout but over the last several weeks, Ron Weasley—One Third of the Golden Trio and War Hero couldn't find a place to go where someone wasn't openly sneering his way or refusing him service. His brother's had all but abandoned him and the only member of his family who was speaking to him currently was his Mum.

Even his Da was barely acknowledging his presence these days.

Downing another shot of firewhiskey, Ron didn't know what to do. His confrontation with Mione, the ferret and the ferret's spawn had been all over the Daily Prophet and for some reason he couldn't explain—Skeeter was actually sympathetic towards his ex and her current whatever the fuck he was.

Ron had been convinced that Mione was blackmailing Skeeter, and he'd taken to using his former Auror skills by following the pesky reporter and going so far as to trace all her incoming mail. It was a useful spell he'd learned at the Auror office, and highly illegal but no one would suspect him of tracking Skeeter's movements.

Unfortunately, there hasn't been any correspondence between Mione and the reporter.

None at all.

Ron had a few contacts at the Prophet and he'd asked discreetly if Mione had been seen around their offices—or any of the Malfoy's. There were thankfully still some witches who thought that Ron Weasley was an alright bloke and were willing to do him a solid.

But again, nothing had turned up.

However Mione was controlling Skeeter it didn't involve her needing to keep in constant contact with the witch.

Blackmail alone wouldn't be enough. Mione has tried that and after Rita's sabbatical fifth year, the reporter had returned to her scathing articles and criticism of the Brightest Witch of the Age.

So it begged the question, how would have Mione forced Rita to voluntarily work with her? Because blackmail would be the only way to force the issue? Right?

Ron's brain was beginning to ache after his sixth shot of firewhiskey, so he didn't immediately notice the blonde-haired witch who took residence in the stool next to him.

"You look pathetic Weasley."

Ron turned bleary-eyed and gaped at the witch sitting next to him with a smug smirk on her face.

"Piss off, Greengrass. Don't you have your little junior Death Eater back home."

Daphne just chuckled as she grabbed the bottle of liquor and grimaced at the label. "Geez, Weasley? What's the matter? Couldn't afford the good stuff that you had to drink this gut rot?"

Ron slammed down his shot glass and glared at the snooty bint.

"I don't remember asking you to join me, Greengrass—so why are you here?"

"I'm here for the same reason your drowning your pathetic sorrows in the bottom of that shot glass. You're upset that your erstwhile ex is currently shagging my former brother-in-law. We both know that somehow your ex has curtailed Rita Skeeter and I'm guessing you know how?"

Ron shook his head and mumbled 'fucking Slytherin' under his breath, which only seemed to amuse the witch next to him even more.

"Come on Weasley? You were a fairly good strategist back in school by all accounts. You mean to tell me you don't know how your former ex-girlfriend is managing to control Skeeter?"

Ron shook his head, before he tossed back another shot. "No. Mione blackmailed Skeeter back in school, but that didn't work for long. She hasn't been in touch with the reporter at all since their initial interview."

Daphne sat back with a wicked grin. "And just what would Hermione Granger have to blackmail Rita Skeeter with?"

Ron returned the grin, before he sneered hatefully—"wouldn't you like to know."

"I believe I would."

Ron leant over, and watched with amusement as Greengrass moved back from his advance.

"Why do you care? Isn't Malfoy's son your nephew? Don't you care that by trying to ruin Mione you'd be hurting your own blood?"

This caused Daphne to scoff. "My familial concerns are none of your business and my reasons are my own. I just thought we could come to some sort of tentative detente for mutually beneficial purposes."

"And that would be?"

"Ruining the Malfoy's?"

"And what? Mione is just collateral damage?"

Daphne just shrugged. "She's a mudblood and has no business being anywhere near my nephew."

Ron's face blanched and then he snarled out angrily, "I may hate Malfoy and I'm definitely not on good terms with my ex—but one thing I do know is that whatever my feelings are on their relationship—calling Mione that name isn't going to encourage me to help you with whatever little scheme you have hatching in what passes off for a brain."

Daphne sneered haughtily as she bit back, "you're hardly one to sit on your high moral ground, Weasley." With that she stood and eyed the wizard with a pitying look. "If you change your mind, the Ministry is hosting a little shindig for your former flame and a little birdie told me that she's taking Draco as her plus one. If you're willing to help me—perhaps we could kill two birds with one stone?"

Ron gave her a critical snort. "What's in it for me?"

"Well, as I see it your reputation could do with a bit of good press right now. If somehow, it was leaked out that Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy's relationship wasn't on the up and up? That the Malfoy's were using her for their own gain, or she was using them to elevate her standing into Pureblood circles? Do you think there's anyone who would care to associate with them if we could prove just how Granger is controlling Skeeter?"

"And if you can't?"

Daphne just chuckled ominously. "There is always more than one way to skin a cat, Weasley. Do let me know if you come to your senses and change your mind."

With that, Ron watched the witch flounce out of the bar, her head held high. As he stared after her he had a sinking feeling in his gut that he didn't know what to do with.

What exactly had Daphne Greengrass meant by that last statement?

Pulling out a few galleons and placing them down on the bar, Ron moved out into Knockturn Alley and started to head towards the Leaky Cauldron—wishing for the first time in a while that he had someone he could confide into. He'd burned his bridges with all his friends, and he wasn't sure Harry would listen to a word he had to say—but his gut was telling him that something wasn't right with that Greengrass chit and as much as he hated Malfoy, and detested seeing the blighter with his former girlfriend—he didn't want Mione to end up getting hurt by whatever evil plan that witch was hatching.

Shaking his head clear, Ron decided to go to the apothecary and get a sober up potion. He had a lot of thinking to do. This day had turned itself on its head and he wasn't sure what his next move was.

Elsewhere Theo was heading through the Ministry and back towards his office, when he noticed Hermione Granger talking to Padma Patil—the two witches smiling and chatting like they were old friends. Theo's gaze narrowed as he walked by the witches and bowed his head politely at Patil—ignoring Granger until he heard her call his name.

"Mr. Nott—would you have a moment to speak with me?"

Theo turned around and stared warily at the curly-haired witch who gave one final nod to her friend and then moved gracefully over to him with a placid expression on her face.

"What can I do for you Miss Granger?"

"I was wondering if I might beg a minute of your time?"

"Because?"

Theo was intrigued as the witch didn't seem to be all that put out by his obvious reluctance.

"As I'm sure you're aware, my new position here in the Ministry has me working with various departments and evaluating some of their personnel. I just wished to speak with you about your position here and perhaps gain a bit of insight as to the parameters of your job."

Theo just lifted an eyebrow but noticing they were being watched, he waved his arm towards his office and followed the War Heroine into his private domain where he politely offered her a seat and some refreshment—which she refused.

Once he was comfortable, he waved his wand and warded the room getting a smirk for his troubles.

"Perhaps you might tell me why you're really here?" Theo sat back and folded his arms with a smirk of his own.

He watched Granger chuckle as she sat back leisurely and crossed her legs at the ankle—sitting ramrod straight with all the grace of a Pureblood witch.

Interesting.

"Not so Slytherin after all, I see—mores the pity I suppose." The witch quipped easily and Theo had to bite back the grimace from falling over his features.

"I just don't like to have my time wasted," he replied blithely, "I do have a job to do."

"But not the one you want, is it?"

Theo's gaze narrowed as he leant forward—his entire attention now focused on the conversation at hand.

"And that is supposed to mean?"

He watched in silent horror as the witch's expression across from him morphed into something almost sinister.

"It was my understanding, and please—correct me if I'm wrong—but you've applied to the Department of Mysteries every year since graduation from Hogwarts. Always with the same result. That must be rather disappointing for a wizard of your acumen and talents."

The hairs on the back of Theo's neck lifted in warning, as amber eyes regarded him coldly.

"That's not exactly news, Granger—and it's not a well-kept secret that Thicknese isn't exactly fond of former Death Eaters nor their children."

Hermione nodded. "I'm sure he feels he has good reason."

"And you don't?"

The witch's smile now bloomed into something playful as she tutted, "Come now Nott," the inflection of his name held an edge that made Theo nervous, "we both know who I'm currently involved with. So if I had any issues with former Death Eaters or their offspring, I sincerely doubt I'd be romantically involved with one—now would I?"

Theo swallowed and sat back as he pondered how best to respond—but it seemed the witch wasn't quite done yet.

"But that is neither here nor there," she continued on easily, "I'm more curious as to what kind of talents you might think yourself capable of bringing to the Department of Mysteries? After all, there are so many interesting areas of study to choose from."

"And you'd know that how?"

This generated a genuine laugh which made Theo feel even more on edge.

"Harry, Ron and myself along with Neville, Luna and Ginny all broke into the DoM end of my fifth year. I almost died when Dolohov hit me with one of his special curses after I silenced the git—hence while I'm probably still amongst the land of the living and not dead six feet under somewhere. But enough of that! So, what area interests you? Space, Love, Death—Time?"

Theo couldn't help it, he noticeably flinched and watched the genuine smile on the witch's face morph again into that rather unsettling look.

"Interesting. Well, I'm sure if you were to rethink your application again—I might be persuaded to help you."

"Why?" Theo blurted out, clearly unsettled as he eyed the witch warily.

He watched Hermione Granger stand elegantly and smooth down her robes as she sighed and when their gazes locked, Theo was certain he saw a flash of warning in her eyes.

"Call it professional courtesy Nott. The War is over, and it would be such a shame to hold onto old prejudices and hurts. Things like that could ruin a promising career and as you know, I've always been a champion of the underdog. I have a family now to think about and both Draco and Lucius have told me so many interesting things about your talents. It would be a shame to waste such promise, don't you think?"

Theo just stared at the witch as she smiled one last time and he shivered at how much she looked like Narcissa Malfoy in that moment. Before she left his office, she turned around once final time and said icily, "Do let me know soon? Perhaps an act of good faith on your part might seek to smooth the process considerably?"

And with that, Theo watched in shock as Hermione Granger sauntered out of his office, leaving him completely flummoxed and unnervingly despondent over the fact that she knew everything.