Hey great reviews! Thanks so much.

I don't really have much to say, so here is the next chapter.

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By the time Draco and Hermione left for the restaurant the following evening, he was barely able so suppress his anger.

The Daily Prophet had published an article on the front cover of the morning's edition

Malfoy High: The Crumbling Truth

Over recent months, Mr Draco Malfoy has opened to the public his engagement to successful auror, Hermione Granger. They have shown that although their alliance may be strange, they are indeed happy with their relationship.

It has been a rocky road for the newly engaged couple, with rumours of Mr Malfoy allegedly attacking Miss Granger and of course their live radio interview displaying a high placement of money in their lives. Recently, Mr Malfoy was selected as seeker for the Worldwide Quiddich Society's new international team.

It has been found however, that Mr Malfoy's company, Malfoy Inc. has fallen into disrepair since the war. Previously the company had dealt with the importing and exporting of objects relating to the dark arts. Now after the war, it appears not many people wish to associate with the company.

Malfoy Inc. is nearing its end in many perspectives and it would take a miracle to raise if from it's near bankrupt state at this moment. Although it has been boasted that Mr Malfoy himself is worth over 500 000 000 Galleons, he appears to be blocking off funds to his own business. This could be a result of the war, where Mr Malfoy has sworn allegiance to Harry Potter and so may also wish not to associate with such a dark corner of his past.

For now it appears Malfoy Inc. will soon no longer be a common house hold name.

"We've had a 'rocky road'?" He scowled, throwing the paper down on the table.

Hermione was frowning "I guess so, but I didn't really know it was bankrupt."

"It's not!" Draco snapped, now steaming. "It's low on funds; that doesn't mean it's bankrupt!"

"I know." Hermione replied quickly "I think they're taking a chance to peek at our relationship too."

"Well they can bloody well try!" Draco raised his voice, glaring out the window. "It's not like it makes any difference to me."

Hermione leaned over her plate of breakfast and placed her hand on his, he automatically turned his palm up and wrapped his long slim fingers around hers. "Don't let it get to you, when we come back, they won't know what's hit them."

He tried smiling at her but failed miserably, "I'm going to my study." He said briskly, letting go of her hand and standing.

He had left the room before Hermione could persuade him to eat more of his breakfast.

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Draco's anger was obvious by his long, brisk steps and the way his robes snapped when he turned a corner sharply.

Hermione had trouble keeping up with his lengthy strides but knew better than to try and talk to him. So they made their way, in this fashion down the street, past glittering shop windows and crowds of busy muggles.

He was so distracted by his anger that he didn't make a single comment about the fact they were dinning at a muggle restaurant; not even in jest.

When they were inside, Harry rose from the table he occupied with Cho and smiled. "Glad you could make it."

Hermione hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek affectionately. This caused a very uncharacteristic low growl to echo from the depths of Draco's throat, but Hermione appeared to be the only one to notice.

They sat opposite Harry and Cho on a dark wood table, and silence settled.

"So…You wanted to talk?" Hermione began, casually flipping through the menu.

Draco looked directly at Harry then, his eyes cold "Did you know they were going to release that article?"

"No, I knew nothing about it until I read it this morning." Harry answered calmly.

"There is nothing to discuss." Draco said shortly, an air of finality about him.

Cho smiled "Then we can enjoy the dinner, I heard this place had very nice food."

Hermione glanced at Draco who didn't appear to have shaken off his irritation, before turning and smiling her thanks to Cho.

"I'm going to be away, in America for a while." Harry announced.

"Sure you can stand being away for so long Potter?" Draco sneered, becoming once again the school bully he was years ago.

Everyone was startled by his abrupt outburst, but Harry said nothing.

"What would you like to order?" Hermione asked softly.

He turned to look at her and both Harry and Cho could see his anger subside slowly. He seemed to become aware of Hermione's presence and took comfort from it. Harry could see for himself the changes that had taken place in Draco since Hermione had entered his life.

"I haven't decided." He answered, picking up the menu and opening it.

Hermione glanced at Harry who smiled encouragingly and then at Cho who was looking at Draco, an odd expression on her face.

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Near the end of their meal, Harry suddenly perked up "Do you know who Ron fancies?"

Hermione felt a tiny twinge of guilt that she hadn't given her other best friend much thought since their last meeting, but now that Harry brought it up, she couldn't deny that she wasn't curious.

"No, I don't."

"Really?" Cho met Hermione's eyes questioningly.

Hermione shook her head "He just told me he was after someone else, but I have no idea who it is."

Harry took another bite of his dinner and seemed to ponder the thought. "I'm surprised he didn't tell me sooner."

"Why would that be?" Draco murmured sarcastically.

Hermione kicked his foot lightly in warning; he looked at her and smirked.

"I haven't heard from him for the last few days, do you think he'll introduce us soon?" Harry continued as though he had not heard.

Hermione sipped her wine delicately and said nothing. She had no idea why Ron had kept this girl a secret for so long, but he would have his reasons and that meant he probably didn't want to tell them just yet.

"You have plans for your company Draco?" Cho asked.

Her sudden change of subject caught everyone off guard, but Draco recovered quickly, placing a mask of cool indifference on his face.

"Yes. I don't know what the Prophet is talking about."

"I read that article this morning, it's the first of many I think." Cho frowned.

"Why would you think that?" Draco purred dangerously, not taking his eyes off the dark haired girl for a single moment.

She didn't meet his gaze however and seemed undeterred by his icy manner "Well I've heard a lot of rumours just today at work. There are a lot of misguided people out there and some of them are most likely sending their information to the Prophet."

"Why though?" Hermione cut in.

Cho was surprised by her question "Well why not? The wizarding community loves a good drama, you and Draco are pretty dramatic. You're enemies for one and you fought against each other in the war, then you're caught having a little bit of physical in your lounge, you're now formally engaged. What better story?" She counted off the points on her fingers and smiled in false brightness.

Hermione felt a sinking sensation in her stomach "Right." She whispered, taking another sip of her wine.

Draco caught Harry's eye "What have you heard about my business?"

"That its doomed really," Harry replied bluntly "people are saying that you're going to have to close it down and then what will you and Hermione live on?"

"Outrageous!" Draco growled, his fingers tapping the table in his frustration.

"It is, but people will believe it." Harry continued.

Hermione sat back "I suppose we should have expected it though."

"Hmm maybe." Cho replied, savouring a mouthful of pasta salad.

A few minutes later, they had all finished and Draco rose, Hermione followed suit.

"We should be going." He said.

"We probably should too, it was nice seeing you." Harry rose and put his napkin on the table.

Hermione smiled "Yes, owl me if you need anything."

Cho smiled at them and waved when they left.

Walking outside, Hermione was hit with a gust of cool night air. "That was nice." She commented, wrapping her cloak tighter around her body.

"Yes, it was rather pleasant." Draco agreed absent-mindedly.

Hermione took his hand out of impulse and was immediately warmed when he intertwined his fingers with hers.

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How Far Will Malfoy Go?

There have several members of the high wizarding society who claim that the fall of Malfoy Inc. does not bode well for them.

It is common knowledge that Lucius Malfoy used bribes, threats and blackmail to get anything he wanted within the government and outside of it as well. Many now question whether his son, Draco Malfoy, will follow suit.

The long standing company Malfoy Inc. has fallen into disrepair since the new owner, Malfoy junior, joined Harry Potter in the second war and now that the war is over, it seems the company could not be in worse shape.

"You would be hard-fetched to find any business that has made a come back after so many years of dismal business." A commerce expert from the ministry explained.

What will become of the great Malfoy empire now? No information can be found as to what Mr Malfoy will do in the future with his countless properties and possessions. And with a new fiancé, he can hardly claim he will cut back on expenses.

However, the Prophet was told that though it may appear the business is not doing very well, that does not mean that Mr Malfoy himself is short of galleons. Less than a month ago he claimed that he was indeed worth 500 000 000 galleons. If this is so, why has he allowed his family business to fall so badly into disrepair?

We can only wonder, for now all we can see is that the once powerful Malfoy empire is crumbling before ours eyes and if the new Malfoy will resort to his father's methods of persuasion to the investors of his business.

"Absolute rubbish!" Draco threw the paper down roughly, his fowl mood resurfacing again.

Hermione rushed out of the bedroom to see what the matter was; upon seeing the paper on the floor a metre away from Draco's desk, she knew what had happened.

She made a beeline for the crumpled Prophet all the while, listening to Draco.

"Total bollocks! How can they come up with trash like that and publish it? Unbelievable, I can bloody well look after my own affairs! Black mail? Threats? You'd think I hadn't changed sides at all!" He stood abruptly and turned to face the large window.

Outside, the immaculate Malfoy gardens were waking up and the sun's rays streamed over the grass, into the room. It created such beauty in a room which had once been so dark.

"I should talk to Ron about this." Hermione was frowning as she read the article. She saw that there were also two other articles relating to Draco's father and the fall of the business further in, though she knew better than to mention these to Draco.

"Why?" Draco snapped, turning to face her, his eyes icy and his lips pursed into a thin line.

"He works at the ministry, maybe he can let us know who is supplying the Prophet with their information." She explained, folding the paper and placing it gently on the desk. "There isn't much we can do though."

Draco breathed deeply "I know. They could stop hounding me for once though."

Hermione had been a dedicated reader of the Prophet once; she read all about the evidence that told the public Draco was fooling them. She believed that he was a traitor and would turn them all in at any moment.

Since he had joined their side, he had been in the paper at least once a month. If it wasn't being a traitor it was the actions of the death eaters and how they must all be Draco's fault. She had believed them; she had taken in every word and felt her loathing and hatred for him grow with each passing day.

Now that she knew the truth, she felt terrible for all those times she had doubted him and hated him for crimes he had not committed. He had been a scapegoat, he took the blame for all death eater activity and every loss their side suffered had been his doing.

"The will stop." She reassured him though she felt a part of her disagreeing.

Draco laughed with dry, bitter humour. "Will they? I don't think so."

An uncomfortable silence stretched between them, broken only by the tapping of a snowy white owl on the window.

Draco strode over and allowed the owl in; it dropped two parchments onto the desk and hooted softly before flying out again.

He picked up one and flicked his wand, sending it into Hermione's lap before sitting down and opening the second one.

She looked down and saw the uneven scrawl of Fred Weasley.

Hermione,

How are things going with Malfoy? We've heard a lot about you two from the prophet but I'll bet ten galleons half of it isn't true.

We're opening a new joke shop on Diagon Alley and would really like for you to come by, the world knows we need a few more laughs.

Speaking of business, how is Malfoy Inc.? George and I have heard a couple of things about that too. As you can see there is heaps to catch up on, so owl me and we can catch up sometime.

Ron's got a new girl, did you know? He's been reluctant to tell you guys but now that his affair with Pansy is over, he will be glad to tell you.

Fred.

She smiled, she hadn't heard from the twins for a long time during the war and last saw them nearly a year ago. It would be nice for her to go and see their expanding joke shop business that she had tried of vigilantly to stop in 5th year.

"Nice letter is it?" Draco drawled, he was now seated in his large chair and Hermione knew his mood had only darkened after reading his letter.

"Yes, it was." She answered, getting up to stand beside him "And yours?" She could see the identical script of Fred Weasley on his.

Draco pushed his parchment away from him and sighed as he looked up at her. His anger however, seemed to have suddenly disappeared, replace by a weary expression of someone who has simply had enough of life.

"I sometimes wonder if I made the right decision by coming to join Potter." His voice was laced with fatigue that had nothing to do with lack of sleep.

"You did, we all know it." She placed a hand on his shoulder and could feel the tension residing in them.

He gazed down at the deep mahogany desk "Then why do I get no peace? If I had stayed with the Dark Lord then I would be dead and none of this would be happening."

Hermione knelt down suddenly, placing a hand on his cheek so he turned to face her "No, don't say that. You made the right choice and no matter what anyone says, it's true."

She felt that it was essential he know that his choice had been right, no matter what everyone else thought.

He stared at her, his silvery eyes in shadow but she could feel the intensity his gaze on her. "Why do they think I would hurt you?"

She was stunned by the raw emotion that rang in his voice. It was like nothing she had ever heard before. She had seen Harry in the depths of the war, the darkest times, when he had lost so many he cared for; he had been on the verge of a break down. But his voice, his face, had never shown such open hurt than Draco's did now.

Hermione knew she could admire Draco's strength. He had come out, endangered his own life by leaving Voldemort's side and risking rejection from them, but he had done it anyway. He had risked everything he had grown up with just to do what was right. How many times had she thought that? How many times had she wondered how he came to that decision?

But she never felt it, like she did now. He was hurting deep, deep down inside. His solid foundations that had been built since childhood were crumbling, they were falling down around him and he now sat before her, vulnerable and wounded.

"What they think doesn't matter," She whispered, leaning closer to him, trying to make him see "I know that you would never hurt me and I know you are innocent, I know that you deserve every happy moment you experience because of the risk you took." His eyes never left hers and she could feel him absorbing her words "I know; and that's all that counts."

Through the open window, birds chirped and the rustle of leaves flowed in. The sun was streaming in brightly behind Draco's chair; she felt its warmth and hoped he could feel it too.

"Innocent?" He whispered, hardly audible; her only confirmation that he spoke was the slight movement in his lips.

Slowly, with what seemed to be the pains of an aged man, he reached up and took her hand from his cheek. He put it at her side; as though giving it back to her. "I am not deluded enough to believe I am innocent." He said softly, turning his eyes away in shame.

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So how did you like it? It's quite a dark chapter and skimming over it, Draco seems angry throughout this time, but I liked it.

Please tell me what you think!