A/N: Hello! I just wanted to let you all know that I am aiming to update this once a month. As i work in retail however, things tend to get a little busier around this time of year so I might not start it properly until the new year. This chapter also counts towards the october writing month and is 2,644 words.

Hermione headed into work to talk to her boss, Andrew Thomas, and the press department to do some damage control. She hoped more than anything that they could find a solution which didn't end in her losing her job.

"Take a seat, Hermione. I know that the company does not usually take an active interest in the personal lives of its staff, but as you are one of our top employees and also a national icon we feel it is imperative to have your side of the story," Andrew informed her.

He was a kind, middle aged man, who Hermione could count on being forthright with her; even if she didn't like what he had to say.

"I understand, Andrew."

"Good. The man next to me is Jack Chambers. He is in charge of all the company's press releases and will be handling any queries in regards to your situation," he said introducing her to the man beside him.

"It's nice to meet you, Miss Granger. I do wish it was on better terms though. As Andrew explained I will need a full account of what happened to counteract any negative press and perhaps even try to put a positive spin on things," Mr Chambers said.

"There isn't much really to tell. It's the exact opposite of what he's claiming happened."

"What do you mean, Miss Granger?" Chambers said as he pulled out a quick notes quill.

"I returned home from work on the 23rd April to find him in bed with another witch. He followed me out of the bedroom and said he did it because I was too frigid for him. He told me that he never loved me, and that he was just waiting for a better witch to come along before he dumped me. I know he's saying that it was the other way round, but it really wasn't. I had been nothing but faithful to him the whole time we were together," Hermione told him.

She hoped that they believed her but knew it was probably a long shot.

"Have you tried to locate the witch in question?" Chambers asked her.

"You believe me?"

"I do, Miss Granger. I saw both the original article as well as the one published after he approached you having lunch at Giovanni's. The fact that Mr Potter has taken your side is enough to sow doubts in the minds of the general wizarding population and that is something which we can use to our advantage. Have you located the witch?"

"I'm afraid not. I didn't really get a good look at her. The only thing I remember is that she had dark hair, but that hardly narrows it down," Hermione replied frowning.

Professor McGonagall had even let her use the Pensieve stored at Hogwarts to try and get a better view of the witch in question, but the memory was so quick she could only get flashes and nothing concrete. There was something familiar about the witch, however, Hermione couldn't figure out what it was.

"That's a shame as it's the only real lead you had."

"I know. I will still try, but I might hire a private investigator to see what they can dig up. If they were able to find irrefutable proof that he had cheated on me before then maybe people would question his side of the story. What do you plan on doing now?" she asked.

"We have drafted a short statement already stating your personal life has had no impact on your employment here and that you will be staying with us for the foreseeable future. If we face a backlash after that, which I hope we don't, then we will have to release another statement, or you will have to do a short interview with a publication of your choice," he informed her.

"Thank you. I hope I don't have to do an interview either, but if I did then please contact Luna Lovegood who works for The Quibbler. She is the only journalist I trust not to twist my words."

Chambers nodded his head as he made sure her request was recorded.

"I think that is all for the moment. As you are doing research for your next spell, Hermione, you are welcome to work from home with the usual conditions once you come back off your leave," Andrew told her.

"Thank you, Andrew, but I think it would be better if I worked at the office. I don't want to hide away as people might start to believe I have something to be guilty of."

"Very well. I will see you next Monday then, goodbye."

"Goodbye Andrew, Mr Chambers," Hermione said before walking out of the office building.

Hermione had thought long and hard about where she wanted to go with her plan and hiring a private investigator to look into Ron seemed be a good start. It meant that she could potentially save many hours slaving over elaborate schemes of revenge which could end in nothing. The only thing was finding a reputable PI who would take one her case.

Harry probably knows some from working as an Auror, she thought.

Hermione had been both grateful and overwhelmed with the fact that Harry had stuck by her side despite Ron trying to convince him several times that she had been the one in the wrong. It spoke volumes on how much her friend knew her to be able to do that.

She had been let down and disappointed with Harry before when he had taken Ron's side over hers. Maybe she had gone the wrong way about it (like the Firebolt in third year), but she had only ever been trying to help him. Perhaps now they were both adults and more mature they were able to look at situation better than before.

Or maybe it's because of his job, she thought.

After training as an Auror, Harry was not so quick to take sides but weighed up all the evidence he had before him before making a decision. He seemed to have extended this into his personal life as well.

Whenever there had been a disagreement between two of his friends (normally Ron and Hermione), he would listen to both sides and try to find a way to get them talking again. He never took for granted that one of them was telling the whole truth until now.

Harry had confessed to her that he hadn't given Ron a chance to explain the truth since he couldn't believe that his friend would accuse her of something so ridiculous.

"I'm sorry that Ron disturbed your lunch with Malfoy. I think it's because I've been ignoring him since that morning I left The Burrow to come and see you. He's tried to see me at work but I've been pretending that I'm busy," Harry told her.

"Don't apologise for his actions, Harry. He's probably angry about it because he knows how big of deal it is for you to stand my by side and not his. People aren't outright believing his story the way they would if you had stood by him, and he doesn't like it," Hermione replied shaking her head.

"If I'd seen him and explained things to him then maybe he -"

"Still would have done it," Hermione said cutting him off. "We both know what Ron is like when he gets something into his head, Harry. He's always been hot headed and prone to make rash decisions, but a scandal like this could ruin him for life. Especially if it comes out that he lied about me cheating on him. No decent witch would want to marry him and that's what he wants in the end."

"I can't believe I didn't know any of this before. Do you think Malfoy would help me learn some of it? I know I've made mistakes in the past, but hopefully it will stop me from making a few more," Harry asked.

"Why don't you owl him and ask? Or why don't you ask Neville. I am sure he would know these etiquette rules too," she suggested.

It was typical of Harry to try and make amends for other people's actions; even if he could have done nothing about them. Hermione knew that it stemmed from his childhood and the way his aunt and uncle had treated him. The practice was so ingrained in him that she never thought he would ever grow out of it.

Hermione had been surprised and glad, to find that Harry would willingly ask Draco for help despite the fact that they still didn't get on. Perhaps if Harry hadn't so readily rebuffed Draco's hand of friendship on the Hogwarts Express then things might have been different. She was sure that that was one of the first things about social etiquette in the Wizarding world that he had broken.

Once she reached her parents house there were three owls waiting for her. One was from Daphne confirming that their lunch was still on tomorrow at one o'clock, and that Astoria and her mother would also be there as well. The second one was another letter from Ron asking her to release Harry from whatever spell she had put him under, and the last was from Charlie.

She opened the letter carefully and let out the breath she had been holding as she scanned through its contents.

Hermione,

I know that you're not expecting to hear from me, but I have been informed by my family in several letters Ron's side of things, and I have also received a letter from Harry telling me yours. I wanted to let you know that I believe you. I wish a part of me could deny that Ron would never have done that to you, but after finding out that he never informed you of the potential ramifications of you moving in together tells me everything.

I also wanted to tell you that not everyone in my family believes Ron's side of the story. They are keeping quiet at the moment because as a family we have to present a united front, but if the shit were to hit the fan I know at least two of my brothers would take your side.

If you wanted to talk then owl me any time you want,

Charlie

Hermione felt something settle inside her at his words. To finally hear that not all of the Weasley's were on Ron's side eased the ache that the family had left a little. Although it was clear from what he said that they could only support her publicly once it had come out that she had been the injured party. It also highlighted the fact that Ginny would not stand by her at all, but Hermione expected that as they had fallen out after Ginny and Harry had split up for good.

For some reason the other girl thought that she was the reason Harry had decided to end their relationship and had whispered in Ron's ear about it ever since. It was the reason Ron had become jealous of her friendships with other men, even when it was obvious that nothing was going on.

The rest of the day was spent doing research for the next spell she wanted to create before she prepared a quick meal for herself and went to bed.

-0-0-0-

At five to one the next afternoon Hermione appeared outside of the Greengrass estate and walked up to the front door and knocked.

The door opened to reveal Louise Greengrass, Daphne and Astoria's mother.

Her long blond hair was pulled backwards and she was wearing a set of lavender robes. She looked more like an older sister to the girls than their mother, but her friends had confessed that Daphne was born only eighteen months after Louisa had graduated.

"Hello, Hermione. Please come in, the girls will only be a moment," she informed her.

"Thank you, Louisa," Hermione said following the older woman down the hall.

"I heard that you had quite a shock the other day when you dined with Draco. How have you been?"

"Angry, and upset. Mostly at myself for not bothering to learn everything about wizarding society that I should. I made an effort to learn about all different branches of magic and how they are used, but I never once thought about learning about the wizarding world itself. I should have, and maybe I wouldn't be in this situation if I had," Hermione confessed.

Over the past year she had grown quite close to Daphne and Astoria, and in turn their mother. Sometimes it was painful to watch the three of them together knowing that she would never have that with her own mother again.

Hermione had found out just after the war had finished that her parents had died in a boating accident just one month before she arrived to reverse their memories. It had devastated her and she had leaned on Ron for support.

"It's not entirely your fault, Hermione," Daphne said walking into the room behind them followed by Astoria and took the sofa opposite to her normal chair.

"What do you mean?" hermione asked her brow furrowed.

"The wizarding world, and Hogwarts could have made more of an effort to educate Muggleborns about our society, but they didn't. I think that many of the old pureblood families had the biggest sway outside of Hogwarts which was why nothing was done that side of it, but Dumbledore had complete control of Hogwarts except in our fifth year there. He could have started a class on etiquette, or he could have given instructions to the professors who visited Muggleborns to provide some basic information," Daphne explained.

"You're right, it was partly my fault and mostly theirs. Before I forget I got a letter from Charlie Weasley last night. I haven't written back to him yet as I thought i would see what you said about it first," Hermione told them.

"What does it say?" Astoria asked.

Hermione took the letter out of her bag and read it out loud for them all to hear it.

"I'd be careful, Hermione. There is no guarantee that what he is saying is true, and it could be a ruse to gain information from you about what you know," Louisa warned her.

"I did think that, but it doesn't fit with what I know about Charlie himself. He is usually honest about how he feels and if someone or something has annoyed him he won't hold back about what he thinks about it," Hermione said defending him.

"If you think you can trust him then do so, but don't tell him everything."

"I don't think he would expect me to tell him everything. I will say thank you for his support, and that I am trying to prove that Ron's lying," Hermione told them.

"You should also tell him that you're learning social etiquette as well," Astoria suggested.

"I don't think that would be a good idea, Astoria," Louisa said shaking her head.

"Why not? The family know that Hermione won't be able to use it against Ron as she doesn't want to be married to the pig. All it will do is inform Charlie that she knows how far the betrayal runs. It may even scare the family witless as they know how powerful Hermione is," Astoria explained.

Hermione thought that the younger witch had a valid point and would subtly put it into her letter to him.

A few hours later after they had discussed many social protocols, Hermione was ready to go home.

Overall, she thought that the wizarding world was much like Victorian England when it came to their social, courting, and marriage etiquette. So long as she could channel her inner Jane Austin she would be alright.