A/N: another update for you! It's almost 2.5k long so I hope you enjoy it. The next one will be the big reveal.
The day after Astoria came around, Draco replied to her letter and thanked her for throwing Astria off the scent. He also said that his father would speak to them on Saturday at the Manor.
The rest of the week passed quickly between work and packing things. She had decided to get rid of things that she no longer needed or wanted, and it had been a long time coming. There were boxes and boxes of things stacked up along the study wall, and now she had to decide what to do with them.
Picking out some of her nicest witches' robes, Hermione put them on and looked in the mirror to make sure they were straight. She knew that it was important to make a good impression and it started with the way she looked.
Checking the clock, she saw that she only had ten minutes until the meeting started and apparated to the front gate.
It was bright sunshine when she appeared and she enjoyed the walk down the drive.
The front gardens - if you could call them that- were in full bloom fragrancing the air with rose, jasmine, and honeysuckle. The peacocks were roaming around, and it seemed like paradise.
The Manor itself did not look as imposing as it once did, and for that Hermione was grateful.
The white stone was a stark contrast to the lush greenery and flowers surrounding it, which made it feel homely and warm.
Knocking on the door, Hermione was greeted by a house elf.
"I'm here to see Mr Malfoy," she told them.
"Master is expecting you. He's in the study, and Dipsy will take you there," the elf replied, leading the way.
Portraits of dead malfoy's hung on the walls and their expressions ranged from curiosity to outright hostility.
There was no doubt in Hermione's mind that thy remembered who she was from when she was captured during the war and the consequences of it.
Draco had onfided in her that Vldemort had tortured everyone who had been in the Manor that day even if they had not ben a part of her and Harry's escape.
Thinking of that day made her shiver. It was definitely one of the worst days of her life, and it had taken a long time to heal from it.
Soon they reached a mahogany door and stopped.
"Master is inside," the elf said before leaving with a pop.
Stepping forward, she knocked lightly and entered when she was called in.
"Good morning Miss Granger," Lucius Malfoy said.
He was sitting behind a cherry wood desk and looked every inch the dangerous wizard he was.
"Good morning to you too, Mr Malfoy, Draco," she said back.
Draco was seated in one of the chairs in front of the desk and looked like he would rather be anywhere else but here.
"Please take a seat. I think you would be much more comfortable sitting down for this conversation," Lucius said, gesturing to the other chair in front of him.
As she took her seat, he asked if she would like any refreshments and Hermione politely declined.
"Draco informs me that there is something you both wish to discuss with me."
"That is correct. It has to do with Astoria and who the real father of her child might be," she told him.
"And who may that be, Miss Granger?" he asked, his grey eyes piercing hers.
"We both believe that it could be Ron Weasley. There is no physical proof, but there is plenty of circumstantial evidence to suggest that it may be the case," Hermione answered.
Lucius sat back and assessed her a moment before asking, "Are you sure you are not making the evidence fit because you want it to? I'm sure you wish to get back at young Mr Weasley for ruining your reputation."
"Father!" Draco exclaimed.
"It's okay, Draco. I expected your father to ask me this," Hermione said before turning back to the elder Malfoy. "Ron has lied to his family and the wizarding world about what happened when we broke up. Do I want the wizarding world to know the truth? Yes, I do. I would not, however, accuse him of something like this unless I really thought it was true."
He seemed to mull over her words for a moment before nodding.
"Very well, please tell me what circumstantial proof you have gathered," he stated.
Taking a deep breath, she recounted everything they had.
Draco interrupted at a few points to expand or add things that she wasn't aware of, but overall it was the same that they had earlier in the week.
"That is certainly interesting. I can see why you would come to the conclusion you have, but I'm not sure how I can help," he said.
"We thought that with your contacts you may know a reputable, but discreet private investigator that could help get actual proof of the affair. Even if it wasn't for the date she conceived, it would sow enough doubt that I may be able to not marry her," Draco said.
Lucius remained silent for a few minutes whilst working out the best way to proceed.
Hermione could tell that he was thinking about the consequences if the investigation were to go ahead, and what it would mean for them.
"I will agree on one condition," he said, finally.
"What's that, father?" Draco asked.
"That neither of you are aware of who I hire, nor will you have anything to do with the investigation. If the person wants, or needs any information from you then it will go through me. I do not want anybody accusing you of influencing the outcome."
"I can agree to that, Mr Malfoy," Hermione said.
"So can I," Draco said.
"It is settled then. Will you be staying for lunch, Miss Granger?" he asked.
"Unfortunately I have other plans, but thank you for the invitation," she replied, before standing up.
"I will escort you back to the front door," Draco said, standing up at the same time.
"Thank you, Draco," she said before turning back to Lucius, " Goodbye My Malfoy and thank you for hearing us out."
"Goodbye, Miss Granger."
Hermione and Draco walked in silence for a few moments as they both thought about what the outcome of the investigation would be.
"You know that even if we're wrong, we could still find out that they're both lying," Draco commented.
"I know," she admitted.
The thought had crossed her mind but she was so sure they were right that it wasn't going to go that way.
"Have you thought about what you're going to do once everyone knows?" he asked.
"Apart from live my life? No idea. What about you?"
Draco thought for a moment before he answered, "I will break my betrothal with Astoria, then dive into work for a while. Eventually I might be able to trust enough to start again with someone new."
"Sounds like a good plan. Better than mine anyway," she chuckled.
"Well not everyone can be as perfect as me," Draco smirked.
"There's the Draco I know and love," Hermione teased.
They had finally reached the door, but a part of her didn't want to leave.
She had grown to like Draco's company over the past few months. It was refreshing to have someone different to talk to, who actually understood what she was talking about. Yes, he could be mean and snarky, but Hermione knew that it was no longer mean spirited like it was at Hogwarts. He had changed and she liked it.
"I will see you soon, Hermione, and I will let you know if my father finds anything," he promised.
"Oh, before I forget, here is the report you gave me to go over. I made some notes and attached them at the back. The problem is with the hand movement."
"Thankyou," he said, taking the file.
"No problem, Draco. See you soon," she replied before walking back down the driveway.
-0-0-0-
Thirty minutes later she was walking along the beach with Harry.
This had been one of her places to come and think about things, but now it was their spot to meet up away from prying eyes.
"So, how are things going?" he asked.
"Not too bad. Works great and I'm clearing some stuff out of the house. I didn't realise how much I had and didn't use. What about you?" she asked in return.
It had been weeks since the two friends had a day off together and were able to talk properly. Owls weren't the same.
"I've started seeing someone," he admitted, blushing slightly.
"That's great, Harry! Is it anyone I know?"
"Susan Bones. We were having dinner around Neville and Hannah's and we just clicked. I've taken her on. Few dates so. Far and things seem to be going well," he replied.
"I'm so happy for you, Harry. You deserve to have someone special in your life," Hermione said, beaming at her friend.
He had been alone for far too long, and Hermione was worried that he would never find someone who would look past the 'Boy Who Lived'.
"What about you? Is there anyone on the horizon?" he asked.
The image of Draco flitted through her mind.
"Not right now. I can't even think about that until this business with Ron is sorted. Most men look at me like I'm a social pariah," she scoffed.
"They're fools," he said, shaking his head.
"Harry!" She exclaimed.
"Well, they are. If they can't see how great you are then they don't deserve you. You're one of the most kind, caring, and intelligent people I know and if you can't find someone then there is little hope for the rest of us."
His words warmed her heart.
Somehow, no matter how low Hermione was feeling Harry made her feel better. She loved him very much for it, and though some people might mistake that for something more, it wasn't. He was the brother she never had, and the only family she had left.
When she turned to look at him though, his face seemed troubled.
"What's wrong, Harry?" she asked.
"I'm not sure if it means anything or not, but there's something you have to know and it's going to hurt," he said quietly.
"You might as well tell me. Besides, how bad can it be?" she asked, taking his hand in reassurance.
"I saw Ron buying a necklace about four months ago. At first I thought it was for you, but you never wore it and after you broke up I just figured he never gave it to you. But the other day…I saw it on someone else. I swear it was the same one as it had the same design on it with the same stone in and everything," he explained.
"What did it look like properly, and who was wearing it, Harry?" she asked, a lump forming in her gut.
"It was silver with swirls on and a blue stone in the middle. Astoria was wearing it," he whispered.
Hermione closed her eyes and breathed in deeply.
After all these months, after everything she and Draco had done to try and get concrete proof about Ron's affair, it had been staring her in the face all along.
Astoria had been wearing the necklace on and off for the last five months, and Hermione thought that she had just bought it because it was pretty.
"Hermione," he said, gently.
"I'm okay, Harry. It's not as big of a shock to me as you think. I've suspected for a while that Astoria may have been the witch I've been looking for," she confessed.
"Why didn' you say something? I could have helped you find out the truth," he said.
"I know you would have, but we're trying to make sure they don't find out that we're onto them," she told him.
"We're?'
"Draco and I have been doing our own digging. We think the baby is Ron's. It's definitely not Draco's as he said he would have come clean if it was," Hermione confided.
"So that's why you two have become quite close then? I was wondering why you seem to be such good friends."
"He's not as bad as he seems."
"I'm glad that you're making new friends. Even if it's with the ferret," he laughed.
"I don't think he would appreciate you calling him that," she said.
"Does he have to know? I'm not going to say it to his face," Harry asked.
"I suppose not," she mused.
The two of them turned around and made their way to the local pub for lunch.
The rest of the afternoon was spent talking and laughing about old times and all the things they used to get up to.
It felt good, and Hermione realised that they should make time to do this more often.
When she got back home later on, she penned a letter telling Mr Malfoy about the necklace, and what Harry had said in the hopes that it would help with the investigator.
-0-0-0-
Two weeks had passed since the meeting with Lucius Malfoy and she hadn't heard a single thing from him. Draco had no news either which made her feel antsy.
It was like standing on the edge of a cliff and not knowing whether you were going to fall or not.
During those weeks she had tried to avoid spending time with Astoria as her patience with her was wearing thin, and she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep quiet.
An owl swooped through the window to her home office and landed on her desk, sticking out its leg to take the letter attached to it.
After giving the owl a treat, she turned the letter over to see an unfamiliar script. Opening it carefully, she read:
Dear Miss Granger,
Your presence is required at Malfoy Manor tomorrow at four o'clock. Please be there promptly,
Lucius Malfoy
She sat back in her chair and let the words sink in.
His private investigator must have found something, and there was no way she was going to miss this meeting to find out what it is.
