Reminder: I own nothing. I occasionally take out J.K.'s toys and play with them. Then I put them back exactly as I found them. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 22

Elwood Proudfoot and Kenrick Savage took the teens' statements and asked follow up questions. After verifying all three could perform the checking charm they took their leave. Narcissa insisted the occupants of Black Cottage remain for dinner. As the elves cleaned the table for dessert, Winky popped in looking anxious. "Pardons, mistress, the matching Wheezzies are asking for mistress."

"In the floo?" Hermione asked.

"Ats the front doors."

She looked at her parents questioningly. Lucius nodded. "Show them in, Winky. Put them in the blue parlor."

Narcissa called for Mxy. "Please serve dessert in the blue parlor, we have two more guests. Thank you."

Pacing back and forth, the agitated display by the twins caused Hermione's stomach to twist nervously. Gone were the jovial smiles and jokes. Disheveled ginger hair proclaimed the agitation to not be from being shown into Malfoy Manor. Upon catching sight of the group the twins stopped moving. "Fred, George, what brings you by?" Hermione asked.

"Rather serious concerns," Fred told her. She gestured to the chairs and couches. The twins quickly sat. George jumped when a house elf popped in with a dessert tray. Both twins ignored the food. "We want to start from the beginning to explain. So, this might seem like a long story, but stay with us."

Running his hand through his hair. George picked up the narrative. "Last summer we started on a love potion candy. A mild one, that mimics crushes, designed not to last long."

"We abandoned it this year after talking to Sirius. We asked for advise and he said focus elsewhere." Fred told them.

"So," George began again, "we abandoned love candies and focused on trying to make something to make a person brave enough to act on a crush."

"Not much success there, but we digress." Fred shook his head. "Only important to explain why we had a supply of the candies at school, but didn't notice any were missing until we got home."

George nodded, "Dumped out our school trunks and realized at least three boxes were gone." Hermione gasped, "Ah, yes, you see the rub. Out sister accused, our candies missing. Two and two equals five."

Hermione growled. "That bitch! That utter cow! You're her scapegoats! She makes you guys the suppliers, and blames Ginny. She's just an innocent victim. Ugh! I hate her."

"Care to fill in all the missing sentences?" Dudley asked.

"Essence claims she agreed to help distract me because she likes Theo. When flirting didn't work, she'll say Ginny upped the ante by giving Theo and Harry potion laced candy the twins made. Giving some to Lachlan for Honey was a red herring, and an act of pity."

George frowned. "We don't know if Ginny knew about the candies. We never talked about them at home."

"But Essence knew." Fred supplied. "She and Marietta Edgecombe overheard us talking with Lee about ditching the idea."

"They encouraged us not to, they liked the idea of them."

"Cemented that it was a bad idea for us." Fred grimaced.

Hermione frowned. "I refuse to let that twat faced douchapotamus pin all of this on the Weasleys." She addressed Harry, "What do you think about a plea deal?"

Harry's forehead creased as he contemplated her question. "I'm not okay with full immunity. She knew what she did was wrong. She knew I liked someone else."

Nodding, Hermione agreed. "Lesser sentencing for full cooperation."

"I think I can live with that. Or no prosecution for alienation of affection on her part?"

"We can discuss options later, or rather Dad and Sirius can."

Lucius gave her a small smile, "My treasure, might you be willing to include the rest of us in the conversation?"

She laughed, "Sorry. I think we should offer Ginny a plea deal, ensure they go easier on her in exchange for her confession. It may be the only may we get the whole story without truth serum."

"If she refuses?" Draco asked.

"Then the Terrible Twosome spike her juice and she spills her guts in the Great Hall. Then she goes down just as hard as Broadmoor." She looked around at everyone. "Thoughts? Concerns?"

"I don't want the twins in trouble if their candies were used." Harry said firmly. They grinned at him gratefully.

Sirius nodded, "The candies themselves aren't illegal. So, unless they gave the girls the candies with the intent to break up Theo and Hermione..."

"Which we did not." interrupted Fred.

"They will be fine." Sirius finished.

"So, we're making the offer?" Hermione asked.

Lucius nodded, "I suppose so. Boys," he addressed the twins, "perhaps you would be willing to deliver an invitation to Black Cottage to your father. Ginerva is underage, we would need his permission first."

George nodded. "Of course, we could do that. We get that this is serious, but we would like to keep Gin out of the big trouble."

"Understandable.." Narcissa told them. Lucius quickly penned a note inviting Arthur to talk the day after the tea. "Make sure you eat some dessert before you go, otherwise Bess's feelings will be hurt."

Fred smirked, "We can't have that."

"Now can we?" George finished. Both Weasleys loaded a small plate with numerous cakes. "Our compliments to the chef, madame."

"Don't tell Mum, but these might be better than hers."

"Our lips are sealed." Narcissa smiled.

Lucius handed the letter to George and sat next to his wife."My daughter tells me you designed some magical board games."

Startled, Fred dropped his plate. Fumbling, he collected the varies slices. "Um, yes, we have."

"While our main focus remains a joke shop, we keep an eye out for innovative ideas." George supplied.

"Ah, yes, the Skiving Snackboxes and Extendable Ears. Draco told me about those. You can see which items impressed which of my children. How developed are the joke items?"

"We sell them on a demand order basis right now."

Lucius nodded, "What are your plans after graduation?"

"We have enough initial capital to rent out a storefront for six months." George told him, unsure where all of this was going.

"Bring some samples by my office. Then we can talk numbers."

The twins stared at each other speechless. As one they leapt over the coffee table to shake Lucius's hand. "Thank you, sir."

"We'll be there the day after Boxing Day." With concrete plans to visit Malfoy Industries, the twins departed to deliver the letter to Arthur.

Two afternoons later Narcissa oversaw the house elves placing the final touches on one of the larger salons. A buffet table laden with sandwiches and desserts stood opposite the doorway. Everything looked perfect as usual.

The family gathered in the foyer ten minutes before the guests were to arrive. Hermione smoothed her hands over the french braid Winky plaited her hair into. Her emerald green velvet dress flared slightly at the waist. A delicate white lace trimmed the collar and the three quartered sleeves. Draco teased her about wearing Slytherin colors, so she charmed his jumper a scarlet red. Their parents found it amusing enough to let it go.

"Why's Draco pouting?" asked Sirius when he arrived.

"He annoyed Hermione so she charmed his jumper. He can't undo her spell." Narcissa kissed his cheeks in greeting. "To be fair, neither can I." Hermione beamed proudly, preening under the praise. "She also refuses to reverse it for him." Sirius threw his head back laughing. Draco continued to glower. Theo elbowed him playfully.

Mxy entered the room. "Mistress, the Baddock family just arrived."

"Show them in, please." A harried looking man ushered a young boy into the room. He lead two small girls by hand. One of the girl's pigtails slanted unevenly, the other's bows hung limp and half tied. "Garrick, lovely to see you, dear."

"Hello, Narcissa, Lucius." He watched his son wander towards Draco and Theo. "My apologies for arriving early, several children were too excited to wait."

She laughed, "Nonsense, now, I remember Graham from Hogwarts the other day, buy who are these lovely ladies?"

"The one in green is Nerys, and Christobel is in blue." Narcissa smiled and introduced the girls to the rest of the group.

Hermione knelt down next to Christobel. "Hello."

The small child watched her somberly. She poked the fading bruises in a manner only the very innocent got away with, "Ow."

"Yes, ow. May I fix your ribbons? I always had trouble with mine when I was little." The girl giggled and nodded. Hermione quickly tied the blue ribbons into bows.

Nerys hurried over. "Me next, fix me." she demanded.

Hermione gave her a firm look. "Is that how ladies ask?"

"Please fix my hair, Miss Malfoy?"

"Of course." She evened out the pigtails and retied the ribbons.

"What to we tell Miss Malfoy?" asked Mr Baddock.

"Thank you." the girls chimed in unison.

"You are most welcome." Mxy escorted the young family into the parlor.

The Bole family arrived next. Draco and Theo introduced Lucian, who graduated the year before, and Jarrett, who was currently a fourth year. Their sister, Delilah, hugged Hermione. "I'm so happy you're okay. I was so scared."

"If our roles were reversed I would have been terrified for you, too." Hermione hugged the girl back.

The Derricks and Prichards arrived simultaneously. Peregrine Derrick graduated the year before, and his little brother, Hawke, was in the first year. Gawain Prichard's older sister, Morrigan attended Beaubatons instead of Hogwarts. After introductions the hosts lead them into the parlor. At Narcissa's nod the elves began offering food to the guests. Amused though she was by the children's excitement for petite fours and trifle, Hermione chose to nibble on the finger sandwiches. Years of a sugar free diet left her often not feeling up to lots of sweets. She watched her parents chatting with the other parents. Peregrine Derrick and Lucian Bole stole glances at her and Morrigan Pritchard while talking with Draco and Theo. The latter winked at Hermione when he noticed her interest.

Delilah swooned at the wink. Morrigan laughed indulgently. "Are you dating Theodore?"

"We're something." The older witch raised an eyebrow. "It's complicated right now."

"His father must be pleased."

"I suppose. I'll find out after Christmas when he returns home from his business trip." She changed the conversation to safer topics, like Morrigan's education abroad. By the time the guests began giving their farewells, Hermione felt exhausted. She thanked each of the first years personally for not leaving her alone on the floor. All four smiled proudly at her praise. Delilah hugged her again. Morrigan promised to write.

Once they all departed Hermione sank onto the couch. "How many of more of these do we have?"

Draco sat next to her. "Today is the 20th, so the Ministry Ball on the 22nd, the Pucey's Christmas party on the 23rd. Sirius's thing on the 24th. Then our New Years Ball. Plus the Weasley meeting tomorrow."

Hermione thumped her head against the back of the couch. "Shoot me."

Lucius laughed, "No shooting, but may I suggest a nap? You are still recovering, and I promised your mother to not overreact. Which means allowing the aurors to do their jobs, and not hover over you. So, that's all I will suggest." He offered her a hand, which she gratefully accepted.

Hermione napped until dinner. Draco surprised her by waking her, instead of Winky. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. I hate the exhaustion. I can't seem to make it a full day without feeling drained."

"Hermione, I'd be worried if you did. Magic may have healed most of the damage, but you're still healing, and your core needs to replenish, too. To do that you need to rest. So don't fight it. If you need a nap, or a break, say something." She kept walking, muttering under her breath. "What?"

"Nothing." She answered quickly in a tight voice.

"No, you said something. What?" He stopped walking, forcing her to stop.

"I said easier said then done. For years I've had to be beyond perfect. No one takes muggleborns seriously, unless they stand out. I have to bounce back faster, I can't get tired. I can't ask for special considerations. My grades can't just be great, they have to be stellar. A year ago if we turned in the same essay, most professors would have scored yours higher."

"Hermione..." Draco began in a soothing voice.

"Don't Hermione me. Ron used to do that second year. But I saw the essays he turned in, and I saw his grades. He scratched down a few paragraphs of facts and got Acceptable and Exceeds. So did Harry. I write out the exact length assigned, using multiple references for every essay to get those Outstanding grades. I know this because once I Ron Weasleyed my essay. I got a Troll, from Professor Sprout." She spat out. "Amazingly, only Professor McGonagall grades on merit. But that's besides the point, after four years of killing myself for perfection don't try to patronize me about it."

Draco blinked, momentarily speechless. "I never realized."

"Why should you?"

"But why are you working so hard this year?" She scowled darkly. "Don't look at me like that, I'm curious."

"One, to show that I have always been this smart, and two, in case they still think of me as a muggleborn because I was raised in the muggle world."

"That shouldn't be treated like a handicap."

"And yet it is, Draco. And it will be decades before we can change anything."

"We?"

"Some day you'll have the Malfoy, and I'll hold the Black one. If I keep Theo, that's the Nott seat. Harry will take the Potter seat. That's four votes right there. Neville will most likely agree to help. See where I'm going?"

Draco nodded. "Yeah, sweet Salazar, I agree with the weasel." She raised an eyebrow. "You're brilliant, but scary. By the time our generation is in charge, you'll have most of them dancing to your tune."

She shrugged, "Maybe, then again, maybe not. Until then I intend to do everything I have to remain at the top of our class. Irregardless, we need to get to dinner." She started walking again.

Outside the dining room he stopped his sister. "Hermione, do you think I still think like that about muggleborns?"

"Draco, I know none of you believe the pureblood agenda. I know you had to toe the line. Look at how you accepted Dudley. Don't let my rant upset you, I'm tired and a little cranky. I just wanted to rant. And you asked." She gave him a quick hug and went in for dinner. He paused for a moment, then followed her in, neither of them mentioning the conversation again.