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Tuesday, 18 September 2012

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The article in the Daily Prophet was rather spot on. It was obvious that the journalist was mostly guessing, but for once he had managed to hit on a few truths. The rest was fabricated, but even those fabrications were highly believable.

The article claimed that Hermione and Draco had been seeing one another secretly for months and it had been Draco's idea to make Hermione run for minister for magic. And then it talked about how Louis was really Draco Malfoy, which was rather clever of them to figure out.

There was a large picture of them holding hands and heading up the stairs to Hermione's parents' house, which obviously had triggered the whole thing. There were also several pictures of them when Draco was Louis. There was no mistaking their affection for one another in those pictures. There was also a picture of them from the day of the election and another from when they all arrived together to Blaise's party. Many of the details had been made up, but there was so much truth mixed in with the lies that it would never have worked to try to deny this.

Hermione was happy the quibbler would soon be out with her version of the story. She checked the clock. It was still too early. Since Luna had delayed the printers while Hermione rewrote her article, the Quibbler could not be expected to arrive before 10 or so this morning. But at least it would come out today, and since no one knew about Draco's source at the Prophet they could spin it such that it had been her intention to come out with the truth all along.

Hermione finished reading as she drank her tea. She then went back to bed to see if Draco was awake. He was.

"Good morning."
"Did the world end yet?"

"No, your name just got onto the front page of the paper. You'll survive."
"Your fred woke me up. You didn't take it with you."
"Scoot over."

Hermione got into bed besides him and reached for her fred.

[Harry:] Well, that could have gone better. Louis even looks a little Malfoy-ish in the top-left picture.

[Fleur:] I just read the Prophet. Is there any truth in this?

[OliverW:] What on Earth? Explain yourself.

[Ginny:] Harry just showed me the paper. Are you Ok?

[Luna:] Did you see the Prophet? I'm owling out the Quibblers I have ready right now. We can fix this.

[Padma:] Ok, you need to tell me if this is true or not, because this looks awfully convincing.

[Isabella:] How do you want to do with Purple Palace? Do we still open at ten?

[Molly:] What an outrage! How can the Prophet keep printing lies like this. And how did they fake the pictur

[Neville:] I'm confused. I don't want to believe the Prophet, but then again: Malfoy did sit down besides you.

[Lee:] I'm going to be on air at the usual time. Please, please, please stop by and tell your side of this.

[Pansy:] I guess the snake is out of the bag then? Anything I can do to help?

[AliciaS:] This is the best piece of gossip I've read in ages. Please tell me it's true.

Even Draco's fred was plinging away. Hermione reached for it and gave it to Draco before answering her messages. Mostly she told everyone to read today's issue of the Quibbler since it had the true story. To Isabella she said that yes, Purple Palace would be open from 10 to 15 as planned. It was the last day after all. She would be by at 12:30 and issue a statement regarding the Prophet article.

"I think my mother is upset that I went to see your parents before even telling them I was dating you."
"But they knew."
"Sure they did. But that's not the same as me telling them."
"I suppose it isn't"
"I may have to introduce you to them officially at some point."
"I guess that's unavoidable, yes."
"Are you going to be Ok with that?"
"Dealing with one another's family is usually a part of the whole dating deal. You've met mine, so I guess I should meet yours. Does this mean you're going to want me to come with you to Malfoy manor?"

"I've never taken any of my past girlfriends to the manor."

"I see."

"I've always just said that my parents live out in the countryside, which is true, and then arranged for them to meet at some restaurant in London when my parents happen to be in town."
"So your past girlfriends thought you lived in London?"
"Some. You're not the only one with a fake apartment here and there."

"You are a man of many mysteries. Is that a good idea though? Having lunch at a restaurant where anyone can snap a picture of us?"
"Definitely not."

"Then what do we do?"
"My best idea would be dinner at Nott manor. I can extend my quarters to include a dining room and have Batty make us something nice."
"Sure, that sounds Ok. When?"
"I have no idea. Tomorrow is your birthday, Thursday is Fawley's gala, which they are invited to by the way, Friday is the ministry thing and Saturday is the final election."

"What do we have tonight?"
"Closing up Purple Palace?"
"We could do it tonight. Just get it over with."
"You are a brave which, you."
"That's what the sorting hat told me."

"So what do we want to do until then?

"My plan is to hide until everyone has had a chance to read the Quibbler and then go to Purple Palace. Take you with me wearing your own face. Invite the rest of the gang to come help out. Deal with people staring at us for a bit and then pack up the place."
"You're going to lose the election."
"Maybe. Maybe not. We will just have to wait and see. At least I've gotten rid of Louis once and for all. That makes me happy."
"Yea, I'm not going to miss the guy either."

- # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # -

That morning Hermione received 12 howlers and almost 40 strongly worded letters where random witches expressed their disaprovement over her behaviour.

But she also received some support. She smiled when she read Rowena Lestrange's letter:

Dear Hermione

Let me start by congratulating you on your victory last weekend. It makes me happy that there we still have a chance of getting a witch elected. I am rooting for you now and I will say so to anyone who asks.

Being the publisher of your book I sat down with it on Sunday and read through it. I had of course read many of the individual articles before, but they really come together beautifully when bound together in a proper book.

You give so much of yourself in those articles. How you think of the world around you and how much you care about others welfare. Writing those articles was a brilliant move. One really feels like one has gotten to know you through them.

It did not shock me as much as it seems to have shocked others to find out that your friend Louis was really Draco Malfoy. It just aligns perfectly with the person I have come to know through your book that you have forgiven the past and that you can recognise the people around you for who they really are, not who they were. I am saddened to hear people say that you are under his influence. I think it's the other way around. He must be under your good influence. You are so strong and you know your own mind. No one would ever be able to make you do anything you didn't want to do.

I expect you are getting plenty of letters from people who think they have the right to tell you who you should love. I just want to tell you that no one has that right. You can love whomever you want, and you should never have to apologise for being in love. The world is a better place when people can fall in love without prejudices.

Your friend

Rowena

Hermione owled Rowena back, thanked her for her kind words and asked if she could read the letter out loud during her interview with Lee that afternoon. Having Rowena's public support like that would probably get her a few votes.

- # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # -

At seven that night Hermione was all dressed up and ready to officially meet the Malfoys. Draco just smiled at her nervousness.

"What do you think could possibly go wrong here? It's not like we need their approval for anything we do. We're not teenagers and this is not the sixteenth century."

"I guess. But it will make things easier if we can all get along."

"They will behave and they already like you. My mother is so grateful that you offered to teach them the concealment charm. Remember the flowers she sent you?"

"I know. This shouldn't be awkward."

"And it won't be."

"Did I tell you that your mother came by Purple Palace on Sunday and got a signed copy of the book?"

"No, you didn't. Did anything happen?"

"No. It was brief and polite. She may have hinted at how it would be wise not to get into any public scandals before the election. For a moment there I thought she wanted me to dump you."

"Trust me. Those two are ecstatic that I am at least dating a witch this time. They didn't really approve of my past girlfriends."

"But they probably aren't too thrilled about the scandal we are causing."

"Yes, well, we tried and we failed. What's done is done. I'm sorry about losing you the election."

"We will just see how it goes. Who knows, maybe we can spin this into one of those tragic love stories that will make those bitter old witches crying over their cauldrons and pledging their unending support for me."

"You need to stop being so optimistic all the time."

"Kiss me."

He did.

Theo knocked before he opened the door giving Draco and Hermione the chance to separate their lips before their guests arrived.

"Guess who I found wandering around my castle," he winked at Hermione as Lucius and Narcissa entered behind him.

"Thank you Theo. This is not the first time we've visited, you know."

"Yes, well I didn't want to miss any of the awkwardness."

Hermione hit Theo on the shoulder as Draco stepped forward to greet his parents.

"Or maybe there won't be any awkwardness. Did you ever consider that? This isn't exactly the first time we've met. It's not like anyone needs introductions here,". Hermione said, but was at the same time secretly grateful he was there to take the edge off.

"Well said, Miss Granger," came from Narcissa as she approached Hermione and kissed her on each cheek. "Don't worry about Theo, his mouth has never had any filter. We thought maybe it was just a phase and he would grow into some manners, but apparently that day has not arrived."

After Narcissa's friendly greeting Hermione stretched her hand towards Lucius who took it and bowed to her. Once that was done Draco showed them his new dining room. Of course he had forgotten to ask Theo's permission for extending his quarters to include the second floor portrait gallery, so Theo pretended to be thoroughly shocked at his audacity.

"Are you staying for dinner?" Draco asked Theo.

"No, I just wanted to see if the wands would come out during the first couple of minutes. But there doesn't seem to be any drama unfolding so I guess I will have to find my entertainment elsewhere."

He put a brief kiss on Hermione's cheek as he passed her saying: "Just send your little otter to me if you need backup." And as he left the room he called over his shoulder; "Same goes for the tree of you, Malfoy's. You know where to find me if Hermione comes after you."

When Theo was gone the rest of them sat down to dinner and somehow managed to have a perfectly civilised meal. For a while Narcissa did most of the talking, asking Hermione about her time in Cambridge and telling her about the orphanage where she still volunteered every weekend. The rehabilitation program had signed off on Narcissa about three years after the war ended, but she had always kept up the volunteering, saying the children needed her. Hermione suspected that Pansy had been right about Narcissa's wish for grandchildren.

Lucius was more interested in discussing the upcoming elections. Which was a topic both Draco and Hermione could get on board with. Politics was a topic they had much more to say about than muggle orphans.

"I find it absolutely amazing how much the ministry is managing to accomplish with its limited funds. The tax system is so much less developed in the magical world compared to how it is in the muggle world, and yet the ministry manages to run the educational system, the health care system and be a major employer within the community."

"When you break it down you realise that most of the wealth that drives the magical economy is derived from the labour of other magical species, mainly goblins and house elves. If wizards started treating these species with a fraction of the respect they deserve the whole economy would collapse."

"That's probably true. At the same time the ministry still needs more funds. There are several areas that are sorely underfunded. We are completely dependent on private education or muggle education for children younger than eleven years old and there is hardly any support system for elderly witches and wizards. This needs to be improved."

"I thoroughly agree, but the goblins will never go for it. They resist change in any shape or form."

"I think one just has to find a new angle on it. There must be a way to improve relations with the goblins."

"The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures has been trying to make them see sense for decades. Never gets us anywhere."

"But that's just it though. Just the name of that department is insulting to Goblins. They need to be approached with some respect. Not that I would say so publicly but I am planning some major changes in that department, which includes changing its name."

Draco smiled at how engaged and opinionated Hermione was about politics. She was so much more than just beautiful. She was absolutely brilliant. What she was doing with him he would never understand. Probably just best to just not think about it too much.

- # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # -

"So, how much of tonight's conversations were of the silent type?" Hermione asked Draco when he got back from walking his parents to the floo.

"Nothing gets past you, does it."

"Just tell me."

"Not too much. We tend to talk out loud when all three of us are present. Otherwise we are always excluding someone."

"But?"

"They like you and told me not to screw this up."

"We'll that's something at least. Do they know you can project to me."

"No. I never told them about that. Honestly though, that went better than I thought it would."

"Yes. No one called me any old pet-names or brought up any precious wartime memories or anything."

"They wouldn't. They are actually quite well behaved, the two of them," and with that Draco leaned in and kissed her on the nose.

"I guess there is hope after all."

"Theo will be disappointed. He bet me it would end badly."

"How much did you win?"

"Two galleons."

"Good for you. Then you can buy me something for my birthday."

"For two galleons? That's barely enough for a decent book."

"Oh well, if you can't afford a book I will accept a decent kiss instead."

"That is not what I meant and you know it."

"I know. Relax."

"Are you sure you don't want something extravagant. Lunch in Japan? I know a great sushi place in Nagoya. A friend of mine works there. It's an eight hour difference so lunch here is dinner there. And it's close to the Brother Earth Planetarium. I could take you there for a show. Starry skies. Very romantic."

"Sounds like a lovely date. Can we do it after the elections instead?"

"But it's your birthday tomorrow."

"It's a Wednesday and I have lots to do. I already agreed that we could have people over for dinner. Isn't that enough?"

"You and your obsession with the calendar. I just feel I should be doing something more."

"I'm only turning 33."

"Which is the age Frodo was when he set off on his journey, if I remember correctly. Maybe we should have a Middle Earth theme to your party. Make everyone wear costumes."

"We can do that for your birthday, how about that?"

"My birthday isn't until next summer. You'll have dumped me by then."

"Shush. Stop being so pessimistic. I survived meeting your parents tonight. Who knows what other surprises the future may bring."

"Always the optimist."

"But, back up for a minute. Did you say you have a friend who lives in Japan? Is this a muggle friend?"

"Yes. Touma. We worked together in London for a while and now he owns a restaurant in Nagoya. Good guy. Dated his cousin for a while before she came to her senses and dumped me. I may still have an apartment just outside Nagoya. I should check if I do."

"Why don't you hang out with any of your muggle friends these days?"

"Well, I tend to only have two types of muggle friendships. Either I simply start dating someone and then her friends become my friends. It then stands to reason that when we break up she gets to keep her friends after the breakup. They were hers first."

"I see."

"It has happened a couple of times that I get friends on my own, like Touma and my other friends from when I was working. But it ends the same way. I start dating someone and then when we break up I get kicked out of the group."

"At some point you are going to have tell me exactly what you have been up to these past fourteen years or so."

"Sure. Although it's not a very exciting story."

"Can I ask you one thing?"

"Ok."

"What were you doing in Salisbury the night we met?"

The smile disappeared from Draco's face.

"I was hoping you would never ask about that."
"Why?"
"Because I promised Pansy that I would never lie to you."
"I'm starting to like Pansy more and more."
"I just… would rather not say."
"Now you're just making me curious. It can't be that bad."
"Well, it's not one of my finer moments."

Hermione studied Draco as he avoided her gaze and considered if this was something she should push for or not. She decided she was too curious to let it go.

"Come here."

Hermione took Draco's hand and together they went out to the balcony. Draco sat down and Hermione put her knees in his lap and her head on his shoulder. The sun had just set and it would have been a romantic starry night if it hadn't been completely overcast and raining slightly. The shield charm on the balcony kept them dry and warm, but the view was not impressive at all.

"Look at the completely non-romantic weather. Life isn't roses all the time and you don't have to be perfect, Draco. I just want to know you. So tell me what you were doing in Salisbury."
"You're mean, you know," he said but there was a hint of a smile in his voice and he hugged her closer to him.

"Ok. I'll tell you. Basically I was stalking you."
Hermione chuckled slightly.

"Ok, why?"
"Well, I needed to talk to you and I couldn't very well just owl you and ask for an appointment. So I paid a teenager to ask for your autograph when you came out of your office at F.R.E.D. one day and he gave you the pen."
"I remember that. It was purple with a quote from Jane Austen written on it."

"Yes, I figured that there was a bigger chance that you would keep the pen if it was pretty."

"You made it?"

"Yes."

"I love that pen."

"Well, that pen has a tracking spell on it. It lets me keep track of your movements. You pocketed it and then I just kept a track of you and waited for an opportunity where I could catch you alone. It took a week and a half before you finally went to Salisbury all by yourself."

"Wow. That's dedication. I never suspected a thing."

"What can I say. I thought you would be a good candidate for the Minister of Magic post. Of course that's all over with now. In my defence I can at least say that I wasn't stalking you with any romantic notions in mind. I just wanted a private word with you."

"Well, things don't always go as planned, do they."
"They certainly don't."

"Well, I forgive you for stalking me. Anything else you haven't told me yet?"
"Probably. But I can't think of anything important right now."

"Then take me to your bed, handsome. It's my birthday tomorrow."

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Wednesday, 19 September 2012

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[Luna:] Do you have Malfoy around? Can I chat with him?

[Hermione:] It's my birthday, you know.

[Luna:] Happy birthday, sweetie. How about now?

[Hermione:] Sure. I'll hand my fred over to him.

[Luna:] Are you there Malfoy?

[Draco:] Sure. What can I help you with?

[Luna:] Did you see the rubbish that Witch Weekly printed about you today?

[Draco:] No. I decided not to read it. But I hear it was bad.

[Luna:] They basically think your main hobby is using unforgivables.

[Draco:] Fun.

[Luna:] An avada for 'the real Louis', an imperius for Hermione and you throw some crusio around when bored.

[Draco:] Right.

[Luna:] I want to be the one who gets to publish the real story.

[Draco:] What real story?

[Luna:] The story of you. Of tragic youth and repentance and all of it.

[Draco:] You must be joking Lovegood.

[Luna:] No. Completely serious. Must feed the press with truth or the press will make up its own truth.

[Draco:] I'll think about it.

[Luna:] What is there to think about? You need to do this. Otherwise Hermione doesn't stand a chance.

[Draco:] I hate the fact that you might be right.

[Luna:] Of course I am right. Trust me. I'll be kind. This will be great.

[Draco:] This will be a pile of dragon dung..

[Luna:] You two are buried under a pile of dragon dung. This is how you dig yourself back to public grace.

[Draco:] When do you want to do this?

[Luna:] Tomorrow morning and a photoshoot right after. Sans Hermione. Next issue comes out Friday.

[Draco:] No photoshoot.

[Luna:] Yes, photoshoot. You don't want me to use stock photos of you. Trust me.

[Hermione:] Draco just stormed out of the room cursing and looking mad. What did you do to him?

[Luna:] Oh, I just made him promise me an exclusive in depth interview with a photoshoot.

[Hermione:] That's hilarious. No wonder he's upset.

[Luna:] Kiss him into submission and make sure he reports to the Quibbler offices at nine tomorrow morning.

[Hermione:] Ok, Luna. We'll be there.

- # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # -

The guest were supposed to arrive at five but Ron and Pansy stumbled out of the floo at a quarter to four with Pansy screaming.

"Draco! Get your ass in here and tell us where Hermione keeps her alcohol."

When Draco and Hermione got there Ron and Pansy were lying on the couch looking like they had been attacked by something. Draco fetched them drinks which disappeared immediately.

"So do we get to know what happened?"
"They found out," Pansy answered. Ron was looking pale and just staring into the distance.

"Found out about what?"
"That we're living together."
"Who?"
"My parents."
"Ok. Was it bad?"
"Oh, yes it was bad. They barely approve of me owning a house, working and being all independent. They went completely bonkers over Ron living with me. Just keep the drinks coming."

Draco compiled and Pansy told them how her parents had dropped by unannounced this afternoon and found Ron levitating some laundry towards the bedroom. She had still been at work. And not being able to come up with any reasonable excuse Ron had confessed. He had gotten a rather pointed lecture from Pansy's father on proper courtship of a lady and when Pansy had gotten home things had gotten even worse with a screaming match between Pansy and her parents. In the end Pansy had just grabbed Ron and fled via the floo.

"We just left them there. In my living room. They are probably burning down my house as we speak. My beautiful house. I loved that house. Now we're going to have to move to Nott manor or something. I hate living at Nott manor."

"Do you want me to go check on your house, Pansy?"

"Would you? You're such a good friend."

Draco got up and left via the floo. Hermione stayed and tried to be sympathetic, but was secretly finding this rather comical. Suddenly Ron, who up to this point had just been staring at the ceiling, started talking quietly.

"You know what this means, don't you."
"That we're homeless?"
"That I'm going to have to buy you an engagement ring."
"Don't you dare, Ron. I will not let my father intimidate you into proposing to me."
"He's going to kill me if I don't"
"Who cares what he thinks. I don't."
"We've been together for a while. Maybe it's time. He is your father and he has a point, you know. "
"What? That I should stay pure and work on my broidering until someone shows up with a diamond ring and a promise to keep me pregnant until I die?"
"It's just a ring, Pansy. Don't be so terrified. We wouldn't even have to get married. We can just stay engaged for a decade or two."
"Yea, that would go over well with them. No, if you let them bully you into proposing to me then you will let them bully you into actually marrying me and then what? You will let them bully you into starting to work for the family business? To move into our own wing at Parkinson manor? No way, Ron. We are not giving into them. We have to draw the line and make it clear that we do what we want and to hell with what they think of it."
"They scare me."
"Everything scares you, Ron."
"I need another drink."

- # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # -

They were still waiting for Neville and Hannah to arrive when Draco got back from calming down Pansy's parents. Her house had not been burned to the ground and Draco had managed to console her parents. Pansy would always do exactly as she wanted and there was just no helping it, but he assured them that Ron was an honourable man who would do right by her whenever she would allow it.

He knew where Pansy kept her alcohol and sat with her parents as they vented about how hard it was to have a daughter as stubborn as theirs was. Pansy was not at all happy that Draco had basically promised her parents that the two of them would get married eventually. She was going to need a lot of alcohol this evening.

+ You owe me. Big! +

Hermione meet Draco's eyes but did not say anything.

+ I had to sit there for half an hour saying nice things about Weasley! You better make it up to me. +

Harry looked at Hermione with an eyebrow raised as a quick laugh escaped her for no apparent reason. Draco also had a suppressed smile. There was obviously some secret joke going on between them but instead of explaining when Harry's gave her a look, Hermione just shook her head at him.

+ Yes, just laugh. I'll make you pay later. +

There were 10 of them that sat down for dinner when Spike announced everything was ready: Hermione, Draco, Theo, Emily, Harry, Ginny, Ron, Pansy, Neville and Hannah. Neville and Hannah were still a little bit weirded out about how their little gang suddenly included 4 snakes, but the rest of them were adapting nicely.

It turned out that Emily was rather fascinating. Hermione suspected that it had not been by choice that she had joined Voldemort's army along with her family, back when she was barely of age. After the war she had left England and started to travel, as soon as she had gotten the all-clear from the rehabilitation program. She had lived in India, Pakistan and Vietnam and was now living in Indonesia. She told them stories of the magical communities there and how magic had developed very differently in South Asia. Theo told them that her current home near Makassar was more of a hut than a house, although the view was amazing.

"So what are we going to do about poor Draco over here, who is being eaten alive by the press for daring to date way above his social class?"

It was Pansy who raised the question.

"Well, that killed the party," Draco muttered into the silence that followed.

"What's going on here? Am I missing something again?"

"Well, my dear Mr. Longbottom," Theo answered. "I think I can summarize the current situation for you. Basically; if the ten of us can't come up with an answer to Pansy's question then we are stuck with her great uncle Neolin as the Minister of Magic for the foreseeable future. It will be just like the good old days when Voldemort was on the rise. Propaganda from the ministry about how fabulous the status quo is and if anyone dares to point out the problems then he gets thrown out into the cold."

"That's a bleak future you're painting up there," Harry said before taking a sip of his drink.

"Bleak but accurate. You of all people should remember how the Ministry operated back before the war. Head in the sand because everyone was to busy patting themselves on the back and telling themselves they were doing a good job.."

"Oh, I remember."

"It's going to be exactly the same with Neolin in charge. Everything will grind to a halt. Corruption will soar. The elite will love him and the papers will be paid to praise him to the point where no one can remember anything bad to say about him. But at the same time, there will be no change for the better anywhere."

"Hear, hear for great uncle Neolin," Pansy said quietly and emptied her glass.

"So what? You're planning a revolution?" Neville asked

"No, Longbottom. Not a revolution. We WERE planning to win a democratic election with a worthy candidate. Someone willing to do what needs to be done. That is totally different."
"That was the plan until Draco here couldn't keep it in his pants."

"Hey," came from Hermione. "It takes two to end up in the tabloids. Put down those pointing fingers."
"Whatever. Let them point. I wasn't careful and I messed up. It was amateur of me not to anticipate that someone would snap a picture of us in Perth."

"Yes, it was stupid. But we forgive you, Draco dear. Now back to my original question. What are we going to do about it?"

They all watched Pansy and considered her question. It was Hermione who finally spoke up.

"Well. I say we just jump in the deep end here. No backing down. No apologizing and just plow ahead as if this is nothing to get upset over. Who I am dating doesn't change that I am capable of doing the job."

"It's a popularity contest. No one cares how capable you are."

"Then we just have to get me popular again. Luna has said she would do a sappy article about Draco and how misunderstood he is. That will help. And I am planning to take him with me to the rest of the appearances I have this week and just act as if this is nothing to get upset about."
"That's not enough though," came from Theo. "We need more."

"Well, we could always play the golden trio card," came from Ron.

"Now you're using your brain cells Weasley. Appearing with Hermione alone is no good because people will just say she is imperiused or high on girl-hormones or something. But you and Potter are not as easily dismissed."

"What are you suggesting, Theo?"
"Well, we don't have much time. Can we find a quidditch game tomorrow to send the three of them to? Just Draco, Potter and Weasley. Leave the girls at home for once."
"That could work, yes."
"I think the Holyhead Harpies might be playing someone tomorrow."
"The Ballycastle Bats, yes. The game starts at two if I remember correctly."
"Harry? Ron? Are you in?"
"We have work you know."
"You also have everlasting loyalties to the golden girl to consider."

"And we are trying to save wizards everywhere from a non-functioning ministry."

"Is anyone going to ask me if I want to spend an afternoon with Potter and Weasley?"
"No, Draco. You will do as you're told."
"I see."

"We'll I guess that's settled then. Will it work?"
"No, not on it's own," Theo mused. "We need something more. Something to really tip the scales in Hermione's favour."

"Like what?"
"Like a scandal."

"Aren't we already dealing with a scandal?"
"Yes, and that is why we have to even the playing field."
"Pin something on Parkinson?"
"No way, boys. We are not getting our hands dirty by making up lies about my opponent."
"But what if it isn't lies? The thing that is sinking you is the truth. All we need to do is to find an equally damaging truth on him. He must have something to hide. Something that the public deserves to know."
"This is ridiculous, Theo. Even this conversation feels dirty. I'm not taking part in this."

"You are too noble for your own good, Granger."
"What? Are you going to argue that the end justifies the means? That is a slippery slope to take. If you don't watch yourself you will be adapting 'For the Greater Good' as your new motto."

"Truth, Granger. I'm just suggesting we go hunting for some truth. Everyone has something to hide."

"Well, I may have something."

Everyone's eyes turned to Hannah. She shrank back from the attention.

"Well do tell mrs. Longbottom."

"A few years ago I noticed that Neolin was having an affair with a married woman. The two of them came to the Leakey quite regularly. Once or twice a week at least."

"That could work. Not particularly juicy, but it's something. No one likes a man who goes after another's wife. Gives the impression that he is willing to bend the rules when it suits him."

"Most people won't care though. He could say he didn't know or that he was hopelessly in love or something."

"Well, there's a little more to the story."

Everyone's eyes turned back to Hanna who looked a little nervous again.

"We are all ears, mrs Longbottom."

"Ok, so the married woman. It wasn't just any bored housewife."

"Who was it then?

"It was Zabini's mum, and this was around the same time that her latest husband went missing."

There was complete silence. Ron even had his mouth open and Pansy almost forgot to breathe. Spike thought it would be particularly funny to make the dessert plates appear with a loud crack in front of everyone at that particular moment. Everyone jumped and in the kitchen Batty punched Spike for giving her master a fright like that.

"So what you are saying is that there is a chance he knows what happened to old Arnold."

"He may have been there when Arnold disappeared."

"He might know where the body is buried."

"Sleeping with an ex-Death Eater is nothing compared to making unwanted husbands disappear."

"Guys, slow down. This is serious. We can't be the kind of people who accuse the opponent of murder three days before the election. That's just despicable."

"We will not make any accusations of any kind, Hermione. Really, all we have to do is to tip someone off about when he was having an affair and with whom and when. It is not our fault if everyone will jump to the same conclusions as we just did."

"Without a shred of proof it is just gossip and hearsay and completely beneath us. You can not seriously be considering this, Theo."

"First of all; If Hannah says that they were having an affair then I believe her. If the papers then read more into this than there is; How is that any different from what is happening now with Draco. Have you seen the lies that are being printed about him?"

"Also, how do we know that Parkinson isn't behind those lies?"

"Thank you Weasley. Excellent point. He could easily have been the one who had you followed in Perth."

"That actually sounds like something he would do."

"You agree with them, Pansy? Is there no one here who thinks this is madness? Harry?"

"I work with international and muggle relations. I really don't know enough about the disappearance of Zabini's latest stepfather to know if there is any chance of any of this to be true. But it should be looked into. We really shouldn't allow a murderer to be voted into office."

"Oh, come on Harry. This is madness. We have no proof."

"What would you want to do now that we have this information? Just ignore it? What if he strikes again? What if this wasn't his first? What if this is how he plans to rule the world?"

"And what if he is innocent?"

"I have an idea," came from Draco who had been rather quiet up until this point. "Lets just ask Blaise."

"Ok, get him here. I want something more than just rumors before even thinking about telling anyone about this."

[Draco: ] Are you there mate? Is the movie over? Can you come to Hermione's house for a bit?

[Blaise:] Just finished. Can I bring Astoria?

[Draco:] No, take her home and then come over here.

[Blaise:] I had plans.

[Draco:] This trumps any plans you and your labido may have. See you here in five minutes.

[Blaise:] I hate you.

[Draco:] Find a floo and ask for 'Villa Villekulla'.

- # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # -

Twenty minutes later the group was working on their after dinner drinks in the drawing room when Blaise showed up.

"You owe me, Malfoy."

"I don't owe you shit considering how late you are."

Blaise just smirked at that as he threw himself into an available chair.

"So whose downfall are we plotting tonight?"

"Neolin Parkinson's"

"Figures. And why do you need me for that?"

"Your mother's name came up."

"Oh, want her to marry the bastard and then somehow meet an untimely end?"

"Not exactly, but thanks for the offer."

"She is who she is."

Harry coughed.

"Just be careful not to say anything that then can't be unsaid in front of an Auror. She is your mother after all."

"Thanks for the warning Potter but I know nothing that could be of any use to the Auror office. For some reason I always miss any interesting periods in my mother's life. Usually I am traveling."

"How many husbands has she gone through now?"
"Thirteen. Four divorces, three mysterious disappearances and six confirmed deaths. It is probably a curse of some kind."

"And no one has ever pinned anything on her?"
"No. Completely innocent."

"Amazing."
"Well, that might be about to change."

Blaise leaned forward curious.

"What have you got?"
"She was apparently meeting Neolin Parkinson rather regularly at the Leaky Cauldron. And the timing matches the disappearance of dear old Arthur."
"Seriously? That's gold. This could lose him the election."

"Hermione here doesn't want us to leak this to the public. She doesn't like getting her hands dirty."
"But you could win, Hermione. What's stopping you?"
"Seriously Blaise? You're not even a little bit concerned about what this could do to your mother?"
"No, of course not. Whatever happened to Arthur I am confident that there is not a shred of evidence tying my mother to his disappearance. In all honesty I doubt the Auror office can find anything to pin on Parkinson either. But the rumours would ruin him. Pretty much like rumours surrounding Draco are ruining you right now. I say go for it."
"But I don't like to fight like this. It's so dishonest."

"Draco, I think it might be time for Granger to go to bed. Maybe you could take her upstairs and distract her while the rest of us make our own plans for how to handle this situation."

"Seriously, Theo? That's your new strategy? Ignore me when I disagree with your plans?"
"Yes. pretty much. Pansy is on board, and it's her great uncle, and Blaise doesn't seem to mind that his mother is going to end up on the gossip pages. We can make a note in the meeting minutes that you protested, but in the end this is a democracy and you are outnumbered."

Hermione looked around the room.
"Harry?"
"I want the Auror office to look into this."
"Ron?"
"I say go for it. Even the playing field a bit."

"Ginny?"
"I agree with Ron."
"Neville?"
"Not that anyone cares about my opinion, but I find it highly likely that Parkinson is behind some of the dirt that is being thrown at you and Malfoy these days. I say he deserves a little dirt himself."
"Draco?"
"I'm with you, whatever you decide. But at the same time I'm not going to lock this bunch in the dungeons so odds are we will lose this fight."

"Wow, you're whipped. Who would have guessed."
"Shut up Blaise."
"Ok, fine. I give in. Do whatever you want."

They decided to give Harry time to talk to people at the Auror office and read the case file. If he found proof that it couldn't possibly have been Neolin then he could stop them leaking the affair to the press. Otherwise Hannah was going to tell a friend of hers who worked for the White Wizard about the affair over lunch tomorrow.

- # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # - # -

[George:] Happy birthday.

[Hermione:] Thank you.

[George:] Was it fun?

[Hermione:] No. All my so called friends ganged up on me.

[George:] Why?

[Hermione:] They want me to win the elections.

[George:] How dare they!

[Hermione:] I know. Right?

[George:] I'm sorry I wasn't there.

[Hermione:] I missed you.

[George:] Next time I will be there for you.

[Hermione:] Good.