Author's Note: I'm sorry for the delay with this chapter. We just hired two new people at work so I haven't had as much time as I wanted. Plus, I'm having problems connecting the last chapter with the final chapter that I've already written.

Thank you to Haceln Rumi for the reviews =) They make me happy! And Iris isn't the only person to hate. You'll see.

Chapter 9: The Culprit

-Draco's POV-

Ginny sent me a missive saying that they still haven't found her but are looking into the love potion debacle and to meet at The Leaky Cauldron later that evening. I'll let them still look into that while I try and figure out where Hermione went. I need to set things straight with her. I don't want her to think that I don't love her.

I try her parents' house. I know she hasn't spoken to them since May but it's worth a shot.

"She isn't here. She's with your lot." There's almost a sneer in there. This might be why she hasn't even mentioned her parents since she last visited them.

"What do you mean my lot?"

"She means that Hermione made her choice. She doesn't want to come back home and find a respectable job and try at a normal relationship." Her father says with such malice I can't believe that these are the people who raised Hermione.

"You know what. Its no wonder she hasn't mentioned you. You think that what she does is not respectable and our relationship is not normal. She's a teacher. Her subject matter is magic, but if you take the magic away, she still teaches young children the ways of the world, both magical and muggle. We love each other," at least I still hope she loves me but I won't give her parents the satisfaction, "we fight, we make up. We go out to dinner, we make each other breakfast. She makes me sleep on the couch when I fight with her friends. If that's not normal, than I don't know what is. You two should get your head out of the sand and realize that your daughter loves you and what you're doing to her, it'll only push her away."

I leave them speechless and continue my search for Hermione.

When I get to the Manor, my mother is nowhere to be found. I run to the library as that's Hermione's usual haunt when we visit my childhood home but all I find is my father.

"Is there a reason you're running as if the Dark Lord has returned?" My father barely glances at me when I stop at the door and scan the room in hopes of finding the familiar chestnut curls.

"Father, by chance have you seen Hermione?" I continue my perusal of the many stacks that make up our library, still in hope of finding my love.

"I haven't seen her in quite some time. I think she may still be upset with me. Last time we spoke we didn't end on good terms."

I immediately stiffen. Not good terms cannot be a good thing. I immediately return to the front of the library where he is sitting on a settee in front of the fireplace. "Please tell me you didn't call her that word. Just please tell me you didn't."

He scoffs at me and then glares. "Of course I didn't. I haven't said that word since you first started seeing the witch."

"Then, please pray tell, what happened to make her not speak to you since then? She is rather fond of you so it must've been something bad. How did you offend her now?" I can't believe my father is still interfering with my relationship. They have weekly discussions for Salazar's sake!

"It wasn't really me being offensive. It was just she took something I said too heart. I was being honest with her and upfront, which I never am with anyone besides your mother. I thought she would be happy that I was confiding in her but I don't think she liked what I had to say." He looks away from me, as if ashamed.

"Father, what could you possibly have said?" I'm getting tired of this. Does everyone just have something against her? Isn't she supposed to be the princess of the wizarding world – everything that is pure and light?

"Well, it was just we talked about that time and how she is a reminder of everything that I once thought was right in the world but is clearly wrong." If looks could kill, my father would be dead right now. "I thought I was complimenting her! She clearly didn't see it that way. She hasn't returned to the Manor for the past month."

Just great. How can today get any worse? She must hate me. First her parents tell her to leave me, then my father can't stand to be around her, what's next?

"Thank you for sharing Father. I have a witch to find." With a curt nod to my father I floo to the Leaky Cauldron to wait for some news. I hope that Ginny and the dunder-duo have better luck than I have had.

-Pansy's POV-

I lead Potter and Weasley –under an invisibility cloak, into my family home. I haven't been here in over a year but if I know my sister she'll be in the drawing room. When we enter I'm surprised to find not only Iris, but my mother and both Greengrass sisters.

"Hello Mother, Iris." I give both a kiss on the cheek. "Hello Daphne and Astoria. How are the two of you doing?"

"Just fine. Your mother and sister were just sharing with us the wonderful news about you and Draco. I heard he finally left that mudblood and is trying to get back into the good graces of those of his pedigree." I try to not sneer at Astoria calling Granger a mudblood. I haven't used that word in quite some time and I haven't heard it since I've left home.

"Yes, Pansy, has he seen you? Miss Granger has didn't even bother showing up to school today and will be out for the rest of the week. She mustn't have taken the news very well. She's finally gone and now Draco will bring honor back to the Malfoy name." Iris tells me, her eyes wide with excitement. Time to burst this bubble, I don't want to be a part of whatever mislaid plans my family have done.

"Yes, actually I have. I ran into him at Diagon Alley and he was asking if I've seen Hermione." The incredulous looks being sported by all the women in the room is almost worth the dilemma that they've created.

"What have you done Pansy?" My mother jumps from her seat and if it wasn't for propriety's sake, she'd be shouting.

-Ron's POV-

Clearly the Parkinson's have done something. They all look so smug with whatever it was. I'm sure it was Iris who gave the Amortentia to Malfoy. And with how Mrs. Parkinson is shouting at Pansy, I'd gamble it was her idea. Pansy looks good standing up to her family. She clearly grew out of her pug-like features. Now Iris, not so much.

Harry nudges at me and looks to the exit to the room. The Greengrass sisters look like they're trying to make a hasty retreat. It looks like Harry wants us to follow them.

"Well, half of our plan worked. Granger is gone but now to get into the good graces of Draco." We overhear them talking while heading to the floo room.

"I know Daphne. Well, at least all the blame will be on the Parkinson's and our hands will look clean. The Malfoy fortune will be mine and we'll be set for life."

Is that all these pure-blood witches can think about is is money? Is this why girls are always throwing themselves at Malfoy? Maybe if I flaunted my Order of Merlin reward money some I could attract a decent witch. But Hermione is a decent witch and she's definitely not with Malfoy for his money. I don't know why she's with him, but I'd rather attract a girl like her. No, I won't – the sound of the floo activating knocks me from my reverie.

We can still hear shouting from the drawing room. We decide to let Pansy hash it out with her family. We remove the cloak and floo over to the Leaky Cauldron where we're supposed to meet everyone. When we get there its pandemonium.

Author's Note: Oooh, what sort of pandemonium is in store? I'm going to finish typing up the story and will try and have all the chapters uploaded tonight so you'll have the completed thing by the end of Saturday. Let's hope I can keep my promise! I do have the final chapter finished and the next one is half way done so *crosses fingers*