"What's wrong Mione?"

"What are you talking about?"

Her voice was devoid from any genuine perplexion. She was playing with her wedding ring, turning it over on her finger but she could feel his eyes on her. Following the movements of the ring.

"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about Hermione."

She gently rubbed her temple with a delicate hand in frustration. "It's just work. You know how it is." Ron smiled wearily.

"Yeah I know how it is."

Instead of pushing further, he grabbed a roll, taking a small bite. She thought he was a fool, but Ron Weasley noticed how she would saunter about. He noticed the fact that a frown presided over her face more often than a smile. It had been a month since their wedding and he had only made love to her a handful of times. The question he had really wanted to ask her was why she had agreed to marry him. She clearly wasn't happy and he didn't want to be the reason. He just needed an excuse, a way to make her happy again.

Even if it was with someone else.

...

"Hermione?"

The usually soft-spoken voice of Dr. Granger held an uneasy edge to it. He stood in the doorway holding a letter in one hand and his spectacles in the other. He was getting old no doubt, the grey patches of hair and the lapses in memory were proof of that.

Hermione looked up from her text, "What is it dad?" The upcoming NEWTS were taking their toll on the Head Girl, preventing her from sleeping.

"I received the most unsettling letter in the mail today. Before I say anything more, I want you to promise that you won't lie to me."

Hermione's brows knitted together in confusion; she set her large volume on the table.

"I promise."

His hand found its way to his forehead.

"I could have sworn that we'd raised you better. I know that we haven't been the best parents but your mother..." His voice cracked with emotion. "...She tried her best."

The mention of her mother brought tears to her eyes as anger bit at her insides. Why would he drag her into this?

"What are you talking about?" she demanded.

"Here just read it for yourself."

The older Granger handed his daughter the letter with a sigh. The parchment was brown and smelled of old books, but something familiar radiated from it. She studied the coffee brown paper before opening it.

Dear Dr. Granger,

I hope that you are well, though I do suggest you take a seat for your own well-being. There is no easy way to say this, so I won't beat around

the bush. Your daughter, Ms. Granger has been witnessed on many an occasion exchanging affectionate gestures with one, Draco Malfoy.

Although Ms. Granger's personal life is none of my business, it is yours. And as a well-wisher, I thought it my personal duty to inform you on the matter.

As you may be aware, Mr. Malfoy along with his entire family has been tried for crimes against muggle-borns during the unfortunate war.

I cannot comprehend how someone with such sound judgment as Ms. Granger would associate herself with a death eater.

Draco Malfoy himself has been responsible for the displacement of many wizarding families and the murder of countless muggles.

I have come to the conclusion that he may have placed Ms. Granger under some sort of spell or dark magic, but there is a strong possibility

that she is doing so under her own discretion. I suggest you discuss the matter with her.

-A well wisher

By the time she finished reading the letter, her hands were shaking violently and angry tears rolled down her cheeks.

"What is this? Who the hell sent this?!"

"Is it true?"

The angry young woman couldn't find adequate words, her throat was raw and painful from crying. Wendell grabbed his daughter's arm roughly, whirling her around.

"Hermione answer me godamnit. Why is it that a perfect stranger is writing me this nonsense? Why is he telling me how to raise my own daughter?"

He released his grip on her, wandering into the drawing room.

"I knew I shouldn't have sent you there." He plopped himself into an oversized recliner. "I knew it was a bad idea the moment I got that invitation."

"Stop it, just stop it!" she shouted.

"I love him and that part is true, but that nonsense about him killing muggles is a lie. He would never do something like that, he's a changed man and nobody wants to see it." She swiped at the tears that failed to cease. Her tears held no place here. She would have to be strong against the judgment and diversity like she had promised herself.

Wendell lowered his head into his hands. "Don't be stupid Hermione, he could never change."

The anger was extinguished within her immediately as she looked into her father's eyes. She could see the hurt; the loneliness within them. She kneeled in front of him, resting her head on his knee. Since her mother had died, the heartbreak had nearly destroyed him. He was a softspoken man who often resorted to alcohol to drown his sorrows. Bags took their place under his eyes as a seemingly permanent feature. On more than one occasion, she found him in a drunken stupor; clutching her mother's photo in a desperate attempt at holding onto her memory.

"Have faith in me. Please," she whispered.

His own voice softened significantly, "I do sweetheart. I just don't want you to get hurt." He could never stay angry at her for too long. She was all that he had left and he couldn't risk losing her over this. He had faith in her judgement. He always did. He just couldn't let her throw her life away for the scum that never failed to make her cry when she was younger.

The emotion in his voice was ever prevalent as he wiped a stray tear from his eyes. He then ran an affectionate hand through his daughters hair.

"I love him with everything I am."

"Things like love never last."

"That's not true Dad. I love you, and I always will."

He smiled weakly as he pulled his defiant daughter into a fatherly embrace.

"I love you too, princess." I just can't let you do this.

Here it is like I promised. Let me know what you think. ;) Sigh* It's chapter 12, that means that the story will soon be coming to an end. Thanks for reading!