A/N: I just want everyone to know that I don't really know that much about the genetic makeup of humans, so I'm sure what is in the story probably isn't very realistic. I apologize now, but hope you will just go along with it…he he. Hope you like! Review please!!!

Chapter Three-

"Such Language, Granger." Hermione rolled her eyes and tossed a thick package towards him.

"That contains my findings. Some people are not going to like it one bit."

Draco raised an eyebrow, "I'm intrigued. What's in it?"

Hermione leaned forward, "The proof that even purebloods family trees start with muggles."

Draco sat in a chair in front of her desk and put his feet up and hands behind his head. "Go on."

"I did a genetic study on wizards and Muggles. Muggles have 46 chromosomes. Wizards have 47. I thought that extra chromosome is what gave us powers, but I couldn't figure out how it randomly showed up in Muggleborns. So I did a study on my parents genetic makeup. My father has the normal 46 chromosomes, but my mother has the magical 47."

Draco gave her a shocked look, "Your mother is a witch?"

Hermione grinned and shook her head, "No, she just has the genetic make up for one, but the magic never manifested. She passed that gene onto me and in me it did manifest. I went even further and tested her parents- my grandmother also tested positive for the gene and she wasn't a witch either."

Draco looked confused, "It can't be passed down only in women can it?"

"No men can also carry the gene, but it looks like the mutation has to start with a woman first. The gene mutation can lay dormant for years. Your father's family history proved it. The line started with Quintus Draconis Malfoy in the Fifth Century. I managed to dig even deeper into the family history and your family was normal muggles as well until Quintus, a male, therefore a woman somewhere further back had to of had the mutation first. It's the same for numerous other pureblood families that granted me access to their ancestries."

"So you're saying that all that makes us different from muggles is one slight mutation in our genes? And that all families all started out as muggles?"

Hermione nodded, "I went even further to study squibs since they are so rare. It turns out that the majority of squibs genetic makeup is 46 chromosomes. They have the same genetic make up as a muggle. That's why they can't do magic. It's rare because the parent's chromosomes have to match up perfectly for that to happen. What's even rarer is that I've only been able to find three squibs who have the 47 chromosomes but still are not magical."

Draco put his feet on the ground and leaned forward, "What you're saying is that the gene doesn't guarantee magical powers?"

Hermione leaned back with a smug look on her face. "That's right. This proves that purebloods are the same as Muggleborns. They just have had the manifested mutation in their families for longer. The fact remains though, is that everyone single witch or wizard has a muggle ancestor, which means by pureblood standards, everyone is a mud blood."

Draco winced, "I guess that's true. Listen, Granger-"

Hermione interrupted, "What's in the past is in the past. You have a chance to make a difference now."

"I still feel bad for calling you that all those years ago, I was just jealous and angry and that was the best way to get back at you."

Hermione shot him a look, "Jealous?"

Draco shrugged, "Here I was, spoiled little pureblood boy, and I couldn't beat a Muggleborn at anything we competed at. I didn't know how to get back at you expect to pretend that I had my heritage as a one up."

It was Hermione's turn to shrug, "At least you are honest about why you did it. Even better, at least you admit that there is no real difference between us."

"There really isn't. I have another question though," Draco stroked his cheek, "What about the declining birth rate among pureblood families?"

Hermione laughed, "That's easy, too much inbreeding. The genetic codes are starting to get so close that nature is fixing it by not allowing as many children to come from it. If the purebloods would simply marry outside of the few families, the birth rate would boom."

"Try telling that to families like the Dolohovs or the Goyles. I bet my inheritance that those families die out within the next three generations."

Hermione gestured to the package, "I just wanted to give you a copy so you could read it before it goes out to the public. As a delegate, and a pureblood, the Confederation is going to look to you for opinions. Hopefully if you accept my findings, you can sway some of the other countries' delegates minds as to their blood status laws. With this, the Wizengamot is going to have no choice to overturn several older law, unfortunately that doesn't go for other countries. My hope is the Ministry can be an example to the whole wizarding world."

Draco held it up, "I will definitely read this. You've convinced me so far, but it will be interesting to read the hard proof in here. Is it okay if my father looks at it as well? He's always interested in your work."

Hermione laughed and started to walk to her door, "Already owled him one this morning. He's suspected what I've been doing for months, and he's been on me to turn over the findings as soon as the report was finished. I need to start the press releases for it. Out of respect for your new position we aren't announcing it until after the gala in your honor."

Draco stood and shook his head, "The Minister didn't have to do that, your discovery is much more important."

Hermione waited for him and they walked out of her office together. "It wasn't the minister who requested it, it was me. Between your act, and the new position, you deserve a moment of positive press. Now the world will know that the Malfoys really have changed. Now maybe your father won't feel the need to turn down wedding invitations or other such events."

Draco grimaced, "He didn't want to ruin Potter's day."

Hermione and Draco were back in the circular room, "Since when has Harry cared about what the press says? He would have rather you guys been there."

Draco was silent. Hermione called out, "Exit, please."

The room spun for a second and Hermione led them through the door directly in front of them. She gestured back to the door, "I better get going back to work."

Draco held up the package, "Thanks for the early release." he paused, "So, see you at dinner tonight?"

Hermione nodded and went back into the Department of Mysteries without another word. Draco sat for a second, letting the past catch up with him. He was really wrong about everything as a child. Now more than ever, he wished there was a way he could make it up to Granger for how he treated her in school. He sighed and started for home, knowing his father would pounce on him as soon as he got there.

A/N: Dat Panda Bandit: I totally agree, I know it's unlikely that the Malfoys ever changed their ways that drastically, it's fun to pretend that they did! I know JK Rowling admitted that Draco became civil to the Golden Trio after the war, but didn't really say anything about Lucius or Narcissa. I'm glad you are liking the story so far…that makes my heart warm. J