A/N: I couldn't leave you too long in that state. Harry to the rescue ...

CH11 - Conspirators

The next morning, when Hermione woke up in Harry and Ginny's guest room, she told herself she was fine. She was certainly disappointed and a little confused at how things had unfolded, but this was nothing she couldn't handle. She'd survived a war and lost one great love; she was going to be just fine. This was just a setback.

Ginny watched her friend sadly. She didn't want to press Hermione for details, but she knew she was hurting. She had caught only snippets of the story. Hermione had feelings for Severus Snape; she thought he had returned them, but he had suddenly become engaged to another woman. Harry was right; it didn't make any sense. But Hermione was determined to push through it

"Once a Gryffindor, always a Gryffindor, right?" Ginny gave Hermione an encouraging smile. Harry hugged his friend, and he and his wife watched her disappear into the Floo.

Hermione went back to her flat and dressed for work. Ah, work. For Hermione, work was a sanctuary for the brokenhearted; it was the place where Hermione had initially fled when Viktor had been killed. The champion of the downtrodden attacked her work like a woman possessed. She went through the pile of cases she had been working on, sending out a flurry of Owls and memos to the various Ministry departments. She soon found herself looking at her pile of less urgent cases and ploughed through many of those as well. Rachel, her assistant quietly placed a lunch on her desk. She smiled and said thanks shyly. Then next thing she knew, Rachel was back again, letting Hermione know she was leaving for the day.

"Shall I have dinner delivered for you Hermione?"

"Yes, please."

She continued like this for several days. Harry showed up for lunch several times, as Rachel had secretly owled him asking him to help. At the beginning of the second week, the letter arrived that she'd been dreading. She saw the Malfoy crest and immediately her heart sank again. Hands trembling, she opened the envelope. She saw Lucius and Narcissa's name, along with the formal lettering of a party invitation. She read the words 'engagement' and 'Lyra' and she could read no more. She tossed the invitation unceremoniously into the trash bin and cast a small Incendio. The response card, which had fallen out of the envelope onto her desk, mocked her.

She quickly picked it up, wrote her 'regrets', and tossed it into her outbox. She knew it would disappoint Lyra, and it really wasn't her fault, but there was a limit to Hermione's graciousness. She wouldn't torture herself unnecessarily.

A few days later, she was in Diagon Alley picking up a few supplies when she spotted him. He had the nerve to try to catch her eye. She felt the urge to run away; but her stubbornness kicked in. She had things she needed; she was not going to run away.

"Hermione," he said politely as she passed him.

"Severus, how are you?"

"Fine, thank you. Do you have a moment?"

"I am in a bit of a hurry, Severus. I can spare just a moment."

"Well, I'm sure you know, the Malfoys are throwing a huge engagement party. I was wondering … " he froze. He had seen the look of terror on her face. Did she know what he was about to ask?

"I sent my regrets, Severus. I'm sure you can understand how that particular event would be a bit uncomfortable for me to attend. "

"Of course, well, in that case, Hermione, I was hoping that we could have lunch sometime. I enjoyed talking with you when we were working together. I had hoped we could continue our friendship."

"I don't know if that's a good idea, Severus. I'm sorry." She turned and started away quickly. Severus was stunned. Hermione Granger may not have always been tactful, but he certainly didn't expect rude. Something wasn't adding up.

Ginny Potter applied her make-up charms and headed down the stairs to where Harry was waiting for her. She was excited for a night out with Harry. The fact that it was going to be a high society party only made her slightly giddier. Harry had taken the kids to the Burrow, they were on their own for the night.

Harry was less thrilled about the party, but he knew how much Ginny needed a night out. And Oliver was a good friend. Oliver had Floo called Ginny a few days before, apologizing profusely that there had been a mix-up with their invitation. Ginny had happily accepted his verbal invitation. Ginny and Harry were glad to see him moving forward with his life. When Ginny walked into the kitchen, Harry's heart leapt. Mrs. Potter was a striking woman. Harry counted himself a very lucky man.

"Well, shall we?" He offered his arm to his wife.

"Absolutely," she said with a grin. Harry Apparated them to the Apparition Point near Oliver's home. They entered the foyer and were greeted by a house-elf, who took their coats and brought them a drink. Ginny and Harry began to mingle.

Harry was surprised to see Draco and Astoria Malfoy at the party. Then again, Astoria was Hermione's friend; it was possible that Draco and Oliver had become friends while he and Hermione were together. However, that didn't explain why Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy were at the party, dressed in their finest. Oliver and his mystery woman were nowhere to be seen. But perhaps the biggest shock came when Harry spotted Severus Snape. He was standing off to the side of the room. He was talking to Kingsley Shacklebolt. He appeared to be alone. Harry shook his head to clear it.

Harry leaned over to Ginny and whispered, "I don't think you ever told me Oliver's fiancee's name."

Ginny paused. "You are right. And you know what is even more interesting, I'm not sure I know her last name. I only met her the one time. She's nice, very intelligent, extremely pretty, and reasonably funny. Her first name is Lyra."

Harry, who had just taken a drink, swallowed hard to keep from choking. "What does she look like?"

Ginny's eyes narrowed. "Tall, willowy, blonde, almost like a young Narcissa Malfoy. But she's a Muggle."

Harry's confusion was reaching a fevered level. "You said she is a Muggle. Are you sure she's not a Squib?"

Ginny stopped and thought. "I don't remember what he said about her that made me think she is a Muggle. He may have said it directly, or I may have inferred it. What are you getting at?"

"You know Draco's sister, the one Hermione defended along with Snape and Draco?"

"Well, I never met her, but I heard you and Hermione talk about her. She's the one marrying Snape, right?"

"I'm beginning to think not," Harry said. "Her name is Lyra. She's a Squib."

"Oh, my." Ginny clapped her hand over her mouth. "If that's true, then … "

"Then Hermione's confused … "

"It can't be."

Just then, Lucius Malfoy walked to the center of the room and cast a Sonorus Charm.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming here tonight. Lady Malfoy and I are so pleased you could join us to celebrate the engagement of our daughter, Lyra Alexandria Malfoy, to Oliver Wood. As many of you know, they have been courting for just over a year now. Lady Malfoy and I are very pleased with the union, and we welcome Oliver into our family. May I have a round of applause for the happy couple!"

Oliver Wood walked into the room with Lyra Malfoy on his arm. Harry's jaw dropped. It all made sense now. Snape was interested in Hermione. Lyra was concerned about Hermione's reaction, but for an entirely different reason than Hermione thought. Hermione was Oliver's longtime ex-girlfriend. Draco had also guessed wrong about Hermione's feelings. Heavens, this was a mess. Severus and Hermione, while both intelligent people, were both inexperienced in matters of the heart. She had always been oblivious to attention from the opposite sex, and Harry doubted Snape had actually received much of that type of attention. Something had to be done.

Harry waited impatiently through the toasts. His eyes scanned the room for Snape. Harry knew he probably wasn't the one to talk to Snape about Hermione; he couldn't imagine that would go well. Who could help him? He spotted Astoria Malfoy. She was his answer. She would be able to talk to Severus, and she cared about Hermione enough that there was no doubt that she would help.

"Ginny, please come with me."

"What are you up to?"

"I'm going to talk to Astoria and Draco. We need to help Hermione."

A few minutes later, after a great deal of whispering between Harry, Ginny, Astoria and Draco, Draco Malfoy crossed the room to his Godfather. More whispering followed. Shortly thereafter, Severus Snape gave his apologies to the party hosts and left quietly. Severus Snape was a known recluse, so nobody thought much of him making a quick appearance and then leaving. Well, nobody except the Potters and the Malfoys. Lord and Lady Malfoy didn't fully understand the urgency of his departure, but Draco's determined look told his parents that they should not pry. All would be revealed in good time.

A/N: Things are looking up... Now at least Severus understands why she was cold to him.