The sun weaved its way through the silk curtains, coursing a warm feeling tingling all the way to her feet. She opened her eyes, very slowly, not wanting the beam of the beautiful Sun to blind her eyes completely. She pulled down the rich, comfortable covers down. The first thing that greeted her eyes was the handsome, tawny owl pecking its beak on her window. Smiling to her own self and feeling rather light she moved the covers and shuffled her feet on the floor.

"Aren't you a beauty? I wonder who your master is."

Her smile widened when the owl hooted in reply, on its legs was a neat scroll of parchment tied. Curious, she untied the note; as if knowing, the owl kept perfectly still and kept pecking its beak for some owl treats she kept.

Hermione raised one eyebrow and opened the scroll to reveal elegant perfect handwriting, the letters were much more closely compared to her own writing, and the ink used also seemed precious. The letter was rather long;

Miss Granger,

I'm sorry to bother you, especially since we have never contacted since 7 years ago. I apologise for everything that happened in the past, I hope you would be able to forgive my family and I. I wish I could repair all the damage inflicted upon your side. But, as you know, I can't. It's great to hear that Mr Potter is progressing very well throughout mending the wizarding world; I myself would have turn back time to change the position my family was in. Thank you for all the help you, Mr Weasley and Mr Potter had provided my family with, I am most grateful of it.

My sudden greetings were meant for no harm. I would like to invite to you to the Manor, if you don't mind. I have some important news; it is nothing to do with the chosen sides. Instead, I apologise, it has something to do with personal lives, in that matter I mean your family.

Miss Granger, your presence will be very much insisted. I hope you would be able to make it at 9'o clock this morning. Since my son is out of the country along with his father for some business, it would be rather private. I appreciate your decision.

Narcissa Malfoy

There it was nothing but a strange, out of the blue, invitation for a pleasant breakfast. Hermione sighed and leaned against the material of her couch, she stared up to the ceiling with her head tilted upwards. There was still time for her to get dressed but does she want to go? What could it possibly be? What did she mean?

Hermione sighed and placed the note on her bed. She strides into the bathroom and decided to get ready. There was nothing to be scared of and she was a trained Auror and a war heroine. Plus, the curiosity got the better of her and she was practically getting a headache to figure it out. Besides, she was a Gryffindor and Gryffindors never back out, it was a strict rule she held on to.

Hermione shivered, the cold, breezing wind blew her tamed curls frantically. She was currently standing right in front of the gigantic, magnificent doors of the Manor. Even with their snobbishness, Hermione couldn't help but agree that the Malfoys had a rather high and grand taste, just to add to their already elegant act in public.

"Hermione"

Narcissa Malfoy stood perfectly stiff, her back stuck straight rather painfully. Hermione resisted the urge to furrow her brows. She wondered why would Mrs Malfoy who usually held the perfect poise casually without effort was standing perfectly stiff. Hermione gave a small smile, even though billions of questions exploded and all of them tugged at the back of her mind.

"Come in"

Awkwardness in the air was making it rather hard to breathe. As they sat in front of the flaming fire, Narcissa spoke, her voice steady yet slow.

"I apologise but there is something I'd rather we discussed"

Hermione smiled and nodded, trying to be courteous. Narcissa smiled a little and continued. Hermione's brains were knocking every compartment about any ideas of the discussion.

"As a mother and a best friend, I didn't turn out very well. My son wasn't a very nice teenage during his young age and now, even as he steps into the adult world, he's been given a huge burden. All to repay his old act that was taught by my husband and me"

Narcissa paused, Hermione noticed that she was trembling, her perfect posture, nearly neglected. Her eyes were filling very quickly. Hermione bit her lip, unsure what to do but she continued.

"I knew your mother"

That statement echoed and bounced against the marble wall of the Manor. Hermione widened her honey brown eyes, stunned by the statement. But she regained herself and looked straight into the grey eyes that looked upset and hurt.

"Of course you did…" She broke but Narcissa shook her head. Hermione opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by Narcissa.

"That's Helen, of course I know her, its Alice I'm talking about"

The last words were spoken with trembling lips and a stream of tears on her pale cheeks. Hermione looked confused, who was Alice?

"You must be mistaken, I have no recollection of a mother named Alice" Hermione shook her head. But to be honest, it was more than once she had heard her parents talking about a certain lady named Alice without them realising her presence.

"Of course you don't, she died when you were very young"

Hermione immediately froze, but the only thing her brain was processing was a certain Alice who Narcissa must have mistaken for her real dead mother. No, no, no. But, could Helen have mistaken it too? A broken voice burst right through her thoughts.

"Your mother Alice was a proud Gryffindor with bloods of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff running through her veins from your grandparents. Your father instead was a pure Slytherin. This made you the heiress of one of the purest pureblood family"

To say she was shocked was an understatement. Hermione processed the information through her already worked up brain. This couldn't be real since she was brought to Hogwarts with the famous title of an insufferable mudblood know-it-all. This information disrupts her whole personality. But why did her parents never showed a photo of her in Helen's womb? Or maybe the changing of topics every time she talked about her life before she was born?

"Your mother was my best friend at Hogwarts and Helen was her very close childhood neighbour. Your mother lived in a muggle neighbourhood because of your grandfather's job as an undercover Auror for the ministry. He was assigned a top secret, high ranked post to be the Auror in a muggle neighbourhood. Obviously it surprised my parents but your grandfather was a respected pureblood, so nobody talked"

Hermione waited for Narcissa to continue, she shuffled her legs uncomfortably. So, she was respected, something she never experienced before the war.

"Alice, Helen and I were best friends even though Helen was a muggle when Alice and I were the daughters of pureblood families. We always spent time together, either at the Manor or Alice's mansion. Even after all three of our husbands knew, they kept calm."

Narcissa hesitated before continuing, tears brimming once again. Her words were interrupted by occasional sobs.

"Then the Dark Lord rose, he recruited members and killed those who refused to join. Your parents were purebloods but they never wanted to kill muggles, no matter what. So, they passed you to me, before the Dark Lord appeared at their residence. She asked me to keep you, but I couldn't, not when my husband was already a Death Eater at service to protect his family and Draco was already promised by the Dark Lord to be one of the youngest Death Eater when the time reached. I passed you to Helen who promised to take care of you until you entered Hogwarts."

She paused, Hermione stiffened, her throat forming a lump at the back. Her tears were beginning to trickle down her rosy cheeks. Before Hermione could tell her to stop, Narcissa continued.

"Time passed, Draco was taught with attitudes we never learned when we were young, for the sake of the Dark Lord. He was pained and he hated everyone who had much more pleasant lives than he had. He hated you because you were muggleborn yet you achieved many things Draco couldn't. I was pleased to see you growing up strong just like your beautiful mother. I hated myself for inflicting tortures on you, nothing that us Malfoys could do to change. I knew you were growing better, yet I couldn't stop feeling guilty for not fulfilling my promise. So, I promised myself to do one last thing your mother asked me to do. I'm sorry, but I loved your mother so much and as a best friend I will do anything in my power to fulfil it".

Hermione sobbed harder and asked timidly, "What is it?"

"When Draco was born we betrothed the both of you and the spell could be broken if both pair of parents was alive but…"

"Marry the dreadful Draco Malfoy!"

She was outraged, furious, after all these years, her own mother asked her to marry someone she hated. But, she realised, she was currently shouting at the boy's mother. Flushing in anger and embarrassment, she sat back down, not realising she rose to her feet.

"I'm sorry but I needed to, it was my last promise to your mother…"

Narcissa sobbed harder, tears flowing rapidly, she was shaking and trembling. Her eyes showed a pained and a regretful expression. What could Hermione do? Her own mother arranged a marriage for her, the woman in front of her was shaking of fear and regret. Her adopted mother lied to her. Hermione could not process the information that was revealed to her.

Yet, the Gryffindor inside her and probably the Hufflepuff inside her knelt down to make eye contact with the older woman. She comforted the woman and smiled, even though her heart felt shocked and pained, but now she couldn't stop her own traitor tears. Could she fulfil the promise? Could she stand to upset the woman who had witnessed such cruelty of Voldemort's doing upon her family? Could she upset the woman who made the right choice even though it meant neglecting her promise to her very own best friend?

Hermione imagined Ginny, if Ginny passed her daughter to her and her own family was also in trouble and Hermione happened to pass the daughter to another friend, someone who would have a better chance to take care of her. Even though it meant breaking her promise to Ginny, she would. Hermione bit her lip and started to understand that this wasn't what Narcissa was supposed to go through. She sacrificed her own promises and this last one would mend every promise she made.

"I'll need time to decide but I'll tell you once I'm ready to marry your son"

The last six words felt foreign in her mouth. But, she ignored and continued rubbing the older woman's arched back. Narcissa seized her last sobs and lifted her face from her palms. Her eyes were swollen and they were very red and yet she looked beautiful and unique with the grey eyes with hints of sapphire and gold.

Hermione slowly lifted herself up into a standing position and swiped any particles on her cloak; she cleared her throat and smiled.

"See you the next time, Narcissa"

It was odd to say her first name but she ignored it. Hermione went over to the fireplace and clutched a handful of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace. Glancing once more around her most probably future mother in law's house she muttered her residence before throwing the green powder.

In a swirl, she reached her own luxurious home where she had decorated on her own. It was an expensive flat but considering her wages, it wasn't a problem.

Getting a headache from the surprising meeting, she then threw her body on the couch. Before she knew it, she cried.

"But mother…"

"No Draco, you will do as I say"

"I would mother, but to marry that…"

"Draco! She's your fiancée since you were born, how could you think badly of her"

He glared away in disgust.

"Look, Draco, I know it's hard for you but please, for me"

Draco looked up at his mother, his eyes losing all its fury and disgust, replaced by the presence of concern and love. Draco loved his mother and he would do everything in his power to always make his mother happy but this, no, he couldn't.

"I'll ask for only this, marry Hermione and make her happy. I know it's hard especially as you have to take all the freedom away from you but please, son. I'm begging you"

Tears rolled down her cheeks, lips trembling, Narcissa bent down, incapable of holding herself anymore. Draco bit his lip and bent down, so that he was face to face with his mother. He wiped of the tears on his mother's cheeks with his thumbs, smiling at the lady.

Draco was confused, he loved his mother and the only way around this curse was to marry the girl. It wasn't that he couldn't marry, he didn't have anyone now and he was perfectly comfortable of marrying anyone his mother chose. But, to marry the girl he always envied and hated with his whole heart that would be hard to keep Hermione happy.

At last the only thing he could come up with is a small smile and said those 16 words that felt odd on his tongue.

"Mother, I need time to decide then I'll tell you if I'm ready to marry her".

Narcissa wiped a stranded tear that left her eye as she traced the face of her best friend in the photo. Alice was a beautiful person; she had chestnut ringlets with natural golden highlights much like her daughter and sapphire eyes, she had a petite frame and pale skin like Hermione.

Beside Alice in the photo was Eric, opposite to his wife, he had a tall, athletic frame. He had jet-black hair and brown, honey eyes, just like his daughter. In the photo, they were laughing hand in hand with each other, carefree and happily looking down at Alice's daughter. At this time, Derrick was already born and was jumping freely in his three year old state. Derrick was a handsome young man, with his father's jet black hair and his mother's sapphire eyes.

Narcissa looked at the next page, there was her own family, laughing happily too. Draco was cuddled in her arms; his grey eyes with specks of blue, his smooth pale hair and his innocent, calm face. Lucius had his neat pale hair gelled and he was smiling, truly smiling. His eyes kept on moving to the young Narcissa back then; she was laughing with happiness, joy playing on her grey eyes, her blonde hair flipping freely in the air.

Narcissa sobbed and traced the photos of her happy family and her best friend's

Hermione shivered in her long, red coat. The breeze was so cold she could hardly keep her hair intact, and her fingers were icing. Hermione clasped harder at her coat, the breeze was chilling her to her bones.

She gazed to her side; the view of the stretching horizon was utterly breathtaking. The Sun was shining its last ray of hope before it set down. The meadow seemed to go beyond and never ending. The end, she thought. In her life she realised there's no end of surprises, each taking her on a ride of violence, pain, torture, sacrifice and shattering but after that highway in her life, there would be a path of light, rainbow, hope, trust, and she realized, love.

The sound of crunching leaves vibrated into her ear. Walking on this path was a rare habit of hers. She always found this road long and time wasting. But she realized that maybe not all the time things were worthless. They have their times when they came out handy. She was figuring she loved this single moment where she could dwell on her thoughts, and view the sun setting down.

Her decision would be the path she'll lead her life on and she knew that. Hermione was always aware of the right path but now, she just couldn't decide. Trust was something so precious she could hardly put it into anybody's hands, especially if it was going to take a huge turn in her life. Should she trust Narcissa? I should, she thought. Somehow deep in her heart, there was this missing puzzle that clicked into the picture of her life. It seemed perfect but impossible to believe in. Impossible to believe but possible to happen, she thought.

Would she prefer to leave all these doubts and accept the Malfoys and her new surname Birchwood into her life? She knew that Harry and the Weasleys would still love her, they'll accept her and she was sure of it, but what about the Malfoys, would they accept them?

Acceptance was another thing. Believing was different than accepting. You could believe in that thing but would never accept. You could always accept things and never believe them too. Hermione realised in her decision she was accepting it with difficulty and she partially believed it.

The gush of wind whipped her hair again. She watched as the leaves blew in a whirlwind to the other side of the road. She slipped her hand into the pocket of her coat and dug deeper until her fingers clutched the fabric. Hermione wanted assurance that her decision was right, she wanted to be secure but she knew there's no guarantee that her life would ever be easy.

Everyone she could trust was on the other side and her new life was on the other side, she was smacked right in the middle. Somehow deep in her heart she knew she could win her new life into the side of everyone she knew, combining both her histories into a reality. Was she confident in believing herself? Would everyone accept each other? Could she trust her new life? Would she need to escape both lives for the truth?

Her heart was another problem, Malfoy. Something about her dilemma made her want to meet him, but she knew he was out of country. I'm sure he's having troubles in this too, she thought. He wasn't smacked down in the middle like her but he needed to cross the busy road to reach to her and he was doing it on force. He'll be the one who'll combine her recent life and her future and unknown past life. He's the one who'll be the pathway of her old, new and mystery life.

It was either the rising sun or the setting sun of her life. But, Hermione was certain, in both lives she chose this single man, with platinum hair and a pale, pointed face will always be around. Either handsomely smiling or smirking with arrogance she could picture both, he's not on one side, she realised, he was in both of her lives, in one he's distant and in the other he's near. Maybe that's her choice, she'll take the risk to find out about her parents and discover her supposed life. Choices vanished and there was only one decision in her mind even though she knew she had gone mental to have even accepted this decision but she already believed she could accept this. She'll sacrifice her chances of finding her life partner; she'll make sure her old life is still with her when she enters her new life.

I'll marry him, she thought. With that single thought in her mind, she found herself blown into the whirlwind of apparition, learning that this will be her new adventure. Not a Harry Potter adventure but a Hermione Birchwood adventure.

"Mother…"

Draco hung his coat on the coat hanger near the fireplace he had just flooed from. He had just returned from out of the country and he could see his mother bending over a photo album, his heart tightened. He could see the despair and lost in her eyes, she's been like this for the last few years since the Great Battle held at Hogwarts. He couldn't bear to see his own mother in such pain and regret.

Narcissa was strong, her façade had never fallen down in public but when at home, her face breaks down. He wishes he could lift the guilt in her heart but he can't. A week ago, he found a way to lift his mother's burden and he didn't like it one bit. But, Draco learned sacrifice since a young age and now he knew this decision was right to make, sacrificing for his own mother. Draco didn't need love from anyone else; all he needed was the love of his hurt mother and the happiness that used to dance in her eyes.

"Draco…" she sobbed her eyes glittering in fragile tears. His mother looked so vulnerable.

"Mother, you can't feel guilty anymore, if wasn't for your decision to hand her over to Helen, she probably won't survive in our house, you know that. You loved her that's why you did it, mother. You kept your promise to protect her"

"I didn't protect her did I? She was tortured by the Dark Lord anyway because of her birth status", Narcissa shrieked, her tears uncontrollable anymore. Her body was shaking in regret. "I should have protected Alice".

"Mother, you know you can't do anything at that time, if anything happened you'll not only endanger your life but all of us, even her family. You made Hermione strong; she's a better woman because of her past. If it wasn't for what she had gone through she wouldn't even be strong enough to handle the thought of her real parents dead, your decision protected her from the worst and made her strong"

He hugged his mother in his own arms, trying to seize her shivering. Draco felt like crying looking at his mother breaking down, she can't do this, she can't. He took a deep breath before saying the words he knew will return her to her happiness. "Mother, I love you and I'll let you know, that I'll marry her".

"Draco…" His mother sniffed, turning to look at him, with her eyes still glistening. He could see the pride in her eyes. "Thank you, son" she smiled.

Hermione was tired and she didn't expect a bunch of roses on her office table the next day. It was common for a bunch of flowers to end up on her desk but what was different this time was the same handsome, tawny owl she met with the invitation to the manor. But, she noticed the different writing on the envelope.

Placing her wand and handbag on the table, she unsealed the parchment.

Dear Hermione,

I'm sorry for bothering your time. I've decided it's best to go on first name basis I was wondering if you have any free time for lunch today. I know it's rather surprising but I was just hoping that we could discuss on the matter at hand before you meet my mother again. I don't think she'll be happy if we ended up divorced. So to ease up both side's work we'll have a few agreements in order. I hope you'll cooperate and I'll meet you at the Pavilion Café.

Draco Malfoy

Hermione shrugged her shoulders and placed the letter on her table. She leaned in her leather chair. There was nothing to do because she had signed all the documents that needed her approval and she had plenty more but they were already sent to her right hand senior officer, Mrs Ivan, to do the signing.

Hermione noticed a black folder on her desk; it was labelled 'Gerald Renaldi's hearing'. Her memory collected information of a man who was being accused of murdering five muggles in a muggle community including his own wife and child and was being convicted into St Mungo's for mental disorientation and stress deprived but according to Healer's report, he was perfectly capable of controlling his mind and actions and wasn't having any mental or emotional issues.

His defender was claiming that Renaldi was under the severe case of post-Imperius curse where the brain was only able to interpret a few orders from the owner of the body and the rest were based on previous orders from the conductor of curse itself, Cases like this are usually undetected by Healer's report. But, according to a ministry official, a report had been sent to the ministry confirming the signs of no previous Imperius curse casted open Renaldi.

But, another problem was that the Healer that had sent the report didn't sign nor was he or she listed. At the previous moment, Renaldi was being held in custody of the short term jail in Azkaban where only limited quantities of Dementors roam.

Hermione let herself engrossed in reading back the case for Renaldi's hearing tomorrow. Before she knew it, the time had reached for lunch. She had read every detail recorded throughout the previous hearings and had even gone through information about witnesses, victims and several others that were involved.

Loraine was waiting for her husband to arrive from work and meet up at their favourite Pavilion Café. Even after 19 years of marriage, she still was romantically in love with her husband.

Just then, she saw a young man in his 20ties making his way to one of the reserved seat. A rich one, she thought. The man had a pale, aristocratic face, with platinum blonde hair that was combed neatly to the side. His eyes held a steady gaze at the front door once he was seated and she noticed a very unique thing about his eyes; they were bluish grey.

The man seemed to be waiting for somebody to arrive. Loraine spent a few minutes stalking the young man she was quite fond of, even when the waitress arrive he was very polite yet he still held his gaze on the door. He must be very eager, thought Loraine.

When the pale, young man did blink his eyes from the door and flashed a dazzling smile, there was a pretty lady at the door. It seemed like he was expecting her. She was a pretty brunette with her golden curls tamed and tied half up. She had natural beauty, no make-ups but very red lips and rosy cheeks, her eyes were golden that shone under the light. She also had a petite and curvy frame, her taste in fashion also showed that. She wore a red silk blouse with a grey pencil skirt. No wonder that handsome man is head over heels with her, they are quite a catchy couple, Loraine thought.

At that precise moment where she was smiling at the girl who was approaching the young man's table, she heard someone clear their voice.

"Loraine, who are you staring at?" She turned around to come face to face with her beloved husband; he had just come out of work. His emerald eyes and strawberry-blond hair were the things that had always attracted her. The same pair of emerald eyes held a hint of amusement while he chuckled when he realised what she was doing.

"You're spying on another perfect couple are you?"

"What's wrong with observing sweet young couples?" She pretended to sound offended.

Still chuckling, her husband said, "Loraine, you always say they are perfect, you haven't even known them"

"It's an instinct and by the ways, this time, it's unmistakeable that they are perfect, look at them", she gestured towards the couple who were smiling at the waitress.

"Isn't that Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger?"

Loraine turned her head and observed closer, "Yes, they are!" She giggled and whispered to her husband who gave an amused look, "That makes them an even more perfectly cute couple!"

Draco waited for Hermione for about 10 minutes. He had already told the waitress to wait for his invited guest to reach before he'll start ordering. Draco hadn't left his gaze from the door. He sighed, when suddenly a breath-taking beauty stood at the door. Draco was astonished to have realised that the breath-taking beauty he labelled was indeed the girl he was planning to meet with.

She smiled at him a courteous smile when she noticed him before she made his way to their seat. Since when she got beautiful, he wondered.

"Draco", she acknowledged before taking a seat opposite him.

"Hermione", he replied while smiling at politely at her. It was best if they could work together in keeping their relationship neutral. "Would you like to order anything?"

Hermione gazed down her menu, she acted ignorant but she could feel Draco's eyes burning holes through her.

"I'd go with anything you pick for me" she finally said. Hermione wasn't the choosy type when it came to food and she felt rather guilty since he was paying. She realised that their financial status were equal but she still hadn't lost the part of her that felt guilty.

Draco smiled at the pretty lady in front of him and called for the waitress. The waitress; a young dirty-blonde haired girl came to them to take the orders, Hermione and Draco smiled at the waitress before she took off to the back.

"So, what's to discuss?" Hermione started once the course arrived.

"Our marriage", Draco plainly stated it as though it was one of those occasional cases in a monthly meeting.

"What about it?" Hermione asked her eyes full of concern. She was under the impression that everything was settled that she will be planning the wedding with Helen and Narcissa by this weekend.

"Well, you know what my mother wants us to be like in this marriage and how we really are going to be in it" Draco explained, waiting for her to piece the puzzles together.

"So you're saying we should pretend?" Hermione asked. She knew this was coming, since this marriage was only to take care of other hearts, they'd have to sacrifice their own. She was relieved to hear this suggestion but somewhere in her she felt heartbroken. Maybe it was the fact that she had always dreamt a romantic marriage life with her husband, it isn't coming true anyways.

Draco slowly nodded. "I mean, we are going to be civil towards each other and probably avoid unwanted contacts with each other and continue the romantic façade in front of public and mother as well as Helen"

"So you're saying that our real situation should only be between us?" Draco nodded again.

"I'm alright with that. Is that all?" Draco shook his head. Hermione smiled and got up from her seat, she felt like she needed fresh air.

"I need to go, urgent meeting, see you next time" she waved her hand, feeling bad to lie and left him at the table.

As soon as she got out, she breathed out the breath she had been holding up all this time. She was totally fine with what he asked for, in fact it was what she wanted, but it was making her crazy to understand this feeling in heart. Maybe, her hope of a nice life was too high and now they're just shattered but this was her decision. She wanted to find out about her other life and this is what she'll go through. Hermione apparated herself back to her office where there were thousands of new cases waiting for her.

"Miss Birchwood, the file of Dame Woollen's case is on your desk already. Mr Frederic insists you read", her secretary informed, at the moment she reached.

"Thank you, Amanda, please inform Mr Frederic that I will reinvestigate this case before holding up a discussion with the rest of the Wizengamot and Order of Merlin, a few of the ministry's official from this department will be called upon during the meeting if needed too" Hermione ordered before entering her rose-scented office.

Amanda nodded and whizzed off to the lift with her trustworthy gold clipboard.

Hermione sat on her leather chair and opened the case of Ms Woollen's case. As she read, she found out that the lady was still young. She wasn't convicted but she was held as witness. Her case though was complicated and needed researching because her past history offers her a place in the chair of a suspect.

The murder of her ex-fiancée which she was called upon as witness was brutal and mysterious. Suspecting, intelligent casting of Obliviation and serious Imperius were the main hypothesis. But, after processes which confirmed the memories were still stored in the victim and other witnesses brain denied the accusation. But, the oddity of the situation was just overwhelming.

It could be from an intelligent casting of the Compardio spell that allows the brain to extract memories that are only displayed openly to the brain to be able to remember, other memories are locked up in one section of the brain, that also controls magical abilities and hard to obtain unless under certain circumstances. Of course, it takes up a lot of energy and it could probably damage the casters brain too.

Ms Woollens had been scanned and it seems her brain held no such form of damage that would have been inflicted if she casted the spell. Yet, she was the only one to have not been Comparded the brain. Veritaserum had proven to be of no use, since the only thing she would do is mumble non-stop like a mad woman.

Hermione could only come up with one thing; it was one of the other witnesses. It was possible, since any wizard's brain that had casted the Compardio will be damaged and doing to others also damaged the same brain if the caster was the same person.

In this way, Comparding other's would be easy and Comparding his or her own brain would be easier, since the brain is already suffering severe damage. But one thing about Compardio spell, is it is undetectable in the brain of the caster if he or she's brain is already damaged like the others he or she had casted the spell upon.

Hermione decided there should be a meeting held and she'll call upon professional potioneers that could help in creating potions to finding out the degree of damage in brain, psychoanalysts would also be needed to observe the attitudes of the witnesses to prove the severity of the brain damage caused upon them. Of course, their brain is still working on one part so they seem perfectly normal on the outside but Hermione was sure after undergoing tests they could discover the witness who was behind it and research on how to obtain their memory from the hidden compartment.

But, there was a flaw in the idea; Ms Woollens got away from it somehow and she didn't seem right the first time they met her. She was mentally not right, in a way that she had trouble controlling her actions especially that involved magic and having a hard time remembering what she did. In the wizarding world, it is usually because the unconscious part of the brain had caused her to do it and therefore her memory loses it since the unconscious part of her brain wasn't unable to store the magical abilities used in her memory.

Hermione closed the file and closed her eyes to regain herself. She was getting a headache from reading the mountainous cases. Hermione glanced at the clock on her wall; it was already the end of her working hours, she had worked overtime again.

Deciding, she needed to go back and have a rest to clear her mind, Hermione flooed back home and flopped herself on the bed as soon as she reached.

Draco Malfoy sat on the chair with a stiffness that was obvious to any passersby who took a look at him. He was tapping his shoes and glancing at his watch anxiously every few minutes. Looking at the restless man, a 30 year old waiter with messy charcoal hair came by him to ask if there's anything he needed. Draco shook his head and politely excused the waiter.

Draco was currently waiting for his 'future wife' since 30 minutes ago. They had agreed to meet at the Fountain Sparkle Restaurant near the ministry's building. He hadn't ordered his breakfast yet since she hadn't arrived. Draco was worried she wouldn't come, he didn't mind at all about his or her working hours because they were allowed to come and leave work as they please seeing to their position in the ministry.

A few seconds past when a gorgeous brunette entered; she wore a blue silk blouse with sleeves that reached her elbow, her hair was tied like yesterday and she wore black straight cut working pants. Her dark emerald ministry high positioned official's cloak hung on her arm folded partially. Draco's own cloak was hung on the coat hanger at the entrance of the restaurant as soon as he stepped in.

"You're late", he said, eyebrows rising in question as soon as she took a seat opposite him.

"I had to read through a few documents and if it wasn't for you, I'll be attending a rather important discussion meeting but I've had to organise a representative of myself", she explained. She glared at him as though it was his fault. It was anyway, she thought.

Draco rolled his eyes, "Why bother, it isn't your concern, you can always pass on any burdening work on your workers"

Hermione sent a deathful glare and added sarcastically, "Well, Draco, you see I actually work and get paid unlike certain people who take advantage of other workers".

Draco glared away in disgust and took a deep breath to contain his anger.

"Whatever, I shouldn't even care about you," he said coldly. Hermione flinched a little at the harshness in his voice. Both choosing to ignore each other ordered their breakfast separately, they made it evident they didn't want to acknowledge each other.

When their coffee reached, Hermione decided to break the frosting ice. "Why exactly have you asked me to meet you?" she asked.

'Because I like looking at you', thought Draco. "Because I need to inform you on an engagement ball my mother planned on the next week", he said while putting his cup down.

Hermione nodded for him to continue. Draco clasped his hands, business like and said with an official voice, "By next week, which means in precisely 6 days more, my mother will be arranging an engagement ball, therefore, we need to act on that day. But seeing that nobody else knows the purpose of our marriage, I suggest we should start acting a week earlier in public so that it seems that we…" he cleared his throat before continuing, "married for love".

Hermione blinked at his rather fast explanation. Once the idea got in her head she cleared her voice and spoke, "I agree but what would you plan for the so-called act in public".

Draco gave his infamous smirk she hadn't seen for so long and spoke in a treading voice, "We'll see"…