A/N Thanks to everyone who had the chance to review the last chapter. It picks me up after a long day or week to hear if you like the story or not so please keep up the reviews even if it is just to tell me you read it...lol. Happy reading and don't forget to hit that review button!

Liar

Unfortunately when Ron got to Hermione's office she wasn't there. He noticed that his note and the stack of papers were gone so he assumed she had gone back to her mother's to work. Ron was determined to talk to his wife so he left immediately for his in-laws house. He apparated to the Granger's home hoping to find them home. He was in luck. He pressed the door bell and waited hearing footsteps coming closer and closer to the door. Richard was the one who answered.

"Hello Richard, is Hermione here?"

"No." was his curt reply.

"Does Katherine know where she is? I need to talk to her."

"I don't think Hermione wants to talk to you right now."

"When do you expect her home?"

"Look Ronald. I'm trying my best to be polite here, but I know what happened between the two of you and I think Hermione has every right to some time to think without being pestered by you. She will talk to you when and if she is ready. Now if you will kindly leave."

Ron started to open his mouth but then turned without saying anything.

"Oh, and Ronald…" Richard said.

"I expect that Hugo will be back here soon."

"That is up to Hermione. I am his father…I have rights."

"Yeah, some father." Richard said slamming the door in Ron's face.

"Bullocks." Ron said before swearing under his breath.

Ron was furthest from Hermione's mind as she sat on the balcony overlooking the unusually calm sea. She was scanning through paperwork; signing the papers and placing them neatly in a pile. Draco had gone into his shop to check on things. The villa was so calm and peaceful that she was getting loads of work done. She had also completed the final draft of the magical contract that Draco's employees were going to be required to sign. She still needed ministry approval for that so another day in the office was in her future. As she reached for the next paper she saw a note fall out onto the floor. She picked it up and read it.

Hermione,

Harry is giving me Veritaserum today. I need to know what happened. You deserve to know as well. Whatever I find out…just know that I love you.

Ron

She sighed. Did she really want to know? Did she care? Would it make a difference? She sat there thinking of her marriage and how long it had been since she had really been happy? When Hugo was born? She couldn't for the life of her remember. Oh sure, she had moments of happiness. Her kids were her pride and joy. Holidays with her friends and family were wonderful too. But maybe, she thought, just maybe she had been so intent on loving Ron that she never looked anywhere else for love. Maybe she married him too young, she didn't know anymore. This affair with Draco; and yes she had resolved to call it that; had changed her. Made her want more than what she had. The question was could she have that and her kids as well? Just then she heard a pop and knew that Draco had returned.

"Hello." he said smiling. "I didn't know you would be here."

"I didn't want to work in the office. I got a lot done though, including your contract. Here take a look at it. We need to present it to Kingsley as soon as possible."

"Oh good." he said taking the papers. He scanned them with his soft grey eyes. They rested on the note from Ron.

Seeing him look she answered his unasked question.

"Harry gave him Veritaserum today."

"I didn't ask."

"I know. I felt like telling you."

Draco sat down across from her at the small table.

"Did you find out what happened?"

"No."

"Oh."

"I don't know if I want to." she admitted. "What do you think?"

He shrugged.

"That's what I think too." she smiled.

"Oh, before I forget…" he said. "I had a visit from Potter."

"What?" Hermione asked.

"You were so upset last night I forgot to tell you."

"What did Harry want?" she asked.

"He wanted me to fire you, or goad you into quitting I suppose."

"You didn't agree did you?" she gasped.

"Well remembering how hard you hit I told him that I wouldn't dream of telling you what to do."

Hermione grinned.

"Thanks. I'll have to talk to him. I hate when they try to protect me." she said making quotes with her fingers at the word protect.

"I think his intentions are good." Draco said. "He's just worried you know?'

Hermione sighed.

"I know that. Harry is the closest thing to a brother I could ask for."

"Uh huh." Draco said looking out at the ocean. Inside he was dying to know what Potter had found out about Hermione's husband.

"What's wrong?" she asked noticing his distant expression.

"I think you should go see him. Potter, I mean. I think you should find out what the potion revealed."

"I know I should. I suppose I'm worried about what I might hear. As silly as that sounds."

"It doesn't sound silly at all."

"I mean here I am carrying on…"

"Still…"

"I shouldn't judge him so harshly. Somehow what he did sounds worse you know?"

Draco shook his head no.

"His was just a cheap one-night stand. With someone he didn't know. What I did…"

Her eyes met his.

"Well it's just more than that."

Draco felt his stomach tie up in knots. Was she saying what he thought she was?

"More? How?" he asked her.

"We have history. I don't know what to call it. But it's not a cheap affair."

Draco felt a little let down. He knew he was developing strong feelings for her. But would she ever return that? Or should he just be grateful for what they had?

"Go see Potter. See where that leads."

Hermione nodded and stood up to leave. She leaned down and kissed him softly. He smiled at her and watched her apparate from the living room.

Hermione arrived at Harry's house on the front porch. It was late afternoon by that time and she hoped he was home from work already. She pressed the bell and heard Ginny running to the door while yelling at Lily for something. The door opened and Ginny was surprised to see Hermione standing there.

"Oh, are you here to pick up Hugo?" she asked.

"No. Ron dropped him off here?"

"While he went to work. Come in." she said. "I'll call for him."

"Wait a minute." Hermione asked her. "Is Harry home?"

"He just got home a moment ago."

"I need to talk to him."

"Is this about my prat of a brother?"

"Yes. Harry gave him Veritaserum today. I want to know what he found out."

"HE DID WHAT? And he didn't tell me? Harry James Potter!" she called.

Harry came out of the kitchen and blanched slightly at Hermione's presence.

"Oh, hey Hermione. What's going on?" he hadn't decided yet whether or not to lie to her to save his best friends marriage.

"Got a note from Ron. He said you gave him Veritaserum today?"

Harry nodded and immediately started fidgeting with his glasses.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Did he do it? Did he sleep with some slut at a bar?"

"Of course not Hermione. He just flirted." the words flew out of Harry's mouth without any clear understanding of the implications. He adjusted his glasses again. Ginny glared at him.

"Really?" Hermione said feeling terribly guilty. Tears welled in her eyes.

"Really." Harry stated. "She tried to pick him up but he said he was married. You know Ron." He took off his glasses, wiped them on his t-shirt and put them back on.

"Oh Harry!" she said crying. She felt a great wave of relief. And an even greater wave of guilt.

"Go find him Hermione. We'll keep Hugo for a bit longer. Just go home and talk to him. He feels terrible about your fight."

Ginny watched Harry closely.

"Thanks Harry. I'll go home and talk to him. I'm not sure if it will help or not but we can try to work on things."

"Talk to you later Hermione." Harry said smiling slightly.

"Bye Harry. Bye Ginny."

Ginny couldn't stand it anymore.

"Hermione wait!" she called just as Hermione's hand reached the door.

"What Ginny?"

"Harry's lying."

"What?" Hermione asked. "What do you mean?"

"Harry…" Ginny said darkly.

"What?" he asked as innocently as possible.

"I know when you are lying."

"I'm not…" he started but seeing his wife turn classic Weasley red he stopped in his tracks.

"He is." Ginny said. "What did you really find out?"

"Ginny…"

"Out with it Harry!" she yelled. "I don't care that my brother is your best friends. Hermione has a right to know."

Harry turned red as well. He didn't want to tell her about her husband's infidelity.

"Now!" Ginny said on the verge of shouting.

"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked. "Please tell me the truth. I need to know."

"Fine." Harry said looking angrily at his wife. "He slept with her Hermione. Okay? He did it. I hope you are happy at ruining your brother's marriage Ginny."

"We will talk about this later." Ginny replied.

Hermione was already crying as she listened to Harry and Ginny bicker back and forth. She knew in her heart that her marriage was over. She felt like a weight was lifted from her chest. If she wanted to leave now she had a reason. It would be completely his fault and she would never have to face the consequences of her affair. And no one would blame her for falling into the arms of a sympathetic man who was going through his own painful divorce right?

'Yeah, keep telling yourself that Hermione.' was all she could think.

"Hermione I'm so sorry." Ginny said, touching her shoulder sympathetically. It brought her back to reality.

"I…uh, Harry why did you lie?" was all she could think to blurt out.

He glared at Ginny before replying.

"Ron asked me to. He said you would believe me and it would save your marriage. I don't want you two to get divorced. You are my family."

"We would still be your family Harry."

"So you are going to forgive him?" Harry asked hopefully.

Hermione looked at him in such a way that his question was answered.

"I will talk to you two later. Hugo!" she called. "Get your stuff; we are going back to grandma and grandpas."

"Hermione…" Harry said.

"Later Harry."

"Why are we going back to grandma and grandpas?" Hugo asked as he walked up to his mum.

"Don't ask right now okay?"

He nodded.

"Bye Aunt Ginny. Bye Uncle Harry. Bye Lily!" he yelled to his cousin who was pouting in her room. He had just beaten her at Gobstones.

She took his hand and apparated him back to her parents. She gave her parents strict instructions not to give Hugo to Ron in the next few days. Her mum met her eyes and understood what might be going on with her daughter. Hermione looked lost.

"See you tomorrow honey." she said hugging her son. "I love you."

"Love you too mummy!" Hugo said hugging her back. "Can we go home tomorrow?"

Hermione's eyes filled with tears. She didn't know how to answer that question.