What Dumbledore had really wanted was to accompany the Minister and the Grangers to Malfoy Manor. Given the bombshell that Severus had dropped the previous evening, he would have preferred to remain on hand in case Hermione said anything problematic. However, Fudge had been adamant that he wasn't needed at the manor and he'd downright refused to allow him to attend the meeting. So instead Dumbledore was stuck at the Ministry, fearing the worst and preparing himself for the trouble that might be heading his way.

What Dumbledore didn't expect was for Kingsley and Fudge to return to the Ministry without the Grangers. Even without Fudge saying a word, Dumbledore knew that Hermione had said more than he would have liked her to. Following the Minister into his office, after Kingsley had been dismissed, he hid his nerves and got ready to deliver the performance of a lifetime as he tried to keep himself and several other people out of trouble.

"Is it too much to hope that the Grangers have taken their daughter home?" Dumbledore asked as Fudge slammed the door to his office behind the headmaster.

"Their daughter is still at Malfoy Manor," Fudge spat. "Or should I say Hope is at Malfoy Manor."

"Hope?" Dumbledore questioned, playing dumb.

"Don't lie to me, Albus," Fudge exploded, slamming his hand onto his desk and glaring at the headmaster. "We've been friends a long time, and I've always trusted you."

"Yet there are times you refuse to heed my advice," Dumbledore countered. "You still trust Lucius Malfoy, even though you know he was a Death Eater."

"The Ministry accepted he was forced into serving You-Know-Who," Fudge replied icily.

"But that can't be proved, can it? Anyone can say they've been under the influence of the Imperius curse. At the end of the day, Lucius was believed due to his money and influence in our world. No-one was quite brave enough to upset the Malfoys."

"This isn't about the Malfoys," Fudge said as he slid into his seat. "It's about Hermione Granger. Who is she Albus?"

"What do you mean?" Dumbledore asked, also settling himself into a chair.

"She told me a story this morning," Fudge said. "A story where she is the daughter of You-Know-Who. She says she was kidnapped as a child and hidden in the muggle world. Even her parents claim that you gave her to them and warned them that she was in danger."

"How preposterous," Dumbledore snorted. "I never met Mr and Mrs Granger until their daughter started Hogwarts. In fact, aside from when I contacted them this morning, I've never had a proper conversation with them."

"That's not the story they're telling," Fudge replied. "Mr Granger is claiming his father is a squib and was friends with you as youngsters."

"I don't know any Grangers," Dumbledore answered with a shrug. "Nor have I ever known any squibs by that name."

"So you're saying that the Grangers are lying?" Fudge snorted.

"I don't know why, but it's all I can think of."

"And that story of Hermione being You-Know-Who's daughter?"

"I wasn't aware he had a daughter," Dumbledore lied. "If of course, it's even true. I can't believe I'm saying this about a girl who seemed so lovely and honest, but Miss Granger is clearly lying."

"And just why would she do that?" Fudge questioned with an arched eyebrow. "What could she possibly have to gain by lying about her heritage?"

"I know I said that she wasn't friends with Draco Malfoy, but I now have reason to believe they've been secretly working against Harry Potter for years," Dumbledore said gravely. "As you know my Potions Professor, Severus Snape, was once a Death Eater."

"A one you personally vouched for as I recall," Fudge interrupted. "You were what kept him out of Azkaban, Albus."

"I know, and I bitterly regret that now I know the truth about him," Dumbledore said with a sigh.

"And what is the truth?"

"Last night he admitted to helping Hermione leave the Weasleys," Dumbledore explained, the lies coming incredibly natural to him as he fought for survival. "He confessed to continuing to practice the Dark Arts alongside Lucius Malfoy. He informed me that Hermione became friendly with Draco in her first year, and he's been teaching them both dark magic in his spare time. He admitted to working against Harry and myself, with the aim of proving themselves to Voldemort. Now Voldemort's back, Severus wanted to embrace his true self, and he didn't want to leave Hermione all alone, so he took her to the manor so she could also show her true colours."

"Interesting," Fudge muttered, his eyes never leaving Dumbledore. After so many years of friendship he thought he would have been able to tell if the headmaster was lying, but the truth was, he had no idea what to believe.

"You think I'm lying?" Dumbledore asked, sounding hurt by the suggestion.

"I think I have two very different stories here," Fudge replied. "Miss Granger is spinning me a tale of being stolen as an infant and raised away from her real family. She also claims that you've reformed the Order, and that Sirius Black is a part of it."

"Now there, she is telling the truth," Dumbledore admitted. "You always knew I was going to reform the Order, Cornelius. And my offer to you still stands, when you're ready to believe Voldemort is back, we are willing to help you."

"And Black?" Fudge demanded. "He's a wanted criminal, Albus."

"He didn't commit those crimes, Cornelius," Dumbledore argued. "He was framed."

"Framed or not, he escaped from Azkaban and went on the run," Fudge argued. "As a moral member of our community, it was your duty to inform of the Ministry of his return to the country. For Merlin's sake man, you're part of the Wizengamot. You cannot be harbouring criminals."

"I won't give him up, Cornelius," Dumbledore said softly.

"Then don't be surprised when I redouble the Aurors charged with tracking him down and bringing him to justice, and I warn you Albus, if we can prove you helped harbour a criminal, you will be charged. As will anyone else found to be involved," Fudge warned. "I will also be conducting an investigation into the claims Miss Granger has made against you and your Order. Right now, I have no idea who to believe, but I will get to the truth, Albus. You can count on that."

"I do, Cornelius," Dumbledore replied. "I will help in any way I can, and I'm sure I can say the same for anyone else you wish to talk to. I will not stand back as my good name is dragged through the mud. This is all a ploy to discredit me, and I won't take it lying down. I trust you to find the truth, Cornelius, and clear my name."

"If it deserves to be cleared," Fudge retorted.

"Trust me, it does," Dumbledore said as he rose to his feet. "If that's all for now, I have to go and help Harry prepare for his hearing. I take it we're going ahead as planned next week."

"Yes, that won't be affected by the new investigation I'll be setting up," Fudge replied. "You are telling the truth, aren't you Albus?" he asked in a low whisper, his despair clear for the headmaster to hear.

"You have my word that I've been honest with you, Cornelius," Dumbledore swore, sounding sincere even though he was lying through his teeth. "Truth be told, If I'd known what I know now about Miss Granger, I never would have come to you."

"Then why bring the Grangers to me this morning?" Fudge asked.

"I'd already been in touch with them before Severus's revelations yesterday, and I had no idea they were also involved. I guess I hoped that if we got Hermione away from the Malfoys, we could still get through to her. I hate to think of that pure girl being corrupted by the darkness."

Feigning a sad sigh at Hermione's plight, Dumbledore left the Minister's office as quickly as he could. Travelling through the Ministry at top speed, he jumped into the first available floo and headed home. Once at home he allowed events of the morning sink in, and he slumped down into his armchair as he thought of all he had to do. He'd come up with a believable lie to save their skins, now all he had to do was make sure it stood up under scrutiny. And for that he would need the help of several members of the Order. Luckily for him the people he was relying on for help, hadn't walked out on him, and he was sure he could convince them to help him. After all, if they didn't a whole host of the Order could be in trouble, and Dumbledore wasn't going to let anyone go to Azkaban for trying to do the right thing. It was sad that Hermione couldn't see that they'd just been trying to save her from a terrible fate, but she'd picked that fate for herself now, and as of this moment, Dumbledore viewed her as just another enemy. She was trying to bring him down, but it would be a cold day in hell before he let the daughter of Lord Voldemort bring about his damnation.


After spending some time with her parents, Hermione found herself exploring the grounds of the manor with Draco in the late afternoon. He'd actually gone flying that morning while she'd been busy, but there was still plenty to do on foot as the manor grounds were more like a large public park than a residential garden. The grounds nearest the manor were designed like a garden, with lush grass and beautiful flower beds. They then led into a part of the garden dedicated to various flowers, including a stunning rose garden complete with maze. Then came the greenhouses, where fresh fruit and vegetables were grown, then there was the pond which housed ducks and swans. Nearby were the peacock enclosures, for the peacocks that actually roamed free around the grounds. And finally there was a stable, housing a few horses, and several acres of untouched ground for riding.

"This is amazing," Hermione declared when they were in the stables, where she was petting Draco's black horse, Loki.

"The horses or the entire grounds?" Draco asked.

"Everything," Hermione replied. "You're so lucky to have grown up here. I'm surprise you ever wanted to leave to go to Hogwarts."

"The manor is great and I love it, but Hogwarts is where I get to spend time with my friends," Draco replied with a shrug. "I know that can visit when they want, but it's not the same as having them there all the time."

"It's nice to have your friends around," Hermione whispered, thinking of her own friends and wondering what would happen next time she saw them. So far she hadn't even considered what would happen in September when it was time to go back to Hogwarts, but she knew it wouldn't be easy now the truth was out.

"Sorry," Draco apologised with a wince, realising he'd put his foot in it. It was alright for him talking about his friends, but there was a good chance that Hermione had lost her friends through no fault of her own.

"It's not your fault," Hermione said with a smile as they said goodbye to Loki and headed back out into the afternoon sun. "I chose to leave the Order."

"You chose to save your life," Draco argued. "If you hadn't left, you would have been on borrowed time. Sooner or later Black and Mother Weasel would have gotten to you."

Hermione didn't like to think of what would have happened if she hadn't been lucky enough to have overheard the conversation between Molly and Sirius, nor did she like to think of the danger she'd narrowly escaped from, so she swiftly changed the subject, asking Draco about the peacocks that were swaggering about beside the pond.

Leading Hermione over to the pond, Draco pointed out the different birds, although he warned Hermione to be careful as they tended to peck anyone who wasn't Lucius. Draco was regaling Hermione with stories of his adventures with the peacocks over the years, when something white on the horizon caught her eye. As the white figure got closer, Hermione gasped as she recognised it.

"Hedwig," she gasped as the owl took shape in the sky above them.

"Isn't that Potter's bird?" Draco asked in surprise when the bird swept down and landed on Hermione's hand, which she'd held out to her.

"It is," Hermione replied, stroking Hedwig's soft feathers. "Hello, Hedwig. I hope you're taking care of Harry."

"She's got a letter," Draco said, pointing to the letter attached to the bird's leg. He didn't try to untie it as he knew the letter wasn't for him, and most good post owls were territorial over delivering letters to the right person.

"It's from Harry," Hermione whispered, removing the letter as Hedwig snuggled up to her cheek. Pressing a soft kiss to the owl's head, Hermione raised her arm and Hedwig soared into the sky and with a soft call, flew off into the distance.

"Why do you think Potter's writing to you?" Draco asked suspiciously as Hermione watched her friend's bird disappear.

"He's my friend," Hermione replied in a quiet voice. "Or at least I hope he still is."

"Do you really think that's possible?" Draco asked softly. "You're the daughter of the wizard who killed his parents. Do you think he could ever accept that?"

"I don't know," Hermione admitted, knowing how much Harry still grieved for his lost parents and how hard it would be for him to accept her knowing who she was. "But it's not like I ever lied to him. I didn't know who I was. I didn't fake our friendship. We were genuinely friends, and I hope he can remember that."

"There's only one way to find out," Draco said. "Open the letter, Hermione."

"What if he hates me?" Hermione questioned in a whisper.

"Then he was never a true friend," Draco replied. "As you said, you've never lied to him. You're the one whose being lied to and manipulated their entire life. If anyone should be allowed to hate, it's you. But no-one should hate you just for who your father is."

"Have you ever met Ron?" Hermione snorted. "And are you forgetting that he hated you based on your name?"

"I wasn't really talking about Weasley," Draco said with a shrug. "In my opinion he's a waste of oxygen, and being hated by him really doesn't matter. Even though you were his friend, I can't see him accepting you. But Potter might. If he hasn't allowed himself to be manipulated again. After all, he liked me until he got friendly with Weasley and had the anti-Slytherin poison dripped into his ear."

"When did Harry like you?" Hermione asked, all too happy to talk about Draco and put off reading a letter that could potentially break her heart.

"We met in Diagon Alley before first year," Draco supplied. "I actually didn't know who he was at the time, but we chatted and seemed to get along just fine. I actually thought we could be friends, but the Weasel saw to that."

"To be fair you didn't help yourself by putting Ron down," Hermione said, recalling the offer of friendship Draco had made to Harry just before the sorting.

"Maybe, but Potter's mind was already made up," Draco shrugged. "Weasley had told him all Slytherins were evil, and he was only to glad to believe it. It never occurred to him that it wasn't easy for an eleven year old to offer the hand of friendship in front of everyone. But it's not like he's writing to apologise and accept my offer now, so why don't you open the letter and find out what he has to say for himself."

"Here goes," Hermione muttered, and with a deep breath she faced her fears and tore into the letter from her best friend.