"What's the worst that could happen?" I repeat. "Loads, Malfoy."

He arches an eyebrow and crosses his arms against his chest. "Name some for me."

I stare at him. "Ron could use your presence to convince the courts that I'm fraternizing with Dark Wizards."

"Unbelievable." Malfoy turns his back to me and walks to the other side of his desk, shaking his head. "Granger, would I have this position if I was thought to be a Dark Wizard? If I was found associating with Dark Wizards?"

"No, but-"

"But what? I won't deny that I was a Death Eater. There is the scar on my arm to prove it for the rest of my life. But it's been five years Granger. My father is a convicted Death Eater as well, but my mother was hailed as a hero for what she did in the Forbidden Forest for Potter. I have spent the last five years of my life trying to prove that I can be more like her. I think I'm doing a pretty good job, don't you?"

"What about the Prophet? You didn't even want them to see us walk into my apartment complex together!"

"For both of our sakes. Did you really want an article out there saying you were seen entering your flat with me? That was some publicity neither one of us needed nor wanted. Not to mention you and Weasel broke up only three weeks prior to that! If how he acted in your office is his response to conceiving a child with you, I'd hate to see how he'd react to an article about us dating."

I chew my bottom lip and look away from him.

"Granger. Look at me." He is leaning forward at his desk, his palms out flat against the dark wood. His body is relaxed, his face calm. "I would honestly hate to see Weasel anywhere near your child. If you let me, I will do everything in my power to keep him away from you and your baby. And I will make sure that he does not get custody."

"And how do you propose to do that?"

"I already told you; I have the entire department at my fingertips. I can assign someone to the case so there isn't a conflict of interest-"

"No. How do you propose to keep him away from me?"

"You saw what happened in your office, Granger. I can take care of it. I can also keep the Prophet from reporting about you or the progress of your pregnancy. Weasel seems to get his information only from the paper; if they aren't writing the stories, he won't know anything. And you already know about my success with keeping the Prophet from photographing things I'd rather keep in the dark."

"Why?"

"Why, what?"

"Why should I accept your offer?"

He rolls his eyes and sits down, motioning for me to take the seat opposite him. "Think about it, Granger. I am the only one who will be on your side one hundred percent. Everyone you are close to is either friends with or related to Weasel. They are going to want to see both of you happy. I hate Weasel; that much is clear, I think. I'd be looking out for you only."

He is right. Harry and Ginny love me and want to help me, but they also, understandably, love Ron. They'd want us to find a way to work this out so we both can be happy. As much as I love and trust them, they won't ever completely side with me, just like they won't ever completely side with Ron. But accepting help from Malfoy? Is that really how I want to go about protecting my child?

"Could… could I have some time to think about it?"

Malfoy shrugs. "Take all the time you need."

"Thank you. Now, about the case file," I say, inching my chair closer to his desk so I can see the papers. "Along with the Auror name, I think there is more missing from the file."

"Show me."

I flip through the pages at Malfoy's request, pulling out the log of evidence and the list of items found at the scene. "Well look here. There are thirteen items reported being found at the scene and thirteen listed in the log, but see this?" I point to the last slot on the page. "Something was written here; I can feel the indents in the paper."

Malfoy's long fingers pluck the page from my grasp. His index finger glides over the spot I've pointed out, his brow furrowed.

"But who would want to cover up a piece of evidence?" he asks.

I shrug. "I don't know the reason for certain, but I suspect someone is trying to throw our case. Maybe it's the Auror whose name is missing?"

Malfoy leans back in his chair. "I don't think so; the background checks to become an Auror are beyond extensive. They wouldn't have been approved if they were thought to be a Dark Wizard, or even if a relative was thought to be one." He scowls. "Frankly, that's why I didn't bother applying."

"Well who else would have access to these files? They'd have to have access to the originals to change anything on ours."

"I haven't the faintest, honestly."

I sigh and stand. "I have to go back to my office; maybe Harry's responded to my memo."

Malfoy watches me carefully as I walk to his fireplace and throw in some Floo powder.

"Call me when you hear from Potter; I want to know what is going on here. And keep your office door locked."

"Why?"

"Do you trust Weasel to not come storming back? I threw him out of your office; his poor ego must be bruised, wouldn't you say?"

I roll my eyes and call out my office's location before stepping into the green flames. I swear I can hear Malfoy chuckling to himself as I vanish.

I step out of my fireplace and dust off the ashes, glancing around my office. Nothing is out of place and there is no redhead screaming bloody murder, thank Merlin. I don't want to have to hex anyone today. I move to my desk and spot Harry's response folded nicely on top of my incoming mail pile. I open it quickly and scan its contents, frowning as I get further down the page.

"April," I say, hitting the call button on the intercom. "Would you mind telling me when Harry Potter's next available is?"

"It's in about a half-hour Miss Granger."

"Thank you; please ask his secretary to keep it open for me. I need to speak with him."

"Certainly. Um, Miss Granger?"

"Yes?"

"Are you all right? I went to check on you after Mr. Weasley left and you weren't in your office. I regret to say I read the Prophet article and… I just wanted to check that everything was all right."

I smile. "Thank you for your concern, April. I am fine. Mr. Malfoy and I continued our meeting in his office to make sure we would not be interrupted again."

"Of course, madam."

"Oh, April, I actually have another thing I'd like you to do. Please revoke Ronald Weasley's pass to this department. Unless he has an appointment set up in an advance, I don't want him having access to this level of the Ministry. Civilians really have no business being down here without a case."

"Consider it done."

I smirk when I hear the smile in April's voice. There is nothing she enjoys more than denying people access to the lower levels of the Ministry. She's a bit power-hungry that one. I lower myself to my seat and pull the phone closer to me before dialing the number for the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department, silently thanking Merlin that my bill to add telephones to the Ministry was not considered a misuse of Muggle artifacts.

"Office to the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department, Wilson speaking."

"Hey, Will; it's Hermione-"

"Hermione Granger! It's been ages since you last called! I was starting to think you had forgotten about little ole me!"

I laugh. "Please Will, no one can forget you."

"Now that's the truth! What I can do for you, love?"

"Well, Malfoy and I were reviewing a case file and I think someone's tapered with it. There are only three Aurors listed, but Malfoy swears he always sends an even number into the field. I already sent Harry a memo and his records also list only three names. I think someone is trying to throw our case."

"Now that is a problem. Do you want me to patch you through?"

"Not if she's busy, no. I was just wondering if would be possible for me to get my hands on the original copy of the file. If I'm right and someone is trying to ruin our case, that person would have had to messed with the originals. I'd like to see if I can spot someone wrong with them."

"Maybe you should be Head of the Investigation Department, little Miss Detective! You are a regular Nancy Drew! I'll send the case over to you ASAP. Anything else I can do for you? Please say yes, I am slowly dying of boredom over here."

"Wilson! You are the secretary to the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department; you probably have loads of things to do!"

"Yeah, and not one of those things is fun! But since you are going to guilt me into working, I'll have the file on your desk before two. Ciao bella!"

"You're the best!"

I end the call and glance at my clock. Now is as good as time as any to head over to Harry's. I adjust my skirt and smooth my hair as I stand and exit my office. I wave to April when I pass her desk, making my way to the elevators. I press the call button and step inside, hitting the button for the Auror office. I'm so used to taking this ride that I don't even flinch at the change in direction or speed of the elevator.

The metal doors slide open and I step out into the marble hallway; my heels clicking against the floor as I walk.

"Hey Josh," I say as I approach Harry's office. "Is he ready for me?"

"Of course, Miss Granger. Head on in."

"Great, thanks."

I knock on the mahogany doors of Harry's office and enter when I hear him call out. He's sitting at his desk, his glasses at the edge of his nose, scribbling furiously on an Interdepartmental Memo.

"Sorry, just a sec, Hermione; Percy wrote me another bloody essay on illegal magical transportation and how it can affect my department. I'm in the process of reminding him not to use his status as my brother-in-law to seek favors from the Auror Office."

I laugh and sit down at one the chairs. "Yeah, that certainly sounds like Percy."

I watch Harry as he finishes his sentence and then sends the memo on its merry way to the Department of Magical Transportation. He takes his glasses off and rubs his eyes before sighing and smiling at me.

"So. What can I do for you?"

"I'm going to look over the original files from the DMLE to figure out what the hell is going on. Someone is tampering with our evidence."

Harry rubs his jaw and nods. "Sounds like a good idea to me. I know Malfoy sent four Aurors into the field because I found the request memo he sent me." He shuffles some papers around on his desk before handing me one. "This is the original, so I know it hasn't been changed. My signature is on the bottom, approving Malfoy's request for four Aurors. Not three. And yes, you can hold onto that until you figure out what is going on."

"Thank you; I'll make a copy and send it to Malfoy as well."

Harry nods and then looks at me expectedly.

"What?"

"Have you seen the Prophet for today?"

I groan. "Do not even go there with me, Harry. Ron stormed into my office earlier in a blind fury."

"What? Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I was on a conference call with Malfoy when it happened; he handled it. My stupid pregnancy hormones got in my way; I was too emotional to hex the bastard." I shake my head. "Ron's threatening to file for full custody so I won't 'fuck up his kid'."

Harry's face transforms into a strange mixture of shock and disgust. "He actually said that to you?"

"Yeah. I'm still reeling from it."

"I mean, I understand him wanting some form of custody because the baby is his too, but full custody? I really don't think Ron is remotely ready to care for a child, especially full time. And he is completely wrong, by the way. Of everyone I know who has the potential to raise a child correctly, it's you."

"Thanks, Harry. That means a lot."

"You're welcome. And you said Malfoy handled Ron for you? That's strange."

I shrug. "Malfoy's actually offered to help me with the custody battle. He's willing to assign someone to the case immediately to prove I have the potential to be a better parent than Ron." I laugh. "He's even offered to babysit."

"Malfoy? Babysitting? I'd buy tickets to that horror show." Harry pauses and studies my face. "You're considering his offer?"

"Please don't sound so surprised; I consider practically every favor I get no matter what. You know I hate making rash decisions."

"What are you thinking exactly?"

"I-… I'm not sure, honestly. It'd be nice to know another person is willing to help me keep custody over Ron-"

"But it's Malfoy."

"That is the downside, yes."

Harry smirks and leans back in his chair. "I don't know, Hermione. Having an unbiased opinion might be helpful, but I think you could find someone better than Malfoy to help you. I mean, you know Gin and I are here for you no matter what right?"

"But you'll also be there for Ron."

"Excuse me?"

I sigh. "You love Ron and me; you two want to see us both happy and unfortunately, our happiness currently depends on full custody of our unborn child. It's okay, Harry; I understand. Ron is your best friend, same as me. You want to help us both."

"So you think Malfoy might be able to help because he'll only look out for you?"

"That's what he said."

"Hermione, I trust you and your instincts. Now, I've worked with Malfoy ever since he joined the Investigation Department three and a half years ago. We're not mates; I really doubt we'll ever be. But he's good at what he does and his personality has matured from a five year old to at least an eight year old." He gives me a half-smile when I chuckle. "That being said, this is still Malfoy we are talking about. I trust him with his job, but not with anything beyond that; I trust you a hell of a lot more. If you think that his offer is a good idea…. Merlin, I can't believe I'm about to say this, but maybe you should take him up on it."

My jaw drops. "Look at you, Harry James Potter! Malfoy's not the only one who's matured since Hogwarts!"

Harry makes a face like he has a bad taste in his mouth. "I'm not so sure; I think I need to gargle some mouthwash after saying too many tolerate things about Malfoy in the same sentence."

I laugh and stand, motioning for him to as well. "How about I take you out to lunch to get your mind off it?"

"Oh, even better!"