A/N: There have been some… interesting/hateful reviews that have popped up through our community lately, and I just wanted to post this here as a response: "I love being a woman and I was not one of these women who rose through professional life by wearing men's clothes or looking masculine. I loved wearing bright colors and being who I am." Madeleine Albright.

Please remember that we are all part of the same community and we should be here to support and celebrate each other. Thank you! And if any of you are ever in need of a friend, I am here for you!

Chapter 30: The Unpleasant Results of Secrets

The next morning, Hermione picked herself up off the floor and made her way to the shower. There was no need to cry over Draco Malfoy. She had so many opportunities to tell Draco the truth, and she hadn't. He had figured it out on his own before she could tell him. Hermione stood under the stream of warm water as she replayed the words that were exchanged the night before. He was so angry with her. It had been a long time since she had heard him say her name with such malice. Her chest tightened as she felt the tears coming back. "No, I do not need to cry over this." She reminded herself.

Hermione regained her composure as she got dressed. Shyla was with her grandparents for the next couple days, giving her time to focus on recovering from her mistakes. She found herself apparating to Tonks and Lupin's home, before she could think of where else to go.

"Hey, lady!" Tonks called out to her friend.

"Hey." Hermione replied quietly, "How are you feeling?"

Tonks poured a second cup of tea before crossing the room to Hermione, "I'm doing alright. Tea is saving my life right now." She handed a cup to Hermione as they sat on the couch. "So, what brings you here?"

"Well, he knows."

Tonks' eyes increased in diameter, "Draco? You told him?"

"More or less." Hermione sighed, "He figured it out. Conveniently on the same day we were supposed to discuss it."

"How did he take it?" Tonks waved her wand over her tea, cooling it ever so slightly.

"About how I expected. He yelled and then he just got sad." She appreciated the warmth of the mug against her hands.

"Oh, Hermione, I'm so sorry." Tonks frowned.

"We were just considering dating again, too."

"You and Draco never dated, you know that right? You were enemies, then lovers, and then strangers. Finally you made it back to lovers, even if you didn't admit it at first." Tonks pointed out.

"Well, then we are back to strangers." Hermione smiled sadly.

"I'm going to hex him!" Tonks shouted, rising to her feet.

"No, Tonks!" Hermione protested. "I just need to give him space. And time to think things through. I think his mother did something to him. He doesn't remember the time we spent together after the war."

"Typical Narcissa. I've heard too many stories about her for comfort."

"I just feel so horrible for keeping it from him. He will never forgive me."

"He will, love." Tonks reassured, "Just give it time."

Hermione decided to spend the remainder of the day buried in her work at The Ministry. She had been given a few days off for the new year, but she had been working on a new research paper that she was glad to devote her time to.

"Sienna," Hermione called from her office.

Sienna always had a skip to her walk. It was one of her most endearing qualities. "You called Ms. Granger?"

"I requested several research papers last week, have they arrived yet?" Hermione was looking through an unusually small stack of mail.

Sienna shook her head, "With the holidays, everything has slowed. I can send them an owl to put a rush on it, if you like." She gestured towards the general vicinity of the owlery.

Hermione released a heavy sigh, "No, that's quite alright. It will be here soon, I'm sure."

"Let me know if you need a cup of tea, or anything. That I can do." The young woman winked at Hermione as she retreated to her own desk. She began to read over an intern's research. At the top, the title read "Draconem: A New Approach to Hiding Dragons From Muggles."

Hermione groaned and let her head fall onto her desk. Just when she thought work would keep her mind off of Draco, his name was practically in the title. She gathered her belongings in a huff and stormed to Sienna's desk. "I just can't be here today, I'm really sorry."

Sienna frowned, "Is everything okay?"

Hermione nodded, trying to hide the sadness that still plagued her. "It will be." She paused before heading out of the office. "As long as you can handle everything?"

Sienna smiled softly, "Go. I'll be fine."

Hermione mouthed "thank you" as she quickly left in order to escape the confines of her office.

Draco had been pacing outside of his mother's room. His fists clenched, and his heart pounding. What did she know? Why would she have hidden anything from him? He lifted his fist to knock on the door and dropped it again in defeat.

"Come in." Narcissa called back. There was no hesitation in her voice.

"Mother." Draco approached, his voice was steady and void of emotion.

"Draco, I ordered you new shirts. The ones you have were starting to look worn." Narcissa glanced up from her book where she sat in a tall backed reading chair. He had never seen her slouch, and didn't expect he ever would.

"My shirts are fine." Draco grumbled.

She pursed her lips and closed the book. "What's wrong?"

"Why would you assume something was wrong?" He spat, "What did you do to bring forth such a question?"

Narcissa eyed the grown man over the rim of her silver glasses. "Draco."

"What happened after the war?" He finally demanded.

"What do you mean?" Narcissa had years of lying to rely upon.

"As far as I am aware, I nearly died and remained unconscious for months as a result." Draco could hardly believe he was having such a conversation. "But according to other people, that never happened."

"Is this about Granger?" Narcissa slipped, "I knew her coming back into your life would only cause problems."

Draco clenched his jaw, "This is not about Granger. This is about me."

"I only did what I had to." Narcissa watched him, though her expression was blank.

"And what exactly did you do, Mother?"

"I have a headache, please leave."

Draco stormed across the room until he stood in front of her. "No."

"Draco, stop acting like a child." Narcissa reverted back to how she acted when he was a child, and she had something to hide. Cold and distant.

"Stop lying to me."

"What do you want me to say, Draco? She was destroying you from the inside, out."

"What did you do?"

"Let it go, Draco."

"I can't." Draco felt his throat begin to restrict with anger.

They stared at each other in silence for what could have been seconds, hours, or even days. Neither could tell.

"Fine." Narcissa broke. "I did what I felt was best for you. You would have self destructed if it had continued."

Draco frowned, "I just want to know the truth."

"Go to my vault at Gringotts. There's a box in the corner. Everything you want to know is in there."

A/N: My summer Calculus course is eating ALL OF MY TIME. All of it, I tell you! 6 exams in 8 weeks kind of class. But in my need to do something else, I was able to finish this chapter. I have 2 weeks left of the course. So no guarantees that there will be another chapter before then, but I am plotting away as always. Love to all.

~PurplePygmypuff