A/N: Hello my lovelies. I hope you all have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving. I'm glad you all liked the last chapter. Here we see some of the fallout from the HG/RW breakup.

Special Thanks: To my beta TabiPrewett, I very much appreciate all you've done for me and this story. You are an awesome lady.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter characters, nor do I make any money from this. I simply like to play with the characters because I truly disliked the epilogue and tend to ignore it as best as I can.

Chapter 5

It was all over the Daily Prophet a week later. There was picture that had been taken just after the end of war with where the all three of them. Hermione was standing in between both Ron and Harry, her arms over both boy's shoulders as they each had an arm slug around her waist, all three of them were grinning happily while still covered in dirt and grime from the battle. The headlines read: "Trio of Heroes: Not Golden Any Longer." With a frown marring Hermione's features, she read what Rita Skeeter had written about them.

The paper said that Hermione and Ron had broken up, and that Harry was now torn between his two best friends. It also claimed, that Harry's wife, Ginny, had of course, sided with her brother and was demanding that Harry kick his long-time best friend, Hermione, out of their shared home.

Hermione snorted at reading that while sitting in the kitchen of Grimmauld Place, drinking her coffee. Ginny hadn't taken Ron's side, and the only person that either Harry or Ginny wanted to kick out, was Ron. They've never gotten anything right in the paper before, why would this be any different, she wondered.

Though, the curly haired witch was curious how Rita found out about their breakup at all. Hermione knew she hadn't told anyone outside of those living at Grimmauld Place. She doubted Harry or Ginny would have said anything either. Neither would Ron for that matter. He wouldn't want it getting out that he was a cheater, who had been busted mid-coitus with another witch. Lavender wouldn't want to risk being seen as a trampy home-wrecker, so that twit wouldn't have dared breathe a word of it either.

Not having an answer, the brunette moved down the article and kept reading. Hermione saw where she was essentially depicted as a harpy who did nothing, but rant and complain to Ron about everything. Ron had been the abused one in the relationship, taking all the horrible treatment from Hermione for years. He had supposedly wanted to marry Hermione for years, but Hermione was dragging her feet. Holding out for the real person she wanted to marry. Harry.

Since Harry had more fame and money than Ron did, that was whom Hermione clearly wanted instead. Harry being married to Ginny had supposedly meant little to the curly haired brunette, and rumor had it that she'd even tried to seduce him once when Ginny was away.

Hermione's mouth was wide open in shock as she read more. It was all lies, as usual, considering Rita was the one who had written it, but these lies were worse than anything Rita had ever published about her before.

Rita claimed to have a very reliable source, but then again, the snotty witch always claimed that. Hermione shook her head softly, sighing as she finished reading what all had been written.

Everything written in the article had one main point. Hermione, according to the paper, was nothing more than a money hungry shrew, who didn't care who she hurt in her quest for fame and power. Ron was made out to be the victim in all of this and Harry was shown as a confused man who simply loved his friends too much to choose. Even if Harrys wife had turned on Hermione and wanted her gone for good.

Fuming, Hermione threw down the paper on the kitchen table, and with a flick of her wand, set the horrible thing on fire with a spell that would burn the paper, but did not even scorch the table it rested on. It gave her no satisfaction to watch it burn into nothing, but a pile of ash.

Head resting on her hands, Hermione knew the howlers would start soon. People from all over the wizarding world would be sending nasty little notes to her, some with mild jinxes to show how horrible they thought she was. Not that any of it was their business, but that wouldn't matter to any of the wizarding folk that read the paper.

Hermione heard someone running down the stairs seconds before the kitchen door burst open. She saw Ginny pause as the redhead looked at Hermione, taking in the pile of ashes on the table.

Hermione looked at her friend, her anger fading as despair settled in on her. She feared Ginny would believe the lies that had been printed about her.

Hermione opened her mouth, ready to swear that she never tried to seduce Harry when Ginny spoke in a rush. "I hoped you hadn't read that yet. I swear I'm going to strangle that woman this time. Hermione, are you alright?"

Hermione frowned slightly. "You're not angry with me?"

Ginny gave her a perplexed look. "Why would I be angry with you? I know it's not true what Rita wrote. I know you're not the least bit interested in Harry. He's almost like a brother to you with how close you two have always been. Plus, you don't give a damn about money or fame. If you did, you wouldn't have stayed with Ron as long as you did. You would have tried to use your own fame to move up at work, but you didn't. You've never cared about any of that."

Hermione sighed in relief. "Thanks, Gin. I was worried you would...believe at least some of what Rita wrote."

Ginny was interrupted from answering by a tapping on the kitchen window. The redhead went over and opened it. A large brown owl flew over and dropped a letter in front of Hermione before flying off. Not even stopping for a treat before it left.

Hermione picked up the letter and saw by the bright red envelope that it was indeed a howler. Seeing it start to smoke, Hermione quickly placed a spell on it that she'd found years ago. She watched as a large bubble encased the letter, drowning out the noise of the owner's voice. When it reached its end, the damn thing exploded, covering the bubble with a yellowish, slimy goo.

"Wonderful, they've started already." Hermione said, shaking her head in resignation.

"I don't think I've ever seen one leave slime before." Ginny said as the bubble popped, taking the mess with it as it disappeared.

Hermione chuckled. "I don't think I have either. I'm glad I found that bubble spell, otherwise, we'd both be a mess right now."

Both were laughing softly when another tap sounded at the window. With a sigh, Hermione opened it, and left it open. She didn't want to be getting up and down all day.

Since they were addressed to Hermione, the howlers didn't start to smoke unless she touched them. They quickly devised a plan where Ginny picked them up, and if they were indeed howlers, they were quickly placed in the bubble spell.

Some were just plain howlers that only yelled, but the sound never penetrated the bubble. Some were more complex, and once it reached the end, they exploded. Leaving different messes behind like slime, mud, or a cloud of what looked like itching powder instead of simply shredding itself. A few made the bubble wobble a bit as different hexes were shot out from the howler, before it shredded itself and burst into tiny flames, leaving a pile of ash.

By the colors of light that echoed in the bubble, Hermione was able tell which jinxes were sent to her. Some were stinging hexes, some were jelly leg curses, one looked like the slug vomiting charm. Hermione merely frowned and kept using her wand to capture the howlers before they were set off.

Hours passed and Hermione became frustrated beyond belief. Didn't anyone realize that Rita was full of crap? Didn't anyone know her well enough to know that she wasn't anything like the article depicted? Did everyone actually assume she really was a harpy and Ron really was just a victim in the whole mess?

Hermione was about to charm the window to keep the owls out when a black raven flew inside. Hermione growled in annoyance at receiving something new, but as she raised her hand to place the bubble around it, she saw that it wasn't a howler. It was a rolled-up parchment with familiar handwriting on it.

Waving her wand to check for hidden spells or charms, she found it was just a normal letter. Curious, she picked it up, still a bit leery in case the charms had been well hidden and were unable to be detected.

Opening it up, she sighed in relief when she saw the signature at the bottom. It was from her former potion's professor.

Miss Granger,

I saw today's paper and wanted to express my sympathies for the horrible article that was written about you. I figure you will have been bombarded by idiots sending out howlers, and I hope you didn't simply vanish my letter before reading it, thinking its just another howler.

I'm not sure how much of what I read is true considering who wrote it. However, if the part where you are no longer dating the moronic Weasley is true, then let me offer you my congratulations on wising up and escaping from that brainless buffoon. If not, I hope you do indeed wise up soon.

You are too intelligent and talented to be wasting your time with that one. I can only shudder at the image of what any spawn of that boy would not only look like, but how mentally impaired they would certainly be. Even with your brilliant gene pool mixed in, they undoubtedly would be complete dunderheads like their father. Be glad you didn't ever breed any offspring with him. I know that I, for one, am glad you are finally rid of him.

If the paper was a complete lie and you are still with him...please accept my apologies for being so honest about his shortcomings and insulting your taste in men. However, what I said is all true and you can do much better than him.

I was hoping you would join me for lunch today, but I'm sure you are busy dealing with the howlers. Perhaps you would join me instead for dinner this evening. We could go into muggle London, so you wouldn't be bothered further by any witches or wizards that might see you and decide to comment further on today's headlines.

My raven is awaiting your answer. I'll even let you pick where we dine, if you'd like.

Sincerely,

Severus Snape

Ginny glanced at the letter and snickered. "Sincerely? Has the man ever been sincere about anything?"

Hermione smiled. "I don't know. Maybe not, but...maybe this time he is sincere."

Ginny quirked an eyebrow. "Does that mean you're going to accept his invitation to dinner?"

Hermione shrugged. "I don't know. Do you think I should?"

Ginny pondered that for a moment, but before she could answer, they were again interrupted by another owl, carrying yet another howler. After it was dealt with Ginny smiled. "I think you should. It'll give you a few hours away from all of this and who knows...you might enjoy a date with Snape."

The raven squawked at them, letting them know it didn't want to wait all day for them to give him a reply to take back to his owner.

Hermione sighed. "It wouldn't be a real date. I'm not sure I want to go out on a real date with Snape. He's...kind of rude and surly."

Ginny giggled. "Yes, but he's kind of sexy too."

Hermione gasped in shock. "Ginny!" She was glad Harry was gone. If he'd been uncomfortable at the mere thought of Hermione maybe going on a date with the dark man, he sure as hell would be upset hearing his wife say Snape was sexy.

Ginny giggled again. "Well, he is. He's dark and mysterious, which is always alluring. He's not that bad to look at, especially now that he's taking care of himself, and we all know that he was really on our side during the war, so he's not evil or anything. Besides, you have to admit that his voice is all silky and dreamy. Couldn't you just melt simply by listening to him speak? He could be telling me the most boring of stories and I'd listen intently just to hear his deep voice curling around each word."

Hermione stared at her friend in shock. "Tell me you're joking."

Ginny shrugged while still smiling. "I was never once late to any of his classes and always paid attention. It wasn't because I was afraid of what he'd do as punishment either."

Hermione shook her head. "I...I don't need to imagine you lusting after Snape simply over his voice."

Ginny smirked, a mischievous look in her eyes. "Sometimes, I imagine Snape's voice talking to me when Harry and I are..."

"Stop." Hermione said, cutting her off. "Please, for the love of Merlin, don't finish that sentence. Eww, Ginny. I don't want to picture you and Harry doing...well anything. Ick."

Ginny chuckled softly. "So…are you going to go?"

Hermione glared. "Are you going to keep telling me things I don't want to hear if I say no?"

A grin on her lips, Ginny spoke. "Absolutely." Hermione scowled and Ginny went on. "Look, if you don't want it to be a date, then tell him so in your reply. I think you should go, though. It'll be good for you to get out and away from all of this for a few hours."

Hermione sighed, knowing Ginny did have a bit of a point. "Alright, I'll go."

The curly haired witch scribbled out a short reply and gave it to the raven who simply glared at her. There was no doubt that this was Snape's bird. The damn thing acts just like him.

With a treat, that the raven glared at before taking, the bird flew off with her letter of reply. Hermione hoped this didn't turn out to be a mistake, but it was too late to take the response back.

Severus was sitting in his den with Lucius waiting for a reply to his letter. Lucius had come by earlier with a copy of the Daily Prophet in hand asking if Severus had seen today's paper yet. The blond-haired man was very angry at what he'd read. The aristocrat hadn't believed a word of what it said about Hermione, but it still angered him that it had been written at all.

Severus had been surprised at seeing Lucius upset about something that didn't even concern him, but he didn't say a word about it. He had seen the way Lucius had been watching Hermione at the Christmas party several days ago. He had seen too, the way Lucius had been upset by her reaction to him. Not that either wizard blamed the young woman.

Something traumatic had happened to her in Lucius' home and it wasn't something easily forgotten, or easily forgiven. Lucius hadn't wanted her harmed in his home, the man had already been having second thoughts about supporting Voldemort at that point. However, a person didn't simply stop being a Death Eater, simply because they you realized the man they you were helping was a crazed lunatic.

If you wanted out and wanted to be free of Voldemort and his followers, the only way out was death. It wouldn't have been a simply or easy death either. Lucius would have been forced to watch his family tortured. His wife would have been raped repeatedly, while being beaten. Then, Lucius would have been forced to witness her very slow and painful death

His son would have been tortured into insanity, then beaten horribly, before being murdered in front of his father as well. That didn't even bring into account all that would have been done to the blond man that would be considered a traitor. Lucius would have been treated so much worse than his family, after, of course, he had seen the horrible things done to his wife and child.

Lucius may not have loved his wife, but he didn't want her hurt over his mistakes. She might have agreed with him supporting the monster, may have even supported the monster herself, but he couldn't have her blood on his hands by going against Voldemort.

Which meant, he had been forced to watch Hermione being tortured in order to save his family. He had been forced to join in on the taunts. He had itched to step in, to stop it, but he knew he couldn't. It would have meant death and terror for them all if he did.

His stomach had churned at seeing her writhing in agony. His heart had ached at hearing each scream that was torn from her, but he had forced himself to look pleased, as much as he could, at her pain. Forced his laugh out to hide the sob clawing at his throat as tears ran down her cheeks.

He could have blocked the spell sent at him when her friends got free. His home was so strongly warded, that he had felt the slight shift in his wards when they'd gotten loose. He had quietly chanted in his head for them to hurry. , fFor them to stop what he couldn't stop. He couldn't bear to hear any more screams from the wild haired witch on the floor of his office.

When he saw Potter raise his wand, he'd made his own response to block it slow. He'd sent his own spell to disarm the others in the room before he'd been hit. It had seemed like the spell had knocked him and made him miss his spell of disarmament. Only, it hadn't been an accident, he'd done it on purpose.

When he came to again, he'd had Bella screaming at him, blaming him for their escape. Saying if he hadn't been so stupid and paid closer attention, he wouldn't have disarmed them by mistake. Lucius had acted contrite, like he was meant to. Ranted about the Mudblood and blood traitors having gotten away like it was expected of him. Inside, he'd been glad they'd gotten away.

He'd taken the Cruciatus curse sent at him from the Dark Lord for his mistake. He had taken the punishment by Bellatrix afterward too. She had been angry that not only had she failed her lord, but she'd been punished too. Not nearly as bad as Lucius, but still she was punished.

Draco was the only one at the time who knew what he'd done. His son was no fool and he knew his father was quick enough and skilled enough to take on a few teenagers with stolen wands.

Draco had gone to Lucius while he sat in his own dungeon afterward. He had brought him food when no one was looking, since the elves were being closely watched by Bella. The crazy witch even had Narcissa demand the elves not attend anyone in the dungeons, not even their master. Not that they would have ignored the calls of help from their master, even if forbidden to help like their mistress demanded. They were bound to Lucius first and foremost after all, as master of Malfoy Manor. However, Lucius didn't want them punished because of him and refrained from calling on them.

Instead, Draco had healed his wounds as best as he could under his father's careful, but softly spoken, instructions. Had done what he could to help when Lucius was imprisoned in his own home. Though, Lucius wouldn't allow Draco to fully heal him. The older man told Draco to leave enough bruises to not gain suspicion, otherwise, Draco could find himself sitting in a cell alongside his father. Bellatrix wouldn't have thought anything of torturing her nephew to teach him a lesson if he'd been caught aiding his father.

Narcissa had hissed icily at him once he'd been released from his cell. Told him he was a fool to have let them get the drop on them. Asking coldly how Lucius missed his own wards signaling their escape. Lucius had bit back the scathing retort to his wife, and instead simply said in all the excitement of seeing the Mudblood tortured, he'd somehow not felt the shifting of his wards. The words leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

Narcissa had been placated by his response, but still sneered that he should have been more vigilant, and t. That his mistakes could have cost his family more. They could have fallen into further disgrace in their Lord's eyes.

Then, she'd proceeded to tell him how Lucius needed to make amends to their Lord. To show everyone that the Malfoy's were still a force to be reckoned with, t. That they were still loyal and deserving of Voldemort's goodwill.

It had taken everything in Lucius not to snort in derision at the thought of the Dark Lord having any kind of goodwill towards anyone. His favorite form of punishment was the Cruciatus curse. His favorite form of praise was to wax on poetically about how everyone, but you, had failed him. Which only caused hatred and jealousy among his ranks, since this was done publicly.

When it came time to fight at the Battle of Hogwarts, Lucius had sent hexes towards his fellow Death Eaters, hoping to help Potter and his friends win the battle. He didn't want the snake like monster to win. He didn't want a world where his son had to constantly fear for his life if he made the slightest mistake. Taking hits from the side of light as he still tried to help them without their knowledge.

Lucius hadn't known of Snape's spying. Not fully. He'd seen things that made him question Snape's true loyalty, but he had never had enough proof to confront the man. Lucius had feared saying anything in case Snape was truly loyal to only Voldemort. Feared it getting out that Lucius wasn't as loyal to their master as he seemed.

Lucius had seen Snape doing the same as he during the battle, firing at their fellow Death Eaters and missing on purpose when he fired at the other side. Sending out mild stinging hexes if he hit an Order member on purpose.

Snape had seen Lucius witness what he'd done and was about to turn his wand on his old friend when he saw Lucius doing the same thing. Shocked, the dark man had stood there for a moment as he saw Lucius do it again. Miss hitting a student or Auror, and then firing at a Death Eater to take them down when the Death Eater was busy fighting someone else.

With a nod at the blond man, who nodded in return, they then started to watch each other's backs. Sending out shielding spells to each other if one of them didn't see a hex sent their way.

When the battle was over and the trials started, Snape was cleared of all charges. Dumbledore had already left a memory vial as evidence of Snape's true loyalty. His portrait spoke on his behalf as well, and together it cleared the potion's master.

When it was Lucius' turn on trial, no one spoke for him. Not even his own wife. His son had tried to speak for him, but he had not been allowed to testify due to his own trial starting soon. It had been Snape who finally stepped up and testified on Lucius' behalf at his trial. Saying the man had fought hard at the final battle to help them to overthrow Voldemort in the end. Snape even took Veritaserum to show he spoke the truth about what Lucius did during the final battle.

Snape had been able to keep Lucius from receiving a life sentence, but Lucius still served his short time in prison for what he had done before changing sides. Lucius was grateful to have been granted a short sentence for his crimes. Though at times he felt he deserved a far greater punishment.

Now the long platinum haired man was pacing in Severus' den angered by what was written about the same woman he'd watched tortured in his home. Severus watched in silence as his normally calm and controlled friend threatened retribution on the reporter who wrote the mass of lies as he paced back and forth.

Lucius paused in his anger and his steps when he saw Severus looking at him curiously. "What is it, Severus?" He growled at his longtime friend.

Severus shrugged lightly. "I am merely curious why you even care about the witch or what was said."

Lucius sighed. "I...she has lived through so much...I don't want her to have to suffer further."

Severus quirked a brow. "Interesting. So...why is it your duty to help keep her from suffering more?"

Lucius sighed again, before finally taking a seat on one the chairs in the den. "It's not my duty, per say, it's just...I owe her." He finished quietly.

Severus nodded. "You were not the one who sent the Cruciatus curse at her that night, Lucius. You even helped, in a way, her and her friends escape." They'd discussed this very thing many times. Lucius one night after drinking several glasses of Ogden's Finest had confessed to knowing they were free. Of missing on purpose and helping them escape. By allowing his wards to drop so they could apparate to missing on purpose and helping them escape, and by allowing his wards to drop so they could apparate away.

Lucius leaned back in his chair, his hand on the his cane that still held the silver serpent. "I know what I did, but it isn't enough. I've done what I could to make amends to everyone. Everyone but her. I still owe her."

Severus frowned. "She wouldn't take your offer of help?"

Lucius shook his head. "I've yet to make any kind of offer to her. I...I didn't think she'd accept anything I was willing to give her."

Severus' brows rose. "You went to Weasley and Potter. Are you saying you never once went up to her and offered an apology or even a helping hand?" He had thought Lucius had already spoken with the little witch in question. Especially since he'd done what he could to make things right with the other two thirds of the trio.

"No, I did not. I couldn't...couldn't face her. I wouldn't have been surprised if she had spat on me for even daring to speak to her." Lucius said softly.

Severus sighed now. "Lucius, I doubt she would have spat on you. She has more manners than that. More likely she would have simply walked away. Or she would have ranted a bit at you, but she wouldn't actually spit at you at all. She may be muggleborn, but she was raised correctly and with very good manners."

Lucius smirked. "Either way, I hadn't seen her until that night at the party and we both saw how she reacted towards me. She froze up and look like she might faint from in fear."

Severus shifted. "I spoke with her that night, after I got her away from the situation. She...was embarrassed by her reaction. I think it was just because it was the first time seeing you in person since the war ended. I don't think she was expecting to see you. She might take it better if she saw you again, now that the initial shock of it all has already worn off."

Lucius rubbed his forehead fighting off a headache. "It's possible. You know that with this article, she's bound to be swamped with howlers from people thinking what was written was true."

Severus sat up slightly. "I didn't think of that. I did tell her that I'd owl her to have lunch. I doubt she'd have time for lunch today, but maybe she could use a break from it all and would join me for dinner."

Lucius raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow. "You're going to ask her out on a date?"

Severus smirked. "Possibly. Is that a problem?"

Lucius felt a scowl gracing his lips. "You do what you want, old friend. I'm just not sure it would be the wisest course of action right now. If the papers are correct at all, she has just broken up with her longtime boyfriend or fiancé, and might not be up for another relationship just yet."

Severus bit back a chuckle. It was obvious that Lucius didn't like the idea of Severus asking Hermione to dinner. "Well, let us see, shall we?"

Severus quickly stood and went to his desk, pulling out some parchment and writing out a note. He glanced at Lucius as he wrote and saw his blond friend's scowl had deepened slightly, it made the dark man chuckle softly.

When he was done, Severus tied it to his raven and sent it out, after telling the bird to wait for a reply.

They both sat in silence as they waited on the bird to get back. Both drinking a glass of Ogden's as they waited. It took some time, but finally his bird returned. He saw Lucius perk up slightly and watching him as Severus took the note and opened it.

The dark-haired man scanned the reply.

Severus,

You did ask me to call you Severus the other night, and so I am. That of course means you should be calling me by my first name as well. Otherwise, I will be forced to call you Professor throughout our dinner and that would get tedious for us both.

Yes, I'd like to join you for dinner. I...I hope I'm not misinterpreting your offer as anything, but friendship. I'm not ready for anything more as of now, and we've known each other so long that anything else might be awkward. If you would still like to join me for dinner as my friend, then I shall meet you at seven o'clock.

Your friend,

Hermione Granger.

The bottom had the name and address of an Italian restaurant that he'd never been to. Though, if he remembered the address correctly, it was close to a very nice park in case they decided to walk a bit before calling it a night.

Severus smirked. Hmm…friends it will have to be. He agreed that it might be awkward at first to actually go on a real date, but he didn't think the awkwardness would last very long. Maybe she didn't see him that way and was simply trying to save them both any embarrassment. If that was the case, he appreciated her efforts in that regard. .

Lucius saw Severus' smirk and knew Hermione had agreed to have dinner with his friend. Severus wouldn't seem happy over a rejection. A frown on the aristocrats lips, a frown he was unaware of, Lucius stood. "Well, it seems you have a date to prepare for, so I'll leave you to it."

Severus could have corrected him, told him that it was a friendship thing only, but he decided against it. If Lucius was indeed interested in Hermione, as his odd behavior was indicating, it might be best to let the man stew. It might make the blond man take action and actually go and talk to Hermione.

Then again, maybe Snape was wrong, maybe Lucius did only feel guilty and want to make amends.

Severus watched his friend step into the floo, a scowl still on the blond man's lips. The sight made Severus' smirk deepen. I don't think I'm wrong though. He thought as he slipped the note from Hermione into the top drawer of his desk. Tonight might just prove interesting.

Severus was chuckling as he went back to take his seat and resume reading like he had been before Lucius showed up.

A/N: I don't think Severus is wrong about Lucius either. Hmm…a date…sort of, I hope you guys are excited at the prospect of the two of them sharing a meal. More coming soon. Take care all, and please leave me your thoughts.