A/N: Thank you for the reviews and thanks to Sue for beta reading!

Lucius' little visit at the Prophet had led to an apology that had been printed the next day and a statement that she was nothing but friends with the boys mentioned in the article and that her relationship to Draco had Lucius' and Narcissa's full approval.

What was printed two days later, however, was far more concerning than Skeeter implying that she cheated on Draco.

Dumbledore had come forward and sent a statement to the Prophet that he was disappointed that people seemed to generally believe that he had been the one to submit Hermione's name. He furthermore stated that yes, he had had the suspicion that she was Voldemort's daughter and he found it very concerning that she did not seem to judge her father's actions. The reason he had approached her several times was his firm belief that Voldemort was alive and that he was planning to come back to finish what he had started and that the World Cup had been a good indicator of that. Furthermore, he supposedly believed that the Malfoys and Hermione knew where he was, what had happened to him after the Potters had been attacked and what his plans were. He only had the best for Wizarding Britain in mind.

That evening Hermione could not reach her father via the mirror and she supposed there was either a Death Eater meeting or at least a meeting of his closest circle.

On Friday, like every day, the Prophet was delivered to several students during breakfast and Hermione took hers from the delivery owl. Said owl pecked her hand and she just wanted scold the bird when she noticed the particularly ugly bug sitting on the table. The owl had obviously aimed for the insect and she had just gotten in the way. Slightly disgusted, she brushed the bug aside and started reading.

A statement had been sent by Lucius and Narcissa and they pointed out that reading a student's post on the basis of mere suspicion was highly inappropriate and trying to interrogate her by using Veritaserum was a crime. They admitted that they could not prove the latter, but they had good reason to believe this to be true and would share this information with the Aurors. They did not mention Dumbledore's claim that Tom Riddle was alive, but they did address the World Cup and the fact that most of the confirmed and suspected Death Eaters present that day had not worn masks and had not participated in attacking the Muggles and the destruction of the camping grounds. Some of them had actively supported the Aurors in their efforts to get the situation under control. All that could have been expected, but the next statement was bolder:

The mere fact that Albus Dumbledore still refers to Tom Riddle's alleged attack on James, Lily and Harry Potter takes away all his credibility. There is no way Tom Riddle could have been present in Godric's Hollow in the night of the Potters' death. He was at Malfoy Manor at the time the attack took place, with us. He did not die trying to murder a toddler and his body did not mysteriously vanish after that. There was a fire on one of our properties the morning after. Albus Dumbledore, however, had personal interest in making everyone believe that Tom Riddle was behind the murder of James and Lily Potter and that this was how he died. If it was not Tom Riddle who killed them, and it can't have been, it stands to question who was?

"That is ridiculous!" One of the Hufflepuffs threw the Prophet to the ground for good measure. "Of course it was Vo … him."

"No, it wasn't." Everyone turned to the Gryffindor table, including the teachers. Harry Potter had stood up. "It was not Tom Riddle who murdered my parents. It was not Sirius Black who betrayed them. I don't know who murdered them, but I know it was Peter Pettigrew who betrayed them. He was their Secret Keeper and he wasn't a Death Eater, he was Dumbledore's man."

Silence all around and Hermione had the ridiculous urge to applaud Harry. Or to hug him, but then she would probably have been accused of having an affair again.

She did notice that, while most teachers were either shocked or puzzled and, in Snape's and Karkaroff's case, seemingly indifferent, Professor Moody looked extremely displeased.

She couldn't wait to get home that evening. She would also have liked to have a word with Snape, but he wasn't in his office when she and Draco went in to take the floo.

They were hardly home when they asked everyone to come to Lucius' and Narcissa's sitting room.

"What is it you so urgently need to talk about?"

"Potter has guts," Draco grinned at her father. "When the Prophet was delivered this morning, a Hufflepuff loudly declared that this is all bullshit and Potter stood up to him, told him that it wasn't you who killed his parents." He nodded towards Tom. "And that it was Pettigrew, not Sirius, who betrayed them. For everyone to hear."

The next morning, Hermione was the first to get hold of the Daily Prophet. She had half expected a counter statement from Dumbledore, but what she did find made her frown.

"What is it?" Her father asked.

"There is a piece about what Harry said at breakfast yesterday." She lowered the Prophet to look at him. "Skeeter must have an informant among the students or staff."

Narcissa shrugged. "It's not beneath her to pay a student or more than one to keep her informed about everything that could be of interest of her."

She was right, of course. But it didn't sit quite right with Hermione. It was just a feeling and she was about to dismiss it, but then she thought of the bug. She had been so focused on the Prophet that she hadn't really paid attention to it, but it was totally out of season. It was December. There were no such bugs around. The occasional spider, which had found shelter in the warmth of the castle, but no bugs, especially big ones like that.

"What are you thinking about?"

She looked at her father, but then shrugged. She would keep an eye open, but there was a possibility that she was just being paranoid. "Nothing, Narcissa is probably right." Then she changed the topic. "Next week is Hogsmeade weekend. We already thought there wouldn't be any with the Tournaments. Is it alright, if we come only on Sunday next week? Just this once? I'll train extra hard during the holidays."

Her father sighed. "It's not about a day of training you're missing out on. Igor told me you're never missing training with him during the week and you're always here on weekends. I'm aware you're having a stressful year and I don't mind you taking a day off. But you're not going to Hogsmeade."

"Neither are you, Draco," Lucius chimed in.

"Why?" Draco looked slightly incredulous.

"While I don't believe Dumbledore would do anything in a village full of other students and teachers, I wouldn't put it beyond him. You're not going."

Hermione had to admit she was slightly disappointed but before she could say anything, Narcissa spoke up. "I wanted to take you to Diagon Alley anyway. So we can go either today or next week." At Hermione's questioning glance, she smiled. "I know the Yule Ball is what's mostly on your mind right now, but remember there's also the New Year's Ball here at the manor. And you can't wear the same dress for both occasions."

She had indeed forgotten about that! That was almost as good as Hogsmeade! "Ok! Can we go today?"

Hermione smiled when her father nodded. "Of course. No training today and only a little theory tomorrow. I'll also give you another permission sheet for our vaults. You'll need jewellery that goes with the second dress."

Her smile grew a little wider. "Thank you!" As much as she enjoyed the training and magical theory, she was looking forward to a free day. He was right, it was all quite a lot and a weekend with only a little theory on Sunday was, to be honest, exactly what she needed. When Draco smiled at her, she actually couldn't wait to just spending some quality time with him.

Then her boyfriend turned to Lucius. "And what are we going to do today?"

"What do you mean, what are we going to do?" Lucius took a sip of his tea while he waited for the answer.

"Mother is taking Hermione shopping to make up for Hogsmeade. Where is my father taking me?"

"Where do you want your father to take you? And don't say the Quidditch shop, please. You're not even playing Quidditch this year, you don't need a Firebolt."

"Thank you for reminding me. I wasn't even thinking of that."

"It's probably worse," Abraxas commented dryly.

"Thanks, grandfather."

"Oh, I'm just going by what Lucius was like at your age."

Draco really managed to drag Lucius out to a father-son shopping trip and had even asked Abraxas, if he wanted to come. The answer had been that he'd rather stay home because his leg was acting up. Hermione had seen him when his leg was acting up, but he had seemed pretty agile to her that morning.

After choosing a dress and when they were alone in the vault, looking at jewellery, she turned to Narcissa. "What's going on between father and Abraxas?" She asked conversationally and Narcissa laughed.

"So you noticed, too?"

"Well, first Draco told me that 'they have a history', which he overheard. But once or twice, when I called him over the mirror, he looked … not as put together as usual, and I'm sure Abraxas was with him."

"Not as put together as usual, hm?" Narcissa shrugged elegantly. "I don't really know, to be honest. They keep it quite discreet when we're at home, which I'm sure Lucius is grateful for. I don't know whether it is just them having fun or if it was serious for them at Hogwarts, but they broke up once Abraxas had to marry after school. In any case, they seem quite content with what they have now."

"That's good." She grinned. "And I'm sure Lucius will survive."

Narcissa laughed. "To be perfectly fair – would you want to see your father being all over one of your best friends on a regular basis?"

"No!" Hermione laughed, too, trying very hard to avoid any mental images. Then something she remembered something else. "I almost forgot. Can we go buy some wool before we go home? I won't have to order it then."

"Of course. Are you knitting another jumper for Noodles?"

"I already finished Noodles' jumper. But Nagini gets one, too, this year and I underestimated the amount of wool I need for hers."

Laughing, Narcissa looked at her. "Where are you doing all this knitting? Surely not in the dorm. That would be hard to explain away."

"Oh, no, I'm not going to explain why I knit snake jumpers to Millicent. I go to the Cham … I mean Room of Requirement." Even when she said it, she realised that it was too late. Narcissa just raised an eyebrow at her and Hermione sighed. "The Chamber of Secrets."

"Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets?"

"Yes, father told me where to find it."

"I didn't even think it was real. I suppose it does not contain a monster after all." When Hermione didn't say anything, she looked slightly alarmed. "It does not contain a monster, does it?"

"Well … no. Ferelith is not a monster."

"Ferelith?"

"Yes, she's a Basilisk. Her eyes don't kill at all, by the way. And she's very happy to have some company after such a long time. Since father was at Hogwarts no one has come to visit her." Hermione smiled brightly at her. "Maybe you shouldn't tell Lucius."

"Do I look mad to you? You haven't been eaten so far, that's good enough for me."

When they stepped out of the shop where they had bought the wool – maybe a bit much, but at least she wouldn't run out this time – a man approached them.

"You're Voldemort's daughter, aren't you?"

"No."

He looked confused.

"Voldemort is a concept that was made up without my father's participation. My father's name was Tom Riddle."

The man looked disgusted. "And now you influence the Potter boy and drag Albus Dumbledore's name through the mud."

"I influence no one, unlike Albus Dumbledore. And he certainly doesn't need me to sully his name."

"I think …"

"It doesn't matter what you think." Narcissa's hand was on her shoulder now. "Whether you believe her or not, you have absolutely no right to harass a minor in public, or anywhere else for that matter."

A few people had been watching them and a man with long blond hair stepped forward as they were just about to leave. "I believe you, Miss Riddle. The entire war seemed quite fishy to me, but alas, people think I'm mad." He held out his hand. "Xenophilius Lovegood."

Hermione smiled and shook his hand. "Mr Lovegood, it's so nice to meet you! Thank you again for sending me the article."

"It was my pleasure. After our exchange I looked through my old files and I found some interesting photos. I was actually going to send them to you, but maybe you would like to see them now? If you don't mind, Lady Malfoy."

They exchanged a look.

"Not at all. Please lead the way, Mr Lovegood."

As soon as they stepped out of the floo and into the Entrance Hall of Malfoy Manor, Hermione ran upstairs and after a quick look into the library, which was empty, into her father's suite.

He was sitting on the sofa. With Abraxas. And they were kissing each other. Thankfully, they were both fully dressed.

Her father looked up, perfectly composed. "Have you ever heard of knocking?" He drawled.

"I have and I don't care right now. Look at this!"

She sat down on the sofa with them, opened her bag and handed him the photos.

One of them showed him as a student, 16 or 17, she guessed, wearing a Hogwarts school uniform. The other showed him on the site of a 'Death Eater attack', looking only a few years older, the same he looked now, but unmistakably the same man as the student on the other picture – and he was duelling one of the faux Death Eaters.

"Where do you have these from?" Abraxas asked. "Even I couldn't find a bloody picture of Tom from our school years. Let alone this."

"Xenophilius Lovegood, the owner of the Quibbler. Narcissa and I met him in Diagon Alley. Years ago, he published this, but the Ministry accused him of spreading false news, confiscated all copies that were distributed to shops, made him pay a high fine that almost ruined him and banned him from reporting about the war again. They also confiscated the pictures, but he still had copies. He just didn't think it was worth the risk of trying to publish again, especially since he thinks you are dead. But when I wrote to him because of the article he sent me some weeks ago, he started looking for the photos again, because he thought I, as your daughter, had a right to know. He wanted to send them to me, but then he saw us today and gave them to me instead."

She was so excited! This may not prove anything, but it would surely make many people think, at the very least.

"This could be a game changer," her father confirmed her thoughts. "If we play our cards right. We can't send this to the Prophet."

"Why not?"

"Because the Prophet doesn't go against the Ministry. They may speculate a bit as they have lately, they may print a statement Lucius and Narcissa sent in, but something like that? Not without checking in with the Ministry first. And as you can clearly see from the reaction to the Quibbler's attempt to publish this, many people in high Ministry positions are loyal to Dumbledore. From what we could find out so far, they still are."

Abraxas nodded and added a little explanation for Hermione's sake. "Barty diligently keeps a list of Dumbledore loyalists and another one with people who will likely be on Dumbledore's side, if they have to make a choice. The lists are far too long for my taste."

"Maybe we could publish in the Quibbler? Lovegood obviously didn't like that he was silenced back then. If he had some backup …"

"Well, we could certainly pay the fine, if there is any," Abraxas said with a smirk. "And our lawyers would back him up, if they give him any further trouble."

"But even then, someone would have to confirm that this is me." He pointed at the picture of him as a student.

"I will, so will all other former Knights of Walpurgis. You know that."

"I do, Abraxas, but most of you were accused of having been Death Eaters and we only need one person to come up with the knowledge that we were friends at school and they will use this to discredit you."

"What about Headmistress McGonagall?" Both men looked at Hermione. "She said she remembers you from school." She grinned. "And she said all girls had a crush on you. She would remember what you looked like. And she's a respected member of society." She shot Abraxas an apologetic look. "Not that you aren't."

When Hermione returned to school, she had copies of the pictures with her and on Monday, after classes, she went to McGonagall's office and knocked.

It was easier than with the old headmaster office, which the Curse-Breakers had not managed to open. Therefore, despite being the headmistress, Minerva McGonagall still occupied her old office, with no stone Gryffin to block the way.

"Come in."

She opened the door and looked at the older witch, who was sitting at her desk, seemingly busy with paperwork.

"Do you have a moment, Headmistress?"

"Of course, Miss Riddle. Please sit." Hermione did. "Are there any problems?"

"No, not really. I just wanted to ask for a favour." She took the photos out of her bag. She first handed her the one of Tom Riddle as a student. "This is photo of my father, isn't it?"

McGonagall took the photo and looked at it in surprise. "Oh yes, I haven't seen him like this for a long time. That must have been in his last year."

Hermione nodded and handed her the second picture. "And that was during the war. The same man, isn't it?"

McGonagall stared at it for a long time. "That's not possible. He would have been much older than that."

"Philosopher's Stone. Nicolas Flamel wasn't the only one who figured it out." The lie came out smoothly.

The headmistress was quiet at first, looked at both pictures again, as if she couldn't quite believe it, and then she nodded. "Yes, this is the same man."

"After Christmas, this will be published by the Quibbler." Lucius, Narcissa and Abraxas had talked to Lovegood on Sunday and with the Malfoys promising support in case of backlash, he had agreed that he would publish another article. "Would you confirm that this is Tom Riddle in both pictures? You don't have to say anything else, just that this is indeed him."

"He's fighting Death Eaters," the woman whispered. "Why?"

"No, Headmistress, he's not fighting Death Eaters. He's fighting people who committed horrific crimes disguised as Death Eaters to frame them."

"What are you saying, Miss Riddle?"

"I'm saying that the people who actually were Death Eaters tried to stop the war and when they were continuously framed for crimes they didn't commit, they started wearing masks so they would not be identified on the scenes of said crimes. With time, the actual culprits started wearing those masks to frame them further."

She looked pale. "Miss Riddle, Albus Dumbledore would never …"

"I'm not asking you to speak out against Albus Dumbledore. I'm only asking you to confirm that this is my father on both pictures. And you know this is the truth. Whatever comes of it, at least that much is true. Xenophilius Lovegood, the owner of the Quibbler, tried to have this published after acquiring the photos about two years after the war, and the Ministry confiscated every edition of the Quibbler that day and made him pay a fine that almost ruined him. With the Malfoys backing him up, he agreed to try again. And again, all I'm asking is for you to say what you know is true."

Slowly, Minerva McGonagall nodded. "I will."

~tbc~