I apologize for the delay! So sorry! I'll hopefully update faster now :)

To all of you who waited for this, I hope this makes up for it... M not too happy with it, but it's all I have for now! so sorry!

Ministry of Magic, 1st August 2001, a little after 11A.M.

"Glad you're feeling well enough to join us Miss Granger." Mr. Davidson commented as soon as she entered office.

She muttered him an apology, heat rising to her face at his words, and she made her way to her cubicle.

"Miss Granger!" Sadie said with a start noticing her.

"Yeah Sadie, why so surprised?"

"I didn't think you would be coming today… I mean given the Prophet and all… But I should have known you're stronger than that. I wish I could be more like you, you're so brave." Sadie said as if star struck.

"What are you on about?" Hermione asked, her eyes narrowing despite her pure confusion. She did have an inkling of what it might be though, those vile reporters. She should have known they would somehow worm their way into the party.

What had they said this time?

She recollected last night with immense dread, picking up the Prophet which lay on her assistant's table.

'Rift' read the main headline, in big bold letters.

Right under it, the byline said 'Hermione Granger chooses ex-death eater over childhood sweetheart on Harry Potter's 21st birthday, is the Golden Trio finally over?'

A cursory glance told her all that she needed to know.

As was usual, she was being dragged through the mud again, being shown in the wrong for having initiated the break up with Ron.

It quoted her as well, her statements about Draco being the highlight of the article.

It had a small mention of Ron's accusations, and Draco's reaction to it.

She stopped reading, having had enough of the twisted tale.

The pictures underneath were however far more disturbing.

The first of three showed Ron and Draco with their wands drawn, Harry a spectator while she ran in between them frantically, before going and standing clearly beside Draco.

The second was of her leaping towards Ron, her face distorted with rage, him wearing a scared look on his face. Draco looked determined and Harry looked weary of what was to come.

The third was by far the most astonishing. Draco held her from behind, his wand pointed at Ron as a blue light streaked out of it and moved towards him. It was quite ordinary to look at, but from where Hermione was standing it looked incredibly intimate the way he was holding her.

She shook her head to get the thought out of her mind.

Trying to play it as casual as ever, she tossed the paper aside, telling herself it was all rubbish anyway.

"So it's true then?" Sadie managed to ask, her eyes wide.

"Don't believe all that you read Sadie." Hermione chided.

"But in this case you can…" Draco said, sauntering into her cabin.

She frowned at him, wondering what he meant by that.

He caught her expression and smirked, as if he knew something she didn't, and that annoyed her immensely.

"Get out of my cabin Malfoy, I have work to do." She groaned.

"I'll go Granger, as long as you get hold of your Weasel and tell him to get out of my face. I have no qualms about hexing him again." He said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, Potter and his sidekick have been checking in every five minutes to see where I'm hiding you. The first few times it was amusing, but I assure you it isn't any more. Tell them to stay out of my way." He said, casually again but his words sounded positively threatening.

"I can't believe them!" she said exasperated.

"Hermione! There you are" Ron said bursting into her office.

She swiveled to face him, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

Sadie seemed to get a hint from the sudden change in atmosphere, fleeing before things turned ugly.

Draco however continued sitting on her chair, now coolly proceeding to swing his legs to rest upon her desk, watching with interest.

"See what you've done?" he hissed, shoving the paper in her face.

She pulled out her wand, halting his movements.

"You listen to me Ronald Weasely, and listen well, because I'm not going to repeat myself. This is not my fault." She said, levitating the paper dangerously close to his eyes, making him go cross eyed just to keep it in sight. "If anyone's it is yours. You shouldn't have resorted to calling names and you know it. As for whom I date, it is not your business. I don't dictate terms to you, and I expect you to respect me enough to do the same. We are over Ron, accept it, and move on. I know you have, going by your public display last night, so let me move on as well." She said, drawing a huge breath at the end of her statement.

"But…"

"No buts Ron, please."She said, gripping the edge of the table behind her tightly.

She sounded tired, and defeated. Ron must have heard it as well, as he moved closer to her, after hesitating a bit.

She shook her head at his gesture and he stopped in his tracks.

The tension in the room was thick, both of them forgetting Draco Malfoy's presence in the room for that moment.

"I'm tired Ron. I'm so sick and tired of all of this. Just, please… leave." She said, not relinquishing her hold on the desk.

Her knuckles were white from the pressure she was applying, but she didn't notice, needing it to support her weight.

"I'm sorry." He muttered finally. She nodded, appreciating the apology.

"Bye Ron." "

Bye, 'Mione" he sighed reluctantly.

He turned and left, and she let out a huge sigh, giving in to her shaking limbs as she collapsed into her desk.

"Hey are you ok?" Draco asked, coming around immediately to steady her.

"I will be; I have to be." She said weakly, not sure why she was confiding in him of all people.

"Hey you! Ferret! Remove this bloody spell immediately!" an irate Ron came storming back to face them.

Draco rolled his eyes at his choice of words, but withdrew his hands which had come to rest on Hermione's waist immediately.

"Or what Weasel? You will hex me to eat slugs again? Can't say that worked too well the last time." He said haughtily.

"Shut your mouth Malfoy or I'll haul your arse to Azkaban. You can rot there with your father." Ron growled.

"Stop it, both of you! Ron, apologize. Draco, remove the hex." Hermione shouted, coming in between them again.

"NOW!" It still didn't have the desired effect. Ron muttered something while Draco obstinately looked in a different direction.

"Fine. Act like insufferable prats, I have work to do." She said, storming out of her office.

"Miss Granger" Davidson called her. She went to his cabin knowing what was coming. "I would appreciate it if your office wasn't brimming with random people every time I pass by it Miss Granger." He said and she nodded tersely. "Also, please keep your personal life just that, personal. I don't need reporters tearing this place down, and that too for the wrong reasons." He said frowning his disapproval.

"Yes sir, I'm sorry, it won't happen again." She said.

"I'm hoping it won't. And I hope these rumors are not true about Mr. Malfoy. You know how strict the policy is about dating co-workers Miss Granger, I'm pretty sure you helped put it into place." He admonished.

She came out of the office 10 minutes later feeling extremely deflated after the telling off. Could this day get any worse? Maybe they weren't lying about that superstition concerning the wrong side of the bed.

She reluctantly went back to her cabin, glad to find it deserted.

Even Sadie had wandered off somewhere and she couldn't feel more relieved.

She settled down to go through mountains of paperwork she had been putting away for a long time. It was a perfect time to lose herself in her work, after all she was rather good at doing that it seemed.

Avoidance.

Before she knew it the smell of a gorgeous chicken was wafting all around her, and she felt her stomach growling to be fed. Checking her watch she saw it was almost 4 in the evening!

She looked up from the midst of her files and saw Draco looming over her, a white plastic container of food in one hand a fork in the other. Her stomach grumbled at being denied food for so long, and this time it was loud enough to be heard.

"Figured you would be hungry." He said cheekily, as she blushed crimson in embarrassment.

"Thanks" she muttered, reaching for the container.

He dropped it into her hands, giving her the fork too before showing himself out.

She wondered what exactly had transpired between Draco and Ron after she had left.

Had Draco continued the act or had he given it up? She wasn't even sure how to ask him without making things too awkward.

Her questions were answered when she saw an angry horde of red-heads barge past her office, walking into her adjoining cubicle later that evening.

Oh no, this wasn't good.

It was after hours so no one was there in the office but her, and apparently Malfoy.

She rushed to his office, to explain everything before they got out of control.

The atmosphere was frigid when she entered, and every pair of eyes turned to her as she did. She surveyed the scene and assessed the damage quickly.

Bill, Charlie, George and Percy stood in front of a smug Draco.

"What did you do?" she groaned looking at Draco in particular.

His smug look turned to one of annoyance at her assumption and she spat"I didn't do anything. Now if you don't mind I have a deadline to meet. All of you, out of my office. Now."

"Don't you dare threaten Ron again Malfoy." George said dangerously.

"I don't know what that git cried to you about but I didn't threaten him. Even if I did he had it coming." He said icily, his gray eyes flashing.

"Now get out." Hermione just watched, not knowing what to say. He was in a foul mood, she had never seen him this angry, and she didn't know how to react.

She had had a long day too and was done with the drama for a while.

All she wanted to do was go home, have a long nice shower and crash. "George let it go." She sighed.

He turned to her, his expression incredulous.

"Do you know what he said Hermione because; if you did you wouldn't be defending him." George said darkly.

"Look I'm not defending him… it's just tensions have been running high these past few months ever since our break up. It is between me and Ron, I don't need any of you sticking your head where it doesn't belong." She said.

Her tone was low but the message was clear and they all took it.

With one last glare at Malfoy they all trooped out the way they had entered.

She then turned to Malfoy with an intention to thank him, but the murderous look he gave her stopped her short.

He was fuming mad, and she was sure it was all going to manifest on her.

She was after all the one to blame for this entire fiasco.

If she hadn't let her jealousy get the best of her, none of this would have happened.

"Get out." He said coldly before she could say a word.

"Look Malfoy I" she tried again.

"Leave Granger." He said again, dismissing her.

That set off her anger.

"Listen! I came here to apologize, but you certainly don't deserve it anymore." She fumed.

"Because I deserve the hexes and the other rubbish that the Weasely spews constantly. For once in my life I thought I was doing the right thing. Clearly it wasn't required. I should have told you to back off the day you poked your overly bushy head in my business." He said losing all his composure. "It was only because I interfered that you even have a job Malfoy." She ground out. "I don't need your pity Granger. I'm not your charity case!" he cried.

And from there things only escalated.

It wasn't easy letting go of the past, especially one so hurtful.

To ignore it for so long had in itself been an achievement.

Those pent up feelings and resentment had to come to the surface sooner than later, and it did.

While dealing with two fire brands such as Hermione and Draco the matter did become much worse.

Both were strong headed, extremely intelligent people, a perfect match for each other in terms of wit and wisdom.

Draco had a huge ego; Hermione matched that in terms of her Gryffindor pride. Neither would bow down to the other and accept defeat.

For years he had tormented her, insulted her, and she had taken it mostly quiet, rising up occasionally only to defend herself. She had an innate need to find good in everyone.

Oh she was practical alright, but sometimes, just sometimes, her golden heart over powered her brilliant mind.

It had in the case of Draco, always giving him the benefit of doubt all through their school years.

In the moments just after the war had ended she had watched as the Great Hall had erupted in joy.

She had been a part of that celebration.

But while the victory registered, just as the shock was wearing off she had looked around the Hall.

She had spotted him then, running into his mum's arms. There was no joy, no sorrow there; only sheer relief. Later, after returning from Dumbledore's office Hermione had helped sort some of the mess temporarily, to ensure proper treatment could be given to those injured and a decent funeral to those who had lost their lives fighting.

She had seen him then too, looking expressionless at Crabbe's body.

It was moments like those which haunted her over and over, telling her that all he had done had some reason behind it. That she should give him a chance, he wasn't evil, just forced by circumstance. And yet her mind reasoned that not any of those comments about her appearance or blood status had been required.

All those had come from his own free will.

Right then her brain was way ahead of her good heart, fighting fire with fire.

Finally she had decided she had had enough. He hadn't raised his wand so she hadn't either, but she left anyway, not wanting to listen to one more word.

The bitterness between then was very much there she realized, and now it was all in the open.

She cried herself to sleep that night, and for the first time in the history of her career she called in sick the next day.

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