Disclaimer- I own no names that you recognise. J.K Rowling does.

ooo

"False friends are like our shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us the instant we cross into the shade." Christian N. Bovee (1820- 1904)

21/06/2010, 18:15, 26 Woolwich Place, London

John Iudex rubbed his eyes tiredly whilst he glanced at the clock. It showed the time to be quarter past six. His wife was not going to be happy that he was once again going to be late for dinner. This case had pushed his workload over the boundary of capability but he had been asked to do this as a special favour to a work colleague. As he looked at the three faces sitting on the other side of his desk, he hoped this would be the end of it and he would finally get the desperate reprieve he needed.

He shuffled the papers on his desk importantly for the second time in 15 seconds. The Malfoy's always had a way of making him feel inadequate. He sighed and cleared his throat. Best start and get this over with quickly. Judging by the thinly masked greed in the three pairs of eyes in front of him, they too wanted to hear what he had to say as soon as it could come out of his mouth.

"I have here the last will and testament of Vega Lupe Winlock, nee Malfoy. It states that in the event of her death, all her possessions are to be left to her youngest living relative on her mother's side of the family. After much searching I have established that you…" John flicked his eyes up from the parchment he was reading to regard the young man sitting in one of the client chairs in front of him, before he quickly looked back down when he caught the blond man's eye "…Draconis Malfoy are her youngest living relative and therefore it is you who inherits her collection of antique paintings, cottage in France and a sum of roughly 50,000 Galleons."

John stopped reading and waited a moment, allowing the news to sink in before he carried on. The hunger was now clearly visible. John knew that before the War had been won, 50,000 Galleons whilst being an enormous amount of money to any normal wizarding family, would have been spare change to a family like the Malfoy's. However, he like everyone else in the Wizarding World knew the financial distress the War had created for them. Despite the fact that Lucius Malfoy had been sentenced to a paltry three years in Azkaban, his business, belongings and various Gringotts accounts had been seized by the Ministry. 50,000 Galleons in the past may have been measly but today it would be their saviour.

"When can I get access to it?" were the first words that came out of Draconis's mouth and John hesitated with what he had to say next. He repeatedly told himself the disgraced Malfoy's had no reason to cause such fear to rise within him, but looking into the cold hardened silver eyes of ex Death Eaters made him wonder what they were capable of.

"I'm afraid that there are some conditions attached to the money." John said in response to the youngest Malfoy's question. His eyes flicked to the young man's parents and he registered the startled look on Narcissa's hollow face and the hardening of Lucius's eyes.

"And what exactly would these conditions entail?" Lucius asked.

John swallowed the lump in his throat before speaking. "It states that even though Mr Malfoy is her youngest relative on her mother's side, the money will go to the youngest relative who is currently or has been in a relationship with a Muggleborn witch or wizard."

Lucius's mouth turned into a sneer and his jaw locked together. Draco, who had been wondering just who this aunt of his was, snapped back as he heard the words emit from the lawyer's mouth.

"A relationship with a Muggleborn witch?" he heard his mother balk.

His father scoffed and the sneer on his face deepened. "Of course. I should have expected my dear niece to do something like this." He drawled.

Draco's mind started racing. 50,000 Galleons. He needed that money and he needed it now. It was his ticket out of the despondent life he was currently living. He tuned back in to listen to what the mousey man in front of him was saying.

"...es. That is actually why I invited you to come and see me today. I have to ask Mr Malfoy if he is or has been in a relationship with a muggleborn witch."

There was a moment's silence as the three Malfoy's quickly searched their minds to find a loophole or solution so they could get that money.

John felt guiltily happy that it didn't seem like the Malfoy's would be getting the money. He felt sorry for their situation but it was nothing they hadn't created themselves. Frankly, he didn't think they deserved such a get out card from their circumstances. "You understand that if you haven't Mr Malfoy, the money and all other of your aunt's possessions will be passed onto the next living relat…" John didn't get to finish his sentence before the young man blurted out a name.

"Hermione Granger! I- I'm currently dating Hermione Granger." The words were out of Draco's mouth before he could stop them. Granger had been the first muggleborn witch that had popped into his head. He watched as the lawyer's eyebrows rose.

"Miss Hermione Granger. War Hero? Current assistant to the Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures?" John asked disbelievingly.

"Yes, that Hermione Granger." Draco responded icily. His eyes pierced into John's head.

"You understand that I will need proof of your relationship from Miss Granger." John said hurriedly.

Draco's eyebrows rose. Fuck, he hadn't anticipated that. He'd thought his word alone would be enough. Evidently not.

"What kind of proof?" He asked steely.

"A meeting of some sort between the three of us where I can ascertain whether your relationship is true…or not."

"Fine." Draco snapped.

How hard would it be to get Granger to date him? The Malfoy name may have lost some of its shine in the past few years but his looks certainly hadn't. Witches still fawned over him against their protective mother's wishes. Every good girl wanted to tame the bad boy and Granger would be no different. She'd always loved a lost cause and their mutual hatred of each other from their Hogwarts years would surely make for a fiery relationship. It would be an interesting change.

He would date her, have this inane meeting, get his money and get rid of her.

Draco smiled at his little plan and settled back into his chair. Oh yes, life was set to get a whole lot better.

ooo

21/06/2010, 19:45 Malfoy Manor, Wiltshire

Draco Malfoy was the last to step through the fireplace and enter the Malfoy drawing room. He had been cornered into making unimportant chit-chat with an ex housemate. To think that she thought he would be interested in how her life had been like since the war when it benefitted him in no apparent way, astounded him. He looked up to find his parents standing ten feet in front of him; eyebrows raised in question.

"Mother, father." He acknowledged as he took off his cloak and dropped it on the house-elf. He watched with distaste as it pottered around for a few seconds from the weight and the fact its eyes were now covered before waddling off.

The help in the Manor had disintegrated dramatically over the last few years ever since…Draco stopped his train off thought and gave a dry laugh…ever since Granger and the Ravenclaw had helped pass that ridiculous law stating house-elves had a right to ask for wages. Loyal house-elves at Malfoy Manor had heard one word of the new law before they'd buggered off in search of greener pastures. The whole idea was absurd. These sniveling creatures were put on this planet to do one job; serve their masters and now they had the right to demand payment! It was absolutely idiotic. The fact that it had been enforced and monitored had meant Droopy was the only elf left in their household and that was only because he was demanding fairly low fees due to his old age.

"I assume you have some sort of plan Draco and that you didn't just spout off the first name of a muggleborn witch that came into your head." Lucius Malfoy drawled in a similar way to his son.

Draco snapped out of his inner rant and raised his eyebrows. "Not a complete plan yet father but I am not worried."

"Oh, then you do have a plan Draco?" Narcissa asked; excitement making its way into her voice.

Draco shrugged noncommittally. Lucius's eyebrows rose upon seeing his son's mannerisms. "Now is not the time to shrug Draco. You gave that whimpering lawyer the name of the witch who has more than enough reasons to think lowly of you. Just how do you expect her to agree to this meeting let alone go along with the fact that you are in a…" Lucius shuddered for a moment, "…relationship with her."

"I have my ways father. I would have thought you would know better than to doubt my way with women." Draco replied.

"Miss Granger is not your common whore Draco. I would have thought you of all people would know that. She won't blindly follow you around like those other simpering witches you dain to spend time with, purely based on your looks. Dare I say it but she's a lady, and it is my belief that your experience with that group of females is limited."

Draco bristled at his father's words. "You doubt me father?"

Lucius smirked. "No, I merely have concerns that I am sharing with you. I advise that you reflect on them and take them into account. How you handle this situation affects us all."

"Just like how you handled the Voldemort situation affected us all?" Draco spat bitterly.

Anger flashed in Lucius's eyes as his mother emitted a shocked "Draco!"

"What's done is done. I cannot change what has already come about. If I could get a second chance I would do certain things differently." Lucius spoke softly.

Draco scoffed. "Would you? That would mean standing up to Voldemort instead of bowing down to him and obeying his every command."

Lucius looked hard into Draco's eyes for a moment before he spoke. "Remember this Draco, Malfoy's do whatever it takes, no matter how hard it is, to move onto the winning side and remain there. I may have misjudged the winning side in the past but I have learnt from my mistakes and will make more careful considerations in the future should such a situation arise again."

Draco stared back at his father and said nothing; his words swirling around in his head.

Lucius knew he had given his son enough to think about. It was time to leave him with his thoughts and plans.

"Come Cissa, let us retire for dinner. I'm sure Draco has a lot to think about." Lucius took Narcissa's hand and led her out of the room leaving Draco standing alone in the hollow, empty room.

Author's Note: So here as promised is the prologue of my new story. I hoped you liked. It won't be just a Draco/Hermione story, there are actually three relationships I'm writing about, just so you know that. Thanks for reading!