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To Harry Potter, she had always been the woman. He'd barely if at all heard him call her anything but that. In his eyes she eclipses and predominates the whole of her sex. It was not that he felt any emotion akin to love for Hermione Granger.
For Harry Potter was not a lover, he was many things but soft spoken and romantic, he was cold, and calculating, distant and well harsh to many. He was not suited to be a lover, it was not a role he fits in. At all.
And yet, there was but one woman to him, Hermione Granger, in all her glory.
Ron could not say that he'd seen much of Potter in the past few years, that did not mean that they were strangers to each other, more than often did Ron read about one of Potters's achievements in the daily prophet. How he had quite skillfully assisted royalty in Sweden, a nobleman in Prag, and solved a matter of urgency within hours in Turkey.
Harry Potter was a prominent name and yet no one seemed to be able to catch a glimpse of him. Ron knew the truth of it, he knew that Harry loathed company, he loathed being surrounded by the masses and everything associated with it.
It had been years since he saw his face, so no one could fault him that he did not recognize him at first. St. Mungos, where he had just recently returned to work, was busy. The halls filled with patients and family members. Nurses busied through the corridors and to Ron it seemed like any other day.
Well almost.
He had managed to have two short breaks during his long shift, a short run to the cafeteria to get the stale coffee, and another to catch some much-needed air.
"We have an oscar waiting for you--- -Room four" Hannah told him as she brushed past him. Someone of high-standing, a celebrity, or a politician even. Those were the more delicate patients that he'd have to reserve extra privacy. It happened once in a while.
The elevator was to his delight empty. Ron slouched against the walls, just before the doors shut close, a foot jammed in between and a body slipped through the narrow opening. Ron glanced up in disinterest. Just another visitor.
" That vacation did you some good"
That voice, the same he had listened to deep in the midnight hours, surrounded by a haze of smoke and the crackling of the fireplace. Ron's head snapped up. He'd always recognize him by his voice if nothing else.
He was ashamed to admit that it took him a few moments to truly see through his guise, a well-chosen one. His hair gelled back neatly, green eyes hidden behind thick glasses, so unlike the ones he used to wear.
"Potter--" He exclaimed in surprise, his brows furrowed moments later. What was he doing here, of all places?
"I think you've put on six or seven pounds Weasley"
"Eight" he replied "But how do you know?
"Indeed-- I should've taken a better look. It was not very hard to deduce, I can also see that you're still living with your mother."
"Careful now Potter, people might start to think that you're a master legimens" More than once had Ron wondered if he was, he still wasn't entirely sure on that matter.
Harry's lips quirked up, just a tad, as the elevator came to a halt and they both exited on the same floor.
"It's simplicity itself---you're still sunburned, something rather hard to achieve with London's miserable weather, hence my double deduction that you've been on a vacation, somewhere foreign and to your living situation---well I for one know that you'd never iron your clothes, Weasley. That is something your mother does"
Ron couldn't help himself but laugh at the ease which Potter explained his process of deduction. "You make it sound so easy and I know for a fact that my eyes are sharper than yours and yet, I wouldn't have come up with all that."
"You see but do not observe, the distinction is clear--- for example how many nurses did we just pass?"
Ron couldn't tell.
"A few "
"How many?"
"I don't know"
"You're not observing and yet you saw them, the two that had just passed us and that's my point."
"Why are you here Potter?" Ron finally asked the question that had been torturing him, "Or did you just miss my company that much?"
Potter offered him a slightly amused look, his lips tugged up for just a moment. " There is someone that wanted to meet up with me--- of all the places they choose St. Mungos, curious don't you think?"
Harry handed him a thick, blue-tinted note paper. "It came in this morning with a mysterious owl," he said.
The note was undated, without either signature or address.
' Your recent involvements bear proof that you're capable of handling delicate matters and are able to fulfil even the most urgent of affairs.
I'll be expecting you in St.Mungos, question the receptionist about the treacle tarts, he'll tell you where to go. Be there at that hour and don't take it amiss if your visitor wears a disguise'
Harry handed him another shorter hastily written note, that read 'Room four'.
"That's where I'm headed--"Ron remarked in surprise. "What do you think this means?"
"Can't say for sure, I haven't collected any data yet, it is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibility twists facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts. But the note, what does it tell you?"
Ron eyed it closer. "It's heavy---expensive paper, the ones they use in the ministry" Ron quickly added " Dad used to bring them home -- other than that--- I know whoever is in that room, is someone of importance, some kind of celebrity---politician maybe or high-ranking Ministry worker but aside from that ?. I couldn't tell you more"
"These are the standardized ministry notes, everyone and I mean everyone gets these. It does not immediately imply that our visitor is someone of high-ranking in the ministry, simply someone with access and opportunity ----shall we?" Potter asked as they finally reached the room.
"Shouldn't I wait outside?" Whoever it did not come for a health check-up, so there was no reason for him to be in that room.
"Nonsense" Harry muttered as he entered, Ron slipped in behind him.
The stranger had his back turned to them, hands clasped behind his back, almost like he'd been frozen in time, he was clad in rich robes, the finest material as far as Ron could tell. A hood had been drawn and hid the rest of the stranger's features as he turned to face them.
Darkness veiled his face.
"Potter---" The man haltered and Ron felt his gaze on him. "Weasley---" Almost a sneer, but not quite yet.
"Why not take a seat---" Said Potter, "This is my friend and colleague Healer Weasley, who is occasionally good enough to help me in my cases. Whom do I have the honour to address?"
"You may address me as Charles" Charles paused for a moment before Ron once again could feel his gaze on him. "I take it that Weasley, had been thought in the act of discretion and I can trust him with a matter of most extreme importance"
Ron shifted to leave the room but Potter stopped him by the wrist and kept him in place. "It's both or none," He said sharply. "You can say anything to him which you may say to me"
Charles shrugged lightly, "Fine--then let's not waste any more time. I'll ask of absolute secrecy---you'll have to swear on oath if we want to proceed. I won't be leaving this to chance or luck"
"I swear it," Potter said.
" So do i" An oath-bound by magic, loose and yet effective.
"You'll have to excuse the disguise" Charles loosely gestured at his hood, "My employers wishes me to be unknown to even you-"
"That I could guess" Potter replied drily. He had seated himself at the desk, one ankle crossed above the other as he leaned back. The perfect image of a calm and reserved man. Harry blinked at his visitor slowly, urging him to continue.
" This matter involves a prominent and well-respected family---every precaution has to be taken to quench any uprising scandal that might grow from this and could seriously compromise the family in question" the man hesitated, one last glance at Ron before he resigned his fate and continued talking.
"The most prominent and ancient house of Malfoy"
Ron froze, his brows furrowed. His family had been at war with the Malfoys for as long as he could remember, a constant state of being. A Weasley and Malfoy without a quarrel was unheard of so this, really came unexpectedly. He almost regretted giving that oath now.
"That I also knew---" Potter sighed and closed his eyes.
Charles froze in his movements, he had started pacing at some point and was now standing rigid, tensely even, like a deer caught in headlines. Potter tilted his head lightly.
"The only thing I don't know is if your father send you or if you're here on your own accord"
A heavy sigh left the man's lips in an act of great agitation the man tore his hood back and revealed what was hidden.
Draco Malfoy wore a frown, his brows were furrowed as he met Potter's gaze who did not miss a beat.
"If you'd present your case, so I could assist you with whatever it is that troubles you"
Malfoy seemed taken aback for a moment and then his lips tugged upwards. "You are truly as good as they say. What gave it away?"
"Should I start with your dislike towards Weasley, which held no apparent reason, or with the fact that the ink you used, is quite rare, probably not a fact you knew, only a handful of people in England receive it, your father being one of them. Or should I tell you about the sachel of gold, the receptionist kept in his west, that had the Malfoy's crest on it?"
"I made some inexcusable errors as it seems--- now I'm not accustomed to these things but as it is, I could trust no one else with this knowledge--- couldn't risk the word spreading"
"Pray tell---i'm all ear"
"Long story short, a few years ago I made the accusative of one Hermione Granger, maybe you heard of her, has worked her way up in the ministry, currently head of magical regulations--- we--" And now Malfoy hesitated once again. " Were involved for a short time--- romantically--- nothing of any importance and yet there are some compromising letters I had sent her once "
Ron could barely contain his surprise.
"Was there a secret marriage?" Potter asked.
"Of course not--- I wouldn't get caught marrying one of her kind"
"Her kind?"Ron asked in disbelief.
"Her kind "Malfoy repeated sharper, only daring him to say more. Ron was about to until Potter interrupted him.
"No legal certificates or letters?"
Malfoy send him one last nasty glance before he replied.
"None"
"then I don't understand what the issue is, if she should use these letters to blackmail you how would she proof the authenticity"
"There is the writing"
"Forgery" Potter retorted quickly.
"My signature"
"Faked"
"my own seal"
"Imitated"
"Pictures"
"Bought"
A desperate sigh escaped Malfoys lips.
"She has my ring--a family heirloom I gave to her in a moment of weakness-- I was mad--- insane to even have ---" Malfoy shook his head and fell silent once again.
"That is a problem"
"I'm to be wed soon--- I need that ring--- my father is already asking for it and-- I cannot tell him that she has it--- our priced family heirloom in the hands of a mere mudblood"
The slightest twitch from Potter but nothing more to show his displeasure.
"And she won't return it?"
"I tried --- she is not one to bulge, she's got a grudge-- you know how these women are, they're good at holding grudges-"
"Then you must pay for it--it must be bought"
Malfoy shook his head, " Don't you think I would've tried that already, I offered her enough to feed generations and still--nothing"
" Stolen then"
"We've tried thrice already, everytime she managed to slip away with it, once we managed to get to her luggage but not even there it was--"
Potter laughed, "That is a pretty little problem"
"A very serious one" Malfoy retorted, "She wants to ruin me and everything I stand for because of my betrothal to the lady Astoria Greengrass---if this were to come out--- this whole marriage would fall apart"
"And Hermione Granger?"
"She'll do anything to benefit her own, she's made of steel, she won't budge that easily"
"Are you sure she still has it and hasn't sold it off"
"I am"
"How so?"
"She told me herself that she would keep it--almost a shame that she's not one of us---if she was I might have considered marriage---she's got a brilliant mind---she would've made a proper lady and wife. Alas---Father wants the ring on Friday"
Potter yawned, "Which gives us three days to retrieve it" he jumped onto his feet, "Which is fortunate-- I have some other matters to attend to in the meanwhile but I suppose you're going to stay in London until then"
"I will---you'll find me in the Orion near nocturnal alley under the name of Charles Merryweather"
"Then as to money---"
"We Malfoy's always pay our debts, name a price and I will meet it---"
Ron had to actively stop himself from rolling his eyes. "Maybe buy Weasley a new wardrobe with it" Malfoy added after a long hard look.
"What about current expenses," Potter asked and Malfoy did not hesitate to pull out a heavy bag filled to the brim with gold from his cloak. It made Ron wonder how many of these he carried with him on a day-to-day basis. "That should keep you going for a while"
Potter scribbled a receipt upon a sheet of stray paper he found in the room and handed it to Malfoy.
"This family heirloom of yours I take it that it is one of a kind--- iIassume it is made from pure silver"
"The finest material---of course--- our family crest is engraved in it"
"Got it---in that case I trust that we'll soon have some good news to you--i'll stay in touch with you and as for you Weasley" Potter turned his attention finally back on him. "Let's meet up tomorrow to discuss some smaller matters"
:_:
The only issue was that Potter hadn't told him where they'd meet up and Ron, after hearing all of yesterday's information hadn't even thought about asking. As it was, he had just finished his shift in St.Mungos, his white healer robes exchanged for his usual attire.
He was lingering in front of St.Mungos, waiting atop the stairs for what had felt like ages, before he decided to move on, he got as far as down the alley before a pair of arms wound up around his shoulders. A drunken looking auror, ill kempt and red faced with disreputable clothes, fell in step with him. Ron had to look three times before he was certain that it was Potter.
They ended up in the leaky caldron, Potter dumped him on one of the tables and hurried towards the bathroom. He emerged soon later tweed suited and respectable.
He fell into the seat opposite him and stretched his legs out, his hands vanished into his pockets. For a short moment, he tried to fight off the smile that threatened to grow on his face before he completely gave it up and heartedly began to laugh.
"You will never believe it" He laughed and then he choked and fell limbless back into his chair. "Not in a million years"
"What happened?"
"It's quite funny actually, you'll never guess how I spend my morning or more exactly with whom--"
"I can't imagine--- probably something involving Hermione Granger--"
"In a way--- but not entirely---" Potter leaned now closer, the innkeeper Tom approached them but Potter waved him away. Ron found himself mimicking Potter and also leaned closer.
" After leaving you yesterday, I left in the character of an Auror and to my surprise, I came across a bunch of them, celebrating, I fit into them without any issues, they didn't even question it. Aurors have some kind of sentimental companionship--- they hold together, like a crew--- add a healthy dose of Alcohol and you're essentially their sworn brother.
Now to the exciting news--- the Ministry is going to hold a gala, very soon, very high profile--- everyone is going to be there"
"Hermione Granger included" Ron concluded. Potter nodded but he wasn't done just yet.
"The Aurors had a lot to say about her--- nothing too pleasant---she's radical in her believes---opposes the old ways" The slightest quirk of his lips. "Which does not put her in a favourable position amongst her colleagues. She spends her days in the Ministry working from dawn to dusk---she's been trying to reform the ministry for years now ---"
"Malfoy will be ruined if this were to come out--" Ron mused.
"So what--we'll attend the gala and then what?"
"One thing at a time Weasley--- like I said it's a high-profile event--- mere mortals like you and me will not be invited without some persuasion"
"We could always sneak in"
"Aurors will be swarming around there---these people know each other, we'll stick out like a sore thump---no I'm working on something better. I fear I'll bore you with the details but I'll have to show you some of my difficulties to make you understand. All I need from you is to get a good pair of robes--- preferably not ones from your late great aunt."
Ron let out a huff and crossed his arms, "Anything else?"
"Yes---actually there is one more thing you and I need to do--- actually in around half an hour---" Potter glanced at his pocket watch for a long minute and nodded to himself. He then glanced over to him and looked him over, "That'll do---"
Potter rose from his seat, Ron followed him suit.
"Where are we going?" His brows furrowed. Potter turned to face him, "To meet up with Hermione Granger of course---"
Somehow with the same kind of knowledge that Potter had Ron was not able to follow at all.
Potter had emerged from the leaky caldron by the time Ron managed to catch up with him. "Meet up with her?--why would we do that--Malfoy said she wouldn't just give it away"
"To get to know her of course--- for that I will be needing your assistance---"
"Of course---"
"You don't mind breaking the law?"
"Not in the least"
"Not afraid of spending the night in a cell---"
"Not on a good day. I'm your man"
"I knew I could rely on you"
"What is it you need me to?" Ron asked as they took a shortcut. He realized soon enough that they were headed towards the ministry.
"From you--- I don't need anything--- what I need currently is a reporter for the quibbler, You and I are on our way to interviewing miss Granger who so kindly agreed to meet up and discuss her plans for the future."
"I see---why the quibbler of all the places it's ----rubbish"
"It's the only news station that does not rip Hermione Granger into pieces. Leave the talking to me and we'll have no issues"
"I'm to remain neutral?"
"To do nothing whatever--- there might be some unpleasantness--don't be surprised by it---don't join in it--All I need you to do, is when the moment arises to take control of the situation, stop it from escalating further--you'll see it then"
The ministry of magic was busy at this hour of the time, like every other, it never seemed to rest, there was always something going on.
Hermione Granger had sent her assistant, a meek little boy, to greet them in the visitor's hall. Potter confidently approached him. "Evans?" The boy glanced between the two of them, unsure of who to address.
"That would be me---this is my colleague Edgar Brown--we're here to interview Miss Granger"
"I was informed that there would only be one---"
"A miscommunication I'm sure--we wouldn't want Miss Granger waiting would we now?"
The boy seemed to agree as they were led through the ministry, the elevator ride was a bumpy one, Ron remembered accompanying his father on many occasions when he'd been younger. It hadn't changed since then. The same dark tiles were aligned on the wall. The same statues and pictures are framed.
The only difference now was that they exited on a higher etage, his father worked several etages under them just now. They brushed past busy ministry workers, all clad in the same uniform.
The boy, who was several years younger than they were, was nervously fidgeting as he showed them the way towards Hermione Granger's office. "She's awaiting you--"
"Thank you" Potter nodded towards him before he knocked on the door, once, twice before a soft voice answered them to enter.
What he saw was unlike anything he would've expected.
In his mind, Hermione Granger was a beauty, arm candy that people like Malfoy loved to flaunt and show off but she was the furthest thing from it.
Her bushy hair was barely restrained in her bun, she did not wear any jewellery, not as far as he could tell. She didn't dress herself in the richest of fabrics, she was just like everyone else they had passed. Her brilliant eyes swept through them. She offered them a tight smile.
"Thank you for accepting our request for an interview Miss Granger," Potter said smoothly, "This is my partner Edgar Brown"
"Please---take a seat" She gestured for the two seats in front of her desk. Her room was filled to the brim, old coffee mugs lay forgotten in one corner, a pair of coats hanged on the walls, and so much more that Ron barely knew where to contain his gaze.
He just couldn't imagine someone like Malfoy with her and yet the knowledge of it, made him see her in a different light.
" I understand that it must've not been easy to make space for us in your busy schedule--- would you like to tell us about some of the things you work on currently"
"I'm sure you're well aware of many of them--- they're not secrets and I'm currently being criticized for each and every one of them by my opponents---which are well-known figures---no need for names--- they know who they are--"
No surprise that she wasn't well-liked.
" Can you fault them? you're a first-generation witch, surrounded by men and woman who grew comfortable in their standing and you threaten the very foundation they have built upon, quite remarkable if you ask me--- it must not be easy---"
He could watch the shift in her demeanour, as she grew more interested and looser as she began to delve deeper into the conversation.
"Your mere presence is a challenge to them--- you must be aware of it" Potter added.
"When all I do is merely point at the broken foundations and wrongdoings of this system they so heavily rely upon, that crushes many just so the few on top can live in lavish---"
Potter wrote in his notebook he had pulled out, without taking his gaze from Granger.
"For example house-elves--- a glorified name for what is essentially a slave---they advertise to have them sold and for what, merely a few sickles for a lifetime of misery"
Ron's lips parted and shut again as he caught Potter's gaze, this was not a battle worth fighting. Ron leaned back in his seat. Outside, a hurried pair of steps rushed past the room.
"Your organisation S.P.E.W is not really popular amongst the people or even the house-elves for that matter--any comment to it?"
"How could they?-- Houseelves have been groomed into thinking that they deserve nothing--- for centuries it has been forced into them--- they will be grateful for it one day---and --" Even Granger faltered as panicked voices rose outside.
They all turned to the door in confusion, Ron met Potter's fleeting gaze, and saw nothing out of the ordinary.
"Fire--" Someone shouted.
Smoke started to spread through the door inside the room, Ron rushed towards the door, the whole hallway was draped in darkness. Chaos was guaranteed. He covered his face, his wand already at hand.
"It's not a fire---" He called out, two steps into the hallway. There was no heat, no flames, only smoke. "There is no fire--- he called out, he reached out to the first person he staggered into.
"Everyone calm down" A sonorus---Grangers voice, echoed in the hallway. Ron caught a glimpse of her, her voice left no place for disobedience. Their gazes met for a moment and then she stepped past him, deeper into the smoke.
By the time, all the smoke had been cleared Ron returned back to Potter, Potter stepped out of the room, just as he had been to step in. Their gazes met and Ron understood that whatever it was he had wanted to do, he had achieved.
"What about Granger?" He asked as they made their way towards the elevator, he managed to catch one last glance of Hermione Granger, her back had been turned towards them.
"She gave us what we needed" The door shut behind them and Potter began to grin. "You did really well Doctor--- couldn't have asked for a better performance"
"Do I wanna know how you managed to get this done?"
"I know a few people who owe me---- I called in for a small favour-- but enough about that.
Did you notice anything about her office?" Potter asked him once they had stepped out of the ministry. Ron met his gaze, "Other than it being a total mess, no, I wouldn't even know where to start to"
"Yes--- considering that she is a workaholic, she has basically moved into that office, multiple pairs of shoes, a bag filled with clothes to change into, takeaway boxes--- do you know what this means?"
"That she is in serious need of a life and friends?"
"Other than that?"
"Just tell me already"
"That the ring is with her. When a woman thinks her house is on fire, her instinct is at once to rush to the thing she values most. It is a perfectly overpowering impulse. A married woman grabs her baby---an unmarried one reaches for her jewel box. What do you reckon is Hermione Grangers most valuable item right now?"
"Malfoy's ring---"Ron concluded, "But how did you know that it was there?"
"She knows that Malfoy is after it--- that he won't give up that easily, so she'll want to keep it close and what a better place than her office, that she practically lives in. The smokes and the shouts were enough to shake her nerves, she responded beautifully.
She was there in an instant--- I caught a glimpse of it when she pulled it out. When you cried out that it had been a false alarm, she replaced it and hurried out of the room.
I hesitated--- wondered if I should attempt to secure the ring but her assistant came and was watching me narrowly. It seemed safer to wait. A little over- precipitance may ruin it all."
"So what now?"
"Now--- we wait and prepare for our last act"
:_:
Nothing was impossible for a Malfoy, were the words Malfoy had told them as he handed them the special passes to enter the ministry of magic on that day. it was late in the evening, Aurors were in every corner and nook, keeping watch as one of the most prominent and important people started mingling with each other.
Ron immediately felt like an intruder and out of place, no one spared them a second glance. Malfoy moved through the crowd as if he were born for this.
"A hoard of Malfoy's---what a nightmare" Ron muttered to Potter, they were both standing close to the wall, in the back, watching everything unfold. People seemed to swarm around one man in particular--Ron had caught glimpses of the man and seen his face plastered in the daily prophet more than once but for the life of himself he couldn't remember his name.
"Who's that?" He asked.
"Tom Riddle---Underminister--- potential future Minister" Potter replied without taking his gaze off the man. "She's here---we should get going"
Ron hadn't even noticed Hermione Granger's arrival, just like everybody else. Even here, did she seem to be a outcast. She was wearing a light blue dress, she made a pretty sight, with her hair for once, properly managed.
The drunken conversations and the music followed them far to the ends of the hallways where Malfoy came upon them.
"How are we getting into her office-- it's locked and probably even warded against intruders--" Malfoy asked, as they neared the lifts.
"Not today-" Potter remarked and chuckled as he noticed their raised brows. "If I were to tell you all of my secrets I'd lose all of my mystery and that is among the things that keep my business going"
The office had been just like Potter had said unlocked, Potter pushed the door open and entered, the lumos of his wand lit the office in a bright light. It was just like Ron remembered it to be, add a few new odd boxes and mugs to the already ensuing chaos, that is.
" Where is it?" Malfoy asked, his gaze trailing through the room. Potter gave him a look as he neared the closest shoebox, he crouched on the floor, and reached for the shoes.
"odd little place I'll give her that but not one I would've looked for at first---"
Potter froze in his movements and slowly turned to face them.
"It's not here"
"Looking for something ?" That voice. He had heard it before.
Ron whirled only to come face to face with her. Hermione Granger leaned against the door frame, a cool smile on her.
"Granger---" Malfoy sneered.
"You really did it well. You almost even had me, up until the fire, I held no suspicions, but I knew you'd come after me, I had been warned months earlier. I knew Malfoy would go to the best--- after all that's what all Malfoy strive for or am I mistaken?"
Granger levelled Malfoy with a glare.
"What gave it away?" Potter asked cooly, he slowly rose from his crouching position.
"I didn't want the interview to end without any conclusion so I contacted Luna--- an old friend of mine---maybe you've heard of her--- the woman behind the quibbler, to my surprise she told me that she never send someone out for an interview and knew no Edgar Brown or James Evans---"
" What do you want Granger--- " Malfoy finally snapped, he sounded exhausted, slightly less like the man Ron knew him to be.
"I will never be with you---i can't marry you---"
Granger let out a startled laugh, "Marriage?---to you of all people?, no-- I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy---"
"What then?" Malfoy asked slightly offended. "Name me a price then--"
"I wouldn't want Mister Potter's efforts to be for nought ---" For a moment she turned to Potter, only to be met with his narrowed gaze.
She did pretend to think for a moment, Ron was sure that it was just a pretence, she already knew what she wanted.
"I want your family's support, your father will back away and side with me in the next election"
It was Malfoy's turn to let out a startled laugh. "You're mad--- "
"That's my price--" she barked.
"You're asking for the impossible--my father will never agree to this--- supporting your cause would mean treachery´-- to everything we believe in---and you know it---"
This was never going to end. He glanced at Potter who hadn't taken his gaze from Granger since the moment she had entered.
"You're the future of house Malfoy--- your father might not agree but you can---" Ron offered, urging all gazes to turn onto him. He cleared his throat. "What I'm saying is--"
"Brilliant" Granger ended for him, urging Ron to straighten up underneath her praise. His cheeks turned a shade of crimson, that rivalled his hair. "Your answer ?" Granger turned to face Malfoy, who looked like he'd like to be anywhere but here at this moment. A few long moments passed and Ron expected Malfoy to decline her offer but to his surprise, he offered his hand.
His fear of returning empty-handed was bigger than everything that siding with Granger would get him.
"Not even my support will help your cause Granger---Now---where is it?"
Ron only caught a short glimpse of the ring, a brilliant thing, that glittered in the dim light of the room, he craned his neck but Malfoy had pocketed it within seconds, holding onto it like a drowning man to a lifeline.
Malfoy offered Potter one last nod of acknowledgement before he left them, " It was a pleasure Mister Potter" Hermione Granger finally turned her attention back to him.
"And you are?"
"Ron--Ron Weasley---"
"Pleasure---" She turned on her heels and left in the same direction Malfoy had ventured off to. The Gala was still ongoing after all, there was still plenty of mingling and socializing left to do.
And that was how a great scandal threatened the Malfoy family and Harry Potter's best plans were beaten by a woman's wit.
Hermione Granger or as Potter refers to her, under the honorary title, the woman.