I was walking to my office looking at the case files in my hand. Bloody paperwork, I thought why can't I get a real case? Normally I get left alone, I work in the Auror department, but no one wants to work with the ex-Death Eater. Nevermind that Harry fucking Potter helped clear my name, along with the rest of the Golden Trio, and more than half the bloody Order. The only people around here that trusted me were the Minister himself, the Golden Trio, and the few friends I kept from school. So normally I was the only one in my office, the other desk I used for when I was bombarded with paperwork. I opened my office door and didn't bother looking at the other desk.
"Umm, Malfoy?" a voice said.
I looked up quickly, nearly dropping what was in my arms, and stared into a pair of green eyes, behind wire glasses.
"Potter? Damn you, you nearly gave me a heart attack!" I said putting my files and coffee on my desk and reached my hand across the desks.
He rose and briefly shook my hand. "Sorry mate, thought you would see me." He said sitting back down before he handed me the case file on his desk. "This is why I'm here. Top Priority. Minister wants us to work on this together."
I took the file from him and opened it. "Dear Merlin," I said staring at the pictures "I haven't seen anything this bad since the war."
"That's why it's Top priority." Potter said simply.
"I hope it's not just you and me on this. I mean I know we're both talented but still." I said looking up at him.
"Don't worry. It's not. Ron and Hermione will be working with us." He said looking toward the door. A few moments later the other 2/3s of the Golden Trio walked in.
"Hello Draco" Granger said walking over to me with her hand extended. As much as I disliked her through school, she seemed to grow on me after the war. Like me she wanted to continue working, didn't want to stop and think. I shook her hand and nodded a greeting at Weasley.
"Morning Granger" I said "So just the four of us then?"
Weasley looked confused. "You don't know?"
"Don't know what Ron?" Harry asked.
"The minister is under the impression that Malfoy had a connection of some sort." Granger said looking at me.
"Umm connection" I asked "How about you tell me about the case and I'll see if I have one."
"Right, sorry you must've only just gotten the file." Granger looked flustered. "Okay so a group of Death Eaters are trying to rise to power. This group is somehow calling other Death Eaters to them. These vary from D.E.'s that didn't have anything to do with the Second war or even ones that have been deemed as "Recovered". These D.E.'s claimed that one second everything was normal, the next their Dark Mark burns and they are transported to some clearing, and forced to kill someone. One D.E. that was questioned said he tried to refuse and the pain in his Mark increased to the point of him blacking out."
I was frozen. I knew the pain that came from even thinking of not obeying an order from the Dark Lord. "Who do you all think I have as a contact to help with this?" I asked dumbfounded.
"The minister said you knew someone who knew how to use the Mark" Weasley said.
My mind shut off at the mention of her. "No. Your information is wrong." I said strained. "I do not know anyone that can help."
My door opened again and in waltzed my longtime friend Blaise, walking with the Minister. "I told you it wouldn't be easy. He won't just give her up." Obviously finishing the conversation they were having.
"Mr. Malfoy-" The Minister had begun before I cut him off.
"Minister, all due respect, but no. I won't be contacting her. I won't involve her in this investigation. You don't seem to understand what she went through regarding that bloody Mark." I said, my voice rising slightly as I continued.
"Draco." One word was uttered that stopped me. Blaise normally didn't interrupt me when I was talking. He actually didn't normally speak up. And especially if the conversation had anything to do with her. I turned to look at him. "We've already spoken to McGonagall. Even had discussions with Dumbledore & Snapes portraits, they all agree that she is the best choice."
I just shook my head. "I won't submit her to that Blaise. You didn't see her when he punished her, you didn't stay with her after, you weren't there with her after the war" I whispered, pleading with him.
"Snape thought you'd say something along those lines. He said and I quote, she is a strong girl, she was taught to do the right thing, no matter what. She will be the one to make the choice. Or so help me I'll come back through the veil and you won't like that outcome." Blaise looked at me smugly.
I narrowed my eyes. "Fine. Fucking fine, leave it to my damned Godfather, to guilt trip me." I said standing up abruptly and walking to the door, without turning around I said "I'm not promising anything. Blaise when I'll send word, you explain the minimum, not another word. She'll be the one to decide what to say to him." I opened the door and walked out. The Golden Trio looked at Blaise curiously. "He's a bit of a prat when it comes to her." He shrugged as he took Draco's seat.