Chapter One

Lucius Malfoy and Hermione Granger had been working together at the Ministry for about six months. Hermione always felt a bit nervous and shy around him, most especially since Narcissa had taken Draco and left him shortly after the war. The two were both working in the Department of Grimoire Restorations, and so far they didn't have to do much interacting, but today, all that was about to change.

"Good morning, Miss Granger," said Kingsley as she stepped into the large library filled with old and rare documents, ready to get her fingers dirty. "Might I have a word?"

"Of course, Minister," she said quickly, stepping over to where the man stood by a large desk filled with a scattering of loose sheafs of paper that needed sorting.

"Lucius Malfoy has told me you've been doing an excellent job cataloguing things around here," Kingsley informed her with a grim sort of smile as he put his hands behind his back and flexed his ankles.

"I didn't know he noticed," she answered with a blush, trying not to appear interested in that gentleman's opinion.

"He also told me that you never stop cataloguing, Miss Granger," Kingsley added. "I know that it must be difficult for you, since Weasley decided to run off and marry Miss Brown instead of you—"

"Not at all, sir," Hermione stopped him. "Actually, I was rather glad of it. Things weren't going too well between us, if you must know, sir."

"I see," he answered. "Well, be that as it may, I've spoken at length with Malfoy, and he and I agree that it's about time you did a little field work."

"Field work, sir?" Hermione repeated nervously.

"Yes, as in work that is outside the office," Kingsley explained as if speaking to a child.

"I know what field work is, sir," she told him.

"Yes, well good, because Malfoy is waiting for you in my office this morning, and the two of you are going on a little field trip," he said. "I've learned of an ancient document in France that I want the two of you to recover, and it may get a bit sticky along the way. He was of the opinion that it would be the perfect mission to start you off with."

"Sticky?" Hermione inquired.

"Yes, well, there's a rumor that the thing may be guarded by a dragon, as it were."

"Great, another dragon," Hermione grumbled.

"Not up to it, my dear?" Kingsley inquired.

"Oh, no sir, I'm quite certain I can handle it," Hermione said. "I'm more worried about handling an outing with Malfoy. I might prefer the dragon."

Kingsley chuckled. "Miss Granger, I'm sure this trip will be smooth sailing," he reassured her as the two headed for his office. As Hermione stepped inside and looked at her enigmatic companion and his smile did queer things to her insides, she found it hard to agree. And as she took the arm he offered so they could depart and her heart began to pound in her chest, she shook her head and scoffed—smooth sailing, indeed!