Binding will, Freeing Love
By Mika Silverflame in collaboration with Serin Sykes
Chapter 1 See you again, House Elf
It had been six years since the war. Draco set alone in the Leaky Cauldron waiting for his dinner guest to arrive. He hadn't seen her since the last day at Hogwarts 5 years ago when they flew across the lake. She ran off laughing and smiling into the arms of her boyfriend. He wondered if she would show up or if she would be willing to talk to him.
Draco's POV
In the six years since the war, I had finished school, cleared my name and went to work. My family's long history with dark artifacts gave me the knowledge I needed to be a curator for the Department of Misused Magical Artifacts; it was my job to locate and store away dark enchanted objects. It didn't pay well but with my family's background I didn't need the money and I enjoy my job.
I sat there thinking of the work I had yet to complete at the office when the door to the pub opened. I looked up and there she was, even more beautiful than when I had last seen her. Her long thick brown hair was pulled to one side in a neat braid and her dark brown eyes had a look of caution in them. I stood as she entered and pulled a chair out for her; she gave me a wary glance and then sat down.
" may I ask why you have chosen this place to have a meeting with me?" She said in a calm and steely voice.
" , as I stated in my owl I have found an artifact that your department would have great interest in, also I enjoy the food." I replied trying to sound cool and collected, as the barkeep came over to the table to bring our drinks.
"I have taken the liberty to order us two firewhiskey." I said as the drinks were placed in front of us. We ordered food and after the barkeep left I continued talking.
"Hermione, if I can be so informal. I have found an artifact that can be used to enslave others. It suppresses the will of the person it is placed on. I have come to suspect that it is not the only one of its kind and would like to request aid from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to help us search for, locate and remove the remaining artifacts."
"Mr. Malfoy, I prefer we stick to professional niceties!" Hermione snapped as she pushed the firewhiskey away, the food arriving cut her off. Hermione continued as the barkeeper left, "Where was I? Oh yes let us keep this professional, secondly I would need evidence of the artifacts existence before the department will lend its assistance."
I produced a box from inside my cloak. It was blue velvet and looked to hold jewelry. When he opened it it contained a silver collar encrusted with rubies and emeralds.
"This is the item in question, I have read many books and heard many stories that link this collar to dark magic. Like I stated previously I believe there are more and it is in the best interest of the Ministry to locate them and have them locked up in the Department of Misused Magical Artifacts." I kept my tone professional but when I looked at the beautiful woman in front of me, I noticed how she had changed since school days. She was always pretty in school, but she had grown up and grown into herself. At 24 she was the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and in the running for future Minister of Magic, and had developed a confidence she had lacked in school.
We continued to eat in silence, Hermione kept her eyes on her food and occasionally glanced over at the box that sat beside us on the table. Finally after the plates were cleared she spoke.
"I will consider having the department get involved, but I will be personally overseeing the removal of all artifacts."
"Very well, I look forward to working with you Ms. Granger" I remarked as I helped her with her coat. I always tried to be a gentleman even when the other person was being as icy to me as the north wind.
Hermione's POV
I had accepted Draco's offer. I knew that I was being a fool for trusting him, but I really do want to get this type of magic under control as soon and as safely as possible. I walked out of the pub and down the street into an ally and quickly apparated away.
When I arrived outside my tiny London Apartment I cast a spell to check for anything harmful. When nothing showed up, I walked inside and started to get undressed, removing my coat and shoes. Walking forward into the loft I finally noticed that Ron was on our couch.
"What are you doing here" I asked surprised. Ron hadn't been home in nearly three weeks, as he had been on a mission to god knows where and he hadn't even sent an owl in a week and a half. I had been worried sick about him, but of course he didn't care. He always got so wrapped up in work. It was just frustrating, because Harry always found time to owl Ginny, but then again Harry was a different type of person than Ron.
"I was in between missions and I thought I would pop in," Ron stated matter of factly giving me a strange look," Where have you been anyways, I have been here since 5?"
"Well Ron If you had bothered to send an owl every once in awhile you would know that I was in a meeting tonight with one of the curators from the Department of Magical Artifacts." I said sharply trying to keep the hurt out of my voice. No reason for him to see how sad I was when he left me here alone. He would only remind me that it was my choice to accept the job as head of Magical law instead of staying a field auror.
"Really 'Mione you act like I never see you at all. I am here now am I not. You know how theses missions go, sometimes you can't send an owl for fear of giving away your position," Ron had a sincere look on his face but I had heard this same excuse so many times. I really didn't want to argue with him right now though.
"Oh, fine, I guess. Only because I need a date to the christening." I said in a sigh. Harry and Ginny had been married the summer after her last year at Hogwarts. They had been married for 5 years now and were expecting their first child together. Ginny was due in less than a month and they had asked Ron and I to be the Godparents. A wonderful sentiment that only further reminded me of Ron's lack of commitment. Six years and no ring not even a hint at a ring he only stayed here when he was off work and then sometimes he would still go and stay in his old room at the burrow. I was beginning to give up all hope and resign myself to being his girlfriend terminally.
Ron gave me that sweet knowing look he gives me when he can sense the tension in my eyes and pulled me onto the couch with him. We sat there and talked part way through the night before returning to bed.
The next morning I woke up and Ron was already out of bed. I walked sleepily into the kitchen to see his head in the fire muttering something to someone. When he noticed me in the room he quickly ended the conversation and pulled his head out of the fireplace.
"Hey 'Mione you are up early." he said running his hand through his hair messing it up.
"Oh I rolled over and you weren't there so I got up. Who were you talking to?" I asked trying not to sound suspicious.
"Just someone from work, they need me to come in today and fill out paperwork over the last mission." Ron quickly looked away as he said this, and I knew he wasn't telling the whole truth. It was probably something he saw on the mission that he didn't want to talk about. "Would you like some coffee?" Ron added after a brief silence.
"No thank you, I have to go into work early today to get a jump start on the Magical Artifact project." I didn't tell Ron the total truth, I could leave later as my first meeting wasn't until 10, but I was feeling awkward standing here with him, since the last few months we had been distant and it felt like he took every job he could just to stay busy.
"Oh that… which curator are you working with, I hope it's not Malfoy you're stuck with, wouldn't that be loads of fun, being burdened with him all the time talking about boring pieces of junk." Ron said sourly.
I rolled my eyes and walked away hoping that he wouldn't press the issue anymore. Ron still hadn't forgiven Malfoy even though it had been so many years and there was no sign of him being a death eater. Other than the fact that he had a keen eye for spotting dark antiquities. I haven't had the chance to work with him before, but people gossip everywhere and from what I have heard he seems to have changed for the better. Even now he was helping us find and put away dangerous artifacts. I was walking out the door when Ron jumped up from the couch.
"Hey just give me a second and I will join you," he said still clad in his pajamas.
"I'm sorry, but I really need to get going, I'm in a bit of a rush today so you stay here and rest I'll see you for dinner ok?" I tried to keep the frustration out of my voice. I really do need to talk to him. We need to figure out what is going on with us.
