Hermione was walking down the dusty hallway of the muggle apartment building she was going to inhabit for the next couple of months. Her head already hurt from the gunky smell of the place "I should do an anti-ache charm as soon as I move in" Hermione thought. The only reason she was moving in to the London Streets Apartments was because of her Auror training assignment, she will have to live with another Auror-in-training in a two bedroom apartment. That included sharing a bathroom (ugh), working together at the local café and of course, going on top-secret missions.

At last, Hermione opened the door to her new flat; the room she was standing in was of medium size, portraying exquisite Elizabethan style furnishings and deep blue velvet drapes. "Heloo, anybody there?" she called out, no one answered for a moment –and then she herd footsteps. A tall man walked in to the room and leaned against the doorway, his white blond hair reflecting the lights of hurricane lamps scattered through out the room. He was well built but lean, the black tailored shirt and pants showing off his well-toned body.

"Granger?" the man said, sneering.

"Malfoy? What are you doing here?" she was utterly confused by this, Isn't he a Death Eater?

"Well, Granger, may I ask what is your business here? Oh but of course, such a know-it-all like you couldn't resist but go for the high class job of an Auror. Or is it too heartbreaking for the Golden Trio to split up? And I thought the agony of you three sauntering around was over." the sneer deepened.

"I wouldn't imagine why a Death Eater like yourself would be training to become one either, not enough money for such a spoiled prat since your father left, eh?"

"Everyone likes to have a spy at the Ministry, and anyway, Granger, let us discuss some more important matters, shall we?" Malfoy moved closer to her, until they were almost touching "First off, don't you dare invite Potty and Weasle here, one nutty Gryffindor is enough. Now, second, if I go away on any…unexpected business, don't mention a thing to those fuckwitts at the Ministry. Got it? "

Hermione felt extremely uncomfortable this close to her archenemy, the desire to get away took over the longing to investigate the "unexpected busyness". Taking a defiant step back, she retorted "Whatever, Malfoy. I couldn't care less where you go whenever Fudge's facing the other way."

Not wanting to be in his company for even a second longer, Hermione headed towards one of the bedrooms.

Later that evening, Hermione laid reading Death Eaters: A Guide For the Beginning Auror, she was so enveloped in the book that an important looking owl went unnoticed for quite some time.

"Boo" emitting a short scream, Hermione jumped a foot in the air "Malfoy, how did you get in here?!" she screamed at the blond.

He smirked "Wow, Granger, are you that easily scared? Were all those quests with your boyfriend Potter for nothing?" Scowling, Hermione narrowed her eyes, looking rather vicious "Stop it, or you'll regret it, Malfoy!"

"Oh, is that a threat, Mudblood?" Malfoy stepped closer, narrowing his eyes as well.

"Consider it what you will, ferret, just stop bothering me!" she was wearing a heated expression which was obtaining a tomato-like quality.

"Don't you dare talk to me like that, bitch"

"Deal with it, Malfoy; I'll talk to you however I want to." Not being able to bear it any longer, he roughly pulled her to a standing position. They were barely an inch apart "Look, Granger, let's stop this childish name-calling, you wouldn't want to get hurt, would you?"

Hermione was starring in to his cold blue eyes; he couldn't hurt her, right? Right?! While she was thinking this though, the man's grip on her arm loosened and became almost gentle; the icy blue was replaced by stormy grey.

The mixture of caramel and brown in her eyes mesmerized Draco; he simply could not look away. Maybe he could stay like this forever, just stare down at her and never notice anything else…No, he shouldn't do this! She's a Mudblood, you're a Death Eater, she isn't good enough for you. Stop it! ...

"Malfoy!!! What the hell are you doing?!" while Hermione's face expressed fright and confusion, his was just blank.

"Nothing Granger, stop asking stupid questions" turning around he gave her one last glance and before Hermione could utter a word the door to the second bedroom slammed shut, making the china on her bedside table rattle.

Whoa, Death Eaters definitely are mentally unstable. Talk about mood swings! And my head hurts like hell, ugh. 'Mione did a simple pain-relief spell and was ready to go to sleep when she noticed an owl sitting on her dresser. Weird…it never even hooted! Maybe someone cast Silencio on it? Hmmm…

"Lets see…" the Auror-in-training untied the letter from the owl's leg and gave it some treats, the letter (surprise, surprise) was from the Ministry of Magic. It read:

Dear Ms. Granger, congratulations on starting the first phase of your training! As you should have already discovered, you will be working with Mr. Malfoy for the next couple of weeks. You will receive another letter containing the information about your first mission during the next few days.

Sincerely,

Roberté Fedario

Head of Auror Training Department

Hermione yawned, it was around two in the morning now, and she was exhausted. Exhausted enough to drop snoozing on the bed, and that's exactly what she did.