Written for the Your Favorite Hogwarts House Boot Camp prompt #34 (anywhere), the Organization Boot Camp prompt #2 (difficult) and the Holiday Spirit: Christmas Boot Camp prompt #18 (fruitcake).

Street Smart VS Book Smart

Some people are book smart. Some people are street smart. And then, there are those people who happen to be both.

Draco considers himself to be both. Hermione however, isn't so sure about that. As partners in the department of investigation, she spends a whole lot of time with him. And because of his giant ego, he seems to believe he can take on anyone anywhere. She happens to know that isn't true.

As co-workers in the department of investigation they go together on many adventures, speaking to shady characters and looking through disturbing settings. Today is no different.

"Houses are okay to investigate," Draco complains as they walk towards their newest assignment. "Murder scenes are okay. Bank robbery scenes are okay. Even interviewing shady characters is okay Granger. But wandering through mud in the middle of a rainstorm? This is not okay."

"You know, there are so many other things to complain about in the world besides this little part of your job," she snapped, rolling her eyes. "Honestly, a little mud never hurt anyone."

"These shoes are Italian Granger. Do you know how expensive they were?"

"If they were so bloody valuable you wouldn't have worn them to work," she pointed out, wandering down the street. They were currently on their way to investigate a possible criminal in the latest bank heist. Those are more common than one would think since the war ended. "Besides, you wear Italian shoes of some sort every bloody day. I'm sure you can throw away this pair if mud offends you so badly."

"Well, that would just be a waste of shoes," he muttered.

They arrive outside the house a few minutes later, having walked since Hermione was currently injured. Apparation wasn't advised, especially since she got hurt on their last investigation. The job was rather dangerous in fact. When they tried to escape a crime scene a week ago, a rogue Death Eater appeared as they apparated off, and- like during the war when Bella through a knife and it got Dobby while apparating- the knife thrown caught Hermione's upper arm. It wasn't a fatal wound, and they got her to St. Mungo's before anything serious happened. Draco told her when they arrived to throw up a protection spell, but she didn't take his advice. She was too distracted by other things, and then forgot to do anything about it all together when they were attacked. Now she was regretting her decision. Because she had to be careful for another four days they couldn't really apparate far, and now had to walk in the rain.

Draco kept pointing out to her that if she just listened then there wouldn't have been a problem. She wouldn't have been hurt. It annoyed her to no end that he was actually right.

At the door they paused, glancing at each other. Hermione beckoned to the door. "Would you like to do the honors?"

He shrugged, rapping on the door. They stood beneath the overhang, finally warming up after their cold walk. Within seconds the door was thrown open, and a wiry looking man stood inside the doorway staring at them.

"What do you want?" he asked immediately, looking between the two. He smelled of cigarettes and something else Hermione couldn't place, but Malfoy seemed to notice something off about him and leaned closer to his partner. Whenever he did that she knew something was amiss. Malfoy was good at picking up on things like that, tings that seemed off about a person. Usually, he was best at picking up on drug use. Hermione never asked where he got his talent from.

Draco flashed his badge briefly, then beckoned to Hermione who did the same thing. "Detective Malfoy, sir. We were sent from the Ministry to ask a few questions."

"About?" he asked, looking between the two. He caught sight of Hermione, and then proceeded to grab her arm in a threatening manner. "You can come in if she does!"

In one fluid motion Hermione had changed around the threatening position, and the man quickly found himself lying flat on his back. He groaned, grabbing his head. Draco pocketed his badge while he watched his partner defend herself, unmoved by the situation. They'd gotten used to being hit on by unsavory characters over the years, and she quickly learned how to defend herself. He hadn't stood up for her in ages. She was perfectly capable of handling herself.

"I'd really prefer if you kept your hands off of me," she said sweetly, staring down at him. "I don't like to be handled."

He glared up at her, flipping her off as he muttered something under his breath. Draco appeared in his vision as well, arching an eyebrow at him.

"Why didn't they just arrest this guy to begin with?" he asked, wrinkling his nose. "I certainly wouldn't have let him out of the holding cells. Do you smell meth?"

"I smell something," she agreed, covering her nose. "And he's not in custody because there was no evidence to arrest him beforehand. Now we have to ask some questions. But I guess we could always do an assault charge and just bring you in." She dropped her eyes to glare down at the man at her feet.

"I'm not going nowhere with you missy! You don't even know who I am!"

"Charles Wallace," she said, waving her hand. "You've been arrested one other time for procession of drugs. I see my partner's already wandered off the find the source of that retched smell."

"He can't go wandering around in here! I have rights!"

She flashed the piece of paper administered to them by the Ministry that gave them the right to investigate his home that night. "We have a right to be here, and you have a right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you."

"Oh, I'm scared now," Charles snapped, glaring up at her. "And I suppose that partner of yours is just poking around here!"

She shrugged. "Probably. Malfoy's nosy."

"Tell him to stay out of my things!"

"I think he's probably going to look through whatever he pleases. Come on now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. You're going to have to come with us one way or another. And it'll be easier on everyone if you don't make things difficult. Remember we'll have to report back to our boss when we finally get you back to the Ministry. If you struggle the entire time they will know, and they'll assume you have something to hide."

He spat on her feet and called her a whore, but a rough nudge with her foot had him keeping quiet again. People had done far worse things to her than that. He was nothing to worry about. She magically bound him to stay still and then crossed her arms, invisible ropes keeping him in place. Crossing her arms, she tapped her foot. Malfoy was taking longer than normal.

She gave him a funny look as she surveyed the space she could see, and then the man again. He was dressed kind of like a fruitcake- like his mother dressed him up, but as a four year old instead of an adult. Long, mismatched socks, an oversized shirt and overalls. Really, she couldn't imagine walking out of the house like that.

"You can write up a charge for drug possession again," Draco called as he stepped back into the room. "We're going to have to do a thorough investigation of this place once he's in custody."

"You're not touching nothing," he snapped from below them, jutting a leg out as high and far as it would go. It impacted Hermione's lower calf and she hissed, pain shooting up her leg. Of course he would hit the bone.

Draco hauled him up at that, shoving the bloke none too nicely into the wall. "You should've bound his legs too," he remarked, adding a spell of his own. "You okay?"

"I'm fine, no damage done," she muttered, shooting him a dark look. "But I think you should just apparate to the Ministry. I can walk to the nearest floo station."

The blond gave her a weary look. "Are you sure about that? It's pretty dark and cold out there. It might not be safe to wander around alone."

"I can handle myself."

"Usually Granger, but I've seen you be taken by surprise by a blowing twig before. We'll just walk to the floo system together."

"Hey, that was at the beginning of our career together," she reminded, crossing her arms. "And you don't need to protect me, I'm perfectly fine. Besides, it'll draw a lot of unneeded attention if people see us hauling a guy down the street."

"Well, alright, if you think you'll be okay."

"I know I'll be okay. I'll meet you back at the office soon."

"Yeah, I hope so." They walked out together, silencing Wallace so they wouldn't have to listen to his profanity. On the porch Draco instantly apparated away, not wanting to risk being seen. Thankfully Charles didn't seem to be a very smart individual and his wards didn't stretch out past the door to his house. Once her partner was gone, she started walking, placing a sigh on and a few spells on the building. That house was now on lockdown until someone came back to see it, and she suspected that it would probably be them. So she didn't want any of the evidence ruined. They might have another case against this fellow, on top of the bank heist. If so, their boss might finally give the both of them a raise. They were far past deserving one.

She started down the street, hands in her pockets and on her wand at all times. Even though she knew she could handle herself, she still wanted to be cautious. You never know when someone's going to try to jump out at you.

"Do you ever read your paperwork before you sign it Malfoy?"

"No, not really. You just read it anyway."

Hermione rolled her eyes, setting a file down on the desk in between them. They shared an office, but whenever they were actually in it Malfoy pulled his chair right up beside her. He simply just didn't do paperwork, despite her protests. She always ended up double-checking everything. He would just sign things and move on without even reading them.

"You signed your summer vacation away here."

"What!?" He snatched the paper away, reading through it quickly. She just shook her head.

"I think that one's actually a test to see if you even read your paperwork."

"Maybe. I've scribbled my name out now."

"I don't think it really works like that."

"Well if the boss has any complaints he can come talk to me. Bloody ink doesn't disappear, and official documents don't allow you to cast spells on them."

"What a pity," she replied, rolling her eyes. "Maybe you should consider reading these things next time?"

"I'm sure you'll catch my mistakes again."

"I'm not so sure I want to," she sighed. "So what happened with the Wallace case? I was too busy reading some of the notes Auror's made on the bank heist case to really pay attention."

"Ah Granger, you always have your nose in something don't you?"

"Yes, I do. It's important that we're informed on everything we need to be. I know Wallace will go to jail for drug procession, but what about the bank case? Did they get anything on him for that one?"

"Kind of. They'll probably call him into trial whenever they do the case- when we actually arrest the guy that did it. He'll probably get a sentence for that too."

"Oh, probably."

"Coffee Granger? You're looking a bit stressed."

"Oh, I am. And remember, I don't take my coffee black like you do. Bring back a few bags of sugar, and have them put some milk and sweetener in would you?"

"We've worked together for almost a year Granger. I know how you take your coffee."

"Good." She sat back as he left the room, looking at the files in front of her. They still had a lot left to this case, and she knew it was going to take some time.

Her partnership with Malfoy worked out better than anyone imagined. He was the street smart, she was the book smart, and they both had minor bits of each other's traits. They worked well together, and they kept each other on their toes.

Now if she could just get him to actually read things before he signed them they would be in a good place. Their boss had to tire of constantly receiving documents with a name scribbled out. But that was okay. She had time yet to train Draco.

A/n: So I might continue this story. If I do, it will probably be different chapters that can be read as one-shots or a whole story. It would focus on the different cases Hermione and Draco go on, their friendship and eventual buddying romance and their overall connection. But I'm not sure yet. It might remain as a standalone story.

If you have any comments, please submit them! Feedback really does help :)