Draco sat at the bar staring at his fire whiskey as he swirled it around in his glass. The patrons all around him were rowdy and talkative, though he didn't seem to notice. He was too busy reliving the events of the previous day. Yesterday, the day he walked into the Ministry of Magic to face his former enemy, and walked out with a job.

He walked up to the big wooden door and read the name tag. Letting out a loud sigh, he raised his hand to knock.

After a second, a voice came from behind the door. It was a voice that Draco had grown up loathing, but now, one that would determine his future. Taking a deep breath, he latched onto the handle, and entered the office, looking one last time at the sign that read "Harry Potter".

Draco looked around the orderly room before his eyes rested on a pair of green ones looking back at him. They were half amused, half anxious. The owner of them stood up from his chair and walked over to Draco. After placing a cordial smile on his face, Harry Potter finally made a move to greet him.

"Draco Malfoy," Harry said as he stuck his hand out, "What's it been now? Two years?"

Draco hesitated for just a split second before meeting Harry's hand and grasping it in a firm shake.

"Hello, Potter. Fancy place you've got here."

Harry gave a sheepish smile and turned to walk behind his desk before taking a seat. He gestured for Draco to take the one in front of him.

"So, Malfoy, I hear you're interested in the open position for Artifact Conservator."

Draco nodded.

"Well, as I'm sure you are aware, there are some people who don't feel very comfortable with you being around these artifacts; specifically the dark kind…"

Draco was about to cut in, but Harry continued.

"…However, since you were cleared by the Ministry of all charges after the war, there's technically nothing incriminating you from getting this job. That being said, I'd like to offer you the position here. I think your previous experience will be more than helpful to us."

Draco widened his eyes for a split second, then quickly turned his face to a smug expression. He hadn't expected Harry Potter, of all people, to actually offer him the job he wanted. Although he WAS cleared of all charges against him, his family was still associated with Voldemort and Deatheaters to this day. Draco snapped out of his haze at Harry's next words.

"Alright then, Malfoy, we'll be expecting you here Monday at 8 am. Don't be late. I'm your supervisor, so I'll show you to your office and give you your tasks when you arrive. Any questions?"

Dumfounded still, Draco could only ask one.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you giving me the job?"

Harry looked thoughtful for a moment, but then his eyes seemed to harden.

"I think we've both been through enough to know that hate in your heart only leads to unhappiness."

At that, Draco shook Harry's hand again and walked out.

After downing the rest of his drink, Draco paid the tab and walked out the front door of the bar. He checked his watch, and realized it was a lot later than he thought it was. The bar would be closing soon, and the streets would be deserted. He buttoned up his coat, and started to walk down the sidewalk towards his home.

The war had had its affect on everyone involved. Draco had noticed changes in his mother just in the last two years. She seemed more alive, more spirited, and appeared to have a newfound appreciation for life. Lucius was in Azkaban for life, and Draco did not plan on seeing him again. With his father gone for good, Draco was experiencing the same effects his mother was, but he showed it less willingly. He actually laughed again when he had lunch with Blaise last week. He couldn't remember the last time he laughed without it being at the misfortune of someone else. All in all, death put things in perspective.

Draco shivered a bit and stopped to cast a warming charm over himself. When he turned the corner, he almost tripped over a figure huddled up against a brick building.

"Oh! I'm terribly sorry ma'am, I didn't see you when I turned the corner."

The only response the woman gave was to slide a bit more down the wall, her hood sliding off. Draco peered closer to the woman's face. He suddenly recognized it very well.

"Granger?"

This time, she slowly lifted her chin up at him and met his eyes with her glassed-over ones.

"Malfoy?"

"The one and only. What are you doing? You could have killed me sitting there like that!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and attempted to stand up. She lost her balance and caught herself on the wall before Draco could reach her to help. She turned around to walk away without a word, leaving Draco baffled.

"Where are you going, Granger? Where are Potter and Weasley?"

She turned around to face him and stumbled a bit.

"Where, indeed?" She started to giggle, and now Draco was even more curious. Was Granger out smashed by herself?

"Nice tripping you Malfoy. May-maybe again sometime," Hermione called as she started stumbling away.

Draco started to turn and head home, but his conscience (yes, he had one) got the better of him. If she was there by herself, would she find her way home? Did any of her friends know where she was? Why did he care?

"Oh sod it all…Granger! Granger, wait up!"

He jogged to catch up, which only took a second because she hadn't gone very far in her drunken state. She didn't acknowledge him next to her, just kept walking.

"Do you live close to here?" Draco wanted to make sure they were headed in the right direction.

Through hiccups, Hermione answered. "Like I w-would tell y-you."

Draco started to roll his eyes just as Hermione stepped off the curb. She rolled her ankle and was about to fall when Draco reached out and grabbed the first thing he could- her jacket hood.

"Ouch, you're choking me!"

"Actually, Granger, I just saved you from falling on your arse!"

She snatched herself away from his hands and started across the road.

"Why are you following me, Malfoy?" she yelled over her shoulder.

Draco was about to tell her he was leaving and she was on her own when she whipped around with a big grin on her face.

"Hey! My hiccups are gone!"

"Lovely, Granger, now tell me where you live so I can take you home and be done with my good deeds for today."

Hermione unexpectedly plopped down on the curb, her face in her hands. Sighing, Draco walked over and sat next to her. He poked her in her shoulder to get her attention, but what he saw when she looked up was not what he anticipated. Her eyes and cheeks were flushed and a steady stream of tears was going down her face.

She looked at him with a pitiful expression and said, "I don't want to go home."

"What? Why not?"

She sniffled and wiped her nose on her sleeve.

"I just don't want to."

Draco almost felt bad for her. Granger didn't cry. He decided to go about it in a way that was sure to get her up and moving towards her house.

"Well, sorry Granger, but unless you plan on staying at my place tonight, which I'm sure Potter and Weasley would love, you've got no other choice."

To say her eyes lit up like a candle would be an understatement.

"Oh, Malfoy, really? Oh thank you! Let's go!"

"Uh, Granger, I was only-"

"Let's GO! I have to use the loo!"

"Fine, but you're only using my loo, and then we're going to your place, you understand?"

She nodded quickly and flashed a big grin.

After apparating into Draco's house, Hermione all but ran to the restroom before Draco even had a chance to finish telling her where it was. He hung up his coat, and went into his room to grab a hangover potion- she'd be needing that. When he came out, he noticed the bathroom door was open and it was empty. He walked into the living room to see Hermione sprawled out on his couch, laying on her stomach with one arm under her and a leg hanging off the edge. How could she fall asleep so fast?

"Granger," he said, shaking her shoulder a bit.

"Hmmm," she replied, licking her lips and rolling the other way.

Draco sighed and summoned a blanket from his room. After covering her up, he headed to bed. Smiling to himself, he thought about the look on Weasley's face when she tells him she slept in Draco Malfoy's house.