The alarm clock on the bedside table rang shrilly. A small hand groped around until settling on the button that would silence it and pressed down. A groan came from the large bed, and an array of brown bushy hair could be seen coming from a head which was currently buried underneath a squashy duvet along with the body attached to it. A few seconds later, Hermione Granger pulled herself out of bed cursing her secretary for keeping her in the pub so late, and the inventor of Monday mornings.

She felt slightly more human after a shower, and a strong cup of coffee which she drank whilst reading the Daily Prophet. The paper bearing the news of the Wizarding World was far less interesting now, five years after the war and the defeat of Voldemort.

For a while after it was filled with idle gossip about 'The Golden Trio', as they had been dubbed: who they were dating, where they were shopping and other mundane details about their lives. Now, however, even that wasn't particularly interesting any more. Especially since two of the three had now settled down.

Harry and Ginny had gotten back together quickly after the war. They were now married and blissfully happy expecting their first child. Ron and Hermione stayed together for six months after their first kiss in the middle of the Battle of Hogwarts. In that time, she returned to Hogwarts and he had begun intense Auror training at the ministry along with Harry. Their relationship hadn't survived the combination of long distance, stress and the huge grief they had suffered, and so they had agreed to end it. Ron was now engaged to a girl he met through his job: a fellow Auror by the name of Juliette. Hermione thought she was perfect for Ron; she was funny, a fantastic cook and able to keep him under control with a stern glare, not unlike Mrs. Weasley's.

That left Hermione: the only one who was still living alone and single. She had been on plenty of dates since her split with Ron and had even spent a year in a relationship with a Muggle, Tim. Things were going perfectly until she finally told him she was a witch and he completely panicked. He went as far as threatening to expose her. The Ministry of Magic had gotten involved and had to modify Tim's memory. It was awful.

Hermione didn't mind being single; it meant she could immerse herself completely in her work and her flat was exactly how she liked it, cosy and packed with bookshelves loaded with both Muggle and magical books. She also found that nobody cared if she didn't get home until early hours of the morning, exactly what had happened the night before.

After a disastrous date on Saturday night, her secretary, Lucy, a young enthusiastic girl who had left Hogwarts a year previously, suggested that the two of them go for a few quiet drinks the following night. Hermione had agreed, she needed to vent to someone about her awful date, but told Lucy that it would be a couple of drinks and absolutely no more than that. Though Hermione had relaxed a little since leaving school she was still sensible for the most part and certainly wasn't the type of young woman who went out a lot and got drunk. She much preferred curling up on the sofa with the occasional glass of wine. Lucy was the complete opposite and, unfortunately for Hermione, she was a bad influence and very persuasive. The last thing Hermione remembered was Lucy bumping into two of her male classmates from Hogwarts in the Leaky Cauldron and convincing them to buy the two girls' a bottle of firewhiskey. It had been all downhill from there.

Hermione begrudgingly travelled to work via the fireplace in her living room, which was connected to the floo network, and took her directly to the Ministry. Attempting to ignore the fresh wave of nausea that hit her as she had stepped out of the grate she took the lift to the fifth floor, where the International Law Department offices were based, and entered her own. It was a simple square shaped room and most of the space was taken up by two desks; one opposite the door which belonged to Hermione and one to the left which was slightly smaller and occupied by Lucy. Hermione glared at the young blonde as she past her assistant's desk and sat down at her own.

"Oh, don't give me that face," Lucy said, "I felt how you look when I woke up this morning. Brilliant night though!"

"Oh yes, I absolutely love having no recollection of getting home, and this hangover is just amazing. How come you look so cheery then?" Hermione responded in a tone laced with sarcasm.

Lucy laughed and threw a bottle over to Hermione, who failed miserably to catch it. She picked it up off her desk and read the label: 'Alvin's Alcohol Antidote'.

She raised an eyebrow. "Does this actually work?"

"I feel pretty good, and I've arranged to go out with the girls from Goblin Liaison tonight." She winked.

Hermione took that as a yes. She opened the bottle and drank the bright blue potion inside. It made her feel queasy for a moment and then a refreshing feeling washed over her as though she'd been back to bed for eight hours.

"Better?" Lucy asked.

"Much."

"Brilliant, coming out tonight then?"

"Absolutely not." Hermione replied. I'm really not a big drinker, despite my actions last night. I just needed to let off some steam. That date..." She shook her head at the memory of it.

"Yeah, I did warn you that those Herbologists are a bit loopy. Yours sounds nuttier than squirrel poo though. Anyway, enough of that. Have you heard there's a new member of staff starting today? Doing the same job as you, he's taking over from that bloke that just retired-"

Hermione interrupted. "Finkle? They've replaced him? No-one said. I do hope they've hired someone more competent this time. I'll be working with them after all."

"I didn't catch his name I just saw him going into the Minister's office this morning and overheard Kingsley telling him he would be working with you." Then Lucy added as an afterthought, "he's got a nice bum."

Hermione laughed. "I guess that makes him perfectly qualified in your eyes then! I really do hope he's good. I've worked so hard this last year and it would be nice to have someone capable to help. Three international wizarding schools are now accepting Muggle-borns. It's only a matter of time before they all do. I won't have anyone holding me back."

"Relax, Hermione. Wizards in Britain are so much more tolerant of Muggle-borns now. Mostly thanks to you and your part in the war, you have nothing to worry about. Oh" -Lucy strained her neck to see the corridor beyond the open office door- "-here he comes, and don't worry his face is as nice as his bum!"

Kingsley Shacklebolt entered Hermione's office. "Good morning ladies, I'd like to introduce you to the latest member of your team, though I believe you already know him, Hermione."

A blonde haired figure entered the small office behind Kingsley who began to introduce him. "This is-"

"MALFOY?!"