Hello! Sorry I haven't been around lately! Been struggling a lot with writers block. I have the outline for this story and so I am hoping to start posting about once a week! Hopefully I will be able to keep up!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. This is for fun! Love to my Beta and Bestie, Kes!


Hermione Granger took a deep breath, as she looked at her reflection in the mirror that was hanging in her office at the Ministry of Magic. She was the Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She was expected to handle cases of all sorts, and with a finesse that was graceful to her character. She prided herself on this job, being that she could move ahead with her NEWTs, and with her quick wit, for which Minister Kingsley admired her.

She was only twenty-two, and one of the youngest at the Ministry that was not in the Auror Department. Harry was of course training to take over as Head of the Auror Department and Ron was his second in command.

The end of the Second War had changed so many things, and with the Ministry cleaning out all the Death Eaters, and everyone who was in line with the dark side, it left open many positions. The Gryffindor in the brunette sought out every chance she could to climb to the top. She had many changes she was wanting to implement.

She was meeting with the Minister, to go over some options of how to better present the Muggle-Born Rights Act, as it was currently being looked over by the Elders, and they were not keen on extending all the specific rights to them, that Hermione was fighting for.

"You can do this, Granger!" She whispered fiercely to herself as she moved to get her files. She left her room and strolled into the conference room, and sat down, beginning to sort out the most important files.

Just as she finished she glanced up and saw the Minister was standing in the door way, speaking with someone in a joking manner. She stood with a smile, and offered Kingsley her hand, which he shook and then motioned for the other person to enter as he went to his seat.

Hermione's smile faltered as recognized the blonde hair that entered the room. She shook his hand, and gave him a curt nod, before taking her seat and looking back over her notes. He took the seat next to her, and she felt her back stiffen at the closeness.

"Ah, Mr. Malfoy, and Miss Granger. I have been working on getting the both of you together for some time." The Minister said beaming.

Hermione blanched at his phrasing. Malfoy smirked at her as he leaned back in the chair, waiting for the older gentleman to continue.

"So, as you know, Miss Granger has been working to get the Muggle-Born Rights Act to allow for us to seek out muggle-borns earlier in life, to allow for them to be better adapted to the culture."

Kingsley picked up the piece of parchment that had the outline drawn up to better explain the details of what would be done for the young children. Draco took it away from him and looked it over, nodding silently.

"I would like for Mr. Malfoy to assist in providing us the means to get the Act one step closer to being able to go into effect."

Hermione felt a strange smile take over her face as she turned to Draco, an eyebrow raised. He was still looking over the outline when she asked the obvious question.

"And what would he be able to do, to make it closer to go into effect?"

"Mr. Malfoy has been working at Malfoy Enterprises, on a new ward, of sorts, that will allow us to detect when a child is first experiencing magic."

"I thought that was what the trace was for." She frowned as she couldn't think of a way to beat the trace.

At this, Draco cleared his voice, before laying down the piece of parchment. He gave the brunette a smirk before turning back to the Minister.

"This could be done. I have been working on a few homing wards that detect even the smallest amount of magic. We have been testing it on pixie sneezes."

Hermione's face flushed at the thought of how he would be making them sneeze. She rolled her eyes, but held her tongue because she needed every idea that she could use to provide a way that they could do this to the Elders.

"Very good. Miss Granger, please follow up with Mr. Malfoy. Go to Wards and Ways with him, and see their progress so that I may be able to set up a date with the Elders for a conference."

"Yes, Minister." She stood as he did and shook his hand. Malfoy stood and shook his hand as well. Kingsley made his way to the door before he stopped before turning around.

"One last thing, I need the press to stay out of this deal, so don't give them anything to have a field day over. And if they see you, make sure they don't suspect anything about the Act. I don't need bad publicity over something we don't have worked out yet."

Hermione nodded, taking his words very seriously, as Malfoy just smirked at the back of the Ministers head as he left the room. After he was gone, Hermione turned around and started to pick up the files to get ready to put them away.

Malfoy cleared his throat, and she glanced up. He had the outline in his hand and was looking it over again. She held her hand out for it.

"Did you come up with this because of…"

"That's really none of your business, or your concern, Malfoy." She cut him off as she snatched the paper from him.

He frowned at her for a moment, running a hand through his hair. After she was done packing up the files, he glanced at his watch.

"Do you want to go check the wards? Almost everyone is gone, and so it would be a good time for me to show you."

"How will you be able to show me, if everyone is gone? Surely you of all people don't have special access to that kind of magic." She paused with her hand on her hip. He got a good look at her, and couldn't help smirking at her sassiness.

She had her hair curled, and it was pulled up in a clip that gave her both a business look, as well as a casual appearance. She was wearing a grey pencil skirt that insinuated her curves, along with a pair of black pumps that gave her another two inches. She was extremely put together with very little make up.

He motioned to himself, as if she hadn't given his appearance much thought. He was dressed in a very flashy robe, very close to a business suit. His hair was done nicely, and he stood with his shoulders set back. He couldn't have possibly been the boy who fought in the war, just those few years ago.

"Wards and Ways is a branch of Malfoy Enterprises. I own it, and can go whenever I please." He smirked at her again, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"And why would your company be wanting to assist the ministry with being able to get mudbloods found sooner?" She hissed at him in a hushed voice.

Malfoy felt his face pale at her choice of words. He hadn't been expecting her to make a comment like that. Especially not to him. However, in the bat of an eye, he had a taunting smile across his face. He smoothed out his robes and gave a small shrug.

"As the CEO of this company, it is my job to have my fingers in as many pies as possible." His tone was arrogant and aloft. "I could care less how the knowledge is being used, so long as I am being paid for it."

Hermione felt her face heat. She didn't like how he made it seem as if her work was nothing more than signing a piece of paper. She knew however, what kind of a man she was dealing with, and therefore, she decided not to waste any more time arguing with him.

"Alright, we can go. But I need to stop by my office to drop off my files."

He nodded and allowed her to leave first, following her down the hallways and to an office in the corner. It had a brass plate that read, 'Hermione Granger, Order of Merlin First Class'. He felt his hand running through his hair again, as she held open the door for him. He walked in and took a seat, as she began to file her paper work. He was looking for a way to open a conversation, when there was a sharp knock on the door.

"Mione, do you have a min- Oh." Harry Potter's voice rang out, as he entered her office. He stopped abruptly, seeing Malfoy was sitting in one of her chairs.

"Potter." Draco said curtly as he stood, holding out his hand for the raven-haired man.

"Malfoy." Harry took his hand and gave it a firm shake before releasing it.

"What can I help you with, Harry?" Hermione gave him a soft smile, as she came around the front of her desk.

"I cannot find the file for the Marsdon research. The new filing system is driving me crazy!" He gave her a pleading look, with his green eyes. There was something more to his tone that Malfoy couldn't quite place.

Hermione batted her eyes at Harry, in a teasing manner. She walked over to her, placing a hand on his arm.

"Okay, let's go find it, it would probably take you ages." She smirked up at him, before turning back to the blonde. "I will be back in a moment, Malfoy. We can go then."

She looked at him, as if daring him to leave. He gave her a small nod, and glanced down at his pants, picking off a piece of lint. She motioned for Harry to follow her, and closed her office door, shutting Draco in.

Bored, he glanced up and looked around. She didn't have any person effects here. It was a bare office, and he found that surprising. He figured she would have all her know-it-all awards tucked into every nook and cranny she could make. He tucked his hands in his pockets and began making his way around the room.

In the corner, he saw a shining light that he knew too well as a pensieve. He glanced back at the door, before making his way over to it.

Oh, what could little miss perfect have on her mind? He wondered to himself as he moved to stand over it. When he was, sure no one was coming, he leaned into the bowl. He fell forward into the cool darkness before he landed with a jolt.

The ground was solid, and he was outside the front of a house. He had a sense that he had seen it before but he couldn't recall the memory. It seemed as if this would be a place he would dream of. He walked closer to the white house, when he heard a commotion coming out of the back. He quickly hopped the fence, and found the back door to be open.

"What is the matter with you?" A man was yelling, his brown hair short and cropped close to his head. He was standing, in a manner that made you feel he was looking down at something.

Draco walked around the table and saw a small girl with bushy hair. She was sobbing as she laid on her back, backed up into a corner. There was a shattered vase beside her, and blood across the floor. Her hands and feet were both cut.

"Daddy, I didn't- I didn't mean to do it!" She sobbed as she tried to scoot farther away.

"You broke it! You were playing with it and you broke it!" He looked as if he was going to kick her, but thought better of it. "Get up, get up you stupid girl. Your mother will be home soon!" He turned away, opening a small closet. He took out a broom, and threw it at the girl. "Clean this filth up!"

She was sniffling as she went to stand. He left the room, and she continued to clean up the mess. She winced with every step she took, and left bloody feet prints all over the floor, as she moved to clean up the glass. Then before their eyes, the vase was put back together, as if it has never been broken.

"I'm sor-, I won't hover you in the air anymore." She whispered to the vase as she put it back on the table.

Malfoy had a hard time swallowing as he watched the brown-haired girl go up the stairs. He raised a hand to his head, and ran it through his hair. He couldn't help but to want to help the little girl, but- He turned to see an older version of the girl standing right next to him.

"Oh, Merlin!" He placed a hand over his heart, startled by her standing there.

"You selfish, sneaky ferret!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of her memory.

When they both landed, she moved away from him. She had tears of anger in her eyes. She paced back and forth, trying to figure out a way to keep from working with him.

"Granger, I had no- "

"NO! You don't get to say you had no idea! You knew! You knew exactly how it was for me!"

She glared at him, as the tears fell. She crossed her arms over her chest, pulling in a deep shuttering breath.

"I counted on you, and you deserted me. I don't need your pity now." She snatched up her purse. "Let's go. Kingsley wants a report on your progress." She wiped her eyes and made to leave the office.

Draco followed without a word.