"This is your last chance," she said angrily.

"Yeah? There was no chance for us. We should've known better."

She scoffed. "This is the coward's way out."

"Then don't take it. But its better this way. We'll be able to get back to our normal lives," he replied. His back was to her, cradling the potion close to him.

"You're a despicable coward," she spat.

"All the more reason to take it."

She clenched her teeth and looked down at the nearly black potion. "You made it correctly?"

"You're the one who gave me the recipe. Of course I made it correctly. Don't you trust me?"

"Of course not."

He was silent, then turned to her and raised his vial. "Cheers," he said, and knocked it back in one gulp.

She watched him, looked back down at her vial, and glared.

He deserves what he gets, she thought angrily. She drank the contents of the vial, feeling her brain throb as she began to edge into darkness. She sank to her knees.

Hermione smiled. It was a beautiful day outside. Spring had sprung, and everything was in bloom. She had been a little depressed since she had broken up with Ron a couple weeks ago, but she hoped dearly that they would be together again soon. After all, this wasn't the first time they'd broken up. Hermione arrived at work five minutes early as always. Her brown mane was perfectly combed and she held her bag in her arm. She was a meticulous witch and didn't like too much change once she was settled into her surroundings. After living on the edge with Harry and Ron for her school days, it was time to live comfortably and safely. Perhaps that was why she and Ron couldn't stay together. He wanted more adventure and she didn't.

"Good morning, Miss Granger," her secretary greeted her as they entered the lift.

"Morning, Genna. What's on the agenda for today?"

"Well, let me take a look." Genna sifted through the pile of folders she carried, making sure not a single paper fell. That was one of the biggest reasons Hermione had hired her. She was just as meticulous as herself.

"You have a meeting with the department heads today to go over the quota and another meeting to talk about budgets with the Minister later on."

"Sounds like an eventful day," Hermione commented. As the head of her division, the division of Improper Use of Magic, she had to talk with Harry a lot, the head of the Auror department, and accompany him to meetings with the Minister. Her other best friend, Ron, was the head of Magical Law Enforcement, and the three saw each other at work everyday. Working with her best mates made her feel right at home and they all enjoyed their jobs. Harry loved the action his job occasionally brought and Ron loved having the authority to tell the Law Enforcement what to do. Hermione couldn't be happier at a desk job. It was what she had wanted after war. No drama.

Harry met her right when she got out of the lift. Genna scurried off to Hermione's office, where she would put down the folders her boss had to look at. Hermione greeted him warmly.

"Hello, Harry! How are you?"

"Great. I hired someone to work in the Auror department."

"That's great! Anyone we know?"

Harry was silent for a moment. "You'll never guess."

"Um, Terry Boot? Michael Corner? Cormac McLaggen?" She grinned. "Ernie?"

"Nope. He was a Slytherin."

Hermione frowned. "A Slytherin?"

"Yes."

There was no way Draco Malfoy could have been an Auror. "Theodore Nott? Uh, Zabini?"

"No. He bothered us a hell of a lot in school."

Hermione's mouth dropped open and she stopped in her tracks. "No!"

Harry nodded. "Yes."

"Harry!" She pulled him aside, her hands gripping his robes furiously. "How could you hire someone like him? He was a blooming Death eater during the war! He's dangerous!"

"Hermione, calm down," Harry said, pulling her hands away. "He's really changed, and his résumé was as good as anyone's right out of war."

"Not anyone's! He was a Death eater."

"I've got to give him a chance. His mother gave me a chance at life, so I owe her family something."

"Well, then give her something, not her son."

"Hermione, you're going to have to come to terms with this, no matter what."

"At least I'm not going to have to work with him, right? I don't think I could stand one of his Mudblood cracks."

"He's not going to make any if I can help it. I warned him beforehand too. You may see him around, but you won't work with him."

"Thank goodness." Hermione sighed. "It's difficult always being a forgiving person, you know."

"Don't I?" He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Come on, let's get to work then, eh?"

"Good idea." Hermione smiled and waved. "I'll see you for lunch, Harry."

Hermione ran into the new employee rather quickly; much quicker than she would have liked.

When she saw him, she knew she had to practise being cordial for Harry's sake. "Hello Malfoy," she said with a nod.

He seemed very surprised that she was speaking to him. "Granger," he replied in greeting. They passed each other, and Hermione was content with that. She didn't really want to spend more time than necessary speaking to him, though he seemed nice enough. More humble, maybe. But who knew if he really was?

She greeted her secretary again, who handed her a stack of memos and mail, and Hermione entered her neat office. It was an average size, with a window, something that she had desperately wanted. Desk jobs weren't exactly fun in a cubicle, especially for the head.

Hermione went through her mail, threw some rubbish mail away, pinned some memos to her corkboard for reminders, and then tossed the O.K.-lot into her top desk drawer. She sat down and sighed, a little smile coming to her face. She loved her job, and her desk, and the room, and all the paperwork sitting right in front of her. Everything was just lovely today. Then Malfoy came in.

"Hey Hermione," called the perpetrator, shoving Malfoy in front of him. "Draco and I are doing rounds to all the offices."

Hermione was a little surprised, though she'd expected it. Harry always did rounds with the new staff. "We know each other already, though," she said.

"That's what I said," Draco said, turning back to look at his new employer.

"Not currently, you don't. You only know each other by name." Harry smiled and clapped Draco on the back. He looked entirely too cheerful about this. "He's training under me right now."

"What?" Hermione exclaimed, then tried to contain her surprise. "Oh."

"Don't sound so surprised, Granger," Draco said, a slight coldness in his tone.

"It's nothing new, 'Mione," Harry said lightly, trying to keep the situation light. "But we'll be off now." He smiled and pushed Draco out, who seemed more than happy to comply.

"Harry, can I talk to you for a moment?" she called, and Draco scowled.

"Go ahead, talk about me, I don't mind," he said sarcastically.

"Don't be so full of yourself," Hermione retorted, and pulled Harry into her office and shut the door. "Harry, why?"

"What do you mean why?"

"I mean why did you hire him?"

"I told you—"

"Yes, but still. There's got to be another reason."

"No, 'Mione."

Hermione stared at his unblinking face. "No revenge, no wanting to ruin his career forever?"

Harry shook his head, amused at her incredulity.

"Honestly?"

"Honestly. He'd been turned down for a number of other jobs because of his reformed Death eater status, and his mother contacted me and he came in. Looked at his credentials, and he's fit, in my standards anyway. He finished school, did well on his N.E.W.T.s, he's a hard worker, and he had a great recommendation."

"Who in their right mind would recommend him?"

"Someone anonymous. But besides that, he's changed. I could gather that much from his interview."

Hermione sighed. "If you're sure, I'm going to have to trust your judgment."

"Well, thank you, Hermione," Harry said, slightly sarcastic. "Just cool off. I'll be fine. I can handle it." He grinned and she smiled and tousled his hair slightly.

"How could I forget? You're Harry Potter," she said endearingly, and he smirked and went out the door.

"Mate," she heard him say to Malfoy, "let's go visit the Minister now, shall we?"

"Sure."

And their footsteps echoed down the corridor, the sound receding as they disappeared into the lift. Hermione sighed heavily. At least she wouldn't have to work with him on a daily basis.

She saw his chest moving up and down faster than normal. He was usually good at keeping up a façade, but it was failing him right now.

"What's wrong?" she asked, going to him.

He looked at her. "I have to tell you something I've been meaning to tell you for weeks."

"What?"

He took a deep breath. "Now don't kill me or jump to conclusions, okay?"

She frowned. "Okay."

"Remember that party I told you about a week ago?"

"Yes. The one you didn't invite me to."

"Well, I didn't tell you the whole story."

Five minutes later and she was throwing things at his head. "I can't fucking believe you! How could you do such a thing?" A heel went flying.

"I told you not to jump to conclusions! It was only a one-night thing. I've never even spoken to her again!"

"That doesn't make the fact that you shagged her any better! Not even the fact that you were bloody drunk! That's why you were so weird that one night, wasn't it? Saying you loved me when you didn't even mean it! It was, wasn't it?" A coffee mug smashed against the wall. "Where's my wand?" She stormed towards her room, and he quickly blocked her. She couldn't even bear to touch him, so she backed away to the kitchen, where she broke down into sobs.

"I do love you! I'm so sorry. I never meant for it to happen," he said softly.

"That's what they all say."

"I swear I didn't! We were just talking, and then all of a sudden we were kissing and then, I don't know—"

"God, shut up! I don't want to hear any of this! Get out!"

"It's not like I'm the only one who's done this," he snarled, finally snapping.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't you dare give me that. You snogged that bloody dolt!"

Her incredulous face came on. "What?" she exclaimed in angry disbelief. "How could you accuse me of such a thing?"

"Because I fucking saw you!"

She crossed her arms. "And where, exactly, did you 'see' me?"

He clenched his jaw before answering. "In a pub. Were you so stupid that you didn't think I'd be going to that same pub later that night?"

Her face drained of colour, but she stood her ground. "You go to a different bloody pub every single night and get drunk! How many girls have you slept with then, hmm?"

"Don't try and change the subject! You were snogging him in public!"

Her face reddened. "At least I didn't sleep with him."

"Oh, like swapping spit with him is much better!"

"It was a mistake!"

"You could've told me about it! I love you. I would have forgiven you without a second thought if you had promised me never to do it again. But you didn't even fucking tell me about it, and it's been weeks!"

"I never would have done it if you could've paid more attention to me!"

"Oh, so now it's my fault? I pay all the attention I can to you!"

"Don't give me that shit! You go to a pub every night and get smashed and don't contact me anymore."

"So you go around snogging boys to make up for it then, huh?"

Her glare was deadly. "As much as you go around shagging girls to make up for all the time you spend away from me."

He sneered. "Shut the fuck up. You don't know what you're talking about."

"That's how you get people to be with you, isn't it? You have to get them to look past all that they know about you already, so you get them drunk and take advantage of them!"

His jaw dropped. Did she really just say that? His blood was boiling, and he snatched up his coat and pulled on his shoes.

"Oh my God. I can't believe I just said that. I didn't mean it, honestly."

"Like hell you didn't mean it. This is fucking over."

"No, I didn't mean it, really! I was just angry—"

"We all get angry, but not all of us become that much of a bitch! I guess I should've seen it coming."

She stopped and watched him leave. "Fine then! Leave, damnit! It's not like we weren't heading down this road anyway!" He slammed the door loudly, and she broke down into angry tears.

Harry came calling again later for lunch, and Hermione was glad for the break, especially when she saw Ron's face again. "Hi guys," she said with a smile.

"Hey 'ermione," Ron said, smiling himself.

"Get a bloody room," Draco replied, and both turned to see Harry letting Malfoy into her office.

"What's he doing here?" Hermione asked indignantly.

"I invited him. I told you I'm showing him around. And he can't exactly eat lunch by himself."

"And why not?" was on Hermione's tongue, but she fought it down. She didn't want to be rude. After all, this was all about giving everyone second chances. Even if it was a Malfoy.

"Feel free to join us," Hermione said, giving Harry a "we'll-talk-later" look.

Draco looked a little surprised at her quick admission. "Thanks."

Ron surprisingly didn't say anything, but instead led the way to the Ministry's small diner.

They sat down, Ron and Hermione sitting together quickly on one side so Harry would have to sit by their unwanted guest. Harry gave them a look that clearly read "be friendly." Hermione, who was sitting across from the fair-haired bloke, sighed.

"Malfoy, what have you been doing since the trial?"

"Studied, looked for jobs," he replied cordially. "Most everyone was unwilling to hire me because of my status, and I was immediately 'made redundant'," he used air-quotes, "at other shitty jobs I was hired at."

"That sounds like a waste of time," Hermione said, frowning, "on the company's part."

Draco just nodded. "Well, it was all fruitless till Potter here hired me." He cast a glance at his former school rival.

"It's a damn good thing we put those times behind us then, isn't it?" Harry asked, with a friendly smile. He had that look of superiority but a willingness to forgive, and Hermione knew that no one could not respect the great Harry Potter, even Draco Malfoy himself.

"Yes, it is." Draco seemed uncomfortable with them all, and Hermione nudged Ron.

"Ow," he replied loudly to her subtle hint, and Hermione shot him a look. He glared back and rubbed his arm. "What?"

Hermione turned away. "Nothing." Honestly. Sometimes he was a complete dolt. "What made you want to become an Auror?"

Draco shrugged.

"The same reason they wanted to be," Draco said, gesturing with his head towards her two best friends. "I live for adventure." He smirked, and Hermione sighed. It was pointless making conversation. She turned instead to the menu she was so familiar with.

An awkward silence drifted briefly over the table as Hermione hid behind her menu, Ron stared at his hands, and Harry looked at both of his best friends. Then Harry Potter, defender of the wizarding world and of conversations with former rivals, turned his head to Malfoy. What they talked about mattered not to Hermione, and she was relieved when the waiter came.

All in all, it was a very awkward lunch. Hermione sat silently for most of the lunch while Harry talked animatedly with everyone. Ron even piped in a few times and relaxed. Hermione was a little irritated at that, though unreasonably. Ron was supposed to be holding a grudge with her, not succumbing to Malfoy's presence so easily. The walk back to the lift was silent on Hermione's part again, and she noticed the glances Draco would send her, as if challenging her to speak to him.

Before they all split paths, Hermione took a deep breath. "Have a good day, Draco." She even brought herself to look him in his grey eyes. Everyone was surprised by that.

"Thank you. You too." He nodded at her and turned and followed Harry out.

"Blimey, 'Mione. After the way you've been acting all lunch I'm surprised you even talked to him." He grinned and touched her cheek. "You're growin' up!"

"Oh, shove it," she said, playfully swatting his hand away. "I'm going back to work. I'll see you later."

"You bet." He waved and walked to his side of the department.

It was late. She was sitting at her window, waiting for the owl her boyfriend was supposed to be sending her. The hours ticked by, and not a word came. Finally, at around two o' clock, she decided to Floo to his house instead. She already knew what he was up to. When she arrived, she saw him half-sprawled on the couch, passed out as expected. She rolled her eyes and angrily counted to ten before going and waking him.

"What—" he sputtered to the cold water that was dumped onto his face.

"Get up, you git," she said. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Haven't forgotten a thing since forever," he slurred slightly.

"My gosh, you're pathetic. You were supposed to owl me tonight."

"Is it tonight already?"

"It's pointless talking to you." She pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment, then pulled him onto his feet. "Come on. Let's get you to bed."

"Yes, bed. Will you be in it?"

"Hell no."

"But why?" he whined, and she shot him a glare.

"You'll know why in the morning. I'll save my lecture till then."

"No, no! No more lectures from you!" he groaned. "You give too many."

"What?" She stopped and glared. "You should be acting more thankful to me!"

"I'm drunk."

She rolled her eyes and helped him up the stairs to his bedroom. He tried to kiss her, but she just deposited him onto his bed, and he was too tired to get back up.

"Goodnight," she said stiffly, and turned to go out.

"I love you!" he called after her, and she scoffed before taking the Floo back home.

A/N: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and all that comes with it except for fanfiction! Thank you so much for reading and (what you're about to do, right?) reviewing! See if you can tell what I was influenced by :) If I reveal that secret now, the rest of the story's going to be rather predictable (unless it is already, being Dramione). I'm just exploring a new way of writing. Tell me what you think! Thank you.