A/N: Hello, all! Yes, I'm officially back from my Multi-Chapter hiatus! It feel so good to have inspiration to write again! :D So, to those of you who have read the first draft of this, welcome back! It is different and there are some details which have changed because I plan for this to be very long. To those of you who are new, hello! I'd be a most happy author if you followed/reviewed. I hope you enjoy this! :D

Also MAJOR THANKS to Sophie (3cheersforidiots) and Il (ilprincipino) for beta'ing this! Seriously, they're amazing and go read their stories! xD

W.C: 2,744

Disclaimer: Nope. Never Have, Never Will.

Working For the Devil

Chapter 1: The Gateway to Hell

Hell is empty and all the devils are here - William Shakespeare

"Are you seriously applying for the job?" Ginny Weasley asked her best friend incredulously. She twirled a strand of her red hair anxiously as she waited for the response that was sure to come, her brown eyes openly questioning the brunette at her side. "And nothing can persuade you to say otherwise?"

Hermione Granger nodded, her brown hair bobbing up and down as they moved along the road. This was exactly the job she was looking for. She couldn't possibly say no to an amazing opportunity like that. These things didn't come often.

She turned to face Ginny, and the excitement was obvious on her own face. She practically glowed with radiance, and her chocolate brown eyes twinkled while her companion grimaced in return. "It's an amazing opportunity. I had to apply. How can I possibly shy away?"

"Are you sure that you really want to go through with this?" Ginny asked her worriedly. Hermione had been her good friend since forever ago, and she knew what kind of a person Hermione was. Hermione was a gentle, kind, and loving person. Sure, she was also prideful and stubborn (and pretty nasty too, if you got on her bad side), but the point stood still. Ginny wouldn't have made such a big deal about a simple job application if it wasn't Hermione, who was applying. She didn't want Hermione to face that. She sighed heavily as they rounded the corner.

They soon stood outside an intimidating skyscraper that went at least 30 stories high. The building was brand new with its impeccable windows, walls, and floors. It still wasn't too late to turn back now. "You've heard the stories and rumors about the job!"

Hermione laughed at Ginny's concern. The building looked great to her, better even. She didn't even notice the unapproachable aura it gave off, unlike Ginny, who shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. Her friend's brown eyes showed fear and anxiety as they closed the distance to the door. Of course, she had heard about the stories and rumors. But she chose not to pay any mind to it. There were stories and rumors, but who were they to know if it was actually like that? She couldn't be threatened by all that; she wouldn't be Hermione if she were.

The job as personal assistant to the CEO of Malfoy Enterprises was the boost she needed if she was going to move up the corporate ladder. All the other candidates weren't going to be intimidated by that, and she sure as hell wasn't either. She pushed the door open and boldly took the first step inside. She shivered slightly, passing it off for nervousness at that moment, and paused momentarily at the threshold. "I need this job, Ginny. I have a two year plan and this is exactly the job I'm looking for. My plan will go way quicker if I nail this." She wrapped her black scarf tighter on her neck. "Besides, I don't think it's going to be that hard," she commented, walking further into the building.

Ginny frowned as she followed her stubborn friend inside. The cool chill from the air conditioner went down her spine, giving her goosebumps. That was definitely a bad omen. "I'm not so sure, Hermione."

Hermione gave Ginny an exasperated smile. "I'm going to be just fine. It's not like I'm fragile or any rubbish like that."

"You remember Cho Chang? She was a year ahead of us?" Ginny prompted. Cho Chang had been the class salutatorian in their college. She was pristine and posh. She had been in the Ravenclaw Academy that favored wisdom. If she couldn't handle it, then how would Hermione? Not to imply that Hermione was weak, of course, but still.

Hermione nodded, rolling her eyes, already imagining what Ginny would say. Ginny tended to be melodramatic at times. Well, most of the time. "Your point being?"

"Well, she got selected for this job last month, I think. She quit in two days!" Ginny cried, shaking Hermione a little by the shoulders. "Two days! She was pretty tough and intelligent, too. She had the exact same attitude as yours and she quit!"

Hermione sighed, clucking her tongue. Many others had also advised her not to submit an application as well. She merely laughed at their importance of rumors. "Look, I know Cho was strong but I'm tougher. And I mean that in the mental way." She pulled her resume out of the her bag and smiled at the receptionist. "Besides, it's too late now. I've just handed mine in," Hermione cheerfully added.

Ginny looked in horror as the receptionist took Hermione's application. She winced as it was tucked away in a bin with what seemed to be hundreds of other applications. She shot Hermione a look of incredulity and slight frustration. Hermione Jean Granger had just signed her death sentence, in Ginny's (right) opinion. "You seriously went through with this. God, you're insane, and that was supposed to be my opinion only!"

Hermione grinned and nodded, feeling awfully pleased with herself. "Would I have been chosen for Gryffindor Academy if I were afraid? Of course not!" She snorted then covered her nose, quickly glancing around to see if any of the businessmen and women, who were passing by accidentally overheard her. "Anyway, I have nothing to fear, Ginny."

Ginny shook her head in wonder as they walked out of the building. She thought back to the piles and piles of job applications she had glimpsed. Hermione's was now one more added to the immense pile. "I guess not."

"Exactly. You never know, actually, I might not even get selected," Hermione wondered aloud. "There were hundreds of applications in already."

"The only reason I'm so worried is because I know you're a shoo-in!" Ginny exclaimed, wrapping an arm around Hermione's shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll obviously get the job!"

Hermione laughed and a little bit of the worry went away. "Okay, okay."

"You know you've just signed your death sentence, right?" Ginny asked, shaking her head in reluctant acceptance, although it was more of a statement than a question.

Hermione turned back to look at the tallest floor of the building. She pointed straight at the top floor; she was going to work right there. She knew it. "I'm ready for it."

"I hope you can handle the Devil!"

Hermione turned away, smiling slightly to herself as they continued on their merry way.

Bring it on, Devil.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Hermione groaned as a deafening sound woke her from slumber. She looked at the clock next to her bed, yawning in the process. It was seven in the morning. On a Sunday. Who would be knocking at this ungodly hour?

"I'm coming!" she yelled, hoping her voice carried to the front door of her flat. She ran to the bathroom to quickly brush her teeth and splash water on her face. The unknown visitor continued pounding on the door. She grabbed a towel to wipe the water when she noticed her reflection. She grimaced at the sight of her bird nest hair before grabbing her robe and putting it on quickly.

"I said I'm coming!"

She put on her otter slippers then went to the door. She pulled it open to find a very excited Ginny waiting for her. Said redhead waved happily at Hermione.

"Hello!" Ginny greeted before walking in. She took off her red scarf and coat and placed it on the coat hanger. "Lovely morning, isn't it?"

Hermione sighed and closed the door. "Aren't I supposed to welcome you first, so that you could then enter?"

"I let myself in. Besides, I'm not a vampire," she joked, heading towards the living room. Ginny quickly made herself comfortable on Hermione's sofa. "Aren't you going to ask me why I'm here?"

"I was just getting to that," Hermione mumbled, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"I'll tell you then," Ginny said, rolling her brown eyes. "I'm here because of a work application I submitted!"

Hermione sent the girl a questioning look. Two weeks ago, Ginny and Hermione sent all their work applications in to see where they would be hired. "And?"

"Well," Ginny began, unable to control her grin, "I got the job!"

Hermione winced at Ginny's loudness. Her irregular sleep schedule was just getting fixed and right now, it was far too early for this. "You are going to wake my neighbors up. You know how Ms. Umbridge is about noise."

"Sorry." Ginny glanced at the door, almost waiting to see the big-boned middle-aged lady in her infamous pink attire pounding at the door. "Her face didn't show an ounce of repentance. But I got it! I'm so excited!"

"That's amazing, Ginny, really," Hermione congratulated, sitting down on the couch across her friend. "Where are you working? Your parents' firm?"

Ginny's grin became even wider, if that was even possible. She faked a choking motion; her grin spreading from ear to ear. "Definitely not there! Ron works there," Ginny replied, shaking her head in disgust. "You know I dread working with my foolish brother. No, Malfoy Enterprises!"

Hermione's mind became wide awake. She grabbed a pillow and smacked Ginny with it; her excitement getting the better of her. "Are you serious? There's a possibility we might work together? If I get the job, that is."

Ginny laughed and nodded, grabbing the pillow out of Hermione's hand to set it neatly beside her. "Yes! So, I'm going to work at the same place as you are!"

"I don't even have the job yet," Hermione reminded the girl. She had gotten loads of acceptances, so it wasn't like she wasn't wanted, but not for that specific job yet.

"I got the call at five in the morning!" Ginny exclaimed. "It's only a matter of time before they call you!"

"Who are you working with?" Hermione asked. Ginny was so positive Hermione was going to get it, but she wasn't all that sure herself.

"Oh, Blaise Zabini," Ginny answered. "I heard he's tough but not as tough as your soon-to-be-boss!"

"Mister Zabini?" Hermione repeated, her eyes widening. She was rendered speechless for a few minutes before grinning. "Shut up! He's the second in command after the CEO!"

Ginny blushed, embarrassed that she had actually gotten the job. "I know. All the studying you forced me to do paid off!"

"Congratulations!" Hermione clapped her hands in excitement with much more enthusiasm than in her initial reaction. She frowned as she remembered a rather interesting conversation she had a while ago. "I'm not sure if this is true or not, but I heard his assistants quit because they fell in love with him. It sounds preposterous, I think."

Ginny wrinkled her nose. "I know, I've heard about that, too. But that won't be me, I'm sure,"

Hermione laughed at her words. That sentence sounded vaguely familiar. "Remember what you told me?"

Ginny whacked Hermione with a nearby pillow. "Shut it!"

"Don't let yourself be seduced," Hermione replied in a sing song voice.

"At least we'll be working together," Ginny replied, sticking her tongue out immaturely.

"That is, if I get chosen," Hermione reminded the redhead once again.

"Don't worry. I'm sure they're choosing you right now."

Two men, alone on the top floor of the Malfoy Enterprises building, worked diligently throughout the entire night until they got down to reviewing the passable work applications, which were given to him by the company's secretaries, in the early morning. The pale-skinned man with the platinum blonde hair furrowed his eyebrows as he read another failed application. His dark-skinned companion sighed for what he deemed to be the umpteenth time. These two handsome men in top brand suits sat across from each other in the conference room.

"How about this one?" Blaise Zabini asked his best mate, sorting through the last seven applications. The Italian was already frustrated at the number of applications sent in for the job as personal assistant to the CEO of Malfoy Enterprises. The numbers of applications for the job to be his personal assistant were smaller than this but still a tremendous amount.

"Don't even show it to me if the person didn't get a perfect score," Draco Malfoy drawled, not taking his grey eyes off the shredder, which was currently shredding failed applications.

Blaise sighed in boredom as he tossed four more out. They didn't make the cut, and not many of them did. He scanned the last three and nodded tiredly. "Okay, I have the last three left in my hands. You want them?"

Draco nodded and grabbed them. He checked the first one over and looked approvingly. The man had a good work ethic, perfect grades in academics, and had perfected the test that Draco himself came up with to qualify his personal assistants. So far, so good. He put Terry Boot in the maybe pile. The next applicant had a good ethic, slightly lower grades than Terry in academics, and had perfected his test as well. So far, Terry Boot seemed to be the better choice over Hannah Abbott, since it looked like the man had done secretarial work before. He reached for the last application absentmindedly only to grasp air. He looked up at Blaise who had it in his hands with, according to Draco at least, a creepy grin. "Give it."

"Sorry, you took so long that I went through this one myself," Blaise said, looking at the application closely. He grinned at his best mate. "Can I take this one? I'd love to have two personal assistants."

"Are you serious?" Draco asked exasperatedly, holding out his right hand expectantly.

"Yes," Blaise answered in a serious manner. "If you don't choose this one, give it to me."

"Okay," Draco replied uncertainly as he grabbed the application back. Was the person that good? Good enough to have Blaise asking for them? His eyes roamed the paper.

Hermione Jean Granger had an outstanding recommendation from one of the best professor's in the world, depending on who you asked, of course. Professor McGonagall had written her one of the best letters he had seen in awhile. She had near perfect grades, and a great work ethic. She had also taken a secretarial job with Professor McGonagall and even ran a few charity events. Draco also saw with displeasure that she had scored over a perfect score in his test.

"Pathetic, right? Absolutely dreadful." Blaise said, wrinkling his nose in distaste. He sighed dramatically then tried to grab the form out of Draco's hand. "Okay, hand her over!"

"How did she get five extra points?" Draco asked in disbelief, re-reading the exam score. He had been sure no one could get extra points since he created it. He ran a hand through his hair in annoyance.

Blaise grinned, pointing to the back of the file. "There's a copy of the test in there."

Draco immediately went to the test portion, his grey eyes scanning the test for the extra points. He grimaced when he saw that it was for the last free response question. When he made it, he wasn't sure of it. She had written her answer, which was correct, then explained why the formatting was incorrect. She had even included suggestions on how to improve the format! Draco scowled angrily. Who was this Hermione Granger anyway?

"Awful! It's so horrible. Of course, you wouldn't want her!" Blaise said in his best sorrowful voice, smiling hopefully. His eyes gleamed in excitement, and he leaned forward waiting to hear the answer. "So, can I have her?"

"You're out of your mind, Blaise. Did you really think I would give her over?" Draco laughed at Blaise's foolish request and earned himself a chuckle in response. Draco cast aside the other applicants - perhaps they could serve some other purpose - and put the chosen file in front of him. "She's the obvious choice."

"Damn. I was kind of hoping you wouldn't choose her and that your hate for the test score could've given her to me. So, is she good or what? Even surpassed your own test!"

Draco sent Blaise a scathing glance. He was slightly miffed about that teeny, tiny fact that didn't matter at all. Sure, she could be good in test taking, but that wasn't going to prepare her for this job. Draco smirked, leaning back in his comfy, big, black office chair. "I'll determine if she's good or not."