Hermione was waiting in a pub to meet her new partner. She was told that he was not able to meet her earlier, thus the location. The only other thing that she knew about him was that he was completely and utterly brilliant, and a former Death Eater. Hermione had long since adopted the cause, that those who were deemed able to be let out, should be treated no differently than any other wizard or witch in their world. Kingsley, well Minister Kingsley now, had paired her with the man for apparently this exact reason. Though she was wondering just how far her patience would be tested.
The pub that they were meeting in was in Knockturn Alley. She had been pleasantly surprised to see Pansy behind the bar. She hadn't heard from the girl in a long while. Their hostilities has been put aside when Pansy and Hermione returned for their eight year of school. And though it was hard, both girls knew they had both just fought and almost died due to prejudice. To say that Hermione had been surprised when Pansy had been the one that approached was an understatement. But as she held out her hand in the promise of what would come to be a friendship, Hermione realized just how much Pansy Parkinson had changed.
"It's good to see you Pans." Hermione said with a fond smile, at least if she were going to be forced to wait here then at least she could catch up.
"Hermione! I never expected to see you down this way. Don't you usually drink at the Leaky Cauldron, Luna talks about you all the time."
"Luna is usually the one that is pouring my drinks. I was surprised at her in the position at first but she does have a gift for talking to people and making them feel better. And an uncanny ability to give people alcohol their bound to like." Hermione gave another affectionate smile. "However I'm supposed to be meeting my new department partner here. All I know is that he got caught up and he's formerly a Death Eater."
"All types of those in here. I'd be worried you were waiting alone if I didn't know you." Pansy laughed as she sat a glass of firewhiskey in front of the busy haired brunette. And honestly Hermione was thankful that for once someone was doubting her capabilities as a witch just because she was a woman. She was a lioness and not to be trifled with. Though the snake in front of her certainly had enough bite to see to herself as well.
Hermione took a drink as she scanned a look around the small place. It was very cozy. She had to bite back the groan at who appeared to be coming over to her. The one and only Amycus Carrow. She honestly didn't understand why they had let him out. But she had to remind herself to be civil, for all she knew he had turned over a new leaf.
"Well if it isn't the meddlesome Mudblood."
Or he could still be the douchebag he always was.
"You know Mr. Carrow, size isn't everything, don't be discouraged, it just matters how you use the tool." She bit back and watched Pansy almost choke on her own spit. Hermione probably in hindsight shouldn't have said that. But when had she really listened to what was good for her instead of loosing her tongue with it's wicked bite?
"I'll make you pay for that you Mudblood piece of filth..." It had sounded as if he had intended to say more but fortunately for her it was suddenly cut off. She turned in time to see a fist hitting Carrow straight in his mouth. Bastard certainly deserves it. But when she looked up to see who it was she nearly spit out her drink.
"Terribly sorry I am late Miss Granger." The voice was perfectly polite and she had to do a double take to make sure that she had seen who this was properly. Antonin Dolohov stood in front of her, impeccably dressed in a suit tailored to his form, as he brushed off his knuckles. "But we just finished fighting a war over prejudice, and I've always hated his foul mouth." He chuckled as he took the firewhiskey that Pansy had sat down.
"I've honestly never been able to withstand him either." Hermione chuckled as she finished her drink, Pansy's quick hands pouring her another.
"I believe we have a few things to discuss, would you care to join me at a booth, so we can better speak?" He gestured to a cozy booth in the corner, slightly in the shadows, but out of the way of most of the traffic.
"Yes I'd love to, it's a bit loud up here for me." She gave a pleasant smile. She had always been able to acknowledge his intelligence, even though he had tried to kill her. Hermione's past was something that she had come to terms with and she believe that there was no reason for her to hold grudges. He escorted her there like a perfect gentleman. Who would of thought she would be sitting here and having a drink with Antonin Dolohov of all people, as they sat down she found herself worrying the spot where her engagement ring used to sit. Before she found out about Ronald's absolutely lecherous tendencies. Much thanks to the pretty Slytherin behind the bar.
"I must admit I was surprised when the Minister mentioned this partnership for this project." Antonin said after he had taken a seat beside of her.
"Well it makes sense really, I've been pushing for the stabilization and equality of those of your background, regardless of former ties you all are still human. And you deserve to be able to work and treated like all other witches and wizards." Hermione blushed a little, she guessed the part of her that made her start S.P.E.W. never really left her, she just took up different causes than house elf liberation.
"They were serious about you." He chuckled as he took a drink, the sound was deep and Hermione found herself surprised as her warm honey eyes watched him carefully. He seemed so much freer now, and not just because he was imprisoned. There was a warmth that he radiated whereas before it had only been the intense cold of his piercing eyes. They were still as calculating as ever, she could see the intelligence that flitted behind them. But she much preferred him this way. And she could see herself discussing Spell Theory for hours with him.
"Well you are one of the best cursebreakers of our time." She giggled as she took another drink. "It only makes sense that you are who Kings decided to partner me with. I also think that you are probably one of the few with the patience to deal with me. I'm highly critical of those who cannot keep up." She said matter-of-factly.
"So what is this project that you have been undertaking? From the debriefing I received, it's some what underwraps."
"Indeed." Hermione said as she took another drink as her whiskey eyes turned down thoughtfully. "They claim that I am the only one that they trust to go through it impartially. So I have been given the responsibility of going through all of the objects left behind from Voldemort's stay in Malfoy Manor. To say that Lucius is not a gracious host would be an...understatement. I have run into a snag with one of the objects and though I am almost finished I am hoping that a consult would help me expediate the process. The major crux in my plans seems to be this Grandfather clock that he has cursed to hold another cursed object in." She gave a sigh as she ruffled her hair between her fingers in frustration as she motioned to Pansy for another drink, which Antonin seconded. "I am not second rate witch at cursework either, but the combination of this particular layering of curses as me a bit stumped." She admitted, there was no harm in admitting when you were wrong.
"I'd imagine not, smartest witch of the age." Antonin chuckled as he listened to her problem. It wasn't surprising that she was having difficulties. He did find it amusing when she blushed at his compliment. People surely must call her that all of the time, but if she was nearly as studious as he thought, she didn't believe it at all. Sure she may admit that she was clever, but that was a title that held pressure. Surely he'd seen the papers comparing her to Dumbledore when she tested in her NEWTs. It had to be a lot of pressure for one little witch. Her movements hadn't escaped his eyes as he watched her worry the band of skin on her finger that was lighter than the rest. "What happened?"
"I don't know what you mean." Hermione said despite the fact that she knew he was an observant man. He was obviously not asking after if she was not longer engaged. All of Britain had known when she broke off their engagement. But rather what had done it. Ronald had made a public spectacle of it, something that he was still wont to do. She exhaled a heavy sigh as the war heroine let a little bit of how tired she was come through. Everything with Ron and her job just had her so exhausted. "Oh fine. He was a cheating bastard and I wasn't about to let him do that to me and make himself out to be the martyr. So Pansy and I set up a trap of sorts. She got him to cheat with her, I recorded the whole thing, and then we sat him down and showed it to him. Then I leaked the tape to the profit." She chuckled darkly.
He looked at her her for a long time before speaking, and she could see the darkness that worked it's way into his eyes, something that reminded her of the old Dolohov.
"Do you wish for me to kill him, malyshka?" He asked and she knew with utter seriousness that if she asked it of him, it would be done. "I'll make sure he suffers, nice and slow."
"Sweet of you though it is to offer, I've long since stopped crying over Ronald attempting to call me a whore to hide his infidelities."
"You ever decide you want him dead you know where to find me." He said as he took a drink. "For now let's toast to a brilliant and lucrative partnership."
"I'll drink to that." Hermione said as she gave him a flirty little smile. She could get used to him looking at her with that delightful heat in her eyes.