So, when a narrow, cream envelope arrived on Hermione's desk a few days later she knew straight away what it was. The envelope was thick and the writing on the front was a beautiful script in dark blue ink. She stared at it for a good few moments before she attempted to open it. Opening the envelope meant that she really was actually going to do this and she wanted to delay that moment of inevitability as long as she could.
She gently prized the flap open and removed the equally thick, quality paper that was folded inside it. She opened the page up and flattened it on her desk. It was covered with the same script writing and despite herself she had to admire it. There was no address at the top, as would be usual and the first words on the page were 'Miss Hermione Granger'.
She bent over it and began to read.
Miss Hermione Granger
I believe that you are already aware of the matter I am now contacting you about.
I also believe that you understand that this matter is to be kept completely between ourselves.
This parchment is self igniting and it will do so once you tap the red dot at the bottom of the page.
Please do this as soon as you have absorbed the information.
These lines made Hermione almost laugh but also gave her a little thrill of excitement. This was like one of those awful spy movies she used to watch when she was a child. She turned back to the page.
I believe you know of my location and it is there that I believe we can meet without suspicion - at least for the first time.
Apparate to the aforementioned location at exactly 10pm tomorrow for our first meeting.
DO NOT attempt to contact me about this - even if there is a problem with this time or location. If you do not arrive I will contact you again to rearrange.
DO NOT attempt to apparate at any other time.
When you have apparated do not approach the house. I will find you.
Hermione re-read the letter five times and then tapped the red dot as instructed. The letter ignited in her hand but the flames weren't hot and the burnt letter disappeared completely, leaving no ashes. Again, Hermione was begrudgingly impressed. The tone of the letter had given her no clue to what reception she might receive as it was obviously written in a cautious and instructive way.
"What? No kisses, Malfoy?" Hermione said, out loud but only to herself. She chuckled at her own joke and stared at the envelope before destroying it the same way. She was determined to be at her very best tomorrow night. She would be prepared - she had already rammed her magical bag with several large legal reference books which were weightless of course, once they were in the bag. She was also determined to look the most devastating she had ever looked, professionally speaking of course and she was going to act with dignity and not let the arrogant, twerp (that she was sure he would still be) get to her.
She wasn't sure why she wanted to impress him - she really didn't care what he thought of her - but it just made her feel better if she could prove to him that he was no longer dealing with the Hermione Granger he remembered from school.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
It was a clear night with a deep black sky littered with millions of stars. Hermione stared at them as she waited impatiently in the grounds of Malfoy Mansion. Draco had renamed it when he had rebuilt it (the name showed very little imagination, in Hermione's opinion). It was dark but Hermione could easily see the imposing building in the distance and it looked incredible.
It was triple fronted and three stories high in the middle section. The many windows were identical and symmetrical and the roof was startlingly white even at night. Hermione was standing in the grounds that lead up to the building and they looked beautifully manicured and again, perfectly symmetrical.
She had really wanted to hate the building on sight but the truth was it was beautiful. Breathtakingly beautiful, in fact. The stark rows of perfect windows should have made it unwelcoming and institutional but somehow they didn't. Each window was an amazing piece of workmanship with lovely frames and beading and the rows of them made the building look light and open. The larger middle section added interest and the roof seemed to slide easily from the higher level to the lower. It was lovely.
Hermione sighed, her impatience beginning to get to her. Where was he? She'd done exactly as instructed but now she was left standing here, under the left oak tree (again as instructed) feeling like an idiot. Maybe this was a really bad spy movie after all? Maybe some figure in black would stealthily appear on the white roof soon before abseiling down the perfect walls and coming over to her.
"Follow me - don't speak." A deep, whispered voice spoke close to her ear and she jumped out of her skin. It took all her control not to scream and she put her hand over her heart which had gone crazy.
The figure moved around her and she did as instructed, following him silently. She could tell it was Malfoy. He had always been tall and slim as this dark shadow in front of her was but plenty of people would have fitted into those categories'. It was his movements that made her sure if was her old enemy she was following. He walked confidently and elegantly with smooth, easy grace and she had to almost run to keep up.
She kept her eyes down as they neared the building for fear that if she lifted them she might end up flat on her face. The figure moved around the side of the building and Hermione expected to see a door but there was none. Just a wall, filled with those amazing windows. She looked at her companion questioningly when he suddenly stepped close, grabbed her around the waist with one arm, putting his other hand over her mouth. She tried to scream, struggling in his arms and then she felt the familiar sensation of apparation. Almost instantly she found herself standing in a brightly lit room with a beautiful tiled floor and a large sofa and several low tables.
She was totally disorientated and the bright light hurt her eyes after the darkness outside. She gulped, trying not to let herself descend into sheer panic.
"You could have warned me that you were going to do that!" Hermione said. "I nearly screamed the place down!"
Draco Malfoy was standing a distance away. He had let go of her immediately after they had apparated and he was now facing her. He removed his hood and she got her first look at him for many years. He was strangely unchanged and yet totally different to how he had been at seventeen. His features and startling hair were the same, his face narrow, his eyes that strange shade of grey and yet he looked different. His face had matured, his jawline wider, his cheekbones high, his skin not as pale but still smooth. His shoulders were wide, his proportions that of a man rather than a boy. His hair was short with a slightly longer fringe that he now pushed out of his eyes. Hermione felt her breath catch in her throat because he was beautiful - just like his house. Perfectly proportioned, startling, almost ethereal but utterly gorgeous with it. Her words to Harry about him sprouting Angel wings came to mind and she almost blushed.
"If I warned you, I would have been warning anyone watching us as well," Draco answered her, his voice deep and smooth. "I'd get used to things happening without warning if I were you."
"I'll try and remember that." Her voice sounded strange and she cleared her throat.
"You should take that off," Draco said, indicating her hooded jacket. "This might take a while."
Hermione nodded and did as he instructed, removing her hood and slipping her arms out of her jacket. She turned back to him to ask where she should put it to find those grey eyes staring at her. She was used to men staring at her but not this particular one and her usual composure was in danger of slipping. She took a breath and held up her coat.
"Where shall I put it? As you say, we shouldn't be wasting any time."
The eyebrows above those eyes rose slightly but she held his gaze. He might be so much more attractive than she had imagined but she was going to be professional if it killed her.
"Well - who would have thought?" Draco commented and he blatantly let his eyes roam her face and then lower, down her body to her legs. "Hermione Granger has grown up very nicely."
"I think the most relevant fact in that sentence is that Hermione Granger has actually grown up," Hermione said. "After that comment, I'm not so sure that Draco Malfoy has managed to yet!"
Draco raised his eyebrows again but didn't reply. Instead he approached her, his eyes never leaving hers and she held his gaze although her heart was thumping in her chest.
"I haven't time to play games," Hermione started to say as he reached her and Draco stopped before reaching out and taking her coat.
"I believe you asked what you could do with your coat?" he said. "I was being a good host and taking it for you."
"Oh...thank you." Hermione knew that he'd just won Round One and she sighed.
"Your bag?" Draco held out his hand for her handbag but she shook her head.
"No...I need that," she said.
"Can't you go half an hour without your lipstick?" Draco asked, with no humour in his voice and Hermione put her head to one side, giving him a stony look before reaching into the bag and retrieving one of the large books she'd brought. She waved it in front of his face, struggling to hold it with one hand.
"Actually, I've brought some books and notes that I thought might help save your sorry ass!" she said. So much for remaining professional! Nevertheless, it was worth it for the look on his face which now showed grudging respect. Round Two to her.
"Neat trick," he said, bending to look inside her bag.
"I kept a tent in it when we were on the run from Voldemort..." Her voice trailed off as she realized the inappropriateness of her words. They had been on the run from his father and all his Death Eater's as well. Draco just nodded and then went to hang her coat up before indicating a seat for her to take.
"This isn't going to be pretty, Granger," he said. "Do you think you can handle it?"
Hermione plonked the large book on the table between them before reaching into her bag again to retrieve three more and all her notes before she answered him. "I can handle it," she said.
"Is your plan of action to simply hit anyone who attacks us with a book?" Draco asked, this time with just a hint of humour in his voice, his eyes surveying the laden table.
She ignored his comment. "If you're not happy with Harry's choice of personnel then maybe now would be a good time to voice your opinion. I'm sure that there is someone else who could deal with this for you." Her words were businesslike but they held a challenge.
"You're not Harry's choice," Draco said, quietly and Hermione frowned.
"Yes I am. He asked me because I already knew you and because he trusts me."
"Actually, he asked you because I asked him to," Draco corrected her, his eyes intense on her face and Hermione couldn't disguise her surprise.
"You asked him to?" Hermione repeated his words. "Why?"
"Because you already know me," Draco gave a little shrug whilst repeating her own reasons that she thought Harry had picked her for, "and because I trust you."
Hermione gaped at him across the table. What the hell was he talking about? How could he possibly say he trusted her?
"I find that hard to believe," she said. Draco scanned her face again and she felt uncomfortable. His gaze was penetrating and she felt exposed. To cover this she switched into professional mode. "You need to tell me everything if I'm to help you properly - even the parts you think you shouldn't tell me."
Draco nodded and leant back in his chair. "There are plenty of those," he said and Hermione sighed. It was going to be a long night.
Hope you liked it - I like Hermione's reaction when she finds out that Draco has asked for her - let me know what you think. x
