Eight years.
It had been eight years since she had seen him.
Eight years since he had chosen a path that led him to pointing a wand at Albus Dumbledore and letting tons of death eaters into the castle.
And now here he was, sitting in her office like it was the thing to do!
How dare he have the ordacity!?
How dare he have the nerver!?
How dare he. . .
Hermione stopped her rapid thoughts and took a deep breath, putting up blockades on her mind, blocking in her anger, her tears, her confusion. She put a look of complete and utter calm and sat down behind her desk. "What are you doing here, Malfoy."
THis calm Hermione was obviously wasn't what he had been expecting and he faltered. That arrogant smirk came back and he said, "Well, for the same reason anyone else comes to your office, Granger."
Hermione almost laughed. "You've got to be joking."
The smirk disappeared. "No joke."
Her blockades were slipping. She forced them back up. "I'm afraid i can't do that."
"And why is that?"
"Are you kidding me?" It was too late to go back now. "You didn't really just ask me why, did you? Because i think the answer is so very obvious."
"Really, Granger, does one really need to hold grudges for so long?"
"A GRUDGE?" He was pushing her purposefully, tearing down her blockades, making her lose her cool. "This is a lot more than a grudge, Malfoy! A grudge occurs when one is upset over a stolen object or person. A grudge is nothing when considering you are the sole reason for someone's death!"
He was smiling at her. A cocky smile that drove her mad. "I was wondering when the old Granger would pop up again. Going to slap me again like in third year?"
Hermione took a deep breath again. She wasn't going to lose control. SHe had control her anger. "I can't help you, I'm sorry. I only help people who are actually innocent."
"I am innocent," Malfoy said. "I didn't kill anyone."
"But you were involved. That officially makes you guilty. I heard about this case already and i'm sort of surprised that it took so long to come along. I met Dumbledore's neice during the final war. She's a sweet girl. . . . You took away the only family she had left. You expect to just get out of that?"
"I don't expect to get out of anything. I'll pay whatever she wants me to. Merlin knows i've got the money. I just don't want to go to prison."
"And you came to me? I'm so honored, considering the fact that your a Pureblood and everything. But, i really don't think i can help you Malfoy. After all, i'm just a 'Mudblood'."
Malfoy's face visibly blanched. He stood and leaned against Hermione's desk, his eyes meeting hers. "Look, Granger. I didn't come here to argue with you. I came here to get your help because i heard you could help me. I heard you were the best. I'm innocent. You weren't there when it happened. Ask Potter if you don't believe me."
Malfoy straightened up again and extended a hand, revealing a white card. "This is how you can contact me again. I'll be waiting."
Malfoy strode out of the office and Hermione sat, waiting for a minute, before she got up and went to Janice. "Cancel the rest of my appointments for today."
Hermione grabbed her cloak and strode towards the fire place down in the lobby of the office building. "12 Grimmuald Place."