Disclaimer: I do not own the canon characters. I'm just playing in JK Rowling's playground. The only things I will take credit for are the plot line and any characters that I add in of my own creation!

I have had several private messages regarding how the chapter was set up. Unfortunately, when I uploaded the chapter, all of my dividers and bold italics disappeared. I have tried to set it up again in this chapter. Special thanks to MindlessPixie938 for pointing it out first! Now, on to the chapter!

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Hermione

Tuesday Morning

Hermione had not slept as well as she did Monday evening in years. Normally, it was not abnormal for her to awaken in the middle of the night due to nightmares. The witch had seen and gone through more in her young life than most people three times her age had in a lifetime. It was part of the reason she tried not to sleep. Between the constant vivid memories of Bellatrix carving into her, and the final battle it was getting easier and easier to avoid the sleep her body so desperately needed. In the last two years alone, she threw herself deeper into her work than she ever had before. It was not unusual at this point to find her found in her office well after midnight researching, working on some new project, or volunteering to travel to different countries ministries overnight.

When she finally awoke, she found herself refreshed and calm for the first time in what had been a while. For once she had managed to sleep through the night only waking once, and quickly falling back to sleep. It was probably for the best that she hadn't seen Ginny slip a few drips of Dreamless Sleep into her tea right before bed. Deciding to shower before heading to breakfast, she retreated to the hall bath and quickly cleaned up, hoping to find her best friends and further discuss her living arrangements.

"Well, look who has finally woken up. Decided you were too hungry to sleep the rest of your life away?" Ginny joked, laying the Prophet on the table.

"Very funny. It's not my fault that your guest bed is as soft as a cloud." Hermione laughed.

"Well, Harry has headed off to work. I thought since you took the day off, we could go get some things to make the room really yours?" Ginny inquired.

Hermione just nodded, taking a bite of her breakfast. Thinking to herself that it was better to not argue with the younger witch about the fact that she did not, in fact, need to help redecorated their house to fit her needs and comforts. Still, she could not believe that she had managed to get so lucky to have two people in her life that cared about this much. Not only did they want to see her happy and healthy, but they were also going out of their way to make sure that she was comfortable in their home.

It had not taken much persuasion to get Kingsley to agree to her taking the day off. Within thirty minutes, she had gotten a response from his office saying that it would be no issue and to enjoy her day. She was supposed to be interviewing people for the new assistant for the Ministry's Law Department. Since she had just gotten promoted to Undersecretary, Kingsley had decided that it would be her duty to interview viable candidates to replace her. He swore that since she had been working closely with the head of the department, Arastella Maypall, she would know who would be able to fill her shoes. It was ridiculous if you asked her. She took the job so that she could continue to keep herself busy.

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Draco

Tuesday Evening

"Bloody hell mate. When the fuck were you going to tell me about this?!"

"A simple congratulations would suffice Blaise." Draco leered at the man sitting at his dinner table.

"I still can't believe that you managed to get a job at the Ministry. And in the same damn position that bloody Granger held. Are you sure that you are up to that task? I'm sure she will constantly be over your shoulder making sure you haven't fucked up her precious-"

"Mr. Zabini, that is quite enough. I love having you dine with us every week, but proper etiquette and manners are required. I would have thought that your mother would have raised you better." Narcissa scolded.

Draco smirked at his friend. He honestly should have thought before he spoke. He had been having dinner over at the Manor every week for going on five years. If there was one thing that you did not do in the house of Narcissa Malfoy, that was break etiquette. Draco thought that it was good for his mother. At least once, every time, she was scolding the young man for something he had done.

"Sorry," Blaise muttered.

"Excuse me?" Narcissa asked, raising a perfect blonde eyebrow.

"I apologize Mrs. Malfoy. I should have thought what I was going to say before I said it." Blaise responded sitting up straight.

Draco could not help the smirk and snort that escaped him. It was when he caught his mother's glare that he buried the emotions.

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted. I would like to host a small get together to celebrate Draco's new job at the ministry. I expect both of you to be there, be presentable, be on time, and most importantly be good hosts." Narcissa said.

"As you wish Mother."

"Yes, Ma'am."

The rest of dinner went by smoothly, with only one more scolding and two more courses. Afterward, the two men retired to Draco's study, while Narcissa began her planning. Once the doors were closed Draco made his way to his small bar and poured him and his friend a drink so they could begin their tradition of a game of chess after dinner. He had barely made it into his chair when his fireplace burst to life with green flames.

"DRACO LUCIUS MALFOY!" a high pitched scream pierced the blonde man's ears.

Rolling his eyes and forcing his face into his typical sneer, Draco stood from his chair and waited for the oncoming intrusion. It was not until the small woman stepped through that his suspicions were confirmed.

"Pansy," he said coolly.

"What the fuck is this?" she hissed, thrusting a file into his chest.

Draco sighed grabbing the paperwork and looking over it. It was, in fact, the contract that he had signed that very same day. The one that he had not been one-hundred percent honest with his mother and friend about. Anger radiated through his entire body. The Parkinsons no longer had any hold in the Ministry. In fact, she and her mother were the only ones who had not been thrown into prison after the war. It was only at the insistence of Narcissa Malfoy that the two women managed to stay in somewhat polite society.

"How in the bloody fuck did you manage to get your talons into this?" he asked menacingly.

"Why the hell does that matter?! How could you agree to work BELOW that fucking MUDBLOOD?" she jeered.

She might have been almost a foot and a half shorter than him, but the smaller witch did not back down. Not even under the evilest glare that the wizard had fixed on her.

"What's she talking about Draco?" Blaise asked, hoping to keep his best mate from completely obliterating the witch.

"Tell me how you came about receiving this, or I swear to Merlin, Pansy." the blonde whispered.

"Why don't you tell us how this fucking happened. How the fuck you went in for a prestigious position and walked out bowing down to the fucking very person you loathe. Honestly Draco, your father is probably rolling in his gra-"

Pansy had been cut off by Draco hurling his glass across the room, effectively shattering it into a million shards. Draco had managed to always keep his temper somewhat in check when it came to his friends, but the pure gall of the woman standing in front of him cause his temper to rage. Finally, she had the nerve to look scared. He could handle a lot of things. Compartmentalizing did wonders for him. Having his father thrown in his face had been the end of it.

"WHO FUCKING GAVE YOU THIS INFORMATION?!" he bellowed.

"I have my ways. I just don't understand. Don't you dare yell at me like that."

"So you felt the need to come in, with half of the information, hurling accusations, throwing the memory of the dead around, screaming bloody murder at me. But I'm the mean one? Fuck you, Pansy. Get out before I can never tolerate you in my presence again."

"Drac-."

"Get the fuck out Pansy. Let him calm down." Blaise said.

Standing up and putting a hand on the obviously furious man's shoulder, he motioned for Pansy to go towards the Floo. Guiding the man towards his previously abandoned chair, Blaise barely noticed the green flames and Pansy disappeared.

"Bloody Hell Man. What the hell happened?"

Draco's blood was boiling. Not only had Pansy completely blown the entire situation out of proportion, but he was also now being coddled by Blaise fucking Zabini. Pushing the man away from him, he headed straight to his bar cart. Forgoing the cup, the young wizard opened up his decanter and drank straight from it.

Sighing behind him Blaise just sat back down and waited. Draco would talk to him when he was ready. It might be an hour or a day. But eventually, when the time came, he was going to get to the bottom of the night's unfortunate episode.

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Narcissa stood outside the door tutting to herself. She knew as soon as she heard the shattering of glass, that Draco was close to a breakdown. She had come running towards the room, insisting on intervening when she had first gotten the notice that Miss Parkinson had arrived. It was not long before she heard the shrill screeching that followed her entrance.

Narcissa Malfoy was many things, but oblivious was not one. She had noticed years ago that Draco did not agree with the opinions his father shared about people of Muggle lineage. He had only gone with along with the things that he had to protect her, and she suspeced someone else. She had noticed during his third year when he had written that a certain brunette had been the only person in the world who had the gall to put him in his place. Evidently, the young woman had punched her son and broken his nose. She had noticed how his eyes lit up when he mentioned a certain name. He had carefully hidden all of this from his father of course. But she knew her son better than he'd like to ever admit.

It had not escaped her notice how eager he was when a very particular position had opened up at the Ministry. He had never had any interest in getting a job at the Ministry. In fact, he had done everything in his power to break away from the tainted image his father had left him. As soon as she heard a certain taboo word slip from Parkinson's lips, she cringed as she decided to wait outside. It took a while, but once Pansy had successfully managed to escape from Draco's wrath with the help of Blaise she counted to fifty and proceeded to enter the room.

The young man in front of her had his head in his hands, an empty decanter at his feet, and a best friend fiddling with the chess set.

"Mr. Zabini, I believe that it is time for you to leave. I will owl you in the morning with his condition. You may visit after breakfast." the Matriarch said taking charge.

"Yes, Ma'am. Draco, I'll check in tomorrow." the young man nodded before exiting the room.

"Now Draco, I already know what happened tonight. But it seems that there is something even deeper going on. What is wrong Dear? What has happened?"

"Go away Mother."

"Draco Malfoy. You lift your head and listen to me RIGHT NOW." she said sternly.

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Author's Note:

Well, everyone, I hope you liked this chapter. I know it is probably a little dramatic. What do you think Narcissa is going to say to Draco? Leave your thoughts and opinions in a review! Once again, special thanks go to my Beta Cathryn. See you guys next time.

Best Wishes,

CasablancanSun