A/N: Hey everyone! I am really sorry that I haven't updated recently D: I am in the middle of exams and study leave and I may have gotten into trouble for procrastinating. But it's here now!
Enjoy

A New Life
Chapter Two: A Troublesome Colleague

"Hello partner."

With those two words, Hermione's jaw remained at the floor. She couldn't believe that she was to work with the asshole that tormented her throughout her six years at Hogwarts. He had tormented her with the nickname, if you could call it that, mudblood. The only 'good' thing about Draco Malfoy was that he hadn't dobbed her, Harry or Ron into Bellatrix. He had kept that one quiet, enabling them to continue on the search for Horcruxes.

"Granger! Are you going to enlarge the office? Or are you going to sit there staring at my insane body?" He smirked in his usual Malfoy fashion.

Hermione snapped out of her thoughts, and she mumbled the spell to enlarge the office space. As soon as she had murmured the spell, the standard office equipment appeared in the office. Draco looked in horror at the furniture that he was supplied with. Of course that wouldn't be good enough for the Draco Malfoy, who was brought up with everything that he could want.

"Is there something wrong Malfoy? Not quite used to anything below the so called standard? Grow up and get to work." Hermione spat at Draco. No matter what, this was still her office, so he was going to listen to her.

"Well seeing as you are practically asking about my tastes in furniture, I will gladly explain them to you Granger. I grew up where we did not have shit furniture. Our furniture was made from the highest quality wood, and made by the experts. We will only ever have the highest quality items in our house, and that will never change. But I suppose that this will do until I can get some replacements."

"Why can't you just be thankful that you have furniture and a job? Or would you rather be sitting in Azkaban?" Hermione fumed. "I'm sure you've got the better option, even though you don't deserve it."

With that, Hermione walked out of her office, slammed the door and headed down to the bathroom. She needed time to think and clear her mind. Working with Malfoy was going to be difficult, and Hermione believed that both her and Malfoy needed time to clear their minds before they were to work together in an enclosed space.

After Hermione had stormed out of their, well her office, Draco had decided to sit down and rest his feet. Instead of sitting down at his desk, he sat down at Hermione's desk. He knew he shouldn't have sat there, but he wanted to. This is the first time he had seen Hermione since the battle at Hogwarts, and boy she had changed. She was no longer the bushy haired mudblood that he had grown up to despise. She had grown into a beauty with a fiery temper he knew he couldn't resist.

Sitting at her desk made him feel somewhat happy. It smelt like her, which he knew held memories of happiness, something that he had wanted for a long time. He didn't have any from when he was a child, so he wanted to make happy memories for himself, and for any children he was to have.

Draco spied the photos that decorated the top of Hermione's desk. Of course, they were of her with Harry and Ron, along with Ginny. There were also photos that didn't move, which he presumed that they were of her and her parents. She looked so happy in them and it made Draco rather sad.

Draco had always wanted happy moments with his family, especially to make his mother and father proud, but he had never once made his father smile. He had always managed to disappoint Lucius, and Narcissa had always stood by him. But now that his father was finally in Azkaban, he hoped to finally make his mother proud.

Draco did eventually push these feelings aside to continue looking through Hermione's desk. He only looked through what was on the top, not wanting to look through her private drawers. He spied a law that she was currently working on, a law about muggle-borns. He knew that she would be able to get that changed to better their support and environment. It was a huge part of her life, and he knew full well that she would do whatever it takes for those laws to be changed.

As Draco moved from her desk to his, he saw the box of Hermione's belongings from Ron. The letter was conveniently sitting on the top, and Draco carefully picked it up. He saw that in the box was things that obviously belonged to Hermione, and he presumed that they had been returned to her from someone. But from whom, he did not know.

Draco carefully opened the letter addressed to Hermione, knowing that he should not be reading her personal mail. But he just had to know who had returned her stuff to her. After quickly skimming through the letter, he realised that Hermione and Ron had broken up, and he was returning her belongings to her.

'That's could explain why she is in such a bad mood. But I honestly cannot believe that her and the weasel broke up. Maybe that might mean that I can finally act on the childhood crush I had on her. I did only really like her for her intelligence, but I will admit, she did get prettier as she got older, and she looked stunning at the Yule Ball in fourth year. And she has carried on that beauty to know..'

Draco trailed off in thought but remembered to put the letter back to where he found it, which he did in the nick of time as Hermione walked back into the office, with Harry Potter in tow.

Hermione stormed out of the office while slamming the door behind her. She continued to walk down to the bathroom so she could clear her head.

'Why do I have to deal with Malfoy? He is an arrogant git and I really don't know how I am going to work with him in an enclosed area. This is going to be hell. But I guess this day has not gone well...'

Hermione reached the bathroom and splashed some cold water on her face to try and calm down. But the problem was that she couldn't. She was so upset at how Lavender had treated her, and the way the other girls in her department had stuck their noses into her business.

Hermione was not a bad employee. She worked hard, kept quiet, and most certainly did not spread gossip around about her colleagues. She was one of the best witches at the Ministry and she worked hard to keep that title. She had always done the right thing, even if it did mean dobbing a workmate in for doing something wrong. But that was only done in extreme emergencies, and Hermione had only had to it once. And they had kept it anonymous. She really couldn't see why the others were suddenly being so cruel to her. They were supposed to be her friends.

'I miss Harry, Ron and Ginny. I wish I could see them. They would be able to help my get through this bullshit I have to deal with right now. Well, Ron wouldn't be able to help me right now. I did insult his new girlfriend, so that probably won't help. But Ginny always knows what to do, especially when it comes to boys. Oh I wish I could see her now...'

Hermione walked out of the bathroom, straight into Harry.

"Hermione! It's so good to see you!" Harry exclaimed, as he encased her in a bear hug.

"It's good to see you too Harry. I was just thinking about you and how much I miss you, as well as Ginny, and even Ron. I need to talk to you. I have a few problems..."

"Of course you can talk to me Hermione, I'm always going to be here for you." Harry said as he smiled gently.

"Well, my first problem is, I got a visit from Lavender today. She was dropping off my stuff that had been left at Ron's house. He didn't even have the decency to do it himself. And then an argument started out between me and the other girls about Lavender and Ron, and I may have called Lavender a 'two sickle whore'."

Harry was fuming. "I had told Ron that he should come and give you your stuff back, and hopefully talk to you, but he really is a blithering idiot and sends Lavender to do it, knowing full well that you two don't get along. Don't worry Hermione, I am going to talk to him tonight, and he will definitely regret doing that. And with calling Lavender that, I am proud of you. So don't over think that. Next problem..."

"My second problem is that I am now working with none other than Draco Malfoy. My boss wants us to work together and I can't change it. I have to work in my office with that git, and we're supposed to be working on an assignment together soon, and it will need our full attention for it. Please save me out of this." Hermione pleaded with Harry.

"I'll come to your office with you. I'm sure it won't be too bad, and you know, if he pisses you off too much Hermione, you can always hex him. You are called the brightest witch of our age for a reason." Harry said as he smiled brightly.

They walked back to Hermione's office together chatting happily, discussing anything and everything. When they reached the office, Hermione walked in first, with Harry in tow.

"Potter, what a lovely surprise to see you here." Malfoy said with the sarcasm practically dripping of the words.

"The feelings mutual Malfoy." Harry replied, casually keeping his cool. " So why are you here bothering Hermione?"

"I am here because I have to be. I escaped Azkaban and as a part of my probation, I have to work in this department with Granger. I get no say in the matter, and I don't know why. So are there any more stupid and boring questions that you have for me Potter?"

"You should learn some manners soon Malfoy. Hermione wasn't called the brightest witch of our age for nothing, and I know that she will hex you if you step out of line. Oh, and I am sure you would rather stay on the good side of Minister Shacklebolt." Harry snapped at Malfoy. " Hermione, I think you have things under control know, but you know to come and get me if things get bad. I need to be going now, so goodbye Hermione."

"Goodbye Harry." Hermione said as she closed the door behind Harry.

Hermione returned to her desk where she continued to work in silence before Draco interrupted her.

"Granger, are you going to give me any work to do, or shall I continue to sit her bored shitless?" Draco half asked, half whined.

"You're a big boy now Malfoy, you can entertain yourself for a while. Especially until I am actually given work for you to do." Hermione snapped back.

She continued to work silently while Draco drew some interesting pictures on his piece of parchment. Suddenly, a barn owl flew in the open window with a package attached. As Hermione was engrossed in her work, Draco accepted the package. He was able to, it was addressed to the both of them.

Dear Mr Malfoy and Ms Granger,

Here is your new assignment. You are to work at changing the equality laws in marriage, sex and blood status. In order to change the minds of the older generations, the two of you must fall in love, plan a wedding and hopefully conceive a child within the next 18 months.

I understand that this will be a difficult task for the two of you, but if you are successful, you will change a good portion of the Wizarding World. It will make the world for future generations a better place for all.

You have a de-briefing tomorrow a 9am in my office. I will explain the task in full and answer any questions that you have.

Kingsley Shacklebolt
Minister for Magic

P.S. The marriage between the two of you will be until death. There is no divorce. Consider this your warning.

Draco almost dropped the letter.

"Granger, we have a problem."

A/N: That's the end of Chapter Two :D
Thank you to GottaGetBackUp and NazChick for my first two reviews! You guys are fantastic!
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