Hermione was on her feet now, with both hands placed on her desk and her eyes fixed on the two men standing in the doorway. Malfoy looked exactly as he had during their days at Hogwarts, with only a few slight differences. The last time Hermione had seen him he was thin and ghostly pale: stress from the war taking effect on his physical appearance. Now, he was taller and had filled out from what Hermione could make out of his body from under his black robes. His skin, though still fairly pale, was definitely more tanned and the difference was emphasised by his unchanged platinum blonde hair.

"Yes, Granger," Malfoy retorted before turning to the Minister. "I warned you she'd react this way."

"React what way?" Hermione raised an eyebrow. "As though I've just been introduced to my new co-worker who treat me like rubbish the entire time we were in school? Sorry I'm not doing backflips."

"Miss Granger, I suggest that you learn to let go of school grudges. Mister Malfoy will be working with you whether you agree or not. Remember this is a workplace not a playground. Good day."

The Minister left the small office leaving Hermione feeling very small. She had dropped her usually professional attitude, with Malfoy already bringing out a side of herself that she disliked. Still, she couldn't help but be annoyed by his presence, and she wasn't going to let it slide.

"Come on then Malfoy, the Minister has gone so why don't you tell me what you're really doing here? Heard about my campaign and decide you want to sabotage it? Ban all Muggle-borns from magical schools?"

"No, actually, as much as I dislike you Granger, I agree with what you've been doing. I want to help. I've been to a lot of the countries you're still trying to reach out to and think I could convince their Ministries."

Hermione let out a humourless laugh. "Oh, of course you agree! Of course you want to help! I've never heard so much rubbish in my life, Malfoy. Just get out of my office and stay out of my way."

Draco shrugged and left the office without another word. Hermione sat back in her chair and let out a heavy sigh. Anger was coursing through her, with disbelief accompanying it. She had heard nothing of Malfoy since Voldemort died; not even a whisper. She had thought about him increasingly in the last year, she couldn't start a campaign that helped combat Muggle-born prejudice without thinking of that which had been directed at her by Malfoy, among others. Never once, however, had she wondered where he was or what he was doing, and now he was working with her. She would have to see him every week day; speak to him and co-operate with him. She groaned and put her head in her arms on the desk.

"So...the bum, we don't like him?" Lucy finally spoke after watching Hermione for several minutes.

"No," came her muffled reply.

"Can I ask why?"

"No."

Hermione left the office on her lunch break, tiring of the suffocating feeling her office now had after Malfoy had been in it. She walked around in Muggle London gathering her thoughts. On return to the Ministry, Hermione headed straight to the room in which her boss, Jarvis Duggen, was based and knocked sharply on the door.

"Come in!" said a deep voice from behind it. Hermione entered. "Ah! There's my best worker. I have a feeling I know why you're here. Draco Malfoy, I presume?"

"Yes, sir. I just-we just don't get along. See he was awful to me in school and I know it was a long time ago but arrogant leopards don't change their spots."

"Pardon?"

"Sorry, it's a Muggle phrase. Well, the bit about the spots not the arrogant part," Hermione shook her head; she was rambling. "Anyway, I really don't think we'll be able to work together. He isn't exactly a fan of Muggle-borns, and I'm worried he'll try to sabotage my work."

"I understand your concerns, Hermione, really I do, but I interviewed Draco myself. He's very interested in the work you've done so far and eager to help you. He has good international contacts and excellent references. I couldn't not hire him."

"But..." Hermione wracked her brain for an argument against her boss' perfectly logical reasoning. "You do know who his parents were, don't you? He and his family were Death Eaters for goodness sake. They led the campaign against Muggle-borns. Surely that's enough reason for you to not employ him?"

"I admit it did make me hesitant, and I did ask him about it. Let me ask you something: do you know where he's been for the last five years?"

"Of course not," Hermione scoffed.

"Let me enlighten you then. After the war, Draco left the country. His father went to Azkaban and he hasn't seen nor spoken to him since. His mother lives alone, she was excused for her involvement with the Death Eaters after she lied to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named about Harry Potter. Draco went travelling. He's spent time in almost every country in Europe and more. After finding out what you have been doing for the wizarding schools abroad, he came back determined to help. He told me that his time travelling taught him how wrong the prejudices he had been raised to accept were, and wants to earn forgiveness for his actions."

Hermione stared at her boss open-mouthed. She couldn't seem to process the information just yet, and so thanked her boss for his time before leaving his office and deciding to go home for the rest of the day. She grabbed her bag and said goodbye to Lucy before heading into the lift.

"Hey Hermione!" a voice said as the golden doors of the lift opened, Hermione looked up to see Harry smiling at her.

"Harry, hi, how are you?"

"Obviously better than you, what's up?" Harry asked seeing her distracted expression.

"Oh, the usual. Came in to work this morning with a hangover and find out Draco Malfoy is my new colleague..."

"You're joking?!" Harry exclaimed loudly, making several people in the lift jump. "I haven't seen or heard anything about him since his trial. Where's he been? Why is he here? Is he staying?"

"Calm down, I'll explain it all later this isn't the right place," Hermione replied, glancing around.

"You're right. Tell me everything later at dinner."

"Dinner?"

"Yes, Ginny invited you last week. Ron and Juliette are coming too, remember?"

Realisation dawned. "Of course, sorry Harry, it's been one of those days. I'll see you around six?"

Harry confirmed and stepped out of the lift on the second floor. Hermione travelled down one more and rushed to the fireplaces in the entrance. She couldn't wait to get home.

After a long soak in the bath, Hermione felt a little more relaxed though still was not in the mood to be sociable. She forced herself to get ready for Harry and Ron's sake though, since they had begun to follow their separate career paths after the war they had seen less and less of each other; more so now that Harry was married and Ron engaged. She often missed spending time with just the two of them, though they did have an agreement where they went for dinner once a month and it was always something Hermione looked forward to.

She arrived at Number Twelve Grimmauld Place, Harry and Ginny's home, a few hours later. The house was unrecognisable now: it was a much brighter and more homely place after countless hours of further cleaning and then decorating. The picture of Sirius' mother still remained in the hallway and was as unpleasant as ever should guests be too noisy upon their arrival. Sirius' room was the only one that Harry had left unchanged; partly for sentimental reasons and partly because he had used a permanent sticking charm on almost everything in it. The rest of the house was now much more modern and colourful. As it turned out Ginny had quite the eye for interior decorating and she had made the house feel like a home.

Hermione tiptoed through the hall and into the kitchen where she found Ron and Juliette already there. Juliette was inch-for-inch as tall as Ron but slim built, she had piercing green eyes and, like the Weasley's, her hair was red though a much deeper shade than her fiancé's.

That night at dinner, Ginny served a delicious meal of sausages and mashed potatoes and they all ate huge portions as Hermione explained to the group the events of the day; including the details she had learned of Malfoy's whereabouts for the past five years.

"That git," Ron had said simply, with a mouthful of potato.

"Agreed," said Harry. "What we need to find out is why he's really here. Do you think he's going to try and mess up your work Hermione?"

Hermione sighed. "Honestly, I don't know. Fifteen year-old me would say yes, but I know I should be more professional, we're adults now."

"Yeah but I bet he's still a slimy arrogant pri-" Ron began, but was elbowed in the ribs by Juliette, "ow! Prat! I was going to say prat!"

"Well, guess there's only one way to find out," Ginny said sitting back in her chair and resting her hands lovingly on her swelling stomach, "you're going to have to work with him unfortunately."

Hermione groaned and sank into her chair. She hated to admit it, but Ginny was right. Starting tomorrow she would be working with Malfoy.