Author's Note: Sorry it took me awhile to get this out. I had a paper and project to finish.
Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling, except a Mr. Richards & Jacob Aldridge. If they resemble any names that you recognize, that is merely coincidence. Plot loosely based on the drama (info in my bio).
~LAW TWO~
"When it never rains, you always have your umbrella. The one day it rains, you don't have have umbrella."
- Murphy's Law of Love
ONE YEAR LATER
It looked to be a good day. It was a little cloudy, but Hermione didn't think it would rain. And plus she would only be gone for an hour or two, what could really go down in two hours?
Hermione needed to go to Flourish and Blotts to pick up a book that she had pre-ordered. She hadn't gone to the bookstore in a few weeks; she had been focusing on getting acquainted with her new job. She had gone in on the weekend to get her office set up, so she wouldn't have had to worry about it today, her first official day at work.
Right when Hermione's parents returned to England, she had stayed with them, but when she embarked on her first job, she thought that it was time to move out and selected a flat near the muggle entrance of the Leaky Cauldron. This way she could walk there if she so chose. Even though her life was in the magical community, she still liked to see the muggle community and she honestly felt more comfortable living in a muggle neighborhood. With the money she had received from the Ministry for helping to defeat Voldemort, she chose an apartment building that only had one flat per floor. Of course she saw people who lived there and made acquaintances with most of them, but at least she didn't have to talk to them on a daily basis and explain what her job was. It was just easier not having to answer questions that she couldn't tell the whole truth to.
By eight in the morning, she was all ready to get a cup of tea and visit Flourish and Blotts before going into the Ministry. Making sure she had everything she needed for that day, she exited her flat and the building. She had to walk past five blocks, but she was happy for the walk. It took around twenty minutes at a pace that was not too slow or too fast. This spring day was nice and breezy, not too hot, not too cold. Just right. In no time, she had arrived at the Leaky Cauldron entrance and walked through the doors, no muggle taking a second glance at her. Walking through the establishment, brought her to the brick wall. She tapped her wand three times at the three different places and watched the bricks move to show her Diagon Alley.
She made her way to Vanitea, a tea shop that she had recently discovered. They had different types of teas and they were quite delicious. She ordered a Passion Rose hot tea, added a cup of milk, and two teaspoons of sugar. She thanked the server and left the shop to go to Flourish and Blotts, which opened at eight thirty. Looking at her watch, it was just a few minutes past eight thirty.
Upon entering Flourish and Blotts, the middle aged attendant, by the name of Mr. Richards, greeted Hermione happily. It was easy to be nice to those that were nice in return. And Mr. Richards was a likable person. He went to the back to get her books. After seven minutes she was on her way out the door.
Right when she exited the store, she heard pattering around her. Hermione looked up and realized that it had started raining. Not hard, but not a soft mist either. Thinking about her books, she shrank them and put them in her bag, which she had charmed permanently with an undetectable extension charm. As she was doing this, she didn't notice that someone had come underneath the canopy and close their umbrella. She finished making sure her books were neatly stacked and looked up. The person chose that moment to shake out their very wet umbrella. She got a face full of water droplets.
Glaring at the person behind the umbrella, she waited until they moved the umbrella out of her line of sight. She tried not to show her shock when she realized that it was none other than Draco Malfoy. She continued to glare at him.
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Every day, Draco Malfoy needed coffee in order to make it through the day. He dealt with many types of people and sometimes some that were not the most intelligent. Though, nowadays, Aurors did not have to respond to many dark situations, he dealt with a lot of paperwork and was the one to check that everything on paper was correct before he submitted them to records. Once Draco had graduated from Hogwarts after repeating his seventh year, he had submitted an application to become an auror. People thought it was odd, that an ex-Death Eater would want to hunt their own, but his scores and character traits were definitely spectacular, and they accepted him. He had finally done something on his own and it felt great and freeing.
Now, of course, there weren't many cases where he had to go into the field, and he liked having the power to tell people if they messed up on their paperwork. That seemed to happen a lot more than he would like to admit. Or actually, yes, he was glad he could make others aware of their mistakes.
At eight twenty, he flood to the Leaky Cauldron from his flat and made his way to Diagon Alley. There he went to a new coffee shop, one month new actually, nestled between Quality Quidditch Supplies and Amanuensis Quills. Since it was a new shop, there was a substantial line and he got his dry cappuccino after approximately twenty minutes. Thinking he had about five minutes before he had to get into the ministry, he thought he would check out what new books were on display in the windows of Flourish and Blotts. He noticed that it was raining now, so he transfigured a galleon into an umbrella, just for now.
Going down the alley a little ways, he stopped in front of the bookstore and shook out his umbrella. As he closed it and tied it up, he noticed someone looking at him. Or more like glaring. They looked at each other for a few seconds, her glaring and him just looking.
"Can I help you, Granger?" He drawled out, though he seemed a bit amused at the same time. Well, Hermione was not amused.
"Yes, you very well can! Look what you've done!" She gestured to her person. "I'm all wet now, no thanks to you!" Draco couldn't help it, he smirked. She almost had to slap herself because of what she said, not knowing it would have come out quite like that.
"Are you really?"
"You are such a pig, Malfoy!" Thinking she could do well without any more arguing, and that she needed to make it to the ministry in time, she set off across to the Leaky Cauldron. All this done without a backward glance towards Draco, who just stood there, still thinking about what she previously said. After glancing at the books in front of Flourish and Blotts, he also set off to use the Floo in the Leaky Cauldron.
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It was ten minutes to nine, which was just fine for Hermione. As she was almost to the lifts, having walked through the atrium, she felt like she was being followed. Taking a glance back, she didn't see anyone right away, but then her eyes zoned in on Malfoy, who was about fifteen paces behind her. Hoping he wouldn't be waiting for the lifts, she turned back and continued waiting.
Unfortunately, he was waiting for the lifts, and he was able to squeeze into the one Hermione had gotten in as well, right next to her. When they arrived to her floor, she quickly strode out, not looking back.
Yet, she felt a prickling sensation that there was someone following her again. She stopped abruptly and wheeled around. It would be Malfoy.
"Are you following me, Malfoy?"
He took a good look at her and scoffed. "Of course. It would seem that just because I am going the same path as you, it means I'm following you. Tell me Granger, does that mean everyone else who is going this way, is following you?"
She humphed. He smirked. Again. And Hermione tried not to let that affect her.
She walked quickly down the hallway of the Department of International Cooperation and into her new office. Only when she was within her room did she let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding, but at least he wasn't following her anymore.
Draco watched as she all but ran to her office. He chuckled to himself, thinking that she was a strange girl. He chose not to acknowledge the fact that he had paid more attention to her now than he had in years. And that he did not have any ill feelings towards her at all, nor any feelings of disgust after talking to her.
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"Hermione, will you come here a minute? I need to discuss something with you." Hermione's boss, Jacob Aldridge, stuck his head in. Even though he was the head, he liked to be out and about, rarely staying in his office for too long, unless he desperately needed to complete papers.
She looked up. "Sure." She had just gotten settled in and was looking at her first case in a folder on her desk when her boss poked his head in.
He gestured for her to follow him to his office. When they reached it, he closed the door and sat behind his desk.
"I know I gave you a folder for your first case, but I've got a more important one that just came in. Knowing you, I figured you'd be interested. I don't just let beginners start in the field, but I think I can make an exception in your case. I've heard many good things about your work habits." He handed her a new folder. "Take a look over this and make this your priority."
Hermione was ecstatic. This was what she thrived for. Working in the field, but not in any immediate danger. Already she had bagged two cases that she could dedicate her time to.
She opened the folder and scanned the first page. Looking up to Aldridge, she asked, "I'll be working with the Department of Law Enforcement for this?" Judging by how this was an interdepartmental case, this was of high importance.
"Yes, that won't be a problem will it?"
"No, sir. Thank you for giving me this opportunity."
He nodded to her. "You'll be working on your old case until the aurors can come to work with you. They're wrapping something up this week and won't be done until next week." He looked down at his desk to where there were a stack of papers and started to look them over. Hermione assumed she was dismissed and made her way back to her office.
Sitting down, she began to read the case. She would have to work with aurors because there seemed to be a criminal that had escaped to France and the law enforcement department needed someone from her department to talk to the French department on the basic rules and any other rules the aurors might need to capture the criminal in France. She began to take a few notes on the case, thinking that any information she could pull out now would help her work with the aurors and the French department.
Two days later, after work, she received an invitation to an Annulment Party for Neville Longbottom and Pansy Parkinson for the weekend. When she was made aware of their relationship, she was very skeptical at first. Pansy wanted to be in a relationship with Neville? But throughout the first year of their courtship, she did see that Pansy did indeed love Neville Longbottom. They doted on each other. And within a year and a half of dating they had wed in a somewhat large wedding. Of course, even though Neville was a Gryffindor and not Pansy's previous 'type', he was approved of because he was a pureblood (which Hermione couldn't help but feel infuriated about).
However, she had heard recently, through many different sources (whom she tried to stay clear of but sometimes it just wasn't possible since they were everywhere), that their relationship had started falling. Sometimes people just grew out of love. How, she would never understand. If you loved someone you would fight to be with them. Shaking her head, she thought herself a bit hypocritical. She replied saying she would be in attendance. Thinking to herself what in the world an annulment party was.
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By late Saturday morning Hermione had chosen a little black dress and a silver chain necklace to wear for the party. There were still two hours left until the party would start. So, she made herself an easy lunch of salad and grilled chicken breast with a cup of iced tea. After lunch, she read a little and watched a bit of whatever was on the telly. Then, with forty minutes until the party, she started to dress and make sure she looked fine. She knew even though Pansy tolerated her, it wouldn't do to not be put together when in front of her.
As she was about to head to her fireplace, she grabbed a small jacket on the back of her dining chair in case it was a little bit chilly. She took half a handful of Floo Powder and made sure to say clearly, "Neville Longbottom residence!"
Neville and Pansy had decided to buy a flat together right before they got married. They wouldn't have to live with their respective immediate families. There was no falling out, but both adults didn't want to live with the other's relative, no matter how lovely they were. They wanted privacy for themselves. Neville had also received a small fortune for helping defeat Voldemort. And as Pansy was a high class Pureblood, she had family money. Along with being a bit more tolerant to Hermione, Pansy had tamed down a bit, but still kept some of her old, less liked traits. How Neville looked past those, she would always wonder at that. Neville didn't talk about Pansy as much anymore, whenever Hermione would see him. He used to be so animated, but she thought, maybe the feelings started wearing thin.
Though she knew not what an annulment party was, she knew what an annulment was. Probably the excitement of being married and having someone love you started to wane for Pansy. It was after the war that they had found each other. Then after a year and a half, they got married, meaning they had been married approximately four years now. Just because she could hold onto a relationship that long, didn't mean others could as well. Time changed things.
As she stepped away from the fireplace and dusted herself off, she was unaware of someone looking at her. She saw Neville a few feet away and headed over to talk to him.
She tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and his face went from neutral to one of happiness at seeing an old friend.
"Hermione! I'm so glad you could make it!" He gave her a quick hug and she gave him a few pats on the back.
"Neville! I'm glad I could make it." She looked around. "What about Harry and Ron? Are they here?"
He frowned. "They couldn't make it. They told me yesterday that they needed to finish something for work."
She felt stupid. "Oh, of course! I heard they had a case that wouldn't be done until this weekend. I guess they still had things to wrap up today." She really looked at Neville. "And you, Neville? Are you okay?"
He gave her a tight smile. "I'm fine, Hermione. I'm not going to say this is the happiest party to be attending, but thank you for coming."
"Anything, Neville. You've always supported me and helped me out. I'll be here to support you today."
"Thanks, Hermione. It means a lot to me that you're here. Why don't you take a seat, I think we're about to start real soon." She thought about asking Neville what this party would include, but it would have been pointless when it was due to start any minute now. She smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek and chose to sit at a table with a few people she knew. There was a table with Terry Boot and Hannah Abbott, both professors at Hogwarts now, along with Neville.
They had a short conversation between themselves and after five minutes, the host called for everyone's attention.
Apparently, this party would serve to make their annulment official. It is public knowledge that one of the actions that would be considered for the basis of annulment was if one of the individuals committed adultery. It was not hard to imagine who the guilty party was. Even if Neville didn't love Pansy as he did before, Hermione didn't think it was possible for someone as honest as Neville to cheat on his significant other.
The first order of business was that the host called for the couple to return their rings to their respective ring boxes. Then, Neville and Pansy had to say a short speech, very short, to each other. Pansy spoke about how she had always treated Neville nicely, which was correct, in a way. And Neville proceeded to say that marriage, though it ended like this, was a really good experience for him while it lasted.
Hermione was really confused as to why an annulment party would be a thing. Even if both of them weren't devastated, it still seemed to be a melancholy type of event to be celebrating.
When the speeches were done, the host called for a small break before the next section would begin. Neville came to the table she shared with the others and told her that he was going out for some air. She gave him a look, and he replied with a small smile.
She continued to sit there, but after a few minutes, needed to use the restroom. As, she left, someone got up to follow her.
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Draco Malfoy had forgotten that Longbottom was close friends with Hermione Granger. It was a bit of a shock when she had come in through the fireplace. She certainly cleaned up nicely, he had thought. She wore a little black dress, which he thought was perfect for an event such as this. His eyes rarely left her figure throughout the night, though she didn't seem to have noticed his presence. (How that was possible, he had no idea).
During the break, he noticed Longbottom going outside and after a few moments saw Hermione headed into the hallway. He decided to follow her and accost her outside the restrooms.
To say Hermione was shocked when she exited the restrooms and saw Draco Malfoy there, would be an understatement. She had forgotten that Malfoy would probably be attending for Pansy. He took a little step closer as she stopped upon seeing him.
Her curiosity, about the party, got the better of her. "Why is this even considered a party? Just because you people have the money to have a party for an event like this, doesn't mean you should. It's a bit morose, don't you think?"
He was a little inflamed by her statement. 'You people'? What did she mean by that?! He wasn't the one hosting or having this party. He was only in attendance as a guest. How dare she group him in just because he had money. He narrowed his eyes at her.
She didn't seem to be phased. Instead, she turned to her left to head back to her seat.
However, Draco stepped even closer and put his right arm on the wall behind her, effectively trapping her from walking away. She stumbled a little and he moved his face closer to glare at her. After a few seconds of a stare off, he noticed something.
"Granger, have you been crying?"
She looked away, trying to get her breathing steady. She looked back at him, narrowing her eyes this time, as if challenging him. But then, she turned to her right, going to leave that way, but he raised his left arm to trap her on her right as well. Now, with nowhere to go, trapped and backed up into the wall (by Draco Malfoy of all people!) she felt her face heat up.
She chose to work with the element of surprise. Hermione pushed against his shoulders, and asked, "Why do you care?" She had started walking away, but then Draco spoke up.
"You know, you think this party is a sad one and that they're going to go their separate ways. I assume you think it sad that after all this time, they're letting each other go when they were happy before. But, now they can start a new path. Start new paths in their lives that might lead to a more permanent happiness. This party is for people and friends who want to wish them happiness on this new path," he said.
She had turned around to hear his words. She agreed, but she had her own arguments as well. "What you said is true. But think about it, Malfoy. How many of these people are really here to wish happiness for BOTH of them? Pansy, I believe, but Neville? All of Pansy's guests are probably secretly laughing at how Neville thought he had a chance to be married to a Parkinson for the rest of his life. Just because this party is an official end to their marriage; after this event ends, do you think they can just forget about everything that happened between them?"
He didn't think she was capable of being stupid, but this proved him wrong. "Granger, I'm not saying that they can and should forget about their past. I'm saying that they have another chance at happiness. Just because this is not their happiest moment in life, doesn't mean they can't learn from it. Our experiences help change us, it's up to us to choose whether we can change into better people or worse. You're right, they probably won't ever forget this part of their lives, it's been five years, Merlin! But, they don't have to look back on it with sad eyes. In the future, the best thing would be for them to look back at this moment and think, I'm glad this changed me for the better."
She really hated it when Draco Malfoy made more sense than she did. Obviously, she was not going to admit that though. So, she just looked at him for a few seconds and turned away.
The second section of the party was an auction. Neville and Pansy were to auction off an item that each had acquired during their marriage.
The host started with Pansy's item. "Miss Parkinson has chosen to auction off a gold goblin made watch. This was a gift to Mr. Longbottom from Miss Parkinson on their one year anniversary." The watch was held high for all the guests to inspect.
"The bid will start at 5,000 galleons." Hermione's eyes almost popped out of her head. Sure, it was evidently something valuable, but a watch for 5,000 galleons?! That was bordering insanity. And yet, there were people who were willing to bid that much.
Someone at the table to her left said, "5,000 galleons."
And then started the bids from everyone, or, all of Pansy's guests.
"12,500 galleons. Going once." The host waited a second. "Going twice." Then, "Sold, for 12,500 galleons!" He closed the box. "At the end of the auction, please go to the reception to pay your bid and claim your item." The host put away the box and took out another box, a little more rectangular in shape.
He said, "Now, we have an item from Mr. Longbottom. His item is a lovely vintage cameo set on a platinum background. It functions as a brooch, which Mr. Longbottom gifted to Miss Parkinson the day after their wedding." He paused. "Bidding will start at 1,000 galleons."
Did she hear right? A measly 1,000 galleons? Compared to Pansy's item that even started at 5,000 galleons? She could tell that the item was important to Neville. And since it was vintage, she would assume that it had belonged to Neville's grandmother at some point. Hermione could see that it might not have been as expensive as the watch, but it definitely held more sentimental value.
The item was not inexpensive or cheap. It would have been a good collector's item. But, there was just silence from everyone. Nobody wanted it?! She had half a mind to bid on it. If no one bid on it, where would it go? And, if she bought it, who and where would her money go to?
The host seemed flustered and embarrassed. "This item is a good collector's item. A vintage and one of a kind." He was trying to sell its best points, but it seemed to be going on deaf ears.
She was debating whether to bid for it or not. So hard were her thoughts that she did not know someone was looking at her, knowing what she was thinking.
He knew that she, in the end, might actually bid for it. And while she had a lot of money now, he somehow knew that this would be the most she ever spent on a decorative item. While himself, had spent more money on something less useful than a brooch.
Draco made up his mind, just as Hermione made hers.
Hermione started to stand, but a voice from her right, at a table towards the front of the room, called out a bid. "2,000 galleons."
She pretended to adjust her seat, not wanting to appear like she had been standing to place a bid. But 2,000 galleons was definitely out of her spending budget.
Looking over to the right, she saw who had placed the bid. Naturally, it would Draco bloody Malfoy. He was here to ruin her life and everyone else's, she just knew it.
"2,000 galleons. Going once." A pause. "Going twice." Another pause. "Sold to Mr. Malfoy for 2,000 galleons. Please go to the reception table at the end to pay for your bid and claim your item." He closed the box, like previously.
"This concludes the Annulment Party of one, Neville Longbottom, and one, Pansy Parkinson." The soft chattering almost seemed like loud voices of a thousand people, since there had been such a heavy silence before.
She stood up to go find Draco. She would figure out a way to get that brooch and return it to Neville. Expecting to see him at the table where he had been sitting, she was confused when she saw that he wasn't there. She got up from the table and started looking around the whole room. She even went out into the hallway, but didn't see him at all.
As she was walking back in, she thought she saw a head of silver up ahead in the hallway, by the restrooms and where she remembered where the guest rooms were.
"Hey, Malfoy! Wait!" She called out to him.
He didn't stop. So, she took off down the hall to find him. He was in the small study, where a table sat in the center of the room. The side walls housed a bookshelf each, filled with books. They must have been purely for decoration, seeing as she had a hard time imagining Pansy reading any of them. And Neville didn't really read anyway.
She entered and walked over to him, determination on her face. "Malfoy, I want to buy that brooch from you."
He raised an eyebrow. "And why would you want to do that?"
"I want to buy it back for Neville." She thought about how to persuade Malfoy to give it to her. "Look, I know it must have been hard bidding for an item that Pansy probably never wore, but I don't think you will be wearing it either. I don't even know why you bid on this item. I can't imagine you having any use for it. I'd like to buy it from you." But there was one thing bothering her. "Only, can I pay you back little by little? I don't have all the money right now."
He almost laughed in her face. "Granger, don't make me laugh! I paid 2,000 galleons for this! Can you even afford it?" He had meant it as a joke, but from Granger's expression, she did not take it that way.
"I beg your pardon! I may not be rich like you and willing to spend an obscene amount of money on something of no value to myself, but I am a determined person. I'm going to get the money to pay you for that brooch! Mark my words, Draco Malfoy! You better keep that brooch safe! I'm going to get your money and you're going to sell it to me!" With that, she turned around, held her chin up high, and walked off to the fireplace, where he assumed she would Floo back to her house.
He found this very amusing. An item that was not hers, yet she wanted to defend it. And she wanted to pay him for it. He would have given it to her, but if she was so intent on paying him for it, well, so be it.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading! And thanks to those who have followed and favorited already. You saw something in this story that intrigued you, and I am very glad. Leave a review, I'd love to know what you think. And if you really enjoy the story, share it with others that like Dramione. I will work on finishing this story in a timely manner.