"Seven o'clock. It's bloody seven o'clock! It's time to rise and sing and dance and play at seven o'clock! Seven o'clo—"

Hermione shut off the singing alarm and sighed. She got up and stretched before getting out of her warm bed. George had made the alarm clock for her. It was a prank clock that began to weep and whine when one didn't wake or turn it off in five minutes, and then it would either explode or squirt water at her, she didn't know which, in ten. George hadn't told her which either, and she didn't exactly want to find out.

She washed and dressed and was ready for her day by seven-thirty. She had breakfast planned with Ginny right now before work, so she quickly grabbed her purse and the folders she'd taken home from work, and Apparated to their favourite café outside of the Ministry.

"Hi Gin, sorry I'm late," she said as she walked in, and then stopped in her tracks. What the hell?

Ginny looked up and Malfoy turned to look at her.

"Um, hello Malfoy," Hermione said.

"Morning, Granger."

He turned back around and Hermione widened her brown eyes at Ginny. Ginny just raised her eyebrows and smiled.

"Draco came in as I was waiting and I invited him to join us. Eating alone isn't always very fun."

"Oh, I don't know. It could be fun sometimes," Hermione replied, and slid in next to Ginny. "But I'm glad you could join us Draco."

He seemed to see right through that one, but nodded and sipped his coffee.

"I'm going to get something," she said and got up and went to the counter. Taking a deep breath, Hermione smiled at the cashier. "I'd like a cappuccino and a croissant, please."

"What size?"

"Just a small, please."

"That'll be 3 sickles and a knut."

Hermione handed her the coins and, after a thought she added, "Can I get some grape jam too?" And the cashier handed her what she wanted. Hermione thanked her, then stood to the side to wait for her drink. She didn't want to go back to the table quite yet. It seemed like all of her friends were welcoming Malfoy with open arms, something she never would've been able to see some of them do. Especially the Weasleys. Hadn't they had some problems with the Malfoys in general? The whole world was mental.

Hermione received her coffee and turned and saw Malfoy staring at her. Their eyes met for a brief second before he turned his head back to a rambling Ginny. Hermione frowned. How rude, ignoring the girl who was speaking to him. She sighed. Maybe she was just jumping to conclusions.

She went back to the table and put her hands around the cup. It didn't matter that the weather was getting warmer. Coffee was good all the time, especially with a buttered croissant.

"So what were you all talking about?" Hermione asked as she sat down again. She busied herself with spreading jelly on her croissant so she wouldn't have to look at anybody.

"I was just telling Draco about what's been going on in my life for the last year since I graduated."

"Sounds invigorating," Hermione teased, and picked up her coffee. Ginny nudged her playfully, and Hermione smiled back. She sipped her drink slowly, and turned her eyes unwillingly to their companion. He was sipping his own coffee, and when he put his cup down, he looked at her, determined.

"Hermione," he said, her name sounding familiar on his tongue. "What have you been doing since the war?"

"Well, I went back to school and finished my year. And then I got a job in the care of magical creatures department and tried to start a new campaign for house elves, but it didn't work out very well. Then Harry told me that this department that we're currently working at needed a new head, so I got the job I currently have now."

"So you, Weasley, and Potter are all heads of your respective departments."

Hermione nodded. "Yes."

Draco let out a breath of air through his nose and smirked. "I suppose I should have figured. War heroes and all that."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded.

"Just that you've got it easier than the rest of us because you saved the world and all that."

Hermione frowned. "No, it's not. We might get jobs easier, but everyone has really high expectations of us now. It's not easy at all. Actually, it's harder. We're constantly watched by the public eye. We have to work hard at our job and work at keeping our reputations clean."

"Shouldn't be too hard for you, should it?" he asked innocently, sipping his coffee.

"We're still human, Malfoy. We can mess up, but it'll count against us even worse than it counts against you."

"That's because everyone expects me to trip up." He lifted his coffee to his mouth, then paused. "Or trip down, rather." He sipped his coffee.

Hermione shook her head. "You wouldn't understand unless you were in this position."

"You're right. I wouldn't. Just as you can't understand my position either."

Hermione nodded. "This was a pointless conversation."

"No. It helps us get a little more insight into each other's heads. Neither of us are perfect."

Hermione took a bite out of her croissant and cast a glance at Ginny who sent her back a message with her big brown eyes. Hermione mentally sighed as she finished chewing. Why was everyone pushing her to talk to him?

"Did you go back to school? I didn't see you there."

"My mother hired tutors for me because she knew it would be really hard to go back to school after everything that had happened. But I took my N.E.W.T.s with the rest of the class."

"I didn't see you in the testing room either."

"I don't remember seeing you. It flew by really fast."

"Yeah, same here. Harry told me you did well, though."

"I was hoping for a Ministry job, so I studied hard." He cracked a smirk, and Hermione nodded.

"Well, congratulations. You're finally an Auror." She took another bite of her croissant.

"I'll say thank you, even if I heard a bit of sarcasm in there."

Hermione ignored him and finished up her croissant as Ginny began to talk to him again much more animatedly than Hermione had. She was grateful for it. She continued to appraise the former Death eater with her eyes, wondering what his real motive for becoming an Auror was. It was obvious that he had much more respect for Harry than before, and was less of a prat than he had been at school.

Hermione finally looked at her watch, surprised. "Oh, crikey. We should get out of here soon. It's almost eight."

"Most definitely," Draco said, looking at his own watch. "Five minutes. Should we go now?"

"Yes. I don't like being late."

"Neither do I." The two looked at each other, and Hermione smiled slightly.

"I'm glad that's one thing we agree on."

Draco shrugged. "I suppose." He got up and Hermione threw her rubbish into the bin. Draco held the door open for the two girls. The lift ride up wasn't very awkward because Ginny chattered throughout the entire ride, and they arrived at the second level quickly.

"I'll see you later, Gin," Hermione said, exiting the lift with Draco.

"Yeah, of course."

Draco spoke up as well. "It was nice talking to you."

"You too, Draco. Bye!"

The lift doors closed, and Hermione turned to her companion. She pressed her lips together in a tight smile. "Have a nice day, Draco."

"You too."

They parted ways, during which Hermione held her breath.

Two days. It wasn't that long from not hearing from her boyfriend. He'd seemingly fall off the face of the earth for weeks at a time, during which she assumed he was drowning himself at a bar. He always was. He suddenly came into her flat without warning, and had grabbed her pale face and was kissing her. She could smell fags and whiskey on his clothes and breath.

"Were you smoking?" she asked, pulling his face away. His half-lidded eyes studied her face.

"No," he said. He leant in to kiss her again, but she leant away.

"What's going on?"

"I can't kiss my girlfriend?"

"It's suspicious when you come in and kiss me like this and smell like fags when you never smoke."

"I love you."

"Tell me what happened."

He kissed her again. And again. And yet again until he finally was ready to speak. "I love you."

She frowned. "Yes, I know. Are you all right?"

"Yes. At the office party a couple days ago, I just realized how much I loved you. I'm sorry I don't visit enough."

"That's very sweet. But where have you been?"

"I was at a friend's. She was having a hard time."

Her eyes narrowed. "She?"

"Don't get jealous, love. She's just a friend."

She sighed and closed her eyes as his lips touched her forehead. "I believe you. You know how I am."

"Don't I know," he whispered.

She sighed. "You should. But clean up before I die from second-hand smoke." She pushed him away and smiled.

"I got it." He smiled back.

"Do you want to shower here?"

"No, thanks. It'll be better doing it at home. I don't have any clothes here either."

"Oh. Right."

He smiled. "See you." And he Disapparated.

She wondered when she'd be seeing him again.

Someone knocked on Hermione's office door. "Come in," she called. Neville Longbottom came in, and Hermione's eyes lit up. "Oh, Neville! How are you?"

"I'm great. How are you?"

"Just fantastic. Did you hear Harry hired Malfoy?"

"Yeah, I did." Neville shrugged uncomfortably, obviously not wanting to talk about it.

"How's Hogwarts?" she asked instead.

"It's great. The repairs are going as planned and are going really quickly. They'll be done by the end of this year, hopefully."

Hermione smiled brightly. "That's wonderful! And the kids?"

"I'm teaching the older ones, so some of them can remember the war. It's strange that the younger ones can't, though. It's only been three years."

"Yes, I know. It's strange to imagine. Soon it'll just be a thing of the past, in the history books."

Neville laughed. "Yes, and we'll be put on a pedestal even more. The heroic veterans teaching those curious children. There won't be a difference between Death eater and the Light side."

"There will always be a difference," Hermione said with a sigh.

Neville smiled. "At least to us."

"Definitely."

"Well, I came because I wanted to invite you to the anniversary of the end of the war."

"Oh! Right. In May, right? May 2nd?"

Neville smiled kindly. "You should remember. After all, you were there."

Hermione grinned. "I'll be there with Harry and Ron. Are you going around inviting everyone?"

"Yeah, all the people I remember from Hogwarts."

"Are you going to invite…" She didn't even have to finish her sentence.

"Yes. He was in our year, and they were a part of the war."

Hermione nodded.

"And Mrs. Malfoy helped Harry towards the end."

"Yeah, I know. But does that one act vouch for their whole family?"

"You just have to let people off the hook sometimes, especially after a war like that," Neville said patiently. "You have to remember; we were all dragged into it."

Hermione nodded. "I know. You're right."

Neville smiled. "Yes, I know. Well, it was really nice catching up, but I've got to go invite the others. You'll get your official invitation in the mail soon."

Hermione smiled. "I look forward to it. I'll see you soon, Neville!"

"You too, Hermione." He stepped out with a smile and closed the door. Celebrating the anniversary of the end of the war always sort of depressed Hermione. She was reminded of all the death when they named every single casualty on the Light side. Her friends, her classmates, even could-have-been colleagues, acquaintances. She sniffed. She hated being reminded of it all, and she was expected to stay strong through it all. It was only the third year, still painful to remember.

There was another knock on the door. This time it was her secretary. "Miss Granger?"

"Yes Genna?" Hermione answered, trying to look busy.

"Ron Weasley's here to see you."

Hermione's heart skipped a beat. "Let him in."

Genna disappeared and Ron appeared in her place. "Hey," he said with a warm smile. "I brought you some coffee."

"Thanks." She took the warm coffee gratefully and sipped it slowly. "How are you?"

"I'm good. Neville reminded me of the reunion at Hogwarts."

"Yeah." Hermione sighed. The two friends sat in silence for a moment in thought.

"It's been three years already," Ron said slowly.

"Yeah, I know."

He smiled a little in disbelief. "It's hard to believe."

Hermione nodded.

"I never want to go," Ron continued. "Too many memories."

Hermione looked at him shyly. "That's also when we had our first kiss."

Ron smiled. "Yeah, it was." He looked at his watch. "Oh, I have to go. It's almost 12:30."

"Oh, time for our lunch break. Are you coming?"

Ron shook his head, then smiled goofily. The smile that struck Hermione's heart. "I have a date with Genna." Her heart dropped.

"What? My secretary?"

"Yeah. Didn't I tell you? I asked her out last week."

Hermione's jaw dropped. What did that red-headed woman have that she didn't? "Oh. No, you didn't tell me." She struggled to regain her composure.

"Well, tell Harry sorry for me. I'll catch you later." He smiled and waltzed out, leaving the door open to hear him talking to Genna's melodic voice. Hermione wrinkled her nose. Genna and Ron? They didn't match!

Whatever. She could handle it. Indignant, and more than a little jealous, Hermione cleaned up her desk and grabbed her bag before meeting with Harry half way to the diner. They walked together, Harry chatting animatedly till they reached the place. Then he spotted Draco.

"Hey, Draco!" he called, and Malfoy turned. "Why don't you join us for lunch?"

Draco took a look at Hermione and then back at Harry. "Yeah, all right." He got up and joined them. Hermione almost groaned. She just wanted to complain to Harry, but now she wouldn't be able to. Not with Malfoy here.

"How are you Malfoy?" she asked absently.

"Fine. And you?"

"Just fine." She wanted to end the conversation there, but Malfoy didn't seem to get the hint.

"Busy day today?"

"Not particularly. Just paperwork. Nothing exciting."

"Just how she likes it," Harry added with a grin. "I, however, would go mad."

"As would I." Draco smirked.

Hermione sighed. "I'm just tired." She looked around for a waiter. "And I'm hungry." She saw Ron enter the diner with Genna, and her heart squeezed a little. They looked like they were enjoying their conversation.

"Oh look. There's Ron and my secretary," she commented nonchalantly.

The two men turned to look. "Ah. Little jealous, Granger?" Draco asked with a smirk. She sniffed.

"No. Why would I be?"

"I don't know." Draco had clearly received the message Harry's glare was giving him.

Hermione turned around to look for the waiter again. "When is that blasted waiter coming? Does he usually take this long?"

"It's only been a few minutes," Harry said with a little laugh. "Be patient. It gets busy during this time, you know that."

"Of course. I didn't have much breakfast today."

"What do you usually get for breakfast?" Draco asked.

Hermione looked at her nails. "Maybe a breakfast sandwich or cereal."

"You only had a croissant today."

"Yes. I was in a bit of a rush."

"Did you two have breakfast together?" Harry asked curiously.

"Yes. Ginny invited him along."

"Oh."

"You and your girlfriend have a knack of finding me when you're about to eat. Especially with this one." He gestured his head towards Hermione, and she sighed.

"Just my luck."

Harry smiled. "You going to the ball, Hermione?"

She nodded. "Yes, of course. What kind of question is that? We have to be there."

"I know, but I also know that you never want to go. I'm sure they wouldn't hold it against you if you didn't go."

"Yes, but I should. It's expected of me."

"You going, mate?" Harry asked, turning to Draco.

"Most likely. Mother'll make me go. She likes celebration and dances of all sorts."

"That'll be nice. Hopefully you won't be wearing those old-fashioned robes you wore in fourth year, eh?" Harry laughed.

"That was the style then," Draco replied coolly. "Unlike your dress robes that year." He smirked, and Harry chuckled.

"Touché." He turned to their female companion. "Hermione, however…you could probably pull off wearing the same dress." He winked, and Hermione blushed.

"Well, thanks Harry. Ginny will probably be excited to go dress shopping for this thing since she didn't go the years before."

"Yeah, I know."

"Why not?" Draco asked.

"She had school and N.E.W.T.s to study for."

"Thank God that's all over now," Harry groaned.

"Definitely," Draco agreed.

"I dunno, I miss school sometimes," Hermione said slowly. "I miss working towards something. Now that I'm the head of the department, there's really no other position to be working towards. I'm the head; the only thing that could top that would running for Minister. And I like studying."

Harry laughed. "That is why you're Hermione Granger, the swottiest girl I know."

Hermione smiled. "I wear the title proudly."

"You must be mental," Draco said, then looked around. "Where the hell is that bloody…" He raised his hand. "Waiter!" he called.

"My apologies," the waiter said, scurrying over. He looked at the odd trio. "Where is Mr. Weasley?"

"He has other plans to attend to," Harry replied. "Now can we order?"

"Yes, yes, sorry."

Once they had ordered and the waiter had left, Harry leant forward. "That guy was new, wasn't he?"

Hermione sighed. "I don't like trainees."

"Well, thanks Granger," Draco replied.

She ignored him. "They're always so slow."

"Yeah, mate. Stop being so slow," Harry said to Draco, nudging him.

He frowned. "I can't help it. I'm just learning, okay? That's why I'm called an Auror-in-training, not a—"

"It's a joke, Draco. You're going to have to learn how to take a joke from our lot," Harry said patiently.

Draco just huffed, slightly embarrassed. "Well, I'm just not used to joking around with you all. Or anybody."

"What a sad childhood you must've had," Hermione noted, and Draco was about to flare up and defend himself again when Harry put a hand on his shoulder.

"She's joking! Calm down, mate."

Draco shook his head. "I'll never understand you people."

"It's all a part of the training process. You'll get it soon enough." Harry grinned and Draco sighed.

"Maybe I'm the sane one and you're all mad."

"The world would first have to revolve around you to be that way," Hermione replied with a saccharine sweetness. "Too bad it doesn't."

"What's with all the animosity, Granger? Afraid I'm going to take Weasley's place?"

"Not in a million years." She leaned her cheek on her hand and looked away. Her eyes unwillingly landed on the two, and she sighed. Genna was playing with her hair a lot and Ron was smiling. They seemed to be really into each other.

"Earth to Hermione," Harry said, waving a hand in front of her face. Draco at least had the decency not to chuckle, but Harry didn't.

"What?"

"I was asking you a question."

"Sorry. What was it?"

"Would you mind if Draco joined our group to the ball?"

"What?" Hermione frowned. "Aren't you going to go with your family?"

"Well, my parents are going and I'd feel awkward going without a date or friends."

"No, I will not be your date, sorry."

Harry grinned. "Don't jump to conclusions, 'mione. He just wants to go with us without the pressure of finding a date."

Hermione sighed. "Yes, that's fine."

"Are you sure?" Draco pressed, and Hermione nodded. The two boys stared at her until Hermione rolled her eyes. "I said okay! Were you hoping I'd say no?"

"No, just surprised," Draco muttered. Then he turned to Harry. "Who else is going to be going with you all?"

"Well, it'll be Hermione, Ron and I, Ginny, and I think Ron is going to bring your secretary, 'mione."

Hermione wrinkled her nose. "Oh." She still couldn't get used to Ron and Genna going out.

"Luna and Neville are going to join us too," Harry continued, and looked at Draco. "Any of your friends going?"

"Not that I know of at the moment. I think Pansy might be interested in going, but I don't know for certain. Most of them want to avoid anything to do with the war for quite some time."

Harry nodded, and Hermione wrinkled her nose again.

"You can ask her to join, if you feel uncomfortable with our lot of former Gryffindors," Harry said with a grin.

"I think I'll survive," Draco replied with a lazy grin. Hermione didn't pay any more attention to them, but instead leaned on her hand and watched Ron and Genna. Their looks were similar; blue eyes and red hair. Genna's was more auburn than Ron's fiery red, but it looked good anyway. Should she be happy for them? Genna laughed and touched Ron's arm, and Hermioine clenched her jaw, feeling inexplicably sad.

"Alright, Granger?" Draco asked, touching her arm tentatively.

"Yeah. Yes, of course. I'm fine."

Their food came, so Hermione raised her head and smiled at the waiter. "Thank you," she said when he placed her sandwich in front of her.

"You're quiet today," Draco noted after awhile.

Hermione just shrugged, finishing off one half of her food. "I just don't feel like talking."

"Fair enough," Draco said, tucking into his chicken again.

Lunch was quiet and quick. Genna was back at the office before Hermione was. Genna greeted her boss with a smile. "How was your lunch, Ms. Granger?"

"It was fine. How was yours? I saw you with Ron."

Genna blushed, and Hermione had the urge to frown.

"It was lovely."

Hermione nodded, jealous. "I'm glad." And she disappeared into her office.

It was a cool, rainy day, one that made her wish for the sun. She was attempting to write a nonfiction novel on the behaviour of certain magical creatures. She just hadn't narrowed down which one she wanted to write about yet. She leant her head on her hand and sighed. Her face was close to the window, so her breath created a fog on the window. She closed her eyes for a moment, and suddenly she felt hands cover her eyes.

"Guess who?" a masculine voice said in amusement, tickling her ear. He had whiskey on his breath. She smiled.

"Do I have to?" She turned and smiled. She kissed him. "Where have you been?" she asked. "I owled you a couple times yesterday."

"I was helping throw a birthday party for my friend."

"Oh. When is it?"

"It was yesterday."

She frowned. "Oh. You didn't invite me along?"

He removed his coat and kissed her nose. "I didn't think you'd want to go. Just a bunch of childhood friends, you know."

"You usually invite me along."

"You were busy with work."

She frowned. "This isn't one of those I'm-getting-back-at-you-for-having-a-better-job-than-me, is it? You're jealous I have a better job than you?"

"What? No!" He scowled. "Why would you even insinuate that?"

"This wouldn't be the first time."

"That's a terrible thing to accuse someone of."

She scoffed. "Oh, please. You didn't invite me to your other friend's get-together because of that, because she was from 'work.'"

"I said it was a private party!"

"So? That's not a good excuse!"

"Why must I take you along to every event I'm invited to go to? I don't see you doing that with me!"

"Oh? Like what?"

"Let's not play the blame game."

"No, let's." She crossed her arms. "When did I not invite you to go somewhere?"

"You didn't invite me to your friend's party."

"That's because you told me that you never wanted me to take you to anything they threw."

"Or that one party at the pub."

"You don't like the people I go to the pubs with."

"Isn't it the thought that counts?" he asked, mocking her. She grit her teeth and glared darkly. He sighed. "Sometimes we need to spend some time alone, just with our mates. I can't go with you everywhere, and you can't go with me everywhere."

"To parties?"

"Don't blame it all on me! You do exactly the same thing to me all the time!"

She rolled her eyes, and he clenched his jaw. "Under different circumstances, obviously," she said, speaking like he was stupid.

"No, not different. Why are you getting upset over such a small thing?"

"It's the small things that count," she said angrily, and he looked away and scoffed.

"This is ridiculous. Owl me when you grow up." He picked up his coat.

"What? How dare you!"

The sound of him Flooing home was his response.


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