Hey there, world of Potterheads, and welcome to another chapter of 'Choices we made'! So, this is the second one, and I am proud to make one so fast, but I might as well warn you: This won't happen every time! University needs to be attended as well :)

If you find any mistakes in language or writing, feel free to let me know. Remember, I am German!

Enjoy your stay!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything/anyone/anywhatevs.

Chapter 2 – 'Being professional'

There was a long and strained silence. Even Kingsley, who had been prepared for what might happen, was shifting from one foot to another awkwardly. He was the first one to raise his voice again.

„I know you two are not on best terms-"

„Best terms? You may say we hate each other!" Hermione cut in, earning a muffled 'hmph' from Malfoy opposite of her.

„-but you two are the best choice for this job." Kingsley finished, clearly not impressed by Hermione's interruption.

Her brown eyes never left Malfoy's grey ones. Her whole body was tense and her hand hovered over the pocket of her blazer where her wand was poking out. In contrast, Malfoy simply stood there. His arms were crossed before his chest and he was well aware of her posture and quickly shot a look to where her hand was. Slowly his lips started to show a cold smile because he knew: If she wanted to hex him, she would.

Hermoine forced herself to concentrate on the Minister of Magic again, only slowly tearing her gaze away from the former Slytherin. She ignored the low chuckle that came from his direction.

"By the way, what is this job all about?" she asked, her voice sharp and pitched higher than normal.

Kingsley nodded, glad to direct their conversation to a more business-like level. He beckoned them to follow him again, this time down the long depressingly white hall into one of the rooms on the left side. Hermione noticed that this room obviously was a laboratory. Her gaze wandered the microscopes, cauldrons, the test glasses and Petri dishes and lots of other instruments she had never seen before. A quick look to Malfoy and she was sure he had seen them, looking rather bored to enter this room.

"This is were you will work." Kingsley announced while turning around.

"I'm not quite sure that there will be a 'we'." the young witch muttered under her breath, but the Minister heard her nevertheless. Both his eyebrows rose and he gave her a warning look, before he returned to what he was about to say.

"You won't be the only ones, though. You need to sort out a few people that you think might be appropriate." With that said, he looked at the younger wizard. "You will do that."

"Why him?" she blurted out, seriously wondering what in the love of Merlin had made the Minister go insane. "I mean, you do know what his family has done, don't you?"

"Right, Ms. Granger." Kingsley's voice was close to sound like a thunder in her ears. "And he has had his trial, besides-"

"I am a Healer, the best one to finish training two years ago for that matter." It was the first time Malfoy had really spoken and she had to admit that she was surprised. His omnipresent arrogant and snobbish tone seemed to be gone, for his voice now was neutral and matter-of-factly. Hermione chose no to answer.

The Minister of Magic let out a slow sigh. His fingers were pinching the bridge of his nose and another sigh escaped his throat before he spoke again.

"Yes, that is also true." His closed eyes opened again and he watched the young woman intensely as he said: "Mr. Malfoy will give you every information you need. I count on you."

Hermione flinched. She had no other choice than to agree now. Kingsley had successfully reminded her that it was her duty to do whatever he asked her to do. Sweet Merlin.

As soon as he saw the look of defeat in Hermione's face, the Minister grinned and left the room.

Another silence broke out between the two of them. The witch had lowered her head and was now trying to hold her composure. She wasn't aware of how Malfoy was staring at her, waiting for any sort of reaction.

"Wow, I knew you were stiff, Granger, but that you're that upset to work with me is quite surprising." he said, his voice sounding as arrogant as ever. So much for having anything changed.

And so much for composure.

"Why wouldn't I be upset to work with you?" she growled, her words dangerously clear. "After all you've done to the wizarding world-"

"For which I already had my trials." he countered, sounding really bored. That only made her angrier.

"-to Harry-" she continued. Again, his voice interrupted.

"-who helped me out of my trials..." He now sounded annoyed. Well, she could play that game too.

"-to me-"

"Hey, I didn't do anything to harm you!" he said, opening the crossing of his arms. She shot him a glare, he held it.

"Oh, you didn't? Well, then let me help you remember." She took two quick, determined steps towards him, still watching him and reached for her sleeve. The memory of that day was still painful, although the wound was now nothing but a scar, a reminder of the war. She pulled the cloth up and made him look at the still present outlines of her torture: 'mudblood'.

His posture stiffened and his gaze became hard and distant. Hermione almost felt triumphant when she heard him mumble.

"I didn't do it."

"No, you did worse!" She couldn't help herself, she hadn't said anything for oh so long, and now he was to find out how much she suffered. "You only stood by and watched!"

She watched him intensely, observed how something flickered in his eyes for a mere second, but it had vanished so fast she wasn't sure if it really had been there.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione was quicker than him.

"Don't you think of apologizing now." she said, her voice low and daring. She hid her scar with her sleeve and began to whisper. "Because apologizing will not make it vanish." Hermione fought back the tears that were threatening to drop out of her eyes as she watched him. No, she wouldn't be crying on front of him.

This time, he broke their eye contact, completely being silent. His defeat flooded the witch with satisfaction and her anger slowly decreased. He had understood.

"Back to business." she now said, still not able to sound neutral but definitely being more reasonable.

Malfoy sighed and looked up again, his gaze as distant as it could be. She knew he was looking at her, but it was as if he wasn't seeing her. It felt strange.

"I hope you can stay professional during our research." he said coldly, no hint of the forgone situation in his voice.

"Of course." she said equally cold. I won't give you the pleasure of getting emotional in front of you again.