Monday, June 17th 12.30pm.
Hermione Granger put her papers into her briefcase, slung her bag over her shoulder and left the chilly courtroom in the basement of the Ministry. Heading to the elevator, Hermione entered the golden cage and pushed the button for the second floor where her office was located.
Entering the small lawyer department Hermione was dismayed to see her secretary still hadn't arrived. Melinda was only nineteen but had proven to be extremely reliable in the few months in which she had worked for Hermione.
"Has there been any message from Melinda?" Hermione asked another of the secretaries, Izzy.
"No, but Minister Shackelbolt sent this message for you nearly an hour ago." Izzy answered, handing Hermione a folded note.
"Thank you." Hermione took the note and headed into her small office.
Hermione put her briefcase on her desk and opened the Minister's note, he wished to see her as soon as possible. Hermione placed her briefcase in her desk drawer and warded it for protection. She then headed back out of her office and headed to Kingsley's office.
When Hermione arrived at Kingsley's office his secretary smiled at her and told her to go straight through. Hermione entered the room expecting to find the Minister alone, instead she was surprised to find both Harry and Ron sitting in the room looking extremely serious. But the biggest surprise was seeing that Draco Malfoy was also present in the room, even though he was sitting as far away from Harry and Ron as it was possible to get.
For the last eight years, since the end of the war, the only time Hermione had seen Malfoy was in the papers and if they saw each other briefly while at the Ministry. His appearance had only changed slightly since the end of the war, but it was enough of a change for him to be considered extremely good looking. His white blond hair was worn in a casual messed up style instead of the slicked back, not a hair out of place style he had favoured in his youth. He had also filled out with muscles in all the right places, he was no longer the skinny teenager he had once been.
"Hermione, sit down." Kingsley said, smiling at the brunette witch.
Hermione sat down warily, looking at all four men in the room. While Kingsley had attempted to smile and appear normal she could see it was forced. Harry and Ron wore similar expressions, worried and serious with no hint of the usual friendly greeting she was used to getting from them. Malfoy looked like he usually did, unreadable and totally unconcerned with events surrounding him.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked, when no one spoke.
Kingsley nodded to Harry to begin the explanation.
"This morning Ron and I were called to the scene of a murder." Harry began. "I'm sorry, Hermione but we're pretty sure it's your secretary."
"Melinda." Hermione gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. "She didn't show up at work today."
"That's not all." Harry said, deciding to be direct with his friend. "Your initials were carved into her body."
"Oh my god. You think this was aimed at me?"
"Yes, she was your secretary with your initials branded on her." Ron said, taking hold of Hermione's hand.
"Ryan." Hermione exclaimed, her eyes flying to Ron as she realised her son could be in danger.
"He's at The Burrow with mum, I had her go and pick him up. Just in case." Ron soothed.
"Thank you." Hermione whispered.
"Hermione if you want to be involved in the case you can be." Harry said, drawing his friends attention. "But we understand if you don't."
"No, I want to be involved. If Melinda was killed because of me, I want to help find her killer." Hermione said forcefully, her brown eyes flashing with anger.
"There's a full meeting this afternoon to review everything we know." Harry said, before looking at Kingsley to take over.
Hermione noticed the look that passed between Harry and Kingsley and wondered what Kingsley was about to say that Harry didn't want to be part of.
"We also need to discuss your security." Kingsley said. "You'll need a guard, since we think you're the intended target."
Hermione's eyes immediately fell on Malfoy who had been silent since she entered the room. His presence now made sense, he was head of the Elite Security Unit that provided V.I.P's with protection. It seemed her former schoolmate was assigned the task of protecting her. Hermione was sceptical of the idea, while they had both grown up and were more mature she was still unsure if they could survive any time alone without fighting.
"Surely I'm safe between work and home." Hermione protested.
"This is non-negotiable, Hermione." Kingsley said solemnly. "You're getting a guard."
"Fine." Hermione said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'll leave you and Draco to sort the details." Kingsley said to Hermione before turning to Harry. "What times the meeting?"
"We've got some follow up work to do and Cho and Terry are still busy. So I think about two, in the conference room. I'll let you'll know if there's any change." Harry said, standing from his seat.
"Don't worry, 'Mione. We'll catch however did this, I promise." Ron said, pecking his ex-wife on the cheek.
"I know." Hermione smiled weakly at Ron.
Harry also kissed Hermione on the cheek and reassured her before leaving Kingsley's office.
"I trust you two won't kill each other before the meeting?" Kingsley eyed the two people still sitting in his office.
"Of course not, we're both adults I think we'll cope." Hermione said, standing up.
"I'm sure we'll be fine." Draco said, speaking for the first time since Hermione had entered the room.
"Good, I'll see you both at two then." Kingsley said as they left his office together.
Monday, June 17th 1.15pm.
Hermione sat in her office, looking at the blond man sitting opposite her. She wasn't quite sure what to make of the new and improved Draco Malfoy. Like many people he had been profoundly affected by the war, he had been sucked into the dark side and had no say over his life for nearly two years. After the war and his trial, in which he was cleared of any wrong doing by virtue of the fact his life was being threatened, he had given the Ministry vital information on the dark side and their many followers. The information he provided resulted in the capture and imprisonment of dozens of Death Eaters. Since then he had worked for the Ministry and kept himself out of trouble and away from any sort of dark activity. The only things Hermione knew about his life were the things she read in the papers, and she knew from her own experience that the press didn't always report the truth.
"If you're finished staring, maybe we should get started." Draco said, noticing the intensity in which Hermione was studying him.
"Sorry." Hermione said, blushing slightly at being caught staring.
"First of all, you're getting a twenty four hour guard." Draco said, diving straight into business.
"Is that really necessary?" Hermione questioned.
"Yes, if a killer's after you it's essential you're never left alone." Draco said. "There's no point arguing."
"Fine, I'll have a twenty four hour guard." Hermione huffed. "Who will it be? And how intrusive will it be?"
"I was thinking of guarding you myself, but if it's too uncomfortable I'll assign someone else." Draco said, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Why would it be uncomfortable?" Hermione asked.
"Because of our history." Draco sighed. "We didn't exactly like each other in school."
"That's in the past. Besides you apologised after the war, eight years ago." Hermione said, she had forgiven Draco the day he had apologised to her, Harry and Ron the day of his trial. "We're both adults and I'm sure we can put the past behind us."
"Good. I prefer to handle big cases personally." Draco said, relieved Hermione wasn't going to fight his decision. "And I am the best, even if I do say so myself."
Hermione smiled slightly at Draco's ego, some things hadn't changed about the former Slytherin.
"What about Ryan? He needs protection, too." Hermione said, suddenly serious regarding the safety of her only child.
"Don't worry, he'll have a constant guard when he's not with us." Draco reassured Hermione. "How often is that?"
"He goes to muggle school each day. Molly picks him up and takes him to The Burrow until I finish work. He usually spends time with Ron on a weekend." Hermione said. "I think that's it, other than that he's with me."
"That should make things easy. I'll make sure he has two guards when he goes to school and when he's at his grandparents." Draco said, working out the logistics in his head.
"How are you going to explain two guards to a muggle school?" Hermione asked.
"Tell the truth." Draco smirked, causing Hermione to look alarmed by the suggestion. "Relax Granger. I mean about the threat's to you. We explain that you're being threatened because of your job and you want to provide security for your son."
"What if the school won't agree?" Hermione asked.
"I'll convince them, don't worry." Draco said, flashing Hermione a devious grin.
"You never answered my question about how intrusive having a twenty four hour guard would be." Hermione said, trying to ignore the butterflies that appeared in her stomach when Draco grinned at her.
"I'll try my best not to mess with your life too much, but I suppose if we're both working on this case that'll make it easier." Draco explained.
"What do you mean, both working on this case?" Hermione asked.
"Well I'm going to be present at all the meetings, I might as well help." Draco shrugged.
"Okay." Hermione smiled cautiously. "What about away from work? How will that protection work?"
"Easy, you go home and I go with you." Draco grinned again, causing the butterflies in Hermione's stomach to make another reappearance.
"So you'll be staying in my house, all night." Hermione tried to control the blush that threatened to appear at the thought.
"Unless it's a problem. It's much safer if I'm in the building with you. I'll have two of my team outside as well." Draco said, smirking at Hermione's embarrassment.
"That's okay, I've got a spare room." Hermione said. "What about your life though?"
"There's not a great deal to it these days." Draco shrugged, looking slightly sad. "I've nothing going on that won't keep until you're safe again.
Hermione nodded but didn't like to push, Draco suddenly seemed melancholy and lost in his thoughts. Hermione knew from the newspapers he had been divorced for just over two years.
"Will you need to go and get some things then?" Hermione asked, bringing Draco out of his thoughts.
"Yes, I also need to brief my team and sort out assignments." Draco said, looking at his watch. "But it's nearly time for the meeting. Hopefully after that I can leave you with Potter and Weasley while I sort some things."
"I don't need babysitting." Hermione huffed.
"I know, but it won't look good if something happens to you the same afternoon I was assigned to protect you." Draco said, hoping to appease the feisty witch.
"Okay, do you think we have time for me to quickly talk to Molly. I need to make sure Ryan's okay." Hermione asked, looking at the time. It was fifteen minutes until their meeting.
"No it should be fine, do you want to visit the house or use floo powder." Draco asked, hoping she would choose the latter he was in no hurry to visit the Weasley house.
"I think Floo would be easier." Hermione said.
"I'll wait outside, I'll come and get you when it's time to leave for the meeting." Draco said standing and heading for the door.
"Thank you." Hermione smiled, thinking that maybe she could cope with Draco protecting her after all.