Yay, it's the first chapter! Longer than the prologue, too. ; )

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Within a few moments, a man presumably in his late 40s walked in, dressed in the typical Healer attire. He had dark brown hair that had been neatly cut and grey hairs showing already. Hermione noted that his eyes were a very dark emerald and they exuded weariness but enthusiasm as well. He was of medium height and even now, was a good-looking bloke. Malfoy observed that he seemed quite pleasant but must have spent much of his time playing 'leader'.

"Hello there, I'm Healer Davis; you must be Miss Granger and Mr. Malfoy! Ah, I see you two have gotten reacquainted nicely! I was worried from what I heard of your past, erm, relations that there would be a few curses flying and you would be the ones in need of healing!" he spoke in a friendly voice. Hermione smiled, liking the lighthearted and friendly Healer; Malfoy had his smirk in place, slightly annoyed by the happiness of this man.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir," Hermione dutifully replied as they shook hands. Malfoy nodded, and he shook hands with the Healer next.

"Well, now that we've gotten pass the greetings, it is from my understanding that the two of you are to research and attempt to find a cure for the…" Healer Davis paused to peer through numerous files and the large book that he had tucked under his arm. He frowned upon reading the correct papers. "The Praefocom Hex," he murmured. Both Malfoy and Hermione frowned.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Malfoy asked, raising a brow.

"The Praefocom Hex," Healer Davis said clearly, looking back at them. "As of now, all we know is that it takes about a year, more or less, to fully kill its victim."

"But Mr. Davis, sir, the War ended two years ago," spoke Hermione, "how…"

"Are you daft, Granger? It must have been a newly recovered curse used during the Death Eater Rebellion. About ten months ago. For three days…" Malfoy began, only to be interrupted.

"It was as if the war had started all over again," finished Hermione, her eyes slight damp and distant. Then she snapped out of her trance; Malfoy sent her a look.

"Correct, and so far we have a noted five deaths of a similar fashion that correlate to this book, but nine other cases that have been reported with close symptoms," he handed over a large volume with yellowed pages that were torn in places, with smeared ink, "it is the only book in St. Mungo's library with any reference to the Praefocom Hex." Hermione had already reached for the book, titled Dark Curses: Their History and Efffects, and flipped to the bookmarked page. Malfoy, not to be left out, quickly walked over to read as well.

Not much is known of the fatal curse known as the Praefocom Hex. From its Latin roots, 'praefoco' means to choke, or suffocate. Created by Michal Dolohov, its only recorded uses were during the reign of Grindelwald (see pp846). Those who have witnessed the hex in action say that it is slow in acting but always deadly. It kills off the cursed victim by slowly filling their lungs with sticky bile and blood until the victim suffocates, or chokes from the excess bile that has filled their lungs. The exact intonation and incantation of the curse is unknown, as is a cure.

They finished reading at about the same time. Hermione inhaled sharply in horror, and even Malfoy, who'd seen his fair share of Dark Magic, shuddered slightly. They looked back up at Healer Davis, who had lost his cheerful manner and now gazed at them sharply and solemnly. "We have no way of knowing how many more have been affected by this, as we do not know if during contact, the curse has any immediate affects. Of course, the St. Mungo's library is limited but with the number of former Death Eaters that had attacked and the number of deaths in the Rebellion…"

"Not even a year has passed so there could be vast numbers of those affected could that haven't shown drastic life-threatening symptoms yet, and thus haven't gotten a check-up. And a cure should be developed as soon as possible seeing as how nearly all afflictions can be cured with a higher rate of survival in the early stages," finished Hermione. Healer Davis allowed a small smile to grace his face.

"Correct Miss Granger."

"A whole lot you've changed these two years, Miss Granger," muttered Malfoy, so that only Hermione could hear. She glared a dagger or three at him. A subtle cough was heard.

"So, now that you have the essentials, can I entrust the two of you to this task on behalf of St. Mungo's?" inquired Healer Davis, even though everyone in the room knew the answer already.

"You may do just that," replied Malfoy, and Hermione nodded. He gave them one last encouraging smile and made to leave the room when Hermione walked up to him and stopped him. In a hushed tone, she began to speak,

"I'm so sorry for asking about this, and I assure you that I would gladly do this for free, seeing as how there has been so much hurt and damage to the Wizarding World and for me to affect the lives of maybe just three people would make me feel so much better and like I'm actually helping but will we be paid for this?" Hermione spoke in a hurried breath. Healer Davis was about to respond when she continued.

"I really really hope you don't think any less of me, sir, but I have dues to my apartment that I must pay and the cost of living…" she continued, until she was interrupted by both men. Healer Davis gestured for Malfoy to speak first.

"Pretend she never said anything, sir; seeing as how we must devote a substantial amount of time to get this done in the earliest time possible, Gra- Miss Granger will be staying with me, and you both have my word that it will be for singularly honorable purposes," finished Malfoy, with an almost bored quality to his tone. Hermione turned a brilliant shade of crimson that could rival Ron Weasley and noted a bit of exasperation in Malfoy's stormy eyes, and humor in the Healer's green ones.

"Excellent!" proclaimed Healer Davis, as his smile grew just a bit from watching the pair, "All you need to do is check in with me once every other week on your progress. I wish you all the best of luck and I know that I can expect results from the two of you! Not every starting employee at St. Mungo's gets a research case for one of the top five magical medical mysteries!" he then nodded in acknowledgement and quickly strode out of the meeting room to his other duties. Malfoy smirked, of course he was good enough, and hell, he should get the first "magical medical mystery" as the Healer put it. Putting aside his small boost of ego, he felt eyes on him, and looked at Hermione, who was still red from embarrassment, but now had worry flickering in her hazel eyes.

"I cannot believe how you humiliated me just then Malfoy!" she huffed.

"Granger, you were the one that…"

"And now we have been entrusted to one of the most important cases in St. Mungo's and I have no experience or credentials to back me up should I fail! What if we can't find anything? What if all knowledge of the curse died with that Michal Dolohov? What if this is a total disaster? What…"

"Shut up, Granger. First of all, you were the one that brought up financial aid. Second of all, we will not fail because I do not fail. Third of all…"

"Cocky as ever Malfoy," Hermione interrupted, managing a tiny smile.

"Yes, as I was saying before you so rudely interrupted me," Hermione's smile was gone, "The knowledge is obviously still somewhere if we just read a book published after the late Dolohov's death. And finally, this will not be a total disaster because I am a genius…" Hermione rolled her eyes and a corner of her mouth lifted slightly.

"And even though you have no composure of self-control and you ramble nonsensically when worried, you're still bright enough." Hermione truly smiled at this. Of course Malfoy couldn't directly compliment her. No, he had to first praise himself, then insult her, then give her a half-arsed attempt at a compliment. Malfoy watched as Hermione smiled. He shook his head then abruptly headed for the door.

"Let's go Granger, today would be preferable in your oh-so-busy schedule of work, worry, work, work, worry."

"How do you know I'm going with you? I never agreed to your ridiculous proposal!" she spoke defiantly.

"Do you need to hear my perfectly well-thought out and logical reasons once more? Did they not sink in the first time?" he asked unenthusiastically, "push your pride away for just a moment and let's go."

"Says you! Mr. I'm-the-king-of-arrogance-and-superiority-and-my-ego-is-unhealthily-large!"

"Hello there everybody. Why isn't the floor clean enough for me to walk on? You should feel honored by my presence. Wait no, that's too clean. What should happen if I were to slip and fall? Of course, someone like me only moves with the utmost grace and superiority, so that would never happen but Merlin forbid that should ever happen or else part of my ego might crack off and then I'd only act as if I were the king as opposed to God!!" Hermione imitated, swaggering around the room and speaking in a low voice. Malfoy smiled for the first time that Hermione had ever remembered in ever knowing and seeing Malfoy. A genuine smile. She looked at him like a slack-jawed idiot, and then as soon as it was there, it disappeared and was replaced by an amused version of his trademark smirk.

"That's not bad, Granger. And you know I never knew that in your eyes I was so devilishly charming and moved with the 'utmost grace and superiority.' You know, God is my middle name. Plus, you're right, once we get to my estate, you can clean the floors first thing," he smirked in near glee at her infuriated reaction.

"You. Are. A. Conceited. Egotistical. Haughty. Stuck-up. Overconfident. First-class PRAT!!" she near shouted at him, then walked up and slapped him clear across the face, his pale skin already a shade of pink. His grey eyes became cloudier, and with a strong grip on her arm, he side-apparated them to his estate without a further word from either of them.

Hope you enjoyed! Please review!

Till later,

Jadyn