Never Gonna Make you Cry

Author's Note: this chapter is pretty short, but its kinda leading into action later, so bear with me… please review, review… if I don't get any reviews, I might have to withhold the next chapter (which I've already written =]]]]) until I get more…

Disclaimer: same disclaimer applies… I reiterate… I own NOTHING… except my computer… please don't take my computer…

Chapter II

"ARRRRRGGGGGGG!" Draco Malfoy was mad; really, super-duper, Malfoy-style badass mad. Not only did he have to go and live in the muggle world, but he also had to convince Granger—definitely NOT one of his favorite people—to return to the magical world. We're better off without her! Draco Grumbled, even though he knew her brilliant mind would be useful in helping clean up the remaining mess form the final battle and the war. He also knew before she left she'd been doing some extremely interesting research in the fields of potions, charms, and transfiguration. She had been an excellent fighter, and would make a great auror, too. But Draco would never admit any of that to anyone, even himself.

Standing in his flat, packing his bags, he felt uprooted. First of all, while he did possess muggle clothing (necessary to his job, of course), he didn't think the muggle styles really flattered his buff body as much as robes, which swished attractively in a Professor Snape-ish manor (not that SNAPE was attractive, just that his robes were billowy) around his body. Sighing, Draco stuffed one last pair of shoes into his already over-packed duffel. He thought back to what Shacklebolt had said; 'Now, I think Miss Granger will be particularly hard to persuade' she sure will! Draco huffed mentally, she was about as stubborn as they came back in the school days. I wonder how I'll get her to come back? Shacklebolt did say that I didn't have to declare my mission right away. I could go 'undercover' and convince her without ever revealing my true purpose… I like that idea best, I guess…

Draco really didn't have a plan, but he sure as heck wasn't going to waltz into Granger's flat, and demand her return, blowing his cover immediately; the best way seemed to be gaining her trust slowly, and, as Kingsley had said, never letting her know he was on a mission.

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The door was rusty. There were cobwebs in the window. The furniture was pretty nice, if not old and slightly musty. He scourgified the whole place several times for good measure… and it really could've been worse. But I really can't see why the ministry can't afford to at least give me NICE accommodations! He thought indignantly. While my family may have lost much of its money in the whole war debacle, I still deserve better than average! Of course, I need to be near Granger, so I can 'bump' into her… He snorted out loud. Figures that she's in a lower-income section of town... she's probably dirt-poor. He smirked, and took out the black folder, with silver cursive print on it, reading 'Marriage Law Displacement Case #001'. To say Draco was surprised was an understatement. Granger's their top priority? Why? He was curious. There had to be something he didn't know about. I mean, sure, she's a powerful witch, and blah blah blah, but come on! Over five hundred wizards and witches left the community, and Granger's considered to be the MOST IMPORTANT? Boy, our priorities are screwed…

Looking over Granger's file, he felt a twinge of pity. Apparently the girl had been forced to flee the community without withdrawing any money from Gringotts, so all she had was a small amount of Muggle cash. Apparently she worked three jobs, and went to a Muggle University part time. Waitress? Granger? Ha, that's a laugh…Librarian, no surprise there…Student, duh…and what's this? A dance instructor? Now that's just odd… Apparently Granger struggled to make ends meet, even though she was on full scholarship to the university. I wonder how she did that, with no complete muggle schooling, and no wand to fake credentials? Draco read on. Apparently, she had a few friends, but was single, was a workaholic, essentially (the paperwork hinted that perhaps work helped her get her mind off her past) and was fond of painting and drawing as well.

Unbidden a plan began to form in Draco's mind. No, Draco, bad Draco! He thought, scolding himself. It would never, ever, ever in a million years work. But Draco was a risk taker—he loved a challenge—and he was a true Slytherin, and was loath to admit that he might not be up to the challenge.

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Hermione was depressed. Not mildly I'll-take-a-few-pills-and-it'll-go-away depressed, but the real painful everything-I've-grown-to-know-and-love-fell-through kind of depressed. She had loved her parents, and their world, but it had never been for her. Her thirst for knowledge could never be sated by muggle discoveries. That world was just too limited. She had never quite in, and always stood out too much to be considered 'cool'. So when she found the magical community, and became an accepted, beloved, essential, respected part of it, she felt truly complete. And then, after she had defended that very community from true evil—Voldemort—she was betrayed by it. At least that's how she felt. I fought so long and hard for freedom, for respect, for safety, for the happiness of my friends and enemies alike (here she thought of Malfoy) and just as everything was finally working out, they took away the most basic freedom; the freedom to choose my own future. Hermione had always had a defiant, brave independent streak. It was the Gryffindor in her, the part that wasn't Ravenclaw-ish and brainy. And she knew that what the wizarding world wanted was wrong. And so she left.

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