Author's Notes: Well here is the second chapter already!
Thank you all so much for the reviews: Darkreader (I read your profile and was truly touched by the reviews you wrote on my fics and that you so highly recommended them! Thank you!), twinklerbell23 (thank you, you're an amazing help!), DodgerMcClure (I'm glad you like the song, its one of my favourites), tomfeltonlover1400 (I've updated DC so check it out!), dracosgirl2515 (HBP made me cry too, but I think Phoenix is my favourite, can't wait for the movie though!), xOxOkIsSmYaSsXoXo (a lot more D/H action in this chapter, enjoy!),spicecat38, Alenor (Hehe, I know exactly how you feel about HBP but no Hermione's fiancé isn't Harry, good guess though), nora, nightmistrie, MiXd EmOtIoNs08, Mirai-Trunks-gurl, beautifulgarbage (I'm glad you liked D,S,L so much, hope you like the sequel!), slytherinprincess4life, May (Hehe, you guessed correctly! Yay! And you're right again, there's soo much more to come!) and Pippin1177
Just to recap, Malfoy owns the largest wizard company and is accused by the Ministry of being prejudiced towards non-Pureblood people. He still leads the remaining Death Eaters and he is still in contact with Abigail.
Ok, so there's a lot of info in this chapter but the 3 opening chapters need to inform you what's been going on for the past 3 years and trust me, a lot has happened. So bear with me!
A big thank you to Amy, who beta-read this chapter!
Enjoy!
..~**~..
Chapter 2
Hermione Granger, age 21, top Interrogator for the Ministry of Magic and undersecretary to the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, stood firmly on the high benches of the dimly lit Wizengamot court chamber.
For three years, after earning the title of the smartest witch Hogwarts had ever seen, she had worked hard to train as a High Official of the Ministry and subsequently became a judge, or as the wizarding world preferred to call it, an Interrogator.
Magically bound with chains to their chairs before her sat Jugson and McGregor, two employees of the Ministry, who worked in the Department of the Improper Use of Magic. They were on trial for stealing information concerning Aurors and snooping around the Department of Mysteries door. After all the facts, then witnesses and alibis (which were quickly discharged after Hermione saw through their lies) were presented, it was time for the jury to reach a verdict. After all, the two wizards had already confessed to their crimes.
The audience in front of her, a mix of Aurors, Ministry officials and journalists, seemed impatient too to know the final verdict, however, Hermione had one more question to ask - one more question but the most important of all.
Her dark brown eyes flicked down from Jugson, a tall dark man who looked defiantly back at her, to McGregor, a crooked man who avoided her gaze.
She picked him.
"Andrew McGregor, we have heard all the evidence against you and you have confessed to it yourself," she informed him. "For the past month, you have been passing secret information concerning Aurors for criminal purposes and prying around the Department of Mysteries for the same reasons."
She looked down at McGregor straight into his eyes and noticed that his face had become extremely pale. He seemed petrified by the upcoming verdict. "However, the jury will be indulgent if you answer the following questions. To whom were you passing the information? Who paid you to spy on the Department of Mysteries?"
By now, McGregor was simply shaking in his chair while his eyes darted back and forth between Hermione and Jugson.
"Are you or are you not in collaboration with renegade Death Eaters?" her voice boomed down upon him.
"He forced me to do it," McGregor finally spoke up, his voice trembling in fear.
"Shut your mouth, you coward!" Jugson shouted, beside him.
Their words caused several gasps among the crowded audience followed by muttering between most of the Wizengamot members. Several witches and wizards shook their heads in disgust while journalists scribbled hurriedly on their pieces of parchment. As the court scribe tried to calm down the audience, Hermione suddenly spotted two familiar faces amongst it.
Ginny and Abigail - Of course, they're probably here for the Order –
Her eye then caught sight of another redhead and she bit back a smile.
"He forced me to do it! He said that it was my duty as a Pureblood to help him, to help the Death Eaters!"
Again, a collective gasp was heard at the word "Death Eaters" and members of the audience began talking all at the same time. When silence was finally restored, Hermione looked confidently down at the two criminals.
"Mr. McGregor, who forced you to do it? Who paid you to spy on the Ministry?" she asked him determinedly.
However, he remained silent. Fear of the consequences seemed to have paralysed his tongue.
"We won't tell you a thing, Mudblood!" Jugson snarled back, fighting against his chains. "We won't betray our master, so you might as well give up now and send us to Azkaban!"
"Mr. McGregor," Hermione resigned to ask him the ultimate question. "The Ministry can protect you. Save yourself from Azkaban and tell us: who leads the Death Eaters?"
She paused, taking a deep breath.
"Is it Lord Malfoy?"
Instantly, the courtroom broke into uproars and shouts, but she didn't care. Both McGregor and Jugson's eyes went wide at her words and thus confirmed what she had told the Wizengamot for months. Malfoy was the new leader of the Death Eaters. He had financed and ordered the attacks on the wizard and muggle world since Voldemort's death. However, the Wizengamot wouldn't believe her.
If only McGregor had admitted that it was him.
As the cries carried on, Hermione turned away from the bench and came face to face with her boss, Amelia Bones, whom she respected very much, but who, at that instant, did not look happy at all.
..~**~..
"Miss Granger, you cannot continue with these accusations!" Madam Bones boomed at Hermione in her office.
She had won the case. McGregor and Jugson were safely locked away in Azkaban for the next five years. Unfortunately, Hermione had caused many problems for the Ministry, who now had to apologise publicly to 'Lord Malfoy'.
Readjusting her monocle, Madam Bones breathed in deeply before speaking again.
"I know you think that Draco Malfoy is somehow implicated with these renegade Death Eaters and believe me, Alastor Moody and his Aurors are looking into it. However, you cannot go about and say such things in public and even less so during a trial! You are the cleverest witch of your age Miss Granger, but such behaviour will get you into serious trouble if you do not stop!"
Hermione gulped nervously and kept her eyes to the ground as she faced the consequences of her actions.
"How much trouble am I in?" she asked quietly, wishing she could disappear into the floor rather than face Amelia Bones' fury.
"The Minister was furious of course," Madam Bones began, furrowing her brows. "But I managed to limit the damage – no, you are not discharged, nor is your newly acquired position of Interrogator revoked."
"Then what is it?"
She sighed heavily, looking straight into Hermione's eyes as she spoke. "The Minister himself has asked me that you represent one of his good friends in front of the High Wizard Court of Law during the course of next month. Consider this your punishment for the damage that you have caused to the Ministry earlier today."
Hermione looked up, confused. "But how will this case help in any way? Who am I suppose to defend?"
"Why, Lord Malfoy, of course."
..~**~..
Hermione was fuming by the time she left the second floor of the Ministry of Magic. Expecting hundreds of journalists ready to track her down at the street entrance, Hermione decided to floo out of the Ministry back to her flat. Dusting the soot of her robes, she spotted Ron sitting on the couch, waiting for her.
"Hey," she greeted him gloomily, kissing him lightly on the lips.
He was her boyfriend now and had been for nearly a year. Only a week ago, he had asked her to marry him and she had happily accepted. Although both their families had been informed, they had made sure to keep the news from the press until the last possible minute. Unfortunately, Lupin had been right about them after Voldemort's defeat. Since then, Hermione, along with Harry, Ron, Abigail and Malfoy, had been hounded like animals by the media and the rest of the wizarding world. At first they had wanted to know everything that had happened the night Lord Voldemort was defeated, but then the 'Defeaters of You-Know-Who' had become the main focus of the media and their private lives became front page news of every newspaper and magazine. Books had been released about them and fan clubs had been created and the five Defeaters became the main topic of conversation in every household and street.
"So, what did Madam Bones say?" Ron said, handing her a cup of tea.
Hermione took it gratefully. "Scrimgeour is making me work for Malfoy for the next month or so," she answered him deadpanned.
Ron's eyes opened wide.
"I have to represent that filthy rich prejudiced prat in court for the case that I've busted my ass to bring together for the past few months! It's either that, or we drop the charges we have against him. It's apparently my punishment for telling the truth about him in court today!"
Ron's jaw then dropped open. "WHAT?"
"My thoughts exactly," she mumbled, sipping her tea. "Damn it Ron, what am I going to do? Destroy all the evidence we have against him that we've fought so hard to get?"
"Of course not!" he exclaimed, remembering how hard the Aurors had worked to recruit the complaints against Malfoy and find more information that accused him of being a Death Eater. However, that was nothing compared to what the Order had done.
"Bloody hell, I can't believe they're making you work at Malfoy Inc. for a whole month. How could they even - hey, wait a minute!" he suddenly cried out, thinking of a plan. "'Mione, are you telling me that you'll be working in the headquarters of Malfoy Inc. for a whole month and you'll have access to their files?"
"I guess so, why?"
"Oh Merlin, don't you see? This is the opportunity we've been waiting for. An actual spy within his headquarters! Of course we've got Hestia there but she can't get hold of much, however you –"
"Ron!" Hermione butted in, putting her cup down. She couldn't believe her ears. "Are you asking me to spy for the Order?"
"Well I guess we'll need Dumbledore's consent but he'll be thrilled to know that –"
"No," she said firmly, getting up from the couch.
"What, but why?"
"You know why!" she answered firmly, turning around to face him. "Because I'm not part of the Order and I don't want to be part of it!"
His blue eyes showed his disappointment but he said no more. Hermione had always refused to become a member of the Order or even help them. She still held a grudge against Dumbeldore for the terrible mistake he had made back in Hogwarts and refused to have anything to do with him if she could, although no one knew about it.
"Listen," Hermione said more softly, taking his hand into her own. "Let's talk about something else. The Ministry Party is happening next weekend and –"
"Why are you like this?" Ron interrupted her suddenly, pulling his hand away as he stood up too. "What in Merlin's name happened in that forest after Voldemort's defeat that caused you to change?"
She lowered her eyes before they betrayed her, but she felt her hands starting to shake. "What? - What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb 'Mione, I know something happened to you. Or is it because of him? Because he left?" he said quietly, refusing to speak his name.
"No, Harry has nothing to do with it," she answered, her eyes flying up to his.
"Then it's that damned forest!" Ron continued, stepping closer to her. "What happened there that changed you so much? We all know Malfoy was there too, but why won't you tell us what happened?"
"Nothing happened Ron, you're just imagining things," she answered angrily, but he gripped her by the shoulders before she could turn away.
"I just want to help you 'Mione," he told her softly. "Everyday I see the pain in your eyes and it's driving me crazy because I don't know why. Please, just let me help you."
"You can't help me Ron!" she snapped, tearing herself away to hide the anxiety in her eyes. "So just drop it!"
She knew he was hurt by her words, but it was for the best. He could never understand. He turned away and headed for the chimney.
"Fine," he said, disappointment etched in his voice. "We're expected for dinner tonight at the Burrow, I'll see you there."
He flooed away before she could stop him. She was left staring at an empty fireplace, forced to face the memories he had brought back up.
I'm so sorry but I can't tell you – you'd never understand - you'd hate me for it!
..~**~..
Half an hour later, Hermione apparated at the Burrow. She had changed into comfortable muggle clothes and hoped that Ron had forgotten all about their argument.
As she walked into the kitchen, she greeted Molly and Arthur Weasley, her future parents-in-law.
"Hello, dear," Mrs Weasley said, a hint of worry in her voice. She had a few more lines etched on her face since the loss of her two sons. The Weasley family had been torn since the war; however, the Burrow never seemed empty with Abigail and herself around all the time.
"We heard about what happened this afternoon. What did Amelia Bones say to you? I hope the Ministry didn't dismiss you."
"No, no they didn't," Hermione told them. "But I think it's best that I tell you when everyone is here."
"Of course, dear," she approved, turning back to her cooking.
Hermione then noticed Ryan, Ginny's two-year-old son playing on the floor beside Abigail's St. Bernard dog, Beau. Hermione still didn't know why they had bought that puppy (which evolved into a ridiculously huge dog) for Abby two year ago.
"Hello Ryan," she said, kissing the top of his head. The little boy looked up at her with big hazelnut eyes and smiled brightly. Although his face resembled Ginny's, he had his father's black hair. Ginny had met Chris, a Ravenclaw, during her seventh year at Hogwarts. They had been dating for over a year when Ginny got pregnant by accident and a few months later, things suddenly got rough. Chris started coming home late claiming he was had been held up at Quidditch practice when in fact Ginny eventually found out that he was cheating on her. When she confronted him about it, he hit her. Fortunately, Abigail quickly found out about the incident and kicked Chris out of their flat. Ginny never heard from him since, although, being a Quidditch player, he was often in the news.
Little Ryan never met his father, but the Weasleys were always there for him, as well as Hermione and Abigail.
"Doggie! B! B!" he exclaimed, pointing to the dog.
"Yes, B," Hermione laughed softly.
Indeed, that was what everyone called the beast. She sat down at the table, keeping an eye on Ryan, whilst noticing Mr. Weasley seated at the other end of the table.
"Where are the girls?" Hermione asked, petting the huge dog.
"Oh, they're probably training outside," Mr. Weasley answered, whilst reading the Daily Prophet.
As he spoke, Ron apparated into the living room. He entered the kitchen with a grave face and didn't return Hermione's smile. Before anyone noticed the tension between them, Ginny and Abigail burst in from the garden.
"Hey guys!" Abigail greeted before her large dog pounced on her. "Urgh, B! Stop drooling on me, come on, out you go!"
She led him outside in the garden as Ginny picked up Ryan and sat beside Hermione. Once they were all seated around the table, eating away at Molly's fabulous dinner, Abigail finally spoke up.
"We saw you today in the courtroom Hermione," she began, looking up at her cousin. "Did Bones give you a hard time?"
"Worse than that," Hermione answered truthfully and then explained to them what the Ministry had asked her to do.
A long silence followed.
"Oh Merlin!" Ginny finally let out, staring back at Hermione with wide eyes.
"For Heaven's sake!" Mrs. Weasley shrieked, slamming her cup on the table. "I always knew the Minister was no good but to actually make you work for that complete scoundrel –"
"It's okay Mrs Weasley," Hermione reassured. "It will only be for a month or so."
Their reactions didn't surprise her. However, she noticed Abigail hadn't said a word yet. Instead her dark brown eyes were watching her intently.
..~**~..
After dinner, the three girls found themselves alone, cleaning up the kitchen while Ron had gone with his father to the study to see his collection of Muggle artifacts and Mrs. Weasley was knitting in the living room.
"Merlin Hermione, what are you going to do?" Ginny asked quietly, her amber eyes filled with worry.
She was the only one, along with Abigail, who knew exactly what had happened between her and Malfoy.
"I don't know Ginny, let's not talk about it," Hermione answered, annoyed, as she washed up the dishes. She didn't really want to start thinking about Malfoy again, it was late and she had had a very long day and Ginny's questioning wasn't helping at all.
"What do you mean, 'let's not talk about it'?" she repeated in disbelief. "But this is Malfoy! We can't not talk about him! This is the same Malfoy that you haven't spoken to for the past three years and that you'll be meeting first thing tomorrow morning! What the hell are you going to do?"
As Hermione chose not to answer, Ginny threw her hands in the air.
"Merlin's beard! Abigail, help me out here!" she exclaimed, turning to face her friend, who was taking care of Ryan.
At last, Abigail spoke up. "She's right, you know. What are you going to do once you're face to face with him? Do you think you can even handle it?"
Hermione spun around in anger. "What do you mean 'can I handle it'? It's been three years since he left me! What, do you think I still care about him or something – no, I've got Ron now! Facing Malfoy tomorrow will be fine! This isn't some big drama Abby, it's just another job I have to do, it's not the end of the world!"
Her voice caused Ryan to cry and Ginny quickly took him out of Abby's arms.
"Working for Malfoy Inc. might just be another job to you," Abigail retorted, her dark eyes searching Hermione's hazel ones, "but as you've said, it's been three years since you've seen Malfoy and he isn't the same person. He's a multimillionaire Death Eater now and if you push him too far, he will harm you Hermione! You have to understand; you know so much about him that you're a threat now, especially since you've started attacking him in public."
She paused, apparently deciding whether or not she should go on.
"He's not our friend anymore," she continued softly, as Hermione listened to her with a clenching gut. "Remember, tomorrow you'll be facing Lord Malfoy or whatever it is he likes to call himself - not Draco."
An unbearable silence followed her words. None of them had pronounced Malfoy's first name since he had left, and for Hermione, hearing that single name suddenly brought back memories from her seventh year at Hogwarts. She could feel her heart pounding in her throat as tears started to well up in her eyes but she didn't fight them back.
Abigail was right. Malfoy had changed for the worst over the years; they had all seen it. He was no longer the 17-year-old boy that she had once loved.
"We'd better leave or we'll be late for work," Ginny spoke up, taking her son upstairs to bed.
The two girls worked most nights of the week in a wizard nightclub in London. It was easy work for easy money and they both needed it.
Abigail handed Hermione a tissue. "Be careful tomorrow and if you need me, just ask."
With a flick of her wand, all the dishes were clean and the sink was dry. Ginny then came back down and after thanking her mother for the dinner, they left for work with B.
"Are you alright dear?" Molly asked her, making them both a cup of tea.
"I'm fine, maybe a bit tired," Hermione answered, sitting back down at the table.
"Well it's perfectly normal, you've had a long day and –"
But she never finished her sentence, as an owl suddenly flew in through the open kitchen window and landed next to Hermione. They both stared at the snowy owl a few seconds before looking at each other in surprise.
Hedwig!
"You'd better open it now dear before Ron comes back," Mrs. Weasley said, quickly closing the kitchen door.
Hermione nodded and took the piece of parchment from the owl's leg. She flew off hurriedly, apparently not expecting a response.
Thank God Abigail isn't here either! Hermione thought as she opened the letter and read it. But suddenly, her face turned pale and her eyes opened wide.
"Hermione, dear, is everything alright?"
"He's – he's back!" Hermione stuttered, her eyes skimming over the letter again.
"What do you mean he's back?"
"Apparently it's still a big secret, but he flew back to London yesterday. The World Quidditch Cup is happening soon and he's here to play for England. He says he'll see us all this weekend at the party!" she explained quickly, not believing her eyes.
"Thank Merlin!" Mrs. Weasley cried out in joy. "It's about time Harry came home!"
..~**~..
The next morning, Hermione was a nervous wreck. She went early at the Ministry to pick up a few files before setting out to Malfoy Inc. She arrived at the entrance of the huge skyscraper and taking a stabling deep breath, she walked in. She stepped into the entrance hall and told the receptionist who she was.
"Take the elevator on your right up to the top floor. Lord Malfoy is waiting for you," the woman informed her.
Hermione stepped inside the elevator and tried to clear her mind but instead it wandered off, thinking about the previous night. After Mrs Weasley had asked her not to tell anyone about Harry's return, Hermione had finally talked to Ron and made up with him and then spent the night with him in her flat.
After a long ride in the elevator, the doors suddenly opened and revealed a richly decorated and deserted corridor. Feeling butterflies in her stomach and her heart beating faster with every step, Hermione walked slowly down the long corridor until she arrived at a rather large desk behind which sat Hestia Jones, member of the Order.
"Go ahead, Miss Granger," she said, winking at her and pointing to a large glass door.
Feeling her heart pound against her chest, Hermione turned to face the door. With a trembling hand, she knocked on it. It suddenly seemed to hit her that she was about to see Draco Malfoy again, the one who had stolen her heart and then crushed it so many years ago. The one she had sworn to bring to justice and then spent days working alongside the Auror department to try and find enough evidence about his Death Eater activities.
She felt her vision blur and time seemed to slow down as her hand turned the doorhandle. Her feet began to take her inside the large office and with a pounding heart, her gaze finally caught sight of Malfoy, who was sitting behind his desk, looking down at some papers.
He noticed her presence and lifted his head up, his silver gaze catching hers. Hermione felt the air being sucked out of her lungs, paralysing her nerves.
His eyes – she hadn't seen those mysterious soft grey eyes for three long years –
They stared back at her, wide, unblinking and - empty.
"Ah, Miss Granger," he greeted her, standing up from his chair. "Pleasure to meet you again."
And then, against all odds, he extended his hand for her to shake it. Stunned, Hermione's eyes flicked down at the pale hand and then back up into his penetrating silver eyes.
They showed no sign of recognition.
"Right," Malfoy added, taking back his hand. "Well, you already know why you're here. I've freed an office for you on another floor and the files which you will need for the case are already stored there, waiting for you. If you need anything else, please make sure to tell my secretary, Miss Jones."
Hermione couldn't believe her eyes. She was too shocked by Malfoy's formal behaviour to even think. All she could do was stare at him, at his tall and lean figure covered by his black wizard robes, which emphasised his creamy white skin. His hair, still platinum blond, shone against the sunlight filtering through the large glass windows behind him.
He stood quite majestically, as always and looked down at her with a passive face, which, as always, masked his true emotions. Although he seemed to have grown a few inches and his voice sounded deeper, Malfoy hadn't changed at all.
"Any questions?" he finished.
Draco - my God - Draco, is that you?
Clearing her throat, she spoke up at last. "Yes, actually, I have a question."
Her voice was quiet and betrayed her emotional state. "Um - why did you ask for me to defend your case, why not take someone else, someone who doesn't actually –"
But she couldn't bring herself to say it. Did she really hate Malfoy? She wasn't sure, but she had sworn that she would bring him to justice and she would.
"Despise me?" he supplied for her, raising a curious eyebrow. "Well, you're the best there is at what you do and I've always wanted what's best."
He gave her a fake smile as if he was trying to assure her, but Hermione felt disgusted. Always wanted what's best? What was that supposed to mean? Is that why he left her three years ago in the rain? Is that why she had suffered for so long because like the spoiled child that he was, he always wanted what's best?
Feeling the anger boil in her veins, Hermione resisted the urge to spit in his face.
"Always wanted what's best?" she repeated, venom in her voice. "Like taking over from Voldemort."
She noticed his face turn paler at her words.
"Excuse me?"
His eyes had suddenly turned a darker shade of grey, but she didn't care. How dare he act as if nothing had ever happened? As if that terrible night, three years ago, had all been just some fiction of her imagination?
"You heard me, Malfoy," she spat out, keeping her eyes on his. "Now unless there's something else you wish to tell me, I'll go find my office."
Tearing herself from his gaze, Hermione walked out of the room, rapidly closing the door behind her. She didn't know where she was headed, but Hestia was kind enough to give her all the information she needed and ten minutes later, she sat down at the desk, ready for work. However, her head was swimming in confusion. All she could think about was Malfoy's attitude. He had seen her and shown complete indifference. What the hell was that?
She had dreamt and imagined meeting him again countless times and everytime he had either been angry, happy, sad and sometimes sorry, but never indifferent. But then again, she was dealing with Draco Malfoy, the man who always kept an expressionless face no matter what. She should have known how he would act.
Still, didn't she mean anything to him anymore? Hadn't he had the same flashbacks as her in the office when his eyes had locked onto hers? Had he really forgotten everything about his last year at Hogwarts?
That night, Hermione cried herself to sleep.
..~**~..
I was young but I wasn't naive
I watched helpless as you turned around to leave
And still I have the pain I have to carry
A past so deep that even you could not bury if you tried
After all this time
I never thought we'd be here
Never thought we'd be here
When my love for you was blind
But I couldn't make you see it
Couldn't make you see it
That I loved you more than you'll ever know
A part of me died when I let you go
(Blind – Lifehouse)
..~**~..
Ok, I admit, I adore Lifehouse, but doesn't that song suit Hermione perfectly? Anyways, chapter 2, I warned you about the info! What with Hermione getting married to Ron, Ginny being a single mother, the whole deal with Harry and then Hermione and Draco meeting again - there's a lot for you to comment on, so please, please, please -
REVIEW!
In return, I'll tell you more about the next chapter: It's called Pleasure and its Abby's POV. You'll learn more about Harry and why he left, you'll finally see Fred again and you'll also meet the Order of the Phoenix!