Hermione didn't know what to do.

She opened the door to her office, after fumbling at the doorjamb for five minutes. "Good afternoon!" What was up with her? Why did she sound like a schoolgirl who'd caught sight of her crush? She was usually quite reserved with people who she met for the first time. But you aren't meeting Draco Malfoy for the first time, are you? whispered the sly voice inside her head.

She was acutely aware of him following her into the art deco seats she kept for visitors, and breathed deeply before turning to face him.

Stop. Being. So. Frazzled.

"So, Mr. Malfoy. I've had a general briefing from the Minister on what he wants to project as the Ministry's official image. I'd like to hear your viewpoint on the subject, as well as your expectations from my department."

Draco took a deep breath. He'd forgotten just how insanely professional Ms. Granger was (even though the last time they'd come face to face was only at Hogwarts). But she had a way of intimidating a man, even one as insanely confident as Draco Malfoy.

"Well, as the Minister would already have told you, he's looking to alter the Ministry's rather stern footing on pure-bloods. He did express his concerns on whether it was possible or not…"

He really had marvelous hair.

"…but I assured him that my company will be putting in all our resources to make sure it happens as quickly as we can pull it off. And, the fact that I'm the one representing the Ministry makes it slightly easy."

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?"

Malfoy's lips rose in a smirk, and Hermione saw a glimpse of the Malfoy she knew back in school, before he was sucked into Voldemort's evil plans.

"I'm a Malfoy", he said, simply. "My family epitomized the world of pure blood snobbery."

She noticed the use of the past tense. "After the war", he continued, as if he'd read her thoughts, "I worked quite hard, and quite closely with my father to make sure we restored the Malfoy name to respectability. And I like to think we've succeeded, a little."

Hermione considered that for a moment, and nodded. For all she felt about Malfoy, she recognized commitment to one's work when she saw it.

"So, I'll be sending in my proposal to the Minister in a couple of days and, I'll keep you in the loop as well. So, see you then." He got up.

"Yeah, you'll see me after that as well."

Malfoy raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, dinner at Harry and Ginny's, you're invited. Aren't you?"

Was it her imagination, or did his face soften?

"Oh yes, that slipped my mind. See you then, Ms. Granger."

And with a slight smile, he left the room.

Hermione was used to having the upper hand. In all her meetings, dealings, interactions. But for some reason, this meeting left her feeling disconcerted, and for the first time, that someone else had the upper hand.

And he was ridiculously handsome, urgh.

A/N : yes, this chapter is ridiculously long, but I've been so busy! I hope you guys like it, and more chapters soon! Please like and review x