A/N Thanks for the reviews, everyone. Here's the next chapter, hope you like it. Still, I apologize if there's many mistakes and if you have any questions ask :).

The day: 1

Chapter 3

The smell in the little lobby was funny. Hermione Granger was waiting there for twenty minutes now. The commission was 15 minutes late. She was getting more and more nervous. She was pattering with her foot, repeating all she wanted to say-just like in her first year in Hogwarts. The commission was composite from four persons- the director of the Department, another Scientist, an observer from the Magic Legal Department and an investor. She knew the director of MSD, and has heard that Brian Gallaxy was in the commission, but she didn't know who the others two were.

The time passed painfully slowly. The meager secretary was writing endless forms and never looked in Hermione's direction. Despite the cold spring day she was feeling a tiny stream of sweat in her back. This was so important, she just couldn't screw up. If she got her own lab she would unveil many of magic's secrets even create new spells and contra-hexes and…

"Miss Granger" she heard a sharp voice. "Miss Granger you can come in now" the secretary said when she blinked confused "The commission's ready"

"Thank … thank you" Hermione said hesitantly and came in.

It was a rather normal room, not much different than her office. On a large desk were three of the jury's members. The fourth was in the back of the room hanging up his cloak. The director of MSD, Filipe Callenger pointed her chair in front of the desk. Brian Gallaxy waved her cheerfully while the third member- a gray haired severe woman, nodded shortly then went back to her papers. 'So she has to be the observer.' Hermione thought as she was putting away a lock of hair escaped her tress.

"We're sorry about making you wait, Miss Granger" said Callenger "But we were waiting for our investor" he nodding towards the man in the back. Hermione's guts twisted painfully in horror- the black outfit, the white blonde hair…no way "Mr. Malfoy" added the director.

Hermione felt like she's falling. She looked helplessly how Draco Malfoy, the last person in the universe who'd make something which accidently could make her happy, sat on the desk with arrogant look on his face. Wasn't his father in Azkaban? Wasn't he supposed to be hiding somewhere his ashamed ass? Merlin, this was going to be tough.

"So, let's begin" Callenger started "You're here in demand to be given a lab for your researches. Right, Miss Granger?" she nodded unable to speak "So of course we'd like to hear about your researches. How much money will they take? How much time? What will be the results?"

As she fought her urge to give up and run away, Hermione took deep breath and began with calm confident voice. She had repeated it so many times in front of the mirror, no matter what was happening she must tell them her reasons.

The interview continued as might told well. Alleluia Malfoy haven't said anything. In fact he seemed a bit bored which was good as long as he wasn't sabotaging her. Brian was doing his best to help her and the woman from MLD remained silence just writing some stuff in her papers.

"Well" said Callenger in the end "If the others members of the jury haven't any other questions I suppose we're done, Miss Granger. We'll announce you our decision tomorrow. Expect our owl"

"Wait a second, Mr. Callenger" Malfoy reported with trailing tone "I have a question" Hermione ran pale.

"Ok, go on" the director said, fixing his glasses.

"How old are you?" Malfoy shouted.

"I don't see how that is related to my demand" Hermione cut him coldly.

"Answer the question, please" a nasty smile appeared on Malfoy's lips.

"I don't see the relation, too" Brian objected too.

"Mr. Gallaxy, I'd like you to be so kind and leave me have my answers as you had yours." Malfoy said icily so Brian turned red "How old are you?" he looked Hermione directly in the eyes stringing her up.

"I'm 19" she told with a gaze that was saying 'You bustard'.

"So do you think at that age you're able to take the responsibility for all these … whimsical goals?"

"Good question" the woman from the MLD said.

Hermione's blood seethed. She clenched her jaw and hissed:

"I'm able to take responsibility for my actions as much as you're able to rate me, Malfoy"

"Bold, girl" mumbled under his nose Callenger.

"Miss Granger, have a little respect for the jury" the woman wrinkled her nose.

"All my respect, Mrs. Patterns" Hermione calmed her tone "But Mr. Malfoy and I were in the same year at Hogwarts so his question wasn't fear."

"Oh Granger, don't act all…" he get cut by the director:

"You can go, Miss Granger, expect our owl"

~***********************~

"He did what? I can't believe it, Hermione" Ginny gasped when Hermione was telling her and Harry about her interview (Ron wasn't home yet).

"The jerk has forgotten how I saved his ass from the flames" Harry snored.

"I know. If I don't get the lab I'll stake him in the ear just to check if there is brain to stop it pop from the other ear" Hermione buried her face in her hands.

"Hey all you sick sadists" Ron had just come home "Who will we stake?"

"Draco Malfoy" the three others said as one.

"I'm in. When?" Ron laughed "Where's the dinner, Hermione?"

As Hermione groaned, Ginny kicked her brother in the ankle.

"What was that for, Gin?"Ron asked shocked.

"We ordered from a great Italian restaurant" Harry said "They should bring it any moment"

"Oh… all right" the other boy mumbled.

"Hermione just came back home, her interview was tough." Ginny started.

"Interview? Are you getting a new job?" Ron raised his eyebrows "I thought you were doing great with this one."

"No, Ronald" Hermione's eyes sparkled angrily "I told you about a million times in the past week. I'm gonna have my own lab for my researches. Or rather I'm not"

"What? Why?"

"Our beloved friend Draco Malfoy-that's why. He did his best to ruin my interview." She shook her head getting more and more furious.

"Well in my point…" Ron began.

"I'm hearing knocking" Harry cut him before he can say some bullshit. "Maybe's the food"

"No, it's coming from the window" Ginny pointed a brown owl pounding on the frame.

"O, God" Hermione jumped "It should arrive tomorrow"

She let the owl in and untied the letter off her leg in hurry.

"Well, what's it?" Ron asked.

"Is it from the commission?" Ginny added.

"Yes" Hermione said stunned. Her face darkened.

"Well?" the three raised brows.

She handed them the piece of paper.

Dear Miss Granger,

We're very pleased to announce you that your demand has been approved, so you'll have your laboratory just tomorrow (4th April) morning so you can start work.

My best wishes for happy and effect work

Sincerely yours

Filipe J. Callenger

"Oh my God, Hermione, this is great!" Ginny exclaimed "I'm so happy for you" the redhead hugged her tight.

"Congratulations, Hermione" Harry hugged her on his turn. Hermione was smiling as widely so her face almost disappeared. Nothing could be compared to this feeling, such pure happiness. Now her dreams were about to become a reality and not even Malfoy could stop them. No one could ruin her happiness tonight.

"So does that mean that you're going to work even more?" Ron asked drily. Unlike her he had the sourest expression ever seen.

"Well maybe" she noted "Is that a problem for you, Ronald?"

"We hardly see each other now, if you're gone more I'll forget how you look like." He pouted "Stop kicking me, Ginny!" his sister's face ran red as her hair. Her useless tries to make her brother be nice and supportive to his own girlfriend had failed as hell.

"I'm really sorry, Ron, but if you expect me to stay at home cooking and to babysit you, you're terribly wrong!" she rushed towards the bedroom and slammed the door.

"What's up to her?" Ron spew irritated "Is it PMS?"

"Mate, you're rare case of moron. You hardly could screw it up more" said Harry sympathetically, tapping his friend on the shoulder.

~**********************************~erhi!**~``

'Ok, it's a new day. It's my first day! Don't panic' Hermione thought early on the next morning when she was brushing teeth enjoying some time on her own considering Ron was still asleep. 'Be cool, be calm and don't panic. Where's my blue T-shirt? Panic! I can't go just this way… I need my lucky blue T-shirt! I panic… oh, here it is. No more panic. Calm and confident it is!'

She dressed up fast and took her rather large bag way improper for a lady. It was amorphous brown stuff with more cavities than you can find and some weird Indian design on it. Typical bookworm bag as Ron had said. But he was right. He was seldom nice to her and more often bossy (!) and ignorant.

Why was she thinking about her bag and Ron? She needed to go and fast. She stopped one last time in the corridor and tried to look dignified and confident. This was it. Ready! March!

"Are you going out already?" she heard familiar lazy voice.

"Yes, I am" Hermione answered firm.

"Look, Hermione" he hesitated a little. She hadn't even turned around to see him "I…do am sorry. You know I have this complex of inferiority. You have seen me fighting with Harry because of it. I'm an asshole sometimes…most of it. Sorry. I love you, you know?"

Hermione saved her breath. This wasn't just this once. He played this theater whenever he knew he had screwed up. And why not it had effect every time, she forgave him.

"Please, 'Mione, can you turn around, please?" he sounded like a miserable poppy. She looked at him, her eyes full of tears.

"Thanks, Ron, I needed it" she went to him and kissed him.

~***********************************~

It was midday. Of course despite her talent Hermione was a young member of MSD, so she was doing some of the common work as well her researches. So in the mornings she had to test face creams or Weasley twins' tricky product to be sure they was relatively safe and no illegal parts (ingredients) in them. The afternoon she was heading to her projects. She was in charge and she was the employee. All on her own, it was nice.

So here she was, bushy haired bended over a violet potion with a wand in right hand and a test tube in left. Some books were flying around, opening itself to the page she needed. It was magnificent exiting sensation of actually doing something that none had ever done.

"Well, well, well" she heard a cold mocking voice "Guess you really have got an onset to the science"

"What the hell are you doing in my lab, Malfoy?" she said distinctly like she was talking to idiotic kid.

"As you may not remember, I'm your investor. You owe me this lovely lab" he studied the room with bored gaze.

"You're the last person I owe something" she shouted "Knowing you, you have done everything you could not to give me this lab"

"Well you may be right" he ran his hand through his blond hair "Or you may be and are wrong. To your information the investor decides on these commissions. After all he's giving the gold, he decides if it's worth."

"Yeah right" she grimaced "I'm the pureblood beauty queen"

"Mock as much as you want, Granger. I have my reasons" he leaned on the wall still not interested.

"You're telling me you believe you'll earn money on my projects?"

"Shouldn't I?" he made eye contact causing them both a short pause "Now when my father is away…"

"In Azkaban" she emphasized it.

"I rule the family gold. Investing was always the way we had earned it." He smiled evilly "But there's another reason- as your investor I can come all the time inspecting you. Irritating you. Driving you crazy."

"Oh, Merlin I'm lost" she recited sarcastically "You stupid, you can't think you'll be the one winning this verbal battles, can you?"

"Or maybe I want to sabotage you and use you to the Death Eaters Rebellion" his eyes sparkled.

"Right. Bunch of cowards will send the biggest chicken to fight for their lost cause. Without your master you're not so-scary-and-dangerous anymore."

"Laugh as you can, Mudblood" he hissed.

"Bite me"

"I don't want you to stain me"

"Are you going to ruin your manicure, ferret?"

"Shut up" Malfoy yelled pulling out his wand.

"Kind of jumpy, aren't we? Taste your own medicine!" Hermione couldn't be more self satisfied.

"Don't get too far, Mudblood" a disgusted look on his face "you'll regret it, future Mrs. Weasley!"

"What? Me and Ron, we're not going…"

"You heard me. Why are you taking this so seriously? In a year or two you'll marry the Weasel, and then have a lot of children who you should take care of. You'll be nothing more than a house wife!"

"Shut up! This is not true!" it was her turn to yell.

"Kind of jumpy, aren't we? Because you know I'm right. Weasley will never let you have a career, especially more successful than his, which won't be difficult"

Hermione stroke her wand and all the books and even the rack flew to him. Luckily for Malfoy he could react and defend himself with a contra-hex causing the items to stay as they are- in the air.

"Too many words, too little actions, former Death Eater!" she spat at him moving two three steps closer. They were both very angry now. Like nothing had changed from Hogwarts. He moved too breathing heavily, pushing out his way the poor items.

Their faces were just on five inches away. She could hear all touches of gray in his eyes. Her bushy curls were almost tickling him.

"I'd watch you chocking and dying in my feet" he whispered hatefully.

"I'd stake you in the ear just to know if there's a brain to stop it pop out the other ear." She trembled with anger and odium.

"You pathetic excuse for witch"
"You pathetic excuse for human"

"Mudblood" he hissed.

"Ferret"

"I hate you"

"I hate you more"

He grabbed her arms and forced their lips together. She tried to repulse, but before her mind could do anything her body was melting and knee softening in the kiss. After a sec she was sure that of he wasn't holding her she'd fall.