Still don't own it!

Chapter 4

"I can't believe, today is your last day here, Granger," a voice interrupted Hermione's thoughts. She looked up from behind her desk and saw a young woman peeking over their shared cubicle wall.

"Don't tell me you're going to miss me," Hermione chuckled looking back at her desk.

Sitting in her small cubicle, Hermione had been thinking smugly about the latest success in her little plan. Despite the fact, that she hated the banking world, she had been working for Gringotts for the past three years. Thank Merlin, today was her last day in a job she hated. However, working at Gringotts was a necessary part of her overall ploy.

Hermione worked at Gringotts for one reason only: Claiming her inheritance while avoiding detection by the Malfoys. She already had enough influence at the Ministry to get what she needed. Minister Shacklebolt has been fond of her ever since they had been paired up during Harry's final removal from the Dursley's home just before his 17th birthday. They had fought alongside each other and since become close. Therefore, the Minister had been more than willing to help her claim what was rightfully hers. He had been shocked to learn that Hermione was really Alexandra Lestrange, but always understood her special circumstances and the need to keep it a secret. In fact, there weren't many people that knew who she was and she intended on keeping it that way. The very last thing she wanted, was to marry Malfoy.

So, the only real hurdle for Hermione was Gringotts. She hadn't been sure how to secretly claim her gold and move it without the long arm of the Malfoy family knowing about it. So, after graduation she had joined Gringotts as a Junior Analyst. She helped Gringotts customers with their investments while learning the ins and outs of the wizarding bank.

Six months ago, after Hermione had learnt everything about the magical banking world, she finally made her move. She had used her knowledge and influence at Gringotts to move her gold from the Lestrange and Bellas vaults to an off-shore account in the Wizarding Caymans. From there, she had split her fortune and moved it between many different wizarding banks, choosing those that weren't particularly fond of paperwork as long as they benefited from the transactions. Then, two months ago, she had transferred everything back to Gringotts to her personal, newly established vault.

Since then, she has been anxiously waiting for the Malfoys to knock on her door and drag her off to marry Draco. It never happened. The thought of having outwitted the Ferret and his family, pleased her more than anything. Especially, since she has been staying as far away from them as possible since learning the truth.

"Well, who else is going to be an insufferable know-it-all and fix my mistakes," the young women sneered. Looking up again, only the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her words and tone of voice.

"I told you, you should quit as well and join me," Hermione suggested for what seemed like the millionth time. "You can't tell me, you love working here. I know for a fact, you're not very tolerant when it comes to the goblins."

"Oh, Granger, how would your little charity, you plan on starting, be able to afford me my lavish lifestyle? I do have to eat. Plus my father would disown me for associating with you," the woman winked at her. "'It is unbecoming for a woman of your blood to associate with the likes of her!' My father would throw a fit... Wait, that would be enjoyable, actually."

"Parkinson, we both know you're about to claim a trust-fund bigger than your ego and you despise your father for trying to set you up with Goyle and other eligible, equally repulsive, wizards," Hermione countered, "I think it would be a win-win situation for you to join me!"

Pansy Parkinson chuckled at Hermione's words. They have been working together for the past three years. At first, they had still hated each other more than anything and fought constantly. However, they had been thrown together on several projects and their supervisor had threatened them with the loss of their jobs, if they didn't figure things out. Both women had been furious about the situation but bonded over their mutual hate for their supervisor. Now, though neither would ever admit it out loud, they were unlikely friends.

"Merlin, don't remind me," Pansy shuttered. "To think, I was free after my dear betrothed Crabbe killed his sorry self in the fiendfyre he conjured to kill you and the rest of your little gang, just to be set up with the likes of Goyle. You may actually have a point. My father disowning me will have absolutely no financial impact on me, yet he would stop setting me up with idiots... I'd miss my mother, though."

Pansy pretended to ponder Hermione's offer for a minute. She had already made up her mind after their supervisor had, once again, chewed her out last week. Nevertheless, she wasn't going to tell Hermione just yet. In fact, Pansy was more than happy to join Hermione, who was planning on starting her own charity after quitting her job. However, she couldn't just admit this to Hermione. That would mean, she'd lose ground in their friendship. And that, wasn't how things worked. They teased and insulted each other, but never got mushy. Pansy decided to simply show up at Hermione's home Monday morning. She would act, as if it was what they had planned all along. Hermione, on the other hand, would sport a huge grin, hand her the coffee she had already made for her and refrain from commenting further. They both knew, this was exactly how it was going to be.

"I hope you got me some decent cake, Parkinson," Hermione said acting haughty, "The one you got for Brenda's birthday last week was dreadful."

"Yeah," Pansy smirked evilly making Hermione laugh. "That's only because she slept with that cute wizard from accounting I had my eye on."

The rest of the day went by quickly for Hermione, she had already wrapped up her work the previous day. Today, she was simply gossiping with people she had worked with for three years, ate some of the amazing cake Pansy had brought in from their favorite bakery and generally ignored any memos or meetings. At the end of the day, Hermione packed her remaining belongings in a magically enlarged box. She was ready to leave this place behind for good. Just as she entered the elaborate elevator, a tall, blond man got out of the second one, neither noticing the other person as they went about their business.

"Drake," Pansy yelled out as she saw her childhood friend. The two quickly hugged each other. "What are you doing here?"

"Hey Pans, how are you," he greeted her as she smiled happily at him. She didn't get a chance to see Draco as much as she wanted to anymore. She was busy with work and being set up with different, eligible pure-blood wizards. He has been running the various Malfoy business ventures since he had been acquitted by the Wizengamot nearly four years ago.

" I do have a favor to ask you," Draco started after all pleasantries were done with. "It's about Alexandra. She claimed her inheritance and moved it out of Gringotts. I need your help tracking it. It's my only chance to find her."

Pansy sighed. She wouldn't be able to do it and she hated letting Draco down. His family had been searching for his betrothed for far too long without any success. She slowly shook her head looking more dejected than ever.

"I'm afraid I can't," she finally murmured, "this would take me weeks to track. Tomorrow is my last day, I quit. Granger and I, we're starting a charity."

"Who," Draco inquired choking with laughter.

"You remember, bushy-haired, know-it-all, muggle-born Hermione Granger," Pansy chuckled.

"Wait, you're friends with Granger and didn't tell me," the young man's voice was full of frustration. Hadn't he been trying to get a hold of the elusive witch for forever? And Pansy knew where to find her all along, was even friendly with her. Why didn't he know this about one of his closest friends? Was he so hung up with his own life, that he didn't know what was going on with his friends?

"I didn't know you cared. You hated her in school, made her life miserable," Pansy almost shrieked. "We've been working together for three years. It just never came up."

"You weren't any better, Pans," Draco shot back getting irritated. "You helped me plan half of those schemes to humiliate her."

"I know. She isn't as bad, though. I kind of got over my own prejudice seeing how brilliant she is. Honestly, she's a bit vindictive as well. Save for the muggle-born thing, I think she would have made a great Slytherin. Granted, she can be a bit annoying when she spouts out random facts nobody cares about. And don't get me started on house-elves. She talks about their rights like her life depends on it. But she's not bad at all." Pansy looked at him regretfully.

"It's alright," the young wizard poked his friend's arm, "I've been trying to talk to her... make peace if you will, but she simply ignores my requests. I've even talked to Potter and Weasley. They claim she's simply too stubborn to accept I changed. And then, here you are, telling me she's not so bad," he shook his head, "apparently she can forgive everyone but me."

"Why is it so important to get Granger's forgiveness?" Pansy was confused. One person's acceptance didn't change the fact that Draco Malfoy had worked hard on changing his views. She knew first hand, how hard it was to change what they had been told all their lives. Especially since many people didn't believe they were sincere changes and continued to judge them for the things they had believed or done as teenagers.

From what Pansy had observed, Draco had made the most amazing improvements in his attitude and behavior. Last time she talked to him, he had been talking about the need for muggle-borns, half-bloods and pure-bloods to coexisted peacefully to avoid another war. It was almost sickening, how great he turned out to be. She was glad, he was still as arrogant as ever or she would have to slap him every time she saw him.

"I know I was horrible to her, but the day she was tortured in front of me, by my own aunt, changed things. She was so strong despite everything. My aunt was going on about how her blood was inferior to ours, yet it looked no different than ours. It was bloody stupid. She's magical just like us. And He... Voldemort was insane. You should have seen the things that happened at the Manor that year. I've seen him kill countless people over nothing. After the war, I knew I needed to become a better person because I didn't want to be anything like those two deranged maniacs. I never did anything to help Granger," he paused, "so I think if she can forgive me, I know I really changed and won't end up like them."

"Draco, you are still the most arrogant git I know," Pansy couldn't help herself, "You think you're Merlin's gift to women, you're spoiled rotten, infuriating, smug," Draco raised an eyebrow at her to get her to stop, "but I also know you changed. Bloody hell, I changed. My best female friend is none other than the Bookworm itself... Don't ever mention this to anyone or I'll kill you... You don't need her mercy to be the person you've become," she paused, "But if this so important to you, I'll see what I can do."

"Gee, thanks for making me feel so loved," Draco sneered. "But seriously, thanks."

"Oh, Draco. With all these bimbos throwing themselves at you, you don't need me to inflate your head anymore. And, you're welcome!"

After Draco left, Pansy pondered his problem with Granger. She knew Hermione was going to resist any direct attempt to get Draco and her together. If Draco was telling the truth, than Hermione had been avoiding him for a while. Pansy had seen the proud Gryffindor's ability to hold a grudge and knew, she'd have to go behind her back to get her to talk to Draco. She decided to contact a certain red-headed Auror, not that she minded, and they'd come up with something. And maybe she'd find out if the rumors, that his latest girlfriend dumped him, were true.

So, this time I am commenting at the end. Thanks again for all the comments and alerts.

I did want to comment on Pansy, though. Initially, she wasn't going to be part of this story at all. She kind of snuck up on me and slithered her way into this story. Somehow, her character just made sense and helps move things forward more naturally than I had planned at first. I am now quite fond of her and hope you like her as well.