Hermione was hard at work familiarizing herself with the Ministry's history of curses and their wards. She had gotten the job, somehow, despite clearly boring the minister at Cho's party. It was really impossible not to like Narcissa.

Hermione sat at her undecorated, bland cubicle in the center of the Department of Defense, reading and taking notes. Suddenly, a vase of flowers was set down on her desk. She looked up to see Narcissa's much less loveable son standing beside her.

"Malfoy what the bloody he-"

"Hermione, I was just stopping by to thank you for going to Cho's party with me," Draco said loudly. It seemed to Hermione that he only had two volumes, a dramatic boom and a conspiring whisper. Also since when did he call her Hermione?

"I thought your desk might be in need of a little cheer since you're just starting out," he said, his proper public image faltering as he looked down at her desk with a condescending glance, "I can see I was right about that. I hope you put more effort into your work than you do in... every other aspect of your life."

Hermione bristled. She really wasn't loving the sudden intrusion of Malfoy in her life. She looked at the flowers, at Malfoy in his deep blue suit, and at the curious glances her coworkers were giving them. She put two and two together.

"You fucking tripped me that night at Cho's didn't you? You manipulative arse. I'm not going to let you use me for social capital Malfoy. If you want to win over people who judge you for who your father was, do it on your own".

Malfoys' eyebrows went up. He was visibly reeling and recalculating for a moment before regaining his composure. he leaned in closer, resting his hand on her desk, and lowered his deep voice.

"There's no reason this can't be a mutually beneficial arrangement Granger"

"Save it Malfoy. I may not be a Gryffindor anymore, but I'm not a Slytherin. There's nothing you could offer me that would make me agree to pretend to- to... be your friend"

"Just as superior as ever Granger," Draco sighed, "it wouldn't be so bad. Just be seen in public with me once in a while, pretend not to hate me. My career benefits, your career benefits. It'll show those prats you used to hang around that you're not a pathetic reject they can kick around. And it's not like you have anyone else to spend time with."

"You'd make a terrible salesman"

"Granger, don't be an idiot. It's the smart move, and you were...somewhat bright once"

"Wow, is that really your best? I though Slytherins were willing to do anything to get what they want. You can't even come up with a proper compliment"

Malfoy scowled. True, he had done a variety of unspeakable things in the past to get ahead. It hadn't been easy to drag the Malfoy name out of the pit of mud his father had thrown it in. But usually emotions were not part of the process. He had done his fair share of ass-kissing, sure, everyone knew he wasn't above that. But it was always meaningless, a part he played. Granger was far too bright to fall for his usual false compliments and ego-fluffing. No, to get her to come around, he'd have to be genuine.

And he wasn't even sure he knew how.

Bugger that. There was always another way. After all, he knew she had a secret, All he had to do was find it.

"Think it over. I'm sure you'll come around," Malfoy said with a cool smile before turning on his heel and walking out. He had work to do.

Hermione packed up her things to leave, only because she wasn't allowed to stay later. She was secretly going to keep working at home, even though she wasn't supposed to take classified ministry files home and she wouldn't be paid for it. The sooner she got through all of this, the sooner she could stop spending so much time in the Ministry office and start dealing with curses, wards, and hexes around London. Plus, she had nothing else to do to keep her mind busy and off of…

As she was making her way out she saw the other late workers; Percy Weasley, Hannah Abbott, and- bloody hell.

Hermione's breath caught and she didn't look away quick enough. Her eyes locked with Harry's. For a moment she felt at home. She remembered the feeling she had when he and Ron saved her from the troll, the feeling that for the first time in her life someone actually wanted her around. She'd do anything for them, even skip studying to get involved in their irresponsible schemes. She even got reprimanded in school! Hermione Granger, in detention! And she never once regretted it. Even now, when Harry's face turned sour and a little sad at the sight of her, and he looked away.

Her heart hurt with an emptiness she knew no one else would ever fill. still, there was something she could do to ease the loneliness, just a little.