Hermione woke up with a start on Saturday morning. Standing up, she could feel the ground beneath her shake, making her dizzy. Earthquake?! She thought, silly enough.

"Morning, Granger." She heard a familiar voice coming from the kitchen. "I would have never pictured your house to be so empty. How have you been living since you cancelled your engagement with that weasel? I couldn't find eggs, nor could I find anything in your Muggle fridge because apparently, you don't even use it."

Hermione's head was pounding and she feels like she's going to throw up. It was a few seconds later when she felt a cup bumping against her cheek. The cup felt warm and inviting, and she held it between her palms, like she did the firewhiskey just the night before. "Draco, please stop talking." Hermione clung to her hair as she steadied herself to walk towards the kitchen. She saw Draco's wand just a little ways beside the stove. She took it and gave it a little flick, revealing a full cupboard. Suddenly, what was once empty was teeming with Muggle groceries. Draco's jaw dropped at the sight. Shuffling towards the couch in which she slept, Hermione mumbled, "Please make me some pancakes." To which Draco obliged.

"Why do you hide your food?" asked Draco.

"I always forget to trace the mice's hideout so I can't put up traps. Finding their hideout costs a lot of time, so I hide my food instead. What they can't see and smell, they can't touch. If they knew that there is nothing in the cupboards, they would lose interest." Hermione slumped against the soft couch and drank the warm tonic. "Do you make this often?" She asked Draco.

"Not often. I don't always get drunk."

Hermione blushed. "I don't often get drunk either."

Draco chuckled. "It's alright. Your pancakes will be ready in a jiffy."

"Thanks."

"You know, I could send you some herbs to help with your cooking." Draco said, pouring the batter into the pan.

"There's no need for that. The last ones sent to me were all smashed."

Draco grew quiet, pretending to busy himself with the pancakes. Just then, he noticed how there were no glass implements within reach. All were in the farthest corner of the cupboard. Had he been shorter, he would have a hard time reaching them. He remembered how the wall in the bathroom, where a mirror was supposed to hang, was bare.

"Hermione, are you alright?"

Hermione glanced up, noting the concern in Draco's voice, and the first time he called her by her name.

"Of course, I am. Why do you ask?"

Draco said nothing more as he readied the table for breakfast and beckoned on Hermione to come and eat.

"The things you told me last night, do you remember them?" He asked, teasing.

Hermione's face reddened. "Every bit of it."

Draco sighed, pushing a plate of pancakes towards Hermione. She noticed that her plate was decorated with syrup and sliced fruit. She smiled and happily munched on the treat.

"I'm sorry for dragging you in here last night. I didn't mean to."

"It's alright. I got to see where you live, and I got to read some of your books while you were asleep. That's a neat collection you got there."

Hermione smiled, traces of hangover still etched on the bags under her eyes.

"How are you so nice? I never imagined a discriminating prat like you to have such good values."

"I keep surprising you, don't I?" Draco smirked.

Hermione laughed.

After breakfast, Draco volunteered to do the dishes, something Hermione was once again thankful for, and started to get ready to go home.

"So… thanks for letting me crash on your place. Last night was fun." Draco said, gathering up his cloak from the rack.

"Yeah, I'm sorry for the trouble."

"Let's do this again, yeah?"

Hermione's warm brown eyes found Draco's cold grey ones, then she replied, "I'm looking forward to it."

Just when Draco was preparing to apparate, Hermione stopped him. "You can't disapparate here. I made it so only I can apparate and disapparate at will."

"You nearly killed me there, Granger." Draco said, nervously.

"Yes, and I'm sorry." Hermione laughed nervously.

"Alright, I'll see you then." Draco said, closing the door behind him and walking down the street amongst the unsuspecting people. As he suspected when they arrived last night, Hermione enchanted her flat so it doesn't exist to the Muggle eye.

When Hermione was alone again, vivid memories from last night started flooding her consciousness. She cringed as she remembered how she babbled in front of Draco and the latter was just sitting there, his eyes glued on hers.

"I might as well walk stark naked in front of him." She muttered, shuddering at the things she told him.

How have you been living since you cancelled your engagement with that weasel?

Draco's words rang constantly inside her head all throughout the day. She spent time poring over some paper work which aren't due until the coming Friday, but she still can hear it.

How have I been living? She finally asked herself.

She looked around and saw the bare living room, save for the couch, the lamp and her working desk. The kitchen is no better. Her bedroom is neat enough, but no photo graced the walls. There were no posters and there were no picture frames. There were books lying on her bedside table. There was a lamp. Other than those, nothing.

No flower grew on her porch, just pots, their occupants long dead because of neglect. The walls she once bewitched so it looked as bright as the sun on a good summer's day, which she filled with artworks from her favorite Muggle artists now stood bare and grey.

The turntable which served as her company during cold nights now laid in a corner, dusty and unused.

She sighed in desperation. Her tears gushed out as she put her arms across her shoulders, her body rocking back and forth.

The weekend passed quickly and it was Monday again. Draco's shop was bustling with customers. He noticed how most of them tell him the same thing. That there has been poisoning and they need antidotes immediately.

"Madam, I can't possibly give you an antidote if I don't even know the cause of the poison." He said to an agitated customer.

Zabini can be seen dealing with the same problem in the other corner.

"Blimey, I don't remember having such a problem before. An outbreak! Of not a disease, but poison!" Zabini groaned in frustration once they caught a break from the flood of people.

That's when Draco remembered Harry's letter. The dinner is tonight. Perhaps he can get answers for the mass poisoning.

As he dressed for the dinner, he wondered what might have happened in the Ministry that they needed help from outside.

"Malfoy! Glad you could come." Harry beamed as Draco approached the hall in which the dinner meeting will be held.

"Potter." He replied, holding out a hand. The two shook hands and were soon joined by the others.

Long brown curls pinned with gemstones shaped like a dragonfly caught Draco's attention. Hermione's present in the meeting as well. The latter smiled at him from where she sat.

Draco seated himself beside Harry, and across from Ron, who apparently would not look at him.

The Minister presided over the meeting as usual. "There have been complains by witches and wizards, as you may well know, about certain poisons spouting everywhere. Just last week, the Head of the Department of International Cooperation had the misfortune to almost fall victim to Baneberry poison. Her mug was reportedly laced with the said poison. Thank Merlin for her keen instincts, if not for them we wouldn't be having her in today's meeting."

Concern outlined Draco's face, as well as Ron's.

Harry, on the other hand, was furious. He looked at Hermione, his eyes questioning what the Minister just said.

"Please, Sir." Hermione addressed the minister.

"Proceed, Madam."

"Forgive me, I must have angered a few corporations in Britain when I sought for assistance from the neighboring wizarding countries on the issue of Muggle lands being purposely destroyed so as to appear unfit for utilization. Vast lands are being subjected to destructive magic where Muggles are present, and are restored to its usual form once these Muggles leave. These territories are usually near the borders of our domain. In my visits to other countries, I have learned that they were dealing with the same issue. So instead of fighting it on our own, I thought it would be best if we worked with other countries with the same problems. The people stationed for our cause by our foreign allies have just reported that the same group of people destroying English Muggle lands must be linked to the groups destroying lands in their territories, as it looked like they had the same motive."

Hermione sighed when she saw the company squirm in discomfort. "Perhaps they thought the easiest way to stop the fight against this injustice is to kill the ones who initiated this movement. My colleagues stationed in other countries have also been threatened by the same manner. But they weren't contented in poisoning us, they also ventured to scatter the poisons in the local markets, infused in fruits and meat, sometimes fish and vegetables."

Draco's mind wandered off to that night at Florean's when Hermione's face looked pale. Her eyes spoke telltale signs of worry and anxiety, albeit for a few seconds, as she quickly diverted his attention to something else, and when she faced him again her eyes betrayed no signs of its previous emotion.

"Ms. Granger, I am deeply sorry. I shall have the Ministry of Magic Public Information Services inform the public of this. They need to be warned. I have met with several Ministers from a few wizarding countries and they have mentioned your initiative, but Merlin's beard, I should have known this initiative will endanger you. I shall have more guards accompany you on your trips, Ms. Granger."

"Much appreciated, Minister."

"Mr. Potter," The Minister turned to Harry. "I trust you and your offices have a plan on capturing these people."

"I shall accompany the Aurors on the hunt, Sir. The Improper Use of Magic Office will be alerted as well and we will be sending out witches and wizards to patrol the territories Ms. Granger indicated and look for traces of magic."

"Good, good. Now, as for you, Mr. Malfoy," The minister turned towards Draco, who had his arms crossed against his chest.

"I understand that you are adept in creating potions to ward off the deadliest poisons. Until this unfortunate issue subsides, I'd like to ask you to provide the Minsitry with potent antidotes that can help with every poison you know. I want the Supplies office armed with antidotes in case of an outbreak in the Ministry. As for the transfigured poisons, if you would be so kind, we need as much revealing potions as you can provide. As for the price, name it."

Draco nodded. "I'll see to it, Minister. You need not worry about the price, I'm sure my colleague and I would be able to sum it up to a reasonable amount. I'll contact my dealers for a fresh supply of ingredients and my colleague and I shall start brewing as soon as possible."

"Much appreciated, Mr. Malfoy." The Minister then proceeded to address other issues in the Ministry.

As soon as the company broke off for the night, Draco saw Ron approach Hermione, looking worried. He saw Hermione smile and read the words that came out of her mouth. From where he stood, her lips read "I'm alright." She smiled at Ron and patted his back. Harry joined them shortly. Draco watched them converse animatedly and remembered how they used to do the same back in Hogwarts.

Then the trio broke off at Hermione's signal. All three pairs of eyes turned to where Draco stood. Harry nodded in comprehension, whereas Ron looked abashed, hurt even.

Draco felt he wasn't sorry. Not for Ron.

Then suddenly, Hermione was in front of him, smiling warmly.

"It's so nice of you to come tonight."

"I'm glad to be of help to the Ministry." Draco said, falling silent.

Hermione led him out of the hall. Once they were out, Draco asked, "How come you didn't tell me about the poison incident?"

Hermione scoffed. "I didn't want to bother you with such trivial matters."

"People want you dead because of your projects. That doesn't sound trivial to me."

"I'm alright. Don't get too worked up."

"You're always alright. That's what worries me." Draco said, his hand holding Hermione's.

"I appreciate your concern, but you need not bother, Draco. It's not just me who's in danger here. The Ministry will work this out, with your help of course."

Draco stared at Hermione for a while before he spoke, "Are all Gryffindors as stubborn as you, Granger?" He brushed a stray strand of hair from Hermione's cheek. "Or is it just you?"

Hermione laughed, feeling her insides fill with warmth. "There are a lot of us, that's for sure."

Draco smiled, still holding Hermione's hand. Slowly, he led Hermione away from the hall, interlacing his fingers with Hermione's.