Chapter 4: Stage 1 - Friendship

She'd been in the kitchen having breakfast when he arrived.

"Hello, Granger," Draco said, grabbing a piece of toast from her plate and proceeding to the counter to get himself a cup of coffee.

"What are you doing here, Malfoy—?"

"Oh, we're friends now, right? Where are my manners?" Draco put back the toast and walked out of the kitchen.

"Morning, Hermione," he said, doing all the same actions all over again.

"What are you doing here, Draco?" Hermione asked.

"I'm going to take you to work," he replied. "Today is the first day we go public."

"As friends," Hermione clarified. She shook her head and took a swig of coffee. She drank too much of the hot liquid and coughed as it scorched her throat. Draco took a bite from his toast.

"Where's your newspaper?" he asked.

"The Muggle one's on the coffee table and the Daily Prophet's on the couch," she replied. "Wait up while I prepare."

Look out Ron, she thought with an evil smile, Karma's coming to bite you back.

"So this is where you work," Draco said, amazed as they walked through the magazine headquarters. Hermione's office was at the end of a corridor. Her secretary smiled as she saw her coming. A different smile registered on her face when she noticed that she was with someone.

"Good morning, Miss Hermione," the secretary said. "Good to see you're up and about."

"Thank you Agatha," she replied. Agatha still won't look away. "This is my er— friend, Draco Malfoy."

"Pleased to meet you," Draco replied, offering his hand.

"Believe me, darling, the pleasure is all mine," Agatha replied in a sexy voice. Draco looked at her weirdly. Hermione stepped on her foot. "Ouch! Oops."

"So, I better get to the Min—oh, um, office," Draco said, very nearly slipping. "I'll see you at lunch? How does eleven sound?"

"Eleven's good," Hermione agreed. "Drive safe."

"Will do."

Agatha made sure that Draco was out of earshot when she commented again. "Where do you get hot guy friends like that?"

"Shut it, Agatha," Hermione said. She unlocked the door and walked inside, Agatha following right after her. "So, bring me up to speed."

"Well, chief's been waiting for you, so I suggest you meet with her for tea today," Agatha said. "She wants a new travelogue and she's planning to give you the strings to the entire section."

"What happened to the editor of that section?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, George DiMicci? Chief fired him yesterday via Skype," Agatha said nonchalantly, scribbling on her planner. "He got arrested in Ireland after seemingly doing an article on Guinness."

"How?"

"Got drunk and got in a fight."

"Didn't that happen in Vegas?"

"Yep."

Hermione shook her head and began arranging papers on her desk.

"Guess I'll be seeing more of Mr. Malfoy here, eh?"

"Why'd you say so?"

"I'm guessing he's your bodyguard against Mr. Weasley," Agatha said. "Just call if you need me." And with that she walked out of her office.

"You're late," Blaise said, leaning casually on the doorway of Draco's office. He was a consultant at the Department of Magical Games and Sports.

"What do you mean?" he asked, arranging his IN pile. "I'm right on time."

"Which is exactly why you're late," Blaise continued, lounging on the couch while playing with Draco's pendulum. "You never come in on time. You always come in at least five minutes early so you'll have an excuse to shout at your secretary— which you do regardless of her coming before you— and you didn't even scowl at her! You fucking smiled! You're being friendly with someone."

"Why do you say so?" Draco asked, amused.

"I'm your best friend, I know so," Blaise replied, raising his eyebrow. Draco then threw him one of his famous smirks.

"What do you intent to do about it?" Draco asked.

"I intend to find out who she is," Blaise replied. "Nothing escapes the eye of this tiger."

"Okay, Blaise if you say so," Draco said nonchalantly. "But if I were you, I won't let the Weaselette catch me doing nothing."

"The Weaselette has a name," Blaise said, defensive all of a sudden.

"And since when did you recognize the mere fact that she does?" Draco smirked. Blaise gulped.

"We've been . . . er . . . sorting our differences," Blaise stammered. "I . . . um—"

"Sorting out your differences while shagging her stupid, I expect," Draco said with a laugh. "Your cover's blown, Zabini. I now know you're going out—maybe more than just going out—with Ginevra Molly Weasley," he thudded the pile of papers on his desk for emphasis, "just like I said you would. You owe me a hundred Galleons, Zabini."

"Arse," Blaise muttered, throwing a pillow at Draco, which he caught deftly.

"So you work for Ginny?" Hermione asked later at lunch after Draco regaled several stories from work.

"Yep," Draco sighed. "Not easy, you know. Especially when she gets in a fight with Blaise."

"Wait, she and Blaise are together?" Hermione asked, her eyes wide. "Since when?"

"I'm not sure," Draco replied. "I only found out today. Blaise slipped, then they sorta got in a fight in his office."

"Hope they'll be okay," Hermione muttered.

"Oh they are," Draco said. "Blaise went off to cool his head for a few minutes, then walked in Wea—Ginny's office. Ten minutes later, they were smiling as if nothing happened. Lucky everyone was busy, really."

Hermione laughed. "Blaise does wonders," she said, shaking her head. "Usually it takes weeks before Ginny forgives someone. Did I ever tell you about the time Dean broke up with Ginny?"

"No," Draco replied. It was a stupid question, really. Today had been the only time they got a chance to talk.

"Okay . . ." and Hermione recounted the tale of how Ginny showed Harry that she didn't need mastery of the Bat-bogey Hex anymore.

After lunch, Hermione insisted that she drop by at the Ministry with him before Apparating to her office.

"Hermione!" Ginny said upon seeing her. "What a pleasant surprise!" They hugged each other tightly. It was the first time they'd met after the break up. "How are you?"

"Surprisingly, I'm great."

"Sorry about Ron. He told me everything. Took all of my willpower not to turn him into a toad," she said. "Anyway, what brings you here?"

"Just wanted to drop by and say hi," Hermione replied. "Draco told me everyone's here."

Ginny froze. "When did Fer—Draco tell you this?"

"Earlier at lunch."

Ginny looked at her incredulously. "You had lunch with Draco Malfoy?"

"Yeah," Hermione replied like it was the simplest thing in the world. "He told me some pretty interesting things as well. Something about you and a certain Blaise Zabini. . ."

Ginny shot a glare at Draco, looking ready to kill. Draco only smirked at her.

"Oops," Draco shrugged.

"Anyhow, I have to get back to work," Hermione said.

"Pick you up at six?" Draco asked.

"Can't. Having tea with Chief."

"Oh," Draco said, sounding disappointed. "Do me a favor and don't get drunk?"

"Will do," Hermione replied with a mock salute before she turned on her heel and left. Draco went back to his office and closed the door.

Ginny could only stare into space, dumbfounded at what just happened.

Sorry this took a few days. I was quite busy again :D

Thanks for reading please review!