6 Months ago

September 19:

Hermione quietly stepped in Harry's Ward and found him gazing at the ceiling lost in his thoughts. She tip toed to his bed and quietly replaced the flowers in the vase in the table beside his bed with the ones she had brought. She then stood over his bed hands crossed and foot tapping which made him jump and turn sideways at her.

"Merlin's beard, Hermione!" he said looking at her with wide eyes. "You scared the living daylight out of me."

Hermione smirked. "Really, sweetheart? I didn't know."

Harry frowned at her. "Um, Sweetheart?" he asked inquisitively.

"Well since you like Ginny's loving words better than my stern ones I thought I would imitate her into making you take your potion." She raised a knowing eyebrow at him.

Harry grinned sheepishly. "Really, honey? But that is impossible."

"Harry Potter," her sweetness now flying out of the window, "for the hundredth time, if you don't take that potion I am going to castrate you!"

Harry winced. "Are you serious?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow at him. "Do I look like I am joking?"

Harry eyes became as huge as tennis ball

Hermione sighed. "Although Ginny's going to kill me for it."

"Hermione," he whined, "that potion tastes worse than Polyjuice potion."

"Well, serves you right."

"What do you mean serves you right?" he asked looking crestfallen. "I wasn't doing anything wrong."

"Well who asked you to be a Hero once again and go there alone?" she asked defiantly.

"Well, do you prefer Draco going there alone and risking his life?" He snapped back. "For all I know, if in my replacement, you won't be able to force him to take this dreadful potion no matter how many types of sweetheart you call him because he won't give a damn. Instead he'll hex you into oblivion."

"He didn't till now." She mumbled thoughtfully.

"What's that?"

"Nothing. You just take that potion." She said as she strode towards the door and held it open.

Harry huffed. "As if I would."

"Well of course," she smiled sweetly at him, "or else I would ask Ginny never to visit you here again. That would be quite similar to castration don't you think?"

Harry blushed like a beetroot.

Hermione smirked devilishly as she started to head out. She stopped in her track when Harry called after her.

"Oh, and Hermione?"

"Yeah?" she asked coming back into the room.

"Happy Birthday." He said smiling at her genuinely for the first time that day. "And consider whatever Ginny gives you as a present to be also from my behalf."

Hermione smiled affectionately. "Thanks Harry but there's no need for that. You can easily give me a better gift than that."

"And what is that?" Harry asked quirking his eyebrows.

"Drink that potion for me."

Harry scowled at her and turned to the other side as if refusing to speak to her.

Hermione grinned and left the room.

Striding along the corridor Harry's words about Draco Malfoy played back on her mind. He wasn't the only person who had said such about him. All the Aurors who had come to visit Harry had voiced their fear about the so called ex-Slytherin prince who seemed, for them, to be the worst incarnation of the Voldemort. Yet they spoke highly of his professionalism. He had a cunning mind and undoubtedly it was the biggest merit for the Aurors against their enemies. Yet Malfoy displayed none of his dark special effects before her if you don't count the scowling and glaring. In fact, in both the encounters, that seem to happen only between the four walls of his office room, Malfoy had only shown his dislike towards her for the few seconds of their first encounter. Whileat the rest of their interaction, which also includes their second encounter, she had seen amusement flash before his grey eyes at the mere sight of her.

And Hermione Granger had no idea what to make of it.

Certainly she did not hate him as much as she used to and she was sure so didn't he. They were hanging somewhere in the middle of "we can tolerate but not stand the sight of each other" and "we can't stand the sight of each other yet we don't mind meeting frequently". What surprised Hermione more was the fact that she did not fear him the least. Even Padma had avoided his presence when he had visited Harry yesterday while she was in his ward. According to what she had narrated, the rest of the Med-witches had also left hurriedly just because Malfoy was scrutinizing the ward where Harry was kept as if it were a cow shed. She found it rather amusing. Draco Malfoy seemed to carry a placard that said "Fear me or die" which was invisible only to her. Even Harry hated getting into his negative side. Years ago, when Ron had refused to speak to Harry for giving up his post for Malfoy, Harry had confided to her something that she had never expected and that somehow cleared her doubts regarding the ongoing issue.

"Hermione," he had said, "Malfoy has changed. And not only I but everyone can see that, although so many still refused to accept it. I've realised that his fate has been sealed the time he was born. As a son of one of the most loyal Death Eater, he's destined to be one once he's old enough to join the ranks under Voldemort. He was raised by his father in such ways that it's hard for him to knowledge what thing is right and what is wrong. But even when he realised that being a Death Eater and following Voldermort are wrong, he had no choice except to accept it because if he had refused, he and his family would have been killed. And although he was a Death Eater, he has been in our side all along. He had refused to identify us back then at Malfoy Manor. And now that the War's over, he proved us that he's in our side by being an Auror. And a good one at that, he's cunning and since he had been working with Death Eaters and the Dark Lord himself, he knows how evil mind work. He has been successful in putting many wrongdoers in Azkaban. I respect him for that. I believe inside his dark and tough exterior, there's a big-hearted man, although he won't expose it. That's why I willingly give my post to him. Unfortunately, as I've said before, many people still don't believe him and even think that he's one of those wrongdoers, including Ron.

Inside that dark and tough exterior there is a large hearted man but he would not expose it. Hermione Granger had no idea what her best friendmeant by that. But saving Harry from that Manor gives her an enough reason not to doubt Draco Malfoy and till an extent trust his ways. Yet, she wished not to lessen the distance between them as she was more comfortable being away from him.

Hermione looked at her watch. She had another forty five minutes until she had to attend her next patient. She decided she'd join Padma for lunch, who also had an hour free from work.

"Stacy," she called out to the Medi-witch who had just passed her.

Stacy turned around to look at the Healer with a tray of potions on her hands.

"Yes, Healer Granger?" she asked with a smile.

"Have you seen Healer Patil?" Hermione asked politely.

The Medi-witch nodded. "Of course. She had accompanied an Auror to their Department. They said they had some work with her."

"Work?" asked Hermione puzzled. What could the Aurors possibly want from her?

Stacy shrugged indicating that she knew neither.

Hermione thanked her and pondered what to do next. She decided she could visit the Auror department and see what's going on. Ginny probably would be there too, she wondered out loud. Ginny Weasley worked in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and was currently busy with the Black Hood case. The red headed girl had told her yesterday that she was prosecuting one of its members who had been captured the day before. Hermione decided that she probably took interest in this case after Harry had been attacked by one of the Black Hoods who, unfortunately, escaped.

Hermione walked to the receptionist table and informed Marianne, who was again painting her nails although this time it was shocking blue, that she would be out of the hospital for a few minutes and if she was required then she was to be paged. Then she walked to the Apparition Point and directly apparated to the Ministry of Magic.

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"Everything ready?" asked Blaise once more to the Aurors who were standing behind the man sitting in the center of the Hall.

"Yes." The three of them said simultaneously. One of them put a cork back on the bottle which contained a colourless potion commonly known as Veritaserum. He had been instructed to give it to the man sitting before him.

Blaise looked at Draco who was sitting in the area reserved for the spectators during any Hearing. He was observing the man at the center, who was the captured member of the Black Hoods, with a frown.

"Is she ready?" he said, his eyes not living the man.

"Yes," replied Blaise who turned back towards the man. "We have filled in her what to ask and how to ask. She's smart." He added.

"Whatever. Call her in."

Blaise motioned an Auror who was standing near the entrance door to bring her in. The Auror nodded and asked the woman outside to enter. She entered looking confident and determined. She searched the Hall and her eyes rested on Blaise.

"Okay Patil," he said giving her a reassuring smirk, "go and sit in front of that man. Be assured that he won't harm you. We have Aurors near him to hold him back if he does try anything."

Padma nodded and marched forwards towards the center and took her seat on the chair placed a few meters away from the man facing her.

"Does she know the language well?" Draco asked quietly.

"She's a British-settled Indian." Blaise said. "Although she's not particularly expert in the language, she assures she can understand as well as hold a conversation with him."

Draco nodded.

At that moment, the entrance doors opened once more and two figures of woman entered the Hall. Draco's head snapped at their direction. Ginny Weasley, who had entered the hall with a parchment and a quill in her hand, looked at Draco and nodded. Draco made no motion or reply as his eyes were on the woman behind her. Hermione Granger was looking at Padma with concern and did not even notice the presence of the ten Aurors including Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini in the room. It was only when Ginny motioned her to follow that she tore her eyes away from the Healer and looked around the room only to rest them on a certain blond man who was watching her move on the opposite end of the hall from where he was sitting. Hermione narrowed her eyes at him at which he decided that he had seen enough of the brown haired witch and turned towards the two people facing each other at the center of the room.

"Padma," Blaise's voice boomed in the silent hall, "You can start."

Padma nodded and turned towards the man. He was around forty to fifty years old with a fair complexion and unshaven lower half of his face. He had thick eyebrows and striking black eyes that were looking at her blankly, probably because of the effect of Veritaserum. He had broad shoulders but they were stooping now. His hair did not seem to have been cut for several years now as it was past his shoulders.

Padma started the session.

"Aapka naam?"

"Samar Pratap."

"Aap Black Hood mein se hai?"

"Ji ha."

The rest of the conversation followed but no one in the room was able to figure what they were speaking of. Draco was sure Padma was asking him the right questions. Yet, he kept his eyes glued on the man.

That was until Granger decided to display her talent of violent sneezing.

At once all the heads turned towards her except Padma's, who seemed to be too absorbed in the interrogation to pay attention to anything else. Hermione Granger turned as red as a beetroot as Ginny Weasley offered her a napkin sympathetically.

Draco narrowed his eyes on her. What a lovely lady with equally amazing manners! Granger caught him watching at which she glared back at him as if it was his fault that she sneezed. Draco rolled his eyes and turned back to the interrogation.

"Dhanyavad." said Padma after a few moments.

Padma sighed and looked towards Malfoy who was staring at the man. He caught her eye and she nodded. He nodded back.

"Take him back." He ordered the Aurors behind the man. Together they lifted the man and dragged him out of the Hall.

Padma got up from her seat and walked towards Blaise and Malfoy, both of whom had got up and were turning towards Padma. Ginny and Hermione followed her suit and hurried towards them.

"Care to translate?" asked Malfoy.

Padma nodded as both Hermione and Ginny reached them, serious expression on their faces.

"His name is Samar Pratap," Padma started with a solemn expression, "and he was there with a Chinese associate when Peyton was attacked although it was Liu Shen, the Chinese one, who had cast the curse."

"Wait a sec," Draco stopped her mid way. He turned towards the nearest Auror and ordered, "The associate's name is Liu Shen and he is Chinese. Tell the other Aurors to work on that as soon as possible."

"No use Malfoy," said Padma, "According to Samar, they disguise their faces while on a mission and none of them ever confides in their real names to the others. They change their names time to time. Liu Shen is just a fake name."

Draco listened to her and remained quiet for sometime although his grey eyes turned darker each second. Padma looked uncertainly at Blaise who merely shrugged. Hermione rolled her eyes. Draco Malfoy wasn't used to being outsmarted. Not even by his enemies.

"So," said Ginny, breaking the silence and ignoring Draco, who turned his dark eyes towards her, the face shaped into a scowl, "did he tell anything about the next meeting?"

"The thing is they schedule their next meeting cleverly. The place they chose always happens to be a public spot."

"Excuse me," said Blaise as his face showed puzzlement, "but why?"

"Probably because that is the last place we would expect them to meet. Somewhere amidst many people." Draco answered. He turned towards Padma. "Did he tell you which place it would be this time?"

"Unfortunately no," replied Padma, "but he did hint that whichever place they are to meet is always somehow related to their previous target. That is," she turned thoughtful, "the next meeting has to be somewhere public and someplace which is related to Peyton in someway."

"Well that's a big help." Said Blaise sarcastically as Malfoy and Ginny frowned thoughtfully.

"But that's easy!" piped in Hermione who spoke up for the first time since she entered the Hall.

Four pairs of eyes turned towards her inquisitively.

"Well," she said, uncomfortable with their stares, "he happened to be a frequent visitor at Witching Hour at Diagon Alley. He used to go three times a day there to have his lunch or dinner. He doesn't happen to be much of an outgoing person but he daily visits that place and rarely eats in any other restaurants."

"And how do you know all this?" asked Draco raising an eyebrow at her.

"Actually, I happen to be one of his Healers and it is necessary for me to know about him a lot more than the fact that he is an Auror." She said smugly to him.

"You operated him?" he asked, a touch of incredulousness in his voice.

"I don't see anything there to be surprised about. I happen to be Healer, Malfoy. Obviously I would operate him, not teach him how to dance." She said in an irritated tone.

"But that was an extremely tough one." stated Draco, still not believing.

Hermione bought her hands to her chest and said in mock surprise, "Goodness! That is news to me! How extrememly clever of you to deduct that."

Blaise, Ginny and Padma stared at her at her sudden display of courage in front of Draco Malfoy. Unbeknownst to them, Draco was fighting hard to keep the amusement off his face.

"We'll check that place out." He said his eyes still not leaving Hermione and although his face was devoid of any expression, his eyes glinted in amusement. Hermione grimaced at him.

"Umm, I think we should go." said Padma, fearing any outburst from Malfoy. "We have patients to attend to."

"Yeah," agreed Hermione, "but let's have our lunch somewhere first. I didn't have any."

Padma nodded.

"I think I'll join you guys," said Ginny, "I can come back after that and talk to you about the case." She said to Draco. He nodded.

The three women were walking back to the entrance when a Hermione heard a voice call her back.

"Granger!" called out Draco.

She turned back to face him as well as Padma who was some steps before her. Ginny, on the other hand had nearly reached the Entrance door.

"I just remembered," he said.

"Yes?" she asked still a bit pissed at him.

Draco slightly smirked at her. "Happy Birthday." He said nodding at her.

There was a moment of silence as both Hermione and Padma were stunned. Even Blaise's mouth was hanging open.

Slowly, Hermione's eyes twinkled as she grinned.

"Thanks." She replied and dragged a stunned Padma out of the Hall where Draco and Blaise was rooted at their spots, one smirking while the other still hanging his mouth open.

Translation:

"Your name?"

"Samar Pratap"

"You are member of the Black Hood?"

"Yes."

…

"Thank You."

************

A/N: Truly sorry for the late update! It's over a month I can see, but I had a new school to attend, school assignements got me buried and I had even trouble breathing! :( Well, anyway, this chapter had barely anything important but I basically wrote this one and the earlier one as a tribute to all the victims of a town back here who were killed in suspiction of witchcraft. So you see people, despite the fact that we would die to be a witch and attend Hogwarts, there are still people who condemn witchcraft. It has been a year since this incident but I still pray their souls rest in peace.

Anyway, serious issues done with, the next chapter would be quite important for Draco, you will see why. The chapter will be a wee bit sad for him and I hope I will make up with that one if I disappointed you with this.

And also, a big hug and lots of kisses to my beta reader JasonDolleyLover69 for reviewing this! :* I am sorry there were a few problems before but thank you forbeing so good to me! :) Butterbeers for both! :D

So lovely readers, you do now that we 'pore old little writers' depend your reviews to survive.. *puppy dog face* so kindly do me this chwwwwwwwweeeet favour and review may be? I promise I accept criticism or suggestions, So what are you waiting for? REVIEW! :)

And of course,

#DRAMIONE FOREVER!