Chapter 6: Friend or Foe

Friend or Foe?

by

Grover Tolkeiss

It is truly the question of the century when discussing Draco Malfoy. Mr. Malfoy, owner of Spytex, recently sat an interview to discuss everything from the company itself to his dealings with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Straight away, it seemed Mr. Malfoy was holding back. His answers about the location of Spytex Inc. were cleverly sidestepped and he focused solely on the business at hand, never interested in building rapport with neither me nor future consumers of his product. When asked why he should be trusted, Malfoy stiffly replied "I am not asking you to trust me." A bold statement from a man who has family ties with You-Know-Who.

When the identity of the captured Death Eaters became known, some were shocked to find Lucius Malfoy among them. Lucius was a prominent businessman and friend of former Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge (like father, like son?). Needless to say, trust in the Malfoy name was completely shattered on the bittersweet day Draco Malfoy betrayed his family to turn his father over to authorities…

Draco nearly tossed the paper in the rubbish bin; his father had been in captivity long before he underwent Veritaserum. Lies. These were all lies, and people just absorbed them like pathetic moldy sponges. Just as he was ready to crumple the paper and perhaps mutter a good Incendio spell, a name at the bottom of the page caught his eye. He risked a glance in Hermione's direction, who was failing miserably at inching herself toward the bookcase unnoticed. He continued to read;

…the most bizarre moment of the interview was the subject of Severus Snape. I asked Mr. Malfoy how he knew which persons were responsible for the death of the former professor. The temperature in the room could have dropped several degrees as he stared into space with a grim expression. Just what caused the troubled reaction in Mr. Malfoy? One theory is ...Continued on Page 5C…

After that, Draco did toss the paper into the rubbish bin. It was a load of bullshit! And just as he suspected, agreeing to that interview was nothing more than a sneaky attempt to paint him to be a lying bastard…

His eyes landed on Hermione. It was all her fault. "What the hell are you doing Granger?" he said a little more icily than he intended. Good.

His voice startled her out of a trance. She had nearly forgotten he was in the room. His bookcase was stocked with very expensive leather bound books about magic, famous wizards, business, and oddly a book Hermione recognized by Muggle author Fyodor Dostoevsky.

Two dragon statues served as book ends. They were fascinating; ugly yet remarkably exquisite. They were heavy like iron, and their mouths were opened to reveal split tongues lashing out at her. She had become entranced by them. Swirling pools of shimmering color, the eyes, stared blankly at the vast space of Draco's office.

"I won't repeat myself Granger."

Hermione shook her head imperceptibly and turned to face him, he looked a bit disturbing. He was calm and his face was neutral except his eyes were focused and cold. He was standing now, nervously twisting the silver ring on his first finger. But she wasn't deterred; his arrogant antics had almost cost her a job that she could not afford to lose…

"Malfoy--" she began, but he waved a hand to silence her.

"No, I don't want to hear whatever bullshit you've got to say. Is it your job to make me look like a fucking idiot? Is that what you do all day?" He held up one of the papers still on his desk. "You knew and yet you—you set me up didn't you? I--"

"Stop it Malfoy. I told you. I told you everyday since Paris, actually. These people don't trust you and you just expect them to buy into your little attempt to act like you haven't been gone for 4 years? You set yourself up—and people want answers. We've all been through it, I know how you feel…"

"Don't. You don't know a damn thing about me, particularly about how I feel. You've everyone fooled haven't you? Everyone thinks you're so smart and—no you're really not so intelligent at all. Just a lame excuse for a witch and a perfectly good waste of space. No, you know what Granger, do your fucking job or the next time I swear, I'll toss you out on your ass so fast your head will spin."

"I cannot believe you're blaming this on me… Actually, I can. And it's exactly what I should have expected." She stared at him for several moments, her chest heaving slightly. "I can see this is never going to work. I'll just save you the trouble of 'next time'."

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Whatever that meant.

He couldn't believe she was acting this way. It was her job to avoid these things; she didn't, ergo, her fault.

Minutes after she walked out he finally straightened his attire and sat behind his desk. When had he even stood?

He felt his temperature finally returning to a reasonable level. But, the more he thought about it, the more it aggravated him all over again. Even when the Minister had been flailing and yelling like an idiot he remained cool. Yet, she muttered one word and sent him flying off the handle. It didn't please him that's for sure.

And she had gotten the last word…again.

He continued his brooding until his door suddenly opened without warning. He was standing again.

"What the hell? Don't you ever just—what are you doing? Why do you have that?" He asked, indicating the box stuffed with picture frames, a plant, and various office supplies.

She shifted, struggling with the heavy load, yet still trying to keep her dignified stance. "I am only here to collect my tickets for the Ministry party." She moved to get them, but he snatched them just out of her reach. "Malfoy, I don't have time for this. Give them to me."

He gave her an incredulous look. "You cannot be serious. You expect to just walk in here, quit without a notice and get a lovely parting gift? You are sadly mistaken."

"Well, I would be if it were your event. This is from the Ministry, you have no authority on the matter. Give my property to me, now." Even to her ears it sounded childish.

Draco felt his insides lurch. "Fine," he said throwing the tickets in her general direction. "Get the hell out of my building." He turned his back, dismissing her.

She silently gathered her things and left.

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He was like a child! What kind of grown man throws things?

Hermione stood outside of Harry's home, trying to convince herself she'd made the right decision. It was very unlike her to just make decisions based on whatever emotion she was riding on at the time.

No, this was a long time coming. It was just as well too, she was making no progress and the Minister could find someone to replace her. She groaned inwardly. But Dumbledore had gone out of his way to make sure she got the job. He thought she would be best for it, he even told her so himself.

She sighed, and opened the door, treated to the sight of Ron and Ginny at the table.

"Er, Hermione? What are you doing here?" Ginny asked.

"I could ask you the same thing, don't you have Auror things you could be doing?"

Ginny scoffed, "I'm off duty, your turn."

She and Ron stared at Hermione in identical puzzlement. The latter of which had gotten out of his seat to take the heavy box out of her arms.

"I quit," she said flatly, leaning into Ron.

Ginny's eyebrows shot up, while Ron's furrowed.

"Hermione, you can't quit. What about—you know?"

"Why?" Ron said.

Hermione sighed, ignoring Ron's question. "I know Ginny. But I—I just can't, besides, I should really be at the Ministry if anywhere. Look, I'm going to lie down for awhile, I don't really want to talk about this right now."

Ginny didn't look convinced, but she didn't say anything as Hermione left the room.

Upstairs, Hermione took off her shoes and situated herself in Ron's bed. She deeply inhaled the scent. He smelled like spices, peppermint and leather. Quite the opposite of Malfoy…

She didn't know how long she had been asleep before she felt a warm body press itself into her back.

"Hermione," he breathed onto her neck. She shivered as the smell of peppermint wafted beneath her nose. "Care to tell me why Dumbledore made a special trip here just to see you?" He said in the same breath.

She froze, and slowly turned to face Ron. "Er, he's here—now?"

He nodded. "Downstairs as we speak. I came up here to get you, he insisted that we wake you."

But she was already out of the door before he finished his sentence.

As she entered the kitchen, she made eye contact with Ginny, who looked guilty. Dumbledore stood, as pleasant as ever, but with a determined expression.

"Ah, Miss Granger, so sorry to wake you, but I believe you know why I am here. Imagine my surprise when I received an owl from Miss Weasley stating you'd quit your job."

Though she couldn't see him, she knew Ron was listening at the foot of the stairs. "Professor, please could we discuss this, in private?"

Ron stepped around the corner as Hermione led Dumbledore to the room the Order had once used for secret meetings, it still had some old wards and an Imperturbable charm placed on it.

"Ginny, what's going on? Is there something Hermione isn't telling me?"

She shifted on her feet, she couldn't tell him about the assignment. Dumbledore said the fewer the better. She was only privy because of her position as an Auror. She was still trying to decide just what to tell Ron when she heard the faint pop of apparition just outside.

Moments later, Dumbledore emerged from the room looking accomplished, and Hermione looked defeated. By that time Harry had returned and he, Ron and Ginny were seated around the table…waiting.

Hermione took as long as possible seeing Dumbledore off before turning around.

"Uh," Ron said, making a sweeping motion with his hand.

"What?" Hermione said innocently.

"Hermione, cut the shit, are you on assignment?" Harry asked impatiently.

Well. He certainly wasted no time.

Hermione silently ran through a small debate on whether to scold Harry for his sudden lapse in sanity, having cursed her, or to pull Ginny aside and yank her sleek ginger hair a bit. She sighed and sat down heavily next to Ron, settling for glaring daggers at Ginny, who looked a little less guilty and more defiant. "Did you read the Daily Prophet this morning?" she said.

"Hermione, what does that have to do with anything?" Ron asked.

"Well if you had, you would have noticed a lovely little article about Draco Malfoy."

"Hermione if this has anything to do with why you quit your job and why Dumbledore came here today, please get on with it sometime this week," said Harry.

"Harry, I don't know what's got your knickers in a twist, but that is the last time you speak to me that tone. Do I make myself clear?" He didn't answer, but Harry's cheeks turned a light shade of pink. She went on as if never having been interrupted. She recounted her experience with Draco, starting with her very first day in Paris.

Hermione looked at each of her friends in turn after finishing her long tale. Harry eyed Ron warily, then turned to Hermione. "Er—what does that have to do with Dumbledore?"

She could almost see the wheels turning in his head. Harry was naturally suspicious, so it came as no great shock when he didn't completely buy her story. "Dumbledore recommended me for the position. He went out of his way to get me that job and he just came back to talk a little sense into me. It's no big deal, really." She risked a glance in Ginny's direction briefly catching her eye.

"So," Ron started slowly, "You—that is to say, Dumbledore left Hogwarts on a school day just to persuade you not to quit your job?" She had to admit, even to her it sounded pretty lame.

"Yes. And sorry about keeping this whole Malfoy thing from you, I just didn't want to start any trouble between you guys, considering you know." She looked innocently from Harry to Ron.

Ron looked thoughtful for a while, then seemed to accept her apology and squeezed her hand beneath the table.

Harry smiled and looked at Ginny. "You don't seem so shocked. You knew all of—this?"

Ginny nodded, but said nothing else. Haary seemed to be suppressing his anger and took a deep breath.

"Come on mate," he said turning to Ron, "let's have a go on our brooms for a bit."

As they turned to leave, Hermione pointedly avoided looking in Ginny's direction. Afraid of what she might say, Hermione chose to go to be early, suddenly not feeling very hungry.

Her back was turned but she was awake when Ron came into the room later that night. Slipping beneath the covers he pressed his body flush to hers and began placing butterfly kisses over her back and shoulders. He was freshly showered and she could feel the damp locks of hair graze her neck as he leaned in. But she was in no mood to cuddle.

She kept her eyes shut tightly until she heard him sigh in defeat and soon his breathing evened out, indicating sleep. She opened her eyes and stared into the dark. She hated lying to him. Deceit was not something to invite into her relationship before their lives together even began. But there was no way she could reveal her assignment. Not yet, Dumbledore made her promise. So, Hermione drifted off to sleep, dreading the day when she would be resigned to ask Draco Malfoy for her job back. Great…just capital.

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He knew it wasn't very becoming, throwing a tantrum like he did. Even so, he was within his rights. No one walked out on him. Not even her.

That was what he rationalized to himself as he lay awake in his bed.

After spending the last few weeks in her presence, he realized the cool mature demeanor she carried when they first reacquainted themselves in Paris, had disappeared. The defensive, edgy, and frustrated girl he knew from Hogwarts was back.

He rather preferred the former; at least every conversation had not spiraled out of control before he had the time to realize it. Needless to say, Spytex was going to be back to normal without her. Good.

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Something was wrong.

Draco dreamt of the Woman in Red for the first time since Paris that night and woke with a dreadful feeling. She was forceful, frantic. She did not take the time to slowly seduce him like before and he could feel her frustration even as she ground her hips into him.

And just as suddenly as she had appeared, she was gone. He still had not seen her face.

Draco chalked it up to his horrible day. The paper and their lies, the Minister and his small conniption, and her quitting were all to blame. So, when he woke the next day, he knew it would be no better and his gut immediately filled with dread.

When he got to the office, he had Vanessa cancel all of his morning appointments. He needed time to prepare Fudge with the news that they were looking for Hermione's replacement.

"Mr. Malfoy, someone is here to see you."

Draco scowled at the secretary. "I said cancel my morning appointments. How hard can that be?"

"It's Ms. Granger, sir."

He paused. "Well, send her in," he said finally.

Draco noticed she looked just as she did on the first day in Paris; neatly groomed, pleasant expression but strictly business. He motioned to the chair in front of him.

"Look Malfoy, there is no point in delay. I came here to resume my position." She looked at him with an air of finality.

She never ceased to amaze. Draco sipped his tea then spoke slowly. "Just so I am clear, you storm out of here, in the middle of the work day might I add, announcing your leave. And today you expect to just come in here and have everything back. Are you serious?"

"Quite. As a matter of fact, I have already spoken with the Minister. He has all knowledge of the events of yesterday and is willing to give me my job back. I am only here to notify you."

He smirked, he was honestly amused now. She had already informed the Minister. Good, something less he had to worry about. "Granger, I must say, for a woman you have quite the pair of balls. Fortunately, I do not need the Minister's permission to run my empire. We are already in the process of reviewing other applicants, we'll be in touch." He stood and extended his hand.

She looked at it as if he were handing her a dead ferret.

"Malfoy, I am serious. I apologize for my behavior yesterday it was entirely out of line but so were you. You cannot honestly think that in a place of business your verbal bashings will be tolerated?"

"And so your solution to the problem each time is assault me or storm out and expect an apology will make it all better? I think not." He retracted his hand and resumed his seat.

She seemed to deflate right before his eyes. Without another word, stood and headed for the door. Her heart was pounding and she was growing doubtful that her little act wasn't going to work.

Draco rolled his eyes. He was going to hate himself for this. "Granger, let it be known that this will not happen again. Go do some work. Now."

He did not see the tiny smirk on her face as she left the room.

A/N: First off All thoughts to everyone at VT.

Secondly, another apology for a long wait. My muse, inspiration, creative thought--all of the above are still on vacation. It will be a happy day when they come back. So, I got a new job at Barnes and Noble/Starbucks. I got all of this Harry Potter stuff for free! I got a huge Poster, a button, a--something--with Snape's picture on it. AND when we get the books in, I'm gonna try and sneak into the stock room and get a peak. HA, I doubt I'll get very far. When the books come, we're forbidden to wander into the stock room. Oh well. Just thought you'd like to know.

Also, thanks to everyone that read Still Unfaithful. I'm still blown away at the response. I seriously wrote it in like an hour out of sheer boredom. I wonder what about that little story people like so much. Please let me know so that I may do it again! Due to the wave of reviews that requested a full length story, I will be making it longer. However, I want to get pretty far into this before I begin posting. So it will be a little longer.

Speaking of this story, I imagine it will be picking up pretty soon, but I just can't rush these things...you know how that goes.

Well enough random rambling...PLEASE review! It makes my freaking day.