A/N: So sorry for disappearing, but my school life has slowly become my whole life this year. Hopefully this update makes up for it! Let me know what you think, because Reviews = love.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Hermione sighed as she undid her bun for about the hundredth time that day and gathered the loose strands back into her hand to twist them all back up atop her head.
She continued to stare at the case files spread out on her desk.
She'd finally gotten around to really diving into the cases Harry had given her. To her chagrin, it had taken her nearly two weeks.
She'd finally settled into a routine working with Draco. He'd give her an assignment for the day, something to read, and then he'd either teach her a new potion or principle before working in something to do with their current projects. He'd given her assignments too. Papers. An analysis.
He'd read through them and then they would meet to go through his critic of her work.
He was always fair. Always insightful.
It made her feel guilty that she still expected some sort of retort from him, but habits were hard to break.
Though she'd found herself thinking such thoughts less and less.
It was hard to imagine this Draco Malfoy was the same boy she'd gone to school with.
He was still driven, sarcastic...cold. No. Cold wasn't really the right word. Guarded.
He was constantly catching himself. If the atmosphere became too casual, or they'd teased each other, bantered until it had dissolved into small grins… he'd back away.
And so she'd begun to study her mentor nearly as much as her own work. Work that he often complimented her on.
He was getting ready to assign her her own project, she was sure.
And with the university courses starting in a week, it was perfect timing.
Her structured day would change again, but for the better. She'd have her 2 lectures and the rest of the time to devote to her own first project.
It was exciting really.
But first, she had to get through the work in front of her.
It was so odd, this string of crimes.
For a second, she'd think she was starting to see a pattern and then she'd come across a random break in report, and she'd be lost.
But then...maybe that was the point.
She furrowed her brows and began reorganizing the cases, quickening her pace at her excitement.
When she stood back, she'd gotten about ¾ through all the case files and already she could tell she'd figured it out.
Or rather she'd figured out the first layer.
She allowed herself a small smile at the accomplishment before it quickly fell off her face and she rushed to floo Harry.
"So they're not all real." Harry said taking his glasses off to rub at his eyes. He replaced them and scanned over her work once more.
"Well they're real in the sense that they happened." she bit her lip, "They're just distractors though. Even these."
She gestured to the second pile. "After having looked through the lists of everything that was taken, I even think some of this things were taken at random."
She pulled the sheet of the missing items, "The antiques, either they plan to sell or they took it to distract from whatever it was they really wanted. Except for this apothecary. It's hard to even tell what was taken and what just burned in the fire they started as they left."
Harry nodded as he inspected the file she was referring too. He set it down after a moment, his brows furrowed as he drifted deep into thought.
"What do you think they're trying to do?" he finally asked.
She shifted uncomfortably before fretting with the papers, organizing them so they were once more in straight and neat piles.
"I can't be sure. There's not enough real evidence pointing in one direction or another…" She trailed off before tilting her head so that her eyes met Harry's. "But I think they might be brewing a potion."
Harry frowned. "Then why the robberies, no exotic potion ingredients have been stolen."
"Yet." she added on impulse before shaking her head, "But you're right. So far all these things aren't exactly out of the ordinary which means there's another purpose to this."
Harry let out a frustrated sigh. "But what?"
"There could be a connection to the victims. These files didn't have much on them for me to check." She toyed with a loose curl that had fallen out of her ponytail.
She was about to continue when Harry spoke suddenly, "Have you read the paper lately?"
She frowned, confused as to what exactly he was hinting at with the remark.
"We've tried to control what exactly has been leaking to the media, but even then it's not exactly a pretty picture for the people. I can't tell you how many letters and interviews I've read that have called the entire Auror department into question. Some are even blaming the Minister for not being active enough to stop the longest string of crimes the Wizarding World has seen since the 60's." Harry took a long deep breath, "And if I then take into account that the people likely behind this are the Death Eaters still at large, who've have nearly a decade to plan… then this all might be-"
"A way to generate unrest." Hermione finished, her voice falling to a whisper, "they're setting the stage for an easy coup."
She shook her head staring at the cases before her. "But why the potion, just for another phase in the plan or…"
"Do you think I should bring an expert in on this?" Harry interrupted.
She looked up and across the table taking him in for the first time since he'd managed to floo over.
Harry looked tired. His hair was more unruly than usual and a day old beard was decorating his jaw line. He'd obviously lost more than just a little bit of sleep.
She let out a sigh.
"It might be worth looking into. Really asking Draco might be your best option. He's an expert in potions and he...he might be the only person willing to share what he knows about these people." She said without looking up from where her eyes had settled on the floor.
If Harry thought anything of her addressing Draco by his first name, he didn't show it.
"I approached him once already."
She looked up, startled at the revelation.
"I had to meet with him when he first got back and asked more because my superiors had been breathing down my neck." He said running a hand through his hair, "and I think he would help us, if he wasn't worried we'd then rope him in as some sort of bait."
"Harry!"
He shook his head. "It's a possibility Hermione. Even if I don't want to do it, I can't exactly promise it won't be necessary later."
He sighed before standing and shoving his fists into his pockets.
"I'll get you the victims' information. If we manage to figure out what this potion is, we might be able to avoid having to pull someone in to consult."
Or have more time to figure out how to convince Draco.
She refrained from commenting and instead answered with a nod as she stood to walk with Harry to the floo.
He sighed when they reached her living room. "Merlin the first time I've really gotten to see you these past few weeks and all we do is talk about work."
She smiled. "I know. I'm only just getting my schedule settled. I was going to mention it tonight when we were over at Andromeda's."
Harry's eyes widened. "Oh damn. You're right, that's tonight."
She couldn't help but laugh. "Your week must have been about busy as mine has been."
He scratched the back of his neck and shook his head. "You have no idea. Ginny threatened to lock me at home if I came home late one more night. I'm surprised she hasn't hijacked you for an update yet."
She rolled her eyes though a grin at her mouth showed she was as annoyed as she was pretending to be.
"She's basically threatened me into shopping in Diagon Alley with her today before we're meeting Padma."
Harry shook as he laughed at her apparent misfortune, though his mirth was interrupted with the tapping that suddenly sounded from her window.
She furrowed her brows at the sight of the large gray owl at her window and rushed to open the latch.
The minute she'd unlatched the letter from the beautiful bird's leg it flew away not giving her a minute to offer a treat or a reply.
She shook her head as she closed her window and opened the envelope before freezing as she pulled the card out.
She stood stunned, her fingers gliding over the the paper, tracing the etched lettering and pausing at the bottom where the crest was printed. To its left, in very familiar handwriting was a simple message.
I hope you can make it.
"Oh you got yours today too."
She startled at Harry's voice, unaware that he had managed to sneak up on her.
She cleared her throat.
"Are you going?"
Harry grinned for a moment, "Gin's curiosity is only just more than mine. I'm sure part of the shopping trip is going to be devoted to that." he tapped the card in her hand just as she groaned at the thought.
Hours spent being paraded until Ginny approved her outfit would be hellish, but…
She traced the crest once more.
This time she might try not to complain as much as usual.
It took 3 hours, 5 stores, and 1 argument before Ginny approved her outfit choice while simultaneously choosing her own.
Though she hated her methods, they did yield results.
She'd walked away with near perfection in her shopping bag.
She smiled to herself as she and Ginny turned down a corner toward the restaurant Padma had asked to meet at.
As they neared, she noticed the outdoor seating was still out. No doubt to take advantage of the last bit of beautiful weather before fall completely settled.
"Isn't that Padma?" Ginny suddenly asked inclining her head toward a group of people in the left corner table.
True to Ginny's word, Padma was amongst a crowd. To her left, Hermione easily made out Theo. Going around the table was Blaise and Pansy with another girl who looked incredibly familiar to her.
"Well this should be fun." Ginny murmured under her breath as they combed through the tables.
"Hermione!" Padma called out, having caught sight of them and was now eagerly waving them over.
"I hope you don't mind." Padma said standing to hug them in greeting before turning her and Ginny to face the rest of the table, "But Theo was already going out too, and I thought it would just make more sense for all of us to hang out together."
She smiled in reply adding in a nod, unsure really how to respond.
She was still shocked and she couldn't help but have her eyes drift as she looked to see if perhaps there was another member meant to join in on this lunch.
"He's not here." Padma murmured in her ear as she grinned, a spark in her eyes as she pushed her into a seat and returned to her own beside Theo.
"Hermione." Blaise greeted her as she slid into her chair. He inclined his head toward Pansy, and she could tell he was hoping to keep the atmosphere light, delegating the role of the social mediator to himself. "You remember Pansy and this is-"
"Hello Hermione." The girl beside Pansy greeted before turning to Ginny and repeating the same.
She furrowed her brows before she finally placed the face. "Oh my goodness, Fay!" She exclaimed, "I didn't recognize you!"
And it was true, the girl she'd roomed with all those years ago was a far cry from the woman before her.
Fay had cut her hair into a neat bob, one side just a bit longer so that it brushed the curve of her cheek. She seemed more...sure of herself.
Vaguely, she recalled having heard through Harry that she'd become an Auror just as she'd said she would when they were children.
Fay laughed. "I figured. You must have thought I was another one of these snakes."
Pansy jabbed an elbow into Fay's side, "I don't recall you minding us snakes before."
Fay turned smiling softly at Pansy, 'You know I don't mind." Her hand found Pansy's and their fingers laced together.
She found a smile tugging at her mouth at the sight before she waved off Fay's comment, "It's all in the past, besides I know a thing or two about working with snakes now." Her eyes drifted to Blaise who shrugged in response.
"At least we keep it interesting." He retorted.
"Ted slow down!" Draco called quickening his pace to match the run of his cousin as he darted amongst the people in the street content on reenacting the duel he'd only just witnessed.
He tried to keep a stern face, but the corner of his mouth threatened to turn upward in a slight grin at the sight. Perhaps he shouldn't have taken Teddy to the dueling ring, but he'd figured the outing would make up for how little he was around.
When Teddy had first found out he was moving permanently back to England, he'd been ecstatic. Something that had truly warmed his cold heart, because to this day he wasn't sure what Teddy saw in him.
He'd certainly been surprised when Teddy had taken to him initially after his mother and Andromeda had made peace. It had been little things at first, entertaining Teddy with childhood spells he recalled learning at his age to flying and Quidditch and now -
"And then you went like this." Teddy called out turning back to face Draco moving his hand in the wand motion he'd seen.
"Right." Draco said grabbing hold of his hand and pulling him toward his side, "How about we go over the duel when we get you home, I'm sure Andromeda will want to see it."
Teddy nodded eagerly pleased at the thought, falling into step. The bugger was probably planning a much more elaborate rendition now that he knew there would be an audience for his performance.
He shook his head at the thought. He was about to lead them down the street toward Fortescue's for the ice cream he'd promised Teddy.
Or he would have led them if his eyes hadn't landed on the new bistro that had opened in Diagon Alley.
The restaurant appeared packed and the tables they'd set up outside were filled, but that wasn't what had caught his eye.
It was the familiar set of faces sitting and laughing with one another.
Blaise, Theo, Pansy, Padma…
Hermione.
He halted mid-step watching her laugh and share a look with Pansy and Ginny. She seemed so… relaxed.
He shouldn't be surprised. She'd been so much more- civil since beginning her mastery under his tutelage.
Well, more than civil really. Granger, Hermione, was friendly. Once she was sure of you, she would converse easily, opening up and sharing in a way that he wasn't really used to.
He'd found himself drawn in by the warmth she seemed to have, only to have to pull away. He may treat her as more of a colleague, but she was still technically his student and he couldn't...couldn't fall into that friendship without remembering, without wanting-
"Hermione!" Teddy shouted out excitedly, having followed where he was looking and caught sight of his godmother.
She startled at the sound of her name, looking up with a smile blossoming across her face at the sight of Teddy jumping and waving to her. He watched, his breath frozen in his lungs, as her eyes drifted to him.
He recognized her confusion, the furrow of her brow and the way she drew her bottom lip between her teeth, thinking. Always thinking. It lasted all but a second before she smiled toward him.
His feet moved forward, his eyes not wavering from hers as he forced himself to return the gesture, letting for all intents and purposes Teddy lead him through the crowd and tables until he broke away and ran toward Hermione.
"Hey." Theo stood standing and maneuvering another chair for him to sit. "I didn't think you were free today."
He shook his head. "I promised Teddy a visit to the dueling club, and he somehow managed to extract ice cream as part of that deal."
Theo grinned. "He gets more slytherin everyday."
He responded with a one armed shrug. "Must be my influence." He smirked, "Andromeda's going to hate it."
He turned away from Theo and greeted the rest of the table, lingering on Pansy for a moment.
She greeted him only with a smile before her eyes drifted past him to follow another figure who came to stand by her.
"Draco, I want you to meet Fay." She stood and snuck her arm around the other's waist.
He stood and extended his hand out to her. She accepted it in a firm shake with a slight spark in her eyes as she took him in.
"Nice to meet you." He said politely before dropping back to sit in his seat beside Theo.
"Likewise." Fay said. "I mean, I think I already know you from everything Pans has said."
He couldn't help the grimace at that. "Well hopefully you took everything she said with a grain of salt. She is one for dramatics."
Pansy snorted. "Says one of the most dramatic people I know."
He shot her a look. Pansy sniffed, turning her chin up. "Don't fault me for speaking the truth."
He let his eyes wander to both Theo and Blaise who looked moments away from laughter.
He cleared his throat as he tilted his head to regard her. "Well Fay, it seems only fair that I enlighten you about a few stories on Pansy. You know, to match what she's no doubt told you about me." He sat back, his arms folded against his chest. "When we were about 6, she-"
"Alright." Pansy snapped, though he could tell from her expression that she wasn't as annoyed as she was pretending to be.
He grinned, a soft laugh escaping him as the familiar feeling of their banter settled between them.
It was the first time in the month or so he'd been back in England that he'd felt the slightest bit at home.
"And you didn't get caught. Not for the whole summer." Ginny exclaimed from beside her, and Hermione detected the slightest bit of respect as she glanced between Theo, Blaise, and Draco.
"I mean if they noticed that each wine bottle tasted a bit...off." Blaise said, "They didn't say."
"Or complained about the sudden infestation of gnomes roaming around the grape vines." Theo laughed.
Ginny grinned in response, and Hermione couldn't help but feel happy that they were all getting along so well.
She stole a glance toward Draco who was watching the scene with a slight grin on his face in between helping Teddy work through the rather large sundae he'd ordered for him.
This was the first time she'd gotten to see him so- casual. He was nearly relaxed amongst his friends, but she could tell he didn't appreciate the looks he was drawing from some of the other people around them.
She didn't know why that bothered her, but it did.
In some ways, she realized it couldn't be helped. With how rarely he seemed to venture out in public, Draco was pretty much guaranteed to draw attention. Then there was the fact that he was in dark fitted muggle jeans and a quarter zip pullover that also looked decidedly muggle in origin.
A far cry from classic Pureblood fashion.
She felt her cheeks heat, if only for a moment, as she glanced appreciatively at how the fit of the pullover seemed to accentuate his toned shoulders.
Though not quick enough for her action to be missed by Padma.
She felt her cheeks burn at that.
She tried to be more careful, but as the conversation went around her she began offering less and less, and her eyes drifting more and more to Draco.
And as he turned to speak with Blaise about some experiment or another she noticed a faint scar at the base of his neck that seemed to stretch until it was lost beneath the color of his shirt.
Where had he gotten that?
How had she missed it before?
She was startled out of her thoughts when Draco stood, pulling a tired Teddy with him.
"Well I think we better be off. I promised Andromeda I'd get this one home before dinner." Draco said.
She glanced at the time and startled herself. Where had the time gone? She still had a few things she wanted to get done tonight before dinner at Andromeda's. After all, tomorrow was going to be devoted to brunch with her parents, and she doubted she'd have much time for anything else after.
She stood slowly and gathered her bags.
"I should be heading home too. We can walk to the apparition point together." She said before tilting her head to meet Draco as close to eye level as she could. Though, before he had a chance to say anything Teddy had already taken her by the hand to lead her away as he shouted his goodbyes behind him.
She laughed and as she threw her head back in the motion, her gaze locked with Draco's.
She fell into his eyes it seemed, trying and wondering if she would ever be able to tell what exactly was behind them. She blinked and she was once more on her feet moving quickly to keep up with Teddy's fast pace and Draco's long legs.
Draco slowed his pace to match Hermione's when Teddy broke away to run ahead of them.
"It was nice of you to spend the whole day with him. He seems to really love spending time with you."
He glanced to her before once more turning his attention to his cousin who had diverted toward the park across from the apparition point.
"He did have a good time. Though, I'm not sure it was me and not the dueling and ice cream." he said.
She laughed, and he was drawn to the sound. When she laughed, she laughed with her entire body. Her head would tilt back and her shoulders would bob slightly. She would radiate her amusement.
It was nice.
Most people he'd ever known had moved in certain positions, never deviating from the socially acceptable etiquette they'd been instructed in.
Granger. Hermione. Wasn't bound by such things. She was always so free.
"That might be true." She said her smile still stretched across her face as she tucked a stray curl behind her ear. "How did you get into dueling?"
He tensed if only by a fraction. Such a simple, innocent questions, and yet he was thrown. Dueling had never been about the how, but rather the why. And the why that had led him into it had been fueled by emotions.
And being next to Hermione right now made those reasons more easy to remember.
He shrugged a shoulder, hoping it would distract from his minuscule discomfort. "I wanted to get better at it, and it became stress relief after that."
Her eyes searched his face for a moment as she stopped her walking. She bit the inside of her cheek before folding her arms across her chest and letting out a sigh.
"I hate that you do that." she murmured.
He froze, and she having realized she spoken aloud had her eyes wide as a hand came to cover her mouth.
"Hate what?" he finally managed to say swallowing roughly as his mouth went dry.
She nibbled her lip before taking a breath and tilting her chin up as she spoke, no doubt more confidently than either one of them felt.
"I hate that you shutter yourself away."
He fell quiet. He couldn't bring himself to speak. To defend. He was waiting to see how she would continue.
He wanted to know what she meant.
Because, why would she care? In fact, he'd thought keeping themselves a respectful distance away would be to both their benefits.
She'd barely tolerated the idea of working with him a month ago. How was he to know if she would tolerate anything besides a professional relationship with him?
But perhaps, that was more his own thinking rather than hers. Because, now, after having her rush back into his life in the most unexpected way….he didn't want to show,
push,
be too much and risk her withdrawing instead.
And he was able to at least admit to himself that he didn't want to do anything to jeopardize all they'd finally moved passed.
Anything more than that...well that wasn't something he was willing to really delve into; least of all now.
"Anytime I ask even a remotely personal question…you hide away." She stepped closer so that they stood each facing each other maybe a foot or two apart.
"And I wish, would like," She amended, "I think I would like to get to know the Draco underneath all this." She waved a hand to gesture at his person.
"At least we could, " she bit her lip, "be friends after a while."
He raised a brow. "You want to be friends with me?"
She let out a nervous laugh. "I'm not asking for all your deep dark slytherin secrets, but yes."
The corner of his mouth twitched a fraction of a inch up.
"Ok Granger. Hermione." he said, "We'll be friends."
She gave a wryly half smile.
"Good." She said softly reaching over and squeezing his arm.
He barely registered her calling a goodbye to Teddy or even the low pop of her apparition.
He couldn't because all he could focus on was where his arm was still tingling from where she'd touched him.
