Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns HP Universe and stuff.

Chapter 8

On Monday morning, Draco made sure to get to the ministry early to drop off Hermione's necklace and a small bouquet of wildflowers. He left them on the center of her empty desk with a note.

Two hours later, Hermione's boss showed her into her office after a tour of the department, and assigned her first project. She smiled at the ambiance of her large office and noticed several things sitting on her desk.

Once her boss had left her to it, she sat down and grabbed the closest and biggest item. It was a large vase filled with red roses and a note that said 'good luck on your first day, love Viktor' She smiled sweetly and set them to the side. The next one was from the Weasleys and Harry; it was a book on different rare magical creatures. They had all written nice notes of encouragement on the inside cover.

She picked up the small bouquet of wildflowers with a big cheesy grin on her face and smelled them. She couldn't help but think that whoever left these must really know her. A nice simple gesture that wasn't over the top or too extravagant. She set them back down and noticed the necklace that was attached to them. It had indeed been re-engraved to say 'The most intelligent and badass witch.' She chuckled softly and shook her head while she put the necklace back around her neck.

Once the clasp was secured, she noticed a note attached to the flowers and snorted at what it had said.

You haven't even started work yet and you already have a bigger office than the one Potter and I share. It really makes me feel appreciated. I'm sure if you listen real close you can hear me scoffing all the way down the hall.

DM

She bit her lip, wondering what was going on with her old rival. His actions lately had been a complete one-eighty from when they were in school. Hermione Granger was confused. Not only did she not understand the way Draco was acting to her, but she didn't know how to act toward him anymore either. She found herself thinking about how much he had made her laugh lately and how much she enjoyed the banter with him. She briefly thought about how handsome he had become, but quickly pushed that thought from her head. She was with Viktor.

She shook all thoughts of him from her head, realizing she needed to get started on her first project; though not before taking a moment to scribble a small note back to her old nemesis before getting to work. This project was going to help a lot of people and she was thrilled to be a part of it.

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Later that afternoon Harry and Draco arrived back at their office after an unsuccessful day of interrogations. Draco sat down at his desk in defeat before noticing a note sitting on top of the paperwork he had left there that morning. His frustration immediately subsided as he recognized the handwriting and quickly picked it up; the corners of his lips turning upwards.

Oh don't worry, I could hear the scoffing loud and clear. I wonder what you will have to get engraved on this necklace next?

HG

PS: How did you know what my favorite flowers were?

Harry noticed the big goofy smile on his partners face and the way he was re-reading the note in his hand over and over. "Good news?"

Draco put the note down and looked up. "Just a note from Granger." He responded with a grin still plastered on his face.

Harry chuckled and shook his head at his partner.

Suddenly, two memos flew into their office and landed on each of their desks. They curiously unfolded their memos and read:

You are cordially invited to attend:

Next Friday, July 15th at 7:00 p.m. there will be a ministry ball dedicated to celebrating the year marker of the end of the war. It will also be celebrating the fact that the ministry is fully staffed and operational after hiring several fresh faces just graduating from Hogwarts. Please wear your finest dress robes and be prepared for a night of dancing and celebration in the Ministry Atrium. Each staff member may invite a plus one.

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Minister of Magic

Draco looked at the memo and sighed. The only plus one he would want to ask was probably going to be taking her broody knuckleheaded boyfriend. He looked up and noticed the happy look on Harry's face.

"What's got you in such a good mood?" He asked.

"It's the perfect place!" Harry exclaimed like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"What are you on about?" Draco asked as he gave his partner a funny look.

Harry pulled a small black box out of his pocket.

Draco smirked. "Potter I am quite flattered, but you're really not my type."

Harry rolled his eyes and ignored the comment. "I am going to ask Ginny to marry me, I have been trying to come up with the perfect way to do it and I think proposing at this Ministry Ball would be the perfect time and place."

"Really? You want to do it in front of the whole ministry?" Draco asked. "You wouldn't rather it be something a bit more private?"

"No think about it." Harry responded, "We will both be dressed up in our finest and most of her family and closest friends will be there."

"Still seems a bit to public to me, but I suppose you have a point." Draco stated as he organized some things around his desk.

"Do you think you could bring Ron as your plus one?" Harry asked.

Draco scoffed. "I hate to break it to you, but he isn't my type either."

Harry chuckled at it that time. "I meant so that he could be there to see the proposal as well." He said. "If I can get Percy to bring George than the only Weasleys' to miss out will be Bill, Fleur, and Charlie."

"I'll bring the Weasel." Draco agreed with a huff. "It's not like I have anyone else to invite anyway."

"Perfect" Harry said happily.

"Congratulations by the way, Potter." Draco said.

"Thank you." Harry responded with a smile.

After a few minutes of silence Draco spoke up again. "I've changed my mind."

Harry looked up confused. "About taking Ron?"

"What?...No." Draco said, "When we first became partners you asked if I was going to act on my feelings for Hermione. I said no, but I have changed my mind."

Harry sighed. "I would be thrilled if Hermione ended up with you; I think you two are perfect for each other, but she is still with Krum. I don't think it's the right time."

"There is something off with that guy and you know it." Draco responded in frustration. "I am not going to sit back and watch her get away from me."

"You'll scare her off if you tell her the truth, and you'll only anger her if you try and split them up." Harry scolded. He knew Hermione better than anyone and knew what not to do to anger her or push her away.

"Well what do you suggest I do then? I'm not going to sit back and let her waste time with the wrong man."

Harry pondered the question with a huff, "She has obviously enjoyed the banter with you since you have become one of the group. You have also surprised her by making her laugh with your dry sense of humor. I am pretty sure she sees you as a friend now, you know with all of the inside jokes you two seem to be sharing. Continue to make her see the changed you, the real you." He paused, thinking of what the next step in winning Hermione's heart would be. "Then at the ball you need to complement her on how nice she looks, because we both know she will look amazing. If she knows that you find her attractive, it will be a hint that you are interested in her. That will get her thinking and it might cause her to question what she has with Krum."

Draco held the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes in frustration. "Slow and steady wins the race I guess."

"The thing about Hermione is that you have to get her to think about things the way you want her to, but she doesn't like to be tricked. It's a delicate balance."

Draco nodded. "Understandable."

"And Malfoy." Harry said causing his partner looked up at him. "I don't care much for Krum either."

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That evening, the three best friends plus Ginny and Draco decided to go out for dinner and drinks at The Leaky Cauldron to celebrate Hermione's first day of work. The boys all got beers while Hermione was sipping on a glass of red wine, and Ginny got a fruity cocktail. Harry had somehow managed to get Hermione sandwiched between Ginny and Draco so he could help his partner with the plan they had come up with earlier.

Everyone but Hermione was discussing the upcoming quidditch season when Draco, who was on the end, suddenly touched Hermione's arm with his fingertips. "So do all house elves have salaries yet?" he said with a hint of sarcasm.

She grinned but rolled her eyes. "Of course not."

"What?" he said with a serious face as he took a drink of his ale. "You've been there an entire day. Seriously, I expected more from you. Seems you've slipped since Hogwarts."

"I think you're the one who has slipped." She retorted "You should have had all the death eaters behind bars months ago."

"Ooo, she brings out the big guns." He said with a grin as he absentmindedly rubbed his fingers in circles over the back of her hand.

A blush started to form on her cheeks and he realized what he was doing; removing his hand from hers at once.

"So what is your first project?" He asked trying to distract her from his subconscious touching.

"I am starting a therapy group for werewolves." She said as she finished her first glass of wine. "Greyback bit a lot of people during the war, and some of these people are still trying to cope with the changes. I am also trying to get funding so that anyone who joins the group can get Wolfsbane potion every month."

"How much funding does it need?" He asked interested.

"Well to get it started we will need 60,000 galleons, but the Wolfsbane ingredients aren't cheap and it will cost 12,000 galleons a month to keep our estimated needed supply of the potion stocked." She said as she took a sip of her second glass.

"So 250,000 galleons should get you through the first year and half then?" He replied.

Hermione choked on her new glass of wine. "What?"

"The Malfoy's will donate 250,000 galleons to your project." He informed her. "I know my father has been looking for important post war charities to give to and this is one that we feel close to. As Greyback was in and out of our house all through the war."

Hermione suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug. His eyes were wide with shock and his heart skipped a beat. He quickly gained his cool and placed one hand on her back with a chuckle. "You're welcome."

She jerked away from him to his disappointment but she did have a big smile on her face. She placed one hand on top of his. "Seriously, thank you so much!" She said excitedly.

He placed his other hand atop hers relishing in the feel of her skin. "It's really nothing, I sincerely want to help. Greyback was truly awful and I want to help those who are suffering from his actions."

He kept her hand in both of his until their food showed up. Neither noticed Ginny watching the two of them out of the corner of her eyes, or the grin that crept up on her face as she saw the way Draco was looking at Hermione.

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Harry, Hermione and Ron decided they needed to go take a new picture to commemorate the moment in time, so they stepped over to another part of the pub to take some pictures. After they left the booth Ginny scooted closer to Draco with an impish look on her face.

"I think I finally have your secret figured out!" Ginny sang with a smirk that could rival the one usually plastered on his own face.

"Is that so?" He asked with one eyebrow raised.

"You have a thing for Hermione don't you?" She responded.

Draco shook his head like it was nothing. "What makes you think that?"

"Seriously?" Ginny rolled her eyes. "You gave her that necklace for Christmas. Oh yes I saw it, although at the time I thought it peculiar, but I passed it off as nothing. I thought it must have just been a joke. When we finally come home I expect you to be just as friendly with me as you are with her, but no. On Saturday at the party I caught you looking at her like some lovesick puppy. You also made a point to talk to her every chance you got. Now I find out you gave her flowers on her first day of work, and you have been flirting and touching her all night." She said matter of factly. "All of those things tell me you like her, and that you have for some time."

Draco rubbed his face with his hands and sighed. "Okay… you caught me."

Ginny grinned in triumph.

"I will tell you everything, all the juicy details you have been dying to know since you found out Potter had to keep a secret from you."

"Yes!" She said as she pumped her fist.

"But you can't tell Hermione."

"What…no!" Ginny said with a pout.

"I need to tell her on my own and in my own time okay?"

Ginny huffed but nodded.

"I'm serious. If I tell you everything, you have to promise it stays between Harry, you and me."

Draco knew he had her. She was too curious for her own good.

"Okay, okay" She agreed. "I promise not to discuss it with anyone but Harry, now tell me! I can't stand not knowing another second."

Draco chuckled. The future Mrs. Potter was a funny witch. "Okay so I guess it started late third year."

Ginny looked shocked. "Really! That long ago?"

"Yes." He responded, "That was when I started to question blood purity. She had me beat in every class for three years in a row and that just didn't make sense to me. How could she beat me in all classes if purebloods were suppose to be that much better at magic than a person with no magical ancestors? It started to dawn on me that what I had been taught was complete bollocks. That was also the year she punched me in the face."

Ginny laughed, remembering Ron telling her all about it with glee.

"She put me in my place that day. That was also the year I realized how sweet and innocent she really was as well. I noticed she was into helping defenseless creatures, and I overheard her telling you in the Library that she had a crush on your brother."

"I remember that day, she was crying because of how stupid he was being."

"Yes, and at the time I thought it was funny. However, that got me thinking. Here is the sweet muggle born girl who is the smartest witch in school; and the person she chooses to like is the guy who has no money. She likes the non wealthy guy who isn't someone extremely smart, but is someone who makes her laugh and has been with her through hard times. That was the moment I started to find her intriguing. Only a few weeks later was the day she punched me. She punched me because I was being a jerk, and because I almost got a creature she cared about killed."

"So that's when you knew you liked her?" Ginny asked.

"Oh no, that was just when I started to change and realize I may not have been raised to believe the right things. And also when I started to become intrigued by her."

"Okay, so when did you realize you liked her then?" Ginny was hoping to get to the good stuff.

He chuckled again at her impatience. "So in fourth year I accidentally hit her with that beaver tooth hex."

Ginny cringed, "Yeah that was awful."

"Yeah I thought it was quite funny at first, but then I saw her in the Library after Madam Pomfrey fixed her teeth. I saw her sitting there in the library reading with a big smile on her face, and that is when I realized how beautiful she is." He said with a small smile reminiscing how she looked that day. "I was still a complete tosser back then and insulted her trying to overcompensate for thinking of a "mudblood" as attractive. I was appalled that I could find her so pretty, but when I insulted her she just smiled that gorgeous smile of hers and gave me banter right back."

"And that's when you knew?" Ginny asked hopefully.

"Oh I tried to deny it to myself at that time, however yes, I know now that that was probably the day my crush started."

"Ok what happened after that?" Ginny was impatient to get all the details.

"When the Yule ball was approaching I heard rumors that she had been asked by someone, but no one seemed to know who."

"Oh yeah, Ron was livid when she declined him and wouldn't tell him it was Krum."

"Yeah I was just as jealous as he was that someone else was getting to take her. You should have seen my face when I saw her with Krum. Especially when she looked as amazing as she did that night."

"I bet it rivaled the look on Ron's face, which I did see!" She exclaimed with glee.

Draco snorted, "I was even more jealous when Krum saved her during the second task. The only thing that stopped me from picking a fight with him that year, was knowing that he would leave after the final task and that he was moving back to Bulgaria." He said in frustration over the fact that she was now dating him again. "I was determined to treat her differently after Krum left, but then that evil bastard came back and started residing in my house. I knew that I had to keep pretending to care about blood purity or he would torture me."

"Okay I get that, but why did you join Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad?" She asked.

"I actually joined to keep her and other members off of your tails." He responded.

"Really?"

"Yeah I got really good at disillusionment charms to keep myself hidden and I would follow her around to make sure no one could catch her."

"I don't know if that is sweet or creepy." Ginny said in thought. They both laughed and agreed it was both.

At that moment Harry, Ron and Hermione started to walk back toward the booth after having been bombarded by Dedalus Diggle. "Potter knows the rest, ask him about the rest when you are alone okay?"

Ginny nodded and pretended to zip her lips before turning to give Harry a big kiss on the lips as he slid into the booth next to them.

Ron groaned. "Could you please not do that around me!"

Hermione sat back down next to Draco, as they all ignored Ron. "What were you two talking about?"

He replied with a smirk, "You'll find out eventually."

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Much to Draco's dismay, Hermione had left early to sleepover at Krum's after his practice was over. She had wanted to let Harry and Ginny have a nice evening together. Draco decided to head home as well, very cranky, not long after. He did whisper to Harry that he could break his oath, but only to Ginny shortly before he left. Harry had looked confused but figured he would find out why soon enough.

Harry was right. As soon as he had apparated Ginny to his flat she pushed him on the sofa, straddled him and placed her hands on his shoulder. She was grinning from ear to ear. "I figured it out! All on my own, and Malfoy told me you would finish telling me everything." She said very proudly. "So spill. What happened after your fifth year?"

Harry chuckled at his soon to be fiancé and proceeded to tell Ginny everything he knew about Draco's love for Hermione.

"So it isn't just a crush?" She asked a little surprised after Harry told her about all of the memories. "He is actually in love with her?"

"Yes, very much so." Harry replied. "Her relationship with Krum is driving him crazy."

"Maybe I could help drive a wedge between them?" Ginny said confidently.

Harry was now the one surprised. "You would want to help Malfoy?"

"I want to help Hermione." She said as she snuggled closer to him. "I think it was good for her to get some dating experience with Krum, he isn't bad looking. And who doesn't want to date someone who is really into them? But I think we all know that she doesn't love him and he just isn't right for her."

"But you think Malfoy is?" Harry asked.

"I know you do. Now that I know the secret I see how much you have been pushing them together." She said as she massaged his shoulders. "I trust you know what would be best for Hermione. And if you trust that it's him than I will do what I can."

"Now that he has stopped being a prat, I do think they could be really great together. And I honestly just want them both to be happy." Harry responded as he rubbed Ginny's back and held her closer. "I want them to be just as happy as we are."

"I completely agree." Ginny smiled and kissed him seductively. "Now enough talking." She took off her shirt; throwing it behind her. "There is something else I would rather be doing on our night alone together."

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The next day there was a department wide Auror meeting in the largest conference room. Arthur was standing at the front while everyone shuffled into the seats around the room. Draco sat down next to Harry; obviously in a bad mood.

"Rough night?" Harry asked.

"Why bother asking when you already know the answer Potter?" Draco asked fuming. "If they don't break up soon I might just arrest him as the spy to get him out of the way."

"You're a little scary when you're angry." Harry gulped. "Did you know that?"

"We both know I am not serious." Draco scoffed as he crossed his arms and slumped in his seat. "I would love an excuse to get him away from her though."

Their conversation was cut short as Arthur stepped up to the podium in the center of the front of the room. "We have a lot to discuss today, First and foremost is security for the Ministry ball next Friday. We know that the spy is supposed to be getting something from someone at the Ministry this summer and we are worried that this will be the target night for them to break in or infiltrate as a guest."

Everyone nodded in understanding that this was a very plausible theory. Arthur continued, "To minimize the risk everyone will take an hour long shift of patrol in a different part of the ministry the night of the ball. I want everyone to be able to enjoy their night, which is why I will only require a one hour shift from each of you. However, we must make sure that all important departments are covered at all times. We must not let the spy or the Lestranges get what they are after. "

Most of the Aurors chanted 'yeah' in agreement.

"You will all get a memo the morning of the ball telling you what time and what department you will report to."

Arthur finished the meeting after a few other topics were discussed and dismissed them.

As Draco made his way back to their office, he saw Krum and Hermione in the hall. As he approached he could hear bits of the argument they seemed to be having.

"Viktor I told you I am very busy right now, I am at work and do not have time to take a stroll with you."

"I know, I understand that, but I just vanted to spend a little time vith you today. I haff been so busy vith Quidditch practices since you moved back that I vanted to see you for just a few minutes."

"I know I am sorry, I just don't have time right now. Another day I promise."

"Fine, but let me at least bring you lunch tomorrow?"

She nodded and kissed his cheek before scampering back to her office.

Once she was out of sight, Draco walked over to Krum with his wand out. "No unattended visitors in the ministry Krum… not even famous ones. I am afraid I will have to escort you out of the building."

"Fuck off Malfoy." Krum responded dryly.

"These are dark times Krum, can't trust anyone." Draco said with a smirk, "I wouldn't be doing my duty as an Auror if I left you in the building unattended."

"Fine!" Viktor said angrily, "I vas just leaving anyvay."

Krum huffed off toward the exit leaving Draco feeling very satisfied. He was indeed in a better mood than he had been that morning. Irritating Krum might just become his new favorite hobby.