Chapter Eight
"So, how's Daisy?"
It was a simple question, Hermione didn't really have an interest in that particular female but she served her purpose as her colleagues sexual companion.
She was mainly just bored with the silence in the office. Hermione has again lost inspiration in her current subject of study and carried herself over to near the whiteboards.
From her new standpoint, Hermione shifted her eyes to roam across the blondes figure. He was lean, partially from genetics and the other half she assumed was from some physical exertion. If he was anything like what he was in school he probably flew on those ridiculous brooms.
Honestly who would want to rely solely on a few twigs three hundred metres in the air?
There was no question that his appearance had grown on her. She understood why women through themselves at him for his wealth or genetics however the odd twist in her stomach when he crinkled his eyes to smile spoke of other things.
"She's probably flittering around somewhere trying to find a new job."
His response surprised her.
"So she's been discarded?"
"Like last nights seafood leftovers."
"Caused a scene?"
"Like you wouldn't believe."
"Cried?"
"Of course Granger, most women cry at the loss of this fine specimen."
"What do you actually want in a woman Draco? Who do you want to come home to?"
"You've asked a similar question before, why don't you answer first?"
"Well, I'm not sure what I'd want in a woman, but I'm more inclined for my partner to have a penis."
Their half-serious conversation broke into quiet chuckles as Hermione further examined their latest theories on enchanted cores of items.
"The wand wood is a carrier, metal holds more elements which align to magic better. If we can infuse a core combination of one of the more common wand cores and specifications we can test to see if it can transmute our magic." It was all coming together, as Hermione stopped working on her current theorem review of different wood grain and its implications of magical enhancements, it all sort of fell into place.
Draco stood up from his desk and took two steps to reach the whiteboard she was standing at. "This is definitely worth an experiment then, what metal would we use?"
"Well, if we align magic to be akin to electricity in the way it moves, we could theorise that it could be conducted through silver, copper or gold as they're the most conductive. I'd prefer to test copper as that is more cheap and then would be easier to mass market then."
"Seems like an apt idea Hermione, we can start sourcing those items next week."
As Hermione half turned to face the man next to her and only when he mirrored her actions she realised how close she was to him. If Hermione was better endowed in her chest they'd be touching his torso at that moment.
It was like all of the air was sucked out of the room.
"Yes, I'll put a purchase order in." Draco gulped, Hermione noticed us that the situation was ruffling him as well.
"Ambition." She managed to choke out.
"What?"
"The answer to your previous question, he has to be ambitious."
The air came back into the room and the atmosphere lulled to its norm.
"That's a given Hermione, how else would they manage to be equal to you."
"I want someone who won't coddle me."
"Well no one dates a baby."
"I'd like him to be able to carry a conversation."
"Really? I thought you were into dolts like Weasley?"
"I know you're being sarcastic, and I'm talking here and now, not years ago when I didn't know there were people like myself."
"Which is?"
Hermione could see he was challenging her pre-set tick boxes for her partner, it made her uncomfortable but strangely happy. She had missed spars with people.
"People like myself who can talk about science or world politics or not think that the only thing they're required to do is to find a partner and pop out babies like a baby-cannon."
There was a few steps between them now, in her to and fro with her counterpart, somehow they distanced themselves.
"Hermione, you don't deserve anyone less than a person who thinks of you more than a baby-cannon. However I think you've been put on a pedestal by society and yourself." His tone was quiet, somber and he refused to look at anything else but her eyes.
"I don't put myself on a pedestal."
"Everyone thinks that you're this amazing person, the media screams brightest witch of our age and other nonsense. It makes you untouchable, like that the person you'd be with would be nothing but perfect in society's eyes."
Hermione pauses for thought, instantly wanting to disagree with the statement however held back to think further. Each person she had been associated with was deemed not good enough with the exception of Harry in their fifth year Hogwarts when the roles were reversed.
She hated the fact that she couldn't argue his point.
"Perfection is a lazy mans dream and impossible to have." She bit out, her eyes dropped back to her desk, her work as a distraction.
"Everyone's got a different version of their perfection, that's all." He countered softly.
—-
It was early the next morning when Hermione choked on her crumpet.
"HERMIONE GRANGERS HUNT FOR SUCCESS - WILL ANYTHING BE ENOUGH AS SHE SETS HER EYES ON BECOMING THE MALFOY GROUPS NEXT CEO"
The daily profit article was vicious in listing Hermione's methods of amending the Ministry and then working her way through TMG departments. The media had been thorough and accumulated several quoted officials on how she had handled their departments.
Nothing was mentioned about her successes in fixing the inefficiencies or the corruption. It seemed that the only thing people were willing to publicise was the fact that she was responsible for mass (however necessary) redundancies.
"For fucks sake." Were the only words mentioned out loud as she read on to see TMG ex-employees talk about how she had allegedly stolen the best office, brought her own staff and bullied other executives into getting her own way.
They weren't entirely wrong, however this was a public relations nightmare.
Her floo lit up in the living room and Hermione was met with the radiant beauty that was Narcissa Malfoy - her boss.
"Well, that definitely woke me up more than my tea did." The blonde spoke gently, surveying her surroundings with a guarded expression.
"Tea Narcissa?" She offered glumly, standing for a welcome and gestured for Lady Malfoy to take a seat.
As the kettle was boiling, Hermione twisted her hand lazily and her breakfast items tidied themselves and her tea tray used only for guests sprung to life, gathering cream and sugar.
She even thought she saw Narcissa nod in admiration.
Almost.
"Now as much as love a power hungry story this is something that The Malfoy Group must get ahead of. How would you feel about a press conference?"
"That's fine, am I allowed to use the data we are using for our quarterly report for improvements?"
"Of course, if you have Mister Potter and Mister Weasley next to you."
"Why Narcissa?"
"So that when they're attempting to tear you apart it will look like they're insulting the Golden Trio."
Hermione purposely rolled her eyes and summoned more crumpets and the condiments. "Narcissa, I hardly think that people will feel that way if I have my two best friends up there."
"How about if we put Draco up there too? A united front then?"
Hermione knew she wasn't going to win any part of this, she almost bet that Narcissa has already gathered the media and written her speech. "What time is the conference?"
The blonde matriarch smiled carefully "Today at two."
She knew it.
Cameras were flashing as Hermione tidied up her speech. It was only a short spiel, citing numbers and calling the Minister to correct the stance on the Ministry for her previous position.
Now it was time for questions.
"Miss Granger, why did the Malfoy's bring you across if they were the people offering this position to you?"
"The Malfoy Group wanted a person that could review processes and performance reviews and ensure that the company is working at maximum efficiency. I am well known from previous roles that I encompass the skills required to complete this task." Her voice was strong and calm, backed with Harry, Ron and Draco behind her and with Narcissa sitting casually in a seat beside her. "Further more, the way the media have blatantly disregarded the facts and several letters from the Minister Arthur Weasley's office, this seems to be a case of defamation in which I would gladly source a solicitor to act upon."
Most hands that were raised for questions dropped like hot coals. Except one.
"Miss Granger, some previous employees of the Ministry say you're a tyrant whose only joy is taking away people's only source of income. How do you feel about leaving these people without an income to support themselves and their families?"
Hermione paused for a moment as her insides turned to ice, before she could respond however, Draco's voice broke through.
"Thank you for such a malicious question. In a way, you could say that you're just doing your job and getting the answers by asking such terrible questions. I bet if we asked your friends and family that they'd say you were a lovely woman with good intentions. Now we can use that example and answer easily. Miss Granger was only doing her job. She had previously stated and has data to prove that she has made the Ministry a better place. Would you rather your taxes go towards people that were proven to be corrupt? Or not doing their jobs? As a taxpayer I soundly answer with no and a thank you to her. Like all of you should."
"I think this conference is over, thank you all for coming." Harry nodded to the crowd and waved as the other four people walked off the platform. They chose to congregate just a little further in the atrium, closer to more private fireplaces.
"You carried yourself well Miss Granger, I had no doubts you would be able to address this scandal well." Narcissa Malfoy nodded and then walked off to vanish into the nearby floo and back to the office.
"Hermione, sorry they had to tear you apart like that, you alright?" Ron Weasley was never one to coddle, his boyish voice sounded like he was asking her to the pub, instead of asking on her health after a media onslaught.
"I'm sure that I'll be fine, I'd much rather be at home or in the office though."
"If you're going to the office, we can work on that metals requisition and experimentation." She could see Draco's eyes light up with the possibilities of a breakthrough.
"Malfoy, I don't think you should be pushing Mi to work right now. Can't you see you're working her to the bone?" Harry growled, Hermione noticed that he bristled always a little more when she and Draco were conversing.
"Hermione, you may need to pull your lapdog back."
Hermione laughed loudly at his statement, she had worked close enough to the blonde for a while now and knew she was purposely riling up her friends.
A click of a camera collected the brief exchange in a moment and Hermione knew it wouldn't bode well for TMG in the evening edition.
"THE MAGIC OF ROMEO AND JULIET – NOW MALFOY AND GRANGER?"
As soon as she unrolled the papers she groaned. Hermione was already in her pajamas and had set the dinner dishes to start cleaning themselves when the floo lit up multiple times.
Harry stormed in first, followed by Ron and Ginny.
She couldn't convince herself that she wasn't disappointed that a certain Malfoy didn't drop by.
"What the fuck Mi?"
"Why are they posting this bullshit?"
"Isn't it romantic?" Ginny sighed, flopping onto the couch and clasping her hands together dramatic fashion.
