Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns HP universe and stuff.
Chapter 9
The next week and a half went by rather quickly. The Auror department had set up more security measures around the ministry. Apart from no one allowed into the ministry without an escort; each Auror had a certain section of the ministry that they were to patrol for an hour every day. They did not want any department leaking information to anyone who could possibly be a spy. The apprehension in the ministry had led to several new procedures being implemented. All of the new employees that were hired straight out of Hogwarts had been given veritaserum upon their hire date to weed out possible spies. Because he was supposedly not able to get the information until summer, the running theory among the department was that the spy was a recent graduate.
In other news, Harry had asked Arthur for his approval to ask Ginny to marry him. Arthur had been thrilled and said that there was no one better to marry his only daughter. Harry had told him of the plan to ask her at the ball and Arthur agreed to help in any way possible to make it a memorable night. He had given Harry the earliest shift so he could propose and have the rest of the night to celebrate.
With everyone else wanting to enjoy the evening, Draco had agreed to take one of the later shifts instead. He had been assigned the east side of the lowest level; he was to meet the person who was exiting their shift to switch places. They would both check each other for signs of the imperius curse before the other auror could leave. Draco would then check each room and make sure there were no signs of forced entry or unwanted guests lurking about. If there was any sign of forced entry or trouble, the auror would have to send a patronus to Arthur Weasley immediately.
Draco had never learned that charm before and had to practice for hours with Harry before he finally got it. What had annoyed him the most, was that his patronus turned out to be a weasel. Harry and Ron had not stopped laughing at him. 'At least it wasn't a ferret' they had both said.
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On the night of the ball, Draco and Ron entered the ministry through the floo at promptly seven o'clock dressed in their best robes.
"Glad to see you didn't wear that monstrosity you had fourth year weasel." Draco said with a friendly smirk.
"Oh shut it ferret." Ron snapped back.
They both chuckled. They still always called each other weasel and ferret, but they were now friendly nicknames. Both of them knew they were only joking, although Ron joked he could now call Draco weasel as well.
Harry and Ginny came out of the floo moments later. Ginny in an emerald green dress that matched Harry's eyes.
"I hate that you have first patrol tonight!" Ginny whined.
"You should think it's lucky that I got first shift," he replied and kissed her hand, "That way I get to spend the rest of the night with you."
She nodded with a pout, making Harry chuckle.
"Just keep my plate warm for me will you?" Harry asked the three of them.
They all nodded and Harry was off to the elevators to patrol the department of mysteries. Harry was put on department of mysteries duty because he had already been inside of it before. The ministry did not want just anyone going into that department and they were worried that it was the department the spy was going to try and get into.
Ron led his sister to the table Hermione and Krum were already sitting at, followed closely by Draco. Draco hitched his breath as he took the sight of her in. She was in a low cut, backless, gold sequin dress with her curls tamed and shiny. She had never looked more beautiful to him.
"Bloody Hell Mione!'" Ron gasped. "Remind me why I let you break up with me again?"
Hermione scoffed and punched him in the shoulder which made Draco everyone else snort with laughter. As if wanting to claim possession of her, Krum started rubbing his hand in circles over her bare back, which made Draco clench his fists and sigh in jealousy.
"I am a lucky guy huh Veasley?" Krum said before turning to glare at Draco.
Draco knew Krum was trying to provoke him.
"You better feel that way, Hermione only deserves someone who knows how lucky they are to have her." Ron said as he kissed the top of her head. "Besides I was only joking, she's more like my sister!"
"Which is exactly why we broke up." Hermione added as she patted Ron's arm where she punched it with a smile.
"Good evening everyone." Percy said as he sat down next to Krum, closely followed by George.
George looked at Hermione and his eyes went wide. "Mother of Merlin Hermione!"
Ginny giggled, "Put your eyes back in your sockets."
Draco sat down next to George shaking his head in amusement. Hermione caught his eye across the round table and he winked at her with a grin. She rolled her eyes but returned the grin.
Catching their nonverbal communication, Krum shot Draco a nasty look before leaning over and kissing Hermione's shoulder and then neck playfully.
"We are in public!" She whispered in annoyance and glared at her boyfriend.
"Sorry love." He whispered back and started rubbing her knee and lower thigh. "I couldn't help myself. You just look so magnificent."
Draco was about to reach over and punch him, but luckily at that moment Arthur and Molly joined the table.
"Hope everyone is enjoying themselves tonight." Arthur said as he pulled out the chair next to Ginny for his wife. "I will be making a speech here shortly and then I will be joining you." He kissed his wife's cheek before joining the Minister by the stage.
After several minutes of chatting at the table, and many hateful stares between Draco and Krum, Arthur muttered a sonorous charm to kick the evening off.
"Good Evening everyone… as most of you know I am Arthur Weasley, Head of the Auror Department. And as the chief, I want to thank each and every one of you for your cooperation on all of the new security measures in place. It is the main priority of the ministry to capture and detain all dark wizards who wish to undo all of the progress we have made over the past year. If any of you have any information that could lead us to the capture of a dark wizard or Death Eater please come forward. The wizarding world cannot continue to progress to a better future while those dark wizards who are free wish to drag us back to the dark times. To continue on the right path, we must all work together and unify to make our world a better place."
There was lots of clapping that rang through the ballroom.
"Without further ado, I welcome Mr. Kingsley Shacklebolt, your Minister of Magic."
The applause rang louder as Kingsley stepped up to the podium.
"Thank you for that Introduction Arthur, those were all marvelous points." He said. "But tonight is about all of you…The Ministry could not function without each and every one of you. During the war we all lost something or someone we cared about. Even the children of You-Know-Who's supporters lost pieces of their childhood to the war. Nothing makes me prouder than looking into each of your faces and seeing how you have grown over the past year. So many lives were lost during the war, but we survived and we are pressing on. I am so pleased to announce that the ministry is fully staffed once again thanks to all of you who have decided to serve your ministry and serve our race. This night is dedicated to you. This night is to celebrate and thank you for your dedication." He finished and food appeared on all of the tables. "Please dig in…and drink as much as you wish tonight."
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Shortly after everyone at their table was finished eating, Harry joined them; finished with his patrol round. Ginny had cast a warming spell over his plate, and he dug in while the rest of the table chatted away.
Draco was in a conversation about Ministry policies with Percy when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Krum was now sitting next to him where Arthur had been seated earlier. "Stop staring at her or you vill be sorry." He whispered in Draco's ear.
"You don't want to threaten an Auror at a ministry event Krum, that wouldn't be good publicity for you." He responded coldly. Percy decided he needed to go find a work friend of his and took that time to scamper off.
"Vell at the end of the night it vill be me taking her home…not you." He sneered. "And it will be me who gets to help her out of that lovely dress shes wearing."
"You are despicable talking about her like that…if we were alone I would hex you worse than you've ever been before." Draco said threateningly.
"Maybe I vant you to curse me in public…maybe that vould make her never vant to talk to you again."
"Enjoy your time with her while you can…because we both know she will tire of you eventually."
"Not on my vatch." Krum disagreed. "I don't plan on ever letting her go."
"Well I don't plan on sitting back and watching her get fooled by you." Draco informed him.
"Vell vatch this Ferret." Krum said with a gloating smirk before going back over to Hermione.
"Herm-own-ninny?"
She turned from her conversation with Ginny to look at her boyfriend, "Yes Viktor?"
"Looks like the dancing has started…vould you like to join me on the floor?" He asked as he held his hand out to her.
She took it with a smile and they left the table. Krum pulled her close and moved her expertly around the ballroom floor. He winked at Draco over her shoulder while he stroked the lowest part of her back.
Draco was steaming with fury as he watched them; flashbacks of the Yule Ball running through his mind.
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A few dances later Harry was spinning Ginny around the floor; Hermione had danced once with Ron but had been pulled back by Krum immediately after; much to both Draco and Hermione's annoyance. Draco was dancing with Molly who was laughing at everything after a few too many glasses of champagne when he saw Harry nod to Arthur and then to Ron. It was time.
"Ginny Weasley" Harry said as he pulled a black box from his pocket and got down on one knee.
She clapped a hand over her mouth and was speechless for probably the first time in her life.
"I remember the first day I saw you there at Kings Cross. I had always dreamed of what a real family looked like, and I saw that with you and your whole family." He said as he opened the box with the ring in it. "I remember when I got jealous of Dean Thomas when I saw him kissing you in sixth year." Several people chuckled. "and I remember how much it hurt when I had to break up with you so you wouldn't be targeted by Voldemort." Several people gasped at his use of the V word. "I never ever want us to be separated again Ginny…I love you so much."
"I love you too Harry." She said as she held his hand in with one hand and the other over her heart.
"Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" she said excitedly while nodding.
He smiled and slipped the ring on her finger as the hall erupted into applause.
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After everyone had settled down and The Daily Prophet had taken lots of pictures of the happy couple, Harry asked Hermione to dance while Ginny shared a dance with her dad.
"I am so happy for you Harry." Hermione said excitedly as she placed one hand in his and the other on his shoulder.
"Thank you, I had to scoop her up before she got away of course." He replied with a big grin.
Hermione laughed.
"How are things going with you and Krum?" He asked as they glided along the dance floor.
"Good." She replied with a forced smile.
"Just Good?" Harry asked skeptically.
"Something is... off…just like it always has been with him and I." Hermione sighed as Harry twirled her.
"You don't love him then?" Harry asked as he could see tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
"No." She said sadly. "And I don't think I ever will."
"Don't be so sad about that." He said trying to comfort her, "You don't have to fall in love with him. It's not some rule that you have to love him back."
"I know that Harry." She replied as she wiped the tears threatening to fall. "but I couldn't love Ron in that way either…what if I am unable to love anyone…what if I end up alone?"
He stopped dancing and rubbed her elbows. "Hermione…you will find the perfect guy for you. I happen to know for a fact he is out there. You are only 19, your perfect match is just taking a little longer to make himself known to you than mine did."
She nodded and wiped away the rest of her tears. "Thank you Harry, I am being stupid and emotional tonight."
He gave her a hug and smiled at her. "Hermione Granger is never stupid."
This made her laugh and wipe the tears from her eyes. Harry watched as Draco walked out onto the balcony across the room. He knew this was his opportunity to push them together. He didn't even feel bad about it after finding out her true feelings for Krum. "Are you going to break up with him?"
She nodded while she bit her lip. "Not right away, I need to think things over before I make any rash decisions…but yes…I will have to break up with him soon."
Harry led her over to the drink table and handed her two different glasses. "I know that you know Krum isn't the right guy for you. When you do finally break up with him I will be here for you okay?"
She nodded and he kissed her on the forehead. "I think you could use some fresh air, so why don't you take that drink to Malfoy. I saw him go out to the balcony a few minutes ago."
She nodded again and took both glasses from him. "Thank you for being a good friend Harry. I don't know what I would do without you."
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Draco was not in a good mood. Krum had pissed him off and he was tempted to get plastered off his ass with Firewhiskey. He would have done it by now, except he still had his patrol coming up. He was leaning against the railing of the balcony, with thoughts of a certain witch and a broody Bulgarian running through his mind.
"You never did answer my question?" Draco heard his favorite voice ask. He turned around to look at her in her gold dress as she walked toward him. She stopped and leaned against the railing next to him. With a glass of champagne in one hand and what appeared to be firewhiskey in the other, she handed him the latter. They stared at each other in silence for a moment.
He brushed his fingers against her hand as he took the glass from her. "Which question would that be?"
"How did you know what flowers I would like?" She asked and sat down on the bench in front of him.
"I didn't really know for certain… my house elf Mindy loves to walk through the fields at the back of the manor and pick fresh wildflowers. When I realized how much she enjoyed it, I told her she should do that for at least an hour twice a week." He replied as he sipped on his drink.
Hermione looked at him in both surprise and adoration. She rested one hand over her heart subconsciously.
Draco gave a small smile and continued. "She likes to leave them in small vases throughout the manor; she says it makes it feel more homey. I have to say I quite agree, and I like to see the sweet elf so happy. On Sunday, I asked Mindy to pick out enough for a nice bouquet and to wrap them in the best paper we had. She was thrilled that I had a task that incorporated her favorite part of her week."
"I didn't know you cared about…" she started to say, but struggled to find the right words. She was genuinely astounded by his answer and knew in that moment she had feelings for him. Feelings she wasn't sure she wanted to have. "Sorry I was not expecting that sweet of an answer."
He walked a few steps to join her; sitting on the bench next to the railing. "Malfoy's are not sweet Hermione."
She grinned devilishly, "That's right, you're more like a weasel."
He groaned smacked his forehead. "Which one of them told you?"
She laughed loudly and threw her head back. "Ron, of course."
"Seriously, of all the things it could have been." He replied while trying and failing not to smile back.
"It could have been a Ferret!" She said excitedly through her giggles and pointed at him.
"That's what they said!" he exclaimed loudly while struggling not to laugh. Her laugh was contagious though and he couldn't remember the last time he had laughed this much. Both of them had been in bad moods before she walked out to join him on the balcony, but that was obviously not the case anymore.
After a moment their laughter subsided and their breathing slowed to normal.
"Your patronus is an otter right?" He asked.
She took a sip of her champagne and nodded. "It is."
"Any story behind the reason?" He leaned back against the bars behind the bench.
Her smile faded instantly, "My father used to take me to the zoo every summer actually." She said with a sad glint in her eyes. "My favorite part was the otter exhibit…we would watch them swim for almost an hour before he would drag me to see the rest of the zoo." She wiped a tear away before it could fall. "After the zoo we would go swimming in my grandmother's pool to cool off. I would swim on my back and tell him to watch me swim like the otters."
He took the opportunity to rub her back soothingly with his fingers. "You must miss him terribly."
She looked right into his eyes and saw that he was genuinely concerned. She nodded sadly. "Did Harry tell you what happened?"
He nodded and handed her the handkerchief from his pocket. "Voldemort destroyed a lot of families…I'm so sorry."
She dabbed her eyes carefully. "Me too."
He softly rubbed her bare back up and down to show he cared. They sat in silence for a few minutes before she stood up suddenly. She wasn't comfortable with how much she liked him touching her. "I better go find Viktor, he is probably looking for me." She said as she started to walk away.
Draco grabbed her hand to stop her and she froze in place.
"Hermione." He said.
She turned back to look at him, confusion clear on her face as she looked directly into his eyes.
"You look stunning tonight."
She gave him a small smile. "Thank you"
He gently caressed her hand with his fingertips as he let it go and she walked back inside.
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Hermione had lost her boyfriend. And yes, she was quite aware of the double meaning behind that statement. She had not seen Viktor since she danced with him after Harry's proposal. She walked into the hall that lead to the elevators to see if he was hiding in that area. It was empty.
She had turned to go look somewhere else when she nearly ran into Draco. He grabbed her arm to stabilize her.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
She raised an eyebrow and glared at him. "What are you doing here?"
"I am about to go down to do my patrol. I am supposed to be here." He replied matter of factly.
"I'm still trying to find Viktor, I haven't seen him since just after Harry's proposal." She replied and crossed her arms.
"Lost him have you?" He said with a smirk, "Well he isn't supposed to be down there."
"I know and I am starting to get very frustrated with him." She said and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Then break up with him." Draco said in a joking voice. Although he knew he was not actually joking.
She scoffed. "He would not like to hear you say that. For some reason he can't stand you."
"Oh trust me, the feeling is mutual." He informed her.
"Why is it you two hate each other so much?" she asked curiously.
"Honestly?"
She nodded.
"I'm jealous." He admitted.
She looked up and glared at him. "What on earth could you be jealous of?"
"This." He stepped forward quickly and wrapped one arm around her waist. He grabbed the back of her neck with his other hand, pulling her in for a firm and passionate kiss. His lips pressed against hers and she froze with her mouth slightly open in surprise, but she didn't pull away. He used the opportunity to run his tongue over her upper lip. To him, the kiss was heaven; she molded against him perfectly. It was better than he ever could have imagined, and he knew that it was a kiss he would never forget.
In reality, the kiss probably only lasted ten seconds, but time froze for her. She had never felt those kinds of sparks from a kiss before, and she hadn't even kissed back. All too soon, he pulled out of the kiss slowly with desire shown clearly in his eyes.
"Draco…I..." she started to say, but he placed one finger over her lips to hush her. His other hand tangling itself in her hair.
"I know I shouldn't have done that." He whispered and leaned his forehead against hers. "I know you are with Krum, but I have wanted to do that for years and I couldn't stop myself anymore."
"I…I don't know what to say." She whispered. "I…"
"You don't have to say anything Hermione." He cut her off again. "I have to go do my patrol now…Maples is waiting for me to relieve him." He let go of her and turned to walk away.
"Draco…wait." She called after him.
He turned to look at her with masked emotions. "I don't regret it…but I am sorry you found out like that." He quickly stepped into the elevator and left before she could stop him.
To be honest she didn't know what she would say even if he had stayed. 'found out what?' she thought, 'What exactly just happened?' She had never been more confused in her life. She had a boyfriend who had spent years pursuing her and showing her that he adored her. A boyfriend she cared deeply for, but knew deep down she would never love. His kisses were nice, but she knew right in that moment that she would never experience that much passion from a kiss with him. She had never felt a kiss quite like the one she had just received from the person she least expected would ever kiss her. With her mind wandering she headed back into the ballroom to search for Viktor once again.
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Draco hurried down to the bottom floor, his mind still on that kiss. He couldn't believe he had just done that. He banged his head on the wall of the elevator, realizing she didn't kiss back. 'Of course she didn't kiss back you idiot, you forced yourself on her.' He was frustrated wondering if he had completely ruined any chance he had with her.
Finally the elevator opened and he strolled down the hall to the east side; his scheduled patrol for the next hour. "Maples?"H called out.
There was no response. Thoughts of Hermione forgotten, he suddenly felt like something was off. "Maples!" he called again a little louder. Something was definitely off; Maples would never leave his post until his replacement got there.
Draco unlocked and unwarded the door to the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office and checked inside. Nothing was out of the ordinary. He slammed the door back and rewarded it.
He moved onto the next office and unlocked it. The door to the Death Records and Certificates office opened automatically meaning the wards had already been lifted. Draco stepped inside with his wand raised.
"Maples!" he shouted again.
Still no answer.
Draco saw many of the file cabinet drawers were ajar and files were strewn everywhere on the floor. He walked around the reception desk and saw Maples lifeless body on the floor.
He was dead.
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Dun Dun Dun!
I don't know about you guys, but this was definitely my favorite chapter so far. I have had those interactions planned between Draco and Hermione since the beginning.
