Chapter 10

Home Again

AN: ok so here's 10, I hope you all like it, and I hope it didn't take to long to write.

Thanks to all who reviewed. viola1701e, Varan Nightshade, Lottielue1, SophieAngel69,

Disclaimer: nothing is the property of me, ok?

Hermione POV

I lead Malfoy from the interview room to the clerk, to finish the paperwork and get him out of my life. I just wanted to finish this up and go home, relax, pack up things that needed to be packed up. I'd keep my home for summer months and what not but if I was living at Hogwarts for the whole school year... I needed my things with me. I check the papers one last time before I set them on the clerk's desk.

"Mr. Draco Malfoy needs to be processed out. His story check's out and he has been found to be of no guilt in the charge of running away from the Ministry while on probation." I say clearly to the clerk as he nods and sorts through the papers, stamping and signing the correct ones before filing them away and handing me the release form.

"Here you go Miss. Granger; he'll need that to leave the building. Have a pleasant day." The clerk says with a smile. I nod and lead Draco off to another room, singing the form and handing it to him as I dig in my bag, pulling out a wand box.

"Hold out your arm please, I need to be sure this is your wand. Then you can go home and we never have to see each other again." I snip, waiting for him to hold out his hand so I can check him against his wand. I nod as the spell comes up clean, holding out his wand to him.

"I believe that's all unless you have anything else Mr. Malfoy." I say as I check my bag for anything else I had forgotten about. I yelp and back up as Malfoy presses towards me, pushing me back into the wall. What the hell was he going on about? I blink up at him as he starts talking... about a woman's touch. He couldn't honestly think I'd... I mean really... he hated me and I hated him... right? I mean he did have a hell of a body but... NO... I was not going to think about that right now. Clear head Granger, don't let him closer. Oh Merlin save me... I frown when he mentions Ron, how had he found out... had he been spying on me? Figures, everyone else knew about Ron being a slut so why not Malfoy? I squeak and duck around him, keeping the table between us as he leans in.

"What do you think your doing? How dare you... I mean... stop being... you!" I growl out, gathering up my papers and stuff, keeping an eye on him. What the hell... he tried to KISS ME! I mean of all the people... he tried to kiss me. Muggleborn me. Maybe being in dragon form screwed with his brain more then I thought, I needed to make note of this... didn't I... it was important people knew he was unstable. I keep moving as I pack up my bag, keeping the table between myself and Malfoy. Oh why did I let Harry leave, I'd even deal with Ronald right now if it meant I wasn't alone, and that really was sad. I yelp as he catches me and pins me to the wall, whispering against my ear, asking me why I was so afraid of him, so afraid of a kiss. I gasp as he presses me into the wall, nuzzling my neck before pressing a soft kiss to my skin, biting just hard enough to leave a mark. I whine and swallow as he disappears, sinking to the floor.

"What the hell was that?" I whisper to myself, trying to breath. Morgana what the hell was that? I touch my neck softly, rubbing at the slightly warm bite mark, he had actually... bitten me enough to leave a... holy fuck he left a hicky. Shit, why the hell had he gone and done that? What was his damage? I stand slowly and dust off, collecting my things again, thinking about what just happened. I shake my head and head out, glad Malfoy was gone, and head to my office to settle up everything.

"Just get to your office and you can lock the door and panic about it in private. Office, lock door, panic." I say to myself as I walk, head down, trying to keep being ignored. Just a little farther. I make it to my office, shutting the door with a snap, locking and warding it tightly as I sink to my couch, shaking slightly.

"Ok... it was nothing, I mean he HAD been locked up in dragon form for a long time, it was probably just too many hormones or something just spilling over. I bet the marks gone already. I'm sure he won't even give me a second thought now that he's out of here. Just... get back to work and finish it all up then you can go home and start your new life as a teacher or something at Hogwarts." I say to myself as I get up and pour myself a drink, draining the glass with a sigh before sitting at my desk and unlocking my door. I sigh as there's a knock.

"Come in if you must." I call, pulling folders out of my bag and resorting them, smiling as I look up at Ginny.

"I don't mean to bother you oh great critter hunter Granger but I thought you might like some company, maybe a little lunch?" she asks with a grin. I snort and shake my head.

"Have a seat, I need to get some of this settled then I can go out. I just got back from Romania, how the hell do some people get into the trouble that they get into? I mean really, I want someone to explain it to me so I understand." I say with a sigh, shaking my head. She shrugs and sits.

"If I knew I wouldn't have to put up with my idiot brothers. How is Charlie by the way? Good I hope." She asks.

"Seemed good to me, very helpful. I'm quitting my job at the ministry and going to work at Hogwarts." I say quickly, getting up and putting folders away.

"YOU WHAT?! I thought you loved this job? Why would you quit?" she squawks. I sigh and shrug, how did I explain it?

"I did love this job Gin, and in some ways I still do but... for Merlin's sake I'm running around playing truant officer for grown witches and wizards who should bloody well know better then to get hexed into dragon form or some other such nonsense. I want to make a difference Ginny... and I can't do that here." I say sadly. She nods slowly, understanding.

"Then... what are you going to teach then? I thought all the positions were filled." She asks softly. I shrug.

"Haven't really thought that far ahead, McGonagall will likely have some idea, I'll probably go see her this weekend after all this mess is sorted and I've cleared out my office. One thing I won't miss is your dammed brother being a whore in the halls. I mean does he actually not understand WHY we broke up?" I ask, flopping into my chair. Gin sighs and shakes her head.

"Probably not, I don't know why you think he'll learn, he's an idiot. Always has been, likely always will be till someone beats him senseless and someone has to teach him everything proper like." She says sadly, both Gin and Molly had hoped Ron would grow out of this... phase of life by now, if not be ready to settled down at least ready to be in a real relationship with only one girl. I sigh and finish my paperwork as we sit there quietly, thinking on our own thoughts, our own issues. I finish up and pack up my things, standing and pulling on my robe, checking out for the day.

"Shall we then? Something low key I think... maybe just fish and chips or something boring. I've had far to much excitement in my life lately and I am far to young to feel this old." I say with a heavy sigh. Ginny snorts and rolls her eyes, linking arms with me and heading out to the Floo rooms.

"How about the Cauldron then? Low key, food always good, AND we wont get glared at for having a drink." She says with a grin. I chuckle and nod, I could use a good stiff drink.

"Sound's wonderful. You think I'm making the right choice? Leaving the Ministry to go teach... or at least be a staff member, I'm sure I could help... someone there." I ask as I walk with her. She's quiet for a moment before she hugs me close.

"If you're unhappy Hermione... then yes. You need to leave. I know people say 'if your not having fun at work it's a waste' and all that rot but... if you really ARE unhappy... is it really worth it? Is it worth spending your days playing paper pusher and not getting anything accomplished?" she says softly, looking at me. I nod and hug her, stepping into the fireplace with her, yelling out our destination.

"Leaky Cauldron!"

oOo

Draco POV

I follow Granger out of the interview room and wait behind her as she chats with the clerk about the paper work. God this place was going to hell, and I thought it was bad before. I smile and take the form from her, sliding it into my pocket and following her to another room to finish up everything so I can leave. I snort holding out my wand arm, letting her check me over to match me with my wand. I roll my eyes and take my wand from her when the spell comes up clean; of course, it was MY wand, silly twit. I smirk at her as she asks if there's anything else. Oh, I was going to have some fun with her now. I move closer to her, pressing her away from her bag and into the wall.

"Oh I think I can think of a few things Granger, it's been a very long time since I've had any kind of woman's touch, are you going to help me fix that? I saw how you looked at me when you turned me back into a human, how long has it been for you anyway huh? I didn't figure Weasley to be any good in bed. What do you say Granger? How's a little snog sound?" I say as I press closer, maybe I could steal one kiss. What's the worst that could happen? She'd hit me? She did that in third year, and I have to admit it was kind of hot. I chuckle as she ducks away from me, keeping the table between us as she tries to make sense of me. Silly Granger, I couldn't even make sense of me right now. I smile and move around the table, watching her as she watches me. All I wanted was a kiss really; hell, I don't even know why I wanted that much but... I wanted it. And I wanted it from Granger. I smile at her as we circle the table, Merlin what was wrong with me? First, I had the hots for her, then I didn't want anything to do with her... now I was almost ready to jump her in the Ministry offices. I grin as I feint to one side and grab her from the other, pinning her to the wall.

"Come on Hermione, just one kiss, what's the worse thing that can happen to you? Someone walks in and sees? Scared some gossip will make you out to be a slut because your snogging bad boy Malfoy?" I say softly against her ear, pressing against her just a touch, chuckling at her gasp. I press my face to her neck, breathing her in, kissing her skin softly, biting down just enough to leave a light mark before pulling away with a smile.

"I'll see you around Granger, try not to faint." I say and head out, leaving her perfectly speechless and me happily sated. Merlin that felt good, the press of her body against mine, the feel of her flesh between my teeth... not like I wanted to eat her or rip her skin open but... shit... what the hell was I talking about? I shake my head and head off down the hall, passing Weasley.

"Afternoon Weasleby, finally finished molesting some poor office clerk I see? Pity you weren't around sooner, maybe I could have shown you how to treat a woman like Hermione properly." I sneer at the idiot, rolling my eyes at his blank expression. What in Merlin's name was wrong with the moron?

"Um... yeah... do you know where 'mione is?" he asks slowly, trying to complete a full thought. I roll my eyes and wave my hand back towards the offices, half hoping she was already gone and half hoping she was still there with a confused blissful expression on her face.

"There... where I left her. May I ask you a question? " I say to him, trying to get him to focus on me, perhaps he had brain damage from some spell from the war or... perhaps he had eaten something drugged... one could hope he wasn't this... brainless by himself. He blinks at me, straightening up.

"I suppose you can ask me whatever you like, weather I answer is another thing." He replies, showing some backbone. I roll my eyes and shake my head, wording my question carefully.

"Why did you think you were in the same league as Granger and then throw it all away to be... this mess of a man whore?" I ask, looking him over. He really was a mess, of course, he was always a mess but even if one took away the lack of money he was brought up with, the fact he probably didn't work out... it was horrible. I roll my eyes as he fumbles for an answer, shaking my head.

"Nevermind, I believe I understand perfectly. Now if you don't mind I've been released and would like to go home." I say as I step around him and head to the Floo's, ignoring his mumblings. I show my documentation to a clerk on duty, nodding my thanks as they let me pass. I step into a fireplace and take a handful of powder.

"Malfoy Manor."

AN: ok... so I hope that was a good chapter for you, lil bastard was a pain in the ass to write. I know its sort of short but any more just felt... forced.

AN2: PLEASE vote on the poll on my profile pretty please.