"So...,"
"So, this is it then, Hermione?" asked Malfoy, "You'll be heading the Investigation Department and I'll be heading this Office?" she was surprised Malfoy would stay in the Ministry, more so than the fact that Kingsley promoted him to her former position. Malfoy was talented but his loyalty could not be relied upon. Then again, it would not be too risky to place him in this Office, seeing as it was quite mundane and unchallenging. Hermione was glad to be leaving, and glad to be promoted. She would, however, miss his company.
"Yes, I suppose," she forced herself to look him in the eye. She saw his grey eyes, no longer as the stormy, sexy, seductive eyes they were. Hermione was glad that the ducks were removed, so that she could see him as he really was. She saw embarrassment. She saw guilt. She also saw longing. With all her courage, she said, "Malfoy, you're not so bad. I don't dislike you."
"Nor I you," he replied nonchalantly. Hermione was surprised to say the least, thinking he would want to have nothing to do with her after this whole ordeal. She was worried that maybe he thought Hermione was part of the plan. Maybe she had something to do with this.
"I was wondering whether or not we could be friends. You know? It would be such a waste if we were to get over our differences, no matter how unconventional our methods were, and to leave it at this, don't you think? To just pass by each other at work, and just nod and smile," Hermione said, "I'd like to think that we're past that now, that we could be friends, that something real can come out of this fraud. That is unless, of course, it would be unbearable the thought of associating yourself with someone like me."
"You know, you must know, that I have no more prejudices against muggle-borns. The war is over and I have repented my sins. I was brought up to believe in a set of beliefs with no ground, no evidence to support, and no logical sense. How can anyone believe that muggle-borns are any worse because of their blood? Look at Ron Weasley. He's nothing without your intelligence. And Potter, he could not have won the war without you. How can I believe in such baseless discriminatory beliefs when the only person in our year who could best me at everything was you?"
"Not at flying."
"I could teach you."
"I'd much rather you didn't."
"Is the great, brilliant, brave Hermione Granger admitting to being incompetent?" Draco teased.
"Only at flying," Hermione said with a smile. She was glad the awkwardness was largely gone. She was glad that the removal of the ducks and taking the antidote to the aphrodisiac allowed them to have a civil conversation. She liked this Malfoy, "Is the intelligent, cunning, but selfish Draco Malfoy offering his services to a muggle-born? To his most detested, filthy-"
"Stop," he breathed and kissed her hard on the lips, "You're not filthy. You're the light in my world. Thank you for everything. Thank you, Hermione."