For the remainder of his vacation, Draco acted like a bear in hibernation. They went back to England the following day, and Draco holed himself up in his room. Theo and his mother tried to get him to not return to work, in fear that seeing Hermione Granger would ruin him once more. He needed to see her though. He needed to know why she left.

He walked into his area and saw a woman sitting at his desk. "Can I help you?" she asked in sickly sweet voice and a smile plastered to her face.

"You're sitting at my desk," he said.

She only blinked. "This is my desk, sir. I am Ms. Granger's secretary. Do you have an appointment with her?"

The office door opened. "Talula, I need you to call," She stopped when she saw Draco standing there. "Is there anything I can help you with, Mr. Malfoy?"

She said his name as if it were foreign to her. "Yeah, she's sitting at my desk," Draco snapped.

"She isn't. Talula is my new secretary. You have been let go," she said coldly.

"What game are you playing, Granger?"

"It's Ms. Granger and I am playing no game, Mr. Malfoy. Unless you have actual business to attend to, I must ask you to leave," She pointed to a box on a chair, "And take your belongs with you."

"What about my job?" he asked.

"You don't have one in this office anymore. I'm sure the Ministry can find you a position someplace else, or perhaps you can just live off your family wealth. Good day, Mr. Malfoy."


Draco returned home angry. He found Theo and his mother sitting around the table with pieces of parchment scattered everywhere. "Draco!" his mother exclaimed. "What are you doing back so early? You should be at work."

Draco plopped onto the couch and glanced at their work. "I got replaced."

"She replaced you?" Theo asked dumbstruck.

Draco nodded. "What are you guys planning?"

"The solstice charity event," his mother said excitedly. "Hermione will be so happy to see what Theo and I have planned so far. When do you think she will stop by?"

Draco felt horrible when she saw her excited expression. "Hermione and I broke up. Remember mother?"

Narcissa's face fell. "Oh right. I forgot. I'm sorry dear."

Draco sighed. "It's fine, mother. I think I'm going to go take a nap."

"It's only 9 AM, Draco," Theo said. "It's too early to nap."

"Don't patronize me, Nott," Draco growled. "I'm going to take a damn nap if I please."

"Hey Drake," Theo called. Draco turned around. "Happy birthday."

Draco sighed and walked off. This was a very shitty birthday.


Draco spent the next few weeks wallowing in self pity. He helped his mother and Theo plan their charity event. Every now and then Narcissa would ask about Hermione and he would remind her she was no longer coming around.

"I think she's getting bad again," Theo said to him a week before the event.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Draco said, as he watched his mother stroll through her garden.

"Griffinshit, Draco," Theo barked. "You see it as much as I do. She's taking a turn around again."

"Mother is fine, Theo."

"No she's not! I caught her screaming for Lucius the other day while you were in Diagon Alley picking up the dress robes. She grabbed me and told me we had to find you and Lucius before Voldemort killed you both. It took me twenty minutes to get her to believe that Voldemort was dead and another ten minutes to get her to stop freaking out. She's breaking, Draco."

Draco growled, "My mother is fine, Nott. She is none of your concern. Just leave the situation be. It's not yours to worry about."

Theo took a few steps to towards the door before stopping. "I'm moving out in a week," he informed Draco, who kept staring outside and not at his friend. "Rolf owled me the other day about some research opportunity in the Amazon. I'm leaving the day after the party."

"When will you be back?"

"In England? One to two years most likely. This place? Consider this our last time rooming together."

Draco heard Theo walk away but did not turn around. His focus was fixed on the woman in the garden talking as if someone else was there.


Theo took it upon himself to deliver Hermione Granger's invitation. It was for that reason, and a couple others, he found himself sitting in the chairs outside her office. The door opened. "Talula, is my two o'clock here?"

"Mr. Nott is sitting right here," the secretary chirped.

Hermione waved him to come in. She slammed the door behind him and rubbed her head. "She is too chipper," the MLE deputy head groaned.

"Then maybe you shouldn't have gotten rid of your old secretary," She glared at him. "That's not the main reason why I am here."

Hermione sat in her desk and gestured for Theo to sit across from her. "Then tell me, Mr. Nott, why you are here? I am a busy woman."

"Not today," Theo chuckled. "Unless some emergency popped up since this morning when you're office opened, I am your only booked appointment. Thursdays are extremely slow and agonizing for you, according to Draco, because you rarely have any appointments and files to keep you busy."

"And what else has Mr. Malfoy told you?"

"Not much. I've only talked to him twice in the past few days: to tell him I was moving out and to calm him down when we took Narcissa to St. Mungo's emergency room yesterday," He saw her mood shift.

"Narcissa? Is she okay?"

"Why do you care?" he asked. "You're the one who left. She keeps asking for you, by the way. Draco had to remind her three or four times a day now that you are no longer coming around. It just doesn't stick. Nothing does anymore, actually. She barely remembers me, and I'm her second son."

Hermione gulped. Theo saw her lip quiver. She opened her mouth to speak but Theo quickly started to talk again. "The main reason I came here is to have these permits filed."

He handed her a stack of parchments. "Permits for what?"

"I'm leaving the country in a few days to do research in the Amazons with Rolf, and Luna most likely. Those two are quite serious these days. And before you ask, yes those permits belong in the MLE. I filed my one in International Cooperation and Relations for travel and Magical Creatures for research. These are a safety net in case I get into trouble then the British Ministry can call me back no problem and that when I come back and there are any bad spells and curses evidently used with my wand I will be tested with truth serum and memories before standing trial."

"You're leaving?" she stuttered.

He nodded. "I got a job, for now, just like you wanted. I'm moving out, just like he wanted. I leave Sunday morning," He handed her the invitation. "I know it's short notice but this is the invitation for Saturday's solstice charity event. Narcissa went through and made all the plans after you left and her health took a drastic turn. We'd appreciate it if you would attend."

"I saw the article about it in the Prophet the other day. It said everyone is invited. Why do I get an invitation?"

"Because you deserve more of an invite than a sentence. Come, Hermione. For me, for her, and even for him. You know you need to."

"Theo—"

"It's an event to go to war orphans, both wizard and creature," He smirked as she glared at him. He knew he had her trapped now.

"Damn you, Theodore Thantos Nott."

"I'll see you Saturday evening, Ms. Granger. Have a good day."


Decided to throw in a Theo POV, and there may be a Hermione POV next chapter. Hope you enjoy and please review.