Draco looked around the little wooden office. The building itself was small, to say the least, but it was better than being outside in the dark.
North America.
He had been surprised to hear they had crossed the Atlantic without alerting Magical Border Control. To make their way into a National Park without detection was almost unheard of.
"So, how did you get mixed up in all this?"
Draco turned his attention back to the sandy-haired man sitting behind the desk in front of him. Apparently, this was the "Randall" in question.
Draco raised an eyebrow to the man, though he did not seem to notice. Randal leaned back in his chair, running a quill through his hands.
"I mean, I get the witch, being Head of your Magical Creature Division and all, but you're just a regular fellow, right?"
Draco's jaw tightened. The man was incredibly rude for someone supposedly in charge.
"The creature in question was on my property," he drawled, purposely sounding as pompous and arrogant as he could.
Randal nodded and made an odd gesture with his lips. "Okay. Makes sense."
He snuck a peek to a closed door, where Hermione was freshening up after their stomp through the woods. He leaned forward, placing his hands on top of his desk and lowering his voice.
"You Brits really know how to grow them, though. I mean, wow, she's a real looker, yeah?"
He looked Draco over, sizing him up. Neither of the other rangers had said anything about how the two had been found. Randal, being more broad than Draco, sat back with a slight smile.
"Do you know if she's seeing anyone? Might like to get her floo extension, you know?"
Draco sneered at the man, fire burning deep in him as he opened his mouth. Randal was spared his acidic reply, however, as Hermione chose that time to reappear.
Draco took notice of her differences right away. Her clothes, wrinkled and worn a moment ago, looked pressed and fresh from a wash. Her face was now smudge and sweat free, leaving her features open and clean. And her hair was pulled back in a huge ponytail, her tight brown curls bushy and bouncing as she walked.
Randal seemed to take notice as well, if his stupid smile was anything to go by. Draco wanted nothing more than to hex it right off his smug face.
Randal stood and extended a hand to offer Hermione a seat next to Draco.
"Ms. Granger."
She nodded professionally.
"Thank you." She settled herself down and turned an expectant gaze to the American.
"Now, then. What do you propose we do to keep your creatures from passing over international soil again?"
The smile slipped off the man's face so fast, Draco almost laughed. Clearly, he was not used to women getting right down to business.
Hermione raised an eyebrow at the man's momentary silence.
"Surely, you've planned ahead for such possibilities, given the species apparent ability and the sheer number you have on the reserve?"
"Well- actually- Given the nature of our creatures-"
Draco watched the man crumble under Hermione's gaze. The more he stuttered, the more heated she became.
"You mean to tell me, Mr. Barnes, that even knowing the transporting abilities and territorial behavior of these potentially dangerous beings, you have no plans to prevent such occurrences? What if a male, like the one we encountered upon arriving, had left the reserve?"
Randal cleared his throat and seemed to quickly gather his thoughts, best he could.
"I assure you, Ms. Granger, that will not happen. Most of our deer are tracked and monitored." He shrugged lightly. "One buck got away from us, is all. It happens."
Hermione's hair seemed to plush up and Draco could just about feel the magic seething off of her.
"Yes, Mr. Barnes, one got away. Maybe you should see to it that it doesn't happen again. Next time one of these creatures ends up on civilian soil in England, you may find yourself speaking to our justice department." She narrowed her eyes on the man. "As I understand it, we have quite a communication setup with your Head Auror for international 'hic-ups' such as this. I don't believe it would abode well for you."
Randal sat forward, one sandy eyebrow raised. "Are you trying to threaten me, Ms. Granger?"
Hermione did not break eye contact. "Not at all, Mr. Barnes. Merely informing you of the possibilities."
Randal nodded, a slight twinkle in his eye. "Duly noted."
Hermione stood. Assuming they were finishing and leaving, Draco did the same, walking to stand beside her chair.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Mr. Barnes," Hermione said politely as she moved away from her seat.
Randal was quick to stand.
"Wait." He came around the desk and smiled charmingly to Hermione. "If you are needing a place to stay tonight, until you can get your bearings on what to do next, my door is open."
He cast Draco a quick look, as if he had forgotten his presence.
"I'm quite certain we can find other accommodations for your friend."
Draco scowled, narrowing his eyes.
Damn cheeky bastard.
He felt a twinge of smugness as Hermione shook her head. That smug feeling swelled when she took a step closer to him and placed a light hand on his arm.
"No, thank you. I appreciate the offer, but I'm sure we can manage on our own."
Draco couldn't help the way his lips turned up at her words. His smile turned into a smirk as he took in Randal's bewildered look.
Without another word to the man, he made a show of offering Hermione his arm. Ignoring the glares thrown to the back of his head and very much feeling like one of his father's peacocks, he lead her out of the little wooden office.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Hi, guys! In retrospect, I probably should have just posted this little bit with the previous chapter, but oh well! I hope ya'll enjoy it anyways! Please let me know what ya'll think of the story so far thank ya'll so very much for the wonderful reviews!
Author's Note:
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Harry Potter series. Those rights belong to JK Rowling. I am only borrowing her beautiful creations.
Disclaimer: The savicorn is not my creature, just one I couldn't leave alone. The art for this creature was originally created by Savannah Horrocks: https/pin.it/wxb5avh4gexe6y