A/N: I own nothing but an over-active imagination

Wolfish

It took Hermione two days to summon the courage to owl Malfoy. A part of her wanted to forget the idea entirely, but she needed answers, and without any other ideas on how else to go about deciphering his moods, it seemed inevitable. Sitting in her office, she picked up her quill and wrote.

Mr. Malfoy,

It was recently brought to my attention you expressed interest in supporting S.P.E.W.

She paused. It was professional, yes. The same introduction she would use in correspondence to any potential investor. But this wasn't just any investor. This was Malfoy, and he was astute. Perceptive enough to grow suspicious of her writing him, out of the blue, with such formalities, given their history. He might dismiss the letter all together and ruin her chances of studying him AND gaining his backing. Crumpling the parchment and tossing it to the side, she began again.

Malfoy,

What do you want?

She laughed. No, that's no good either. Her second attempt discarded along with the first, she took a deep calming breath.

Malfoy,

I have no doubt your mother told you of our conversation surrounding S.P.E.W. I find it funny you so blatantly belittled the idea of my proposal upon our first meeting here in my office. However, it seems your mother has more sense than yourself and has explained the benefits of such a cause.

She told me to expect a letter from you, arranging a meeting to discuss future funding, but alas, I have received no such request. Odd.

Being a Gryffindor, you have no doubt of my forwardness and bravery, and as such, thought it best I contact you directly, lest your unfortunate Slytherin tendencies get the better of you.

I have several time slots available this week. I doubt you can put together a reasonable excuse to decline. I look forward to our meeting.

Regards,

Hermione Granger

Sitting back in her chair, she smirked, crossing her arms and re-reading her words. This would definitely get his attention. Perhaps goading him was not the most professional approach, but she was sure he would not be able to help but agree to a meeting, if only to defend himself against her accusations. Without another thought she grabbed the letter and headed out of her office toward the Ministry's Owlery.

Just after lunchtime there was a light knocking on Hermione's door. Straightening her desk, she flicked her wand toward the door, unlocking and opening it for her visitor. While Hermione did not make a habit of locking her door, she found that with her deadline quickly approaching; she needed the occasional privacy. Mathilda was in the habit of popping into her employees' offices up to fifteen times a day, and the sudden and unannounced intrusions meant it took Hermione twice as long to get her paperwork done.

A nervous Lavender stepped through the doorway and into her office. "Hi Hermione, I hope I'm not bothering you, I was on the floor�" She trailed off, and Hermione knew she still couldn't bring herself to say the rest.

Lavender suffered a vicious attack by Fenir Greyback during the Battle at Hogwarts, Hermione being the one to save her with a well-aimed spell. Though she had been saved the full curse, the attack was still enough to infect her, leaving her with certain lupine tendencies, much like Bill Weasley. Lavender was always a silly and emotional young girl, and though she had grown up since the war, Hermione found she was still quite fragile. Another reason Hermione ventured she was so attached to Ron, she saw him as someone who could protect her, make her feel safe. After the war, when the dust settled, her lupine tendencies began to manifest, and she struggled with the changes.

After graduation, Hermione suggested Lavender make use of her own department. Shacklebolt reopened Werewolf Support Services in hopes of aiding those afflicted with the condition after the war. As many werewolves had chosen to support Voldemort, in hopes of a better life, there was an alarming spike in their population, a majority being young witches and wizards. Greyback had been the worst, and too many had suffered at his hands and claws. It was Mathilda who suggested Werewolf Support Services also open their doors to those attacked by werewolves in their human form, offering them much needed support and acceptance. Lavender was not the only victim having a hard time dealing with their more wolfish-like urges. And it was not as if the department remained very busy. Werewolves were still discriminated against and looked down upon now just as they had been after the war, but some were hopeful for a change, as slow as it might be at coming. The entire sub-department had a staff of only two, and they were still bored out of their minds most days. It was just one of the many things Hermione hoped to rectify through her work at the Ministry

"No bother at all! Please come in," Hermione smiled brightly at her former roommate, welcoming her in. She was eager to move past any strangeness between them after the other morning at Ron and Harry's apartment. The two chatted amicably, and soon nearly an hour passed without Hermione realizing it. Looking at her clock, and then over to the piles of papers on her deck, Lavender took that as her cue and politely excused herself, but not before taking Hermione off on her prior offer of a night out.

"This Friday!" she exclaimed. "7 o'clock. The Three Broomsticks. Summon the troops!" And with a wave and a bounce, she left.

Just before 6, Hermione was trying hard to ignore the rumbling of her stomach when she heard another knock on her door. It was Charles Letterman, a ruggedly handsome man a few years older than Hermione. He worked in Beast division, and the two shared a few working lunches the past year. He was friendly, but quiet, preferring to keep to himself most of the time, which made Hermione like him more.

"Hermione, I knew you must still be here. There's a rather frightening looking owl terrorizing the corridor. He's run most everyone else off, and, well, he's been eyeing your door, so I think he must be waiting for you." Charles opened the door wide, and immediately the owl flew past him, landing on the desk in front of her. She knew that owl. With a smile, she thanked Charles and took the letter from the owl. It took off, without a treat again, and Hermione opened the letter.

Granger,

Tomorrow. 9am.

D.M.

Hermione began gathering her things, thinking she really should be heading home to get some rest. After all, she had an early meeting tomorrow.