Draco spent most of the next week mentally repeating "of course." Of course Mother invited Granger over without waiting like she promised. Of course she lured him to the room without warning him Granger would be there. Of course he was voluntold to assist with a charity he had no interest in under the leadership of Britain's most annoying witch. Of course Granger was immediately reminded of that time his family tortured her. And of course he had to be rude to her when she thanked him for basic decency.

He hadn't meant to be such a prat when he found he frizzy-haired witch crumpled on the ground, sobbing in front of that horrid set of dark doors. But Granger had no idea how many people he watched tortured and killed in that room. Merlin, the lunatic had put him under an Unforgivable in there to punish Lucius. Not that he wanted to share that tidbit with Saint Potter's self-centered, self-important brainiac. He'd never told anyone what had happened to him there, except for his mother and Tippy. That room would be unplottable regardless of her involvement, and it was so like the girl he remembered from Hogwarts to think of herself as the catalyst for the change. So he'd acted accordingly, slipping back to the harsh little boy he was when they met.

He'd tried to warn Theo about that girl the moment Granger left the room on Saturday afternoon, reminding him of her insults, her need to win, her ignorance of wizarding culture, and her skewed sense of justice. Theo demanded Draco put his suspicion that Granger had cooked up a scheme to infiltrate the elite and bring them down from the inside, and because Theo was Draco's brother, he had put that to bed. It was looking more and more like that fear was wrong anyway. What Draco didn't voice to Theo was his concern that the Gryffindor Princess would poison Theo against him out of spite for all the stupid things he did as a boy. If the verbal beatdown Theo gave him for insulting his sister was any indication, that bond was already solidified. Draco was sure he'd lost his oldest friend the moment Granger told Theo about his comments walking towards the floo. It's not as though Draco had friends to spare.

As soon as he saw Granger step through the floo on Sunday afternoon, Draco threw himself into his potion experimentation to distract himself. While his father had primed him to go down the same political path he had carved for himself, Draco had built up a small potions company to sell his healing-focused inventions instead. When he wasn't with Blaise and Theo, or attending some charity event with Mother, or flying in his backyard, he was tinkering with potions. For most of the next week, Draco could be found in the potions lab he built in the Acton-Malfoy Cottage, working well into the night. Crouching over the cauldron was the only respite from him replaying Hermione Granger's big brown eyes switching from previously unseen gratitude to familiar disgust. When he wasn't chopping and measuring and stirring, he was reading old potions books to avoid being alone with his own mind.

"Draco, my love," his mother's voice, sweeter than he'd heard in years, interrupted him one day at lunch. Immediately suspicious, he dropped his book on the table and eyed her. "Could you please stop by Theo's today and drop something off for me?"

"Do I look like an owl, Mother?" Draco drawled, making a show of rolling his eyes. They both knew he'd humor whatever request she'd make of him.

"Oh stop that, it's Thursday. Don't you usually go to Theo's for your card game? I just thought you could give these papers to Lady Nott-Granger while you were there."

"Yes, Mother," he said with a sigh. "But I'm going there for my friends. I'm not going to get roped into whatever shenanigans you're working on with that insufferable swot." He ignored his mother's chiding and returned to his book. She still hadn't clued him into whatever she wanted from the young witch, and Draco knew better than to ask questions now.

Draco arrived at Theo's a bit earlier than their normal meeting time, eager to avoid a run-in with the know-it-all. If he timed it right, she'd still be at the Ministry, neck deep in some pathetic creature work. When he didn't find Theo in the sitting room, dining room, or kitchen, he decided to check the library. Unfortunately for him, the moment he opened the door, that pair of big brown eyes that had been haunting him all week stared back at him, this time wide with surprise. Granger was curled into the window seat of the library, the bird's nest she called hair taking up practically as much space as her body. Neither of them spoke for a moment.

"Oh," Draco finally let out, feeling himself deflate a bit. "I thought you'd be at the Ministry," he added in a flat voice, working to keep himself as indifferent as possible.

"When I went in on Monday I could barely get in the door. The press went wild after Luna's article Sunday night. I've only seen positive things in other publications, though, so I suspect I need to thank your mother," Hermione said, looking begrudgingly pleased. She twisted her wild curls to one side as she talked, exposing more of her caramel neck. "Anyway, Kingsley told me to work from here until we figure it out since I've been working alone for so long anyway. What are you doing here?" Her tone was cheerful, but the tension in her brow underlined the aversion driving her question.

"Mother asked that I help you with the Annual Wolfsbane Subsidy Fund Charity Ball, and so here I am," he said nonchalantly, pulling out a shrunken package from his pocket.

"The what?" Granger asked shrilly, her curiosity drawing her up from the window seat and towards the matching loveseats. Draco silently deposited the package on the table between the couches, flicking his wand to reveal a parcel of papers. Hermione pounced on it like a lioness hunting a zebra, grabbing the package and tearing it apart to feast on its insides. "Why, she's already created a guest list!" One paper was discarded and another picked up. "And picked a date. This was just an idea we discussed, nothing concrete. Oh Morgana, I suppose there is no backing out now." Draco shrugged, amused at her frustration. Finally, someone else Mother could meddle with. Perhaps having Granger around had some benefits. "Well, since you're already here I suppose we should get started."

"As much as I appreciate such a tempting invitation, I'm actually here for a weekly game with Theo and Blaise. I was just meant to be an owl for the evening."

"Oh. I didn't realize," Granger looked at him for a beat before shrugging. "Well, I want to talk to Theo about this anyway. I think he is in his study, let's go together."

"His study?" Draco asked, trailing Hermione into the hallway. The witch nodded over her shoulder at him. "I've never seen him there in our entire adult lives."

"He's been holed up in there all day. I'm not sure what he is working on, but he didn't come out for lunch." Draco grimaced, imagining what Dark object Theo could've found that would be so engrossing.

"Since we'll need to meet to work through some of the ball logistics, I'm happy to work at Nott Manor or my house," Draco said, stepping in time next to her and giving her a sidelong glance. "Not the Manor," he added rapidly when he saw panic twist across her face. "I'm sure you don't want to go back there unless it is absolutely necessary."

"You don't live in the Manor?" Draco noted the surprise in her voice.

"No, it is not my cup of tea," Draco said, finding himself looking at her closely for a reaction. She offered none, keeping her face uncharacteristically blank. If she had any follow up questions, which was likely given who she was, she didn't voice them.

"Sunkissed, promised, maybe." They heard Theo muttering to himself as they entered the study to see him flipping through a thick book with an exasperated frown. "A goddess so sunkissed, the - the morning light promised. No, that's terrible," Theo groaned, dropping his head into his hands in frustration. Draco and Granger shared a glance, the witch's firewhiskey eyes filled with amusement and Draco's gray ones clouded in confusion. Draco raised a pale blonde eyebrow at her, prompting her grin to grow. Draco hadn't seen Granger look mischievous before, he hadn't thought the prim girl was capable of it. She only shrugged before focusing back on Theo and interrupting his scribbling with a cough. The lanky man jumped at the sound before looking between the two people lurking at his office door. "Uh, hello you two. What are you doing here, Draco?"

"It's Thursday," Draco said, feeling rather stupid.

"I owled you earlier, rescheduled our game. I heard back from Zabini, but I guess I never got your response. Time got away from me today," Theo rushed out, his leg bouncing frantically from behind his desk. Draco noted his friend's typically tame brown hair was nearly as wild as his sister's. He clearly had been pulling his hair and running his hands through it. "I know this is twice in a row. Sorry, Draco," he added apologetically before looking back down at his parchment.

"Of course," the dreaded phrase rang out within his head again. "Mother." Stealing his mail to force him into doing something was a new level of manipulation from his mother.

"What are you working on?" Granger sing-songed, her small form moving surprisingly quick towards the desk while straining to see what Theo was holding.

"Nothing!" Theo hurriedly gathered up all his papers, shoving them into the desk drawer. Draco was reminded of the terrible weeks in their shared dorm room prior to the Yule Ball, suddenly clued into the witch's glee.

"Lots of language books here," Granger drawled, her eyes sweeping across French, Latin, and German dictionaries. "Writing something for someone in particular?"

"No, it is none of your business, so I won't be sharing it," Theo gritted through his teeth, glaring at both Granger and Draco.

"We will leave you to it," Draco answered, uneager to recreate the poetry meltdown he witnessed in fourth year. When Granger didn't move to leave, he grabbed her by the elbow and practically dragged the stubborn witch out.

"Get off me," she hissed as they made it through the door, pulling to go back inside.

"Must you be so nosy?" Draco huffed, yanking her until she collided with him. "Theo is very private about courting." Granger looked up at him in surprise, her warm form pressed against his chest. As the subtle scent of vanilla hit him, Draco realized how close they were and quickly pushed her away. "I suppose my plans are canceled. We can start working now if you'd like."

Once they returned to the library, Draco picked the papers up and reviewed them. "Right, well, it looks as though mother has created the guest list, selected the date, written out invitations demanding donations, and left written instructions for us. We'll still need to find and coordinate vendors, start the fundraising campaign, and get things set up."

"I can assist with that too." Draco suppressed an eye roll as the swot seemed to brighten at the prospect of busy work. "Since this is connected to a proposed Ministry Act, I'll work the Ministry angle. I'll start with Kingsley and the Department Head before filing the needed paperwork."

As the two set to work, the familiar sound of quills scratching against parchment filled the air. After nearly an hour of silence, Granger let out a small yawn, drawing Draco's attention away from his paper. Across from him, she was bent over her parchment, delicate hands scribbling like mad. She held the quill gracefully, churning out annoyingly perfect script at unbelievable speed. Draco was surprised he'd never noticed that her fingers were long for such small hands, making them look graceful. Draco felt her gaze on him and shot his head up to meet her eyes, embarrassed to be caught staring.

"Why did you help me the other day?" Her blunt question caught him off guard, and he coughed to cover his surprise.

"Must you talk?" Draco hoped his harsh response would cut the conversation off. The girl across from him frowned at him for a beat.

"It's just - you hated me in school so much."

"You hated me too."

"Could you blame me?" Granger glared at him, no doubt reliving his meanest remarks and cruelest hexes.

"Well, could you blame me?" Draco challenges back, remembering his anger when he learned she was part of the reason his father, his hero at the time, was going to prison. He kicked himself for going down this route. Rehashing all the ways he'd wronged her was not going to win points with Hermione, which meant it wouldn't be good for Theo. He looked around the room for another topic.

"What's with the journals?" He gestured to the piles on the floor in the far corner with his quill, eager to shift away from their mutual hatred.

"Must you talk?" Granger grinned at him smugly at him, rendering him unable to stop his eyes from rolling this time. "We are trying to figure out who my biological mother is," she added suspiciously quickly, dropping her eyes to the table. Draco wondered if that was everything they were looking for; Nott Senior was one of the slimiest Death Eaters Draco interacted with. No doubt there'd be some skeletons to uncover there. Granger was likely ravenous for answers.

"Right. I hadn't considered your mother," he offered, worried she was going to drop this topic for the earlier one.

"Yeah, Theo and I have focused on our father. I want to know - need to know about them both. I just - I don't know what to expect," Granger paused, working her lip worriedly for a moment. "She was sleeping with a married man. A Death Eater. A murderer," her voice growing smaller. Even said softly, the accusation was clear to Draco.

"You think Death Eaters are unworthy of affection then?" Draco sneered at the woman across from him.

"How can someone reconcile horrible acts with sex? Love?" Hermione's brows were furrowed as she chewed on the question.

"So people who are around evil are automatically evil?"

"Not around. But perhaps loving an evil person, truly loving them, might make a part of you evil," Granger said thoughtfully, as though thinking through a sodding equation rather than passing judgements on something she knew nothing about.

"So, what then? Theo's evil?" Draco's voice grew louder and more angry.

"No! Of course not."

"My mother's evil?"

"I didn't say that!" Her volume escalated too.

"So I'm evil?"

"Yet to be determined, Malofy!"

"You think you can run your pretty mouth and it'll turn you ignorant garbage to gold. Same bloody swot Granger!" Draco launched out of his seat, now fully shouting while he loomed tall over her seated form. This didn't seem to intimidate the daft cow, who was glowering him at him from her seat.

"I was thinking out loud! It has nothing to do with you."

"Yes, it -" Draco was interrupted by Granger's hands slamming on the table, standing to match him.

"I was talking about MY family, not your's. Shocking, you still think the world revolves around Malfoy!"

"If you don't' shut your mouth, I'll do it for you, Granger."

"I'd like to see you try, Malfoy."

They were both leaning over the table with narrowed eyes, faces close enough to touch. Granger looked him up and down with disgust before landing on his arm. While she had her hand resting on her wand, Draco realized he was clutching his forearm instead. Her face flickered with unwelcome pity, clearly remembering the mark that lurked beneath his sleeve. Draco dropped his arm and tore his gaze away, unwilling to acknowledge the unspoken recognition.

"Let's just get this done, Granger," he whispered hoarsely without looking at her, the anger knocked out of him by her misplaced sympathy. He dropped back into his seat and started reviewing the papers once more. The pair worked in a thick silence for the next 45 minutes, neither looking at the other until Draco wordlessly pushed his parchment towards her, and stood to leave.

"I helped you because I'm not evil," the words he'd been repeating in his head since she asked tore themselves from his mouth before his feet could help him escape the room. He took a deep breath and let the unrefined word vomit continue. "I may not deserve to be loved, or liked, but I'm not evil. I needed you to know that."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want to lose Theo," he said, feeling stupid for repeating the obvious a second time in one evening.

"You think I'd cut you out?" Granger gasped at that suggestion, he hand flying to her chest in surprise. He gave no response, careful to keep his face neutral. "You're his childhood best friend, Malfoy. You love him. I love him. For Theo, and for this charity ball for that matter, we need to be civil." Draco gave a sharp nod and paused in the doorway as she spoke again. "I will never trust you. And I'm not asking you to trust me or apologize to me or forgive me. Just be civil."

Draco nodded once more and walked as quickly as he could to the floo. Hermione bloody Granger.