Unusual Companion

Light glimmered through the blinds lighting up the room, but the witch laying on the bed found it to be very disturbing. Given the previous day's events, Hermione was thoroughly tired and the lights hitting her eyes were not helping her sleep any better. She groaned and pushed the covers over her face but soon the alarm went off. She woke up with a huff glaring daggers at the blasted clock. As she went to turn off the alarm, her eyes fell on the unopened letter kept on her bedside table, and the events of the previous day came rushing into her mind.

She picked up the letter, there was no name on the envelope, and given the situation with all the Heretics, she was skeptical to open the envelope without checking it for any hexes.

She muttered a few spells, and after it showed no reaction, she found it safe to open.

Granger, there's a lot to discuss, you might find it unusual for me to send you a letter but difficult times call for extreme measures. It's regarding your "secret" projects. Meet me at the cafe above Russoe's at 10 for breakfast. Be on time.

Well either she has gone crazy or the world has gone bonkers, Draco Malfoy wants to meet and discuss her projects? This might be a sorry prank to humiliate her, after all, they are always arguing over something or the other at work. Never the less she thought it would be polite to send a reply back, but that had to wait till she got coffee.

She strutted to the kitchen preparing water and milk to boil, she opened the cabinets but the coffee box was empty.

"Well, that's a fantastic start to the day" she shrugged and decided to shower and then headed to the cafe downstairs. After having a good cup of coffee, she started on the letter.

Malfoy, yes, it was rather unusual for you to send me a letter, but I will be there on time. And this better not be some sick joke or else you would be very sorry Malfoy.

She sealed the letter and gave it to Orion, her pet owl. "Here Orion, take this to Malfoy and give him a bite or two for me" Hermione stood by the window watching him fly away.
It was a weekend so work was on hold but she had a lot more on her plate right now, starting with the whole mission and now breakfast with Malfoy.

Seeing as there was still a lot of time for breakfast, she took a book off the shelves and sat cosily on the couch divulging into it. Time seems to have passed too quickly; it was half-past nine now. She went on to get ready, seeing as it was somewhat of a formal meeting, after all, it was with a colleague, she decided to go with a simple skirt and shirt. The once bushy hair that seemed almost unable to tame, had now smoothed down to curls that cascaded down her back. She tied up a quick ponytail and applied a slight lip gloss. Grabbing a coat, she headed for the cafe.

It was a small yet beautiful place, smelled strongly of cakes and coffee, she stepped in and looked around for a blond. He seems nowhere to be found, and dread started setting in, maybe it was a foolish prank on her. She was about to leave when a waiter came up to her.

"Miss Granger?"

"Yes?" She looked curiously at the guy.

"Mr. Malfoy is waiting for you, follow me" He took her upstairs, it seemed like a more private cafe, booths were surrounded with walls, made for private meetings as she could see some businessman attired people walking in too. He led her to a booth and there he was, sitting and sipping a cup of tea.

"You are late Granger" He looked up.

"Well, Malfoy you said nothing about the cafe having a secret cafe inside.

"It's a matter of secrecy Granger, you didn't suppose I would discuss those with you out in the open where anybody can eavesdrop. These booths are soundproof so we have utmost privacy here. Besides, people would find it unusual for me to have breakfast with you"

Hermione pursed her lips, offended at the last comment. She spoke in a deadly calm voice "Yes of course, how unusual the mighty Malfoy to have a chat with a lowly like me."

"Geez Granger, I didn't mean it as an insult we are not what you would say the conventional friends, people would be curious." He chuckled looking at her face which was certainly quite frustrated with him.

"Let's just get to the point, what do you want to talk about Malfoy" She pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Well how about we order first then we talk." He seemed amused by how irritated she was getting by the second. He tapped on the wall and a waiter soon came into their booth.

"Fine, an espresso and French toast" She set her purse on the table.

"I'll have bacon and scrambled eggs." The waiter scribbled down and went on his way.

"So, Granger tell me what exactly does your potions do." He put his hand under his chin and looked at her.

"Well, one is a potion that can increase a person's strength and speed, for a period of time. Give them sort of animalistic attributes. I made the potion but it lasts for just a few minutes, so it was not much use."

"What sort of animalistic attributes are we talking about here?"

"Claws and the skin become thick like a hard shell, to prevent injury. I didn't have enough resources to make it last longer, and there could be side effects too, so it didn't have much progress in testing."

"So, the effect time has to be worked on, well we can work on that I suppose, what else were you working on."

"Well, there was one potion but I didn't complete it, and it is quite illegal too" She spoke in a hushed tone.

"Well, Granger you have my attention now. Go on" He smirked at her.

"It's a potion, which combines the effect of cruciatus and an imperious curse. It has to touch the receiver somehow, maybe put in a drink or sprinkled on. But you control when it starts acting up. I didn't have much progress in the matter."

This was certainly interesting news for him. "Who knew the goody-two-shoes has such illegal and dark ideas. I must say I'm impressed, Granger." He smirked at her, such dark potions were certainly illegal, but given the situation of the brinking war, it could be quite useful

Hermione was about to retort with a remark when the waiter arrived with their order. He placed them on the table, gave Hermione a smile, and went off. It did smelled delicious, and she was rather hungry, without much ado she dived into her french toast.

"Well Granger, have you decided on the mission, are you going or staying put" He spoke while chewing the bacon.

"Certainly going, you don't expect me to sit behind while people out there are getting killed. What about you Malfoy, you gonna trouble yourselves with the war."

"Yes, I am. " Hermione nodded. Rest of the breakfast went in silence. However, Hermione was a bit surprised at the situation, arch-nemesis sitting and having breakfast at a cafe, like two friends. They were even civil towards each other.

Soon they were both done eating and Draco tapped the wall again, and the waiter came in with the bill.

"Put in on my tab" He waved him away.

"Well, I would like to pay for my half Malfoy how much was it." She spoke while taking out her purse.

"Relax Granger, I invited you out to breakfast consider it my treat." His behavior was seriously concerning Hermione now, Malfoy being nice to her wasn't a normal occurrence.

"What are you playing at Malfoy, acting all nice and paying for breakfast, complimenting my work, what's your plan here. What do you want." She spoke sternly, Malfoy being nice was freaking her out.

"Why Granger, is it that hard to believe that the death eater has changed, you accuse me of insulting you yet here you are judging me even though I have been nothing but civil with you. Get it in your head granger, people do change." He spoke rather roughly, surely she struck a nerve. Hermione was filled with guilt now, she did never consider that this all may not be a facade, maybe he was genuine after all.

"Sorry, you're right you have been civil towards me, I shouldn't have said that" She spoke softly. Malfoy just curtly nodded, gathered his coat, and stood up to leave.

Hermione was still replaying the breakfast in her head, Malfoy was civil, and has said he would work on the potion. It sure was a weird day. She went off to prepare for her trip, but first, she went on to visit Harry.

As she entered the floo, she saw a redhead sitting on the couch chatting with Harry. She hadn't seen him since the wedding. It had already been an eventful day, seems like the day just keeps getting weirder. Ron looked up at her and gave a nod. Harry stood up and hugged her.

"Hey, Mione. watcha doing here, everything alright?" It was sweet how Harry always asked her that every time she showed up unexpectantly. She always wished for a brother, and it seems like she got one in him now.

"Yea just needed to talk to you. About all that's going on, plus You wouldn't guess who I had breakfast with." Ron was listening intently to the pair but didn't speak anything.

"Antoine?" Harry looked concerned at her. The guy had already given her enough misery, if he wanted to get back at her he would make sure to knock some sense into him and keep him away from her.

"No, Malfoy. He owled me last night for breakfast"

"WHAT!" Ron yelled strutly getting up from the couch."What does he want with you, that git!" He huffed.

Hermione never liked this behaviour of him, getting agitated at small things, without even hearing the full story. She ignored his yelling and went on.

"He wanted to talk about my projects, and Harry strangely enough he was all civil towards me. I can't believe I'm saying this but I think he actually has changed for the good. He paid for breakfast and actually listened to me."

"Well. Malfoy is pretty good at his job, and he hasn't caused any disturbance at the ministry for the past years. He and I collaborated on a mission once, he was civil to me too."

"What mission, you never mentioned it" she arched an eyebrow at him.

"Harry, you never told me either and why are you guys working on with that git! nothing good can come from it" Ron was still speaking rather loudly and he spoke as if accusing them of something. Hermione was not pleased with his tone and glared at him.

"Ron! he is a colleague we are supposed to work with him, and Harry is right, he has been at the ministry as long as we were, he did nothing wrong then." She looked back at Harry.

"What mission were you talking about?"

"Remember when we caught Greyback? Malfoy was with us on that, he was the one who spelled greyback to stop him from transforming to a full wolf, it was a full moon that night."

Hermione was amazed by this, stopping a wolf's transformation was some really strong and ancient magic. "Guess, he really has changed huh"

"Maybe, you will have to work with him for the mission, its good that you two are getting along somewhat." Ron seemed to be sulking now, offended that his friends sided with Malfoy instead.

"Yeah well, I came by to talk about this but I better be going, I have errands to run. See you around?" Harry hugged her and smiled. She looked at Ron who was now pointedly avoiding looking at them both. "See you around Ron," She said softly and went to the floo.

The next two days, seemed to pass in a haze. It was time for the final meeting, they would get to see who signed up for it. Hermione hurried to work, excited for the meeting. She walked up to the door of hall five. She could hear murmurs from inside. Guess many showed up after all.

She took a deep breath "Well here goes nothing" She pushed open the door, and headed inside.

Kinda excited about this chapter. And I'm doing my best to improve my writing. I have been kinda busy these days with exams and other projects, but writing is fun so here it is. Hope I would be able to update the next chapter soon.

Anyways love you all readers XOXO!

(P.S review! review! review!)