The third day in the office began later than usual. Ron had half a day off work and wanted to go out for brunch, however, when Hermione refused and insisted that she had to work, he got angry. Ron had never hit Hermione. That wasn't his style. She wouldn't ever allow a man to hit her, anyway. That's what she had always said to herself. She had been tortured, cursed, hexed and maimed, but the one thing she would never allow to happen, was for someone who claimed they loved her, to hit her.
This day, however, was the closest he had ever been. When she told him that she was going to work and that he would have to take care of Rose, he lost it. He started yelling at her, he took her handbag and tipped it upside down, he stormed around the house yelling, to the point where Hermione cast a muffliato charm over the whole house, so the neighbours didn't hear.
She had abruptly apparated to Molly's house where she left Rose in the care of her grandparents, before apparating to work, in just the clothes she was wearing.
That's how she was when she bumped into, literally, ran into Malfoy in the hall outside the lift – dishevelled, out of breath and dazed.
"Woah, Granger" he said, having been forced back into the wall at the impact.
"Malfoy! What are you doing skulking around the hall?" she asked.
"I went to see the kitchen and get to know the other people working on this floor. Did you know Kingsley hired a whole team?" he asked.
"I… what?" she asked.
"Is everything ok Granger?" he asked.
"Of course" she said, pulling her blouse down at the front and smoothing her hair. "We should get to work" she added.
"Right, well, we ought to start on the report" he said, earning a nod in return.
She didn't talk about anything, other than work, all day. She couldn't bring herself to. Her life, apart from this, was in a shambles. Her relationship was far worse than she ever thought imaginable. She cried through the 4 minutes of rough sex that she and Ron had the night before, purely because she had back pain from working all day and although she declined, Ron had insisted.
Molly was supportive of course. She knew her son better than anyone and could see straight through Hermione's mistruths. Perhaps the only one who could. The only one who knew.
At the end of the day, Hermione went to collect her bag, then awkwardly remembered that she hadn't brought it with her.
"Great work today Granger" Malfoy said as she sort of, spun on the spot.
"What? Oh, yeah, I think we got a lot done. Should be ready by tomorrow afternoon I would think" she said.
"Look, I know somethings been off with you today. I know that… You know, we aren't friends or anything, but you can talk to me. As an impartial outsider" he said.
She laughed. For the first time all day.
"Thanks for the offer, Malfoy, but I really don't think that, one, you're impartial or two you actually want to hear about my problems" she said.
He simply shrugged and said no more, so she left the office, headed to the disapparition floor and arrived at the Burrow minutes later.
"Hermione, dear, how was work today?" Molly asked when she entered the kitchen. Rose was in the living room laughing hysterically at a game that George was playing with her.
"Work was great. Getting loads done" she said.
"That's great" Molly said. Hermione got the sense that there was more the older witch wanted to say, but she seemed to be holding back.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"Look, dear, I know you and Ron are going through a hard time right now, but you need to just give him some time. He's adjusting to you working and Rose doesn't really go to him right now. He's just feeling a bit out of sorts" she said.
Hermione wondered if Molly knew that this was just how Ron was. Afterall, Hermione had spent more time with him over the years than she had, and his behaviour had sort of morphed into this angry, frustrated, wizard who thrived on having control in the years since the war.
If she was honest with herself, the Ron that she knew as a child, was changed by the war. The Ron that she knew as a child, as a young teenager, was gone.
"I know Molly. We're trying, we really are. I just… sometimes he is a bit much, that's all" she said.
"Oh my sweet…" Molly said, pulling Hermione into a motherly hug.
It almost made Hermione cry, feeling a mother's embrace, considering she hadn't ever been able to restore her parents memories after the war had ended.
Her guilt over that never left her. Her parents would be absolutely thrilled at having a granddaughter. She wouldn't feel guilty dropping Rose off there for the day while she went to work. They had missed Christmases, birthdays, graduation. There was so much they didn't even know they were missing out on.
She had, at one stage, collaborated with a specialist healer, who flat out advised her that their memories were gone for good. They weren't wiped, but they were modified so heavily, that only time would tell if they'd ever return.
The months after the war were so full with chaos, grief, loss, celebration and other events, that by the time she got to Australia, they were happy, living the life they had always dreamt of in Sydney. She made certain to bump into them, and there was no sign of recognition in their eyes. No hint that they knew they were politely apologising to Hermione, who was the one that bumped into them.
That night, Hermione stopped by the local Chinese shop and got some take away before arriving home just before Ron was due home. She laid out the food on the table and fed Rose her fried rice while she waited for the tell tale "Boom" of the floo. When she heard a small crack outside a short while later, she was shocked to see Ron enter through the back door.
"Ron, you're home" she said.
"Yeah, I didn't want to upset Rose by using the floo" he said, producing a bunch of flowers from behind his back.
"Oh, Ron…" she began.
"No, please, I need to speak, Hermione. I know I've been a right royal pain in the ass lately. Nothing excuses what I did thins morning. But all I can say is that I just wanted to spend time together and when you said you had to go to work, it made me so mad. I'm sorry, I just… I know how important it is to you to be there to train the new department head, so I wont made a fuss anymore" he said.
"These flowers are lovely Ron, thank you" she said, getting up and wrapping her arms around him. IT was very rare that they shared this type of affectionate embrace. She used to initiate it, but he would always tend to pull away.
Hermione leant into him and closed her eyes, letting out a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding. Ron's arm snaked around her and rested on her lower back, his other holding the flowers oddly out to one side. She needed this more than words could say. If she were honest with herself, she had been contemplating all day the idea of leaving him. Or at the very least, asking him to leave. But this, this was a sign that he at least knew when he messed up. He knew that the things he was saying weren't right. He wasn't oblivious to how their relationship was going.
"Thank you, this means a lot, Ron. Truly" she said, taking the flowers and pulling away from him to put them in a vase.
Their night was relaxed. They watched TV on the lounge before going to bed, and Ron didn't so much as insinuate he wanted to have sex. For that, she was grateful. Sex to her, was like a completely pointless act. It was for the benefit of one person and one person only and the ONLY reason she ever went along with it was because she loved Ron and wanted him to feel good. That was all.
The following day, Friday, at work was busy. Not only did they have to get finished with the report by the afternoon, the new team had arrived and needed an induction and orientation to the office. Hermione and Draco completed this in tandem, receiving odd glances at how well they worked together. Hermione noticed it too. The way they vibed off each other and the way they instinctively knew what to do or what to say. How to instruct them, how to organise the larger office space.
The layout of the department was not unusual. The lift opened up into a hallway where a large sign, opposite where the doors opened read "Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures – Draco Malfoy, head of department". To the left was the kitchen and bathroom and to the right, the hallway led to the offices. At the end of the hallway, there was a small reception space where the assistant sat and a few armchairs. To the right, Hermione's old office, which was now, of course, Draco's office. To the left of the reception was a door that led to a large room, as long as the hallway, but much wider which contained 15 cubicles to seat the team of ten, as well as some free for people who needed to drop in and use the space.
The space had been redecorated, perhaps after Hermione left the day before. The colour scheme she had been expecting, however, was not there. She had expected it to match the newly decorated head of department's office, with greens and silvers, however, it was mostly white and dark wood. The chairs were all black and there were framed photos of all kinds of magical creatures adorning the walls.
"Did you want to assign some cases?" she asked, when they had put the final touches on the report for Kingsley.
"I think that would be a great start" he said.
"How about a 'get to know you' game or something first?" she asked.
Malfoy looked perplexed at this.
"You know, team cohesion, create a sense of trust and rapport?" she suggested.
"Great, that sounds great" he said, collecting the stack of the most urgent files to disperse among the team.
"I have an idea" he said.
She followed him out of the office, across the reception and through to the offices.
"Ok, team, if we could have your attention, we would like to allocate some files for you all to begin working on. Please, if you have any questions, speak to Miss Granger here, she's the expert. I hope to be as talented as she is some day, but till then, we're all winging this together" he said in a loud voice to the group who had found themselves comfortable in the cubicles of their choice. He took the pile of files and began handing them out to individual people, who took them with a grunt. Hermione guessed that people still really didn't like him.
"Ok, now that's out of the way, everyone grab your stuff, we're done for the day" he said.
"What? An early mark?" came a voice from a cubicle.
"No, absolutely not. We're going to have a Friday afternoon drink and get to know each other a bit better. If we are to be working together, I want to at least know a little bit about all of you, starting with your fucking names, so come on, lets get out of here" he said, winking at Hermione who had opened her mouth in shock at his swear.
The group of 10 workers, Missy the assistant, Draco and Hermione made their way through the ministry, out into the street where they attended the nearest pub. It was frequently used by ministry employees and it was a bonus that it was run by a wizard.
They commandeered the largest table and sat around, Malfoy buying the first round of drinks for everyone.
They went around the table introducing themselves and Hermione was surprised to learn the amount of talent that would be working in the department. It made her heart sing just knowing that it seemed to be in great hands. When it came to Hemione's turn, she felt very awkward at first, but soon opened up.
"My name is Hermione, I ran the department for several years, having developed it from a one person ministry hobby into a fully fledged department. I am here only short term until Malf… Draco… learns the ropes. I have an 18 month old daughter, Rose and am grateful for the opportunity to remember what its like to work outside of the home for a change" she said, earning a giggle from some people around the table. .
"Great, well, my name is Draco Malfoy. I know I used to be a pretty big tosser in my younger years, but I come here ready to change the world for the better, following some pretty drastic changes within myself. I turned evidence against death eaters after the war and spent years researching how to remove the dark mark from my skin, which I successfully accomplished in 2002…" he rolled up his sleeve revealing clean, white, unblemished skin to stunned gasps from the team. "… I was the key witness to the case against Lucius Malfoy who is facing a life sentence for the role he played in both wars. I hope that we can create a working relationship that is based on trust and honesty. I'll be up front with you if you're up front with me. I think that if we can do that, we'll be a pretty great team" he said, raising his glass.
"To a great team" Hermione said.
"To a great team" everyone else chanted around the table, clinking glasses with each other.
The afternoon was full of conversation, Hermione learning more and more about the people who will be working in the department. It was good to know it was in good hands. At 3pm, they began filing out, heading back to the office to finish up before going home.
When 4pm came, Malfoy stood.
"Don't you need to be getting home?" he asked.
"Probably. Although, it can wait" she said.
"Weasel wont lose his shit if you're late with dinner?" he asked with a smirk.
"I don't give a fuck what Ron thinks right now" she said, clearly having had one too many drinks.
"Woah, Granger, I think we'll go get you a coffee and head back to the office" he said.
"I'm fine, just a little tipsy" she said, standing and collecting her handbag off the back of her chair.
"We still need to hand Kingsley that report" Malfoy said, as they reentered the ministry.
"You're right. Merlin, where has my head been at this afternoon?" she asked.
"I think you've just been letting your hair down. You probably needed it" he said.
"End of working week drinks with Draco Malfoy, who would have thought, hey?" she asked, as they rode the lift.
They arrived back at the office and collected the report, ready to submit.
"Do you want me to go alone?" he asked.
"Its fine, I feel fine" she said. It wasn't a lie, she felt slightly tipsy, enough to loosen her up just a little, but not enough to render her drunk. In fact, she had a feeling she'd still be legally allowed to drive.
They made their way to Kingsley's office and were shocked to find him not there.
"You can leave it for him, I'll ensure he gets it" the blonde assistant said.
"It's crucial he gets this today, do you understand?" Hermione said, using her fiercest, most commanding voice.
When they left, Malfoy cracked up into hysterics.
"What?" she asked, looking at him confused.
"You" he said.
"What about me?" she asked
"Its crucial he gets this today…" he imitated her.
"What?" she asked.
"You're quite intimidating Granger. Its…" he began.
"Funny?" she asked, assuming it was, given his current bout of hysteria.
"Formidable" he said.
"So why are you laughing?" she asked.
"It was funny watching that snobby blonde bimbo turn to mush at your words" he said, trying to calm himself in the lift.
"Sure, that's me alright, formidable" she said, rolling her eyes.
Thanks for the reviews.
SereniteRose - indeed, balance is the trick when you're, not only a mum, but a working mum. Ron is not making things easier and after today, she doubts he ever will. Apologies only go so far. As far as Ron cheating is concerned, there may be something coming up later on. We'll have to see.
Taylor9901 - It is such a difficult situation. So many people value their lives by the children they bring into it. I know i did once upon a time. And to have someone be a surrogate then leave with the baby, well that explains a lot about how Draco is feeling in his head. Also, yes Ron only cares about Ron. Always will.
I am several chapters ahead in writing this and am so so excited for you all to see where it goes. All my chapters are planned out, i already know what happens, i just need to have time to get it down. Right now, i'm supposed to be working, but i woke this morning and could not stop thinking about this. I am so so eager to get this done. I need this story told.
For Hermione, for me and for ALL the Hermione's out there.