Chapter Eight

Unpleasant encounter

The two women entered a bookshop near Trafalgar Square. Before leaving the Leaky Cauldron, Hermione had transfigured their clothes to look like Muggle dresses and coats to avoid drawing attention.

Narcissa watched the young Muggles inside the shop with curious eyes.

"A lot of young people come here, the fiction section is huge," Hermione explained quietly, walking beside her.

Narcissa nodded and followed her to one of the corners of the shop, where the novels of the most famous authors were.

Hermione scanned the middle row with her eyes, looking for the authors Draco's mother had mentioned over tea. She pulled two books off the shelf and showed them to her.

"These are my favourites by Dickens, 'Oliver Twist' and 'Hard Times'."

"I'll take as many as you tell me to," Narcissa replied, nodding and taking them.

Hermione bit her bottom lip, turning away. The Shakespeare books were on the top shelf and the shop was quite full, the two shop assistants were busy and she didn't know how Narcissa would feel about having to wait.

She sighed and, after tucking an unruly lock of hair behind her ear, stood on tiptoe reaching for 'Romeo and Juliet'.

Her fingers barely grazed the outline of the book and Narcissa was about the same height as her, so they weren't going to be able to reach it... and they couldn't use magic in front of so many Muggles.

Hermione gasped and held onto one of the shelves with her left hand, trying to reach higher. Suddenly, a very pale hand grabbed the book she was touching with her fingertips. Turning her head, she met those grey eyes she knew all too well.

Draco gave her a smirk, handing her the book.

"I thought I saw you two come in here," he muttered, glancing sideways at his mother.

Narcissa had her arms crossed and one eyebrow raised, knowing full well that this encounter was no coincidence. Surely her son had followed them, to make sure she was treating Hermione correctly.

Hermione blushed and looked back up at the top shelf.

"Do you want another one?" Draco asked, following her gaze.

"I think your mother will like 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' as well."

Draco reached out and took down the book Hermione had said, turning it over to read the back.

"Have you read these books, son?" Narcissa asked.

"Not this one yet, but I read one of Hermione's books every week... and she gives me new ones from time to time," he replied, looking up.

Hermione's blush increased and Narcissa hid a smile.

"I'll take these four to start with. When I've finished them, we can repeat what we've done today, dear," she said, meeting Hermione's gaze.

She nodded and the three of them went to the counter, where Draco paid for the books.

"A gift for you, Mother. Your first Muggle books," he whispered softly as he handed the bag to Narcissa.

She smiled and kissed his cheek, brushing a blonde lock of hair away from his eyes with her hand.

"Thank you, Draco."

Hermione's heart fluttered at the sight of them like this. Draco was finally getting back on good terms with his parents and that couldn't make her happier.

They walked out into the street together and back towards the Leaky Cauldron.

"Can you come with me to the Quidditch shop? An owl arrived from Potter a while ago, we're playing a match next weekend and I need wax for my Nimbus," Draco commented as he opened the door to the pub.

The two women nodded and a minute later they were back in Diagon Alley, which was crowded at that hour.

They walked down the main street to the large shop. In the window was a picture of the new Nimbus 2010, which was not yet on sale, and several people were staring at it open-mouthed.

Draco went straight to the area where all the necessary things to maintain the brooms were, and Hermione stayed with Narcissa, looking at the new Nimbus.

"I don't really see the difference between this and the old ones," Narcissa commented in a whisper.

"Neither do I," Hermione confessed, holding back a laugh. She liked Draco's mother better and better, and seemed to have a lot in common with her.

"Shame on you."

They both turned around when they heard a woman's voice.

"Excuse me? Are you talking to us?" Hermione asked in confusion.

The brown-haired woman was staring at Narcissa.

"A pureblood like you, a classist... a racist, that's what you are. You don't deserve to be near someone like Hermione Granger," she hissed harshly.

Narcissa's whole body tensed and Hermione blanched, looking at Draco's mother out of the corner of her eye.

"Ma'am, you can't say that. She's not like that anymore, she's a good person," Hermione assured, stepping forward to stand between Narcissa and the older woman.

The woman looked at her in disbelief.

"People like them despise us and don't deserve anything."

"Are you Muggle-born too?" Hermione asked, surprised.

"Yes, and I haven't forgotten the persecution we suffered a few years ago because of people like them," she added, pointing an accusing finger at Narcissa.

Draco appeared at his mother's side, scowling.

"What's going on?"

The woman turned to glare at him, her face flushed with anger.

"And you... you're a Death Eater and a murderer. You should be rotting in Azkaban, you and your whole family."

Hermione gasped at her words, unable to take in what the woman was saying. Draco was about to reply, but she stopped him with a wave of her hand.

"I don't appreciate you disrespecting my boyfriend and his mother, ma'am. Get away from us. Now."

The woman gritted her teeth and gave the two Malfoy's a final hateful glare, turning and heading for the back of the shop. Draco set the maintenance kit he'd picked up on the counter and clenched his jaw.

"I don't feel like buying anything anymore."

He opened the door and the three of them walked out. Hermione could hear her heart pounding in her ears and Narcissa was paler than ever.

"You have to know that I don't think like that, Narcissa," Hermione murmured, approaching Draco's mother as they walked.

"I know, Hermione. But not everyone is as understanding as you," she replied, trying to smile.

Hermione felt like crying, the evening with Narcissa had been ruined in one fell swoop. She felt Draco's hand run down her forearm until it reached her hand and intertwined their fingers.

"It's not your fault. You shouldn't feel bad about what happened," he whispered close to her ear.

Draco offered his other arm to his mother, who clung to him instantly. They walked in silence to the Leaky Cauldron, and Hermione noticed that two other people they passed gave them dirty looks.

When they reached the fireplace, Narcissa took one of Hermione's hands in hers.

"Despite the way the day has ended, I'd like to do it again some other time."

"Of course, anytime. And don't listen to what that woman said," Hermione replied, squeezing her hand.

Narcissa nodded and threw a handful of Floo Powder into the fireplace, disappearing into the green flames. Hermione passed by next and Draco soon followed, finding her in the living room of the house they shared with sad eyes.

Hermione hugged him, resting her head on his chest.

"I'm so sorry for what that woman said. It was awful to hear those things," she murmured in a choked voice, sighing.

Draco dug one of his hands into her curls, resting his chin on her head.

"She's right, we don't deserve to be near you."

Hermione looked up and cupped his face in her hands.

"Don't start again, you know you're more than forgiven and you're very different now."

"Maybe you've forgiven me, but I haven't yet," he hissed in a harsh voice.

"Well, you've got to forgive yourself for once."

"I can't."

Hermione sighed and stood on her tiptoes, catching Draco's lips with her own. Since they'd been living together, he'd grown a few inches taller. They were both in their twenties now, and Hermione hoped he wouldn't keep growing, or she would soon find it impossible to give him kisses.

Draco held her tighter in his arms and deepened the kiss, twisting his head slightly. Hermione sighed between his lips and a tear fell down one of her cheeks.

Feeling it, Draco pulled away from her face and rested his forehead against hers.

"Don't you dare cry over this," he demanded, wiping the tear away with his thumb.

"It hurts me that they said those things to you, it's not fair," Hermione whispered.

"Yes, it is."

"No, it isn't. Don't ever say that again, Draco. You and your family deserve to be given a second chance, everyone is allowed a mistake," she said in a deep voice, frowning.

Draco let out a sigh, nodding.

"All right, I won't say it again. But I'm afraid this won't be the last time something like this happens to us."

Hermione clenched her fists in anger. If anyone dared to say such horrible things to Draco or his mother again, she would defend them tooth and nail.

Draco frowned, trying to concentrate harder.

He touched the tip of his wand to two of the brain tentacles on the table again, and they glowed brightly.

Draco closed his eyes and lost himself in the memories of that brain, trying to find the one he had been working with for over a month. He gasped as he found it and pressed his lips together, taking in every detail.

As soon as the memory was over, he opened his eyes and touched the silver artefact with his wand. The strange object began to spin again and the brain levitated, returning to where the green water tank was. The moment the brain entered the water, it moved again and its tentacles stretched out, writhing furiously.

Draco grimaced, those things made him very sick and a little scared. He sighed and stood up, walking out of the room while staying as far away from that tank as possible.

As he closed the door, a smile curved his lips and his eyes twinkled. He had almost made it, it was time for the second part of the plan.

Hermione sighed, nibbling on the end of her quill nervously. It was the one George had given her on Saturday. It wrote in black ink like a normal quill, but it was dark purple, sweet and blackberry flavoured.

She finished the report on all the issues to be discussed with Tony Blair, the Muggle Prime Minister, and got up. She tapped on Arthur Weasley's door, which was always ajar, and heard his voice asking her to come in.

Arthur had glasses on and was reading a draft of a new law that was to be debated in the Wizengamot, on the rights of magical creatures.

After Hogwarts, Hermione had been considering handing in her CV on the fourth floor of the Ministry, where the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures was located.

Ron and Harry convinced her to aim higher, confident that she would be accepted anywhere. In the end, when Harry told her that where she could really help change the world was by being close to the Minister, Hermione made up her mind and went to talk to Mr. Weasley. Arthur didn't even want to see the marks she had got at Hogwarts, he knew she was the best in her year by far. A few days later, she became his personal secretary. Hermione attended every meeting of the magical court, whether it was to pass new decrees or to try former followers of Voldemort.

Many of the Death Eaters in Azkaban had asked for their sentences to be reviewed, though so far none of them had been granted a reduction.

Hermione had enjoyed being present at a speedy trial of Dolores Umbridge, who had been locked up for two years. And, after the entire Wizengamot refused her request, she had twenty more years to go.

Hermione presented her own memories as Umbridge began to scream that she was a good person, shedding crocodile tears. But those tears disappeared when her memories showed everything she had done at Hogwarts, torturing Harry for telling the truth and many other students, among other things. In addition, Hermione also carried a memory from Harry about the trials of Muggle-borns that took place at the Ministry while it was under Voldemort's control.

Umbridge cursed her as she was led away, locked in that metal cage, and Hermione gave her an evil grin. She hoped she would never see her again.

"I've got it all ready, Arthur. You can go through it if you like."

He looked up and nodded, pointing to the only empty space on his desk. Hermione placed the briefcase there and Arthur smiled, looking at her fondly.

"There's still two days left and you've already finished it... you're probably the most efficient employee in the whole Ministry."

Hermione blushed and shook her head, smiling. She said goodbye to him and walked out to her office, sitting back in her chair.

She picked up the purple quill and continued to chew on the end. Up until that day her favourite had been the cherry one, but the blackberry flavour was clearly the winner. George and Ron kept outdoing themselves with the new items they were bringing out in their shop.

Hermione opened up the folder full of applications for hundreds of new portkeys for next spring, which only needed the Minister's signature for them to start being made.

She began to check the applicants for any history of illegal teleportation, until she heard a throat clearing. She looked up from the papers and saw Draco leaning against the doorframe leading to the corridor, wearing the crooked grin he always had in store for her.

Hermione pulled the quill away from her mouth, smiling back.

"Hello, Draco. Is it lunchtime already?"

Draco's smile disappeared and she saw him hold his breath. His grey eyes widened and stared at her.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked, startled.

Draco took a few steps towards her and pulled out his wand, casting a muffliato over the half-open door of Arthur's office. Hermione blinked several times, confused, but didn't have time to ask again because his lips were suddenly devouring hers.

She gasped and closed her eyes, clutching Draco's tie with one hand and sinking the other into his blonde hair. He leaned further into her, trapping her between the chair and his body, and deepened the kiss.

She felt a shiver run down her spine. Draco never kissed her like that in public places.

Their tongues intertwined and he bit her lips harder than usual, causing her to gasp unwillingly. She heard a low sound coming from his throat and her whole body began to burn. When they were out of breath, Draco pulled away just enough so he could speak.

"Next time you go to Diagon Alley, go into the bloody Weasley's shop and buy a hundred quills like that."

Hermione opened her eyes and saw that his pupils had expanded and seemed to be burning.

"Why do you say that?" she asked, whispering.

She was still a little dizzy from the intense kiss she had just received.

"You haven't seen yourself?"

She shook her head and Draco chuckled, sitting up. He pointed his wand at a small mirror hanging on the wall and levitated it until it was in front of her face.

Her eyes widened at the sight. It looked like she had painted her lips aubergine, the same colour as the feather, and they were also a little swollen from his kisses.

"I didn't know this quill stained, the others don't," she muttered, looking back at Draco.

"Buy a hundred," he repeated, raising his eyebrows.

"Do you like this colour on me?" Hermione asked in surprise.

"You look like a fucking nymph with those dark lips. If we were alone, I'd have you up against the wall by now."

Her cheeks burned with fury and she glanced towards the half-open door of Arthur's office nervously. Thank goodness Draco had silenced the room, if Mr. Weasley had heard that she would have Avada herself right then and there.

"You can't say that to me with Arthur so close!" she hissed.

"What do you think I cast the spell for?" he replied, smiling and leaning over her again.

Their lips met again. They both knew they were entering dangerous territory, but Draco didn't seem to mind. Hermione noticed his hands running up her legs and gasped, pulling away slightly.

"Someone could come any second," she warned him quietly.

Draco moved away, snorting.

"Go ask for a private office where we can lock ourselves in."

She smiled and shook her head, standing to her feet. They walked out into the corridor together and got into one of the lifts, surrounded by other people and with several memos swirling above their heads.