Chapter Five

"Moving Forward"

The clock hands moved relentlessly as Draco poured himself over work, Rudd appeared once or twice with the offer of refreshments and news of their guest's activities which consisted mostly of her resting within her room. Eventually the house elf announced the arrival of their guests, the portraits were uncovered and Draco was joined by two other important looking people in his study. A rather round woman woman by the name of Regina Greengrass owned the title of Transport Supervisor, she adorned herself with a ruffled dark green blouse and musty gray skirt that rested below the knee, her lips were thin and perpetually pursed in a displeased manner that was befitting of her beady, narrowing eyes. Beside her sat the Deputy of Corrections from Home Office, a gaunt man known as Francis Hitchens, who appeared to be a weasel transfigured into human form. His pointed nose, balding dirty fair hair and dry way of talking reminded Draco of Filch, he would swear they were related if he didn't know better.

"Well Mr Malfoy, what have you for us today then?" came the sneering voice of Hitchens while he folded his arms and leaned back into the upholstery. Draco made a mental note of having it cleaned later before answering.

"Two wizards and a witch. The men are half-bloods and the woman... she is a mudblood."

Greengrass scoffed.

"Trash then. Maybe some potential in the lads but the mudblood is a useful as wet parchment. She should have been thrown to the dementors instead of even talking to us about her." Hitchens merely nodded in agreement as he stared down Draco, but the young man continued his report.

"Usually I would agree but I prefer to be thorough in finding potential amoung the lesser that may serve our Lord well. It has come to my attention that the mudblood is actually quite gifted in potion making."

"And?" Hitchens grunted, clearly growing bored of the conversation.

"Well, she primarily excells at working with less, this means she's currently discovered how to make a number of useful potions using far less or more inexpensive ingredients. In fact, what she has done is quite impressive, for someone a step up from a squib. I believe her talents could cut both production time and costs, raking in a considerable profit for the Ministry if her talents are put to good use. She has already signed the contract and vowed the oath too, she knows her place all too well, she will be easily controlled."

Hitchens raised and eyebrow."You mean to tell me this piece of shit could actually make us some galleons?"

"Well Malfoy... Coming from you, she must have impressed. Or has she seduced the wizarding worlds most eligible bachelor?" Greengrass gave a stomach twisting grin. "You know my niece still talks about you after the Serpent's Ball, you'd do well to settle soon with a good pure-blood girl and continue that strong bloodline of yours."

It was all Draco could do to keep himself composed at the statement. 'Yes and your blood curse legacy might just end if I did wouldn't it...' He thought to himself before clearing his throat.

"Madam I hardly think that this is an appropriate time to discuss such matters. Perhaps at the next social event we can talk more about it. As for right now, I'm offering very useful stock for our labour force, let us move forward with this."

Greengrass huffed at his response, nonetheless the conversation continued in the direction of business for a few hours as the three deliberated and finalised their records.

"Just one more thing before we wrap this up. I'd heard there was one more taken in here, what happened to the fourth?" Greengrass pipped up just as the two men were debating over final verdicts.

"Ah, well, she was a squib. Not much use keeping that around. I let the house elves hunt her for sport, keeps up the morale within the mansion."

"They should be doing what they're told regardless."

"Obviously but a bit of fun for me and my servants entertainment harms no one. Well, bar the hunted." Draco laughed with his colleagues at the 'joke' and they began drifting back into finishing up his precious paperwork.

"Alright Malfoy you've convinced me about the flea ridden mudblood, she might just be useful enough to keep alive. I'll throw her into the work camp in Yorkshire and we'll see what she comes up with. Can't complain about any of the other ones you've endorsed so I'll take your word on it." Hitchens said whilst getting to his feet lazily.

The three exchanged friendly chit chat, pleasantries and farewells as the two ghouls left the mansion. Draco watched as they loaded up Jack, Fergus and Maria and left the estate grounds. It was only when they were completely out of sight did Draco finally feel like he could breathe.

"Rudd..." The elf appeared instantly at his side. "You can tell our guest she may leave her room as she pleases, inform her of when dinner will be served and give her the option of eating in her room if she wishes. For now, could you bring me some liquor to the sitting room... I need a drink after that." He rubbed his head and began making his way down the hallway, not waiting for a reply from his butler.

He reached the sitting area and appeared to melt into an armchair in front of a lit fireplace. It was only 3:45pm but Draco could have slept for a lifetime if permitted to do so.

He waited but a few minutes before hearing a gentle knock from the doorway.

"Rudd, why on earth are you knoc-" He looked over to see the trailing lilac dress, and quickly shot his eyes up to meet Hermiones. Instantly he stood up to greet her.

"I apologise, I didn't think you'd come to see me after this morning. How are you fairing?"

The woman lingered at the door for a brief moment before entering the room, still keeping a distance from the man in front of her.

"I'm fine. You're the one who seems exhausted."

"Yes well, convincing monsters that I am one of them can take it's toll. If you'd care to converse, please do sit. Rudd should be returning with some liquor but I can request something else for you?" He gestured to the seat beside his which was seperated by a small table as he lowered himself back into his own.

Hermione paused while debating if joining him would be such a good idea, but decided to take him up on the offer, her curiosity getting the better of her, as she settled into the armchair.

"Liquor would be welcoming right about now... How did it go?"

Draco huffed a small laugh through his nose as he scoffed slightly. "About as well as it could have gone. Fergus and Jack will be sent to the slums as they possess no unique skills and Maria is off to the work camp to be treated like a dog..."

Rudd quickly appeared and set a tray, upon which a decanter filled with golden liquid and two glasses were displayed perfectly, onto the table between the two. He gave a low bow before disappearing. Malfoy did not hesitate to pour himself a glass, and filled the other for his companion.

"Having to pretend to not care and lie about relishing in the torture and murder of people is one of the worst things about it all... You know I laughed whilst pretending to have killed you like some sort of wild game." He laughed mockingly at himself whilst taking a sip from his glass. "They ate that right up. Loved it in fact, how it can't make anyone sick to their bones is beyond my comphrehension. They're a different breed that's for sure..."

He waited for a retort but was met with silence. Looking up he noticed Hermione staring at the glass in her hands in quiet contemplation. "I'm sorry, I'm acting rather entitled again aren't I? Going on about how hard my day was but here I am by a warm fire and a brandy between my fingers."

"No, that's not what I was thinking."

He glanced back at her in surprise, her eyes still fixed on the glass that rested on her lap.

"I... I may have judged you too harshly. I guess our time together in Hogwarts has left me with a bitter image of you, but I see that too was rather foolish of me. I heard most of what you discussed in the study. You're many things but you aren't a monster like them."

She finally met his gaze and Draco was taken aback by the lack of anger in her expression. It was one of... pity? He had asked himself earlier what had her become so enchanting today and it finally hit him. She was looking more herself, in fact, she was bringing forth memories of when he'd seen her at the Yule Ball, elegant and beautiful with a strong aura about her that made his heart skip and stomach leap. Right now though, right now he felt her gaze crush him more than any of her hatred ever did. He poured another glass.

"Do not look at me like that Granger, you were not a fool to judge me the way you did. I watched everyone I knew and loved die, and I didn't do a damn thing about it. I get these fugitives brought to my house by the most deplorable beasts and bounty hunters that walk this earth and I smile at them as if they were my kin. I process their catches like cattle and then give myself a pat on the back for a job well done as I send them off to hell. Maybe they'd be better off dead afterall, there are worse things than death and I'd count that fate to be one of them..." He sank his drink down his throat, then proceeded to pour another glass.

"And yet you look at me with those eyes full of pity, I am undeserving of anything but your wrath Hermione Granger..."

Silence filled the room for an uncomfortably long time before Hermione let out a low sigh.

"You know, during the battle I was a terrified mess. McGonagall had been struck with the killing curse and I was trying to take her place, to be strategic and guide those around me to ward off the oncoming forces, but I was fumbling. Death Eaters advanced on our position and I began to panic, Ron assured me we'd be okay, but shortly after he was but a corpse at my feet. That's when I ran. There's a reason I survived, I just kept running and running... I called you a coward but really I was just trying to find someone to condemn, someone to have done worse than I had. We both succumbed to the fear but kept fighting in our own ways with our own strengths and I can not blame you for that. It's not pity I feel for you Draco, it's sadness, no, it's remorse. You said people don't change, and maybe they don't at their core, but we grow and become more than what we were. I believe we can, and are, doing that at least. As long as people can breathe and grow, there's hope. I have to believe in that... otherwise, what's the point?"

They stared at each other for a moment, as if both having another conversation through their eyes alone, somehow understanding each others pain through unspoken words.

"How in Merlin's name did you just chase away my deepest anxieties with words alone? That's some powerful magic right there, those lips of yours."

Only as he'd said it did he realise how provocative it could have sounded, that his eyes had clearly wandered to make him say such a thing. Immediately, he looked back at his glass in an attempt to hide his embarrassment.

Hermione flushed crimson as she sank her drink in one large gulp, coughing slightly as she placed the glass back on the table.

"Y-Yes well, that's us Gryffindors for you, inspiring and all that. Well, I-I should get going, Giddy will be wanting me to rest and heal some more." She fumbled slightly over her words as she left the chair and made her way swiftly to the door. She stopped suddenly before entirely departing, and without turning round spoke once more.

"You...You called me Hermione earlier... Moving forward I would like us to call each other by first name, seeing as we are on much friendlier terms. Thank you for the company Draco." And with that, she swiftly exited the room, leaving a bewildered Draco Malfoy behind.

"What in Salazzar's name just happened!?" he muttered to himself, his cheeks now flushed. He wasn't entirely sure if it was due to the alcohol that his face now felt hot, but he knew one thing for certain, he had to thank Giddy for the hairstyle that revealed Hermione's reddened ears even from behind.

-End Of Chapter Five-