Disclaimer: The intellectual property of the Harry Potter world belongs to J.K. Rowling.
A/N: Hello! Thank you for reading my story. I hope you enjoy it!
Hermione set down a romance novel Witch Weekly had claimed to be heart throbbing and wild with a grimace. The book was about a male alpha werewolf who had been savage and bloodthirsty, but his mate saved him from further evil and changed him. It was a kind of book Professor McGonagall would never approve of or even consider as literature. It featured way too much possessiveness and more than twenty versions of the sentence "She wanted to change him; she wanted to bring out the beastly side of him and show him the good, human side." It also featured too many inappropriate scenes.
The fact that she read Witch Weekly from cover to cover was her guilty little secret. She openly criticized the magazine for being ridiculous and full of gossip when she saw Ginny reading it, but she did have to admit that the novels that they recommended were scandalous but quite fun to read when she wanted to pass time.
Hermione often wondered whether werewolves really had mates. The current trend of romance novels nowadays was werewolves and a concept they called soul mates. The books mainly portrayed the werewolf, usually male, falling in love at first sight, being insanely jealous of every male who dared to approach his mate, and always having a body of a bodybuilder with rippling muscles and "very clearly defined abs".
She knew that wolves had one mate that they stuck to until they died, similar to how humans got married and stayed with their spouses. However, she told herself, it wasn't as if those wolves looked upon their mates and fell in love at first sight and turned all growly and possessive. Sure, these novels were quite romantic (and often erotic) to read, but that didn't necessarily mean that they were actually true.
"Don't be so literal, Hermione," she could almost hear Harry's voice in the tone he used for her when she was overthinking things. She shook her head, grinning.
She wondered whether there would be a way to find out. She knew that werewolves kept to themselves as much as they could. The Ministry had laws which protected werewolves after the war, but the social discrimination still existed, making them hesitant to come out to the open.
Hermione flipped through the book, now inwardly laughing at some of the scenes she thought as ridiculous. For example, when the delicate female heroine met the greatly feared werewolf for the first time and when their eyes locked, she could feel a tingle and he literally growled out the word mate, getting all possessive.
How did they even seem to know whether that person was their mate by a few seconds of eye contact? It seemed so illogical. Also, in this book, it featured these two lovers as people who happened to meet each other purely by chance, never having met each other before.
If that was the case, how were they supposed to love each other in such a short time? It clearly did not make sense. How could you love someone without knowing their habits or what kind of a person they were? Mate bonds were actually two strangers staring at each other feeling a tingle and getting all lovey-dovey.
Also, she hated how the male characters were always so possessive. She understood that the writer was trying to convey how the male was more animalistic and territorial of what he considered his. However, she thought that it would be stifling if this were to happen in real life. No matter how much somebody loved or cared about her, it would be simply irritating if her lover forbids her from talking to any male for any reason just because he was jealous. She needed her freedom.
Rolling her eyes, Hermione stretched and got up. She had a meeting with one of her new clients. She had worked in the Department of Magical Enforcement after the war, but she had found the ministry quite stifling to work in. Despite the war, blood prejudice still existed, and older, pureblooded wizards simply refused to acknowledge her work sometimes. They were often rude to her and looked down at her work. She had left the ministry after a particularly nasty incident with one of the senior wizards.
She now worked as a freelancer, going around and acting as a lawyer to people who were discriminated against their will because of their blood status or because they were related with a magical animal.
Hermione briefly wondered what her new client would be like this time. She had been doing this just over two years and had met various people. She only knew that he was a wizard. Gathering her bags, she apparated to where they had promised to meet – a café in muggle London. She expected her client to be a muggleborn like her, or at least a half-blood. Not that she didn't believe that purebloods could be acquainted with the muggle world, she had almost never seen them do so.
The café was bustling with people. She looked around for the window seat as the letter had specified.
The window seat was concealed by a curtain, intended to give the speakers some privacy. She inhaled and cast a shield charm around herself before drawing the curtain open. Although the war was long over, she still could feel its aftereffects. Some of Voldemort's death eaters who were not caught continued to cause trouble and stirring up fear within people by firing up dark marks and attacking muggleborns. The aurors were having a hard time trying to capture them all. There was a constant threat of being attacked.
On guard, she drew the curtain open and peered inside. There was no one there. She was about to cast a human-revealing charm when she felt somebody behind her. She whirled around, pointing her wand towards the offender.
"Malfoy?"
It had been a long time since she had last seen him. In fact, the last time he had properly seen him was before the war, during seventh year at Hogwarts. He looked different. His appearance was the same, with his blond hair and grey eyes, but there was something unsettling about him that she could not quite catch.
She stared at his steel grey eyes. Something flickered behind them, but in a moment, he concealed his emotion in his tightly controlled mask she was used to seeing.
"It's been a long time, Granger," He addressed her quietly.
Hermione was astonished. Was he actually being polite?
Malfoy gave her a slight push.
"It's best if we go in there," he told her urgently.
"I can't," she told him, still astonished. "I have a meeting with one of my clients,"
He gave her a pointed look.
"Are you my client? Why did you hire me?" She asked, not realizing that her voice was steadily getting louder.
Malfoy pushed her into the alcove, closing the curtain behind them. She held her wand up to him a threatening stance.
"What the hell, Malfoy?" she glared at him.
He seemed unfazed by her actions. He let out a smirk.
"Really Granger, you haven't changed a bit," he said, languidly sitting down. He gestured at the seat across him, indicating that she should sit down as well. She glared at him suspiciously.
"Granger, sit down. I haven't got all day," He let out, his voice turning steely.
"No, Malfoy," She spit out. "I need to know why you are here. Why did you hire me? Why are we meeting in a muggle café?"
"I thought you provided non-discriminatory law service to your clients, Ms. Granger," he answered instead, his voice cool.
Hermione bristled. His professional tone made her feel inexperienced. He was right. Partly the reason why she was successful after such a short time in her job was because she accepted everybody, even if other lawyers turned them down. It was one of her characteristics that set her apart. She willed herself to calm down.
Fine, professional it is.
She sat down, crossing her legs. "What do you need help on, Mr. Malfoy?" she asked, getting her notepad out. Malfoy or not, he hired her. She had a duty for her client. She was working. Or at least, that's what she tried to convince herself.
Malfoy smirked. She sat still, gripping the notepad tightly, pressing down her urge to hyperventilate.
"I need you to swear on secrecy first, Granger," He held out a long piece of parchment.
"I have never intentionally exposed any of my past client's information, Mr. Malfoy," she told him coolly, ignoring his outstretched hand.
Malfoy regarded her with calculative eyes.
"Fine," he said, putting his contract away.
Hermione was honestly surprised. She thought that he wouldn't back down without a fight.
"What, did you just agree with me?" she asked, trying and failing to keep the surprise from her voice.
Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"Yes, Granger, as some people, unlike you, have the capability to actually think and agree about things," he remarked, sounding bored.
She felt her blood boil. He hadn't changed one bit, from his pompous manner to his clear disregard of her. He still seemed to enjoy riling her up. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts.
"What can I do for you today, Mr. Malfoy?" She asked, trying (and failing) to sound as if his passing comment had not bothered her. She tried to keep the irritation from her voice. He just seemed amused by her internal struggle. Jerk.
"I need you to go against a newspaper for me, Granger," Malfoy replied. "They are trying to publish things about me that I wish would stay secret,"
"Like what?" she bit out, "The numerous dark artifacts in your big and lovely manor, perhaps?"
Malfoy glared at her. She was startled by the dark, almost feral look in his eyes.
"Never," he spit out, "Never mention the manor again, Granger,"
He seemed almost pained. Hermione was taken aback. That was the most emotion she had seen in Malfoy in her whole life. Turns out he was human, after all. She gritted her teeth. She just wanted to get this meeting over with.
"Look Malfoy, just tell me why you hired me, so I can leave in peace," She replied with a sigh.
Malfoy regarded her with cold eyes. She stared defiantly back.
"Fine. Granger, if I hear any of this outside this room, I will kill you," he replied.
Hermione tried not to flinch. She had received numerous death threats in her life, but she knew they were mostly false or meant to be threatening. However, Malfoy was different. She knew he really would kill her as he promised. She didn't expect him to be direct about it, though.
She nodded, gesturing for him to go on.
"A magazine, the Witch Weekly, is trying to find out something about me," he continued. She let a wince at the mention of the magazine.
"Why, do they want to nominate you for the Most Eligible Bachelor again?" she sarcastically retorted, internally wondering why Malfoy would care about something as trivial as the Witch Weekly. Although the magazine did have a lot of subscribers all over Britain, is was known for being unrealistic and full of gossip. Most people did not even consider it to be a credible source.
Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"Shut up Granger. Let me talk before you jump to your absurd conclusions,"
She let out a sigh.
"Apparently, some reporter decided to stalk me," he continued. "I can't even step a foot outside my house without her following. I had to transfigure my face today to meet you here in secret,"
Hermione snorted.
"I mean, Malfoy, I'm sure you could find a lawyer who is of better blood status than me," she snapped back. She was surprised at herself at how rude she was to him. She had never been this emotional with any of her clients or when she had faced past enemies. Malfoy was bringing things out of her that she did not notice before. It was unsettling.
Malfoy's left hand clenched into a fist. Except for that, she could not detect any evidence that her words had angered him. She was amazed at his self-control.
"Look, Granger. For once, could you keep your mouth shut? Can't you understand that I need your help?" he retorted, his normally pale face flushing pink. Whether it was due to embarrassment or anger, she could not tell.
Hermione was amazed. She wondered exactly what happened to him, to make him directly admit that he needed her help. She then remembered all she had to go through because of him. The war, the pain, Dumbledore…
People could say that she was being bitter, not getting over the past and holding grudges. But she knew that being able to remember the past was her coping mechanism. The war wasn't something that could be ignored by her. It had taken a huge portion of her life, no matter how trivial it seemed to other people. She had suffered from it, lost the people that she loved because of it. She had too many scars that she couldn't cover by simply forgetting. Did she have to help him?
Her curiosity won over, though. She wondered what exactly happened to Draco Malfoy, the proud pureblood Slytherin. If it had been five years ago, he would have either hexed her or bled to death before he came to willingly ask her for her help.
"You know, the Witch Weekly have been publishing articles about werewolves these past few weeks," he continued, "And for some reason, they decided to stalk me. They found out something that could damage my reputation and name. Well, more than it currently is, anyway." He replied with a bitter laugh.
"What… exactly did they find out?" she asked hesitantly. For a fleeting moment, she wondered whether Malfoy had a dungeon full of people whom he tortured. Although she had never seen him act remotely evil, given his family reputation, it was quite predictable.
Malfoy looked at her warily.
"Swear you wouldn't tell any of this, Granger."
She rolled her eyes.
"It is stated in our initial contract that I do not have the rights to leak any of my client's information, Mr. Malfoy," She answered.
"If you recall seventh year," he said in a more subdued voice, "I was gone for the majority of the year after the incident in the Astronomy Tower."
She let out a long sigh.
"I think Potter suspected that I got the Dark Mark during my long absence, but in reality, I was bitten." He paused.
"What do you mean, bitten?" she asked.
He looked at her conflictingly, as if he was having an internal battle within himself.
"I was bitten by Fenir Greyback, Granger."
She stared at him.
"I'm a werewolf."
She kept on staring at him.
"And well, I need your help."