Chapter 7: Teamwork

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The next week brought new hope for Hermione, who felt confident that having Draco with her would help keep their leads honest. Draco was to meet her at the Ministry at 10AM, so at 9:45 she made sure she was outside of the Ministry entrance waiting for him, aiming to avoid another security mishap.

Draco apparated in at 10AM on the dot, greeting her with a nod, "Morning, Granger."

"Morning," she said, feeling unnecessarily short of breath again, "We're going to Theodore Nott's house first for a 10:30 meeting."

"We've got some time then, mind if we grab coffee on the way?"

"Sure," Hermione smiled, trying to show him that her emotional reaction to being at his house the other night was in the past.

He held his arm out and she grabbed it while he apparated them outside of a hole-in-the-wall cafe in Diagon Alley, "Best spot in town," he said, pushing the door open.

"I see you're really going for a life out of the spotlight," she looked around the drab cafe. It was cozy, but looked like someone's grandparents dining room.

Draco huffed, "The coffee is what matters and they do it right here."

He ordered them each a coffee and handed the old man behind the counter two galleons with a friendly nod, passing one on to Hermione and leading her back outside.

"I can pay for my own coffee," Hermione told him.

"I'm sure you can Granger, just a gesture," he rolled his eyes.

"Well, then thank you," she straightened her scarf and took a sip.

Draco watched for her reaction and his lip curled up, "Damn good coffee, isn't it?"

"It's quite good," she admitted, "And it was nice of you to tip that man so generously."

"I go in there whenever I come into town and he always treats me with respect. Not something I experience on a normal basis anymore. I tip him what he deserves for his service."

"Shall we get going to Theodore Nott's?" she asked, holding her arm out this time.

Draco took it and they apparated to the address that had been given to Hermione, coffee splashing slightly as they landed. They appeared outside of a townhouse in Wales. It was a quiet street in a nice neighborhood. They walked up to the door and Hermione knocked. After a moment they heard a voice on the other side of the door call, "Password?"

She looked back down at the paper with the address, "Canons?"

They heard a few clicks and the door opened revealing a boy their age with dark hair and dark eyes, "Come on in."

They walked into the entrance way and he lead them up the main stairs, "Draco, I didn't know you'd be coming," he said, looking back at him, "Do you work at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement?"

"No," Draco said shortly, "Just helping out."

Nott shrugged, "Nice to see you, Detective Granger. I don't think we ever officially met at Hogwarts but I remember you."

She didn't remember him, "Nice to see you as well, Theodore, and thank you for taking the time to talk with us."

"You can call me Theo, and it's not a problem," he said. They had reached the landing and he gestured to the couches ahead, "What do you think I can help with?" The main floor was sleek, like a designer had personally picked out each piece.

"Well, we've got an interesting case on our hands centered around some of the exonerated Death Eaters," she gave a side glance at Draco, whose expression was blank, "We were hoping to see if you could give us any information, if you've heard anything or know anyone who may have been involved."

Theo let out a long breath, looking back and forth between them, "I don't think I'm going to be much help," he said, "I was never a part of that life. My father was, of course, but that's why he's sitting in Azkaban. We were never close so I never had any reason to take interest. I fought with Hogwarts at the Battle."

"Did you ever have any friends that were involved?" Hermione asked.

"Honestly Draco, Pansy, Crabbe and Goyle were the only ones who talked about the Death Eaters in the common room. Not trying to sell you out or anything, mate," he turned to Draco, looking a little uncomfortable, "I assume that's not new information. And I get that sometimes you've got to do stuff for your family. Never had anything against you."

"It's fine," Draco said, "The reason I'm here is because my name is being thrown back in the ring as a Death Eater and we're trying to figure out why. I gave up that life the second I talked my father into walking away during the Battle."

"Happy to hear that," Theo nodded.

"We came to talk to you because of your father's involvement," Hermione said, "A lot of people our age that are involved seem to be the kids of Voldemort's followers."

"I understand," Theo gave a half smile, "Not the most convenient last name to have these days. That's why I've got a bunch of protections on my door. I'm sure you, of anyone, would understand, Draco."

"All too well," he said dryly.

"I haven't been in contact with many people from Hogwarts since we graduated. I work in the back office at Gringotts in finance. I spend about 80 hours a week there so there hasn't been much time for me to keep up with people. I see more goblins than wizards these days."

"Explains the fancy house," Draco grinned at him.

"Almost makes up for the lack of a social life," he grinned back, "What have you been up to these days, Draco?"

"Not much of anything," he said honestly, "Finished up at Durmstrang and have been taking some time at the Manor to realign."

Theo picked up on the unspoken reason, "Always good to take some time. No doubt you'll do something impressive when you figure it out."

"Are there any names you remember hearing around the house when you still lived with your parents that we haven't picked up yet?" Hermione asked him.

"The names I've been hearing about in the Prophet haven't surprised me," he said, "Only other person I remember as a regular around the house was Rowle, but don't bring him in on just my account."

Hermione looked over at Draco, "Told you," he shrugged and Theo looked relieved.

"We won't be bringing him in on just your account," Hermione assured him, "We're talking to Gregory Goyle next. Do you have any insights on his involvement."

"He didn't have any back in Hogwarts," Theo said, "I'm sure Draco has vouched for that. Since then I'm really not sure who he's spending time with these days. I wouldn't doubt it though, he always talked about it like it interested him."

"It did," Draco nodded.

"Okay, well we really appreciate your time today, Theo," Hermione stood up, "You've solidified another lead for us."

"Glad I could help," he said, walking them back downstairs, "And hey, Draco, if you put that life behind you, let me know if you want to fly around and pass a quaffle sometime, I remember you used to be pretty good."

"Still am," Draco said, "I've got a pitch out back at the Manor, sounds like a good time."

They parted ways outside and heard the locks click back up.

"We're not meeting with Goyle until 2," Hermione hold him, "I was going to run home and grab a couple files I'll need to bring back to the Ministry later."

"I could come with you," Draco suggested, "If you don't mind. I don't have anything else going on today and it's quite nice being away from the Manor."

"Sure," she said cooly, "It shouldn't take long and we can grab lunch. Debrief," she held out her arm again, an uncharacteristically shy smile on her face, avoiding his gaze.

He grabbed her arm and looked at her, a smirk playing at his lips, "Sounds lovely."

She apparated them outside her apartment and cleared her throat, "It's not much," she said, "Just somewhere to put myself up on my own."

She pushed the door open and they walked in. She'd never been more aware of how tight the apartment was. It was just a studio so her bed was in the corner, a couch and coffee table in the middle of the room and a kitchen with bar seating on the other side. It was perfectly in order and the furniture was new at least.

Draco scanned the apartment, "Very nice," he said.

She rolled her eyes, "It's smaller than your sitting room," she said, "But it's home for now."

"You have your own place and there's a lot to be said for that," he told her, "I still live with my parents."

"Do you even run into each other in that house during the day?" she joked.

"Sometimes," he shrugged, "You know, if I veer into the wrong hallway."

Hermione walked over to the coffee table and grabbed some files, adding them into her briefcase. As the last file slid down, Draco caught a glimpse of his name.

"Is that my file?" he asked, tensing up slightly

"It is," she said, "Honestly I haven't had time to read through it yet but my boss, Mr. Northcott, requested the files I have so he can do a readthrough himself, so I probably won't get to it til he's done. I just wanted to see if there was anything in there that could help your case. Not being nosy," she added.

"Probably nothing in there that would help," he said dismissively, "And nothing you'd want to read."

"I know about your past, Malfoy," she smiled at him, "Can't imagine there's anything in here that I wouldn't already know."

He looked away pointedly, trying to find a way to switch the subject, "So where does Goyle live?" he asked, trying to calm down the anger and guilt that had boiled within him, thinking about what must be in his file.

"Looks like a flat in London," she said, pulling the address out of her pocket and handing it to him.

"Okay, I know a good spot around there for lunch." He wandered the room while she gathered her things, looking around at the pictures on the walls.

"Are these your parents?" he asked, pointing to the one picture that wasn't moving.

She looked over and smiled, "Yes. That was on Holiday in France."

"So funny to see it sit still like that," he commented, noting that her parents' smiles looked genuine and carefree, like they were just ecstatic to be spending time with their daughter.

"Muggles don't have moving pictures in frames," she said, "They think my photos are quite odd as well."

He kept moving, stopping in front of a picture of Hermione with Ron and Harry. Ron's arm was around her waist while Harry's arm was around her shoulders. Ron was looking at her and Harry and Hermione were looking at the camera, they were all laughing.

He felt an odd sense of jealousy, "Are you and Weasley dating?" he asked before he could stop himself.

"No," she answered quickly, "We're just friends."

"He's got quite the eyes for you here," he said.

She sighed, "Yes, I know. It's always been complicated."

"Like, you're in love with him complicated, or like he's in love with you complicated?"

She looked at him, "It just is complicated."

"How so?" now he was curious, did she love Ron or not?

"I have a lot of things I want to accomplish in my life," she told him, going back to what she was doing, "Settling down at 18 wasn't going to give me my chance to grow as an individual or get my career off the ground. Maybe I could have done both, but I needed to feel completely that I'd forged my own way and that I could focus all of my energy on that."

"You certainly know how to prioritize," he said, content that it sounded like she wasn't looking for settle down with Ron any time soon at least. Not that it mattered.

"Shall we get lunch?" she waved her wand and her briefcase clicked shut.

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