Chapter 15: Fall Out
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"Malfoy," she gave him a perturbed look, "What brings you to the Ministry right after lunchtime on a Friday?" She asked, making it clear that she knew why he was there.
"Don't we have a meeting this afternoon?" He tried to downplay his pleasure from catching her off guard, "I had some more ideas I wanted to share with you for the interview you're trying to get with… well you know with whom," he said.
"Our meeting was supposed to be Monday," she stared at him extra hard, but kept her voice casual, "But since you're here, I can make time for you this afternoon if you prefer."
"Must have written the date down wrong," Draco pushed himself off the fountain to walk with them, "Afternoon, Weasley."
"Malfoy," Ron nodded, not keen on his intrusion.
"I'll take her off your hands," Draco gave him an overly friendly smile, "Important things to discuss today, you understand."
Ron looked between Hermione and Draco curiously, her discomfort apparent.
Hermione turned to Ron with an exasperated look, "I'm sorry Ron, work calls, but it was great having lunch. Let's do it again soon. Let me know when everyone wants to do dinner."
Ron stopped, "Is this what you meant when you said you met at work?" He said in a low voice, realization dawning on him.
Hermione and Draco stopped a step ahead of him and Hermione opened her mouth, brain working overtime to decide how to handle the situation, "Ron this isn't the place for this conversation," she said, looking around at the passersby.
"It might not be the right place for it, but I've never had more questions in my life," Ron's eyes were wide, his arms hanging awkwardly at his side.
Hermione glanced at Draco, who was still smiling, watching from the sidelines.
"There is a very reasonable explanation for everything," she assured him, "But can we discuss this another time, please?"
"Just tell me yes or no," Ron said, "Is this what you meant when you said you met at work?"
She should have just told him earlier, why had she thought she could avoid this, "Yes." It was quiet, but decisive.
They looked at each other for a moment and she could see the pain in his eyes, "Have a good weekend, Hermione."
"Ron-" she started, but he was already walking away, eying Draco as he brushed past him towards the elevators to Level 2.
Hermione wheeled around on Draco once Ron was out of earshot, "What was that about!" She exclaimed.
"Careful now, we're still in the atrium," he gave her a smug look.
"You're incorrigible," she said under her breath, turning back around and leading them to an elevator to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. They were stopped by security outside the elevators and she showed her badge, explaining that she was escorting Draco, as previously requested, to her office for a meeting. They scanned her badge for approval and let them pass.
She smiled cordially at the onlookers as they entered her department. Once they were in her office with the door shut, he took his seat and she walked around to her side, placing her hands on the desk and leaning towards him, "Now you can tell me WHAT that was about," she said, clearly annoyed.
"I just thought it'd be fun to say hi to Weasley myself," he said nonchalantly.
"You came to spy on us on our way back in," she said pointedly.
"I thought you liked me jealous?" He pulled his foot up to rest on the opposite knee lazily.
"Well is that what you wanted, to put a riff in my friendship with Ron?" She collapsed into her chair, "We'd had a perfectly nice lunch. Malfoy you have to know that it was going to be a difficult conversation for me to tell Ron and Harry that we're seeing each other. Why wouldn't you just let me do it on my own time when I'm ready."
"Why would me showing up for a meeting be equivalent to you dating me?" Malfoy asked, confused by her overreaction.
"Because I had just told him I was seeing someone. He asked how we met and I said at work, and then you come galavanting in with that smug look on your face to talk to me and it was pretty obvious to him what I had meant."
"Well how was I supposed to know you'd told him that?" he sighed, "I just thought it would be fun to pop in on the end of your lunch date. It was supposed to be harmless, I'm sorry if it caused a scene."
She stared at him, arms crossed.
"Did he tell you he was still in love with you?" Draco asked.
Hermione glared at him, "Yes he kind of did," she admitted.
"Then you see my concern," he said, trying to validate his actions.
"Well I didn't need you to be concerned about it," she said, "I told him I didn't know what the future held anymore and that I was seeing someone. I handled it just fine myself."
"But did you tell him whom you were seeing?" Draco pointed out.
"Honestly I didn't think it would look good on your case if I told people we're… whatever we are," she said.
"And what would you like us to be?" he tilted his head, his voice casual and a smile playing at his lips again.
"You really enjoy it when I'm frazzled, don't you?" they stared at each other for a moment, his smirk becoming significantly more annoying than endearing currently.
"I think it's cute," he said.
"Are you even the least bit sorry that you just put me in that situation? I had already told Ron I had moved on and then you had to parade around that it's our sworn enemy that I'm dating?" she shook her head, trying to get him to understand where she was coming from.
"Look, Granger, I already apologized," he said, throwing his hands up in defeat, "I didn't like that you were spending time with Weasley. However I also feel like I should say you're welcome."
"For what now, exactly?" She looked at him with her eyebrows raised.
"Well now that hard part of telling your friends is out of the way," he grinned at her, "You may have some damage control, but at least you can say you were honest about it and I'm sure with time it'll be fine."
"You treated us horribly at Hogwarts, you know," she reminded him, "Especially Ron. That's why this is difficult. I was going to tell them, I just needed some time."
"I don't know how many times I can apologize for the person you knew at Hogwarts. If you think that's still who I am, then I don't know why we're sitting here right now."
"I don't think it's who you are, but that certainly wasn't a nice thing you just did."
"I will make it up to you," he said, giving in and accepting that showing up at the Ministry unannounced was not the right move, "And if you want me to be there when you talk to you friends so I can apologize to them, I will do that. I'm sorry."
Hermione surveyed him, he looked sincere and there wasn't much else she could think to fight about at the moment, "Okay. I'm sorry if I overreacted," she allowed, "That was just incredibly uncomfortable for me, and probably for Ron."
"I acknowledge that," Draco said with finality, more than ready to move on.
"Did you really have something to discuss today?" Hermione asked with a sigh.
"I really did," he gave her a half smile, "I made a list of some things I think you could ask Goyle when you interview him again." He pulled a piece of parchment from his pocket and handed it across the table.
She grabbed it from him and scanned the page, "Yes, these are good," she nodded. She would let Ron cool down a little and ask him, Harry and Ginny to have dinner after the weekend so they could talk. With some time, she hoped they would understand. Draco didn't have the best intentions, but she did believe that he hadn't meant to cause that much drama for the afternoon.
"He responds better to positive reinforcement," Draco cut into her thoughts, "He likes feeling smart and if you just butter him up a little, I think he'll talk more."
"But he said so much when I broke him down," Hermione said.
"Yeah, you needed a confession and he wanted to be a part of an elite group," Draco shrugged, "But now you've got him and the best way to keep him talking is to make him feel big and important."
"Okay I'll give it a try. These questions are good, I can tell you put some thought into them."
"I learn from the best," he said with a wink.
"You're really a lot today," she leaned back in her chair.
"Sometimes I'm just on my stride," he said smoothly, "But I have been reading through one of the books in the investigation section of the library - added a few books to it since we've been working together."
"Well I appreciate it," she ignored his first comment.
"And we had some people in the atrium seeing me come in and work with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," he said, "That was on the list of things to do."
"Yes, yes I know," she said, "Guess you won't need to come in Monday."
"I'll take the trade off," he looked like he was still gloating a bit for getting her riled up, "So should I stay a while, keep you company while you work? Make it look like we're doing some serious business in here?"
"You can stay a bit," she nodded, more than ready to knock him off his high horse, "But I'm going to be putting you to work." She flicked her wand and a large stack of files flew towards her desk.
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A couple of hours later Draco sat back down in the chair with an irritated look on his face, "All of the folders you gave me are filed back in their drawers," he said.
"Great, I have another stack here that I'd love your help with. So glad you came in today," she smiled at him, picking up another pile and handing it to him. The first file fell off the top, spilling papers onto the floor. The file sprang to life, opening slightly and pulling the papers back in neatly like a vacuum before snapping shut again.
Draco eyed it with bemusement, "That's a useful little charm."
"Quite," she smiled, levitating the file from the ground and placing it back on top of the pile in his hands, "Off you go!"
He looked at the new pile and then back up at Hermione, his expression becoming highly unenthusiastic as he turned and walked back over to the filing cabinet in the corner, muttering something under his breath. He set the pile down, "Accio," he said as the top file flew into his hand. He read the name and waved his wand to locate the appropriate drawer. He opened it and levitated the file into its place, summoning the next file into his hand.
After another hour he sat back down in front of her, "They're filed, am I done now?" he asked, looking tired.
"Yes, you're done," her eyes twinkled as she looked up at him, "I think this was a great way to show how cooperative you've been with the department."
"You're just getting back at me for coming in today."
"Also that," she conceded, "Two can play your games, Malfoy."
"You learn quicker than most," he admitted with a sigh, impressed overall with her quick comeback to his visit.
A knock at the door broke their conversation and Alden popped his head in, "Granger, I have some notes for the Goyle interview on Monday when you have a minute to stop over," he said, and then noticed Draco was there as well, "Mr. Malfoy," he nodded, walking fully into the room, "How are you? Not sure if you remember me from one of your earlier visits when we met briefly, but I'm Alden Northcott, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," he held his hand out and Draco stood up.
"Nice to see you, Alden," he shook his hand firmly, "Thank you for all of the hard work your team has put in to help clear my name."
"All of your thanks goes to this one," he nodded towards Hermione, "She believes in you and we all back her. She's a good one to have on your side. Hope we can wrap up this investigation so you can get back to your day-to-day."
"I do like having her on my side," he agreed, turning back to Hermione, "I'll be heading home so you can prep for your meeting next week, if you'll escort me to the Atrium."
He said goodbye to Alden and they left the department together. They reached the visitors entrance and he looked over at her, "How about you come over Saturday night and we do a little more file review before your meeting with Goyle on Monday."
"Sounds good, Malfoy," she smiled, feeling that they were even now, even if she still had to straighten things out with Ron later. But as much as she'd hate to admit it, it probably was better to have the conversation now rather than months down the line and have to make up excuses until then.
"I may have dinner for you, if you're interested."
"Well file review does make one quite hungry," she nodded, "Don't make Marty spend all day on it, though."
"Oh no, Granger, I'll be cooking," he flashed her a grin and took his leave.
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