Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 5

It is a week or so before Christmas when Hermione completes her mentalist courses. She does not start her new position at the ministry until the second week in January. She tried to persuade Shacklebolt to let her start early. He refused, saying, "Hermione, take some time for yourself. You need a break."

Well that is just it. Hermione doesn't want a break. She feels alive again for the first time in months, and is afraid if she has time to herself she will get bogged down and start fretting over things again.

She considers going back to Australia to look for her parents, but knows there are no new leads. Plus, she really trusts her contact at the Australian Ministry, Katie Bell, who was in Gryffindor house with her in school, in addition to being on the house quidditch team with Harry.

It is still hard for her to believe her parents never set up a dental practice while in Australia. She was so sure she would be able to find them because of that. Now she worried she would never be able to restore her parents memories of her.

Her first priority after the funerals following the war was locating her parents. She was concerned when she wasn't able to find their dental practice anywhere. As soon as she could get one, she took a portkey to the Australian Ministry of Magic. She worked with Katie non-stop for a month. Apparently her parents had stayed in Sydney for two weeks, then Perth for a week, but the trail ends there. No bank accounts, rentals, flights, cruises, anything. She knew they had taken their savings and funds for selling their practice with them when they left so money wouldn't be a bother. But where could they have gone?

She didn't want to come back to England without her parents, but when Harry and Ginny showed up to collect her, she knew it was time.

She also knew that Katie would let her know the minute she found something. They still talk every couple weeks about her progress. Well, lack of progress if she is honest with herself.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Alone at the Burrow, Hermione finds herself with too much on her mind in the quiet, empty house. She decides to go to Diagon Alley to get lunch and finish up her Christmas shopping. She still needs to pick up Harry's present, and isn't sure if she should get Ron anything.

She walks into the Leaky Cauldron, sits at the bar, and orders a warm butterbeer with fish and chips. Before her food arrives, someone sits next to her and says, "Hello, Granger."She looks to her left, smiles, and replies, "Hi Draco."

"How's training?"

"Actually it went really well. I finished up early."

"Of course you did."

She laughs.

He asks, "Did you learn anything new or did you already know it all?" She snaps angrily, "Whatever Malfoy." She's staring daggers at him now. What she heard was "you're a know-it-all", one of Ron's favorite things to yell at her. Draco responds, "Hermione, I was just having a go at you. I apologize, I was trying to make you laugh, not offended you."Her voice softens, "Oh." Well that's different. Hmmm, I'm not used to that, she thinks. "It's OK. Apology accepted. Sorry I snapped." Puzzled, he asks, "What did you mean when you said 'You're not used to that?'"Hermione frowns. She hadn't realized she said that out loud. Luckily, the bartender arrives with her food and takes Draco's order so she doesn't answer.

Draco's glad to see that Hermione is looking better. She is beautiful of course, he's thought that since the Yule Ball, but something is just off. It got a bit better after the Weasel quit Auror training, but she just doesn't seem to have that the usual spark about her. He sneaks a glance and tries to decide if he is going to bring up her comment again. She looked relieved when they were interrupted. During training they had developed somewhat of a rapport. They had worked well together on the cases they'd been assigned to before she left for her specialty turns on his seat so he is facing her. She feels his stare but doesn't look up. "Hermione what's been going on with you? You seem a bit better now then before your Mentalist training. Please don't be offended, but you seem like you've lost a bit of fire." His voice is soft and tender. He sounds concerned. She contemplates for a moment. Merlin, am I actually going to confide in Draco Malfoy of all people? She learned in training she needed to talk to someone about her issues, but him?

Draco watches different emotions play across her face. He doesn't catch them all, but he's known her for years and watched her long enough to pick up on the surprise, then the confusion. She shakes her head and he thinks she is going to blow him off. He's disappointed. She looks up at him with those big beautiful brown eyes of hers and asks, "Do you really want to know the answer?" The bloody barkeep comes back with his food. Merlin that git has the worst timing ever. He glances around the bar and notices an empty table tucked away in the corner. He gets out enough money to cover both their tabs, throws it on the bar and grabs his food and water. He says, "Of course I do. Come on. Grab your food. I'd get it but my hands are full. We are going to move to that table in the back." He points her in the right direction. She sighs out an, "OK."

They settle in across from each other and Hermione takes a drink of her butterbeer, swallows, and looks up at Draco with haunted eyes. She pours out her heart starting with her parents and finishing with what happened with Ron. She doesn't go into explicit detail, but tells him enough that he realizes she was being verbally abused. He asks her questions and says very appropriate things to her where Ron would have screamed. He even gives her his handkerchief. She hadn't realized she was crying until that point.

She then tells him about her training and how amazing it was. He shows genuine interest in what she tells him. He says, "I'm looking forward to working with you again when you return." They both smile. She tells him how her Professor is her mentor and he taught her so much. Even offering her a position teaching at the Healer Institute. He feels like he is kicked in the gut. He doesn't realize she noticed his reaction. After all it's part of what she trained to do. She hears the tension in his voice when he asks, "You are not going to though? You are going to be our Mentalist Extraordinaire?" He added that last part to lighten his tone and mask his disappointment. He tries to smile, but its more of a grimace. Who would have thought Draco Malfoy really wanted to work with Hermione Granger. Draco knew, but he was sure no one else did until today. "Yes. I will be the 'Mentalist Extraordinaire' for some time." She chuckles and he smiles warmly at her use of his nickname and that he'll continue to see her on a regular basis.

"So please tell me about all the new cases." She huffs,"Minister Shacklebolt won't even let me have the files until January." Draco shakes his head. "Not going to happen. I think you need a break." "Pleeease!" She pokes out her bottom lip and gives him her best puppy dog eyes, like Ginny uses on Harry when she wants something.

Merlin, he thinks. Her lips are enticing and bugger, that look. He doesn't think he could deny her anything.

"OK! OK! Just one though. I don't want to spend my afternoon off discussing work."She breaks into a brilliant smile and her eyes are dancing in anticipation. "One then." She says and rests her chin on her hand. He will not tell her about the one she will be most interested in since she will be thrown into that one in January.

Instead he tells her about the supposed kidnapping of the Hollyhead Harpies quidditch coach. "She left her husband a note on a Wednesday evening saying she was popping over to France for a long weekend of shopping with her best friend. He sees the best friend the next morning and she has know idea what he's going on about. He can not reach her by owl. By the following morning he is frantic, and reports his wife's kidnapping after discovering half their gold in Gringotts is gone." Draco takes about 10 more minutes going over the details of the case and says. "I found her the next day on the French Rivera. She left her husband for a younger wizard who was more to her taste." He purrs the the last part as the woman had done and licks his lips suggestively, "That was exactly what she did and said."Hermione's mouth drops and her eyes pop open. They both laugh.

"It's been all over The Daily Prophet. I am surprised you have not heard."

"I've been too busy studying! Now tell me about a real case!"

"No. That is all your getting out of me and do not even consider pouting again. It will not work." He says this knowing if she did, it would work.

She smirks. "Oh, alright, but only because it's your afternoon off." She glances out the window and notices the sun has already set. "Oh no! I've taken up your entire afternoon! I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have. It's all my fault."

"Hermione, slow down."

Her face has gone red, she's fidgeting, wringing her hands and her eyes are darting all over the restaurant. He is concerned.

"I'm so sorry Draco, it'll never happen again."

Merlin, she's shaking. He stands up and her eyes fly up to him and she looks frightened.

"I'm so sorry!"

"Hermione, everything is alright." His voice is soft and soothing. He walks slowly toward her and continues speaking comforting words. "I am not upset with you. I have had a wonderful time with you this afternoon."

She looks like a cornered animal, sunk against the wall, eyes wide.

"Please, listen to what I am saying. You have done nothing wrong." He slides onto the bench next to her. She looked up at him in wonder. "Hey, I'm going to put my arm around you. Will that be alright?" She nods, but tenses up more when he does. He starts tracing patterns on her upper arm and she leans into him.

"Everything is going to be fine. I have you." She relaxes into him, clutching at the front of his robes. He brings his other arm around, encircling her. She fits perfectly in his arms.

"Draco, I'm..."

"Shhh. Hush now. There is nothing you need to say."

She lays her head against his chest and he rests his chin softly on her head, whispering soothing things to her. He's thankful the place is almost empty. There are only a few patrons sitting at the bar and no one is looking their way. A few minutes later she has stopped shaking. She pulls back a little, but not away and looks up at him with awe. He smiles and says, "Better?"

She nods. "Thank you." She stretches her neck up and kisses his cheek lightly.

"Your welcome." They just look at one another for a moment and know their friendly coworker relationship has just shifted to something deeper.

She smooths down his robes where she held them. Neither really wants to release each other. His right hand slowly brushes down her arm in a light caress and falls to his lap. She turns slightly toward the table, but her shoulders stay under his left arm. Neither feels awkward about what just happened, but wonder if they should. She clears her throat and he begins tracing those soothing patterns on her upper arm again. "I, uh, have some Christmas shopping to finish up here." He says, "I do as well." She asks, "Want to finish together?" At the same time he says "May I accompany you?" They smile and nod.

"Where to my lady?" Her reply is almost giddy, "I need to go to the jeweler." He laughs and still smiling says, "Well, it seems we have similar tastes in gifts as I do as well. I am picking up my mother's present." She nods, blushing slightly, not being used to having his very friendly undivided attention, "I'm getting Harry's. I had some cuff-links made for him."

They walk close to each other and occasionally their gloved hands bump. He is sorely tempted to take her hand, but does not. They reach the little jewelry shop and he holds the door open for her to enter. "Such a gentleman. Thank you." He takes a slight bow and arches his eyebrow making her laugh are several people ahead of them. Draco watches Hermione. She continues to return to the same spot at the display case. He stays close by but not close enough for her to notice him. "Hello, Miss Granger, I see you are admiring the necklace I showed you on your last visit. I'll be happy to take it out for you." She sighs. "No. That won't be necessary, but thank you. I'm here to pick up my order." The jeweler replies, "Very well ma'am."

Draco thinks, So it is a necklace she's admiring. I will have to take a look at it. He makes his way to the watches. He feels a soft pressure on his arm. He turns to her. "I need to head home when I get my order. Molly always has supper ready by 6:00 PM and I don't want to be late." She is frowning slightly. He stops himself from leaning down and kissing her, and settles for tucking a curl behind her ear. It makes her smile again. He reaches into his robe and hands her his card. "Floo me anytime." She nods.

The jeweler interrupts, "Here you are Miss Granger." Forcing herself to turn, she takes her package and replies, "Thank you." She turns back to Draco. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." He watches her leave the store.

"Good evening Mr. Malfoy. What may I do for you?" He gives the man a polite smile, "I am here to pick up my order, but I would also like to see what Miss Granger was admiring."

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Hermione is intrigued by Draco. The address on his card is in a muggle neighborhood not far from The Ministry of Magic. She's not too surprised he no longer lives at Malfoy Manor. No one who is that warm could live in a place so cold.

She reflects on this afternoon and thinks he has really matured into an amazing man. Of course, he is still arrogant, but not prideful or condescending. Well, maybe confident would be a better term to describe him now.

She thinks back to how she acted when she realizing the time today and scowls. Ron's behavior had caused her to react like that, trying to appease him. Draco showed more tenderness and caring to her in an afternoon than she had felt in over a year as Ron's girlfriend. She felt safe in his arms and couldn't remember the last time she felt that way.

She gets out her book from her mentalist training on behavior modification and conditioned responses. After researching, she realizes she was showing signs of a panic attack. It would have probably progressed into a full blown one had Draco not calmed her down. She gets out her journal to record what happened today, and vows to work her way through this and get help if she cannot do it alone.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Draco is pacing his living room thinking about today. He should have hexed the Weasel's bullocks off that day in training when he got in his face. It is a good thing he did not know then what he knows now or he would not have been able to control his temper. Merlin, what had that arse done to Hermione? What happened to that spirited girl that punched him in third year? If I finds out he laid a hand on her... I am sure Potter would have taken care of him if he had. He has always assumed the amazing witch that had been the bane of his existence at Hogwarts was well loved and protected. At least she knows where to find him now.

"Bloody fucking hell!" He bellows out. "Arghh!" He runs his hands through his hair an takes several deep breaths. He has to calm down. He moves over to his chair in front on the fire and sits. He closes his eyes and takes several deep breaths.

Focus.

Control.

Reason.

Relax.

Release.

Each step takes several minutes to complete. He shakes his head. It's been a while since he has let his anger take control of him. He scoffs, last time it was over the Weasel too. This means he has to make an appointment with his Healer Mentalist.

Revised August 2019