Hi all! Thank you to everyone who bothered to read the first chapter. This fanfic i already a change because it has the element of mystery which i am definitely not good with. So, apologies if this is rubbish. I really do appreciate seeing people reading this so THANK YOU TO THE PERSON READING THIS RIGHT NOW. I would love to hear some feedback so please please comment and review!. I promise this will start to get more exciting -and juicy ;) -soon. I will try my best to get Chapter 3 up within the next few days. Much love! xx

Hermione woke up the next morning on her couch, notebook lying on her chest and notes splayed all across her living room. She groaned and rubbed her eyes glancing at the clock on her wall. She'd managed to actually wake up with an hour to get ready for work, without an alarm. Impressive. She huffed as she got up, stretching as she made her way to the shower. As the hot water hit her skin, she let out a soft sigh, the water soothing her sore muscles from her night on the couch. She prayed today would go okay. Hopefully her and Draco could survive a day of working without one of them killing the other. She hummed to herself as she massaged the shampoo into her scalp letting the soothing feeling take over for a while, allowing her mind to slow down and for her to just stop thinking for a moment. As she rinsed the shampoo from her hair, she tried to stop worrying about work. It was only a job. Do not let Malfoy get to you, she kept scolding herself.

She was already dreading working with him and they hadn't even started yet.

As Hermione walked towards her desk, clutching her usual cup of tea, she noticed Malfoy already sitting at his desk, with his head buried in his work. She walked over cautiously and glanced at his notebook he was scribbling words into.

"I take it you read the file." Hermione pulled out her own notes as Malfoy looked up at her.

"Uh huh." He simply replied and went back to scribbling more notes down.

Hermione rolled her eyes. Git.

"Well, what do you think?" She asked and she leaned against his desk trying to get a look at what he was writing.

Malfoy huffed. He could do this on his own, he didn't need her bloody chiming in every twenty seconds with questions and opinions.

Hermione scoffed. Childish git. "Well, I think we look into Bennett's associates and their recent contacts. Bennett definitely isn't in London anymore, that's for sure."

Malfoy scoffed "No shit Sherlock." He sneered and he glanced up at her and put his pen down. "Well done in stating the absolute obvious." He huffed and ran his hand through his hair. Merlin give him the patience to handle this.

"If you're going to be rude, I can research this on my own, at my own desk." She said and crossed her arms with a huff. He was just an incorrigible, ill mannered, twat. She didn't need his snide inputs and sneers- she'd already experienced her fair share of this at Hogwarts.

"Oh no." Draco gasped overdramatically, the sarcasm clear in his tone. "How would I even handle that." He looked at her with a wide mouth, clearly taking the piss and enjoying every moment of it.

Hermione scoffed and stormed over to her desk and threw her stuff down. Twat. Prick. Git.

He was impossible. She just couldn't and wouldn't deal with him.

For the next week, things didn't change between the partners. Hermione said as little as possible to Draco and Draco said barely anything to Hermione. Neither of them had found any leads yet and it was beginning to stress both of them out.

It was a Thursday afternoon when Robards called them into his office for a 'chat'.

Robards sighed and looked between them. "It's been over a week since I assigned this case to you both, and no progress has been made whatsoever." Robards sighed and stood up, crossing his arms over his chest. "I think the pair of you think I'm a fool. Don't think I haven't been keeping an eye on how you have been working together. Did you think I wouldn't realise you haven't been working together at all?" Robards shook his head and sat back down "There is a reason I assigned this case to both of you. It's a complicated case. I thought I could trust you both with it. Clearly I was wrong."

Hermione scowled at Draco. This was his fault. She hated letting people down. She wanted to do well for Robards, but of course Malfoy had ruined that chance for her.

"I'm sorry Sir." Draco spoke up. No. No way was he letting Granger destroy his first proper chance at moving up in his career. "You're right, we haven't been very cooperative and please, before you take me- us- off of this case, give us another chance, I know I will put in all my effort to make this work." Draco cringed at himself. He noticed Hermione rolling her eyes and he held back the sneer about to take over his features. If he wanted this chance, he needed to prove he could work with her. But they'd do it on his terms. He knew he was the more experienced- and may he add actually trained- one here.

Robards looked between them, taking a long sip from his coffee. Hermione frowned and wrung her hands together, waiting for Robards to drop them both from the case.

"One more chance." Robards said slowly. "I want to see progress this week. And the two of you better start getting along. I want you to sit at the same desk for the remainder of this case. You are partners for a reason. Now go and get to work. I don't want to hear any complaints about this." He said and he stood up, turning his back to them to file away some things in his cabinet.

Draco stood up "Thank you for the second chance, I- we won't let you down" He said and he picked up his satchel, before giving a Granger a scowl. He left and headed to his desk to clear some space for Granger. He wasn't going to ruin this. He was going to prove he was a good Auror, no matter what he had to do.

Hermione looked up at Robards after Malfoy left "I'm sorry I let you down Sir, Malfoy and I, just- we struggle to see eye to eye." She said with a grimace "But I promise I won't let you down again." She said, taking a deep breath, fidgeting with her hands.

Robards looked up at her and smiled a bit and gave her a nod "I know Miss Granger." He said and she smiled a bit and left his office, heading to her desk to grab her notes and research. She glanced over at Draco who seemed to have cleared a space for her at his desk and pulled over another chair. She sighed and gathered her stuff up and walked over to his desk, dumping everything down. He looked up at her, completely unimpressed as she slunped into her chair.

Draco handed her a large file "Here's all my research so far." He said "I think we should spend today reading and comparing information and then tomorrow make a good, solid start." He looked at her and Hermione nodded.

"Okay," She said and quickly sorted through her research and notes and organised it all for Malfoy. "Here you go and slid the large pile across the desk to him.

"Merlin, Granger." He said looking at the pile of notes in front of him. "You definitely are thorough." He said and ran his hand down his face as he started on the first page. Hermione looked up at him and just shrugged.

And that's how they stayed for the rest of the day. In silence, reading each other's research.

The next day Draco came into the department prepared. He could handle this. If he could handle the shite he dealt with in the past, he could handle working with Granger. Draco had a plan. He'd spent all night researching and he was actually kind of excited to start on it because he knew this was what he was good at. If this case went well for him, this could almost be a fresh start for him. He could be trusted with even more cases.

He walked into the office- early may he add- and took a seat at his desk. He laid out the notes he had complied from his and Granger's notes and he smirked. Good luck beating me at this one Granger, he thought to himself. Draco heard Granger's heels clicking as she got closer to his desk and he spun round on his chair. She looked tired, he thought.

"Malfoy." She said as she placed her tea on the desk and shrugged off her black coat, the wooly fabric shining from the rain droplets on it.

"Sit down Granger." He said. She stifled a laugh and placed her coat over the back of her chair.

"I'm not a dog, Malfoy." She said "Sit down 'please'" She corrected as she slowly sat in her chair and reached for her tea, opening it up, letting the warm steam heat up her cold cheeks as she took a long sip.

"Look, I don't have time to squabble this morning." Draco huffed and he handed her some research and some pictures. "Look we both know I have first hand experience around people like Bennett. So, I know where people like him tend to gather and meet up." He said and smirked. "So I thought we could take a little trip tonight."

Hermione glanced over the notes and it didn't take her long to see it. Two words. Knockturn Alley. Her eyes widened "Are you mad?" She whispered "So you and I are just going to stroll down Knockturn alley - Golden Trio Girl and the Malfoy Heir?" She laughed and shook her head. "You really are mad." She said and took another sip of her tea.

"Look, Granger just hear me out. If we remain on the down low, keep our heads down, no one will even notice us." He said.

Hermione looked at him with furrowed brows "Malfoy, your hair is platinum blonde, you could be spotted from the moon. Unless you're offering me a gallon of Polyjuice Potion to drink before we go, there's no way we're risking ourselves like this. " She huffed, shaking her head as she read through the rest of the notes he had handed her.

"I'll wear a hat." He said. "Look I'm going whether you like it or not, but we're supposed to be a team and it's not like we have any other ideas, do we?" He asked and Hermione's eyes caught his and she hesitated for a second.

"I suppose not, no." She said. She took another sip of her tea and sighed, thinking it through.

Malfoy looked right at her. "This job is about taking risks and being brave. I may not like you much Granger, but I don't think you're a coward." He said, trying to play on her Gryffindor values. "I mean, if you aren't willing to be brave and take risks, why are you even here?" He smirked and watched her cheeks turn red with annoyance.

Hermione ground her teeth together. Git.

"Fine, but the second there's any sign of danger, I'm apparating us out of there." She huffed and tucked her chair in to her desk more, arranging her side of the desk more neatly, a sharp contrast to Malfoys messy side.

"Granger this is the best chance at observing the type of people Bennett hangs around with and maybe finding out if anyone knows anything." He explained. "We have to start somewhere." He said and she glared at him. She absolutely hated that he was right.

"What time?" She asked, trying to hide her annoyance, biting her tongue from making any remarks about how much she couldn't stand the man sitting next to her.

"I shall pick you up at eight." He said. "Now, let's get started on a plan" He said with his signature smirk and she rolled her eyes and sighed. Stay calm. Just go with it.

Eight o'clock rolled around and Draco apparated outside the address Hermione had given him that day. It was pouring outside and was already dark. Autumn was coming is full swing this year. Draco pulled his black hat tighter over his head and pulled his coat tighter around himself. He quickly went inside and made his way up the stairs until he reached Hermione's flat. He knocked and waited, taking the time to clean the fake glasses he was wearing from the rain droplets. When the door opened Draco couldn't help it when his eyes shot wide open. She looked different. It was almost unsettling seeing the Griffindor princess in so much black. Draco noticed she had straightened her hair and tamed it with some sort of potion- must've been a strong one to tame that nest- and over the top she had pulled on a wooly black hat. The thing Draco noticed the most was the dark eye makeup she had applied that made her brown eyes pop. She hardly looked like herself. She shrugged on her long black coat and looked at him "So, do I look like one of the bad guys?" She asked and stepped out of her flat, patting her pocket to make sure she had her wand before closing the door and locking it behind her.

Draco shook his head "The baddest." He said and he looked her up and down, mildly impressed at her effort.

"I swear, if we end up in any sort of trouble tonight, Malfoy.." She started and shook her head as they headed out of her building. She glanced at him and huffed when he gave her his smirk again. Oh how she'd love to smack that smirk off of his face like she had done in third year.

"Shall we?" He asked and took out his wand and offered her his hand in order to apparate them there.

Hermione shook her head, "If you really think I trust you not to splinch me then you really must be crazy." She gave him a snide smile and quickly apparated herself to Knockturn alley and a few seconds later he appeared next to her.

They had discussed earlier that here they would be known as Etta Ravens and Oliver Crane and if anyone asked they were visiting from a small town outside of wizarding London. Hermione swallowed hard as she followed Draco into the small pub at the end of Knockturn Alley. It was dark and cold inside but surprisingly busy. Hermione took a deep breath, the smell of alcohol tickling her nose as she followed Draco to a table in a dark corner of the pub. Draco nodded at her and walked over to the bar, ordering two firewiskeys, keeping his head low and pulling his hat tight over his head. Once he got their drinks he strolled back to the table, looking around for any people of interest and slid a glass over to Granger. Surprisingly she took it and downed it in one. She did seem a little nervous.

Hermione felt the burn as the drink made its way down her throat. She was worried this would all take an awful turn and they'd both end up dead in a ditch somewhere. Draco looked at her and huffed. They couldn't just sit here in silence, that would only look strange.

"I didn't think Fire whiskey would be your drink, Etta." Draco caught her eye and smirked as he finished the rest of his own.

Hermione rolled her eyes and looked back at him. "It's not, but it's calming my nerves." She said and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

Draco smirked. "I thought Griffindors were supposed to be brave?" He raised a brow with a smirk and just as she was about to argue back Hermione noticed Draco's eyes move to focus on the person who had just stepped in the door and she glanced over and her breath caught in her throat. A man called Harmon Mandrake had walked through the door. According to the file Robards had given them, Mandrake was as a close acquaintance of Bennetts. Mandrake was a strange looking man. Tall with defined facial features,with dark, long hair and a scar across his cheek from a spell. He slumped into a barstool nodding to the barman as he ordered his drink. Hermione caught Draco's eye from across the table and he gave her a knowing look. Well at least they knew he was still in town.

Draco got them another drink and Hermione sipped hers slowly this time, wanting to keep her head clear. She was surprised at how good Draco was at this whole undercover thing. He didn't appear nervous at all. Although, Hermione had to consider the fact that he had grown up in this type of environment, surrounded by these types of people. Draco and Hermione tried to make small talk but they were both far too focused on what Mandrake was doing.

Hermione shuddered when she felt a large hand grip her shoulder. Shit. Had they been recognised? She felt the man's hot breath on her ear " So, pet. Is he your boyfriend or are you open to maybe coming home with me tonight?" He growled into her ear. It was one of the men who had been sitting with Mandrake. Draco set his jaw and slammed his glass down on the table. Hermione's face had gone white. As much as he couldn't stand the woman, he didn't enjoy seeing her so uncomfortable.

"Boyfriend." Draco said, looking at the man, tongue poking into his cheek. "I would suggest you take your hands off of her, wouldn't want to start a scene would we?" He asked and glared at the man through his fake glasses. The man was rather large and had multiple scars on his face and tattoos up his arms, but Draco tried to keep his cool.

The man laughed, "I don't believe I know you?" He let go of Hermione and walked over to Draco, his heavy footsteps creaking on the sticky, wooden floor. Draco looked up at him "Crane. Oliver Crane. Not from around here." He said and he put his hands in his pocket gripping his wand tightly, just in case.

"I see. Well, Crane, I'd suggest for next time, you watch your tone in here." The man growled before retreating back to his table, giving Hermione a final glance over. Draco let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and downed the rest of his drink.

"You alright over there?" Draco asked, noticing Hermione's pale face. Hermione gave him a nod and finished off her drink too and as Draco was about to speak, he noticed Mandrake leaving the pub.

Draco stood up and nodded subtly nodded towards the door. She nodded and stood up. Both left the pub as quietly as they had slipped in and followed silently behind Mandrake as the rain poured. If they could find out where Mandrake was staying, they might be able to find some clues as to where Bennet was.

Eventually, Mandrake led them to a dull and dreary looking town house and they hung back, watching as he walked inside. Hermione was soaked to the bone from the walk in the rain and Draco could see her shivering next to him. He sighed and looked at the time. It was almost midnight. Probably smart to finish up for tonight before anyone spotted them hanging around.

"Come on." Draco whispered and led Hermione round a corner and quickly took her arm, not allowing her anytime to stop him before he apparated them back outside her flat. She glared at him through the rain but to be honest she was just happy to be home without a scratch.

"That was quite a night." She said and looked a him. He let out a chuckle, the softness of the sound caught Hermione off guard.

"It sure was Granger." Draco said. "I'll see you tomorrow. Lots to discuss." He said before abruptly apparating away.

Once Hermione was showered and out of her wet clothes, finally tucked up safely in bed, she let out a breath she'd felt like she'd been holding in all night. This was definitely out of her comfort zone. But somehow the thrill was exciting.

And honestly? Her and Malfoy didn't make too awful of a team after all.