"When you're backed against the wall, break the goddamn thing down."

-Harvey Specter Suits

"I just don't understand why you have to go." Finn said while laying on her bed as he watched her pack her suitcase.

"Because Kingsley ask me to come back to London for the meeting." She hadn't been able to tell Finn that it was Draco who had asked her to come. It would bring up too many questions she didn't have answers for. "Besides I haven't been back to London since moving here, I need to check in at the Ministry. We are hosting the Quidditch World cup next summer, and the planning is just getting underway. There is a lot of pressure for this to go off with out a hitch after the disaster from the last time Britain hosted the Cup. Plus, I have to go over the final guest list for the Banquet we are hosting for the delegates of the Confederation."

"I just don't see why you need to be gone a whole week and what is with the short notice. We were supposed to have dinner with my sister's this week." He was being a bit whinny, which annoyed her but was cute all the same. He didn't want her to go, because he was going to miss her.

"Tell them I am extremely sorry, and that when I am back next week it will be one of the first things we do at the beginning of the week. Besides I was thinking maybe you could come to London this weekend." She had stopped folding the clothes that were currently in her hand and turned to look at a Finn who had sat up in the bed a little at this question. "I mean you said you have never been."

"You want me to come to London?"

"Yes,

"Do I get to meet Ron?" he asked a little sheepishly. She still founded so weird that he was so impressed with the 'Golden Trio' as he was.

"We'll see, so is that a yes?" she asked holding her breath. She was putting herself out there, she was making an effort.

"Yes, and I want to see the Ministry, oh and do you think we can go to Buckingham Palace I have always wanted to see that. Oh, and Big Ben, do you think we could make it a long weekend?"

She laughed at how excited he was at the prospect of visiting London. "Well I am up for it if you are."

He jumped off the bed and came around to where she was standing, he wrapped both arms around her waist and looked down at her, his soft secret smile was playing on his lips before he bent his head down and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was sweet and gentle, and it let Hermione know just how much a trip to London with her meant to him.

After Finn had gotten back from his weekly trip to D.C. and had agreed to get Draco and her an international portkey, she had texted Draco to meet her in her office at nine forty-five the following morning, they would be leaving from there.

She had called both Harry and Ron to let them know she would be coming into town this week and expected to see them both at least twice while she was in London. Ginny of course was ecstatic at the prospect of having one of her closets friend's home, even if it was only for the week. Despite the reason for her visit she was happy to be going home, she had never been so far away for so long.

Having said a very thorough goodbye that morning to Finn, Hermione was alone in her office when Draco came in five minutes before the portkey was to leave. He strode in with ease, suitcase in one hand and messenger bag slung over his shoulder.

"Do you think we will have time to stop at the Leaky Caldron before heading into the Ministry?" he asked when the door closed behind him.

"No, the portkey is taking us directly to the Ministry." Hermione said as stood from her desk gathering files, she would be taking with her and stuffing them down into her large purse. "We have to get you registered at the welcome desk before we head up to the Minister's office. My assistant Ella will be waiting for us when we arrive, she will be able to handle our luggage until we are ready to leave."

"Ok then." He moved to the desk and stood waiting for her to come around with the portkey. When she did, she offered out a small pocket watch, which he took hold of. At 9:45 on the dot the portkey glowed and there was a tight pull behind their naval before they with both sucked away from her office in New York. When their feet touched the ground again, they were standing at the far end of the Atrium near the fireplaces. Seeing at it was mid afternoon in London the atrium was mostly empty of workers. Most people had already returned from their lunch hour and were finishing out their Monday afternoon. Draco let go of the pocket watch and Hermione threw it into her over large bag before making her way over to the welcome desk where an elderly man sat reading that morning paper.

"Good afternoon Harold," Hermione said cheerfully.

The man looked up and smiled at her. "Miss Granger I didn't know you were back." Harold said.

"Just for a short visit. Draco Malfoy is here to see the Minister; can you please get him a visitor's pass." The man turned to look at Draco and the moment their eyes met Hermione could see the mistrust in Harold's eyes.

"He will always have to check is wand." He said to Hermione, not addressing Draco directly. Hermione could tell that Draco was having a hard time trying to keep his cool. She knew this trip wasn't going to be easy for him. He had left after the war, many people thought he was coward for doing so. Draco pulled his wand from his pocket and handed it over to the old wizard before being handed a visitor's pass that he was to pin to his jacket.

"Thank you, Harold." Hermione said grabbing Draco's arm and steering him towards the fountain that was directly in the middle of the Atrium.

"I should have requested a meeting away from the Ministry." Draco said when they were out of earshot of Harold.

"Kingsley doesn't do official meetings outside of the Ministry. He doesn't want to be like Fudge who was easily bought by those with money." Hermione retorted as she looked around for Ella. "Besides if you are going to do business here then you better get use to the dirty looks."

"Thanks for encouragement Granger." He said dryly.

She turned to him and her general demeaner softened just a bit. "Look, I know you have changed. More importantly Kingsley knows it too or he wouldn't have sent you that letter. Everyone else is a bit behind, but they will catch on, you just need to give it a little time. People are still healing from what happened, and there is still a lot of mistrust." A young witch who could be no more than nineteen was walking towards them from the lifts. Hermione smiled kindly at the young girl. "Ella, thank you for coming down."

"It's my pleasure Ms. Granger." She said with a huge grin.

"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Hermione. I am barley older than you." Hermione gave Draco a sideways look before gesturing to him "Ella I would like you to meet Draco Malfoy, he is here with me for a meeting with the Minister." Ella looked Draco over for a moment, they could both tell the young woman was sizing him up.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Malfoy." Ella said extending her hand to him which he took.

"I have already talked to Percy Weasley, he is allowing me to use you for the week while I am here. I have a lot of work to get through on this visit. Would you be so kind, and take our luggage up to my old office, we didn't have time to drop it off before we came in." Hermione said getting down to business now that the pleasantries were out of the way.

"Not a problem. Should I wait for you outside of the Minister's office?"

"No, I'll come and find you when we are done." She said handing the girl her small suitcase and Draco did the same.

"Very well." She nodded her head to both before turning to leave.

"She seems like a nice enough young girl." Draco said when she was gone.

"Wish I could have taken her with me to New York. The girl is dedicated that is for sure, never complained about the long hours and the occasional weekend in the office."

Draco laughed at this. Yes, the workaholic Granger, he shook his head. "Well let's get this over with." He said motioning to the lifts that were just on the other side of the fountain.

The meeting had gone extremely well all things considered. Kingsley had been very impressed by the plan of action Draco had a laid out for St. Mungo's. The immediate plan was for DM International to start shipping the needed supply of potions to St. Mungo's via carrier, and he would only be charging the hospital cost. That was just the beginning though, he wanted to move his entire production lab from the states to London. When Kingsley asked why he would make such a bold business move Draco had simply said it was good business. As it was now, he was having to important most the of the ingredients that were used because they weren't widely available in the states. Most witches had their own witches garden but that was for personal use. Ilvermorny who had by far the largest greenhouse in the country only grew what was needed for the potions that were taught at the school. Having to import most of what was needed for the brewing was costly, and that cost was passed down to the consumer. Moving the brewing operation to London where ingredients were more readily available would save time and money, all of which the customer's here and in the states would benefit from.

He still planned to keep the new research department in New York. Right now, MACUSA was able to give more funding to the new division. That wasn't to say however he wouldn't open a branch of the research division here in Britain down the road if the Ministry and St. Mungo's was willing to work with him and his team. For now, though the focus would be moving most of DM Internationals operations to Britain which meant Draco would be spending a lot of time here in London. Kinsley had made it very clear to Hermione that she was to help Draco and his business by whatever means necessary to make the transition as smooth as possible.

When the meeting was done, they both excused themselves and made their way down to Hermione's old office, Percy was allowing her to use while she was in town, seeing as they hadn't found anyone to replace her. She left big shoes to fill.

"I want to start looking for office space tomorrow." Draco said when the door closed behind them.

"Where did you have in mind."

"Not Diagon Alley, that is for sure." He took the single chair that stood in front of the desk and propped his feet up on the desk. Hermione rolled her eyes, pushed his feet off the desk back to the floor where they landed with a loud thump before moving around the desk and taking a seat. She busied herself pulling out all the folders from her bag and laying them out on to the desk.

"Well first thing first is you need to schedule a meeting with the head of St. Mungo's for tomorrow morning. I will get Ella to do it, she knows Healer Smith's daughter and should be able to arrange one for first thing in the morning. I will also see if she can arrange appointments with a muggle relator to view some vacant office spaces for in the afternoon. But you need to get your own assistant here, we are not your lackies we work for the Ministry not DM International."

"Kingsley said..." he started to say but she held up a hand to stop him.

"Kingsley said I needed to help you in whatever way I can, meaning fast tracking any permits you might need to move the business, working with MACUSA for revolving international portkeys. Putting you in touch with the right people at St. Mungo's. I am not here however to help you find an office or help you staff said office. Besides I am only here for the week, come Monday I am on my way back to New York."

"We both know you aren't going back to New York." He said dryly. His arrogance grated on her nerves.

"And what makes you say that?"

"They have you back in London, they aren't letting you go that easy. Besides you are wasted in a liaison position." She had heard many people say that, it annoyed her. Even if it were true, she was enjoying the job she was doing.

"They can't keep me from going back." Hermione said stubbornly.

"I have it on good authority Kinsley didn't want you taking the job in the first place. You are the best he he's got and you being across the pond is hindering things here." By good authority he meant Emily. "How full do they have your schedule this week?"

He was right, Kingsley hadn't wanted to her to take the job. He had only allowed it because the first thing on the agenda was the new task force, he knew she would make it happen, now that it was all but a done deal…all the other programs could be handled from here. "Yes, things are a bit behind here but…"

"But what? They haven't filled your job Hermione; you can see the writing on the wall can you not? They didn't fill the position because they never were going to allow you to stay longer than what it took to get this new Auror Army off the ground. Besides ties with the US have never been better. They don't need someone there all the time."

"And let me guess you have heard all of this from Emily."

"Why do you think I asked you to come with me? I am a big boy Hermione and I can take care of myself. Kingsley asked that I get you here, so I did."

"And why you? As far as anyone knows we aren't friends."

"That isn't the story Potter told Kingsley after his visit to New York last month. Are we even friends? I mean you have done a pretty good job at ignoring me all month."

She didn't say anything, it was too much information to take in all at once. It looked like Kingsley was going to get his way after all, her back in London. She wasn't sure why she hadn't seen it coming. I mean of course the arrogant Slytherin would help trick her into coming back. She wondered if Harry had known about the plan or was part of the plan. He hadn't wanted her to go either. Mostly though she wondered what had been in it for Draco. Why help, what did he care if she was in New York or if she was back in London, either way it didn't affect him. And then there was Finn, how would he take the news?