Chapter 3

The day's leading up to the Ministry ball went by rather slowly and it was fairly quiet around her office for a change. Ginny had taken a few days off to shop for her dress and have some days off at the same time as Harry. She couldn't blame her, Hermione wished she had someone to spend her days with and she tried to remember that last time she had gotten laid. Circe's cunt, it must be with Ron, last year at the remembrance ball. Horrible, just horrible.

She hadn't wanted to go with him but nobody else had asked her and Ron had persisted that she shouldn't go alone, it had seemed awfully sweet of him and since their break up, three months before that, she had been rather lonely.

Taking him up on that offer had been the biggest mistake of her life and it had been splayed all over the Daily Prophet, not helping her reputation at the Ministry one bit.

The event had been horrible, she and Ron had bickered all night and not danced once, so when Ron had talked her into shagging one last time, she was beyond the point of caring, probably way too drunk and had followed him into an alcove, maybe one last shag would make her feel better.

Safe to say that Ron's pimply arse splayed all over the papers and her red face and her hair a freaking nightmare, trying to hide behind his freckled form, hardly made her feel better. Harry and Ginny had laughed for days and Ginny had even hung up the article in her office. Finally it had blown over but it had apparently cured her from sex for quite a bit.

Maybe that's why she was so angry lately, she just needed to get laid.

Absentmindedly she stroked Turner, still the duck, and carried on with her work. Turner had turned out to be quite the perfect familiar and if it weren't unethical she would have cancelled the appointment at St. Mungo's that was scheduled in over four days, right after the weekend the ball would take place.

Turner didn't get angry at her, he always seemed to be happy, he liked snuggling and he was potty trained, just the way she wanted her future boyfriend to be, was that too much to ask?

Apparently everything was too much to ask when the next load of shitty employees turned up right that moment and she already knew she was in trouble when she spotted Goyle among the fresh batch.

Okay, this was it! She had reached her limits. She directed Smith to take over for her, show the new ones their desks and wait further instructions upon her return. There was no point in warning them because she would find mayhem when she returned anyway. Warning them only seemed to spur them on.

Taking a few elevator rides she took a deep breath before charging into Malfoy's office without knocking. She was rather proud of herself for not blasting his door this time.

"Granger, what a surprise!" Malfoy exclaimed with his trademark smirk. "Here to return my father?"

"He's still missing?" She lost track of what she wanted to say, this seemed rather odd, people like Lucius Malfoy didn't just go missing.

"You know that's he's missing because you're the one who's kidnapped him, the only reason why you're still walking around is because your lapdog Potter is working in the Aurors department." He sounded bitter and her anger flared up again.

She bolted forwards, yanking him out of his office chair by his shirt and pressed him against his own desk. "I will tell you once more, and only once, I don't have your fucking father! I'll tell Harry it's serious but that's not why I'm here! Goyle, Malfoy? Fucking Goyle? Do you want me dead? Soon you'll pay for all this you piece of shit!"

She tried to hit him in the balls again with her knee but once again his reflexes were faster than hers. He blocked her attempt and grabbed her right elbow, turned her around faster than she could blink, and twisted it behind her back while pushing her face forwards against his desk.

She could feel him pressed against her back and her heart rate doubled. His body was all hard planes of muscle and she couldn't remember anything, she couldn't think. She tried to swallow and found her throat dry as sand.

"You will not try to kick me in the balls ever again, Granger," He hissed lowly against her ear and she shivered violently, not sure if it was out of fear or something else.

"Or else?" Was the only thing coming to mind.

Malfoy didn't answer, he just pushed his body harder against hers and she felt like the wind had got knocked out of her when she felt the outline of his semi-erect cock against her bum. It took every ounce inside of her not to wiggle or move, because it would give away that she rather enjoyed this and she flushed right crimson when she felt a gush of wetness smirching her knickers. Oh sweet Merlin, this wasn't happening.

Instead she whimpered, she fucking whimpered and she wanted to die right here, right now.

"Well, well, well, look who likes it rough," Malfoy hissed again into her ear and this time she couldn't help it when she shudder made her move her behind just a little bit.

"Looks like I'm not the only one," She finally found her voice again and this time moved back on purpose, slowly rotating her bum into the hard panel of his now fully erect cock and it was Malfoy's turn to gasp.

"What's stopping me from fucking you on my desk right now Granger, give me one good reason." He pushed into her more firmly and she whimpered again.

Before they could take it any further there was a knock on his door and they both jumped back in shock.

She tried to sort out her hair but knew it was a lost cause and just righted her clothing before returning to the front of the desk and waited for Malfoy to straighten out his hair, which was a lot easier to fix, and try to cover his erection, a much harder thing to accomplish.

"Come in," Malfoy's voice croaked a bit and she tried to hold back a giggle while he smirked evilly at her.

When she saw Goyle standing in the door opening she feared the worst for her own office and without wasting another word she flipped Malfoy the finger and stormed past Goyle to get downstairs as fast as possible.

The second thing that alarmed her were the people running away from the direction of her office and when green clouds of smoke started to suffocate her the closer she came, she really wanted to punch something.

Quickly casting a bubble-head charm she dived around the corner and entered her office when there wasn't really anything to see, as far as her eye reached she could only detect the green smoke, like a thick blanket.

"Hello?! Is anyone still in there?" At first she didn't receive any answer but when she listened a bit harder she could make out a faint quack. Oh sweet mother of Merlin, Turner!

After checking if the bubble-head charm was still effective she stormed into the office and with shaky hands she let her hand and feet guide her around the desks. She had no idea what caused the green smoke and she really didn't care to find out, after this she would definitely quit and go back to school. Enough was enough.

The quacking came louder when she came closer to what was probably her desk and she would fire everyone solely for leaving an animal in a dangerous situation. What kind of person does something like that?

She grabbed Turner when her hands came into contact with the grimy feathers of the duck and quickly tucked him underneath her arm while stroking him with the other. "Don't worry Turner, I'll take care of you, all those idiots will pay for what they did."

She safely made her way out of the office and locked it quickly with her wand and summoned the aurors, this was so not her mess anymore.

The aurors arrived quickly and she was glad to finally not be responsible anymore. She decided to send out memo's to everyone that was currently working for her and Ginny, to all be present Monday morning first thing. She would fire the lot and then she would take Turner to his appointment to St. Mungo's and afterwards fire his ass as well because although he made a great duck, he was also a terrible employee.

"What do you mean with he had a hard-on? Like an actual erection? Are you taking the piss?" Ginny was rolled halfway off the couch, laughing so hard that she almost chocked on her own spit and Hermione really wanted to kick her right now.

"Yes you laugh you bitch, I knew I should have never given you those days off, they almost killed me, or was it Malfoy? I don't know anymore, what is wrong with the fucking Ministry?!" She was beyond herself and Ginny was still laughing and she had to admit that it was a little bit funny.

Soon they were rolling around on the ground and when Harry came into the room he just stared at them with wide eyes. "Ahum," He coughed, clearly out of loss what to do with them.

"Sorry honey, Hermione almost had sex with Malfoy in his office, our department is pretty much over and I think I'm a little bit drunk," Ginny giggled and tossed her most charming smile towards her boyfriend whose eyes went even wider.

"I think I'll be staying at Theo's tonight, have fun," He hastily said and didn't even kiss Ginny before he went through the floo.

Hermione must have a weird look on her face because Ginny started crying out of nowhere, the minute the green flames turned orange again. Quickly she turned around to find out what was wrong with her best friend. "We'll find another job Gin, or we go back to school, it might not be so bad, can't be worse than the office," She tried to console her.

"No, no, it's not that," She sniffed. "It's me and Harry, I'm sure we're as good as over and I'm pretty sure that Harry's not even into me, into women at all." She wailed loudly.

With wide eyes she stared at her best friend. "Why would you say something like that? Harry's has been in love with you since sixth year, maybe you just reached a rough patch?"

Ginny only started to cry harder and through some hic-ups she tried to explain. "We haven't had sex in over six months, he stays at Theo's more than he does at home and I saw him check out that bloke from the Chudley Canons at the Quidditch match last Sunday."

She honestly had no idea how to react to this. Had she been that self-absorbed that she hadn't noticed that her best friend might be gay? And with Theo? What's with all those Slytherins trying to mess up their lives? First Malfoy, now Theo, who was next? Oh wait, let's not forget Goyle who probably destroyed their department.

"Ginny, are you sure?" She had to check, already knowing the answer.

"I'm really sure!" She wailed and hid her head between her hands. "He's cheating on me and doesn't even have the balls to tell me!"

"Then we have to go over there, catch him red handed!" Hermione jumped up. Harry might be her best friend, Ginny was her best girlfriend and she hated injustice.

Ginny's eyes went wide. "Oh hell no, I don't want to see it, you can go but I'm staying right here."

Hermione towered over her. "Like hell you will! Ginevra Anne Weasley, get your arse up from that floor and listen to me, you're Ginny freaking Weasley and you take shit from no one, not even the Chosen One! Now follow me!"

All Ginny could do was nod and follow Hermione towards the fireplace. They both called Nott's estate at the same time and stepped into the green flames.

Hermione didn't know what they would encounter but a crying Harry Potter on the couch of Theodore Nott, was not what she had in mind.

The boy's jumped when they tumbled ungracefully out of the fire place, even though they were miles apart from each other.

"Ginny, Hermione? What are you doing here?" Theo stammered, a blush crept up his cheeks.

"To get some answers." Hermione answered shortly. "Why is Harry crying."

"Am not," Came Harry's muffled voice from behind his hands.

"Are you cheating on me?" Ginny blurted out of nowhere and Hermione groaned loudly, this was so not planned.

Harry abruptly stopped hiding and looked at her with tear streaked eyes. "No, Ginny, I would never do that to you."

"Then what is going on?" She demanded. Hermione stepped aside to let Ginny reach Harry in a few steps and take the place next to him on the sofa.

"We need to talk…" No shit Sherlock. Hermione rolled her eyes and grabbed Theo's arm and quickly made their exit.

"Which way is the kitchen," She hissed and she strode into the direction that Theo pointed at, still tugging him along.

"Let's give them some privacy and in the meantime you can tell me what you know," She dumped Theo at the nearest chair and took the one opposite him.

"I don't think it's my place to say anything," Theo started but blinked when he saw the look on Hermione's face. "Or maybe I can tell you something."

She nodded to spur him on and wait for him to continue. "I'm gay and I think Harry might be as well, but he doesn't know how to deal with it, oh and nothing happened between us if that's what you're wondering, witch you probably are."

Okay that was practically everything but she was glad she knew the truth now. Who would have thought, Harry Potter gay? She had no problem with the fact that he is gay but she did have some problems with how he dealt with it concerning Ginny. He should have told her the truth from the start. And if she was honest, a small part of her was a little hurt because he hadn't discussed it with her, weren't they supposed to be like brother and sister?