A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or any characters/locations related to the franchise. That all belongs to J.K. Rowling. I hope you enjoy the only thing I do own...the plot. Also M rating for language and possible sexually explicit scenes (really just wanted to be safe with the rating).

7 Years Later February 23, 2005 1 day until the Full Moon

Draco sat behind his desk in the Ministry's Department of Magical Law Enforcement. His head was lowered over a stack of paperwork that had needed to be filled out and filed yesterday. Unfortunately, it was coming up on the full moon. It was tomorrow in fact, and Draco's focus was shot. His boss was absurdly understanding when it came to this, and gave Draco until the end of the week to finish his reports.

Draco became a part of the auror division during his probation at the end of the Second Wizarding War. His main focus was on accidents involving wizards and muggles. It was believed that working closely with muggles would better educate Draco on how these people were similar to wizards. It gave Draco a working knowledge of muggles, and succeeded in expanding his acceptance of them. Though he still felt that wizards were slightly better.

In the end he had decided he rather liked working as an auror, and slowly worked his way up to a full fledged member. Days like today made Draco regret it, as the ink blotted pages began to blur under his tired eyes.

The only sound in the small room was the scratch of his quill against the pale parchment. Draco continued working, checking the occasional box for 'cursed item' and writing a full work up of what he did in order to properly dispose of the item, using meticulous detail until his hand cramped. After he finished the report he was working on he let out a huff of breath. He had been at it for two hours already and it wasn't even eight in the morning.

These days he was one of the highest paid members of the Auror team. Between brewing potions regularly for the department, and helping with the disposal of cursed or otherwise tainted artefacts, he had quickly become indispensable.

Leaning back in his chair he ran a hand down his tired face. Slowly, he allowed his eyes to drift around his office, giving them a break from the tight scrawl of his handwriting. His office was small and cozy, with a tiny potions station in the back corner. He had a wall lined entirely with bookshelves that had different potions books, and other research materials. There were also one or two hidden novels amongst the other tomes, but most people didn't look closely enough at the shelf to find them. They were his own personal hidden treasures.

Idly, he checked the time, and seeing it coming up on eight, he flicked his wand at the door. It opened slowly, allowing him a good view of the entire department floor, and more importantly, his bosses office right across the way. The frosted windowed door prevented Draco from seeing his superior, but it still allowed him to view the shadowed figure moving around beyond the glass.

It was Tuesday today. Draco's favorite day of the week. He smiled to himself while he ran his fingers through his hair trying his best to comb it, even though he knew no one would actually see it. Adjusting his cufflinks, a habit he had acquired when he was nervous, he chewed on his bottom lip until it hurt. The anticipation was mixed with self loathing, and for just a second he allowed it to slip away. For one moment he pretended things were different. Eight chimed on the clock in the corner of his office, and he heard the lift doors open down the hall.

He took a deep breath in through his nose. Lavender, Earl Grey tea, and fresh autumn rain.

Draco loved Tuesdays.

She smiled as she floated across the office floor, nodding to fellow former classmates before stopping in front of his superior's door. She had two cups of tea in her hand, and knocked on the door with her elbow. There was a haunted look in her eyes for half a second while she waited, but she quickly erased the look and straightened her shoulders. Draco had the suspicion no one saw the look that had tainted her eyes but him.

He could hear her laugh gently when the door opened to reveal a raven haired man, with round eyeglasses. She handed him his cup which Harry Potter, boy who lived and current Head Auror, took graciously.

Tea Tuesdays.

If anyone would ask him why he loved Tuesdays so much, Draco would tell them it was because floo traffic wasn't terrible, or that after getting all the work done from the weekend on Monday it was a day of relaxing paperwork. He might even tell them that every Tuesday he met with his best friends Theodore Nott, and Blaise Zabini for a pint after work which he enjoyed. He might tell them that Tuesdays have been his favorite since he was a child, when his mother would take him to the lake behind the manor to fly his broomstick without his helmet.

But, at night, when the only person he had left to lie to was himself, he could admit it was because of her. Every Tuesday for five years she had brought up a cup of tea to her best friend, and they had shared it within his view. He could watch her at a safe distance, and still maintain that he hated her in public. The only one who had ever noticed was Harry.

The boy-who-was-a-thorn-in-Draco's-side looked over the witch's shoulder at that moment and cocked an eyebrow at Draco. The blond returned the gesture before rolling his eyes. Harry knew about Draco's affliction.

Once Potter took the promotion he was given a full report on all of his underlings. The fact that Draco was a 'werewolf' was recorded on his record, right next to 'former Death Eater'. It wasn't long before Harry had pulled him aside, and had spoken to him at length about how if he needed anything, to just let him know. Draco had, of course, told him to sod off.

Now, Draco was fairly certain that Harry knew what Hermione was to him. His mate. The only time Draco's door was open was on Tea Tuesdays, and this wasn't the first time he had been caught staring.

Draco lowered his gaze to his desk for a couple of moments, willing his resolve to strengthen. These Tuesdays helped the wolf calm down. Being able to see that she was alive and well helped keep his self control maintained. He looked up in time to see Harry place a comforting hand on her shoulder. Draco nearly let the wolf take control and growl at the simple contact between Harry and Hermione, but tamped down that instinct like he had to for the past five years.

He had gotten pretty damn good at it too! You had to get good at it, when your mate was currently engaged to another man. His eyes flicked up to her hand, where a simple square cut diamond rested. He saw it glitter in the light as they spoke, tiny fractures of sparkles like a spot light against his improved eyesight.

The Weasel had proposed to her two years ago. It was a long engagement, and there was a lot of speculation as to why that was. Was the weasel cheating on her? Were they not ready for 100% commitment? Was she not in love with him? Draco forced away the fluttering that erupted in his stomach at that last thought.

It didn't matter if the Weasel and her were in love or not. It certainly didn't matter if Draco was in love with her. And he definitely wasn't... He definitely wasn't going to approach her regarding his affliction and it's connection to her. So, for now, he settled with watching her from a distance…for the sake of keeping the wolf calm.

Her harsh laughter brought his head back up to her face, and he watched curiously as Potter scrunched his brow in confusion. She was smiling, but just under the smile was the flash of pain buried in her chocolate eyes. Potter whispered something to her, his emerald eyes beseeching her before pulling her quickly into his office and closing the door behind them. Draco huffed at his view being obstructed, but feeling the wolf calming beneath his skin he forced himself to close the door to his office.

Seven more days. One hundred and sixty eight more hours. Ten thousand and eighty minutes.

The thought floated unwanted in his mind. The mental countdown that always started when he finally pulled himself from her intoxicating view. He grabbed the paperwork on his desk and slammed it inside a drawer before going to his potion's lab. Focusing on brewing blood replenishing potions, he allowed the monotony of potion making to numb his mind.

The Auror's needed to have a Potions master on retainer. Someone who could make them blood replenishing potions and veritaserum, among others. It was now policy for an Auror to carry at least a replenishing potion on his person at all times…just in case.

The position also allowed Draco to brew his wolfsbane in relative privacy and guaranteed he would always have access to the ingredients needed. Potter had made sure that all the ingredients were brought to Draco the day after the full moon, so he could begin his brewing whenever he wanted.

Draco had studied under Severus for a few months before the former Slytherin Head of House had died in the battle. The first few attempts he had at making it after his godfather's fall had accounted for weak draughts that barely allowed Draco to maintain control. Now, his brew was as strong as Severus', and allowed him to keep complete authority over the furry beast.

He missed Severus. He missed his snarky attitude, and his need to berate Draco for even the tiniest mistakes. Draco knew that if Snape hadn't been so hard on him, he never would have passed his potions mastery exam. Not to mention the constant subtle protections that Severus had extended not just to Draco, but to his mother and father as well. Draco would forever be in the dead man's debt, and he hated that he hadn't said thank you enough while the man was alive.

A confident knock at his office door pulled Draco from his dark thoughts. He grunted permission for the intruder to enter, before waving his wand and placing a stasis charm on the bubbling caldron. Harry walked in quickly, closing the door behind him, before plopping down on one of the cushioned chairs for guests.

"I need a favor, Malfoy." He pronounced, cleaning his glasses with the corner of his robes. Draco made a mental note to put a sign on his door next time he was brewing. The git was waiting for a response so Draco turned on his stool, before leaning back against the desk his caldron sat on.

"I'm listening, Potter."

"I need to borrow your Manor." Draco's eyes widened fractionally. He shook his blond hair until the fringe fell into his eyes.

"Borrow it? It's not a bloody broom." Draco scoffed, pushing himself from the stool and sauntering over to his desk before slowly sitting down in his own chair.

"I know. The Department of Magical Cooperation is entertaining a couple of guests from the American and Bulgarian Magisterium's, along with several benefactors and we need a place to have a lavish party." Harry rolled his eyes when he said 'lavish'.

"So, you thought you would just stroll into my office and demand the Manor?" Draco folded his hands on the desk and waited. The boy who lived looked over at his bookshelf, his eyes roaming the tomes. He skipped right over the novels, just like everyone else. Draco smirked…still his secret treasures.

"No. I asked. Rather politely I might add."

"My house is not a banquet hall for rent." Draco's eyes narrowed, his lip curling in disgust.

"Listen, I suggested the Ministry or a hotel. But she wants to impress them. She thinks it will increase the likelihood of the new foreign exchange student policy to go into effect." Harry's hand waved through the air like he was swatting a fly.

Draco's heart lurched a little. He slipped his tongue out from in between his lips, wetting them before speaking in a near whisper, "Who?"

"What?"

Draco could have screamed at the man's ignorance. "Who needs the Manor?"

"Oh, uh Hermione does." Harry's lips lifted into a knowing smirk as Draco tried to catch his breath.

"When?"

"Next month…the twenty-fourth I think, it's a Thursday…I don't know why she picked a bloody weekday." Harry rolled his eyes, and missed the way Draco's face turned bright red as he spoke.

"Next month! She has left herself a month to plan a party?" Draco's voice raised. He couldn't help it. Who thought they could plan a suitable party for dignitaries in a month?

"She has had a lot on her mind…I think this slipped." Draco didn't miss the way the brunette lowered his gaze, or how he shifted in his seat.

The words slipped unbidden from Malfoy's mouth before he could stop himself, "Is she alright?" He silently cursed himself for his concern. Not that he was concerned.

"Yeah," Harry's voice was quiet, and he lifted his head and gave Draco a small smile. "She's fine." Draco nodded, his mind reeling as he tried to tell himself that he really didn't care if she was alright. She was not his concern. Not for another ten thousand and fifty-five minutes.

She needed help though. As much as Draco didn't want her, he could respect all that she had accomplished in the past few years, and having accomplished those things meant that people and creatures had more rights than they did before. She had recently been transferred to the Department of Magical Cooperation (DMC) and needed a win in this new department so she could start making more changes. Draco could give her this win, without even having to be near her. The wolf almost purred at the thought of being able to help her. Draco sighed for a moment before leaning back in his chair. There really wasn't a chance that he wouldn't have said yes.

"She can," Draco coughed to clear his throat. "She can use the manor. Tell her to reach out to Mother, if anyone can plan a party in under a month…it's her." Harry smiled, standing swiftly to leave.

"I'll let her know. Thanks, Malfoy." Draco gave him a single nod and lowered his head back down to his desk. He grabbed a piece of parchment and began writing a quick note to Zabini. He barely noticed when the door closed signaling Potter's exit. Instead, he chose to focus on the parchment. The note was short and he charmed it to fly down to Zabini's department. He then pulled a second piece of parchment out and penned another note to an old friend. Looks like drinks with the boys would have to wait until next week. He turned back to the potion he left brewing on his station. Letting out a sigh, he fell back into the world of exact measurements and the soothing circles of ladles.

Let me know what you think! Thank you everyone for the reviews, and now that we have time-jumped we can get into the real meat of the story!