Dropping Chapters 4 and 5 tonight I hope you enjoy!

Of course, Granger knows something about this case because why not.

"I don't have his name he isn't in any criminal database Wizarding or Muggle. I have a suspicion he is the leader. I only have these less than fantastic Muggle photos of him."

Draco is sullen, he should be grateful but if Granger manages to blow his case open by accident when he has been struggling for months, he is going to struggle to appear gracious. Must she always know everything, rude really, leave something for the rest of us witch.

"His name is Taylor Thomas, he's an American. He was an upper-level supply logistician for Doctors Without Borders. I worked with him all the time because he was my supplier. He is a Muggle though unless I am very mistaken."

Draco just stared at her. Disbelief and, there it was the aggravation and jealousy the strong desire to squash the swotty girl who always beat him in school. Granger didn't notice though she was still prattling on about something.

"…I have his email and phone number still if you want. I could probably even lure him out for you."

At this Draco snapped out of his stupor.

"Absolutely not, he is extremely dangerous, I have tied at least a dozen counts of smuggling various dark artifacts and magical creatures to this man. His team leaves a trail of half dead witches and wizards in their wake. He doesn't just buy items he steals them to sell on the black market."

Draco was looming over her shouting in her face. Granger wasn't going to be cowed though, defiance sparked in her eyes.

Merlin this witch is maddening.

"I only meant to send him an email, he would likely jump at the chance to meet again. I am the one that ended things," Granger says annoyed.

Draco barely registered the annoyance because he was focused on the "ended things" and asked as much.

"Oh, we had an understanding I guess, we both had high stress jobs we needed to blow off steam, you know. I know you said earlier I wasn't being a slag, and you were right. However, those years I spent traipsing around the world, well let's just say I somewhat made up for being a what is it Theo always calls me, oh yes, a swotty prude. Ha, if he only knew! I only had a few casual relationships in those six years, but Taylor was a constant whenever we were on the same compound."

Draco had gone still; he was fairly sure it was shock. Granger just pretty much admitted that she participated in casual sex and didn't bat an eye like this is just a normal thing to admit to just anyone. Draco was getting more familiar with Muggle practices and realized over the years Muggles are far more openly promiscuous than wizards especially the Purebloods he grew up with. Regardless, in a thousand years he would never have imagined Granger being like that. He mostly thought of her and her wild hair pouring over books in some dusty library. This woman though she was an adventurer; she lived, why would she ever go back, the appeal of just being free like she had been, was so intoxicating.

"Oi Malfoy, you have gone glassy on me," Granger waves a hand past his vacant eyes.

Draco shakes it off. He did not like being put off kilter.

"Sorry I was just imagining the kind of stress relieving activities we could trial together. I would be happy to be in charge for the night so Dr. Granger could just relax and be bossed around, by a big bad Auror. I bet you get off on praise too being the swot you are."

Draco was pleased with himself, he glanced over to see if his words had the desired effect. It was a terrible mistake. Granger's eyes had darkened and when she spoke her voice was sultry not her usual shrill timber.

"As a matter of fact, I am very," she stepped directly up to his chest tilting her head slightly to the side and pinned him with her hazel eyes through her long lashes, "good at taking directions, Sir, you would never have to boss me around unless you wanted to."

What the actual fuck. Draco stepped back but tripped over a chair behind him. Granger's expression broke into a genuine laugh and that was another whole experience. Draco was so out of sorts and, yep, he was half hard, sodding teenager.

"Bloody hell witch what was that?!"

"You started it, I just played along. I am good at following along when needed."

Then she winked, he was fully hard. What. Was. Wrong. With. Him. He was Draco sodding Malfoy, and this was Granger.

"Any way, back to the conversation we were having before."

Draco silently cast a charm to disgorge himself. Granger had moved, looking around he saw she was in the kitchen unpacking their leftovers and setting them out so they could finish their meal. This witch was giving him whiplash.

He walked over to the table helped her finish pulling the food out; before they both sat at the dingy table in his kitchen.

"So, are you going to let me help you with this or are you going to be a pissy man worried about my safety or some such rubbish?" Granger said breaking the silence.

"I'm sorry, are you under the impression that Harry Potter, my boss, would just let me continue to draw breath if he caught word that I had endangered your life?"

"I'm sorry I missed the part that Harry was my keeper, I am no one's wife, I am the bloody reason Harry bloody Potter is alive. Also, unless you plan on tattling why would Harry ever know?" Granger was indignant.

And hell if she wasn't attractive when she was peeved. Stop Draco or you will be disgorging yourself before this dinner is over.

"Granger, are you suggesting that you would lie to your own friends? Gryffindor's princess a liar, sneaking around on a secret mission and not telling anyone?" Draco sneered.

"Clearly you have no idea what I did all of the last year of the war! I did nothing but lie and sneak around and do all manner of illegal things. I rode a dragon out of bloody Gringotts for Merlin's sake. I am not a princess Malfoy!"

Draco's chest tightened and his gaze fell to her left arm unbidden. His breathing became shallow and distantly he registered he was having a panic attack. Great he hasn't had one in years. In front of Granger no less. Her voice was distant.

"Malfoy, Malfoy…"

Then she was crouching down in front of him.

"Draco, come back, breathe."

His name drew his eyes to hers, he sucked in a lung full of air let it out, holding her gaze as she nodded her head in encouragement, he continued to breathe rhythmically until he was entirely present again.

"Malfoy I am sorry."

"Do not apologize to me, not for that, never for that!"

"Ok—but will you look," Granger takes the light sweater she had on off.

Her arm was covered in a tattoo of beautiful flowers swirling around her forearm, underneath he could just make out a faint scar. She had found a way to heal a wound that was never meant to be able to heal, she was brilliant and beautiful. Draco felt dirty next to her. The irony of that thought was not lost on him.

"They are called blue cornflowers, they are supposed to bring hope, positivity, and sanctity to the receiver, it felt fitting to cover."

But Draco cut her off.

"The symbolism is perfect."

Wordlessly Draco didn't know why but he wanted to show her his own arm. This whole scene had gone from embarrassing to some maudlin show and tell after a spectacular panic attack. All Draco knew was that he wanted to show her. He unbuttoned his shirt and Granger looked perturbed. Draco smirked but he knew that it was not filled with its usual vigor.

"Turnaround is fair play," he said by way of explanation.

Granger stood then and leaned against the table. Draco realized now she must have moved the table back to get in front of him. He shrugged out of the shirt, only in a thin white tee now,rhe held out his own left arm. He had completely covered the Dark Mark. After the Dark Lord's death, the magic that was embedded in it faded over time and after several trips to various ancient magic wielders around the world he was able to fade it to almost nothing and have a canvas a tattooist could actually work with. He had chosen a Phoenix, the irony again not lost on him, but he really believe that he was lucky to be allowed the chance to start again after burning his entire life to the ground. The fact that he breathed free air was a miracle to him every day. The Phoenix covered the entire inside of his left arm its tail of fire covering the Dark Mark its wings wrapping around his bicep. It was full color and beautiful. A smile rose to his lips like it always did when he looked at it.

Granger's breath caught at the reveal, and Merlin that sound was tantalizing. Whiplash indeed with this witch. She reached for his arm wrapping her small but strong hand around his wrist running her other hand over the entirety of his arm. Gooseflesh rose over his whole body with her gentle touch.

"Malfoy it is stunning," she was breathless and when she looked up at him a tear was slipping down her cheek and Draco suppressed the urge to wipe it away.

Granger released his arm and wiped her face and huffed a little laugh at herself.

"I think it is a perfect image to symbolize your path."

She looked as though she had more to say but held her tongue realizing that this entire exchange was far more personal than either of them had ever been with each other in their entire lives.

"I know I offered the fresh start tonight, but I didn't really think that would end up being the two of us diving off the deep end into the most maudlin conversation I am certain I have ever had while sober," Draco laughed.

"Agreed," Granger said with an exhale as she rubbed her forehead.

"I for one could use a drink, would you like one," Draco walked to the cabinet grabbing two glasses and the Ogden's.

"I see that the posh aristocrat still drinks fancy booze even though he is slumming in this nasty shack. Are those crystal glasses Malfoy?"

Draco held up her glass with a generous three fingers of Firewhiskey.

"I transfigured them from some of the other cups, because I wouldn't want to offend the whiskey by pouring it in a chipped mug," Draco says with a smile over his glass of whiskey before taking a sip.

"Alright Granger now that we have: had a spat, you have tried to seduce me, I have had a full-blown panic attack, and we have compared scars covered by tattoos, lets return to the matter of you knowing my primary suspect because you two used to shag. Shall we?"

Granger just smirked at him.

"Alright Malfoy, are you wanting the gory details or merely his contact info?"

"You really have changed Granger, I think you may have been sorted wrong, you are so very Slytherin. Do Potter and Weasel know how very conniving you are?"

Granger laughed again and his stomach swooped.

"I have always felt they sorted us rather too early. Truly how does that mangy old hat know what we are going to be like when we are only eleven?"

Granger was still smiling at him, and he was not noticing that his soul felt lighter in her presence at all.