Partners

new names for lost things

-noor unnahar

Love

Means to be forgiven, forgiven and forgiven

Means your favorite color is remembered

Means you left but didn't really

Name

Means you were brought to life

Means there is a chance

Means you reminded someone of daylight

Abraxas

Shortly after Shacklebolt became minister of magic, he and the Order got to improving many things in the ministry. Aside from re-establishing the Being Division, Harry in particular felt strongly about making changes to the Department of Mysteries. While some of the rooms and chambers remained, he advocated for dangerous artifacts and work to be moved offsite.

The death chamber was removed entirely, the veil being relocated to an island off the coast of Azkaban. It's been reported that Dementors have since found the island a suitable habitat. The hall of prophecies, after being destroyed in his fifth year, became the Hall of History. It still held prophecies, but they were transcribed on parchment or memories were collected and stored in vials. The rest of the room held most of the ministries archive, which included reports from departments and even transcripts from trials.

After the 9th floor was stripped and reorganized it left much room for expansion. It was later renamed to The Department of Research and Development. Libraries, labs, and research spaces were added. There were even educational programs created that were based in an office called Transition to Careers [TTC], where recruits and scouts worked with wizarding schools for placement into jobs or apprenticeships. This was where Taffy received her apprenticeship assignment and reported to regularly on her progress.

Draco had only been to The Department of Research and Development to submit reports into the Hall of History. This was his first time heading toward the potion lab spaces, thankfully there was a receptionist that told him how to find them. Students and researchers in lab robes filled the passageways and Draco thought to himself, he was sure he had never seen so many people here the last time he visited.

Draco took his time getting to the labs, as he still wasn't sure what to say to Hermione. The last time they exchanged words he had said some pretty unforgivable things. He wondered how she ever could stand to be in the same room with him to begin with.

He finally found the larger lab which was lined with workbenches, cauldrons hung from the ceiling and a conveyor belt system traveled throughout the room holding vials of ingredients and various plants. Draco stood in the hall just outside appreciating the intricacy of it all and also stalling. He wondered why she even went to Grimmauld Place to work if this was available to her, then as if to answer his curiosity he overhead some lab attendants chatting by another receptionist desk just inside to his left.

"She did it again! She keeps summoning shit from across the room, we had to close off stations 4 and 11! Edward looks like an idiot chasing after the sopophorous beans, they are everywhere! Golden girl my ass!" one young lady said and what sounded like paperwork was slammed onto the desk. Another girl sniggered.

"I don't understand why they let her back in here. Professor Garth made it pretty clear the last time, she should find another workspace."

"Must be nice to be in bed with the minister and the head auror." The first girl snapped. Draco turned to look into the room, in the corner workbench he found Hermione working and waving her wand about hovering vials and paperwork in the air just like she did at Grimmauld. He had only some understanding of her madness, but it worked for her. He admired her focus then, that despite everything going on around her, she was in her own world with purpose.

"Honestly I can't blame her, have you seen Potter at the ministry quidditch games. He's fucking fit."

"If you ask me, she's blowing someone's cock. She just does whatever she wants-"

Draco didn't let her finish stepping forward into view. He crossed his arms facing the two lab attendants brow raised and nostrils flared. He fought his instinct to draw his wand and hex them both. They paled at the site of him.

"Auror Malfoy." A blond girl with round spectacles said in shock. The other too stunned to speak. "We didn't mean-"

"Didn't mean what? Because I'm sure I misheard you." He said threateningly. The two girls seemed to shrink before him. "I'm sure your boss wouldn't appreciate idle chatter. Don't you have some beans to collect?" he raised his voice drawing the attention of some of the nearby researchers.

"We're really sorry." One of them managed to squeak and ran off, leaving the other to sit and duck behind the desk. Draco huffed once more before turning toward Hermione. Now he understood why she hadn't wanted to work here. He felt a tinge of guilt, she must have relocated after their exchange. As he approached the corner of her workspace he waved off some vials and scrolls to get a view of her. She had a wand in hand, whirling a vial of some liquid.

"Hey." He greeted her and she shrieked jumping in the air as the vial fell to the floor but didn't shatter. It didn't matter because before the next moment she had tackled him into the ground behind the table. "Oof! What the fuck, Granger?" he shouted as he landed flat on his back all her body weight on top of him, not that she was heavy, but he was suddenly very aware that her knee landed right within the space between his thighs. Any further north and he would have been in much more pain. Her hair had spilled on the side of his neck and her head was flush to his chest. She lifted her head slowly, an expression of guilt plastered on her face.

"Are you alright?" she asked breathless. Draco Malfoy could barely think, he couldn't remember the last time he was in this much physical contact with a woman. Yet here he lay, in a potions lab of all places, with Hermione Granger just a few movements away from melting him completely. It was as if they were still midair on a broomstick, she looked at him with the same honey brown eyes, and what an amazingly full bottom lip.

"Mhm." Was all he managed to say, and it only made the situation worse as the vibration of his voice seemed to connect with a muscle in his abdomen, rumbling underneath her.

"I'm sorry, I was working with werewolf blood," she said bringing her hands to his chest to push herself up, except all he could think of was how he wished she would keep her hands right there, spreading her fingers to explore every muscle, but she didn't. She carefully got up. "I thought the vial was going to break." Dusting her robes, she extended a hand to help him up. "It was a reflex, didn't want you to get exposed." He took a breath before offering his hand and shaking out of his daze to get up. He winced as she pulled on his wand hand to help him. "Oh shit!" she said wide eyed. "You're wrist. Why did you take it out of the brace?"

"I went to see a healer." He said nursing it with his left hand. She turned to grab the vial and placed it carefully on the table. Then she grabbed her wand.

"Take a seat. I forgot these vials are charmed against shattering. I'm sorry." She grabbed his wrist. He sat on the edge of a stool; one foot placed against the table's footrest.

"How come it's not set right?" he said as she rolled up his sleeve.

"It's your wand hand, it's not easy to set a sprain like that. If I removed the joint and regrew it again, it would risk not setting correctly, so I braced it hoping it would heal and set properly, doesn't look like that worked." She whispered the last part, stepping closer, her hands tracing the bone and muscle, she leaned her head upward staring just over his head trying to feel her way to something by touch alone instead of site.

"Ow!" he shouted as she pressed down on the inner wrist part.

"Sorry, sorry, stay still." She placed his wrist face up on the table and cast an x-ray charm that hovered just above his skin. All the while he watched her. Draco couldn't help it, he expected her to be angry and upset. As he thought better about it, it made sense, she was so focused on work and barely entertained idle chatter. Maybe she didn't leave any space for emotions or grudges. She was all work and no… he couldn't put a name to it. "This is going to hurt; can you flex just here."

"Shit, Granger!" she had pressed on a muscle or vein he wasn't sure, but it hurt like hell.

"Sorry, just clench your hand into a fist, it should hold the muscle and joint in place long enough for me to cast a healing charm." She instructed. He did as he was told. She waved her wand, "episky." Something seemed to snap in place, he sighed in relief as the ache seemed to disappear. He twirled his wrist around and it didn't hurt.

"Ok good. Here." She grabbed his hand and began to massage it. It felt amazing, he couldn't help but look at her face as she worked. She cracked his knuckles and spread out his fingers. He smiled then knowing she had no clue how intimate this was. She caught him smiling. "What?" he chuckled.

"Is this a muggle technique or did you just want to hold my hand?" she froze briefly looking down at his wrist one last time. 'What was that? Did I just flirt?' he said to himself.

"No, well actually yes, it's to stimulate blood flow." She said very clinically but he could swear her cheeks turned at least a shade pinker. "Try casting a charm, tell me how it feels." She released his hand, and he grabbed his wand, happy that the ache was finally gone.

"Lumos." The tip of the wand lit up. He waved it again, "nox." The light went out. "Perfect, feels great, thanks." He tucked his wand away. She nodded her head taking a step back and went back to her workstation.

"Good to see you've returned." She said gathering the floating parchment and organizing things into her medical bag.

"I had to tend to some things." He said placing his elbows on the table to sit properly. It was time to face the music.

"Harry was looking for you."

"I reported in, got a good ear full." He admitted.

"I see." She hovered some empty vials onto the conveyor belt to be carried away.

"Hermione." He tried to make eye contact, but she kept herself busy. He wondered if this was some sort of tantrum.

"Yes?" she said over her shoulder. He sighed and got up from his seat. He questioned his motives then, he didn't need to be near her to tell her he was sorry, but it felt necessary. Draco positioned himself to face her on the other side of the table. She turned again, this time he didn't see what for, but he walked around again, this time directly behind her.

"Can you look at me for a moment?" he said annoyed. She took a deep breath and turned to him. She took a step back noticing how close they were.

"I have to clean up. They have really strict rules about-"

"Fuck the rules. It will just take a moment of your precious time." He said a bit too aggressive. He took a breath as she waited. "I know it's long overdue, but I owe you quite a few apologies." He rushed it out trying not to back out of it. Better to get it over with.

"Oh." Was all she said. It was enough to make him rethink the idea, but he didn't change his mind. He raised his hand to scratch at his jaw needing something to do with his hands.

"Ok look, I spent a lot of time apologizing this last decade, and I was honestly done with it. If people weren't happy with me, I had stopped caring. I know what I did, what I chose, and no matter how much I tried to explain, it was never enough. Potter was the only one who understood and gave me a chance. For the first time in almost 4 years, I finally get to work with someone who doesn't look over their shoulder and expect me to turn on them. Doesn't expect the worse of me. You're a great partner, Granger, and I said some things that weren't true. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being a rotten partner. I'd apologize for more than that, but I can only atone for who I am now, not who I once was. I can promise you I'm not that idiot kid anymore, and I promise I'll do better." He finished. At first she didn't say anything but then she nodded and took a breath.

"Thank you for that. If I'm honest, I wouldn't know how to accept an apology for something that happen so many years ago. It's really not necessary. We're different people now and we work well together. As long as we can treat each other with respect then all is forgiven." She nodded, her eyes looking into his. It was as if a spell had vanished the tension between them and things were easy again.

"Great. Also, can you come back to Grimmauld?" He surveyed the room; it was almost lunch time so many of the researchers had cleared out. When his eyes landed back on hers, she was all smiles.

"Yes please! They really don't like me here." She whispered. He laughed looking around her workspace which was cleaner, but still unorganized.

"I wonder why." He said seeing another half-eaten chocolate bar mixed in with some ingredients. She slapped his shoulder.

"Just help me clean up, will you!"

*Oh how the mind wanders*

In the next episode, Draco is forgiven, and the work is nonstop. Our quartet find themselves working some overtime to catch up after Draco's great divide. Tune in to find out who's hungry!