Title: Work With Me Baby, Work With Me!
Rating: R
Pairing: DM/HG
Summary: Draco and Hermione must race against time in order to prove a prophecy wrong. If they can't, it will cost them their freedom. But will they really mind?
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns Draco, Hermione, and oh yeah, Harry and the rest.
1: The Prophecy
Hermione Granger, Junior Assistant to the Minister of Magic, had some errands to run, one of which required her to drop by the Department of Ministries. She didn't like it here; it reminded her of those terrible events in her fifth year.
She studied the note in her hand.
Hermione,
An item is needed from the Department of Mysteries. It is on row 97. You should be able to recognize it immediately. I hate to ask you, but it is of utmost importance.
Albus Dumbledore,
Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
It would have to be on row 97, she thought glumly. But that had been nine years ago. Nine years ago, when the days of the Dark Lord had just begun. And now they're nearly over, she thought exultantly. We're going to win, I know it.
The elevator doors whooshed open. "Department of Mysteries."
Hermione wondered what she needed. Dumbledore's note had been very vague. She arrived at row 97. Steeling herself, she walked down the row, searching, searching…
What…?
She paused in front of a low shelf. She thought she saw… her eyes widened.
S.P.T. to M.M.
(?) Draco Malfoy
And (?) Hermione Granger
She couldn't believe her eyes. This had to be it. "You should be able to recognize it immediately," she whispered under her breath. She took the small glass sphere with shaking hands and tucked it into her specially designed pouch.
When she arrived back at the Minister's office, he wasn't there. Albus Dumbledore was sitting behind the table. Professor McGonagall was there, Remus Lupin too, and Professor Snape.
"Miss Granger," Minerva McGonagall exclaimed with delight. Hermione smiled and hugged her former teacher. Snape gave her a frosty nod.
"Let's get started, shall we?" Remus said. He looked tired, Hermione noted with concern. "Honestly, I can never profess to understand you, Albus."
"That's probably why he's the greatest wizard of his time and you're not," Snape offered.
Remus gave him a dirty look. "As I was saying, it has come to our attention that a prophecy- a very important prophecy- was made twenty four years ago. It was made to Minerva. At that time we didn't know who or what it pertained to. Hermione, hand over the prophecy, if you will."
Hermione's mouth was hanging open. "A prophecy? What kind of prophecy?" She clutched her pouch protectively.
McGonagall cleared her throat. "Would you care to take a look?" She stretched out her hand.
Snape's voice cut the air. "We are waiting for one other, or have you all forgotten?"
The door opened. If Hermione's blood had been chilled before, it had now been turned to ice, brought, no doubt, by the icy cold platinum blond Slytherin in front of her. He was tall, very tall, and had the lean build of a star Quidditch player… which of course he had been in their days at Hogwarts.
Draco Malfoy stepped into the room, nodding politely at everyone in the room. He hesitated briefly before nodding at Hermione. She nodded back. Her insides were churning. She hadn't seen him in years. Since his father had been imprisoned in Azkaban, Draco had turned "Snape", spying on the Death Eaters for the Order of the Phoenix. She knew all this because Harry had told her. She couldn't believe her best friend would be working side by side by his nemesis for so many years; but then, that was Harry. Of course, Draco had done so reluctantly; Hermione was sure of it. Nothing like being on the winning side, she thought. One had to protect the family assets, after all.
Draco took a seat next to Snape and studied Granger under his eyelashes. He was curious, very curious, about why they wanted him here. And why they wanted her here too. Snape had mentioned something about a prophecy. It hadn't made any sense at the time. Snape could be one enigmatic bastard when he wanted to be.
"Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, if you please," McGonagall said crisply. Draco and Hermione exchanged glances. It was just like being in school again. Draco smirked. Hermione looked like she was hiding a grin.
McGonagall held out her hand for the prophecy. Hermione took it out of her pouch. Snape nodded and touched his wand to the glass sphere. A smoky figure rose; Professor Trelawney. She seemed to be looking right at Draco and Hermione.
"THE PORTENTS OF THE DARK LORD'S DEFEAT ARE HERE… WHEN THE PURE OF BLOOD AND THE BLOOD OF MAN UNITE IN THE NINTH YEAR OF THE DARK LORD THE DRAGON WILL RISE… BEHOLD, THE DRAGON'S MATE WILL BE IN THE HEART OF HIS ENEMY AND FRIEND… BLOOD OF MAN WILL SHE BE. AND THEY WILL UNITE WHEN THE BLACK AND THE RED HAVE BORNE FRUIT… THE PORTENTS OF THE DARK LORD'S DEFEAT ARE HERE…"
Silence filled the room as the smoky figure vanished. Hermione's heart was pounding. She locked eyes with Dumbledore. He seemed almost apologetic, but there was a twinkle in his eye. Her eyes shifted to his desk. There was a picture there… of the Minister's new granddaughter. Harry and Ginny and their new little daughter. When the black and the red have borne fruit…
"How…" she paused. "How do you know it's me?"
Draco was quiet. He seemed stunned. There was no mistaking, after all, who the Dragon was.
"The dragon's mate will be in the heart of his enemy and friend," Remus quoted. "That narrows it down, don't you think?" Hermione flushed. "Blood of man. It means a Muggle-born," he continued.
"That doesn't mean anything, he could have many enemies!" she protested. "And there are many Muggle-born witches!"
"And you want us to- what, exactly?" Draco wanted to know.
Snape's smile was positively gleeful. "Why, get married of course."