Chapter Four

;;;Seamus opened the door and peered out into the waiting area. A small, drab creature was

perched on one of the large leather chairs. As she looked at him, her large brown eyes became

even wider and she said in disbelief,

;;;"Seamus?!" When Seamus continued to look at her in befuddlement, she exclaimed, "Seamus!

It's me, Hermione!"

;;;Seamus' jaw dropped. Hermione Granger, here, alive?! It seemed impossible. No one had

heard from her in years. Gathering his composure, he greeted her warmly and invited her into the

office.

;;;"Harry says you are in need of a job?" he queried. When she nodded vigorously, he

continued, "Well, I'm sure we can find a place for an old Gryffindor chum, Hermione. Let me

think," he paused for a moment, "Ah! Yes, why didn't I think of it right away? You will work as

Harry's assistant."

;;;;;;------;;;;;;

;;;Hermione stepped out of the office, dazed, a happy smile on her face. It seemed too good to

be true. Not only did she have a job-a well paying job-but she was going to work with Harry!

She didn't even notice the stack of papers walking towards her down the hallway until the

collided. Stuttering apologies, Hermione scrambled to help pick up the papers. When the

majority of the papers were haphazardously stacked, she looked up into the reddened face of

an attractive young witch with hazel eyes and dirty blonde hair, which looked dyed. Hermione

could have sworn she was looking at—

;;;"Hermione Granger?!" Lavender Brown squealed, dropping the paper in her hand onto the

pile before grabbing the much shorter witch and hugging her. "I heard you were here, but I

couldn't believe it! It's really you, oh Herms, how are you?"

;;;Hermione smiled at her old school friend, "I work here now!" she exclaimed.

;;;"Oh, how wonderful!"

;;;"Lav, I can barely believe it. It seems just yesterday that I was in hiding, but it's been two

weeks, and it was sheer luck that I ran into Harry the other day, oh I can't believe it! I just have

to pinch myself to be sure it's all really happening. I'm so happy and excited to finally be doing

something after all these years!" Hermione chattered.

;;;"Dear, how lovely. Well, I really must run these papers to the Head of Muggle Studies, but

here comes Harry now," Lavender said smoothly before taking out her wand and floating the

messy stack of papers down the hallway.

;;;;;;------;;;;;;

;;;Draco stopped, about to turn the corner of the hallway, when he heard the voices of

Hermione Granger and Harry Potter issuing from around the corner. What a superb

opportunity to eavesdrop he thought idly, pulling out his wand and muttering, "Invisiblis." As

he looked at his hands, the slowly faded in color, became transparent, and then invisible. He

stepped around the corner in time to hear Hermione speaking.

;;;"...and then he gave me a job-as your assistant!" she exclaimed with a happy laugh.

;;;"Herms, how great! I can't wait to work with you," he said, a slight blush creeping over his

face as Hermione gazed at him intently.

;;;Hmm...Potter seems to have a bit of a crush on Ms. Granger. Admittedly, I can see

why. Despite her shabby looks, there is something attractive about the...earnest look?...on

her face Draco thought, the shook his head quickly. Had he really just been thinking that

Hermione was attractive?

;;;"...how can I ever thank you?"

;;;"Don't thank me Hermione, its me that ought to be thanking you. Now, I'll give you the rest of

the day off my dear, but be here bright and early tomorrow," and with that, Harry bent down

and kissed Hermione on the cheek. He backed away, smiling sheepishly.

;;;Draco did not even notice that his hands had balled tightly into fists.