Title : Reunited
Author : Bex (otherwise known as Bex-Malfoy or Jaxindi)
Disclaimer : This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Rating : PG-13 to start with, may go up to R in later chapters due to violence or sex scenes.
Pairings : D/Hr, H/OC
Summary : After she went to his funeral, she never expected Draco Malfoy to show up at her desk at work. Why did he fake his death? Why has he been hiding? Hermione Granger is determined to find out the answers and more.
A/N : This is my first fic on this penname (Bex-Malfoy) but I have written before on , on the penname jaxindi. This is going to be my Draco/Hermione and Blaise/Hermione account and I hope that you like the stories that I produce! I work hard on them and don't even think of submitting them until I'm happy with them. I love feedback and only constructive criticism allowed. No flaming for no reason or I'll get depressed and just abandon my stories. That's what happened with my D/G fic, Mutual Feelings which can be found on the Jaxindi account and I hope that nobody will encourage me to finish fics on that account. I will also soon have a Marauders account for all pairings (Sirius/James, Sirius/Remus and James/Lily). I also belong to a Yahoo group for Blaise/Hermione/Draco lovers (And I swear, I am so devoted to it) where I write fics of an NC-17 nature.
Hermione sighed as she looked around her bedroom. It was her last day living with Harry, she had gotten the keys to her new flat yesterday and it was time to move out and move on. She didn't want a house-warming party... After all, half of her friends wouldn't be able to come, due to them being dead.
The Dark War had taken them all unaware, Voldemort attacking before the Order of the Phoenix could get supplies and people, hit hard by the sheer amount of Death Eaters. Many of Hermione's friends and acquaintances had been killed but it wasn't that that bothered her, it was the loss of Ron, one of the Golden Trio. She had lost her mind at that point, focusing on how to defeat the Death Eaters and blocking everybody out. She didn't have any parents or siblings anymore, even Crookshanks had been killed by the madman. Instead Harry and her had taken a flat in Diagon Alley and lived there for the last two years. But it was all changing now, both moving into separate flats, Harry with his girlfriend Daphne Greengrass and Hermione on her own, able to manage due to her high wage at the Ministry.
"Hermione, are you ready?" came Harry's voice from the living room.
She turned around to face him and smiled. "Yeah... I was just thinking and I suppose I started to daydream again about... Well, you know who about." she admitted.
Harry's eyes softened, turning a lighter green. "I'm sorry, I know that... You know." he said, determined not to mention Ron's name in case she started to cry again. It had been a shock to both of them. It was a Friday night and they had decided to go out for once, turning up at the Burrow to pick up their best friend. Hermione almost blacked out when she saw the glittering green serpent that glared at them malevolently from above the haphazard house that they both knew so well. It was a smouldering wreck, the Death Eaters obviously thinking it wise to set it aflame after they killed the family. The only ones left were Fred, George and Ginny, both of the twins fleeing the country in hope of escaping Voldemort. To this day, neither Harry or Hermione had heard from them. Ginny was a different matter, she lived in London but mostly in the Muggle world where she wasn't known as a witch.
She nodded. "Yeah... It's just strange, that's all." she said as she hugged Harry tightly, blinking back the tears in her eyes. "Are you ready to go?" she asked.
He nodded. "Yeah, I was just reading a letter off of Daphne." he admitted.
Hermione moved back out of his arms and smiled slyly up at him. "Greengrass? A Slytherin?" she teased.
Harry gave her a mock-glare. "Shut up you." he said. "Or need I remind you of...?"
"No." Hermione said, flushing. "That wasn't anything anyway. After all I was drunk and you were supposed to be looking after me so technically, it was your fault." she said with a small smile.
He scowled. "Damn... I hate that word 'technically'. Do you need any help moving your stuff?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No, I'm going to shrink it all and put it in my pockets... I haven't got that much stuff anyway to be honest." she told him. "We had fun, right?" she asked as he pulled into another hug, wrapping her arms around his neck and breathing in the lime scent that was Harry.
He nodded and she felt him smile. "Of course we did Hermione. I can't believe we're both twenty now. I don't feel old enough to be twenty." he joked.
She laughed. "Me neither. I feel like the bushy-haired eleven year I was when I started Hogwarts." she said with a grin.
He curled a lock of her caramel hair around his finger. "Not any more. I can't believe you didn't think to use magic on it." he said. "Smartest witch in a century, indeed." he said.
She frowned and moved back out of his embrace. "Shut up. I didn't want to use magic to fix something for selfish purposes." she said in her know-it-all tone, knowing that Harry hated it.
"Urgh, enough with the voice." he said, although he was still grinning. "I have to go, I was expected five minutes ago. Keep in touch, please?" he asked.
She nodded. "Of course I will."
"You'd best 'Mione." Harry said, looking stern. "Only I know you and your work and your amazing ability to block everyone else out."
She laughed. "I promise, okay?!" she asked.
He nodded and kissed her on the forehead. "See you soon. I'll send you a memo in the office." he promised and clutching his shrunken boxes and suitcases in his arms, he Apparated to the other end of Diagon Alley where he was staying with Daphne. Daphne Greengrass was an ex-Slytherin, but one who had pledged her allegiance to the Order and had worked as a double-agent, almost dying for her role more than once. She had long black hair and ice blue eyes, with unhealthily pale skin, but it suited her. She was funny and smart and understood Harry more than Hermione ever had done.
Hermione clutched her boxes and bags and put them all in a shoulder bag to make sure she didn't lose any of them on the way to her new flat. It was just off Diagon Alley, in a little avenue known as Trixol Avenue. It was a well-known place, the entrance being a little alleyway next to Ollivander's Wand store, but it then opened up into a beautiful courtyard of old flats with astounding views over gardens and greenery. She knew it must be magic as there was no fields and meadows in Muggle London, but she couldn't be too sure in the Wizard version of the place.
"I need to speak to the Minister, now..." came a voice from in front of her. She looked up and nearly screamed at who she saw. Draco Malfoy was standing in front of her desk, when he was supposed to be dead. She had even attended his funeral, not because she particularly liked him but because she thought that no-one else would turn up. She was wrong, although many of the people who did turn up were business partner's and people who couldn't believe he was dead. He looked better than he had in Hogwarts, simply because he didn't have a cruel sneer on his face or a smug smirk. His blonde hair was longer and no longer gelled back, falling to his shoulders in soft, silky strands. He looked more tanned, as if he'd been abroad and he was wearing simple but expensive black robes. "Hello?" came an annoyed voice and she looked up into his silver eyes surprised to see no recognition in them.
"Malfoy?" she asked. "Draco Malfoy?"
He nodded. "Yes, wait... How did you know my name?" he asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. He turned slightly and Hermione gasped as she saw a long livid red scar from temple to jaw, marring the otherwise perfect skin.
"You don't know who I am?" she asked. She had changed over the years, not in her looks, which were still slightly-above average, but she had tamed her hair into dirty blonde curls and she had put on weight, gaining curves that she never knew she had. She also wore glasses to work and tied her hair back, which she had never done at school.
He shook his head. "I don't think so."
"Granger... Hermione Granger." she said in the way of explanation.
His silver eyes flashed with anger, hurt and then understanding. "Merlin, you look different. I think it must be the hair."
Hermione raised an eyebrow, she wasn't sure if he was joking or insulting her. "The same could be said for you. Why are you here anyway?" she asked.
"I didn't know that you were the Assistant to the Minister of Magic." he said.
She narrowed her eyes. "Why? Did you think I'd be the toilet cleaner as I'm a mudblood?" she said, annoyed of his attempt at being civilised.
His eyes flashed with anger. "Don't call yourself that."
"Why Malfoy? After all, you did for seven years." she retorted.
He sighed. "Look, is there any chance of me getting into see the Minister today?" he asked in an exasperated tone.
She didn't even look at her appointment book. "Nope." she said smugly. "I thought you were dead anyway. I know you were dead, I came to your funeral."
He smirked. "I thought I saw you there. I must say I was quite surprised that you weren't dancing on my grave."
"How did you stay alive?" she asked, her inquisitive nature getting the better of her.
His face masked all emotion at that question and he stiffened up. "I don't believe that is any of your business Granger." he said coldly before sweeping away, his cloak billowing behind him as he left.
She shook her head sadly. "You're just like him..." she muttered to herself, getting a fleeting image of Lucius Malfoy as he strode away from her.
Not a lot was known about Draco in the war. It was acknowledged that he had been on the Dark side, due to Lucius ordering him to have the Mark burned into his skin. However, Hermione didn't know how in hell he would be able to get into the Ministry if he was acknowledged as a Death Eater. She pondered on this thought until her boss came back and snapped his fingers in front of her eyes. "Are you alright Hermione?" he asked.
She snapped back into reality. "Um... Yes sir. I was just... Distracted." she said with a bright smile.
The new Minister was Julius Logdan, who had been appointed after the war as soon as Dumbledore, as always, turned it down. He was a man of about thirty and he was both intelligent and funny, everyone loving him for his decisions and his ability to throw a decent Ministry party. He had been promoted from the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes a year ago, and Hermione had become his Assistant about six months ago. She loved her job and was grateful that her blood hadn't gotten in the way of her getting promoted.
"Any messages?" he asked.
She bit her lip. "I don't know... There was a visitor." she admitted.
He smiled. "Who? Hermione, you look like somebody is about to bite your head off... What's wrong?" he asked.
She looked up at him. "Draco Malfoy was here."
"I thought he might be... It took long enough for him to bloody get here." he said with a sigh.
Her eyes widened at his words. "Bu-But he's supposed to be dead?!" she exclaimed.
Julius laughed. "No... It's not public knowledge yet, but he's been in Italy for three years... Been staying with a friend of his."
She smirked slightly. "Let me guess, Zabini."
He raised an eyebrow. "How did you know?"
"I knew there was a reason that he never let me go in the East wing." she muttered.
"You went to Zabini's manor?" he asked.
She nodded. "We made friends at the end of sixth year... I went over just before I bought a flat with Harry, after the war was over. After all, the Zabini family stayed neutral in the war so I didn't have a problem with them."
Julius had a small smile on his face. "Do you know why Draco was there?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No.. Why, do you?"
"I honestly have no idea. We managed to track him down a week ago and sent him a letter telling him to get back to England, apart from that though, I have no more information than you on the matter." he admitted.
She smiled. "I might just have to have a get-together with Blaise and find out what exactly is going on, that is... If you want me to?" she asked.
He grinned. "Hermione, I knew I hired you for a reason. Collect as much information as you can and go to Auror Headquarters and demand his file if you need it. I'll be getting a secretary in for the time being, you are now promoted to Investigator of the Draco Malfoy case."
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