Central Park

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters! Okay? Okay.

A/N: Thank you reviewers. I didn't get very many reviews but that's okie-day!

Chapter Four- Gunman

Draco stared at a hooded figure in front of him, suddenly getting very irritable. If you're going to kill me, do it now! The gunman then spoke, "Get off her case."

"Why do you care? Unless you're the burner and/or rapist."

"Why do I care? Because Hermione doesn't appreciate you doing this."

"Is it Hermione who doesn't appreciate it...or is it you?" Draco glared at the hood, his eyes trying to penetrate the darkness beyond.

"It's both. Go talk to her. I'll spare you this time. But next time I catch you alone and unawares, you better not be working for Hermione Granger." With a swish of his cloak, he stalked off, hooking the gun into a secret chamber in his cloak. Draco breathed a sigh of relief. He then checked his watch. 12:00. Glancing behind himself cautiously, he apparated back to St. Mungo's and headed to Hermione's room. Positioned in front of the door was a ward guard. They really had no purpose besides keeping visitors from entering the ward without permission and/or an appointment. Draco brushed him away with his card showing his position and walked in. Hermione lay on the bed in what was probably the same position she had been in earlier. "Hello, Ms. Granger," Draco sighed.

"Mr. Malfoy. Pleasure to see you again." She grimaced, not enjoying her conversation with Draco one bit.

"I have a question for you," Draco said in a business-like tone.

"Yes?"

"Do you want me on your case? No, actually, do you want someone on your case?"

"Well, yes, naturally. I want to know who did this."

"You mean that you don't know."

"Of course not. He was wearing a hood and cloak."

"Wizard?"

"I can't believe you didn't ask me this earlier. Yes, he was a wizard. Or so I thought. He used a wand. I believe that qualifies."

"Yes, it does," Draco mumbled, busying himself with taking out a notebook.

"Anything else?" Hermione looked at him skeptically from her perch.

"Yes," Draco stared at her, "Did he rape you?"

Hermione stared back at him, a determined look etching its way into her face, "Yes." She said softly, turning her eyes downward after answering.

"Thank you, Ms. Granger. I'll be going now. Oh, one more thing. Does it matter who's on your case?"

"Not particularly. If you're the only one for the job, I suppose it's fine. I mean, it's not like we're in school any more."

"Another question. What did the man's voice sound like?"

"Low. Raspy. Hoarse. I don't know, it wasn't pleasant."

"Would you say that he was brave enough to come back and threaten anyone helping you?"

"Oh, definitely. He had a gun and everything. Actually, I was ready to die that night. Luckily someone found me quickly," Hermione sighed.

Draco looked at her, "Would he have wanted anyone on your case?"

"Definitely not!"

Draco nodded, "Thank you. Do you, by any chance, know where the Minister's rooms are? I think I'm going to pay Mr. Potter a visit."

"On the top floor. I forget what number that is."

Draco nodded at her and left, ignoring the ward guard's tipped hat. He was visiting his worst enemy for the first time in years. He needed to get ready.

Hermione lay in her bed, wondering where Draco's line of questioning was taking him. It was almost as if he had met a cloaked and hooded man earlier who was carrying a gun. She was sure it wasn't Harry. She was absolutely sure. He wouldn't be jealous of her becoming Minister, he would be proud.

A few hours later, Draco was ready. Why it had taken him so long was indecision. When you are meeting your worst enemy for the first time in years, what do you wear? Finally, after two hours of thrown clothing in a pile, Draco was wearing the exact same thing he had had on earlier. Shaking his head, he apparated into the Ministry Safe Zone and entered the lobby.

The new fountain sprayed water at varying heights and thickness'. Draco had always liked the old fountain, but this one was even better. The figures in the old one had taken away from simplicity, something this fountain possessed in huge quantities. It was one spout, shooting straight up and falling into a large dish filled with galleons, sickles, and knuts. It was polished silver, with a hint of rust. It was perfect.

As he boarded the elevator with a few flapping memos above him, he stared at the silver doors. He could tell they were made of the same silver in the fountain, but he had no idea why that bothered him. He shrugged as the elevator halted at the top floor and stepped out. To his right there was a sign...

Minister's Office

Enter with appointment only

Draco shrugged off the appointment only part and entered to find Harry Potter with his head down, studying a large stack of papers. He did not notice Draco's entrance, so Draco made it apparent by coughing rather loudly. Harry's head shot up and he took in the blond hair and gray eyes as his own emerald ones got larger and larger. "Mr. Malfoy," he said painfully, "Pleasure."

Draco walked up to the desk and looked up at Harry, perched like a king, "Mr. Potter," he said and smirked, "I am here on behalf of Hermione Granger."

Harry nodded, "I heard."

"I am sure you did," the coldness in Draco's voice was very apparent and Harry cringed.

"What would you like?" the question was also pained.

"Well, actually, some coffee if you have it, my own was interrupted. And I would like to talk to you."

Harry conjured to chairs and one coffee on a small table between the chairs. He motioned for Draco to sit as he stepped down from his desk and did so himself. Draco gingerly sat in the chair, expecting a childish trick, but relaxed when nothing happened. He went straight to the subject, "You are a suspect in the burning/raping of Ms. Granger."

"I...what?"

Draco took an irritable sip from his coffee and grimaced, "You are a suspect. Ms. Granger had an ambition to become the first woman Minister. Considering that you are the Minister at the moment, you are a suspect. I don't know what you would do to prevent her from getting the position."

Harry sighed, "Why would I hurt Hermione? I was planning on handing down my position to her in the next term. I'm actually tired of being Minister."

"That's great that you were planning that," Draco said, slowing becoming less patient, "But what you planned and what you did are two different things entirely. That is why you are a suspect."

"Is that all you came to say?"

"As a matter of fact, no. I would also like your permission to thoroughly search and examine the whole Ministry. You know, for suspects and evidence."

"But the crime happened in New York!"

"I just need your permission, please."

"Alright, you may. I am just very confused."

"That's fine, Mr. Potter. I'll be going now. Expect me sometime soon again, though. I won't be making an appointment." Draco turned and left, leaving the coffee there. It was absolutely disgusting.

When he reached his office, he saw a post-it note stuck to his desk. The wizards had been using more muggle things lately. It read,

Contact Howard Sterns by phone. Evidence found.

Draco sighed, sat in his chair, and dialed Howard Sterns' number.

A/N: Long enough????? I think so. REVIEW