5.

I hoped the quality didn't suffer? I didn't realize all the spelling mistakes and atrocious punctuation from the last chapter.....;......I'll stop fighting it. Just realize that it is beyond me to start fixing all my grammar mistakes now...

Well here it is (school took up a lot of my time...) the next chapter...

"Good. I'll be off then." Draco said more to himself than anything. He rose out of the chair, and swept his charcoal cloak towards his body, and seemed to be ready to apparate right out of her living room.

"Wait, you honestly- What?" Hermione sputtered. This was bordering on ridiculous. When would he learn to coherently explain himself at once?

"Darling. Granger. I have work. I've done my first duty here. I'm off. Understand?" He said slowly as though speaking to a drunk.

She whipped out her wand, furiously whispering the next words she spoke in a tone she took with medi wizards who had stepped into her "danger" territory. Draco unfortunately for him, had crossed into that zone with a rather large leap and pirouette...

"No. Shlip!-"she made a cutting motion on her throat and indicated that she wanted silence rather than the quick retort coming from Draco. "Now. You will sit here. In my chair."

Draco once again made to retort, but something in her face made him check his mouth, and sit down with a grim smirk.

"You will apparate from my apartment. I however will accompany you to Dumbledore's office, and you needn't look surprised, I know that's where you were going. To report. I know how it works, I'm not stupid."

"I can tell you Granger, that thought never once graced my mind. You are not stupid. Incredibly gullible, emotional, and power driven yes. But not stupid." Draco drawled out, lifting his legs over the arms of the couch to lie down. "Now, am I allowed to get off this green monstrosity? I suppose I'll have to wait for you though."

"Huh?" she blurted out intelligently.

"A lavender short robe will not look any more professional than walking in nude, though that would be sight to behold" He said though closed eyes, looking as though he would fall asleep right then and there she realized. And she realized with dismay that he was right about her appearance.

"Don't move." She said in despair as she walked backward towards her rooms.

"I wouldn't dream of it." He said nonchalantly.

Draco smiled as he heard the sink running and Hermione began muttering about "egotistical gits" and "ignoramus's"

She came out pulling on her own bottle green robes (a gift from Harry last holidays) over her muggle office wear; a crisp form fitting white blouse with a tan tweed short waist coat, and a matching tweed knee length skirt and black high heel pumps. Her silky ginger brown shoulder length hair was pulled back by a small thin headband. Two small dangling pearl earrings and a short pearl necklace completed her professional look. She looked so fresh; it was hard to believe she had been rudely awakened in a disheveled state only an hour ago.

"I say Granger, you do clean up well." Draco drawled through closed eyes.

"Get up. Let's go." She replied curtly, patting her hair, hoping the Frizz-ease lotion would stay put. She pulled out her wand, and brandishing it like a club, motioned for Draco to get off the couch. She realized that now that he had gotten his chore of telling her the mission out of the way, he had reverted back to his annoying self, and she was powerless to change that. She could, however, take charge of the situation. She was not willing to let a former head death-eater rule the roost.

"Alright. Let's go."He said swinging his legs off the couch, and striding over to stand next to her.

With a popping sound, they both left her humble apartment...

... to arrive in a beautiful office, with a high domed ceiling. The furniture was all oak and cherry wood, and when she heard a feeble squawk, Hermione turned to see a baby Fawkes in his transitional state, sitting in his golden cage. He was no bigger than a small chick, his red feather spilled all around him and fluffy red down starting to grow out of his skin rapidly. She gave the bird a smile, and went up to the cage to tickle him under the chin. He chirruped in pleasure, and nipped her finger playfully. Suddenly he seemed to sniff the air, and gave a high pitched shriek and started squawking angrily over her shoulder.

"Bloody bird. Shut up!" Draco hissed at the angry phoenix.

"Oh don't stop him," she said with a smirk. Fawkes became even louder as Draco stepped toward the two of them, looking as though he would do something violent. "At least he can sniff out the evil and egotism, even if others can't." she said quietly, but with a measure of anger. She stood up from her bent position, pulling the robes together. They looked at each other, Hermione quiet, looking nonchalant, as Draco seemed ready to burst with anger, his usually pale face starting to color pink.

At that precise moment, the tension broke as the door opened, and Hermione saw Harry and Ginny walk in, and behind strode in Dumbledore.

"'Mione! What are you doing here?!" Ginny Weasly cried, striding over to Hermione to offer her a hug. They squeezed each other tightly. As Ginny finally released her, she was startled as Ginny immediately started talking.

"Hermione. Listen. You are most definitely my maid of honor. No questions. I'll send the seamstress to your house, and she'll have your dress ready in no time. No buts." Ginny said with a sparkling smile. Her bubbling was infectious, and Hermione found herself smiling back.

"Gin, you know after Ron and Lavender's, I don't really feel like being the center of attention..."

"God 'Mione, that was yearsago. Come on...."

"Oh.... All right. I'll severely blame you if this goes wrong though!" she said laughing in a way she hadn't in many years. She didn't know why. It was as though a curtain had been lifted. It immediately fell back however, as Ginny spotted Draco.

"Oh! Draco! I didn't see you..." she went over and kissed him on the cheek, and Hermione saw his cheeks turn a distinct shade of pink. "Has Hermione threatened to cut off your manhood yet?" Ginny said in an amused tone.

Hermione opened her mouth to utter a retort, and immediately felt her hand picked up. She looked up startled as Harry kissed her hand.

"That was for being civil enough to not hex him into oblivion. I know it's hard for you." He said softly to her.

Hermione stepped on her toes to ruffle the hair that always looked ruffled and kiss him on the cheek and stared appreciatively at one of her best friends. He was wearing his Seeker's uniform for the Chudley Cannons, and the orange robes clashed wildly with the red game armor that showed Harry as the athletic number one seeker in England. Ginny was wearing wild purple robes with a green trim, which was one of her best of the Weasly's Wizarding Couture store collection. Harry turned towards Draco, and mockingly pulled his fiancee away.

"Come now. I'm to marry the little minx, don't seduce her before the wedding date..." he said punching Draco on the arm. Draco grinned and opened his mouth to reply, but was interrupted.

"I do so hate to interrupt the meeting of good friends," said a kindly voice. "But there are, unfortunately for Virginia and Harry, some more serious matters to discuss." Said Dumbledore, now Minister Dumbeldore as he sat in the high backed chair behind his enormous desk.

They all fell quiet, and then there was a silent scramble for the nearest chairs. As Hermione settled primly into the cushioned seat, she felt a little invigorated. Participating in a mission like this often raised her adrenaline, and this was no different; sometimes she wished she had become an aurorer like Neville. She felt unpleasant again, when she glanced over to her side and saw Draco settle into the seat closest to her in the voluminous room. The room was magicked of course. Appearing like any other office from the outside, it was as large as a cathedral inside. Models of boats, telescopes, and other wizarding equipment were suspended from the ceiling. She could swear she saw something fly over head, but it seemed like a distant blot in the high ceiling...

"Good. You all realize how serious this situation is. Harry, Virginia, I would usually implore you to put off the say of your wedding, but obviously I have not. The reason being it provides a rather good setting for our operation. Now, Ginny and Harry, your current job is to make this wedding as public as possible. Spare no expenses, the ministry will pay for all the needs."

Hermione saw Ginny and Harry visibly brighten at that news. Even if their wedding was to be hijacked as a trap and the two had high profile-high paying jobs, she had a feeling the final bill would be well beyond what could be imagined. When she glanced over at Dumbledore, she smiled as she saw the familiar twinkle sprout in his eyes.

"Now, Mr. Malfoy, Miss. Granger, you will need to go on a reconnaissance. I want you two to make sure the Servants of the Serpent fall into our trap without a hitch. I will send you over to Mr. Longbottem, who should be able to sort out all the details for you."

And with that, the door to the large office opened and Hermione and Draco gave each other a startled look. Hermione could not remember any of her earlier meetings leading to this sudden request.

They both got up, and walked towards the door, and headed into the busy corridor. She turned to look back into the office, and saw Ginny and Harry wave to her a little, and Dumbledore nodded. She took a breath and turned to lead the way to Neville's office. Something told her, that what was in store would not be pleasant, she though glancing at Draco who was started to stride ahead of her; she ducked as a roll of parchment flew through the air with a message, nearly hitting her in the head as it took a sharp turn into an open office.

This was going to be a long day.

A.N.- wow, that was a lot. For me anyway. And notice how little I've managed to advance the plot? I'll need to stop writing about so many details....

Now, be a lovely audience and reply and review. Tell me what you feel like reading. It's not that I don't have the plot mapped out, I just want to know if you'd rather see a little more humor, more fights between Draco and Hermione, and if you want more action. Don't ask for romance just yet though. There is a method to my madness

Here's a little teaser for the next chapter: two twins will be making their appearance, as well as a former sniveling teacher. (It's rather obvious whom I'm talking about...)

Review! .