Chapter 2

Hermione sat in a small coffee shop waiting for Ron to arrive. It had already been a week since she started her new job…and she loved it! Sure there were lots of reports to do and silly errands to run for Ferret-Boy, but she liked most of the people she worked with and found that they had similar feelings towards magical creatures. She smiled to herself as she sipped her coffee, loving her life and everyone in it. At that precise moment Ron walked into the coffee shop, approaching her with a grin on his face.

"Well hello there pretty lady, you shouldn't be sitting here all by yourself. People might think you're single." He leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. She immediately blushed and giggled like a 10-year-old school girl.

"Oh Ron…stop. You're embarrassing me." She chuckled.

"So, how's the first week been? Is Malfoy being a prick? 'Cause if he is, I swear I'll tear that smirk right off his face." He said seriously, still having a major problem with the Slytherin Prince.

"Ron, don't worry. He's actually acting decent towards me. No name calling or anything else for that matter. He's my boss and I think he values his position. Besides, he's going to be running for Minister." She reassured Ron, but the last statement made him turn as red as a beet.

"What! They would allow HIM to run? This is outrageous!" He shouted, a few heads turning to see what the commotion was about.

"Ron, shhh…we don't need to draw attention to ourselves. I agree with you though. I don't know if I can trust him. He seems like he could be the next Voldemort from they way he used to act in school and from what he did..." She looked down at her shoes, eyes tearing slightly. Ron banged his fist against the small table, making Hermione's coffee spill.

"Sorry…I just can't stand him! They know what he did and what he's capable of. Why are they letting him even work in the ministry?" Ron's eyes were looking into hers intensely, as if the answer was hidden there.

"I don't know Ron. He apologized, telling everyone how he was being controlled and that he didn't want to do it. But I don't know if I can believe that." She sighed and got up, gathering her things. "I need to get back, my lunch break is over." She leaned in towards him, kissing him passionately on the lips.

"Mmk…I'll owl you later." He smiled at her, watching as she left the café.

Hermione arrived back at the ministry, heading straight for her office. As she approached her door, she heard a woman's laugh from behind Malfoy's.

"Oh stop! Draco…we're in the ministry, we shouldn't be doing this." She said in between fits of giggles.

"Well, this is my office and I'm the head of the department so I can do whatever I want." He said to her. Then everything went quiet. Hermione shuddered, knowing what they were doing in there. She walked into her office, leaving the door slightly open. She started on some reports but was soon drawn out of her concentration. The woman who had been in Malfoy's office stepped out, pulling down her skirt and reapplying her lipstick.

"Bye Drakie. I'll see you tonight then?" She asked coyly as he walked out behind her.

"Why, of course. I'll pick you up at 7:30. And wear something short and tight." He grinned at her and pulled her in for a kiss. "Ciao Bella." She giggled and walked away. He just stood there watching her sway her hips. "Damn…"

"New secretary?" Hermione asked a look of utter disgust on her face.

"What's it to you? Are you jealous?" He smirked, leaning in her door way. His blond hair was messy, falling into his eyes, which were staring right into her hazel ones. All of a sudden she felt her heart racing, her breathing became slightly heavier and she felt completely uncomfortable around him.

"Me? Jealous? Well of course I would be jealous of a Barbie with fake tits and no self respect. Sorry Malfoy, but I, unlike that little…trollop, would never degrade myself like that."

"Oh really?" He had a mischievous look in his eyes as he slowly approached her desk. He leaned over her pile of papers, his face inches away from hers. He licked his lips slowly, daring to come even closer.

"STOP!" She got up, grabbed her purse and ran out of the office.

"Hermione dear, where are you going?" Mary asked her, seeing the scared look on her face.

"I'm not feeling well. I think I need to go home, ok?" She said, pleading with her.

"Oh, of course, I can see that you're a little paler than usual. You just go on home dear and get some rest." Mary smiled at her and Hermione left, walking quickly. She wanted to put as much distance between him and herself.

Malfoy sat in his office, obviously satisfied at how he made her squirm and run out like that. He was smiling to himself, remembering those pouty lips of hers. For a mudblood, she wasn't half bad. In fact, she had grown into quite the woman; curvaceous with a natural beauty that his Barbie Doll could never possess.

Hermione sat in her room, boxes all over the place. For the past few years she had lived with her parents until she was able to get a steady job. Now that she finally got what she wanted, she decided that moving out would be next on her list. Her parents didn't want to see her go but knew that their little girl wasn't that little anymore. After all she was 22 now and ready for a change. She got up from her bed and grabbed her wand. Muttering an incantation, all the things in her room found their way into boxes. She looked at the bare room, her entire life packed up in boxes and trunks.

"Well…it's time to grow up Hermione." She said to herself and proceeded downstairs where the movers waited for her. "Everything is upstairs. It's all packed up." They nodded and soon enough all her boxes and furniture were put away in a truck parked outside her parents' house.

"Oh I can't believe our baby is moving out. Who's going to cook for you?" Her mom asked with a worried tone.

"Mom, I think I can fend for myself. And if worst comes to worst, I'll drop by here for dinner." She grinned and hugged her mom tightly. "I'll miss living here but I'll visit all the time, don't worry.

"Oh I know…I'm just going to miss you so much. I love you honey." Her mom's eyes welled up with tears.

"Oh don't cry Judith, it's not like she's moving to Africa." Her dad piped in. "I'll miss you too pumpkin." She hugged her dad, sensing that he didn't want her to leave just as much as her mum.

"Bye mum, bye dad." She stepped into her car and drove off, watching as they waved. As they got smaller and smaller, finally disappearing from view, she felt like she was staring a whole new life: her own.

A/N: There's chapter 2, yaaay. Sure they're not very long but a girl can only write for so long . ! But yeah, I'll try to make them a bit longer in the future. The story is starting off very slowly I know, but I need to develop these characters as well as the plot so be patient. Thank you!

-San-