Author's Note: I'm still working on Death Eater's Kiss…sort of…I kinda lost interest in writing about it, but I'll pick up sooner or later. In the meantime, I thought I'd try writing another fanfic. It's GinnyDraco of course. Hope you guys like it.
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize probably doesn't belong to me
Auror In LoveChapter 1 Bribery
It was mid-morning when a very weary Ginny Weasley apparated into the Ministry of Magic. The auror headquarters these days were incredibly hectic. Rumors of dark activity, of a conspiracy to release Azkaban prisoners, and that the supposedly dead Bellatrix Lestrange had been sighted had sent the wizarding community into panic. Aurors were under incredibe pressure to resume their search of Death Eaters from You-Know-Who's second rise who had been reported dead but their bodies never found. Ginny stifled an unprofessional yawn as she made her way down the corridor. She had been up the previous night, hoping to find a lead on the disappearance of Blaise Zabini. Her arms were filled with parchments for her superior, Hermione Granger, to sign. Rubbing her tired eyes, Ginny raised a hand to knock on Hermione's door when voices from within made her pause.
"Ten Thousand Galleons!"
"Consider it a gift," a smooth male voice replied.
Ginny frowned. She recognized Hermione's voice, but who was Hermione talking to?
"Why the generosity?" Although Ginny couldn't see her friend's face, she all but sensed the suspicion in Hermione's tone.
"Is it so surprising for me to take an interest in an old friend?" Again the smooth male voice, sounding bemused.
"Friend?" Hermione's voice was dry. "We couldn't stand each other's faces five years ago, and my feelings haven't changed since then."
Ginny's interest was thoroughly piqued now. Hermione was usually so friendly; Ginny couldn't imagine who could cause her friend to become so blatantly hostile.
"I had hoped we had matured since we last saw each other." There was a hint of impatience in the man's tone now. "When I heard your department was short of funds, I saw the opportunity to redeem myself from any past grievances." Ginny frowned; the man's voice sounded faintly familiar, but memory evaded her; where had she heard that voice before?
"And what do you ask for in return?" Hermione's voice had not lost its suspicious quality.
"You doubt my intentions?" the man asked, voice thick with feigned hurt. "I'm injured." Ginny smirked from the other side of the door. She didn't know who Hermione was talking to, but if ten thousands galleons wasn't a bribe, she would swallow her broomstick whole. When Hermione didn't say anything, the male voice continued, now sounding businesslike and slightly domineering. "If I'm giving ten thousand galleons, I would like to see that my investment in the Ministry is a good use of my money. I understand that your aurors are in charge of the investigation on Blaise Zabini. I would like to be a part of that investigation."
There was an ominous silence. Then Hermione spoke, her tone icy, "Do I seem like someone that can be easily bribed?" Ginny knew that tone well, and the look that came with it. She wouldn't give two knuts to be on the receiving end of Hermione's scorn and fury.
"I wouldn't dream of bribing a witch of integrity such as yourself," the male voice responded ingratiatingly. "I am simply…offering you an opportunity. I happen to know your department is a thousand galleons in debt. A little financial boost would be most helpful, I'm sure. And since it is my money, you might consider giving me some auror privileges. I'm not asking you to do anything shady like performing an unforgivable curse."
"Nothing shady at all," Hermione repeated dryly. "I suppose letting you lead the investigation on Zabini isn't shady."
"Not lead the investigation," the man corrected. "Be a part of the investigation. I won't interfere or try to change your policies."
"Why Zabini? Wouldn't the Lestrange Case or the Parkison Case interest you?"
There was a momentary hesitation. "Blaise was…an old friend of mine. As a friend, I have a personal interest his case."
"Oh? So your involvement is more than making sure you're making a good financial investment?" Ginny smiled. Hermione had the man cornered. Ginny could tell by the silence that the man was annoyed.
"Very well," the man said coolly. "I see I was mistaken in thinking that ten thousand galleons would be of service to your department. I'll simply invest my money elsewhere. I heard the Divination Department is short of funds. Perhaps Lavendar Brown would be more appreciative of ten thousand galleons." Ooh that was low, Ginny thought. Somehow, this man knew that Hermione regarded Lavendar and the Divination Department with indescribable disgust. Hermione must be torn between compromising her standards and handing over the money she needed to Lavendar. There was a pause, as if Hermione was thinking, then before the male voice could respond, Hermione called out. "Ginny, could you come in please?"
Outside the door, Ginny froze. How did Hermione know she was standing there? Ginny was almost tempted to run away, but there was a click and the unmistakable sound of the doorknob turning.
"Hello Ginny," Hermione greeted, a wry smile on her face.
Ginny glared at her friend. "You knew I was outside," she demanded.
"Of course. My office is usually spelled against potential eavesdroppers. I purposely dropped the spells so you could listen; I wanted to know your opinion about our new… 'opportunity.'"
Ginny was too irritated to reply. She marched past Hermione, her arms still overflowing with parchments. Inside Hermione's office, the man whom Hermione was talking to was lounging elegantly on a plush couch. Ginny sucked in a breath. She didn't recognize the man, but he was extremely good looking. And rich. Ginny recognized the heavy, intricately-designed silver ring on the man's finger as Aliyanne, the most expensive jewelry brand in the wizarding world. Apparently the man was looking at Ginny with equal curiosity, but when he caught Ginny's eyes, he smirked. Ginny remained composed, but inside her mind was whirling. Where had she seen that smirk before?
"Please sit, Ginny," Hermione said, gesturing at a chair. She, herself, sat in the chair on the other side of the desk. "Mr. Malfoy has been here since early this morning with a proposal. "
Malfoy? Draco Malfoy? Ginny stared at the wizard in horror. It was then Ginny recognized the silver-blonde hair, the grey eyes, the contemptuous smirk, and the expensive quality of the robes. He may be good-looking, but he was also Draco Malfoy; Ginny abruptly ended any fantasies she had been entertaining. Tearing her gaze away from the couch, Ginny turned to Hermione. "I heard," Ginny said coolly. "Ten thousand galleons in order to investigate the Zabini case."
"Ten thousand galleons," Hermione agreed, her voice cool and businesslike but her eyes were pleading Ginny to understand. Hermione wanted the money, badly. Ginny could tell that Hermione had already decided to accept Malfoy's offer.
"It's nothing short of bribery," Ginny reminded her friend, her tone full of warning.
"Ten thousand galleons isn't something I'm offered everyday," Hermione replied composedly, but Ginny knew her friend well enough to see the mental turmoil she was in. "If a bribery, it's not one easy to reject."
"Hermione," Ginny hissed, lowering her voice so Malfoy couldn't hear. "We accept aurors based on quality, not on money. If you accept Malfoy's bargain, we lose our professionalism. Our department becomes corrupt."
"Malfoy isn't becoming an auror," Hermione protested, her voice also low. "He'll just be observing. And if I don't accept the money, we don't have a department."
"We're aurors," Ginny snapped. "The ministry can't get rid of us no matter how in debt we are."
"But we'll lose our effectiveness. Ginny, we need the money."
Ginny bit off a snarl. She whirled around at Draco, who was idly observing his nails. "Precisely what does 'being a part of the Zabini Case' mean, Mr. Malfoy?"
Draco smiled, "So you've accepted my offer then."
"No," Ginny snapped at the same time Hermione said "Yes."
Draco's smile broadened. "I look forward to working with you Miss Weasley." Leaning forward, Draco dropped a bag clinking with coins on the desk. "Here's a thousand galleons to show I'll keep my half of the bargain. The rest of the money will be transferred to your Gringotts vault. I'll talk to Simmons about moving to a larger office to accommodate two people. I'll see you tomorrow then, Miss Weasley. Seven-thirty sharp." He gave a mocking bow before sweeping out the door, leaving Hermione and Ginny speechless behind.
"Well," Hermione laughed nervously, her tone forcedly light. "I guess that settles everything."
"You know what I hate most about Malfoy's?" Ginny inquired coldly. Hermione wondered briefly if she should run. Ginny had no doubt inherited her mother's temper, but though less volatile than her mother, Ginny, when angered, was far more deadly. "They always buy their way through everything and get whatever they want while honest, hard-working people get down on their hands and knees to reach their goals. Do you know how hard I worked, the hours of studying and practice I put in training to become an auror? And you just let Malfoy walk in here and buy his way into working on my case?" Hermione swallowed hard and tried to meet Ginny's eyes. "I don't care if Malfoy has a million galleons, but that's not fair to me when I put in the effort to become a top auror and earned the right to work on the Zabini Case."
Hermione sighed. "You're right. It wouldn't be fair for Malfoy to just walk in here and buy his way into becoming an auror. But he's not an auror. You're still in charge of the Zabini Case. Malfoy is just going to be observing. I accepted the money because a) we really need it and b) I trust you. If it had been anyone else working on the case, I'd probably refuse. But I know you'll keep an eye on Malfoy. If after a week, you feel Malfoy is interfering in your work, I'll have him removed and return every last galleon. But meanwhile, I want you to watch Malfoy and find out what he wants from the Zabini Case."
Ginny stifled a grumble. Trust Hermione to have a good reason for everything. "You think Malfoy's looking for something then? He has more than a 'personal interest' in Zabini?"
"I'm not sure; it's just a suspicion. I can't imagine why he'd give up ten thousand galleons unless something important is going on."
Ginny sighed, defeated. "I better get a big bonus in my next paycheck."
Hermione grinned mischievously. "Hey, I don't see why you're complaining. I can think of a number of girls who'd love to work with someone as good-looking as Malfoy."
Ginny stared in shock. "Hermione! I can't believe you just said that."
"Don't tell me you didn't think Malfoy looked incredibly hot," Hermione laughed.
"I didn't," Ginny snapped, straight-faced and unblushing.
"You're lying," Hermione replied calmly.
"Am not."
"You're left freckle is twitching," Hermione smirked. "I can always tell when you're lying, Gin. You definitely thought Malfoy was hot."
"You're disgusting," Ginny said irritably. "I can't believe you admire Malfoy."
"Not admire," Hermione corrected. "But there's no use denying his good looks."
"You're suppose to like Ron," Ginny accused.
"I love Ron," Hermione replied. "I'm simply pointing out that you are very lucky to be working with someone like Malfoy." Hermione grinned suddenly. "Remember to keep your hands off him. I'll have to be watching you closely now."
Ginny cringed at Hermione's insinuation. "I should have you hexed right now."
"Just admit it. You think Malfoy's hot."
"I'd sooner say that about my brothers," Ginny snapped.
"Do you know," Hermione said thoughtfully. "I think you and Draco would make a very cute couple."
Ginny gave a little shriek of outrage and pulled out her wand. Hermione just managed to avoid the curse Ginny had aimed at her.
"Now look at my beautiful chair," Hermione sighed. Scorch marks decorated the back of the chair where Hermione had been sitting moments ago.
"You deserved it," Ginny muttered.
"Reparo" Hermione said, waving her own wand, almost idly, and seating herself back in the chair. "I'm serious, Ginny. I think you and Draco ought to go out."
"I would hate to go home and tell Ron that I accidentally permanently injured his girlfriend," Ginny replied venomously.
Hermione laughed. "Oh Ginny, it's so much fun to make you mad."
