"Right. Here you are. I was expecting you sooner, but such is life. I see you have your folders, which is good. I won't have to get into all of that-"

"-Addison," Draco snapped, "quit your inane chatter and get to the point. Ms. Granger and I have business to attend to."

Draco swept passed Addison and Granger, heading down the hall toward the Auror sector. Addison stood for a moment, registering the situation, until Granger walked passed him following Draco. Noticing he was all alone Addison scurried after the two.

"Granger? As in Hermione Granger? Hogwarts '98 top student? Youngest Unspeakable to date? Best Friend of the Harry J. Potter?" Addison virtually tripped over his words as his mouth yammered on.

"Yes, Addison, the very same. Now could you keep your comments to yourself?" Draco glared at the lanky youth who had stars in his eyes.

Addison rubbed Draco the wrong way and always had. He talked too fast. The reason for this most likely was the fact that Addison gave life to every thought conceived in his mind. There was no filter between his brain and his lips. Unless forcefully told to shut his mouth, Addison would continue talking; battling the silence alone. Had he tried to become an Auror, he would have been turned down after the first meeting. However, he came in as a P.R.C. As such, being overly talkative and stating every tiny detail was, in reality, a plus. More then that he was the chief's nephew, which was the main reason that Draco held his tongue around Addison. All his good breeding left him when Addison came near him, only thing that kept him from destroying the man was self preservation.

Draco relished in the brief moment of silence as the three of them turned in the hall and headed toward the double doors leading to the Auror offices. Even if Addison wasn't there Granger would be interrupting his peace by voicing her opinions in an attempt to prove her intelligence. Her muteness was probably a symptom of intense concern for the two louts. Sadly her worry wasn't enough to keep her quiet.

"Where exactly are we going Draco?"

Addison stopped, once again rooted in place, as he watched Draco turn. Unfortunately, this momentary pause quickly ended as Addison came back to life before Draco could begin to summon a response.

"You called him Draco? No one calls him Draco! We aren't allowed! It's one of the rules of working with him. Everyone is Mr. or Ms.; no other way about it. First names imply intimacy-" Addison's eyes widened as he heard what he had said and turned to face Draco with realization dawning within him.

With out giving him a chance to voice his discovery, Draco made his way past the double doors, leaving the other two outside. Before he was able to take a step towards his office, Addison burst through behind him.

"She's your girlfriend?" Addison questioned with a louder voice then usual.

A silence came over the room. The office was divided into two spaces: the center and the edges. Lining the room were glass-walled offices; those were for full-fledged Aurors. In the center were desks for the other employees, all of those who dealt with any sort of data. Silence now engulfed all of them as all eyes where on Draco. It was at that moment that Granger entered the room. He decided that the man was not worth the effort. Without looking back, Draco stormed off into his office, trailed by a frightened Addison and a confused Granger.

"Well at least you don't have to pretend you're in love."

Draco turned as he heard Addison's voice enter his office.

"What?" snapped Draco.

His attention went from Addison to Granger, who had just entered and was about to sit on his office sofa. Instinctively, he raised his wand at her and flipped his wrist muttering under his breath. All the dirt that was caked on her pants disappeared instantly.

"Thanks." Granger replied as she sat down.

"It was more for the couch, Ms. Granger," Malfoy then turned back to Addison, "What was all of this about love and pretending?"

Addison moved to sit on the edge of Draco's desk but thought the better of it when Draco cleared his throat menacingly.

"Well it's obvious married people, for the most part anyway, tend to be in love. When I first got the assignment I was worried since I had never seen you in love. At one time, the other Aurors decided to make you an assignment and shadowed you for a few weeks to see if you were even interested in women. There was a bet on, so we had to know either way. I'm pleased to say I made out well on that bet-"

"The point, Addison?" Draco grit his teeth. He was holding on to his civility by a string.

"Right, the point. Oh, love. Well I was worried you wouldn't be able to convince anyone that you are in love, since you've never experienced the real thing, so how would you know how to emulate it? But that's solved, since they've paired you up with your love. I suppose that's why this case is an Order/Ministry affair. They couldn't just pair you up with anyone."

"Addison, I'm going to ask this only once. Why would I need to convince anyone I'm in love?"

"Haven't you read through your folders? You're now going to be Lord James Eaton, the Marquees of Salisbury. Your girlfriend here, is Lady Alice de Lacy, your loving wife."

"What?"

Apparently Granger had awoken from her waking sleep and noticed the conversation which was unfolding before her.