TWO: Draco Malfoy

My day dragged on as usual. I am a business executive at Muggles Relations Ministry. I cannot believe I actually got convinced by Blaise to be here. This place is total shit. Everything around is unbelievably muggle-ish. The whole building actually has electric wires. It's as if I am actually living in the muggle world. Whatever. I get good pay.

Although after all those years of looking down at muggles at Hogwarts, I sort of feel like my years spent as a superior wasted. I mean, I came all this way to work for muggles? That does not even make any freaking sense. I sit in this huge office. It's not bewitched or anything. It's just… huge. They actually have to make it huge, on its own, because I am, after all, the executive. Only the business executive though. I am in charge of all the financial spending and incomings of this ministry. Which, you would imagine, wouldn't be a lot, but in reality, we're loaded. The things that muggles and wizards do together! To tell you the truth, we're more like an organization that erases muggle memories. But, every "erase" needs to be paid. And hell, they are expensive.

Some people do know about the wizard world. Although they are gifted with a curse that seals them from telling anyone about it. These people bring wizard technology into the muggle world. Yes, I know that's strange, but our air-conditioner that runs without any motor is quite popular. No scientist could figure out how we did it though. It's actually quite simple. All we do is take an old beat-up air conditioner, bestow upon it a few spells, cut the electric wire, and give it another wave or two. The outcome is a brand-new motor-less air-conditioner that sells for 1000 pounds. The transactions and math between these steps require a smart person like me, Draco Malfoy, to figure it out.

I am sitting in my office, reading the Daily Prophet. Uger Lireson is in Azkaban again. Jeez, that guy has been in and out for the past ten years. He used to go to Hogwarts, you know. He was a Slytherin, always causing troubles. He wasn't a sophisticated one like me though. My job as Head Boy set me apart from the rest. I guess someone changed my fate. Someone altered my destiny so that I would not go evil, but instead bring good to the world. In fifty years, no one will remember my name. But in fifty years, my name probably won't send a shiver up someone's spines either, if someone else mentioned me. I take great comfort in knowing that.

I feel a little bit thirsty. My secretary never does anything. All she ever does is sit around and experiment with Fred and George's little magic shop. When someone pops by, through the fireplace, she barely lifts her eyes before she goes back to that thing that can jump and shoot bubbles at the same time. So I guess I need to get my own coffee before I die of thirst.

Which reminds me, one of my clients is coming to visit today. Damn, I can't remember what he's going to be here for. I look down at my empty cup, trying to remember what exactly I am supposed to do for him. I make my way around the counter, reaching for the coffee-maker. I stretch my arms, shit, something warm spilled on my sleeve. Thoughts of my client disappear, and I looked up. Fuck it, I think I bumped into someone and her coffee spilled on both her and me. I can see it's a she because she's wearing a pink tank top. Grabbing a napkin (and completely forgetting that I am a wizard and can zap this away), I mouthed "I am so sorry." I wasn't thinking. I am so distracted right now. The spill was between her bosoms, and being the man that I am, I can't take my eyes off of those two tennis balls. Then she said "Oh my god."

Oh my god. Did I ruin her tank top? I better not. I look up to see her face to say I'm really really sorry. Which I really was. Which was rare.

"Oh my god." My mouth slipped. Is that who I think it is? After all these years?

"Draco Malfoy?" She said unbelievingly. She had her hand on her hip, her other holding the half-empty coffee cup.

Hermione Granger? Is that her?

Her two hazel eyes stared intently upon my silver. She had that look of strong disbelief on her face. Man, has she gotten beau-tee-ful. The last time I saw her she was still an awkward teenager. Now she is a full-grown woman. In her bloom.

"Her, Hermione Granger?" I gasp. I couldn't help myself.

She nods slowly. Then, without any preparation, her hand lands violently across my face. That woman just slapped me!

"Fuck you, Draco!" She spits, and then stormed away. I stood there, still in awe, with everyone's gaze upon me. Ten seconds passed, I did not move. Someone coughed. Noticing I am looking like a complete fool, I turn around, finding twenty pairs of eyes shooting at me like bullets. "What the fuck are you looking at?" I said angrily. Slowly, people scattered away.

Rubbing my hand on my hurt cheek, I chuckle lightly at myself. I must be crazy, I thought, for how can I manage to laugh after being slapped? Well I guess I sort of deserved it. After the last time I spoke to her, I wasn't so surprised that she would slap me.

Because last time I walked away before she could react.

I whistle on the way back to my office. My secretary barely glared at me before she went back to one of Fred or George's inventions. Pushing the door open, I find someone sitting in the chair my usual client would sit.

"Hello, Hermione." I said coolly before reaching my black leather executive chair.

Hermione glared at me. Her eyes could sentence an innocent man to death. She turned her face to the other way. What a difficult woman.

"So, if you're not going to say anything, you're wasting my time." I say in a matter-of-fact tone. I can't believe I just said that.

Hermione stared hotly at me. Her hands lay calmly on her lap. Her perfectly painted pink fingernails reflected a ray of sunlight from the half-open window. Her still had her bushy hair, except it's in curls now, very well-managed. She had on pink lip-gloss as well, and blush. She looks like a doll.

God, she's so fucking beautiful.

"Unfortunately, I am on your team for the irresolvable account book. We're supposed to rewrite it in two weeks. The whole thing is 600 pages long. But there's only one error in it. That error can make us lose one million galleons."

Her voice is so cool. So calmed down, from five minutes ago.

"You're on my team?" I questioned.

"Were you listening?" She asked, annoyed.

I stare. I very well was listening. Besides studying your face, I very well was listening. "No, please explain it again." Lord, I just want to hear that's sweet angelic voice one more time.

She watched me for a long time, which made me feel uncomfortable. "Mr. Malfoy, why don't you get a brain surgery and stretch your attention span to more than ten seconds?"

Ouch.

"Look, I just said, in plain simple English, that I am going to be on your team for the account rewriting, unfortunately." She never leaves that "unfortunately" out, does she? Irks me every time I hear that word. "Comprede?"

Man, this is going to be one hard assignment.

a.n. hehehe. sorry if this chapter's a lil short. / anyhooo. those of you silent readers, hint hint, please drop a review tooo :)