Hello! I just wanted to come on here and say thank you to everyone who has been showing me love on this story + messaging me, it means so much! This story is really starting to come together beautifully and I have so much planned! This chapter is the shortest so far, but it is a big part for what is to come. I'll be updating soon :)
Hogwarts 6th year - November
"Malfoy, you can't be the only one working on the potions assignment," Hermione whined "we're supposed to be partners!"
Draco simply continued adding ingredients to his mini cauldron and kept his back to her.
Truth be told, he was finding it increasingly more difficult to speak with her due to his growing feelings. He'd already found her interesting before they'd had to pair up for this class, now he was forced to learn so many more details about her and it was just making things worse.
He felt something hit his back, and instinctively turned and looked at Granger. She was smirking. What the fuck? He looked down to the ground where he saw a lip balm on the floor—her lip balm. He grabbed it.
"Thanks for donating to my cause, winter is fast-approaching, and my lips get sooooo dry," he smirked his response. Two could play at that game.
"Can you just stop being a git! Besides, you wouldn't want to get any of my mud blood germs on you now, would you?" she spat.
He stilled at her use of the word.
It was funny how words were just… words. Yet, their meaning, depending on how they are used, could have everlasting effects.
Draco had uttered that word countless times, to her especially, and yet never fully understood the effect it could have on her. He'd never truly meant the hatred behind that word either. It had just been… a word, to him.
A wave of shame hit him then, as he realized how ignorant and bigoted she must have thought him—even now. It wasn't like he'd really done anything to counteract his misdeeds when it came to Hermione Granger… but the thought of her believing she was simply a mud blood to him made his chest feel heavy.
"I don't—" he began but didn't know how to address her. On one hand, he wanted to apologize, as it was simply the right thing to do, but on the other hand, Draco didn't want anyone around them to overhear him apologizing to her—it would surely raise suspicion about him being a muggle sympathizer, especially if word got to his father.
"I don't use that word anymore… and I shall refrain from using it again," he finally let out, "finders keepers," he added, trying to keep things light.
Hermione seemed taken aback this time, clearly not expecting him to take such accountability—in public. Granted, he'd spoken in a very low voice but still. The sentiment did not go unappreciated.
She simply rolled her eyes at him as a front, not knowing what to really say.
Maybe there was more to Draco Malfoy.
Maybe.
Present Day
"Dear ,
I am writing to you regarding our last meeting. As we spoke of treaty ratifications and a required physical signature, I would like to schedule a time that is most convenient for you so that I may visit the Australian ministry to provide my written agreement.
If there is someone else that I should speak to about this, please redirect me to the proper liaison and I will be more than happy to contact them.
Hopefully I may visit soon, so that everything may be finalized as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Looking forward to your response.
Best,
Draco L. Malfoy,
Agent of the Department of International Magical Cooperation"
Draco enclosed his written letter in an envelope, sealed it with the Malfoy crest and handed it off to his eagle owl Lysander. The poor bird's trip across the globe would most likely take some time, but he'd be patient. As soon as he got the OK, he planned to be in Sydney faster than Ron Weasley ate food.
The more he'd spoken to Theo about everything, the more convinced he became that Beatrice Wilkins was Hermione Granger. They'd spent hours going over his memories, as he'd allowed his oldest friend to view them through a pensieve.
He was so sure the girl was Hermione… and yet the only reason Draco was even making a show of going through Turner to visit Australia was so that he didn't get his hopes up too high. Well, higher than they already were. A seed of doubt still existed in his mind, which he chalked up to a defense mechanism in case he was wrong.
Draco had a gut feeling that it was her, but he was trying to keep his wits about him and still think with his head… at least a little. Hence, his letter to Turner being a precaution. Even if the man said no, which Draco doubted, he would still go. Nothing was getting in his way of potentially reuniting with the love of his life. Nothing.
Over one week later…
"… And one cappuccino with extra foam and 2 sugars for you ," said Oliver Turner as he handed Hermione the last coffee of the bunch.
"You're the best, thank you," the girl smiled at her boss, "I still don't know how you've memorized all our coffee orders."
"Years and years of practice," he smirked, "and I may or may not have taken them all down and kept them on my note pad."
Everyone in the conference room laughed at this. It had become a sort of tradition for their department meetings to take place every Monday morning. Once Oliver Turner had been appointed as the Head, he'd taken it upon himself to bring everyone coffee from this wonderful muggle shop near his home. He'd said the best way to start a week was by making the workplace as enjoyable as possible upon their Monday morning return to reality.
He'd been right—as per usual.
Their department also had much to celebrate, as last week's inter-ministry meeting had gone stupendously, and the Treaty ratification was now underway. Hermione was happy with how everything had played out, apart from the ache in her chest that started ever since she'd laid her eyes on Draco.
For many years, she imagined what it would be like to hear his voice again and how it would feel like speaking to him. Last week Hermione had gotten the chance to do both, and she'd nearly blown her entire cover. Pretending to be someone she wasn't in front of him was one of the hardest things she'd ever done, and the aftermath had been almost as difficult.
After the meeting, she'd taken the rest of the day off as well as the rest of the week, citing her random disappearance during the meeting as her feeling ill. No one had questioned her; she never took time off. Despite wanting so much to speak with Draco, Hermione knew there was a chance that it was not safe, and she couldn't bring herself to do something so selfish. He seemed well enough anyway, perhaps her 'death' had not affected him that much.
"I'd like to start this Monday chat with a small speech," Turner began, garnering everyone's attention.
"The floor is yours, Sir," Jack Collins said sarcastically, and Turner rolled his eyes.
"Right," the man said breathily, "as you all know, last week's inter-ministerial meeting went brilliantly, and I want to thank each and every one of you for your participation and aid in making sure it ran smoothly."
"I feel very fortunate to have stumbled upon such a hard-working and dedicated team, and I want you to know that because of your efforts, we are one step closer to bettering our relationships with not only MACUSA, but several other ministries," he smiled, "the Australian ministry may be one of the youngest, but in such a short amount of time we have been able to build ourselves up to become one of the best and most innovative."
Everyone clapped then, including Hermione.
"Over the weekend, our treaty was approved," he paused for more clapping, "and delegates from each ministry involved in last week's meeting are on their way here as we speak to sign the physical copy."
Hermione stiffened then, waiting for the other shoe to drop. She knew what was coming next.
"The representatives joining us to sign are Jennifer Goldstein from MACUSA, Marco Capone from Ministero della Magia Italiano, Hiroshi Suzuki from the Japanese ministry and Draco Malfoy from the British ministry respectively."
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Draco Malfoy was coming to the Australian ministry. Draco was coming to Australia. He was coming here. On his way now… fuck! He would figure her out right away, if he hadn't already. Maybe that's why he was coming…
He knew.
Or he would soon enough.
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