A/N: Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews. I would have put this up sooner, but I've been super super busy! So, forgive me. Anyways, on to the story!

Chapter 3 – The Reunion

"Wish me luck, I'm going to need it," Hermione said as Harry dropped her off on the eleventh floor of the Ministry of Magic.

He smiled. "Good luck. Though, I don't think anyone would mind if you punched him in the face."

Grinning, Hermione made her way to the receptionist's desk. "I'm here to see Robert Lonski."

"Are you Ms. Granger?"

"Yes, I am."

The secretary pointed her wand at Robert Lonski's name on a wooden plaque behind her. "Mr. Lonski, Ms. Granger is here to see you." Immediately, a large oak door swung open across the hall, causing a slight rush of air at Hermione's feet. "You may go in."

Hermione slowly entered the room, studying her surroundings. A small, balding man stood as she entered. "Ms. Granger, it's nice to meet you." She shook his hand firmly. "Please, have a seat."

"Thank you."

"I must say, Hermione, that the information I have on you is very brief. You're here because Arthur insisted you get the job." He opened up a small file. "It says here you were only at Hogwarts for six years."

"Yes sir, the war happened during my seventh year."

"The school was still open, no?"

She started fidgeting. "Yes, but you see… we… I… fought in it."

"Oh… oh. You're Hermione Granger. Didn't the Prophet say you and Harry Potter were an item—"

"Well sir—"

"I bet he's very happy you're working for the ministry—"

"Mr. Lonski! Excuse me for interrupting, but Harry is engaged to the Minister's daughter, Ginny. And Harry and I have never been romantically involved."

"Oh, well, The Daily Prophet said—"

"The Daily Prophet has a way of spinning the truth. Especially when Rita Skeeter is involved."

He nodded as though his wedding plans for Harry and Hermione had been crushed. "Well, Hermione, let me give you a tour of the place and then we'll have our meeting with the Dark Arts Council about your new project."

Joy. "Okay, let's go." Mr. Lonski led Hermione through the Ministry's many laboratories and introduced her to her coworkers. She was shocked to find that she was the only female on the Potions staff. Last, she was shown her desk and workspace. She knew she would spend many a nights working there.

"It's time for our conference, Hermione."

She replied with a short nod and followed him and three other chemists to a conference room on the fifth floor. As she entered, she wanted nothing more than to stare at the ground until she reached her seat, but she knew avoiding eye contact would not be professional on the first day. It had been so long and she hated the way he had made her feel – hatred, lust. Her love for Ron was the only thing that had stopped her from letting him…

"Granger?"

She looked up, trying to keep her cool. "Malfoy." She couldn't help but smile at the look of utter shock on his visage. She sat down across the table from him.

"Let's get started," Mr. Lonski said as he closed the door. Nine people awaited his beginning – four from the Department of Potions and five from the Dark Arts Council.

"You have been chosen by myself and Mr. Malfoy to work on one of the most important projects the Ministry has ever seen. Draco, would you like to introduce the project?"

The blonde stood, his tall stature over towering the Ministry employees at the table. "Good morning. Over the next few months, we will be working together to create a potion or potions that will protect aurors from hexes, dark magic, and, if we're lucky, the Unforgivable Curses. We will begin with research. The Library of the Dark Arts Council will be our research headquarters. The library only opens to the Minister and to members of the council, so all Potions members will only be authorized to enter if they are accompanied by Council members." He looked directly at Hermione. "Any questions?"

Lonski stood before anyone could ask anything. "Now let me that this will be ground-breaking in the fight against the dark arts. So this is an extremely secretive matter. No one is to know what we are doing and after the potions are made, no one is to know their effects. Telling anyone would be considered treason against the Ministry of Magic and the guilty will spend a lifetime in Azkaban." With a flick of his wand, a piece of parchment fell in front of the nine team members followed by nine black quills. "Singing this contract magically binds you to keep all parts of this project discreet so that there is no temptation to spill the beans." The scratch of quill on parchment filled the air before all nine contracts popped and vanished into thin air before them."

"If you will all follow me, we will go to the DAC library," said Lonski as he headed toward the door. The Ministry employees rose and began to exit the conference room. Draco grabbed Hermione's arm.

"Finally come back from your disappearing act?"

A little too close for comfort. Or maybe too comfortable. Therein lies the problem, thought Hermione. "Yes, Draco."

"Go back to the muggles? They spit you back out?" He was bitter. She was the only one who had ever turned him down.

"Back off, Malfoy."

His face inched closer to hers. "Filthy, little m—"

She whipped around, her wand immediately pointing at his crotch. "Go ahead. Say it."

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A/N: I've always heard of authors saying that their characters have a mind of their own and wish to go against the authors' plot plans. Writing this chapter was my first experience with that. Little Draco is a stubbon bastard. I let him have his way… with me. Hehe! Please review, loves.