This chapter's slightly shorter than the last one, but it needed to happen.
I hope y'all love it! As always, please review and mind the tags!
Hermione woke to the sun beaming into her little flat and Ron's arm shaking her awake. His face was still smashed into the pillow, the remains of deep sleep lingering.
"You snore like my great Aunt Tessie," he mumbled.
"You woke me up to spew lies?" She groaned.
Ron shifted onto his hand, elbow resting where his head was, "Lies? Who're you calling a -."
He was interrupted by Hermione grabbing the nearest pillow and bringing it down on him with as much force her half-awake body could muster.
Ron grabbed his pillow, invoking a pillow fight before their first tea, the only acceptable way to respond. Hermione shrieked, sleep leaving her at once as she got on her knees to allow more pillow swing momentum. They were 30 seconds in when Ron gave up his pillow and just dove to tackle her, seizing her waist and rolling over her, their faces now inches from each other. "Watcha gonna do now big brain?"
She gasped at the movement, laughing at the boy's fake raised eyebrow, "I thought you knew not to underestimate me?" His face fell just as she elbowed his stomach to distract from the fact that she now had enough space to slither out. Ron was coming to terms with this as another pillow descended on his back.
"Ahhhh", he cried, "I surrender, you win, you winnnn," with mock fear and his hands raised.
Hermione grinned and grabbed him, sitting on his lap with her legs wrapped around, "You buffoon."
"You're the one in love with this buffoon", he countered.
She smiled, bringing her lips to his, "Can't argue that."
Hermione wasn't sure if she was still supposed to meet the team, their proposal was already submitted and all they had left to do now was wait. Still, her fear of missing out won over and she departed for the ministry. She had yet to tell Ron the case had been solved but it was because it just hadn't come up, she told herself.
Hermione was surprised to find that she was not the only one with this fear as Daphne was flipping through some parchment at the table.
"Oh hey, I wasn't sure if we were meeting but I thought to come just in case." Hermione said.
"Thanks for the life story Granger, don't believe I remember asking."
Hermione huffed, "God would it kill you to be nice."
"Yes, I believe it just might."
Blaise and Malfoy had arrived soon after, but Seamus was nowhere to be seen half-past. "I wonder if it was your hair that scared him away", Daphne said.
The boys chuckled before Blaise followed up with a, "I don't know, I think it makes Hermione look striking." She glanced at him at her name, her first name, and he gave her a wink.
Malfoy shifted uncomfortably in his seat and added, "Yeah if you mean stricken by lightning."
Everyone laughed and Hermione tried to act unimpressed, but a smile broke through. "Watch it before someone takes away your hair grease."
Blaise's mouth opened in a perfect circle and even Daphne smirked at her remark. Hermione returned her gaze to her work and was mentally replaying the conversation when Seamus burst in panting.
"Occlumency training," he said between gasps, "Mandatory occlumency training," before passing them out ministry letters. "I've been trying to convince them about how much of a breach of privacy it could be, but they're going through with it."
Hermione regarded the letter in front of her and read.
To all employees of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement,
Effective immediately, all personnel in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement are to be trained in Occlumency for the safety of yourself, your peers, and those involved in your cases. Recently, there has been a rise in criminals skilled in Legilimency and with that, comes the ability to view confidential information that only you may be privy to. For privacy concerns, the ministry has decided that the training may be conducted by a trained Legilimens of the employee's choice or one will be assigned.
This order is non-negotiable and should any concerns arise, please contact your immediate superior.
Hoping that you are well,
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Minister of Magic
"What happens if we refuse?" Hermione asked.
Seamus answered, "They'll switch you to a different department."
"This cannot be legal."
"It is, I've checked."
Hermione was racking her brain for any trained Legilimens that she knew for she could not allow a random ministry employee to peruse her thoughts. Except she was coming up short, the only person she had come across was Snape, who was dead of course. Harry was being trained in Occlumency she recalled but he was horrendous, and it wasn't nearly the same thing.
Kendra Parsons was standing at Hermione's door when she arrived, and it nearly startled Hermione back a foot. "Oh! Sorry, I wasn't expecting anyone."
"Quite alright Ms. Granger." Hermione took in Kendra's face, her voice was cheerier than usual, without the threatening undertones she was used to.
"Um, please come in?" She tried, unlocking her office and pointing an arm inside.
Kendra made herself comfortable at once, and Hermione gulped. Is this where she gets fired? Hermione knew she would be jolly if she'd never have to associate with Kendra again so perhaps that's where the mood was coming from.
"What can I do for you Mrs. Parsons?"
"I thought I would let you know that your proposal was picked up by the Minister directly and that Aurors were sent out to interrogate any and all guards working at the bank over the past couple months. It wasn't long before they found a hole in their memories and upon further investigation, realised the individuals who entered the bank and exited on completely different days, completely different weeks if you believe it. There is a hunt for the suspects but now that we have faces, the Minister is confident that they will be apprehended and is very happy with my – our work."
Hermione's eyes were wide as she took this in. They had been right? She was confident in the proposal of course but refused to be delusional enough to put all of her faith in it.
"That's incredible Mrs. Parsons, I'm so glad we were successful."
"I always knew you could do it Ms. Granger, feel free to take the rest of the day off."
Hermione allowed herself her eye roll once Kendra had left her office. Always knew she could do it her ass. Slowly, a grin spread across her face as she absorbed what had just occurred. She was running out her office and down the hall before she could even think twice, banging on the rustic door she had just entered not a week ago.
"Granger", Malfoy said with shock as he opened the door, moving aside to let her in.
"We did it."
"What?"
"The case, the robbery! Kendra was just in my office to inform us that they found the imperio'd guards and they have the faces of the robbers."
Malfoy was still, staring at her apprehensively.
"Merlin's beard be excited for once. We solved the case!"
"Oh, my bad, someone catch me, I might just pass out from delight."
"Ugh do you have to -."
Someone cleared their throat from the couch in Malfoy's office and she realized that Blaise was also in the room.
"Don't let me interrupt the make out sesh, but I was wondering if I am also included in the 'we' that you refer to about solving the case."
"Blaise! Of course! I couldn't have done it without you, both of you, the whole team."
"I think we deserve more than just words, what do you say Malfoy? What shall we ask for… a round of drinks? A meal? Brand new robes? Gold?"
Hermione looked at Blaise with her eyebrow raised, "You are sadly mistaken if you think I can afford anything on that list except for the drinks. And that's one round, barely."
"We'll take it!" Blaise exclaimed, "I'll let the rest of the team know. What do you say, 6 o'clock tonight at the leaky cauldron?"
Hermione arrived early at home once again, having taken up Kendra's offer for the day off. She thought back to herself before the war, how that Hermione would have scoffed at being rewarded by a day of no work. How she would have wanted nothing more than to be buried in another case immediately. Hermione's throat closed and she willed herself to pull it together, reminding herself that she was not weak for needing breaks.
Hermione entered her flat with a smile plastered on her face, today would be a happy day.
Ron was back in bed, sleeping. Perhaps if he hadn't decided to wake her at a ridiculous hour in the morning, then she would have had more sleep as well. She allowed him the rest and headed to the kitchen, dreaming about a nice cup of tea and throwing herself into a novel.
She was well into reading, tea cup empty when she noticed a shifting in the hallway and assumed Ron was up, he could come find her. This he did, except with a baseball bat raised in offense.
"Blimey Hermione!" He startled. "When did you come back; I swore we were getting robbed. I almost killed you."
Hermione snickered, "Did you forget that you're a wizard?"
Ron looked at his bat sheepishly, "Hey, it was the closest thing to me, and I was half asleep. What're you doing home anyway?"
"Oh Ron! We solved the case!"
He screeched, dropping his bat immediately and diving at her, "I knew you could do it! THAT'S MY GIRLFRIEND!"
Hermione laughed as she wrapped her hands around him, "Who are you even talking to."
"The neighbors! The building! The WORLD!"
"You crazy, crazy man."
"Let me take you out to dinner tonight, as a celebration."
Hermione pulled away, looking at his expectant face and her heart broke as she fed him the truth, "I can't, I promised I'd take the team out."
Ron's face fell as he left her embrace and stood back up, "Of course, why would you want to go out with crazy crazy Ron," he gruffed.
"Oh my goodness, you know I would if I could help it. How's later tonight? We haven't done a movie night in a while." She poked him repeatedly, knowing that he would come around eventually. "Watch a movie with me…pleaseee."
Ron grumbled, "Only if it's a good one."
Hermione had been trying to lay her hair flat for the past hour. She had to be at the Leaky Cauldron in 30 minutes and it looked as crazy as before. Hermione finally resulted to two Dutch braids, something Ginny had taught her, but she always thought she looked like a milkmaid when she did them. Better than the poof at least.
"I'M OFF." She yelled from the front door and Ron popped his head out.
"My ears, bloody hell, I'm right here." He eyed the top of her head suspiciously, "Wow Hermione, your hair looks great. Who did you say was coming again?"
"Seamus, Blaise, Daphne … and Kendra." She added, quickly. Somehow two women sounded better than one.
Ron nodded warily, "Okay, have fun. Message me throughout the night."
"I can't be on my phone the whole time Ron."
"I'm not saying the whole time, just once in a while so I know you haven't gotten Avada'd somewhere."
She rolled her eyes and looked through her purse, making sure she had everything. "I'm leaving, love you."
She apparated once far enough away from earshot of her neighbors, arriving right at the door of the cauldron. The intense scent of stale fire-whiskey and grease hit her before she had even opened the door entirely.
"Oi! Hermione!" Her eyes traveled to the source of the noise and found Blaise standing on a chair and flailing his arms about. The entire team had already arrived.
She quickly hurried over and pulled at his arm, getting him off his chair, "There's barely anyone here, I would've spotted you. Dramatic much."
"You know I had to give my favourite Gryffindor a warm welcome."
"Warm is fine, that was a third-degree burn welcome."
"Now who's being dramatic."
Hermione snickered and sat down at the only empty seat next to Malfoy. She would not be entertaining the annoying blonde tonight. Her eyes travelled to the table and realized that there was at least one empty glass in front of everyone.
"Am I late? I thought we said 6?"
"Yes, but we came down straight from work at got here earlier, remember work Hemione? The thing that people sometimes do…I guess pretty girls who solve cases get it easy though."
Malfoy got up abruptly, "Drinks? Blaise help me carry them," and left before Hermione had a chance to even ask for a butterbeer. Blaise followed suit with a twinkle in his eye and she was left alone with Daphne and Seamus.
"So, uhm, have you guys found someone to do your occlumency training with?" She tried, conversing away the awkwardness.
"I'm already trained in both Occlumency and Legilimency," Daphne said with a hint of superiority.
"Fabulous, congrats." Hermione answered bluntly. It's not like she'd ever let Daphne into her brain.
"I'm sure you would have no trouble finding someone to peruse the Golden Girl's thoughts." Daphne finished.
Seamus looked awkwardly and butted in with a, "Myself, I would rather a random person. They don't know me anyway so what does it matter how much they find out?"
Hermione let her thoughts mull over Seamus' idea, she realized that she didn't have the same freedom. She was sure that while the random person would be less invested in her brain, she couldn't afford certain memories slipping out.
Her brain thought back to her wrist snapping, Ron's face, the apologies. If that got out, surely the press would have a field day. There were also the memories of the horcruxes, private things Harry had shared…she owed it to her friends to find someone she trusted not to spill her secrets.
"I have certain…limitations…in that matter," she finally answered.
"Well, I guess if you asked nicely, I could do it." Daphne said, a smirk on her face. Hermione was about to decline, harshly, when she realized that she didn't have another option. What were the chances she'd find another that was trained in the matter?
She thought about that while the boys came back with their drinks and Blaise placed a heaping butterbeer and three fire-whiskey shots in front of her. She barely questioned it, her thoughts still on whether Daphne would be suitable.
Daphne didn't have any sort of interest or care about Hermione's well-being, she was sure of that, meaning that it was likely she wouldn't probe or even remember anything she saw. While she didn't know Daphne well, she figured that she wasn't the kind of person that sold people's secrets. Either way, she was her only shot.
"Alright! Round of shots," Blaise called while Seamus whooped.
Normally, she probably would have butted out but knowing that she had to somehow swallow her pride and ask this girl who had been nothing but rude to her to for a favour made the fire-whiskey seem so much more appealing.
Hermione was into her fourth butterbeer, her surroundings swimming when she finally had the courage to pop the question.
"Daphne," she started, sitting up straight, "Would you please enter my brain."
People were laughing around her, but her attention was on the darkhaired woman, "If you're asking if I would help train you, then no."
Hermione gasped, "But you said if I asked nicely."
"I don't remember telling you that you were allowed to call me Daphne."
"Agh, you and you Slytherins with your name fetishes. Please, Missus Greengrass, if it would not trouble you so, please, if you don't mind, give me the honour, of…uhm, you the honour…"
Hermione stalled, trying to think of what she was trying to say, already forgotten.
"Come on Daphne, take her out of her misery." Someone next to her said.
"Misery? Who are you calling-," She turned and realized her face was inches from Malfoy's.
She gulped.
"Oh uh, yes hello." She said, unable to look away from his grey eyes.
"I think that's enough butterbeer for Granger," the boy said not looking away from her eyes, mint flooding her scenes.
"I thought you wanted something from me", Daphne called.
Hermione whipped her head around too fast and her stomach turned, "I- yes, can you, uhm, please…"
"Oh god, I'll say yes now if you promise not to ask again."
Hermione whooped, her hands raising in celebration, but her right hand hit something, hard. She turned to see Malfoy holding his chin, "Merlin's beard Granger."
Her hands slapped her mouth, "Oh my god, Draco, I'm so sorry."
Everyone was quiet for a second before Blaise finally spoke, "I think you should get home Granger; do you have a way?"
"Uhm," she hadn't thought this far, how had she gotten here?
"Malfoy, take her home." Blaise said with finality and she was helped up and pushed towards the door. Her legs were exhausted and the strong man holding her felt so nice.
"Where do you live Granger?" He asked softly once they were outside.
"Uhm live? With Ron."
Ron. She couldn't show up with Malfoy, she knew that even in this state. Though she couldn't recall why. Hermione was suddenly pulling at Malfoy, urging him in the other direction.
"No like the address…what are you doing Granger?" He said, exasperated.
"We can't…Ron can't…doesn't know about you." She finally got out.
"Why?" His eyes were staring at her so intently, she thought she was in trouble. Hermione felt a lurch in her stomach and whipped around, vomiting on the pavement.
"Shit," was all she heard before her surroundings swam and she descended into darkness.
Hermione groaned as she slowly came out of sleep. Her head felt like it weighed a million pounds and a wave of nausea hit her. The soft, burgundy sheets and floor to ceiling windows indicated that she was in unknown territory. Hermione quickly looked under the blanket; a massive swell of panic hit her as she made eye contact with the Slytherin green pajamas she was wearing.
Fuck, where was her wand? She slowly got out of the bed, locating her wand on top of a folded set of her clothes and tiptoed outside the room. She was in a loft it seemed but one at least three times the size of hers. Hermione followed a light coming from the end of the hallway and found herself peering into a kitchen. Her nerves were all on high alert, where was she? What had happened to her?
A clatter from the corner of her eye startled her and she sent an Expelliarmus without looking. It hit a cabinet and the wood exploded.
"Fuck!" Said a voice.
Hermione's eyes trailed to the origin and noticed Malfoy staring at her with a bewildered expression. Hermione raised her wand higher, pointing it right at his stupid little face.
"What did you do to me? Why am I here?" She questioned.
"Do to you? The only thing I did was prevent you from getting run over when you passed out on the road last night." Malfoy said, adding a muttered, "I'll just leave you there next time, I guess, ungrateful little…."
Hermione clutched the counter near her for balance as the night came back to her in chunks. Her wand was still raised, still not trusting.
"Why am I here?" She demanded.
"Jeez, because I didn't know your address and you said not to ask the Weasel. Granger, put the wand down."
Her eyes narrowed, "I told you not to call him –."
"God, okay, okay, the Weasley."
Hermione slowly lowered her wand and walked over, her stomach turning at the eggs Malfoy was frying. "Gross, chicken secretions."
"Did you just call eggs, chicken secretions?"
"Am I wrong?"
Malfoy rolled his eyes, "There's bread in the cupboard you can toast if you want to eat like a 12-year-old."
Hermione was starving, probably from all the clearing out her stomach did yesterday but Ron kept swimming to the forefront of her mind.
"I should get home, where's my phone?"
He pointed at the massive island with his spatula, Hermione following it to her unlocked phone.
"You went through my phone?"
"Yes, because I am just that interested in the boring little life you lead."
"It's unlocked," she said flatly.
"The Weas - Ron kept texting. I was worried the man would blow up your phone, therefore damaging the expensive counter it rested on."
Hermione scoffed and looked at her boyfriend's message thread. He had texted a total of 14 times before Draco sent a: This is Daphne, Hermione drank too much so she's crashing at my place right now. She is fine.
Hermione scrolled up to the beginning of the night:
Did you get to the bar?
Tell everyone I say hi!
Hermione?
Hello?
Jeez, just say hi or something
When are you coming home?
Helloooooo
HELLO
Hermione it's 9 already and I haven't heard from you, please say something…I guess I'm watching the movie on my own?
Fine, don't bother coming home.
Hermione, where are you?
Hello?
It's literally midnight, what is this
Fuck Hermione
Hermione inhaled, a panic blooming in her chest. Shit, Ron was going to be so mad. Shit, shit, shit. She realized that Malfoy was still watching her.
"Uhm, thank you for saying I was at Daphne's."
"Why do you have to lie to him?" Draco questioned.
"It's just better this way, Ron would make a big deal about nothing."
"Nothing." Draco muttered, turning back to his eggs. "You know Granger, I thought you'd be smart enough to know that 14 texts before midnight even hits isn't considered normal concern."
Hermione's mouth dropped, how dare he. "You have no right to criticize my relationship."
"I'm just pointing out the facts."
"I had plans with Ron so obviously he would get worried that I just fell off the face of the earth. Mind your business Malfoy."
"So, I'm Malfoy again?" He sneered, "I thought we switched to Draco yesterday."
"When did I…" Hermione trailed off, trying to recall, "Even if it happened, it was obviously the alcohol. You'll always be the git: Malfoy."
Malfoy clenched his jaw and flipped the eggs with ease, "Do you have a way home."
"Obviously."
Hermione left without a second word back to the bedroom she had woken up in and quickly changed back into her clothes. Who had changed her in the first place? Surely not…she shuddered thinking about Draco trying to wrestle a loopy Hermione into his old Slytherin pajamas. She grabbed her purse, leaving his clothes folded on the made bed, and went back into the kitchen.
"Uhm, so I'm off."
Draco barely glanced up at her, nodding into his eggs.
She sighed, "Maybe you should have left me on that road if you regret it so much," and let herself out of his stupidly fancy flat. Who needs a kitchen that could fit at least 50 people?
She had apparated back to her street and was hesitating at the door, uneasy about what she would find as she entered. She quietly opened it, "Ron?"
"Hermione! Oh my god!" He ran through the flat and barrelled into her arms, "I was so worried."
She sighed.
"What happened? Tell me everything."
Hermione started first explaining the mandatory Occlumency training, with Ron inputting his disbelief that the ministry would do that. She was wrapping up her conversation with Seamus and Daphne at the bar when she finished, "And ugh, Ron, the idea that I would have to ask her to help me was just so annoying that I ended up drinking all the shots that Blaise had brought, plus 4 butterbeers."
Ron snickered, "Hermione, my beautiful light-weight girlfriend, how did you think that would end?"
"I know, I know. So, yeah, I woke up at Daphne's so confused and of course, she had to be an absolute ass all morning. I am sorry Ron, for missing our movie night and for not texting you back."
"It happens Mione, I was mad but I'm fine now. I just, sometimes, need a little time to get out of my head and I got that overnight. I'm glad you're safe."
Hermione's anxieties about him melted off her shoulders, and she was still smiling while she dressed for work.