A/N: So my other work (Strangers in the Corridor) actually has been paused for like a year or something. I plan to complete it but honestly I feel the need to re-read it before I add anything to it.
So in the meantime, here's a little one-shot. It's in three parts, so not so little. It's super random and not beta-ed. But I do hope you enjoy it. Part 2 will be ready by next week.
Time: Postwar and After school
Location: Ministry of Magic
Usual disclaimer of Harry Potter and the world and its characters not being mine.
I just wanted to write something fun and fluffy.Please enjoy! Comments, follows appreciated.
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This was it. All the hard work and sweat and tears and literal blood. Hermione knew that returning to Hogwarts had been the right thing for her. She had missed her friends terribly as she'd completed her final year, but that was about to change. She was finally going to work at the Ministry and as The Executive Assistant Under Secretary to the Deputy Vice Counselor for The Department of Actions and Repercussions, she would finally be making a real difference.
Hermione had considered working in for several other departments, including the Auror office and she had been given a sort of open invite considering her contribution in the war. However, the new department was more about helping the magical world renouncing their archaic beliefs; prejudiced and oppressive thoughts that were detrimental to Wizarding society moving forward.
Since it was a new department, there hadn't been much information on the kind of work. But so far she had garnered that they were looking at people who had been influenced by Voldemort's teachings indirectly. The department also dealt with those who had been victimised due to the prejudices and offered counseling services to the victim and perpetrator alike. Having been the recipient of many crude remarks on account of her muggle heritage, Hermione felt that it was a much needed move.
She took a deep breath as she exited the elevator. She had been constantly smiling and greeting everyone she passed, that she didn't realize someone was walking closely behind her until she reached door of The Deputy Vice Counselor for The Department of Actions and Repercussions office.
She had paused a moment to compose herself when a voice overhead remarked.
'Are you just going to stand around? ' Hermione wasn't sure if the Vice counselor could see her but she instinctively backed away and stepped hard on someone's foot, judging by the yelp.
She spun around and found herself face to face with none other than Draco Malfoy, his eyes shimmering with tears, 'Those heels are murder, Granger. You haven't answered me yet, going in? '
She nodded as he moved around her to get the door. His voice sounded different from what she remembered.
'Hermione and Draco. Good morning and I hope you had a pleasant trip.' The Vice Counselor greeted them warmly. He was a portly man with a ruddy complexion and reminded Hermione of Santa Claus.
'Yes Sir.' Hermione and Draco agreed in unison.
'Oh none of this formality will do. We're trying to build bridges not walls. And while we must maintain decorum we can do away with unnecessary practices. We'll be working in close quarters so I suggest you get accustomed to being on a first name basis here. Call me Sir only when there's serious trouble got it. Otherwise just call me Dawson.'
They nodded mutely. Hermione glanced sideways at Malfoy but he was looking straight ahead at Dawson who had started to speak again.
He explained, 'As you are aware, even though the war is over, Voldemort's ideologies are far from dead. In fact, they weren't his to begin with, he latched on to anything to give himself authority and he got the support of many ancient families by aligning himself with their ideology of blood supremacy. Even Grindelwald wanted to purify magical blood by eliminating those he deemed unworthy.
Death Eaters are possibly beyond our help unless they show considerable reform(he glanced pointedly at Malfoy, who merely nodded) however we need to change this perception of blood based social hierarchy.'
Hermione nodded fervently, while Draco looked most solemn as if he was taking an oath.
'Excellent. I was really excited for the both of you to join us. Hermione, your contributions to the war are legendary as is your transformation Draco. The kind of success that we can achieve with you two joining forces will be phenomenal. So I've got some files for you two to get started on, I'd like for you to research your cases and devise a plan that you think can be implemented. You need to understand that we don't want a superficial agreement, we need to actually change minds. So you can't announce your purpose and intent, we'll be planting you into different situations.'
Hermione and Draco looked at each other before they turned back to Dawson, who was beaming at them.
'Sir, what do you mean by planting us in situations?' Draco asked calmly but the light in his eyes suggested this isn't what he'd signed up for.
'I told you none of this 'sir' business. As for planting you, well once you come up with a feasible plan we'll place you in proximity to the target and then you execute the plan.'
'Dawson, surely any target will recognize Malfoy or me, we're sort of iconic with everything that's happened.' Hermione blushed turning a light shade of pink, she was glad that the articles had cast her in a good light. As for Malfoy, the Daily Prophet had had a total field day, from Lucius to Narcissisa to Draco everything they had done had been analysed, criticized or glorified.
'You won't be going as yourselves, of course. That would attract too much attention. You would be disguised.' Dawson smiled.
'Like undercover secret agents from the M6 or CIA.' Hermione sighed.
'What?' Malfoy and Dawson asked, their confusion evident.
'Ummm... Nothing. It's a muggle reference to government operatives who disguise themselves to infiltrate situations that they can't just walk into.' Hermione offered.
Judging by their expression they still had no idea what muggles did.
'I suppose,' Dawson agreed. 'I suggest you two move into the office next-door. I'll have the files sent over in about half an hour. You can grab some breakfast until then.'
As they stood up to leave Dawson said, 'And remember you're to address each other by your given names, not Malfoy and Granger. Since it's your first day I'm exempting you from a penalty.' He pointed out a large jar which contained a variety of coins.
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Hermione wasn't so sure about her decision anymore. Working in the same office as Malfoy wasn't on the job profile, there was a good chance he probably felt the same way.
Draco waited until they were securely inside the office before he locked the door and cast a bunch of silencing charms and wards.
Hermione instinctively had her wand at the ready her eyes trained on Malfoy. Malfoy noticed her stance and practically glared at her.
'I'm not totally insane Granger, despite what the Prophet says. I'm not about to attack you in the middle of Ministry. I wanted to discuss the conversation we had without any interruptions. Relax.'
The office was quite pleasant with large windows there were two workstations. Two indentical desks faced the door behind which was a comfortable looking armchair, there was a file cupboard on the adjacent wall. There was a small dining table for two with coffee and some other refreshments to her right and a couch, pouffes and coffee table to her left. They were currently in the empty space in the middle of the office.
'I'm sorry, I just reacted to the sudden movement. I don't think you're insane or anything like that. I don't take everything the Prophet says that seriously, I was one of those who vouched for you... ' Hermione trailed off as she stowed away her wand.
She walked over to the dining table there was a small instruction list pinned above that she couldn't quite read. She had completely ignored that Draco was talking to her. He suddenly found her staring at wall instead of listening to him.
He stood behind her but kept his feet on either side to avoid repeating this morning's encounter. As she bent forward to get a better look at the instructions, her bum brushed against Malfoy's crotch causing them both to jump.
'Why do you keep creeping up behind me?' Hermione shrieked in embarrassment her face pink. Malfoy's pale skin had also turned a more lively shade.
'I was trying to talk to you about the absurdity of our predicament.' Draco said. 'Did you know about any of this? Us being in the same office or using us as spies? '
Shaking her head, Hermione said, 'I just learnt of it right now. I had thought they wanted me to conduct talks or something.' She shrugged, 'This would be more real though.'
Draco pouted, 'I thought they just wanted me to fund the programme or be an ambassador or something. This will be real alright, a real pain.' He sighed.
Hermione scowled, 'Working in the same office as you isn't my idea of a picnic either. But we have to be grownup about this.'
'Sure let's be grownup and forget that you despise me, the foul little cockroach.' Draco bowed to Hermione with a flourish of his hand.
Hermione rolled her eyes and went back to the instructions on the wall. In a few minutes she had a nice cup of coffee and a warm crossiant along with butter and marmalade set on the dining table. She sat at the table at an angle to the desk Malfoy had settled behind, so she could see him out of the corner of her eye but he wasn't in her direct sight either.
They hadn't said anything to each other for five whole minutes. Draco watched her eat breakfast, silently. He realized that he didn't exactly mind going in disguise to change people's thoughts about how they viewed anyone differently. But Granger clearly couldn't tolerate him, even though he had changed considerably and not just out of fear. After his 6th year, he hadn't been too sure of where his loyalties lay.
And after he had become Lord of the Manor, he had done everything in his power to make amends for all their crimes. He knew that there was damage that even magic and money couldn't undo but he could help. He couldn't resurrect the dead parents of the many orphans, but he could ensure that many of them got the financial support they needed. He had setup numerous charities and had encouraged many to part with their fortunes through example. Hermione was well aware that after his acquittal Malfoy had tried but she couldn't just forget their time at school.
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After she had finished her breakfast and setup her workstation, parchment, quills et al, she walked over to Malfoy's desk.
She waited for him to look up at her, he had been staring at the floor in front of the desk.
'Bee in your proverbial bonnet, Granger?' Draco smirked at her.
'I suppose. I don't know what caused you to join this department and I'm not about to take any guesses. But at least for the time being, we need to be cordial with each other. I really want to help the wizarding world become a more tolerant place. We may have been on opposite sides all our lives but as long as were here, can we try to be friends?' Hermione asked stretching out her hand.
'There were numerous clauses that I had to agree to in order to get my freedom. While Potter and you saved me from Azkaban. There was a good chance I would be spending a large part of my adult life isolated in house arrest or something similar. They wanted to see that I've really changed.' Draco scoffed. Hermione's hand dropped to her side as she watched him.
'Of course, I did more than I was asked because I actually wanted to help. I knew that while I hadn't directly inflicted the damage, I'd contributed to it. I know Voldemort was wrong, I think I knew long before I acknowledged it. But that doesn't mean, I've changed Granger, I'm still me. In front of others we can keep up our pretenses but in here I'll treat you the way I see fit. Because if I'm perfectly honest, my feelings towards you have always been the same in fact time has intensified them. I don't see you as a friend, never have and I never will. So please don't ask me to be friends, I think colleagues is enough for now.'
Hermione's eyes were glistening with unshed tears. She had thought that they could finally put the past behind them, they were going to be working together and she had hoped that it wouldn't need to be unpleasant just because Malfoy was here. She had heard that he had changed. And clearly he had for everyone else except her.
'I understand.' She said blinking rapidly as she moved towards her desk. She wasn't going to let Malfoy's words get her down on her first day. She realized that she would be meeting Harry and Ron for lunch, they would certainly ask her and they could come knocking anytime. She wouldn't be able to keep it under wraps. Besides Harry and Malfoy had become friends of sorts, that's why she thought it could be different for her too.
Hermione couldn't sit down so she stood facing the window. There was some kind of artificial sun illuminating the place, she looked out to find a terrace garden a couple of floors below, it looked quite beautiful. She would check it out one of these days, she told herself. She snuck a glance at Malfoy, his hair was a good length not too short nor too long. His face had matured more, the sharp angles had become chiseled cheekbones and jaw, his lips had filled out too he wasn't scowling much either which just made it so much better. She hadn't exactly seen him since his trial a year ago. She had to admit he was quite handsome.
He had apparently completed his education privately and his efforts to change his ways were being appreciated. Harry himself had told her that he couldn't believe he and Ron actually had an animated discussion about the latest quidditch season when they'd bumped into him in Diagon Alley during Christmastime. It had started awkwardly but they had wound up having an enjoyable lunch together. Ron still wasn't a fan but he seemed to be tolerating Harry's friendship with Malfoy with a maturity that honestly surprised Hermione.
She was staring out the window. Draco was watching her from the corner of his eyes. She would absentmindedly glance in his direction without seeing him. He'd been rather harsh in dismissing her appeal at friendship. A polite relationship as colleagues was going to prove difficult enough according to him. Hermione was still every bit as prim and proper as she had been back at school. Clearly, she came from a good family. Her hair had finally calmed down and instead of a wild mass there were rather silky looking curls that trailed down her back. Her pale blue blouse and grey fitted skirt were modest but showed her figure nonetheless. Draco tore his eyes away from her, this wouldn't work at all.
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