Note: I hope everyone is having a fantastic holiday!

It was a month after Christmas when Hermione heard the soft tapping of a small black owl at her window in her Central London flat. She'd only been out of her parents home for a few months, but she loved it. It was small and cozy, but most importantly, it was her own.

"Hello pretty bird. Who do you belong to?" she gave the bird a small treat, unrolling the small parchment that was attached to its leg.

Dearest Hermione,

Meet me at the Aviary, 7 pm.

Sincerely,

Draco Malfoy

"The nerve!" Hermione began pacing the wooden floor, waving her arms about as she went.

"Not a word from him in a month, and now he expects me to meet him at some fancy restaurant? I think not!" She blew a strand of hair from her face before looking at the note again.

"I am right, right Cooks?"

Crookshanks gave her an unamused look. "Merr" as if to say, "No."

"Ugh. I haven't got anything to wear to anyway, you know."

Just then, a knock at the front door startled her. She rushed over and looked through the peep-hole, and then opening it to find a man with a large package.

"Delivery for Hermione Granger."

Although she wasn't expecting a package, she noticed the green and black ribbon wrapped around the box, giving her a good indication of whom sent it.

"Thank you."

She shut the door and quickly sat on the sofa, unwrapping the box.

"Oh my.."

Inside was a little black dress with a lacy long sleeves, black mink fur coat, a pair of Louboutin stilettos, and emerald green earrings.

There was no note, but she didn't need one. It was obvious that she wasn't getting out of this date tonight, and if she was being perfectly honest with herself..

she didn't want to.

XXX

Hermione was led to a private candle-lit table where Draco Malfoy turned to greet her by taking her hand and kissing it.

"Hello gorgeous. I'm glad to see everything fits you perfectly" he eyed her up and down like he was sizing her up, and it caused Hermione to blush.

"Yes, perfectly, like magic."

"Indeed." he chuckled and led her to her seat.

"Now-"

"Why haven't you contacted me before tonight? I thought…" She didn't want to admit that she was actually worried that a Malfoy had messed with her feelings. She certainly didn't want Draco to mistake her blossoming feelings for weakness.

"Hermione, I'm sorry. I don't want you to think that what happened between us was something I didn't want. But I feel as it it happened so fast, and I know that's my fault. What can I say? You excite me and scare me at the same time."

"I scare you?" the scary muggle. Please.

"You said you believed in me.."

"Yes. Why should that scare you?"

"You're putting faith in my ability to do good. I'm not, and if I turn out to be who I think I am, I'll hurt you. I've never had that kind of power before. I don't want to hurt you."

Hermione's eyes glossed over and she contemplated his words. The fact that Draco was even taking into consideration that of her own well being, told her all she needed to know.

"Draco, I'm willing to take that risk. You've done so many good things for the wizarding world during the war. You don't give yourself enough credit because you're allowing the shame of your father to follow you. You are not him. And I'm willing to stick around until you see the good in you that I do.

Draco's long face turned into a soft smile. He grabbed her hand across the table.

"Waiter," he snapped his fingers and instantly a suited man was ready to take his order.

"A bottle of your finest. It's a celebration."

"Of course, sir."

"What are we celebrating?" the brown haired witch giggled.

"That you're my girlfriend."

"Since when did this happen?" she teased.

"Will you be mine, Hermione Granger?"

"Of course I will, silly boy. But what will your mother think?"

Draco scooted his chair back and knelled next to Hermione's, taking her chin in his hand, leaning in for a kiss.

"Bugger it. We'll tell her later, come what may."

Hermione was overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions. One thought that threatened to penetrate the forefront of her mind, was that his mother, although having proved to advocate for muggles in her position as Minister of Magic, still very much scared her.

XXX

SMACK

Hermione hit the concrete floor.

"Lucius! Do not touch the mudblood! I'll not have you defiling another in my own home!"

"Then you should have controlled your psychotic sister earlier! It's my turn to have a little fun!"

Narissa's eyes turned a violent shade of grey. She would not let this go on any longer.

"Crucio!"

Silent screams passed the lips of Lucius Malfoy as he writhed in pain from the curse his own wife cast at him. She held the curse a bit too long though, and he passed out in his own vomit and blood.

Rushing over to where Hermione lay, Narcissa placed the girl's head in her lap. "There there, little one." Hermione was unable to move, due to the torture she endured at the hands of Bellatrix Black and Lucius.

"Kreacher!"

With a faint popping sound, the ugliest house elf Hermione had seen, stood next to its owner.

"Yes Mistress?"

"Draw a bath in the guest bedroom on the second floor, and send word to The Order to meet me in two hours at headquarters. Tell no one except McGonagall."

"Yes Mistress"

Hermione felt as if she was going delusional. She heard the words of Narcissa but they couldn't have been from her. The Order? McGonagall? Headquarters? It must be a trick.

"Incarcerous" Narcissa's wand was pointed at Lucius once again.

"N-n-no" she struggled to protest.

"Don't fight me, girl, you won't win. This is for your own good."

Giving in, she allowed Narcissa Malfoy to cradle her injured body in her arms, bringing her up the stairs and out of the dungeon. Hermione saw her own blood smeared on the elegant robes of the older witch.

"I hope that comes out.". She mused, not quite understanding her own train of thought.

Narcissa Malfoy placed an unconscious Hermione in a hot bath, which roused the young witch. She immediately began wiping the blood from her face and various parts of her torso with a washcloth.

Hermione very weakly pushed the older witch's hand away. "This isn't right" she thought, taking in her naked state and vulnerability.

"Calm down, child. I'm well versed in healing and caring for the injured. I've been exposed to war of many kind, almost all my life." There was a trace of sadness that laced those words but it was gone as quickly as it had come.

"Why are you doing this?" tears freely fell from Hermione's cheeks.

"Because I loathe Voldemort. I hate him for what he's done to my family, for what he's taken from me...and I know that you're a great witch that can help defeat him. Unfortunately, you've been caught by a worthless man I call my husband."

Wiping away a tear from the young witch, she accioed a towel and helped Hermione to stand.

"I believe you're able to dry and dress yourself in the clothes I've provided you. Be quick about it, we must leave soon, before the Dark Lord returns with my sister."

XXX

"Hermione? Hermione?" Draco dunked his hand in the ice bucket that held the champagne and grazed his hand on the base of her neck.

"Wh-what?"

"Are you alright? You look like you're going to be sick."

"I'm sorry, I got lost in thought for a moment. I'm fine."

Hermione willed herself to regain her posture and told herself that everything would be alright. After all, she believed in Draco and the greater good.

Everything had to be alright...

XXX

In the following weeks, Hermione received many job offers from various departments within the Ministry of Magic. Only one really stood out to her: Muggle Relations.

"Muggle Relations? Have you gone bonkers?" Draco took a bite out of his breakfast pastry, sprawled out on Hermione's new leather sofa that he bought for her as a new "house warming" gift.

Of course she had lived in this apartment for quite some time, but he insisted on buying her new furniture, because he could, and because he didn't know her when she first moved in. Hermione suspected that the true reason was that her old furniture didn't fit his taste, but she wasn't going to refuse. After all, he did have amazing and expensive taste.

"What's wrong with going into Muggle Relations? I am a muggle, after all. You know this, right?"

"Bollocks. I forgot!" he faked a gasp, bringing his hand to his mouth.

"Har har."

"Really though, you have all these job offers and with magical talent and an education like yours, why waste it now on something that only requires a basic passing grade?"

She sighed and sat down next to the shirtless wizard "Because, Draco.." kissing his shoulder, "I want to do some good for my kind. Muggles know so little about the wizarding world, and I've heard so many stories of incidents that go on within that department. I want to change lives for the better and if that means I have to take a low paying, bottom of the totem poll job to do it, then I will. There's always room for advancement.

Draco place the remainder of his pastry on the coffee table, turning to kiss his girlfriend.

"You're better than I am, sweetheart. I'm starting at the top. Magical Law Enforcement, here I come." He began trailing kisses on her neck.

"Oh your mother is going to be so proud. My Auror. Mmmmm"

"Don't mention my mother right now, please."

"Why, does she turn you off?" Hermione laughed as the horror crossed his face.

"You've done it now." He backed off and sat there looking mortified.

"Aww babe" the devious witch sat on his lap, grinding her hips in attempt to turn her boyfriend back on.

"You're in for it now." he growled as he flipped her on her back.

"Oh I'm counting on it."

Thanks for stopping by to read!