Friday, May 17th, 2003.

Hermione felt slightly better than the previous day as she walked down the street to the Ministry. The air was already warm and she thanked her cautious brain for only wearing her transfigured robes atop her clothes.

Her mood had significantly lightened as the clouds had deserted the sky and she reached the Ministry well disposed and ready to ignore anyone but Tracey and Astoria.

Of course luck wasn't her friend, Caroline was waiting for the lift when she took it. Hermione almost sighed exasperatedly as the woman shot her a death glare or her poor version of a death glare anyway.

Hermione decided to not retaliate though, she was cleverer than that. She smiled, a fake and ugly contortion of her mouth that only had the effect to infuriate the witch even further.

When she reached Tracey's desk she almost laughed at her own viciousness. She'd smirked her face off at the gossipy bitch and guess what? She didn't even feel guilty about it. Tracey chuckled but didn't comment. Hermione thanked Merlin for Tracey Davis, again.

Blaise had abandoned his researches quite quickly the previous night. Without Draco's contract he had only been able to look out for oath breaking and the news weren't pleasant. There was no way to break an oath except with the accord of both involved parties. Lucius Malfoy was long dead and buried - which would have broken a regular oath, not a contracted one - and even if he were alive, there wouldn't be the slightest chance he'd agree to break it.

He needed an expert and unfortunately he didn't know anyone who would be willing to get involved in anything Draco related. Old war grudges still held, even if civility prevailed nowadays. He snorted at his own thoughts, civility was definitely gone since both he and Draco had insulted those wankers.

There was nothing he could do to help his friend.

Standing from his home desk, he rubbed his face in his hands. The only thing he had left to try be a good friend, was to distract Draco the best he could. If he went now, he would be on time for once in his life. So, he did.

He apparated in a corner of the muggle street he usually apparated to, to go to the Ministry, and passed the red telephone booth, heading for the Leaky Cauldron. Apparating in Diagon Alley always ended up making him late, whether it was because he encountered some pretty witch on the way or like that time he'd seen Granger in the apothecary.

Granger. It'd been right under his nose and he hadn't even thought of it. If someone was able to find a loophole in a contract it had to be the head of Law Enforcement, the brightest bossy witch of their age. Plus, she liked him now.

Why hadn't he thought of it before? Berating himself for being the reason he would be late this time, he came at an abrupt stop where Charing Cross road met Little Newport street and turned around back to the Ministry. He ran to the red telephone booth and once inside, quickly transfigured a lonely coin into a wrinkled piece of parchment. He tapped his wand to write a message and charmed it so only Astoria would be able to read it. Or anyone else curious enough to shoot the easy counter-charm, but he didn't have time to think about that. He didn't go down with the booth, but jumped out of it, only leaving his charmed note to find its addressee.

Blaise was late, which had stopped being infuriating after a few years, it was only mildly irritating now. Draco didn't really care any more but his boredom made him daydream of hanging ropes again. The fact that he gave up on waiting for Blaise only surprised Tom. The bald old man didn't comment though.

Draco had downed slowly half of his drink when Blaise finally made an appearance. He was grimacing apologetically which was disconcerting.

"Sorry, I had things to do." This was even more strange. Blaise never had anything to do but flirt and try on new bed sheets from bedrooms of random witches.

"Either this is a lie or someone has died. Considering the fact that you do not care for the rest of your family or have any other friends than myself, I have better ask why you would lie to me." He didn't really care about what had kept Blaise but lying was not welcome.

"Err … Great mood, I see. Look, I told Greengrass about Weasley's interview."

"Good." Draco nodded, and returned to his drink. At least Granger would know what was coming at her. He'd done what he could. He only hoped Greengrass liked Granger as much as he'd presumed.

"Good? That's it?"

"What am I supposed to say? Thank you so much for asking her AND for the dreadful date I'm about to endure in return?" Blaise sighed, if Draco's good mood had been denied inwardly, and slightly eased by what Blaise had said, it was apparently still clearly audible.

"Right. Tom? Another." Blaise knew better than to retaliate his friend's tone though, and Draco could only be grateful. He was incapable of saying so, but seeing his best friend order another drink instead of arguing with him was probably proof that he knew.

Once they'd silently downed the blurry glasses Tom had pushed to them on the counter-top, Draco was starting to feel a bit better. Blaise watched him a few seconds before apparently concluding the same.

"So, I told Greengrass. She sent this." Draco grabbed the letter Blaise had practically thrown to him. If he endured Draco's moods without a word, he was still irritated by them.

Blaise,

I will tell Hermione about the interview at lunch. Doing things at her back is certainly a very bad idea so I'll see what she wants to do about it, but I have two back up plans.

Rita is a bitch and she refused to change anything about the interview, she swore nothing bad about her was in there though, which I didn't believe for a second. What she doesn't know is that the publisher is Pansy's second cousin and that he has a crush on me.

I arranged for things to be either published as a small column the day they publish about the next trial she'll win, of course with a really flattering war-heroin portrait attached. Oh and obviously the picture of Weasley will be replaced with a really nasty one from the commemoration after-party where he puked on the carpet (I always suspected you were responsible for that so, thank you).

Or, in the eventuality that she looses (even the publisher laughed at that) the picture will get front page, and there will be a mistake with the printing, the interview will end up unreadable.

I couldn't do better, Rita is adamant that it goes out anyway. I can't wait to find out what's in it.

Now, to thank you …

Blaise snatched the letter out of his hands before he could read the end.

"That's personal next." He smirked.

"Err … she should thank me, not you."

"What can I do? She's all over me." Draco smirked:

"Granger will be too." That definitely removed any smirk from Blaise's face.

"Err, no Astoria won't tell her."

"To quote you mate: yeah right, and I'm ugly."

Hermione came down to the cafeteria with her notes, that she'd carefully charmed so no one could read them. If she were to reveal some confidential notes to Astoria, she wasn't about to get caught. However, she forgot about the file she was holding as soon as she sat down facing her. Astoria harboured a serious expression that Hermione had never seen on her.

"What's going on?" She asked. Astoria sighed and this time, she didn't start with work.

"I have bad news."

"Go on."

"The daily prophet is going to publish an interview of your ex-husband soon. I tried to have it cancelled, but Rita Skeeter is a nasty bitch."

"Rita? Ron's made an interview with Rita?" Surely it wasn't possible. Whatever conflict between them, Ron hated Rita Skeeter as much as she, for what she'd done to Harry before the war.

"Not exactly. It was with Creevey but Rita is in charge of that section of the prophet. She wouldn't budge, she said nothing nasty about you will be said but …" Oh, that was certain. Hermione couldn't hold back a little laugh. Astoria's frown was quite the sight. She looked like Tracey with a wig. It was so disconcerting that Hermione started to explain:

"Don't worry about Rita Skeeter. The prophet will never publish anything nasty against me. I'd be worried if it were Witch Weekly though."

"What do you mean? Rita can be …"

"A huge bitch yes. But not to me." Hermione felt her lips lift into a triumphant smile she'd only sported years prior, the day she'd released Rita from her jar. Astoria's confusion morphed into surprise and then understanding before she whispered, bending over their forgotten lunch to get closer to Hermione:

"What in hell did you do?" She looked so expectant that Hermione didn't have the heart to deceive her. She'd never told anyone but Harry and Ron about it, but Astoria actually being worried and warning her about the interview was enough to install trust between them. So, she confessed.

"So? Pleased?" Draco shrugged, pleased was not the exact feeling but it was still satisfying to know that the weasel would certainly end up being mocked by the entire wizarding community for a few months.

"I don't know what he was planning to say in that interview, but if he ends up ridiculed, I couldn't have asked for better."

"Right. I wish I could see his face when the picture goes out." Indeed Blaise looked ecstatic. Draco chuckled. He remembered exactly when it had happened, even if they'd been on their way out of the after-party, Blaise's smirk had been pasted on his face for a good hour. Draco had never asked but he'd known Blaise's favourite game.

"What did you put in his drink?"

"I wondered if you'd ever ask. He only drank one of the puking little candy his own brother sells. I found the irony of it all funny. I don't know who took the picture though, Potter was all over the place to avoid it."

"Mm." Whoever it was deserved a medal. Since the war, no one had been able to have anything remotely close to a bad line published about the Golden trio in the Daily Prophet. Even if Witch Weekly had taken the deed quite vehemently, it remained only a gossip paper, people didn't take it too seriously. But a picture like that in the mostly read wizarding newspaper will definitely outdo all the good picturing done for years. Draco had wished for their image to shatter and his wish had just been granted. The fact that Granger wasn't part of it any more and that he was somehow grateful for it, he decided not to think about.

"So, work?" Blaise's eyebrows were almost joined in concern. They always tried not to discuss it too much, but Blaise knew Draco, surely he thought that distracting him wasn't enough.

"Err … Two death threats sent by letters yesterday. I fired another assistant and can't find another one."

"I take it you didn't associate with anyone then?"

"Only one, Nott senior's company. Granger's recordings were good, I couldn't dismiss them all."

"Mm. I guess. Theo's not a bad lad. Though I don't understand why he's always hooked to Pansy."

"I don't either. I checked his father's records though and he has no business with the Parkinsons so …"

Astoria gracefully wiped a single tear of laughter off her face with her paper napkin. Even with the cafeteria's poor decor she managed to pull a perfect attitude.

"I can't believe you ever were sorted in Gryffindor Hermione! I worried for nothing! I should have guessed you wouldn't need my meddling."

"Meddling?" Astoria gave some time for her smirk to take effect before answering:

"Well, I managed to have the interview picture replaced with something not pretty. And if you agree, the interview can be published when the out-come of the Foster trial is too."

"Oh. Is that why you were out yesterday?"

"Yes." She nodded, and continued right away before Hermione could process it: "Oh, and if you were to loose, there would be a mistake with the printing. It would end up unreadable." She smirked. Hermione couldn't believe Astoria would take a day off the Ministry to make sure that the interview wouldn't hurt her in any way.

"You … Why did you do that?" Obviously Astoria hadn't expected the question. She shrugged:

"Err … for multiple reasons."

"Which are? I … I mean, thank you so much but … you took a day off." Astoria chuckled.

"You know it's not because your friends are shitty that everyone else is. I didn't want you to lock yourself in you office for a week again."

"Oh ... Thank you."

"It's nothing." She waved. As she was about to grab the file Hermione had brought, the multiple reasons she had mentioned tickled Hermione's curiosity.

"What other reason?" She asked. Astoria smiled, as if she'd been waiting for the question.

"Well, I suppose I never promised not to tell … Malfoy asked Blaise to tell me. He knew I'd warn you and do something about it."

"Malfoy? Really?" Astoria nodded with a cornered smile Hermione decided not to interpret. Malfoy? Draco apologising Malfoy had wanted her warned? Well, after witnessing her argument with Harry she guessed that it was what a friend would do. But Malfoy was not her friend. They weren't even acquaintances. Hermione supposed that after his apologies they would be in relatively good terms but this was just …

Both witches were snapped out of their trance, a smirking one for Astoria, a thinking one for Hermione, when a flying note came poking Astoria's raven hair.

She unfolded it quickly. Once she'd read it, she frowned for a moment and suddenly rose from her seat.

"I need to answer that. I might have work to catch up tonight, do you mind if we go out tomorrow night instead?"

"Oh, no, not at all." Hermione had actually forgotten that they were supposed to go out. She felt even more stupid about her depressing thoughts of the previous day.

"Good. I'll owl you! See you!" She smiled as she walked away.

They had spent an entire lunch talking about anything but work and Hermione was suddenly reminded that she had work to do too. She would have to do without Astoria's opinion. As she stood from her seat though, she realised Astoria had taken the file. She smiled. Work prevailed, and as she recalled their conversation, Hermione knew that she had just made herself a new friend. A new friend she would return the favour to one day.

What she couldn't analyse or process were Zabini and Malfoy's involvement in all this favour doing. She could wreck her mind all she wanted, she didn't understand where their concern really came from. Zabini had mentioned his Grandmother to Astoria, maybe he was as thoughtful as the elder witch had been after all. As for Malfoy … he'd apologised. Maybe she had underestimated the length to which he'd changed. Whatever their reasons, she was grateful, and she should thank them both.

After a whole lunch of complaining extracted of his system, Draco felt slightly better. The Granger talk had taken his mind off of things, and the detailing of his dreadful company meetings to Blaise, had released some of the tension in his shoulders.

They'd fallen silent, and Blaise didn't seem in any hurry. Draco was, but he didn't feel like going. The companionable silence was a thousand times better than going back to work would be.

Blaise broke it after a moment though:

"I know I told you already but … why don't you delegate a bit? I know, I know. But the company is working just fine now, and you could still manage things from home. Hiring someone to …"

"Indeed we already discussed this. I don't trust someone enough to delegate Blaise." Good, his slightly better mood had shifted again.

"Right. Look, maybe you could have the contract analysed then, there has to be a loophole somewhere …"

"There isn't. I read it a thousand times."

"You're no expert Draco …"

"Enough. I don't want to talk about that." Blaise didn't get any chance to answer, as an owl engulfed itself by a window a patron had decided to open. It landed in his empty plate.

"What is it?" Blaise stood before answering:

"Business. I need to answer. Look, think about it alright? Owl me." And he was gone. Talking about Granger had made Draco forget about his greeting lie that he'd had things to do. Obviously it hadn't been a lie. Draco would definitely have to find out what was going on with him.

Blaise stormed out of the Leaky Cauldron, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. Astoria Greengrass. He had no word to describe the excitement he felt at the perspective of meeting her a day in advance. She had just sent a note, asking to meet him at her place that night, adding that she had an idea to help Draco AND a nice negligee she was willing for him to rip off her.

If he had been someone different, he would have bought a wedding ring. But he was Blaise Zabini, and there was no way in hell he would follow that instinct.

Although a woman as stunning and cunning as Astoria Greengrass, all willing to help him and his best friend, as well as ready to rock him off his feet in bed, deserved the benefit of the doubt.

He couldn't wait to see what she'd planned. Whether it was for Draco or for himself.

Hermione received the promised owl at her place just as she was about to go to bed. She'd stayed at the Ministry almost until midnight, trying to catch up on the checking she'd forgotten about after Astoria's lunch news. She hadn't been able to wrap her mind around what Malfoy had done, but she hadn't been able to resolve to writing a thank you note either.

Hermione,

I sent the documents back to your office, I joined my opinion on them to this letter. It's charmed of course, the same way you charmed yours (took me half an hour to figure it out, well done).
Is Hog's Head alright with you for tomorrow night? I doubt Aberforth is the type to hold grudges and at least there wouldn't be any reporters there. Say nine o'clock?

Please don't tell Malfoy I told you the news came from him, Blaise just told me I wasn't supposed to. (I would have anyway, but we don't want an angry blond now, do we?)

Keep me posted for tomorrow by return owl.

Astoria

Well, good thing she hadn't written then. Malfoy doing something nice, again, but making sure no one knew about it, was a bit less out of character. It still didn't really make sense but at least she wouldn't have to live through the awkwardness of thanking him again.

Draco,

Seeing that your mood is as horrific as Bullstrode's face, and that I am partly responsible for that with Sherry, let's say I wait for you in Hog's head after you dump her. My bet is nine thirty, if you dump her before she'll know something is up anyway.

See you tomorrow,

Blaise.

At least Blaise was trying to make it up to him. Draco would definitely need a drink after meeting her. Plus, a drunk Blaise was more talkative and it would be easier to make him say what he was up to.