Hello my dears! Here's another chapter for you! Enjoy :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.
Year 2003, June
The Ministry of Magic
Hermione straightened up her pencil skirt for what seemed like the sixth time in the past half hour. She was currently sitting in a chair, by Kingsley's door office, awaiting his arrival. Her skirt seemed to have a life of its own when it came to getting wrinkled, despite her better efforts.
It was early, a bit too early and most of the staff would still be at home. But Hermione could not wait any longer. She had barely slept. After one more restless night and some careful thinking, she decided to make an early appearance at Kingsley's office, with a last minute request. She knew the request was a bit foolish, some would consider it suspicious even, but Hermione knew she was in the clear.
She had hoped to have missed Ron that morning, but luck was definitely not on her side. As she finished her breakfast quickly before heading out, Ron emerged from their room, still a little bit ruffled from his sleep but not enough to not notice that she had put on one of her best suits today.
"Where are you off to so early?"
Hermione turned around from the kitchen sink, where she was currently putting some dirty dishes and faced him with a small smile.
Ok, poker face.
"Good-morning! I didn't mean to wake you."
"You didn't wake me. I needed to get up anyway." He replied, coming closer her to her and giving her a chaste kiss on her forehead. "Where are you going at this hour?"
"To the office. Kingsley said he wanted to speak with me first thing in the morning."
Liar.
"What for?" he asked, reaching up behind her, to grab a mug from one of the cabinets.
"I have no idea." She answered, resuming the task of washing her own coffee mug.
Ron didn't retort, being too busy looking through the fridge for something to eat.
She kept her back to him, focusing on her task, as she scrubbed her mug harder than usual. Oh, Merlin. She felt awful, lying to him like this, but part of her knew it was necessary. She was protecting him. It would hurt him more if he knew, right? At least that is what she told herself.
Ron didn't need to know she was going in early to ask Kinglsey if she could witness the interrogation.
Since this had nothing to do with her department, Hermione had not been invited. At first she had felt a bit frustrated at this. She didn't work for the Auror's department, but she still fought in the Battle of Hogwarts and she still played a crucial role in defeating Voldemort. Also, they knew she had spent her Seventh Year at Hogwarts, where Malfoy had also been. But mainly, she had been tortured in Malfoy's home and she knew the Malfoys, almost too well. She was a main element in all of this, it was only right that she assisted the interrogation. How they did not even consider that option, infuriated her. So yes, she was going in early to talk to Kingsley.
Part of her was terrified for this. Her curiosity was the main reason she wanted to go to the interrogation in the first place, but she knew, that deep down, there were other reasons. And those reasons alarmed her, deeply. But she had to know why he was back. She had to know if his intentions were purely to aid the Ministry, or if there was something else.
It was that something else that petrified her.
She finished her washing and walked to the hallway to get her work robes and to take one last look at the mirror before heading out. She'd be lying to herself if she told herself she had not dressed more carefully today, picking up one of her favourite dress-suits and shoes. She had even added a little bit of make-up, something she usually decided to go without. However, she kept telling herself it was just to make a good impression on someone that used to mean something to you. That is all.
She did not dress pretty for Malfoy. She had stopped doing that, ever since the pumpkin juice incident. She had dressed pretty for herself, for her own confidence. That was it.
"I'm going now, Ron!" she said from the hallway, just as she'd finished buttoning up her robes.
"You look pretty today." He acknowledged, a small smile on his face, as he leaned against the kitchen doorway, coffee mug on this hand.
Merlin, if guilt could kill.
"Just today?" she asked, returning the smile and getting a bit of Floo powder from their stash.
"You always do. You are beautiful, Hermione."
Of all the days he would be extra-sweet with her, today had to be one of those days. Great. Hop on the guilt train to guilt town, Hermione.
"You don't look so bad yourself." She replied with a faint blush on her cheeks "You clearly need a shower, but other than that."
"But I did brush my teeth earlier, so, there's that." he laughed, getting closer to her.
"Hmm, I wonder why that is." She shorten the distance between them and gave him a kiss.
It was meant to be a short one, one of those goodbye kisses you give your husband before departing. But Ron was in a good mood today and rapidly took control, turning the simple kiss into something more heated. Why he was in a good mood, was a mystery to her, since this was the day he would be face to face with Malfoy again. Maybe he'd forgotten.
Her free hand came up to his neck and he used his own free hand to cup her bum through her robes. She liked it when they were like this, like any other young couple in love. She liked the feeling of him involving her in his arms and liked how his tongue would lovingly caress hers. Ron had taken a while to master the art of kissing, but he was fairly good at it now. Ok, so fairly was an understatement. He WAS good at it. Just like his fingers. Oh, Merlin, his –
Hermione cut the kiss short, wanting to regain some self-control. He reluctantly let go of her, a bit out of breath, a dopy grin on his lips.
"I really have to go."
"Fine, we can finish this later tonight." He said suggestively.
She flashed him a grin of her own and made her way to their fireplace.
"Ministry of Magic!"
And here she was, sitting on this dumpy, old chair, waiting for Kingsley, so she could make herself feel even guiltier about all that was happening. To busy herself while she waited and to get a break from her faulty thoughts, Hermione kept re-arranging her skirt, trying to get it to stay impeccable. The interrogation was due in an hour and her anxiety was becoming more noticeable. But she could do this. She could keep her composure. She could keep her posture. As long as this damn skirt would cooperate, dammit, why won't it stay like –
"Miss Granger."
Hermione looked up from her skirt, her reaction to her maiden name being immediate. Her marriage was something very recent and some employees and friends still referred to her as a Granger and not as a Weasley. She was fine with it, knowing it would take some time for people to actually acknowledge that she was a Weasley now. She, herself, was still processing that fact.
"Minister, good-morning."
"What are you doing here so early? Was there something you needed?" Kinsgley Shacklebolt asked as he unlocked the door to this office.
"Yes, sir. I need a word with you." She answered, getting up from the lousy chair and straightening her skirt, once again, in the process.
"Well, by all means." Kingsley opened the door for her, letting her go in first.
"Thank-you."
Hermione took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Kingsley's desk. Kingsley's office always charmed her. It was cosy and very orangey like. Unlike other Minister's before him, Kingsley made an effort to make the Ministry a welcoming place, instead of one that would intimidate you. His desk was full of contraptions and gadgets, some of them Hermione had no idea what they were for. He also had a small aquarium where he kept some gold fish. She found that a bit endearing, actually.
"So, what seems to be the issue?" He took a seat at his desk, slightly reclining in his chair.
"Well, sir. I… I want to know, why I wasn't invited to assist on the interrogation." Hermione knew it would be no use to beat around the bush, so she decided to go straight to the point.
Kinglsey looked at her and seemed to think for a moment before replying.
"I didn't know you had some interest in this. It really doesn't concern your department."
"I don't have an interest, per say, but it is Malfoy we are talking about. I want to know if what he is claiming is true."
"Miss Granger, first of all, I'm going to ignore the fact that you seem to know a lot about the subject of Mister Malfoy's interest in collaborating with the Ministry." Ups, sorry Gin… And Harry. "Secondly, as you understand, this is a matter of the up most secrecy. Naturally, we are keeping this information strictly with some professionals within the Auror Department."
"Sir, with all due respect, I may not be a part of that department, but I did play a crucial role in the last War." Hermione did not like being treated as a common plebe, just because she was no Auror. Her skills and intellect matched those of any Auror in that department and Kingsley knew this. "Also, let me remind you that I have a kind of, let's say, special relationship with the Malfoys, since you know, I was tortured in their house and all."
"I don't need any reminder of that, Hermione." More than the Minister of Magic, Kingsley was also a friend, so it hurt a little that he did not even wanted to tell her about this in the first place. He took a deep breath, before continuing "That is also one of the reasons I didn't tell you anything. You might not want to deal with all of this."
"I don't care about, Malfoy" Liar, again. "I just want to know if the information he is trying to sell is accurate. If it is, we need to prepare and figure out our next move."
"That is not your job, Miss Granger."
"I don't give a damn, Shacklebolt. You know exactly that if there is ever a need, I will jump into battle." She argued, the usage of his given name, proving she was getting upset.
Kingsley sighed.
Yes, he knew it very well. Hermione was a valuable asset and always has been. If it were up to him, she never would have went to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. He'd very much preferred to see her work at the Department of Mysteries or Security. He knew that she was happy right where she was, but he also knew that if needed, she would offer her skills to any cause. Still, in this particular case, it really did not concern her.
"We do not know the severity of this matter. We know that there is a possibility that all of it can be true, but we won't know for certain until Malfoy speaks. Until then, all we can do is hope that none of it is happening, because if it is, it means we are not doing our jobs right."
"Yes, well…" she continued "I want to be there. I want to see the interrogation."
"Miss Granger…"
"Minister, I was face to face with Voldemort himself. I've had my share of battles with Death Eaters and I gave it my all to cease the War. I'm one of Harry Potter's best friends and I'm married to Ronald Weasley." She hated to play the friend and wife card, but desperate times, called for desperate matters "I have the same right to be there, like any one of them."
Kingsley knew there was no point in arguing with her. Hermione was an excellent professional and a good friend and he also knew, she was stubborn as hell. She would not let this go.
"Very well." He reluctantly agreed. "The interrogation will begin at 8 o'clock. It will be conducted by the Head of the Auror Office, Gawain Robards. I'll be present, such as Harry Potter and your husband. Lupin will also be there."
"Understood, sir. Thank-you."
"I really don't know what to expect, Hermione. Nobody has heard about Mister Malfoy in years. I don't know why he would come forward now." Kingsley said, absently scratching his non-existent subtle.
"Let's just hope."
Her skirt seemed to cooperate with her, at least for the time being. The skirt went just above her knee and she always had to be extra careful when sitting down, knowing the dangerous of an unkempt skirt, especially in her workplace. Hermione was no stranger to harassment, more now that the War was over and she was a popular War Hero, with a respectable career and friends in high places. She knew better than to let her skirt get the best of her, so she maintained constant vigilance. And right now, she would definitely benefit from her alert state.
The Interrogation room wasn't that big, but it was a tad intimidating. It had dark walls and floors and a single window to her back. It lacked any sort of ornaments, a single chair positioned in the centre of the room, facing a grand table, enough to fit six people: normally it would be two interrogators and four witnesses. She was currently sitting at the far end of the table. Right next to her was Lupin – thank Merlin, for that – and then Kingsley. Ron was at the other end, followed by Harry and Robards. They were surprised to see her but she easily dismissed their doubts with her story. Luckily Kingsley hadn't said anything to point the contrary, so she was off the hook… for now.
It was almost 8 o'clock and Malfoy was bound to walk through that door at any moment.
Hermione was already in poker face mode: calm and indifferent and a bit curious on the outside, screaming of agony and self-misery on the inside. Ok, maybe not so much, but still, she was anxious and nervous and worried.
What kind of questions would they ask? What was he going to say? Was it best if she avoided his eyes, or best if she faced them? Would he do something to hurt her? Had he grown? Had he gained weight? Was he still engaged? Had he married? And if he was married, how was that any of her business? Should she say something? Was her skirt still in place?
The door opened.
Hermione looked up from her unwrinkled skirt.
And there, after years since the day she had last seen him, Draco Malfoy was in front of her eyes again.
And her heart skipped a beat.
What do we say to the god of non cliff-hangers?
Not today!
(had to make this GOT reference haha!)
