True Love Can't Stay Hidden Forever… ch3: Disappearances, Alleys and my redneck colleague

Hermione's POV

I started working on my breakfast for yet another office day when realisation hit me like a ton of bricks... Today I was supposed to be meeting the Minister for something he wanted to discuss. He told me it was prudent that I listen with an open mind and do not act rashly.

I for one thought that was completely unnecessary because unlike certain Gryffindors (namely, Harry and well... all other Gryffindors) I wasn't one who would act on a whim. I removed all those thoughts as I took the Floo powder, threw it in the blazing fire, and watched as it turned a beautiful emerald green in a matter of seconds. I stepped in and with all my might yelled "MINISTRY OF MAGIC". With that I got sucked into a vortex of sorts and within the blink of an eye, I was standing in the Atrium.

Ahhh the Atrium, I never knew why but the Atrium always bought this sense of serenity in me. Now usually I would look for Harry as soon as entered or he would engulf me in a big bear hug the moment he would see me, but I didn't bother knowing fully well why he wasn't here. He had recently gotten married to Ginny and decided that he would do well with a week away from all the crazy paparazzi. I was making my way to the Minister's office when a strangely familiar voice yelled

"Granger"

I knew then that it was none other than Draco Malfoy, that pathetic excuse of a person. I didn't know what all the girls at the Ministry saw in him. Sure he was tall, blonde, with grey eyes that could captivate somebody with just a glance, and a wide torso that I would love to... Ugh, I was disgusted by myself for even thinking that way.

He was a complete wanker, and I would rather eat slugs than feel something for him.

Upon hearing his voice I reluctantly turned around, not bothering with pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"What is it?" I asked, not giving second thought to the coldness in my voice.

" wants both of us in his office."

I knew that I was supposed to meet the minister but I didn't know that Malfoy would be there too. I suppose the minister would have wanted him to call me and that he would leave me after delivering the message. Without a word I followed him, knowing that adding a sarcastic comment to this conversation would only make him all the more cocky and eager to make my life a living hell.

I stepped in the office expecting the calm minister I had known before and after my enrolment in the ministry. But what I saw was something that shocked me. He had deep circles under his eyes, as if he had not been sleeping well or at all. His usual neat attire was in disarray and his work desk was filled with large piles of papers which I recognised as complaint letters.

All this while Draco was standing beside me and when I realised this, the hair at the back of my neck stood up. In three long strides the minister was in front of me and Draco. Facing us with a look I could only name as frustration. He sat me down and without wasting a fraction of a second, he blurted out "I want you and Mr. Malfoy working together."

It took me entire two seconds to find my voice, and when I did I yelled as if there was no tomorrow. "WHAT?"

"I said I want you and Mr. Malfoy working together, t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r." He spelled it out as if I was a toddler. I stood there gaping at him.

I knew it had only been a few seconds since I answered but it seemed like eternity to me. The minister took a single step toward me gauging my reaction and in a calm voice spoke up, with uncertainty lacing every syllable "So... what do you think?"

That was it, all the anger that I had kept inside me soared through and I started ranting out at the minister himself ,not bothering if this was allowed or not. "What do I think? I'll tell you what I think. I think that this is a travesty of INTERNATIONAL proportions and that I will never work with Malfoy" I said sneering at the last part.

This seemed to set Malfoy off "Listen Granger, I hate you, I really do and I would love to go back in time to stop whatever possessed the minister to think that I would be okay working with you. But you have to admit that the disappearances in Nocturnal Alley are no laughing matter and that we have to have the best working this case. Now as your beloved POTTER is not here, you'll have to make do with me understand."

It took me time but I understood the severity of the matter. I nodded along and motioned for the minister to continue. He said something about the mission and about how we would have back-ups around the clock and that we would have to work late nights. I was physically present but mentally I was wondering as to how on earth I was going to work with the chuffer of a person standing beside me.

Hey guys do this is the new chapter... i hope you like it. Just stick around for a little while, you'll not regret it.

XOXOXo- cupcakehugs234 Page 4