Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Harry Potter characters or anything from Harry Potter. The only thing that I own is plot and any characters that you don't recognize.
Kayley threw open the door to her office and was relieved to find that no one was
in there. She opened the heavy book and began looking for the spell she wanted.
Mrs. Kipling came in that afternoon, she was minus Ethan Phelps. Kayley gave up at the end of the day and went home. She was too tired to bring the book.
Three days had passed and Kayley once again set to finding a suitable spell. This time she was successful. She closed her eyes and pointed at the door. She spoke the spell clearly and when she opened her eyes, she faced nothing but the blank wall.
Mrs. Kipling had been watching her with interest and now turned in her seat to face Kayley. "Now how will we open the door?" She inquired politely. Well, it sounded polite. Kayley knew it was really intended to point out that she had made a mistake, but she hadn't. Kayley strolled over to her desk and pulled out a pen and piece of paper. She wrote something on it and handed it to Mrs. Kipling.
"That is the counter spell. Say it to the blank wall and the door will appear. After you enter it will disappear again."
"Right," Mrs. Kipling said, tucking the paper into her pocket, apparently still not believing that this was a good idea. "By the way, the Minister wants to see you." She said turning to her own desk and writing something.
"What for?" Mrs. Kipling shrugged. Kayley had sat down at her own desk, but she now stood and walked to the door. It didn't take her long to get to the Minister's office. She knocked on the door and entered after she heard him say 'come in'.
Kayley sat in the chair across from him with the wooden desk between them.
"Are you ready to go back?" He asked. Kayley stared at him. The sixteenth of December was next week. She had completely forgotten about going back.
"Yes, sir." She said, glad that he didn't want to talk about Ethan Phelps.
"Alright then, I just wanted to remind you. Be sure and get plenty of sleep on the fifteenth."
"Yes, sir." Kayley said standing. When she got back to her office, she was momentarily surprised to find Mrs. Kipling had already left—then she looked at the clock. Mrs. Kipling had gotten off work about ten minutes ago. After Kayley cleaned off her desk, she decided to leave early. She picked up her cloak, glad to have it back and left the office, checking to make sure that the door was gone before she left the building.
Kayley ate supper quickly that night. It seemed like tiredness had swept down upon her all at once and she was ready to go to bed. She took one of the quickest showers she had ever taken and went to bed.
Tap! Tap! Tap! Kayley stirred in her sleep. TAP! TAP! TAP! She opened her eyes groggily. "What?" She yawned. The door opened and the butler was, once again framed by light in her doorway.
"Mr. Malfoy is here to see you, miss." He said.
"Again?" He nodded.
"Shall I ask him to leave?"
"No…no, I'll be right down." Garvin turned to leave, "Garvin, turn on the light, please." Kayley said sitting up. He flipped on the light.
"Anything else, miss?" He paused.
"No, that's all, thank you." Kayley swung her legs over the side of the bed as the door clicked shut. She dressed quickly, but did not neglect her hair or the dark lines that were sure to be under her eyes.
When she entered the sitting room, Garvin stood in the doorway that eventually lead to the kitchen waiting for her. She sat down across from Draco. "Can I get you any refreshments?" Garvin asked.
"Nothing for me," Draco said.
"Umm, coke." Kayley said. Garvin left to get her drink and Kayley turned her attention back to Draco.
"So," she said, starting to feel more awake. She was hoping that he wasn't here to get information. She hadn't done anything since she got back besides increase security in her office. "What brings you all the way over here?"
"I actually came to see if they had…err...assigned someone else to…observe the progress in the Ministry." Garvin noiselessly handed Kayley her coke. She took a sip and he left as noiselessly as he had entered.
"No, I haven't been replaced." She said, and then seeing where this was going she said, "I'm going back the sixteenth."
"Has anything important happened since you got back?"
"No, nothing important to you. I've been too busy to do anything important."
"Too busy doing anything important to me or in general?"
She smirked, a new thought just dawning on her. "I haven't done anything important to anyone except me."
"So, how have you been occupying your time?"
Kayley took another drink, trying to decide what to say. " I caught a man in my office the other day and I've been coming up with new security measures."
"What did you come up with?"
Kayley paused. Why did he think she would tell him that? "Is that all you came here for?" She asked calmly. He looked blank. "To see when I'm coming back?" She supplied.
"Oh, yes." He said. Kayley took another drink of her half-finished coke and set it on the table.
"Garvin!" The butler appeared instantaneously. "Please show Mr. Malfoy to the door." Kayley watched them go until they were almost to the doorway that led to the front door. Then she went back to her room.
Kayley spent the next several days preparing for her trip back to Britain. She didn't work late and ate regularly, since she had gotten used to skipping lunch, and sometimes breakfast. She also started preparing the files and documents that she wanted to take with her. She had a problem though, how could she keep the files safe while she wasn't working? She thought about it several times during the days she spent preparing.
Then on December fourteenth she woke up to both a world filled with snow, (her's anyway) and a cold. She sneezed all day, several people advised her to take a potion, but she refused. That night she hardly slept, she was worse the next day. After work, she finally caved (sort of) and went to a Muggle store that was on her way home and bought some Muggle cold medicine.
Kayley slept a little better that night, but still woke up ill refreshed and tired. She wearily sent her trunk to Mr. Malfoy's. Luckily, she had had an epiphany about what to do with her confidential documents. They were neatly tucked in the hem of her cloak sleeve as safety pins.
Kayley took the toast that Lucky offered her in a daze. Then she groggily Apparated to work. Mrs. Kipling met her as she was on her way down the hall. Kayley sneezed her greeting and Mrs. Kipling looked worried.
"Why didn't you take a potion for your cold?" Kayley shrugged. "I don't think you should go." Kayley threw her a dirty look.
"I'b going." She said firmly and then sniffed. Mrs. Kipling shook her head, but didn't argue.
Kayley wasn't sure why she had to see the Minister before she left, but that was what she had been told to do.
"Miss Daniels," the Minister said. "You look awful."
"Danks." Kayley said after she sneezed.
"I want you to go to St. Mungo's, just to see how well it's operating and such. Get more information on their plan, please. I think that's about it. Also, remember anything that you think is important. You'll be back by the twenty-fourth?" Kayley sniffed involuntarily.
"Ob course, Binisder."
"Are you sure you're alright to go?" The Minister asked.
"Ob course, Binisder." Kayley sneezed and then Apparated before the Minister could change his mind.
Kayley appeared in front of the front gate of Malfoy Manor. In front of the locked gate of Malfoy Manor. "Shit." Kayley said staring at the lock. She then sneezed again. Kayley pulled out her wand and pulled her cloak closer. "I'b invited, damn it." Kayley said to the gate, brandishing her wand. The gate made no response. Kayley set to undoing the security enchantments that surrounded the huge house.
She felt rather stupid standing on his doorstep, half-frozen, ringing his doorbell. She also felt surprised when it worked and a butler opened the door. The old butler looked surprised too. "May I help you?" Kayley sniffed and then shivered. "I'b here do see Bister Balfoy." She said. The butler about shut the door too keep her out while he checked, but Kayley put her foot in the door. "You're kidding, right?" She asked, turning her head to sneeze.
"Is there a problem, Luis?" A voice said behind the malicious butler.
"No, sir, there's just a woman here to see you. Shall I send her away?" Not even trying to keep the spitefulness out of his voice.
"That won't be necessary." Draco said pushing the door open, and sending the butler a clear message to move out of the way and that he was dismissed. Kayley stepped in and he shut the door behind her. She leaned heavily on the wall behind her, hoping she wouldn't pass out from the tiredness that the long walk to his front door hadn't helped.
"You look awful." Draco commented. Kayley rolled her eyes.
"You bust be the billionth person do say dat do be." Kayley sniffed.
"Why don't you take a potion?" Kayley gave a funny sounding laugh with her cold and drowsiness.
"I'd kill byself. Dow, if you'll excuse be, Bister Balfoy, I'b going do bed." She picked herself up off of the wall and started to the stairs. What if she passed out on the way up there? Someone would have to carry of levitate her to bed or leave her there. That thought and the cold made her shiver.
When Kayley reached the room she had been assigned the last time she 'visited,' she did pass out immediately on the bed. When Kayley woke up the room was dark, she was stretched out flat on her stomach. Her shoes were hurting her feet and her face was in a wet spot of snot and drool since she had been sleeping on her stomach instead of her back. She sat up. Oh great, where was her wand? "Lumos" Kayley whispered. Her wand lit up beside her on the bed, where her arm had been a second ago. It was a miracle she hadn't broken it in her sleep. She picked it up, "Incendio." The wall sconces lit up and Kayley got up and stumbled to her trunk. She pulled out a pair of sweat pants and a long-sleeved shirt she had brought to sleep in. She pulled out the bottle of Muggle medicine and took a drink, without bothering to even glance at the instructions. She replaced the cap and put the bottle back into her trunk.
She flipped the pillow over and crawled under the covers and fell back to sleep.
"Miss Kayley! Miss Kayley! Please wake up!" Kayley opened one eye with some difficulty, since they had apparently crusted over. A house elf stood over her holding a potion bottle. "Master wants Miss to drink potion and go to breakfast." Kayley glared at the little elf.
"Go way." She mumbled before rolling over and going back to sleep. The poor little house elf shouted at her some more before giving up.
Kayley woke up, but did not open her eyes. She couldn't. She started working on gently massaging the crust off before she was tapped on the shoulder. "Here, Miss." A house elf squeaked and Kayley felt a warm, wet washcloth in her hands. She then went to work wiping the crust off and keeping the fresh goop from getting out of control. This trip would seriously suck if she was going to be sick the whole time, Kayley thought. When she opened her eyes, she saw a blank wall. The door was behind her. Kayley gave her eyes one last wipe and then rolled over to get out of the bed on the other side. She wondered where the little house elf had gotten to. Then she realized that the elf was gone, but she wasn't the only one in the room. Draco sat regally in a high backed chair against the wall he was holding a small potion vile.
"Is it Sudday?" Kayley asked carelessly, deciding not to get out of the bed.
"Yes, you slept quite awhile." He said. Kayley looked at the folds in the bedspread, where she had disturbed it.
"Sorry, I hab a tendency to sleep quite a bit after cross-condinendal Apparition. It always wears be out." She explained. She wanted to ask him why exactly he was in her room, but she didn't know how to phrase the question.
"The house elf told me you didn't take the potion. I brought you another one." He said lazily tossing the vile to her. She caught it with ease, and sat and stared at it for a while. She could drink it. She wouldn't be of any use to him dead, surely it wasn't poison. Deciding she had nothing to lose, Kayley uncorked the bottle and tipped it into her mouth. It burned her throat, and chest after it went down. It made her eyes water and gave her a headache, and she felt smoke rushing out of her ears.
It took her a minute to recompose herself. Had it worked? Was it better? Kayley's first thought was about her eyes, her most recent, and annoying problem. They felt okay now, Kayley reached up a finger to touch the corners gently, they felt all right too. Kayley sniffed and didn't hear any thing. Her nose was no longer stuffed up, and when her throat quit burning, she realized that it was no longer sore. "Thank you." She said turning to Draco. He nodded.
"Lunch is ready." He said, watching Kayley set the empty vile on the bedside table.
"What time is it?" Kayley said clearly.
"It's almost one." Draco said checking the clock that was clearly visible on the wall, Kayley blushed slightly.
"If you'd… err… leave, I'd get dressed." Kayley said.
"Of course, excuse me." Draco said standing.
Kayley took a quick bath and pulled her robes on over her jeans. She was still annoyed about having to unlock the gate herself. He knew she was coming, why hadn't he unlocked them? It still confused Kayley as she pulled a brush through her hair.
Kayley entered the dining room and took her now usual seat. "Thanks again for the potion." Kayley said appreciatively. "I could never make a potion, and," Kayley blushed a little, "unfortunately I wasn't kidding about my potions being deadly. My brother could make wonderful potions, but he failed miserably at transfiguration and charms."
"How did you do in transfiguration and charms?" Draco asked conversationally. Kayley took a sip of her wine. She sighed, thinking of her meeting with Professor Jarvis.
"I excelled." She said simply. "How did you do in school?"
"Average at most subjects, but I excelled at potions." He smirked. "I'll make you another potion tonight." He said. Kayley nodded as the redheaded girl cleared the table.
Draco stood and helped Kayley out of her chair. "If you'll excuse me, I have some work to do." He said. Kayley nodded and started off toward the library.
Kayley got up early the next morning, so that she would have plenty of time to get ready for work. She didn't imagine that Draco was up yet. She knew that if she didn't have a job she wouldn't be up yet. She dressed quickly, since she was running behind. She hurried down the stairs to eat breakfast quickly by herself, just like she would at home.
Kayley was surprised however when Draco was already sitting at the table sipping coffee with Daily Prophet. Kayley sat across from him almost shyly; she didn't think that he had heard her come in. He hadn't stood up while she seated herself. She tried to be as quiet as she could as she poured herself a cup of coffee. She didn't want to disturb him if she hadn't already. He folded the paper and laid it aside. He didn't seem surprised to see her.
"Did you sleep well?" He asked politely.
"Yes, very well, thank you." Kayley said spreading butter on a piece of toast. He nodded.
"Don't forget you can't Apparate from here." Draco reminded her quietly.
"Oh my gosh!" Kayley said jumping up. "What time is it?"
"About ten 'till eight." Draco replied. Kayley started for the door, toast in hand, and then turned remembering her manners.
"Good-bye, Mr. Malfoy." She said, before turning back around and rushing to the door. Replaying what she had just done, Kayley felt foolish and like she had acted like a little kid.
Kayley Apparated to the visitor's entrance, like she had on her first visit. This time, though, she went straight to Ms. Weasley's office. She knocked on the door and entered after she was bidden. Ms. Weasley stood and crossed the room to meet her. They shook hands.
"Miss Daniels, it's nice to see you again." Ms. Weasley said, "Please sit down."
Kayley took a seat opposite of Ms. Weasley. "I thought we might continue the tour and then there's a briefing at one." Ms. Weasley said. Kayley nodded. "By the way, "Ms. Weasley said reaching into her desk drawer, "You don't need to enter through the visitor's office next time." She said handing Kayley a card. Kayley slipped it into her pocket without looking at it.
"I need to see St. Mungo's." Kayley said.
"Alright, I'm sure we can do that before you leave." Ms. Weasley said. She stood and Ms. Weasley led her out to finish the tour that had been unfinished on her last trip.