CHAPTER 4

"Malfoy?" she asked, her voice strained with shock.

"Weasley," he said, walking over to his desk calmly and sitting in his seat. He raised his feet onto his desk and began to buff his finger nails, not looking at her.

She sputtered for a few moments before taking a calming breath. "You're my partner?"

"I am," he answered.

Ginny's legs could no longer hold her up, and she fell ungracefully into her chair. How could this happen? How could Tonks pair her up with her childhood tormentor? She watched as Draco studied his fingers, her gaze traveling from his hands to his face. He hadn't changed much, she noted. His silver hair was to his shoulders now, and his shoulders were wider. His face was no longer as pointy, having filled out more, but still chiseled. Her eyes traveled to his Auror robes and the badge on his chest.

"You… an Auror..." she said skeptically, studying him.

His gray eyes rose to her brown ones and he smiled. "Needed a job."

"Why an Auror?" she asked, sitting back in her seat, but still watching his eyes.

He placed his feet back on the floor, resting his elbows on the desk in front of him and leaning forward. "Well, the left over Death Eaters are still pissed at me for switching sides, for giving away their secrets along with Severus. I realized I would need to defend myself, protect myself. What better way to do it than legally? As an Auror? Kill them before they kill me."

"I see you haven't changed much," she mused. "Still only worried about yourself."

"And I assume you joined for some noble Gryffindor reason?" he asked slyly.

"I joined to help people."

"Ah... I see neither of us has changed much," he said with a smile, leaning back in his chair and placing his hands behind his head.

"Mm..."

"Although, I was almost certain that you joining up was some pathetic effort to find Potter and trap him. Surprised you haven't done that yet, actually"

Ginny growled low in her throat, "I can see why none of your previous partners stayed. I can't believe Tonks would partner me up with you," she grumbled.

Draco simply smiled sardonically "I asked her to."

"What?" Her head snapped up, her long pony tail swinging behind her.

"She didn't want to pair us up at first."

"Why? Why would you ask to be paired with me?"

He lowered his arms down to his lap. "We worked well together once."

Memories of the acrid scent of blood, the feeling of adrenalin pumping so fast that you don't know how much time has passed or how your heart is still in your chest, with it drumming so loudly, assaulted her senses. Flashbacks of her back against his, sending curses, and watching out for each other. The feeling of sweat, blood, and grime covering her body... The way he had to carry her off the battle field after the death eaters had fled.

She touched her stomach, fingering where she knew her scar to be under her robes. "Yes. We did, once," she agreed.

He nodded and she looked back up at him. "I was told that you would fill me in on our assignments"

Suddenly there was the sound of a light crack and a house-elf stood in the middle of the room, holding a note out to Draco.

Since the war, house-elves had been set free. They could now choose where to work or whether to work at all. Many of the elves chose to work for establishments, like banks; others chose the Ministry, or Auror HQ. They were highly desired in these positions because of their ability to keep the most difficult and important secrets. They were also very valuable because of their ability to quickly Apparate, making them the perfect messengers. Faster than an owl and very discrete.

Draco took the message from the elf and Ginny watched as the elf quickly disapparated.

He glanced over the note before throwing it down on his desk and walking over to the corner to get his cloak. "We need to go."

Ginny sat there for a moment, her mouth open before shooting up out of her chair. "Where?"

"Assignment," he answered quickly. She squeaked quietly. Her first assignment! She didn't know what to do with herself.

"Wait... I don't know what to do... this is my first assignment," she said. He hadn't even filled her in yet.

"Do you know protocol?" he asked, eyeing her coldly.

"Yes."

"Then you'll be fine," he said, striding to the door and stepping out into the hall.

"But--"

"Live and learn, Weasel," he shot behind him as she hurried to match pace with him.