"Well, well, well. If it isn't the renowned Ms Hermione Granger herself," Malfoy smirked.
"Yes, well noticed, Malfoy." Hermione replied, coldly, "And if it wasn't for you, my parents wouldn't be dead," she muttered so only he could hear.
"Now, now. No need to be like that. Old friends, Granger, old friends."
She leant closer to him and whispered, "I'd rather die."
Malfoy returned her proximity, staring hard into her unforgiving eyes, "Or would you?"
Hermione started, there was something faltering in Malfoy's eyes. Or was it just her imagination?
Malfoy sat up and coughed, "So, Granger. The interview?"
Hermione narrowed her eyes, "I'm only doing this because it's my job; don't assume I've forgiven you, Malfoy."
"You're welcome," came the hearty reply.
Hermione nodded to her secretary, before turning back to her interviewee, who by now, was finishing his tonic.
"Mr. Draco Malfoy, would you like to follow me?" Hermione asked through gritted teeth.
"Yes, certainly." Malfoy climbed from his seat, put on his coat and hat, and followed Hermione.
"Hello to all you happy viewers. Well, as you may well know, we have a famed millionaire with us today: none other than Draco Malfoy. Now, Mr Malfoy, we all know you as the founder of Draconius Reginus Bank, which has become more successful than ever. Tell us, and all those listening to the interviews today, how did you first start?" Hermione asked, smiling at him. Inside, she was writhing with anger.
---
"In Hogwarts, of course, my dearest old home. The place where my heart laid, the unending source of my inspiration, which, naturally, only extends itself in a select few." Malfoy smirked, "It happened one snowy evening, you see, I was busying myself in the library, a magnificent library as I'm sure you'll know, Ms Granger. I was reading the Daily Chronicle, which I received especially from my father everyday, when suddenly; my mind bloomed and formed the beginnings of a great idea."
"And could you offer to us a part of this great idea of yours?" asked Hermione, smiling at Malfoy's pompous gestures.
"Why certainly, why ever not? This great idea – considering the economical and social downfalls of the time, you see, the valiant Harry Potter and his little band of followers had not quite defeated the Dark Lord, as yet."
"You should not criticize Harry Potter as such, Mr Malfoy." Hermione muttered, "He saved your life."
"My life, your life, all our lives. Same thing, really. But I have saved the finance market, have I not?" Malfoy joked, smiling at Hermione, "and a great deal of effort it took me.
"So I decided that with the Malfoy inheritance, from my family, I could invest into the national stock market. I started cautious, only 20 of the funds, which, mind, adds up to quite a considerable amount. As I watched the market, it began to grow. So I put in more, and then more until all the funds were gambled into the market. I should warn now – never try this at home. You may not end up with as much luck as I had. That, year, Ms Granger, was the fastest increase in the stock markets ever recorded in the history of England." Malfoy said.
"And so, did you collect your money together? Or did you further invest it into the stock markets?" Hermione asked keenly.
"Further invested it. For five years. It didn't stop. Kept on growing, but not as fast as the rate on the first year, of course. Now I had a huge stack of money and what better than to invest it again? Into a bank? That, is how I came up with Draconius. Viewers, enjoy!"
"Thank you, Mr Malfoy. We are now going to take a break, don't switch your channel, there's more on the DR Bank in a few moments." Hermione said, smiling into the recorder.
"And…off air!" Called a voice in the background, "Half-hour break, everyone!"
Hermione sighed as she took off her earphones, and picked up her glass of water. Drinking her water, she suddenly felt a pair of eyes on her, watching her, as a predator watches its prey.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" Hermione said, annoyed.
"I want to know what you've been doing all these years." Malfoy said, his eyes not diverting from her face.
"What else? Journalism. It can't be that hard to guess, can it?" Hermione retorted.
"I mean, beside your work. Got married? Had children?" Malfoy asked.
"None of your business what I do. Why do you want to know, anyway? I though Mudbloods meant nothing to you." Hermione glared at him.
"I was…just wondering." Malfoy said, eyes lowered.
Hermione narrowed her eyes, and took her script into her hands.
"Longbottom's become professor at Hogwarts." Malfoy said.
"I would think I knew that already." Hermione replied, coldly.
"No-one I know of has become particularly successful, apart from Potter of course, but he was successful as long as anyone can remember. I hear he and Ginerva are getting married?"
"Yes."
"When's the wedding?"
"Next summer."
"I guess I'm not invited."
Hermione raised her head and peered at Malfoy. An indistinct shadow crossed his face, and then all was cleared. Hermione stopped and stared at his face, something was there, she knew it, but it had gone as suddenly as it had come. Hermione didn't say a word.
"I'm sorry."
Hermione started, "What?"
Malfoy looked uncertain, "I'm sorry for…for everything."
Hermione stared at the person transformed, or so she thought, sitting a few feet away from her.
"I…I know that all these years, I've been doing wrong." Malfoy said, his head down, "I just…I didn't know what to do. All the conflict, all the fear. I guess I lived up to being a Slytherin. I was a coward."
Hermione was speechless.
"I wanted…wanted so much to be up there, you know, in your spotlight. Be like Potter, be like…be like whatever there was to be. I didn't think with my head, I just felt like everything was up against me and all I could do was live up to what I was before. The person everybody hated. The person…the anti-climax of all your heroism. I guess I lived up to it in the end." Malfoy murmered.
Hermione was shaking her head in disbelief, "I don't know what to say."
Malfoy smiled, "You don't need to say anything."