AN: Hey guys, I'm sosososo sorry its been like centuries since I updated, I promise they'll be more frequent from now! So, Hermione's going to be starting work at the Ministry, strangely enough, where Draco works. ;-)

HERMIONE

I forced myself to pull my duvet off my snug body and my skin met the icy cold air of my cottage. The heating had broken.

Again.

Great. Just what I needed. My stomach let out a sound like an avalanche. Bugger.I don't even know when I last ate. That would explain it.

"HERMIONE!" Ginny screeched "ARE YOU ALIVE?!"

"Yes, sorry, I'm coming no-OOUCH! Agh, shit, that hurt!" I screamed as I stubbed my toe on a leg of my bed.

Excuse my french, that killed.

"Hermione? Oh, 'Mione, what the hell have you been doing?! Me and Harry have been worried shitless about you! How long have you been in bed for? When did you last go out? When did you last eat? What did you eat? How long have you been on your own? Are you okay?"

The rush of Ginny's questions greeted me when I finally managed to hop over to my door and open it. Yeah, hi Ginny, nice to see you too!

"I. DON'T. BLOODY. KNOW!" I yelled at her, storming past her to the bathroom slamming the door behind me.

"Oh, 'Mione, I'm sorry, I've just been so worried about you. I haven't heard from you for about a fortnight and you weren't answering my letters. I'm only angry because I care about you and I'm worried. I love you 'Mione, please open the door?" Ginny moaned, obviously upset.

"Well, actually I'm peeing at the moment, so can you wait a minute?" I tried to laugh, but it didn't really work. When was the last time I actually laughed properly? Blimey, I don't even know.

"Oh, okay, well hurry up peeing, I want a big hug from my best friend" Ginny laughed.

At least she can laugh.

I quickened my peeing and hurried out, because what I really needed was a big hug and to be told that I was loved. She engulfed me in her arms and we just stood holding eachother for ages. Until I realised that tomorrow was my first day working at the Ministry.

"Oh, Ginny, I forgot to tell you!" I said, breaking us apart.

"What?!" She interrupted, blimey, she was impatient!

"I got a job, just to sort of take my mind off things and get me back into a routine. I thought that was what I really needed." I said, quite pleased with myself.

"Hermione! Don't wear yourself out too much, but well done for realising and doing something about it!" She smiled at me.

I really needed some food in my empty stomach, otherwise I'd collapsed right there and then. I made my way into my cute little kitchen and put the kettle on.

"Tea?" I asked as it boiled.

"Mmm, please. That'll suit me perfectly!" She replied.

I made the tea and some toast for myself, I gave Ginny a couple of biscuits, I don't have much in my cupboards.

We sat down in my living room, her in my armchair and I sat with my legs up on my sofa. We sat, chatted and drank tea for what seemed like hours. Time flies when I'm with Ginny, there's always something to talk about and she's a right gossip queen, with Harry and all.

"So, tell me about this new job of yours." Ginny demanded.

"Oh, well I thought I could be quite useful in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts department, so I wrote to the Ministry and they replied within minutes saying they'd love to take me on, with me being muggle born and that. So they said I could start tomorrow, and if I need any help, I can go to Arthur. I thought he'd of told you, or perhaps he doesn't know yet." I pondered.

"Yeah, you would be very good in that department, that's a definite! No, my father hasn't told me, well, to be fair, I haven't seen him recently. They went to Egypt again, but me and Harry didn't fancy it."

"How is Harry by the way?" I asked.

"Oh, he's, you know, just Harry." She laughed. "Just getting on with Auror business and occasionally goes to Hogwarts to visit, but he's just the same as ever!"

We chatted until she had to go back, which was after lunch, about 4pm. I had a shower, made myself some beans and egg and sat with some cocoa and read a fiction book.

DRACO

I sat in bed, reading the Daily Prophet. Nothing exciting. I turned my light off and dozed into a deep sleep.

My alarm woke me at 7.45am. I tipped out of bed and carried out my usual morning routine and apparated to work.

"Morning Malfoy" "Morning Sir" "Good day Draco" the usual morning greetings met my ears as I made my way to my office.

The only odd surprise, was a familiar bush of brown hair.

Oh Merlin. I felt the bile rising up again at the sight of her.

I glared at her and she met my gaze. Staring back as intently as me.

Maybe I could get her fired?