Karma
Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy couldn't believe his luck. This was his sixth day at work and he wasn't enjoying it one bit. He had been beaten up by his father and disowned by him along with it. His mother had stood against it of course, be Draco had warned her that if she made a ruckus about it, she would land herself in trouble.
His father had hated him for failing his task and for being weak. When he got into Azakaban, he was infuriated and when he finally managed to escape, he wasn't any better. He still had all the galleons and property of the Malfoy fortune but he still wasn't satisfied. One of the reasons was his son.
After Draco was verbally and physically abused, he got disowned. His father had made sure that he didn't have any money, clothes or a home. He also made sure that he didn't have any valueble possession that he could sell. So Draco Malfoy was done for. He had about three galleons to his name, and only the clothes that he had been wearing at the time.
Now, here he was, serving his enemy. Hermione Mudblood Granger. He never wanted to serve her, of course, but considering that this was his fifth job, he had shut up. He had been fired four times after either strangling the manager, screaming and protesting, or just refusing to do the job. But now, old Mr. Shiro was nice enough to give him this job and he wasn't going to get fired, or else, he wouldn't have enough money to eat three meals a day. Stealing or conjuring food was not a valid option.
He had been hunting for a place to stay, and ended up staying in one of the local dormitories with random people. He started sweeping the floors, and washing the windows for the place. In return, he got a couple of galleons and didn't have to pay to stay there. This was his first job, and since he had never worked before in his life, he ended up quitting.
Also, known as an Ex Death Eater didn't help matters at all. People had spat on him treated him with so much disgust, that at one point of time, Malfoy would've rather just jumped into a ditch and died.
After Granger paid the bill, she had once again summoned Malfoy again.
"Please tell me who owns this restaurant," she asked politely.
"Mr. Shiro. Shiro Tanaka," was the monotone reply.
"Right, thanks." She left a reasonable tip before making her way outside the restaurant.
Draco went into a corner near the kitchen, and sunk back into the little red chair. He sighed to himself, contemplating his life. He didn't think it would end up as messed as this. Serving Granger her food and water. Imagine what his family and Slytherin friends would say to this, he thought bitterly.
"Ah Draco," said a small asian woman suddenly coming from the opposite direction with a walking stick. Her greying hair was in a neat bun. She wore a beautiful and classic kimono, made out of red silk.
"Yes, Mrs. Tanaka?" He asked back, trying to be as polite as possible. She was after all, his boss's wife.
The woman slowly walked to him. "You knew that young girl, didn't you?"
"Yes, unfortunately." He looked irritated.
The lady gave him an unsatisfied glare. Draco could see that she didn't like his attitude towards that customer. Her presence was already annoying, and there was no need for her unending questions.
Hermione was still trying to process the fact that it was Draco Malfoy who was her waitress. She couldn't say she knew Shiro Tanaka, but she knew that he wasn't in his right mind to hire Draco Malfoy. Nope, it must've been the old age.
She quickly shook her head and sent a letter to her colleague about the project that she was finished with. She then went upstairs to take a nap, and relax, to let all tension that the events of today, flow out of her like liquid.
She woke up sometime in the night, just before dinner. She saw an owl waiting patiently for her near the window will in her kitchen. She walked up to it, which was hooting softly and gently removed the letter that it carried. She gave him an owl treat before opening the letter and reading it.
It read:
Hi Mia,
I received your previous letter, which was accurately written about the project we were working on. I'm extremely pleased that we're done working with the thought chamber, after you figured out the specific spell and charm to activate the object. Apparently, the muggles call the phenomenon of this object which reads minds "Telepathy" which is akin to Legilimency. Help me here, I'm a little confused. What's the difference?
Anyhow, I am sitting here and writing this on my desk, trying to create a whimsical response to the second part of your letter. Yes, I think Mr. Daewood was satisfied with what we've done, however, I refuse to believe he was happy with our last project. Remember how we delayed? Yes, I always manage to wince to myself bitterly, when I think of that ridiculous fiasco. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to end my letter here. Until then, farewell!
Christoph Kramaeik
Hermione was smiling to herself as she quietly read the letter. She would answer him later on.
Her pet name was Mia and Christoph was her Unspeakable colleague. Mr. Daewood was the head of their department who was a man with slick black hair, and a black beard. He was tall and he carried himself with a lot of pride.
Christoph was merely a friend that she started working with a little over a year ago. He was eight months younger to her and a half-blood. The both of them enjoyed working together and his level of intelligence was respectable. He had a unique colour of hair, that is seen on the bark of a tree mixed with the respectable light colour of honey.
His eyes were piercing colour of amber, which were sharp and observed all the events that took place around him. His posture gave out self confidence and presence, rarely ever slumping. Overall, Hermione had respect for her colleague.
On a cloudy Monday morning, Hermione arrived at the department of mysteries, where she found a small lady behind a big black desk with the name of Florence Kerr. Kerr was a muggle born like Hermione, but had raven black hair in a ponytail and horn rimmed glasses. She was thin, petite and short, and walked extremely fast on her heels for her height. Her black eyes were used to seeing the paper work of the Ministry, since she was also the secretary for Mr. Daewood. She was well dressed, with a smart black skirt till her knees and long sleeved with shirt and a suit to match.
"Ah Mia," Florence said with a small smile," you're early today."
"Yes, better early than late. Has Christoph arrived yet?"
"No, but you can go right in to your office and wait. When he arrives, the both of you can meet Mr. Daewood,"
Hermione nodded and thanked her, before picking up her briefcase and walking into her little office. Her office had a mahogany table and papers neatly stacked to the side, with a quill and a bottle of black ink. She sat down behind it, and pulled out a book that she was reading, since she had finished her pending work.
About ten minutes later, she heard someone rapping on her door.
"Come in," she said.
"Mia, it's me, Christoph. Shall we see Mr. Daewood?" He asked, slowly coming into her office.
Hermione got up and straightened out her formal outfit and put her hair in a neat bun. She couldn't go in a haphazard state.
"Yes, let's talk to him now," Hermione said quietly, before following him outside of her office. They both slowly walked towards his office, both anxiously wondering whether what the result of their work would be.
After the old man greeted them, he sat them down and told them that they had done a fairly good job, as compared to their last attempt. Hermione was pleased with herself and Christoph was relieved to hear this. The both of them had then received a bonus, and now had a choice to move from the thought chamber to any other chamber that they pleased. He told them that today that they could sit together and do some light work, while trying to figure out what other chamber they would like to do a project for.
The two of them strolled out happily and went to Christoph's office since it was bigger. They then decided resume the paperwork that had given them.
"That went well. What chamber do you want to do next?" Hermione asked as she sat herself down opposite him.
"I don't know, maybe Time Chamber? We both have till Friday to decide, don't we?"
"Yes, but I wonder who I'll get if we chose different chambers," Hermione said thoughtfully. She looked at a portrait of the Great Wall of China above Christoph's head, where there were random people walking up and down. It was a Moving picture.
"Hmm, in a way I hope that doesn't happen. We actually work well,"
Her eyes fell down to her hands. "Yeah, we were lucky on this one."
The two of them decided to end their conversation and continue their respective work. They were filling up forms for people, and writing letters to various other people who worked in The Ministry and the people who were clients. They were half way through just before lunch and the two of them had yet again started chatting on the various chambers that they could choose from.
Christoph had suggested that they go out for lunch to a little restaurant that he liked, which was down the street. Hermione agreed, and then the two of them started out.
She was animatedly talking about the research she had done previously about Time chamber, where she had read about a man named Darian Elsvich. Christoph listened with a keen ear and agreed with her whenever she came up with her opinions.
Hermione was so involved in explaining Elsvich's theories, she didn't notice which restaurant Christoph had taken her into. It only struck her when she entered.
"Is this Mr. Tanaka's restaurant?" She asked slowly, observing the dim lanterns and picking up the aroma of lavender.
"Yes it is, I love the food here," he answered, leading her to a table in the corner. He pulled out a chair for her before he sat down himself. He saw her apprehensive expression.
"Anything wrong?" He asked.
Hermione looked to her right, where she saw an upset Malfoy trudge slowly towards her. His posture showed that he was in no mood to serve anyone and his mouth was set in a straight line.
"Oh no, not all," she said quietly to him.
HEADS UP: KRAMAEIK WILL NOT BE ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED WITH HERMIONE. HE'S A CATALYST. I don't do Love Triangles. Thank you for the previous reviews, I would love it if you dropped a line as short as "Nice" or "Okay" or maybe even "I reviewed"?