The ride to the ministry was long and full of awkward silence, but Hermione happily noticed that the rain was letting up and she could now see around the car. Draco kindly opened the window and switched spots with her so she could watch the city sights pass by. Everyone here was so… grungy. She knew that Seattle was known for that sort of garage rock or whatever, but didn't realize the whole of the population would look like so. The amount of beards and flannels made her question the city's sanity and cleanliness. "You'd think soap didn't exist or something." Draco grumbled, obviously noticing the same thing as he peered lazily over her shoulder. Hermione nodded.

The Space Needle suddenly came into view and she leaned out the window a bit, gawking at the odd shape and height of the towering monument. She glanced over at Mccoy, who was staring straight ahead like the back of the passenger seat in front of him held all the secrets of the world. "Mccoy," she cleared her throat, to which he rolled his eyes and glared in her direction, eyebrows raised. "Will we have time to tour the city?"

He sighed in annoyance. "Yes, we won't be keeping you hostage."

Hermione scowled at the man, curious as to how he was so high up in the ministry. "Obviously."

The car stopped just under the Space Needle near a colorful mess of a building. Draco and Hermione stared upon getting out of the vehicle. "What the hell is that?" Draco spat.

"It's the EMP. The experience music project." Mccoy mumbled.

Draco scoffed. "Why did they make it look like a pile of painted garbage then?"

A smirk appeared on Mccoy's face and Hermione noticed there seemed to be no malice in it. "Welcome to Seattle. The Ministry's this way." They followed Mccoy to the foot of the Needle, where a gift shop sat open and full of people. He led them around to the back of the shop and mumbled a short incantation. A large wooden door appeared and Mccoy waved them through. "Get in the first elevator on your right," He said, still sounding bored. "It will take you to the top to meet with Anderson and Kingsley."

Hermione turned in the doorway and frowned. "Kingsley is here?"

Mccoy nodded "He's been here since last night. Apparated around 9 o'clock." Without so much as a goodbye, he shut the door behind them, leaving them alone beside the elevator doors.

"That man sure was a charmer," Draco hummed sarcastically. "I'd love to see him again. Hopefully soon."

Hermione smirked and pushed the elevator button, which made a loud ding and opened almost immediately. "What do you think Kingsley is doing here?" She asked once the elevator started moving upward.

Draco shrugged and leaned against the back of the small box. "He's probably here to make sure things get done the way they should. You never know with Americans."

"You can't base your entire opinion of Americans on that Mccoy twat." She sighed.

Draco's eyes widened and her stared at her. "Hermione Granger, did you just swear?"

She kept her eyes locked straight ahead, smirking at his awe in his tone. "I do swear, Draco. I am an fully grown adult."

"And a short one at that."

"Watch yourself. I'm here to help make sure you survive."

"I don't need you your help to survive."

"I can make sure you don't."

"Don't believe that's possible."

"Bite me."

"Don't tempt me."

Draco chuckled at Hermione's disgusted shudder. The elevator stopped finally and the doors opened with a low whirring sound. They stepped out to see a large business office with large windows that revealed all the sites of the city below. Hermione couldn't help herself, running over and staring down at everything. "This is brilliant."

"You should see the view from my office," someone said behind them. They turned to see a very handsome gentleman, in a very handsome suit, standing very handsomely besides Kingsley. "It's ten times better than this. You can see everything." He had a wide set grin spread across his face, and his deep dark blue eyes shone bright in the glare of the sun peeking from behind the rain-filled clouds. Hermione swallowed back the lump that was growing in her throat, struggling to find words behind her swollen tongue. He was SO handsome.

Draco noticed her hesitation, rolled his eyes, and stepped forward with an arm extended. "Draco Malfoy, Auror.. And you are?"

The man grabbed his hand with gumption shook it. "Austin Anderson, American Minister of Magic. And might I say it is a pleasure, Mister Malfoy."

Draco winced. "Please, call me Draco. Mister Malfoy was my father."

"And from what I've heard and what I see, you are nothing like him, my friend." Anderson said. Draco released his hand with a tight smile and stepped back. Anderson moved to Hermione, who still stood frozen beside the window. "And you have got to be Hermione. It is a pleasure to meet you as well."

He took her hand and kissed the back of it. She blushed feverishly and swallowed again. "It's very nice to meet you too, Sir." She stuttered. His accent was astonishingly attractive. Hermione had never taken to liking the American accent as much. It made them sound dull and ignorant. However, this man was very obviously well educated and all around wonderful.

Kingsley pulled Hermione out of her awkward trance and into a large hug, whispering into her ear. "Wipe the drool from your mouth, dear. He's married."

Hermione felt the excitement drain in one large exhale and released her friend. "Good to see you too, Minister." Kingsley chuckled and shook Draco's hand.
"Please," Anderson held his arms out, smiling welcomingly. "Let's move to the conference room. We'll discuss tactics and plan some with some of my team members."

Hermione cleared her throat and suddenly found her voice. "How many members of your team will be assisting us?"

"There will be five of us helping you two out, including myself and Mr. Mccoy." He looked over his shoulder at them, concern clouding his features. "I trust he wasn't too terrible to you? He isn't the fuzziest of men, however he was the only one free to pick you up."

"Well I would never think to use fuzzy to describe him." Draco said. He looked over at Hermione and smiled a smile so genuine it hurt, and she couldn't help but grin right back.

A/N: So I know this chapter was a bit boring but i had to introduce the setting a bit, as well as the Minister. The next few chapters will be awesome and full of action and romance and blahtie blah. Thanks for reading! R&R!