Last chapter on Circa Mundi :
"Granger, make yourself comfortable. I'll be back in a few."
Hermione took a deep breath as she tried to calm her nerves in preparation of the meeting that was to come with Malfoy. She didn't know what she should be expecting and she thought back to his earlier letter, wondering what he would ask of her in exchange for his knowledge on the Lupici.
Chapter 7
It had been a whole three minutes and thirty-two seconds since Malfoy had left the room to accompany his other guest out. Yes, Hermione had been counting the time, something she could always count on to calm her nerves. She had to admit, she found it odd that this Madam Rose had left in the opposite direction of the floo-room, or maybe Malfoy had more than one. Four minutes and thirteen seconds. She wondered if she was in Malfoy's flat, looking around at the room, noticing odd trinkets lingering around here and there. Taking note of the decor, she then wondered if it was indeed a flat or a house that Malfoy owned.
It was after five minutes and forty seconds that Malfoy finally returned to the room, calmly regaining the seat he had occupied earlier.
"Coffee, Granger?"
Hermione looked at him incredulously, wondering where all his politeness was coming from. She presumed he had left the hospital a few minutes only after her, yet after such a short night, Malfoy had still been able to look more put together than she would've after three hours of pampering.
"Um, yes sure..." She trailed off, brows furrowing together.
He proceeded to fill two cups with the steaming liquid, poured a bit of sugar in his and then pushed the tray closer to Hermione so that she was at liberty to put what she wanted in it. As he put his cup to his lips, he raised an eyebrow at her, blowing a short breathe on his coffee so that it would cool down.
"So, Granger, finally decided that even a deatheater's knowledge is worth something these days?"
Hermione dropped the spoon she had then been holding and narrowed her eyes at him, opening her mouth to reply.
"I'm kidding! It was just a joke Granger!" Malfoy bellowed quickly, seeing her somber expression. "As in humor? You do know of jokes, don't you?" He added sarcastically with a genuine smile.
Blink.
Blink, blink.
Hermione looked on at Malfoy, her face scrunching up in a very un-ladylike fashion. She finally let out a sigh as she picked her spoon back up and resumed her task of dropping sugar in her cup.
"You can cut the prince-charming act with me Malfoy, it won't work. Now, down to business."
"Still as bossy as ever, I see."
"The Lupici, Malfoy," she urged on, her patience quickly getting smaller and smaller.
He rolled his eyes in response, in a way that reminded Hermione much of herself. She found it quite disturbing being in his presence without his face bearing the usual smirk or sneer but withstood from placing any comment.
"Keep your pants on Granger, I've had as much sleep as you've probably had and before discussing business such as the Lupici, I'd enjoy getting another cup of coffee in me if you don't mind."
Hermione couldn't help but agree to his statement and so she raised her own mug to her lips, enjoying the heat she felt as the hot liquid poured down her throat. Malfoy finally downed the rest of his and exhaled loudly before speaking again.
"We've yet to discuss the price of my info, might I remind you-"
"What do you want," cut Hermione rather abruptly.
Malfoy raised an eyebrow at her answer and turned his head to look around the study. It was a few seconds of agonizing silence before he resumed speaking again.
"Granger, the things I want in this world have no price."
"Surely there's something I can give you in exchange for your ... Your ... Kn-knowledge?"
Malfoy smiled at Hermione's sudden obvious discomfort.
"I hear you've been digging around Egypt lately?" he asked.
"But- but how d-did you know that! That's confiden-"
"I have my ways, Granger."
She huffed in his direction, clearly confused at the fact that he knew more about her than she thought.
"Fine, but what the bloody hell does my research in Egypt have to do with what you'd want, anyways?"
He turned back to look at her, his expression undecipherable to Hermione.
"You do know what I do for a living, do you Granger," he challenged.
"Um..."
"That's what I thought."
"I... I know..."
"You could say I'm a historian, although that profession doesn't technically exist in our magical society."
"A historian? As in, like when muggles study History?" Hermione replied.
"You're smart Granger," he responded sarcastically with another smile. "Anyways, I understand there should be more than one magical artefact in that site of yours in Egypt?"
After a few seconds of staring him straight in the eyes, those beautiful, magical eyes, 'Uh what?', Hermione finally understood where he was going.
"You want me to bring you back something in exchange for what you know on the Lupici?"
He nodded.
Hermione thought for some time before answering. "You're out of your mind, Malfoy!"
"What's it to you! You don't do anything with what you find anyways!" He replied angrily as he stood up, now pacing around his study.
"You're only after profit! Always was, always will be!" She answered, standing abruptly also.
He whirred around and faced her, suddenly much too close for Hermione's liking. "When are you going to cut that 'I'm never going to change' crap, Granger? Huh? I thought you'd be the most forgiving one of the bunch. Turns out I was wrong."
She breathed deeply, coming to the realization that his closeness was having more effect on her body than she thought it would. Thoughts of his lips on hers resurfaced as she remembered this was the second time in so many days that they stood much closer than they had ever had.
In a sudden burst of confidence, she inched even closer to him, their noses almost touching, her deep brown golden eyes looking up at his own mercurial ones. "I'll believe you've changed Malfoy, when you show me," she said calmly.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened his eyes to look at her again. As close as Hermione stood before him, he could feel the small wisps of air she let out when she breathed. And, was that strawberry he was smelling?
"Then let me," he suddenly said as he took a step back and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Let me show you I've changed and let me come with you on your next excursion."
Hermione blinked once more, trying to make sense of his words.
He could prove to be useful.
That would mean stepping on her pride again and admitting he knew something more than her.
But he knew the Lupici and that could prove its worth if they met.
Then again, she'd have to endure his insufferable presence for a few days.
"I... I can't..." She started, as she looked into his eyes. It was the most genuine look Hermione had ever seen grace his features. His wide eyes made him look like a pleading child and while she stared straight at him, she felt as if she was gazing into his soul. During that fraction of a second, Hermione and Draco didn't exist anymore. They were only two people with no past, caught in what was a tight embrace yet a struggle for power as each looked at the other with a deep, meaningful expression.
"Just let me," he pleaded as one of his hands made its way from her shoulder to her neck. His hand felt warm against her skin and Hermione couldn't felt but shiver as she felt a jolt of electricity run from her neck to the rest of her body.
All of a sudden, she broke out of her trance, remembering who it was that was holding her and stumbled to take a step backwards.
Sure, by judging just the way he acted around her, he might've changed a bit. That didn't mean he didn't still think of her as the bucktooth mudblood Granger from Hogwarts. But all his actions since she had been back in town proved her otherwise.
What an enigma, that man!
"I can't just decide that alone, Malfoy! I need to consult my team!"
"Then by all means, Granger, do you want to use my owl? Better yet, I can go fetch my cellular phone, I'm sure that'll be quicker to get a hold of that Jackson fella you were talking to yesterday!"
Hermione stumbled back in surprise. He was far more observant than she gave him credit for if he remembered Jackson's name. Oh, and did he mention he had a muggle cell phone just now?
She shook her head to clear her thoughts. "You'll have to give me a few days. I'll owl you."
As soon as she let out the words, she stormed back in the direction she remembered was the floo-room.
What a git! She thought angrily as she called out her address and threw herself into the fireplace.
"I still don't understand why we have to go all the way to Western Arabia instead of him just floo-calling us!"
"Hermione, you have to understand, these people don't lend their information to anyone. We have to gain their trust first."
Hermione huffed and threw her quill on the table in front of her. Jackson sat to her left at her dining room table and he raised an eyebrow at her suddenly childish behavior. It wasn't like her to act out when something didn't go her way.
The two were currently discussing a three-day excursion in Western Arabia, following Jackson's lead from his trip to India. He had just arrived the day before and had wasted no time in contacting his partner to tell her of the new plans.
"What's with the tantrum, Granger?" he asked with a smirk.
She snapped her head at him and glared in silence.
"Hmm, alright, fine then. Maybe I'll find myself another partner. Maybe one who's a bit more flexible on her task load then?"
"Alright, alright, I'll go."
"Great!" answered Jackson, clapping his hands together. "I leave tonight to go ahead and set up a few things, but your international portkey will be sent here tomorrow and departure will be ready for the day after, 7am. You should be getting there local time 10am, just follow indications to the lobby and I'll be there waiting for you."
"Um-"
"Also, there might be another advisor joining us."
"Ok, but-"
"I've gone ahead and scouted out some other people outside our team. You never know when a new intelligence could be of help! Oh! And then-"
"Jackson!" almost shouted Hermione.
Turning to look at her, he blushed and cast his eyes to the floor. Whenever he got excited concerning a particular project, he had the bad habit of suddenly gushing out all the information, although sometimes, not in the best of orders.
"I … Uh…" started Hermione.
"Yes?"
"Um… Never mind. I just… I wanted to know if I needed to bring anything in particular?"
"Ha! You're funny Granger, that's a good one! You practically carry around an entire muggle drugstore in that bag of yours!"
Jackson looked at her, grinning. She couldn't help it, knowing he was right, and joined him in enjoying a little joke at her expense. Finally, the other wizard stood up, gathering his papers.
"Good then, if everything's settled, I have to finish packing before my portkey leaves."
"Oh, I wanted to ask, who was that other advisor?" asked Hermione while helping him with the documents.
"Actually, there's nothing certain as of yet, so it wouldn't do any good even if I told you. Nevertheless, he's quite good in his field of expertise – we could really use the help."
"Oh. Alright, I guess."
"Great! Then I'll be seeing you in two days' time love," Jackson leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek before grinning at her and apparating away.
Hermione smiled at the familiarity of his departing gesture. After a failed date little time after they had first met, the duo had agreed that they better worked has partners and co-workers, and not lovers. Jackson was a great man and Hermione could've seen herself with him in the long run, but there was just a little something missing. That little "oomph" her mother always told her her father had.
Since then, Jackson and Hermione had been pretty close and their friendship reminded Hermione much of Harry's and hers own.
Turning to look at the clock that hung on the wall opposite her, Hermione couldn't help but feel a stomach-ache come on, courtesy of not telling her partner the truth. She still wasn't sure about Malfoy's true intentions and had debated telling Jackson the whole time he had been in her flat.
Maybe she could tell him on their trip.
Maybe even when they came back.
Or maybe, just maybe, she could tell Malfoy no, and wouldn't have to tell Jackson anything.
Bugger it all! She would be lying to herself if she didn't admit at least a small part of herself knew he could help them all on their current project. And with that Lupici gang looming just around the corner…
Snapping out of her daze, she finally outlined the rest of her day in her head and turned around to march straight to her room.
Write to Malfoy.
Write checklist for luggage.
Buy gift for James.
Visit Ginny and Harry.
Coming back to her flat not too late tonight, she could even finish taking notes down from all the books she had taken from the Hogwarts library and then wrap everything up tomorrow before leaving.
DM,
Unexpected trip came up.
Will have to get back to you at a later date.
HG
Draco Malfoy smiled to himself, sitting on the luxurious, navy-colored leather chair that sat in the middle of his quaint study.
That witch had another thing coming if she expected Draco Malfoy to just bend to anyone's wish and will and wait around some weeks when pertaining to any one of his propositions. Waving his wand elegantly, he summoned the quill closest to him and started penning a response on a new sheet of parchment.
Finally, staring back at the drying ink a few minutes later, he wondered if Hermione was the type of witch who usually preferredsurprises or organisation. He laughed at his own joke, knowing full well she was most probably the most organised person he had ever known, but smirked to himself as he finally burned up his reply.
"Ah, maybe she could do well with a surprise or two these days," Draco said aloud to himself with a chuckle.
He clapped his hands while he stood from his seat and started humming to himself as he made his way to his kitchen to start on his lunch.
Hermione dusted her suit as she took a step forward into one of the many studies of the Potters' residence. She couldn't help but shiver as she looked around the room and took in her surroundings.
The Golden Trio had made renovating 12 Grimmauld Place as one of their top priorities following the end of the war. Though the group had worked hard to change their minds and tried as best as they could to redecorate the old Black residence, it still felt as though there was a residual feel of dark magic anytime Hermione visited.
Shaking the dark thoughts from her mind, she made her way to the corridor and then down the familiar staircase as she called out Harry's name. As she put her foot down from the last of the stairs, she gasped when she saw a shadow appearing suddenly to her right.
"Hermione, shh!" Harry whispered ever so quietly. "We just put James down and Ginny's going to have a fit if he wakes right back up."
Hermione sighed, putting a hand up to her chest to calm her nerves. She looked to her friend and noticed the dark circles underneath his eyes.
"Do you even sleep, Harry?"
He laughed softly in response and wiggled one of his fingers, pleading her to follow him to the kitchen in silence. They entered the room and as soon as the door was closed, he put up a silencing charm on the room so as to not wake their newborn with any noise.
"Sleep! … You're funny!" he muttered, reaching to a cupboard for three mugs.
"I guess even the Boy Who Lived isn't a superhero if he's having a hard time sleeping because of his newborn," Hermione teased while she helped him prepare some coffee.
Harry poked her in the ribs and narrowed his eyes at her obvious jab at his war-hero title.
"Anyways," he started, stifling a yawn. "I thought you weren't due for a visit until next week?"
"Oh, can't I visit my best friend without following an agenda now?"
"Hermione, please. You always announce yourself when you visit. And that's without mentioning you floo-calling Ginny three hundred times to ask if you can bring something over."
"I like to be prepared!"
Harry scoffed. "Hermione, there has to be a reason you suddenly pop in un-announced, and especially with nothing to offer in the return of our hospitality."
Hermione's eyebrows shot through her hairline as she slapped Harry playfully on the arm. He laughed at his own joke while pouring the freshly made coffee in each of their mugs.
"It's just a joke Hermione! Come on, you need to re-familiarize yourself with a bit of humor now. Can't you recognize sarcasm anymore?"
Hermione sat herself at the table and was surprised to catch herself thinking of a certain wizard who had uttered similar words to her only so recently. Her demeanor suddenly changed as she was reminded of the primary reason of her visit.
"Fine … It's work," she answered her friend. Harry sat down opposite her and dawned a comical expression of mock-surprise.
"Surprise, surprise!"
"Oh shut it, you! We have a lead-"
"Hermine, you always have a lead. You always have a new project. You always have a reason of being out of town. What gives?"
The witch sighed as she looked to her best friend. He was right, she was rarely in town anymore and when she was, she was always busy and rarely spent some quality time with her friends.
"I've been discussing it with Ron recently, actually. I apologized to him yesterday night at the hospital for having been a ghost lately and I've sworn to myself that I'd try and be around more often now."
At this, Harry's expression changed and he smiled widely.
"That's great news 'Mione!"
"I said try. In the practical sense of the term, I can't promise anything, but I want to be around more. I have to admit, I think I've missed out on a lot between university and all the projects all around the world. I miss you all terribly."
"We miss you too!"
"And … I… I just can't help but shake the feeling that you guys have mo-moved on to a new group of fr-friends…"
Harry stared at her in disbelief, hardly believing her train of thought. Hermione hiccupped as she tried to swallow back down her tears.
"We haven't moved on Hermione, there's just been a lot of change since the war. You've just … You've missed out on a few things and the new friends we've made since, well … They can also be your friends if you give them the chance!"
"But Harry … Zabini? Parkinson? I mean … Those two, I can maybe try and accept that they've seen the light. I just… Even you have to admit they weren't that bad in school, just lost puppies shall we say? But now, Malfoy? I'm just having a hard time believ-"
"You need to give them a chance Hermione!"
"But-"
"No! Enough of all that Slytherin-Gryffindor Hogwarts bullcrap! People change and grow up, and you have to step on that ego of yours and face the fact that these people are not the same as when we grew up! It's been eight years Hermione, eight years!"
Hermione sat frigid in front of her best friend as he outright scolded her. He seemed to realise his outburst as he suddenly quieted down and downed his coffee with a big gulp.
"Hermione?" questioned another voice from the other end of the kitchen.
The pair sat at the table both turned to look at the origin of the noise and Hermione smiled as she recognised Ginny.
"What are you guys on about? It was all quiet one minute ago and suddenly, it was like two Weird Sisters groupies were arguing over which was the best-looking member of the band!"
Harry looked at the table in defeat when he realised his screaming must've made the Silencing Charm wear off. Hermione understood what had happened and waved her wand, putting a new charm up as she beckoned Ginny to sit down with them.
"Maybe I need another woman's opinion on this. Gin, what do you see in the Slytherins that make them so… I guess, friendly-looking now? And be honest!"
Ginny smiled at her friend's question and apparent disbelief at the transformation in attitude their former enemies had since the end of the war.
"Well, it didn't happen overnight. Remember the other day when I told you about how Malfoy 'apologised' to Ron?"
Hermione nodded and took another sip of her coffee.
"It kinda just came from everyone like that, a bit, I guess. Except Parkinson! We had a near shouting-match before she came to her senses and admitted her past wrongs."
The other witch couldn't help but smile as she remembered Ginny's account of their famous encounter in Diagon Alley.
"This might've been already said to you 'Mione but, you have to give them a chance. If they prove you otherwise, than you can go back to hating their asses, but you won't know until you try!"
Hermione mulled over her friend's words and finished her coffee. For an instant, she thought of telling them of her meeting with Draco, but a tiny voice inside her head told her it wasn't the time to. Maybe she and Ginny would have a girl's night when she came back and she could ask her for advice on his offer of partnership.
"Maybe you're right," she admitted to the couple. Harry smiled and Ginny put her hand over Hermione's.
"I always am," she replied with a squeeze.
"Oh please!"
"What! You know I am…" and she winked at Hermione.
The trio laughed at once and the familiarity of their usual gatherings settled in.
"Hm, before I forget, I actually did bring something Harry!" Hermione said as she struggled to get a hold of her bag. She dug around for a while before pulling a long box out of it and setting it on the table.
"A gift for my godson!" she exclaimed brightly.
Harry and Ginny both looked surprise at the sudden offering and both bickered about who got to open the present. Hermione laughed at their antics and willed herself to enjoy the presence of her friends before she went away.
The rest of the day was spent much in the same way. Harry and Ginny picked at each other while Hermione chuckled at the couple, James joined them after Harry had gotten him after his nap and overall, the three friends spent some good old fashion quality time together as they had always had in all their years knowing each other.
The sun had just set down when Hermione finally bid her goodbyes and promised to visit again when she came back from Arabia.
"I'll floo you as soon as I come back in town!" she bellowed as she stepped in the green flames.
"Take care!" Harry and Ginny both said as the same time as Hermione disappeared through the fireplace.
The next day, Hermione was found sitting on her bed, going through a mental checklist of the items she needed for her short trip to Arabia. She had packed and unpacked her suitcase three times already and was considering doing it a fourth time but once glance at her watch told her she didn't have enough time.
She had a wide assortment of hot-weather clothing and reassured herself that whatever it was she might've missed, Jackson would surely have something to spare.
Finally, she closed her suitcase and waved her wand twice, making it now the size of a golf ball, and put it in the usual bag she kept with her while travelling. Checking her watch again, she cursed as she became aware of the time she had left before her port key activated.
Running around her flat a few more minutes to grab some other essential items she might need, she gasped when she heard the usual 'ding' her portkey made from her entrance hall, signalling the portal would open in a minute only. She went through her checklist one last time and finally jogged to the portkey, touching it only seconds before it deactivated.
After a few minutes of the nauseating portkey-travel feeling, Hermione softly landed in a small room that was sparsely decorated. She looked around for the door and upon spotting it, made her way towards the only opening of the room.
She gasped quite audibly as she entered what seemed to be the lobby of the hotel she had appeared in.
Rich-looking marble tile lined the whole floor of the grand space and everywhere that she looked, gold and bronze coloured fabrics and materials mashed together in one of the most lavishly decorated rooms Hermione had ever seen. Everything screamed posh and suddenly, she was quite aware she hadn't wisely thought of her outfit as she looked down at her jeans and blouse, feeling more than ordinary when a group of Arabian women passed her, all dressed in long-flowing gowns, each one looking more elegant than the other.
With a struggle, she managed to shake the peasant-like thoughts from her head and looked around more cautiously, trying to make out Jackson's familiar head of blond hair. Making her way towards a beige-colored loveseat close to her, resigning herself to the fact she would have to wait for Jackson to come meet her, she kept on looking around and taking in the rest of the hotel reception area.
Minutes later, after she was done admiring her surroundings, she heard her name being called a few feet to her left and stood to greet her old-time partner.
"Jake!"
The other wizard smiled as he joined her and kissed her on the cheek in welcome.
"Hermione, great to see you've arrived in one piece!"
"Jackson, you could've at least warned me about the dress code, honestly," she replied.
The wizard chuckled and turned around, motioning for her to follow him as he lead them out of the lobby and into an interior garden area close by.
"Why would you say that? You fit right in!" he said sarcastically, sitting down into a comfortable looking armchair in the middle of the open-spaced area.
Hermione scoffed disbelievingly as she sat opposite him.
"May I offer you a drink?" asked a voice behind Hermione. She turned around in surprise, taking a deep breath when she recognized she familiar the familiar outfit of a waiter staff.
Jackson replied to the man in the country's language and in turn, the other man nodded, promising to return soon with drinks.
"This hotel is grand, Jake!"
The wizard smiled as he looked around at the garden they were currently sat in.
"Indeed! The contact we'll be meeting here apparently likes to surround himself with an overly-enjoyable décor. Makes him seem a bit more approachable I've heard."
"You've been in town since yesterday, right?"
"Yes. I've been asking questions around here and there, trying to gather some intel. It appears as the Lupici is one very secretive faction. I have to admit, I'm not sure I like what I've heard about them so far," Jackson admitted as he picked around invisible lint on his dress pants.
Hermione looked at her partner, thinking back to what Malfoy had said at the hospital.
"So I've heard…" she trailed off, smiling politely as the waiter appeared again with their drinks.
Jackson handed over the appropriate amount of bills and reached over for his glass, nodding to Hermione in guise of a cheer. The witch raised an eyebrow at the remaining two drinks on the table in front of them and finally stretched her arm to grab one.
"Drinking yourself into a stupor already Jake? And you've only been here a day!"
Her partner looked back at her uneasily as he fidgeted in his seat. He put his drink back down before looking into her eyes again.
"Eh, about that-"
"Well, well, well … Fancy meeting you here, Granger!" came a familiar drawl to Hermione's left side. She froze on her seat, unsure if she should turn to look at the newcomer and blinked a few times while trying to breathe normally.
Merlin… Think of the devil, and he shall appear!
Author's note :
I am so so sorry for the long wait between chapters. My father was in town (parents separated, yeah) and I spent quite the time with him before he left again.
Also, since the last update, I had this amazing idea for a new story, an actual *Novel* I would like to try working on (Fellow writers, you know how excited you are when you get this amazing! idea? Yeah, I was like that for at least five days, maybe more).
PLUS, got a great idea for another Dramion story, one that I would like to write out completely before posting. Oh, fun fact, the plot came to my mind while I had a massage this week. Awkward, I know.
If you know any good Betas that would like to help me out on the secondary story, it will contain Smut (and a lot of it!) just a little warning! Let me know ;)
Have yourselves a great weekend :)
Xx