AN- okay, NOW we get to the swing of things, the story is gonna start jumping after this, i promise. ACRES OF ACTION I TELL YOU!!! lolz. so, now, i know that i named this chapter wrong, Hermione works until six, not nine, and she goes in earlier than nine, but i was listening to the song Nine to Five when i wrote/uploaded this, so...YAY!

Hermione walked into the Ministry building feeling exhaustedly apprehensive. While Ron did work in a different department, it didn't mean she wouldn't see him.

And then, of course, Harry was her boss. Which was unfortunate. She sighed as she lowered her bag onto her desk. He was generally busy until noon, but he could always find time to call her to his office. It was like being in school again.

Shaking her head, Hermione set herself to the day's tasks. After awhile, she had worked through the massive, messy pile of papers on, or all over, her desk, and decided that it was permissible for her to have a bit of a break.

Returning from the communal coffee pot, she felt almost happy. Not only because she just had a good cup of coffee (her department was, apparently, the only department that knew how to make a good brew), but for some reason, she felt good working.

Which was better than she expected. After all, a slightly awry weekend generally dictates one of those Mondays.

Smiling at her cubicle-enshrouded coworkers as she passed, she heard someone calling her name. "Hermione!"

She sighed, then smiled again as she turned around. "Hello, Harry." She continued to walk, now with Harry sticking to her side.

"Hermione. Come on, look at me." She stopped and did so. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Harry, I'm fine."

"Are you sure? Where are you staying? Do you need anything?"

"Harry, I'm fine, I've got it under control."

"No one knows where you are." Harry said matter of factly. "I really don't care if you tell them, but-"

"Harry, I told a few people. I have it under control." She did, in fact, tell Remus and Tonks. She smiled at him reassuringly.

Harry smiled back. Hermione was independent. This he knew. "Alright. But if you ever need anything-"

"I know where you live. I helped you move in, remember?"

Grinning, Harry rolled his eyes. "Get back to work."

PAGE BREAK

Hermione was about to break for lunch when Harry knocked on her door.

"I'm not telling you where I live."

"I'm not stalking you!" he said. "Do you want to go to lunch now?

"Of course." She said, setting her papers aside.

As they began to walk through the main lobby of the building, chatting about some ridiculous file or some such, Draco passed by them both.

"Allo, Hermione."

"Hey Draco."

"Harry."

"Draco."

"Going to lunch?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. See you around."

Harry blinked. "That was weird."

"What was?" Hermione said, looking at him while walking briskly into the streets of London.

"That exchange."

"Well, don't you like him?"

"Yeah…he has turned around I suppose…but…"

"But?"

"He just doesn't talk to me much."

"Much."

"Well."

"Much means some to not. That conversation fell on the 'some' side."

"Whatever. Where do you want to go for lunch?"

"How about the sandwich shop down the street."

"Let's go."

PAGE BREAK

Harry and Hermione walked back into the Ministry building, laughing about this one time…well, its not important to you folk.

As they crossed the floor, they heard a "Hey!"

Harry glanced at Hermione, who closed her eyes. Both of them turned. "Hey, Ron."

Ron ran across the floor, glowing orange hair bouncing with each step. "Hey, I was wondering, did you guys figure out where that new shipment of forms had gone?"

Harry glanced at Hermione. "No, last I heard, Kent was using his department to track them down."

Hermione nodded. Apart from losing a little of her color, she looked okay. Ron sighed. "We need them desperately in my department."

"Just go to talk to Kent, they should have the replacement forms." Hermione said.

Ron looked at her. "Oh, and mum wanted to speak with you…about something…I'm sorry, I don't quite remember…something about the next dinner…"

"Okay, I'll owl her later if she doesn't get to it first."

"Later, Ron." Harry said, beginning to turn towards the stairs.

He smiled and turned, jogging back to wherever it is that he came from.

After they had gotten to the second floor in silence, Harry delicately said "You okay?"

"I'm fine. Can I owl Molly?"

"Please."

They parted ways, and Hermione went to the Ministry's owlery. Quickly, she scribbled a note to Molly.

Molly,

Ron came to me today saying you had a question about the next Order meeting. He couldn't remember what about, so I just thought I'd owl.

Hermione.

After she sent the bird, she walked back to her office. Her cheery mood had evaporated. Ron was so weird. Sighing heavily, she shuffled her papers. By now, she really didn't want to do any more work, but she knew that she should anyway, immersing herself was a good numbing agent.

After a few minutes, she had just come to one of her favorite types of cases, one where she got to make up fantastic stories to tell the Muggles. Working in the sub department of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts did have its perks.

She had just set quill to paper when there was a knock on her door. Looking up, she was surprised to see Draco. "Oh, Draco, hi!"

"Hey." Draco walked into her tiny office.

"Well…sit down, then."

He did so, before saying "What are you working on?"

"I'm beginning an excuse for an enchanted refrigerator, why?"

"Oh. Well…" Draco sighed. "I…have nothing to do."

Hermione sighed. "What's on your mind, Draco?"

The room was silent for a second, then Draco leaned forward. "Well…I'm a little…I'm just wondering- do you know where I was yesterday?"

The sudden demand made Hermione blink. "I- no."

"Well, I was in France."

"I see."

"On business, of course, but…I need…advice."

"Advice? On what?"

Draco sighed. If I drop several hints will you use your womanly intuition?"

"I don't-" Hermione's eyes grew. "Oh! You've met someone, then?"

Draco smirked. "Yes."

"Well, how can I help you?" On the inside, Hermione was shocked. She and Draco were mostly acquaintances, barely friends, and here he was asking for advice. Unless…

"Oh, wait! Does this have anything to do with me living in the house?"

"I don't know. I just needed to mull something over…and you're living with Father and I, so…I just…"

"Well, go ahead."

"I know how to tell Father, its just, I don't know when. You just moved in, that is quite an adjustment for him, and then asking if she can come to dinner so soon…I know he would approve of her…"

"Well, wait it out awhile, until you think it's appropriate."

"I suppose."

"And now…" Hermione leaned forward. "Does this girl have a name?"

Draco looked at her smirk and returned it. "Yes, she does, but you'll have to wait to find it out like everybody else."

"Huh."

"She's amazing though."

"Don't leave me hanging like that! You cant tell me she's amazing then expect me to wait for weeks on end!"

"It wont be that hard."

"Why? Do I know her?"

Draco smiled a private smile, then said "Oh, well, you spent some quality time with her for…oh, about an hour, I think it was, some years ago. I do believe there wasn't much conversation, however."

Hermione furrowed her brow. "What?"

"Oh, yes."

"I have no…"

Draco smirked again, standing. "Well, I suppose I should leave you to your work."

"I'll get you yet, Draco Malfoy."

"I'm sure you will. Not a word to Father, mind you!"

"Mum's the word." Hermione said, laughing.

"That was pathetic."

"I know it."

"I'll see you later."

"Bye."

HERE WE GO AGAIN- lolz. okay, so if you guessed who Draco's interest is, dont tell anybody, please! AND- thanks to all reviewers. i would like to thank DRACO MALFOY for his AMAZING review. now im glad that Lucius is taken...IM JK! but really. lolz. SO! thanks very much Draco, for your ABSOLUTELY marvelous review, you can navigate a computer quite well, i think. and thank you to the numerous other reviewers that i love so dear. okay, i'll stop now.