It took Draco half a moment to regain his composure and set his face.
"Good morning, Miss Granger. Fancy seeing you here," he said, placing his portfolio carefully on the desk. "I believe I'm expected for an eleven o'clock interview." Her mouth opened and closed twice more before she cleared her throat and stood, holding her hand out for him to shake. He accepted it and quirked a brow.
"Of course. If you will please follow me. You're a little bit earlier than expected, so you may have to wait for a few minutes," she gestured for him to follow as she went down the hall. He couldn't help but notice what a gorgeous arse she had. Her hips sway from side to side as she walks, her curves outlined perfectly by that figure-hugging black dress. "Please wait here," she came to a stop and gestured to a seat outside a nondescript black door.
He looked over her face, pinpointing the changes she'd gone through since he last saw her. She wore glasses now, rectangular shaped with dark frames. Her bushy brown hair was cut short, the longest curls barely grazing her shoulders. She looked over him once and nodded.
"If you need anything then please don't hesitate to ask," she tried to smile but it came out as a grimace and turned on her heel, marching back towards her desk. He shook his head at her bizarre behaviour and waited.
Shit. Fuck. Crap. Damn it all to hell!
She had been running for what felt like forever and now that she had slowed down her past was catching up, and it was the worst part of her past. Her brain could not register that Draco Malfoy was standing at her desk, looking totally at ease with the situation. His hair was longer and not gelled back like he had it in their school days, and he looked comfortable in his crisp black suit.
After a few moments she regained her voice and stood, shaking her head and asking for him to follow her to the interview suite. She had to restrain herself from running back to her desk when she left him, instead choosing not to look behind her. She heard the door open and shut and she released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. She had tried to act like she did not recognize him, but he hadn't been fooled. He knew from the moment that he saw her that she was Hermione Granger and that she couldn't forget he was Draco Malfoy.
She tried to block the thought of him from her mind.
The phone rang and she answered, grateful for the distraction. It was the man trying to advertise dental floss calling once again to be assured that his interview time had been pencilled in. She tried not to chuckle as the panicky man explained that his design was revolutionary, and that it would change the world of dentistry. Twenty minutes and four people on hold later, she managed to hang up and tend to her other calls.
Another half hour went by and she heard the door to the interview suite open and happy voices.
"Thank you very much, Mister Malfoy. I shall have Miss Granger contact you tomorrow to inform you whether or not you have the position," her boss was happy, happier than she had ever heard him. She secretly, guiltily, wondered if Malfoy had cast a spell on him to gain the position.
"Thank you for your time, sir. I shall await your call. Good afternoon," Malfoy farewelled the older man and Hermione quickly turned back to her computer, answering a non-existent email.
The black suit reappeared at her desk and she tried to ignore it.
"Granger, I know that you recognize me. Seeing that there is a high possibility that we will be working together soon, it would be far better, not to mention mature, if you actually acknowledged me. Where did all your Gryffindor courage get to?" his voice was silky and he leant over the desk at her.
"Good day, Mister Malfoy," she nodded once and returned to her computer.
"Why so formal, Granger? You were never so polite back in our schooldays," he smirked and she shook slightly with anger.
"If I recall correctly, you are the one who taunted and teased me for my entire time at school, calling me all sorts of vile names," she hissed. "Now, if you don't mind, I have work to do. Good day, Mister Malfoy."
He chuckled and shook his head at her reaction. He knew that he shouldn't tease her, but her reactions were just so amusing.
"Farewell, Miss Granger," he said and grabbed his portfolio, turning on his heel and leaving.
Hermione wanted to hit someone. Preferably a particular blonde haired, pureblood prick.
She spent the rest of the day answering the phone with a vicious tone and writing out emails with too much force for her poor little keyboard. When five o'clock came she was all too happy to take her purse and jacket and leave the building quickly. Most afternoons she would take muggle transport home, but today she was pissed off and simply wanted a quick escape.
With a loud crack she apparated from a nearby alleyway and appeared near her house, tucking her wand away hastily. This area was inhabited predominantly by muggles, so care was always taken when she appeared magically. Her heels seemed infuriatingly loud as she walked the fifty metres to her front gate and she was greeted by her cat at the door. Prior to finding the horcruxes with Harry and Ron, she had left Crookshanks at The Burrow and had missed the companionship of an animal terribly, so when she moved to muggle London the first thing she bought was a cat.
Ron hated cats after his experiences with Crookshanks and had never wanted one when they were married, so she had indulged bought a beautiful white cat with a glossy coat. Later, upon bringing the animal home, she had discovered that, like her first cat, this new animal was part kneazle and awfully intelligent.
"Hey there, Altheda," she cooed and the cat let out a soft meow, darting through the open front door before Hermione. Hermione kicked off her heels and dumped her bag, withdrawing her wand from its depths. Her first destination was her bedroom where she slipped out of the uncomfortable dress and pulled on baggy jeans and an oversized sweatshirt, her comfort outfit.
Altheda meowed from the bedroom door, eager for food. Hermione agreed that it was definitely time for dinner and fed the cat quickly. She heated up some leftover pasta bake from the night before for herself and sat at the kitchen table, pulling a thick book towards herself. The book was on the magical customs of the Romans, one hundred years prior to the fall of the western empire and fascinated her deeply. She drank in the knowledge until late in the night when Altheda's constant nudging and meowing made her look at the time and shriek.
It was past midnight and she had to be awake at seven o'clock if she had any hope of getting to work on time. She put her bowl in the dishwasher and changed into her pajamas before slipping into bed and falling deeply asleep.
Draco was waiting anxiously by the phone.
He had woken at seven o'clock and was unable to return to sleep even though he had no plans for the day. By eight he had exercised, showered, dressed and breakfasted and was waiting for a phone call, the phone call.
He would be lying if he had said he wasn't shocked when he saw Granger sitting behind that desk. Last he heard she was rumoured to be back with her fourth year beau, Viktor Krum. And yet here she was, in muggle London, working as a secretary no less, a secretary for the advertising firm Draco was desperately aching for a position in. He was almost grateful for the opportunity to make things right with her. After all, since the war had ended he was all for making a clean start.
However, she had been so hostile towards him. It was not how he wanted to start their relationship. He hoped that if the position was granted to him, he would be able to make amends and even become friends with Granger. The idea of friendship was still somewhat foreign to Draco, especially when it regarded anyone in the wizarding world, but he was willing to try.
Two more hours went by and finally, at midday, the phone rang. He grabbed it on the first ring and pressed the receiver to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Malfoy?"
"Good afternoon to you too, Granger," he said, wishing she would get to the point.
"I was given the unlucky task of contacting you and informing you of the outcome of your interview yesterday," she sounded strained.
"Yes, and?"
"Unfortunately you have the job."
"Wait, what?" he was dumbfounded. He had the job? He had the job!
"Are you deaf, Malfoy? Or just stupid? I said that you have the job. You start tomorrow morning at nine o'clock. Don't be late."
Click.
He had the job. He was going to be working in a muggle advertising firm with none other than Hermione Granger. He whooped with glee, punching his fist into the air. He had the job!
Hermione hung up the phone and groaned.
Her day had been travelling along swimmingly with not a thought about Draco Malfoy until her boss handed her his number and told her to inform him that he had secured the position in their firm. Just her ruddy luck. He was starting work tomorrow and she would be asked to show him around, she was sure.
A notice popped up on her screen to inform her that she had one new email from her boss and she clicked on it hesitantly:
Miss Granger,
Please attend a meeting in my office at two o'clock this afternoon.
Don't be late.
-Harold
She groaned again. This couldn't be good. Perhaps he was chiding her on her unwelcoming behaviour towards Malfoy. Either way, she had an hour and a half before she had to meet him and five phone calls to make.
Her time slipped away all too quickly for her liking and before she knew it, it was five to two. She stood and straightened out the creases in her black skirt and moved towards the elevator, nervous at what her boss had to say. She knocked on the door at exactly two and waited patiently for him to beckon her into his office.
"Enter!" his voice boomed from within and she timidly entered, standing in front of his desk.
"You asked to see me, Mister Beedle," she smiled and he gestured for her to sit.
"Yes, of course, Miss Granger," he returned her grin and his eyes crinkled slightly. Harold Beedle was a successful thirty year old who was entirely career focused. He was good looking with a crop of dark brown hair and deep blue eyes, easily charming women without trying. He was always kind and courteous towards Hermione, something she appreciated working in a building full of men.
"Miss Granger, I would like to offer you a promotion," he announced, signing off on a piece of paper.
"A promotion, sir?" she frowned. "What would my new position be?"
"Straight to the point. That's one thing I like about you," Harold winked and she smiled. "As you're aware, we've just hired a new employee. Draco Malfoy will be one of our new advertising executives, a prestigious position for one as young as him, and he will need an assistant. You are the obvious choice, Miss Granger."
"W-what? Be Malfoy's assistant?" she was shocked.
"Mister Malfoy. He informed me yesterday that there may be some, ah, animosity between the two of you, and I wish for you to know that I will not tolerate petty rivalries here. It is for this reason that I give you this choice: become his assistant or leave the firm entirely. The choice is yours, Miss Granger. You are excused," Harold shooed her away without another word.
She couldn't help but curse Harold Beedle's name when she returned to her desk. The young man was like Dumbledore, always trying to create unity and other bollocks where it could never exist! She was not going to let Malfoy kick her out of her job! She was here first. She sat down at her desk and angrily typed and email to Beedle, informing him that she would reluctantly take her position as Malfoy's assistant. Just her ruddy luck. This day was turning out to be hell.
Draco slept soundly and woke at six o'clock in the morning, eager for work. He had been informed that he would be granted an assistant, a first for him in the muggle world. He quickly exercised, going for a jog and doing his usual sit-ups and push-ups before showering and dressing. He was somewhat unsure of what to wear but decided to go a little bit formal, choosing out black suit pants and a dark green button up shirt. He would put on his jacket just before leaving.
He whistled as he poured himself a bowl of cereal and flipped through the newspaper and couldn't contain his excitement much longer – he felt like he was eleven and going to Hogwarts for the first time. At ten to nine he pulled on his jacket, grabbed his portfolio and apparated to work.
A/N: I tried to work on my history essay, I really did, but it didn't work so well, which is why I decided to write up a short little chapter for you. If you think that you know where the name for Hermione's cat comes from, mention it in a shiny review because I love them so! The next chapter won't be up until later in the week, I'm sorry. Please review and let me know what you think!