Hermione frowned at the expanse of her wardrobe. She knew she shouldn't care what she looked like in front of Malfoy and yet she found herself unsure of what to wear. It was six o'clock and she had been awake since five, unable to sleep due to what she put down to nerves. She was now breakfasted and showered and standing in her bedroom dressed only in her bra and knickers, curly hair wet and dripping down her back.
She reached out and brushed along the clothes with her fingertips, finally pulling out a pretty dress. It was flattering but not overly sexy – she didn't want Malfoy to get the wrong idea about her. It was a deep red and form-fitting, hugging her in the right places and falling to her knees. She pulled the material on and muttered a spell to dry her hair. There were some things she couldn't be arsed to do the muggle way.
Her cat leapt onto the bed and curled into a ball, watching her with large amber eyes as she applied her makeup and tied her hair into a high bun, pinning back the few curls which refused to be tamed. She only hoped that Malfoy didn't have a naughty secretary fantasy as she could surely fulfil it today.
By eight o'clock she had finished two more cups of tea and read three chapters in her book and she could no longer put off leaving for work. She farewelled her cat and pulled on some black heels before apparating to a safe-zone near the train station that would take her directly to her office. The train ride went by quickly and she found herself standing at the entrance to the building, half an hour prior to when Malfoy would be arriving.
"Ah, Miss Granger! Good morning," Harold Beedle found her waiting outside the front door. "Come along, I'll show you to your new workspace. You'll be on the fifth floor now."
She nodded mutely and followed him into the building where a new secretary was answering the phones, her bleach blonde hair making Hermione blanch. The new girl winked at Beedle who frowned and moved towards the elevators.
"Come along, don't dawdle!" Beedle scolded when they reached the floor and nudged Hermione out of the elevator following shortly behind her. "Your new office is just through there. Go ahead and get settled, Malfoy will be here in twenty minutes.
She nodded again and thanked him, sitting at her new desk and turning on the computer. She fiddled around for a while, opening and closing drawers and such, when the doorway to her office darkened. She stood swiftly.
"My, my Granger, you clean up nicely," Malfoy let out a low whistle and she glared at him. "I see you still have that Gryffindor pride in you."
She looked down at her dress and returned her eyes to his figure. "I see that you still think that horrendous shade of green is attractive," she snapped and he smirked.
"Play nice. I'm a Slytherin through and through, and I'll have you know I look dashing in this shade of green," he winked and she scowled.
"Let's get a few things straight, Malfoy," she spat the name out and his eyebrows lifted in amusement. "I'm not your toy and I'm not like those bimbos you shagged when we were at school, so don't think you can boss me around like you own me. I was here first."
"What a fiery temper you have, but I remember that from our schooldays," he smirked at her and she went red, her blood boiling with rage. "I can boss you around, however, because no matter how long you have been here, I am your boss. I don't want this to be difficult, Granger, and I was hoping for a fresh start with you, but clearly that isn't going to happen as you seem unable to let my stupidity as a child go. But I will try and make this whole process as painless as possible. I wasn't planning on having you as an assistant, it just happened like that."
Hermione tossed her head back angrily, a few curls spilling out of her bun. She was still standing and Malfoy had moved across the small space until he was on the other side of her desk.
"Fine. Your office is through there. If you need anything just ask, sir," she said and he grinned.
"Kinky, Granger."
She growled at his back as he entered his office which was much larger than her own little box. Resuming her seat she hoped to get used to the new area a little bit more until-
"Granger, can you please come in here?"
She groaned and stood, heels clicking as she walked the few metres to Malfoy's doorway.
"What do you want?"
"Tut-tut! That's no way to talk to your boss," he winked and she glared. "What do I have on today?" "A meeting at ten with Beedle to discuss your first task and that's it. He wants you to get used to the place before you have to do anything major," she sighed, leaning against the door. He nodded and began to fiddle with his computer. "Do you even know how to use that?" she asked snidely and he looked up at her with wide eyes.
"Do you mean this big box thing? Is it like a crystal ball or something?" he frowned, jumping slightly when he pressed the on button and the screen came to life. "Is...is it meant to look like that?"
Hermione couldn't help herself. She laughed loudly, oblivious to Malfoy's rolling eyes or expert use of the computer. She felt tears leak from her eyes and finally stopped laughing, leaning against the doorway for support. When she looked up, Malfoy was humming to himself and typing something.
"Wait, you do know how to use it?" she frowned.
"Clearly. You don't go through university in the muggle world without learning how to use a computer," he stated obviously and she flushed.
"Right, of course. How silly of me. I didn't realize that you of all people would have attended a muggle university and therefore know how to use a computer," she turned on her heel and stomped away, leaving his chuckling form behind her. She sat at her desk and crossed her arms, ignoring the emails which were popping up on screen. No more than twenty minutes had elapsed and Malfoy was already infuriating her. It wasn't fair! She allowed herself a minute of moping and pouting until another email popped up on screen.
Miss Granger,
Please accompany Draco to his meeting today. As his assistant you will required to accompany him to many of his meetings as well as tend to other work-related needs that he may not have time for.
Hoping you are well,
-Harold Beedle
She couldn't help the quiet shriek of anger that slipped out, nor the blush that crept onto her cheeks when Malfoy's head poked around the corner.
"Are you quite alright, Granger?"
"Bloody peachy," she said through gritted teeth. "I'm meant to accompany you to your meeting with Beedle. He makes it sound like I'm your slave."
"Slave? Hm, I like that. You make it sound oh-so kinky, Granger," he smirked.
"You're disgusting. I should report you for sexual harassment."
"Is that the best you can threaten me with?"
She got to her feet and crossed to room in two strides. "Have you forgotten when I hit you in third year? I could always remind you."
He put his hands up defensively and backed away. "Now, Granger, violence never solved anything."
"Says you," she muttered. "Come on, let's go and see Beedle."
"Lead the way," Malfoy murmured smoothly, following her out the door.
Finding out that Granger was his new assistant was a surprise to say the least.
He had struggled to keep his face straight when he saw her in that office wearing that stunning red dress and he wondered if she knew how amazing her breasts looked in it. She had been furious when she first saw him, but judging by the fact that she was in his office, she was aware that he was her boss. He, on the other hand, had no idea that he would even be getting a secretary, much less Granger as his secretary. And what a delightfully naughty secretary she looked. He wondered if she was aware how utterly tempting she appeared to him and to any other hot-blooded, straight male in the vicinity.
Though he had been surprised to see her, he knew that it would be entertaining to work so closely with the fiery Gryffindor. He enjoyed baiting her, testing her reactions. She was one of the few people he felt on par with when they battled verbally, and the challenge was invigorating. She was one of those few women who didn't bend beneath his presence and he was grateful. At least she had some dignity. And an amazing arse. Did she realized that when she walked her hips moved so wonderfully, and from behind he had a glorious view of that arse.
"Malfoy, stop staring," she bit out and he chuckled.
"Honestly, Granger, do you have eyes in the back of your head?"
"No, but working in a building full of dirty old men helps you recognize the feeling of someone checking out your butt. Are you trying to be reported for sexual harassment?"
"Of course not. Besides, I wasn't staring. I was ensuring that your dress was the required length so as to not distract other worker or be deemed...inappropriate," he chose his words carefully, dragging out the last word in a long drawl.
"You're so full of shit," she muttered and he raised a brow, speeding up so they walked side-by-side.
"Language, Granger. Remember, we're in a public place. You might offend someone," he smirked and she scowled and sped up again.
She raised her hand and knocked on Beedle's door, entering when she heard his call of assent. Draco followed and sat in the seats his new boss gestured to, smiling slightly.
"Ah, great to see you again, Draco! Likewise, Miss Granger," the boss greeted the two of them, shaking Draco's hand warmly and winking towards Hermione who blushed.
"The same to you, sir," Draco's voice was smooth and from the corner of his eye he saw Granger scowl again.
"Please, call me Harold. Now, we've recently been contacted by a new restaurant which is opening up nearby, and they're willing to pay huge sums of money if we can come up with a design to advertise their restaurant that is up to their standards. I have a folder here with all of their requirements, and I expect a first draft into me by Wednesday. Any questions?" Beedle looked at Draco who shook his head.
"What exactly am I required to do as Malfoy's assistant?" Hermione asked, leaning forward slightly in her seat. Draco didn't miss Beedle's eyes darting to her cleavage and he stifled a chuckle.
"You will be expected to aid Draco in any work related endeavours which he does not have the time to complete, and you will also need to tend to his other needs. This may include getting him lunch whilst he is busy working on projects and designs. You will run errands for him as well, but most of the time you will simply spend in your office answering Draco's emails and such. Is that all you wish to know?" Beedle asked. Granger nodded. "In that case, I have one more thing to ask of both of you. Draco informed me that you attended a boarding school together and, as a result, were schoolyard enemies to a degree. Is this correct?"
"Yes, sir," she muttered, eyes lowered.
"I want you two to get this out of your system, because it will not affect your work whilst you are here. Go and have a screaming match and get it all out in the open. Do you understand?" Both nodded and Beedle's face broke out into a wide smile. "Excellent, excellent! Now off to work, the both of you," he dismissed them and waved them from his office.
Draco led the way, Granger struggling to keep up with his long strides as they headed back to their own offices. He knew Granger would take Beedle's advice literally, and he hoped that she could only restrain herself from starting the screaming match until they reached their offices, where hopefully they could do it in somewhat privacy. He rounded the corner into their conjoined offices and went to sit behind his desk, awaiting his assistant's arrival. He didn't have to wait long before Granger joined him in his office, holding her bag. He hoped she wouldn't hit him with the bag, or hit him full stop.
She packed a serious punch.
Hermione pulled her wand from her bag and cast a silent Muffilato around the room before flicking her wand once more so the blinds closed with a bang. Malfoy looked surprised at her actions but said nothing, instead placing his feet on his desk and leaning back in his chair.
"So, Granger, how do you propose we begin?" he drawled from his position on the chair.
"I don't quite know, Malfoy. How do you suggest we begin?"
"Well I have no problem with you being my assistant, so I suppose all the animosity in this partnership is going to come from you. Why is it you hate me ever so much?" he smirked. She wanted to slap that silly smirk from his face.
"I'm not sure, actually. Maybe it's because you teased and taunted me for my entire school life. You treated me like I was the dirt beneath your feet, called me 'mudblood' and any number of other vile names you could think up. You made me feel like I was worthless, and your actions seemed to reflect that. For Merlin's sake, you watched and did nothing whilst your psychopathic bitch of an aunt tortured me. She cast the Cruciatus curse on me so many times that I felt the skin was being peeled from my bones, like my entire body was on fire. You stood there and did nothing whilst she cut my throat!" she was hysterical by the end of her rant, and she was pointing her wand at Malfoy's chest.
"Are you finished?" he asked coolly and she felt another wave of angry tears roll down her cheeks. Her wand prodded against his green shirt and he hissed when a spark flew out the tip and singed the clothing, burning a tiny hole. "Lower your wand, Granger, or you'll do something you'll regret," he advised but she didn't move.
"Fuck you, Malfoy," she growled and he raised a brow at her language. "I quit. Go and get that blonde bimbo downstairs to be your assistant, Merlin knows she'd be more willing to please you than I ever would be."
A/N: Surprised? Let me know in a shiny review!