Disclaimer: The following is based on the works of J.K. Rowling.

Daphne crashed into Davis and Simmons Law, grinning and waving a large piece of parchment over her head. Draco Malfoy and his colleagues turned from their desks in unison. Heat crawled up Daphne's neck, threatening to colour her cheeks, as she scurried over to Draco's desk.

"I got in! I got in!" she shriek-whispered.

"That's great Daph," he said though he sounded more annoyed than pleased. Daphne was taken aback. She had hoped for a more enthusiastic response, but she plowed on.

"I'm going to get my Ministry ID and the course books after dinner. Come with?"

"No, I have a lot to do."

"Fine, suit yourself," she bit the inside of her lip. Doubt had been creeping up on Daphne lately about whatever sort of relationship they had. She wanted to ask him what he felt, but she didn't want to jinx it. "Right, well I'm off to dine with a friend," the words sounded colder than she'd intended. She walked out, scowling.

Draco had worked for Davis and Simmons Law for over a month now, and the job consisted mostly of research and organization. His bedraggled quill lay on the desk, the tip somewhat squashed so that when he wrote the letters smudged. He sighed, picked it up anyway and began highlighting relevant parts of a document. There were only two hours left until he and Simmons had to leave for a trial.

Draco felt ill thinking of Daphne. He didn't know what to say or think about her. He just knew she made him laugh, and he was afraid she'd misunderstood him. He really had been pleased that she had gotten in with the Aurors, of course. She didn't seem to understand, understand that she wasn't of a noble house or that it mattered. He couldn't let himself think about this too seriously. Father wouldn't approve, and displeasing Father wasn't something Draco planned on doing anytime soon. He turned back to his paperwork shaking his head to clear it.

It was six in the evening, and Daphne was lingering in the corridor. She held the brand new books and schedule that her purse was too small to carry. The training began in August, a week from now. It was nine months long and split into nine separate segments. The first was poisons and antidotes. She knew that Draco was here in the Ministry and that the trial should have ended by now, and she really wanted to talk to him. Maybe that was why she was here, but it wasn't a choice really, just a feeling. She decided to head down to where she believed the courtrooms were. Maybe she could intercept him on his way out, ask him all the things she'd been too afraid to this morning at the law firm.

She soon realized that she had no idea where she was. She had been here as a once kid, but she remembered very little. She turned around, and tried to retrace her steps, but the shiny black bricks all looked the same. There must be a spell to help, but the only one Daphne could think of was point me. She knew she was somewhere in the eastern end of the ministry, and the Atrium was in the west. Daphne crouched beside the wall and opened her purse. Inside there were several small notepads.

"Oh, bloody ridiculous!" she muttered. There was a hole in the bottom of the bag. It was stained the bright green of her favorite ink and was making a complete mess. It must have been leaving a trail of green dots behind her. Oh, of course, she could just follow it back the way she had come!

She grabbed her wand. She had to clean her purse first, but before she could say the incantation-

"Stupefy!"

Daphne whirled around, wand at the ready but she was too late.

Draco stared blankly into the mirror as he cleaned his hands. They'd gotten their client off on one count of 'light' treason because he'd been coerced into joining the Deatheaters. It brought Draco little satisfaction. He knew the man had gotten off easily.

Draco dried his hands. He left the washroom and began the trek back to the lift. The light from the torches refracted off the walls hurting his tired eyes. Closing his eyes, Draco set his hand on the cold stone to reorient himself. He too had gotten off easy- mental health consultation, and a month of probation. His father hadn't been happy with the outcome, and so grew Lucius Malfoy's hatred for the reformed justice system. He opened his eyes, took a few more steps, paused again. Something had made a small splash. He looked down and found the toe of his right shoe covered in green liquid. It was the exact color of Daphne's favorite brand of ink, it was a strange detail to recall. He glanced up and saw spots of the stuff in a trail down the corridor. It was getting late, but he followed them anyway.

The light still hurt, but he was focused. He was sure there was something weird going on here. It was eery, the glistening black tile and the bright green ink were the only things he could see. There was a crash from up ahead, breaking the silence. He jogged down the corridor wand at the ready then came to a screeching halt. Two forms lay in the middle of his path, one in formal Barrister's robes, his face hidden. The other was. . .

"Daphne!" Draco ran forward and knelt beside her. He checked her pulse, "stunned" he thought. "Rennervate," she opened her eyes slowly.

"Draco, what? What's going on here?" she demanded.

"I don't know! I was walking and then I saw green ink, and then I found you two," he rambled.

"Two?" Daphne sat up. Looked down at her hand which was stained with green ink, shards of glass lay around her. Draco leaned over the other figure. After a minute, he looked up at her. He`d gone white.

"Daphne we've have to get out of here right now," he said. Draco wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near anything that appeared to be a murder.

"Is," she faltered, "Is that your boss, Simmons?"

Draco nodded "He's dead."

They walked at top speed down to the lift. It's doors clanged open, and they stepped inside. The lift seemed to take forever to get moving. Once it did Daphne remembered something.

"Um . . . this is inappropriate, but I got you something," she dug in her purse and unearthed a small box handing it to him. He open it and smiled weakly.

"You noticed," he said. taking the brand new quill out of its case.

"Yeah," she looked at him, then reached out slowly and took his hand. They looked at each other, Daphne blushed and averted her gaze. They stayed holding hands until the lift stopped.

"We have to tell someone," said Daphne as they stepped into the Atrium.

"We can send a memo up the to Law Enforcement. They're here all the time." Daphne tore a piece of paper off one of her notepads, and Draco scribbled something on it and sent it away.

"I'm sorry about this morning," said Daphne "I was being ridiculous."

"No, I was the one being unfair," replied Draco. Daphne rolled her eyes in agreement.

"Hey!"

"I'm just teasing."