Hello everyone!
I changed my username from TheMalfoys to TheMalfoyz lol I was just worried the name might be copyrighted or something like that. A silly fear but a fear nonetheless. I didn't want to lose my stories so I just wanted to make sure. I made another account with the name TheMalfoys so I can always change it back when I feel like it.
Anyway, here is a new story for you all! I'm very excited about this one and I wasn't really planning on releasing this anytime soon since I'm still in the middle of writing Little Teddy Lupin but I just couldn't wait to share this with you guys! This is a bit different from my other 2 stories as there are no cute babies and the story will revolve more around Draco and Hermione more than anything else.
Tell me what you think about this story and give me a review :)
**The usual disclaimer that Harry Potter is not mine.**
The war was over and the dust was starting to settle. Slowly but surely, the rubble was being cleared and the damage was being remedied.
Diagon Alley looked so different from what it used to be. The mark of the war was undeniable with each gap of the cobblestone and each broken window. The once cramped street full of knick knacks and bric a bracs looked empty and foreboding with traces of dark spells marking the storefronts. Buildings were missing roofs, undoubtedly blown off by a spell or two, windows were broken into pieces by looters, fighters, death eaters, witches, wizards, whoever else, and a huge part of the cobblestone path had been blown off which created a crater in the middle of the alley itself.
But Hermione Granger could see progress all around her. Small, incremental progress, but progress nonetheless. There were still big gaping holes at the sides of certain buildings and lots of walls have been reduced to smithereens but she could see what seemed like hundreds of wizards and witches with their wands at the ready, casting spells left and right. If she pretended hard enough, they were almost like the crowd during the shopping rush before the start of the Hogwarts semester. Witches and wizards were darting in and out of buildings, talking tiredly but loudly, laughing and making jokes as they levitated things from one space to another.
What was a pile of bricks just a moment ago was suddenly turned into the brand new storefront of Flourish and Blotts.
What was a broken wooden placard blasted by a spell was now a road sign directing the public towards the designated floo stations.
Yes, Hermione Granger could see progress.
Her finger softly adjusted the hood of her cloak as she made her way towards the Leaky Cauldron, still trying to hold on to her anonymity with the use of the cloak. All she wanted was to see Diagon Alley, the very first magical place that she ever stepped foot in and see it rebuilt in front of her eyes. She didn't really want to be recognized and she didn't want to shake anyone's hand today. It's been tricky staying clear of the public's eye especially since the fall of Voldemort was barely 6 months ago. Everyone was still celebrating and singing praises to her, Harry, and Ron - the Golden Trio - if you will. But Hermione has been having a hard time accepting the fame and attention, it made her uncomfortable to stand in front of people and be congratulated for not dying. There was just something about it that leaves a bad taste in her mouth, especially when she remembered all those who really did die. All of those she's still mourning. There were of course people who were taking the fame in stride. Ron had been positively beaming with pride over his role in the victory against Voldemort.
"Yes I did destroy the horcrux - several of them actually and yes I am that Ron Weasley."
They had broken up about a couple of months ago after they realized that they were looking for different things. It was Ron who initiated the separation. He had big ideas of touring the world, meeting wizards and witches, telling them his side of the story during the war. He wanted to spend a couple of nights in every magical city, host an event, meet people there, talk to them, take pictures, and then leave for the next one. "Come on, Hermione! Live a little! It would be like traveling the world together!"
But Hermione didn't agree. It was not like traveling the world together at all, it was more like a traveling circus for the public to consume and lap up. What would happen when the fame died down? What would happen to them then? Who would listen to their stories after a few years? Who else wouldn't have heard of them by then?
In the end they agreed to a mutual separation but to be honest, Hermione felt like she received the brunt of the blow as she spent days on end crying herself to sleep and then waking up to smile for the Daily Prophet each day. Ron was now in France, in the beginning of his so called tour undoubtedly gathering a huge crowd wherever he went. The Prophet had even created a new gossip column for his activities which detailed where he was at the moment, which pubs he might visit, his favorite drink so the lucky witches and wizards can buy him a pint or two to get him started on his stories. It was all very unreal for Hermione.
She on the other hand would be starting her new job at the ministry. She had forgone an 8th year at Hogwarts to dive immediately into ministry work as a junior employee of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the same department that oversees the Auror Office and the Wizengamot. There are of course other divisions in the department but Hermione couldn't seem to choose one where she fits best so she decided to occupy a position where she had an overview of all the divisions. Quite a feat for a young witch her age, but everything seems impossible until someone does it.
Harry will be in the same department as an auror in training, which Hermione was very excited about. She may not want to venture out to fight anymore but she wanted to be a part of the justice system that made everything run smoothly and she wanted her best friend to be there with her. There were already whispers that she was granted the position as a stepping stone for when she will be elected as the Minister of Magic in a few years time. Hermione didn't pay attention to these busybodies, she doesn't need anyone's opinion or hearsay to dictate her life.
With a discrete look behind her shoulder, Hermione entered the Leaky Cauldron undetected. The ring of the bell on top of the door did nothing to alert anyone inside the already busy pub as she kept her head down making her way to the right hand side of the bar just a few steps away from the taps of ale. A painting of a white hibiscus flower with a pink center greeted her on the wall at the perfect height where she can reach out and touch it without drawing much attention. She discreetly tickled the side of the painting's frame 3 times and tapped her wand gently on the lowest petal of the flower. Without any second thought, Hermione stepped through what looked like a solid wall straight through to a room much more silent than the one she just left.
Harry Potter's black head snapped up at the sound of her arrival. His face switching from confusion to happiness in a heartbeat.
"Hermione!" he greeted with a soft smile as he stood up from his seat and made his way to give Hermione a hug.
"I was wondering where you were. I was about to call a search party." Harry joked as he gestured towards an empty seat across from him.
Hermione shrugged, "Got distracted."
The room looked like an extension of the pub, almost like the other patrons just didn't know that there was a small corner of the pub that was completely empty and only accessible to certain individuals. There were a couple of tables and chairs cramped together to fit the small room and the decor and walls were identical to the pub just outside the wall. It was big enough for a small get together but small enough that it afforded the occupants privacy from the noise outside.
Hermione shook off her cloak as her eye caught the stack of papers towering on the table. She gave Harry a quizzical look and a lopsided smile as Harry gave out a huff of frustration.
"Ministry papers. Profiles of the new aurors in training. Kingsley asked me to sort the new recruits into cohesive groups according to strengths and weaknesses."
Hermione's small smile turned up a notch as she stepped further into the room and approached the stack of papers, casually flipping through the first few papers at the top of the pile.
"The Prophet got it right then? You're the new leader of this batch of aurors in training?"
Harry started to look at everything else in the room except Hermione as he awkwardly scratched an imaginary itch on his arm.
"I wouldn't say leader…"
Hermione giggled as she continued to flip through the pages. Her giggles were however abruptly stopped when she came across Ron's dossier, his photo goofily smiling up at her on loop as he showed both side profiles and finally his full face. Harry noticed the sudden change in her mood and approached her to look at what she was staring at through her shoulder.
"I didn't know he made it through to the last stage of selections. I thought he made up his mind pretty early on not to continue and to just go through with his other plans." Hermione whispered.
"Hermione…" Harry started as he rubbed Hermione's shoulder soothingly. "He's -"
But Hermione cut him off by taking his hand off her shoulder and instead clasping it in hers tightly.
"It's alright, Harry. Really. I'm alright. It's just - it's just hard when almost everything reminds me of him, you know? Breakups are hard no matter who made the decision to break it off. It's just - it's just a lot of grief."
Harry nodded and squeezed Hermione's hands back before drawing her in for a hug. Hermione rolled her eyes but still melted into the hug. Harry was and will always be her constant support. The war only made them stronger and she genuinely believed that nothing in this world can tear their friendship apart.
Hermione stayed in the hug for a couple more seconds before she finally broke away with a sigh. She went back to flipping through the dossiers without a word when a flash of bright blonde hair caught her attention.
"Malfoy?"
Harry's head barely snapped up at the question as he was steadily trying to balance another stack of papers on a nearby chair.
"Oh - yeah he's one of the new recruits. He's quite talented to tell you the truth. Decent spell work, skilled at legilimency, and a natural at occlumency. I believe he's one of the few wizards that are truly skilled at both. He actually approached me himself to ask about the auror program right after his trial."
Hermione's right eyebrow raised at the last statement.
"He did?"
Harry nodded, "He also transparently stated that he would work with the ministry to recognize former death eaters if there is a need for it in any of the missions. He even asked to be assigned in the cases that are suspected of the dark arts or had any connections to the death eaters."
Hermione's eyebrow raised even higher if it was possible.
"He did?" she asked for a second time.
Harry just nodded absentmindedly, "I'm putting him in my team and naming him my partner for the duration of the training."
Hermione's mouth dropped open in shock.
"You did?"
Harry finally looked at her and nodded. "Yes. I did."
Hermione only stared at Harry and waited for him to explain.
"I don't see why not." Harry shrugged feigning relaxation but Hermione could just see his telltale fingers squirming in his pocket where he hid them. He was nervous about what Hermione would think of his decision but at the same time ready to defend it. And if there was anything she knew about Harry Potter, it was that he would defend something he believed in until death. He had proven this time and time again in the past years they've known each other.
Hermione shook her head a little and gathered her thoughts, "I guess I don't see why not either."
She could just make out Harry's small sigh of relief as she answered. He was holding his breath the whole time and he probably didn't even know it.
"It would definitely make the Prophet again I assure you that."
Harry groaned as Hermione let out a bark of laughter.
"Can you please stay out of the news for at least an hour, Harry?"
Harry only frowned at her and went back to sorting the pile of papers again but this time more forcefully, "I just know Rita Skeeter will have a field day the moment this gets out into the press."
Hermione nodded as she continued to stare at Draco's dossier. Unlike Ron, Draco was not smiling at the camera when his photo was taken. He looked sullen and serious with his hair falling naturally over his forehead. He was wearing dark robes and his face was a mixture of intimidation and boredom at the same time. His side profile was sharp and his eyes were even sharper. He really did look like a snake from this angle, or maybe it's the silent challenge in his eyes or maybe he's just too Slytherin for his own good.
"The Boy Who Lived and the Former Death Eater. I can just see the headlines now."
Harry let out another groan as a new figure appeared from the wall in a flash of red.
"Which headlines are we talking about?" Ginny Weasley questioned as she fully stepped into the room carrying a huge bouquet of flowers and a bottle of champagne.
Hermione immediately ran to hug the other girl as Harry only smiled and rolled his eyes.
"The headlines about me and Malfoy canoodling in the auror office that's what."
Ginny let out a laugh and set down the things in her arms to give Hermione a hug.
"I already warned him about that when he told me his decision but I guess another warning won't hurt. I told him the Prophet will be giving a live coverage of his engagement to Malfoy before this year is even done."
Harry shook his head and approached Ginny, silently giving her a peck on the cheek.
"What's all this, Gin?" Harry asked as he snaked his hands around the redhead's waist.
"Oh! These are all for Hermione of course! To celebrate her job offer from the ministry."
Hermione smiled and took the bouquet from an eager Ginny.
"Thank you, Ginny. Oh wow, I wasn't really expecting any funfare around the whole offer. It's just that they offered and I accepted. It's not much to celebrate."
Ginny vehemently shook her head, red hair flying wildly around her.
"Hermione, this is a huge thing. Do you know how many female ministers of magic we've had in the past few years? You're going to be the first one in more than a few decades."
Hermione blushed, "Ginny, I'm not being offered the position of minister of magic. That is still very much Kingsley's job."
Ginny waved her hand to dismiss her, "Oh semantics! Anyone with two eyes and a working wand knows that they're grooming you to be the next one in a few years. So might as well celebrate it now when you're not yet awfully busy."
Harry only laughed and mimicked Hermione's words, "I can just see the headlines now. Hermione Granger, best minister of magic in more than a few decades."
Hermione swatted Harry's arm as Ginny laughed, "Now that's a headline I could get behind on."
Hermione smiled at her two friends as she accepted a glass of champagne from Ginny.
"To new beginnings?" Ginny asked with a tilt of her own champagne flute.
Hermione looked at Harry and then at Ginny as she nodded.
"To new beginnings."
The Ministry of Magic was abuzz with activity the moment Hermione stepped off of the floo network. Bodies were swerving left and right as witches and wizards were all rushing towards their destinations. For the first time in months no one was paying attention to her and no one was staring as she made her way towards the connecting floo towards the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. With a flash of green flame she finally stepped out into her own department where things were considerably calmer than the ministry's main atrium.
Suddenly the clack of her heels sounded so much louder than it was before as she could feel eyes follow her until she reached Kingsley's door. Before she could even knock, Kingsley's voice boomed from the inside.
"Hermione. Good to see that you're here on time for your first day."
Hermione jumped a little at the sound of her name as the door magically opened and a tall man dominated the doorway.
"Come on in. I'll brief you about your work responsibilities and show you to your office."
Hermione shuffled inside, relieved to get away from all the eyes following her.
"Thank you." she mumbled as she entered Kingsley's office.
The office reflected the man in front of Hermione. The walls were deep purple and the room emanated strength in a weird magical way. She could definitely tell that someone of power and significance spends his time in that space.
"I thought you would appreciate it if someone more familiar would brief you today. I hope you don't mind that I'm doing it personally."
Hermione smiled and nodded, "I'm actually really relieved that it's you. I think anyone else would have been too uh - uncomfortable - to show me around. I wouldn't want them to go out of their way to accommodate me."
"Uncomfortable is probably not the right word, maybe intimidated?" Kingsley laughed.
Hermione just shrugged but smiled back at Kingsley nonetheless.
With a flick of his wand, a large stack of folders made its way on top of the desk and in front of Hermione.
"All the necessary information on the divisions of the department can be found here. I figured you could spend a few days getting yourself familiar with the structure of the department itself and then I'll bring you with me to a few meetings here and there once you're more confident. How does that sound?"
Hermione smiled and nodded. The stack of folders would be light reading for her anyway. She was guessing it would only take her a week or a week and a half at most to get through it all.
Kingsley smiled and rubbed his hands in anticipation, "Well then, shall I show you around?"
Hermione nodded as Kingsley opened the door for her and directed her forward.
Kingsley led Hermione around the DMLE and introduced her to the heads of the divisions and some of the secretaries milling about. All of them were more or less star struck upon meeting her. There were a lot of handshakes and bows and some even gave her hugs to say their thanks for her role in the war. Overall it was a very interesting experience for Hermione.
Eyes followed their every move and she even caught a few wizards stumbling and giving the two of them a double take before scurrying in the other direction. Hermione felt like a shark patrolling an ocean reef, the way some of the wizards scooted around them to give them room.
It was well after lunch time when they made their way back to their own floor and Kingsley pushed open the door to her new office which was a few doors away from his own.
"Here we are, your new sanctuary."
Hermione stepped into the room with a soft smile. The office was small but manageable, Hermione could even argue that it was the perfect size for someone who's just starting out in the ministry. The walls were cream and a huge window dominated one of the walls right behind the wooden desk and chair that was now hers. The room was bare for now besides the desk and chair but Hermione could not be more excited to actually bring in her things and make the office more her own.
Hermione smiled to herself as she wandered even further into the office, thinking of the potential of this room and the new start that this signified for her.
"This is perfect. Thank you, Kingsley." she muttered as she faced the man hovering in her doorway.
Kingsley smiled back, "I'm glad you like it and I'm even more glad that you've taken up the job with us here at the DMLE. You could've gone anywhere, did anything, but you chose to be here. We are nothing but honored to have you in our team."
Hermione said thank you again before Kingsley left her to her own devices, the stack of folders already on top of her desk. She was about to sit down on her chair and get started on tackling the folders when her stomach made an embarrassingly loud noise. Hermione clutched her stomach and laughed at herself. She didn't even notice she was hungry, her excitement and nervousness had taken over most of her faculties and had made her forget that she hadn't eaten since dinner last night.
Hermione bit her lip as she considered whether she should eat lunch now or get started on the pile she already laid out. The decision was however made for her as her stomach gave another loud lurch that echoed in her empty office.
"Alright, alright, geez." she muttered to herself as she accioed her prepared lunch from her bag and set out to Harry's office which was only a floor below hers for some company.
Hermione walked the halls happily, still riding high from the excitement of her first day. Her heels click clacked merrily through the corridor and well into Harry's office. With a short rap on his door, Hermione opened the door unceremoniously without even waiting for Harry's invitation to let her in.
"Here I am!" She exclaimed with a big smile as her eyes clashed with gray ones and not the familiar green she was expecting.
"Granger." Malfoy greeted without skipping a beat as if he wasn't just accosted by this weird witch announcing her arrival.
"Holy Merlin, Malfoy - uh hi." Hermione stuttered.
"Hello." Draco answered with a small smirk.
"I thought Harry would be here so I just opened the door - and I thought - well -"
Draco's smirk deepened as she continued to babble.
"It's alright, Granger. Potter went out to lunch with his girlfriend at her house, the bungalow or something of that sort. You can go and meet them there."
Hermione steeled herself and looked down at her muggle watch. It was way past lunchtime and she didn't want to get in trouble for leaving the ministry for a late lunch on her very first day. Her eyes then drifted back to Malfoy who was sitting at his own desk, a half eaten sandwich in front of him.
"You're eating your lunch?" she asked.
Draco seemed unnerved by the random question as he looked at his sandwich and back to the witch in front of him.
"Yes." he muttered flatly.
"It's late." Hermione remarked.
"I decided to get started on some paperwork before eating," he replied.
Hermione considered for a moment before accioing Harry's chair to stand in front of Draco's desk, right across from him. Without another word, Hermione sat down in front of Draco and opened her lunchbox.
Draco watched the whole scene in surprised amusement as the witch in front of her began eating her lunch as if nothing was amiss. It was like she made the lunch appointment with him all along and not his officemate.
"Your office is bigger than mine." Hermione said in between bites of her own sandwich.
Draco, who was still a bit unnerved by all these sudden occurrences, only nodded as he continued to stare at Hermione.
"I guess that makes sense since you're here with Harry. You don't have a window like mine though. That's a bit sad."
Draco huffed a small laugh in between his bites, "I'll talk to Potter about having a window."
Hermione nodded, "I'm sure Harry would be amiable towards that idea."
Draco shook his head at the incredulity of the whole situation.
"You don't think so?" Hermione asked, interpreting the shake of his head as disagreement.
Draco shook his head again, "I don't know Potter well enough to know about his window preferences."
Hermione nodded, accepting his remark.
"That's true but who wouldn't like a window in their office?"
Draco only shrugged as he took a swig of his water.
The two of them ate their lunch in silence after that small conversation. It wasn't really an awkward silence, it was more companionable silence from both their ends. They were both starting a new job that day and they were both overwhelmed by so many things. It was nice to share the silent agreement that they were approaching a new beginning.
Draco finished his sandwich before Hermione but he didn't stand up or leave once he was done eating. He just leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms across his chest while staring at Hermione.
Hermione's eyes gravitated towards Draco's arms upon the movement. His sleeves were pushed up to his elbows and she could see that both of his arms were covered in tattoos, at least the parts that were exposed to her.
"I didn't know you have tattoos." Hermione commented.
Draco's arms flexed at the comment, making Hermione blush.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry." Hermione hurriedly said.
"You weren't prying. You were just stating a fact that you didn't know I have tattoos." Draco relaxedly answered before continuing, "I got them after the war. Most of them are muggle made."
Hermione cleared her throat, "They look very well made and beautiful."
Draco snorted, "They're not beautiful, they're badass."
Hermione snorted back in answer, earning a half smile from Draco.
"Did they hurt? Which one hurt the most?" Hermione questioned, her curiosity getting the best of her.
Draco was about to answer when the door suddenly opened to reveal Harry and his disheveled black hair.
"Oh hey Hermione!" Harry greeted the weird sight of the two of them eating lunch together.
"Harry!"
"Potter."
Hermione and Draco both greeted back at the same time.
"I was at the burrow." Harry explained, still not moving from his stance at the doorway.
Hermione nodded, "Yes, Malfoy told me."
Harry then looked at Draco who only stared back at him with one upturned eyebrow.
"Uh - right. You're finished with lunch then?"
Hermione stared down at her empty lunchbox and shrugged.
"Yup."
Draco couldn't help but laugh which he immediately covered with a fake cough.
Hermione smiled despite herself as she silently packed up her lunchbox. Harry on the other hand was muttering to himself as he made his way to his own desk and was shuffling some papers around.
"Thanks for having lunch with me." Hermione whispered, not really expecting Draco to hear.
Draco smirked, "I'll tell you next time which one hurt the most."
Hermione met his amused eyes one last time before saying goodbye to Harry and leaving the boys' office.
Next time.
Hermione had no doubts that there would be a next time. She had seen the white hibiscus flower on his desk, the telltale invitation into their little room at the Leaky. Harry must've given him access to their secret sanctuary which would make sense since they were now working in close proximity to one another. She would probably see him more often in the office and probably even at the white hibiscus room outside office hours.
It was only a matter of time.
How did you like the beginning of this story? Drop me a review :)
Lots of Love,
Vik